Missouri Tigers guard Anthony Robinson II drives against Mississippi Rebels guard Matthew Murrell during the first half
Tamar Bates and Caleb Grill scored 51 points and made 10 three-pointers combined in a dominant performance on Saturday, leading No. 22 Missouri to an 83-75 win over No. 16 Ole Miss at Columbia, Mo.
Bates scored 26 points, hitting four 3-pointers, while Grill added 25, including six from behind the arc. Missouri (16-4, 5-2 SEC) held the lead for most of the game, taking control midway through the first half.
Anthony Robinson II contributed seven points, seven rebounds, and two steals for the Tigers, who remain undefeated at home with a 15-0 record. Malik Dia led Ole Miss (15-5, 4-3) with 17 points, eight rebounds, and two steals.
The Rebels started strong, scoring the first eight points of the game, but Missouri answered with 12 straight points.
Sean Pedulla added 15 points and six assists for Ole Miss, while Jaemyn Brakefield and Matthew Murrell scored 14 and 12 points, respectively.
Missouri’s Tamar Bates dances with teammate Tony Perkins during the final seconds of the second half of an NCAA college basketball game
Missouri went to the free-throw line 39 times, making 28 of them (71.8 percent), while Ole Miss made 13 of 18 (72.2 percent). Despite shooting 48 percent from the field in the first half, Ole Miss trailed 38-31 at halftime, with Bates and Grill scoring 12 points each.
Missouri also made 6 of 15 three-pointers (40 percent) in the first half, half of which came from Grill, and led by a 20-12 rebounding margin.
In the second half, Ole Miss cut Missouri’s lead to 54-51, but a four-minute stretch without a field goal allowed Missouri to extend the lead to 66-56 with 6:12 remaining, thanks to a 3-pointer by Bates.
Senior forward Dontrez Styles attempts a contested layup during the game against SMU in the Lenovo Center
On a day when NC State men’s basketball controlled the turnover battle and limited the highest-scoring offense in the ACC to just 63 points, the Wolfpack played solid defense.
However, their struggles on offense led to a 63-57 loss to SMU at Lenovo Center on Saturday afternoon, making it their fourth consecutive loss.
SMU didn’t score for the first four minutes of the game, allowing NC State to go on an 8-0 run and forcing the Mustangs’ inside-focused offense out of rhythm. Despite this defensive effort, NC State’s inability to score kept them from capitalizing.
“Defense is keeping us in every game that we’ve had,” said head coach Kevin Keatts. “When you hold a team to 63 points, you know you have a chance to win. The unfortunate thing is we scored 57.”
After senior forward Dontrez Styles scored a tough and-one in the first half, the game shifted dramatically. SMU went on an 18-1 run, which included a six-minute stretch where NC State failed to score and missed 11 shots in a row.
Ten of these were jumpers, most taken off the dribble, showing a reluctance to attack SMU’s seven-foot-two center, Samet Yigitoglu, and a tendency to force shots.
Senior forwards Ben Middlebrooks and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield combined for just six points, while Yigitoglu anchored the Mustangs’ 2-3 zone defense. Keatts defended his big men when asked about the team’s jump-shot-heavy offense.
“Both Brandon and Ben are not traditional back-to-the-basket guys,” Keatts explained.
“They would much rather face up, and we’re not alone in that. The majority of college basketball doesn’t have those guys, most of the post guys are pick-and-pop situations, so that’s not deliberate. Those were just the shots that we got.”
After halftime, SMU made a clear effort to get the ball to Yigitoglu, and his involvement helped extend their lead to 15 points.
The Mustangs finished off the run with a dunk that quieted the NC State crowd. The Wolfpack became frustrated on defense, struggling to spark their offense.
A late push led by senior guard Marcus Hill wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit, and the Wolfpack’s losing streak extended to four games. With a quick turnaround to face No. 2 Duke on Monday, the focus turned to getting back to work.
“We can’t dwell on this loss,” said freshman guard Paul McNeil. “We’ve got a big game coming up, but we’re going to practice and stay focused. We’re going to watch film and do what we got to do.”
NC State basketball head coach Kevin Keatts
The loss marked NC State’s fourth straight defeat and their sixth loss in the last seven games, dropping them below .500 and putting their hopes of making the ACC Tournament in doubt. Despite the tough stretch, Coach Keatts found a positive note.
“We have to understand that everybody in the program is frustrated,” Keatts said. “But the great thing about it is not because we’re not playing hard. That’s a different issue.
Our issue is that we’re not scoring the basketball enough to win these games. If we can figure out how to get over the hump and make some shots, then we’re there.”
