The Buffalo Sabres were in the final game of their five-game road swing in Toronto on Tuesday, and instead of starting Alex Lyon in pursuit of a club-record 10th straight victory, head coach Lindy Ruff opted to go with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. The Sabres netminder allowed a pair of goals to Matthew Knies and Auston Matthews, and on Matthews go-ahead goal, Luukkonen appeared to injury his left leg.
The Sabres netminder left the game and was replaced by Colten Ellis. During the first intermission, it was revealed that Luukkonen would not return.
The 26-year-old was selected as one of the three goalies for Team Finland for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, and after a slow start, has gone 4-1-1 in his last six starts. Luukkonen was 11-7-2, with a 2.66 GAA, and a .905 save % in 19 starts.
The Sabres have carried three goalies on their NHL roster since the start of the season, when they claimed Ellis off waivers from St. Louis. All three goalies have spent time on the injured list this season, which has made carrying an extra netminder necessary.
And, like the Tampa Bay Lightning, Darche is now reunited with Ondrej Palat.
Less than a day after trading with one crosstown rival for Carson Soucy, the Islanders completed a deal with their other crosstown rival to bring in Palat. The full deal saw Palat, New Jersey’s third-round pick in 2026 and its 2027 sixth-round pick go to the Islanders in exchange for Maxim Tsyplakov.
Ondrej Palat of the New Jersey Devils takes a shot during the second period of the game against the Edmonton Oilers. NHLI via Getty Images
The third-round pick essentially gives the Islanders back the pick they gave to the Rangers for Soucy, and came as the cost of taking on Palat’s $6 million annual cap hit, with the Czech winger’s contract expiring in 2027. Tsyplakov, who looked in need of a fresh start having struggled to crack the Islanders lineup, will get just that in New Jersey.
Tsyplakov also has another season left on his deal at a $2.25 million annual cap hit, so the net add to the Islanders books is $3.75 million. If they max out their long-term injured reserve space, the Islanders still have a hair over $6 million available, so by no means does this trade indicate they are done adding.
Palat, who has 10 points in 51 games this season, struggled for much of his 3¹/₂- year stint in New Jersey, but looks likely to slot into the Islanders lineup as a middle-six winger.
Whether the acquisition works out or not will likely depend on whether the Czech winger can recover the form that saw him be a key contributor for the Lightning as part of an extended run that included two Stanley Cup wins and two more appearances in the Cup Final.
It’s been believed for some time that Palat could be on the move, and Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald’s inability to accommodate the winger’s 10-team no-move clause came to the fore when the Wild beat New Jersey to the Quinn Hughes sweepstakes.
If Palat is the same player for the Islanders he was for the Devils, then his cap hit will become the same weight on Long Island as it was on New Jersey.
Darche, however, knows the player well from his days in Tampa, and presumably believes he can help him find what’s been missing from his game.
New Jersey Devils winger Ondrej Palat hurriedly walked towards the exit of Prudential Center in the clothes that he had worn into the arena mere hours ago, only minutes before his teammates would take the ice for their pregame warmups.
The organization soon announced that Palat would be held out tonight for roster-related reasons.
In the first period of the Devils game against the Winnipeg Jets, the two-time Stanley Cup champion was traded to the New York Islanders along with a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and the club’s sixth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft in exchange for 27-year-old forward Maxim Tsyplakov. He has a $2,250,000 cap hit and is in the first year of a two-year contract.
The 6′3″, 203 lb winger has two points (one goal, one assist) in 27 games. Per the press release, Tsyplakov has recorded 37 career points (11 goals, 26 assists) and 45 penalty minutes in 104 career regular-season games. He made his NHL debut and scored his first NHL goal on Oct. 10, 2024, against the Utah Mammoth.
Palat signed a five-year contract with the Devils worth $30,000,000 with an annual average value of $6,000,000 on July 14, 2022.
