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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Atlanta Hawks showed resilience, poise, and just enough late-game execution to slip past the Memphis Grizzlies, 124–122, grinding out one of their most satisfying road wins of the season. Atlanta

After absorbing an early punch from a fired-up FedExForum crowd, Atlanta settled in, leaned on its versatility, and delivered when it mattered most exactly the kind of performance Hawks fans have been waiting to see after being on a four-game losing streak.

Atlanta was powered by a monster all-around night from Jalen Johnson, who was everywhere on the floor. Johnson attacked mismatches, cleaned the glass, and facilitated offense in transition, finishing just shy of a triple-double with 32 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists, setting the tone for the Hawks’ aggressive approach.

“I thought our group showed real toughness tonight. Memphis made multiple runs, the crowd was into it, and we didn’t blink. Jalen set the tone with his force and competitiveness, and we trusted each other late. Those are the kinds of wins that build you — especially on the road,” said head coach Quinn Snyder.

Whenever Memphis threatened to seize control, Johnson answered whether with a strong finish at the rim or a timely defensive play that swung momentum back Atlanta’s way. His clutch drive late in the fourth quarter ultimately sealed the victory.

The Hawks didn’t rely on just one option. Nickeil – Alexander- Walker orchestrated the offense and made key plays down the stretch, while Atlanta’s supporting cast chipped in with timely shooting and interior toughness. The Hawks consistently punished Memphis on second-chance opportunities and executed with greater composure in late-clock situations.

Inside, Atlanta’s bigs held their ground, limiting easy looks and forcing Memphis into contested finishes a subtle but decisive factor in a game decided by just two points. Onyeka Okongwu delivered 18 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks, while Luke Kennard spaced the floor with 18 points, including four three-pointers.

Memphis countered with strong production from Ja Morant, who pressured Atlanta’s defense all night with his speed and playmaking. Morant finished with 23 points and 12 assists as the Grizzlies surged in the third quarter and carried momentum into the fourth.

But late missed opportunities and Atlanta’s calm execution at the free-throw line proved costly. Memphis even held a slim lead late in the final period, yet a desperation three from Morant at the buzzer rimmed out, sealing the Hawks’ hard-earned victory.

Atlanta is 21-25 on the season as they are currently in 10th place in the Eastern Conference.

A few days ago, we talked about what the Toronto Raptors could do at the deadline. Knowing Bobby Webster, but actually knowing his mentor Masai Ujiri, tells us that it’s a real possibility for the Raptors to not do anything spectacular at the deadline. Instead, they could wait for the summer to make moves. Yet, there is that little possibility that Webster starts his tenure as leader of the Raptors with a bang and makes a big trade before Feb. 5th’s deadline.

As Josh Lewenberg of TSN reports, the Raptors seem willing to part with more than one of their starters. Webster has apparently been on the phone with several other teams, tossing around possibilities, and doing what Lewenberg calls his “due diligence” on checking in on several targets around the NBA. This is definitely a move reflective of Masai’s tactics — staying extremely informed but not necessarily doing anything. It’s why the Raptors usually end in a ton of trade reports this time of year, because the Masai-now-Bobby method usually involves picking up the phone and having a chat about literally every player whose name is floating around. It’s less about wanting to make a move and more just knowing what options are out there in case you decide you might want to make a move. Something Lewenberg details in his reports as well. We all know the deal in this front office by now.

Can you see why I hate the trade deadline now?

Another good point Josh makes above is that sometimes these little check-ins turn into something more — take Brandon Ingram a year ago. I would have been one to tell you there’s no way the Raptors pull the trigger on that one, and they did. Mind you, the price ended up being lower than expected, which was nice. Another thing about Masai and Bobby — they know how to negotiate.