McNeil, who played a season-high 15 minutes, agreed and backed his teammates.
“It’s bigger than scoring,” McNeil said. “We have to find a way to stay focused. It was hard for us not hitting shots tonight, but we stayed focused and kept the energy high, we just came up a little short.”
With this loss, NC State faces a tough stretch ahead, with six consecutive games against top-ranked opponents, including the Blue Devils on Monday.
“I learned this early in my career here at NC State: don’t prepare for the next six games,” Keatts said.
“You have to prepare them for the next game. We came into this game prepared for SMU and we’ll turn the page tomorrow. We have to prepare for Duke. They don’t know what’s going on at six o’clock tonight as opposed to six games down the road.”
Syracuse falls 77-73 to Pitt in crucial ACC matchup, marking their 6th conference loss
As February nears, every game in the Atlantic Coast Conference becomes important. With only ACC games left, every match offers another chance to secure a spot in the conference tournament.
Syracuse still has games against teams like Miami, Boston College, and Virginia, who are at the bottom of the standings.
However, it’s the teams slightly ahead of them that are most important to beat, as these games will affect seeding in March.
Despite Syracuse holding a one-point lead at halftime, Jaland Lowe’s 17 second-half points helped Pittsburgh win 77-73 on Saturday.
Syracuse (9-11, 3-6 ACC) lost to Pittsburgh (13-6, 4-4 ACC), missing the chance to beat a team with a similar record, which would have helped their position. This marked their sixth loss in the ACC.
Syracuse head coach Adrian Autry felt that it wasn’t the 11 turnovers or 40 missed shots that caused the loss. Instead, it was the timing of Syracuse’s effort.
“Toughness at the time that plays need to be made, they made them, and we didn’t. And that was the difference in the game,” Autry said after the game.
Down by five with three minutes left, Lucas Taylor went to the free throw line and made two points, cutting Syracuse’s deficit to three. Pittsburgh’s Zack Austin hit a 3-pointer, but Petar Majstorovic answered with a floater, bringing the lead back to four.
However, J.J. Starling missed a jumper, and Lowe finished the game at the free throw line, even though Chris Bell’s last-minute 3-pointer attempt didn’t go in.
It was Pittsburgh’s game from the start and to the finish. After winning the opening tip, Pittsburgh moved the ball around quickly, with Cameron Corhen finishing a layup. After a missed floater on the next possession, Corhen finished a lob pass from Guillermo Diaz Graham.
Syracuse had a strong start
Syracuse started strong, jumping out to a 13-4 lead in the first four minutes thanks to several 3-pointers. Starling hit a three from the top of the key to open the game, followed by a three from Jyáre Davis and a left-corner 3 from Elijah Moore.
Pittsburgh responded with their star players, Lowe and Ishmael Leggett, getting going. Leggett hit a 3-pointer, followed by a Lowe and-one play.
The duo came into the game averaging a combined 33.9 points per game, and on Saturday, they were the key players for Pittsburgh’s offense. Syracuse, however, used its rebounding advantage to fuel their offense.
Syracuse is ranked fifth in the ACC for rebounding, and with Eddie Lampkin Jr. dominating inside, they outrebounded Pittsburgh 8-4 early. This helped Syracuse take an 18-15 lead despite five turnovers.
As the first half went on, Pittsburgh’s press became more effective, and they regained the lead with a fast break to the basket. But Majstorovic hit a 3-pointer, and later converted a tip-in to give Syracuse a 23-21 lead with 10 minutes remaining.
J.J. Starling’s team-leading 16 points weren’t enough to overcome Pitt
Starling picked up two quick fouls and had to sit out, with Jaquan Carlos and Taylor taking over. The team built a 28-23 lead, and Starling stayed on the bench for the rest of the half.
Pittsburgh’s head coach Jeff Capel said the best way to defend Starling was by keeping him on the bench. Despite Starling’s absence, Syracuse ended the half with a 33-32 lead.
“We knew Pittsburgh would play a better first half, holding it to 32 points, we knew the second half would be a little bit more challenging,” Autry said. “But for the most part, it wasn’t good enough.”
Corhen came out strong in the second half, starting with a dunk to give Pittsburgh a 34-33 lead.
Starling quickly returned to the game and hit a three-pointer, but Diaz Graham answered with a 3-pointer to put Pittsburgh up 41-38 with 16:54 remaining. Lampkin responded with a basket inside.
Lampkin set a career-high with 23 rebounds, surpassing his previous record of 14 from his time at TCU.
It was the most rebounds by a Syracuse player in a single game this season. Despite this achievement, Lampkin wasn’t celebrating the performance.