The veteran played 248 games as a member of the Devils, finishing his tenure with 38 goals and 92 points.
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Hot on the heels of adding to their pitching depth with Cooper Criswell entering the fold, the Mariners have made a small move to bolster their options on the other end of the battery.
Pereda, 30 in mid-April, has played in affiliated ball since 2013 after being signed by the Cubs out of Venezuela. After bouncing around the Red Sox, Giants, and Reds orgs, he made his long-awaited big league debut in 2024 with the Marlins the day before his 28th birthday. Although he slashed .231/.250/.231 over 40 scattered plate appearances, he made a strong first impression behind the plate, throwing out four of eight would-be base stealers. That was enough to draw interest from the A’s, who claimed him from Miami last January and opened the season with him backing up Shea Langeliers. His production at the plate remained lackluster, though, and Oakland Sacramento designated him for assignment in June before he was snapped up by the Twins. Minnesota kept him in Triple-A until September, giving him ample opportunities was they played out the string. While Pereda finished the year on a high note, slashing a sturdy .345/.387/.483 over 32 plate appearances, it wasn’t enough to save his roster spot after the Twins signed fellow catcher Victor Caratini.
Pereda has never been one to show much pop; still searching for his first big league homer, he’s only popped 33 over 3033 career minor league plate appearances. He does, however, bring solid bat-to-ball skills to the table, being punched out in just 15.1% of the time across the minors, and an accompanying 11.8% walk rate suggests he’s no mere hacker. On the defensive side, he brought a sub-two second pop time in MLB in 2025 – good for the 68th percentile – and showed some heads-up decisions, but graded out as an average receiver overall.
Crucially, Pereda has one minor league option remaining – doubtlessly a key factor in his acquisition. Cal Raleigh is coming off of one of the best single-seasons in franchise history, and the M’s brought in Andrew Knizner to serve as backup after trading Harry Ford to the Nationals. Before Pereda came aboard, they were the only two catchers on the 40-man roster – not exactly ideal for depth purposes. It’s unlikely that he will see much time in Seattle, but he should slot in as Tacoma’s starting catcher, and would be the first man up if needed.
To make room for Pereda, the M’s designated righty Jackson Kowar for assignment. It was a long road back for Kowar after undergoing Tommy John in March 2024, but he made his Mariners debut on May 28th, tossing 17 mostly low-leverage innings. While Kowar showed flashes of what made him such a promising prospect with the Royals, a lack of minor league options combined with a pedestrian strikeout rate of 21.1% had him on the bubble, especially with the aforementioned Criswell being brought on. There’s still a chance Seattle could outright him and keep him in the org, though, so don’t pronounce the Robinson Canó/Edwin Díaz trade tree dead just yet.
Isaiah George was sent back down to AHL Bridgeport on Tuesday to make room for newly acquired defenseman Carson Soucy on the Islanders roster, per the NHL’s media site.
George played just two games with the Islanders during his stint, notching an assist Monday night when his shot was tipped in by Mathew Barzal as part of the Isles’ 4-0 win in Philadelphia.
The defenseman, who played 33 games with the Islanders last season and seemed like a good bet to carve out a role this year, has gotten some hard luck all year long.
When the Islanders were cycling through call-up options to replace Alexander Romanov, with Marshall Warren, Travis Mitchell and Cole McWard all getting chances to play, George was dealing with a pair of injuries.
New York Islanders defenseman Isaiah George (36) skates up ice during the second period against the St. Louis Blues at UBS Arena on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Elmont, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
And once he was back healthy and playing well enough in Bridgeport to earn a chance of his own, general manager Mathieu Darche finally decided to look outside the organization by bringing in Soucy, who is expected to fill Romanov’s role for the rest of the season.
As George is waivers exempt, sending him down was an easy move unless the Islanders were willing to put Ryan Pulock on injured reserve, which would have guaranteed Pulock — who is day to day with an upper-body injury — will not play Wednesday against the Rangers
Because the NHL has done away with paper transactions, George will need to play at least one game in Bridgeport — which is next in action Friday — before he is eligible to be called back up.
