WASHINGTON — Luka Doncic could do no wrong in the nation’s capital.
And the perpetually struggling Washington Wizards didn’t stand a chance against the offensive onslaught Doncic and the Lakers brought with them inside Capital One Arena, where the Lakers picked up a 142-111 win to continue a strong eight-game “Grammy” trip.
Doncic was in full control of Friday’s game from the moment he first touched the ball.
Luka Doncic celebrates in front of Jamir Watkins. Getty Images
The Lakers’ first possession: Doncic assisting Deandre Ayton, whose declining usage and production has been under significant scrutiny as of late, on a layup that started one of Ayton’s best performances since November.
Doncic’s first shot: a nine-foot floater that set the tone for the remainder of the game.
Because regardless of the problems the hapless Wizards tried to present, Doncic and the Lakers had the answer.
Force Doncic to pick up his dribble with a double team right after he crosses halfcourt after he scored 16 points in the opening 9 ½ minutes? He responded with an effortless pass that flew by four Wizards defenders to assist Jarred Vanderbilt on a dunk that gave the Lakers a 40-22 lead.
Provide a strong contest and get Doncic off-balance on a pull-up 3-pointer with strong iso defense like Washington guard Jamir Watkins did late in the second quarter? Doncic will bank in the 3 to loud cheers from the crowd.
The result was Doncic having his sixth triple-double of the season with 37 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds.
Ayton finished with a 28 point-13 rebound double-double, shooting 85.7% (12-of-14) from the field.
LeBron James added 20 points and six assists.
Doncic shoots over a defender. NBAE via Getty Images
What it means
The Lakers not only improved to 29-18, but they also expect to get Austin Reaves back sometime within the next two games, furthering their offensive onslaught.
Turning point
The moment Doncic stepped onto the court.
Seriously.
The Wizards looked helpless trying to figure out how to slow down the MVP candidate.
Doncic had 16 points, seven assists and seven rebounds in the opening quarter, making the game uncompeitive from the outset.
The Lakers not only led by double digits since midway through the opening quarter, but had at least a 20-point lead for the entire second half.
MVP: Luka Doncic
When you make positive history for a storied franchise like the Lakers, this honor becomes easy.
Doncic became the first Laker to record a triple-double in a single half with his 26 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in the opening two quarters at Washington.
It was the second time in his career Doncic recorded a single-half triple-double, with the first coming on Dec. 6, 2023, while he was with the Mavericks.
Doncic shoots over the double team. Getty Images
Stat of the game: First half triple-double
Doncic posted a triple-double… in the first half. In 19 minutes, he put up 26 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.
It was the second time of the play-by-play era (1997-98) that a player recorded a 25+ point triple double in the first half.
The only other person to do it?
Doncic in 2023 when with the Mavericks.
Up next
After bouncing around the country for the last 1½ weeks, the Lakers will be able to be settled for a few days.
They’ll travel to New York for matchups against the Knicks and Nets on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively, to close out their eight-game trip.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 30: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket as Bilal Coulibaly #0 of the Washington Wizards plays defense during the game on January 30, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards lost to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night, 142-111 at Capital One Arena.
One night after defeating the Milwaukee Bucks, there was certainly optimism about what Washington could do tonight against LA. However, the talent disparity showed.
Luka Doncic led the Lakers with a triple double, scoring 37 points, dishing 13 assists and grabbing 11 rebounds. DeAndre Ayton added 28 points and 13 rebounds. LeBron James scored 20 points and dished 6 assists. The Lakers shot 61.2 percent from the field while the Wizards shot 44.4 percent themselves. The game was effectively decided when the Lakers shot 70.8 percent from the field with Doncic scoring 16 points. LA never took their foot off the gas from there. That tells all you need to know about a game like this.
For Washington, Malaki Branham led scoring 17 points off the bench on 6-of-9 shooting. Alex Sarr led the Wizards’ starters with 16 points and 5 assists.
The Wizards’ next game is on Sunday when they host the Sacramento Kings. Tip off is at 6 p.m. ET. See you then.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 30: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket as Jamir Watkins #5 of the Washington Wizards plays defense during the game on January 30, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 Kenny Giarla/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After an ugly loss against the Cavs, the Lakers bounced back with a 142-111 blowout victory over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night. It was LA’s largest win of the season.
