The Tampa Bay Lightning will try to finish a strong week before the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament when they play the Montreal Canadiens on Super Bowl Sunday in the NHL’s last game before the break.
This will be the third and final meeting between the two Atlantic Division teams. Montreal won the first two games — 5-2 on Dec. 29 in Tampa and 3-2 on Jan. 21 in Quebec.
Tampa Bay right winger Brandon Hagel, who is part of Team Canada under coach Jon Cooper, will proudly wear his country’s red and white. However, he may feel some disappointment about the Lightning’s break.
Hagel scored the first and last goals in a 6-3 win in Detroit on Saturday, bringing his total to six goals in the last five games. He now has 26 goals, third-most on the Lightning.
The Lightning have seen Hagel develop since acquiring him from the Chicago Blackhawks in March 2022.
“Look at two years ago when he got traded here, could you have seen him playing for Team Canada in 2025?” Cooper said after his team broke the Red Wings’ seven-game winning streak. “I don’t know if any of us would’ve seen that, and here he is. … The chemistry he’s formed with (Anthony) Cirelli is unique. Those two work great together.”
Brayden Point reached 30 goals for the third straight season and the fifth time in his career on Saturday.
In his NHL debut, former Michigan Wolverines forward Dylan Duke scored the Lightning’s fifth goal, as Tampa Bay improved to 23-1-1 when leading after two periods.
Montreal is trying to get back into the wild-card race after a 3-2 home win over Tampa Bay on Jan. 21, where Jake Evans scored the game-winner. Evans has scored in both of Montreal’s wins over Tampa Bay this season and has five game-winning goals this season.
Canadiens face daunting schedule with key matchups ahead (Montreal Canadiens)
Montreal lost 4-0 to New Jersey on Saturday at home, with Jack and Luke Hughes scoring for the Devils. Former Canadiens goalie Jake Allen made 34 saves for his fourth shutout, as Montreal dropped to 1-6-1 in its past eight games.
The Canadiens are aiming to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2020-21 season, when they lost to the Lightning in the Stanley Cup Final. They had a strong run recently, earning points in eight of nine games (7-1-1) starting with a 2-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Jan. 4.
“I’m not going to talk about that right now,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said about his team’s playoff chances. “I get it. We had a great run. It’s a hard league. It’s very competitive, especially in the Eastern Conference right now. We’re going to fight. The focus right now is really to get back to a recipe that works.”
Montreal will be represented at the 4 Nations Face-Off by goalie Sam Montembeault for Team Canada and wingers Patrik Laine and Joel Armia for Team Finland.
Montembeault gave up four goals on 22 shots in Saturday’s loss, marking his fourth defeat in the last five starts. He is now 18-20-3 with three shutouts in 41 games this season.
Alex Ovechkin is steadily working toward breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goal-scoring record.
With 879 career goals, just 16 away from passing Gretzky, Ovechkin aims to keep his momentum going when the Washington Capitals play the Utah Hockey Club on Sunday afternoon.
Ovechkin has scored in four straight games, bringing his season total to 26 goals. This puts him on track for 45 goals, which would mark the 14th time in his 20 seasons that he has reached 40 goals. His 0.68 goals per game this season is the fifth highest of his career, and he’s doing this at 39 years old.
Washington head coach Spencer Carbery believes there is more to come from Ovechkin, who missed 16 games with a broken leg from mid-November to late December.
“I think his best hockey is to come in the season,” Carbery said. “In my head, at 39 years old, missing that amount of time and trying to come back and get caught up in the NHL. I think that’s really, really hard, and I saw a difference in his individual game. I think he’s going to look even better coming out of the break.”
The Capitals head into Sunday’s game with a chance to tie the Winnipeg Jets for first place in the NHL. They’re coming off a 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, extending their point streak to five games (3-0-2).
Sunday’s game will be the final one for both teams before the league breaks for the 4 Nations Face-Off, which runs from Wednesday through Feb. 20. The Capitals are one of two teams not sending players to the tournament.
Alex Ovechkin waves to the crowd after the game
“A mental break is enormous for us at this point in the year,” said defenseman John Carlson. “Guys that are a little banged up and injured, it’ll help them too. But mostly the way I look at it is just the mental. Kind of get away from the day-to-day stuff and come back re-energized and invigorated to finish the year strong.”
Utah will be looking to recover after a 7-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, which left them at a .500 record for the season.
Despite this, Utah is only eight points behind the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
“I liked our determination on offense, I like the way we competed on offense,” said Utah coach Andre Tourigny. “I think we were too short on detail defensively. All in all, we gave up too much on offense for them.”
Forward Lawson Crouse has struggled this season, with just 12 points (eight goals, four assists) in 54 games. He is on pace for only 12 goals, a drop after scoring over 20 goals in each of the past three seasons.
The Utah alternate captain was scratched on Tuesday against the Flyers but returned to the lineup on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, scoring his second goal in the last 15 games.
“I hold myself to a higher level and standard,” Crouse said about being scratched. “… Obviously, it’s unfortunate but I’ve got to play better. It’s on me.”
