The Islanders trail them by two points with two games in hand.
Like the Islanders, the Penguins are also on the second leg of their back-to-back, falling 3-2 to the Ottawa Senators on Monday.
Both backups went against their Monday foes, which means the goaltending matchup at UBS Arena is Ilya Sorokin (18-13-2, 2.44 GAA, .916 SV%, 6 SO) vs. Stuart Skinner (19-12-4, 2.72 GAA, .903 SV%, 2 SO).
Sorokin, who is in the midst of a Vezina-caliber season after a really shaky start, went 6-3-0 in the month of January, with a 2.13 GAA and a .931 SV% with three shutouts.
Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
Skinner, who was dealt to the Penguins on Dec. 12 after falling out of favor in Edmonton, lost his first three games for Pittsburgh. But since then, he's found a groove, going 8-1-0 over his last nine games with a 2.01 GAA and a .917 SV%.
He's been tremendous.
Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Now, he and Sorokin are tasked with helping their team rebound when the puck drops at 7:30 PM ET. The game can be found on TNT, HBO MAX, and TVAS.
Skinner is 2-2-0 in his career against the Islanders with a 2.53 GAA and a .900 SV%.
Sorokin is 11-6-0 in his career against the Penguins with a 3.15 GAA and a .905 SV% with one shutout.
The Atlanta Hawks take a trip down to South Beach tonight for a matchup with the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker continues to thrive, and my Hawks vs. Heat predictions and NBA picks will focus on his ability to score the rock.
Hawks vs Heat prediction
Hawks vs Heat best bet: Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 20.5 points (-110)
Nickeil Alexander-Walker is having a career year for the Atlanta Hawks. The guard is averaging 20.3 points per game while shooting 38% from downtown. To put his numbers into perspective, the Canadian averaged just 9.4 ppg for the Timberwolves last season.
A bigger role as a starter has allowed NAW to flourish. He’s cashed the Over in points in three of his last four games, scoring 21 points in each. Two of those contests were on the road, and as previously mentioned, the Hawks visit Miami this evening.
In fact, Alexander-Walker is averaging 20.9 ppg on the road compared to 19.6 at home. The Virginia Tech product is playing with boatloads of confidence, and he’ll make his presence felt once again tonight.
Hawks vs Heat same-game parlay
Andrew Wiggins is averaging 15.6 ppg this season. He’s cashed the Over in two of his last three home games. He scored 18 against the Hawks earlier this season, and he’s averaging 16.1 ppg at home compared to 15.1 on the road.
Jalen Johnson is having a monster year for Atlanta, and he’s doing it all. While he’s not a high-volume shooter, Johnson is averaging 1.7 makes on 4.7 attempts for a 36% clip. Very respectable.
He's cashed the Over in five of his last seven appearances, and he’s drained three triples in back-to-back contests. Johnson is also shooting it even better on the road, averaging 1.8 makes for a 39.2% clip from deep.
Hawks vs Heat SGP
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 20.5 points
Andrew Wiggins Over 15.5 points
Jalen Johnson Over 1.5 threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: Dimes for Dyson!
Dyson Daniels is on fire as a facilitator, cashing his assist Over in four straight games.
Hawks vs Heat SGP
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 20.5 points
Andrew Wiggins Over 15.5 points
Jalen Johnson Over 1.5 threes
Dyson Daniels Over 6.5 assists
Hawks vs Heat odds
Spread: Hawks +3 | Heat -3
Moneyline: Hawks +135 | Heat -155
Over/Under: Over 240.5 | Under 240.5
Hawks vs Heat betting trend to know
The Hawks have covered the spread in 28 of their last 45 road games for +9.3 units and a 19% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Hawks vs. Heat.
How to watch Hawks vs Heat
Location
Kaseya Center, Miami, FL
Date
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Southeast-Atlanta, FDSN Sun
Hawks vs Heat latest injuries
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MILWAUKEE, WI - SEPTEMBER 13: Brendan Donovan #33 of the St. Louis Cardinals rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the third inning during the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Saturday, September 13, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Aaron Gash/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
After the Naylor signing at the very outset of free agency, the Mariners went uncomfortably quiet until the buzzer-beater Brendan Donovan deal yesterday. While we’ll get into more specific breakdowns of the AL West rosters over spring training, we were curious: with this latest move, how do you feel about the Mariners lineup (or team as a whole) compared to the rest of the AL West? As a jumping-off point, here’s what we’re imagining for the Mariners starting nine:
Brendan Donovan
Julio Rodríguez
Cal Raleigh
Josh Naylor
Randy Arozarena
Dominic Canzone/Rob Refsnyder
Luke Raley/Victor Robles
Cole Young (Colt Emerson?)
J.P. Crawford
Feels a lot better than when we were trying to work Ben Williamson’s name into that, right? Spoken as a Ben Williamson truther.
