Inter recover from 2-0 down to go six clear in Serie A
In Ligue 1, PSG go above Lens, who play on Saturday
Inter were shocked to go two goals down at home to relegation-battling Pisa but fought back to earn a 6-2 win at San Siro on Friday, as they continue to set the pace at the top of Serie A.
Stefano Moreo scored twice to put Pisa 2-0 up, the first thanks to a howler from the goalkeeper Yann Sommer, but Inter were ahead by the break. Piotr Zielinski converted a penalty and Lautaro Martínez and Francesco Pio Esposito both scored with headers in six minutes just before half-time.
HAMBURG, Germany (AP) — St. Pauli and Hamburg drew 0-0 in a lacklustre derby that lifted St. Pauli off the bottom of the Bundesliga on Friday but did little to animate a dismal run of one win in 15.
The match between the two biggest teams in Germany’s second city failed to spark, particularly in a first half that saw just one shot on target, and that in stoppage time.
There were a few more chances in the second 45 minutes but no one with the composure to stamp his mark on the game.
The result moved St. Pauli from last to third to last.
Mainz was in last place.
Hamburg has gone five games without a win but climbed one place to 13th, five points ahead of St. Pauli.
Carlos Mendoza broke down the Mets’ busy week during an appearance on ‘Foul Territory’ on Friday afternoon.
Here are his thoughts:
On where Bo Bichette fits into Mets' lineup…
“This is a guy who is so versatile," he said. "He could hit leadoff, second, third, fourth -- we're still so far from Opening Day, but if you're asking me right now, I could see a combination of [Francisco] Lindor, [Juan] Soto, and Bichette right away.
“I have to have these conversations with the players, but the fact that Bo is such a good hitter, you could put him in front of Soto, you could put him behind him, you could take Lindor out of the leadoff spot and put him third -- there’s so many different ways I could go here.”
On acquiring Luis Robert Jr. from White Sox…
“We’re looking at a very toolsy player,” Mendoza said. “When he’s healthy, he’s one of the best. We know the defense, we know the power, we know he can steal bases -- it’s our job to keep him on the field now.
“I know the trainers are already with their hands on him. We have to get to know the player, his routines and the way he prepares, then we have to make some adjustments in communication with him because that’s going to be the goal -- we need this guy on the field.”
On adding Freddy Peralta in trade with Brewers…
“I spoke with him as soon as the transaction went down,” Mendoza said. “I got on the phone with him and had a very good conversation, he was super excited -- everything I’m hearing, we all know the quality of the pitcher, but everyone keeps telling me about the quality of the person.
“You could feel it from my first conversation how excited he was. He’s willing to report to Port St. Lucie early so he can start meeting people, and that, to me, goes a long way -- at the end of the day, he just has to be Freddy Peralta, go out there compete and give us a chance to win every time you take the baseball.”
Mendoza was also asked about a potential extension with Peralta, but like Stearns on Thursday, he said the organization is just focused on letting him get his feet wet and the rest will take care of itself.
On Nolan McLean pitching for Team USA in the WBC...
"The fact that he's going to be able to experience that, playing with and against some of the best players in the world in that type of environment and in those settings, it's just going to continue to help his development. So I'm excited about it and I know he's super excited -- I'm looking forward to watching him pitch."
The Buffalo Sabres did not come out of the 4-2 win over Montreal unscathed, as head coach Lindy Ruff indicated after the game that defenseman Jacob Bryson would miss some time with an upper-body injury. Bryson left the game in the middle of the second period and did not return.
“He went back to Buffalo today and we'll find out (the severity of the injury),” Ruff said after the team’s practice on Friday. “We'll know next couple days. He'll probably see the doctors today, and we'll get a better idea.”
The Sabres recalled defenseman Zac Jones from AHL Rochester and placed Bryson on injured reserve. Jones is leading the Amerks in scoring with 37 points (6 goals, 31 assists) in 32 games.
Winger Zach Benson scored the game-winner in the second period, but was on the receiving end of an elbow from Habs forward Zachary Bolduc. Benson was on the ice and showing no ill effects at the Northwell Heath Ice Center on Long Island on Friday.
"Incidental or not, I felt it was a little bit of a cheap shot,” Ruff said. “But no, he's back smiling and laughing this morning, so he's doing good."
Team captain Rasmus Dahlin missed practice after blocking a shot in the third period against the Habs, but Ruff stated that it was for maintenance purposes and that they felt that he would be good to go. The Sabres play an afternoon game against the Islanders on Saturday, and will return home to practice before completing their road trip in Toronto on Tuesday.
