Nebraska's Rienk Mast and Jamarques Lawrence sent a message to the home fans after their victory Friday night over No. 9 Michigan State: Thanks for the support, but please quit storming the court. Fans poured onto the floor at the final buzzer to celebrate the 58-56 victory that extended the 13th-ranked Cornhuskers' program-best start to 14-0. “If you're the No. 13 against the No. 9 and you’re at home, in my opinion, you’re supposed to win that game,” Mast said.
No. 13 Nebraska remains unbeaten with 58-56 win over No. 9 Spartans, extends streak to 18 games
Rienk Mast hit the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 1:51 left and finished with 19 points to lead No. 13 Nebraska to a 58-56 victory over No. 9 Michigan State on Friday night.
Kamario Taylor injury update: Mississippi State QB carted off with gruesome leg injury
Freshman quarterback Kamario Taylor was carted off the field following a sever leg injury in the final minutes of the Dukes Mayo Bowl vs. Wake Forest
Morez Johnson Jr. scores career-high 29 as No. 2 Michigan beats No. 24 USC
Michigan is off to its best start since it won 17 straight games to start the 2018-19 season. Jaden Brownell scored 16 points and Erza Ausar added 15 for the Trojans (12-2, 1-2), whose only previous loss was by eight points against Washington on Dec. 6. Chad Baker-Mazara, who came into the game averaging 21 points, was hampered by early foul trouble and finished with 12 points on 3-of-11 shooting.
Tyon Grant-Foster helps No. 7 Gonzaga survive challenge from Seattle and win 80-72 in overtime
Tyon Grant-Foster made three straight baskets in overtime to give No. 7 Gonzaga its first lead since early in the first half, and the Bulldogs rallied for an 80-72 win over Seattle on Friday night in the first meeting between the cross-state programs since 1980. Braden Huff scored 28 points and Graham Ike added 24 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulldogs (15-1, 3-0 West Coast Conference), who trailed by eight points at halftime and by 13 early in the second half. Gonzaga won its eighth straight game since being blown out by current No. 2 Michigan in the Players Era Festival in late November.
Momcilovic’s 8 3-pointers, Jefferson’s triple-double lead No. 3 Iowa State past Mountaineers 80-59
Milan Momcilovic made eight 3-pointers and scored 26 points, Joshua Jefferson had a triple-double and No. 3 Iowa State beat West Virginia 80-59 in its Big 12 opener Friday night. The Cyclones' 14-0 start matched the 2013-14 team for the best in program history. Iowa State broke open a close game late in the first half, going on a 20-7 run that Blake Buchanan started and finished with dunks.
Knicks lament season-worst three-point shooting in loss to Hawks: 'We just didn't have it'
The Knicks have now learned the hard way that both superb and pitiful shooting displays from three-point range can be found in losing streaks.
Just two days after draining a monstrous 22 threes in a New Year's Eve road loss to the Spurs, New York posed no threat from beyond the arc, missing a ghastly 33-of-42 shots from deep in a flat 111-99 home loss to the Hawks.
While the Knicks played shorthanded, ultimately lacking the size and scoring threats to keep pace with Atlanta, the rough performance at Madison Square Garden couldn't have been anticipated.
They shot a season-worst 21 percent from three, and were held below 100 points for the first time.
To make matters worse, the Knicks struggled once again to defend with ample physicality and energy. They allowed the Hawks to score 58 points inside the paint, and by committing 15 total turnovers, another 19 points were tacked on in transition.
"If the shot's not falling, where else are we going to hang our hat? It has to be on the defensive end of the floor," Knicks head coach Mike Brown said. "We didn't get it done throughout most of the game tonight... I thought we had some good looks that we normally knock down with the guys that are taking them, but you can't take away from what Atlanta did."
The absences of Karl-Anthony Towns (illness), Josh Hart (ankle), and Mitchell Robinson (ankle) on Friday placed pressure on Jalen Brunson to pull more weight than usual. And while the Knicks' captain embraced the challenge, scoring a game-high 24 points, he contributed to the three-point swoon, making just one on eight attempts.
"We just didn't have it tonight. I know that's a terrible, lame-ass excuse, but we let shot-making affect our overall gameplay," said Brunson, named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for December. "That includes our pace, sense of urgency, everything. Just wasn't our solid basketball today."
Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby were fruitless from deep, too, finishing a combined 4 for 17. Miles McBride, thrust into the starting lineup, made a pair of quick first-quarter threes but then missed eight of nine from there.
"There's no excuse, we've just got to be better," Bridges said. "It is what it is, you've got to learn from it and get ready for tomorrow. Obviously we're missing three key guys, but we've got everybody else in this locker room to come in and step up."
