Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
The Sharks have traded for Kiefer Sherwood.
San Jose acquired Sherwood, 30, for their 2026 and 2027 second-round picks, and defenseman Cole Clayton.
One of the top forwards available this Trade Deadline, the 6-foot winger has 17 goals and is second in the NHL with 210 hits. He had 19 goals last season, recording an NHL-record 462 hits, too.
Sherwood is a pending unrestricted free agent.
The acquisition is a clear signal change by the Sharks that they’re moving away from the rebuild, and trying to make the playoffs this season.
San Jose currently holds the last wild-card berth in the Western Conference, tied in points, 51, with the Seattle Kraken, Los Angeles Kings, and Anaheim Ducks.
The Chicago Blackhawks have had some special players come through town over the last two decades. A lot of them helped the franchise win three Stanley Cups over a span of six seasons, creating a modern-day dynasty.
Few of those players were as special, talented, or important as Jonathan Toews. In 2010, Jonathan Toews became the youngest captain to ever hoist the Stanley Cup, and he has gone on to become one of the most legendary players in franchise history.
On Saturday night, the organization honored over 25 alumni as they honored "The Banner Years" chapter of their centennial season.
Toews was unable to be one of those players recognized, as he is still an active player in the NHL. On Monday night, he will make his first-ever visit to the United Center as a visiting player, representing the Winnipeg Jets.
The Jets are Toews' hometown team, and he signed with them last summer after a two-year hiatus from the NHL. Toews, in a recent video posted by the Jets online, talked about what this means to him.
Tomorrow. Jonathan Toews and the Jets, versus the Chicago Blackhawks.
"I'm excited to go back; it's going to be strange," Toews said. "We won championships, exceeded expectations. Nobody knew how crazy it was going to be."
Toews will get one of the warmest welcomes a player has ever received from his former team. It will be similar to the one that the crowd gave to Patrick Kane when he returned as a member of the Detroit Red Wings.
"You never really know what the reception is going to be like and how it's going to feel in the moment," Patrick Kane said of Toews' return to play against the Blackhawks. "You take guesses and kind of think about what it's going to be like. I remember I did three or four laps, and they were still cheering. I'm sure it's going to be the same for him. Maybe more."
There has been a lot of nostalgia floating around the United Center over the past few weeks with the third chapter celebrating "The Banner Years", so Toews's return couldn't have come at a better time.
Will Toews score an overtime winner like Kane did in his return? Well, anything is possible. He'd like to help his Jets keep their hot little stretch going with a win over his old team in one way or another.
For the current Blackhawks players, this is another opportunity to see the love that they can receive if they win big as members of the Blackhawks.
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Not everyone watches every Suns game every night. That is reserved for us sickos. If you do not, it is easy to fall into the falacies of box score watching and box score analysis. I see it all the time in my group chats.
When Devin Booker went down last week after twisting his ankle, someone sarcastically chimed in that the team was really going to miss his 5-of-17 shooting. That comment told me everything. They were not watching the game. Booker was not efficient in that moment, but that was not the point. The intensity he brought on the defensive end mattered far more. The effort. The engagement. The tone he set. That is the stuff that never shows up in a box score, but it shows up loud when you are actually watching.
That is part of what makes this Devin Booker season so interesting. If you only scan the numbers, you might come away underwhelmed. He is averaging 25.3 points, his lowest mark since the 2017-18 season. He is shooting 45.2% from the field, 30.1% from deep, and his effective field goal percentage sits at 49.7%, the first time it has dipped below 50% since the 2016-17 season.
On the surface, that opens the door to the lazy question. Is he worth a $53.1 million max contract? If you live only in the spreadsheet, the numbers do not scream, “yes”.
This is where I push back hard. He is absolutely worth it. This may not be the most efficient version of Devin Booker we have ever seen, and that is fine. He is operating within the structure of this system and doing it with a level of toughness and leadership that has been demanded of him for years.
That Heat game is the perfect example. In past seasons, I am not convinced he comes back after that ankle twist. He probably heads to the locker room, changes into street clothes, and tells us he will be good next time.
This time, he stayed in it. He fought through it. This group has pulled something different out of him, and it has been impressive to watch.