Meanwhile, the now- Semienless Rangers look to line up like this:
Brandon Nimmo
Wyatt Langford
Corey Seager
Jake Burger
Josh Smith
Jac Pederson
Evan Carter
Kyle Higashioka
Josh Jung
The A’s lineup, featuring longtime Mariners fantasy trade target Jeff McNeil:
Nick Kurtz
Shea Langeliers
Tyler Soderstrom
Brent Rooker
Jeff McNeil
Jacob Wilson
Lawrence Butler
Max Muncy
Denzel Clarke
The oops-all-infield Astros:
Jeremy Peña
Yordan Álvarez
José Altuve
Carlos Correa
Isaac Paredes
Christian Walker
Yainer Díaz
Cam Smith
Jake Meyers
And the Angels:
Zach Neto
Nolan Schanuel
Mike Trout
Jo Adell
Yoan Moncada
Josh Lowe
Jorge Soler
Logan O’Hoppe
Christian Moore
I was listening to a Cardinals fan podcast and one of the hosts said, “if Brendan Donovan is the fifth or sixth best player on your team, you are a legitimate World Series contender” and was trying to think of which of these squads Donovan would be the “fifth or sixth best” player. While I’m not crazy about the right field mecha-platoon, I think the Mariners still check that box. I might put the A’s into that conversation too, if pitching wasn’t also a thing when considering World Series contenders. What do you think?
MILWAUKEE, WI - MAY 26: A television camera before the Baltimore Orioles and Milwaukee Brewers baseball game at Miller Park on May 26, 2014 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jeffrey Phelps/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After the Brewers chose to exit their contract with Main Street Sports Group (the parent company for FanDuel Sports Network), they were looking for a new broadcast partner for the upcoming season. Yesterday, they announced that MLB will produce and distribute their broadcasts in 2026. Brewers’ President of Business Operations Rick Schlesinger confirmed the arrangement in a press conference.
The new deal with MLB will ensure that broadcasts will remain uninterrupted through 2026. All 162 games for the Brewers will be available to watch in 2026, either through local distribution or through a national broadcaster. They will also all be available through MLB.TV, which is now owned by ESPN under their new media rights agreement. The exact schedule is still to be announced in the coming weeks. This will also include a selection of spring training games.
While there will be some changes to the distribution of games, overall the number of options will increase. Here’s the breakdown on how to watch games this year.
Streaming in-market: The Brewers will offer a TV package available to purchase directly. Pricing will be announced in the next few weeks as well. It will likely be similar to what the Cardinals announced, which is a $19.99 per month or $99.99 per year package. One important note is you will need to be in the Brewers’ broadcast zone to purchase this package. This includes all of Wisconsin and Iowa, as well as parts of Minnesota, Illinois, and the upper peninsula of Michigan. (These areas match up with the Brewers’ blackout zone.)
Streaming out-of-market: If you are not in the above areas, nothing changes. While the specific package for the Brewers will not be available, games will still be viewable through MLB.TV. The only restriction is that games in the local team’s market will be blacked out.
Cable/satellite TV: Games will still be available through select providers. The specific providers and channels have not been announced but will be in the upcoming weeks. (A selection of games will also be broadcast over-the-air locally.)
This means that games will be distributed to more people, including some who haven’t had a way to watch the Brewers in previous years. With the cable TV distribution model, viewing games in-market could be challenging. Disputes between cable providers and the channels distributing the games could mean that games were pulled off of TV packages for parts or all of the season. In addition, people not living close enough to the team could find themselves in zones where they had no TV option available but were still in the blackout zone so couldn’t watch through MLB.TV either. One of the biggest examples was the state of Iowa, who had no local team yet was claimed as a blackout zone by six different MLB teams.
The new arrangement is much simpler. People who are in the blackout zone still have the option to purchase a cable, satellite, or streaming TV package that includes the Brewers. They can also choose to buy a package direct from MLB for just the Brewers. Outside the blackout zone, MLB.TV remains the primary option. There will be some blackouts included based on local teams, but the majority of games will be viewable.
The Brewers are not the only new team that MLB will directly produce and distribute. Darragh McDonald of MLB Trade Rumors notes that the Cardinals, Marlins, Rays, Reds, and Royals will also fall under MLB’s umbrella. This means that at least 13 of the 30 teams will be produced by MLB in 2026. This also leaves just three teams — the Angels, Braves, and Tigers — still looking for a TV provider after the collapse of Main Street Sports. The Angels and Tigers will likely partner with MLB as well but are still reviewing their options. An additional factor for the Tigers is that the same group also owns the Red Wings, who are currently still under contract by Main Street Sports. As for the Braves, they may choose to start their own platform, similar to what the Rangers did last season. Depending on what they choose to do, MLB may produce the broadcasts for 16 of 30 teams — over half the league.
The main disadvantage of this arrangement is the money that the Brewers will receive. Even though the financial situation of Main Street Sports Group has been in question the last few years, they offered a more lucrative contract than MLB could. The exact numbers are not known, but in a recent post discussing payroll disparity, Travis Sawchik of MLB.com notes that teams earn about 50% of what they would earn with a traditional RSN deal. This is part of the reason that the Brewers have been reluctant to spend this offseason. McDonald also mentions in his article that MLB’s goal may be to hold on to these deals until after 2028. At that time, most of the broadcast deals expire, and these rights could be used as leverage in new deals.
