With his 149th point as a member of the Abbotsford Canucks, Arshdeep Bains has set a new franchise record in all-time points. The forward’s 47 goals and 102 assists as a member of Abbotsford passes the record set by Linus Karlsson last year. Bains registered his 149th point with the AHL Canucks by scoring a short-handed goal against the Henderson Silver Knights tonight.
Bains first joined Abbotsford after signing an entry-level contract with the Vancouver Canucks in 2022. He made his AHL debut on October 14 against the Ontatio Reign, also scoring his first AHL goal during this game. In his first season with Abbotsford, Bains scored 13 goals and potted 25 assists in 66 games played.
The seasons after were when Bains began to showcase his offensive skills. In 2023–24, he put up 55 points in 59 games with Abbotsford and made his NHL debut with Vancouver on February 20 against the Colorado Avalanche. He was also named to the AHL All-Star Classic in that season and earned MVP honours. In 2024–25, he scored 43 points in 50 games and was an instrumental piece in Abbotsford’s Calder Cup win.
Bains began the 2025–26 season with Vancouver but rejoined Abbotsford for two separate stints. Throughout his time in the AHL this season, the forward has scored seven goals and sixassists in 17 games played. He is currently tied for eighth on his team in points.
With Bains now holding the franchise record in all-time points, Karlsson (148), Christian Wolanin (124), Sheldon Dries (118), and Tristen Nielsen (115) all trail him to make up the club’s top-five. Karlsson still holds sole possession of the franchise lead in goals (70), while Wolanin leads in overall assists (109).
Oct 13, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Arshdeep Bains (13) skates against the St. Louis Blues in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Ryan Rollins made a career-high seven 3-pointers and scored 27 points to help the Milwaukee Bucks beat the New Orleans Pelicans 139-118 on Friday night for their third straight victory and sixth in seven games.
Playing without injured star Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks pulled away in the fourth quarter to improve to 24-30. Antetokounmpo has been sidelined four weeks by a strained right calf.
Bucks newcomer Cam Thomas, a former LSU star, had 27 points in 21 minutes off the bench, and Kevin Porter added 25 points. Rollins was 7 of 10 on 3s and had six assists, four steals and two blocks. The Bucks were coming off a victory at defending champion Oklahoma City before the All-Star break.
Zion Williamson led New Orleans with 32 points in the first game of home back-to-back, while scoring leader Trey Murphy sat out because of a sore right shoulder. The Pelicans dropped to 15-42.
Rollins had 16 points in the first half to help Milwaukee take a 71-65 lead. Williamson had 21 points in the half.
The Bucks took a 103-96 advantage into the fourth. After the Pelicans cut it to 108-102 on Williamson’s layup, the Bucks pulled away with a 14-4 run. Pete Nance hit two 3s and a layup during the run.
CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 20: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks to pass the ball during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on February 20, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers obliterated the Brooklyn Nets 112-84 in their first game back from the All-Star break. Let’s see who won the night.
WINNER – Jarrett Allen
“I’m running out of things to say about Jarrett Allen,” Donovan Mitchell said after the game.
Same, Donnie.
I really don’t know what else to say about Allen that we haven’t already seen in the previous seven games. He’s crashing the glass. He’s playing with authority and forcing his way into the paint. Allen started tonight by burying an elbow jumper just to prove he can do it.
Allen’s played with a newfound aggression that predates the James Harden acquisition. Harden has only added more fuel to the fire. He’s now getting more opportunities than before and making the most of them. Allen has recorded a double-double in six of Cleveland’s seven wins (falling just short with 9 rebounds against the Wizards).
LOSER – Second Chance Points
This was a rough night on the glass for every Cavalier not named Jarrett Allen.
Charlotte grabbed 23 offensive rebounds for 37 second-chance points. That’s the type of thing that should result in a loss 99% of the time. Thankfully, the Cavs managed to grab key rebounds and play good defense outside of those second-chance opportunities. But man… did they have to fight for it.
Part of this can be explained by the Hornets launching 56 three-point attempts. All of those threes led to long rebounds, which have historically been a weak point for the Cavaliers. They don’t have many rebounders in the backcourt who can successfully win those 50/50 balls.
This isn’t an excuse, rather an explanation. The Cavs are a good defensive rebounding team when both Allen and Evan Mobley are available. They became a below-average team when one of them is off the floor. That’s a straightforward fact that’s been true since the core four era began. Don’t expect it to change now.
WINNER – The Bench
The Hornets made this game interesting. And while the Cavalier starters ultimately closed this game out, I can’t give enough credit to the bench for swinging momentum multiple times throughout.
Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis are brothers in causing mayhem. They combined for five steals and wreaked havoc in the passing lanes. Two pesky, athletic guards who never stop harassing their opponent are a good thing to have on your side.
“Sometimes he [Ellis] gets a deflection, and you don’t even see how it happens,” said Kenny Atkinson after the game.
Nae’Qwan Tomlin deserves a shout-out, too. He didn’t come up with any stocks tonight, but he’s always aggressive and isn’t afraid to get physical. Of course, that’s all true for Jaylon Tyson, as well. The Cleveland bench has become one of the nastiest groups in the league, and that toughness is something the Cavs haven’t always had.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 20: Brandon Williams #10 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on February 20, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Game. Blouses.
Not that it matters much, but the Dallas Mavericks (19-36) lost their 10th straight game and their first out of the NBA All-Star Break on Friday, 122-111, to the Minnesota Timberwolves (35-22) at Target Center. The Timberwolves donned their Prince-inspired City Edition jerseys and served pancakes (probably) in the visitors’ locker room after beating the Mavericks for the third straight time this year.
