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NHL (National Hockey League)

Rangers come from behind to defeat Knights, Jonathan Quick earns career win No. 400 in New York

New York Rangers and Vegas Golden Knights

K’Andre Miller scored the go-ahead goal with 8:28 left as the New York Rangers made a rare third-period comeback to beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 on Sunday night, giving Jonathan Quick his 400th career regular-season win.

With the victory, Quick became the first American-born goalie to reach this milestone and joined Sergei Bobrovsky and Marc-Andre Fleury as the only active goalies with 400 wins. He is the 15th goalie in NHL history to achieve this feat, finishing the game with 34 saves.

The Rangers snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 8-3-3 in their last 14 games. They are now 2-20-1 this season when trailing after two periods.

Mika Zibanejad tied the game with 14:56 left, then assisted Miller’s game-winner. J.T. Miller’s shot was saved by Vegas goalie Adin Hill with 8:50 remaining, but the Rangers kept the puck in play. Zibanejad retrieved the puck behind the net and passed it to K’Andre Miller, who fired a shot past Hill’s right shoulder and under the crossbar.

Earlier in the game, Zibanejad played a key role in the Rangers’ tying goal during a power play. He prevented Jack Eichel from clearing the puck, then crashed the crease to tap in a loose puck behind Hill, making it 2-2.

Vegas Golden Knights (NHL)

Alexis Lafreniere also scored, and Artemi Panarin scored on the power play and tallied two assists. J.T. Miller added two assists in his second game since being traded from the Vancouver Canucks on Friday.

For the Golden Knights, Eichel had two goals, including one on a power play with 19 seconds left in the first period, using Tomas Hertl as a screen to beat Quick from the right circle. Hill made 24 saves in a losing effort as Vegas dropped their third straight game and fell to 3-7-3 in their last 13 outings.

Vegas took the lead again in the second period when Eichel used Vincent Trocheck as a screen and scored with a wrist shot that went through Trocheck’s legs and into the net. The Rangers evened the score 1:18 into the second period when Lafreniere scored on a wrist shot to the open side of the goal.

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NBA roundup: Celtics rally from 26-point deficit to defeat 76ers in Boston

Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers (NBA)

Jayson Tatum scored 35 points and recorded 11 assists as the Boston Celtics came back from a 26-point deficit in the second half to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 118-110 on Sunday.

Boston outscored Philadelphia 54-20 in the last 14 minutes of the game, taking control after the 76ers had dominated early on. With the win, the Celtics bounced back from a loss to the Sixers on Christmas Day and improved to 2-0 on their three-game road trip.

Jaylen Brown contributed 21 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists for Boston, while Kristaps Porzingis added 18 points, seven rebounds, and five blocks. The Celtics hit 21 3-pointers, including 14 out of 22 attempts in the second half.

Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 34 points, while Guerschon Yabusele, playing against his former team, scored 21 points. Kelly Oubre Jr. finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Philadelphia was without Joel Embiid (knee) and Paul George (finger) for the game.

Cavaliers 144, Mavericks 101

Sam Merrill came off the bench to score a career-high 27 points, including nine 3-pointers, as the Cleveland Cavaliers easily defeated the Dallas Mavericks.

Dallas had a rough start to a new chapter, as the team traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis just hours before the game. Davis didn’t play due to the trade and an abdominal strain, and Max Christie, who was also part of the deal, was not available.

Cleveland quickly turned the game into a blowout, hitting 9 of 11 3-pointers in the first quarter to take a 50-19 lead by the end of the period. It was Cleveland’s highest-scoring quarter of the season.

Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA)

Pistons 127, Bulls 119

Cade Cunningham led the Detroit Pistons with 22 points and 15 assists as they defeated the Chicago Bulls at home.

Jalen Duren added 21 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists for Detroit, while Malik Beasley contributed 19 points, five assists, and three steals. Detroit ended Chicago’s 18-game winning streak against them in their last 20 matchups.

Coby White led the Bulls with 22 points. Nikola Vucevic posted a triple-double with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, and Josh Giddey finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Raptors 115, Clippers 108

RJ Barrett scored 20 points and had seven assists as the Toronto Raptors used a strong third quarter to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers at home.