And if you want to keep it in the numbers, there is plenty to appreciate with Devin Booker this season. The efficiency dip is real, but the context matters. He is playing 34.2 minutes a night, his fewest since the 2020-21 season. I doubt many people had that on their bingo card entering a season in which the thought he was going to have to carry this team to 30 wins. He is taking 18.2 shots per game, the lowest mark of his career if you remove his rookie year. That tells you everything about the offense. This is not a Booker carry job. This is a ball movement team, and I love that it does not live or die on his shot diet.
The three-point percentage is down, but so is the volume. He is taking 5.4 threes a game, the third fewest of his career. Meanwhile, the free throws are up. Way up. He is attempting 8.3 per game, the highest of his career, topping the 7.3 he averaged in 2019 20. That is not random. He is attacking the rim. He is initiating contact. He is leaning into the identity of this team.
Devin Booker is attempting 8.3 free throws per game, 1.0 higher than his previous career high of 7.3 and 1.9 more attempts than a season ago pic.twitter.com/owdwQisCF6
Yes, the turnovers were an issue early. Then something clicked. Through his first 22 games, his assist-to-turnover ratio sat at 1.84. Over his last 16 games, it has jumped to 2.20. The shots may not be falling at his usual clip, but the playmaking is tightening up, and the pressure he applies never fades. The efficiency might be down, but the impact is still loud.
In a perfect world, you get a hyper-efficient Devin Booker and the wins follow. This season, he has not been that version every night, and it has not mattered. He is still impacting winning, and honestly, I prefer this version of him to what we have seen in recent years. There is a difference between a player who goes out and gets his numbers and one who bends the game toward winning by how he plays.
Look at Detroit last week. Booker did not play, still dealing with the ankle from the Miami game, and the Suns lost by three on the road. What that tells you is there is an effective system in place. One that does not live or die on Devin Booker carrying the load. They are better when he plays, no question. But they can function without him, and that is new.
So you can stare at the box score if you want. It will never tell the full story. When you actually watch Booker this season, you see the leadership, the physicality, the way he shapes winning night after night. That part does not always show up in neat columns, but it shows up where it counts. The win column.
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Bleed Cubbie Blue is pleased to present a Cubs-centric look at baseball’s colorful past. Here’s a handy Cubs timeline, to help you follow the various narrative paths.
“Maybe I called it wrong, but it’s official.” — Tom Connolly, HoF Umpire.
Ernie in the Hall, The Penguin comes to Chicago, Dexter Fowler* arrives,and other storiesfor the discerning reader. RIP Don Sutton.
2016 – In settling a class action lawsuit filed by fans, Major League Baseball announces changes to its policy regarding the streaming of live games over the internet on MLB.TV. Fans will now be able to buy a package that covers their favorite team and that allows them to circumvent local blackouts, while the cost of the league-wide full package will be reduced by 15 percent. However, the settlement does not cover certain regional networks not owned by DirecTV, MLB’s principal broadcasting partner. The suit was filed because, while MLB.TV promised subscribers that they could watch all MLB games lives, local blackouts meant that in reality, fans who bought the package were often unable to follow the games of their local teams, a frustrating situation in markets where the local cable sports network is either not made available by every provider or is part of an expensive premium package. (2)
Some of these items spread from site to site without being fact-checked, and that is why we ask for verifiable sources, in order to help correct the record.
Happy Monday, Camden Chatters! I hope you had a nice weekend. It was another quiet weekend for the Orioles. MLB has had a busy past week overall, as the last big free agents are starting to find homes. Ranger Suárez going to the Red Sox is bad news for the Orioles, but the other signings have come outside the division. I appreciate that.
The Blue Jays were rumored to be going after both Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette, but failed to land either. The Blue Jays reportedly offered Tucker ten years and $350 million before he opted to take a shorter contract with the Dodgers. And Bichette signed with the Mets after spending seven seasons with the Jays. It’ll be nice to have him out of the division.
The Yankees have been pretty quiet this offseason, but they have been trying to lock down Cody Bellinger for weeks. Unlike the Orioles, where we don’t hear anything about a deal until it’s done, I have been seeing regular updates. The latest update from today is that they are now willing to include opt-outs in a five-year contract. Bellinger returning to the Yankees feels inevitable, but it sure would be fun if it didn’t work out.
