The Dallas Mavericks had a quick turnaround after a 116-110 loss to the Lakers Saturday night. The original plan was for the Mavericks to fly from Dallas to Milwaukee after last night’s game, for their 6 p.m. game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. The massive snowstorm affecting a significant portion of the United States had other ideas.
The Mavs were unable to fly out Saturday night, opting instead to make an attempt Sunday morning. To no one’s surprise, nothing came easy. The NBA announced Sunday afternoon that the Mavericks-Bucks game was officially postponed “due to the Mavericks’ inability to leave Dallas as a result of inclement weather.”
Several reports on Sunday indicated that a make-up date against the Bucks would likely be scheduled on Feb. 19, shortening the Mavericks’ All-Star Break by a day.
Mavs won’t play the Bucks tonight. No announcement from the NBA, but the most likely make-up date for Mavs at Bucks is Feb. 19. Officials hoped Mavs still might get out of Dallas today to play tomorrow in Milwaukee, but frigid temps prevented plane from being adequately de-iced.
The Mavs are already scheduled to at the Minnesota Timberwolves on Feb. 20, so as inconvenient as shortening their break may seem, it’s the lesser evil here. Had the Mavericks tried to play the Bucks on Sunday, they likely would have been forced to field a roster that more closely resembles the Texas Legends than a real, competitive NBA team. Cooper Flagg was previously listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game at Milwaukee, and Max Christie was questionable.
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The Cleveland Cavaliers have been playing better basketball of late, but there’s reason to believe they could make a move before the Feb. 5 trade deadline. One of the players that teams have reportedly been trying to target recently is versatile defensive forward Dean Wade.
According to Chris Fedor of cleveland.com, “no fewer than 10 teams have reached out and expressed interest” in Wade. Up until this point, the Cavs have rejected those offers. We’ll see if that continues for the next week and a half.
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Wade is an attractive asset for contenders. He’s an incredible defender who can guard numerous positions. The Cavs have used him as both the primary defender on guards like Devin Booker and as a small-ball center when the team needs to space the floor.
That unique skillset is useful when playing alongside two shot-blocking centers in Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Lineups with that trio on the court are outscoring opponents by 16 points per 100 possessions (97th percentile) with a 101.6 defensive rating (99th percentile).
Aside from his value on the court, Wade’s expiring $6.6 million contract fits into a lot of teams’ cap sheets. And if a team were to trade for Wade, they would have his Bird Rights, which means that they could go over the salary cap to sign him. A team trading for and signing Wade to a larger contract this offseason could also create an additional salary slot that they could trade in the future, which is incredibly beneficial if you’re a team that’s already over the salary cap.
Trading Wade wouldn’t make sense for the Cavs right now. They don’t have any other bigs that can provide what he does, even if the Cavs don’t think they’ll be able to sign him this upcoming offseason.
We’ll see what moves, if any, the Cavs make at the fast-approaching trade deadline.
As a role player, Marcus Smart’s job is fairly simple: play hard on defense, hit your open shots and be a banshee. That means doing all the dirty work that goes unnoticed so the Lakers can be in a position to win games.
What also went unnoticed was a bit of medical work he did to himself during the fourth quarter. Smart appeared to jam his finger after deflecting a pass in the final frame, but never came off the floor.
After the game, he revealed that he dislocated his finger but just popped it back in and kept playing.
Marcus Smart said his right index finger – which he had surgically repaired last summer – popped out in the 4th quarter, but he didn’t want to come out of the game, so he just bent over and popped it back in. He’s about to go get it wrapped and iced up now.
It’s unreal that Smart didn’t miss a beat, given that it was the right index finger he had surgery on last summer that got dislocated. Smart injured this finger late last season when he was a member of the Wizards. He missed a few games down the stretch and had surgery this summer.
It’s on-brand that Smart just kept on playing. Plenty of other players would’ve been done for the night, or at the very least, taken a moment to have a medical staff member pop it back in place for him.
Smart, being the competitor he is, didn’t want to miss a second. So he just took care of it himself and kept playing.
Regardless of whether Smart has a good game or not, his toughness is never in question. He’s always preaching defensive physicality and leading by example.
These are the kind of moments that need to be remembered and celebrated when it comes to Smart and what he brings to this team. It’s why the Lakers stars were so excited about Smart’s arrival in the first place.
He’s a winning player and raises your team’s level of toughness just by his mere presence. While the lows can be infuriating, the highs are equally impressive.
