Dallas Mavericks (19-33, 12th in the Western Conference) vs. Phoenix Suns (31-22, seventh in the Western Conference)
Phoenix; Tuesday, 9 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Dallas aims to stop its seven-game skid with a win against Phoenix.
The Suns are 21-15 against Western Conference opponents. Phoenix has a 14-17 record against teams over .500.
The Mavericks are 11-23 against conference opponents. Dallas gives up 117.2 points to opponents and has been outscored by 3.0 points per game.
The Suns are shooting 46.0% from the field this season, 0.5 percentage points lower than the 46.5% the Mavericks allow to opponents. The Mavericks are shooting 47.0% from the field, 0.2% higher than the 46.8% the Suns' opponents have shot this season.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Suns won 123-114 in the last matchup on Nov. 13.
TOP PERFORMERS: Collin Gillespie is averaging 13.6 points and 4.7 assists for the Suns. Dillon Brooks is averaging 22.1 points over the last 10 games.
P.J. Washington is scoring 14.1 points per game and averaging 7.1 rebounds for the Mavericks. Cooper Flagg is averaging 22.0 points and 6.6 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Suns: 5-5, averaging 109.0 points, 41.9 rebounds, 22.9 assists, 9.9 steals and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 44.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.4 points per game.
Mavericks: 3-7, averaging 116.6 points, 46.9 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 7.2 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.3 points.
INJURIES: Suns: Isaiah Livers: day to day (shoulder), Cole Anthony: day to day (not injury related), Grayson Allen: day to day (knee).
Mavericks: Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Khris Middleton: day to day (not injury related), Kyrie Irving: out (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Jordan Clarkson #00 of the New York Knicks shoots a free throw during the game against the Washington Wizards.
BOSTON — Knicks veteran Jordan Clarkson went profane at a fan on Twitter and reminded another about his lack of minutes.
“Get my d–k out ya mouth pls,” Clarkson replied to a fan who was calling for Tyler Kolek to win back minutes because “CLARKSON DON’T WANT IT.”
To another fan who asked for Bulls guard Collin Sexton to join the Knicks because “imagine him with Clarkson minutes,” Clarkson replied on the social media platform, “stop saying my minutes i never had minutes. …”
Jordan Clarkson #00 of the New York Knicks shoots a free throw during the game against the Washington Wizards. NBAE via Getty Images
Clarkson, 33, who signed as a free agent in the summer, is averaging career lows in minutes, points and shot attempts.
Even with Miles McBride out for the remainder of the regular season, the acquisition of Jose Alvarado means Clarkson could still play sparingly.
He played just 7 ½ minutes in Sunday’s win over the Celtics.
“For me, it’s just been fluctuation of play, really. In and out the lineups. DNPs,” said Clarkson, who had four healthy DNPs since late January, told The Post recently. “Sometimes you’re getting five minutes in the game, here and there. But it’s a whole new process for me, and a new role. Offensively and defensively.
“They’re asking me to do things defensively as well. And then offensively, I got to figure it out and make stuff out of what comes in the offense in terms of opportunities. It’s not like I’m featured in the offense or anything. I’m playing hard, I’m crashing the glass, figuring out different things – little things to be effective on that end. So it’s a whole new thing for me. But I’ll continue to be a pro and stay in the gym and working on my craft and keep it going.”
KOLKATA, India (AP) — Italy’s 45-year wait ended in a disappointing 73-run defeat against Scotland at the T20 World Cup on Monday, with captain Wayne Madsen dislocating his shoulder inside the first six overs of Group C game.
Italy, where the sport’s national federation was formed in 1980, crashed to 137 all out in 16.4 overs as Madsen didn’t take further part in the historic game after damaging his left shoulder while attempting a catch at mid-wicket.
There was some silver lining in Italy’s maiden appearance in a major global tournament when Benjamin Manenti scored 52 off 31. Benjamin and his brother Harry (37) briefly threatened the tall target with a 73-run stand before both fell in successive overs and Italy lost the last six wickets for 21 runs.
