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Alexander Volkanovski dominates Diego Lopes for unanimous decision win at UFC 325 in Australia

SYDNEY (AP) — In a masterful performance, as he’s done so many other times, Alexander Volkanovski successfully defended his featherweight title with a unanimous decision over Diego Lopes at UFC 325 on Sunday afternoon.

New South Wales native Volkanovski (29-4-0) won on all three judges’ scorecards 49-46, 49-46 and 50-45, much to the delight of the crowd inside Sydney Olympic Park.

With precision punches and stellar footwork, Volkanovski looked even more dominating than he did during his unanimous decision victory over Lopes (27-8-0) at UFC 314 on April 12 in Miami.

“We were ready for him to make the right adjustments; his team did a good job,” Volkanovski said. “Last (fight), we moved to the right, he did a great job of cutting that off. But that just means I’m going to use all my other tools.”

Which he did, dominating nearly all 25 minutes of the fight, something the 37-year-old admitted he would have rather not needed against his younger foe.

“I wanted to grab a hold of him and put him down, but he was strong; I didn’t want to stand for 25 minutes, I’ll be honest,” Volkanovski said. “But we got the job done.”

After an uneventful first round that was littered mostly with layered feints from both fighters, the action picked up in the second round.

Volkanovski even attempted a jumped guillotine that Lopes slipped out of before attempting a rear-naked choke at the end of the round.

Both fighters landed massive right hands in the third round, the champion with a double-right that staggered Lopes and the challenger with a quick strike that briefly dropped Volkanovski to his knees.

Volkanovski, who tied Jose Aldo for the most title fight wins in UFC featherweight history with eight, was methodical over the final two rounds to seize the win in front of his hometown fans.

“I almost had my moment in Perth,” Volkanovski said, referring to his lightweight championship loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 284 on Feb. 12, 2023. “But I got my moment here in Sydney.”

In the co-main event, No. 8 lightweight Benoit Saint Denis (17-3-0) got his fourth-straight victory when he scored a technical knockout of No. 6 Dan Hooker (24-14-0) at the 4:45 mark of the second round.

Saint Denis, who hasn’t seen a third round since his UFC debut in 2021, began a ground and pound with several brutal elbows before finishing with a bevy of punches.

In a lightweight bout, No. 14 Mauricio Ruffy (13-2-0) used a flurry of punches that began with a thunderous right hand to score a technical knockout of No. 9 Rafael Fiziev (13-5-0) at the 4:30 mark of the second round.

In what culminated with a bloodied slugfest in the third and final round of their heavyweight battle, No. 15 Tallison Teixeira (9-1-0) earned a unanimous decision over No. 12 Tai Tuivasa (15-9-0).

Quillan Salkilld (11-1-0) opened the main card by making quick work of Jamie Mullarkey (18-9-0) with a rear-naked chokehold in the first round. It was Salkilld’s fourth-straight win.

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AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

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Observations From Blues' 5-3 Loss Vs. Blue Jackets

ST. LOUIS – A chance to take five of a possible eight points on a four-game homestand with the Olympic break on the horizon was on the table for the St. Louis Blues.

A team that has no margin for error was, in the words of coach Jim Montgomery, “we wanted it to come easy,” in the first two periods, and it proved costly.

The Columbus Blue Jackets won their season-high fifth straight and seventh in eight games since Rick Bowness took over as coach on Jan. 13, winning on the second of back-to-back games, 5-3 against the Blues at Enterprise Center on Saturday.

The Blues (20-26-9), who were coming off an entertaining 5-4 win over the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on Thursday, fell into some bad habits in a game that closed out a four-game homestand seeing them go 1-2-1.

Jimmy Snuggerud had a goal and an assist to extend his point streak to four games, Jonatan Berggren also had a goal and an assist and Brayden Schenn had two assists. Jordan Binnington fell to 2-11-1 in his past 14 starts after making 18 saves.

“I think in the first two periods, we wanted it to come easy,” Montgomery said. “We were not skating, working, hitting like we have the last handful of games. And then in the third, we did. We pushed and it ended up being too little, too late.”

Here are the game observations:

* Fourth straight loss facing opponent playing second of back-to-back – The Blues have had the good fortune, or so it should wind up being that way, of facing a team that should be lower on energy.

The Blue Jackets played on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks, a 7:38 p.m. puck drop mind you. They didn’t land in St. Louis until shortly before 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, probably didn’t get into their hotel until around 2 a.m., then turn around to play less than 24 hours later in a 6:08 p.m. puck drop.

The Blues got the start they wanted, grabbing the early lead when Snuggerud scored in his second straight game, working a nice give-and-go with Schenn before beating Jet Greaves in alone at 7:11 for a 1-0 lead:

But then their play slipped. It lagged. Why?

“I just think we're hoping for things to go right and when they don't, we wait for a push and the reality in this league, that's not good enough,” Schenn said. “We have to find ways to dig in for one another. Realistically, you can't come back every third period. If you actually play the right way for the first 20-30 minutes of the game when you've got a team on a back-to-back, you will eventually tilt the ice and hem them in, like we did (in the third), but we're always chasing games. We just don't have enough drive to come out and push teams out early on.”

They held the lead for a whole 37 seconds before Isac Lundestrom tied it 1-1 off a fortuitous bounce initially that led to a blown coverage after a good stick lift by Boone Jenner on Pavel Buchnevich.

Columbus led 2-1 after the first and outshot the Blues 10-7 after initially being outshot 6-2.

* Blues didn’t protect the front of the net – It’s an area that had seen some improvement of late, but the net front coverage and allowance of ice between the hash marks was off the mark, if you will.

All three of the remaining Columbus goals either came off missed plays that ultimately led to goals with net front traffic.

Denton Mateychuk gave Columbus their first lead 2-1 at 12:54 of the first when the Blue Jackets cycled the puck cleanup up high, then the defenseman’s shot from the top of the left circle made it through with Dmitri Voronkov providing the net front coverage in front of Binnington and getting through the Blues goalie when Colton Parayko tipped the puck through:

Kent Johnson’s goal at 8:30 of the second period made it 3-2 when Ivan Provorov’s clean wrister from the left point found its way towards Binnington and Johnson was there without any resistance to tip it home:

And what turned out to be the game-winner, Damon Severson’s high slot blast that made it 4-3 at 16:01 of the second came off a Dalibor Dvorsky giveaway just inside the O-zone blue line, and when Parayko tried pushing the puck up the lefthand boards, it was picked off by Zach Werenski, who fed his partner, and Severson’s shot came with traffic in front again:

“That Columbus team, by good friend Rick Bowness is doing a really good job, they’re really big and they play a heavy game; they go to the net front,” Montgomery said. “We’ve played them twice and they’ve scored three goals in both games, rebound tips, just mucking it up. Something that we’ve been trying to preach to do a little more of ourselves, and I think we’ve gotten slightly better at it but not at their level.”

* Berggren finding his niche – Yes, Berggren went through a nine-game stretch without putting up a point, but he now has three in two games, including goals in back-to-back games, and it’s not for a lack of creating.

he Swede, claimed off waivers from the Detroit Red Wings on Dec. 16, tied the game 2-2 with a power-play goal at 3:15 of the second, a nice shot from the inner portion of the right circle:

Berggren is being given top-six minutes, but in the past two games has played on the third line, so he’s a regular in the top nine. He’s been creating plenty of opportunities, and there’s been a lack of finish by his teammates by his creativity, but there’s something about this kid I like.

“The guys have done an easy job for me to come in and play my game,” Berggren said. “I feel like even if I haven’t produced these couple games, I’ve created a lot, and that’s all I can do. Lucky now, the puck goes in. Hopefully it keeps going like that.”

* Blues didn’t build on momentum of scoring – All three times the Blues scored on Saturday, they had the opportunity to build and add to the fatigue of an opponent that played the night before.

But each time that the Blues scored, Columbus found an answer.

They tied it 37 seconds after Snuggerud gave them the lead; Johnson’s goal came 4:45 after Berggren tied it in the second, and when Tyler Tucker’s goal tied the game 3-3 at 13:35 of the second, Severson put Columbus ahead 2:26 later.

“I feel like this is a game we probably should have won,” Berggren said. “… We lacked execution. We didn’t move our feet and stuff like that. I think the last 10 games, we’ve done a really good job doing.”

