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Game Preview: Suns Face the Knicks in the World’s Most Famous Arena

Who: Phoenix Suns (24-17) @ New York Knicks (25-16)

When: 5:30pm Arizona Time

Where: Madison Square Garden — New York, New York

Watch: NBA TV, Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports

Listen: KMVP 98.7

The Phoenix Suns have their first losing streak of 2026 and their first in over a month. Losses to the Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons, the Suns had a chance to win the first two games of their six-game road trip, but too many free throws and couldn’t execute in clutch time to get the wins.

The good thing for the Suns? Help might be on the way.

Devin Booker, who missed the team’s last game with an ankle injury that he suffered against the Heat, could return to action tonight. Booker has had major success against the Knicks the past couple of seasons, especially at Madison Square Garden. Last season, he had a 40-point outing, and in the 2023-24 campaign, he hit a game-winning three late.

Just like the Suns, the New York Knicks head into this matchup on a losing streak. They’re also on a two-game losing streak and are 2-7 in their last nine outings. Previously, they had won 11 out of 1,3 including their win in the Cup Championship. Tonight is the Knicks’ first home game in more than a week. They started their road trip against the Suns, losing 112-107.

Can the Suns get back on track against a struggling New York team?

Projected Starting Lineup

Injury Report

Suns

  • Devin Booker — QUESTIONABLE (Right Ankle Sprain)
  • Jamaree Bouyea — OUT (Concussion Protocol)
  • Jordan Goodwin — AVAILABLE (Jaw Sprain)
  • Jalen Green — (Right Hamstring Sprain)

Knicks

  • Jalen Brunson — QUESTIONABLE (Right Ankle Sprain)
  • Trey Jemison — OUT (G-League)

What to Watch For

In his last five games against the Knicks, Booker is averaging 32 points and seven assists. Throughout his career, he’s averaged 28.6 points per game against New York. Assuming he plays, does Booker continue his streak of historically strong play against them?

When the two teams faced off in Phoenix last week, Booker scored 31 points, hit four threes and dished in eight assists. Down the stretch of the game, he made numerous big plays to help the Suns secure the win.

After a rough few games getting his legs under him returning from injury, Grayson Allen is playing similarly to how he was at the start of the season when he was the team’s second-leading scorer. Allen scored 30 points for the second time this season in Thursday’s loss to Detroit, going for 33 points, seven threes, and three blocks. After recording three triples and three swats in the first quarter, Allen became the first Sun to ever record such a stat line in a single quarter.

Allen has more points in his last two games, 58, than he did in his previous four games, 41. Does Allen keep his strong scoring going?

Key to a Suns Win

No matter the opponent, the Suns need to shoot better from the free-throw line than they did against the Pistons. Going 16/25 from the line, one of the main reasons the Suns were in the game down the stretch was because Detroit actually shot a worse percentage from the charity stripe. In the Knicks and Suns’ first matchup of the season, Phoenix executed down the stretch at the line, hitting all six of their attempts in the final 15 seconds to ice the game. The Suns need to get back to knocking down their free throws at a high rate to keep them in games and secure victories.

If Devin Booker doesn’t play, the Suns need to decide who is going to step up as the primary scorer. Last game it was Allen and Collin Gillespie with Dillon Brooks in foul trouble. Despite his injury and availability status progressing in the right direction, Jalen Green remains out. Who will step up if Booker is not able to go.

Prediction

New York has been struggling and just made a cross-country flight to get back to the East Coast. The Suns look like the healthier and better team right now. Give me Phoenix in a close one as long as Booker plays.

Suns 113, Knicks 109

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Penguins' Chinakhov Responds To Firing Of Blue Jackets Coach Dean Evason

It's safe to say that Egor Chinakhov's time with the Columbus Blue Jackets came to an ending that neither party wanted to reach. 

After requesting a trade during the offseason, the 24-year-old winger was finally dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Dec. 29. There were a lot of rumors surrounding Chinakhov's desire to start fresh elsewhere, many of which were linked to an apparent rift with former head coach Dean Evason. 

