BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Sebastian Rancik had 17 points, Isaiah Johnson scored 16 and Colorado cruised to an 87-61 victory over TCU on Sunday, snapping a six-game losing streak.
Rancik came off the bench to sink 6 of 8 shots — 3 of 4 from 3-point range — for the Buffaloes (13-9, 3-6 Big 12 Conference). He added six rebounds and three assists. Johnson made 5 of 11 shots with three 3-pointers, adding five assists.
Reserve Bangot Dak scored 14 on 7-for-8 shooting for Colorado. Josiah Sanders totaled 12 points and six assists, while Barrington Hargress scored 10.
Xavier Edmonds had 13 points and 12 rebounds to pace the Horned Frogs (13-9, 3-6). All four of his double-doubles this season have come in the past four games.
Colorado made 8 of its first 11 shots and got baskets from seven different players in the first eight minutes but managed only a 20-17 lead because TCU came out shooting at a 50% clip — 6 for 12.
Colorado had the lead over the final 12:15 of the half but didn't push its advantage past two possessions until Sanders' three-point play made it 30-21 with 4:27 remaining. Sanders and Rancik both had eight points by halftime as the Buffaloes extended their lead to 38-25. TCU got no closer than 10 after the break.
Colorado made 35 of 63 shots (56%) to TCU's 33% effort (21 for 63). The Buffs hit 48% from beyond the arc — 11 for 23. The Frogs made 5 of 23 from distance (21.7%).
Colorado finished with 24 assists. TCU had eight assists and made only 15 of 51 shots in the final 32 minutes.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 14: Immanuel Quickley #5 of the Toronto Raptors drives into Kyle Filipowski #22 of the Utah Jazz during the first half of a game at Delta Center on March 14, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Utah Jazz will take on the Toronto Raptors to kick off a five-game road trip. Utah is 1-9 in their last ten and on a fast track to the top of the lottery standings.
Toronto is going in the other direction. They’re 29-21 for the season and are sitting at 4th in the Eastern Conference standings. They’re only two games back of both the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics with the Eastern Conference up for grabs. It’ll be interesting to see what Toronto does this trade deadline to see if they make a move to improve their chances in the playoffs. Utah, on the other hand, is very likely to move off of multiple veterans to give more time to their young players and find a way to get the best possible spot come lottery night. Utah is already sitting at 6th in the lottery standings, and there’s no reason to believe they can’t get to where they were last season, at the very top.
Injury Report
The Utah Jazz released their updated injury report, and it looks like the turned ankle that Keyonte George suffered at the end of their game against the Nets is keeping him out.
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The long, strange trip the San Antonio Spurs faced to get home from the East Coast led to another time change for their game Sunday against the Orlando Magic.
The Spurs will now host the Magic at 8 p.m. CST, five hours after the original tipoff.
The Spurs left Charlotte at 9:20 a.m. Sunday, but the flight was diverted to Atlanta because of what a team official said was a minor mechanical issue. The flight landed at 11:01 a.m. in Atlanta, where the Spurs remained for more than two hours before switching planes for their flight home. They arrived in San Antonio at 3:25 p.m.
Victor Wembanyama (left calf soreness) and (Stephon Castle (left adductor tightness) were both questionable for the game.
The Magic have been in San Antonio since Saturday morning.
San Antonio (32-16) entered the day sitting in third place in the Western Conference behind Oklahoma City (38-11) and Denver (33-16).
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Kierra Wheeler had 18 points and 15 rebounds, Jordan Harrison also scored 18 points, and No. 22 West Virginia defeated No. 14 Baylor 70-60 on Sunday.
The loss potentially knocked Baylor (19-4, 8-2 Big 12) out of first place in the Big 12 but the Lady Bears got good news later in the day when No. 21 Texas Tech defeated No. 12 TCU 62-60. Baylor and TCU remain tied for first place.
West Virginia extended a six-point halftime lead to 14 points late in the third quarter when Sydney Shaw hit a 3-pointer for a 47-33 lead. The Mountaineers allowed only three field goals in the third, one of them a buzzer-beating layup by Darianna Littlepage-Buggs that made it 47-37 heading to the fourth quarter.
A jumper by Wheeler had the Mountaineers up 53-39 with 7 1/2 minutes remaining, but Littlepage-Buggs drained a 3-pointer and a series of free throws by Taliah Scott and Bella Fontleroy had the Lady Bears within 53-48 a couple of minutes later.