Anthony Edwards led all scorers with 40 points and grabbed six rebounds in the win. Naz Reid added 21 and seven off the bench, while Rudy Gobert abused Dallas’ small frontcourt for 22 points on 9-of-10 shooting and 17 rebounds. Khris Middleton led seven Mavericks in double figures with 18 points and seven rebounds in the loss. Marvin Bagley III added 15 points and 13 boards.
Reid, Donte DiVencenzo and Jaden McDaniels combined to make it rain purple, knocking down all five of their first-quarter 3-point attempts and helping the Wolves gradually extend their lead as the frame wore on. The Mavericks countered with… well, no one. Cooper Flagg (foot) and Max Christie (ankle) were both held out of the matchup to gear up for the all-important stretch run. We laugh to keep ourselves from crying, don’t we, Mavs fans? Minnesota led 40-25 after one in a first quarter that saw 10 combined turnovers.
The Timberwolves continued to turn the ball over in the second quarter, but it didn’t matter. The Mavs couldn’t take advantage of the extra possessions to carve into Minnesota’s lead before the break, and Dallas trailed 69-57 at halftime, despite nine Timberwolves giveaways. Edwards led all scorers with 20 points and had four rebounds in the first half. He went off for 17 on 6-of-10 shooting in the second quarter.
Dallas tried to mount a comeback in the third quarter, continuing an extended 24-8 run from late in the second through the first four minutes of the third. Washington helped the Mavs creep back in it with his second 3-pointer of the game from the right corner to bring Dallas to within 77-75 with 7:23 left in the frame. The Wolves took a 96-88 advantage into the fourth quarter.
Klay Thompson got hot down the stretch to make things interesting. He scored his first basket of the game, a 3-pointer from the left wing, with 1:52 left in the third quarter, then poured in eight more in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter. His third 3-point make of the game came with 7:23 left in the game and brought the Mavericks to within two, down just 103-101. Tyus Jones scored the next time down to tie the game and force a Timberwolves timeout after tracking down Thompson’s missed 3-point attempt for an offensive board.
But Edwards nailed a step-back 3-pointer late in the shot clock out of the timeout to give Minnesota the lead for good, with 6:37 left. Naz Reid hit his fourth of the game a minute later to put the Wolves up 109-105 with 5:25 left. The Timberwolves did just enough to keep the pesky Mavericks at arm’s length the rest of the way.
Hot hand, then good hands
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – FEBRUARY 20: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dunks the ball during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on February 20, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Timberwolves canned eight of their 13 first-quarter 3-point attempts and shot north of 58% from the field in the opener to put the game effectively out of reach early for the undermanned Mavericks. When the early hot hand deserted them, the Wolves made up for it on the offensive glass. The Minnesota front line gobbled up 10 offensive rebounds in the first half, resulting in five easy put-backs for center Rudy Gobert. Dallas came into the game allowing the third-most offensive rebounds in the NBA, at 12.4 per contest.
Minnesota ended up shooting 16-of-42 (38.1%) from beyond the arc in the win and out-rebounded the Mavs, 66-58. The Mavs gave up 17 offensive boards in the loss.
Tryouts?
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said before the game that one of the things the team wanted to do was to get a good hard look at AJ Johnson, who was brought in from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Anthony Davis at the NBA Trade Deadline, and two-way rookie Miles Kelly. Johnson’s first bucket as a Maverick came on a high-flying second-quarter fast-break lob from Naji Marshall after a P.J. Washington steal, to bring Dallas back to within 45-37. He turned the ball over on the Mavs’ next possession. Johnson is a 21-year-old second-year player who decommitted from the University of Texas a couple years ago in favor of starting his professional career in Australia after high school.
Johnson played just five minutes in the loss, all in the first half, and Kelly didn’t get in until the fourth quarter. Even if it didn’t materialize on Friday, expect Dallas to get extended looks at these guys over the last 27 games of the season.
Where’s Washington
Someone had to score baskets for the short-handed Mavericks in this one. Despite all the missing pieces coming into the game for Dallas, they were still scheduled to play 48 full minutes on Friday. Washington would get every opportunity to turn a corner, but he turned in another stinker through the first half against Minnesota.
Washington shot 2-of-8 from the field in the first half for five points, as newcomer Khris Middleton led Dallas with 12 points at the half. He hit a 3-pointer in the game’s opening moments, then scored just two points over the next 22-plus minutes. For much of the 2025-26 season, he’s been in full-on regression mode after cementing himself as one of the most important Mavericks on the roster a year ago.
Washington got going a little early in the third quarter, scoring in transition less than two minutes into the second half before knocking down a mid-range jumper two possessions later to bring the Mavs to within 75-68, as part of an extended 24-8 run from the end of the second through start of the third. His second 3-ball of the game put him at 12 points with 7:23 remaining in the third and brought Dallas back to within two, down just 77-75.
Washington was not eligible to be traded at the deadline this season, but will be this offseason. It will be interesting to see what kind of market, if any, there is for him. He finished with 12 points on 5-of-17 shooting and 12 rebounds in Friday’s loss at Minnesota.
MEMPHIS, TN - FEBRUARY 20: Jaren Jackson Jr. #20 of the Utah Jazz waves to the fans after his tribute during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on February 20, 2026 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Jazz snatched defeat from the jaws of victory and lost 114-123. Depending on who you ask this was either a masterclass in tanking, or an embarrassing implosion. This game also featured many familiar faces for both teams, (Hello Kyle Anderson, and Taylor Hendricks) as well as an emotional homecoming for Jaren Jackson Jr.