The game began with Luka Dončić and Deandre Ayton shouldering the offensive load with a combined 16 points. Bub Carrington had a strong start for the Wizards, knocking down two triples for six points. LA went up by eight thanks to an 8-0 scoring run.
Luka was on triple-double watch, notching 11 points, six rebounds and five assists with 4:26 left in the quarter.
Alex Sarr started to take over for Washington, scoring eight points. Out of a timeout, Luka connected with Jaxson Hayes for the third time for two. Hayes was up to eight points off the bench.
At the end of the first, the purple and gold were up by 14.
The second period started with LeBron Jamesscoring seven points for the Lakers. He was now in double figures with 12 points. Marcus Smart also drained his first 3-pointer of the half. Ayton added two more points with a layup, pushing the lead to 22 for LA.
Washington called a timeout, and out of the break, Bilal Coulibaly scored on a dunk.
Sarr was the first Wizard in double figures with 12 points. LeBron threw down an emphatic dunk that had everyone buzzing.
Luka connected with Ayton three times for six quick points. That gave Luka his eighth, ninth and tenth assists of the half. He continued his ridiculous dominant half by finishing with a triple-double of 26 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. He was shooting 64% from the field and 62% from behind the arc.
Ayton and Hayes combined for 24 points, both in double figures. At halftime, the Lakers were up by a massive 29 points.
The second half began with Sarr converting on a jump shot. Jake LaRavia finally put some points on the board, cleaning up a missed layup by LeBron. A reverse dunk by LeBron, off the assist from Smart, forced the Wizards to call a timeout.
Washington was now down by 30.
After the break, the Wizards turned the ball over, a perfect depiction of how badly things were going for them. The Lakers and Luka were putting on an absolute clinic, shooting 80% to start the third quarter.
Luka drained his sixth 3-pointer of the game, shooting 60% from behind the arc. With 4:12 left in the period, Los Angeles was up by 34. Rui Hachimura scored a quick five points for LA. The Lakers did slightly take their foot off the gas pedal, allowing the Wizards to score a couple of easy buckets.
What had grown to a 38-point lead for Los Angeles was down to 24 going into the fourth period. Washington ended the quarter on a 10-1 scoring run.
The final frame began with both teams missing their first shots. Ayton scored LA’s first field goal with a dunk.
Jarred Vanderbilt drained a 3-pointer to go with the four steals and two rebounds he racked up in this game. At the 8:52 mark, Los Angeles was up by 28. LeBron dunked the ball for what felt like the 75th time in this game.
With 5:29 left, LA emptied its bench.
Key Player Stats
Luka finished the game with 37 points, 11 rebounds, 13 assists and three steals. LeBron scored 20 points with three rebounds, six assists and two steals. Ayton pitched in with 28 points, 13 rebounds and three assists.
Hayes had 10 points off the bench. Hachimura notched 11 points with two rebounds and two assists. Vanderbilt ended with eight points, two rebounds and four steals.
The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the New York Knicks on Sunday at 4:00 PM PT.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 08: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons dribbles the ball during the game against the Golden State Warriors on March 8, 2025 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons need to remember how to shoot or this road trip is going to end on a sour note. The Pistons were held under 100 points for the fifth time this season, and the primary factor is the team’s inability to hit outside shots. Detroit made just six of 29 3-pointers. Essentially, it’s been Duncan Robinson or nothing behind the line, and if he’s having an off night, Detroit’s offense grinds to a halt. Tobias just isn’t as effective or as prolific as he has been in year’s past, Javonte Green has been cold after being more reliable than not, and Daniss Jenkins tailed off. Ron Holland’s a willing shooter, but misses plenty, and Isaiah Stewart has been more focused on the interior lately. It’s creating problems for Cade Cunningham, it’s made Ausar Thompson’s inside driving completely inert, and the bench unit, one of the team’s superpowers, really struggles for long stretches.
Golden State is a middling shot-making team, ranking 12th in the NBA in 3-point percentage, but boy, do they love to get their shots up. The Warriors attempt the most threes in the league, hoisting 13 more than the Pistons on a nightly basis. That can turn a nine-point Pistons lead into a one-score game awfully quick. And Detroit will need ways to keep pace. Luckily for the Pistons, there might be a path to some easy points. The Warriors are near the bottom of the league in opponent’s fast break points, and are a below-average rebounding team. This is a chance for Detroit to get second looks and turn defense into offense.