As for Main Street Sports Group, they could be liquidated as soon as this week. Last week, Tom Friend of the Sports Business Journal reported that they could be forced to liquidate unless they reached last-minute deals with MLB teams (subscription required). Since several teams announced their partnership with MLB yesterday, that option has fallen through. While Main Street Sports intends to finish the NBA and NHL seasons, they reportedly missed their February payment to teams in both leagues as well. For now, those games will continue as planned, though regulations prohibit team officials from speaking on the current situation.
The new arrangement with MLB will make sure that Brewers’ games will be broadcast without interruption in the new season. There are still questions to resolve for revenue in the future, which is the main downside of this deal. At the same time, the demise of traditional regional sports networks continues, as well as the revenue they provided. The Brewers and other teams will have to adapt to this new reality, but for now, the games will continue to be viewable without interruption.
England completed a series whitewash as Jacob Bethell took four wickets for 11 runs after Sam Curran smashed 58
3rd over: England 14-2 (Buttler 10, Banton 0) Chameera’s reward for grabbing an early wicket was to be taken off, but it worked. On came Matheesha Pathirana, Sri Lanka’s slingshot, bearing yorkers. He nearly bowled Buttler and could have broken his toe, before switching to a good length and a wide line to dismiss Bethell. Buttler, deciding that attack is the best form of defence, gets aa streaky four from a Harrow drive. SL well on top.
Another one! Pathirana dishes up temptation, well oustide off, and Bethell takes the bait.
LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — Get ready for another celebration — a big one — if U.S. snowboarder Red Gerard wins another gold medal.
After missing the last go-round, Gerard’s family will return to the Winter Olympics to cheer him on. This year, he will have around 40 people on hand at the snow park in Livigno, doubling the number who traveled to PyeongChang and triggered an epic celebration when he took the gold in slopestyle eight years ago.
Gerard, 25, is making his third Olympic appearance. He is part of a close-knit family that includes sister, Tieghan, a food blogger who is hosting a big, family dinner in Milan halfway through the Games. Gerard will compete in big air, starting Thursday, then return to the mountains for slopestyle on Feb. 18.
Gerard’s family missed the 2022 Games in China due to COVID restrictions. Gerard finished fourth that year.
“They were bummed to miss Beijing,” Gerard said Monday during a news conference with the American snowboarders.
His teammates joked that you are more likely to see a Gerard than a local, given the number of family members coming.
Gerard said he doesn’t expect as rowdy party as in 2018. His brothers have had kids and mellowed out, he explained.
“Everyone’s kind of tamed out a little bit,” Gerard said. “Maybe a mellower crew but you kind of never know what you are getting with them.”
Darren Raddysh continues to be a huge weapon on the back end, averaging more than a point per game while generating shots at a high clip.
My Sabres vs. Lightning predictions expect Raddysh to stay hot in an advantageous positional matchup.
Let’s break down my NHL picks for Tuesday, February 3.
Sabres vs Lightning prediction
Sabres vs Lightning best bet: Darren Raddysh Over 2.5 shots (-120)
Darren Raddysh is a red-hot, one-man shooting gallery. He's averaged 3.8 shots on 7.9 attempts over his last 10 games, going Over this line in eight of them.
Victor Hedman’s return made no impact on his usage. He continued to quarterback the top power play — a unit that scored three times in the Stadium Series game — and saw a steady dose of minutes at 5-on-5.
Raddysh attempted 12 shots, recorded a pair of points, and flirted with 30 minutes of ice time. He’ll be just fine with Hedman back.
The 29-year-old has a nice matchup to keep ripping the puck, as the Buffalo Sabres rank 29th in shot suppression vs. the right blueline over the past 10 games, and that’s where a healthy chunk of Raddysh’s volume comes from.
The Sabres sit 26th in that regard, so it’s not a matter of a dip in play for an otherwise strong side at defending that area. They've bled shots there all year.
With the Sabres also in a road back-to-back after an emotional divisional win against the defending Stanley Cup winners, Raddysh and the rested Tampa Bay Lightning should be able to enjoy plenty of time on the front foot.
Sabres vs Lightning same-game parlay
Jake Guentzel leads the Lightning in high-danger chances over the past five games, but only scored in one of them. Playing for a sizable home favorite in a game with a 6.5 total, this is a good spot for him to find twine.
The Lightning are a strong shot suppression team, but that shouldn’t matter too much for Jason Zucker.
He's recorded multiple shots in nine of his past 10 road games, including against the Panthers, Islanders, Canadiens, Jets, and Flyers — all strong defensive teams or lower-pace opponents.
Darren Raddysh has gone Over 2.5 shots in seven of his last 10 home games. Find more NHL betting trends for Sabres vs. Lightning.
How to watch Sabres vs Lightning
Location
Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, FL
Date
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Puck drop
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
HULU, ESPN+
Sabres vs Lightning 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
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 23: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball against the Denver Nuggets during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum on January 23, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Right after I wrote my previous Giannis piece predicting that this saga will drag out into the summer, Shams reported that the Bucks are now listening to offers on their franchise player. I’m still not convinced that he’ll be moved before the deadline, but this might just be the jinx that’ll result in a trade.