And thanks to Smart contributing to Lakers head coach JJ Redick’s small-ball unit in the fourth, they completed their comeback, ensuring Luka Dončić remained undefeated against his former team.
So credit to Smart, for stepping up in the moment and doing what a banshee needs to do, whatever it takes to win.
Andrew McCutchen during batting practice before a game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on September 26, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Andrew McCutchen is presently unsigned for 2026, but the former NL MVP is still miffed that the Pirates did not invite him to their annual preseason fan fest.
McCutchen, who has played 12 of his 17 MLB seasons in Pittsburgh over two stints, took to social media Saturday night to express his unhappiness.
He cited Albert Pujols, Clayton Kershaw, Miguel Cabrera and others as examples of longtime stars who attended team functions in the past despite not being under contract for that upcoming season.
“I wonder, did the Cards do this [to Adam] Wainwright/Pujols/Yadi [Molina]? Dodgers to Kershaw? Tigers to Miggy? The list goes on and on,” McCutchen wrote on X. “If this is my last year, it would have been nice to meet the fans one last time as a player.”
Andrew McCutchen during batting practice before a game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on September 26, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. Getty Images
Pirates GM Ben Cherington gave vague answers Saturday about why McCutchen — a five-time All-Star outfielder and the 2013 NL MVP — was not in attendance.
“Andrew has meant a ton to the team. He’s had an incredible run at two different times. Certainly, his legacy as a Pirate is secure,” Cherington said, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “Everybody with the Pirates, it’s our desire to maintain a really good relationship with Andrew well into the future.”
The 39-year-old McCutchen, who appeared in 25 games for the Yankees in 2018, batted just .239 with 13 home runs, 57 RBIs and a .700 OPS in 135 games — 120 as a designated hitter — for the Pirates last season.
Andrew McCutchen bats against the Atlanta Braves in the third inning at Truist Park on September 26, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. Getty Images
“Then we come back to our team. What is the job? The job is to build a team that gives us the best chance to win games when you’re at the ballpark in June and July,” Cherington added. “Our approach this offseason has been laser-focused on what gives us the best chance to win more baseball games in Pittsburgh than we have in the past seasons. That’s gonna continue to guide our decisions. So much respect for Andrew. That relationship is really important to us.
“We’ll continue to communicate with him directly as the team comes together. We have more work to do.”
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Alright, Game 46 of the season, and once again you’ll be spending your Sunday night with me. Which, you know, I truly appreciate. Our Suns host the Miami Heat for the last time this season (unless we somehow meet in the NBA Finals…), and there’s definitely a revenge vibe around this matchup: Phoenix lost to them in crunch time 12 days ago.
The Heat haven’t really found their rhythm yet, as they’ve posted a .500 record and a 5–5 stretch over their last ten games. On our side, I’d like to stay optimistic: the recent record is solid, but losing Devin Booker and Jalen Green back-to-back in the last game hurts. A lot.
First, as mentioned earlier, this is an immediate rematch of a highly offensive duel. The two teams faced each other on January 13, 2026, with Miami winning 127–121 in a wide-open game. Bam Adebayo (29 points) and Norman Powell (27 points) punished Phoenix in crunch time. On our side, the Booker–Brooks–Allen trio combined for 74 points.
Second, it’s always a stylistic clash. And statistically, the contrast is fascinating. Miami plays fast (1st in pace), constantly trying to score in transition or early in the shot clock. Phoenix, on the other hand, plays slower (20th in pace), preferring half-court sets, three-point shooting, and structured offense.
And finally, no matter the outcome, this game matters. The Suns are hovering between 6th and 8th in the West, while the Heat want to escape the middle of the Eastern Conference pack. Every win matters in the seeding race, especially for Phoenix, who are clearly looking to secure a playoff spot without going through the play-in.
Key to a Suns Win
I don’t have 20,000 reasons. I have one. And it includes several layers: Phoenix needs to impose itself where it is strongest. That means generating and exploiting second-chance opportunities and extra possessions, especially through offensive rebounding (6th in the league with 12.8 per game) and steals (1st with 10.4).
Our win will also depend on three-point shooting and how easily we can generate those looks. Without Booker, late-clock situations, mid-range creation, and overall offensive organization will be more complicated, so they’ll need to play faster, cleaner, and smarter. And limit turnovers.