The Raptors broke a halftime tie with a 31-16 third quarter, fueled by 19 fastbreak points. This gave Toronto a split in the season series against the Clippers. Gradey Dick added 18 points, and Scottie Barnes had 15 points and seven rebounds.

James Harden led the Clippers with 25 points, and Ivica Zubac added 18 points. Former Raptor Kawhi Leonard contributed 14 points for Los Angeles, who finished their road trip with a 2-2 record.

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Cavaliers dominate Mavericks in the aftermath of major trade, Cleveland

Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA)

Sam Merrill came off the bench to score a career-high-tying 27 points, including nine 3-pointers, as the Cleveland Cavaliers easily defeated the Dallas Mavericks 144-101 on Sunday afternoon.

It was a tough beginning to a new chapter for Dallas, who made a huge trade about 15 hours before the game, sending Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for star Anthony Davis.

The deal also sent Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to Los Angeles, with a third team, the Utah Jazz, involved. In return for Doncic, the Mavericks received guard Max Christie and the Lakers’ first-round pick in 2029.

Davis didn’t play on Sunday due to the trade and an abdominal muscle injury. Christie was also unavailable.

The distractions from the trade news seemed to affect Dallas, as they struggled in their game against Cleveland. The Cavaliers wasted no time in taking control, shooting 9-for-11 from beyond the arc in the first quarter to take a 50-19 lead by the end of the period. It was Cleveland’s highest-scoring quarter of the season.

Dallas Mavericks (NBA)

The Cavaliers made history by scoring 91 points in the first half, the most they’ve ever scored in a half. Caris LeVert, Max Strus, and Donovan Mitchell hit 3-pointers during a 13-2 run to end the second quarter, pushing Cleveland’s lead to 91-46 at halftime.

Jarrett Allen extended the lead to over 100 points with a hook shot early in the third quarter, and the Cavaliers maintained a lead of at least 40 points for the rest of the game.

Evan Mobley had a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Darius Garland also recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 assists. Cleveland had eight players in double figures, with Allen contributing 14 points and nine rebounds.

The Cavaliers made 26 3-pointers out of 45 attempts.

Jaden Hardy led Dallas with 21 points off the bench, while Dante Exum added 14 points. Kyrie Irving (shoulder) missed the game for the Mavericks.

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In Toronto, the Raptors pulled away in the third quarter to defeat the Clippers

Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers

RJ Barrett scored 20 points and had seven assists, leading the Toronto Raptors to a 115-108 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday afternoon. The Raptors broke a tie at halftime with a dominant third quarter, outscoring the Clippers 31-16, fueled by 19 fast-break points. This victory allowed them to split the season series with the Clippers.

Scottie Barnes added 15 points and seven rebounds for the Raptors, who are playing four straight home games, splitting the first two. Jakob Poeltl contributed a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Gradey Dick scored 18 points, Ochai Agbaji added 12, Immanuel Quickley had 11, and Ja’Kobe Walter chipped in 10.

For the Clippers, James Harden led the way with 25 points, helping the team finish a 2-2 road trip. Ivica Zubac added 18 points, and former Raptor Kawhi Leonard scored 14. Kevin Porter Jr. had 17 points, and Nicolas Batum added 11. Norman Powell, another former Raptor, did not play due to a hip injury.

Los Angeles Clippers and Charlotte Hornets

Toronto played at a fast pace, taking a 36-32 lead after the first quarter. The Clippers erased a seven-point deficit to go up 45-44 on a pull-up jumper by Porter with 8:00 left in the second quarter.

The Clippers held a three-point lead with 59 seconds remaining in the half, but Poeltl made a huge block to stop Zubac from scoring on a dunk. Toronto then scored six straight points, and Amir Coffey’s 3-pointer at the buzzer tied the game 61-61 at halftime.