Opening batter George Munsey’s blazing knock of 84 off 54 balls, which featured 13 fours and two sixes, had led Scotland to 207-4 — the highest-ever total by an associate nation in the tournament — after Madsen won the toss and elected to chase.
“I imagine everyone will be flat in the dressing room and disappointed,” vice-captain Harry Manenti said. “We wanted to show the world what we have. We get another chance in a few days’ time and hopefully we can bounce back.”
Munsey was the star for Scotland and also held four catches, including a brilliant low catch at point to dismiss opener Justin Mosca off the first ball before Italy succumbed to off-spinner Michael Leask, who finished with an impressive 4-17.
Under-prepared Scotland, which replaced Bangladesh, lost to the West Indies at the same venue in its first game, but came back strongly to get its first points in the tournament.
Scotland originally missed out after losing to Italy in the qualifiers, but was drafted in late as a replacement for Bangladesh in Group C. The ICC rejected the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s request to shift its games from India to Sri Lanka due to security concerns.
Munsey set the tempo of a strong total with the first century partnership of the tournament and added 126 runs with his opening partner Michael Jones (37).
Munsey missed out on a deserved century and threw his bat in the air in frustration when he holed out at long on in the 14th over to fast bowler Grant Stewart (1-44).
Brandon McMullen then hit a brisk 41 off 18 balls and Leask gave a perfect finish with 22 off just five balls, hitting two fours and two sixes in the final over.
“Really important for us to bounce back strong,” Scotland captain Richie Berrington said. “It was a comprehensive win but had to work hard for it … we will enjoy this win and then we will start preparing for the game against England.”
Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field against Oman in Group B at Colombo, and later in the night game 2024 runner-up South Africa played Canada at Ahmedabad.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 8: Lebron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on April 8, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Lakers (32-19) aim to extend their winning streak to four when they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder (40-13) on Monday. This is the second match-up between the two teams this season.
The Lakers have three more games to play before taking a well-deserved break during All-Star weekend. The catch is that two of the teams they’re facing are sitting in first and second place in the Western Conference, which should be a good test for the purple and gold.
Visiting the Lakers on Monday is a Thunder team that is currently on a two-game losing streak and has lost five of its last 10 games. This may sound surprising since OKC has pretty much been the best team in basketball for two straight seasons now but this year, they haven’t been as unstoppable. One reason is that they haven’t been healthy with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander now nursing an abdominal strain.
With SGA and Luka Dončić out, the dynamic of this matchup obviously changes. Jalen Williams — who missed the last 10 games — will be returning on Monday and he’s too good of a player not to make an impact right away. Expect him to get a ton of touches alongside Chet Holmgren, Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins and Jaylin Williams. The Thunder are still a really good offensive and defensive team even without their best player.
One of, perhaps, OKC’s strongest assets is their perimeter defense, which will be a huge test for the Austin Reaves and L.A.’s ball handlers. With Dončić out, there’s been an uptick of touches for the role players like Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Maxi Kleber, Marcus Smart and even Luke Kennard in the last game. It’s important that they continue to make the most of those opportunities because that’s the best way to make up for Dončić‘s absence. This game will be about which role players show up and deliver for their corresponding teams.
Ultimately, it’s a game that the Lakers must take advantage of, especially since SGA isn’t going to suit up. It’ll be nice to not only keep the winning streak going but continue to further improve their record against teams above .500. It’ll also be ideal to head into the All-Star break on a strong note so they can build off that after. Let’s see if the Lakers can beat the Thunder on Monday.
Notes and Updates
For the Lakers’ injury report, Deandre Ayton (right knee soreness) is listed as probable.
Luka Dončić (left hamstring strain) and Adou Thiero (right MCL sprain) are out.
Shai Gilgerous-Alexander (abdominal strain), Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain), Thomas Sorber (right ACL surgery) and Nikola Topic (surgical recovery) are out.
The 2025-2026 Winter Leagues were played from November through January in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. Each country had playoffs to determine the championship for their league and those teams advanced to contend for the Caribbean Series.