Just four of the MLB Trade Rumors top 25 free agents are still looking for homes: Bellinger, Framber Valdez, Zac Gallen, and Eugeni Suárez. Of course, one name on there is more important to Orioles fans than the rest. It seems likely that Valdez will sign soon enough. I know, we’ve been talking about that non-stop for months.
2026 ZiPS Projections: Baltimore Orioles – FanGraphs In case you missed this from a few days ago. I’d like to see Jackson Holliday a bit higher, but overall, that infield looks pretty good to me. But Dan Szymborski’s assessment that they still need a dude in the rotation is right on.
Birthday and History
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have three Orioles birthday buddies. Rick Krivda, who pitched in 45 games with the Orioles from 1995-1997, is 56 years old today. Chris Sabo is 64. He played 64 games with the Orioles in 1994 after six seasons with the Reds. And Fred Valentine (b. 1935, d. 2022) was with the Orioles in 1959, 1963, and 1968 for a total of 85 games.
On this day in 1995, with the players’ strike ongoing, Orioles owner Peter Angelos announced that his team would not use replacement players if the strike went into the regular season. The strike was ended just days before the scheduled start of the season, and the season began late.
In 2013, legendary manager Earl Weaver passed away at age 82. He died of a heart attack while on an Orioles cruise.
In 2017, the Orioles signed Mark Trumbo to a three-year contract. It was not a good idea.
The Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Mets are set to play against each other opening day at Citi Field. They are going to be a part of a Primetime Opening Day doubleheader on March 26 on NBC and Peacock. This marks the network’s return to Major League Baseball, as the Mets will host the Pirates at 1 p.m. ET.
NBC’s 2026 MLB schedule is the result of a new broadcast deal. This is going to be the network’s first full season of baseball coverage in more than two decades. The night game will feature the two-time World Series defending champion Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks in Los Angeles.
Pittsburgh’s Opening Day starter is anticipated to be reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes. The ace is coming off of a 10-win season and a dominant 1.97 ERA.
It is less of an obvious pick for New York for who their starter should be. Top candidates include young arms like Nolan McLean, who showed a lot of potential in 2025, and the returning Christian Scott. Scott is coming off Tommy John surgery but is expected to be a top guy this season for their rotation. Other options are Framber Valdez and veterans Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea.
Both teams missed out on the playoffs in the 2025 season. The Mets made a monster move bringing in Juan Soto in the offseason but that was not enough.
While the Bucs went 71-91 this past season finishing in last place in the NL Central. With moves like Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn the Pirates are improving their batting lineup going into the new season.
With Jared Jones coming back from injury and already having Mitch Keller and Paul Skenes the Pirates are looking to have a deadly pitching rotation this season.
This is an exciting matchup to have on Opening Day for a network like NBC who is getting back into broadcasting baseball. The Pirates are a team that has a lot of potential this season. If the top guys in the rotation can stay healthy and the offense can give them run support, we could see the Bucs make a playoff run, something they haven’t done since 2015.
Jabari Smith Jr. had been slumping, no doubt. Badly enough that his poor peformances had been directly related to at least a few losses, and some fans had been growing impatient with the 22-year-old’s development. He answered some of those critics in the win over New Orleans.
Smith went off for 32 points, a career-high 7 three-pointers, 8 rebounds and a block to lead the Houston Rockets to a 119-110 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Jabari Smith Jr. caught fire from deep to lead the Rockets to victory!
In addition, the Rockets also got 21 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals and a block from Alperen Sengun, and 20 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, a steal and a block from Amen Thompson to help out Smith. Thompson, in particular, was 10-for-14 shooting from the field.
KD actually had some real help in this one, and it was needed, as the Houston’s leading scorer only put in 18 points on 5-for-18 from the field. He did also add 6 rebounds and 8 assists, as well as passed his idol Dirk Nowitzki for sixth in the all-time scoring leaderboards. KD was just a +3 in this one, the lowest mark of any of the Rockets starters.
The Rockets didn’t come out of this one unscathed, however, as center Steven Adams, who started in this game and finished with 5 points and 10 boards, took a nasty fall that could have resulted in major injury. Thankfully, Ime Udoka said after the game that it was a sprained ankle. However, Adams is dealing with some bad swelling and is going to miss some time.