Technically, Olen Zellweger is 49 games into his third NHL season after playing 62 games in 2024-25 and 26 in 2023-24. The Anaheim Ducks selected the dynamic, “undersized” defenseman with the 34th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. As one of the youngest players in that year’s draft, he was six days from eligibility for the 2022 draft.
Following his draft, Zellweger (22) went on to a decorated junior career in his final two seasons in the WHL, scoring a combined 158 points (46-112=158) in 110 regular season games, 38 points (13-25=38) in 20 playoff games, winning two World Junior Championship gold medals, two Bill Hunter trophies as the WHL’s top defenseman, and one CHL defenseman of the year award.
In his rookie year (2023-24), Zellweger played 44 games for the San Diego Gulls in the AHL, scoring 37 points (12-25=37), earning a spot as the Gulls’ AHL All-Star representative, and he seemed well on his way to fulfilling his offensive potential.
If anyone were to convey that Zellweger would one day become a top-four defenseman in the NHL, they’d have likely guessed he’d play the role of a team’s top power play unit point man and offensive point producer, with very little defensive responsibility.
The transition into the NHL has been anything but smooth for the now 5-foot-10, 194-pound defender who oozes refined skill and is as flawless a skater as one can find. He had difficulty carving a role for himself under former Ducks head coach Greg Cronin, who favored veterans for key roles, and he, along with Pavel Mintyukov, fell victim to a logjam on the blueline in 2024-25 that caused him to serve as a healthy scratch for 20 games and play a non-conductively safe brand of hockey.
He worked tirelessly, as the last Ducks player off the ice for nearly every morning skate and practice, to refine all areas of his game and iron out any deficiencies on the defensive end, and he became a complete NHL defenseman.
Zellweger was projected as one of the players who would benefit most from the Ducks' hiring of Joel Quenneville as their new coach for the 2025-26 season. The logjam was relieved, and on paper, the wide-open, offensive, pressure system seemed perfectly catered to Zellweger’s play style.
Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Though his now-polished defensive prowess has earned him the third-most TOI (873:15) among Anaheim blueliners this season, following a difficult stretch for Anaheim’s power play to start the season, in which Zellweger was firmly on the team’s second unit, he’s seen his offensive responsibility evaporate completely.
“The core of strength is still, I think, our power play,” Zellweger said. “I still think I have a lot of untapped potential there (that) I need to find a way to get out. Penalty kill has been really good, a challenge for me. I hadn’t played penalty kill in the NHL until this year, so I really enjoy it. It’s super important, getting lots of kills.”
Though he’s now a bona fide top-four defenseman and is being utilized as such at 5v5, during the Ducks' 15 games since Dec. 16, Zellweger has only logged a grand total of 84 seconds on the power play and not even one second in the last four games.
On the flip side, Zellweger now holds a role on the team’s second penalty kill unit, and over the team’s last eight games, he’s averaging 2:05 TOI on the PK. The Ducks have only allowed one goal when he’s been on the ice for the PK during that stretch.
“I like that versatility in his game, that he can do both things,” Quenneville said. “I think Zelly gives us a great presence when exiting our zone, joining the attack, off the point in the offensive zone, and finding holes in spots. He’s quick to pucks as well. I think when we started him penalty killing, it was a good opportunity for him to get quality ice time as well.
“So far, in a short amount of time, he looks like he’s enjoying the opportunity, but his quickness can help him get to pucks and pressure in the right situations, and get the clear as well. Young guys on defense, that’s a big job description to get done. You gotta like the way he started.”
Zellweger’s been a point producer and point defenseman on the power play at every level he’s played at below the NHL, and is finding ways to translate that skill to his new role as a defensive stalwart.
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
“I’ve played power play my whole life, so I think just the subtleties when I see a guy have the puck. Maybe he’s looking down, and I can pressure him,” Zellweger continued. “Small things like that, I can kind of see the seams unfolding. I think that helps me a lot going on the PK. It makes it less of a transition to be effective. Using my quickness, and trying to read a play as it unfolds and be in the right positions.”
At 5v5, Zellweger is Anaheim’s second-best defenseman, behind only Jackson LaCombe. When he’s on the ice, the Ducks account for 53.68% of the shot attempts share, 50.87% of the shots on goal share, and 51.25% of the expected goals share. He’s driving 5v5 offense from the blueline, as when he’s on the ice, the Ducks have notched 2.99 expected goals for per 60 minutes (2nd on ANA) and 3.27 goals/60 (1st on ANA). He’s either been too unproductive or hasn’t been given enough of a chance with the man advantage.