Venezuela was to play host to the series but it was moved to Mexico due to concerns regarding political issues and player safety. As a result, Venezuela removed their team from the series and the host country had two teams in the tournament.
The Teams
Leones del Escogido, the Dominican champions, had multiple former Padres playing for the league championship. Catcher Martin Maldonado, outfielder Franchy Cordero, and infielder Eguy Rosario all played during their season. Cordero were the only players of the three in the series. RHP Francis Pena, a top prospect for the Padres and a player invited to major league camp, closed the championship game for Escogido. Albert Pujols was their manager.
Canorejeros de Santurce, the Puerto Rican representative, won their league by three games. They had some offensive struggles through the series and finished in third after being eliminated in the semi-finals.
Federales de Chiriqui, the Panama representative, featured former Padre Christian Bethancourt as their catcher. They went 0-4 through the tournament and finished last.
Mexico had two teams in the tournament, with Charros de Jalisco being the winners of the league and Tomateros de Culiacan coming in second and named as the replacement for Venezuela. Charros was Mexico Red and Tomateros was Mexico Green. Padres prospect Tirso Ornelas and his older brother, Julian, both played for Charros but Tirso Ornelas was not with the team for the championship or the series. His brother Julian, also an outfielder, was their No. 2 hitter and finished with a .308 average and .857 OPS.
Benji Gil, former World Series winning major leaguer, is the manager for Mexico Red and coached his own son Mateo Gil for the tournament. He will also be managing the Mexico WBC team next month.
The Mexico Green team featured former Padre Allan Cordoba in center field and newly signed Padre minor league player Luis Verdugo as their shortstop and sometime DH. Verdugo is the older brother of Padres prospect Rosman Verdugo, 20, who is an infielder in the system and played for Fort Wayne last season. Verdugo finished with a .381/.409/.476 line. Catcher Ali Solis played for the Padres in 2012 and is still catching for Mexico.
The Series
The Caribbean Series is a round-robin tournament with the teams with the best records advancing and featured the Dominican, Puerto Rican and both Mexico teams in the semi-finals on Friday. The Escogido team went in as the favorites, as defending champions and with multiple MLB prospects playing on the team. They started 3-0 and then lost two in a row, including the semifinal game against Mexico Green. The Mexico Red team defeated Puerto Rico in the other semifinal.
As a result, the two Mexico teams played in the championship game that went more than four hours and 10 innings before Mexico Red won on two wild pitches in the bottom of the 10th inning. The tournament was played in Jalisco, Mexico at over 5,000 feet of altitude so the whole series featured lots of hits and lots of runs.
The final ended 12-11 and featured a lot of tired pitchers struggling to land strikes. Former Padre Odrisamer Despaigne pitched for Mexico Green but also had difficulty getting strikes despite having done very well for six innings in his start four days earlier. He only got through 0.2 innings and allowed four earned runs.
During his time with Charros de Jalisco, Tirso Ornelas hit .236/.300/.292 in 21 games and 80 appearances with seven RBI. His inability to hit for power is what has primarily sidelined his attempt to break into the Padres 26-man roster and he had no home runs and four doubles for Mexico.
Many of these players will also be playing in the WBC and then there will be a Summer League that most of the players also participate in. It isn’t uncommon for many of these players to play almost year-round.
We're now beyond the halfway point of the 2025-26 season, and it's been a good one for a lot of Pittsburgh Penguins' prospects so far.
GM/POHO Kyle Dubas has managed to infuse the Penguins' organization with a lot of promising talent in the last two-plus years by acquiring prospects and accruing draft capital, and the Penguins' enhanced development staff has also helped young players already in the organization begin to find potential paths to the NHL.
And the Penguins' goaltending depth only continues to impress - and continues to get deeper and deeper. In fact - in addition to Sergei Murashov, who has already turned heads at various points this season - they may just have another goaltender to keep a keen eye on in their system.