Finally, the defense has to show up. The Suns have been elite on that end in 2026 (4th-best defense in the league since January 1st). They need to limit the guys who hurt them last time: Bam and Norman. Forcing Bam to shoot from distance and attacking Powell’s playmaking weaknesses by trapping or isolating him could be options. Obviously, they’re not the only threats, but they’re the pillars of Miami’s system.
Prediction
I’m expecting an exciting, fast-paced game with shots falling and possessions rarely ending in wasted opportunities. I can’t wait to watch this one, and I think the Suns pull it out, painfully, but this roster will get it done. I believe in them.
We have reached the portion of the offseason where most of the major pieces have come off the board (and shocker — for the third offseason in a row, the Dodgers are drinking everybody’s milkshake, allegedly bullying everyone, much to everyone’s agita).
Never mind that the Dodgers have created an environment that both keeps and attracts the league’s best talent. No one can accuse the Dodgers of sitting on their laurels.
“We’ve agents reach out and say, ‘Hey, I know you haven’t called, but our player would really like to play there.’”
Andrew Friedman on the Kyle Tucker signing & the Dodgers culture.
At this point, as fans, we await the upcoming World Baseball Classic and the potential returns of Kiké Hernández (think when the 60-day injured list goes live) and Evan Phillips (think All-Star Break).
Rather than devote column inches today on the Gondola, or the absurd narratives that the Dodgers are responsible for the impending lockout in December of this year, which is just so dumb, but when does a lion worry about the shrill bleating of sheep, it’s really the same story but from different angles.
Let us instead look northward and at our northern cousins to see what, if anything, they have gotten up to.
As for the Arizona Diamondbacks, I have nothing to say as they are the last team to vanquish the Dodgers in October. Game recognizes game, even if you only thumped a now-retired-as-a-three-time-champion Clayton Kershaw, Bobby Miller, and Lance Lynn. I have been respectfully silent for three offseasons, which will be long enough once play resumes in March.
As for the Colorado Rockies, well, my mother picked Denver for the August trip.
But the Giants? I always pay attention because of the fact I live less than an hour from Oracle Park. Even if I wanted to ignore them, the citizenry will not oblige. And the Giants’ offseason can be summarized as follows:
Firm, Masterly Inactivity
To quote one of my favorite British comedies, Yes, Prime Minister, which debuted in 1986, featuring Paul Eddington playing Jim Hacker, a well-meaning doofus who ascended to Prime Minister at the conclusion of Yes, Minister (the previous series), squaring off against Sir Nigel Hawthorne playing Sir Humphrey Appleby, the Cabinet Minister: the Giants have mastered “firm, masterly inactivity” during this offseason.
I have been on record lamenting the obstinate, persistent mediocrity of our northern cousins during these past five years. Apart from a sugar high fluke of 2021, you can basically write the Giants being non-contenders in pen, while glancing and wondering whether a chisel and stone tablets might be more appropriate.
When I last left off, I had the following to say about our northern cousins:
Much like a kid who peaked in high school, instead of engaging in self-reflection and therapy when life did not go according to plan, the Giants assumed everyone else was the problem, 2021 was the norm, and they continued to double down.
And double down and double down. The fun part, especially as a Dodgers writer who lives in the Bay Area, the locals are starting to notice and grouse about this fact.
The Giants signed pitchers Tyler Mahle, Sam Hentges, and Adrian Houser…in a market that had Tatsuya Imai, Bo Bichette, Kyle Tucker, Edwin Diaz, etc. The Dodgers paid almost as much in luxury tax as the Giants paid in total to their roster last year. Talk about not leaving home.
When a head-scratching manager hire is the most notable thing about your offseason, even the locals are starting to wonder if Buster Posey has lost the plot. Sure, he will likely get elected into the Hall of Fame next year, but at this rate, he is mimicking the arc of other star athletes who went into the front office: woefully inadequate.
Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle spoke to Foul Territory on January 20, and she did not hold back.
To gently disagree with Ms. Slusser on one point, yes, the Giants finished two games out of a playoff spot.
However, portraying the Giants as having any serious postseason aspirations in 2025 is generous to the point of absurdity, without discussing the LOLMets trainwreck. The Mets started 45-24 with the best record in MLB on June 12 before melting down over the next 93 games, going 38-55, worse than everyone except the Rockies, the Washington Nationals, the Minnesota Twins, and the Chicago White Sox.
Yes, the Dodgers were maddeningly inconsistent this summer and even putrid in stretches, but they managed to right the ship, which clearly the Mets did not.