Game Vitals
When: 10 p.m. ET Where: Chase Center, San Francisco, California Watch: ESPN Odds: Pistons +2.5
PRINCETON, N.J. (AP) — Perri Page scored 14 of her 23 points in the second half, Fliss Henderson had 10 points and nine rebounds, and Columbia beat No. 19 Princeton 73-67 on Friday night.
Columbia (14-5, 5-1 Ivy League) extended the longest active winning streak in true road games to 16 games. The Lions also secured their second win against an AP Top 25 opponent in program history, with the other coming in the 2023-24 season against then-No. 25 Princeton.
Princeton (17-2, 5-1) entered with the third longest win streak in nation at 15 overall.
Columbia scored six of the opening seven points of the fourth quarter to extend its lead to 60-51. Columbia’s lead was just 62-59 with 3:43 remaining before scoring the next seven points to take the first double-digit lead of the game at 69-59.
Riley Weiss, Columbia’s leading scorer at 18.6 points per game, fouled out with 8:46 remaining in the fourth with 12 points. Susie Rafiu and Mia Broom each added 10 points. The Lions were coming off an 89-32 victory over Dartmouth — the fewest points allowed and largest margin of victory against a Division I opponent in program history.
Madison St. Rose and Olivia Hutcherson each scored 17 points, and Skye Belker added 16 for Princeton. St. Rose left in the third quarter with an apparent knee injury and did not return.
Princeton trailed 37-36 at halftime despite 17 points, five rebounds and four assists from St. Rose.
Up next
Columbia: Continues a three-game trip at Pennsylvania on Saturday.
Princeton: Stays at home to battle Cornell on Saturday.
___
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DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 29: Head coach Jordi Fernandez of the Brooklyn Nets looks on during the second quarter of the game against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on January 29, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. 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 Chris Swann/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Close but no cigar. Michael Porter Jr. was fantastic with 38 points in 37 minutes, but the Nets couldn’t get over the hump against a depleted Denver team. They’ve now dropped seven straight games, and most eyes are headed toward the trade deadline rumor mill.
The road trip is almost over.
🏀 KEY INFO
WHO: NETS (12-34) AT JAZZ (15-33)
WATCH: YES NETWORK
WHEN: 9:30 PM
💬 DISCUSSION
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DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 03: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks is defended by Jabari Smith Jr. #10 of the Houston Rockets during the first half at American Airlines Center on January 03, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What feats of strength will Cooper Flagg perform next?
Find out when the Dallas Mavericks (19-29) visit the Houston Rockets (29-17) on Saturday at the Toyota Center, with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
We can confidently say that, because as of the NBA’s 4:30 p.m. injury report on Friday, Flagg is no longer listed with the “ankle injury management” designation we’ve become accustomed to seeing lately. He’s coming off Thursday’s 49-point explosion in the Mavericks’ 123-121 loss to the Charlotte Hornets while the Mavericks are looking to halt their current three-game losing streak as a tough stretch of games gets even tougher starting this weekend.
The Rockets, meanwhile, have won six of their last eight, including two wins over the San Antonio Spurs, an overtime victory at the Philadelphia 76ers and a narrow win over the Detroit Pistons. Houston has gotten four 30-point outings from Kevin Durant and one apiece from Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. in the team’s last eight games.
This is a bad matchup for the Mavs on paper, which probably means they’ll find themselves in a four-point game down the stretch, so be sure to tune in! Dallas has somehow won two of three matchups with Houston this year, falling 110-102 in Houston on Nov. 3, before beating the Rockets 122-109 in one of the team’s best wins of the year on Dec. 6 and following that up with a 110-104 win at the AAC earlier this month.
Here are three storylines to watch when the Mavs visit the Rockets on Saturday in a nationally televised game.
The Davis deficit
Anthony Davis led the Mavericks in scoring in both the Mavericks’ wins over the Rockets this season. He will famously be unavailable for the fourth and final meeting between these two teams. Davis scored 29 points and grabbed eight rebounds in Dallas’ win in early December, then had 26 and 12 in the Mavericks’ first win of 2026. He would injure his finger five days later while brushing his hand on Lauri Markannen’s jersey as Markannen scored an easy bucket at the tail end of Dallas’ 116-114 loss at the Utah Jazz.