Walter Clayton Jr. returned from injury and scored 19 points with nine assists to help No. 6 Florida beat No. 1 Auburn 90-81 on Saturday. Alex Condon added 17 points and 10 rebounds for Florida (20-3, 7-3 Southeastern Conference), who had previously upset No. 1 Tennessee on January 7. Thomas Haugh scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds, and Will Richard contributed 12 points as the Gators ended Auburn’s 14-game winning streak and their 15-game streak in the SEC, which had started last year.
Florida led by as many as 21 points in the second half, securing their first road win over a No. 1-ranked team after eight attempts. While Clayton’s return was a big boost, the Gators also managed without second-leading scorer Alijah Martin (15.3 points per game), who was out with a hip injury.
Miles Kelly scored 22 points and Johni Broome added 18 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists for Auburn (21-2, 9-1). Tahaad Pettiford had 14 points and Chaney Johnson added 13 for the Tigers, who had a 31-25 lead at halftime before Florida took control.
Clemson 77, No. 2 Duke 71
Viktor Lakhin scored 22 points, and Chase Hunter made a key basket in the last minute to help Clemson beat Duke 77-71 in Clemson, S.C., ending Duke’s 16-game winning streak. Hunter also made four free throws in the final 15 seconds, finishing with 14 points. Jaeden Zackery and Ian Schieffelin each scored 12 points. Clemson (19-5, 11-2) moved within a game of first-place Duke.
Tyrese Proctor scored 23 points, Cooper Flagg added 14 points with 18 points in the last 6:05, and Kon Knueppel scored 14 for Duke (20-3, 12-1 Atlantic Coast Conference). Duke had hoped to become the new No. 1 team after top-ranked Auburn lost earlier in the day to No. 6 Florida.
No. 3 Alabama 85, Arkansas 81
Grant Nelson and Chris Youngblood scored 15 points each to help Alabama defeat Arkansas 85-81 in Southeastern Conference play at Fayetteville, Ark. Mouhamed Dioubate scored 14 points, and Mark Sears added 11, as Alabama (20-3, 9-1 SEC) moved into a tie for first place in the SEC standings with Auburn. Alabama has won six straight games and 14 of its last 15.
Zvonimir Ivisic had a career-high 27 points and seven rebounds for Arkansas (14-9, 3-7), who saw their two-game winning streak end. Adou Thiero scored 22 points, and Johnell Davis added 13 points.
No. 4 Tennessee 70, Oklahoma 52
Chaz Lanier scored 21 points to lead Tennessee to a 70-52 win over Oklahoma in Norman, Okla. Zakai Zeigler added 17 points and nine assists for Tennessee (20-4, 6-4 Southeastern Conference). Tennessee shot 60.4 percent from the field and made their first six 3-pointers. The Volunteers also scored 36 points in the paint.
Jalon Moore scored 12 points, and Brycen Goodine added nine for Oklahoma (16-7, 3-7), who lost their second consecutive game.
No. 5 Houston 69, Colorado 59
J’Wan Roberts scored 20 points, and LJ Cryer and Terrance Arceneaux each added 15 points to lead Houston to a 69-59 win over Colorado in Boulder, Colo. Milos Uzan contributed 12 points for Houston (19-4, 11-1 Big 12), which has won 15 of its last 16 games. Julian Hammond III was the only Colorado player to score in double figures, with 22 points.
No. 5 Houston and Colorado
The Buffaloes (9-14, 0-12) have lost 12 straight games for the first time since the end of the 2008-09 season and are close to matching their worst start to a conference schedule.
No. 8 Iowa State 82, TCU 52
Curtis Jones scored 24 points as No. 8 Iowa State defeated TCU 82-52 in Ames, Iowa. Milan Momcilovic scored 14 points in his return from injury, Dishon Jackson also added 14 points, and Joshua Jefferson recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds for Iowa State (18-5, 8-4). The Cyclones ended a three-game losing streak.
Vasean Allette and Trazarien White scored nine points each to lead TCU (12-11, 5-7), while Ernest Udeh Jr. had eight points.
No. 9 Michigan State 86, Oregon 74
Jase Richardson scored 29 points, including 18 in the second half, to lead Michigan State to an 86-74 win over Oregon. Michigan State (19-4, 10-2 Big Ten) overcame a 14-point halftime deficit by scoring 12 unanswered points to start the second half. Jaxon Kohler added 14 points and 12 rebounds, and Tre Holloman scored 13 points.
Oregon (16-8, 5-8) struggled in the second half, missing all eight 3-point attempts and shooting just 6-of-24 in the second half. Jackson Shelstad led the Ducks with 22 points.
No. 10 Texas 67, No. 15 Missouri 64
Wade Taylor IV made a 3-point shot with 2.1 seconds left to help Texas win 67-64 against Missouri in Southeastern Conference play in Columbia, Mo. Pharrel Payne led Texas A&M (18-5, 7-3 SEC) with 20 points, and Taylor added 15 points. Henry Coleman III grabbed 16 rebounds. Tamar Bates scored 16 points for Missouri (17-6, 6-4), whose 15-game home winning streak ended. Jacob Crews scored 14 points off the bench, and Mark Mitchell added 12 points. Texas A&M held Missouri to 5-for-21 shooting from 3-point range and blocked six shots.