* Blues had a good push in the third period, needed more close-in range attempts – Down a goal, the Blues were going to have to get on the hunt, and they did. The shot clock read 15-4, and at one point it was 14-1, but it seemed that many of the chances that were heading towards Jet Greaves, the Columbus goalie was seeing well or shots dented the logo in the middle.

“Good comeback in the third and we probably should have scored,” Berggren said.

“There were some good looks,” Montgomery said. “I would like them to be closer to the net. I didn’t like, especially on the power play, they were shooting from the top of the circles instead of the hash marks. We’re not attacking the goal line, having someone on the back door trying to bang it home, or we’re not executing the play when it’s there. I thought we had good looks, but I would have liked them to be a little more dangerous.”

* Schenn, Snuggerud with Dvorsky line has been humming well – The trio combined for a nice first goal, and the trip has combined for 16 points the past five games.

It’s a situation with the older vet and the two young pups linking up well.

“Just enjoying playing with them,” Schenn said. “For me personally, I remember in a situation, I had Danny Briere on my line and guys like Wayne Simmonds and Vinny Lecavalier (with the Philadelphia Flyers). If I asked them questions, they were always giving me an answer, be hard on me sometimes, and that’s how you learn. They’re both playing really well right now, they both have a bright future, they’re both very receptive to getting better and that’s what you want.

“Lots of chatter on the bench and what we can do better rather than I’m not the yeller and screamer at my linemates, never have been. I think it’s more dialogue of finding ways to be better as a three-man group whoever you’re playing with that night. Both of – I don’t want to call them kids – but both young guys are playing well right now.”

Robert Thomas Undergoes Leg Procedure, Expected To Return After OlympicsRobert Thomas Undergoes Leg Procedure, Expected To Return After OlympicsBlues top center has missed nine games, last played Jan. 10 at Vegas
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Revisiting The Top-Five Moments Of The 2016 Stanley Cup Championship Run

Prior to their game on Saturday against the New York Rangers, the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrated their 2016 Stanley Cup champion team, as 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the championship run.

Many of the members of that 2016 team were in attendance for the ceremony, including former GM Jim Rutherford, former head coach Mike Sullivan, Conor Sheary, Patric Hornqvist, Carl Hagelin, Marc-Andre Fleury, Nick Bonino, Trevor Daley, Eric Fehr, Tom Kuhnhackl, Pascal Dupuis, Chris Kunitz, Jeff Zatkoff, and Ben Lovejoy, in addition to current Penguins' players that were part of the squad in Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Bryan Rust.

After the ceremony concluded - it was moving and emotional enough to make Crosby and others tear up - the Penguins capped off their sixth-straight win by defeating the Rangers, 6-5, sending everyone but New York home happy. They held down their spot at second in the Metropolitan Division, and they have the sixth-best points percentage in the NHL.

As special as this year's Penguins feel, that 2016 group had a lot of special moments to offer during their quest for the Stanley Cup. Here are the top-five moments from that 2016 Cup run.

Takeaways: Penguins Survive Late Push By Rangers To Earn Sixth Straight Win On 2016 Cup Anniversary CelebrationTakeaways: Penguins Survive Late Push By Rangers To Earn Sixth Straight Win On 2016 Cup Anniversary CelebrationFor the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>, Saturday was a special night for a plethora of reasons.&nbsp;

Honorable mention: Bonino! Bonino! Bonino!

Perhaps the most memorable moment from the 2016 run was not even necessarily the the most memorable goal from the Stanley Cup playoffs. But it was certainly the most memorable goal call.

Of course, Nick Bonino's game-winning goal against the San Jose Sharks in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final wasn't the first time that Hockey Night Punjabi play-by-play announcer Harnarayan Singh gave the iconic "BONINO BONINO BONINO!" call, as he also did so during Bonino's overtime game-winner in Game 6 against the Washington Capitals (which, we'll get to later). 

But this particular call was the one that went viral and is the most memorable of the bunch, and Singh recreated the call during the Victory Parade, as the Penguins fully embraced it. 

5. Zatkoff's W, Patric's hat trick

The intrigue of the 2016 run started right from the jump in Game 1 of the first round against the Rangers. With both Fleury and Matt Murray unavailable to start Game 1, the Penguins turned to Zatkoff, who had never before appeared in a playoff game and had only 14 regular season appearances for them that season. 

Well, Zatkoff shined, allowing just two goals on 37 shots and beating Henrik Lundqvist in his playoff debut. He did start Game 2 as well but dropped that contest, allowing four goals on 27 shots.

And the other story in Game 1? That was Hornqvist, who recorded a hat trick and added an assist on a second-period Crosby goal to give the Penguins the 5-2 win and go up 1-0 in the opening-round series. 

4. Set-up for Sheary

Sheary's big overtime goal in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Sharks put the Penguins up 2-0 in the series and helped set the stage for them eventually going on to win the series in six games. 

Speaking of set, it was revealed afterward that it was a set play devised by the captain just before the drop of the puck in the faceoff dot. Crosby instructed defensemen Letang and Brian Dumoulin to switch spots so he could win the faceoff back to Letang, who would find Sheary with a pass near the slot area.

And, well, the play transpired exactly how Crosby had drawn it up. 

This guy isn't one of the five best players of all time by accident.

3. Crosby strikes Lightning

Crosby's overtime winner | vs LightningCrosby's overtime winner | vs LightningSidney Crosby fires a one-timer from the left circle over Andrei Vasilevskiy's blocker to give the Penguins a 3-2 overtime win.- via nhl.com

Crosby had a few moments of his own on the way to his first Conn Smythe trophy. And the most memorable was his overtime game-winner against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference Final. 

With the Penguins trailing in the series, 1-0, a loss would have put them in a precarious position. But Crosby wasted no time when the game shifted to the extra frame, as he took a pass from Bryan Rust in the low slot area and wristed a "curveball" top-shelf over Andrei Vasilevskiy's shoulder, tying the series.

The Penguins went on to win in seven games and go to their first Cup final since 2009, when they beat the Detroit Red Wings. 

2. HBK Line sends Washington packing

Perhaps the biggest story of the 2016 playoffs was the HBK Line, which consisted of Hagelin, Bonino, and Phil Kessel. The trio combined for 20 goals and 56 points in 24 games, and there was no one play bigger than Bonino's overtime goal in Game 6 against the Capitals.

The third line gained the zone, and Bonino got the puck to Hagelin in the right corner. Hagelin then got it to Kessel in the left corner, who fed Hagelin in the low slot area. Bonino was there to pick up the loose change in front, and the Penguins celebrated a second-round win.

This was also one of the more legendary calls by Doc Emrick.

1. Letang's goal clinches Cup for Penguins

Letang's Cup-Clinching Goal Against the Sharks | Biggest Goals in Penguins HistoryLetang's Cup-Clinching Goal Against the Sharks | Biggest Goals in Penguins HistoryThe highly-skilled Kris Letang spun along the boards to keep possession of the puck, attempted a pass, got the puck back, and then found an opening to score ...

Well, we'll cheat a little bit here and make this a bit of a double moment, as one does not happen without the other.

Near the midway point of the second period in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final - and with the Penguins up in the series on the Sharks, 3-2 - Letang took a feed from Crosby, who was behind the net, low in the right circle. He found the gap between Sharks' goalie Martin Jones and the post, putting the Penguins up, 2-1, and providing the eventual Cup-clinching goal for the Penguins.

They went on to win, 3-1, after an empty-net goal by Hornqvist, taking home the fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history and capping off a dominant run.

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Yankees news: Ryan Weathers hasn’t hit his ceiling, per Matt Blake

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 24: Ryan Weathers #35 of the Miami Marlins delivers a pitch in the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on September 24, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jasen Vinlove/Miami Marlins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

SNY | John Flanigan: A couple of weeks ago, the Yankees sent four prospects to the Miami Marlins to acquire exciting, yet injury-prone lefty Ryan Weathers to fortify their rotation. Weathers, who posted a 3.99 ERA in 38.1 innings last year with 37 strikeouts, still hasn’t hit his ceiling according to pitching coach Matt Blake.

“This is an exciting arm,” the pitching coach said on Yankee Hot Stove, per SNY. “It’s a kid who I’ve been following since high school when we were scouting him in the Amateur Draft, he’s done a nice job of growing into a major league version of himself. The biggest thing is just keeping him on the field. We have to do a good job of having a nice onramp for him this spring and keeping him healthy, but an electric arm with a nice arsenal — there’s definitely a ceiling for him he hasn’t touched yet.”