Well, Evason was fired by the Blue Jackets on Jan. 12 and replaced by Rick Bowness, and Chinakhov was asked Saturday in Pittsburgh if he was surprised to hear the news.

"I don't know," Chinakhov said. "I just saw the news, and I texted the guys and how they think about it. And, I mean, I'm not surprised."

Rumors about the strained relationship between Chinakhov and Evason came to a head on Jul. 17, when the trade request was officially initiated publicly by Chinakhov and his agent, Shumi Babaev. Babaev's agency shared Chinakhov's request on social media.

"I had some misunderstandings with the coach during the season. Now I would be glad to have a trade. I would like to move to a different location. Will I return to Russia? As long as I can play in the NHL, I will keep developing here," Chinakhov said via the agency's X post. 

And the Blue Jackets, suffice to say, were not very happy about how the situation was handled publically by Chinakhov or Babaev.

“I’m surprised his agent went public,” Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell told Aaron Portzline of The Athletic. “But I’m not surprised it because we’ve talked about it. He got back [from a back injury in 2024-25] and didn’t play well, and [Chinakhov and Evason] fell out of favour."

Waddell also added at the time: “When he came back, he was not the Chinakhov we were hoping he was, and he got healthy scratched at the end. That’s what happens with guys. He couldn’t handle that.”

Since being dealt to Pittsburgh for forward Danton Heinen, a 2026 second-round pick, and a 2027 third-round pick, the Omsk, Russia native has tallied three goals and four points in eight games, largely seeing time on the Penguins' second line with veteran star forward Evgeni Malkin. 

Takeaways: Penguins Take Down Cross-State Rival Flyers In Commanding 6-3 WinTakeaways: Penguins Take Down Cross-State Rival Flyers In Commanding 6-3 WinThe Pittsburgh Penguins snapped their three-game losing skid with a big win over their rival Philadelphia Flyers to catapult themselves to third in the Metropolitan Division standings

And his new head coach has been complimentary of Chinakhov's work as a Penguin so far. 

“I don’t think he gets enough credit for the way he works away from the puck," Muse said. "He’s done a really good job there in terms of the tracking, the getting back. He’s got some detail to his game. You watch, and he’s changing at the right time, he’s driving wide, he’s drawing a number of penalties.

"So, I think the scoring’s obvious with him, but there’s some things that I’ve learned about him since he’s been here that, maybe, I didn’t know as much but really like.”

Chinakhov has 40 goals and 81 points in 212 career NHL games. His best season came with Columbus in 2023-24, when he registered 16 goals and 29 points in 53 games. 

Chinakhov Trade Shows Penguins Are Starting To Shift GearsChinakhov Trade Shows Penguins Are Starting To Shift GearsKyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins traded for Yegor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, and it could be a sign of things to come over the next several months.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!  

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Reeves, Washington lead 2nd-half charge in Georgia Tech's 78-74 win over Wolfpack

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Kowacie Reeves Jr. scored 21 points, Lamar Washington added 18 and the two combined for 28 in the second half as Georgia Tech held off North Carolina State 78-74 on Saturday to snap a three-game losing streak.

Akai Fleming added 16 points and Jaeden Mustaf collected his first career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Yellow Jackets (11-8, 2-4 ACC).

Quadir Copeland scored 16 points and Paul McNeil Jr. and Ven-Allen Lubin added 12 each for the Wolfpack (12-6, 3-2), who had won their last two games and five of their past six.

Reeves hit a 3-pointer with under 10 minutes left to give the Yellow Jackets their first lead since late in the first half. The basket was part of a 12-2 run that put Georgia Tech up 65-58 and the Yellow Jackets held on from there despite some poor free-throw shooting.

Copeland got the Wolfpack within four with 49.9 seconds remaining after consecutive 3-pointers. Georgia Tech made just 2 of 8 free throws from there but a steal and free throw by Washington was enough to preserve the win after N.C. State missed two 3s on its final possession.

N.C. State opened the game with 3-pointers from Alyn Breed and Copeland before Georgia Tech scored the next 12 points, including a pair of Fleming 3s. The Yellow Jackets kept the lead until the Wolfpack outscored them 11-2 over the final 2/1 2 minutes for a 35-34 halftime lead on Copeland's last-second layup.