Creighton 77, No. 11 Marquette 67
Steven Ashworth scored 22 points and hit six 3-pointers as Creighton won 77-67 against Marquette in Omaha, Neb. Creighton (18-6, 11-2 Big East) broke the school record for consecutive Big East wins with the victory. Ashworth made 7 of 11 shots, including 6 of 9 from beyond the arc. Preseason Big East Player of the Year Ryan Kalkbrenner added 19 points. Marquette (18-6, 9-4) lost its third straight game, despite 27 points from Kam Jones and 22 points from David Joplin.
No. 14 Kentucky 80, South Carolina 57
Otega Oweh scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half, helping No. 14 Kentucky beat South Carolina 80-57 in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky (16-7, 5-5 SEC) bounced back from two losses to Arkansas and No. 25 Ole Miss. Brandon Garrison added a season-high 15 points, and Koby Brea had 10 points and a career-high six assists. Kentucky’s bench scored 39 points. South Carolina (10-13, 0-10) remained winless in SEC play. Collin Murray-Boyles led the Gamecocks with 14 points and eight rebounds.
Kansas State 81, No. 16 Kansas 73
David N’Guessan scored 20 points, and Kansas State won 81-73 against Kansas in the Sunflower Showdown in Manhattan, Kan. Kansas State (12-11, 6-6 Big 12) has won five straight games, including three against ranked teams.
Dug McDaniel added 15 points and 11 assists, while Max Jones and Coleman Hawkins each scored 12 points. Kansas (16-7, 7-5) was led by Hunter Dickinson with 21 points. Zeke Mayo added 15 points, and KJ Adams had 13 points.
No. 21 Wisconsin 74, Iowa 63
John Tonje scored a game-high 22 points, leading No. 21 Wisconsin to a 74-63 win against Iowa in Iowa City. Tonje scored seven straight points late in the second half to help Wisconsin (19-5, 9-4 Big Ten) overcome a one-point deficit.
Iowa State players celebrates after scoring
John Blackwell added 19 points. Iowa (13-10, 4-8) struggled with shooting, making just 24 of 63 attempts from the field. Pryce Sandfort scored 14 points, and Josh Dix added 13 points.
No. 22 Mississippi State 76, Georgia 75
Josh Hubbard scored 16 points, and KeShawn Murphy added 14 points to help Mississippi State beat Georgia 76-75. Hubbard made 7 of 14 shots and reached his 1,000th career point. Murphy grabbed eight rebounds. Michael Nwoko scored 11 points, and Riley Kugel contributed 10 points. Silas Demary Jr. scored 23 points, and Asa Newell had 16 points for Georgia (16-8, 4-7).
No. 23 Illinois 95, Minnesota 74
Will Riley scored 27 points and grabbed nine rebounds as Illinois defeated Minnesota 95-74 in Minneapolis. Kasparas Jakucionis added 24 points, and Tomislav Ivisic recorded a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds for Illinois (16-8, 8-6 Big Ten). Lu’Cye Patterson led Minnesota (12-12, 4-9) with 24 points.
No. 24 Michigan 70, Indiana 67
Danny Wolf scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Michigan to a 70-67 win over Indiana in Bloomington, Ind. Vladislav Goldin and Tre Donaldson each added 18 points for Michigan (18-5, 10-2 Big Ten). Malik Reneau scored 16 points, and Mackenzie Mgbako had 15 points for Indiana (14-10, 5-8), who lost their fifth straight game.
No. 25 Ole Miss 72, LSU 70
Dre Davis tipped in a missed shot just before the buzzer to help Ole Miss beat LSU 72-70 in Baton Rouge, La. Ole Miss (18-6, 7-4) made a comeback after trailing 70-59 with 3:15 left. They scored the last 13 points of the game. Jaemyn Brakefield hit a crucial 3-pointer with 44.6 seconds left to tie the game. Carter led LSU (12-11, 1-9) with 16 points, but LSU lost their sixth straight game.
Tomas Hertl scored the game-winning goal on the power play with 1:10 left as the visiting Vegas Golden Knights came back from two two-goal deficits to beat the Boston Bruins 4-3 on Saturday afternoon.
Hertl fired a wrist shot from the left circle past Boston’s Jeremy Swayman to win the game. Earlier in the same power play, Pavel Dorofeyev had a goal taken away due to interference on Swayman.
Mark Stone, Zach Whitecloud, and Dorofeyev also scored, and Shea Theodore had two assists for Vegas, who went 2-for-4 on the power play in their second straight win heading into the 4 Nations Face-Off break.
Boston captain Brad Marchand reached 20 goals for the 14th time in his career, while Nikita Zadorov and Morgan Geekie also scored for Boston.
Rangers 4, Blue Jackets 3
Will Cuylle scored two goals in the third period to help the visiting New York Rangers beat Columbus.
Cuylle intercepted a clearing pass from Columbus defenseman Ivan Provorov and scored the game-winning goal with 1:39 remaining. Mika Zibanejad scored a goal and added an assist, Arthur Kaliyev scored a goal, and Vincent Trocheck had two assists in the win.
Jonathan Quick stopped 22 shots for the Rangers, while Elvis Merzlikins made 36 saves, but it wasn’t enough for Columbus. Kent Johnson, Justin Danforth, and James van Riemsdyk scored for Columbus.
Predators 6, Sabres 4
Filip Forsberg and Brady Skjei each scored twice as Nashville won against visiting Buffalo.
Ryan O’Reilly had four assists, Jonathan Marchessault had a goal and three assists, and Justus Annunen made 25 saves for the Predators, who ended a six-game losing streak.