Here is our February Penguins' prospects update for goaltenders:
Sergei Murashov
It's hard to believe that a guy boasting a .924 save percentage at the AHL level this season actually saw a stretch of struggle this season.
Well, Murashov has struggled for a few very small stretches this season - enough to dethrone him of the AHL's top save percentage and goals-against average. In late October and late November - sandwiching a brief NHL stint - there was a four-game stretch where, in three of those four games, he had a sub-.895 save percentage. At the turn of the New Year, Murashov had two consecutive appearances where he was pulled and allowed five goals in each game.
But, other than that, he's been lights-out. Murashov is still third in the AHL in both goals-against average (2.11) and save percentage, and he is also 7-1 with a .925 save percentage in his last eight appearances. He is still - more than likely - the first guy the Penguins will call on if needed, and he is still the best goaltending prospect in the Penguins' system.
After missing the first month of the season due to a lower-body injury sustained during training camp, Blomqvist, 24, got off to a good start this season. In his first nine appearances, he put together a .929 save percentage to go along with a 5-2-2 record to close out the calendar year of 2025.
However, he's struggled a bit since then. In his last six appearances, he's put up an .878 save percentage and a 3.17 goals-against average, which puts his season save percentage at .916 and his record at 8-4-3-1.
Of course, the overall numbers are still good, and he is playing in a bit of a backup role behind Murashov, who has seen the majority of the starts. The Penguins are still high on Blomqvist, and his performance against Murashov's for the rest of the season could help determine who has the inside track to a potential NHL roster spot for 2026-27.
Gauthier didn't appear in a game this season until Dec. 6, as the injury bug plagued him again to begin the season - just like his start to 2024-25.
But - just like last season - that did not deter him at all. In fact, the 25-year-old netminder is putting together the best season of his career up to this point for the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL.
Dubas has talked about how he wants the Penguins' ECHL affiliate to be a legitimate developmental step for players with an NHL future, and the foundation seems to have been laid there. Gauthier has put together three very impressive seasons in a row for Wheeling, and he has gotten it done in his AHL minutes so far as well.
As good as Murashov and Blomqvist have been, don't discount Gauthier as a legitimate option for the Penguins somewhere down the line. The biggest thing working against him right now is the fact that the two guys in front of him have been outstanding, too, leaving little opportunity for him to see starting minutes at the AHL level. That could change as soon as next season, should one of the other two make the NHL roster.
Maxim Pavlenko
Pavlenko, 23, signed with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins on a one-year contract this season, and the netminder from Kazakhstan hasn't seen as much playing time since Gauthier came back into the fold.
The 6-foot-5, 205-pound goaltender still has a save percentage north of .900 at .901, and his season started off well enough. But it has been a bit of a mixed bag since the start of the calendar year, as he had shutouts on Jan. 10 and Feb. 7 but struggled in the three starts in between, posting a .759 save percentage in those three appearances.
It's also worth noting that Pavlenko appeared in four games at the AHL level earlier this season, going 3-1 with a .912 save percentage - including a shutout.
If he can find a bit more consistency, he could be a legitimate depth option for the Penguins in their system. He moves well for a goaltender his size and occupies a lot of space in net, and his play at the international level gives some reason for optimism.
You may have heard at this point that the numbers don't tell the story for D'Aigle, whose Victoriaville Tigres have allowed a QMJHL-high 1,245 shots against, a similar story to last season.
Well, he's also made the most saves in the QMJHL with 1,129, and his .907 save percentage is still ninth in the league, even though he's ninth in the league in terms of minutes for goaltenders. This stuff alone kind of show that there may be more to D'Aigle than what appears to be through a mere stat line.
NEW: Gabriel D'Aigle (3rd rd 2025) is thriving in goal despite being under constant siege. A closer look at the best work of the 3rd round pick in 2025 and how his rare combination of size and athleticism is keeping him afloat. https://t.co/L0sLZjp36ypic.twitter.com/GmdPywLCAD
D'Aigle is not only big at 6-foot-4, 213 pounds, he's also very quick and very athletic. Marshall's breakdown covers all of that, so be sure to check it out here.