Near the four-minute mark, Shaw nailed her second 3 of the quarter, Gia Cooke followed with a layup a minute later and West Virginia was up 60-49. The Mountaineers led by at least 10 points the rest of the game.
At one point late in the fourth quarter Baylor was 1-for-11 shooting but 9 for 11 at the free-throw line.
For the game, Baylor shot 30% from the field but made 27 of 32 free throws. Both Scott and Fontleroy made 9 of 10 free throws.
Cooke scored 14 points and Shaw added 10 for West Virginia (18-5, 8-3 Big 12).
Scott scored 18, Fontleroy 14 and Littlepage-Buggs 12 for Baylor.
Fifteen of West Virginia’s first 23 points followed Baylor turnovers.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include postgame comments from Alabama coach Nate Oats.
Last month, Charles Bediako returned to Alabama basketball after spending most of the previous three seasons in the G League, a move that has become one of the most contentious and hotly debated subjects in the sport over the past two weeks.
In his first road game since rejoining the No. 23 Crimson Tide, the opposing fans offered constant reminders about his unusual situation.
During Alabama's 100-77 loss on Sunday, Feb. 1 at No. 21 Florida, Bediako was showered for much of the afternoon with chants of "G League Dropout" from the crowd at the O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida.
The 7-foot center turned in his worst performance since returning to Alabama, where he previously played from 2021-23 before embarking on a professional career. After scoring 27 points in his first two games with the Crimson Tide, Bediako was held to six points against the Gators, though he also had a season-high seven rebounds and four blocks. He fouled out with 2:10 remaining and his team trailing by 20. As he walked to the bench, he was once against serenaded with the chant.
Bediako declared for the NBA draft after the 2022-23 season and, after going undrafted, played 82 games in the G League across three seasons, most recently with the Motor City Cruise.
After playing for the Cruise as recently as Jan. 17, Bediako was granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA by a Tuscaloosa County (Alabama) Circuit Court judge on Jan. 21, allowing him to suit up for the Crimson Tide the past three games.
His preliminary injunction hearing has been rescheduled for Feb. 6 and will be with a new judge after James Roberts Jr., who granted him the restraining order, has recused himself from the case after a motion from the NCAA. Roberts is an active "circle" donor to Crimson Tide Foundation, meaning he gives anywhere between $100,000 to $249,999 to the university.
Among those who had taken aim at Bediako's return to college basketball was Florida head coach Todd Golden.
“They were able to finagle the situation where they got a judge in Alabama that is actually a donor at Alabama to write a temporary restraining order to allow this guy to play games at Alabama. I think there’s a lot of people that aren’t necessarily happy about it and don’t necessarily agree with it,” Golden said on the local 'Gator Talk.' “But with all this intervention from judges, there’s only so much the league can do, there’s only so much other member schools in the league can do. We just need some people to stand up and start taking a stand.”
The 23-point loss Sunday was Alabama's most lopsided of the season. After an 11-3 start, the Crimson Tide are 3-4 in their past seven games.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Alabama coach Nate Oats seemed unfazed at the chants the Crimson Tide faced in an SEC road game:
Here is what Alabama HC Nate Oates said when asked about Charles Bianko’s reception to the O’Dome. #Gatorspic.twitter.com/Ncsywtbw7W
Bediako and Alabama return to action on Feb. 4 with a game against Texas A&M. It's the last game on the Crimson Tide's schedule before Bediako's hearing.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JANUARY 30: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns reacts during the second half of the NBA game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Mortgage Matchup Center on January 30, 2026 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 Kelsey Grant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With 11 wins in the month of January, posting an 11-5 record (their most wins in a month thus far this season, one better than 10-win November), the Phoenix Suns go into February tied for the most wins to start 2026. In January, the team had three different three-game win streaks and dropped just five games out of the 16 they played. Phoenix is firmly in the mix for a top-six seed, switching positions in the standings with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles at varying times over the last month.