Steven Adams is hurt — lower left leg. He was helped off the floor. This one looks very concerning. pic.twitter.com/Bs16Rl4qBa
As for the Pels, they were led by Trey Murphy with 21 points, and Zion Williamson put in 20 to help lead their team in scoring. The Pels shot 50 percent from the field, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Smith’s hot shooting from deep.
The Rockets have now won two in a row and move to 25-15 on the season. They currently stand in the fifth seed, just three games back of the second seed, but also just a game ahead of the Play-In group. They return to action on Tuesday, versus the San Antonio Spurs.
Fantasy hockey managers looking to tinker with their rosters will benefit from zeroing in on specific categories. Whether you are looking for long-term fits or short-term options, there should be a plethora of potential pickups to help your squads.
Let's get into this week's suggestions for your consideration.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, D, Maple Leafs (44% rostered) for Assists/Shots/Blocks/Hits
Ekman-Larsson has filled the stat sheet with one goal, five assists, eight shots, five hits and four blocks in his past four appearances. His offensive production this season has come in waves, but he is on pace for the second 50-point effort of his NHL career. If he manages to reach that mark along with topping 100 shots and 100 blocks, he has plenty of all-around upside. Toronto plays four times at home this week.
Pavel Zacha, C/LW, Bruins (32% rostered) for Assists/Points/Shots/Faceoffs
Zacha has contributed four goals, 12 shots and nine points in his last seven matches. He began that stretch with a three-game point spree, and is currently on another three-game point run. Zacha also ranks second on the team with 307 faceoff wins while winning 53.3% of his draws. He has been solid from a second-line role and is on pace to match his career-high performance of 59 points from the 2023-24 campaign.
Mikael Granlund, C/LW/RW, Ducks (24% rostered) for Assists/Points/Shots
Granlund has notched two goals and two assists in his last five games. He has added 16 shots, three blocks and four hits during that span. The 33-year-old is taking on an increased role in the Ducks' top-six due to the absence of Leo Carlsson, seeing time in all situations and serving on the first power-play combination. Anaheim plays four times this week, including three on the road.
James van Riemsdyk, LW, Red Wings (16% rostered) for Goals/Points/Shots/PP
Van Riemsdyk has gone from being an occasional healthy scratch to having a top-line role. He has been superb in January, accumulating four goals on 15 shots and 11 points in nine games. The 36-year-old winger has three goals and two assists with the man-advantage over that span while occupying a position on the first unit. He ranks fourth on the club with 13 goals and has emerged as a productive piece in the lineup. Detroit plays three times on the road this week.
Viktor Arvidsson, LW/RW, Bruins (15% rostered) for Goals/Points/Shots
Despite missing some time due to injury, Arvidsson has been a consistent source of offense since the start of November. He has nine goals on a whopping 72 shots and 20 points in 24 appearances. He has two goals and three assists on the power play during that span. He is riding a seven-game point streak while amassing four goals, 28 shots and four assists. Arvidsson has been rolling on Boston's second line, and will have three games this week to try to add to his totals.
Ryan Hartman, C/RW, Wild (21% rostered) for Goals/Points/Shots/Blocks/Faceoffs
Hartman has lit the lamp four times while adding one assist, 14 shots on net and eight blocked shots over his last six outings. Although his 42.6 winning percentage on faceoffs isn't impressive, he ranks second on the team with 241 wins on the draw. He is currently occupying the top-line center spot ahead of a four-game week for Minnesota. Hartman has been hot and cold offensively this campaign, but possesses solid category-coverage upside if he remains active on the scoresheet.
Ryan McLeod, C, Sabres (14% rostered) for Assists/Points/Shots/SHP/Faceoffs
McLeod has been a steady offensive producer since Dec. 9, compiling six goals on 22 shots and 17 points in his last 18 appearances. He has done most of his damage at even strength, but he has also earned one power-play helper and three shorthanded points (two goals, one assist). He hasn't gone more than one game without finding the scoresheet during that stretch. McLeod's team-leading 343 faceoff wins come with a 46.0 winning percentage, but he has won 52.9% of his puck drops in his past eight contests. He has four goals and nine points over that span. The 26-year-old center has been a valuable member of Buffalo's middle-six group since his arrival last campaign. The Sabres play four times on the road this week.