This guy may be one to keep an eye on. Once he is in a more stable environment - and not in one where most goaltenders would probably look a whole lot worse - those numbers could look much, much better if he can put everything together.
Notable: G Filip Larsson cleared waivers for the purpose of contract termination and is now a free agent
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 21: Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees in position during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 21, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
NY Daily News | Gary Phillips ($): Yankees pitchers and catchers officially report to spring training on Wednesday, bringing with them the end of the offseason at long last. It was a drawn-out winter as the Yankees mostly held serve and retained key parts of their roster, but the few new faces that were brought in could be interesting to watch. Ryan Weathers will get a shot out of the rotation right away with half of the regular roster still nursing injuries, and the health of said rotation will be monitored closely as something always comes up, and they cannot afford any big blows to come early in the process.
NY Post | Greg Joyce: Ben Rice is one of the Yankees’ more versatile defensive pieces, being able to catch as well as man first base, but up until a few days ago the tools of ignorance were going to be used in emergency situations at most. Now that Paul Goldschmidt is back in the fold as a platoon bat at first, however, manager Aaron Boone sees Rice getting a bit more play behind the plate as he can fill in for Austin Wells against left-handed pitchers. The plan is still for Rice to get plenty of time against lefties this season, as the team is hopeful that their promising young star will get a full breakout this season.
FanGraphs | David Laurila: Yankees broadcaster David Cone sat down for an interview last season where he had to guess which player he had the most appearances against, who he struck out the most, who hit the most bombs on him, etc., and then give his thoughts on the actual answers. Cone had a fairly good memory, coming close on a few categories, and his anecdotes were a neat look into the playing days of a fan favorite.
You love NBA free agency and trades. I love NBA free agency and trades. We all do. Sickos like me love it so much that we delve into legal documents to figure out exactly what is permitted and what isn’t. But all of us want all the information about the team-building options available to our favorite franchises at our fingertips whenever we need them.
With that in mind, SB Nation has partnered with SalarySwish, and alongside their data we attempt to answer every single question you could possibly have about the Bucks’ financial situation. Questions about the first or second apron and the Bucks’ relationship to them? How few draft picks do they have available to trade? How much money is on the books after next summer? The answers are here, and it’s an updating, living, and breathing document with all relevant context as the Bucks move ahead. I recommend you bookmark this page to keep up with all the latest changes!
Bucks Roster, Salaries, Draft Picks, Cap Space & More
Here is a table with all of the Bucks’ salary information, courtesy of our friends at SalarySwish:
That’s a lot to swallow, so let’s dive into a few key pieces and what they mean, which could answer any questions that pop into your head while reading.
Do the Bucks have any cap room? If not, when will they?
No, though they did create some last July to accommodate the four-year, $108.9m contract for Myles Turner by waiving Damian Lillard, among other moves. If every Buck with a player option in the summer of 2026 declines them (unlikely), the team could potentially create cap room by renouncing these players’ rights (even more unlikely), but it wouldn’t be enough to sign a player for more than $3m. Barring that, they project to have room in the summer of 2027, when their only guaranteed contracts will be for Turner, AJ Green, Giannis, Ryan Rollins, and Bobby Portis—should the latter three exercise their player options—plus potentially the player they take in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft. But it would likely not be more than $20m in space.
Can the Bucks use the mid-level exception or bi-annual exception this year? Do they have any trade exceptions?
Since the Bucks conjured up some cap room to sign Turner, they lost the right to use the full $14.1m mid-level exception and the $5.1m bi-annual exception. Instead, they had access to a version of the MLE worth $8.8m, commonly known as the room exception. They used part of that exception to sign Kevin Porter Jr. to a new deal worth $5.1m, so they have about $3.6m remaining on it for the remainder of the league year, but the number begins prorating down in January. Milwaukee previously had four trade exceptions, all of which would have expired in February 2026, including one for $7.2m generated in February’s trade with Washington and New York. However, creating cap space also sacrificed those.