Without Davis’ presence inside, it will be tough for the Mavericks to manufacture as solid a night on the boards as Dallas had in the most recent game against the Rockets, when Houston out-rebounded Dallas by a slim 51-47 margin.
Flagg has had down games in two of the three games against the Rockets this year. He scored 12 points and grabbed five boards in the Nov. 3 matchup, then had 19 and five on Dec. 6 before managing just 10 points on 3-of-12 shooting in the most recent meeting. The Rockets sit at fifth in the NBA in defensive rating (111.9) coming into the game and feature several long defenders capable of disrupting shooters and bottling up driving threats like Flagg. Coming off his 49-point outburst against the Hornets, it will be interesting to see if Flagg can follow it up against a better defense without the motivation of playing against his friend, former roommate and closest competition for this season’s Rookie of the Year award, Kon Knueppel.
Broad side of a barn
Which team will have the shooting edge on Saturday? Looking at these teams’ season averages may lead you to a different conclusion than looking at their shooting in the last four games. Houston enters as the eighth-best 3-point shooting team in the league, at just over 37% on 3-point attempts, while Dallas has struggled all year from deep, shooting just over 32%. That puts Dallas at 25th in the league this year.
Houston, despite winning three of their last four, has hit a bit of a lull from long range, converting just 40 of their 117 (34.2%) 3-point looks in their last four games, while Dallas has matched their dismal season average, making 37-of-115 (32.1%) in the same short span. However, the recent four-game sample for the Mavericks includes a particularly bleak 3-of-18 outing on Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Aside from that game, Dallas has been shooting it a little better recently.
Fits and starts
The Mavericks have been an up-and-down team this year, with the downs outnumbering the ups. They’ll follow a run of watchable ball with a fart-and-fall-down moment timed with comedic precision. It’s anybody’s guess what version of the team will trot out of the tunnel at Toyota Center on Saturday. The current scheduling stretch is a tough one, and though the results haven’t been there in the team’s last three, there have been moments that jump off the stat sheet and get the fan base chattering.
The Mavericks are giving fans just enough to keep true sickos engaged. The sane among us have found better ways to occupy their time as basketball’s winter of discontent settles in. Here’s hoping for something, anything to hold onto from Saturday’s game at the Rockets.
How to watch
The Mavericks and Rockets will tip off at 7:30 p.m. from Houston’s Toyota Center. The game will be nationally televised on ABC.
As former college stars continue pushing boundaries to try to return to the NCAA, Amari Bailey is taking his case one step further.
The 21-year-old wants to go back to school and play college basketball — despite having already seen the NBA court, ESPN reported Friday. He told the outlet he’s hired an agent and a lawyer to gain college eligibility.
“Right now I’d be a senior in college,” Bailey told the outlet. “I’m not trying to be 27 years old playing college athletics. No shade to the guys that do; that’s their journey. But I went to go play professionally and learned a lot, went through a lot. So, like, why not me?”
However, it’s also highly unlikely this will be allowed to happen, according to Tim Buckley, the Senior Vice President of External Affairs for the NCAA. He said on X in the wake of the report that the NCAA “has not and will not grant eligibility to any players who have signed an NBA contract.”
Amari Bailey played 10 games with the Charlotte Hornets during the 2023-24 season. Getty Images
Bailey, who played at UCLA in the 2022-23 season, was selected with the No. 41 overall pick by the Hornets in the 2023 NBA Draft.
The 6-foot-3 guard signed a two-way contract with Charlotte, meaning he was allowed to move back and forth between the NBA and the Greensboro Swarm of the G League.
A two-way deal offers players a limited number of days in the NBA before a team has to decide whether to convert them to a standard contract or waive them altogether.
Bailey did play 10 games with the Hornets that season, logging 65 total minutes and averaging 2.3 points, though he was never converted to a standard NBA contract and remained on a two-way deal.
Amari Bailey was a second-round pick, selected No. 41 overall in 2023, after one year with UCLA. Getty Images
Nonetheless, he played NBA basketball.
James Nnaji, the No. 31 overall pick in the 2023 draft by the Pistons and later moved to Charlotte, was able join Baylor’s basketball program earlier this season and is currently playing games in college.