The Wolfpack had been 12-0 when leading at halftime.

Up next

Georgia Tech is home against Clemson next Saturday.

N.C. State is at Clemson on Tuesday.

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

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Padres’ Sung-Mun Song has an oblique strain

Sung-Mun Song

San Diego Padres infielder Sung-Mun Song is reportedly on his way to Arizona to prepare for the start of Spring Training with his new team. That training will initially be medical care and rehab after it was reported on Yonhap News that Song has an oblique strain after a batting practice session.

Jeeho Yo of the Yonhap News Agency wrote on Jan. 17 that Song went to a clinic in Japan after the injury for extensive treatment and then was scheduled to fly to Arizona. The source for the article reported that there was a minimum of four weeks recovery before Song could resume baseball activities.

Song was in San Diego to sign his four-year, $15 million deal last month and then returned to South Korea to resume his preparation for the 2026 season. Originally on the roster for the Korean World Baseball Classic team, Song will likely now be staying in Arizona with the Padres to prepare for the season.

Padres pitchers and catchers begin workouts on Feb. 11 and will report on Feb. 10 for physicals. Position players begin workouts on Feb. 15 and will most likely be reporting before then for physicals and early work.

The typical recovery time for oblique injuries is based on the severity of the injury. Fernando Tatis Jr. admitted to a mild oblique strain (cramps) that would keep him from considering being involved in the Home Run Derby during the 2025 All-Star game. He never went on the injured list for the issue and that would probably be the most optimistic situation an MLB player can have while experiencing oblique issues.

Padres pitcher Matt Waldron suffered an oblique injury, described as mild, while warming up during a Spring Training game in March of 2025 and was not the same pitcher the Padres knew when he came off the IL in June. He was optioned to Triple-A El Paso soon after and never made it back to San Diego, struggling with the Chihuahuas.

This could be a minor setback to Song’s start with the Padres, or it could prove to be a bigger issue if his recovery is delayed. Four weeks from mid-January would mean an on time start to Spring Training with a probable slower ramp up for him than the healthy players. The beginning of the season might not be affected, but if the injury lingers and Song is not able to start Spring Training with the rest of the team, then he might not be available for Opening Day.

Let’s hope for a positive update during Padres FanFest on Jan. 31. Hopefully his early arrival in Arizona to work with Padres’ training and medical staff will bode well for a quick recovery.

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Lawal with 22, Hansberry with 21, pace Virginia Tech in 89-76 win over Notre Dame

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Tobi Lawal scored a season-high 22 points off the bench, Amani Hansberry added 21, and Virginia Tech defeated Notre Dame 89-76 on Saturday for the Hokies' ninth win in the past 10 matchups with the Fighting Irish.

Lawal and Hansberry scored 15 of Virginia Tech's 18 points during one stretch early in the second half as the Hokies extended an 11-point halftime lead to 66-48 with 12 1/2 minutes remaining.

Notre Dame got as close as 79-66 with four minutes remaining then Ben Hammond buried a 3-pointer and Hansberry finished off a layup for an 84-67 lead with three minutes left.

Hammond scored 16 points and Jailen Bedford added 14 for Virginia Tech (14-5, 3-3 ACC). Lawal grabbed 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. He is working his way back after missing all of December with an ankle injury.

The Hokies sank their first 24 free throws before Lawal missed the first of two attempts with six minutes left in the game. They finished 28 of 32 from the line. Lawal made 14 of 18.

Brady Koehler made 5 of 7 3-pointers and the freshman led Notre Dame (10-8, 1-4) with a career-high 17 points off the bench. Cole Certa, another reserve, scored 14 points and Sir Mohammed was the only starter in double figures with 12 points. Notre Dame backups scored 41 points.

Virginia Tech trailed only once, at 7-5. The Hokies went out front to stay with a 13-2 run and led 45-34 at the break.

Virginia Tech's previous six games had either gone to overtime or been decided by three or fewer points.

Notre Dame has lost four in a row.

Up next

Notre Dame: at North Carolina on Wednesday.

Virginia Tech: at Syracuse on Wednesday.