Are the Bucks over the first or second apron above the luxury tax?
For 2025–26, they are currently $11.8m beneath the first apron and $23.7m beneath the second apron, so they face none of the restrictions associated with being above either. The Bucks have $181.3m guaranteed for 15 players, including Lillard’s stretched salary at $22.5m (this will be reduced to $20.2m due to his new contract in Portland, but not until season’s end), Vasilije Micić’s stretched salary of $667k after he too was bought out, plus $6.3m in dead money due to waiving Chris Livingston, Tyler Smith, and Nigel Hayes-Davis. They are currently operating as an over-the-cap team, facing all the restrictions that come with having no remaining cap space. In 2024–25, they finished about $7.8m over the first apron but about $3m under the second apron, where they were hard-capped.
Are the Bucks paying the luxury tax? If so, how much is their bill?
In 2025–26, their $181.3m currently on the books has them $6.5m below the tax threshold of $187.9m. Reports indicate that ownership doesn’t want to pay the tax this season, but the bill isn’t calculated until the day the regular season ends next April. It is not possible for them to add enough salary this season to cross the tax line.
Will the Bucks be beneath the first or second apron next year?
Doing so would mean that Milwaukee would become a taxpayer again in 2026–27. If a team pays the tax in three of any four consecutive seasons, they are subject to more punitive repeater penalties. Should they remain below the tax threshold again in 2026–27, they would then reset that clock and could finish above it in 2027–28 without facing those penalties, since at that point, they would have only paid luxury tax in two of the prior four seasons (2024–25 included). So it seems likely that they will avoid being a taxpayer in 2026–27, and thus not contend with either apron.
Are the Bucks hard-capped?
The Bucks have not yet engaged in any moves that would hard cap them at either apron level in 2025–26. An example of such a move occurred in February 2025, when the Bucks sent cash to New York for Delon Wright, triggering a hard cap at the second apron. That meant their apron salary (which includes all unlikely benefits in contracts) couldn’t cross $188.9m under any circumstances. You can read more here about what causes teams to become hard-capped, such as taking back more than 100% of their outgoing salary in a trade or aggregating salaries.
What draft picks can the Bucks currently trade?
The Bucks may trade their own first-round picks in the 2031 and 2032 NBA Drafts, but no others. If one of those two is traded, the other could only be dealt as a pick swap, since the NBA’s Stepien rule prevents teams from going without a first in consecutive drafts. While they control firsts in the 2026, 2028, and 2030 drafts, meaning they will be able to draft a player in those years, the selections themselves are encumbered by swaps. They therefore cannot be traded, only re-swapped, as occurred in last February’s Khris Middleton-Kyle Kuzma deal. The only second-round pick the Bucks currently possess and can trade is Utah’s top-55 protected 2026 second.
If you found this page useful, please bookmark and/or share it, and if you have any questions or information you’d like to see included, let us know in the comments below!
He scored 12 points on 5-of-12 shooting, including a 2-for-6 clip from deep, over 25 minutes off the bench in Sunday's 111-89 win over the Celtics in Boston.
"He was great," New York captain and star guard Jalen Brunson said. "The impact he had on the game right away was amazing, it's what we needed and just happy to see him wearing the blue and orange."
Alvarado added two steals and a block as the Knicks (34-19) made a statement against the Celtics (34-19) on the road.
"That's him," New York wing Josh Hart said of Alvarado, whom he played alongside during his time with the New Orleans Pelicans from 2021-22 when Alvarado was a rookie. "You know he'll be a really good on-ball defender, take the challenge, a great secondary ballhandler for us, be able to play-make, in the paint and pressure, so what you got from today is the player you'll get."
The Knicks landed Alvarado from New Orleans in a trade before this past Thursday's deadline.
"He brings a level of toughness to this team, his energy is unmatched," New York head coach Mike Brownsaid before Sunday's game. "What he can do defensively in the full court and even in the front court with the ball especially on the pick-and-rolls and stuff, is at a pretty high level.
