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Knicks’ Jalen Brunson earns first defensive player of the game honors of season

Knicks guard Jalen Brunson is best known for his scoring and leadership, but for one night he was the team's best defender.

Yes, really.

Head coach Mike Brown announced after the Knicks' 132-101 rout of the Wizards on Tuesday night that Brunson was the team's Defensive Player of the Game, an honor Brown and his coaching staff introduced when he was hired before the season began. 

It's the first time this season Brunson has earned the honor, doing so after his two-steal performance. But it was Brunson's two drawn charges that clinched it for Brown.

"You talk about one of our standards is sacrificing," Brown said. "And you know, you got your MVP candidate, your All-Star, sacrificing his body to try to get charges and get the possession going the other way. So, a great overall team effort tonight, good win."

When asked how the rest of the Knicks reacted to him being named defensive player of the game, the three-time All-Star guard played coy. 

"Very surprised, and so was I," Brunson said. When asked for specifics, Brunson repeated "no comment" a few times with a smirk.

"I'm not gonna repeat any of the jokes [from the team], but it's legitimate," Brown said. "He had two charges, second in NBA in charges taken, you know, only one away. So he might, he should be in first place now."

After Brunson's two drawn charges, he is now at the top of the NBA in that category, and Brunson knows how important those plays are to a game.

"Obviously, we get the turnover and we look at it as a momentum-changer and as a possibility to, kind of make the other team feel defeated in the moment," Brunson said. "We use it to our advantage and have the momentum swing and keep it going."

Brunson's increased defensive pressure has come at a great time. New York has now won seven in a row and the first-year coach said it has helped with the team's turnaround.

"I said it before, he’s more than a facilitator," Brown explained. "He's more than a scorer. He's more than team captain, great guy and all that other stuff. Whatever he puts his mind to, sky's the limit, you know. So, for him to go out there and not only talk about what we need to do defensively, but also leave it out there, too, is a lot of fun to see -- especially when you're talking about a guy that's stepping up and putting his body on the line to get ran over time after time after time." 

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Maccelli scores 2 as Maple Leafs beat Oilers 5-2, head into Olympic break with 3 straight wins

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Matias Maccelli scored twice and the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 on Tuesday night.

Matthew Knies added a goal and an assist for Toronto (27-21-9). John Tavares scored his 20th of the season and Bobby McMann added an empty-netter.

Anthony Stolarz stopped 34 of the 36 shots he faced for the Maple Leafs, including a diving stop on Leon Draisaitl that prevent the Edmonton from getting back into the game in the final minutes of the third period.

Jake Walman and Kasperi Kapanen scored for the Oilers (28-20-9), who have lost two straight. Connor Ingram made 22 saves.

Toronto was coming off a 4-2 victory over the Flames in Calgary on Monday, and heads into the Olympic break with a three-game winning streak.

Kapanen tied the score at 2 early in the third period, but a pair of penalties proved to be Edmonton’s undoing. Rookie winger Matthew Savoie was sent off for interference, and Mattias Janmark joined him seconds later on a high-sticking infraction. Maccelli scored just under a minute into Toronto’s 5-on-3 advantage and Tavares swiped a shot in from the side of the net on the power play to give Toronto a 3-2 lead at the 7:42 mark of the third period.

Toronto went 2 for 2 on the power play, while Edmonton failed to score on its only man-advantage chance of the game.

Up next

Maple Leafs: Off for the Olympic break and at Tampa Bay on Feb. 25.

Oilers: At Calgary on Wednesday.

___

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

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Player Grades: Lakers vs. Nets

BROOKLYN, NY - FEBRUARY 3: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on February 3, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Nets are an unserious basketball team and the Lakers took care of them quickly on Tuesday night. LA immediately got out in front and had twice as many points as Brooklyn had in the opening quarter.

By halftime, the Lakers had 69 points, and this contest was over.

So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.

LeBron James

30 minutes, 25 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 10-16 FG, 0-3 3PT, 5-7 FT, +24

If this was LeBron’s last dance in Brooklyn, it was a wonderful waltz. He had some monster jams and dominated, especially in the first half.

Thanks to James’ dominance, the crowd was cheering for the Lakers as if it were a home game.