The 26-year-old southpaw possess a big fastball that averaged about 97 mph last year, so if Blake and the Yanks can optimize it and improve his consistency with his breaking stuff, he could have some untapped potential. The coach even discussed a plan for Weathers, involving more two-seamers “to help open the zone for his four-seam fastball and sweeper.” For more on Weathers, check out my colleague Peter’s analysis of Weathers from shortly after he was acquired.

The Athletic | Brendan Kuty ($): On Friday, Jon Heyman reported that the Yankees were interested in some free agents, including right-hander Nick Martinez and Michael Kopech, plus outfielders Austin Slater and Randal Grichuk. He also said that Paul Goldschmidt was willing to return to the organization (Jack Curry had previously noted that the Yankees had discussed a Goldy return as well).

Well, on Saturday, it was revealed that the Yanks had already sent an big-league offer to Slater, a right-handed hitter who has fared well against lefties and whose potential arrival would theoretically force Jasson Domínguez out of the picture for semi-regular playing time. That being said, it isn’t known at the time whether or not the offer to Slater is still on the table (Cody Bellinger’s now-official contract could’ve change plans), and it’s also unclear when it was submitted. Slater had a .726 OPS against southpaws in 2025, encouraging New York to acquire him from the White Sox midseason, but a hamstring injury sidelined him almost immediately and he was a nonfactor in 14 games for the Yankees.

MLB.com | Theo DeRosa: Yankees reliever Camilo Doval has been added to the Dominican Republic roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, joining a fantastic collection of talent lead by players such as Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Julio Rodríguez, Fernando Tatis Jr., and others. Doval took part in the 2023 edition of the tournament, pitching 2.1 scoreless frames with three punchouts back then. The 6-foot-2 righty is expected to be a key cog in the Yankees’ late-inning mix come Opening Day.

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Takeaways: Penguins Survive Late Push By Rangers To Earn Sixth Straight Win On 2016 Cup Anniversary Celebration

For the Pittsburgh Penguins, Saturday was a special night for a plethora of reasons. 

Prior to their late afternoon tilt against the New York Rangers, the Penguins honored the members of their 2016 Stanley Cup champion team, as this year marks its 10th anniversary. Many of the players on that team returned, too, including Pascal Dupuis, Carl Hagelin, Patric Hornqvist, Ben Lovejoy, and others. Even the Rangers brought two returnees in forward Conor Sheary and former Penguins' head coach Mike Sullivan, now bench boss of the Rangers.

The ceremony was special enough to make captain Sidney Crosby shed tears. But, to top it all off, the Penguins came away with yet another victory at the end of it. 

Despite a late push by the Rangers, the Penguins emerged victorious by a score of 6-5 to earn their league-best sixth consecutive win. Once again, Pittsburgh got contributions from up and down their lineup, with Anthony Mantha and Noel Acciari reach registering two goals en route to the win. 

Mantha kicked off the scoring two and a half minutes into the game when he tipped a shot by linemate Rutger McGroarty from near the left point. Acciari one-timed his first on a feed from Blake Lizotte less than four minutes later after a hard-working shift by the fourth line, as Lizotte forced a turnover and made a nice play to keep the puck in the zone, Connor Dewar made a diving play to get the puck deep, and Connor Clifton had another zone keep prior to the goal. 

The Penguins controlled most of play in the second period as well. At the very end of a power play, Rickard Rakell failed to put the puck in the net on a shot from the low slot, but he pounced on his own rebound and fed a perfect, behind-the-back backhand pass to a waiting Mantha at the net-front, who put it in right after the man advantage expired to give the Penguins a 3-0 lead. 

However, the Penguins took a late penalty for too many men near the end of the second, and Alexis Lafreniere made them pay with his 11th of the season to cut the Penguins' lead to 3-1. 

But the Penguins responded early in the third on a power play of their own, as Rakell put one in at the net-front to give Pittsburgh back the three-goal lead, with Erik Karlsson registering his 700th assist on the play. Acciari scored his second of the game and sixth of the season - surpassing his goal total from last seaosn - just 20 seconds later to make it 5-1. 

Things got a bit hairy after that, though. Approaching the midway point of the period, the Penguins got another power play, but Vincent Trocheck capitalized on a shorthanded breakaway opportunity to bring the score to 5-2. Then, with less than five minutes to go, Vladislav Gavrikov scored to cut the Rangers' deficit to only two.

With goaltender Jonathan Quick pulled, Ben Kindel did put the puck into the empty net to make it 6-3 with two and a half minutes remaining, scoring his fourth goal in the last three games. But with more than a minute remaining, Lafreniere scored another one, and then Will Cuylle scored with 10 seconds left to bring the game to within one. 

The Penguins iced the puck after the center draw with a little more than three seconds left on the clock, but Acciari won the defensive zone draw to give the Penguins the narrow 6-5 victory.

Playoffs May Change Sentiment Around Penguins' 2026 First-Round PickPlayoffs May Change Sentiment Around Penguins' 2026 First-Round PickIf the Pittsburgh Penguins continue to win hockey games and worsen their first-round draft positioning, the team could possibly look to move their 2026 first-rounder for an impact player

Here are some thoughts and takeaways from this one:

- Let's start with the 2016 ceremony because this was a really cool moment. 

Sullivan got a nice ovation from the crowd. So did Hornqvist and Hagelin. But, of course, none other than Marc-Andre Fleury got the biggest ovation, as he usually does when he steps foot in the city of Pittsburgh these days. 

But the tribute video itself was moving and emotional, so much so that it brought Crosby to tears. And Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Fleury. And others. Even Penguins' head coach Dan Muse admitted he got chills during the video.

The Penguins always do these things right, and in front of a sellout crowd, boy, they got it right. The 2016 squad joined the team in the locker room after the game and went to dinner afterward. Just a really nice evening that was made better with a win.

- Now, about the game. 

Even if the Penguins came away with the win, it wasn’t a perfect game. A few defensive lapses led to goals against late in this one, and their first power play unit was, once again, largely struggling. 

Most things have been going right for this team in the month of January. But they're still surrendering a lot of third-period goals, and their power play is a bit dysfunctional right now, as it only has one goal in its last 15 opportunities. 

Those are both things they need to clean up if they expect to keep winning hockey games in the stretch run of the season - especially during their gauntlet in the month of March.

Erik Karlsson Hits Career Milestone On SaturdayErik Karlsson Hits Career Milestone On SaturdayErik Karlsson notched his 700th assist during Saturday's game.

- Mantha is on quite the tear right now. And, coincidentally, so is Kindel. 

Mantha has five goals and eight points in his last four games and 10 points in his last six. Kindel has four goals and five points in his last three games. That third line has been the Penguins' best for the past three games, and it's largely because these two have developed some legitimate chemistry - even if they didn't directly connect on a goal Saturday. 

With 19 goals and 40 points, Mantha is well on his way to a career-best season, and Kindel is on his way to more production in what has already been a wildly impressive rookie season. These guys give them so much depth in their lineup, and the Penguins need them to continue putting up numbers for them.

- Let's not forget the third guy on that line right now, either.

McGroarty has had himself two really nice games since being recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS). He's been good defensively, he's been forcing turnovers, hanging around the net front, and - quite simply - working his behind off. 

He looks like a much different player than he was a few weeks ago. I asked McGroarty if he'd be going back to WBS over the break, and he confirmed he would be to get more games in because he's missed so much time to injury this season. This will definitely benefit him.

But it really is a shame that there is not room for McGroarty in the NHL lineup when Bryan Rust returns from his suspension. This is a guy that probably belongs in the NHL, but there is no one that can be pried from their current lineup.

Without a doubt, he'll be the first player they call on when they need a player. But he's earning himself a bigger look with his play right now. 

'Prove-It' Mindset Big Part Of Penguins' Success, Identity'Prove-It' Mindset Big Part Of Penguins' Success, IdentityThe Pittsburgh Penguins - individually and collectively - are forging an identity, in part, because of a "prove-it" mindset that has contributed to their success this season

- As great as Stuart Skinner has been for the Penguins lately, this was not his best outing. 

He surrendered five goals on 20 shots, and he was very shaky late in this one, even if the Penguins' defense wasn't doing him any favors. He did look good early on, when the Rangers pressed early in the game, and he made a few nice saves. But he also didn't really get much of a workload until the end of the game, either. 