It wouldn’t be surprising if another NHL chance does come soon for George.
His ability to play both sides of the ice makes it highly possible that he’ll be the next man up in case of another injury, or if Pulock misses an extended period.
New York Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock (6) skates in front of Washington Capitals right wing Justin Sourdif (34) during the first period at UBS Arena, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Elmont, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Sending George down, though, is an indicator that Pulock should be back pretty soon. If he can’t go Wednesday, the Islanders would be without an extra defenseman against the Rangers.
Though that is not as big a consideration at home as it would be on the road — it’s not impossible to get someone from Bridgeport to Long Island if need be — it will have factored into the decision-making process.
It is hard to imagine that San Diego Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth is entering his seventh season with the franchise. A feat that should not be dismissed, as his versatility to play multiple infield positions could be key to the Padres’ success in 2026.
Cronenworth’s glove sets the standard for infield defense
Too often, we value hitting metrics more than fielding stats in determining a player’s importance to a team’s success. Cronenworth’s bottom-of-the-order run production, paired with his outstanding glove work, earned him a full-time starting role with the Padres since arriving in 2020.
He came to San Diego in the Hunter Renfroe trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. The Padres highly valued his versatility, as he could effectively play first base, second base and shortstop.
The intangible is his career fielding percentage (.991), as Cronenworth’s attention to detail allows him to take a challenge and usually excel in a position change. His defense does not suffer because he has maintained a utility player’s mentality, despite being the starting second baseman.
Cronenworth is exceptional at fielding balls hit directly at him. Other middle infielders may have more range, but it is not a guarantee that they will field each ball hit in their direction.
Obviously, the front office prefers to keep Cronenworth at second base, but circumstances may force him to play more at first base this season. The Friars are hoping to add another bat before opening Spring Training in Peoria, Ariz. on Feb. 11.
Padres need more bottom-of-the-order production
At the plate, Cronenworth’s value is his ability to move runners along the base paths and drive in those who are in scoring position. His standout season came in 2021, Cronenworth hit .266 (career best) with 21 HR (61 extra-base hits) and 71 RBI. He achieved a career-high 122 OPS+, which earned him his first All-Star Game appearance.
Last season, Cronenworth struggled with consistency at the plate after missing time with fractured ribs. The injury limited him to a .246 batting average with 11 HR and 59 RBI in 135 games. The concern was his lack of power from the left side of the plate, as just 32 of his 103 hits were for extra-base hits.
The Padres hope Cronenworth returns to his former power-hitting, run-producing self, as this would add considerable length to the batting order.
Spring Training should have the same feel for Cronenworth, as he will take fielding reps at first and second base. However, he has no clue where he will start in the regular season. Some time at first base could be in his future, especially with the uncertainty of free agent Luis Arraez possibly returning to the fold.
Thankfully, Cronenworth is the type of player who comes to the ballpark ready to compete. It does not matter where he plays as long as his name is in the lineup.
To get back to the postseason, the Friars must excel at using Cronenworth’s versatility to their advantage.
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Phoenix has been one of the best stories in the league this season. Former Cavs assistant Jordan Ott has done an excellent job leading what felt like a rudderless team after the disastrous Kevin Durant trade back into relevancy. They’re firmly in the playoff race in a tightly contested Western Conference with a 27-19 record.
Despite the good play, the Suns have struggled without Booker this season. They’ve been outscored by 2.1 points per 100 possessions (40th percentile) when he isn’t on the floor and are 1-4 in games he doesn’t play overall.
On the season, Booker is averaging 25.4 points, 6.2 assists, and four rebounds per game on .456/.313/.864 shooting splits.
No matter who is in the lineup, this upcoming stretch will be difficult for the Cavs. We’ll see how the Cavs handle it in the coming week, after they host LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.