Ace Bailey– B
Ace had arguably the most memorable play of the game from a Jazzman when he caught a beautiful lob from Collier and threw it down. He dropped 20 points, with 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and a block on the night. His shot from deep wasn’t falling tonight, going 2-9, but he had some good looks from deep. He’s still only 19 (which I just recently learned) and will continue to develop and grow as a player. I think I speak for all Jazz fans when I say that I’m very excited to see the player that Ace will become.
Cody Williams–C-
Really tough shooting night for Cody. He only had 5 points in 37 minutes, and had four turnovers. He did rebound the ball well tonight though, posting a team high 9. He also had a really impressive defensive moment when he shut down a three on one.
Isaiah Collier –A-
Collier was awesome yet again. Lead the team in scoring and assists with 24, and 5 respectively. His speed will never cease to amaze me. His defense tonight was also impressive as he had four steals, and two blocks.
Kyle Filipowski –B-
Two of Flip’s five turnovers came inbounding the ball tonight. He did have some impressive defensive moments and 20 points so it certainly wasn’t a bad game for him. He’s proven to be a capable backup big man and should be a really nice piece for this Jazz team when they are competing for a playoff spot next season.
John Konchar–B
Making his first start as a Jazzman, the former undrafted free agent looked solid in front of his former team. While he is still yet to knock down a three as a member of the Jazz, he did have a productive game, especially on defense. He had 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals. He plays hard, and knows his role.
Brice Sensabaugh–C-
Brice Sensabaugh is an enigma. One game he will look like a high end starter, the next he will look like a low tier bench player. In a game where you would figure he would be one of the go to guys on offense he was largely invisible. He shot poorly from deep (1-4) and had 3 turnovers. He still managed to score 9 points in limited playing time, but I feel that its a bad sign that he’s not getting on the floor as much as he seemingly should. Maybe I have it wrong and the reason that he’s not playing as much is because we want to lose, but guys like Collier and Flip have been playing well and don’t seem to have any limits on their playing time. Sensabaugh also received a tech after he didn’t get a foul call on a play where he absolutely got fouled.
Vince Williams Jr. –B-
Solid night for the former Grizzly. He plays with a lot of hustle, and had a ridiculous pass to his former teammate. He dove for a loose ball, secured it, and passed it while seated, to Konchar for an easy layup. He didn’t have the best night shooting the ball, going 2-7, but who really cares? He plays hard and is so much fun to watch, and at this point in the season thats all that really matters.
Oscar Tshiebwe –B
In 14 minutes he grabbed 6 rebounds, 2 points. It’s too bad we didn’t get to see more of him, but he got in foul trouble which limited his minutes tonight.
Blake Hinson – A
Hinson was awesome tonight. In his second ever NBA game he managed to impress. He was perfect from deep, and had 4 boards. He also set his career high in points with 13. Hinson plays with a lot of hustle and like I said in my last player grades article that I think he could definitely serve as a depth piece here, or for another team.
Elijah Harkless –B+
You know exactly what you’re going to get from Harkless every time he steps onto the court: hustle, and defense. Tonight was no exception as he played hard for his 7 minutes of action.
Kevin Love –A
The veteran only played 5 minutes in this one, but he was great, making both his three pointers, (one of which was an and-one) and also dishing out 3 assists.
Jun 2, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb (62) emerges from the dugout to warm up before facing the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images | D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
Writing out Logan Webb’s statline just now made me giggle. A 2.60 FIP in 207 innings? That’s not real. That’s silly. On the other hand, that sort of feeling generally defines the feeling of Logan Webb pitch. A guy who has been so dominant as a groundball pitcher that it almost feels like a fluke. And then he goes and leads the National League in strikeouts in 2025 and posting the best K/9 of his career. It’s hard not to land from the bird’s eye view of his year and think, “He can do everything!” So, it felt appropriate to (finally) end our season reviews with him.
He is the best and, certainly, the most important Giant. The perfect Giant. If the team did not have him, then in any season post-2021 there would’ve been no thought or even hope that they could contend. Certainly not for the division (for the truly delusional set of fans out there) and not for the third Wild Card deep into September (the median hope). The franchise has come to count on his innings. He is a load-bearing talent, even as ownership has all but expressed resentment over having to pay him.
2025 didn’t add to or even cement Logan Webb’s reputation across the industry or San Francisco. He did that at some point near the end of 2023. Instead, the season was yet another reminder that the Giants have a genuine talent in the fold and they’d do well to get him back into the postseason as quickly as possible. For fans who can still remember the championship era, it’s very hard not to go absolutely wild imagining how Postseason Webb might look, leading a team that has a lineup with Rafael Devers in it.
Was it a perfect season? Not exactly. In February, Steven Kennedy wrote this detailed analysis of Logan Webb’s changeup, a critical pitch in his arsenal that had faltered in 2024.
Obviously, Webb has expressed frustration with how the pitch performed last year. Though the league took some serious strides, it wasn’t just an improved plate approach that sent the pitch spiraling. Something was off. Something was weird, an apt word for the change-up’s mercurial nature. On the surface though, there was nothing noticeably problematic. Nothing as obvious as lack of command, leaving the pitch up in the zone, or throwing with his left arm instead of his right. Webb did mention to Andrew Baggarly that he made a minor grip adjustment to “restore some of its familiar fading action.” Though the induced movement between 2023 and 2024 seem pretty comparable, there is an inch-and-a-half of lost horizontal run evident in the year-to-year numbers.