Grade: A+

Luka Dončić

29 minutes, 24 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 5 turnovers, 1 foul, 8-18 FG, 4-11 3PT, 4-6FT, +19

Luka, who was named the Western Conference Player of the Month earlier on Tuesday, continues his elite 2026 with another solid performance on the road.

He came out aggressive with 14 points in the opening quarter and had some mesmerizing passes, including a no-look dime to Deandre Ayton.

Grade: A+

Deandre Ayton

28 minutes, 7 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, 3-5 FG, 1-2 FT, +16

Ayton wasn’t as aggressive in this game, but it also wasn’t really needed. He took only a handful of shots and converted most of them.

Grade: B

Marcus Smart

18 minutes, 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 3-5 FG, 0-2 3PT, +30

Smart got a little trigger-happy in this game. With the result secured, the shot-chucking was less concerning than it typically can be.

Grade: C

Jake LaRavia

22 minutes, 18 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 1 foul, 7-9 FG, 1-2 3PT, 3-6 FT, +10

LaRavia started this game but was relegated to the bench to start the third quarter, with Austin Reaves back. Against the Nets, he was good, but a reserve role should be his position moving forward.

Grade: B+

Jaxson Hayes

15 minutes, 9 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 steal, 3-3 FG, 3-4 FT, +8

Hayes was a bulldozer during his early shifts, just stuffing the ball in the hoop repeatedly. These kinds of plays are why he will be a participant in the Dunk Contest.

Grade: A-

Austin Reaves

21 minutes, 15 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, 3 fouls, 3-9 FG, 1-5 3PT, 8-10 FT, +10

Reaves was noticeably rusty in his return, but that is expected. He’s going to be just fine, and the fact that he is back is the most important aspect of this game.

Grade: B-

Rui Hachimura

26 minutes, 5 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 2-3 FG, 1-2 3PT, -1

Hachimura got virtually no looks in this game. In other matchups, he has to be more involved in the offense. This was an unserious game, so less of an immediate concern and more something the team has to get right moving forward.

Grade: C-

Jarred Vanderbilt

19 minutes, 6 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2-3 FG, 0-1 3PT, 2-4 FT, +4

Okay defense and shooting from Vando in this one. It’ll be interesting to see if Lakers head coach JJ Redick keeps him in the rotation once Reaves is fully back and not on a minutes restriction.

Grade: C-

Gabe Vincent

16 minutes, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 steals, 0-3 FG, 0-2 3PT, -9

When Vincent doesn’t score, it’s really hard to justify playing him. It might be time for him to take a seat.

Grade: F

Drew Timme, Dalton Knecht, Maxi Kleber, Bronny James

None of these players were in the game for 10-plus minutes, so they will not be getting a grade.

JJ Redick

Redick had the Lakers ready to dominate, and they took care of business early. It’s still annoying to see the Lakers have another third quarter where they got outscored, but you can kind of give them a pass in this instance.

Grade: B+

Tuesday’s inactives: Adou Thiero, Chris Mañon, Nick Smith Jr.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

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Sam Lewis, Thijs De Ridder lead No. 18 Virginia to 67-47 win over Pitt

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Sam Lewis scored 15 points, Thijs De Ridder had 10 points and 12 rebounds and No. 18 Virginia beat Pittsburgh 67-47 on Tuesday night while scoring its fewest points this season.

De Ridder, the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Week, had his third double-double of the season. Chance Mallory scored 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting for the Cavaliers (19-3, 8-2 ACC), and Malik Thomas had 10 points.

Virginia has won three straight and eight of nine, with its only loss in that stretch coming to now-No. 14 North Carolina.

The Cavaliers' previous scoring low was 70 points in a win over Stanford on Jan. 10. A low-scoring, defense-first squad under Tony Bennett, Virginia came in averaging 84 points per game this season under first-year coach Ryan Odom.

Cameron Corhen and Nojus Indrusaitis scored 11 points apiece for the Panthers (9-14, 2-8), who have lost eight of 10.

Pitt took an early 7-3 lead in the opening minutes before the Cavaliers went on a 12-0 run to take a lead they would not relinquish. Both teams struggled with turnovers, with the Panthers committing 17 to the Cavaliers’ 10. But Virginia capitalized with 23 points off turnovers to just nine by Pitt.

The Panthers' most recent victory over a ranked opponent came at Virginia, a 74-63 win on Feb. 13, 2024.

Up next

Pitt: Hosts SMU on Saturday.