___

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Malik Thomas' 23 points and Thijs De Ridder's 17 lead No. 16 Virginia past SMU 72-68

DALLAS (AP) — Malik Thomas had a game-high 23 points and a career-best 11 rebounds and Thijs De Ridder added 17 points, including seven of No. 16 Virginia’s eight points in the final 2½ minutes, as the Cavaliers hung on to beat SMU 72-68 in an Atlantic Coast Conference game on Saturday.

Virginia (16-2, 5-1 ACC) has won five consecutive games. SMU (13-5, 2-3 ACC) lost for the first time in 12 games at Moody Coliseum this season.

De Ridder’s two free throws with 1:07 left gave Virginia a 70-68 lead. After the Cavs’ Dallin Hall missed a 3-pointer late in the shot clock with 14 seconds left, De Ridder grabbed the rebound and was fouled. De Ridder hit two more foul shots, putting Virginia ahead 72-68.

SMU’s Boopie Miller missed a right-corner 3-pointer in the closing seconds, and De Ridder grabbed the rebound.

Jarin Pierre Jr. scored 16 points to lead the Mustangs. B.J. Edwards added 13 and Miller, the team’s leading scorer averaging 20.8 per game, scored a season-low 12.

Thomas matched a season high hitting six 3-pointers. Virginia, averaging a program-high 28.3 treys attempted per game, hit 12 of 31.

Virginia conversely shot a season-low 12 free throws, sinking 10.

SMU led by as many as seven points during the opening 13 minutes before the Cavaliers went on a 13-2 run over almost four minutes to go ahead 35-28, SMU shooting 1 for 10 with two turnovers during the span. Virginia led 35-28 at halftime.

Up next

Virginia will host No. 14 North Carolina next Saturday.

SMU will visit Wake Forest on Tuesday.

___

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Utah Jazz vs Dallas Mavericks: preview, start time, injury report, how to watch

The Utah Jazz have their second game in a row against the Dallas Mavericks. Last time they played, Lauri Markkanen and Jusuf Nurkic rested, and the Jazz lost by a lot. What was lost in all the talk about the Jazz was that it was the back end of a back-to-back for the Jazz as well as the Mavericks, but Utah was on the road. Utah didn’t have their legs the whole night and shot just 27%. We’ll see if they do better in this one, but this will be the third game in four nights, so it may be a little bit of the same.

Injury Report

The Jazz will be without Lauri Markkanen again in this one. We’ll also see if Jusuf Nurkic plays or doesn’t like last time.

The Mavs will also be missing some players. It’s not clear if Adam Silver will pay attention to this or if it’s just the Jazz that get the magnifying glass.

How to watch

When: Saturday, January 17, 2026 – 3:00 PM MT

Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX

Channel: KJZZ, Jazz+

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Plaschke: After Rich Paul drama, fans favor Austin Reaves over LeBron James and you can't blame them

Los Angeles, CA - December 28: Los Angeles Lakers forward Lebron James (23) reacts during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
LeBron James will be a free agent after this season. If he doesn't retire, many Lakers fans would prefer he not return to the team. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)

In a city where he has played for the longest stretch of his life, LeBron James should be considered one of the greatest Lakers ever.

Yet, by most accounts, he’s barely in the top 10.

James set the career scoring record here, set the career longevity record here, and won a long-awaited NBA championship here.

Yet he is generally ranked behind Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, James Worthy … and maybe even Pau Gasol?

When he likely leaves the team after this season, James should get a statue. He won’t. He should get a farewell game similar to Kobe Bryant’s final good-bye. He won’t.

For eight breathtaking seasons, LeBron James has poured his soul into pleasing a passionate fan base such that he still fills Crypto.com Arena with joy and light and tomahawk dunks at age 41.

Read more:Lakers' JJ Redick defends LeBron James amid 'unfortunate' criticism

Yet most fans can’t wait for him to leave.

They’re tired of his drama, unconvinced of his loyalty, dissatisfied with the results, and ready to embrace fresh new franchise faces. One of those belongs to Austin Reaves, who was unwittingly pitted against James this week during unfortunate speculation from James’ agent and close friend Rich Paul.