Now, another thing Lewenberg says is that if the Raptors don’t make a move at the deadline, its more because their “hands are tied” than anything. Makes sense, given their maybe most valuable asset is an injured Jakob Poeltl. The new-ish part in Lewenberg’s reporting is that the Raptors seem to be willing to part with any or all of Poeltl, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley. Take this with a grain of salt, though, as the Raptors aren’t ones to leak themselves, and these speculations are more coming from other teams’ sources. As we all know, it’s these players (well, their salaries) that are the most valuable in trades for Toronto, and also prevent the Raptors from making any big signings now or in the summer.

If I had to make an educated guess, I would say Quickley was the most likely to be moved at the deadline, if anyone does get dealt. I would say Poeltl, yet his precarious injury situation doesn’t make me as confident that teams will bite. With Barrett, I’m sure it’s not off the table to include him in the deal, but it would have to be the right deal. If Barrett is traded this season, it’s because it’s the only way the Raptors get their top choice guy, in my opinion. He also still has a year left on his contract, so it’s a big undertaking for any team trading for him.

The Raptors are reportedly willing to part with RJ Barrett, per @JLew1050

“TSN can confirm that Toronto appears willing to part with some combination of Immanuel Quickley, Jakob Poeltl and RJ Barrett, or at least that’s the impression that rival teams have gleaned from… pic.twitter.com/7rrchjY0Ny

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 22, 2026

As I mentioned in last week’s update, most of the players that maybe would have been Toronto’s big targets (Young, Davis, Sabonis) are either gone, too expensive, or hurt. Or multiple of those options. We’ll have to see if anything comes up in the next few weeks as teams head into the final days before the deadline.

A three-game losing streak can knock you from thinking about the No. 2 seed to worrying about the Play-In Tournament in the Western Conference. The Minnesota Timberwolves cannot let this slide continue, but fortunately, hosting the Chicago Bulls is a ripe chance to right things.

My Bulls vs. Timberwolves predictions and NBA picks recognize the value presented by a possible Minnesota injury.

Bulls vs Timberwolves prediction

Bulls vs Timberwolves best bet: Jaden McDaniels Over 16.5 points (+100)

With Julius Randle questionable tonight due to left foot soreness, the quick question becomes who will handle the ball more if Randle is out of this Minnesota Timberwolves lineup. The first instinct is Naz Reid, as he could slide into the starting lineup if Randle is indeed ruled out.

Howeve, Reid banged up his shoulder on Saturday, and his 5-for-15 shooting on Tuesday did not ease those worries. 

Then look to Jaden McDaniels. The wing has already been handling the ball more often for Minnesota, often initiating the offense as Mike Conley continues to struggle and Donte DiVincenzo seems to play best in an off-ball role. Randle often initiates the offense, as well, but if he is indeed ruled out, that work should land more on McDaniels’ shoulders.

He has already cleared this prop in five of his last eight games. That trend should continue with or without Randle, but particularly if the Timberwolves are without him tonight.

Bulls vs Timberwolves same-game parlay

Jaden McDaniels is not much of a pull-up shooter from deep. His threes usually come on catch-and-shoot chances, and with the thought that Randle may be sidelined, those chances will be fewer. Furthermore, McDaniels has cleared this scoring prop while not hitting multiple 3-pointers four times since Christmas. 

Bulls vs Timberwolves SGP

• Jaden McDaniels Over 16.5 points
• Jaden McDaniels Under 1.5 threes
• Timberwolves moneyline

Our "from downtown" SGP: Wolf pack of props

This is not doubt in Reid. This is seeing value in an Under if his shoulder is indeed bothering him, and Tuesday’s 5-for-15 shooting was his worst showing of January, a decent indication his shoulder is indeed bothering him. 