Nnaji was an overseas prospect and remained with Spanish club FC Barcelona before and after being selected, later joining Girona — also in Spain — and Merkezefendi of Turkey.
Nnaji’s rights were traded to the Knicks in 2024 as part of the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, and he played for New York in the 2025 summer league, as he did with the Hornets in 2023, but he never technically played an NBA or even G League game.
NBA Draft 2023 second-round pick James Nnaji, who joined the Baylor Bears, left behind a pro career overseas. Getty Images
Nnaji is averaging 1.4 points and 3.3 rebounds in 11.6 minutes per game across seven appearances since joining Baylor.
Charles Bediako, who played for Alabama in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, is back with the team for the 2025-26 campaign after previously leaving early to pursue the NBA.
Bediako joined the Spurs for the summer league in 2023 and later signed a two-way contract with the team, but was waived that December following a meniscus tear.
Charles Bediako, posing for a portrait at Detroit Pistons Media Day in 2025. Getty Images
From 2023 through the 2025-26 season, Bediako played in 46 G League games before being allowed to return to Alabama, where he has played two games.
Bailey, a former UCLA and Sierra Canyon star, played alongside other notable high school athletes, like Bronny James — son of LeBron James — Zaire Wade — son of Dwyane Wade — and current Nets forward Zaire Williams.
Bailey averaged 11.2 points per game at UCLA in his lone season with the team in 2022-23.
He later played in the G League for 34 games across the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 31: Collin Gillespie #12 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket around Jaylon Tyson #20 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half at Rocket Arena on December 31, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Game 49 and one week away from the trade deadline!
On Friday afternoon, the Chicago Blackhawks announced that they were calling up Sam Rinzel. He has spent a couple of months working on his game with the Rockford IceHogs, and now he's ready to jump back in and show what he's got.
Part of this was the need to give Artyom Levshunov a break. He's been a regular in the lineup since he made his NHL debut last season, and he seems to have hit a rookie wall. Over the last 9 games, in particular, he has struggled mightily.
Not only does he have 0 points in those games, but his defensive game has left a lot to be desired. Shutting down gaps, being smart with his stick, and proper positioning have allowed teams to walk all over him during this tough stretch.
With Rinzel back in the lineup, Levshunov is going to be a healthy scratch against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night. He is also going to have limited playing time, if any, leading up to the Olympic break.
Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill confirmed that they have a program for Levshunov to work on during his time off. He is going to work on three things in particular, which include shooting, playing with the puck, and his defensive game.
"Rather than send him down and play more games, I don't think that's what he needs." Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill said. "What he needs is a chance to reset some foundational things."
All of the tools are there for Levshunov to be a high-end player in the best league in the world. He has the skating, the overall skills with the puck, and the will to win necessary to become an elite player.
Where the Blackhawks need to see improvement is in taking those talents and using them to be a winning player. If he improves on some of the skills emphasized in his new program, it should all come together.
For a defenseman to have regular playing time in the NHL at Levshunov's age (20) is incredibly rare. It doesn't happen often. It is even more rare for there to be no struggles along the way, no matter what age they are at in their development.
If Levshunov takes this opportunity to develop his game now with an open mind, he will come back stronger for it.
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TORONTO, CANADA - DECEMBER 20: Baylor Scheierman #55 of the Boston Celtics reacts during second half of their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on December 20, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BOSTON — Baylor Scheierman will start his fourth game of the season when the Celtics face the Sacramento Kings on Friday night. Scheierman has appeared in 42 of 47 games this year — and has averaged 3 points and 2 rebounds in 12.8 minutes per night.
Scheierman is starting in Jaylen Brown’s absence, as Brown will miss the match-up with a right knee contusion and a tight left hamstring. It’s Brown’s fourth absence of the season, and it comes just a few days after he openly discussed his hamstring bothering him.
While Scheierman has shot the ball well — he’s hitting 40% from beyond the arc on the season — Joe Mazzulla has gone out of his way to primarily praise his success on the other end of the court.
“His growth is more about his defensive versatility,” Mazzulla said earlier this month. “He has the confidence to play on the offensive end… his continued growth in defensive physicality and in the system is where he’s built a level of trust.”
Scheierman was also a team-best +11 in the Celtics’ 11-point loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday
The Celtics face the Kings on the second night of a back-to-back
Alongside Scheierman, the Celtics will start Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, and Neemias Queta. Queta returns from a one-game absence due to an illness he’s dealt with since Friday.