Zach Benson, LW, Sabres (7% rostered) for Assists/Points/Shots
Benson had his four-game point streak come to a halt in Saturday's 5-4 overtime loss to Minnesota. He has collected one goal, nine shots and four helpers in his past five appearances. Benson has been hot and cold offensively this season, but Buffalo's goal-scoring surge makes him an intriguing roster choice. His role on the top line with red-hot forwards Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch provides additional fantasy appeal. Buffalo plays four times this week.
Jonathan Toews, C, Jets (5% rostered) for Goals/Points/Shots/Faceoffs
Toews' four-game point streak ended in Saturday's 4-3 overtime loss to Toronto, but the veteran pivot has generated four goals and nine points in his last 12 matches. He has fit in nicely between Cole Perfetti and Gabriel Vilardi on the second line. The 37-year-old Toews also leads the Jets with 383 faceoff wins and has an incredible 62.4% success rate. Winnipeg plays four times this week, including three contests on home ice.
Connor Zary, C/LW/RW, Flames (5% rostered) for Assists/Points/Shots/PP
Zary has accounted for four goals and 12 points in his past 13 outings. He has two goals on 16 shots and four helpers (three on the power play) during his five-game point streak. Calgary has struggled offensively this season, but the 24-year-old Zary has been heating up and could be a solid producer in the second half. The Flames play four games at home this week.
This was a weird week for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and when all was said and done they walked out of it having collected four out of a possible six points in the standings. That was a very reasonable goal at the beginning, and probably the bare minimum of what they needed to do given the competition they were facing.
They very easily could have walked away with all six points if they could ever win a game in a shootout.
They also could have very easily walked away with only two points had it not been for two late 6-on-5 goals to send their games against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Columbus Blue Jackets to overtime.
Could have been better. Could have been worse. Ultimately ended up being what it needed to be. It just may have had a weird path in getting there. Which is pretty much a great description for what this entire season has been anyway.
They enter this week still holding on to a playoff position, and are in fact in the No. 3 spot in the Metropolitan Division as of Monday morning.
Now they head out west for their Western Canadian (and Pacific Northwest) road trip. The Penguins have seen all four of these teams already this season and produced some mixed results. This needs to be a redemption trip of sorts, because there are some very winnable games on the schedule this week.
The road trip begins on Monday night in Seattle against a Kraken team that already beat the Penguins on home ice earlier this season. It was part of that ugly back-to-back homestand with Minnesota that had head coach Dan Muse fuming when it was over. The Kraken are in a playoff spot, but there is not much overly impressive about how they are doing it.
They do not score goals.
They are 32nd in the NHL in 5-on-5 expected goal share, 29th in shot attempt share and rely almost exclusively on their goaltending to carry them. Given the way the Penguins have controlled possession and defended in recent weeks, they should have a good chance to slow the Kraken down. They just need to find some offense for themselves and figure out a way to solve Seattle’s goaltending.
After playing in Seattle on Monday, the Penguins have a back-to-back situation in Calgary and Edmonton on Wednesday and Thursday.
The Flames are in a very similar situation as Seattle in the sense that they do not score a lot of goals and have some increasingly poor possession numbers. They also beat the Penguins at home, winning a low-scoring game just a couple of weeks ago where the Penguins were unable to beat Devin Cooley
Calgary is also beginning its sell-off having just traded top defenseman Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday, so that is one less top-player the Penguins are going to have to face.
Thursday is going to be, by far, the toughest game of the trip. Not only because Edmonton is the best team they will face on it, but also because the Penguins will be playing the second half of a back-to-back, on the road, with travel, against a rested Oilers team.
The Oilers still have some serious depth issues beyond their top players, but their top players are still outstanding and have given the Penguins fits in recent years. They also have Zach Hyman back in the lineup and he is on an absolute tear right now offensively.
The road trip concludes on Sunday against a Vancouver Canucks team that is just simply awful. The Penguins already dominated the Canucks earlier this season on home ice, and the current roster is worse than the one the Penguins saw earlier in the year, mostly due to the fact superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes has been traded away. Vancouver enters the week having lost 10 games in a row and has very little going for it at the moment.
Given the schedule, and the way the Penguins have been playing lately, this has the potential to be a big week for the Penguins. There are three very winnable games on the schedule here, and it would be in the Penguins’ best interest to take care of business in them. This is a week where they should be able to get at least five points, and hopefully six points out of eight that are on the table.