"He shoots it better than people think, too. We want to play fast and we believe he's a guy who will come in and push the pace, get into our offense, and all of that because he’s quick and has a low center of gravity -- excited to have him."
DENVER, COLORADO - DECEMBER 27: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives against Christian Braun #0 of the Denver Nuggets in the third quarter at Ball Arena on December 27, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers finish off their five-game Western Conference road trip as they take on Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.
This will be a fun test for the new look Cavs. It’ll be interesting to see how James Harden attacks Jokic — who is a better rim defender than he gets credit for — in the pick-and-roll. Jokic usually doesn’t want to guard in space. We’ll see if the Cavs can exploit that.
On the other end, Jarrett Allen will have his hands full against the best player in the league and won’t have a lot of help. Evan Mobley (calf) has been ruled out for this game, and both Dean Wade (ankle) and Jaylon Tyson (ankle) are questionable to participate.
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, FanDuel Sports Network App, NBA League Pass
Point spread: Cavs -1.5
Cavs injury report: Dean Wade – QUESTIONABLE (ankle), Evan Mobley – OUT (calf), Jaylon Tyson – QUESTIONABLE (ankle), Max Strus – OUT (foot), Emanuel Miller – OUT (G League)
Nuggets injury report: Jamal Murray – QUESTIONABLE (hip), Peyton Watson – OUT (hamstring), Tamar Bates – OUT (foot), Christian Bruan – PROBABLE (ankle), Aaron Gordon – OUT (hamstring), Nikola Jokic – PROBABLE (ankle), Curtis Jones – OUT (G League), Spencer Jones – OUT (concussion)
Cavs expectedstarting lineup: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Sam Merrill, Nae’Qwan Tomllin, Jarrett Allen
Nuggets expected starting lineup: Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Julian Strawther, Cameron Johnson, Nikola Jokic
Mohamed Diawara guards Jaylen Brown during the Knicks-Celtics game on Feb. 8, 2026.
BOSTON — Mohamed Diawara picked up the slack for an absent OG Anunoby.
With Anunoby sidelined for a second straight game because of a sore toe, Diawara became the Jaylen Brown stopper in the second half of Sunday’s 111-89 Knicks victory over the Celtics.
It earned Diawara, the second-round rookie, his first defensive player of the game award, which is given by the Knicks coaching staff after victories.
Mohamed Diawara guards Jaylen Brown during the Knicks-Celtics game on Feb. 8, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
“You get a guy like Jaylen Brown who is a heck of a player. In the first half he was having his way with us a little bit. He was 6-for-11, he was rolling,” coach Mike Brown said. “In the second half, we did a better job defensively as a team. I got to give Mo some credit. Mo was our defensive player of the game. We threw Mo on him for a little bit. We thought we’re going to try to make Jaylen work, be physical, get up into him, stuff like that, and he did it without fouling. He did a nice job with it. So to see that from a young guy at this point in his career was a lot of fun as a staff.”
In addition to his defensive prowess, Diawara was perfect from the field — 4-for-4 overall, 2-for-2 from deep — while scoring 10 points.
The Knicks outscored Boston by 22 points in Diawara’s 27 minutes.
“I think the beginning of the year, training camp, everybody was like, ‘He’s gonna be good,’ ” Josh Hart said. “And I think with him, it was just more about getting more comfortable, more experience, more minutes, those kinds of things.
“But he’s gonna be extremely good. He’s extremely talented, defensively he can be all over the place but offensively he’s knocking down shots.”
Karl-Anthony Towns returned from a one-game absence for a laceration above his eye.
Karl-Anthony Towns wore goggles for the first time in his career. Getty Images
The Knicks center said the cut — which occurred in last week’s double-overtime victory over the Nuggets — required 16 stitches.
Towns also wore goggles for the first time in his career, revealing the black-rimmed set is the same model used by Amar’e Stoudemire — and still stored by the Knicks.
But they didn’t last long.
Towns removed the goggles in the second half. He also struggled with just 11 points on 3-for-9 shooting, including no 3-pointers and three turnovers.