The Knicks' low energy through three quarters of action prompted boos from fans, and Brown acknowledged their noise and frustrations. They've now dropped back-to-back games for the first time since losing three straight in late October.
Watch Giannis Antetokounmpo throw down game-winning alley-oop, Bucks top Hornets 122-121
Two nights before, the Milwaukee Bucks had the kind of loss a team trying to climb back into the playoff picture can't afford when CJ McCollum hit the game-winner for the Wizards.
Friday night looked like it could be another one of those games, but then Giannis Antetokounmpo did this.
GIANNIS PUTS THE BUCKS BACK IN FRONT!
— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2026
4.7 SECONDS LEFT. HORNETS BALL.
Watch here: https://t.co/64swtuVGs7pic.twitter.com/vwlvRxcQOc
In a wild game where the lead changed hands three times in the last 10.5 seconds, that shot proved to be the game-winner, and Milwaukee got the 122-121 victory at home.
Antetokounmpo finished with 30 points and 10 rebounds on the night. Ryan Rollins had had another big game for Milwaukee with 29 points and eight assists, while Bobby Portis added 20 points.
Rookie sensation Kon Knueppel led the Hornets with 26 points, while Miles Bridges scored 25, and Brandon Miller added 19. LaMelo Ball had 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting, with seven assists.
Morez Johnson Jr. scores career-high 29 points in No. 2 Michigan’s 96-66 win over No. 24 USC
Morez Johnson Jr. scored a career-high 29 points, including 17 in the first half, and No. 2 Michigan beat No. 24 Southern California 96-66 on Friday night.
Freshman Ebuka Okorie leads Stanford to an 80-76 win over No. 16 Louisville
Freshman Ebuka Okorie scored 28 points, Benny Gealer made a crucial pair of free throws with 8.2 seconds left, and Stanford beat No. 16 Louisville 80-76 on Friday. Okorie shot 9 of 18 and went 8 of 10 on free throws in 38 minutes to pace Stanford (12-3, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) to its first win over a ranked opponent since beating then-No. 4 Arizona on Dec. 31, 2023.
No. 2 Michigan routs No. 24 USC, becomes first team since 1996-97 to beat 3 ranked opponents by 30-plus points
The Wolverines didn't even have their best stuff offensively, but they still flirted with another 100-point outing.
Knicks' Josh Hart doing light court work, to be reevaluated in one week
The Knicks will be shorthanded a bit longer.
The team announced following Friday's disappointing loss to the Atlanta Hawks that Josh Hart has begun doing some light court work, and he will be reevaluated in one week.
Hart, of course, has missed the last four games due to a sprained ankle suffered during the fourth quarter of the Christmas Day victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
He did not travel with the team during their recent road trip and was still being evaluated.
Though Hart will be out a bit longer, it's a good sign that he's able to get back on the court in some capacity.
The veteran small forward was enjoying his best stretch of the season prior to the injury, averaging 14.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists over his last 13 games.
New York has received nice boosts in his absence, but they could certainly use his high-energy all-around play.
Knicks lack offensive rhythm, defensive physicality in rough 111-99 loss to Hawks
The return home from a brutal New Year's Eve loss and the welcomed calendar flip to 2026 didn't solve recent struggles for the Knicks, as they struggled mightily to score and defend in a frustrating 111-99 loss to the Hawks on Friday night at Madison Square Garden.
Here are the takeaways...
-- As if the Knicks' depth needed to be tested further -- Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson have missed the last four and three games, respectively, due to injury -- they entered Friday night with yet another impact player unavailable. Karl-Anthony Towns, initially listed as questionable with an illness, was downgraded to out prior to tip-off. The absence of Towns pushed Miles McBride into the starting five for a 10th time this season, and with Robinson also sidelined, Ariel Hukporti received his fourth start. The Knicks have now produced 10 different starting lineups over 34 games.
-- McBride quickly took advantage of his elevated role, draining a pair of threes that helped the Knicks climb out to an early 11-2 lead. While all five Knicks starters added points within the first four minutes of play, the Hawks gradually collected themselves, producing a sudden 14-3 run that knotted the score at 16-16 by the 7:33 mark. From there, both teams attacked with steady ball movement for lead changes, but an uptick in scoring from the Hawks placed them ahead by three, 33-30, after 12 minutes.