Alex Tuch scored a goal and added two assists, and Rasmus Dahlin and Bowen Byram each scored a goal and had an assist for Buffalo, who saw their four-game winning streak end. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 17 saves.
Blues 6, Blackhawks 5 (SO)
Radek Faksa scored in the 10th round of the shootout to give St. Louis a victory over visiting Chicago.
The Blues outshot the Blackhawks 40-20 through overtime, but had to win in a long shootout to get just their second victory in eight games (2-5-1). Jordan Binnington made 15 saves during the game and eight more in the shootout for the win.
Ilya Mikheyev had a goal and two assists for the Blackhawks while Arvid Soderblom, who lost the game, made 35 saves during regulation and overtime and eight more in the shootout.
Kraken 3, Flames 2 (OT)
Matty Beniers scored a power-play goal at 2:58 of overtime to give Seattle a win against Calgary.
Shane Wright and Andre Burakovsky scored in the final 6:48 of regulation as Seattle won for the seventh time this season after coming back from multiple goals down. Beniers’ goal, on a wrist shot from the top of the left faceoff circle, came when Calgary’s Morgan Frost was in the penalty box for holding. Goaltender Joey Daccord made 27 saves for the Kraken, ending a three-game winless streak (0-2-1).
Seattle Kraken (NHL)
Frost and Nazem Kadri scored for Calgary, who lost their fourth straight at home. Dustin Wolf stopped 25 of 28 shots.
Stars 8, Sharks 3
Matt Duchene scored two goals and added an assist as Dallas crushed host San Jose.
Thomas Harley, Jamie Benn, and Wyatt Johnston each scored and added an assist for Dallas, who won for the sixth time in eight games. Jason Robertson, Mason Marchment, and Mavrik Bourque also scored for Dallas, who ended a two-game losing streak. Mikael Granlund, who was traded to the Stars from the Sharks on Feb. 1, had two assists in his return to the Bay Area. Lian Bichsel had two assists, and Casey DeSmith made 24 saves.
William Eklund, Fabian Zetterlund, and Walker Duehr scored for the Sharks, who have lost 10 of their last 11 games. Vitek Vanecek made 26 saves.
Panthers 5, Senators 1
Matthew Tkachuk scored a goal and had two assists during Florida’s four-goal second period to help the Panthers win against Ottawa in Sunrise, Fla.
Aleksander Barkov, Gustav Forsling, and Sam Bennett also scored during a big second period for Florida, who have won eight of 11 — including five straight at home. Tkachuk extended his goal streak to six games and has 13 points during that stretch.
Matthew’s brother, Brady, scored for Ottawa, who went 0-3-0 at Tampa Bay and Florida after winning five straight. Linus Ullmark made 43 saves for the Senators, who allowed a season-high 48 shots on goal.
Flyers 3, Penguins 2
Travis Konecny scored a goal and added an assist to help Philadelphia beat visiting Pittsburgh.
Philadelphia snapped a five-game losing streak with 31 saves from Samuel Ersson and goals from three players. Scott Laughton and Garnet Hathaway also scored for the Flyers, while Andrei Kuzmenko had an assist in his team debut.
Kevin Hayes and Erik Karlsson scored for Pittsburgh, who played their second straight game without Sidney Crosby (upper-body injury). Joel Blomqvist made 17 saves for Pittsburgh, who had won three of their previous four games.
Lightning 6, Red Wings 3
Brandon Hagel scored two goals and had two assists to help Tampa Bay end Detroit’s seven-game winning streak.
Dylan Duke, who played for the University of Michigan last season, scored in his NHL debut for the Lightning. He was called up from Syracuse of the American Hockey League on Friday.
Erik Cernak had a goal and two assists, and Brayden Point scored his 30th goal of the season for Tampa Bay, who are 4-0-1 in their last five games. Nikita Kucherov had three assists to bring his career points total to 955, passing Martin St. Louis for the second-most in Lightning franchise history, behind Steven Stamkos, who has 1,137 points.
Devils 4, Canadiens 0
Jake Allen made 34 saves, including one on a penalty shot, to help visiting New Jersey beat Montreal.
Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt each had a goal and an assist for New Jersey, who won at Montreal for the 10th straight time. Montreal had a chance to break the shutout with 15.7 seconds left in the third period when the Canadiens were awarded a penalty shot after Hughes pulled Owen Beck from behind, but Allen stopped Beck’s wrist shot.
New Jersey Devils (NHL)
Sam Montembeault made 18 saves for Montreal, who lost for the seventh time in eight games (1-6-1).
Hurricanes 7, Utah Hockey Club 3
Seth Jarvis scored two goals and added two assists as Carolina avoided a season-worst four-game losing streak by defeating Utah in Raleigh, N.C.
Sebastian Aho scored two goals and had an assist, Jalen Chatfield scored a goal and added an assist, Jordan Martinook and Jack Roslovic scored late, and Andrei Svechnikov and Jackson Blake had two assists each for the Hurricanes. Pyotr Kochetkov made 36 saves to earn his 20th victory of the season.
Carolina scored at even strength, on a power play, and short-handed in a four-goal second period, which started with the teams tied at 1 and gave the Hurricanes a big lead.
Clayton Keller scored two goals and Josh Doan had one for Utah, who never led. Karel Vejmelka made 31 saves.