Virginia: Hosts Syracuse on Saturday.

___

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Islanders' Bo Horvat Breaks Out For Big Night Against Penguins

ELMONT, NY --  New York Islanders forward Bo Horvat had gone scoreless in eight games leading into Tuesday night's showdown against the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

That slump is no more as Horvat scored two goals, including the overtime winner, while also adding an assist in a 5-4 win.

At 18:41 of the first, Horvat tied the game at 1-1, poking one in from the doorstep:

Then, at 19:56 of the second period, Matthew Schaefer scored after Horvat fed Pulock across the slot, who one-touched the puck to the 18-year-old for a one-time finish:

And lastly, came the overtime winner in which Horvat went top shelf glove side on a breakaway to send the Islanders' faithful into a frenzy at the 52-second mark of the extra frame:

With the victory, the Islanders are one point behind the Penguins for second in the Metropolitan Division, with Pittsburgh earning a critical point. 

The Islanders now have a four-point lead for third place in the division. 

Horvat now has 23 goals and 15 assists for 38 points in 43 games. 

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Winners, Losers from Jaren Jackson Jr. trade to Utah

The Memphis Grizzlies realized that the Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. era had run its course — well short of the hopes and dreams they had for it just a few years ago — and it was time to start over. The Utah Jazz had reached the point in their rebuild that it was time to stop being patient and do something bold.

The result was the most unexpected deal of the NBA trade deadline: Former Defensive Player of the Year Jackson going to the Jazz in an eight-player trade.

So who are the winners here? Let's break it down, but first let's look at the details of the trade:

Memphis receives: Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Walter Clayton Jr., Georges Niang three first-round picks (best of Jazz 2027 picks, Lakers 2027 pick, Suns 2031 pick).
Utah receives: Jaren Jackson Jr., John Konchar, Jock Landale, Vince Williams Jr.

Winner: Utah Jazz

NBC Sports' own Grant Liffman summed it up perfectly: He liked this "aggressive trade" and wished more teams would take chances like this.

The reality is, Utah was not going to get a player as good as Jackson in free agency, so they used their cap space and picks to go get one. Utah, at the urging of owner Ryan Smith, also knew this season needed to be the end of their bottoming out as they rebuilt. The fans were getting restless. The owner was getting restless. Yet the fans and the organization still carry a scar from how the NBA Draft Lottery treated them last year (when they had the worst record and still picked fifth). Danny and Austin Ainge decided not to trust their rebuild to luck anymore, they took a big swing.

I say they connected.

Utah now has an interesting — not finished, not polished, but loaded with potential — core going forward. They can pair Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen along the front line, a long, athletic duo who can score inside and out. They plan to re-sign Walker Kessler this summer and slot him in at the five to cover the rebounding and toughness deficiencies of Jackson and Markkanen, according to Tony Jones of the Athletic.

Utah also has Keyshawn George playing at an All-Star level at a guard spot and last year's No. 5 pick Ace Bailey on the wing, who has started to find his footing in the NBA of late.

However, there are caveats to loving this trade for the Jazz.

First, they have to continue tanking this season — they need another shot at the lottery in a deep draft to supplement what they already have.

The other is that Jaren Jackson Jr. gets healthy and consistently plays back at his peak, closer to his Defensive Player of the Year level. Utah is locked in to JJJ for at least three more seasons at an average of more than $50 million a season — in today's NBA, you can't miss on max contracts and contend.

Winner: Memphis Grizzlies

I get it, not every Grizzlies fan likes this trade — this is a total teardown when fans can look at the roster and think all they needed were tweaks. It's fair to be frustrated that the promise of this roster from 2021 and 2022 — which is not that long ago — has disappeared in a puff of smoke.

The reality is that Ja Morant did not continue on his upward trajectory and — as much as he is beloved in the city and by the fan base — he is not the guy who got his feet in the paint every time he drove, which was the engine of this offense. It would be a shock if Morant is still a member of the Grizzlies next season.

This rebuild really started when Memphis got four Orlando first-round picks for Desmond Bane. Combine that with the haul from this trade and their own picks, and the Grizzlies have a dozen first-round picks in the next seven years. It's a solid foundation for a rebuild.

Memphis needs to nail those picks. They need to better develop young players. They need to get a little lucky. But it was time for a reset, and this is the right long-term move for the franchise.

