The Suns have shocked many NBA fans by being the underdog story of the year. After trading away Kevin Durant and stretching and waiving the remainder of Bradley Beal’s contract, many thought this team was doomed. Yet the players and coach Jordan Ott did not listen to the outside hate. They invested and ground it out this offseason to prove those doubters wrong, and they have done so in every category.
Now over halfway through the season, a team most outsiders thought was a lottery team once again sits as the sixth seed, 10 games over .500 in a tough Western Conference. The best part? This has all been accomplished despite Jalen Green being out for most of this season.
With him just returning in their last game vs the Philadelphia 76ers, we got to see what he can add to this team. Some great playmaking and downhill attacking, while working nicely with the bigs in this lineup. He came off the bench in his return to action, but coach Jordan Ott has stated that he will eventually be in the starting lineup.
Just landed in Miami.
In regards to what Dillon Brooks said about Jalen Green.
He's saying Green will start, be 1st starter to check out game and check back in later in 1st quarter to lead 2nd unit.
Coach Jordan Ott already said Green will start when he returns.
So who comes out of the lineup, and how does this new bench lineup work as a successful unit?
Well, there are two options, and it all depends on the balance you want in the starting lineup. If you take out Collin Gillespie and put in Green, that would leave the Suns with two guards, two wings, and a center, compared to a three-guard lineup if you replaced Green with Royce O’Neale. I know the league has gone positionless, but I do think that, without a true playmaker/initiator for the secondary unit, it troubles them.
Personally, even though I am the Big East Believer and have agreed that Gillespie has earned this starting spot, he is more valuable as the lead offensive guard for the secondary unit than as the third-best scorer in the starting lineup. That would then leave the Suns with an exciting bench unit, and one that can show some great success, like the starters once fully healthy.
The lineup that I think would be the bench is Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin, Grayson Allen, Ryan Dunn, and Oso Ighodaro.
Based on the statistics and the fits of these players, this bench unit will be one of the best by the end of the year. Just as I was discussing it, it makes sense.
Gillespie and Allen are the offensive guards who are going to rain three pointers, which the Suns have succeeded in this year. They will be the main offensive focal points, while also being relentless on defense, making key hustle plays. Dunn and Goodwin are going to be the scrappy defenders who take those defensive assignments to heart. They both crash the boards relentlessly, and can both get hot from three at specific points that make you think they should be in a three-point contest. Last but certainly not least is Oso Ighodaro, the man in the middle, the actual connective engine that would keep this unit going with his solid ability to do it all, rebound, score, and defend when you need it most.
Now, looking at the stats, all those words are proven true.
Looking at the stats from Databallr, we can see that this lineup is very successful. An almost +30 net rating is just ridiculous, especially given their very low offensive turnover percentage. This bench unit would prove lethal not only from three-point land, where they shoot 46% from beyond the arc, but also at limiting opponents to 27% from three.
That aggressive on-ball nature from Goodwin and Dunn would be prevalent here, but you also have the hustle and hard work from both Allen, Ighodaro, and Gillespie. Everyone on this lineup has that bruiser mentality of outworking you and having to do that their whole career. This is what brings out the scrappiness and relentless effort on both ends from these guys, their passion and effort, which Ott has embraced. The underdog mentality has prevailed.
By looking at Cleaning the Glass, we can see some similar stats to Databallr, but also some more in-depth analysis. The lineup we are discussing has the fifth-most possessions together this season, yet it is the second-best for this team. Their strength mainly comes from their defense in this unit. As I stated above, they got those dogs, and with a 99.2 pts per possession and 24.6% turnover rate, I’d say they represent that to a tee. This basically means that almost one out of every four defensive possessions results in a turnover for the bench squad, which is just mind-blowing.
Most starting lineups cannot contribute a stat like that, which shows how locked in defensively this team is under coach Ott now.
The culture has shifted for the better, and this is a prime example; this bench will prove it, too. Now that this team is finally fully healthy, we can actually evaluate it at its best potential, which is higher than where it is now, given all the great stories of guys growing internally in this system.
As we hit the halfway point in the NBA schedule, the Los Angeles Clippers finally seem to be salvaging their season, but that progress will be tested tonight when they host the Los Angeles Lakers at Intuit Dome.
The Battle of L.A. season series sits at 1-1 heading into this matchup, and my Lakers vs. Clippers predictions expect LeBron James to be one of the swing factors.
Let's dive right into my NBA picks for Thursday, January 22.
Lakers vs Clippers prediction
Lakers vs Clippers best bet: LeBron James Over 12.5 rebounds + assists (-112 bet365)
LeBron James' injury issues may point to a 41-year-old in his 23rd season, but his stat lines suggest he’s got something left in the tank. James has been able to keep his sciatica and arthritis at bay while starting 2026 with a bang, so look for his fingerprints to be all over tonight’s clash with the Los Angeles Clippers.
With Luka Doncic doing so much of the scoring for the Los Angeles Lakers, I’m targeting LeBron’s rebounds and assists here, and he’s gone past this combo O/U number in four of his past five outings.
James has been getting the job done in both these categories so far this month, with averages of 7.7 RPG and 7.6 APG in January, and he was closing in on a triple-double in L.A.’s win over the Denver Nuggets earlier this week.
Until Austin Reaves returns, LeBron is going to have a larger share of the playmaking, particularly when Luka is on the bench, and there’s just not a lot of secondary ball-handling in the current rotation. Equally, he’s got a big role to play alongside Deandre Ayton on the boards.
At this stage of his career, James can still do the little things that drive winning, and the Lakers will need all of that veteran savvy to hold off their cross-city rivals tonight.
Lakers vs Clippers same-game parlay
The Lakers are 7-3 SU in their last 10 meetings with the Clippers, and an impressive 14-8 on the road this season. With Kawhi Leonard still listed as questionable, the burden on James Harden could once again be massive, and the hosts gave up 138 points to the Chicago Bulls this week.
Harden continues to put up big numbers, and I’ll take the Over on his rebounds prop here. He’s grabbed 4+ boards in six of his last seven games, and the Clippers will gladly keep him closer to the rim if it avoids the Luka defensive assignment.
Lakers vs Clippers SGP
James Over 12.5 reb+ast
Lakers moneyline
Harden Over 3.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: Brick by brick
Ivica Zubac has had some miserable possessions trying to guard Doncic on switches in the past, but the Clippers will lean on him for big minutes here. Zubac has posted three straight double-doubles, and he’s finished with 11+ rebounds in his last four games.
Lakers vs Clippers SGP
James Over 12.5 reb+ast
Lakers moneyline
Harden Over 3.5 rebounds
Zubac double-double
Lakers vs Clippers odds
Spread: Lakers -1.5 (+100) | Clippers +1.5 (-120)
Moneyline: Lakers -110 | Clippers -110
Over/Under: Over 223.5 (-110) | Under 223.5 (-110)
Lakers vs Clippers betting trend to know
The Lakers are 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings between these teams. Find more NBA betting trends for Lakers vs. Clippers.
How to watch Lakers vs Clippers
Location
Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
Date
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Lakers vs Clippers latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Victor Wembanyama plus the Utah Jazz means buckets. The San Antonio Spurs star is in the zone, and the Jazz are one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA, but they’ve been putting up a fight on offense lately.
So, my Spurs vs. Jazz predictions explain why these Western Conference foes will light up the scoreboard tonight, and bring you all manner of NBA picks, including a Wemby-fueled SGP.
Wemby has averaged 25.8 points per game over the last 12 games, and helping San Antonio put up 119-plus in three of their last four. He’ll keep cooking against the Utah Jazz.
Utah doesn’t play defense, ranking dead last in defensive rating while surrendering an NBA-worst 127.5 points per game. They allowed 123 points to the Spurs just two games ago.
But the Jazz aren’t rolling over. Even without Lauri Markkanen, they’ve scored 121 ppg over the last six games, cashing the Over in four of their last five.
Spurs vs Jazz same-game parlay
Wemby has a point total of 26.5 for this matchup. He’s topped that number in six times in the last 12 games, including putting up 33 in that recent meeting against the Jazz.
Utah also struggles to defend the perimeter, ranking dead last in opponent 3-point attempts per game, and surrendering the third-highest 3-point shooting percentage.
So, let’s add Stephon Castle Over 1.5 threes to this SGP. He’s shooting 39.1% from deep over the last five games and has gone Over this number three times during that stretch.
Spurs vs Jazz SGP
Over 237
Victor Wembanyama Over 26.5 points
Stephon Castle Over 1.5 threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: George puts in the work from three
Keyonte George will do his part to send this game Over. He went for 30 in that recent game against the Spurs and has hit four or more threes in three straight games.
Spurs vs Jazz SGP
Over 237
Victor Wembayama Over 26.5 points
Stephon Castle Over 1.5 threes
Keyonte George Over 2.5 threes
Spurs vs Jazz odds
Spread: Spurs -12.5 | Jazz +12.5
Moneyline: Spurs -650 | Jazz +475
Over/Under: Over 237 | Under 237
Spurs vs Jazz betting trend to know
The Jazz have hit the Game Total Over in 30 of their last 40 games at home for +19.00 Units and a 43% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Jazz.
How to watch Spurs vs Jazz
Location
Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Date
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Tip-off
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
KJZZ, FDSN-SW
Spurs vs Jazz latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Kuminga has a standing trade demand, one that Golden State has openly scoffed at. Before Tuesday, Kuminga had sat for 16 straight games, all while the Warriors' front office publicly knocked his trade value.
This stalemate had simply gotten ugly.
But with Jimmy Butler’s ACL tear, Golden State needs to not only play Kuminga but also feature him. It was no coincidence he scored 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting in the first game after Butler’s injury.
Ahead of tonight's matchup against the Dallas Mavericks, the Warriors lack dynamic wings to take the pressure off Steph Curry. Kuminga is one of their only remaining options.
Warriors vs Mavericks same-game parlay
Kuminga isn’t a strong deep shooter, but he takes more shots with Butler out, including from beyond the arc. He averages 3.3 attempts from deep per game without Butler, up from 2.7 when Butler plays.
However, taking more long-range shots — and missing most of them — won’t help Golden State navigate life without the player meant to extend Steph Curry’s title window.
Warriors vs Mavericks SGP
Jonathan Kuminga Over 11.5 points
Jonathan Kuminga Over 0.5 threes
Mavericks +5.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Dray Fell Off
If Draymond Green was going to summon some gusto to keep the season alive sans Butler, it did not show up on Tuesday, posting a -27 in 22 minutes in an 18-point loss to the Raptors.
Including that night, Green has fallen short of this modest rebounding prop in three straight games and in seven of nine since New Year’s Day.
Over/Under: Over 234.5 (-110) | Under 234.5 (-110)
Warriors vs Mavericks betting trend to know
Dallas has gone 4-1 against the spread in its last five games, exceeding bookmakers’ expectations by an average of 9.7 points per game. Find more NBA betting trends for Warriors vs. Mavericks.
How to watch Warriors vs Mavericks
Location
American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Date
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Warriors vs Mavericks latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
France selection for Six Nations caused a huge stir but England’s head coach has no need to spring any shocks
Steve Borthwick names his England squad for the Six Nations on Friday and as much as we do not know about the precise makeup of the chosen party, there is plenty that we do. As much fun as it may be to imagine Borthwick rocking up at Twickenham in a sharp navy suit, ice-white trainers and a few selection bombshells in his pocket, the England head coach is not about to borrow from Fabien Galthié’s playbook.
Galthié’s decision to omit Damian Penaud, Grégory Alldritt and Gaël Fickou has created such a stir because it is radical by any measure but the point here is that Borthwick’s squad, in comparison to England’s closest rivals for the Six Nations title, is significantly more settled. He has a couple of injury concerns, as is always the case at this time of year, and he is expected to reward the recent form of the uncapped Greg Fisilau with a call-up, but what is likely to be most telling is how few surprises it contains.
The organizing committee announced Thursday that Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will take part in the torch relay. The Opening Ceremony is scheduled for Feb. 6.
The series based off “Game Changers” books has captivated viewers with the fictional story of a Canadian and a Russian hockey player sustaining a decade-long secret relationship.
The first season became the the No. 1 series on HBO Max. Originally developed for the Canadian streaming service Crave, the show scored a distribution deal with HBO and has already been renewed for a second season, and it will broadcast in Italy beginning next month.
It was a good year for Phillies on the Hall of Fame ballot.
As expected, Chase Utley did not get elected in this, his third year on the ballot. Neither did Jimmy Rollins, Bobby Abreu, or newcomer Cole Hamels. Again, no surprises there. However, Utley’s stock increased greatly in 2026, seeing a 19.3% increase from last year’s vote, up to 59.1% (75% is needed for induction). He appears to be on a glide path to eventual enshrinement.
Hamels received a surprisingly encouraging 23.8% in his inaugural appearance on the ballot, a good sign for his future candidacy. Rollins improved to 25.4%, up from 18% a year ago, and Abreu bumped up from 19.5% last year to 30.8% in ‘26. It’s likely Rollins and Abreu will garner enough support to stay on the ballot all 10 seasons, but their induction is far less certain that Utley’s at this point.
All in all, a solid showing, especially for Utley and Hamels, the two most important pieces of the 2008 world champions, and it got me thinking how many of this generation’s Phillies could eventually be Hall of Famers.
How many all-time greats are we watching right now? I believe there are six contenders:
Bryce Harper
Kyle Schwarber
J.T. Realmuto
Trea Turner
Zack Wheeler
Aaron Nola
Sure, players like Cristopher Sanchez and Jhoan Duran are among the very best at their respective positions at the moment, but they’re too early in their careers to even discuss the possibility, so let’s focus on the six veterans who have built up a body of work that allows us to compare them to previous inductees and project what their accomplishments may ultimately look like.
Bryce Harper
Harper may not finish with some of the counting numbers that usually guarantee induction, but as one of the game’s marquee stars and recognized best players for the entirety of his 14-year career, and the fact he’s still just 33 years old, he seems like a shoo-in.
So far, he has compiled 54.0 WAR, ranking him 29th among all-time outfielders. Granted, Harper will play the rest of his career at first base, so a position-to-position comparison won’t really apply for him moving forward. Still, his WAR total is not far behind Vladimir Guerreros’ 59.5 or Ichiro Suzuki’s 60.0, both of whom are already in, and he will surpass those totals over the next two seasons if he averages 3.0 WAR.
In terms of counting stats, Harper is at 1,801 hits, 401 career doubles and 363 homers. He is 137 away from 500, so if he averages 27 bombs a season over the next five seasons, he’ll hit that magic milestone, ensuring enshrinement. Even still, with two MVP Awards, a Rookie of the Year, eight All-Star Game appearances, four Silver Slugger Awards and numerous postseason moments to remember, Harper is the most obvious current Hall of Fame candidate on the roster, provided his career doesn’t collapse in on itself as he hits his mid-30s.
Kyle Schwarber
While Harper put some of his best seasons together in his early-to-mid 20s, Schwarber seems to be saving his best for his 30s. Since joining the Phillies for his age-29 season in 2022, he has slugged a ridiculous 187 homers in four seasons, twice leading the National League in that category, and finishing as the NL MVP runner-up in 2025. He’s only made three All Star Games and last season was the first time he’d cracked the top 15 in MVP voting, but with a career-best 4.7 WAR a season ago, Schwarber’s ability to hit left-handers has turned him into the most feared slugger in baseball.
Schwarber enters his age-33 season with 340 career bombs. With a new five-year contract under his belt, Schwarber is 160 dingers away from 500. He would need to average 32 home runs a season over the life of his contract to get to 500, a task that seems very doable given he’s averaged 46.7 homers a season as a Phillie. Even if his production drops a bit, 32 homers per year feels like a lock.
It’s simple. If he gets to 500 home runs, he’s a lock. If he falls short, he’ll have to have some other kinds of data to warrant inclusion. I’d say the odds are better than not he gets in, based on his recent trajectory.
J.T. Realmuto
With the ink still drying on his new 3-year deal with the Phils, Realmuto can no longer make the claim of being the BCIB (Best Catcher In Baseball) anymore. But for a long stretch, he was.
From 2017 (his penultimate season in Miami) to 2022, Realmuto was worth 24.8 WAR, the most, by far, of any catcher in baseball. Willson Contreras was second (18.8), with Salvador Perez third (14.8). He was named to three All Star teams and took home three Silver Sluggers over that stretch. While catchers have been largely underrepresented in the Hall because they don’t pile up the counting stats the way other position players do, Realmuto’s career 38.7 WAR ranks 27th among all-time catchers. He’ll never reach the heights of the upper-tier catchers in the Hall (Johnny Bench, Gary Carter, Ivan Rodriguez, Carlton Fisk, Mike Piazza and Yogi Berra), but it isn’t crazy to think he could be productive enough over these final three seasons in Philadelphia to warrant real consideration.
Compare his numbers to long-time Cardinals backstop Yadier Molina, who most believe will one day be enshrined. Molina has a career 41.7 WAR, just 3.0 WAR more than Realmuto. J.T. will probably pass him in 2027, if not this year. He’s just 4.0 WAR behind Jorge Posada (who is not in the Hall) and 6.3 WAR behind Buster Posey, who will be on the ballot for the first time in 2027 and is seen as a likely inductee.
Right now, I’d put the odds at 50/50 he becomes a Hall of Famer, but it’s a real conversation that will become even more realistic if he can get his WAR total into the upper 40s with another few 2-3-win seasons in Philadelphia. It’ll be close.
Trea Turner
First, the pros. At 33, Turner is coming off his best season since 2021 with the Nationals and Dodgers, posting a 5+ win season (5.4 WAR) for the first time in four years. He won his second career batting title (albeit hitting just .304), and finished 5th in the MVP voting. He has three All Star nods, two top-five MVP finishes and a Silver Slugger (2022) in his back pocket, 1,531 career hits, 282 doubles, 48 triples and 315 stolen bases. In 11 seasons, he’s been worth 41.9 WAR, for a 162-game average of 5.4 WAR per season.
He’s been a really, really good shortstop for the majority of his career.
Now, the cons. Like with Utley, Turner didn’t play more than 100 games in a season until his age-25 season with the Nationals in 2018. So, he got a late start. He also plays a position in which the demand for greatness is tremendous. His 41.9 WAR ranks just 44th all-time among shortstops, currently 0.1 WAR behind Xander Bogaerts and 1.9 behind Corey Seager, the player who beat him out for NL Rookie of the Year in 2016. Rollins, who piled up 47.9 WAR in his career, is eight full wins better than Turner at this point.
The average WAR for Hall of Fame shortstops is 67.7. Can Turner span the 25.8 WAR needed to hit that number over the final eight years of his contract? He would need to average 3.2 WAR per season through his age-40 season in 2033, likely with some bigger WAR numbers over the next couple seasons to compensate for what will almost certainly be a notable drop as he moves through his 30s.
There are a slew of Hall of Famers who managed to earn enshrinement as much for longevity as a tremendous peak. If Turner averages 184 hits per season over his final eight years, he’ll get to 3,000 and guarantee inclusion. If he averages 121 hits, he’ll reach 2,500. Would that be enough?
Zack Wheeler
The case for starting pitchers is in the process of recalibrating itself before our very eyes. Starters are no longer throwing 250-300 innings a season, they’re not staying in games long enough to earn “wins” and teams are no longer going with four-man rotations, all of which was routine through the 1980s.
Clayton Kershaw, Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer are the last of a dying breed. Pitchers are now likely to be based on shorter peaks of greatness rather than a 20+ year career of throwing 220 innings and piling up counting stats. That’s why Felix Hernandez, Cole Hamels, Mark Buehrle and others are finding Hall voters more receptive to their candidacies over the last couple years.
That said, despite being perhaps the most effective starting pitcher since his arrival in Philly in 2020, he likely got too late of a start.
His first good season was in 2014 for the Mets, when he made 32 starts and put up a 3.54 ERA. He then missed all of 2015 and 2016 with Tommy John surgery and pitched in just 17 games in 2017. That ate up his age 25, 26 and 27 seasons. Finally, in 2018, he emerged as a 3-win starting pitcher with New York, earning him a five-year free agent deal with the Phils.
Obviously, he’s blossomed with the Phillies, finishing runner-up in the Cy Young voting twice and earning three All Star nods. He led the NL in WAR in ‘21 (7.5), has three 200+ strikeout seasons and would have had a fourth last year if he hadn’t suffered thoracic outlet syndrome. He’s already turned himself into one of the best starters in franchise history, with a 2.91 ERA in six years and is one of the greatest postseason pitchers in baseball history.
He’s been phenomenal, but unless voters are swayed by his 2020-2025 peak, his 113 career wins and 1,820 strikeouts probably isn’t enough, even with his postseason accolades and Cy Young runners-up finishes. If he’d won both of those awards, we may be singing a different tune.
There’s obviously still a chance for Wheeler to add to his legacy over the next few years, but entering his age-36 season and coming off a concerning injury, he doesn’t have a lot of time left.
Aaron Nola
Unlike Wheeler, the 33-year-old Nola has never been as dominant a starter. He had one season (2018) in which he was an All Star, leading the league with an insane 9.7 WAR and finishing third in the NL Cy Young voting, but he’s never led the league in strikeouts or, really, any pitching category. He has one other top-five Cy Young season (4th in 2022), and is coming off the worst season of his career, an injury plagued 17-start campaign that saw him post a 6.01 ERA and -0.3 WAR.
His 35.3 career WAR is far below where it needs to be, especially when compared to Hamels, who sits at 59.0. He’s signed for another five years, through his age-37 season, and the only way Nola makes Cooperstown is if he somehow finds the form to make a few more All Star teams and increase his strikeout total, which currently sits at 1,876. He’d need to average 225 strikeouts a season over his final five seasons to get to 3,000, a number he routinely reached in his prime but it unlikely to see again in his mid-to-late 30s. A number around 2,500 is more likely.
Nola is a first-ballot Phillies Wall of Famer, but it’s difficult to see how he can pile up enough counting stats on the back end of his career to make a push for Cooperstown.
The Houston Rockets start a two-game road swing tonight, while the Philadelphia 76ers finish a five-game homestand, looking for just their second win of the stretch.
The Rockets will be without big man Steven Adams, while Philadelphia may get both Joel Embiid and Paul George back into the rotation.
That’s why my Rockets vs. 76ers predictions and NBA picks call for Philly to win outright as a home dog on Thursday, January 22.
Rockets vs 76ers prediction
Rockets vs 76ers best bet: 76ers moneyline (+115)
Veteran Houston Rockets center Steven Adams suffered a serious ankle sprain in the last game. “I don't think he'll be back anytime soon,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka later said.
Adams leads the NBA in offensive rebounding, so his absence will be felt on a team that is also No. 1 in the league in that category. The Rockets’ No. 6 shot blocking performance will also suffer.
That lack of a presence in the paint will be a problem, as the Philadelphia 76ers should welcome Joel Embiid back after he missed the last game with an ankle injury.
There’s also a chance Philly gets Paul George back. He’s missed two games with a knee injury and is questionable. The Sixers are just 4-7 this season with neither in the lineup, and seven games over .500 with one or both active.
Regression to the mean should work in Philly’s favor.
Tyrese Maxey, shooting 47% and 40% from three this season, has hit 33 of 88 — 7 of 28 from three — over the last four. He’s ripe for a bounce back, especially with two other scorers in the lineup to help draw attention away from him.
Rockets vs 76ers same-game parlay
The Rockets have gone under in nine of their last 10 games. They are 28th in pace, while the Sixers are 19th.
This cutoff is in line with what Houston has been seeing recently, however. The Rockets faced four Over/Unders this low in the last 10 games and went Under on all of them. Philly faced two this low in its last 10 and split.
Amen Thompson has 34 rebounds in his last four games, nearly one rebound per game higher than his season average. And that was with Adams in the paint. With Adams out, he’s unlikely to see his workload on the boards go down.
Rockets vs 76ers SGP
76ers moneyline
Under 221.5
Amen Thompson Over 7.5 rebounds
Our "from downtown" SGP: By George, He's Still Got It
George playing is the big question mark here, and if he doesn’t, this pushes. So we’ll take him reaching 15 if he suits up.
Rockets vs 76ers SGP
76ers moneyline
Under 221.5
Amen Thompson Over 7.5 rebounds
Paul George Over 14.5 points
Rockets vs 76ers odds
Spread: Rockets -2 (-110) | 76ers 2 (-110)
Moneyline: Rockets -135 | 76ers +115
Over/Under: Over 221.5 (-110) | Under 221.5 (-110)
Rockets vs 76ers betting trend to know
The Houston Rockets have only hit the Moneyline in 20 of their last 45 away games. Find more NBA betting trends for Rockets vs. 76ers.
How to watch Rockets vs 76ers
Location
Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBCS-Philadelphia, SCHN
Rockets vs 76ers latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
The Winnipeg Jets host the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in a tape-measuring matchup at Canada Life Centre on Thursday, January 22.
Winnipeg needs to start stringing together wins to climb the standings, and my top NHL picks and Panthers vs. Jets predictions are calling for back-to-back Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck to play a leading role in picking up the victory tonight.
Panthers vs Jets prediction
Panthers vs Jets best bet: Connor Hellebuyck Over 24.5 saves (-135)
Winnipeg Jets No. 1 goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has hit the Over in this market in six of his past seven games, and he’s been particularly sharp across his past three starts with a .926 SV% and a 2.23 GAA.
This is also a plus-matchup, with the Florida Panthers ranking eighth in shots per game (29.1) and seventh in Corsi For percentage at 5-on-5.
With Winnipeg allowing 28.0 shots per game and ranking 21st in CF% at 5-on-5, I’m anticipating Hellebuyck seeing more than enough rubber to clear this saves total tonight.
Panthers vs Jets same-game parlay
Winnipeg has won five of its past seven games while scoring 3.71 goals per and posting a plus-nine goal differential. On the opposite bench, Florida is hovering along a 4-5-1 stretch with 3.9 goals against per game and a minus-17 goal differential.
Turning to the final leg of this same-game parlay, Jets winger Cole Perfetti has recorded two or more shots in nine of his past 14 games for 27 total on 58 attempts. Perfetti also sports a 52.5 CF% and 53.5% shot share at 5-on-5 during the stretch, and is cemented into a Top 6 role with secondary looks on the power play.
Panthers vs Jets SGP
Jets moneyline
Connor Hellebuyck Over 24.5 saves
Cole Perfetti Over 1.5 shots on goal
Panthers vs Jets odds
Moneyline: Panthers -110 | Jets -110
Puck Line: Panthers +1.5 | Jets -1.5
Over/Under: Over 5.5 | Under 5.5
Panthers vs Jets trend
The Winnipeg Jets have hit the Over in 14 of their last 20 games at home (+7.55 Units / 35% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Panthers vs. Jets.
How to watch Panthers vs Jets
Location
Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, MB
Date
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Puck drop
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
WHDT-TV, TSN3
Panthers vs Jets latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Almost exactly four years after trading him to the Padres, the Twins agreed to a one year contract with left-handed reliever Taylor Rogers according to Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic. The pact will pay Rogers $2M in 2026.
Rogers has been bouncing around National League contenders since leaving the Twin Cities. He split 2022 between the Padres and Brewers when he was dealt to Milwaukee as part of the infamous Josh Hader trade. Rogers then signed a three year, $30M deal with the Giants prior to the 2023 season and split the final year of that contract between the Reds and Cubs where he had a 3.38 ERA/4.38 FIP in 50.2 innings. Unfortunately for those teams, after putting up at least 1.5 fWAR every season from 2018-2022 (COVID-shortened 2020 season excluded), Rogers maxed out at 0.3 fWAR in 2023.
It’s fair to question what Rogers can provide at this state of his career, but the same could have been said of the Danny Coulombe signing last year and the Twins were able to squeeze a bit more usefulness out of him in 2025. Rogers’ signature sweeper is still a well above-average pitch and a Griffin Jax-esque approach could benefit him greatly. In 2025, opposing hitters hit .168 with a .337 SLG against his sweeper while his sinker allowed a .326 BA and .537 SLG. As a two pitch pitcher, seems like an obvious solution when one of your pitches turns opposing hitters in to Aaron Judge and the other turns them into James Outman.
At this stage in his career, I would expect Rogers to be deployed as more of a lefty specialist than a true late game option. The Twins could still bring in another closing option like Seranthony Dominguez, but even as it stands he slots in firmly behind Justin Topa, Cole Sands, and Kody Funderburk (who quietly had an excellent second half). And that’s before getting into the Twins’ plethora of SP options, some of which will have to transition to the bullpen due to the sheer depth in the system.
With nearly all of the big relief names off the free agency board, the Twins will likely employ a Rays-style mix and match system at the end of games. Pete Maki’s bullpen wizardry will be put to the test early in 2026.
With eight games on the NBA schedule, there is no shortage of options in the player prop market.
I’ve dug through the league's odds and found my three favorites for today, which include a bounce back for LaMelo Ball and a solid shooting night for Stephon Castle.
Check out those and more NBA picks for Thursday, January 22 below.
LaMelo Ball is in a bit of a slump, but that’s creating some value in tonight’s game against the Orlando Magic.
Ball has scored just 27 points over his last three games, including just two in a 1-of-15 shooting night last time out against the Cavaliers.
That is resulting in a low 16.5-point total tonight. Ball is still averaging 19.4 points and went over 16.5 points in 10 of his previous 13 games, including putting up 22 vs. this same Magic team on Dec. 26.
Orlando’s best perimeter defender, Jalen Suggs, is also banged up and is questionable to play.
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FanDuel Sports NetworkSE-Charlotte, FanDuel Sports Network-Florida
Castle is shooting 39.1% from three-point range over the last five games, and now he faces the team with the worst perimeter defense in the NBA.
The Jazz enter this matchup, surrendering the most three-point attempts per game while allowing opponents to shoot the third-highest percentage from downtown (37.6%).
Castle has hit two or more threes in three of his last five games, and at this price, I love backing him to drain a couple more here.
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Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
The star forward who has expressed his frustrations over Milwaukee’s play multiple times this season once again questioned his team’s performance, this time saying that some of his teammates were being “selfish.”
Antetokounmpo has taken just 48 shots over his last four games, including 11 Wednesday, Jan. 21, in a 20-point loss against the Thunder.
"We’re not playing hard," Antetokounmpo told reporters after the game. "We’re not doing the right thing. We’re not playing to win. We’re not playing together. Our chemistry is not there. Guys are being selfish, trying to look for their own shots instead of looking for the right shot for the team. Guys trying to do it on their own.
"At times, I feel like when we're down 10, down 15, down 20, we try to make it up in one play, and it's not going to work – we’ve just got to keep on chipping away, possession by possession."
Antetokounmpo has had an eventful season with the Bucks.
Recently, he booed back to the home fans at Fiserv Forum after they had booed the team’s performance. Earlier in the year, he scrubbed his social media of most mentions of the Bucks, leading to rampant speculation that he was looking to be traded.
According to multiple reports, Antetokounmpo broached the topic with Bucks management through his representatives, but he addressed the rumors and said "there will never be a moment that I will come out and say: ‘I want a trade.’ " In mid-December, however, he didn’t rule out that his agent may be having conversations about his future with the Bucks.
Antetokounmpo has maintained that he wants to compete for a championship, but the Bucks (18-25) are languishing in the East and have lost five of their last seven games.
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Yo yo yo…spring training isn’t far away. Pitchers and catchers will be reporting soon. Hope springs eternal.
Opening Day is still a little over two months away, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t start prognosticating about what 2026 might bring for Your Texas Rangers.
So we want to know…where do you think the Rangers will finish in the A.L. West this year?
The Blues are struggling with injuries and are having trouble winning games. They sit 31st overall in the NHL and haven’t given any reason to believe they can magically turn things around with 32 games remaining in the season.
The Kraken, on the other hand are outperforming expectations. They currently sit two points out of third place in the Pacific Division and tied for the second wild card spot. While the Blues will be sellers, the Kraken believe they should be buyers, looking to upgrade their team.
A recent report shared by David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period suggested that the Kraken could be “open to moving Shane Wright” in a package to acquire a top-six forward. The Kraken struggle score goals and create offense, ranking 25th in goals scored and 28th in shots on goal. Kyrou’s speed and offensive flair would be exactly what the Kraken are hoping to add to their top six.
Kyrou is in the midst of a down year with just nine goals and 21 points in 40 games, but a change of scenery should help him find his game again.
Wright could also be looking for a change of scenery. The 22-year-old was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2022 NHL draft and hasn’t been given the opportunity to develop at the NHL level. In his rookie season, he averaged 14:04 of ice time, scoring an impressive 19 goals and 44 points. This season, he’s averaging 13:44 of ice time, notching seven goals and 17 points in 49 games.
Wright has been stuck as the third-line center with limited opportunities both at even strength and on the power play.
A move to St. Louis could change that. When healthy, the Blues’ centers are Robert Thomas, Pius Suter, Dalibor Dvorsky, and Nick Bjugstad/Oskar Sundqvist. There have been reports that the Blues could trade Thomas and Suter if the right deal comes along.
If they are moved, it presents the perfect opportunity for Wright to slot into a top-six role.
Wright projects as a second-line center, similar to Dvorsky, but with the right opportunity, he could become more than that. Wright has all the tools of a two-way center. Standing six-foot, 192 pounds, he has the frame to be physical, as well as the skating and shot to be an offensive threat. His playmaking is his biggest blemish, but he is still capable of making plays with the puck.
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Earlier this week, baseball writers voted Carlos Beltrán into the Baseball Hall of Fame. On his fourth year of the ballot, Beltrán garnered 84.2% of the votes cast, well more than the 75% required to gain induction. He finished his career in 2017 as a member of the World Series champion Houston Astros.
Of course, he began it in Kansas City as a young star with the Royals. Quickly, he morphed into a superstar.