Bulls vs Timberwolves SGP

• Jaden McDaniels Over 16.5 points
• Jaden McDaniels Under 1.5 threes
• Timberwolves moneyline
• Naz Reid Under 15.5 points

Bulls vs Timberwolves odds

• Spread: Bulls +8.5 | Timberwolves -8.5
• Moneyline: Bulls +270 | Timberwolves -340
• Over/Under: Over 238 | Under 238

Bulls vs Timberwolves betting trend to know

The Timberwolves are 3-0 ATS against the Bulls in the last two seasons, all of those coming as at least a three-bucket favorite. Find more NBA betting trends for Bulls vs. Timberwolves.

How to watch Bulls vs Timberwolves

Bulls vs Timberwolves latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

BOSTON — Before the Celtics’ win over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night, head coach Rick Carlisle was asked about what he expected from this year’s Celtics team. And Carlisle, who has been coaching against the Joe Mazzulla Celtics for years, made clear he was far from surprised at the Celtics’ success this season. Before even being prodded further, the longtime NBA coach explained why.

“Derrick White is an All-Star,” Carlisle said. “He’s an All-Star player. I mean, the guy is 8th in the league in blocked shots.”

White is not the only reason Carlisle cited for his preseason confidence in the Celtics: he touched on Jaylen Brown’s greatness, Payton Pritchard’s growth, Sam Hauser’s shotmaking, and Mazzulla’s offensive creativity.

But the unprompted proclamation about White is what stood out most about Carlisle’s answer — in large part because there hasn’t been a ton of chatter about the Celtics guard being an All-Star this season, or at least not as much as many expected going into the year.

The reason for that is simple: his offensive efficiency is down. The 31-year-old is averaging 17.7 points and 5.4 assists — both career-highs — but he’s doing so while shooting 39.1% from the field (the lowest of his NBA career) and 32.4% from three (the second-lowest of his NBA career).

Still, Carlisle was adamant: “He’s such an important part of their team.”

Jaylen Brown, who on Monday was announced as an All-Star starter for the first time in his career, was equally decisive in his proclamation.

“D-White has been a two-way player all year,” Brown said. “And I know we live in an era where that doesn’t get as much praise or respect, but that contributes to winning a lot. Derrick White has been playing at an All-Star level because he plays both sides of the ball. And that’s no disrespect to some of those other guys that are maybe in All-Star contention — but it’s a clear difference.”

Asked Jaylen Brown about Derrick White’s defense — and he said he could see D-White being Defensive Player of the Year:

“I think Derrick White has been playing at an All-Star level l, because he plays both sides of the ball. And that's no disrespect to some of those other guys… https://t.co/TFWbYOn7OBpic.twitter.com/vUqsyydJav

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) January 22, 2026

White has been in a particular offensive slump as of late; he is averaging just 10 points on 30.2% shooting in his last 5 games. Still, the Celtics have outscored opponents by 76 points with him on the floor in that span.

That doesn’t surprise those who know his game best, such as his longtime head coach.

“He’s not defined by shooting efficiency,” Mazzulla said. “To me, that’s a bonus.”

After Wednesday’s 119-104 win over the Pacers, Mazzulla pointed out White’s expansive list of more intangible contributions for the Celtics: his role as one of the Celtics’ lead pick-and-roll ball handlers, his ability to make 2-on-1 reads, his defensive versatility, his penchant for getting backtips and stopping fast breaks, and proclivity for doing all of the things that have made him one of the most valuable role players in the league.

As a result, even amid an uncharacteristic shooting slump, White has the highest +/- rating on the team, a +275 on the year

“I just think it’s hard to recognize all the other stuff, and it’s just easy to notice the shooting efficiency because it’s right there,” Mazzulla said.

Carlisle and Mazzulla are far from the only two NBA coaches to gush about White this season; it’s become a regular occurrence.

“I think he is the most underrated player in the league,” Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said last month. “The guy is an absolute winner.”

Asked Erik Spoelstra about Derrick White:

“I think he is the most underrated player in the league. The guy is an absolute winner, whatever role you put him in … He just does so many things … He's the best shot-blocking guard in the league.” pic.twitter.com/AtAYDWBy6I

— Justin Turpin (@JustinmTurpin) December 20, 2025

Derrick White for Defensive Player of the Year?