And even if the Giants had somehow bumbled their way into the postseason a la the Cincinnati Reds, their prize would have been facing…the Dodgers, who could be forgiven for what that thumping noise was while easily dispatching the Queen City boys.
Ms. Slusser summarized how team president Buster Posey has said he will make moves, yet ownership has largely been absent in this postseason regarding Bo Bichette (Mets), Tatsuya Imai (Astros), Cody Bellinger (Yankees), and Munetaka Murakami (White Sox). All were available at non-exorbitant contracts.
"He seems convinced that when he wants to spend big, they will let him, but we just aren't seeing it."
Attendance was up marginally in 2025, finishing 7th in baseball while averaging 36,121 per game, compared to 10th in 2024, when the average was 33,096 per game. At this rate, one wonders why.
Farhan 2.0?
Dave Tobener of SFGatewas even less complimentary of the Giants’ offseason on January 22 in a delightful essay titled “I thought Buster Posey had changed the SF Giants’ ways. Looks like I was wrong.” Some highlights to bask in include:
It’s been an underwhelming offseason for Farhan Zaidi and the Giants. Coming off a year when they missed the playoffs by a handful of games, it seemed like the organization was just a few key moves away from making a real push this season. But instead of addressing their most pressing needs in free agency or through a trade, the Giants instead settled for a series of moves that Zaidi is known for: signing pitchers coming off major injuries, loading up on backup catchers, and crossing their fingers that platoons can give them enough offensive production to get by. Very, very underwhelming.
Whoops, hang on – sorry, this is a lede I wrote a few years ago. I opened the wrong Word doc. Let me see here… well, actually, it still works. I just have to change Zaidi’s name to Buster Posey, and it’s good to go…
…As it stands now, the Giants are going to roll out a team that’s remarkably like the one that just went 81-81, only this time with a weaker bullpen, clear lineup holes and a shaky rotation beyond their ace. They seem to be counting on a new manager to generate excitement and right the ship, but has anyone ever bought a ticket to see the manager? Tony Vitello has been making the rounds lately to talk about how he wants the Giants to be the villains of baseball this season (which is laughable considering the team they share a division with), but what reason would anyone have to hate this Giants team? What have they done to make anyone fear them, let alone hate them?
The only vitriol may be coming from their own fan base. There’s a clear path to the playoffs in the National League that they seem to have no interest in taking. It’s maddening. Posey may not be turning into Zaidi, but the differences are getting harder to spot.
When it rains, it pours, because just before this essay was to be submitted, a news alert gave us one last gift.
A thimble for the ocean
To conclude, the media asked Giants’ pitcher Logan Webb after the Giants’ FanFest in San Ramon about his participation in the upcoming WBC. During the scrum, someone asked Webb his thoughts about the Giants’ offseason.
To his credit, Webb was diplomatic, while looking like someone being asked to empty an ocean with a thimble.
“It’s not my job to add guys or do anything,” Webb told reporters Saturday at Giants FanFest in San Ramon. “It’s our job to just go out there and try to compete. Obviously, yeah, it’s not fun for me to watch the team that won it and the team that kicked our ass a lot last year go out and get some really good players just to make it more difficult.
The Dodgers prevailed in nine of 13 contests in 2025. For the record, if not for Blake Treinen and Tanner Scott, that count would have been eleven out of 13 contests. And the Dodgers just added to their bullpen and upgraded their corner outfielder play, while likely saying goodbye to Giantkiller Michael Conforto.
Do I have much pity for an organization that helped nudge the Oakland Athletics into their exile in West Sacramento? Sometimes you reap what you sow.
The Giants did make an acquisition back in December that I almost forgot about: the Curran Theater, which is about a mile and a half from the ballpark and the Mission Rock development. I do not recall the McCourts ever buying a theater, but considering that 15 years ago, the Dodgers were the punchline, the recommendation for the Dodgers faithful is to enjoy every drop of this golden era.
If we were to do a Sporcle of the Diamondbacks current 40-man roster, I strongly suspect that Fernandez would come bottom of the list, in terms of name recognition. Jose is the youngest player there, having turned just 22 in September – beating Mitch Bratt by a couple of months. He was added to the 40-man in November, in order to keep him from being picked in the Rule 5 draft. As that implies, he has been in the organization for some time, signing to a $275,000 bonus in February 2021. However, he has moved through the ranks quite quickly, spending all of 2025 with the Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles, in his age 21 season.