That may leave some to wonder what his role is for the Ducks organization moving forward. Is he destined to cap out as a good top-four defenseman who kills penalties on a second unit? If that’s the case, Zellweger will have tough competition nipping at his heels in the Ducks’ pipeline, with Stian Solberg (23rd overall in ’24) and Tyson Hinds (76th in ’21) in the AHL, Lasse Boelius (60th in ’25) in Liiga, Tarin Smith (79th in ’24) in the WHL, and Drew Schock (101st in ’25) in the NCAA.
He’s been passed on the Ducks’ power play depth chart by both Mintyukov and Jacob Trouba, with LaCombe assuming top unit TOI. If he can’t find consistent time with the man-advantage, one could even wonder how the Ducks’ front office views the player and if he has a long-term spot on the roster.
Zellweger has as much puck skill and skating ability as any defenseman in the NHL. He’s worked endlessly to round out his 200-foot game, performing well defensively at 5v5 and on the kill, but his biggest impact comes on the offensive side of the puck. He has 18 points (6-12=18) in 49 games this season and 47 points (15-32=47) in 137 games in his career.
Zellweger is in the final year of his entry-level contract and will be an RFA when the Ducks’ season concludes. How general manager Pat Verbeek and the Ducks’ front office approach the trade deadline, home stretch of the season, and offseason as it pertains to Olen Zellweger will be immensely telling on how they view him within the framework of the present and future of the organization.
AUXERRE, France (AP) — Bradley Barcola scored his second goal in two games to give Paris Saint-Germain a late win over lowly Auxerre and return to the top of Ligue 1 on Friday.
Barcola rescued PSG when, with the match heading to a 0-0 draw, he finished a counterattack in the 79th minute and squeezed the ball over the advancing goalkeeper.
Until then, second-to-last Auxerre had frustrated second-from-top PSG without threatening to score. Auxerre did not have a shot on target all night at Stade de L’Abbé-Deschamps.
Barcola’s sixth goal of the season capped a fine performance, although the winger will rue missed chances that could have secured the three points earlier.
The result took PSG two points ahead of surprise pace-setter Lens, which faces a difficult tie at third-placed Marseille on Saturday.
Auxerre remained above only last-placed Metz on goal difference.
Boston Celtics (27-16) at Brooklyn Nets (12-30) Friday, December 23, 2026 7:30 pm ET Regular Season Game #44 Road Game #24 TV: NBCSB, YES, NBA-LP Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub, 101.9 FM, Sirius XM Barclays Center
The Celtics head to Brooklyn to take on the Nets at Barclays Center for the first of 2 consecutive games on the road. This is the 3rd of 4 meetings between these two teams this season. The Celtics won the first meeting 113-99 in Brooklyn on November 18. They lost the second meeting 113-105 in Boston on November 21. They will meet for the final time on February 27 in Boston.
Brooklyn is the youngest team in the league this season, with an average age of 23.98. The Celtics won the series 4-0 last season. The Celtics are 146-75 overall all time against the Nets and they are 69-40 when playing on the road against Brooklyn. This is the first of back to back games for the Celtics. They will play at Chicago on Saturday. They are 3-3 in the first of back to back games this season.
The Celtics are 2nd in the East, 5.5 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are 1.5 games ahead of 2nd place New York and 4th place Toronto, 3 games ahead of 5th place Cleveland and 3.5 games ahead of 6th place Philadelphia and 7th place Orlando. The Celtics are 20-10 against Eastern Conference opponents and 6-4 against the Atlantic Division. They are 14-9 on the road and 6-4 in their last 10 games. They are coming off a win in their last game.
The Nets are 13th in the East, 7 games behind 10th place Atlanta,5.5 games behind 11th place Milwaukee, and 3 games behind 12th place Charlotte. They are 2 games ahead of 14th place Washington and 3.5 games ahead of 15th place Indiana. They are 9-18 against Eastern Conference opponents and 3-8 against the Atlantic Division. They are 6-16 at home and 2-8 in their last 10 games. They have lost their last 3 games.
The Celtics had one game at home after a 4 game road trip. After this game at Brooklyn, they will head to Chicago for their second straight game on the road. They will then have a 4 game home stand where they will host Portland, Atlanta, Sacramento and Milwaukee. Then, they are on the road at Dallas and Houston before playing Miami, New York, and Chicago at home, taking them into the All Star Break.
After this game at home, the Nets will go on a 5 game road trip through the LA Clippers, Phoenix, Denver, Utah, and Detroit. They will then play one game at home against the Los Angeles Lakers before one game on the road at Orlando. Then they will have a 3 game home stand where they will host Washington, Chicago and Indiana before the All Star break.