Jaylen Brown went so far as to say he feels like White is a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate. And, there’s a real case to be made; White is fourth in the NBA in stocks (steals and blocks), and he’s averaging career-highs in both categories (1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks per game).

Among NBA players who average at least 30 minutes per game, White has the second-highest Defensive Estimated Plus-Minus (+2.1), a metric that assesses a player’s defensive impact per 100 possessions (he trails only four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert).

And, he is as durable as they come — White has only missed one game this season — and he’s the best shot-blocking guard in the NBA.

“I think Derrick is a first-team All-Defense type of ballot, or maybe even Defensive Player of the Year,” Brown said. “But on top of that, he contributes on offense, and that takes a lot more energy, a lot more effort to do night-to-night. And he’s healthy, he’s available.”

Neemias Queta, who oftentimes has the clearest view of White’s defensive accument, praised his savviness as a defender.

“He’s always got a good chance of getting a stop, no matter who he’s guarding, or even off the ball, too,” Queta said. “He’s really communicative, too. He’s a Swiss Army knife, and he can do a little bit of everything on both sides of the floor. But defensively, especially, I feel like he holds his own in pretty much all types of matchups.“

Brown pointed out that White is doing all that while also shouldering significant offensive responsibilities; he’s the team’s second-leading scorer behind Brown and has the second-highest usage rate on the Celtics (23%). No other defensive player of his caliber concurrently carries such a heavy load on the other side of the ball.

“You’ve got to give that respect to Derrick,” Brown said. “It’s not an easy job to do and play both ends of the ball at a high level for the duration of the season — and be available for a majority of the games. That’s extremely difficult. He’s been doing that for us all [season], and that has helped us be a second seed.”

White probably won’t be named an All-Star, though reserves — selected by coaches — will be announced on February 1st. And, it’s too early for a real Defensive Player of the Year campaign, though White will certainly be in the mix when those conversations begin.

But those who know White’s game best— and basketball best — know that his impact is inherently not captured on the stat sheet.

And, it probably won’t ever get the recognition it deserves; that’s why NBA coaches go out of their way to give him his flowers.

“Regardless of what the stats look like,” Brown said, “Derrick White is an All-Star.”

The Golden State Warriors are back in action tonight, and they’re headed to Texas to take on Klay Thompson, Cooper Flagg, and the Dallas Mavericks. It’s the Warriors first game on the road since January 5, and their first out-of-state game since New Year’s Eve.

Both teams are missing some serious star talent. Here’s the full injury report.

Warriors

Out — Jimmy Butler III (right knee ACL tear)

Sigh. It’s not fun writing it out, but I’ll be doing it a lot, as Butler will be sidelined for the rest of the year, and the start of next season following an ACL tear on Monday night.

Out — Seth Curry (left sciatic nerve irritation)

Curry should be re-evaluated soon, and hopefully can get back on the court before too long. The Warriors could use some extra scoring with Butler out.

Questionable — Gary Payton II (right foot soreness)

I wouldn’t be surprised if GPII sees a bigger role going forward, given the defense and athleticism that the team lost with Butler’s injury. Hopefully he’s good to go tonight.

Mavericks

Out — Anthony Davis (left finger sprain)

Davis was linked to the Warriors a little bit before suffering yet another injury. Now that Butler — whose contract matches Davis’ — is out for a year, you can expect to at least see a little speculation that the teams might swap their injured stars on massive deals. I don’t think there’s much of a chance of it happening, though.

Out — Kyrie Irving (left knee surgery)

Like Butler, Irving has a torn ACL, which he sustained in March of 2025. It’s unclear when he’ll be back on the court.

Out — Dereck Lively II (right foot surgery)

After a standout rookie season in 2023-24, things have gone downhill for Lively. He was limited to 36 games last year, and didn’t show much improvement. And this year he suffered a foot injury after just seven games, and is out for the season.