Bar Manuel Pena, Fernandez was the youngest player on the Sod Poodles’ Opening Day roster, and close to three years younger than the average player in the Texas League. In addition to his youth, Jose also had to handle a change in role this year. He switched to shortstop, having played mostly at third-base to that point. The position adjustment does appear to be a work in progress, Fernandez making 22 errors at SS over 104 games – though the play below was certainly nice. But with LuJames Groover likely embedded as the Diamondbacks prospect of choice at the hot corner (and recently named the #6 prospect in baseball there), changing direction might represent a clearer long-term path to the majors for Jose.
Looking at the raw stats, you would be forgiven for thinking that Fernandez enjoyed a break-out campaign with the bat. He had never posted a .700 OPS at any minor-league level, putting up a slash of .256/.292/.344 (.636 OPS) with High-A Hillsboro in 2024. So it might seem that batting .272 with 17 home-runs, for a .775 OPS, was a great improvement. However, Amarillo, which sits 3,600 feet above sea-level, is a total launching-pad. You think Reno is bad? And it is, in the 93rd percentile as a hitter-friendly environment. But Amarillo is more extreme still: #1 among all 120 minor-league parks. Fernandez’s OPS in 2025 was almost exactly at the Sod Poodles’ team average (.777).
Still, there weren’t many 21-year-olds playing a full season of Double-A baseball. The decision of the team to add Jose to the 40-man roster speaks to their interest in ensuring he remained within the Arizona farm system, and was seen as a credible selection onto another major-league roster. While he has yet to make an appearance on the MLB Pipeline top thirty, Fangraphs ranked him in December as the team’s #42 prospect, saying “He has the kind of wiry frame to make you think there could still be a little more pop coming even at his age, and you can dream on a utility guy with enough power to be dangerous. More likely, he’s a depth middle infielder.”
His presence on the roster was likely a decision made for protection, rather than any immediate expectation that Fernandez will reach the major leagues. Obviously, the team has its literal everyday shortstop in Geraldo Perdomo, who skipped only 19 innings there all last season. Should need arise – and I imagine we all fervently hope it doesn’t – Arizona has reasonably experienced backup options, already on the 40-man roster (or NRIs, such as Ildemaro Vargas). With no immediate rush for 40-man spots, I imagine Fernandez may well start the year again in Double-A. If we see him in the majors this year, that suggests something has gone rather wrong.
When I evaluate the St. Louis Cardinals actions during the offseason so far, there’s only one thing I’m certain of and that’s the fact that President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom and his team are smarter than I am. That realization gives me peace because otherwise I would have to wonder if the Cardinals are the kings of the waiting game or if the team is once again overvaluing players.
As of this moment, the St. Louis Cardinals have yet to deal arguably two of their most valuable players. All-star Brendan Donovan and lefty JoJo Romero are still on the St. Louis Cardinals roster despite the assessment by many that their value will never be higher than it is right now. I saw a conversation on the St. Louis Cardinals sub-Reddit which made me think. One commenter mentioned that he believed Brendan Donovan was comparable to Tommy Edman who the Cardinals traded away too late according to some opinions and didn’t receive the return they would have gotten if John Mozeliak had been willing to trade him at the height of his value. The general theme was to learn from mistakes of the previous administration.
Last time I checked, I am still not a mind-reader which is a shame because I would love to know what Chaim Bloom is really thinking when it comes to Brendan Donovan and JoJo Romero. That means we’ll have to settle for hearsay for now. A report from Sodo Mojo claimed that the St. Louis Cardinals asks for prospects with the Seattle Mariners were treating him as a cornerstone player “while other clubs view him more like a high-end supporting piece”. A report by Ken Rosenthal The Athletic inferred that the Cardinals prospect demands for Brendan Donovan were on the same level as Nico Hoerner and Ketel Marte who are both WAR rated about 1.5 higher than Brendan.
There is hope that Chaim Bloom’s patience might still be rewarded as many believe the New York Mets traded prospects they shouldn’t have for Freddy Peralta. The same can be said for the Chicago Cubs who traded their #1 prospect and two other players for Edward Cabrera. Could it be that Chaim Bloom really does have the winning hand that he’s betting on? The “experts” at ESPN still believe that the San Francisco Giants will eventually give the Cardinals the prospects they want for Brendan Donovan. Buster Olney says that the Seattle Mariners will end up with JoJo Romero. I’m frankly surprised that JoJo hasn’t been traded already, but that makes me wonder if a blockbuster deal that includes Brendan Donovan and JoJo Romero to the Seattle Mariners is a real possibility. If the Giants aren’t willing to let go of their #1 prospect Bryce Eldridge, I prefer many players the Mariners reportedly are willing to make available.