Losers: Adam Silver, anyone who hates tanking

The story of the end of this NBA season will be tanking.

This trade and these two teams embody it.

Memphis entered today as the No. 11 seed in the West, 3.5 games out of the play-in, ground it could make up if it got healthy and pushed for it. Instead, the Grizzlies surveyed the situation, looked at a deep draft, and went the other direction — they traded not just their best player on both ends right now, but also other role players who were playing hard.

Utah has been in tank mode for a while, even if the Ainges tell you how much they hate to tank and won't lose just to lose. The Jazz owe their first-round pick to the Thunder, but it is top-eight protected, and Utah wants to keep that pick, so we're not seeing a lot of Lauri Markkanen right now. We're not going to see a lot of Jackson either is my bet. The Jazz entered today with the sixth-worst record in the league and a 96% chance of retaining their pick. Jackson can help them win games now, so the real question is how much we will see of him through the end of the season.

Don't blame these teams, the NBA set up the rules, the Jazz and Grizzlies are just playing the game when the name of the game is "acquire the most talent you can."

Winners: Ja Morant trade suitors

This is really simple: Memphis is going to trade him, maybe before the deadline or maybe this summer, but they are going to trade him — and the price just went down.

Teams interested in Morant were doing so with some caution, this was more taking a chance you can get him healthy and back closer to his All-Star form than trading for a star, but at a lower price this becomes a better deal for someone.

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Just don’t duck the tax, Sixers

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 5: Bob Myers and Josh Harris of the Philadelphia 76ers look on against the Denver Nuggets at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 5, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Nuggets defeated the 76ers 125-124 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The headline here speaks for itself. Heading into Thursday’s trade deadline, I simply implore the Philadelphia 76ers not to make ducking the luxury tax their priority. Now, you might say that this post is true Negadelphian: complaining about something that hasn’t even happened yet. But when something happens every year to the point where Joel Embiid feels compelled to issue a soft warning to ownership, you know there’s a decent possibility of recurrence. (Given how strongly Joel feels about the issue, I feel like there’s a non-zero chance he reads this — in which case, ‘Hi, Joel’.)

The Paul George suspension has certainly complicated the anti-ducking agenda. His 25-game suspension resulted in a luxury tax credit for the Sixers, and the team is now just currently $1.3 million above the tax line. That’s so close that Josh Harris can smell that revenue redistribution money like a cartoon character drifting towards a pie cooling on a windowsill. Those $28 million, 12-bedroom, 22-bathroom homes in Washington D.C. don’t pay for themselves after all. From his perspective, just trade Andre Drummond and some draft capital to a team with cap space and let’s go fuel up the helicopter. He has a new favorite child down I-95 in the Commanders anyway.

But enough is enough. The East is so wide open that the Cleveland Cavaliers think James Harden is the missing piece to get them over the top. The Celtics are improving their roster despite their best player rehabbing a torn Achilles. Philadelphia has a healthy-ish version of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey playing All-NBA-level ball, and a solid supporting cast, and would potentially downgrade the roster in order to save money, because why, you’re worried about the Pistons? The Detroit “starting Tobias Harris” Pistons? Let’s just see what can happen in late April and May.

I’ll even throw management an olive branch here. Feel free to make ducking the tax a consideration. Daryl Morey is a smart guy. If he can do something like move Drummond to New Orleans with some reasonable draft capital for 21-year-old center Yves Missi, thereby getting a player that upgrades the team today, provides potential future upside, and gets the team under the luxury tax in the process, I’m on board. I understand there are team-building restrictions for being in the tax, yada yada yada, and if it can be avoided, all the better. Morey probably has thought through a dozen or two different scenarios like the common example I just threw out, so let’s see one of them. The Quentin Grimes-Caleb Martin trade last year came out of nowhere. I’m ready to be wowed, Daryl.

I also don’t expect anything major. The Sixers’ inability to work out a deal with Grimes over the summer has severely limited the team in the ‘tradeable contracts’ department. Kelly Oubre Jr. is the only guy in the range where his salary could be a good connecting piece, but he has played terrific this season. Anybody you bring in would have to either be a clear upgrade over Kelly or provide similar production on a longer-term deal where you saw value in that future roster stability/flexibility, and those sorts of players aren’t readily being given away.