Jayson Tatum remains out for the Celtics as he continues to rehab from the Achilles tear he suffered in last year’s playoffs. Josh Minott will miss his 9th straight game with an ankle sprain. Derrick White has been added to the injury report and will miss this game for rest. I took a guess that Baylor Scheierman will once again get the start but with Joe, you never know. Neemias Queta was a late addition to the injury list due to illness. He will be a game time decision. I would guess that Luka Garza would get the start if he is unable to play. For the Nets, only Haywood Highsmith is out due to a knee injury.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Payton Pritchard vs Egor Demin
SG: Baylor Scheierman vs Drake Powell
SF: Jaylen Brown vs Michael Porter, Jr
PF: Sam Hauser vs Noah Clowney
C: Neemias Queta vs Nic Claxton
Celtics Reserves Anfernee Simons Hugo Gonzalez Xavier Tillman Jordan Walsh Luka Garza Chris Boucher 2-Way Players Ron Harper, Jr Max Shulga Amari Williams Injuries/Out Jayson Tatum (Achilles) out Josh Minott (ankle) out Derrick White (rest) out Neemias Queta (illness) questionable Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Nets Reserves Tyrese Martin Ben Seraf Day’Ron Sharpe Cam Thomas Nolan Traore Ziaire Williams Jalen Wilson Danny Wolf
Two-Way Players EJ Liddell Tyson Etienne Chaney Johnson
Injuries/Out Haywood Highsmith (knee) out
Head Coach Jordi Fernandez
Key Matchups Jaylen Brown vs Michael Porter, Jr Porter is clearly the Nets best player and is averaging 25.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1 steal per game. He is shooting 48.1% from the field and 39.6% from beyond the arc. In the 2 games gainst Boston this season, he averaged 29 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 56.8% from the field and 57.1% from beyond the arc. The Celtics must do a better job of slowing him down in this game.
Neemias Queta vs Nic Claxton Claxton is averaging 12.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.4 blocks per game. He is shooting 58.3% from the field and 16.7% from three. In the 2 games this season against the Celtics, he averaged 12.5 points, 11 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1 block while shooting 36.4% from the field with no threes. In the Nets’ win over the Celtics, he put up his first career triple double. The Celtics need to keep him out of the paint and be aware of him on defense as he is a good rim protector.
Honorable Mention Sam Hauser vs Noah Clowney Clowney is averaging 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 38.9% from the field and 32.3% from beyond the arc. In the 2 games against the Celtics this season, he averaged 16 points, 2 rebounds and 1 steal while shooting 47.8% from the field and 40% from 3.
Keys to the Game Defense – As always, defense is a key to winning this, and every, game. The Nets are 26th in the league with an offensive rating of 111.4 while the Celtics have an offensive rating of 121.3 (2nd). The Celtics are 13th in the league with a defensive rating of 113.7. The Nets are 26th with a defensive rating of 117.7. In the Nets win over the Celtics, they shot 52.4% from the field and 39.4% from beyond the arc. The Nets shoot 40.8 three pointers per game (6th) and they make 14.2 per game (10th) so the Celtics need to especially defend them on the perimeter. The Celtics have to play tough defense from the tip through the final buzzer in this one and not allow the Nets to get any offensive rhythm.
Rebound – Rebounding is also an important key to winning every game. The Celtics are 10th in the league, pulling down 45.1 rebounds per game. The Nets are 30th with 39.7 rebounds per game. It is important for the Celtics to rebound the ball to give themselves extra possessions and to prevent the Nets from getting the same along with 2nd chance points. Much of rebounding is effort and the Celtics have got to put out more effort than the Nets to grab rebounds for all 4 quarters.
Don’t Underestimate – The Celtics need to stay focused and be aggressive from start to finish. The Nets have not been playing well, but they play hard and will always try to beat the Celtics. The Celtics did underestimate them in their last meeting and ended up losing. The Celtics can’t underestimate them because they have lost 8 of their last 10 games. The Celtics should have the talent to win easily, but if they underestimate the Nets and come out with less than 100% effort, they be surprised with another loss to them. They also are coming off a 120-66 drubbing at the hands of the Knicks and so they may be looking to gain back a little self respect with another win over the Celtics. Move the Ball Carefully – The Celtics are a much better team when they move the ball and don’t lapse into iso ball. They are 17-1 when they have 25 or more assists and they are 10-15 when they have fewer than 25 assists. Even though the Celtics usually take good care of the ball, they lose focus at times and turn the ball over too much. They need to make careful passes and keep the ball moving.