Bottom line? If forced to choose between James and Reaves, here’s guessing the majority would choose Reaves. If forced to keep either James or Reaves, almost certainly the Lakers would keep Reaves.

These sorts of questions will matter at the upcoming Feb. 5 trade deadline, when, with the team going nowhere, perhaps James should realize that his days here are numbered and consider lifting that no-trade clause.

If unanswered, the questions will surface again this summer, when Reaves becomes a free agent and can command a maximum contract of $241 million over five years. The Lakers are going to pay him, which leaves James, who would also be a free agent, and his contract demands deep on the bench.

If James leaves the Lakers for whatever reason — retirement, seeking a title elsewhere — the Lakers can sign Reaves and still have $50 million in cap space.

Think about that.

Lakers forward LeBron James hugs teammate Austin Reaves on the court
Lakers forward LeBron James hugs teammate Austin Reaves after he was fouled on a three-point shot during a game against Utah. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Fifty million in cap space on a team that’s already locked up its two best scorers? Are you kidding me?

If James gets out of the way, the Lakers can finally fully commit to a retooling around Luka Doncic and Reaves.

It’s all pretty simple, isn’t it? It only became complicated this week when the suddenly struggling Lakers were hit with the most damaging opinion during the most detrimental of times.

Paul popped off on his podcast about trading, of all people, Reaves.

In “Game Over With Max Kellerman and Rich Paul,” Paul cited the advantages of trading Reaves to Memphis for Jaren Jackson Jr.

“This comes with a very unemotional attachment because Austin is beloved, which he should be, he's an underdog," Paul said on the podcast. "There's a world where you can do what's best for your team, and do what's best for Austin. Because Austin deserves to get paid. Now, I love him as a Laker, but if that was a situation where we're getting balance — because if you put all the money into just the backcourt and then your flexibility is restricted going forward to fill out the rest of the team…”

Paul went so far as to say Memphis would be the perfect place for Reaves.

"Memphis would definitely pay Austin," Paul said. "He would become … probably their point guard and leading scorer, for sure. … But definitely their highest-paid player."

Read more:Why LeBron James' Lakers jersey has a new 'super cool' patch

A similar opinion urging the Lakers to trade Reaves appeared in this column last summer, but that was written before Reaves had a breakout start this season, averaging 27 points a game on 51% shooting before being sidelined with a calf injury.

He’s hot. He’s arrived. He’s him.

The idea of trading Reaves now feels foolish. Even worse, it feels like an idea that was co-signed by James himself.

Trading Reaves would give more touches to James. Acquiring Jackson would offer more room for James. The entire speculation could be summed up in one sentence that has nothing to do with Reaves or Jackson.

The Lakers should do what’s best for LeBron James.

No, they shouldn’t. No, they absolutely shouldn’t. Yet that’s what Paul was saying, and one would be naive to think that’s not what James is thinking, even though he denied any association in an interview with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

“I think you all know by now, Rich is his own man and what Rich says is not a direct reflection of me and how I feel," James told McMenamin. "And I hope people know that. I hope people know that and if they're not sensible to know that, then I don't know what to tell them."

In the same interview, James also expressed his love for Reaves. Smart man.

“AR knows how I feel about him," James told McMenamin. "All you got to do is look at us on the bench. Me and AR talk every single day. So, AR knows how I feel about him and I hope AR — or his camp — don't look at me and think this is words from me are coming through Rich.”

Turns out, Reaves’ camp thought these words were exactly coming from James, witness the brief courtside meeting between Reggie Berry, one of Reaves’ agents, and Paul during a Lakers game earlier this week. According to ESPN, Berry approached Paul in search of an explanation for his comments.

Later on his podcast, Paul said he told Berry, “I want Austin to know this is not about Austin Reaves because I love the player, love the person.”

Everybody, it seems, loves Austin Reaves, and he’s not going anywhere. Meanwhile, after another tumultuous week in the passive-aggressive life of a king, it feels like LeBron James is as good as gone.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal: Premier League – as it happened

The points were shared on an evening when Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the table but almost certainly left the field feeling a modicum of regret

An email: Arsenal fans will have mixed memories of Sean Dyche teams; probably most saliently here his new-manager-bounce inspiration of a previously useless Everton side to a 1-0 win, smashing a 14-game unbeaten Arsenal run,” writes Charles Antaki. “Admittedly Arsenal haven’t been quite that consistently good this year but Forest have certainly been that consistently bad, so there are omens around for those who care to read them.”