Out — Dante Exum (right knee surgery)

Exum, unfortunately, saw his season end before it started. He hasn’t played this year and he won’t play this year, as he rehabs from knee surgery.

Doubtful — Daniel Gafford (right ankle sprain)

Gafford plays a critical role for the Mavs with Davis sidelined, but he’s had his own issues staying healthy. He’s missed the last three games, and 15 overall this year.

Probable — Moussa Cissé (illness)

Cissé went undrafted in June, but has filled in for the injury Davis and Gafford on a few occasions this year. He’s a very strong rebounder.

Enjoy the game, Dub Nation. It tips off at 4:30 p.m. PT on Prime.

As a winter storm delivers brutally low temperatures and the threat of snow and ice across the United States, some collegiate sports teams are taking precautions to make sure players and fans are safe.

Several games on Saturday, Jan. 24 have been either postponed or had their tip-off times pushed up, including Duke's ACC bout with Wake Forest and North Carolina's conference game against Virginia, which would have also included the dedication of Virginia's court to former head coach Tony Bennett.

LIVE Winter storm live updates: Latest snowfall forecasts, warnings

College basketball looks like it's going to deal with quite a few shake-ups, with several situations pending.

Here are the events that have been affected in anticipation of the inclement weather.

Download the free USA TODAY app and turn on “Notifications” to get breaking news updates on the winter storm. Prefer email news alerts? Sign up for those here.

College sports rescheduled due to winter storm warning

All times Eastern

Men's basketball

• Saturday's Virginia vs North Carolina tip-off pushed up to noon from 2 p.m. (court dedication to Tony Bennett postponed) (ESPN2)
• Saturday's Wake Forest vs Duke tip-off pushed up to noon from 5:45 p.m (The CW)
• Saturday's Louisville vs Virginia Tech tip-off pushed up to 2:15 p.m. from 3:15 p.m. (The CW)
• Saturday's Little Rock vs UT Martin doubleheader postponed
• Saturday's Towson vs North Carolina A&T tip-off pushed up to noon
• Saturday's James Madison vs Texas State tip-off pushed up to 1 p.m.
• Jacksonville State vs MTSU rescheduled to Friday at 6:30 p.m. from Saturday
• Lipscomb vs Florida Gulf Coast rescheduled to Friday, Jan. 23 from Saturday, Jan. 24

Women's basketball

• UConn vs Seton Hall tip-off pushed up to noon on Saturday, Jan. 24 from Sunday, Jan. 25
• Saturday's Princeton vs Brown tip-off pushed up to noon
• Saturday's Eastern Kentucky vs North Florida tip-off pushed up to 11 a.m.

Swimming

• Tennessee vs Georgia swim meet rescheduled to 1 p.m. Friday from Saturday

Gymnastics

• Friday's Georgia vs Oklahoma meet pushed up to 2:45 p.m. from 6 p.m.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Winter storm watch: College games postponed, rescheduled

Tim MacMahon of ESPN published a mid-season report on Cooper Flagg Thursday. It featured thoughts from opposing teams’ personnel and statistics comparing him to great teenagers of years past, like soon-to-be Hall of Famer LeBron James. The reviews were raving. One Western Conference scout said he was “better than advertised”. An East scout called him a “winning player”. And, my favorite quote, one West general manager said, “his greatest strength is his competitiveness”. 

Throughout the piece, the common sentiment became clear: Flagg is an uber-talented, uber-driven star-in-the-making. What he can be is better than you think, and what he will be has a less volatile floor than you realize. And if you have watched him this season, you have seen this play out in real time. I found a draft profile from around this time last year, where they labeled his weaknesses as not being able to handle perimeter pressure, a question mark over his isolation scoring ability, and the fact that he needs to get stronger to handle contact. It has not even been 50 games into his rookie campaign, and his lack of turnovers (2.2 per game), clutch scoring (ninth most in the NBA), and ability to get downhill at will (53.5 percent on 11.4 drives per game) have put those concerns to rest.