I’ve seen the last few weeks of this offseason before Spring Training begins described as a game of chicken. Will Chaim Bloom blink before his competitors do? If the Cardinals are found guilty of overvaluing their players again like many of us believe they have done in the past, we risk of passing the opportunity to turn this rebuild into a supercharged juggernaut instead of a tepid work in progress. I’m gonna fall back to my first thought. Chaim Bloom and his team are smarter than me and that’s a fact that gives me hope that we’ll be the benefactors of the perfect waiting game and not a what could have been.
The Abbotsford Canucks’ Calder Cup rings may have gotten to the players a little later than expected, but in some ways, it was perfect timing; the rings came just in time for playoff MVP Artūrs Šilovs and the Pittsburgh Penguins to roll into town.
Šilovs, who was traded to the Penguins on July 13, 2025, has played in 23 games for Pittsburgh this season. His ascent to the NHL was preceded by a stellar Calder Cup run that saw him start in all 24 games and register a .931 SV%. With Abbotsford receiving their Calder Cup championship rings on Thursday, Šilovs’ return to BC this weekend aligned with the date perfectly.
“It was great. Met with RJ, had a little chat. Really nice to have it, and great experience with the team back then, just remembering all the way how we battled every single game to get there. That’s for sure a memory for life,” Šilovs told the media after practice on Saturday.
Throughout his career, Šilovs has been one of those goaltenders who seems to show up best when there’s more pressure on his shoulders. From backstopping Latvia to their first medal at the IIHF World Championship in 2023, to that fateful Calder Cup run in the summer of 2025, there’s been no shortage of spectacular Šilovs saves throughout his time as a Canuck. The goaltender detailed what it was about this particular playoff run that he’s learned and built off heading into his first season with the Penguins.
“Confidence. It's, I think, just the consistency of how many games you play in a row too. I think you're just getting in the flow of it. Playoff hockey is the most difficult one to play, emotionally and body-wise. So I mean, just battling it through, I think, just gaining experience, I think, and that helps in the future.”
Of course, 2025 wasn’t Šilovs’ only time competing in the post-season for the Canucks organization. Who could forget when both Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith were ruled out for Game 4 of Vancouver’s first-round series against the Nashville Predators in 2024?
“Getting in the net in the playoffs, that was [an] incredible feeling, and managing to win the round, the series; it was a really great memory to have,” the goaltender recalled, the memory only a few months short from two years prior.
Nov 19, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Arturs Silovs (31) stretches during warm up prior to a game against the New York Rangers at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Šilovs was 23 when that playoff run occurred. Over the span of the 10 playoff games he started in, he’d faced 283 shots and put up a 2.91 GAA. He registered his first playoff shutout in a series-clinching 1–0 win against the Predators.
With the Penguins currently sitting at second in the Metropolitan Division, it looks as though Šilovs could be heading back to the post-season yet again. High-stakes games have yielded some of his best performances; as he prepares to head to the 2026 Winter Olympics for Latvia, Šilovs reflected on what he’s taken away from his time in the NHL as a member of the Penguins.
“Getting experience, playing games, adjusting to the speed of the NHL, learning more about the shooters, learning the teams, how they play, and just gradually improving and adjusting my game,” he explained.
With Šilovs returning to Rogers Arena for the Penguins’ 3:00 pm PT matinee-matchup with the Canucks today, the goaltender shared his thoughts on returning to the building that had once screamed his name as he went toe-to-toe with the likes of Stuart Skinner, who he now shares a crease with in Pittsburgh. Armed with more NHL experience, and now a brand-new Calder Cup championship ring, Šilovs is excited to face his former team and return to play in front of the fans that had welcomed him with open arms.
“There’s going to be a lot of energy there. It’s a great building, and fans are really passionate about hockey. It’s gonna be a fun game.”
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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The Dallas Mavericks will look to get back in the win column after breaking a four-game winning streak as they visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night.
Dallas has been playing good basketball over the past couple of weeks, and I’m taking them to beat a struggling Milwaukee squad in my Mavericks vs. Bucks predictions below.
Let’s take a closer look at tonight’s matchup in my free NBA picks for Sunday, January 25.
Mavericks vs Bucks prediction
Mavericks vs Bucks best bet: Mavericks moneyline (+120)
Tonight’s game will likely see both teams without their star players on the court. And while the Dallas Mavericks will miss rookie sensation Cooper Flagg, the Milwaukee Bucks are truly in for a tough time with out superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who will be out for several weeks with a calf injury.