Skinner himself admitted that he didn't like his warm-up, and he wasn't happy with what transpired late in the game. However, if there was a game for Skinner to be off his game, it was this one, as the Penguins' offense gave him that cushion.

- Acciari deserves flowers for his play this season. Not only has he shown some legitimate offensive prowess akin to his 20-goal campaign with the Florida Panthers in 2019-20, he has continued to be a key part of that fourth line's ability to both drive play and be reliable on defense. 

It's not an exaggeration to say this fourth line is hockey's best. As good as Lizotte and Dewar have been, Acciari has been equally as good. And he deserves credit for that. 

- The Penguins will play the Ottawa Senators at home Monday before facing the New York Islanders Tuesday and the Buffalo Sabres Thursday to close out their pre-Olympic schedule. 

These are important games, particularly the one against the Isles. The Penguins would be wise to take at least two out of three here in order to give themselves some cushion, once again, for their gauntlet in March.

Penguins Forward Sets Career High In Goals On Thursday Penguins Forward Sets Career High In Goals On Thursday Pittsburgh Penguins forward Connor Dewar set a new career high in goals on Thursday.

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Cavs send De’Andre Hunter to Sacramento for two players

CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 23: De'Andre Hunter #12 of the Cleveland Cavaliers boxes out during the game against the Sacramento Kings on January 23, 2026 at Rocket Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

After a few days of speculation, the Cleveland Cavaliers have traded away De’Andre Hunter to the Sacremento Kings in a three-team deal. They’ll be receiving Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis from the Kings. Dario Saric, a 2029 second-round pick from the Kings, and the Denver Nuggets’ 2027 second-round pick — which the Cavs previously owned — are being sent to the Chicago Bulls.

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The Cavs acquired Hunter at the deadline last season, but it simply didn’t work out long-term. Hunter was good for the remainder of last regular season. That didn’t carry over to the second round series against the Indiana Pacers. He missed Game 2 with a thumb injury and wasn’t himself when he returned to the lineup. Hunter averaged just 9 points and 4.5 rebounds on 36.7% shooting from the floor that series.

That carried over to this season. Hunter was given a chance to prove that he could fit with the starting lineup, but struggled to find his role. As a starter, Hunter averaged 15.4 points on .429/.303/.843 shooting splits. The inefficient shooting and lack of effort on defense resulted in him being moved back to the bench.

Switching to a reserve role didn’t do much to help him regain his shot. Overall, Hunter averaged 14 points and 4.2 rebounds on .423/.308/.869 shooting splits in 43 games with the Cavs.

Perimeter defense has been an issue for Cleveland after trading away Isaac Okoro this summer. Ellis should help. He’s known as one of the better defenders for his position, and should help an area of need.

Ellis is only 6’4”, which puts his natural position at shooting guard. That’s a spot on the depth chart that is already clogged with that being Donovan Mitchell, Sam Merrill, and Max Strus’s best position.

On the season, Ellis is averaging 5.6 points and 1.3 rebounds on .397/.368/.625 shooting splits.

Schroder should help shore up the backup point guard position with Lonzo Ball seemingly on his way out. The journeman guard is averaging 12.8 points and 5.3 assists per game on .408/.343/.820 shooting splits.

The move will also save Cleveland $50 million in luxury tax payments this season. How much it helps them financially in the longrun remains to be seen. Schroder is owed $14.8 million next season and $15.5 million (with just $4.3 million guaranteed) in 2026-27. Ellis will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason if his contract isn’t extended with the Cavs.

The Cavaliers are still over the second apron by $13.9 million after the completion of the deal. We’ll see if additional moves are made before the trade deadline on Feb. 5.

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Houston Overcomes Infection By Dallasites, Wins 111-107

Here comes your man. No, really. 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 Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

This one wasn’t pretty, but it was effective in the end.

Tonight none of the big names for the Rockets had a good offensive night. Sengun just looks broken right now, but of course he’s playing because Adams is out for the season, and no one has seen fit to reward Capela’s generally very good play of late with more minutes for him. The Rockets did enough late in the game, and held on to a lead that persistently narrowed as they once again had great difficulty with late game offense.

The Rockets finally got to play the Mavericks in Houston, and the game was close. Some people might wonder how Dallas, without Day-To-Davis, and Kyrie Irving can be competitive. One is they drafted what looks to be a truly amazing player in Cooper Flagg, who is doing what he’s doing at 19, and two, their roster is actually set up to work around such a player. It was built for Luka Doncic (and Irving was the second PG, and mostly an off ball scorer) but it largely works for Flagg as they are, without much fanfare now, using Flagg almost exactly as they did Doncic. That team reached the Finals, so being competitive, minus Irving, isn’t actually a miracle.

The Rockets lead at the half 59-51, and it might be hoped that they’d continue to build on their lead and have an easy time of it. But if you’ve watched the Rockets much this season, “Win, Over Easy” is rarely on the menu these days.

Cooper Flagg, coming off a 49 point outburst (in a loss) to Charlotte, scored scored 34 tonight, and seemingly all of Dallas’ points from midway through the 4th quarter that weren’t free throws, sort of lucky, or Klay Thompson annoyingly realizing he was in Houston, and making a few shots late, too. It wasn’t quite enough.

Durant, Thompson and Sengun all scored late, but the Rockets made it harder than it needed to be on themselves. They are persistently bad at trying to pass, and overpassing, on what should be easy looks, or an opportunity to go strong at the basket and get free throws. One example late was Tari Eason, on a fast break, deciding to pass to Jabari Smith at his feet. Jabari probably needed to slow down, and be a trailer rather that running beside or ahead of Eason, but these are offensive fundamentals, and best ignored in favor of More Defense. The point being, they do this sort of thing a lot. Some of it is being young, but for a bunch of young athletes to clank as many fast breaks as they do is distressing.

The shooting for the likely scorers was just bad, to make things more interesting. The two usual top scorers went Durant – 6-17, Sengun – 6-20. They did have 8 and 7 assists respectively, so they contributed to the team that way. Fortunately Jabari was 7-13 and 3-5 from three. Tari Eason was 7-15, also 3-5 from three. Amen Thompson was, you guessed it 7-15 as well, and took zero threes (yay). Sheppard was only 3-8, mainly due to going 0-4 from three. He looks to be rushing his shot, and there’s rarely a reason for him to do so. Josh Okogie, though, continues to be a nice surprise, 5-11, but recorded that great number again, 3-5 from three. If the Rockets are shooting it well from three, their lives could be made a lot easier by simple Shooting More Threes. They did take more than Dallas tonight, 26-23.

Many of the non three point misses for Eason, Jabari and Okogie came from unforced errors, and bad decision making on some shots. Okogie overall has been a great surprise, and very valuable to the Rockets. This is fortunate, as Dorian Finney-Smith has effectively contributed nothing to the team so far. His ten minutes tonight were slightly disastrous. This is worrisome, as the Rockets need him to play better, so hopefully the second half sees him being the player we’ve hoped to see since the signing last summer.

Tonight we also saw the offense only be initiated by Thompson, Sengun, and to a limited extent Sheppard. We saw Durant positioned far better to score and pass, as well. What we didn’t see, thankfully, was the Rockets spamming the same Durant high dribble hand off, ISO, play, very much at all. It appears to have registered that defenses key on that. This had positive effects. The Rockets turned the ball over only 5 times. Durant turned it over once, to his 8 dimes, Sengun 2 to his 7. Thompson? Say Amen, somebody, 9 assists and no turnovers.

Just eliminating so many live ball turnovers, ones that are very difficult to defend in transition because they occur above the top of the three point arc, may have been the difference in this game.

Sengun really, really, seems to need a rest and to heal up. He’s moving poorly, and has trouble getting to where he needs to be on both offense and defense. It’s affecting his shooting as well. You could take the past few weeks as evidence Sengun is now a bad player, or go with the overwhelming weight of his previous seasons and consider what might be wrong with him.

Why Capela can’t take another 8-10 minutes per game, to let Alpie rest a bit, is beyond me. His offensive chemistry with Reed is very good, as well. Capela does the traditional center PNR, with strong, real, pick setting. He rolls to the rim pretty well even now. Alpie almost doesn’t do it at all. This is a shame, because Sengun rolling and diving to the basket to score, dime a say, cutting Amen, Tari, Jabari or Durant on the baseline, or pass to a shooter in the opposite corner strikes me as something that would be incredibly difficult to stop.