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 14: Jaylon Tyson #20 and Dean Wade #32 of the Cleveland Cavaliers high five during the game against the Detroit Pistons during Preseason on October 14, 2025 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers will conclude their five-game, Western Conference road trip against the Denver Nuggets on Monday evening at less than 100%. If you’re going against a team with Nikola Jokic, you would ideally like to have your entire front court available for that matchup. Unfortunately for the Cavs, that won’t be possible.
Cleveland will be without the services of Evan Mobley. He’ll be missing his sixth game in a row with a calf strain he sustained in the team’s Jan. 26 win over the Orlando Magic.
The Cavs might also be without Dean Wade and Jaylon Tyson. Both are questionable for Monday’s game.
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Wade missed Friday’s win against the Sacramento Kings with a left ankle sprain. He last played on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Clippers.
On the season, Wade is averaging 5.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game on .417/.340/.750 shooting splits.
Tyson is the new addition to the injury report. He’s also questionable with a left ankle sprain.
Tyson struggled as the de facto starting power forward against the Kings. He seemed hesitant at times playing alongside James Harden, and wasn’t able to get his shot to fall. He finished that game with 10 points on 3-8 shooting with six rebounds and no assists.
The Cavs will likely turn to Nae’Qwan Tomlin as the starting four if neither can go. Their absence would also open the door for increased minutes for Thomas Bryant and Keon Ellis.
Denver could also be down several key pieces.
The Nuggets will be without the services of Aaron Gordon (hamstring) and Peyton Watson (hamstring). Jamal Murray (hip) is questionable for the game. Jokic (ankle) and Christian Bruan (ankle) are probable to play.
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 28: Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves poses for a photo before the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Truist Park on September 28, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin D. Liles/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Super Bowl was pretty fun. And a certain Brave had a pretty good view of both the game and the half time show. While Ronald Acuna Jr. likely had fun seeing football up close, you know that he and his teammates are ready for later this week as Spring Training gets under way.
Pitchers and Catchers will report today and tomorrow, while the rest of the team will stroll in as the week progresses. We are less than two weeks away from the Braves first Spring Training game, so you know everyone is ready to get to Florida and get to work in anticipation of the season.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Ny'Ceara Pryor scored 20 points with two clutch free throws late, Fatmata Janneh added a double-double and Texas A&M upset No. 21 Alabama 72-69 on Sunday to snap a six-game losing streak.
Jessica Timmons had a three-point play to give Alabama a 57-53 lead with 9:34 remaining. Lemyah Hylton hit a 3-pointer and Lauren Ware added a layup to cap a 10-0 run as Texas A&M moved in front 63-57. Timmons did all the scoring in a 7-0 spurt and the Crimson Tide moved ahead 64-63 at 4:11.
Alabama’s Essence Cody was called for a flagrant-1 technical, fouling out with 3:03 left. Ace Austin, who was fouled by Ware prior to the technical, made 1 of 2 free throws before Salese Blow sank two for the technical and the Aggies led 67-65. Pryor and Naomi Jones traded baskets before Janneh made 1 of 2 foul shots for a three-point lead with 21 seconds remaining.
Karly Weathers scored nine seconds later, but Pryor hit two foul shots and Ware blocked a 3-pointer at the other end to preserve the upset.
Pryor added seven assists, six rebounds and four steals for the Aggies (9-10, 2-8 Southeastern Conference). Janneh had 12 points and 15 rebounds, while Ware scored 13.
Timmons totaled 19 points and eight rebounds to pace the Crimson Tide (20-5, 7-5). Ta'Mia Scott added 18 points and Cody scored 13 with seven rebounds.
Ware scored six to help Texas A&M take a 14-12 lead after one quarter.
Ware, who had 10 points by halftime, scored on a layup in the final minute and Janneh had a three-point play with two seconds left to give Texas A&M a 34-29 lead at the break.
Scott hit her fourth 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded in the third quarter to give the Tide a one-point lead.