The Celtics (29-18) have an 11-7 record with Hauser as a starter this season. In those games, Hauser is averaging 12.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 48.5% from the field and 44.2% from three.
The Kings (12-37) will start Dennis Schroder, Precious Achiuwa, DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Maxime Raynaud. The Kings have lost 7 straight games and are playing at TD Garden on the second night of a back-to-back.
Jan 28, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) reacts after a play against the Golden State Warriors during the second half at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images | Rob Gray-Imagn Images
The Utah Jazz will host the Brooklyn Nets in a classic tank-off.
Brooklyn is currently ahead of Utah in the draft standings with a record of 12-34. Utah, 3.5 games behind at a record of 15-33, could make a significant close in the gap with the loss tonight. The Jazz, who according to Austin Ainge were not going to manipulate playing time in an effort to lose games this season, are pulling out every stop to manipulate playing time tonight. Markkanen, who had missed seven games in a row, including two for reconditioning, is now needing a rest tonight. Conveniently, Jusuf Nurkic, who appeared like the picture of health against the Golden State Warriors, is out with an illness. Notably, Keyonte George is available.
For BYU fans watching, tonight will mark former Cougar Egor Demin’s return to Utah. Demin’s rookie season has exceeded expectations, with the 19 year-old shooting over 40% from three, despite his long-range shooting being one of his largest pre-draft concerns.
We are less than a week away from the NBA trade deadline and rumors are flying around fast and furious. Here are some of the latest rumors not involving Giannis Antetokounmpo (to check out the latest on his trade saga, click here).
Lakers in talks for De’Andre Hunter
It's no secret the Lakers are looking for help on the wing and some depth at the five.
Enter De'Andre Hunter, the Cleveland wing. The Lakers and Cavaliers reportedly have discussed a trade that would send Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht out of Los Angeles and involves a third team, Brooklyn. Here is what Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reported on the Wine & Gold Podcast.
"My sources tell me that the Cavs and the Lakers have discussed a general framework surrounding De'Andre Hunter of Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht and then bringing in a third team."
The challenge in constructing any trade with these teams is that the Cavaliers are over the second apron, and neither can aggregate multiple players in a trade nor can they take back more money than they send out. Added to that, the Lakers are hard-capped at the first apron and are currently less than $1 million from that number. The Lakers also have one pick to trade, a very valuable 2031 first-rounder, although there have been reports that the Lakers have looked to trade that pick for three lesser-valuable first-rounders, one of which would likely be included in this.
The prize for the Lakers would be adding Hunter, a player the Cavaliers hoped would fill their need on the wing, but did not. Hunter is averaging 13.9 points a game, often off the bench in Cleveland, shooting 30.9% from beyond the arc this season he is not a lock-down defender. Giving up Hachimura for Hunter is not a great deal, but if Sharpe is coming with him, the Lakers would have to consider it.
Keon Ellis
The hottest name in trade talks is another potential Lakers target, Kings wing Keon Ellis.
Sacramento is "sifting through various scenarios for Keon Ellis, sources say, several of which would include trading out veteran forward DeMar DeRozan and/or combo guard Malik Monk along with him," reports NBA Insider Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.
Marc Stein at the Stein Line previously reported 14 teams — almost half the league — had called Sacramento to check on an Ellis trade, including the Lakers, Clippers, Cavaliers, Celtics, Knicks and Warriors.
There's a reason all those teams are interested. Ellis is a plus defender on the wing at 6'4" who is shooting 36.2% from 3-point range this season (and is a career 41.4% shooter from deep), all on an expiring minimum contract. He is eligible for a contract extension after Feb. 9, and if a team that trades for him can't reach that extension then he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer.
If the Kings pair Monk with Ellis in a trade, they make a combined $21 million; with DeRozan, that climbs to $27 million. Either option gives the Kings some flexibility to bring back someone they think can be part of their future.
Other trade rumors
• Agent Rich Paul denied the reports that he pushed Dallas to trade Anthony Davis.