If they can do that it would have them at a 98-point pace going into next week, which would still be an extremely strong position in the playoff race.
The Islanders have two games left on the big seven-game trip, with tonight in Vancouver feeling like a “gotta have it” two points. With the Olympic break nearing, these next two games could be big for not only how the trip ledger balances out but also where the season heads. Dan and Mike talk about that on the latest Islanders Anxiety podcast (along with some epic Master-foe Theatre).
Tonight, it’s an opponent (16-27-5, 37 points) that is so far in the league basement, they’re even 11 points behind the “Strongly Worded Letter” Rangers.
Day to Day: Ilya Sorokin is due back in net, and it looks like Max Tsyplakov will get a chance next to Cal Ritchie and Emil Heineman, with Max Shabanov coming out. [Isles | THN]
Line shuffling for Patrick Roy is a matter of necessity. [Newsday]
The Skinny: Anders Lee’s 300th goal was the first for the Islanders since Miro Satan. [Isles]
Takeaways from the loss to the Flames: Just didn’t bear down on chances, and what-not. [Isles]
Health has been huge for Adam Pelech’s bounce-back season. [Post]
Roy isn’t worried about Cal Ritchie hitting a rookie wall. [Post]
On Isaiah George working back into form following multiple injury stints. [THN]
Catching up with Wade Dubielewicz, who’s loving life. On poke-checks, which were a massive part of his game: “I was an undersized goalie, not in the greatest physical condition either.” [Isles]
R.I.P. Phil Goyette, 92, the first coach of the Islanders who made his mark as a Cup-winning Canadien, Lady Byng-winning Blue and briefly a player with some other team. [NHL]
Elsewhere
Yesterday’s scores were few — evidently there were other sports in action? — but they included Detroit getting an OT win with Ottawa picking up the consolation point.
We have a trade: Rasmus Andersson finally gets his trade, and the Flames finally get their price, from Vegas: Zach Whitecloud, a first-rounder and a second that could become a first if Vegas wins the Cup. [NHL]
An original Knight, Whitecloud is excited to be a Flame. [Sportsnet]
Craig Conroy felt the time was right to make the deal, with Andersson saying he would not entertain sign-and-trade scenarios. [Sportsnet]
Will that trade, and the Rangers throwing in the towel, open up the trade market a bit? [Sportsnet]
Here are your Pens Points for this Monday morning…
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ newest acquisition, forward Egor Chinakhov, has found early success while on a line with fellow countryman Evgeni Malkin. [Trib Live]
Injured Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson rejoined the team for practice on Sunday. He has missed the past three games with an undisclosed injury that landed him on injured reserve. [Trib Live]
The Penguins recalled forward Joona Koppanen from the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Sunday, while rookie forward Rutger McGroarty was activated and assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. [Trib Live]
News and notes from around the NHL…
A reset in the Big Apple? New York Rangers general manager Chris Drury said in a letter to fans on Friday that the team will begin the process of a “retool” this season, which likely results in the trade of players such as star forward Artemi Panarin. [ESPN]
The San Jose Sharks placed veteran defenseman Nick Leddy on waivers Sunday. [TSN]
Phil Goyette, the former NHL forward who won four Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens and became the New York Islanders’ first coach, has died at age 92. [Associated Press via ESPN]
The Calgary Flames will trade defenseman Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for defenseman Zach Whitecloud, prospect Abram Wiebe, a 2027 first-round pick and a conditional 2027 second-round pick, which will become a first if Vegas wins the Stanley Cup this year. The Flames will also retain 50% of Andersson’s salary. [Sportsnet]
The NBA All-Star Game is rapidly approaching, and we’ll get some resolution today – at least on the first five from each conference.
The league will announce the starters for the Eastern and Western conferences Monday, Jan. 19 at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, during the pre-game show ahead of the Oklahoma City Thunder-Cleveland Cavaliers game.
Here’s everything you need to know about the selection of the 2026 NBA All-Stars and our picks for who will start and who should start:
How are NBA All-Stars selected?
There are 24 All-Stars, with 12 per conference. Players are selected without regard for position.
The 10 starters (five per conference) are selected through three tranches: fan votes (50%), current NBA player votes (25%) and a media panel (25%).