In the third, Toronto took control, going up by five with 6:06 left after a nice pass from Barnes to Dick for an easy layup. The Raptors then went on an 8-0 run, increasing the lead to 11 when Dick dunked with 3:31 remaining. The lead grew to 18 by the end of the third, with Agbaji scoring a layup off a defensive rebound from Walter, giving Toronto a 92-77 advantage.

In the fourth, Leonard hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 10, but missed two free throws soon after. Walter’s 3-pointer with 5:47 left pushed the lead back to 15. Barrett took a hard fall after making a layup with 4:50 to play but was able to continue playing.

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In Denver, the Nuggets are counting on their bench depth, the Pelicans face an ongoing battle with injuries

Denver Nuggets vs Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA)

The Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade has caused a big change in the Western Conference playoff race, but other teams are still working hard to secure their spots. One of those teams is the Denver Nuggets, who were in fourth place on Sunday, one game ahead of Doncic’s new team, the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Nuggets will have a chance to create some distance by hosting the New Orleans Pelicans twice in three days, starting Monday night.

Denver had a rough start to a five-game road trip, losing the first three games, but they won the last two, including a close 107-104 win against Charlotte on Saturday night. The Nuggets played without Russell Westbrook (hamstring) and Peyton Watson (sprained right knee), and it’s likely they won’t be available for Monday’s game.

With these injuries, Denver had to rely more on their bench against the Hornets. They used players like Jalen Pickett and Zeke Nnaji, and moved Christian Braun back into the starting lineup after he had come off the bench for the last two games. Braun played a key role, scoring 24 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.

Coach Michael Malone talked about Braun’s performance: “I made the decision going into the Knicks game to take (Braun) out of the starting lineup, and here he is a few nights later, playing 38 minutes. I felt that he was everywhere. He was attacking. He was shooting the 3-ball with confidence. He was guarding. I think tonight was a snapshot into all the different areas CB can help you win in.”

Braun is the fourth-highest scorer on the team, averaging 14.5 points per game. Nikola Jokic, who had his 22nd triple-double of the season on Saturday, leads Denver with averages of 29.6 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 10.3 assists. Jamal Murray (20.4 ppg) and Michael Porter Jr. (18.0 ppg) are also key scorers for the Nuggets.

Oklahoma City Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans

Westbrook and Watson are expected to return soon, but the Pelicans are facing bigger challenges. They’ve been without power forward Zion Williamson for most of the season, and recently, they suffered another tough blow when guard Dejounte Murray tore his right Achilles in a 118-116 loss to Boston on Friday, making it their fifth straight loss.

Murray leads the team in assists (7.4) and steals (2.0) and is fifth in scoring with 17.5 points per game. His injury was hard for his teammates to process. Guard Jose Alvarado said, “When I saw it, I felt bad for him. I can’t really explain it. It’s something that I knew wasn’t looking good… He loves this game and I know how much he loves it. It’s unfortunate. And when I’d seen that, I couldn’t put it into words.”

Murray had already missed 17 games earlier this season due to a broken hand, adding to the long list of injuries the Pelicans have dealt with. Williamson has only played 13 games due to various injuries.

Brandon Ingram has been out since December 7, missing 26 games because of a sprained left ankle. Herb Jones, who has a right shoulder injury, has only played 20 games this season, and CJ McCollum missed 13 straight games with an adductor strain.

When healthy, Williamson leads the team with 23.6 points per game. Ingram (22.2), Trey Murphy III (22.1), and McCollum (21.9) are all averaging more than 20 points per game.

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Jazz look to secure back-to-back victories as Pacers visit Salt Lake City

Utah Jazz (NBA)

The Utah Jazz are hoping to achieve something they’ve only done twice this season when they face the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.

Fresh off a 113-99 win over the Orlando Magic on Saturday, the Jazz will try to get back-to-back wins for the third time this season when they host the Pacers in Salt Lake City.

It won’t be easy, though — especially since Utah has struggled more at home than on the road this year.

The Pacers come into the game as one of the hottest teams in the NBA. They’ve won three straight games and have been the most successful team since the new year. Indiana is 11-2 in games played in 2025.

This strong run has pushed Indiana seven games over .500 and into fourth place in the Eastern Conference.