Here’s a look at the team’s schedule for the next month:
Staying Home Before the Break
Sunday, February 1st vs Los Angeles Clippers
Tuesday, February 3rd @ Portland Trailblazers (On NBC/Peacock)
Thursday, February 5th vs Golden State Warriors (On Amazon Prime)
Saturday, February 7th vs Philadelphia 76ers
Tuesday, February 10th vs Dallas Mavericks
Wednesday, February 11th vs Oklahoma City Thunder
After finishing January with four straight games at home, the Suns will play five of their six games before the All-Star Break at home, with the only game on the road being against their Western Conference foe in Portland.
All six of the teams that the Suns will play, the Suns have already beaten, and the Warriors are the only one that the team did not beat in the most recent matchup. Due to a torn ACL and a 25-game suspension, the Warriors will not face Jimmy Butler and Paul George in their outings against Golden State and Philadelphia, respectively, and Anthony Davis and Jalen Williams’ statuses are in peril when they face Phoenix. The last time the Suns played the Thunder, Devin Booker had a game-winner in legendary fashion.
DEVIN BOOKER HITS THE TRIPLE AND WINS IT FOR THE SUNS 🚨
With the NBA Trade Deadline on the 5th, the Suns roster and their opponents’ squads could look differently than they are now for these matchups.
Staying at Home
Thursday, February 19th @ San Antonio Spurs
Saturday, February 21st vs Orlando Magic (NBA TV)
Sunday, February 22nd vs Portland Trailblazers
Tuesday, February 24th vs Boston Celtics
Thursday, February 26th vs Los Angeles Lakers
Phoenix will continue its month of staying mostly at home after the All-Star break, and they’ll get their first looks at the Celtics and the Magic this year. Boston has been one of the biggest surprises this season, hovering in the second and third spots in the East despite Jayson Tatum sidelined, while Orlando has been one of the league’s biggest disappointments as Paolo Banchero is having a down year and Franz Wagner has dealt with injuries.
With how close the Lakers and Suns are in the standings, their matchup on the 24th could prove to be a big one; don’t be surprised if this one is flexed into a national broadcast. It’ll be the fourth matchup out of five this year for the two teams and the last in Phoenix. They’re playing five times this season after both lost in the first knockout round of the NBA Cup. The Suns are winning the season series 2-1. Could it be LeBron James’s last time playing in Phoenix?
82% of the Suns’ games this month are in at home, the highest percentage out of any month of the season. The team has a light traveling month with the All-Star break sandwiched in the middle of it, before they go on another six-game road trip in March.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 04: Egor Demin #8 of the Brooklyn Nets gestures during the game against the Denver Nuggets at Barclays Center on January 04, 2026 in New York City. 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 Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons will not get an up-close and personal look at Brooklyn Nets sharpshooter Michael Porter Jr. as the two teams square off today at Little Caesars Arena. Brooklyn’s Porter, who is the best 3-point shooter on the trade block this season, is missing his second consecutive game for personal reasons.
Detroit isn’t expected to make a big move before this week’s NBA Trade Deadline, but there are reports that it is at least exploring the potential of acquiring the extremely available Porter. The wing is exactly the kind of player the Pistons need — a big wing who can shoot at value and can perform in the playoffs. The cost to obtain him, however, doesn’t seem to be the kind Detroit is looking to swing. Still, the team needs to do something.
As far as the actual game tonight, it feels like it will come down to 3-point shooting and how seriously Detroit takes the 13-34 Nets. Brooklyn’s most famous shooter is Porter, but don’t dismiss rookie Ego Demin, who can get raging hot from 3. Denim hoists more than six attempts per game and converts at 40%. If there is one truism for the Pistons this year, it is that an 18-point lead can turn into a two-possession game very quickly because of how few threes Detroit makes and how much they own the paint, which motivates opponents to bomb it away from deep.
If the Pistons lock in, don’t get cute, and don’t leave Brooklyn’s shooters, they should win this game handily. If they don’t take it seriously, they could easily lose.
Game Vitals
When: 6 p.m. ET Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit Odds: Pistons -13
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 24: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees poses with the American League MVP Award during the 2026 BBWAA Awards Dinner at New York Hilton Midtown on Saturday, January 24, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It’s Sunday, and you know what that means — it’s time for our weekly social media roundup! While the Big Apple will thankfully not be hit with a Sunday snowstorm for the third consecutive week, Boreas (the Greek northern wind, for the non-Classicists among you) has continued to hound the Northeast, with single-digit temperatures rampaging throughout the land. And yet, even as we bundled up in three layers of coats and hats to survive the cold, the first signs of spring came on the horizon. How so, you may ask, on this first day of February? Well, let’s find out!