Oh, wait, no Webb wound up totally fixing the changeup, getting the veritcal movement (6.1”) right back in line with 2023 (6.2”) and plussing the run value from +1 in 2024 to +11 in 2025. Admittedly, it was +30 in 2023, but still, that’s a massive improvement year over year. Also, Statcast’s Run Value is context-dependent, meaning the situation matters, so there’s perhaps a little bit of evidence that, despite executing the pitch better than the year before, the league has adjusted and can recognize it better or understand how it moves or simply knows when in a sequence he’s most likely to use it.
As great as the final line was, it’s worth pointing out that Webb’s total arsenal run value wound up just +12. That’s not just the changeup (+11), but the sinker (+7), the four-seamer (+0), the sweeper (-2), and the cutter (-4). The total run value of his arsenal was +23 the year before and +29 the year before. That’s a definite trendline worth keeping an eye on over the course of the season.
This review wouldn’t dare suggest that the Giants’ ace is on some sort of decline… even if he had the second-worst second half of his career. I mean… it was still pretty good, but here are some numbers:
I mean, look at that… it’s terrible, right? What a collapse.
Okay, in all seriousness, though, that second half saw him throttled by the Blue Jays in Toronto (11 hits in 6 IP with 4 ER and just 1 strikeout), blasted by the New York Mets in Oracle (8 hits and 6 ER in 4 IP), frustrated by the Padres in Oracle (8 hits and 4 ER in 6.1 IP with just 3 K), and bookending this trio of letdowns during a key run of games were a pair of pastings by those Los Angeles Bums.
The Giants wound up winning the game where allowed 6 earned runs in 5.1 innings against the Dodgers in Oracle on July 11th, and that was a game where Webb seemed to run out of gas. With an 8-2 lead in the 6th, he hit Mookie Betts, gave up back-to-back doubles to Will Smith and Teoscar Hernandez and then gave up a 2-run home run to Michael Conforto. Okay, well, you know what? Michael Conforto was a corpse for all of last year except when he played the Giants, so, maybe I won’t hold that start against him.
The September start in Oracle, when the Giants had managed to recover a bit of their record and headed into the contest 75-72 having won game one of the series, was perhaps an even greater letdown. The Giants scored 4 in the bottom of the 1st to jump ahead 4-1, but then in the 5th, he walked Mookie Betts to lead it off, gave up a single to Freddie Freeman, then a walk to Max Muncy, and that was that. Jose Butto came in and did not do the job, and Webb would get tagged with 6 earned runs on top of 10 hits in just 4 completed innings of work.
He’d turn it around five days later in Dodger Stadium, holding Los Angeles to just 2 runs (1 earned) in 7 innings of work, but as ace-y as he was all season, as truly great as he was overall, there were still some unfortunate hiccups along the way against superior opponents.
That’s probably been the knock against him over the years: he might be the Giants’ ace, but he’s not necessarily an ace in the way the industry thinks of one. For his part, he was 4th in NL Cy Young voting this year, the fourth year in a row in which he’s gotten Cy Young votes, but unable to crack the finalists list (Paul Skenes, Cristopher Sanchez, Yoshinobu Yamamato). He was an NL All-Star for the second straight season and won his first Gold Glove, too. For the third straight season, he led the National League in innings pitched and it was also the second time in three seasons that he led MLB in innings pitched.
An indication that he’s a perfect San Francisco Giant is in this note: two of his three best games of the season, according to Bill James’s Game Score (which Baseball Reference tracks), wound up being Giants losses:
April 7th against the Reds in San Francisco (Game Score: 79). He struck out 10 in 7 shutout innings and walked 0. The Giants lost 2-0.
June 2nd against the Padres in San Francisco (Game Score: 77). He struck out 7 in 8 shutout innings and walked 0. The Giants lost 1-0 in 10 innings.
Now, you might see that and think back to all of the tough losses Logan Webb has suffered throughout the years and think, “Well, sure. He’s the new Matt Cain.” And that’s a fair starting point. But Matt Cain never had the strikeout-ability that Logan Webb did or the ability to suppress home runs at the same level. So, I’d say he’s note quite Matt Cain. He’s certainly not Tim Lincecum, of course… or… the 2010-2011 versions of Tim Lincecum are an awfully interesting comparison. Which isn’t to say that we’ve been watching the next Tim Lincecum. No, what I mean to say is that we’ve been watching some third thing, a perhaps “holy” fusion of Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum, a freak of his own flavor, frustrating hitters with groundballs when they’re not whiffing.
If you disagree with that imagery or assessment, I would hope you’d agree with me at the very least that he’s as important to the Giants as both of those pitchers were during their heyday. He compels the Giants to act — or stand pat! Why bring back Carlos Rodon? We have Logan Webb. Why stay entangled with Blake Snell? We have Logan Webb? Who needs Kevin Gausman? We’ve already got Logan Webb. Is that decision-making sound? Probably not, but Logan Webb keeps backing up their kinda nutty plan every single year. “Yeah, okay, maybe Robbie Ray doesn’t have to be that good or maybe Landen Roupp doesn’t have to become a #2 starter because we have Logan Webb.“ He’s so great that he simultaneously strengthens the team and papers over its weaknesses.
When you put it all together, it’s no wonder the Giants have pinned their entire present on Logan Webb. Every year, he shows the team that he’s perfect.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 20: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers brings the ball down the court during the first half of a basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on February 20, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 David Jensen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers extend their win streak to seven after a narrow win over the Charlotte Hornets.