In the end, the team got it done, and I’m sorry for a shorter recap, but I’m pinch hitting tonight. More wordy recaps will surely follow, but not tonight. Tonight we can be grateful the Rockets got a win, after things got dicey late.

The Old TC continues to be a fortress for the Rockets, their record there is 17-4.

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Penguins win 6th straight, edge Rangers 6-5

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Anthony Mantha and Noel Acciari scored two goals apiece, and the surging Pittsburgh Penguins held off the New York Rangers 6-5 on Saturday for their sixth straight victory.

Mantha and Acciari beat Jonathan Quick twice in a span of just over three minutes early in the first period to give the Penguins an early cushion. Mantha made it 3-0 with an easy tap-in in the second period. Acciari and Rickard Rakell scored 20 seconds apart early in the third to push Pittsburgh’s advantage to 5-1 on a night the franchise celebrated the 10th anniversary of the 2016 club that won the Stanley Cup.

Erik Karlsson became the 12th defenseman in NHL history to reach 700 career assists when he picked up the secondary helper on Rakell’s 10th goal of the season 1:20 into the final period. The other 11 defensemen to reach the 700-assist plateau are in the Hall of Fame.

Stuart Skinner improved to 8-1 in his last nine starts but nearly let a four-goal third period get away.

Alex Lafreniere scored twice for the Rangers. Vincent Trocheck, Vladislav Gavrikov and Will Cuylle all scored during a late rally, but it wasn’t enough for the Rangers to fall to 2-10 since goaltender Igor Shesterkin was lost indefinitely with a lower-body injury.

AVALANCHE 5, RED WINGS 0

DETROIT (AP) — Nathan MacKinnon scored twice to become the league’s first 40-goal scorer this season and the Colorado Avalanche continued their dominance of Detroit with a victory.

MacKinnon also had an assist, giving him 699 for his career. He failed to score in the previous five games, his longest drought of the season. MacKinnon increased his season point total to 91, trailing only Edmonton’s Connor McDavid.

Mackenzie Blackwood secured his third shutout this season by making 28 saves. Colorado is 14-0-1 in its last 15 meetings with Detroit.

Brent Burns, Ross Colton and Parker Kelly also scored for the Avalanche, while Artturi Lehkonen added two assists.

KINGS 3, FLYERS 2, OT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Adrian Kempe scored twice in regulation and assisted on a goal by Quinton Byfield in overtime to help the Los Angeles Kings beat the Philadelphia Flyers.

Kempe scored twice in a span of 3:38 in the first period to give the Kings a 2-0 lead. After a Philadelphia rally, Kempe fed Byfield for his 10th goal of the season, a snap shot from the right circle that beat Flyers goalie Dan Vladar over his right shoulder.

Andrei Kuzmenko, who the Kings acquired from the Flyers at last season’s trade deadline, appeared to score a goal that would have extended the Los Angeles lead to 3-0 in the first period, but the Flyers challenged that the play was offside, and after review the goal came off the board.

Philadelphia rallied behind goals from Trevor Zegras and Travis Konecny to force overtime.

Konecny has scored in three straight games for Philadelphia, and has registered at least one point in seven of his last eight.

JETS 2, PANTHERS 1

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Mark Scheifele scored the go-ahead goal with 4:14 remaining, lifting Winnipeg to a win over sliding and short-handed Florida.

Winnipeg was 1-18-2 in games where it trailed entering the third period going into the game, and was down 1-0 with 20 minutes left against the Panthers. But the Jets scored twice in a span of just over seven minutes to take command.

Cole Perfetti scored with 11:26 left to tie the game, then Scheifele got his 27th of the season for what became the game-winner.

Eric Comrie stopped 27 shots for the Jets, including one with 37.1 seconds left on a shot by Matthew Tkachuk. Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett got shots to the net after that as well for the Panthers, but neither got by Comrie and the Jets prevailed for just the third time in their last nine games.

Eetu Luostarinen got the goal for Florida, which has dropped three straight and ended the game eight points back of the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Panthers — who have been without Aleksander Barkov all season — played Saturday without Brad Marchand, who is day to day, along with Anton Lundell and Seth Jones, among others.

FLAMES 3, SHARKS 2

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Joel Farabee’s short-handed goal at 6:53 of the third period broke a tie and sent Calgary to a victory over San Jose.

Morgan Frost and Matvei Gridin each scored his 12th goal of the season for the Flames (22-26-6), who overcame a pair of one-goal deficits and snapped a five-game losing streak.

Will Smith and Adam Gaudette scored for the Sharks (27-22-4), who have lost two in a row and four of seven.

Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 39 shots for the Sharks, while Dustin Wolf made 23 saves for the Flames.

Wolf’s best stop came against Macklin Celebrini with 21 seconds remaining when he stuck out a pad to deny the star forward after he was set up all by himself in front of the net.

CAPITALS 4, HURRICANES, 3, OT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Justin Sourdif scored off a rebound at 1:42 of overtime and Washington overcame a three-goal deficit to beat Carolina.

Down 3-0 early in second period, the Capitals tied it on defenseman Jakob Chychrun’s goal with 6:42 left in regulation — his 19th of the season.

Hendrix Lapierre and Dylan Strome scored in the second period to start the rally and help give Clay Stevenson his first NHL victory. Stevenson won in his second career start and first of the season, stopping 19 shots.

Washington has won two in a row. It beat beat Detroit 4-3 in a shootout Thursday night to end a six-game trip.

Mark Jankowski, Sebastian Aho and Shayne Gostisbehere scored for Carolina, and Frederik Andersen made 38 saves. The Hurricanes had won two in a row and five of six.

BLUE JACKETS 5, BLUES 3

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Kent Johnson had a goal and assist and Columbus beat St. Louis for its season-best fifth straight victory.

The Blue Jackets have won nine of 10, outscoring opponents 38-27 since Jan. 11.

Damon Severson, Isac Lundestrom, Denton Mateychuk and Mason Marchment also scored for Columbus. Jet Greaves made 28 saves.

Tyler Tucker, Jonatan Berggren and Jimmy Snuggerud scored for St. Louis.

Jordan Binnington stopped 18 shots. He has lost has lost six consecutive starts and 10 of the last 11.

Severson broke a 3-3 tie on a power play with 3:59 left in the second period with his fourth goal of the season.

PREDATORS 4, ISLANDERS 3

NEW YORK (AP) — Roman Josi scored with 1:14 remaining in the game to lift Nashville past New York.

Filip Forsberg scored twice for Nashville, while Matthew Wood added a goal and an assist as the Predators snapped a three-game losing streak. Juuse Saros finished with 27 saves including a point-blank stop on Emil Heineman in the closing seconds.

On his winner, Josi skated into the Islanders zone, circled back and fired a shot over the glove of Ilya Sorokin that made him the first defenseman in franchise history with 200 career NHL goals.

Mathew Barzal finished with a goal and an assist for the Islanders. Matthew Schaefer and Jean-Gabriel Pageau also scored but the Islanders’ three-game winning streak came to an end. Sorokin made 38 saves.

CANADIENS 4, SABRES 2

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Cole Caufield scored twice to help give Montreal a win over Buffalo at KeyBank Center.

Caufield scored his 31st and 32nd goals of the season in the third period to help Montreal overcome a 2-1 deficit for their third straight win.

Juraj Slafkovsky and Oliver Kapanen also scored for the Canadiens and Jakub Dobes made 36 saves.

Owen Power and Noah Ostlund scored for the Sabres who had a five-game win streak snapped. Alex Lyon made 27 saves.

MAPLE LEAFS 3, CANUCKS 2, SO

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Auston Matthews and William Nylander scored in a shootout and Toronto beat Vancouver to end a six-game losing streak.

Matthews had a chance to win it in overtime when he was awarded a penalty shot after Conor Garland was called for hooking, but goaltender Nikita Tolopilo made the save.

Nicolas Roy and Max Domi scored for Toronto, and Joseph Woll made 28 saves.

Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Tom Willander scored for Vancouver. The Canucks have two wins in their last 17 games.

Domi tied it early in the third with a shot that hit Tolopilo’s shoulder then rolled over his back into the net.

Tolopilo stopped 39 shots.

SENATORS 4, DEVILS 1

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Linus Ullmark made 26 saves in his first start for Ottawa since taking a leave of absence Dec. 28, Brady Tkachuk had a goal and two assists and the Senators beat New Jersey.