So far, the Warriors, Wolves, Knicks, and Heat have been the teams most aggressively pursuing Giannis. Importantly, every team in the league can offer most assets in the summer given that more picks will be eligible to be dealt, which is why Milwaukee should be in no hurry to deal their star. That includes the Bucks themselves, who only have one tradable first (2026) currently but will have three to offer in the offseason. If Milwaukee attempts a last-second hail mary to entice Giannis to stay, they could deal their two future firsts for a star while adding a lottery talent with their pick this year, which could end up as high as the #2 selection. That might be the unlikeliest scenario given where we stand today, but it’s worth noting given that Milwaukee has never signaled any desire to deal their star and Giannis himself has never turned down a max contract offer either.
Speaking of an extension, the timing of a potential trade would affect when the Greek Freak can sign his next contract too. If he’s dealt before the deadline, his new team could present a max offer in October (which is also when Milwaukee can), but if he’s traded in the summer, they would need to wait another six months before being able to extend him. I doubt this could affect the max contract coming his way, but Giannis would naturally feel a lot more comfortable putting pen to paper as soon as possible, especially considering his recent injury history. He has enough power in the organization to demand a trade before the deadline, although it’s unlikely given how non-commital he’s been throughout this saga — stranger things have happened in the NBA, though (see: one year ago).
Enough preamble, let’s get to the fun part: trades! We’ll go through the teams that have already shown interest and dark horse candidates lurking to make a surprise offer out of nowhere.
Golden State Warriors
Tradable firsts: 4
Intriguing players: Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski
Golden State has the most firsts they can offer out of the quintet of teams who’ve shown the most interest in Giannis and can put together the most enticing package without having to make additional moves. They don’t have a blue-chip young player, but the Warriors will be forced to use one of Jimmy or Draymond to salary match — both of whom could be flipped for even more picks. Crucially, those firsts also extend to the latter part of this decade and into the 2030s, when Steph will likely be retired and Giannis will either be past his prime or on another team entirely. If there’s one team whose picks could become lottery tickets, it would be Golden State’s.
Miami Heat
Tradable firsts: 2
Intriguing players: Tyler Herro, Andrew Wiggins, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr.
The Heat don’t have as firsts as Golden State but the players they can offer are much more intriguing. Tyler Herro was an All-Star as recently as last season and can be used to salary match, and Kel’el Ware is one of the best prospects who could realistically be included in any package for Giannis. Interestingly, the Hornets have Miami’s 2027 protected first that could convey to a 2028 unprotected pick, and due to the Stepian rule, this prevents the Heat from dealing any of their 2027, 2028, or 2029 firsts. However, if they add a sweetener to Charlotte and convince them to change that pick to just a 2028 unprotected first, that would give Miami a third pick to throw in a Giannis deal. Given the Heat’s infrastructure, those picks won’t be as juicy as Golden State’s, but their young players are much more intriguing.
The X-Factor: Portland Trailblazers
Tradable firsts: Milwaukee’s own unprotected 2029 first, and unprotected swaps in 2028 and 2030
Before diving into the Wolves’ and Knicks’ potential offers, we need to discuss the Blazers first, and that’s because Portland owns Milwaukee’s unprotected 2028 and 2030 swaps, and an unprotected first in 2029. I doubt the Blazers would want to trade for Giannis outright, but they could act as a crucial broker between Milwaukee and another team who would send assets to Portland in exchange for them sending Milwaukee their picks back. This would be especially likely if the Wolves and Knicks want to enter the bidding war, and it’s worth noting that Giannis is rumored to want to play with Jrue again.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Tradable firsts: 0(only one swap in 2028)
Intriguing players: Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, Donte DiVincenzo
The Wolves will need to involve a third team in order to make a Giannis trade work due to the lack of draft compensation they can offer. Randle and Gobert are both having All-Star-level seasons, but McDaniels should have the most value out of the three: he’s averaging 14.9 points on 51.2/44.5/84.9 splits, and I could see him breaking out with a bigger role like what Mikal Bridges did in Brooklyn. The likeliest path to Minnesota getting in on Giannis would be trading one or both of Randle/Gobert for a boatload of picks to re-route to Milwaukee, along with McDaniels. Portland would be the most obvious third team to facilitate such a deal since they could give back the Bucks’ own picks, but they’d likely only be interested in McDaniels too. This is why three-team trades are so difficult to execute, and the Wolves will need to make a number of side deals to even get into Milwaukee’s attention.
New York Knicks
Tradable firsts: 1
Intriguing players: Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Deuce McBride
Similar to Minnesota, New York is devoid of draft capital currently, but will have three firsts to offer in the summer. If we focus on the present, though, the only way the Knicks could get Giannis is by trading at least one of KAT/Bridges/OG for picks and offering those to Milwaukee along with McBride, their only intriguing young player. If they choose to involve Portland, the Blazers would likely have interest in one of New York’s wings, but I’m not sure if they’re worth giving up Milwaukee’s picks for. Again, an almost impossible deal to execute, and the Knicks will have a much higher chance of landing Giannis if he either demands to go to NY, or this drags into the summer.
Dark horse teams
Orlando Magic: The Magic have had a turbulent season, with Paolo being a significant reason for that. Would they ever consider putting their so-called franchise cornerstone on the table for Giannis? Such a trade would need to happen in the offseason given that Paolo is poison-pilled currently, but if it happens, the Bucks would be hard-pressed to find a more intriguing young player to acquire.