That’s an especially tough pill for Milwaukee to swallow considering how much the team has been struggling even with Giannis in the lineup. The Bucks have lost five of their last six games overall, including each of their last three at home.
Contrast that with Dallas, which seems to be coming into its own as a competitive NBA team, if one that’s still a year or more away from being a true playoff contender. And it’s not all about Flagg, as players like Max Christie (13.3 ppg) have come up big in recent weeks to show that this team has a wealth of young talent to draw on.
Without Antetokounmpo, it’s hard to see Milwaukee getting many wins against competent teams, and the Mavericks are losing far less without Flagg in the lineup than the Bucks are by losing their iconic MVP candidate. I’m taking Dallas to get the win outright on the road tonight.
Mavericks vs Bucks same-game parlay
Along with taking the Mavs to win outright tonight, I’m also going to place a bet on the Over, as this number is just too low for two teams that play around league-average pace and have generally gone above tonight’s number.
I’m also taking Max Christie to hit his scoring total of 17.5 points, as he’s gone Over this total in four straight games, and should get even more usage if Flagg isn’t in the lineup.
Mavericks vs Bucks SGP
Mavericks moneyline
Over 218.5
Max Christie Over 17.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Max effort
Christie has dished out at least two assists in 13 straight games, and has hit 3+ in two of his last four outings.
Mavericks vs Bucks SGP
Mavericks moneyline
Over 218.5
Max Christie Over 17.5 points
Max Christie Over 2.5 assists
Mavericks vs Bucks odds
Spread: Mavericks +2.5 | Bucks -2.5
Moneyline: Mavericks +120 | Bucks -140
Over/Under: Over 218.5 | Under 218.5
Mavericks vs Bucks betting trend to know
Dallas is 4-1 SU in its last five games overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Mavericks vs. Bucks.
How to watch Mavericks vs Bucks
Location
Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Sunday, January 25, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
MavsTV, FDSN Wisconsin
Mavericks vs Bucks latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
The suddenly mortal Oklahoma City Thunder haven’t looked like a juggernaut lately, and they’ll be shorthanded again tonight as they host the upstart Toronto Raptors.
After a 24-1 start, OKC is just 13-8 in its last 21 games. My Raptors vs. Thunder predictions expect the hosts to lean heavily on Chet Holmgren here in what should be a tighter battle than the line suggests.
Take a closer look at my NBA picks for this January 25 clash.
Raptors vs Thunder prediction
Raptors vs Thunder best bet: Chet Holmgren Over 28.5 points + rebounds (-112)
Last year, the Oklahoma City Thunder held the fort without Chet Holmgren, who only logged 32 games in an injury-hit regular season. This year, they’d be lost without him – and his role should only expand with OKC’s growing injury list.
The hosts will be without Jalen Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso and Ajay Mitchell tonight against the Toronto Raptors. That’s a lot of firepower in street clothes, and Holmgren is the likeliest candidate to step up to relieve the burden on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Chet delivered a 25-point, 13-rebound effort on Friday against the Pacers, and this is the time for a serious uptick in his 11.5 FGA per game. We’ve seen that in two of his past three outings, and I’m banking on 15+ shots here.
January has been a strong month on the boards for Holmgren. He’s averaging 10 RPG, and that spells trouble for a Toronto team that’s missing Jakob Poeltl and possibly rookie Collin Murray-Boyles, too. Look for the visitors to lean into small-ball lineups, giving Chet a major edge on the glass.
While this O/U line is a little higher than Holmgren’s season averages, he’s walking into the type of volume that an All-Star candidate should thrive on.
Raptors vs Thunder same-game parlay
The Raptors have put together a 3-1 West Coast road trip so far, and they’ve posted a solid 15-9 mark on their travels this year. Meanwhile, the Thunder are 1-4 ATS in their last five home games, so I’m taking the points here with a double-digit spread, especially given OKC’s injury list.
Even so, it’s hard to see Toronto staying close without a top-tier effort from Scottie Barnes, so I’m adding his points prop Over for this SGP. He’s averaging 22.8 PPG across his past eight contests, despite some miserable 3-point shooting, and he went past this number in his last visit to OKC.