Tim Stutzle had a goal and an assist, and Dylan Cozens scored his 100th NHL goal for Ottawa. The Senators have won three in a row.

Timo Meier scored, and Jake Allen made 30 saves for New Jersey. The Devils have lost three of four.

The Devils were without Jack Hughes. He’s out day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

_____

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Sixers Bell Ringer: Embiid notches season-high 40 points

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 31: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the New Orleans Pelicans in the fourth quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 31, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Pelicans 124-114. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 19
VJ Edgecombe – 6
Joel Embiid – 6
Paul George – 6
Andre Drummond – 2
Jared McCain – 2
Dominick Barlow – 1
Adem Bona – 1
Justin Edwards – 1
Quentin Grimes – 1
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1

The Sixers celebrated the 25th anniversary of the 2001 Finals team with a 124- 114 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.

It was their first matchup without Paul George, who was suspended earlier on Saturday for 25 games due to violations of the league’s anti-drug policy.

Despite having a large lead for the majority of the game, the Sixers defense left a lot to be desired, and opened the door for the Pelicans to make it close in the second half.

Fortunately, the Sixers were able to pull things together in the fourth quarter.

There were strong performances all over the floor for the Sixers, but none better than our leading Bell Ringer nominee.

Joel Embiid: 40 points 13-of-27 FG, 3-of-5 3PT, 11-of-14 FT, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal, 5 turnovers

Embiid is making a strong case for an All-Star selection, earning his first 40-point game of the season. He got started early and did not let up on Pelicans rookie Derik Queen, hitting a flurry of pull-up shots over him. He had his shooting stroke early and carried that into a more aggressive second quarter, where he would earn nine free throw attempts to help bring his first half total to 23.

The third quarter saw only one shot attempt for Embiid at the beginning of the frame, and he was quiet until the fourth quarter.

As the Pelicans closed the gap, Embiid hit a three, baby jumper and layup to maintain the lead until an 8-0 New Orleans run sprung them out in front 107- 104 with exactly six minutes remaining. He hit another big three to end the run and tie the game. A few trips later, he hits a beautiful turnaround fade over Yves Missi.

As the Sixers began to pull away, Embiid hit another big three to help seal the deal, pumping the lead to seven with just under a minute left in regulation. A free throw late brought him to 40 points for the first time this season and first time since he scored 50 against the Knicks in Gam 3 of the 2024 first round.

He got to share the moment with his son postgame:

Kelly Oubre Jr.: 19 points, 7-of-13 FG, 3-of-7 3PT, 10 rebounds, 4 assists

In the first game following George’s suspension, Oubre found himself involved often and was a vital part in keeping the Sixers afloat in non-Embiid minutes. It was the perfect example of how to stay involved offensively without being a primary ball handler.

In the first half, he was consistently getting in the paint in transition, where VJ Edgecombe assisted him with savvy passes deep in the defense, and helping out on the defensive boards.

He was responsible for some of the only offense in the third quarter, hitting two threes before the team as a whole went dormant. In the fourth, he had some sneaky good passes, including a skip pass to Edgecombe for the dagger three.

VJ Edgecombe: 15 points, 6-of-10 FG, 2-of-5 3PT, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 turnover

Edgecombe earns a nomination tonight because of four plays.

The first, this beautiful alley-oop finish from a Tyrese Maxey delivery.

Second, a slick behind-the-back dime to Oubre.

Next, this sneaky steal and transition slam.

Lastly, his dagger three to send the Sixers on their five-game road trip winners of three in a row.

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Lakers trade targets Keon Ellis, De’Andre Hunter dealt for one another

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 29: Keon Ellis #23 of the Sacramento Kings dribbles the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 29, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Kings 113-111. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There are just a few certainties in this world. Death, taxes and no one understanding what the Kings are doing.

On Saturday night, the Kings, Cavs and Bulls completed a three-team trade that involved two Lakers trade targets. Cleveland sent De’Andre Hunter to Sacramento, who will send Dennis Schröder and Keon Ellis to Cleveland. Chicago will receive Dario Saric and a pair of second round picks.

Every so often, the Kings pop up with a move that reminds everyone they are still the Kings.

In Keon Ellis, they had a very highly coveted player who they could get at least a good draft pick for. As a team without much to look forward to in the future, getting a pick and a chance at a young prospect should be appealing.

Instead, they attached him to Schröder, a player they signed to a three-year deal this summer despite having Malik Monk, Zach LaVine and Russell Westbrook (eventually) on the roster. They could have simply not signed Dennis, had more playing time available and, if they were set on trading Ellis, gotten a pick and value back.

Or, they could just attach him to Dennis to salary dump him for Hunter, a player who is having a career-worst year, is older than Ellis and is under contract next season, too.

What are they doing?????

Alas, this takes two of the few names connected to the Lakers off the market. Ellis was an intriguing young option while Hunter was a much riskier option. After rumors heated up over the last week, they were tempered down on Saturday ahead of the trade itself.

Realistically, the Lakers weren’t going to be able to match a package including Ellis to acquire Hunter, nor should they have attempted to. The Lakers will now have to move on to other options ahead of the deadline.

And what the hell are the Kings doing?

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

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The Pacific Division is still there for the Warriors to take

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 03: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers controls the ball against Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during the second half of a game at Crypto.com Arena on April 03, 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 Michael Owens/Getty Images) | Getty Images

By late January, the NBA begins to stop lying to you. The schedule has done its damage, the injuries have told their stories, and the standings have enough scar tissue to matter. You can’t hide anymore, you can only adapt, scramble, or fold. This is the point in the season where illusions die quietly. No more small-sample optimism, no more “once we’re healthy” excuses. Just records, tendencies, and teams revealing exactly who they are.

Sometimes comparison really is the thief of joy. But when you’re deep in the trenches of an NBA season, it helps to look around and see where everyone else stands. The Pacific Division as of January 31st tells five very different stories with four teams fighting for playoff positioning, and one franchise that’s basically waving the white flag before February even starts.

The Lakers (29-18) and Suns (30-19) are locked in a proper division race, basically tied at the top. Both teams are rolling: the Lakers just demolished Washington 142-111 behind Luka Doncic’s casual 37-point triple-double, while the Suns are riding a three-game win streak despite Devin Booker nursing a sprained ankle. Dillon Brooks has been Phoenix’s unlikely savior, dropping 40 against Detroit and 27 against Cleveland while Booker recovers.

What’s wild is how different their paths look. The Lakers are 20-12 at home but a dismal 9-13 on the road, which could haunt them come playoff time. Phoenix doesn’t have that same home/road split issue—they’re just winning games regardless of venue, though their 2-3 division record suggests they struggle when facing their neighbors.

Golden State (27-23) sits 3.5 games back in third place, definitely in the playoff conversation still trailing the top two. The injuries to Jimmy Butler’s ACL (out for season) and Stephen Curry knee (left the loss vs Pistons early) have only created a fever pitch for a trade before the deadline. The Warriors are what they are at this point: a solid team that can beat anyone on a good night but lacks the consistency to truly compete with the division’s elite. Their 17-8 road record is their saving grace, because that ghastly 10-15 record on the road is killing their season. But the team that they are now and who they will be at the trade deadline could be two different things hmmmm.

Meanwhile the Clippers (22-25) occupy that dangerous fourth-place spot where they are close enough to smell the playoffs, far enough to worry about the play-in tournament. They just saw their impressive 16-3 stretch over 19 games get snapped by Denver, and now they head to Phoenix for a measuring-stick game Sunday. Kawhi Leonard (27.7 PPG) and James Harden (25.4 PPG, 8.1 APG) are doing their part, but Bradley Beal’s season-ending hip surgery stripped away crucial depth.

Even still, this team was thought to be dead in the water until they apparently jettisoned Chris Paul and locked in.

Then there’s Sacramento (12-38), currently perfecting the art of losing basketball games. The Kings are on an eight-game skid, 0-5 on their current road trip, and sporting a putrid 3-22 road record overall. They’ve dealt with injuries to key pieces like Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, and Russell Westbrook. They’re 17 games back of the Lakers and functionally eliminated from playoff contention before Valentine’s Day.

That’s your Pacific Division, two teams battling for top 4 seeding, your Dubs trying to figure out what they have, the Clippers crawling back in to the edges of the conversation on sheer grit and swag, and the rolling dumpster fire that is Sacramento.