Celebrating America’s MVP
Last Saturday, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) hosted their annual awards ceremony, where Yankees captain Aaron Judge received his third career American League MVP Award. Former teammate Anthony Rizzo introduced him, while Suzyn Waldman and Dave Sims were in attendance.
But the AL MVP was not the only honor for the Captain this week, as MLB The Show announced that Judge will be this year’s cover athlete. Since No. 99 was the cover athlete back in 2018, this marks his second time on the cover — only the second player ever to receive the distinction, and first since Joe Mauer in the early 2010s.
Judge was not the only Yankee to be honored at Saturday’s event. Carlos Rodón and his wife Ashley received the Joan Payson & Shannon Forde Community Service Award, honoring them for the work they do with the Rodon Foundation helping couples dealing with fertility issues.
This past week, the Yankees officially announced that they had re-signed Cody Bellinger. Once that occurred, the social media team showed what they have almost certainly been cooking up all winter to celebrate. In particular, the videos posted stress the fact that Bellinger grew up at the old Stadium, as his father, Clay, played for the Yankees in the late ‘90s — but you probably knew that already, didn’t you?
Earlier this month, Jonathan Loáisiga signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, bringing his tenure with the Yankees to a close. The dynamic-but-injury-riddled reliever spent ten seasons with the Yankees organization after being signed as a minor league free agent in 2016, including eight years on the Yankees pitching staff (originally as a starter, and then as a reliever). We wish him the best as he looks to get his career back on track after dealing with extensive injuries in 2024 and 2025.
Yea, there was a lot of snow last week. You know, just in case you needed a reminder that it’s merely very cold, not very cold and in need of shoveling.
CC Sabathia was also on social media complaining, but as the comments’ section on his post points out, his complaints ring hollow: he has spent a lot of time golfing in Florida and traveling to warm weather areas this winter.
Moving Day
What is the first sign of the new season? Why, it’s moving day, of course! And guess what — that was this past Friday! The Yankees’ facilities and equipment teams loaded up the trucks, with one destination in mind: Tampa, Florida.
The Philadelphia Flyers have announced that they have assigned goaltender Aleksei Kolosov to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Kolosov was called up to the Flyers' roster on Saturday ahead of their matchup against the Los Angeles Kings. This was after Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson left the Flyers' Jan. 29 contest against the Boston Bruins early due to a lower-body injury. Yet, with this latest roster move, Kolosov is now heading right back to Lehigh Valley.
Kolosov has appeared in 21 games so far this season with the Phantoms, where he has recorded a 9-10-1 record, a .908 save percentage, and a 2.52 goals-against average. This is after he had a 5-6-1 record, an .884 save percentage, and a 3.11 goals-against average in 12 games this past season with Lehigh Valley.
At the NHL level with the Flyers this season, Kolosov has a 0-2-0 record, an .830 save percentage, and a 4.00 goals-against average in four games. In 17 games this past season with the Flyers, the 24-year-old goaltender posted a 5-9-1 record and an .867 save percentage.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 06: Keon Ellis #23 of the Sacramento Kings celebrates during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on April 06, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Kings defeated the Cavaliers 120-113. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers have traded De’Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings for Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder as part of a three-team deal. This move cuts losses and returns Cleveland’s roster to the previous status quo.
Let me explain.
Think of last year’s roster construction. We know the starting lineup was killer, but Ty Jerome’s importance as a Sixth Man of the Year guard was just as necessary. Jerome made sure the Cavs never had to play without multiple shot creators on the floor.
Add a strong point-of-attack defender in Isaac Okoro, and the Cavs always had a wrench to throw at opponents when they needed stops. This optionality between Okoro and Jerome gave Cleveland levers they could pull at any point.
Is that not the vision with Ellis and Schroder?
Ellis is an elite perimeter defender. Just as good, if not more impactful than Okoro due to his defensive playmaking. He’s a truly disruptive player who can generate steals and blocks at a rate that Okoro never did. All the while, Ellis is a more willing and threatening three-point shooter.
As for Schroder, this is as safe a backup guard as you can ask for. He’s been kicked around the league for years, in large part because he’s good enough to warrant interest on the trading market, but not valuable enough to keep off the block. Schroder won’t replace Jerome’s efficient, high-volume scoring, but he is easily the best backup point guard on the roster, right now.