-- The Hawks opened the second quarter with six quick points that prompted the Knicks to burn a timeout, trailing by nine. After the break in action, Jordan Clarkson made a three to cut the Knicks' deficit back down to six, but their hole reached double digits with 2:40 left in the half, and then an imposing 15 with 1:16 to go. The combination of sluggish offense and weak defense in the paint made The Garden crowd restless. At the break, the Knicks trailed, 60-47, shooting just 5 of 24 from three with Jalen Brunson as the leading scorer (11). Not up to snuff, considering the team made a whopping 22 shots from beyond the arc in Wednesday's loss to the Spurs. Overall, the Knicks lacked a sense of urgency on both ends of the floor.
-- The deficit ballooned to 19 after just 90 seconds of third-quarter play, prompting the Knicks to call a timeout with some desperation for a spark. Shrewdly, the Hawks maintained control by directing all attention and physicality toward Brunson, the shorthanded Knicks' lone catalyst. By the 4:06 mark, the Knicks trailed by a season-worst 24 points, and efforts from Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby with the ball were subpar -- they combined for 18 points on 5 of 17 shooting after three quarters. A smaller Knicks defense, struggling to win 50-50 balls, also had no answer for Hawks star Jalen Johnson, who needed just 28 minutes of court time to log a triple-double.
-- Better late than never, Bridges and Anunoby provided some much-needed energy early in the fourth quarter, orchestrating an 11-0 run that cut the Knicks' deficit from 24 to 13 with 8:54 left and forced a Hawks timeout. But the momentum shift was short-lived, as two threes from Luke Kennard on consecutive possessions bumped the margin back to 19. The Hawks continued to contest three attempts from the Knicks, with tremendous success. The trio of Brunson, Bridges, and Anunoby was held to a measly 5 of 27 shooting from deep -- live and die by the three, under Mike Brown's watch.
-- Brunson tried his best to withstand contact as the aggressor and facilitator, but his 24 points and five assists weren't nearly enough, based on how little his teammates offered and how much the Hawks caused fits. To the Knicks' credit, they didn't wave the white flag amid Brunson's frustrations -- they kept chipping away and cut their deficit to single digits, 108-99, with 1:29 remaining. If only the energy and efficiency levels were higher earlier. The Knicks had no choice but to foul the Hawks in the closing minute, wiping out the slimmest chance of a miraculous comeback.
-- While the Knicks anticipated more challenges with Towns, Hart, and Robinson in street clothes, one of the team's biggest villains wasn't even suited up to pose as a threat. Hawks star Trae Young, dealing with a quad injury, cheered from the bench all night, and his absence made the Knicks' woes far more bewildering. Overall, the team shot 39 percent from the floor and a season-low 20 percent (9 of 44) from three. Bridges and Anunoby produced a hollow 18 points and 19 points apiece, and a full seven-man bench rotation contributed only 19 points. Hukporti couldn't be criticized for his effort -- he logged season-high marks in rebounds (17), blocks (4), and minutes (28).
Game MVP: Jalen Johnson
The Garden crowd was disappointed to see a different scorer named Jalen take command. The fifth-year forward delivered a triple-double of 18 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds across 38 minutes. Onyeka Okongwu and Nickeil Alexander-Walker also contributed 23 points apiece.
Highlights
Mikal 🤝 Ariel pic.twitter.com/sQa3XgAQP5
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 3, 2026
Jalen Brunson hits the three! pic.twitter.com/c2WRQt7MtJ
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 3, 2026
OG steal and score 😤 pic.twitter.com/E27wCx0KPb
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 3, 2026
Up next
The Knicks (23-11) will wrap up their weekend at The Garden on Saturday night, with a matchup against the division-rival 76ers (7:30 tip-off).
Isaac Howard Discusses AHL Stint And Development
Isaac Howard is back with the Edmonton Oilers. Six weeks in Bakersfield, and now he's got another shot.
The 21-year-old won the Hobey Baker Award last season at Michigan State—26 goals and 26 assists in 37 games. Edmonton grabbed him from Tampa Bay in July, signed him to a three-year deal, and let him compete for a roster spot.
He got 17 NHL games to start the season. Two goals and an assist. Not bad for a rookie jumping from college hockey. But the Oilers needed more from their depth forwards, so down to Bakersfield he went in mid-November.
"I was just excited to get down there and start a different chapter in my pro career," Howard said. "And I think it was great. Everyone down in that locker room was awesome. The coaching staff made it pretty easy to mesh with that group quickly. And you know, it was awesome."
Nobody wants to get sent to the AHL. But Howard needed what Bakersfield could give him—ice time, power play minutes, and the space to figure out professional hockey without the pressure of Connor McDavid looking over his shoulder (if that was ever happening).