Cleveland Cavaliers: The exact same can be said for the Cavs if you swap Mobley in for Paolo. A DPOY winner and All-NBA player as recently as last season, Mobley hasn’t taken the offensive jump many envisioned, and the Cavs could be in for some big changes if they flame out in the playoffs again. Another wrinkle in this is Donovan Mitchell’s future, with 2026-27 being the last guaranteed year remaining in his deal. With that in mind, would Cleveland be more hesitant to go all-in, or would they go in the opposite direction and trade everything for potentially their last hurrah next season?
San Antonio Spurs: Let’s make one thing clear: San Antonio has given no indications that they’re interested in Giannis and has always said that they’re building on Wemby’s timeline. I’m listing them here purely because they have the exact package Milwaukee is after: blue chip prospects like Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, and a boatload of firsts to offer (4+). Given the amount of draft capital they have, there’s a better chance that the Spurs would use their picks as a facilitator for another team to acquire Giannis, with San Antonio getting a young player who fits with their core in return.
Houston Rockets: Like San Antonio, Houston hasn’t expressed any interest in Giannis but has young players like Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun to include in a theoretical package, along with a plethora of picks. However, they said the same before trading for KD last summer, and given that he’ll turn 38 in September, the Rockets might be more inclined to make an all-in move in the summer if they flame out in the playoffs.
Other players and teams to monitor before the deadline
Michael Podcast Jr.: Possibly the hottest name on the market outside of Giannis, no one is sure if MPJ will even get moved, but his trade value will never be higher. The Nets could feasibly fetch two firsts for him if they drum up a bidding war, which essentially means that they’d have fetched 3 firsts from the original Cam Johnson trade. Given MPJ’s seamless fit into any team and his all-star level production this year, he may very well swing the title race — if he’s moved.
Ayo Dosunmu & Coby White: The Bulls will likely keep one, if not both of White and Dosunmu to aid their quest for the 100th consecutive 39-43 season, but any semi-competent franchise would have put them on the market already — especially given how cheap Reinsdorf is. Both guards will become UFAs this summer and are due for big raises, but it wouldn’t be shocking if they fetched first-rounders each. White is an offensive dynamo who can bomb from deep while Dosunmu provides more two-way value, and they’re capable of being a 4th/5th starter or an elite sixth man on any contender.
Boston Celtics: No one predicted that Boston would be on pace for over 50 wins without Jayson Tatum, whose potential return is still in question. Given their success, would management be willing to buy at the deadline, even if it means going deeper into the luxury tax and potentially back into the second apron? With the Celtics only $12 million above the tax line, they could even go the opposite direction and shed salary by trading depth pieces like Simons ($27.7 million) and Hauser ($10 million) for cheaper but comparable players. It all depends on how far the organization believes they can go this year, and whether or not Tatum will actually return.
Cleveland Cavaliers and… James Harden(???): The Cavs’ trade with Chicago and Sacramento wasn’t just to dump a struggling DeAndre Hunter for two useful players — they also saved roughly $40 million in luxury tax simply by making this deal. That’s a crucial thing to keep in mind when looking at other deals they could make, which might include… James Harden??? Late Monday night, Shams reported that the Beard is looking for a new home, and shortly after, Chris Mannix followed up by saying that the Clippers and Cavs have engaged in talks surrounding a Garland/Harden swap.
Excuse me??
Yes, Harden is a decade older than Garland, but he’s also been much better this year and has a partially guaranteed deal next season, whereas Garland is signed through the 27-28 campaign. Given that Cleveland has already shed salary in the Hunter deal, a potential Garland/Harden swap is further proof that they’d like to clear up their books for this summer and next season. Could that be related to a Giannis trade? Only time will tell, but there’s no doubt that the Cavs have suddenly become arguably the most interesting team to monitor at the deadline.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 20: Joe Musgrove #44 of the San Diego Padres gestures before the game against the Kansas City Royals at Petco Park on June 20, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Joe Musgrove - Getty Images
Joe Musgrove is returning to the field for the San Diego Padres for the 2026 season. His health and availability will be the keys to keeping him on the mound and Thomas Conroy of Gaslamp Ball says his results will be a determining factor in whether the Padres reach the postseason. Musgrove missed the 2025 season recovering from Tommy John surgery and has said in recent interviews he is looking forward to toeing the slab for San Diego throughout the season and into October.
Padres News:
The most exciting move of the offseason for the Padres was re-signing Michael King. The right-hander had an up-and-down season in 2025 as a result of a nerve injury and a resulting knee injury, but when he was on the mound, he was one of the best pitchers in the rotation. Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune looks at what King can provide the Padres in 2026 in his latest installment of the Padres roster review.
The catcher position was a question mark in 2024 and 2025, but the Padres enter the 2026 season knowing Freddy Fermin will be behind the plate. He learned his craft behind future Hall of Famer Salvador Perez as a member of the Kansas City Royals. Fermin came to the Padres as a surprising trade deadline move and stabilized the catching position in San Diego. He enters this season as the starter and Luis Campusano will have his chance to earn the backup role.