Raptors vs Thunder SGP
Chet Holmgren Over 28.5 points + rebounds
Raptors +11
Scottie Barnes Over 18.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Cason keeps rolling along
Cason Wallace is going to see extra opportunities tonight, with the Thunder’s backcourt injuries, and he drilled three 3-pointers against the Pacers on Friday. He’s 11-for-22 from downtown across his last six games, and he’ll get open looks when SGA draws a crowd.
Raptors vs Thunder SGP
Chet Holmgren Over 28.5 points + rebounds
Raptors +11
Scottie Barnes Over 18.5 points
Cason Wallace Over 1.5 3-pointers
Raptors vs Thunder odds
Spread: Raptors +11 | Thunder -11
Moneyline: Raptors +390 | Thunder -510
Over/Under: Over 224.5 | Under 224.5
Raptors vs Thunder betting trend to know
The Raptors are 6-3 ATS in their last nine contests. Find more NBA betting trends for Raptors vs. Thunder.
How to watch Raptors vs Thunder
Location
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Date
Sunday, January 25, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN, FDSN Oklahoma
Raptors vs Thunder latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
The Detroit Pistons are back at it, trying to rebound from a disappointing loss to the Houston Rockets. The good news is, if you need a get-right game, you can’t do much better than face the Sacramento Kings. The Kings have lost four in a row, crashing back into reality after a fun little four-game winning streak. To win, however, Detroit is going to need to figure out its offense — particularly if Cade Cunningham remains significantly less than 100% and can’t be counted on for 30-ish points. Jalen Duren can still do his work inside, but the spacing is a huge issue, and the lack of a second creator is an uncomfortable reality while Jaden Ivey remains post-injury-Ivey and Caris LeVert remains … Caris LeVert. It’d be nice to see Javonte Green and Daniss Jenkins find a groove that leads to the confident, efficient outside shooting that the Pistons are capable of in spurts.
Game Vitals
When: 3 p.m. ET Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit Odds: Pistons -13.5
At the Giants’ FanFest event in San Ramon on Saturday, which was challenging for Lee to attend, the three-year outfielder told reporters about his favorite part of the team-bonding experience on his home turf.
“It was super surprising — and honestly, really surprising — to see that support from my teammates and coaches, and obviously, really great to get off to a great foot there,” Lee said through a translator. “So, [I’m] excited to build on those relationships this season.”
“Honestly, the whole trip stands out to me,” Lee added. “It’s something that I won’t forget for the rest of my life. But if I had to pick one moment, [it would] definitely be when we got out to some nice Korean barbecue and had a great experience with the coaches and teammates.”
It sounds like Lee had a great time — and good food.
But that’s not all.
Lee also highlighted that the Giants’ brand seems to be growing strongly in South Korea, which is a development that clearly means a lot to him.
“Yeah, it’s pretty evident the support that the Giants have in my home country in South Korea,” Lee said. “And it’s pretty cool to see the fans rallying around the team and getting excited about us over here in San Francisco.”
Lee’s job as a professional ballplayer in San Francisco has taken the 27-year-old far from home.
However, Lee’s organization has prioritized his comfort, opening itself to South Korea while attracting more Giants fans in the process.
“It’s really cool to see the Giants investing and putting a bigger focus on my home country,” Lee said. “And I’m really excited to kind of keep that momentum going.”
They'll be going for a sweep of their four-game road trip against a Canucks team that is the worst team in the league. They've lost 12 of their last 13 games and enter Sunday's game with a 17-29-5 record.
The Canucks are in full sell mode and have already traded star defenseman Quinn Hughes and forward Kiefer Sherwood. There will likely be other players on the move before the trade deadline.
Elias Pettersson leads the Canucks with 13 goals and 30 points in 43 games. Filip Hronek is right behind him with four goals and 29 points in 51 games.
Brock Boeser is also a threat to score from anywhere on the ice and has 12 goals this season. Jake DeBrusk and former Penguins forward Drew O'Connor also have 12 goals each this season.
A win would give the Penguins a four-point cushion over the New York Islanders for second place in the Metropolitan Division.
The Penguins are expected to run the same forward combinations from Thursday's game in Edmonton and will get Kris Letang back from injury after head coach Dan Muse confirmed to the media that he's available.
Here are the expected lines:
Forwards
Rakell-Crosby-Rust
Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin
Mantha-Kindel-Brazeau
Dewar-Lizotte-Acciari
Defensive pairs
Wotherspoon-Karlsson
Kulak-Letang
Shea-St. Ivany
Stuart Skinner will start in goal after having Thursday off. Puck drop is set for 6 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'