X-Factors On the Road Again – The Celtics are playing on the road again after one game at home. They will be playing in front of a hostile crowd and have the distractions that go with travel and playing on the road. The Celtics need to focus on the game and not on the distractions that come with playing on the road and in an unfamiliar arena. They need to get some motivation from avenging their loss in the last game against the Nets.
Officiating – I know that I say this every game, but the officiating always can be an x-factor in every game. Every crew calls the game differently whether they call every little ticky tack foul or they let a lot of contact go and let the teams play. Some refs favor the home team and some not so much. We have already seen a game where one non call can change the outcome. The Celtics have got to adjust to the way the game is being called and not let the officiating take away from their focus.
The surging Detroit Pistons are sitting atop the East and are the last opponent the Houston Rockets would want to face on the second night of a back-to-back.
Houston is coming off a taxing overtime loss in Philly, and my Rockets vs. Pistons predictions lean on Jalen Duren’s nonstop motor to cause problems for the visitors tonight.
Check out my NBA picks and betting tips for Friday, January 23.
Rockets vs Pistons prediction
Rockets vs Pistons best bet: Jalen Duren to record a double-double (-115)
The Detroit Pistons have a strong case as the best defense in the Eastern Conference, and Jalen Duren is a huge part of that. An All-Star candidate and one of the NBA’s best rebounders, his presence around the rim at both ends makes this a must-have prop.
It all starts on the boards. He ranks fifth in the league with 10.9 rebounds per game, and that jumps to 12.1 RPG on the road. The Houston Rockets will be without Steven Adams here, and the Kevin Durant-Alperen Sengun frontcourt logged big minutes last night.
That makes them vulnerable to the hosts’ bruising style.
The offensive glass — where Duren is hauling in four boards per game — is also often his path to scoring. He’s finished with a double-digit points tally in 12 straight contests, and he’s shooting 63% from the field this year, fueled by a steady diet of dunks.
That part of this pick feels like more of a formality.
Detroit may need Duren’s all-around hustle more than ever tonight, with Cade Cunningham, Caris LeVert, and Ron Holland II dealing with illnesses (though only LeVert is expected to sit out).
In what figures to be a defensive struggle at Little Caesars Arena, look for Duren to own the paint.
Rockets vs Pistons same-game parlay
Both of these teams have peppered the Under lately. It’s 9-1 in the Pistons’ last 10 contests, and 8-2 for the Rockets in that same span.
It’s also been a winning ticket in the past four meetings between these teams, and I see that trend continuing with both teams ranking in the Top 5 in points per game allowed.
I’m laying the points, too, with Cade trending towards playing.
Detroit is 6-3-1 ATS in its last 10 outings, while Houston drags an ugly road record into this matchup.
The Rockets are 11-13 SU on their travels this season, and they’ve dropped five in a row away from Toyota Center.
Rockets vs Pistons SGP
Jalen Duren to record a double-double
Under 218.5
Pistons -4.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Dishing Durant!
Houston is asking a lot of Kevin Durant, who’s averaging 38.7 minutes per game this month and doing the heavy lifting in late-clock situations.
KD has dished 5+ assists in three of his last four games, and Detroit will gladly force the ball out of his hands here.
Rockets vs Pistons SGP
Jalen Duren to record a double-double
Under 218.5
Pistons -4.5
Kevin Durant Over 4.5 assists
Rockets vs Pistons odds
Spread: Rockets +3 (-110) | Pistons -3 (-110)
Moneyline: Rockets +135 | Pistons -160
Over/Under: Over 218.5 (-110) | Under 218.5 (-110)
Rockets vs Pistons betting trend to know
The Rockets are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games. Find more NBA betting trends for Rockets vs. Pistons.
How to watch Rockets vs Pistons
Location
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date
Friday, January 23, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Prime
Rockets vs Pistons latest injuries
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While Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones remain unclear in their roles for the Yankees after the return of Cody Bellinger in left field, the Yankees added some outfield depth Friday by claiming Michael Siani off waivers from the Dodgers.
The 26-year-old Siani spent most of last year with the Cardinals’ Triple-A Memphis affiliate and appeared in just 19 games with St. Louis.
Michael Siani #22 of the St. Louis Cardinals makes a catch in the outfield against the Houston Astros. MLB Photos via Getty Images
But he played 124 games for the Cardinals in 2024, although he had just a .570 OPS.
A solid defender in center field, Siani was selected off waivers by Atlanta from St. Louis in November and then claimed by the Dodgers last month.
He was designated for assignment by Los Angeles after they signed Kyle Tucker.