Keith Law of The Athletic previously ranked the San Diego minor league system as the worst farm system in MLB. He focused solely on Padres prospects for his recent rankings, which assigned individual rankings to various players in the San Diego system including Ethan Salas, Kruz Schoolcraft and Kash Mayfield among others.
Major League Baseball will take over broadcasts for six additional teams, including the Milwaukee Brewers, Miami Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds. The Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angles and Atlanta Braves have not decided if they will join MLB.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MARCH 29: Connor Wong #12 of the Boston Red Sox, Romy Gonzalez #23 of the Boston Red Sox, David Hamilton #17 of the Boston Red Sox, and Garrett Whitlock #22 of the Boston Red Sox look on during the National Anthem before a game against the Texas Rangers on March 29, 2025 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning! Yet another infield option is off the board, as the Seattle Mariners acquired All-Star Brendan Donavan in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals yesterday. Perhaps you’re still holding out hope for an Isaac Paredes deal, but it’s looking increasingly likely that the Red Sox will head into Opening Day with Marcelo Mayer at third and a second base platoon of David Hamilton and Romy Gonzalez.
Gonzalez had a career year last year, putting up 2.0 bWAR, while David Hamilton rebounded from a horrible start to post 1 bWAR. A three-win second base platoon isn’t the worst thing in the world, but it carries a lot of risk given the limited track records of both players. And let’s not forget that the left side of the infield will be manned by an unproven prospect and a 33-year-old, both of whom struggle to stay healthy. Things could get ugly in the infield rather quickly if the Sox get a few bad breaks.
Are you happy with Romy and Davy at second, or is there someone else out there you want the Sox to target?
Talk about that, whatever else you want, and, as always, be good to one another.
We are here — NBA trade deadline week. Before things potentially get wild, we examined what’s transpired with some individual players of late and whether their play is a sign of good or bad things to come.
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Remember Ty Jerome? 2024-25 NBA Sixth Man of the Year candidate, Ty Jerome? Well, he just played his first couple of games of the season for Memphis, and immediately, he gets the “stock up” classification. Jerome being immediately thrown into the Grizzlies’ starting lineup in his first game back from injury is quite indicative of what the organization thinks of him and how they plan on showcasing him, if you ask me. And, of course, going for 20 points and six assists in his season debut, and then following with a 19/6/8 line two days later, is important. The sample size needs to grow, and the productivity probably needs to sustain longer for any real take to generate from me. However, it seems as though two successful performances are enough to at least warrant some optimism about the heights Jerome could reach the rest of the season.
Of everything that’s formulated over in New Orleans this season, Saddiq Bey being one of the Pelicans’ most reliable players isn’t something I necessarily had on my Bingo card. Yet, here we are, as the 26-year-old wing out of Vilanova is averaging a career-high in points and just recently finished January with averages of 21.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.4 three-pointers per game on 48.5/44.4/89.2 shooting splits. And while Monday’s eight-point performance on poor shooting in a loss to the Hornets isn’t the way he would have liked to start February, it shouldn’t be an indicator of things to come. Bey has been good throughout the season and has turned himself into a consistent scorer. More good things could be on the way.
Dillon Brooks — SF/PF, Suns
Here’s an appreciation post to Dillon Brooks, whose game continues to ascend in his first season as a Phoenix Sun. While shouldering a heavier offensive load in Devin Booker’s absence (ankle injury), Brooks has notched five 20-point games in all five of Booker’s recent missed games, with a 40-piece sprinkled in there during the Suns’ win over the Pistons toward the end of January. The veteran forward also has at least two three-pointers in these games, while averaging 1.0 steals over that time. There’s no need to speculate whether Brooks will keep this aggressive approach while Phoenix is undermanned; in reality, fantasy managers shouldn’t expect him to dial things back once Booker, and to a lesser extent, Jalen Green, are back in the lineup.
It seems like I add a different Pelicans player to this part of the column every other week, which is totally unintentional. Nonetheless, it’s been almost two weeks now since Jones’ return from injury and, despite logging heavy minutes, he hasn’t seemed to find his fit or rhythm with this group in his six appearances over that time. Fortunately, the defensive stats have protected him from sinking even farther in fantasy leagues. Yet, the offensive numbers since January 23rd haven’t been great. Whether there’s roster movement at the deadline for New Orleans or not, it’s not easy to see a path for Jones to find fantasy basketball relevance. But, hey, maybe that changes as he gets more games under his belt.
Deni Avdija — SG/SF/PF, Trail Blazers
The Trail Blazers are in a slump — a five-game losing streak, to be precise — and their best player either hasn’t been available or his production during that time has paled in comparison to what he showed consistently for most of the season en route to becoming a first-time NBA All-Star. Avdija, over his last three appearances (two during the losing streak), has averaged 12.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 41.0 percent from the floor. To be fair, there’s a recent back injury he’s continuing to work through, and once healthy, he’ll likely return to form and become a near-30-point triple-double threat again on a nightly basis. But for the sake of this exercise, Stock Down.
Karl-Anthony Towns — PF/C, Knicks
Stock…down? If rebounding is a priority, then Anthony-Towns has been a productive piece for those specific fantasy managers in need — he’s collected double-digit rebounds four times during the New York’s current six-game winning streak, twice reaching at least 20 boards. Yet, his offensive output, part of what has made him an impactful and high-upside center in fantasy leagues, has been mostly absent. The veteran center is 12.3 points on 10.1 shot attempts per game, and has totaled just 17 assists and seven three-pointers during the win streak. To his credit, Towns’ approach and apparent sacrifice on that end of the floor seems to be working out fine for the surging Knicks. But from a fantasy basketball perspective, there is certainly a lot of meat left on the bone.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 08: Ben Williamson #9 of the Seattle Mariners warms up ahead of game four of the American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on October 08, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Williamson is known for his plus plus defense, but he’s struggled to translate his college and minor league hitting success to the majors. The Mariners promoted Williamson early in 2025, but sent him back to Triple A Tacoma to work on his hitting. He had a very good run in Tacoma, hitting .314 with a bit more pop. The Mariners included him on the Division Series roster, but he did not play.
Williamson attended the Mariners Fanfest in Seattle yesterday, and there he was interviewed by Kate Preusser of Lookout Landing, our sister site.
Among the most interesting things from the interview is hearing how a 25-year-old baseball hopeful manages the emotions of baseball’s ups and downs.
For Williamson, his 2025 promotion, coming just two years after he was drafted, was a big boost.
“I think that that was the biggest thing for me, is just kind of proving to myself that I belong here and I can at least compete right now.”
But if the promotion was a confidence boost, the July relegation to Triple A was harder to deal with. We see players sent down to the minors all the time and we probably don’t give it much thought, but imagine if your bosses gave you a major promotion and then a few month later said, “well, actually, we don’t think you are ready for this.” It would be devastating!
In Williamson’s words:
Yeah, when I got sent down, the first thing going through my head was like, I can’t be mad. Like, I’m going down here to work on stuff. And honestly, like, I think that was a big mistake, because part of me was really frustrated.
Clearly his first impulse was to, well, suck it up, go about the task of “working on stuff” and not admitting how much it stung.
So when stuff started not going well in triple A kind of snowballed a little bit. So I think going forward, like just being able to recognize when I’m frustrated and kind of let myself feel that, accept that it’s human to feel that, and just kind of build off of that and use it as motivation going forward.
In other words, he learned it’s a mistake to bury negative emotions, which only leads to digging a bigger hole.
Fortunately, he had support in getting to a better emotional place.
Talking to [my fiancee] helped out a lot, but … during that period, … I was a very closed book, and it took her, like, kind of like egging me on a little bit to kind of open up and kind of really explore that, that side of it. Because I was kind of confused at first while so frustrated. And I think that, like, once I figured out, okay, I was frustrated from this, but like, now I can finally move on from it, instead of kind of holding on to it.
You can imagine how hard it is to feel let down, disappointed in yourself and frustrated, and to be able to share that with someone.
Looking ahead, Williamson hopes to take some of that new-found equanimity into the 2026 season.
For me, not having expectations is kind of what’s going to let me be free. Because as soon as I start putting expectations on myself, I feel like I start putting pressure on myself, start getting in my head. Things start to speed up on me a little bit if I’m not performing to the level I want to perform at.
Although Williamson knows he has to improve his hitting to stay in the majors, on a daily basis it’s his outstanding glove that will keep him competitive.
I mean, …just knowing that the glove will help the team win, and the bats just kind of a plus, like, that’s the biggest thing for me. What I pride myself on, like, just being fundamentally sound and knowing that if a ground ball is hit to me, I’m gonna get an out, and that’s what I can bank on.
Williamson comes with a reputation for “coachability,” baseball for “he is willing to take advice and he’s proven he has a learning curve.” Kate Preusser spoke to those who have worked with him as his skills have developed, and perhaps my favorite quotation, From Pat McKenna, who coached him in college:
“He was doing okay,” says McKenna, “but it wasn’t like, oh man, this guy is going to be a dude.”
We are beyond grateful to Lookout Landing and Kate Preusser for generously sharing this interview so that Rays fans could get to know their new player.
Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks (19-30) look to snap their four-game losing streak tonight on NBC and Peacock when they take the court against Jaylen Brown and the surprising Boston Celtics (31-18) at American Airlines Center.
No question the Celtics are one of the bigger surprises in the entire NBA this season. Winners of seven of their last ten, Boston is tied for first in the Atlantic Division despite losing Jayson Tatum (Achilles) last May, and trading/not resigning Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday,and Al Horford in the offseason. Yet here they sit challenging the Pistons and Knicks for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Led by the rookie Flagg, the Mavericks won more games in January (7) than in any previous month this season. The rookie out of Duke has been the complete player he was advertised as heading into the Draft. In just his last two games, Flagg scored 83 points, pulled down 22 rebounds, and picked up eight assists. Oh, and he has blocked one shot in each game.
This is the first of two regular season meetings between these teams. They will meet in Boston on March 6.