Having paid a visit to Dr Tottenham this afternoon and surprised nobody by leaving his North London clinic with three points and a restorative sense of enormous wellbeing, West Ham have closed the gap to Forest to just four points. No pressure Dychey …

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Jed Hoyer, Carter Hawkins and Craig Counsell kicked off Day 2 of Cubs Convention

Day 2 of the 2026 Cubs Convention started out the same way it always does, with Cubs President of Baseball Operations, Jed Hoyer and General Manager Carter Hawkins taking the stage, followed by a session with Cubs manager Craig Counsell. Both sessions were moderated by Cubs play-by-play man Boog Sciambi. But the one thing that was different in 2026 were the vibes. Jed Hoyer seemed relaxed and confident as he took the stage in a Bears jersey. His answers seemed more transparent, he seemed, dare I say it: Relaxed.

It was a welcome vibe shift from the tone the front office has set in previous years. Oh, what a difference winning season makes. I slightly jest, but it did seem like the weight was off Jed’s shoulders as they discussed everything from the team’s strategy with deferred contracts to stories about the time he was a bat boy for the Reds.

Deferrals were the biggest news out of both sessions. The Alex Bregman signing was the first time this front office has inked a free agent deal with a player that had a significant amount of money deferred. Hoyer indicated that they would be willing to make those moves again:

That’s a potentially huge development for the team and should allow them to be more competitive on the free agent market.

Craig Counsell also discussed Matt Shaw’s role on the 2026 clubs as more of a super utility player. When asked if he would play in the outfield the manager’s answer was direct: “It’s going to happen.” He referenced Kris Bryant and how he moved around with the 2016 team seeming to imply that Shaw will have a similar role for the Cubs this year. That may be good news for Shaw’s playing time, given an infield crew that rarely takes days off:

But the most notable parts of both of these panels was, honestly, how little news was made. With the Cubs coming off a season that saw them take the National League Division Series to five games against the Brewers and clearly basking in the vibes of a big trade and an even bigger free agent signing, everyone seemed more relaxed.

Hoyer told an endearing anecdote about being dropped off for a Reds Spring Training game at nine in the morning when he was 13 and how he’d talked his way into being the bat boy by 11. Carter Hawkins took a tough question about his 2032 comment from the trade deadline and turned it into a joke saying the next day Jed mentioned he probably shouldn’t have said that, and then laughing that he did it to take the pressure off Hoyer. Honestly, it was a bit like both of them took a page from Craig Counsell’s playbook. The Cubs manager has been more carefree in these conversations the last couple of seasons.

Counsell discussed a range of issues including roster construction and bullpen management. But the most endearing moment was him discussing ejections and a moment last season against the Red Sox when Ryan Flaherty was ejected. Apparently, John Mallee sheepishly admitted he’d actually made the comment and Counsell negotiated being able to pick which coach ultimately left the dugout. The real punchline of that anecdote was absolutely the tidbit about how his family had made a coaster of Counsell arguing with an umpire that the family uses when they have guests.

There was a real sense of ease for the crew who lead the Cubs from the front office and the dugout. It was a welcome change from some of the angst that has permeated the questions from fans the front office has fielded over the past few years. As much as I hope those vibes persist after a successful 2026 campaign, I imagine the CBA negotiations could complicate a repeat of this year’s relaxed and chill environment. It’s a good reminder to enjoy these moments, and jokes, while we can.

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Carrick has dream start as Mbeumo and Dorgu give Manchester United derby delight

On 65 minutes Michael Carrick’s second tenure went electric as Manchester United scored a classic breakaway goal by Bryan Mbeumo that sent the interim head coach berserk in the technical area.

After a clearing Harry Maguire header, the ball evaded Rayan Cherki and Bruno Fernandes galloped forward. He had Amad Diallo to the right and Patrick Dorgu and Mbeumo on the left; United’s streetwise captain delayed the pass, then found the Cameroonian, whose finish beat Gianluigi Donnarumma.