Their offense is clicking too, as the Pacers have scored at least 130 points in each of their last three games.

“Our goal is to lead the league in the number of passes thrown,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “We’ve been up at the top this year. … We’ve got to be a ball-movement, hot-ball, speed, random (team). Keep playing the game and keep putting pressure. Keep putting teams in difficult situations.”

Indiana has averaged nearly 31 assists per game in January and February, with point guard Tyrese Haliburton leading the way with an average of 8.7 assists.

“You have to take care of the ball,” Haliburton said. “We’ve been stressing possession, and coach has been stressing possession with us. We’ve just been trying to pay attention to it.”

Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers

Monday’s game in Utah starts a four-game road trip for the Pacers, who have six games remaining before the All-Star break.

Indiana comes into the game after a 132-127 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Pascal Siakam scored 20 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and dished out five assists. Andrew Nembhard added 19 points, Obi Toppin scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds, and Haliburton had 17 points and nine assists.

The Jazz also had a solid game in their last outing.

Collin Sexton scored 22 points and had eight assists, while John Collins added 19 points as Utah snapped an eight-game losing streak and picked up their fourth home win of the year.

Now the Jazz have a chance to win back-to-back games for the first time since January 4-5, when they won in Miami and Orlando.

“It’s a great team win,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said. “I thought the group was really physical (Saturday). I thought we matched the physicality, or we met the level of physicality that’s needed when you play a team like the Magic.”

That physical play helped Utah limit Orlando to 33% shooting, including just 22% from beyond the arc.

“We understood that they’re not the greatest 3-point shooting team, and they love to get downhill, be physical,” Collins said. “They have a lot of great guys that get downhill. So I feel like the emphasis was on myself, (Lauri Markkanen), Walker (Kessler), the big fellas down there to protect the paint and set a tone.”

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Struggling Warriors aim for a crucial win over tired Magic in San Francisco

Golden State Warriors (NBA)

The Golden State Warriors are hoping to end what was considered the easiest part of their schedule with a winning record when they face the Orlando Magic on Monday night.

At 20-20, the Warriors were aiming to move up in the tight Western Conference standings when they started a nine-game stretch on January 18, where they wouldn’t leave California. Eight of those nine games were at home.

So far, they’ve managed wins against the Washington Wizards, Chicago Bulls, Utah Jazz, and Oklahoma City Thunder, but have lost to the Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, and Phoenix Suns.

With 12 of their next 14 games on the road after the Magic game, the Warriors are still at a .500 record and are now closer to the bottom of the West than the top.

As the trade deadline approaches, some are wondering if a loss to the Magic could lead to the Warriors becoming sellers.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr made it clear even before Friday’s 130-105 loss to the Suns that changes are needed. “We’re not in a position where we can just say: ‘We’re good. Let’s stand pat.’ That’s the reality of where we are,” Kerr said. “If there’s something that makes sense, (general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr.) is going to do it.”

Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers

In their first meeting of the season with the Magic, the Warriors will face a team that’s somewhat similar. Orlando’s record is 24-26, slightly worse than Golden State’s, but they’re in a better position in the standings with the East having fewer winning teams.

Unlike the Warriors, the Magic are in the middle of their toughest stretch of the season. This game will be their fourth stop on a six-game road trip, but they’ll soon play 10 of their next 11 games at home.

After losing to Miami, Portland, and Utah in the past week, the Magic have been encouraged by the return to health of star Paolo Banchero, who missed 34 games with a torn right oblique.

Banchero has played in 11 straight games, including a 44-minute effort in Monday’s loss to Miami. He’s now been playing alongside Franz Wagner, who missed 20 games due to his own oblique injury.

Magic coach Jamahl Mosley knows the remaining three games of their road trip are important for gaining momentum ahead of their home-heavy schedule.

“We always talked about: Are you playing your best basketball in March and April? That’s what we’re working toward,” Mosley said. “But understanding you are not going to be there right away. It’s going to take some time. But are you progressing there? That’s most important.”

The teams will meet again in Orlando later this month. In the last two seasons, the team that won the first game went on to complete the sweep.