Canucks 2, Maple Leafs 1
Brock Boeser scored the go-ahead goal at 8:56 of the third period to lift host Vancouver over Toronto.
With his team on the power play, Filip Chytil was unmarked as he skated in from the blue line and passed to Boeser in the slot for an easy goal. Filip Hronek had a goal and an assist, and Kevin Lankinen made 21 saves for Vancouver, who have won three in a row.
Defenseman Morgan Rielly scored late in the second period, and Joseph Woll made 23 saves for the Maple Leafs, who saw their three-game winning streak end in the last game of their four-game road trip.
Wild 6, Islanders 3
Matthew Boldy scored two goals and added an assist to help Minnesota defeat New York in St. Paul, Minn.
Marco Rossi, Frederick Gaudreau, Yakov Trenin, and Marcus Foligno also scored for the Wild, who have won seven straight against the Islanders. Jared Spurgeon had two assists and Filip Gustavsson made 31 saves. Minnesota scored three times in the last 6:39 of the second period to take a 4-3 lead and added two more in the third.
Kyle Palmieri and Brock Nelson each had a goal and an assist, and Anders Lee also scored for New York, who played their second game in as many nights. Maxim Tsyplakov had two assists, and Ilya Sorokin made 27 saves.
Ducks 2, Kings 1 (SO)
Lukas Dostal made 43 saves through regulation and overtime, and stopped every shot in the shootout to help visiting Anaheim beat Los Angeles.
Brian Dumoulin scored in regulation, and Trevor Zegras and Leo Carlsson scored in the shootout for the Ducks, who have won six of seven.
Los Angeles’ Adrian Kempe scored the equalizer late, and David Rittich made 25 saves, starting for the second straight night because Darcy Kuemper was unavailable for personal reasons. The Kings had won three in a row after a season-long four-game losing streak.
In his Dallas debut, Anthony Davis scored 26 points with 16 rebounds before leaving in the third quarter with an abdominal injury, helping the Mavericks win 116-105 against the Houston Rockets on Saturday.
This was Davis’ first game with the Mavericks after he was traded in a significant deal that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers on February 1.
Davis, who also had seven assists and three blocks, left the game toward the end of the third quarter after grabbing his lower abdomen and did not return. He had been dealing with an abdominal strain since being traded from the Lakers.
Max Christie, who was also acquired from Los Angeles, scored 23 points off the bench, and Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving each added 13 points.
Lakers 124, Pacers 117
Austin Reaves scored a career-high 45 points, along with seven rebounds and seven assists, helping Los Angeles defeat Indiana while LeBron James rested due to ankle soreness.
Reaves made 14 of 26 shots, including four 3-pointers, and hit all 13 of his free throws. Rui Hachimura contributed 24 points and nine rebounds as the Lakers won their fifth consecutive game.
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 23 points, followed by Tyrese Haliburton’s 19 points and Bennedict Mathurin’s 16 points. The Pacers have lost two of their last three games.
Thunder 125, Grizzlies 112
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points and Aaron Wiggins added 26 points and 11 rebounds as Oklahoma City defeated Memphis in a matchup between the top two teams in the Western Conference.
Jalen Williams scored 25 points and had six assists, and Isaiah Hartenstein added 12 points and 14 rebounds. Gilgeous-Alexander also had eight assists and has now scored 25 or more points in 20 consecutive games.
Desmond Bane led the Grizzlies with 20 points and nine rebounds, while Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 19 points, ending his streak of nine straight 20-point games. Santi Aldama scored 18 points off the bench, and Ja Morant added 16 points.
Nuggets 122, Suns 105
Jamal Murray made a season-high six 3-pointers and scored 30 points to help Denver beat Phoenix.
Nikola Jokic recorded 26 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists, but did not play the final quarter and missed out on a triple-double. Christian Braun had 18 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, while Julian Strawther added 18 points and six rebounds. Denver won their sixth straight game and 14th in their last 18 games.
Nikola Jokić reacts in the game
Devin Booker scored 24 points, and Bol Bol added 19 points off the bench for the Suns, who lost their fourth game in the last five. Tyus Jones had 15 points and 10 assists, and Damion Lee contributed 11 points.
Warriors 132, Bulls 111
Steph Curry scored 24 of his game-high 34 points in the second half, and Jimmy Butler added 25 points in his debut for Golden State, leading them past Chicago.
Golden State shot 57.8% in the second half and 50% overall. The Warriors erased a 24-point deficit in the third quarter and led by as many as 25 in the fourth.
Chicago scored just 42 points in the second half and lost for the third time in four games. Coby White scored 27 points to lead the Bulls. He has scored at least 20 points in five straight games.
Celtics 131, Knicks 104
Jayson Tatum scored 19 of his 40 points in the third quarter for Boston, which led the entire game to beat New York.
Luke Kornet, starting for Kristaps Porzingis (illness), recorded 14 points and 12 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.
Payton Pritchard added 25 points off the bench as Boston moved 2 1/2 games ahead of New York in the race for the second seed in the Eastern Conference.
Jalen Brunson scored 36 points for the Knicks, who have been outscored 263-213 in two games against the Celtics.
Clippers 130, Jazz 110
Ivica Zubac had 26 points and 15 rebounds, and Norman Powell added 26 points as the Clippers rallied from a double-digit deficit in the first half to defeat Utah in Inglewood, Calif.