An upgrade for Okoro and a downgrade for Jerome. The Ellis/Schroder additions put the Cavs roughly back to where they were a year ago. I’d argue that’s a good thing, considering the massive success this roster construction previously had.
But then there’s the De’Andre Hunter of it all.
The Cavs sorely needed a small forward with legit size last season. A year later, they are right back in that hole.
Cleveland has a whopping nine players who are guard-sized: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Craig Porter Jr, Max Strus, Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, Lonzo Ball, and now Ellis and Schroder.
Certainly, a few of these players can scale up to play small forward. Tyson, Strus, and Merrill have all proven they fill minutes at the wing. The emergence of Tyson, especially, has saved the Cavs from being in an extreme bind right now.
Still, there’s a logjam in the backcourt full of guards trying to be wings. There always has been. That’s why trading for Hunter last season was seen as such a necessary move. Hunter, for his flaws, had the size and raw potential of a player who could be the missing piece.
That didn’t pan out.
Hunter fell to all of his worst tendencies this season. A low motor defender who can’t create for others or play in a team system. Hunter could previously lean on being a 6’8” wing who can shoot efficiently from deep. But the writing was on the wall once his jumper disappeared (career-low 30% shooter this season).
This trade is a bet against Hunter. A gamble that Hunter is showing his true colors this season—and that last year—was just an outlier. Getting rid of Hunter is a risk that no one can blame the Cavs for taking, considering how actively damaging he had become to the team. Some of his recent turnovers might have been the final straw, in all honesty.
There’s no shame in cutting your losses early. Hunter wasn’t working out, and we know that Ellis and Schroder lend themselves to a style that did work last season. Thus, the Cavs have recouped the playmaking and perimeter defense that they lost in the summer. In the process, they are back to having zero small forwards on the roster above 6’6” that aren’t named Dean Wade.
Perhaps most importantly, the Cavs have taken a step towards reganing financially stability. They’ve saved $50 million in luxury taxes and are now just $13.9 million above the second apron. Another salary dump could allow the Cavs to reintroduce themselves as serious contenders on the trade market.
In summary, the Cavs have punted on the Hunter experience and pivoted back to a blueprint that has worked in the past. Along the way, they save money and open the door to future moves that could help them address their need for size on the wing. It’s the type of move that you have to applaud — even if you question the previous decisions that made this trade necessary.
In Saturday night’s game against the Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens’ power forward Juraj Slafkovsky scored his 21st goal of the season, setting a new career high. As things stand, the 21-year-old has 21 goals and 23 assists for 44 points, well on his way to establishing a new career mark. In the last two campaigns, he put up 50 and 51 points, but right now, he’s on pace to hit 66 points.
Beyond the points, though, the rest of his stats line is impressive. In his first two seasons in the league, he had minus-13 and minus-19 ratings; last season, he was plus-4 and right now, he’s a plus-7. While this may not be the most favoured stat these days, it shows a tendency which is matched by the eye test. He has become a much more responsible forward defensively and has cut down on his giveaways. Last season, he gave the puck away 77 times in 71 games; this year, he has 44 giveaways in 55 games, meaning he’s on pace for just 66 in an 82-game season.
There’s been a visible improvement there since the start of the season as well. At the beginning of this campaign, he often tried to enter the offensive zone on one side only to try a no-look backhand pass, which was frequently intercepted. That has now all but disappeared from his game; he has learned to manage both the puck and the game, making better decisions with and without it.
Furthermore, he has become a much more critical piece of the Canadiens’ attack. He now averages 18:05 minutes of ice time, up from 17:21 last season, and that will keep going up. Even though he’s now on the second line, he’s still on the first power play unit. He averages 3:05 minutes of ice time on the power play (3:06 last season) and already has 17 points on the man advantage this season, while he only had 10 last season. 10 of those 17 points are goals; last season, he only had five power-play goals.
He’s become much more efficient in the bumper position as well, moving to get in space and make himself a viable option for his teammates. His goal against the Sabres on Saturday night was a perfect example of that.
Great passes make great plays 🙂↕️
Juraj Slafkovský gets the @CanadiensMTL on the board!
The fact that he’s now a much more imposing presence physically means that he’s harder to deal with in front of the net; battling Slafkovsky for position is no easy task. He’s also become much more effective at fighting for the puck along the boards.