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Game #48: Ducks vs. Kings Gameday Preview (01/17/26)

Coming off a 3-2 shootout win against the Los Angeles Kings on Friday, the Ducks are right back it on Saturday against the same opponent.

A strong game from Beckett Sennecke and a little bit of puck luck aided the Ducks as they erased a 2-0 deficit, with Sennecke and Mason McTavish scoring in the shootout to clinch a winning outcome.

“Second period, we had a great stretch there,” head coach Joel Quenneville said. “(Sennecke) had a great game. 
(Goaltender Lukáš Dostál) was outstanding. We turned some pucks over and got some pucks to the net. I thought we checked well. We played hard, knowing that this team has a way of preventing you from even getting close to the net. Scored some greasy and some ugly goals, but we did have some good looks that didn't go in as well. It was a hard fought game. 
All teams know what was on stake or was on the line and we get to go right back at it again tomorrow.”

Jan 16, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks right wing Beckett Sennecke (45) scores a goal against Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) in a shootout at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Jan 16, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks right wing Beckett Sennecke (45) scores a goal against Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) in a shootout at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Tim Washe was one of Anaheim’s goalscorers, collecting his first career NHL goal in the process. His goal tied the game at two apiece.

“We worked on making simple plays, grinding them down low, and then good things happened,” Washe said. “We got our bounces late in the second there, and we were able to put them in.”

Washe’s first NHL goal comes just one day after he was named an AHL All-Star. He had 25 points in 30 games with the San Diego Gulls this season prior to being called up to the Ducks on Jan. 7.

“Amazing feeling, right? That's what you dream of right there,” Washe said. “Credit to Ross (Johnston, who grabbed the puck) and everyone there that made it so special.”

“Pretty hard to believe. Special week and look forward to talking to my family a little bit tonight.”

Jan 16, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Tim Washe (right) celebrates with teammates after scoring the first NHL goal during the second period against the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Jan 16, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Tim Washe (right) celebrates with teammates after scoring the first NHL goal during the second period against the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Anaheim has rolled together two consecutive wins without the likes of Leo Carlsson and Troy Terry, two of their top offensive players. Carlsson will be out of game action for approximately 3-5 weeks as he recovers from a procedure to treat a Morel-Lavallée lesion in his left thigh. Terry has missed the last four games with an upper-body injury and was placed on injured reserve on Friday, retroactive to Jan. 6.

“You could look up and down the lineup. Guys are excited for an opportunity. 
I know I am,” Ryan Strome, who scored Anaheim’s first goal, said. “I'm excited to play a little bit more and get a chance with some of our top players and I know some of our guys from San Diego are really excited to be up and contributing, so it's good. 
Everyone’s eager for more opportunity and everyone's hungry and everyone's kind of digging in.

“The thing I think I'm most proud of the boys is it’s been team-first. I think no matter who scores or who gets it done, everyone's happy for everyone. 
I think we've learned a lot about ourselves in this tough stretch we went through. I think we're realizing what it takes to win and it's not easy and that's a great sign for a young team to kind of figure it out. These intangibles and these little things matter, and they're adding up. I'm really proud of the boys last two games.”

Jan 16, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish (23) scores the game winning goal on Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) in a shootout at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Jan 16, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish (23) scores the game winning goal on Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) in a shootout at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Chris Kreider missed Friday’s game with an illness and will likely be a game-time decision for Saturday’s game. If he can’t go, the Ducks will likely roll out the same 11-7 formation from Friday, with defenseman Ian Moore acting as a forward.

The Ducks acquired forward Jeffrey Viel from the Boston Bruins on Friday, with Viel expected to arrive in Anaheim in Saturday. It is unknown if he will be available to play in Saturday’s game.

Tim Washe speaks to the media after their 3-2 shootout win against the Los Angeles Kings.