The Buffalo Sabres moved one step closer to a top three spot in the Atlantic Division with a 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on Thursday. The Sabres followed the same script as they did in Nashville earlier in the week, jumping out to an early lead and holding on for dear life in the latter part of the game.
Jason Zucker, Beck Malenstyn, and Zach Benson staked Buffalo to a 3-0 lead early in the second period, but the Habs responded before the end of the middle frame with tallies by Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki, and outshot the Sabres 15-3. Buffalo maintained their lead through the third, and Samuel Montembeault pulled for the extra attacker. Peyton Krebs iced the game away with an empty-netter.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 32 saves in the win.
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff spoke after the game:
Sabres sign Josh Doan to a seven-year contract extension
What can you say about your team holding on to leads in these games?
We came out, played a really good first period. You've got to give Montreal a lot of credit. They had a big push in the second. We made a couple errant plays that they took advantage of. (Luukkonen) made some great saves. But then I thought we played a rock-solid third period where maybe gave up one chance in a one-goal game, which I got to give our guys a lot of credit for just locking back into our game.
Does it help your team to play in a heated environment like Montreal?
I think you can see in the East that every team is winning every night. We know how much the game meant to us, and Montreal knows how much the game means to them. And every game, you can win a game. With the run we've had, and you're sitting two points inside a playoff race. It's good training for high-intensity games. For the most part, our guys have been able to pass the test, we've been able to weather some storms, and we've been able to push through and win games.
The Buffalo Sabres have made a roster move, as they have called up defenseman Zac Jones from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans.
Jones being called up to the Sabres' roster comes after fellow defenseman Jacob Bryson exited Buffalo's most recent contest against the Montreal Canadiens due to injury. Now, by recalling Jones, the Sabres have another defenseman to work with.
Jones has been called up several times this season by the Sabres, but he has yet to make his regular-season debut with the NHL club. Yet, he will now be hoping that changes after landing this latest call-up to the Sabres' roster.
Jones has been simply excellent this season down in the AHL with Rochester. In 32 games so far this campaign with the Amerks, the left-shot defenseman has recorded six goals and 37 points. He is also tied for first in the AHL with 31 assists, so he has certainly been making an impact offensively with Rochester.
Jones was also recently named to the 2026 AHL All-Star Game due to his strong play with Rochester this season.
Bangladesh will not travel to India to play in next month’s T20 World Cup, its cricket board confirmed on Thursday, effectively ruling the country out of the tournament.
A player who fits the exact criteria the New York Rangers are looking for has found himself in the thick of trade discussions.
In the letter issued last week by Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury emphasizing the team’s intentions to retool the roster, Drury said that the team will focus on obtaining young players.
According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, the Seattle Kraken could be willing to trade Shane Wright if the appropriate offer presented itself.
“Teams say that Jason Botterill, the GM of the Seattle Kraken, is listening on Shane Wright,” Dreger said. “But he is in no rush and understandably, the expected return for Shane Wright is incredibly high.”
Wright was selected by the Kraken with the fourth overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, and despite recording a career high of 44 points during the 2024-25 campaign, he hasn’t quite lived up to expectations in Seattle.
If the Rangers are indeed looking to get younger and begin the process of retooling the roster, acquiring the 22-year-old forward is a good place to start.
The Kraken are reportedly looking for a top-six winger, and it’s public knowledge now that the Rangers won’t re-sign Artemi Panarin and will look to deal him ahead of the trade deadline on March 6.
There have also been discussions around the Rangers potentially shopping Alexis Lafrenière, who Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman directly links to the Kraken in a hypothetical trade involving Wright.
“The Kraken have never had that dynamic young scorer,” Friedman said. “And I think they're hoping that Wright can get them that (in a trade). (I was asked) 'Could you see them doing Wright for Lafreniere?' I don't know how both teams feel... But when I thought about that, that's not the worst idea I've ever heard... Both players could use a change of scenery... I think there's logic behind it.”
In 49 games this season, Wright has tallied seven goals, 10 assists, and 17 points while averaging 13:44 minutes.
My family and I spent some 17 hours of our Australian summer holidays road-tripping, nothing but the open road and the music blaring through the car speakers to stimulate our senses. It was during this—somewhere in-between my country shuffle and the kids’ umpteenth play of“Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters—that the idea spawned: when you think of the Bucks’ season so far, what song(s) come to mind? And so it was born—Brew Hoop’s midseason mixtape.
Finn: “man at the garden” by Kendrick Lamar
Defining lyric:“Tell me why you think you deserve the greatest of all time, m*****f*****.”