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NBA trade grades for 3-team deal with Cavs landing Dennis Schröder, Keon Ellis

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 30: Dennis Schroder #17 of the Sacramento Kings controls the ball against the Boston Celtics during the first half at the TD Garden on January 30, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images

NBA trade deadline week is here, and the deals got started on late Saturday night when the Cleveland Cavaliers, Sacramento Kings, and Chicago Bulls agreed to a three-team swap. Here’s the details, via ESPN insider Shams Charania:

Cavs get: Dennis Schröder, Keon Ellis

Kings get: De’Andre Hunter

Bulls get: Dario Saric, two second-round picks

The deal saves Cleveland $50 million in payroll, according to Charania. Hunter makes $23.9 million this season and $24.9 million next season as he arrives in Sacramento. Meanwhile, Schröder makes $14 million this season, $14.8 million next season, and then has a partially guaranteed third season as he heads to Cleveland. Ellis is slated to be a free agent this summer.

This deal bolsters the Cavs’ rotation heading into the playoffs, while the Kings ditch Schröder and get to try out another wing in Hunter. The Bulls swoop in and land two second-round picks just for eating some salary. Let’s grade this move for every side.

Cavs trade grade Dennis Schröder, Keon Ellis acquisitions

I like this for Cleveland. The Cavs haven’t been the same this year coming off a 64-win season in part because of injuries, in part because they’re just not as deep as they were last season. This trade at least helps fix the second part of the problem. Cleveland needed another ball handler with Darius Garland’s lingering big toe injury, and they also have missed Ty Jerome, who departed over the summer in free agency to the Memphis Grizzlies. Schröder gives them some insurance on Garland as the playoffs approach, and he can also easily slide into a bench role where he can lead second units as a shot-creator.

I’ve always liked Ellis as a tough defender with low-volume three-point shooting ability, so that’s a nice addition for Cleveland’s stretch run, too. I have no idea why a hopeless Kings team wouldn’t play him much this season, but it was clear they weren’t going to resign him, so now the Cavs get an extended look at him before he hits free agency. Cleveland won’t miss Hunter: the Cavs have a -0.5 net-rating with Hunter on the floor this season, and a +9.5 net-rating with him off. He just couldn’t hit a shot this season, and his defense has never been that impactful. I like every bit of this deal for Cleveland.

Cavs grade: A

Kings trade grade for De’Andre Hunter deal

Hunter has a reputation as a 3-and-D wing, but he hasn’t been good in either area this year. He’s only making 30.8 percent of his threes this season on 5.5 attempts per game, and his 55.3 percent true shooting so far is below league-average. Defensively, the Cavs posted a 117.2 defensive rating with Hunter on the floor this year, and a 110.6 defensive rating with him off the floor.

Hunter was shooting 40.5 percent from three for the Atlanta Hawks when they traded him to the Cavs at last year’s deadline, so maybe he can get his shooting stroke back. The Kings needed another wing to fill out lineups, and Hunter can at least do that. Sacramento takes on Hunter’s inflated salary next year so they don’t have to deal with Schröder’s partial guarantee in 2027-28.

Kings grade: C

Bulls trade grade for Dario Saric, second-round pick

This is a nice margin move for the Bulls. Saric has barely played the last two years, and has been terrible when he has been on the court, but whatever. This is about adding two second round picks just for the cost of eating his money.

These aren’t great second-round picks, but it’s still nice to get them for just a little bit of money. The Bulls reportedly waived Jevon Carter in a corresponding move.

Bulls grade: A

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With Tucker in town, Roberts breaks down lineup challenges

Los Angeles Dodgers players Will Smith and Mookie Betts walk towards the field at DodgerFest.
Los Angeles Dodgers players Will Smith and Mookie Betts walk towards the field at DodgerFest to celebrate the start of the 2026 season at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California...

The 2026 Dodgers made their first public appearance Saturday, getting raucous ovations at Dodger Stadium during the team’s annual Fanfest event.

And with most players in attendance, the afternoon provided some clarity on where the team stands two weeks before the start of spring training.

Here are eight things we learned entering the new season:

Dave Roberts hasn’t decided exactly how the Dodgers’ batting order will look in the wake of Kyle Tucker’s signing. AP

–– Tommy Edman said it’s a “possibility” that he’ll be ready for opening day after having ankle surgery this offseason. But the utilityman also cautioned that he will be ramping up at a slower pace this spring following the procedure, in which he had a ligament repaired and bone spurs removed. Edman has been out of his walking boot for the last 2 ½ weeks, and began baseball activities again in recent days. He said he has “hit every checkpoint along the way of the recovery.”

–– Blake Snell expounded on the physical issues that have caused him to slow-play his winter throwing program and put his chances of being ready for opening day in some doubt, as The California Post previously reported on last week. The left-hander said the shoulder issue that sidelined him for most of the first half last season continued to be an issue during the postseason, and that he spent much of this offseason in physical therapy. “It’s stronger (now),” Snell said. “(From) the day that I went into PT to the day I left, it’s night and day in strength and how it feels. Throwing, it feels good. I’m just going to ramp up slower. That’s all I’m doing.”

The Dodgers have ample pitching depth entering spring training, leaving a couple players with yet-to-be-determined roles. California Post

–– Roki Sasaki is the Dodgers’ only Japanese player not participating in this spring’s World Baseball Classic, and revealed Saturday that it was ultimately the Dodgers’ decision. “You always feel that you want to play on a special stage, and I wanted to do that again this time,” Sasaki said in Japanese. “But I talked to the team, and it’s the team’s decision, so I’m going to focus on getting ready for the season.” Sasaki was the only Japanese player the Dodgers could directly prevent from playing in the WBC, since he spent so much time on the 60-day injured list last season with a shoulder injury.

–– Freddie Freeman is also not participating in the WBC for Team Canada, but said it was because of a personal situation, not any health-related issues: “I wasn’t going to be able to go out there and play and be in Puerto Rico (for Canada’s group stage games), and be that far from my family. I needed to be close to California. That’s all I’ll say. But it’s personal.”

–– Coming off a career-worst season offensively in 2025, Mookie Betts said he focused on “re-wiring my body” in his offseason work this winter. “It’s more just re-wiring my mechanics, my brain, the motor patterns,” he said. Last spring, Betts felt as good as he ever had in camp. A mid-March stomach virus, however, sapped him of his strength and got his swing “out of whack,” resulting in .258 batting average and .732 OPS.

Ohtani will still lead off, Betts will likely hit third, and Will Smith will hit fifth. California Post

“It was kinda like a snowball effect,” he added. “Now I’ve gotten to put the training wheels on, take my time, and really stack positive days over and over. Now we’re in a really good spot.”

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–– A couple players showed up at Fanfest with noticeably different physiques. Starting pitcher River Ryan, a former top prospect who missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery, said he added roughly 30 pounds of muscle during his rehab process, bulking up from 195 to 225. “I can throw a lot harder, a lot easier,” he joked. Reliever Brusdar Graterol, on the other hand, slimmed down about 15 pounds this winter after missing all of last year recovering from shoulder surgery. Both are expected to be ready for opening day.

–– Dave Roberts hasn’t decided exactly how the Dodgers’ batting order will look in the wake of Kyle Tucker’s signing, but he did drop some hints, saying Ohtani will still lead off, Betts will likely hit third, and Will Smith will hit fifth. That presumably leaves Kyle Tucker and Freeman for the Nos. 2 and 4 spots, in some order.

–– The Dodgers have ample pitching depth entering spring training, leaving a couple players with yet-to-be-determined roles. Both Justin Wrobleski and Kyle Hurt said they were unsure if they’d be used as starters or relievers this year, and were planning to build up to multiple innings in camp. Ben Casparius said he is “loosely” viewing himself as a reliever, but will also be ready to build up to longer outings if needed.

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Cavaliers trade De'Andre Hunter for Kings' Dennis Schroder, Keon Ellis: Details

The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired guards Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder in a deal that sends De'Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings and also involves the Chicago Bulls, according to a report from ESPN's Shams Charania.

The Kings received Hunter, a small forward, and are also sending Dario Saric and two future second-round picks to the Bulls.

Ellis and Schroder join a Cleveland roster that already includes Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, adding more depth to the Cavs' backcourt as they look to make a deep playoff push. Ellis and Schroder can help stretch the floor and also hurt defenses with penetration. Both players are active defenders that give ballhandlers headaches.