Ducks Projected Lines

Cutter Gauthier - Mason McTavish - Ryan Strome
Alex Killorn - Mikael Granlund - Beckett Sennecke
Jansen Harkins - Ryan Poehling - Sam Colangelo
Ross Johnston - Tim Washe - Ian Moore

Jackson LaCombe - Jacob Trouba
Olen Zellweger - Radko Gudas
Pavel Mintyukov - Drew Helleson

Ville Husso (projected)

Kings Projected Lines

Jeff Malott - Alex Laferriere - Adrian Kempe
Warren Foegele - Quinton Byfield - Joel Armia
Kevin Fiala - Alex Turcotte - Andrei Kuzmenko
Andre Lee - Samuel Helenius - Taylor Ward

Mikey Anderson - Drew Doughty
Joel Edmundson - Brandt Clarke
Brian Dumoulin - Cody Ceci

Anton Forsberg (projected)

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Air Force men's basketball coach Joe Scott suspended 'indefinitely'

Air Force men's basketball coach Joe Scott has been suspended effective immediately for an indefinite period.

The Falcons announced Scott's suspension in a statement ahead of Air Force's game against Nevada on Saturday, Jan. 17.

"Air Force Men's Basketball Head Coach Joe Scott has been suspended indefinitely pending an investigation into the treatment of cadet-athletes. Assistant Coach Jon Jordon (USAFA '85) will serve as interim head coach," the statement read.

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In his sixth season of his second tenure leading the Air Force program, Scott has the Falcons sitting 3-14 overall on the season and at the bottom of the Mountain West with a 0-6 record in league play.

He was hired back at Air Force ahead of the 2020-21 men's college basketball season following a two-year stint serving as an assistant coach on Tom Crean's staff at Georgia. He has led the Falcons to a combined 97-183 record in his two stints.

Taking over in Scott's place will be assistant coach Jon Jordon, who graduated from the Air Force in 1985. Jordon has been on Scott's staff since 2022 and was also a member of his first staff at Air Force from 2000-2004 as well.

Air Force and Nevada are slated for a 4 p.m. ET tipoff at Clune Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Saturday.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Air Force basketball coach Joe Scott suspended 'indefinitely'

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Higgins edges past Trump and Wilson sees of Wu to set up Masters final

  • Higgins wins three consecutive frames in 6-5 victory

  • Kyren Wilson seals 6-5 win on Wu Yize with century

John Higgins reeled off three straight frames as he came from behind to earn a 6-5 semi-final victory over Judd Trump in the Masters at Alexandra Palace.

Things were looking ominous for the Scot early on as Trump ensured he took a three-frame lead with a neat break of 60, which ended with Higgins conceding. Higgins gave Trump something to think about before the mid-session interval by clawing it back to 3-2, including a century break, but breaks of 70 and 57 by the world No 1 helped him move to within a frame of victory at 5-3.

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Nwabali denies Salah, saves 2 penalties as Nigeria beats Egypt for 3rd place at Africa Cup

CASABLANCA, Morocco (AP) — Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali saved two penalties including the first from Mohamed Salah for Nigeria to beat Egypt 4-2 in a penalty shootout for third place at the Africa Cup Nations on Saturday.

Ademola Lookman scored the winning penalty.

Salah and Omar Marmoush had their penalty kicks saved by Nwabali at the start of the shootout after the teams drew 0-0 in normal time. No extra time was played for the consolation of a bronze medal.

It was the Super Eagles’ second consecutive penalty shootout following a scoreless draw after losing the semifinal to Morocco on penalties on Wednesday.

Nwabali produced a strong hand to stop a well-taken penalty from Salah, then thwarted Marmoush’s effort straight down the middle with his foot.

Salah had been kept quiet by Nigeria’s defenders and was unable to add to his 11 Africa Cup goals altogether.

Victor Osimhen remained on Nigeria’s substitutes’ bench, suggesting he was carrying an injury from the semifinal defeat to Morocco. Osimhen was taken off in extra time of that game just before the penalty shootout.

The Super Eagles ended the Africa Cup on a positive note in contrast to the last edition, where they lost in the final to host Ivory Coast.

Morocco and Senegal will contest the final in Rabat on Sunday. Sadio Mané's goal was enough to send Senegal through with a 1-0 win over Egypt in their semifinal.

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AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations