Boopie and the Mustangs could become quite a hit in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Miller had 27 points on 10-of-13 shooting and tied his career high with 12 assists, Washington scored nine of the Mustangs' first 11 points after halftime Saturday to put them ahead to stay after coach Andy Enfield wasn't even sure he would be back on the court, and SMU won its ACC opener 97-83 over the No. 12 Tar Heels.
James Nnaji booed in collegiate debut at Baylor, 2 years after being selected in 2023 NBA Draft
The most controversial player in college basketball got his first minutes at Baylor on Saturday.
Takeaways: Penguins Put Up Defensive Clinic Against Red Wings, Sweep Home-And-Home
The Pittsburgh Penguins won their fourth-straight game on Saturday and did it dominantly.
Like Thursday's game against this very same Detroit Red Wings team (a 4-3 win for the Penguins), they started quickly, thanks to Bryan Rust. Sidney Crosby delivered an outrageous pass to Rust, who sniped the puck past John Gibson for a 1-0 lead.
Bryan Rust opens the scoring with his eighth point in his last six games! 👏
— NHL (@NHL) January 3, 2026
📺: ABC pic.twitter.com/8yCAqBEQ7f
Yegor Chinakhov, freshly acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, made it 2-0 on a breakaway later in the period. Ben Kindel delivered an outstanding stretch pass to Chinakhov, who was all alone at the Red Wings' blue line, and he showed off his quick release to record his first goal as a Penguin.
KINDY TO CHINNY! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/4GmcIZqFaJ
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 3, 2026
Rickard Rakell and Connor Dewar added empty-net goals late in the third period to make it 4-1, sealing the win. Crosby and Parker Wotherspoon led the team with two points (both assists). Stuart Skinner finished with 11 saves and has now won his last two starts.
Here are some other takeaways from this win:
- This was an absolute defensive clinic from the Penguins, particularly in the third period. Nursing a 2-1 lead, the Penguins didn't let the Red Wings get any quality looks and suffocated them as they were trying to break out of their own zone. The Red Wings couldn't even complete two passes in a row for most of the period due to how stingy the Penguins were being.
They held the Red Wings to only 12 shots, which is the fewest ever shots allowed in a road game in franchise history. The previous record was 13 shots. The Penguins also didn't allow a single high-danger chance against at 5v5 for the final two periods of the game.
Pens have played 2,269 road games in their history, and today did something they had never done before (allow just 12 shots). Wow.
— Bob Grove (@bobgrove91) January 3, 2026
The lone Red Wings goal was the result of bad luck after a dominant shift in the offensive zone. Alex DeBrincat got the Red Wings back in it, but it wasn't enough. This defensive performance reminded me a lot of the 2016 Penguins, which is saying something since that group was always lights out in the third period.
- I know the process hasn't always been there for Bryan Rust this season, but he continues to produce. With his goal on Saturday, he now has 16 goals and 36 points in 38 games. It's also his fourth goal in his last five games. He finished last season with 31 goals and 65 points and is on pace to break both of those numbers this year.
- Ben Kindel had another great game on Saturday, and his growth continues to be such a big storyline this season. Outside of his great assist on Chinakhov's goal, he was living in the offensive zone and forced a couple of really nice turnovers. He was also great in his own zone and in transition, and continues to display his elite hockey IQ each shift. It's sometimes hard to remember that he's still only 18 because everything looks so comfortable for him.
Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell Named To Team Sweden Olympic RosterTwo Pittsburgh Penguins players have been called to Team Sweden for the Olympics. - The second defensive pair of Brett Kulak and Kris Letang was good on Thursday and continued that momentum into Saturday's game. Kulak has helped stabilize Letang a little bit these last two games and has made all the right reads in his own zone. He had a few plays on Saturday when he was so calm, skating the puck out of his own zone under pressure.
Letang was also good for a second game in a row after scoring Thursday's overtime winner. Yes, he was caught during DeBrincat's goal, but aside from that, he made the right decisions in the offensive zone and was competent defensively. It's nice to see him playing a bit more confidently, given his struggles for a good chunk of the year.
- The fourth line of Dewar-Lizotte-Acciari continues to be a problem for other teams. I love the way those three work in tandem and wear opposing players down below the dots in the offensive zone. That line finished +2 in scoring chances and +1 in shot attempts at 5v5 on Saturday. As I wrote last week, it can't be understated how much Lizotte's return has meant to the team.
- Speaking of Lizotte's return, he really helped the penalty kill on Saturday, killing off both Red Wings power plays. He makes such a massive difference to that unit because he's such a puck-hound and wins those battles along the boards, leading to clears. The rest of the penalty killers feed off his presence each time he's out there.
- Next up for the Penguins is a date with the Blue Jackets on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. This will be the third meeting between the two teams this season and the first since Nov. 28, when the Penguins won 4-3 in overtime. The Blue Jackets won the other game between the two teams 5-4 in a shootout back on Oct. 25.
(Data via Natural Stat Trick).
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Pistons' starters Jalen Duren, Tobias Harris to miss several games with injuries
The East leading Detroit Pistons will be without two key starters for at least the next week.
Center Jalen Duren, who is playing at an All-Star level this season, has suffered a right ankle sprain and will be re-evaluated in one week, the team announced. Duren has taken a big step forward this season, averaging 17.9 points per game on 63.3% shooting and 10.6 rebounds a game.
His absence means to expect more Isaiah Steward and Paul Reed at the five, which is about as good a backup center combo as there is in the league.
Wing Tobias Harris has a left hip sprain that will sideline him and have him re-evaluated in two weeks. Harris is averaging 13.4 points a game and is shooting 33.3% from 3-point range. Sixth man Caris LeVert is day-to-day with right knee inflammation and is not traveling with the team for its game this weekend in Cleveland.
It's a tough week for the Pistons to be without these starters as they face a Cavaliers team that has won three in a row, then the Knicks.
UCF pulls off an 81-75 win against No. 17 Kansas to earn best start since 2010-11
Themus Fulks had 16 points and Jordan Burks scored 14 for UCF, which is off to its best start since 14-0 in 2010-11.
Observations after Sixers finish road trip on great note, beat Knicks again
Observations after Sixers finish road trip on great note, beat Knicks again originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
NEW YORK — The Sixers have had quite a sweet start to 2026.
They finished a five-game road trip with a third consecutive victory Saturday night, earning a 130-119 win over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
The Sixers now stand at 19-14. New York fell to 23-12 with its second home loss this season to the Sixers.
Tyrese Maxey had 36 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks.
Joel Embiid posted 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. VJ Edgecombe recorded 26 points, four assists, two steals and two blocks.
Jalen Brunson’s 31 points led the Knicks. Karl-Anthony Towns had a 23-point, 14 rebound double-double.
The Sixers’ only two injury absences remained Kelly Oubre Jr. (left knee LCL sprain) and Trendon Watford (left adductor sprain).
“They’re ready to move to 5-on-5 and we’ve just got to get that done,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said pregame. “I would imagine that’s going to happen tomorrow, one way or the other. It’s not easy with all these games and travel to organize it, but they’re both ready to at least get out there and try 5-on-5. And when they do, that’s probably a big step toward getting them back on the court. It should be fairly soon, though.”
New York was down Josh Hart (right ankle sprain) and Landry Shamet (right shoulder sprain).
Here are observations on the Sixers’ win Saturday night:
Another look at Embiid-Bona pair
The Sixers had the game’s first three turnovers, including Embiid getting stripped by Mitchell Robinson in the post.
Embiid otherwise started well vs. Robinson, making an early mid-range jumper and beating the Knicks’ 7-footer inside on an and-one hoop. Robinson committed his second foul on the play. Embiid connected with a cutting Maxey for a lay-in that put the Sixers up 18-13.
Nurse kept testing out the Embiid-Adem Bona frontcourt and the Sixers were effective with their double-big lineup in the second quarter. Bona rarely does much of note outside the paint, but it’s clear why the Sixers have been intrigued by his skill set next to Embiid. At his best, the 22-year-old is a bouncy, high-energy player who doesn’t need the ball on offense to be impactful.
“I think that whoever’s playing that four, any of our bigs, we’ve got to have shooting in the other three spots,” Nurse said. “That’s for sure. … Joel likes playing alongside (Bona). I think there’s a good synergy there, so we’ll continue to look at that as we go along.”
Edgecombe not slowing down as scorer
As he had in the Sixers’ Dec. 19 win over the Knicks, Edgecombe served as the primary defender on Brunson. Both guards lit it up in the first half.
The Sixers made an 8-0 run that began late in the first quarter and ended with an Edgecombe three-pointer to kick off the second. About a minute later, Edgecombe nailed his third long-distance jumper on three attempts. No other Sixer made a three until a Jared McCain triple with 7:28 left in the second quarter built the Sixers’ lead to 46-38.
Edgecombe’s shown fantastic progress lately as an ultra-confident, three-level scorer. Over the past nine games, he’s averaged 21.2 points. The 20-year-old has posted at least 20 points in seven of those outings.
With Edgecombe running the show and the Sixers more than holding their own, Nurse had the luxury of sitting both Embiid and Maxey for over half of the second quarter. Once they returned, the two helped the Sixers extend their advantage to as many as 19 points in the third quarter.
Backcourt brilliance seals it for Sixers
Paul George swished two threes from the right corner in opening minutes of the third period.
The 35-year-old forward often seemed to be in the background Saturday behind Maxey, Edgecombe and Embiid. He had a very solid night with 15 points on 5-for-11 shooting, eight rebounds, six assists and two chase-down blocks in the second quarter.
Maxey stayed hot in the third, draining deep pull-up jumpers and preventing the Knicks from gaining any comeback momentum for much of the quarter.
The Sixers did hit a dry spell late in the third, but the Knicks missed out on multiple chances to slice their deficit to single digits before the final quarter. They eventually pulled within 100-91 on a Towns driving layup early in the fourth.
With a tremendous Edgecombe sequence, the Sixers halted the Knicks’ push. He jetted to the corner and blocked Mikal Bridges’ three-point attempt, then stormed down the floor and hammered in a fast-break dunk.
Maxey removed most of the lingering suspense with a fourth-quarter shotmaking spree. For good measure, Edgecombe added more highlights in the closing minutes, including a stolen inbounds pass, and the Sixers sealed another excellent victory at the Garden.
Boopie Miller posts double-double as SMU beats No. 12 North Carolina 97-83 in its ACC opener
Corey Washington added 23 points, while B.J. Edwards scored 15 points and had six assists for the Mustangs.
What we learned as Steph Curry's huge third quarter fuels Warriors' win vs. Jazz
What we learned as Steph Curry's huge third quarter fuels Warriors' win vs. Jazz originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – The Warriors seem to get a boost whenever Draymond Green is banished from a game.
Trailing by 12 when Green was ejected late in the second quarter, the Warriors responded by outscoring the Utah Jazz by 21 points over the final 26 minutes and cruising to a 123-114 victory Saturday night at Chase Center.
Five Warriors scored in double figures, led by Stephen Curry’s 31 points. Jimmy Butler III and Quinten Post each scored 15 points, while De’Anthony Melton had 13 and Gary Payton II finished with 10.
Golden State (19-17) recorded 32 assists and overcame 15 turnovers that gave the Jazz (12-22) 22 points.
Here are three observations from a game that dropped Utah to 0-11 at Chase Center:
Steph’s insane third quarter
After a nine-point first half during which he shot 2-of-8 from the field, including 2-of-7 from beyond the arc, Curry blasted out of intermission and delivered 11 minutes of spectacular offensive pyrotechnics.
His full arsenal was on display, everything from slashing layups to midrange jumpers to free throws to step-backs and pull-ups from distance – including a 36-footer. Coach Steve Kerr, who typically pulls Curry four or five minutes into the quarter, let him cook until less than a minute remained.
Curry’s third 20-point quarter of the season – and 45th of his career – came on 6-of-8 shooting from the field, including 4-of-6 from deep and 4-of-4 from the line.
Moreover, Curry’s outburst powered a 42-point quarter for Golden State, wiping out a seven-point halftime deficit and allowing for a four-point lead (100-96) to open the fourth quarter.
Curry‘s 31 points came on 8-of-18 shooting from the field, including 6-of-12 from beyond the arc. He was 9-of-9 from the line.
Draymond does it again
With 2:25 remaining in the first half, Green received two technical fouls and an automatic ejection after complaining long and loudly to two different officials.
Tech No. 1, whistled by umpire Simone Jelks, came after Green defended Kyle Filipowski in the paint beyond three seconds. When Jelks, stationed along the baseline, didn’t call the violation, Green turned toward her and protested. As he protested, Lauri Markkanen breezed past him for a dunk.
Tech No. 2 came after Green turned his ire toward referee Kevin Cutler, who wasted little time blowing his whistle and banishing Green, who walked directly to the locker room.
Though Green had a point with his protest, he took his protest far beyond what typical officials will allow. This was the third time in the last three home games that he failed to finish, twice due to ejections and once after a heated argument with coach Steve Kerr.
The Warriors won the first two such games, and the third on Saturday.
Melton finds wayward 3-ball
Since concluding rehab from ACL surgery and returning on Dec. 4, Melton has played solid defense, made smart plays and struggled mightily with his 3-point shot. The career 36.4-percent shooter from deep entered the game shooting 16.7 percent (6 of 36).
Melton made his first one with 3:58 left in the first quarter, drained his second 87 seconds later and a third with 2:13 left in the first half.
Melton’s 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the field, including 3-of-7 from distance.
The last time Melton made at least three triples in a game was Dec. 7 at Chicago. He had missed 24 of 27 3-point attempts before Saturday night.
Already a rotation fixture, Melton would be a welcome tonic for Golden State’s perimeter offense if he shoots the 3-ball at his customary level.
'The Focus Is Just To Become The Best Player I Can Be': Canucks Defenceman Zeev Buium Doing Everything He Can To Take His Game To The Next Level
Zeev Buium has been with the Vancouver Canucks for less than a month, but he is already showing why he was the centrepiece of the Quinn Hughes trade. The 20-year-old defenceman has three points in nine games since being acquired and is already averaging over 20 minutes a night. The future is bright for Buium, which is good news for both the Canucks as an organization and the fan base.
While Buium is coming from a passionate hockey market in Minnesota, playing in a Canadian market like Vancouver is a new experience. Fans live and breathe Canucks hockey, which leads to a level of passion that few other markets can replicate. While he has only been with the organization for a few months, Buium is already learning how different it is to play in a Canadian market.
"It's awesome," said Buium. "I think the first thing that stands out is the fans and how passionate they are. How much they care. It's the best atmosphere to play in."
Over his first nine games, Buium has spent the majority of his minutes on a pair with Tyler Myers. Outside of age, the two share some similarities, including both being high draft picks who made their NHL debuts as teenagers. Buium was asked about his partnership with Myers and some of the early lessons he has learned from a defenceman who has played over 1,100 NHL games.
"Just being a sponge and taking everything I can for a moment, squeezing every ounce of information I can out of them. He's obviously been around a really long time, so I think for me, it's just listening to him, trying to learn from him. I'd be dumb not to try to take everything I can from him."
After a tough start to the season, it appears that Vancouver's management group has decided to focus on adding younger players rather than once again pushing for a playoff spot. The Canucks have one of the youngest rosters in the league and currently feature four players under the age of 22. While it will take some time before Vancouver is once again a contender, Buium is excited for the future and the opportunity to grow with the group.
"I think I've said this before, but you've got to be ready for every opportunity. And I think it's cool to come here and be a little bit of a younger team. Try to get to the point where we're winning again. And I think it's really cool to be a part of that. And hopefully, starting this year, but obviously, over the next couple of years, really start to win and push the playoffs."
On top of team success, Buium is focused on being the best player he can be. He has already taken significant steps in his development and has the potential to be a number one defenceman at the NHL level. As Buium explained, he is focused on getting better every day, which includes putting in as much extra work both on and off the ice.
"I just want to get better. I think every year I have the same mentality of never focusing on the outside noise or the points or anything. Just working and getting better. I feel like I know it's the NHL, but I've been through so many different situations in my hockey career, whether I was at Shattuck or NTDP or Denver. I feel like I can use those experiences to help me now. And I think for me, the focus is just to become the best player I can be and do everything I can. I think that's, that's the biggest thing. It's focusing on the gym and trying to get everything I can out of there. Being the last guy on the ice. Working on my craft and trying to become the best player I can be. When you're young, you can do that. You can work out more. You can skate more. You have so much more to develop. So I think it's just really exciting that every day, every game, is an opportunity to get better. And you know, I look forward to that every day."
While Buium has only played a handful of games with the Canucks, he is already living up to expectations. His skating and puck-handling ability have been on full display as the 20-year-old is averaging just over 2.5 shot attempts per game. If Buium can keep developing at his current pace, it won't be long before he is playing full-time on Vancouver's top pair.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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TCU beats Baylor 69-63 in Bears debut of 2023 NBA draft pick James Nnaji
Micah Robinson scored 13 points and TCU beat Baylor 69-63 on Saturday in the Big 12 opener for both teams and the Bears debut of 7-foot center James Nnaji, a 2023 NBA draft pick whose signing drew criticism from coaches across college basketball. Xavier Edmonds had 12 points while Liutauras Lelevicius and David Punch added 11 apiece for the Horned Frogs (11-3, 1-0 Big 12), who ended a five-game home losing streak in the series.
No. 11 Vanderbilt keeps undefeated season alive with 83-71 victory over South Carolina
Tyler Tanner had 19 points and a career-high 14 assists, AK Okereke scored 17 and No. 11 Vanderbilt improved to 14-0 with an 83-71 victory over South Carolina on Saturday. The Commodores (1-0 Southeastern Conference) are off to their best start since the 2007-08 team opened 16-0.
Wilkinson scores 31 points as high-scoring No. 23 Georgia tops Auburn 104-100 in OT
Jeremiah Wilkinson scored 31 points, including two 3-pointers in overtime.
Revisiting The Paul Cotter, Akira Schmid, and Alexander Holtz Trade
On June 29, 2024, Paul Cotter was traded to the New Jersey Devils with a 3rd-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Alexander Holtz and Akira Schmid.
As a season and a half has passed, it is time to revisit the trade and evaluate what each side received.
The Devils received Paul Cotter and a 3rd-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
The Golden Knights received Alexander Holtz and Akira Schmid.
Paul Cotter
Cotter has played in 149 games for the Devils in the last two seasons. In total, he has earned 32 points, 11 assists, and 21 goals. The left winger has struggled since joining the Devils, reaching his peak in 2023-24 with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Third round pick in the 2025 draft
With the third round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Devils selected Mason Moe. The 6’1” center was selected 90th overall. He currently plays for the Madison Capitols in the USHL.
Akira Schmid
Schmid has played 25 games with the Golden Knights, recording 13 wins and a .944 save percentage in his first season and a .895 save percentage this season. The 25-year-old has taken on a bigger role with the Golden Knights this season, earning 17 starts compared to the three he had last season.
Alexander Holtz
Holtz has played in 65 games for the Golden Knights since being traded from the Devils. He has 14 points, with five goals and nine assists. This season alone, Holtz has only played in 12 games.
In summary, by the numbers, the Devils received more production from Cotter than the Golden Knights received from Holtz. However, it is important to note that Schmid has become a strong netminder for Vegas, and it is unfair to evaluate Moe before he has played a single NHL game.
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Wilkinson scores 31 points as high-scoring No. 23 Georgia tops Auburn 104-100 in OT
Jeremiah Wilkinson scored 31 points, including two 3-pointers in overtime, and No. 23 Georgia kept up its high-scoring pace as the Bulldogs held off Auburn 104-100 on Saturday in the Southeastern Conference opener for each team. Auburn's Keyshawn Hall made two of three free-throw attempts with 0.7 seconds remaining in regulation. Kevin Overton rebounded the missed third attempt and sank a buzzer-beating jumper to send the game to overtime at 92-92.
Vaaks sparks Providence in 2nd half and Friars beat St. John’s 77-71 despite Ejiofor’s 33 points
The Friars trailed by nine in the second half before outscoring the Red Storm 22-7 over the final six minutes.