The New York Rangers secured an emotional 4-3 victory over the Boston Bruins on Monday night, but lo and behold, Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury was working behind the scenes to send Carson Soucy to the New York Islanders.
Soucy was notably absent from the lineup, as it was reported earlier in the day that he would be scratched due to roster management, with a trade between the Rangers and Islanders brewing.
Drury’s letter, issued on Jan. 16, outlining the team’s plans to retool the roster, sent a message that change is coming, and part of this core is bound to be broken up in the coming weeks and months.
Since then, Rangers players have preached a business-as-usual mentality, while saying all the right things regarding the direction and future of the team.
However, it feels like the calm before the storm, and a major shakeup to the team’s core is inevitable.
After the Rangers’ Monday night win, J.T. Miller was asked point blank if he is trying to savor these potential last few days with this group currently in place.
“To be honest with you, I try not to think about it,” Miller said. “It is what it is at this point. We have a close group in here. This isn’t the position that any of us thought we were going to be in at the start of the season, but it’s a business and we’re just trying to treat it like normal days. We have a lot of fun together in this room, so I don't think we're very worried about that.”
There’s a certain element of calmness coming from within the Rangers’ locker room right now with everything out in the open after Drury’s letter was released.
The reality is clear to everybody in the organization, and it’s just about waiting for what is ultimately to come.
Soucy is just the first domino to fall in what should be a flurry of moves made by Drury.
With the NHL's roster freeze a week away, trade talk appears to be ramping up around the league. For the Vancouver Canucks, the player who is involved in most reports is forward Evander Kane. The 34-year-old has 24 points in 51 games and is an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
"I think there's a lot of names that are out there," said Kane. "And all of a sudden, just because a member of the Vancouver media decides to tweet it out, I got a big scrum today. So, yeah, it's part of the process. It's part of the way business is on the NHL level. And just looking forward to tonight's game."
The post that Kane is referring to came from CHEK TV's Rick Dhaliwal. The post reads, "Evander Kane's agent Dan Milstein has been given permission to help facilitate a trade for his client." After it was mentioned in the scrum about Milstein getting permission to talk with other teams, Kane was asked if he thought trade talks would be happening this early based on the team being in 32nd place.
"I don't think anybody anticipated from top to bottom, the season going the way it's gone. So, you know, when that does happen, I think every single year with the team who is in last place, changes happen.... Yeah, I think everybody's disappointed with how the season has gone. Nobody wanted to be in last place. I don't think anybody has that anticipation or that desire to start off a year so, but it is what it is, and you have to be ready to show up to work the next day and be a professional. And I think that's what everybody in the room has done so far, and we'll let the chips fall where they may."
As for a potential trade, the most likely outcome is that Kane is moved to a team heading to the playoffs. He has played in each of the last two Stanley Cup Finals and has plenty of experience both in the regular season and post-season. For Kane, he is also focused on winning a Cup before his time in the league comes to a close.
Jan 25, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Evander Kane (91) shoots against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
"I don't know if there's a person in this room that doesn't have a hunger to play playoff hockey. I think that's, you know, when you train all summer and come into training camp, that's what you're training to do. So obviously, that's a desire for anybody, and no different with me."
Overall, moving Kane is not an easy task. He carries a cap hit of $5.125 million and has a 16-team approved trade list. Based on Kane's performance and contract, it is likely the Canucks will need to retain some money if the organization wants to trade him before the deadline and pick up additional pieces that will help the rebuild.
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For the most part, the Dodgers know what they have.
In Shohei Ohtani, they have the best player in baseball. In Mookie Betts, they have a capable shortstop who might or might not be declining offensively. In Freddie Freeman, they have a professional hitter whose short swing should slow down the effects of age.
Nothing is guaranteed in sports, but the Dodgers can estimate the range of potential outcomes this season for most of their players.
One notable exception: Roki Sasaki.
Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki throws against the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 6 of the 2025 World Series. Getty Images
Pitchers and catchers will report to the Dodgers’ spring training home in Arizona on Feb. 13, and Sasaki will once again show up as one of the greatest mysteries in camp.
The Dodgers have invested heavily in the 24-year-old Sasaki, as they basically sacrificed two classes of international amateur players in their quest to sign him. Even after an up-and-down rookie season last year, they remain committed to him. Sasaki is committed to them as well, as plans are for him to stay in spring training rather than join the Japanese national team at the World Baseball Classic.
“We’re gonna give him every chance to be the fifth starter or the sixth starter,” manager Dave Roberts said.
Sasaki is the most naturally gifted pitcher Japan has produced. In his homeland’s domestic league, he dominated with only two-plus pitches, a 100-mph fastball and Wiffle ball-like forkball.
His transition to the major leagues last year was rough. His body looked undeveloped compared with other players. His command was lacking. His fastball velocity declined. By mid-May, he was on the injured list with a shoulder impingement. He didn’t return to the majors until the final week of the regular season.
Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki celebrate in the locker room after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in Game 7 to win the 2025 World Series. Getty Images
When Sasaki returned, it was as a reliever, agreeing to a test run out of the bullpen on the condition that he be granted a chance to start next season. With the back of the Dodgers’ bullpen in shambles, Sasaki inherited the role of closer almost by default and thrived. In four postseason games, he registered three saves and a 0.84 ERA.
His unexpected October heroics restored his phenom status, but Roberts cautioned that for his success as a reliever to translate into success as a starter, he will have to make adjustments.
Roki Sasaki celebrates after pitching in the 2025 World Series. Getty Images
“For me,” Roberts said, “he needs to develop a third pitch.”
Perhaps a slider, perhaps a curveball.
“It’s going to need to be something that goes left,” Roberts said.
A fastball-forkball mix could work for a reliever who comes in and throws as hard as he can for an inning. But Roberts reasons that as good as Sasaki’s primary pitches are, the right-hander will need another offering to keep hitters guessing in his second or third time through the order.
Some evaluators wonder if Sasaki has a delivery that could prevent him from effectively throwing another pitch, but Roberts believes the obstacle is more mental than physical.
“It’s always hard for a young player who’s had success doing something one way – great success – to now be vulnerable and open to something the game hasn’t told you that you needed to do,” Roberts said.
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The Dodgers have encountered trouble reaching Sasaki, who is known for his strong individual streak. When he emerged as a bullpen savior, the organization scrambled to share stories of how it helped him recover his fastball velocity. Sasaki offered an entirely different retelling of events that minimized the role played by the team. He said he discovered the problems with his delivery when he watched old videos of himself.
Roberts said he was conscientious about striking a balance in dealing with Sasaki. He wants Sasaki to have the humility to be open to ideas. But he also wants him to retain the brashness that made him stare down hitters in the ninth inning. Roberts said the game should lead him to his destination.
“I like the phrase, ‘The game tells you,’” Roberts said.
The game once told Ohtani to abandon the leg kick he used in Japan. The game told Clayton Kershaw to develop a slider. Now, Roberts expects the game to tell Sasaki that he has to add a weapon to his arsenal. Sasaki’s future as a starter could depend on it.
Minnesota Timberwolves at Dallas Mavericks Date: January 28th, 2026 Time: 7:30 PM CST Location: American Airlines Center Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network – North Radio Coverage: KFAN FM, Wolves App, iHeart Radio
The Wolves finally stopped the bleeding Monday night, snapping the five-game losing streak by beating the Warriors’ B squad at Target Center. And yes, we all understand the fine print on the receipt: no Steph Curry, no Jimmy Butler, and Golden State looked like a team that was mostly trying to survive the evening without someone pulling a hamstring tying their shoes.