In 1999, his first full season in the Majors, Beltrán posted the first of several career 20-20 seasons. At the young age of 22, he corked 22 home runs while swiping 27 stolen bases. For the year, he slashed .293/.337/.454. He led the Royals in runs scored while placing or tying for second in other major offensive categories such as bWAR (4.7), hits (194), home runs, RBIs (108), and stolen bases. He took home the American League Rookie of the Year Award in a landslide, collecting 26 of the 28 first-place votes, finishing 88 points ahead of the runner-up, pitcher Freddy Garcia.
The Royals finished 64-97.
That was pretty much the story for Beltrán’s tenure in Kansas City: great individual numbers while the team struggled. In his third season, he had, by bWAR, his best year with the Royals, finishing 6.5 wins-above-replacement while posting a slash line of .306/.362/.514 for an OPS 23% above league-average. For the first of just two times in his career—both with the Royals—he finished with at least 10 triples. As evidenced by the slugging percentage, the power jumped, as he added another 76 extra-base hits to go with his triples.
He was 24.
The Royals finished 65-97.
The following season, when the Royals finished 62-100, Beltrán came up a home run shy of a 30-30 season, finishing with 29 homers and 35 stolen bases. For the only time in his career, he played in all 162 games.
In 2003, the Royals actually competed but fell short of the playoffs with a record of 83-79. Beltrán finally received some MVP consideration, finishing 9th in a year in which he finished with 5.8 bWAR, 10 triples, 26 home runs, 41 stolen bases, 102 runs scored, 100 RBIs, and an OPS of .911. He turned 26 in the season’s first month and looked to be the centerpiece of a Royals team that would finally start consistently competing.
None of that happened.
As Max wrote about in 2017, in 2003, Beltrán and the front office appeared to have a deal that would’ve kept Beltrán in Kansas City through 2005. Beltrán, his agent Scott Boras, and the Royals brass had hashed out a three-year deal worth $25 million. That’s $25 million total, mind you, which comes out to just over $8 million per season.
But Dan Glass, son of the late and former Royals owner David Glass, pushed back on the deal, wanting it cut by $1 million. Again, that’s total, not per season. The new offer peeved Beltrán and Boras, who broke off negotiations.
In June of 2004, after another stellar 69 games that would earn Beltrán his first All-Star nod, as part of a three-team deal, the Royals traded him to the Houston Astros in a three-team trade for Mark Teahen, John Buck, Mike Wood, and cash.
Almost immediately, Beltrán experienced something with Houston that he never did with the Royals—the playoffs. Before that, though, Beltrán played 90 regular-season games with the Astros, and elevated his slugging to another level, going off for 17 doubles, seven triples, and 23 home runs. He remained a menace on the bases, too, going a perfect 28-for-28 in stolen base attempts.
When Houston reached the postseason, somehow, Beltran further upped his game. Check out these ridiculous stats from his 2004 postseason, which ended with a Game 7 NLCS loss to the Cardinals – .435/.536/1.022/1.557, 21 runs, three doubles, eight home runs, 14 RBIs, eight-for-eight in stolen bases, nine walks plus one intentional walk to eight strikeouts.
Absolutely insane.
Once free agency hit, Beltrán left the Astros for the New York Mets in a massive deal for the time: seven years, $119 million. Once his career ended, Beltrán would’ve played more games for the Mets than for any of his seven teams, including the Royals. In Queens, Beltrán would make seven All-Star games, finish as high as fourth in MVP voting (in 2006), earn three Gold Gloves and two Silver Sluggers.
Mirroring his time in Kansas City, though, he made the playoffs only once, and it ended in an iconically disastrous way.
Also similar to his days with the Royals, Beltrán’s career with the Mets ended in a trade during the last year of his contract, this time heading to San Francisco for a short spell with the Giants.
He spent his next two seasons back in Missouri, but with the Cardinals, reaching the World Series for the first time in his career in 2013, but falling to the Red Sox.
Once more hitting the open market, he returned to New York as a Yankee. Years removed from his graceful defending of centerfield, Beltrán primarily patrolled right field while occasionally DH’ing. He posted decent numbers for the Yankees before once again getting traded in 2016 to the Rangers.
His last season came in 2017 as he returned to the Astros, and, well, you may have heard about the 2017 Houston Astros before today. On the field, Beltrán posted by far the worst numbers of his career. He also became embroiled in a cheating scandal that would later cost him a managerial gig and forced him to wait until his fourth year on the ballot to get into the Hall of Fame.
Yet, he is now a Hall of Famer as it appears a majority of voters appear to have forgiven—or least moved past—those trashcan days.
Now the question becomes, what cap will he don in Cooperstown?
My bet is the Mets. He played more there than any other stop and also reached heights he’d yet to achieve while in Kansas City and wouldn’t again reach after leaving for the Bay.
That shouldn’t stop Royals fans from celebrating his career.
It was one of the finest, and it all started here.
LaMelo Ball
Jabari Smith Jr.
Stephon Castle