Then, on Feb. 1, the 14 reserves (seven per conference) will be announced, and those players will be selected by NBA head coaches. There is one wrinkle this year, however.
Because the league is using a USA versus the world format in which three, 8-player teams will compete in a round-robin tournament, NBA commissioner Adam Silver will intervene and appoint additional All-Stars so that there are enough players to reach the quota of at least 16 U.S.-born players and eight international players. If necessary, the international players can include American players with ties to other countries.
NBA All-Star starters: Who should start?
As one of the media members selected to participate, here’s the ballot I submitted to the online system managed by Ernst & Young:
Have you ever wondered how to measure Victor Wembanyama’s height in Oreo cookies, how birth order affects NBA performance, or which zodiac sign is the best at basketball?
Chances are you haven’t. But for those questions and others you didn’t even know you had, the NBA Research & Development Department has an answer.
The popular Instagram account with the handle @nbaresdev launched surreptitiously on June 11, 2025 – the same day as Game 3 of the NBA Finals – by posting the aforementioned Wembanyama video. Since then, NBA R&D has posted 58 videos that approach fun, quirky basketball questions with serious data analysis.
The account’s bio proclaims it's, “The official unofficial testing lab of the NBA,” and it’s not entirely unsanctioned.
NBA R&D is the brainchild of NBA Take-Two Media, a collaboration between the NBA and Take-Two Interactive, publisher of the NBA 2K video game series. The new entertainment company, shorthanded as NBAT2, formed last summer and produces competitive gaming, social-first content, original programming and live events.
Basketball, yes. But fashion, baddies, and astrocartography, too
NBAT2 CEO Andrew Perlmutter said the partnership taps into basketball’s broader appeal.
“Basketball, as a force, isn’t just a sport and it doesn’t just reflect culture. It shapes culture,” Perlmutter said. “And it is wired into so many other facets of culture that we all love, whether it’s gaming or fashion or music or color theory or astrocartography.”
On Saturday night, the Celtics had a historic first half in what might have been the best offensive showing of Mazzulla Ball. Per NBC Sports Boston’s Dick Lipe, their 82 points at halftime against the Hawks — 52 in the second quarter alone — was their highest total since thrashing Golden State two years ago.
The weekend win hits a little different though because what this roster of previously back-of-the-bench players and products of patient in-house player development has defied expectations.
It’s a testament to how every player has taken absolute advantage of their opportunity and more so, how head coach Joe Mazzulla has built a system for everybody to thrive in and motivated them to do so. He’s tinkered with the starting lineups, shuttling between experience and youthful energy and offensive punch and defensive flexibility, and now halfway through this “gap year,” Mazzulla seems to have settled on his rotations…until the next time he throws another curve ball.
BOSTON, MA – DECEMBER 12: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics, Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics, Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics react during a game against the Detroit Pistons at TD Garden on December 12, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
Halfway through the season last year, Brown and White were also part of Boston’s Big Three with obviously Jayson Tatum in the place of Pritchard. That trio combined for 1591 points on 45.9% shooting (36.2% from 3) in 648 minutes. PP has joined the starting lineup and Brown, White, and Pritchard have been arguably better with 1726 points at 48.9% from the field and 36.8% from behind the arc in 695 minutes.
As a perimeter trio, their offensive efficiency (119.9) is on par with some of the league’s other offensive engines that have the benefit of an efficient big man like Houston’s Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith, and Amen Thompson (120.9 offensive rating) and Minnesota’s Donte DiVincenzo, Julius Randle, and Rudy Gobert (120.6).
With Brown and Pritchard becoming two of the most elite mid-range jump shooters in the NBA and White not skipping a beat with a higher usage rate and level of responsibility on the ball, they’ve become the engine of one of the most efficient offenses in not just random half in mid-January, but NBA all-time history.
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 04: Neemias Queta #88 of the Boston Celtics celebrates with Jordan Walsh #27 after a play against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Capital One Arena on December 4, 2025 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
If he was a higher profile player, there would be a case to be made that Queta is one of the NBA’s Most Improved Players. Instead, he’s been the underrated backbone of this surprising season and one of Boston’s most impactful players after being their biggest question mark heading into training camp. He’s second (behind Hugo Gonzalez, more on that later) in on/off defensive efficiency (107.5 on vs. 116.1 off) and in total steals plus blocks (behind White because of course).