But here’s the thing: when you’re 0–5 in your last five and you’ve spent the last week playing basketball like you’re distractedly scrolling Twitter at half court, any win counts. Not “counts” like it moves you up the standings in some dramatic way. “Counts” like a drowning person grabbing a life preserver.
Minnesota did it without Anthony Edwards again, who continues to have issues with his foot. They had four of five starters available, they brought competent energy, and they handled business the way a serious team is supposed to handle a compromised opponent: build separation, keep it, don’t get cute.
Now comes the next test, and it’s the kind of test that tells you whether the Wolves are actually pulling themselves together or just enjoyed one nice evening before returning to their regularly scheduled chaos.
They head back to Texas, scene of the recent crime spree (Houston and San Antonio), except this time the opponent isn’t a contender with Kevin Durant or Victor Wembanyama. It’s Dallas, who is struggling, banged up, and missing major pieces. No Kyrie Irving. No Anthony Davis. And maybe no Cooper Flagg, who’s listed as a game-time decision. This is less “climbing Everest” and more “successfully walking up a flight of stairs without tripping,” which… considering the last two weeks… still qualifies as progress.
And that’s the point. Sometimes you don’t fix a shaky season with one grand moment. Sometimes you do it with baby steps: beat the depleted Warriors, beat the depleted Mavericks, and then you look up and suddenly you’ve got some stability heading into Thursday’s OKC game instead of an emotional crater.
So let’s treat this correctly. Dallas isn’t the type of team you circle as a signature win. Dallas is the type of game you circle as mandatory.
Here are the keys.
Keys to the Game
1. Weaponize the size advantage Dallas is limping into this one, and without Anthony Davis in particular, there’s no excuse for Minnesota not to own the paint. This is where the Wolves’ identity is supposed to live: Rudy Gobert anchoring the back line, and Julius Randle and Naz Reid crashing to the rim. They did a solid job exploiting the Warriors’ lack of size. Now they need to turn that into a habit, not a one-night stand. If Minnesota wins the paint and the boards, Dallas runs out of ways to stay in the game.
2. Play like the game matters for 48 minutes — because it does. This is the danger zone game. The Wolves finally get a win, the schedule looks friendly, and the brain starts whispering, We can coast a little. That’s how you lose to injured teams, turn a possible two-game win streak into another spiral, and end up doing the “how did we end up in the play-in?” math in March. Minnesota has already proven they can flip intensity on and off like a light switch. The problem is they’ve been using it like a broken one. This has to be a professional effort from the opening tip. Sprint back. Hit the glass. Make the extra rotation. Don’t wait until the fourth quarter to start caring. You don’t build momentum by winning one game. You build it by stacking another one right after it, especially on the road.
3. Guard the perimeter. Even depleted teams can beat you if you let them get comfortable from three and turn the game into a math problem. Minnesota has been at its worst when the wing defense becomes optional. When guys get blown by, Rudy gets dragged into impossible help situations, and suddenly every possession is either a layup or a scramble into an open corner three. Dallas doesn’t need to be healthy to make you pay if you’re lazy. The Wolves have to close out like they mean it, contain dribble penetration, and keep the ball in front. The goal should be simple: make Dallas work for every shot, and make their offense feel heavy. If Minnesota keeps Dallas in the mud for three quarters, this game ends early.
4. Take care of the ball and keep the offense flowing. We just watched the Wolves cough it up 25 times against Golden State on Sunday. That wasn’t a “bad luck” thing. That was a carelessness thing. Monday only looked better because it couldn’t possibly be worse, with Minnesota giving the ball away 22 times. This game cannot become another “we gave them life” situation where Dallas hangs around because Minnesota is throwing away possessions like expired coupons. The Wolves need clean decision-making, purposeful ball movement, and a steady pace. No dribbling the air out of it. No lazy cross-court passes. No possessions that end with someone launching a bailout three because the offense died at the top of the key. Especially if Ant is out again, the Wolves have to score through structure with movement, paint touches, kickouts, and extra passes.