To say the sky is the limit for Flagg would be doing him a disservice. He is improving at a rate even bullish analysts have undersold. The narrative he has had since high school is that his defense would translate to the next level, but it remained to be seen how quickly his offense would come along. In 37 college games, he averaged 19.2 points on 48.1 percent shooting. Through 41 NBA games, he is at 18.8 points on 47.8 percent shooting. Every question we have asked has been answered (except for three-point shooting). As a 19-year-old rookie, the eye test tells you Flagg can be anything he wants. And, according to Tim MacMahon, the league agrees.

The most meaningful aspect of MacMahon’s reporting is that it confirms a thought I have had since the Mavericks secured the number one pick last May: the intangibles will define him, not his raw skill. Being a good player does not make you a part of a winning formula (see Bradley Beal and LaMelo Ball). There is plenty of talent in the NBA. What there is not an abundance of is winners. With the amount of money that has been pumped into not only professional sports but also college sports in the last few years, it is easy to lose sight of winning. Flagg is not someone who has fallen victim to that. His physical frame and talent will prevent him from being less than a very good player. But his mindset, his addiction to improvement, and his singular commitment to winning will make him great. How great he will be is something only he can determine.

The Sixers’ year-long celebration of the 2001 Eastern Conference Champion squad reaches its apex this month. When the team hosts the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, Jan. 31, it’ll be a big ol’ reunion.

The organization announced on Thursday that they will “honor the legendary players and coaches who electrified the city, taking the 76ers to the NBA Finals.“ Additionally, the Sixers say that the evening will be ”packed with powerful tributes — pre-game, in-game and at halftime — honoring the grit, heart and legacy of that squad.“

The Sixers, naturally, will be donning their beloved black throwback jerseys as well.

The 2001 team, between Allen Iverson’s MVP heroics and their upset win in Game 1 of the NBA Finals over the Los Angeles Lakers, leaves them as one of the most beloved in the history of Philadelphia even though they didn’t win the championship outright.

Part of it is the way they played: the feisty Iverson scoring in bunches while their defense swarmed everywhere. Part of it is Iverson’s legacy as a transformative presence in the league both on and off the court. Part of it is, simply, that they’re the only truly great Sixers team of the last 40 years.

Though the Sixers appear far away from that level of contention at the momentum even with Tyrese Maxey’s own superstar ascension and the dominant stretches that Joel Embiid has put together this season, celebrating the 2001 team is a reminder of how great things once were for professional basketball in Philly and how maybe, just maybe, they could be that great again one day.

For those wanting to get in on the festivities, the cheapest tickets on Ticketmaster, as of this writing, are $44.18. That’s honestly a bit better than I imagined it would be for a Saturday with all of this going on. I hope Sixers fans pack the house!

For the second time in four days, the Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs will face off when the Spurs travel to Utah on Thursday night.

In the two previous meetings between the Jazz and Spurs this season, the teams split wins, with the Jazz coming away victorious in December and the Spurs winning on Monday.

On the Dec. 27 matchup, Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George combined for 57 points and took advantage of De’Aaron Fox’s absence from the lineup in the win.

On Monday, Victor Wembanyama scored 33 for the Spurs in a 13-point victory at home, maintaining San Antonio’s position as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.

Injury Report

Utah Jazz:

Keyonte George — Questionable (Left forearm strain)

Lauri Markkanen — OUT (Return to competition reconditioning)

San Antonio Spurs:

Jeremy Sochan — Questionable (Illness)

Luke Kornet — Questionable (Left abductor tightness)

Devin Vassell — OUT (Left abductor strain)

How to watch

Where: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT

When: 7 p.m. MT

Channel: KJZZ, SEG+

Radio: 97.5 FM 1280 AM