Connection: On “man at the garden,” Kendrick powerfully asserts his merit for, as he repeats time and time again, “it all.” The superstar rapper cites the work he’s put in (“wakin’ up at 6 a.m./six miles a day, conditionin’ my wind”) and the commendable morals and approaches he’s moved through life with (“I see you as a human first/even when you didn’t understand your worth”), delivering his bars in a way that’s borderline cockily braggadocios, but also just unabashedly honest, as the premise of the song is a man explaining why he deserves to enter a biblical paradise. Kendrick’s attitude on this track feels like a strong match for Giannis this season, especially after the events from the Timberwolves blowout. “I don’t think anybody has the right to tell me what or how I should act on the basketball court after I’ve been here 13 years and I’m basically the all-time leader in everything,” Antetokounmpo said when asked about his booing exchange with Milwaukee fans. That’s not the humility we’re used to seeing from the MVP and it’s understandable—frustration has followed the big fella wherever he’s gone this year. He’s in a position where he wants “it all” and he’s earned “it all,” as well as the right to let the world know. Now, it’s up to the Bucks to prove why they deserve their greatest of all time.
Zac: “Heads You Win” by Charley Crockett
Defining lyric:“I should’ve seen it coming/But fools like me never do/Heads, you win/Tails, I lose.”
Connection: I had a long look at Crockett’s “Welcome to Hard Times” before deciding on this one. “Heads You Win” documents a cowboy’s longing for a lost love, one that stays with him like a “living apparition.” Substitute the lost lover for the Bucks of recent years—heck, even the Bucks that have appeared at certain times this season—and the song works just as well. In this reading, we—Bucks fans—are the narrator, coming to the realisation that, despite all the optimism of the off-season, we really “should’ve seen [this season’s struggles] coming”. Yet, just like the cowboy, “fools like [us] never do.” It also reframes the pain of fandom, acknowledging that “if [we] are being honest/It really ain’t [the Bucks’] fault.” And while we’ve been stuck on a “corner/Spilling memories” of recent glory, Jon Horst has kept flipping coins, only for luck to land the wrong way (injuries, perfect fits on paper not materialising etc.). In the end, “you”—other NBA teams, opposing fans, media—invariably win whether it’s heads or tails, as the Bucks just can’t get it together on a consistent basis and we are left with hearts that “can hardly stand it” and minds that are “unglued,” stuck with a team not good enough to contend and without the assets to make a rebuild attractive.
Jack: “Thought It Was” by Iann Dior feat. Machine Gun Kelly and Travis Barker
Defining lyric:“I lost my mind/Chasing a feeling in the hills at night/City of Angels, but it hurts sometimes/ Finally made it, but it don’t feel right/Don’t feel like I thought it would.”
Connection: OK, I cheated a bit since I couldn’t think of a song that accurately conveyed my feelings about this season. However, I did find the above song, whose chorus could apply to the last five seasons since Milwaukee won the title in 2021. Put simply, the Bucks have been “losing their mind” by “chasing the feeling” of winning a title. They “finally made” the trade that they believed would get them back there (Lillard), but it “didn’t feel right.” It “didn’t feel like they thought it would.”
Morgan: “We Beseech Thee” by the New Broadway Cast of Godspell (feat. Nick Blaemire)
Defining lyric:“Father, hear thy children’s call/Humbly at thy feet we fall/Prodigals confessing all/We beseech thee, hear us!”
Connection: I’ve been playing this album on repeat after the sibling gifted it to me this Christmas. What does a Stephen Schwartz (of Wicked fame) musical about the gospels have to do with the 2025-26 Milwaukee Bucks, you ask? This instant ear worm is essentially a repeated chorus ending with, “We beseech thee, hear us!”
Van: “Keep The Customer Satisfied” by Simon & Garfunkel
Defining lyric:“And I’m one step ahead of the shoeshine/Two steps away from the county line/Just trying to keep my customers satisfied/Satisfied!”
Connection: While the title and that lyric might sound a bit on the nose, and not all the lyrics are corollary, this deeper cut by one of my all-time faves immediately popped into my head when thinking about these Bucks. From the iconic duo’s last album, Bridge Over Troubled Water, this was a Paul Simon composition that may allude to his songwriting exhaustion under high expectations and undue criticism. That informed his writing on The Boxer, the album’s lead single, so it probably did here too. Now, this team is certainly facing a lot of just criticism, but the Prohibition-era references feel particularly apt: they’re barely managing to stay above poverty (shining shoes for richer folks/teams) but not quite as close to relative safety (evading mobsters/vultures who want Giannis across the county line/.500 line). They’re in between, trying to keep fans (and Giannis) satisfied. But unlike Simon’s fans, they’re not currently succeeding.