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Donovan Mitchell
32 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
Mitchell started this game 4-15. But, as we’ve seen all season, Mitchell turned it on when the Cavs needed him most. He shot 5-8 the rest of the way and finished with his 100th 30-point game as a Cavalier.
Grade: A–
James Harden
18 points, 8 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal
Harden is dishing the rock with efficiency since joining the Cavs. He had another 8 assists tonight as the Cavalier offense feels more potent than it’s been all season with him at the helm. We only wish he could have grabbed a few more rebounds or been sharper off the ball defensively.
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Jarrett Allen
26 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block
Allen hasn’t let up on any opponent for weeks now. He put his head down and attacked the paint over and over again tonight as the Hornets didn’t have enough bodies to stop him. If he hadn’t hauled in 14 rebounds, the Cavs would have lost this one. Bravo, Allen. This aggression has been a joy to watch.
Grade: A+
Jaylon Tyson
5 points, 1 rebound
Tyson’s role has changed significantly now that Harden is here. That means we’ll likely have to adjust how we grade him. He simply isn’t getting as many opportunities. That said, Cleveland could have used a better effort on the glass.
I’m convinced that Ellis can clone himself and appear multiple places at once. That’s the only way to explain some of the defensive plays he comes up with.
Grade: A–
Thomas Bryant
2 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 blocks
Bryant had some highs and lows. His block in the third quarter was electric, but he might have been a step too slow for a fast-paced matchup like this.
Grade: B-
Dennis Schroder
8 points, 3 assists, 3 steals
Schroder continues to be a pest. He came up with two big steals in the second half and has given the Cavs bench an edge that they’ve been missing.
Grade: A-
Sam Merrill
10 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
Merrill had more success tonight. He hit 2-of-4 three-point attempts and had a nice backdoor cut early in the first half.
Grade: B+
Dean Wade
8 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal
Wade hit consecutive three-pointers in the fourth quarter to close this out. He hasn’t missed a shot since returning from the All-Star break.
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 19: Alondes Williams #31 of the Washington Wizards celebrates after a play against the Indiana Pacers during the second half at Capital One Arena on February 19, 2026 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. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards defeated the Indiana Pacers, 131-118 on Friday night at Capital One Arena.
This game began as one where the Wizards were losing for much of the first half, even into the second. The Wizards were losing by as many as 15 points at one point in the second quarter. But in the fourth quarter, Washington shot over 70 percent from the field, forced 7 turnovers and scored 11 points off of them and ultimately came up with the win.
Alondes Williams scored 11 of his 25 points off the bench to lead the Wizards to victory. He was also the leading scorer overall. Sharife Cooper also added 18 points, also off the bench for Washington.
For the Pacers, Jay Huff led with 22 points.
The Wizards’ next game is on Sunday against the Charlotte Hornets. Tip off is at 6 p.m. ET. At least for now since there is a chance of a snowstorm. See you then.
Feb 20, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) dribbles against Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) during the second quarter at the Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers pulled out an impressive 118-113 victory over a surging Charlotte Hornets team on the second night of a back-to-back. It wasnt pretty for the entire 48 minutes. Cleveland struggled to defend the three-point line and clear defensive possessions, but they executed well enough offensively to get the win. That’s all that matters in a game like this.
The Cavaliers controlled most of the first half. They won the first quarter by 10, pushed their lead to 14, and then settled for a six-point advantage going into the break.
Charlotte roared back in the second half. They retook the lead in the third quarter due to shooting 8-15 from beyond the arc in that frame. They pushed their advantage to four before the Cavs reasserted control.
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Cleveland wasn’t able to create much separation in the fourth, but they also never let Charlotte off the mat. The offense continued to generate clean looks in the half-court thanks to their dynamic backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. Combine that with an energized Jarrett Allen, and you have the makings of an elite offense.
Meanwhile, the Hornets weren’t able to get their outside shots to carry them in the fourth as they did in the third quarter. They went 2-15 from three, and their offense simply ran out of gas. This led to the Cavs winning the final frame 28-24.
Allen continued his string of impressive play. He set the tone early by scoring 11 of his 26 points in the opening quarter. Even though he wasn’t scoring as much over the final three quarters, his activity never wavered, which led to him finishing with 14 rebounds and a block.
Mitchell and Harden once again worked well together in crunch time. Harden had the reins as the play initiator, while Mitchell was able to find opportunities to score when the ball came his way. This led to Mitchell scoring 13 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter. Harden finished the evening with 18 points on 6-14 shooting to go along with eight assists.
This wasn’t a perfect game by any stretch. The Cavs once again struggled to clear defensive possessions. This led to the Hornets compiling 37 second-chance points and gathering 44.6% of their missed shots (97th percentile). Many of these were due to the Cavs not being able to corral long rebounds off missed triples. This is an area where Evan Mobley’s absence (injury management) was sorely missed.
Kon Knueppel’s three-point shooting kept the Hornets in the game. He went 7-15 from beyond the arc en route to a game-high 33 points. Lamelo Ball and Brandon Miller both contributed 18 points apiece.
Even though there were areas to improve, this was a solid win. The Hornets are better than their record indicates. They came into this one winning eight of their last 10.
The Cavs have won their seventh in a row and 12 of their last 13. They were playing well before the trades, but have taken that to a new level since.