But so help me. If Thursday’s deadline comes and goes and all we see is a player shipped out to duck the tax, and the team tries to spin it as needing a roster spot to sign Dominick Barlow to a standard deal, when Eric Gordon and Kyle Lowry are taking up roster emeritus positions, I’m ready to pass out pitchforks across the river in Camden. Hopefully, it doesn’t come to that. I honestly remain optimistic that it won’t. But this had to be said.

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Islanders 5, Penguins 4 (OT): Horvat, Barzal find their groove

Bo knows OT. | NHLI via Getty Images

The New York Islanders pulled out a late equalizer and 5-4 overtime win in an intense, back-and-forth meeting with the Pittsburgh Penguins that highlighted how we have Ilya Sorokin and they have Replacement Jarry.

True, Sorokin allowed at least one goal he would want back, when Bryan Rust banked a shot in off his glove from below the goal line to make it 3-2 in the second period, but he faced more shots (35-23) and stopped more nailbiters while Stuart Skinner offered holes the Islanders gratefully found.

[NHL Gamecenter | Game Summary | Event Summary | Natural Stat Trick]

That applies to Bo Horvat’s late first period goal, when Skinner bobbled a glove save and Horvat pounced on the loose puck with Skinner unawares (to be fair, it took an odd carom in between). It also applies to noted cannon-launcher Mat Barzal’s one-timer from the point to tie it at 3-3 and Ryan Pulock’s snap shot from the slot to tie it at 4-4 with 4:36 left in regulation.

Horvat finished things off on an overtime breakaway, snapping a shot past Skinner right as the wobbling, rolling puck finally settled down.

Notes

  • It was a competitive game throughout, but felt too tilted Pittsburgh’s way for comfort. As has often been the case this season, Islanders goaltending provided an important difference, just enough cover to keep them in the game.
  • There Barzal Offensive Zone Orbits aplenty, but his rushes and breakouts were also key to several goals, including his own. Made a nice chip to send Horvat on the breakaway for the OT winner, too.
  • Matthew Schaefer continued his “moah than Bahbby Aahh” season with his 16th goal of the season, and 23rd assist on the winner.
  • Was that a power play goal? No. No, the Isles did not score on the power play. 0 for 2.
  • Gotta be huge for Horvat to put a couple in; he’s had some breakaways since coming back from injury, so finishing one will help make him feel whole going to Italy.
  • Damn, Patrick Roy is cold and hard-ass with Anthony Duclair. Benched him after four shifts, 3:04 TOI. Per Andrew Gross, “Roy said this was a ‘big game’ and he didn’t like Duclair’s defensive tracking. But he said Duclair will be OK.” Duclair got back as the third man on Anthony Mantha’s goal, but he was covering no one. So I definitely get it, especially if this is a discussion they’ve had before.
  • After the Isles tied it up yet again at 4-4, the Penguins thought they had another go-ahead goal, but Ben Kindel clearly was kicking Sorokin’s pad and then continuing to drive him into the net, so even by current random standards that was pretty obvious goalie interference. Took the refs long enough to review it though.

Sidney Crosby had a bout of Vintage Crosby Whiner when he tripped Simon Holmstrom as the Isles winger carried the puck out of the zone in the third period. It was special edition, since Crosby pre-whined, stopping and making a diving gesture as play carried on before a penalty was called…oh, by the way, no penalty was called. So it was fun to see Crosby continue to whine after he went to the bench, a display reminiscent of his early Entitlement Years in the league. It was one of those occasion where it didn’t take much to cause Holmstrom to fall — skating fast on edges can be like that — but it wasn’t a dive. I didn’t see Crosby’s reaction to his trip of Barzal, also in the third, but I’m sure it was totally dignified.

Second-Best Moment of the Night

Schaefer with the laser, after the Isles make a big push as the clock wound down in the first, making two goals in 1:15:

Best Moment of the Night

Gotta be the Horvat winner. Schaefer breaks up the play, Barzal pitches it forward, Horvat keeps the wobbling puck moving forward and is able to snap it just in time:

Up Next

Damn, the Isles needed those two points. It was not looking promising at several moments there. Unfortunate that they let the Penguins get a point, too, but it sure beats zero and two.

They finish the pre-Olympics stretch with a visit to the struggling Devils on Thursday.

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Purple Row After Dark: How would you rank the Rockies’ offseason talent acquisitions?