James Harden scored 23 points with a season-high 17 assists, and Amir Coffey added 17 points. The Clippers ended a three-game losing streak, which had matched their longest of the season.
Jordan Clarkson scored 14 of his 24 points in the first quarter, and Keyonte George added 21 points for the Jazz, who have lost 11 of their last 13 games.
Hawks 125, Wizards 111
Trae Young scored 35 points, marking his 14th game with 30 or more points this season, and led Atlanta to a win over Washington.
The Hawks have won two straight games and three of the last four, splitting their season series with Washington 2-2. Young shot 13-for-26 from the field and 5-for-14 from beyond the arc, also adding 14 assists for his 31st double-double of the season. Zaccharie Risacher added 18 points, and Georges Niang scored 16 points in his Atlanta debut.
Trae Young shoots in the 1st half
Washington got 23 points and seven assists from Bub Carrington and 21 points with six assists from Jordan Poole. The Wizards have lost two straight after a three-game winning streak.
Magic 112, Spurs 111
Paolo Banchero hit the game-winning jump shot with 25.3 seconds left to lead Orlando to a come-from-behind win against San Antonio.
Franz Wagner led the Magic with 33 points on 14-of-28 shooting, adding 12 rebounds and five assists. Banchero finished with 17 points, nine of them coming in the fourth quarter. This was only Orlando’s fourth win in 12 games since Banchero’s return, making his fourth-quarter performance important.
Devin Vassell led the Spurs with 25 points on 11-of-14 shooting, and Victor Wembanyama had 18 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks. Harrison Barnes scored 21 points with eight rebounds, while De’Aaron Fox, in his third game with the team, scored nine points on 3-of-11 shooting.
Timberwolves 114, Trail Blazers 98
Jaden McDaniels scored 30 points on 12-for-17 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds, leading Minnesota to a win over Portland.
Naz Reid finished with 23 points and eight rebounds, and Minnesota won its third game in a row. Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 21 points, and Rudy Gobert added 15 points and 11 rebounds. Minnesota won despite being without Anthony Edwards (hip) and Mike Conley (finger).
Anfernee Simons led Portland with 21 points on 9-for-21 shooting, snapping their six-game winning streak. Jerami Grant and Shaedon Sharpe each scored 14 points, and Scoot Henderson added 12 points.
Kings 123, Pelicans 118
Zach LaVine scored 22 points in his second game with his new team, Domantas Sabonis led the Kings with 27 points and 16 rebounds, and Sacramento ended their two-game losing streak with a comeback win over New Orleans.
Keegan Murray added 19 points, while Malik Monk and Keon Ellis each scored 13 points for Sacramento, which won for the third time in their last nine games.
Zion Williamson led all scorers with a season-high 40 points, and CJ McCollum added 31 points for the Pelicans, who have lost eight straight games.
Servais led the Mariners back to October, ending a 21-year drought (Seattle Mariners)
Over that 53-game stretch, the Seattle Mariners struggled to a 20-33 mark, a slump that ranks as the second worst in the league, with only the Chicago White Sox faring worse. The downturn was especially frustrating for a team that had built a reputation on pitching depth and timely hitting, only to see those strengths evaporate when they needed them most.
Despite the disastrous changes that led to his exit, Scott Servais leaves his position with one of the most accomplished managerial résumés in franchise history. During his nine years at the helm, Servais amassed a win-loss record of 680-642.
Those 680 victories are the second-most in team history, as is his .514 winning percentage. He also oversaw the development of young talent and helped guide the team through several different roster makeovers.
Nine years, 680 wins, and a legacy of development for Scott Servais (Seattle Mariners)
Lou Piniella remains the franchise’s most successful manager, with 840 wins against 711 losses and a .541 winning percentage. However, while Piniella managed a team loaded with All-Stars in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Servais had to go through a different challenge—rebuilding the Mariners into a contender after years of disappointment.
Both Piniella and Servais guided the Mariners to the playoffs, with Piniella leading postseason runs in 1995, 1997, 2000, and 2001. Servais, meanwhile, was responsible for managing the 2022 team that finally ended Seattle’s 21-year postseason drought. That playoff appearance, which included an emotional Wild Card series victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, was viewed as a turning point for the franchise.
A Lasting Impact on the Franchise
When Scott Servais took charge, the franchise had already endured over a decade without playoff baseball. Under his leadership, the club navigated a rebuild that ushered in a new core, including franchise centerpiece Julio Rodríguez, catcher Cal Raleigh, and one of the strongest starting rotations in the league today.
He helped mold Rodríguez into one of the game’s brightest stars, guiding him through his Rookie of the Year campaign in 2022. Servais also played a crucial role in helping Seattle establish a winning culture, even if the final stretch of his tenure didn’t reflect that success. He developed strong relationships with his players, earning their respect through his steady leadership and emphasis on accountability.
While his departure from Seattle was abrupt and disappointing, the contributions he made to the organization over the years remain undeniable. The Mariners now face the challenge of finding a new leader to build on the foundation Servais helped establish.
The New York Yankees are preparing for spring training, but they still have a few things they want to accomplish before the season starts.
It has been a busy offseason for the Yankees. Despite making it to the World Series last year, the 2025 team will look quite different.