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NBA (Basketball)

The Suns will face the red-hot Trail Blazers again in Phoenix

Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers have been playing great basketball recently, and the Phoenix Suns got a close look at that on Saturday.

Now, the Suns will get another chance when they visit Portland for the second game of their two-game set on Monday night.

In the first matchup, Portland won 127-108, leading by as much as 27 points. This was their seventh win in the last eight games.

Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton, facing his former team, played a big role, scoring 24 points on 11-of-12 shooting.

“Played with energy, playing against his former team, you can tell he wanted to play hard,” Suns star Kevin Durant said. “It was a great game for him.”

Ayton was the No. 1 overall pick by Phoenix in 2018 and played five seasons with them before moving to Portland last season.

But Ayton said his strong performance wasn’t about facing his old team.

“I’m here to beat teams, man,” Ayton said. “I’m not really worried about who was in front of us. We’re playing for each other, playing defense and communicating. You can feel it. We are trying to change the tradition around here to a winning culture. We’re just scratching the surface right now.”

This was Ayton’s fourth consecutive game scoring 20 or more points. He’s averaging 22.3 points and 11 rebounds during this stretch.

He’s also made 21 of 24 shots in the last two games. Ayton was 10-of-12 in a win over the Orlando Magic on Thursday.

Portland coach Chauncey Billups was impressed with Ayton’s play.

“He dominated the game, he really did,” Billups said. “He’s obviously always emotional against this team so it was good to see him go dominate the game.”

Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns

Before Saturday’s game, the Trail Blazers had lost four straight against Phoenix.

The Suns’ loss was just their fourth in the last 13 games.

Devin Booker led Phoenix with 37 points, marking his second straight game with 30 or more points. However, his scoring wasn’t enough to get them back in the game.

“They’ve been playing good basketball,” Booker said of Portland. “They came out and straight up beat us. They’re playing with a lot of confidence and they’re playing well right now.”

Durant added 22 points, extending his streak of 20 or more points to 24 of the last 25 games.

But the Suns struggled defensively, giving up 98 points in the first three quarters, which hurt their chances, especially after a big win over Golden State the night before.

“Basketball can be fleeting. This league is tough,” Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said. “Credit to Portland for the way they’re playing. You have to look at what they did to make it happen. We weren’t our best.”

The game was so lopsided that players on both benches seemed more interested in the rumors coming from the fans than the action on the court in the final minutes. Fans were talking about a potential trade involving Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis, sending Doncic to the Lakers and Davis to the Mavericks.

Durant was unsure about the reports at first, until a Suns security officer borrowed a fan’s phone to show him the news.

“Crazy, crazy, crazy league,” Durant said, shaking his head.

Billups said the Blazers heard about the trade rumors in a similar way, with assistant coaches overhearing it from fans in the stands.

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In Boston, the Celtics rallied from a 26-point deficit to shock the 76ers

Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers

Jayson Tatum scored 35 points and dished out 11 assists as the Boston Celtics came back from a 26-point, second-half deficit to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 118-110 on Sunday.

Boston outscored Philadelphia 54-20 in the last 15 minutes, taking control of a game that the 76ers had dominated early. This win helped the Celtics get revenge for a home loss to the Sixers on Christmas and improved their record to 2-0 on their road trip, which ends with a game against the East-leading Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.

Jaylen Brown contributed 21 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists for Boston, while Kristaps Porzingis added 18 points, seven rebounds, and five blocks. The Celtics hit 21 3-pointers, including 14 of 22 in the second half.

Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 34 points, and Guerschon Yabusele scored 21 points against his former team. Kelly Oubre Jr. added 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Sixers, who were missing Joel Embiid (knee) and Paul George (finger).

Maxey made three 3-pointers in the first quarter, helping Philadelphia take a 29-21 lead.

Jayson Tatum celebrates in the 2nd half

The Sixers pushed their lead to 43-28 on Maxey’s 3-pointer midway through the second, but Boston cut it to seven points before Philadelphia went into halftime with a 61-44 lead.