Rich Paul says it’s NOT TRUE that he has demanded the Mavericks to trade Anthony Davis
“I know what was said. That thing was aggregated. This is the power of the internet. If you’re wondering why Rich Paul has a podcast, this is part of the reason why… The reality of it is,… pic.twitter.com/ctWNnlpR0x
• Cleveland has been active in trade talks as it looks to turn around a disappointing season so far, although nobody is exactly sure what their plan is, reports Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
• Oklahoma City may be exploring the trade market for center Isaiah Hartenstein, reports Brian Windhorst of ESPN on the Hoop Collective Podcast. "He's got a team option next year for $29 million. I've actually heard the Oklahoma City Thunder's name in some trade chatter." Remember that next season, both Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams' max contracts kick in, and the finances are going to get a lot tighter in OKC. They probably won't make that trade, but it's worth watching.
• Expect Orlando to make a trade, but it will be all about dumping salary, according to ESPN’s Windhorst and Bontemps. The Magic are $5.6 million into the tax, and, given how this team is playing, would like to get out of it. Trading Tyus Jones and his $7 million salary is a straightforward way to do that.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Lake Nona member Lydia Ko shot a 5-under 67 on Friday for a share of second-round lead with Lottie Woad in the LPGA Tour’s season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Ko, the 2024 tournament winner and a Hilton Grand Vacations ambassador, is the lone player in the 39-woman field without a bogey after two days. The Hall of Famer has 23 LPGA Tour victories.
“I’ve had to hole some good par putts, but I really haven’t put myself in that many difficult positions as of yet,” said Ko, from New Zealand. “I think that’s why I had the two bogey-free rounds. I’m hoping to kind of continue that good momentum this weekend.”
Woad shot a 69 to match Ko at 8-under 136 in mostly sunny conditions with 12 mph wind at the most in the 70-degree afternoon.
“I looked at the leaderboard quite a lot today because I was getting annoyed,” Woad said. “Seemed like there weren’t that many low scores out there, so kind of knew I was still in it. The pins were probably a little trickier so weren’t as many birdies as yesterday.”
The 22-year-old English player won the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open last year, weeks after taking the KPMG Women’s Irish Open as an amateur on the Ladies European Tour.
Nasa Hataoka, also a Lake Nona member, was a stroke back with Amy Yang. Hataoka had a 71, and Yang shot 69.
Defending champion A Lim Kim was 6 under after her second 69. Youmin Hwang (67) and Ingrid Lindblad (69) also were 6 under.
Top-ranked Jeeno Thitikul and Kelly Korda were 5 under. Thitkul had a 72, and Korda shot 71.
“I think the weather is going to get a little worse so I’m going to go to the putting green, go to the range because wasn’t hitting it the best today,” Korda said. “Just going to figure some things out ahead of the weekend.”
Baseball player Aaron Hicks topped the celebrity field.
After signing with the Astros ahead of the 2019 season, it didn’t take long for former All-Star outfielder Michael Brantley to hear about his new organization’s top prospect.
“They were comparing this kid to Ted Williams,” Brantley recalled. “And I was like, ‘Well, that’s kind of special.’ I want to see this.”
The kid, Brantley would soon learn, was named Kyle Tucker.
It didn’t take long for former All-Star outfielder Michael Brantley to hear about top prospect Kyle Tucker in 2019. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect“They were comparing this kid to Ted Williams,” Brantley recalled. “And I was like, ‘Well, that’s kind of special.’” AP
And the comparison, he still marvels at now, was shockingly apt.
“It made me laugh at first, because he does a lot of things that are unorthodox,” Brantley said. “But when you actually break down his swing, he gets into such great positions.”
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Long before he became a touted young talent, then a four-time All-Star slugger, then a blockbuster $240 million signing with the Dodgers this offseason, Tucker’s baseball career began in the backyard of his Tampa-area home — where childhood games of stick and Wiffle ball with his older brother, Preston, first helped mold one of the most complete hitters in Major League Baseball today.
The origin story is simple. Growing up, Tucker would emulate Preston (who was six years his elder, and destined for his own MLB career) in their backyard games. Because Preston hit right-handed, Tucker would mirror him from the left side of the plate. And because Preston had a similarly unusual swing, Tucker’s mechanics naturally followed suit.
Some days, the boys would pitch a small ball of cork to each other, letting natural instinct take over as they whacked at it with the handle of a broomstick. Other times, they used a standard-issue Wiffle ball set, learning how to adjust to the serpentine movement of the perforated plastic sphere.