This season will more than likely be remembered as Slafkovsky’s breakout season, the year he made people realize that Kent Hughes and co. were right when they picked him first overall at the 2022 draft. That doesn’t mean we’ve seen his ceiling yet, though. There’s much to see and discover about Slafkovsky.
PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka (AP) — Tom Banton hit 54 not out off 33 balls and England won the second T20 against Sri Lanka by six wickets with two balls remaining under the DLS method on Sunday to clinch the series.
England has a 2-0 lead in the three-match series ahead of cricket's T20 World Cup, which starts Saturday.
Banton hit three sixes and four fours as England successfully chased down the revised target of 168 in 17 overs. It finished with 173-4 in 16.4 overs. Jos Buttler scored 39 runs off 29 balls, with six fours.
Sri Lanka lost the toss and had earlier reached 189-5 in 20 overs, with Pavan Rathnayake top-scoring for his team with 40 off 22 balls.
A short burst of rain meant the game was reduced to 17 overs a side.
Sri Lanka was beaten by 11 runs in a rain-affected series opener on Friday, also at Pallekele. The final T20 will be played at the same venue on Tuesday.
Quick start for Sri Lanka
Pathum Nissanka scored 34 off 22 balls with two sixes and added 56 off 33 with Kamil Mishara (36) for the first wicket.
Jofra Archer (2-42) got the breakthrough in the sixth over, bowling Nissanka. Kusal Mendis then added another 50 off 33 balls for the second wicket with Mishara.
Mendis hit 32 off 17 deliveries, with four fours and a six, as Sri Lanka kept up a good scoring rate before losing three quick wickets.
Will Jacks had Mishara dismissed in the 11th over. Eight balls later, Liam Dawson sent back Mendis, while Adil Rashid trapped Dasun Shanaka lbw for 1 in the 14th over.
Rathnayake helped rescue the side from 131-4, sharing a stand of 56 runs off 36 balls with Charith Asalanka, who scored 28 not out off 22 balls and four fours.
England's chase
It seemed a tough target for England, which had reached 57-2 in 7.2 overs — behind the DLS par score — when rain intervened.
Opener Phil Salt fell for 1, caught off Matheesha Pathirana (2-47), while Jacob Bethell was out for 13.
Rain and a wet outfield held up play for around 75 minutes before resuming with an adjusted target.
Buttler provided support to Banton, who powered his way to a half-century off 29 balls.
The duo added 43 off 28 deliveries before Buttler fell to Dunith Wellalage in the 10th over.
Banton added another 49 off only 20 balls with skipper Harry Brook (36), and then another rapid 43 off 25 with Sam Curran (20 not out off 14 balls) to win the match.
Brook smashed four sixes off 12 balls to bring the target within reach, before he was caught off Pathirana.
The NHL Olympic roster freeze will kick in on Feb. 4 at 3 p.m. EST, and while trades aren’t likely to commence beforehand, the markets for players on the trade block are beginning to formulate.
The St. Louis Blues are no exception, as several of their trade candidates are beginning to draw serious interest from plenty of teams.
Brayden Schenn, Justin Faulk, and Jordan Kyrou appear on almost every trade board, and to no surprise, they do on The Fourth Period’s.
The 34-year-old is in the sixth year of his eight-year, $6.5-million contract. Although his production has dropped off over the last couple of seasons, scoring just 12 goals and 24 points in 55 games, he’s a defensively responsible player who can play a physical brand of hockey.
The 33-year-old has another season left on his deal following this year at $6.5 million. Faulk has scored 11 goals and 27 points in 55 games this season, providing offense and defensive fortitude.
Like Schenn, Faulk’s experience and two-way versatility are enticing traits teams are looking to add to their rosters.
Outside of Robert Thomas, no other Blues trade candidate might be a more intriguing add than Kyrou.
The 27-year-old is in year three of an eight-year contract that pays him $8.125 million annually. With just 12 goals and 27 points in 45 games, Kyrou has struggled to match his production from previous seasons, but a change of scenery could do Kyrou well.
Kyrou has been playing better hockey lately, recording four goals and 10 points in his last 10 games. According to The Fourth Period’s trade board, the Seattle Kraken, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Utah Mammoth, and the Leafs could have interest in trading for Kyrou.