DENVER, CO - AUGUST 15: Jake McCarthy #31 of the Arizona Diamondbacks jogs off the field in the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on August 15, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Tonight, I’d be curious about your thoughts on a ranking published by Bleacher Report over the weekend. Joel Reuter asked this question: “Which MLB team has added the most talent this offseason?” (It kind of follows up some of the discussion we had today in the Rockpile comments.)

He then goes on to rank all 30 teams. (The Rockies come in 23rd.)

Watching a team truly rebuild is a bit disorienting since none of the familiar metrics apply. What constitutes a successful season for the Rockies won’t apply to most MLB teams.

So with that in mind, I’d like to pose Reuter’s question to the Purple Row Night Owls: How would you rank the Rockies’ offseason talent acquisition given that they are in the midst of a rebuild?

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

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Zac Gallen thinks it would be ‘awesome’ to re-sign with Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen throws a pitch.
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen throws against the Texas Rangers during the first inning in Game 1 of the baseball World Series Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, in Arlington, Texas....

One of the top remaining pitchers available in free agency wouldn’t mind a reunion with his old club.

Right-hander Zac Gallen, a 2023 All-Star who remains unsigned with pitchers and catchers officially set to report to spring training next week, said it would be “awesome” to re-sign with the Diamondbacks.

“It’s been humbling,” Gallen told reporters Tuesday at the WM Phoenix Open. “That’s kind of been the constant thing the last couple of weeks. People have been like, ‘Hey, we’d really love for you to come back.’ I think people understand what Phoenix means to me.

Zac Gallen still hasn’t signed with a team this offseason. AP

“My wife is from here, I’m calling this home base now, so for us to be here would be awesome.”

Gallen, 30, developed into Arizona’s ace after being acquired from the Marlins exchange for Jazz Chisholm Jr. in July 2019  — but he’s coming off a disappointing season.

The Somerdale, N.J., native went 13-15 with a 4.83 ERA in 33 starts across a career-high 192 innings in 2025.

While he posted career-worst marks in several categories, Gallen finished strong, pitching to a 3.32 ERA in the second half, right in line with his career 3.58 mark.

Even with that rebound, 2025 was a far cry from his elite form; he went 12-4 with a 2.54 ERA in 2022 and followed it with a National League All-Star selection the next season.

Gallen’s market has been murky this offseason, likely compounded by his decision to decline Arizona’s $22.025 million qualifying offer, which would entitle the Diamondbacks to draft-pick compensation if he signs elsewhere and penalize the team he signs with.

The Diamondbacks discussed a reunion with Gallen while the Cubs, Padres, Angels and others have also expressed interest, The Post’s Jon Heyman reported.

Retaining Gallen would be a solid way for Arizona to wrap up an offseason in which the team did not trade superstar infielder Ketel Marte and added veteran hitters Carlos Santana and Nolan Arenado.

The Diamondbacks also added former Yankees reliever Jonathan Loaisiga and reunited with fellow righty Merrill Kelly.

Former Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes, who signed a franchise-record six-year, $210 million deal last offseason, is expected to return at some point in 2026 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Zac Gallen of the Arizona Diamondbacks delivers a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies at Chase Field on September 20, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. Getty Images

Despite an uneven year and Arizona’s failure to reach the postseason, Gallen said the support from the fanbase has left a lasting impression.

“It gives you chill that people still want you to come back and be part of the organization and franchise,” Gallen said.

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Blue Jays emerge as team in Framber Valdez sweepstakes

Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez throws a pitch in the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, New York, USA, Saturday, August 09, 2025.
Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez throws a pitch in the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, New York, USA, Saturday, August 09, 2025.

Another American League East squad is in the running for baseball’s top remaining free agent pitcher.

The Blue Jays — among several other clubs — have expressed interest in left-hander Framber Valdez, The Post’s Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman reported on Tuesday.

Heyman reported last week that Valdez, 32, was believed to be patient as he decided on his next team.

Framber Valdez throws a pitch during the Yankees’ win over the Astors in The Bronx on Aug. 9, 2025. JASON SZENES/ NY POST

The Orioles have previously expressed interest in the former Astros hurler, and the Yankees checked in on him before trading with the Marlins for lefty Ryan Weathers.

Toronto, after falling two outs shy of a World Series, has been active this offseason, particularly in the pitching market. The Blue Jays have already added righty starters Dylan Cease (seven years, $210 million) and Korean Baseball Organization MVP Cody Ponce (three years, $30 million) and submarine reliever Tyler Rogers (three years, $37 million) this offseason.