While losing Juan Soto wasn’t ideal, the Yankees have done a good job filling in some areas of need. If they had signed Soto to the big contract he received, it’s hard to say if they could have added some of the other pieces they brought in this winter.
Recently, New York addressed one of their needs in the bullpen by re-signing Tim Hill. The left-hander was a strong addition to the team last season, and keeping him was important because they didn’t have another lefty in the bullpen.
With Hill back in the bullpen, the Yankees now have two main areas left to address: backup catcher and the infield. However, with New York close to the luxury tax threshold, they likely want to shed some salary to make these moves.
At this point, former All-Star Marcus Stroman seems like the most likely player to be traded.
Marcus Stroman looks up before the start of the game
After the Yankees signed Max Fried this winter, Stroman became the odd man out in the rotation. Even though he had a 10-9 record with a 4.31 ERA last season, which isn’t bad, he is set to earn $18 million in 2025.
Despite a solid season, Stroman struggled in the second half of the year and lost his spot in the rotation as the season went on. Though he’s been an All-Star, consistency has been an issue for the right-hander.
For the Yankees to trade him, they may need to cover a large portion of his salary in 2025. However, this could be worth it to free up money. If they can do this, they could address their infield need while staying under the luxury tax threshold.
With several teams still needing starting pitching this offseason, finding a trade partner shouldn’t be too hard. The biggest challenge will be how much of Stroman’s contract the Yankees are willing to absorb.
Josh Allen was named MVP at the NFL Honors ceremony last night, but this decision upset many people on social media. A lot of fans argued that Lamar Jackson should have won the award instead of Allen. One of the people who was upset about Jackson not winning was Booger McFarland.
“I thought it was wrong. I think you can make a case that Josh Allen did more with less … but if Lamar Jackson won the MVP last year, this year he’s been probably 1-and-a-half times better than last year,” McFarland said. “When you have humans voting on this award, we’re subjected to feelings. And those feelings are, (Jackson) has won two, we’ve gotta give Josh one.”
“It just goes to show you how us as humans, and I get it, when we vote on awards, our feelings get involved,” McFarland added.
Jackson became the first player in NFL history to have more passing yards, more passing touchdowns, fewer interceptions, a higher completion percentage, more rushing yards, and a higher rushing average than the MVP of that season.
MVP voting results showed that Allen received 383 points, including 27 first-place votes, narrowly beating Jackson, who had 362 points and 23 first-place votes. Jackson earned the most second-place votes at 26.
Josh Allen passes in the 1st half
Allen played a big role in leading the Bills to the AFC Championship for the second time in five seasons. He finished the 2024 regular season with 3,371 passing yards, 531 rushing yards, 41 offensive touchdowns, a 101.4 passer rating, and only six interceptions.
He earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors four times and made history as the first player to record at least 25 touchdowns, 10 rushing touchdowns, and one receiving touchdown in a season.
Jackson, who is no stranger to the MVP award after winning it in 2019 and last year, set career highs in the 2024 season with 4,172 passing yards, 41 touchdown passes, a 119.6 quarterback rating, and 316 completions.
He also led the league in rushing yards by a quarterback with 915 yards and became the first player in NFL history to have at least 4,000 passing yards and 800 rushing yards. Last month, Jackson was named the 2024 MVP by the Pro Football Writers of America.
The Philadelphia Flyers are in trade talks involving veteran center Scott Laughton, with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets showing the most interest.
Anthony Di Marco from Daily Faceoff reported on Saturday that trade discussions have picked up, though other teams have also shown interest in acquiring Laughton if he’s available before the trade deadline.
“Sounds like trade talks are heating up around Flyers center Scott Laughton,” Di Marco posted on X. “Sources indicate Leafs and Jets are two of the teams who have shown the most interest, but a handful of teams are in the mix.”
Laughton, 30, is in the third year of a five-year, $15 million contract with a $3 million cap hit. He’s a versatile two-way forward and has scored 11 goals and 15 assists in 54 games this season. While Laughton isn’t a top scorer, with no season above 18 goals in his 12-year career, he’s reliable in both offensive and defensive roles, including penalty kill duties.
The Flyers have used Laughton in a middle-six role and currently have him as a second-line forward.
Philadelphia Flyers celebrates after scoring
As the Flyers continue to drop in the Eastern Conference standings, they’ve already traded several players, including Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost. It’s likely the team will adopt a “seller” position at the deadline. According to Dean Chaudhry of Flyers Nation, Philadelphia general manager Daniel Briere might be seeking a first-round pick in exchange for Laughton.
“Laughton had been a staple in trade talks for well over half a decade even after he signed his team-friendly long-term extension,” Chaudhry wrote. “He still has one year remaining at a cap hit of just $3 million, but Briere’s asking price remains high with a first-round pick.”
While the Jets could meet that price, the Leafs don’t have a first-round pick in this year’s draft. However, Toronto does own its 2026 first-round pick and could include that along with top prospects in trade talks.
In his recent appearance on the “Run it back” show, DeMarcus Cousins talked about Giannis Antetokounmpo and why he thinks Giannis might be the next star to either get traded or ask to leave his current team, the Milwaukee Bucks. Cousins made this guess based on some recent comments Giannis made, where he hinted that superstars have the right to make their own choices in the league.