And while Walsh had his day in the sun as a starter, he remains one of Mazzulla’s trump cards as an individual defender/disruptor. His hit list is long and littered with future Hall-of-Famers:
James Harden: two games, 4-of-9, one turnover
Donovan Mitchell: one game, 2-of-8, two turnovers
Cade Cunningham: two games, 3-of-10, four turnovers
Scottie Barnes: two games, 1-of-3, one turnover
CJ McCollum: three games, 2-of-8, two turnovers
Tyrese Maxey: one game, 1-of-9, zero turnovers
Austin Reaves: one game, 0-of-3, zero turnovers
Walsh has also become better-than-reliable three-point shooter at 43.5%, too. Queta isn’t exactly the shooter that Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford were, but he’s got magnets for hands, can finish with both of them, and has sneaky athleticism off both feet.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 19: Sam Hauser #30 of the Boston Celtics reacts with Anfernee Simons #4 after scoring a basket against the Miami Heat during the second half at the TD Garden on December 19, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)
Traditionally, a drive-and-kick point guard was a shooter’s best friend; draw enough attention off the bounce and they could get free for an open shot. That still applies to a certain extent, but in today’s defensive switching schemes of the NBA, it’s less effective. Instead, Mazzulla has replaced look-over-here-while-I-do-something-over-there with just brute force, offensive line blocking to get his shooters shots.
In the Celtics resounding offensive explosion in Atlanta on Saturday, Garza recorded six screen assists, one apiece to threes from Hauser and Simons. Both sharpshooters are hovering around 40% three-point shooting on the season after they suffered spells in November and December respectively. All three have also become respectable defenders.
Oct 8, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Boston Celtics guard Hugo Gonzalez (28), forward Baylor Scheierman (55) and center Luka Garza (52) react during the second quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
The Hugo Gonzalez Coefficient
552 minutes, +192
Somehow, Mazzulla has figured just how much of the rookie to titrate into the mix. Back in December, Gonzalez played the entire second half of a comeback win against the visiting Heat and finished a +22. Last week in Miami, he played just over thirteen minutes, but his stretch between the third and fourth quarters ultimately made the difference in another resurgent run. His four points and three rebounds average is what you’d expect from a 19-year-old rookie; the hustle and momentum-shifting plays are something else.
It would be criminal not to mention Baylor Scheierman, too. The sometimes starter and sometimes DNP-CD is best friends with Gonzalez and you have to wonder if the one thing they have in common is finding ways to play winning basketball. Like Gonzalez, Scheierman is a utility man — a connector that makes shots when he has to (42.6% from 3) and defends his butt off. In 440 minutes, he’s a +65 and someone you can comfortably rely on in his sophomore season.
Good morning, it’s Monday, January 19th. The Cleveland Cavaliers are 24-19 and host the Oklahoma City Thunder today at 2:30 PM. Let’s hope it’s a good one.
The last time these two teams played in Cleveland, they were each in the middle of huge win streaks and historic regular seasons. Things have changed a bit since then, as the Cavaliers are lagging behind and the Thunder have hit a recent skid in their post-championship season — but there’s still plenty of potential fireworks ready to go off between these two teams.
Today’s Game of the Day
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Oklahoma City Thunder – 2:30 PM, NBC, Peacock, FanDuel
Let’s not waste our time talking about any other game today.
The Cavs and Thunder both have injuries heading into this matchup. Cleveland will be without Darius Garland, Max Strus, and Dean Wade, while the Thunder are down Jalen Williams.
That could put a damper on this battle, but the Cavaliers have been playing inspiring basketball recently and still stand a chance of defending their home floor.
The Rest of the NBA Slate
Milwaukee Bucks at Atlanta Hawks – 1 PM
LA Clippers at Washington Wizards – 3 PM
Dallas Mavericks at New York Knicks – 5 PM
Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs – 5 PM
Indiana Pacers at Philadelphia 76ers – 7 PM
Phoenix Suns at Brooklyn Nets – 7:30 PM
Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons – 8 PM
Miami Heat at Golden State Warriors – 10 PM
There’s a full slate of basketball on today. So, even if the Cavs disappoint you, maybe you can find some quality games on the rest of the day.