Valdez was a workhorse for Houston over eight seasons, especially over the past four seasons when he averaged over 191 innings per year.

A two-time All-Star and 2022 World Series champion, Valdez has received Cy Young votes in four separate seasons.

In 2025, he held a 3.66 ERA and 1.245 WHIP over 192 innings. His season wasn’t free of drama, however, as he appeared to intentionally cross up catcher César Salazar, throwing a pitch at the backstop’s chest during a September game against the Yankees. His agent, in the immediate aftermath, called the allegations “preposterous.”

Framber Valdez has not yet signed with a new team. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

Another one of Valdez’s former catchers, Martin Maldonado, told Chron.com this week that Valdez is reliable pitcher any team would be lucky to have.

“He’s a hard worker, a guy ready to compete, ready to get the ball every five days, even four, if needed,” Maldonado said of Valdez. “He’s developed himself into that guy, too. He’s worked to be that kind of pitcher.

“As a teammate, I never had a problem with him. He’s a guy that, you know, like me, he competes. Everyone knows that about him.”

Valdez turned down a qualifying offer from Houston to hit free agency, so that means any team that signs him will forfeit some form of draft picks in 2026.

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Bo Horvat's OT goal lifts Islanders to 5-4 win over Penguins

NEW YORK (AP) — Bo Horvat scored his second goal of the game 52 seconds into overtime and the New York Islanders beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 on Tuesday night.

Mathew Barzal had a goal and an assist, Ilya Sorokin made 31 saves and New York snapped its two-game skid. Matthew Schaefer and Ryan Pulock also scored for the Islanders.

Justin Brazeau had a goal and an assist for the Penguins, who dropped their second consecutive game. Anthony Mantha, Egor Chinakhov and Bryan Rust also scored. Stuart Skinner stopped 18 shots.

Horvat buried a breakaway in overtime to give the Islanders a critical victory in their second-to-last game prior to the Olympic break.

Barzal tied it at 3 midway through the third period, but Brazeau redirected a shot from Brett Kulak to put Pittsburgh ahead 4-3 with 9:20 remaining.

Pulock responded for the Islanders with less than six minutes left in the third to tie it again and force overtime.

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby corralled a loose puck behind the net and slid it to Rust, who fired a sharp-angled shot from behind the goal line that caught Sorokin off guard with under six minutes to play in the second.

Brazeau set up Mantha in the slot for the opening goal of the game at 12:09 of the first.

Horvat tied it with less than two minutes left in the period when he buried a rebound.

Schaefer, the 18-year-old rookie defenseman, fired a slap shot from the point in the closing seconds of the first to give the Islanders a 2-1 lead. It was his 16th goal.

Chinakhov evened the score at 2 early in the second off a feed from Tommy Novak.

Up next

Penguins: Visit the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.

Islanders: Visit the New Jersey Devils on Thursday.

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Rapid Recap: Bucks 131, Bulls 115

MILWAUKEE, WI - FEBRUARY 3: Matas Buzelis #14 of Chicago Bulls passes the ball during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 3, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images

The Milwaukee Bucks started their three-game homestand with a blowout win over the Chicago Bulls. It stops the bleeding a little bit, after the Bucks had lost five in a row. Kyle Kuzma tied a season high with 31 points on 12/22 shooting, while Ryan Rollins finished with a 21-point, 10-assist double-double. Second-year forward Matas Buzelis led the Bulls offense with 22 points on 5/10 shooting from three-point range. 

NBA.com Box Score

Game Recap

With nine rotational players out tonight on both sides (for various reasons), they each needed someone to step up. After Kuzma got the Bucks started with the first four points, AJ Green found his rhythm from distance. Green’s back-to-back threes helped extend Milwaukee’s lead to nine points after Kuzma laid it in, forcing a timeout from Chicago. That didn’t slow down the Bucks, finishing the quarter on a 10-4 run. That gave the Bucks their largest advantage, 39-24, heading into the second quarter. 