The Cavaliers currently sit fifth in the Eastern Conference standings at 29-21.

Keon Ellis 2025-26 regular-season stats

Here are Ellis' average statistics so far though the 2025-26 regular season:

  • Games played: 43
  • Minutes: 17.6
  • Points: 5.6
  • Rebounds: 1.3
  • Assists: 0.6
  • Steals: 1.1
  • Blocks: 0.5
  • Field goal: 39.7%
  • 3-point field goal: 36.8%
  • Free throw: 62.5%

Keon Ellis career stats

Here are Ellis' average statistics so far though his four-year NBA career:

  • Games played: 196
  • Minutes: 19.2
  • Points: 6.3
  • Rebounds: 2.0
  • Assists: 1.2
  • Steals: 1.1
  • Blocks: 0.6
  • Field goal: 46%
  • 3-point field goal: 41.6%
  • Free throw: 76.9%

Dennis Schroder 2025-26 regular-season stats

Here are Schroder's average statistics so far though the 2025-26 regular-season.

  • Games played: 40
  • Minutes: 19.2
  • Points: 12.8
  • Rebounds: 3.1
  • Assists: 5.3
  • Steals: 0.8
  • Blocks: 0.2
  • Field goal: 40.8%
  • 3-point field goal: 34.3%
  • Free throw: 82%

Dennis Schroder career stats

Here are Schroder's career average statistics so far though his 12-year NBA career:

  • Games played: 882
  • Minutes: 27.3
  • Points: 13.9
  • Rebounds: 2.9
  • Assists: 4.9
  • Steals: 0.8
  • Blocks: 0.1
  • Field goal: 43.1%
  • 3-point field goal: 34.2%
  • Free throw: 83.5%

De'Andre Hunter 2025-26 regular-season stats

Here are Hunter's average statistics so far though the 2025-26 regular-season.

  • Games played: 43
  • Minutes: 26.2
  • Points: 14.0
  • Rebounds: 4.2
  • Assists: 2.1
  • Steals: 0.7
  • Blocks: 0.1
  • Field goal: 42.3%
  • 3-point field goal: 30.8%
  • Free throw: 86.9%

De'Andre Hunter career stats

Here are Hunter's career average statistics so far though his seven-year NBA tenure.

  • Games played: 370
  • Minutes: 29.6
  • Points: 14.7
  • Rebounds: 4.1
  • Assists: 1.6
  • Steals: 0.7
  • Blocks: 0.3
  • Field goal: 44.8%
  • 3-point field goal: 36.5%
  • Free throw: 82.5%

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cavaliers-Kings trade details, what we know about De'Andre Hunter deal

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Hornets extend win streak to 6 games, hold off Spurs 111-106

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Brandon Miller scored 26 points, Collin Sexton made all five 3-point attempts off the bench and finished with 21 points and the Charlotte Hornets held on to beat the San Antonio Spurs 111-106 on Saturday to extend their winning streak to six games.

LaMelo Ball 16 points, eight rebounds and eight assists to help give the Hornets their longest win streak in nearly a decade. Charlotte won seven straight games in March 2016.

Dylan Harper scored 20 points to lead the Spurs. Victor Wembanyama was held in check for most of the game, finishing with 16 points on 6-of-15 shooting and eight rebounds.

Charlotte’s 17-point lead in the third quarter disintegrated after Harrison Barnes hit back-to-back 3s and the Spurs turned a Sexton turnover into a De’Aaron Fox layup to cut the lead to two with less than five minutes to play.

But the Spurs could never regain the lead.

With 36 seconds left and Charlotte leading by three, officials initially whistled Fox for a foul on a Miller 3-point attempt. But after reviewing the call, it was overturned and resulted in a jump ball, which the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama easily won.

Wembanyama launched a hurried a 3-point shot moments later and the Hornets snagged the rebound. Down 3, the Spurs inexplicably allowed 15 seconds to elapse before fouling Miller, who made both free throws with 10.6 seconds left to seal the game.

PACERS 129, HAWKS 124

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Andrew Nembhard scored 26 points, Pascal Siakam added 25 and Indiana held off Atlanta.

Indiana nursed a single-digit lead for much of the third quarter and led 103-100 entering the fourth. It was tight the rest of the way before Siakam hit a crucial 12-foot jumper with 18.6 seconds remaining to push the Pacers ahead 127-123.

Aaron Nesmith added 23 points, Nembhard had 10 assists and Siakam shot 11 of 15 from the field. The Pacers won despite 23 turnovers.

Atlanta dropped its second straight game despite Jalen Johnson’s eighth triple-double of the season. The forward finished with 33 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 21 points.

The Pacers have won seven of their past 12 games, enjoying a solid stretch of basketball after starting the season with a 6-31 record. Indiana has played all year without star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who tore his right Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the NBA Finals last season.

Indiana jumped to an 80-73 lead by halftime, spurred by a 45-point second quarter. Johnson led the Hawks with 21 points before the break while Nembhard also had 21 for the Pacers.

76ERS 124, PELICANS 114

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid had 40 points and 11 rebounds to help Philadelphia win hours after Paul George was suspended 25 games for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy, beating New Orleans.

The NBA did not disclose the nature of the violation or the substance that was involved, and George released a statement to ESPN saying he took something that was “improper.”

Without George, the 76ers couldn’t shake the 13-win Pelicans until the final minutes.

Tyrese Maxey scored 18 points and hit one of his four 3-pointers that gave the Sixers a 117-111 lead and Embiid and VJ Edgecombe followed with consecutive 3s for the 123-113 lead.

Embiid heard “M-V-P! M-V-P!” chants as he stepped to the free-throw line with 11.3 seconds left. He sank his first one to hit the 40-point mark.

Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 19 points and the 76ers hit 17 3-pointers to end the night on a high note after they learned they would have to make a playoff push largely without George.

Saddiq Bey led the Pelicans with 34 points and Zion Williamson had 11.

TIMBERWOLVES 131, GRIZZLIES 114

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored 33 points, Julius Randle added 27 points and seven assists, and Minnesota won its fourth straight, beating Memphis.

Minnesota’s winning streak was punctuated by a wire-to-wire victory over the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night. All four wins have been by double-digits.

Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels had 20 points apiece for the Timberwolves, Reid adding nine rebounds. Rudy Gobert grabbed 16 boards and added a pair of blocks.

Ty Jerome, playing in his first game of the season after recovering from a right calf strain, led Memphis with 20 points and six assists but could not prevent the Grizzlies from losing their sixth straight.

GG Jackson added 19 points and Jaylen Wells had 15.

BULLS 125, HEAT 118

MIAMI (AP) — Ayo Dosunmu scored a season-high 29 points and short-handed Chicago topped Miami.

Dosunmu added nine assists and eight rebounds. Matas Buzelis scored 21 points and Isaac Okoro added 20 for the Bulls, who hit 20 3-pointers.

Pelle Larsson scored 22 and Bam Adebayo had 15 of his 21 in the fourth quarter for Miami, which tied the game four times in the final 3:37 but didn’t reclaim the lead in any of those instances. Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 20 for Miami.

The teams play again in Miami on Sunday. It’ll be the first time since Baltimore and Houston in 1972 that two NBA teams play three consecutive games in the same regular season against one another; the Heat won at Chicago in a rescheduled game on Thursday night.

ROCKETS 111, MAVERICKS 107

HOUSTON (AP) — Amen Thompson had 21 points, nine assists and eight rebounds to lead Houston to a victory over Dallas.

An alley-oop dunk by Thompson put Houston up four with under two minutes left before the Mavericks scored the next four points, with baskets from rookie Cooper Flagg and Naji Marshall, to tie it about a minute later.

Alperen Sengun’s layup put Houston on top with 28.6 seconds left before Flagg missed a shot in the lane on the other end. The Rockets grabbed the rebound and a dunk by Tari Eason made it 111-107 with 14.4 seconds remaining.

A 3-point attempt by Flagg bounced off the rim after that to end it.

Flagg led the Mavericks with 34 points and 12 rebounds a game after the 19-year-old set the NBA record for points by a teenager with 49 in a loss to Charlotte on Thursday night. Saturday was the fifth game this season with at least 30 points for the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft.

Jabari Smith Jr. added 19 points for the Rockets and Sengun had 14 points and 14 rebounds.

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