“As his teammate, I learned that there’s always truth in his humor. If the Bucks don’t work out, I could absolutely see him in Chicago,” Cousins said. “It makes sense. It’s great for business. The league is trying to globalize the game, and it all makes sense. It all goes together,” Cousins added.
Cousins believes it’s only a matter of time before this happens
Cousins’ opinion about Giannis’ comments is worth considering since he’s one of the few veterans who has spent time with Giannis in recent years. Even though nothing about Giannis’ future is certain, the four-time All-Star thinks his current situation might eventually push him to leave—especially if things don’t improve.
“If this experiment with Damien Lillard doesn’t go as planned, it’s obvious that he was ready to move from Milwaukee once before. Before they won that championship. So, obviously, he can get to a place where he’s ready to move on.
So if this thing doesn’t work out, I could see that definitely being another situation. Him being in a Chicago-type situation, absolutely. It’s right down the street. He’s comfortable in the Midwest, and obviously, Chicago is a great market for any superstar,” Cousins added.
Right now, Giannis is playing for a Bucks team that isn’t doing great (27-22) and is ranked fifth in the Eastern Conference. While Giannis is an incredible player and Milwaukee always has a chance to win a championship with him, the big question is how they can give him the best chance to succeed.
This season, the eight-time All-Star is averaging a career-high 31.8 points per game, 12.2 rebounds, and 5.9 assists. Cousins thinks that if Giannis keeps playing at this high level on a team that doesn’t seem to have a strong shot at winning the championship, he might lose patience and want to leave.
Giannis Antetokounmpo reacts in the 2nd half
What Antetokounmpo said
In addition to suggesting that superstars have the right to make their own decisions in the league, the international star also talked about why it’s important for non-American players to play for big market teams — especially if it helps grow the game and build their personal brand. This is why Giannis said it’s his dream to see European players join big market teams.
“Now that a European will be, I believe, the face of the Lakers, this is something new for Europe. It’s never happened before. We had Pau Gasol. Obviously, he was a great player. And how do you say — Vujacic? Sasha Vujacic? — great guy, one of my close friends, but I mess up his name all the time. Now, I just love it. You know what I want? I want Luka to the Lakers, I want Jokic to the Knicks.
I want all the Europeans to go to all the big markets to see something incredible. This is what I want. This is my dream. But again, I wish both teams the best of luck, wish all the players best of luck with their journey moving forward,” Antetokounmpo said.
It’s unclear whether Antetokounmpo said this as a passive-aggressive message to the Bucks or if he truly just wanted to share that his dream is to see Europeans playing for big market teams in the NBA. No one knows for sure.
However, when someone like Cousins — who has been in the league long enough to understand what the “Greek Freak” is doing — says there’s truth to Giannis’ words, it could mean that the 30-year-old superstar might be onto something. Only time will tell.
The Buffalo Bills are committed to supporting their star quarterback, Josh Allen, who recently won the NFL MVP award, narrowly beating Lamar Jackson. After falling just short of reaching the big game, the Bills are eager to improve and are expected to be aggressive this offseason.
One area they may look to improve is the wide receiver position, possibly bringing in a proven player for Allen. They could also target a playmaker in the 2025 NFL Draft, even without using a first or second-round pick.
One player who could be a great option is Maryland wide receiver Tai Felton. Felton had an impressive 2024 season, catching 96 passes for 1,124 yards and 9 touchdowns. He’s seen as a potential sleeper pick for the Bills in the fourth round, at pick No. 131.
Josh Allen celebrates after scoring
Felton isn’t expected to be a key contributor in his first season, but he could develop into an important piece down the road. He has a playing style similar to New Orleans Saints’ Chris Olave, with speed and solid route running, but his lack of physicality could hold him back as a top option. However, his talent could make him valuable for Buffalo.
Felton’s impressive college numbers make him worth considering for the Bills if he’s available in the fourth round, even though he may take time to develop.
Boras faces mixed reactions, from praise to confrontation, at the Futures Game (Getty Image)
Observing Boras over the past week made it clear that he isn’t slowing down. He had at least ten clients taking part in either the All-Star Futures Game or the All-Star Game itself. In typical fashion, he made time to check in with all of them and their families in person. That’s just part of his approach.
On Saturday, he was seen engaging with the families of top young talents like Rangers prospect Sebastian Walcott and Druw Jones, whose father, Andruw, was also a Boras client. Reactions to Boras tend to vary.
Boras faces mixed reactions, from praise to confrontation, at the Futures Game (Getty Image)
While Walcott’s father, Jeffrey, praised him for educating their family on the business of baseball, another parent of a Futures Game player confronted him over something he had said previously.
A Legacy that Continues to Grow
Unlike some of his peers, he has no interest in branching out to other sports or selling to a larger entertainment-focused firm. Right now, his priority is pushing for changes to the MLB Draft system, which he believes shortchanges talented players. It’s a topic he’s passionate about and could discuss for hours.
“We’re completely focused on baseball,” Boras said. “Our only goal is to be the best at what we do.” Though he isn’t giving it much thought—or perhaps any at all—the possibility exists that one day he could become the first agent to be enshrined in Cooperstown.
That honor wouldn’t come quickly. Marvin Miller, the only non-player from the labor movement to be inducted, lived to 95 and wasn’t elected until nearly a decade after his passing.