Lets take a closer look at the matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch Live: Celtics at Mavericks
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Game Odds: Celtics at Mavericks
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Boston Celtics (-270), Dallas Mavericks (+220)
Spread: Celtics -6.5
Total: 222.5 points
This game opened Celtics -7.5 with the Total set at 223.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Celtics at Mavericks
Boston Celtics
PG Payton Pritchard
SG Derrick White
SF Jaylen Brown
PF Sam Hauser
C Neemias Queta
Dallas Mavericks
PG Cooper Flagg
SG Max Christie
SF Naji Marshall
PF Caleb Martin
C Daniel Gafford
Injury Report: Celtics at Mavericks
Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum (Achilles) remains OUT for the Celtics
Dallas Mavericks
Anthony Davis (finger) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Dereck Lively II (foot) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
P.J. Washington (head) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Kyrie Irving (knee) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Brandon Williams (leg) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Important stats, trends and insights: Celtics at Mavericks
The Mavericks are 14-14 at home this season
The Celtics are 15-10 on the road this season
The Mavericks are 23-26 ATS this season
The Celtics are 27-22 ATS this season
The OVER has cashed in 21 of the Mavericks’ 49 games this season (21-28)
The OVER has cashed in 19 of the Celtics’ 49 games this season (19-30)
Jaylen Brown is on pace for career highs in scoring (29.4 ppg – 4th in NBA), assists (4.8 apg) and FGM/gm (10.8)
Brown has 26 games this season with 30+ points, tied for 3rd most in the NBA (in 63 games last regular season, Brown had a total of 9 games with 30+ points)
Boston is 2nd in the NBA in both three pointers made per game (15.6) and three pointers attempted per game (42.4)
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Celtics and Mavericks’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Mavericks +6.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 221.5
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ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 01: Detail of a television during a press conference announcing the retirement of Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker at Truist Park on October 1, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin D. Liles/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Quickly piggybacking on yesterday’s news, the question is simple.
What’s your excitement level?
In theory, it doesn’t have to be very different. MLB.tv is still MLB.tv for out-of-market folks like me, though this may offer you a cheaper monthly option than A) buying all teams through MLB.tv or B) whatever FanDuel direct-to-consumer option previously existed, which of course bundled a bunch of non-Braves stuff too. It won’t have the FanDuel branding, which I guess could be a plus? Maaaybeee there’s more Braves-relevant programming eventually, though that’s clearly not the Braves’ main concern at this time given that they have about a month to get things up and running to be able to cover Spring Training.
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 30: James Harden #1 of the Los Angeles Clippers dribbles the ball during the game against the Denver Nuggets on January 30, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Los Angeles Clippers have been the hottest team in the Western Conference coming into the NBA trade deadline. After a horrible 6-21 start, the Clippers rallied to win 17 of their next 22 games to give them a legit shot at making the Western Conference playoffs. Just when it seemed like the Clippers were headed in the right direction, star point guard James Harden decided to throw their season off course.
There’s already a clubhouse leader to land Harden at the deadline, but no deal is done yet. With the trade deadline looming on Thursday, Feb. 5, here’s three potential fake trades for Harden.
Cleveland Cavaliers’ James Harden trade idea
Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland is the biggest rumor out there right now. This deal gets it done. The Cavs reportedly want a pick swap included, but LA is rightfully resisting. It’s hard to figure out who should be getting draft compensation in this deal, and in this offer I threw Cleveland a future second-round pick for their trouble. Garland is only 26 years old, making him 10 years younger than Harden, but he’s dealt with constant injury issues over the last few years. His big toe injury doomed Cleveland’s playoff run last season after a 64-win regular season, and he hasn’t been able to get healthy this year. You never trade young for old in the NBA, but if Garland can’t stay healthy, does that guideline really need to be followed? This trade would infringe on the Clippers’ 2027 cap space as Garland is locked up through 2028, but he’s good enough and young enough when healthy to make it worth it for LA.
Houston Rockets’ James Harden trade idea
This is my favorite fake Harden trade, one that returns him to Houston where he spent the best years of his career. The Rockets need a lead guard at the deadline, and there still aren’t many better than Harden. Fred VanVleet is out for the season, and Dorian Finney-Smith has barely played after signing in Houston this summer as a free agent. The Clippers include a 2028 first-round pick — they can haggle about the protections — which would be great for such a pick-deprived organization. Harden and Kevin Durant would put the Rockets into immediate win-now mode, but that pairing looked electric last time we saw it in Brooklyn. Add in Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and Reed Sheppard, and this team looks legit for a playoff run this year.
Atlanta Hawks’ James Harden trade idea
This deal sending Harden to the Atlanta Hawks would essentially be a salary dump for the Clippers, which is disappointing given how well they’ve been playing lately. Kristaps Porzingis has been awesome when he’s healthy for the Hawks, but he’s never healthy, and he’s currently sidelined with an Achilles strain in addition to the illness he’s been battling for more than a year. This trade would keep the Clippers’ 2027 cap space clean, and give Atlanta a new lead guard after they traded Trae Young earlier in the year.
What’s your favorite fake James Harden trade?
I tried to get him to the Minnesota Timberwolves, but the salaries don’t work out. Would you even want Harden as a GM given his legendary playoff failures? Is anyone giving him an $80 million contract at his age? Leave your suggests in the comments.
Kurt Helin
Raphielle Johnson