Whether Kyrou is willing to waive his no-trade clause remains unknown, but the interest is there.
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SAN ANTONIO, TX - JANUARY 25: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on January 25, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Nothing has gone according to plan over the last 36 hours for the Spurs. First, in a game that in hindsight should have been postponed, what was supposed to be a 2:00 PM CT game in Charlotte yesterday got moved back to 11:00 AM with the hopes being the Spurs would be able to play and get out before the impending winter storm hit. Unfortunately, it was already snowing by tip-off, and after sitting on the tarmac for two hours hoping the runways would be cleared, the Spurs flight was canceled, and they were forced to stay overnight. As a result the tip-off for today’s game at home vs. the Orlando Magic was moved back from 3:00 PM CT to 6:00.
However, today hasn’t been smooth sailing, either. San Antonio Express News’ Tom Orsborn has been monitoring the Spurs’ odyssey to return home today, and it has been everyone’s worse nightmare. After finally leaving Charlotte at little after 10 AM, they were forced to land in Atlanta to change planes after their’s suffered mechanical issues, causing another extended delay.
Latest on the Spurs odyssey:
After departing Charlotte at 10:21 a.m. Eastern, their flight was diverted to Atlanta, where it landed at 10:59 due to a minor equipment issue, a team spokesman said. They are switching to a new plane.
They finally took off from Atlanta around 1:30 PM CT, and with the flight taking approximately two hours, they should land in San Antonio around 3:30 PM. That would not give them enough time to get to the arena and adequately prepare and warm up, so as a result, the game has now been pushed back again to 8:00 PM CT.
Tip off for Spurs game with Magic tonight has now been pushed back to an 8 pm start, a team spokesman told the Express-News.
To add insult to injury, Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama have been listed as questionable for tonight’s game, with adductor and calf soreness, respectively. (Sounds like code for potential rest games since they’re referring to previous injuries, but most of these scenarios have resulted in the players playing, so hopefully that continues, especially with the added time before tip-off.)
This scenario is unlike anything I’ve seen a team go through ahead of a game, and honestly, the Spurs should be completely forgiven if they can’t pull out a win tonight. They never should have been put in this situation to begin with, and it seems like every other game that happened in the eye of this storm was properly handled. While today’s mechanical issues are not the fault of the NBA, I feel like the game in Charlotte never should have happened, and now they are in a nearly unwinnable situation tonight. If they do somehow pull this one off, it just might be their most impressive achievement of the season.
Oh, and if they win and the Nuggets lose to the Thunder, Mitch Johnson will be an All-Star coach. There’s some added motivation for tonight.
Bediako, a two-year starter at Alabama from 2021-23, was in the midst of his third G League season before being granted a temporary restraining order to return to college for the remainder of the campaign.
Pearl said the NCAA should consider banning Alabama from the NCAA tournament this year for allowing Bediako to return to the school years later.
“I think they should consider it,” Pearl said in an interview with OutKick on Saturday, Jan. 31. “I think it’s something that should be talked about. … So, the NCAA, Alabama went ‘Hey, we want to get Bediako eligible. We think there’s some argument that he’s getting treated differently as an American that played professionally vs. European kids.’ It’s a good argument to have but the NCAA said no.
"They said, ‘No, he’s not eligible. You guys are part of the SEC, you’re part of the NCAA. You guys choose to be here. Therefore, you choose to play by our rules.’ And so, when we don’t like the ruling, what do we do? We go to court and get an injunction.”
Bediako's temporary restraining order states the NCAA can't impose sanctions or bans to Alabama as a result of Bediako being allowed to play. In other words, the NCAA can't consider banning the Crimson Tide from the NCAA Tournament.
Bediako has been a huge boost to Alabama's frontcourt already. He scored 13 and 14 points, respectively, in his first two games this season against Tennessee and Missouri. ESPN's Seth Greenberg even called the Crimson Tide a national championship contender with Bediako in the fold.
Regardless, it's a harsh statement from Pearl, who retired from coaching ahead of the 2025-26 college basketball season. Pearl coached Auburn from 2014-25 and, prior to coaching the Tigers, led Tennessee from 2005-11. His son, Steven Pearl, is in his first season as head coach at Auburn after taking over for his dad.
Pearl led Auburn to two Final Four appearances in 2019 and 2025 and accumulated a 244-123 record in 11 seasons.