Cleveland will look to keep their strong play going. They head to Oklahoma City to take on a shorthanded Thunder team on Sunday afternoon. Tip-off is at 1 PM.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 25: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns watches from the bench during the first half of the NBA game against the Denver Nuggets at Footprint Center on December 25, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The All-Star break is in the rearview, and as the schedule tightens and teams around the league start fine-tuning rosters and jockeying for postseason position, every night carries a little more weight. That reality applies to the Phoenix Suns as well, who currently sit seventh in the Western Conference. If the season ended today, they would be hosting a Play-In game, living in that uncomfortable middle where urgency never really lets up. Like so many teams right now, Phoenix is still chasing something close to full strength while trying to stay competitive in the standings.
That task did not get any easier on Thursday night. Devin Booker exited the first game back from the break in the second quarter and never returned. Hip soreness was the initial explanation, one that felt manageable in the moment. But the injury report for Saturday’s matchup against Orlando tells a clearer story. Booker has been ruled out with a hip strain, officially removing him from the lineup as the Suns try to navigate the early stretch of a tightening schedule.
Suns injury report for tomorrow:
Grayson Allen – QUESTIONABLE (Right Ankle Sprain) Cole Anthony – OUT (Not With Team) Devin Booker – OUT (Right Hip Strain) Haywood Highsmith – OUT (Right Knee Injury Management)
You could see something was bothering Booker while he was on the floor, even if there was no single play that clearly set it off. Nothing obvious, nothing dramatic, simply a player who did not look right. Regardless, Booker finds himself back on the injury report once again. He has already missed time this season with a sprained ankle and a strained groin, and now a hip strain joins the list. Notably, each of those injuries has involved his right leg.
Recovery timelines for something like this can vary depending on severity, which makes projecting an exact return tricky. The hope is that it does not stretch beyond a couple of weeks, though that remains to be seen as the team monitors how he responds.
With this latest absence, Booker has now missed eight of the Suns’ last 11 games. Over that stretch, Phoenix is 4-4 without him, and 5-7 in the 12 games he has missed overall this season.
Grayson Allen, who has already missed the previous four games, is listed as questionable. He popped up on the injury report unexpectedly before tip-off against San Antonio, another reminder of how unpredictable this season has been from a health standpoint. Allen has appeared in 35 games during what has been an injury-riddled year for him.
Dillon Brooks will return from suspension, which helps stabilize things on the wing, but the Suns are still searching for footing as the calendar keeps moving and the postseason edges closer into view. Availability remains fluid, lineups remain unsettled, and the margin for error continues to narrow with every passing game.
Peoria, AZ - February 20: Wandy Peralta #58 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the Seattle Mariners during a spring training game on February 20, 2026 in Peoria, AZ. (Photo by Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images via Getty Images)
The days of trying to get a glimpse of a Michael King throwing session or Manny Machado participating in fielding drills are over. It is time to play baseball, as the Cactus League schedule kicked off today.
The next month is crucial for the San Diego Padres, as it leads up to hosting the Detroit Tigers on Opening Day, March 26, at Petco Park. The Friar Faithful hope this season’s roster will play with an edge.
But before the season opener, the Padres have three questions to answer:
Who is starting at 1B and DH?
The Friars have plenty of candidates (Nick Castellanos, Ty France, Miguel Andujar and Gavin Sheets) battling for these two positions in Peoria. The front office plans to let the Cactus League schedule unfold before deciding which player will be in the lineup to open the 2026 season.
Everyone has their own personal favorite for each position, but producing in Cactus League games will dictate who is starting on Opening Day. If I have to predict an early leaderboard, let’s put Castellanos at first base with France as his late-innings defensive replacement. Andujar and Sheets will platoon at the designated hitter position.
However, all is subject to change, especially if Castellanos has a few fielding mishaps while attempting to learn a new position. Padres manager Craig Stammen may opt to utilize his bat as a full-time DH to start a better defensive infield. No team can survive by giving their opponents extra outs in an inning.
One thing is for certain: Castellanos will have a major role in the Friars’ offense this season.
Who is the Padres’ fifth starter?
Like it or not, the fifth starter will have a pivotal role in the success of the 2026 Padres. The organization added Walker Buehler, German Marquez and Griffin Canning to an already crowded field, as Stammen has a major decision ahead of him.
Most teams prefer an experienced starting pitcher in the fifth starter’s role. They understand how to use their entire pitching repertoire to get batters out and earn a quality start. It may not be pretty, but a veteran starter knows how to avoid overworking a bullpen.
Too often, young starting pitchers are thrown into this role with no knowledge of how to pitch out of trouble. They stumble in their starts and leave a mess for the bullpen to clean up. Too many outs to record that reduces the effectiveness of the relievers moving forward through the season.
It is unclear if one of the losers in the starter competition will become the long-man out of the bullpen. Stammen does not have to make that decision at this time. It may come down to whether the pitcher has experience as a reliever.
The goal is to find a fifth starter who can exceed their 2026 innings threshold. Whatever direction the Friars go, they have enough quality candidates to choose from.
Will the final bench spot go to a glove or a bat?
The 2025 Padres bench can be characterized as a veteran group that struggled with offensive production. This year’s bench seems set with names from the first base and designated hitter competition. Other candidates include Sung-Mun Song and Luis Campusano, but Stammen has a tough decision for the final bench spot.
Often, the choice comes down to what the roster needs: a good glove or bat. Ideally, you want a seasoned veteran who is versatile enough to play multiple positions. Still, the candidate must be able to contribute at the plate.
Stammen’s decision may hinge on the number of relievers kept on the roster for the first few weeks of the regular season. With multiple off days, the Friars may be able to keep an extra position player on the bench. But that luxury will be short-lived.
The winner of this competition may not be known until the team is introduced to the Petco Park crowd.