Already up by double-digits, Milwaukee continued to pour it on a short-handed Chicago squad. They hit their first two shots from beyond the arc, making it eight consecutive makes from three-point range going back to Ryan Rollins’ three in the first. For once, the Bucks were the team ahead by 20+ points, after Myles Turner hit a couple of free throws. Turner and Rollins took turns scoring on the Bulls, with the pair going for 10 straight points. Green punctuated an explosive first half for Milwaukee’s offense, putting up 77 points while Chicago limped into the locker room with 52. 

The Bulls got out to a fast start in the second half, going on a 10-2 run. After a timeout from Doc Rivers, the Bucks settled in thanks to Kuzma, scoring two straight buckets for Milwaukee. Yet, the Bucks we’ve come to expect this season reared their ugly heads once again. Chicago went on a 15-4 run, cutting Milwaukee’s lead from 19 to just eight. The Bucks were able to close out the frame on a 9-3 run, thanks in part to the two-man game of Cole Anthony and Pete Nance. The run gave Milwaukee a 16-point lead going into the fourth, 105-89. 

The Bucks continued to cash in from three-point range. Three of their first four makes in the stanza were from beyond the arc, including two from Kuzma. The early barrage put them back up by 22, forcing Billy Donovan to call a timeout. From there, the Bucks were able to put the game into Kuz-control, as they ended their five-game losing streak. 

Stat That Stood Out

The Bucks’ three-point shooting was exceptional tonight. After a rough outing from distance against the Celtics on Sunday, they shot it efficiently against the Bulls. On the night, Milwaukee went 20/38 (60.5%), with Trent tying a season high in three-point makes with five.

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Jaylen Brown’s 33 points push Celtics past Mavs, 110-100

Feb 3, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) reacts against the Dallas Mavericks during the first quarter at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

The Celtics got their third straight win on Tuesday night, beating the Mavericks 110-100. Jaylen Brown’s 33 points led the way with Payton Pritchard’s 26 points and Luka Garza’s 16 points off of the bench.

The Celtics were without Jayson Tatum, Chris Boucher and (technically) Anfernee Simons — the trade with Chicago has yet to be finalized, so Simons is still on the roster. They started Derrick White, Baylor Scheierman, Sam Hauser, Jaylen Brown and Neemias Queta. Payton Pritchard came off of the bench for the first time this season as the Celtics are now down a guard due to the trade. Dallas started Max Christie, Cooper Flagg, Naji Marshall, Caleb Martin and Daniel Gafford. They had a lengthy injury report; Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, P.J. Washington, Dereck Lively II, D’Angelo Russell, Brandon Williams and Dante Exum all missed the game for Dallas.

The Celtics got off to a 7-2 start but Dallas quickly took it back with an 8-0 run of their own. It was a hot start for Jaylen Brown. He scored 12 of the first 15 Celtics points, going 5/8 from the field and 2/2 from three.

The Celtics led 32-29 after the first quarter, thanks to another Payton Pritchard buzzer beater.

Brown led the team with 15 points while Payton gave the team 8 points on 4/5 shooting off the bench.

The Celtics created a little separation in the 2nd quarter. A 18-5 start and an 11-0 put Boston up 16, 50-34. However, back-to-back Dallas baskets including a wide open layup had Joe Mazzulla calling a timeout.

Dallas closed the quarter with 10-2 run to cut Boston’s 16-point lead in half by halftime. The Celtics led 52-44, Brown had 17 points while Pritchard had 15 points off of the bench. For the Mavericks, Caleb Martin had 11 points in the first half (because of course he did).

We will never have peace from this man.

It was also a dominate 2nd quarter for the Celtics defense.

The Mavericks kept pushing in the third quarter, but the Cs did a good job at keeping Dallas at an arm’s length with Luka Garza’s back-to-back threes. Then, the Celtics put together an 8-0 run to extend the lead to 19.

The Celtics led the Mavs 86-67 at the end of three quarters. Luka Garza was great; he had 16 points while going 4/4 from three, including 3 in the third quarter. JB led the team in scoring with 25 points.

Boston ballooned the lead to 23 points but Dallas fought back with a 15-5 run to cut the Celtics lead to 13. However, Sam Hauser hit a big three to settle everyone down and got the lead back to 16.

Dallas tried to make a real push to get back in the game, but 8 straight Jaylen Brown points kept them at a distance.

The Celtics won the game, advancing to 32-18 on the season. They shot 49% from the field and 33% from three while the Mavericks shot 42% from the field and 28% from three. The Celtics next game is tomorrow night at 8 EST in Houston.