5. Leadership can’t be a postgame quote — it has to show up in the first quarter. This is the big one, especially if Edwards remains sidelined. When a team is wobbling, and make no mistake, Minnesota is wobbling, leadership isn’t something you talk about. It’s something you demonstrate. Rudy has to set the defensive tone. Conley has to organize the chaos and keep everyone connected. Randle has to play forceful but smart bully-ball with reads, not tunnel vision. And the “middle class” guys (DDV, Naz, Jaden) have to bring real edge, not passive cardio. Monday was a step toward stopping the bleeding. Wednesday has to be the game where they show they can walk normally again.
This is where the Wolves are right now: not in the “make a statement” phase, but in the “prove you’re not broken” phase. Dallas is injured. Dallas is struggling. Dallas is vulnerable. If Minnesota plays with maturity, this is a workmanlike road win, the kind you bank, the kind you don’t brag about, the kind that quietly steadies your season.
But if they come out sloppy, unfocused, and casual, if they treat this like a night off because the opponent is shorthanded, then we’re right back in the swamp. And the OKC game won’t be a measuring stick. It’ll be a scheduled disaster.
So yeah: baby steps. Beat the depleted Warriors. Beat the depleted Mavericks. Get your footing back. Then turn your attention to OKC with something resembling confidence.
Because the Wolves dug this hole themselves. And the only way out is to start stacking wins that aren’t glamorous, just necessary.
PAARL, South Africa (AP) — South Africa captain Aiden Markram scored an unbeaten 86 off 47 balls as the Proteas beat the West Indies by 9 wickets Tuesday in the opener of their three-match T20 international series.
Markram, who hit nine boundaries and three sixes, shared a partnership of 83 with Lhuan-dre Pretorius (44) and 93 with Ryan Rickelton to reach 176-1 with 13 balls to spare.
Left-arm spinner George Linde picked 3-25 to earn player-of-the-match honors, while Keshav Maharaj and Corbin Bosch took two wickets each as the visitors reached 173-7 in 20 overs after South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Shimron Hetmyer top-scored for the West Indies with 48 runs off 32 balls that included four boundaries and three sixes. Hetmyer and Rovman Powell (29 not out) shared a sixth-wicket partnership of 74.
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It’s not the news San Diego Padres fans wanted necessarily, but it’s the news we got, and it allows us a moment to step away from prognostications and hypotheticals about potential trades or free agent signings to think about something we, as fans, can control.
The Padres released their 2026 promotional schedule with the items being unveiled on Ben & Woods on 97.3 The Fan Monday morning, and across all San Diego social media platforms as well as emails to subscribers. There is no doubt you have at least heard of the giveaways if not seen them by now.
There is something for everyone on the giveaway schedule this year. The items range from scarves and crossbody bags to T-shirts and lunchboxes. But some of the most sought-after giveaways in recent years have been bobbleheads. The Padres announced six regular game bobblehead giveaways and three theme game bobblehead giveaways.
Manny Machado, Mason Miller, Xander Bogaerts, Trevor Hoffman, Jackson Merrill and Fernando Tatis Jr. each will be featured in the regular season bobbleheads, while Jeremiah Estrada, Merrill and Don Orsillo and Mark “Mud” Grant will have theme game bobbleheads.
Of course, the idea is the giveaways will bring fans to Petco Park, which has not been a problem the past few seasons, but the bobbleheads have become quite the collector’s item especially for fans of the Padres or a specific player. The first 40,000 fans in attendance will receive a bobblehead for the regular games and only fans with a theme game ticket will receive one of the Estrada – Lowrider, Merrill – Star Wars or Don and Mud – Mini Yacht bobbleheads.
Gaslamp Ball wants to know which bobblehead would entice you to make sure you’re at the game. There are plenty of choices and something for everyone. Undoubtably there will be fans who collect them all, but if you could get just one, which bobblehead would you want?
Results of the poll will be posted later in the week.
We certainly already knew the three Hall of Famers who will be coaching those young stars: Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady. Those three, not so coincidentally, make up three-quarters of the NBA Showtime crew at NBC Sports.
Tuesday night, we found out who would be on which team — a live, schoolyard-style draft of the rosters that happened live on NBC and Peacock. The Hall of Famers drafted those 21 rookies and sophomores onto their three squads.
Here is how the teams shook out:
Team Carmelo Anthony
Team Vince Carter
Team Tracy McGrady
Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks)
VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers)
Kon Knueppel (Charlotte Hornets)
Reed Sheppard (Houston Rockets)
Derik Queen (New Orleans Pelicans)
Kel'el Ware (Miami Heat)
Stephon Castle (San Antonio Spurs)
Kyshawn George (Washington Wizards)
Tre Johnosn (Washington Wizards)
Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs)
Matas Buzelis (Chicago Bulls)
Alex Sarr (Washington Wizards)
Jeremiah Fears (New Orleans Pelicans)
Egor Dëmin (Brooklyn Nets)
Ajay Mitchell (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Donovan Clingan (Portland Trail Blazers)
Cedric Coward (Memphis Grizzlies)
Jaylon Tyson (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Collin Murray-Boyles (Toronto Raptors)
Jaylen Wells (Memphis Grizzlies)
Cam Spencer (Memphis Grizzlies)
Anaylysis
• Carmelo Anthony picked the Mavericks' Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall selection in this draft. The only surprise would have been if he hadn't taken Flagg first.
• Vince Carter made the first mildly surprising pick, taking the Pelicans' standout rookie big man Derik Queen No. 4 — in front of any of the sophomores.
• It wasn't Stephon Castle who was the first sophomore selected, it was the Heat's Kel'el Ware, because McGrady "likes his game" and wanted some rim protection.
• My early pick to win it all: Team Carmelo Anthony. On the broadcast, the Showtime crew talked like general managers, discussing balance and defense. Anyone who has seen a Rising Stars Challenge (or, for that matter, any All-Star Game) knows this is a pickup game. It's free-form. Who has the athletes? Who has the shooters? Who has the guys who can play in transition? Give me Flagg, Castle, Harper and Fears running the break with Sheppard sprinting the arc and knocking down 3s.
• That said, Team Vince Carter, with Edgecombe, Buzelis and the underrated Coward, will be tough to beat. The guy who could thrive in this setting and break out? Derik Queen. If that happens, Carter could get bragging rights with his squad.
• Those three teams will enter a mini-tournament (more on the format below). That fourth team is made up of G League players and will be coached by former NBA player and NBC analyst Austin Rivers. That team is:
Sean East II (Salt Lake City Stars) Ron Harper Jr. (Maine Celtics) David Jones Garcia (Austin Spurs) Yanic Konan Niederhäuser (San Diego Clippers) Alijah Martin (Raptors 905) Tristen Newton (Rio Grande Valley Vipers) Yang Hansen (Rip City Remix)
Rising Stars Game format
The Rising Stars game will take place starting at 9 p.m. ET, Friday night, Feb. 13, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. — less than a mile down the road from the (now) Kia Forum where Magic Johnson and the Showtime Lakers once held court.
The Rising Stars Game will follow last year's format that led to some entertaining basketball: Those 21 rookies and sophomores listed above will be drafted by the Hall of Famers into three teams of seven players each, with G League players forming the fourth team.
Those four teams will play in a traditional, straight-up mini-tournament with two semi-final games to 40 — no time limit, it's just first to score 40. The winners of those first two matchups will face off in a championship game to 25.
How to Watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock
Every moment of NBA All-Star weekend in Los Angeles — Friday's Rising Stars game on Feb. 13, All-Star Saturday Night, including the 3-point Contest and Dunk Contest on Feb. 14, and the All-Star Game itself on Feb. 15 — will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones. Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