No More Mister Nice Guy Dylan Carey goes yard. | Nebraska Athletics
In what was an evenly matched contest from the get-go, it was the little things that made a difference In Nebraska’s 4-2 loss to Louisville. Ty Horn and Ethan Eberle faced off, both of them coming up with huge pitches when they needed them. Both of them have pitched better than they did today, but what was on display was their toughness, which is fun to watch.
Horn was probably the sharper as he made big pitch after big pitch with runners on base throughout his five innings. The defense came up big as well with timely double plays and picking runners off base. With his pitch count running up, Horn came out for the 6th inning, but surrendered a lead-off double to cleanup batter Kade Elam. Coach Childress decided that his day was done and Horn walked off to a standing ovation from both fan bases.
Nebraska did not have a problem putting runners on base. They did not go three up, three down until the final inning. They had a chance to break it open in the top of the second as they loaded the bases with one out and Mac Moyer smoked one down the third base line. Bayram Hot, playing the hot corner for the Cardinals, made a diving grab on the grounder, hustled to his feet to step on third and fired it across the diamond just a split second before Moyer’s foot hit the bag.
The Big Red did strike first in the third with two outs and Joshua Overbeek and Dylan Carey hitting back-to-back singles. Designated hitter Cole Ktchens then got a single of his own to put the first run of the game up on the scoreboard.
The strikeout was Horn’s best friend today as twice he struck out Cardinals batters with two runners on base to end an inning. The double he gave up to Elam was his 80th pitch, which is plenty this time of the season.
Dylan “No More Mister Nice Guy” Carey added to the Cornhusker lead in the fifth with a home run the opposite way over the right-center field wall. Casey also singled in the third and doubled in the seventh.
With Horn out of the game, lefty Caleb Clark came in to hold the fort. Clark pitched well last weekend, and frankly, he didn’t pitch horrible today. However, the Baseball Gods have once again used Clark as their voodoo doll.
He walked the first batter he faced, but the base was open, so no harm no foul. Up came Jax Hisle, who hit a sharp hopper right back at Clark. Double play baby! No, that’s not what happened. The ball got to Clark really fast yet he rushed the throw to second base, sailing it to the left field side way out of reach of Carey. Lucas Moore, scored and there were two runners on and no outs.
The bullpen jumped into action and the Cornhuskers tried to buy time with visits to the mound. Clark gave up a single and the bases were loaded. This was make or break time for the veteran lefthander from Canada. He induced a pop up to Overbeek to get the first out and then Coach Childress opted to go right on right, bringing in Ryan Harrahill, who also pitched well las weekend. He got his first batter to pop up to third and Cornhusker fans rose to their feel to help him get the third out. It was not to be. The number nine batter in the lineup, Griffin Crain, ripped a double to put Louisville ahead 3-2.
The Cardinals added a run in the bottom of the seventh on a solo home run by Tague Davis, and that was basically all she wrote. Both teams went three up, three down the rest of the way and Louisville added a 4-2 victory in their win column.
Louisville is a strong baseball program, and most definitely the best team Nebraska has faced this season so far. Nebraska fans that are also College World Series fans are familiar with the Louisville Cardinals as they have made a number of appearances under Head Coach Dan McDonnell, who is in his 20th season leading the boys from Derby City. In fact, they played in one of the semifinals last year at The Chuck.
The Cornhuskers will be back at it tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. against the Kansas State Wildcats. There were a lot of purple fans piling in after the game but the bet is more Nebraska fans will show up tomorrow.
Notes:
I bagged on Jeter Worthley last weekend regarding the fact that teams were able to steal second base relatively easy. Lucas Moore swiped on in the first inning, but Worthley evened the score in the third inning, nailing him with a throw overturned on review. Actually, the throw was there in plenty of time. The tag was higher than one would like to see.
The DJ, or whatever you call the guy responsible for the music in a ballpark, at Globe Life Field was incredible. Good tunes throughout, and the right song at the right time. Aaron and I chuckled when Dylan Carey came to the plate and his walkup song was the 70’s Alice Cooper rocker No More Mister Nice Guy. Usually, media people send walkup songs and other music to these tournaments, so if Carey really did choose this song, my hat is tipped to him. Why? Because he has been too nice of a guy! We actually saw a little emotion out of him today as well.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 10: De'Aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots the ball against Lebron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter of the Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinal at Crypto.com Arena on December 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As far as rebuilds go, the Spurs have managed a relatively quick turnaround. From tearing things down to the studs in 2023, to reaching legitimate contender status, it’s been a quick three years. Currently, San Antonio sits poised and firmly cemented in the two seed of the Western Conference, on a 58-win pace, which would be quite the jump from 34 only one season ago.
But this is the NBA. There’s the regular season, which is all fine and good, but what matters is the playoffs. And there’s a commonly held belief that in order to truly contend for a championship, a team needs to taste defeat in the playoffs first. They need those “playoff scars.”
So how true is that? For those teams that managed to invert their regular-season status, what does history say about doing the same in the postseason?
Taking a look at the modern era, since the turn of the century, history tends to favor teams knocking on the door of the Finals to just barging in. Very few teams have gone from not making the playoffs to even making the Conference Finals the very next year, but it does happen.
The prime example is the 2008 Celtics. Boston hadn’t entered the postseason in two years, but general manager Danny Ainge managed to put together what many call the first super-team of the era—adding the talents of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett alongside Paul Pierce. It not only ended the Celtics playoff drought, but it brought them their first championship since 1986.