Philadelphia maintained a lead of at least 14 points throughout the third quarter, even leading by 26 after Ricky Council IV’s layup made it 90-64 with under three minutes left. However, Boston ended the quarter with a 16-4 run. Derrick White started the surge with two 3-pointers, followed by long-range shots from Sam Hauser and Tatum. Brown’s layup in the final seconds cut the gap to 94-80.

Hauser hit two more 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter, and Tatum added three in just 2 1/2 minutes, putting the Celtics up 101-100. White hit two more 3-pointers in the final five minutes, both after the Sixers got within one point. A 3-pointer from Holiday with 51.6 seconds left sealed the win for Boston.

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The Grizzlies defeated the Bucks for the seventh consecutive time in Memphis

Memphis Grizzlies and Milwaukee Bucks

Jaren Jackson Jr. hit seven 3-pointers and scored 37 points, while Desmond Bane added 22 as the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Milwaukee Bucks 132-119 on Sunday night.

This win marked the Grizzlies’ seventh straight victory over the Bucks and their eighth win in the last nine matchups. Santi Aldama contributed 23 points and eight rebounds, and Ja Morant (shoulder) missed his second game in a row.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 30 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. Khris Middleton scored 20 points off the bench, while Damian Lillard added 15 points, although he struggled with his shooting, going 4-for-15 from the field.

The Bucks have now lost four of their last five games, a stretch that began after a 1-3 road trip. Before this, Milwaukee had won eight of their previous nine games.

The game was competitive from the start, with 10 lead changes in the first quarter. Memphis took a 31-28 lead at the end of the opening period. Middleton led the Bucks early, scoring 11 points in the first quarter and 13 by halftime.

Giannis Antetokounmpo takes the ball forward in the 2nd half

Memphis went on an 11-0 run in the second to take an eight-point lead, but the Bucks fought back and regained a 58-56 lead at the break.

Milwaukee came out strong in the third, with Brook Lopez hitting two 3-pointers and Taurean Prince adding another to give the Bucks an eight-point lead. Antetokounmpo’s dunk put them up by 10 with 9:37 left in the third. AJ Green hit a 35-foot running 3-pointer at the end of the quarter, giving the Bucks a 99-93 lead heading into the fourth.

Memphis opened the fourth quarter with a 12-4 run, taking a 105-103 lead. With the game tied at 112, the Grizzlies scored seven unanswered points and never trailed again. Jackson scored 16 points in the final quarter, including three 3-pointers, while Aldama added 11 points in the period.

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Victor Wembanyama is expected to return for the Spurs in San Antonio against the Grizzlies

Victor Wembanyama jumps to complete the basket

The San Antonio Spurs are likely to have second-year star Victor Wembanyama back in the lineup when they face the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.

However, it seems less likely that newly acquired De’Aaron Fox will join the trip. Multiple reports late Sunday indicated that Fox, the veteran point guard from Sacramento, is part of a three-team trade that will send Zach LaVine from the Chicago Bulls to the Kings.

Fox is averaging 25 points, 6.1 assists, and 5 rebounds per game and could make Wembanyama an even stronger offensive force for the Spurs.

Wembanyama missed Saturday’s last-second loss to the Miami Heat due to an illness, which is not considered serious. “Obviously, (Wembanyama) wasn’t feeling 100 percent (against Miami),” said Spurs interim coach Mitch Johnson. “I expect it to be minor. It didn’t sound like it was anything drastic or extreme.”

Fox’s arrival would be a boost for the Spurs, who have lost six of their last eight games, though they did secure a dominant win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday. In that 144-118 victory, Wembanyama scored 30 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and blocked six shots.

After Saturday’s 105-103 loss to Miami, Wembanyama mentioned he was dealing with allergies and was scratched from the lineup 40 minutes before the game started.

As the All-Star break approaches, Wembanyama leads the NBA with an average of 4 blocks per game, having recorded at least one block in 77 straight games. He’s averaging 24.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists and is set to be a Western Conference reserve in the All-Star Game.