“All they had time to do was just use their hands,” said Dennis Braun, Tucker’s high school coach at Plant High in Tampa. “That’s how they learned how to hit.”
Growing up, Tucker would emulate older brother Preston (who was six years older, and forged his own MLB career). IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
For Tucker, the result was a swing with seemingly flawed fundamentals.
He’d step up to the plate with the wrong foot. His hands would drop low as he started to attack the ball. His bat path had an atypically sweepy motion. He would drop his back knee and almost scissor his legs as he made contact and completed his follow-through.
Years of practice, however, had taught him how to sync it all together; giving him the ability to hit for power, adjust to breaking pitches and most importantly keep his hands inside the ball consistently on every pitch.
“You can’t teach somebody to do it,” Braun said. “But I told him, ‘Don’t let anybody tell you you can’t hit that way, because I think it’s a thing.’ ”
All along, the comparisons to Williams — who earned the moniker of “the greatest hitter who ever lived” with an eerily similar swing — steadily grew.
When Tucker was a high school freshman, one of Braun’s coaches first gave him the “Ted Williams” nickname. AP
When Tucker was a high school freshman, one of Braun’s assistant coaches, former Yankees catcher John Ramos, first bestowed him with the “Ted Williams” nickname.
“I said, ‘Wait a minute,’ ” Braun recalled with a laugh, “the kid’s got nowhere to go but down.’ ”
As Tucker became a top draft prospect in the 2015 class, eventually going fifth overall to the Astros (who also had Preston in their organization), scouts began drawing parallels in their reports, too.
“I’m not one of those guys who thinks anybody’s gonna be a first-rounder when they show up as a freshman,” Braun said. “But as we went along each year, he got bigger and bigger. By the time he got to his senior year, the amount of people that were out here watching BP was in the hundreds.”
In 2018, a few months before making his highly anticipated MLB debut as a 21-year-old, Tucker was even enlisted to impersonate Williams in a PBS documentary about the late Hall of Famer, donning a 1950s-era uniform as filmmakers captured slow-motion shots of his swing.
“He’s tweaked it a little bit over the years,” Tucker’s mom, Lisa, said. “But if it’s gotten you to where you’re at, it’s like, ‘Why change?’ ”
That was also Brantley’s initial impression after meeting Tucker for the first time and watching him swing up close.
In 2018, a few months before making his highly anticipated MLB debut as a 21-year-old, Tucker was even enlisted to impersonate Williams in a PBS documentary about the late Hall of Famer, donning a 1950s-era uniform as filmmakers captured slow-motion shots of his swing. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“It doesn’t always look as pretty as a normal swing would,” Brantley said. “But if you really break down the science of the swing, and see where his hands get to, his foot is at the time of contact, and the position at contact, it is very special.”
In 2020, he cemented himself as an everyday player for a contending Astros team, flashing plus outfield defense and an ability to steal bases to go along with offensive production. In 2021, he received MVP votes after batting a career-best .294 with 30 home runs. In 2022, he earned what would become the first of four consecutive All-Star selections. And now, he has established himself as one of the most consistent players in the sport, one of only four big-leaguers to post at least 4.5 wins above replacement every year since 2021, per Baseball Reference.
For that, Tucker has given much credit to Brantley.
When the veteran first arrived in Houston, he made a point of taking Tucker under his wing, becoming his catch partner, his hitting cage confidant, and his locker-mate in the clubhouse.
During spring training, he’d challenge Tucker to beat him to the facility in the mornings. “I’d usually get to the field around 7 a.m.” Brantley joked. “And Tuck’s not a morning guy.” Yet, Tucker would be there, ready to warm-up in the gym and get to work early on the field.
Brantley retired from the majors at the end of the 2023 season. Tucker left Houston a year later, getting traded to the Cubs in his final season before free agency. But the two remain close. So much so, Tucker said he will wear Brantley’s old jersey number, 23, with the Dodgers as a nod to his former teammate.
To Brantley, that was a “very special” gesture. However, he emphasized that Tucker’s success has been all his own doing — going back to the superstar’s five-tool skillset, a deep “passion” for the game that goes overlooked by his outwardly quiet demeanor, and of course the Ted Williams-esque swing that remains universally admired and largely unchanged.
“He just settled into his own, and took the world by storm,” Brantley said. “As he should have, because he was such a big prospect. But he panned out because of the hard work he put in.”