Then there are the 2021 Phoenix Suns. Phoenix hadn’t sniffed the playoffs since 2010, but then managed to make the finals in 2021. This was following an undefeated run in the Orlando bubble, which still did not grant them a playoff birth. In the offseason, they traded for Chris Paul, Monty Williams coached his ass off (finishing 2nd in Coach of the Year voting), and they went on a run.
Next are the 2020 Lakers. They flipped a six-year playoff drought into a championship in the bubble. This was their second year with LeBron James, and their first year with Anthony Davis.
James adds to the list with the 2015 Cleveland Cavaliers. After adding him in free agency and trading for Kevin Love, the Cavs kicked off a four-year run of meeting Golden State in the Finals. This, after they hadn’t even won more than 33 games since 2010.
Finally, the 2024 Indiana Pacers round out the list. The Pacers had been absent from a postseason appearance for three years until making a leap to the Conference Finals. This new success was attributable to the development of star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, as well as the addition of star forward Pascal Siakam.
And that’s the list. Overall, there is a small trend. All of these teams have added major talent and are usually built around a generational great.
While history shows us that most deep playoff runs follow at least a first or second round exit the year prior, the precedent is there for a deep run, provided the team has the right pieces.
This Spurs team has the right pieces. They have a generational great in Victor Wemanyama and have the new addition of De’Aaron Fox. This is on top of the talented role players built around them. It won’t be easy, but it’s quite possible that San Antonio breaks the trend and adds itself to the above list.
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 15: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a three point basket during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on January 15, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
Charlotte Hornets v Los Angeles Lakers
Are the Lakers a mediocre shooting team? Or are they a team with good shooters who are underperforming beyond the 3-point arc?
The answer to those questions will be a defining factor in the Lakers’ post-All-Star break success, which starts with Friday’s home game against the Clippers.
The Lakers entered Friday ranked No. 21 in 3-point percentage at 35%, worse than last season’s 36.6% 3-point shooting (No. 14) and the previous season’s 37.7% (No. 8).
Are the Lakers a mediocre shooting team? Or are they a team with good shooters who are underperforming beyond the 3-point arc? NBAE via Getty ImagesThe answer to those questions will be a defining factor in the Lakers’ post-All-Star break success, which starts with Friday’s home game against the Clippers. NBAE via Getty Images
While their perimeter shooting has been a factor in the offense not performing as expected, there are reasons for optimism that their outside shooting will be a strength in the final “sprint” of the regular season.
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The Lakers shot 37% from beyond the arc in their 19 games leading into the break, which ranked No. 7 across the league, despite their player availability being in flux for most of that stretch after previously being one of the league’s worst shooting teams (33.9% in the first 35 games).
As one of the more prolific pull-up 3-point shooting teams (12.2 attempts, fifth most in the league), which are naturally tougher and lower-percentage shots than catch-and-shoot 3s, the Lakers will fight an uphill battle with their raw 3-point percentage.
But if they can maintain the 37% shooting on catch-and-shoot 3s they shot over the last month (an average mark) instead of the 34.8% they were previously shooting (an abysmal number), then they should sustain the recent 3-point success.
And there are plenty of reasons why they should be able to.
Most of the Lakers’ higher-volume shooters are underperforming on catch-and-shoot 3s this season vs. their previous few seasons, including Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia.
Even Luke Kennard, the league’s most accurate 3-point shooter, significantly underperformed on his catch-and-shoot looks in the four games he played with the Lakers entering Friday.
Most of the Lakers’ higher-volume shooters are underperforming on catch-and-shoot 3s this season. Getty Images
The underperformance on catch-and-shoot 3s started to turn in the Lakers’ favor before the break.
And with the team overall becoming healthier, there’s confidence they’ll be able to sustain being a solid-to-good shooting squad, even if players who’ve shot better than expected (like Rui Hachimura) begin to regress to their mean.
The Lakers have shown they don’t need high-level 3-point shooting to perform well offensively.
They remain elite inside the arc and getting to the free-throw line.
But sustained 3-point shooting can be the difference between them being a good-to-very good offense like they have been so far and elite like they’ve been projected to be.
And they’re on the precipice of getting to that level.
New York Rangers center Matt Rempe (73) and New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech (3) fight during the second period when the New York Islanders played the New York Rangers Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY.
Matt Rempe is probably giving this season a thumbs down.
The Rangers forward is set to undergo a second procedure on his left thumb and is heading to injured reserve, The Post’s Mollie Walker reported Friday.
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After missing 24 games — including the entirety of November — and finally returning in mid-December, Rempe revealed he had undergone surgery after breaking his thumb in “many places” during the heavyweight bout.
Rempe admitted adrenaline kept him from feeling the injury until well after the fight.
In January, despite practicing fully, Rempe was a healthy scratch for seven games with the lingering effects of the thumb issue not allowing the hulking forward to play at his best level.
New York Rangers center Matt Rempe (73) and New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech (3) fight during the second period when the New York Islanders played the New York Rangers Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY. Robert Sabo for NY Post
New York Rangers center Matt Rempe and San Jose Sharks right wing Ryan Reaves get into a scuffle in the first period at Madison Square Garden in New York, October 23, 2025. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
“Like, any time I don’t catch a puck perfectly, it felt like a hot potato on my stick. And like stick battles, I was dropping my stick multiple times a game, and any stick battles, if someone’s stick-lifting me, that puck’s gone.”
He did return to the Rangers lineup on Jan. 26 and played in the team’s final five games before the 2026 Winter Olympics break.
The 6-foot-9 winger has just one point in 26 games this season, a goal against the Penguins on Oct. 11.