Memphis Grizzlies (NBA)

The Grizzlies, on the other hand, are on a hot streak. They’ve won two straight games without star guard Ja Morant, who is out with a right shoulder injury, and eight of their last nine games. Memphis is also 20-5 at home this season.

The Grizzlies beat the Bucks 132-119 on Sunday, rallying in the fourth quarter with a big rebounding advantage (61-36) and 37 points from Jaren Jackson Jr. Memphis outscored Milwaukee 39-20 in the final period.

“Our pace, we just tried to wear them down in the fourth quarter,” said Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins. “We had great contributions from everyone.”

Jackson led Memphis in scoring, hitting seven 3-pointers. Desmond Bane added 22 points and nine rebounds, while Zach Edey contributed 14 points and 11 rebounds.

The Grizzlies’ bench also played a key role. Santi Aldama scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Scotty Pippen Jr. had 10 assists, nine points, five rebounds, and four steals in 23 minutes of play.

Pippen has seen significant playing time with Morant missing 21 games this season and has been effective in his role. He had a plus/minus rating of +22 in Sunday’s win.

“Scotty just tries to find ways to contribute to winning,” Jenkins said. “That’s what I’ve loved about him over the course of this season. He’s played a lot of different roles — coming off the bench, starting, playing with different personnel. He’s progressively gotten better as a decision-maker and as a playmaker.

“I told him the other day, ‘Your defensive intensity and the pace at which you play unlocks so much for our offense.’ We needed him (Sunday), and he came through for us big-time.”

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The Bucks take on the Thunder in Milwaukee, aiming to end their losing streak in a rematch of the NBA Cup final

San Antonio Spurs and Milwaukee Bucks

The last time the Milwaukee Bucks and Oklahoma City Thunder played, the game didn’t count in the NBA regular season standings. However, it was still significant, as the Bucks won 97-81 on Dec. 17 in the NBA Cup championship game in Las Vegas.

On Monday night in Oklahoma City, the teams will meet again for the first time since that match.

In their previous game, Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 26 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists. Andre Jackson Jr. also played a key role defensively, limiting Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to 21 points on 8-of-24 shooting.

Gilgeous-Alexander has scored 21 points or fewer only twice this season.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said that Jackson’s defense forced them to move Gilgeous-Alexander off the ball to conserve energy. “Rather than having him go get the ball in the backcourt and exert a lot of effort to get the ball and get the ball over half court, we move him off the ball,” Daigneault explained.

“It’s an attack we’ve seen with Dillon Brooks. It’s an attack we’ve seen with Herb Jones. There’s multiple ways to play him, and we’ve got solutions built in.”

Jackson welcomed the challenge, saying, “I’m not afraid to step up to the plate against anybody just cause that’s my role and that’s who I’ve had to always be in order to make it this far. That’s what’s going to continue to take me further is I’m not afraid of any competition, any matchup.”

Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz

The Thunder are coming off a 144-110 win over Sacramento on Saturday, starting a four-game homestand. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points in just three quarters, but the standout performer was Aaron Wiggins, who scored a career-high 41 points.

Since their NBA Cup loss to Milwaukee, the Thunder have gone 18-4, cementing their spot at the top of the Western Conference.

Milwaukee had hoped that their NBA Cup win would mark a turning point after a rough start to the season, but that hasn’t happened. Following a 132-119 loss to Memphis on Sunday, the Bucks have gone 12-10 since their win over the Thunder. They’ve lost three straight games and four of their last five. During their three-game losing streak, the Bucks have allowed an average of 133.7 points per game.

Oklahoma City could be missing some players again on Monday. Jalen Williams, recently named to his first All-Star team, is listed as questionable with a right wrist sprain after sitting out Saturday’s game.

Cason Wallace (right shoulder strain) and Alex Caruso (left ankle sprain) are also listed as questionable. Caruso missed the win over Sacramento, while Wallace injured his shoulder early in that game and did not return.

For Milwaukee, Bobby Portis, who has been the subject of trade rumors ahead of Thursday’s deadline, missed his fifth consecutive game on Sunday due to personal reasons. Bucks coach Doc Rivers said he wasn’t sure if Portis would play in Oklahoma City.