Zac: “Bitin’ List” by Tyler Childers
Defining lyric: “To put it plain, I just don’t like you/Not a thing about the way you is/And if there ever come a time I got rabies/You’re high on my bitin’ list.”
Connection: I’ll preface this by saying that my connection is solely to the season itself and not any of the Bucks players. You might find it particularly fitting for some though—or even coaching or front office staff. I won’t judge. Promise. A good ol’ sing-along, “Bitin’ List” is one for those of us who need to purge after the frustrations of this season: blowouts to bottom feeders, losing streaks, underwhelming play from our preseason second and third ranked players. So, yeah, if I indeed did have rabies—and the first half of the 2025-26 season was something, you know, tangible—you can bet your bottom dollar that I’d be finding a way to bite it. But only after I’d sharpened my teeth.
Matthew: “Waiting in Vain” by Bob Marley
Defining lyric:“I don’t wanna wait in vain for your love.”
Connection: The defining lyric could apply to many things for Giannis this season. Specifically, I thought of it first as Giannis not wanting to wait around for this team to be a contender, because he wants to play meaningful basketball now—not to mention the feeling of waiting to come back from injury and waiting to decide if he will be on the team or not. Other lyrics, like “Don’t treat me like a puppet on a strong/Cuz I know how to do my thing,” also help to reinforce the feeling of how this trade process has been stringing us and him along.
Zac: “Sorrow” by The National
Defining lyric:“Don’t leave my hyper heart alone on the water/Cover me in rag and bone sympathy/‘Cause I don’t wanna get over you/I don’t wanna get over you.”
Connection: One of my favourite songs of all time, “Sorrow” is a portrait of all-consuming lows. Regarding the Bucks’ season, the lyrics stay true but find new meaning, with the opening line—“Sorrow found me when I was young”—a fitting reminder of the losses that found the Bucks following the season’s opening week and a half. And, like the sorrow that finds itself in the speaker’s “honey” and “milk,” sorrow has tainted the pleasures of the Bucks’ season too (see KPJ going down on opening night; the blowout loss to the Nets following what felt like a momentum-building win against the Celtics etc.). But it’s the song’s chorus that’s most poignant: our hearts are still “hyper” and, despite the losses and the injuries and the trade rumours—the season’s sorrows—we “don’t wanna get over” it, and so we keep coming back for more.
Matthew: “Make It Better” by Anderson .Paak
Defining lyric:“Make it better.”
Connection: For a more positive spin, this entire song works as a metaphor for how Giannis and the Bucks have fallen on hard times with their love, but are trying to mend it and make it work. We have to acknowledge the difficulties of the season, but this option is hopeful!
There you have it, from hip hop to country, gospel to reggae, this Bucks season has reverberated across the musical spectrum. It shouldn’t be surprising; after all, basketball is music—the bounce of the ball, the flick of the net, the thumping systole and diastole that comes whether you’re catching a body or watching it happen from the stands. And while the first half of 2025-26 might have mustered mostly melancholy, a key trade or coaching change could easily see the second half turn euphonious.
As always, share your thoughts on our selections in the comments—and don’t forget to queue a track or two of your own!
Craig Berube had 241 fighting majors in his NHL career, but the massive wound he showed off Friday didn’t come from dropping the gloves.
The Maple Leafs head coach suffered a nasty cut requiring several stitches across his forehead and a black out in an accident while working out at a gym Thursday.
“Yeah, I’ll address it, because you’re gonna see it tonight. I had an accident in the gym yesterday,” Berube said when asked by a reporter if he was “OK” following the morning skate ahead of Friday’s game against the Golden Knights. “The other guy looks way worse. There was three of ’em.
Craig Berube showed off a gnarly cut on his head after what he described a a gym accident.
“No, it’s tough. It was stupid. It was just a bad accident, and it’s on me. My fault, and yeah, I’m fine.”
When asked if he expects to be behind the bench against Vegas, the 60-year-old Berube nodded and replied, “yes.”
Berube played 17 NHL seasons for five teams, including one with the Islanders in 2000-01, amassing 159 points and 3,149 penalty minutes over 1,054 games.
Leafs HC Craig Berube reveals a massive gash on his head as the result of an accident in the gym. pic.twitter.com/zVQ25tDGVi
The former enforcer in his second year coaching the Maple Leafs (76-43-13) after spending the previous six seasons with the Blues, leading them to a Stanley Cup title in 2019. The Alberta native was fired by St. Louis in Dec. 2023 following a 13-14-1 start.