He put up 10 goals and 13 assists in 16 games. Two goals and four assists in his last four games alone. Those are the numbers that get you recalled.
Rookie Risk: Oilers May Be Testing Something On The Third LineThree rookies will play on the third line for the Oilers, a bold offensive gamble that could either spark the offense or expose their youth against the Flyers."It's a great development league," Howard said. "Obviously, I was getting a lot more ice time, a lot of looks on special teams, things like that which is what I wanted. And I think it's a great league. And spending like, five or six weeks there was a great experience."
More ice time meant actually playing instead of watching. More power play minutes meant working on his offensive instincts. Bakersfield gave him what he couldn't get in Edmonton—consistent minutes where he could make mistakes and learn from them.
"It feels like I'm more experienced now and maybe more calmness coming back up," Howard said.
More experienced. More calm. Six weeks will do that when you're dominating the AHL and figuring out what works.
Edmonton Oilers Year-In-ReviewIf you’re an <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers#google_vignette">Edmonton Oilers</a> fan, 2025 was exhausting. It started with their captain suspended, ended with a loss to Boston, and somewhere in between, they managed to lose another Stanley Cup Final. The kind of year where you’re not sure whether to book playoff tickets early or start drinking in February.
"I think a big thing was just getting in the flow of pro hockey down there and playing games consistently," Howard said. "Learning to hold on to the puck more, find more of my game, and making little plays, passing, shooting, (being) more calm with the puck, and maybe even more confident."
That's what the AHL is supposed to do. Howard went down, figured out he needed to be more patient with the puck, worked on it, and came back better. Development working exactly how it should.
Quinn Hutson came up with him—19 goals and 13 assists in 26 AHL games this season. Both players earned their recalls by producing.
McDavid Comments As 3 Deserving Oilers Left Off Team Canada's RosterConnor McDavid shared his candid thoughts on three deserving Oilers who narrowly missed Team Canada selection, sparking debate about roster decisions.Now comes the tricky part. Howard won't play 18-20 minutes a night like he did in Bakersfield. He'll be a bottom-six forward getting 8-12 minutes, trying to make things happen in shorter bursts. That's a different skill.
"It's different," Howard said about NHL ice time. "That's where you got to stay engaged, because you don't get the regular flow of the game, but I think I'll be better tested for that this time around. And however it shakes up, I'll be ready."
He knows what to expect this time. First go-around, everything was new. Now he's been through it. He spent six weeks in Bakersfield figuring things out.
Oilers Send Gritty Forward Down To AHLThe Edmonton Oilers have loaned this forward to the Bakersfield Condors. The Oilers don't need Howard to be a star. They need him to be a useful depth forward. Play his minutes. Don't hurt the team. Chip in offensively when the opportunity comes. If he learned how to be smarter with the puck and stay calm under pressure, he'll get his chance to stick.
His first stint showed he belongs at this level—two goals in 17 games from a young guy that isn't first overall proves that. His time in Bakersfield showed he can dominate when given the opportunity—23 points in 16 games proves that. Now his second stint will show whether he's figured out how to bridge the gap between those two things.
Howard got recalled Friday because he earned it. He went to Bakersfield, worked on his game, put up numbers, and came back ready. That's how it's supposed to work. Whether it translates to NHL success is the next question, but he's done everything right so far.
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Shorthanded Nets fall to Wizards, 119-99, for third consecutive loss
WASHINGTON (AP) — Justin Champagnie scored a season-high 20 points and the Washington Wizards continued their recent improvement with a 119-99 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night.
Alex Sarr added 19 points and CJ McCollum scored 17 for the Wizards, who still have the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference (9-23) but have won four out of five for the first time since Feb. 8-16, 2023.
Washington won the rebounding battle 51-33 while holding Brooklyn to a season-low six 3-pointers in 29 attempts (20.7%).
Day’Ron Sharpe, Terance Mann, Ziaire Williams and Drake Powell all had 14 points for Brooklyn (10-22), which has lost three straight following a three-game winning streak.
Washington had a 19-2 advantage in points off turnovers before halftime, and used an 18-4 run that stretched across the first and second quarters to build its lead to 18.
Champagnie’s 3-pointer as the first-quarter buzzer sounded made it 37-24. Will Riley added to the lead with a layup to open the second quarter, then fed AJ Johnson for a 3 a couple possessions later that stretched it to 44-26.
Brooklyn got within nine later in the second and third quarters before Washington stretched its lead to 23 by the end of the third and 28 early in the fourth.
Up next
Nets: Start a three-game homestand Sunday against Denver.
Wizards: Play their second of three at home Sunday against Minnesota.