Lampkin Jr. was not happy about the rebounds
“I don’t really care about 23 rebounds, but I lost, so it ain’t like I can go be happy and cheer about it, but I feel like I can go get more,” Lampkin Jr. said.
Syracuse tied the game at 43-43 with a 3-pointer from Moore, but Pittsburgh regained the lead with a floater from Lowe. Starling reentered in place of Carlos and quickly tied the game with a layup.
The game turned into a battle between Lowe and Starling. Lowe hit a left-handed floater, and after a Pittsburgh defensive stop, he followed up with another floater and added a free throw for an and-one.
Autry saw Lowe’s 17 second-half points as a result of his off-ball movement, which made it harder for Syracuse’s defense to keep up. Capel said it was mainly due to the other players around Lowe stepping up and making shots.
Lowe scored again, extending Pittsburgh’s lead to 53-45, their largest of the game. Syracuse responded with a 5-0 run, capped by a 3 from Bell. But Pittsburgh answered with a 5-0 run of their own to push the lead back to eight with eight minutes remaining.
With contributions from Starling, Lampkin, and a few 3-pointers from Bell, Syracuse fought to stay in the game. However, Lowe led Pittsburgh to victory, pushing Syracuse further down in the ACC standings.
After the game, Autry stood at the podium, gripping the sides of the desk. He spoke with a grim expression, rarely looking up from his stat sheet for over a minute.
Autry closed his eyes, rubbed his head with his left hand, and reflected on another tough loss. In his second season as head coach, he finds himself with more questions than answers, but knows he has to keep going.
“This is part of this journey. This is part of our season, and we gotta keep picking ourselves back up,” Autry said.
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Elliot Cadeau passes the ball as Boston College Eagles guard Dion Brown and guard Fred Payne defend in the first half
North Carolina held Boston College scoreless for the last 2:10 of overtime, finishing the game on a 6-0 run to narrowly win 102-96 and end a two-game losing streak on Saturday at the Smith Center.
After Boston College made 14 three-pointers, a season-high, North Carolina’s defense tightened up in the final minute of regulation and overtime to secure the victory in a high-scoring game.
Seth Trimble scored four points in the final 18.6 seconds of regulation to force overtime, and RJ Davis scored seven points in the extra period (matching BC’s seven points in overtime). The Tar Heels made all four of their field goals in overtime.
“We were locked in defensively for the last 18.6 seconds and in overtime,” said head coach Hubert Davis. “We got the stops, deflections, and steals we needed to get back in the game and win.”
Davis led the team with 22 points, shooting 6 for 11 from the field and 8 for 8 from the free-throw line. He also grabbed five rebounds and recorded five assists without any turnovers.
Trimble achieved his second career double-double, finishing with 18 points and a career-high 12 rebounds in 43 minutes, which was also a career-high.
“We were fortunate to get into overtime,” Trimble said. “We committed to winning. We were on our home court, and we don’t want to lose at home or in overtime. We locked in and got the stops we needed.”
Ian Jackson scored 19 points, including 15 in the second half. He made 8 of 13 shots, bouncing back after shooting just 4 for 18 in the previous two games. Jackson also hit 2 of 3 three-pointers.
North Carolina guard Seth Trimble drives against Boston College forward Chad Venning during an NCAA college basketball game
Jalen Washington scored 18 points
Jalen Washington scored 12 points in the first half and finished with 18 points, matching his career high. He also had six rebounds (four offensive) and three assists. Washington’s performance helped the Tar Heels score a season-high 58 points in the paint.
North Carolina played well in the first half, shooting 58 percent from the field as a team, but they couldn’t shake off Boston College, who had lost five straight games before this matchup. UNC finished the game shooting 55.6 percent overall.
Boston College shot 55 percent in the first half, took its first lead in the final six minutes, and stretched it to a five-point lead after halftime. The Eagles made a season-high 14 three-pointers, shooting 58.3 percent (14 for 24).
“It took everybody on the court and on the bench,” RJ Davis said. “We persevered and fought until the end. We made crucial defensive stops and executed on offense. It was big for us.”
The win brought UNC’s record to 13-8, 6-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Boston College lost its sixth straight game, dropping to 9-11, 1-8.
UNC now holds a 24-9 all-time record against Boston College, including 22-5 since BC joined the ACC in 2005-06. The Tar Heels have won six straight and 18 of the last 19 games in the series.
Donald Hand Jr. scored 26 points for the Eagles, while Dion Brown added 20 before fouling out in the final minute of regulation.
UNC scored 100 points in an overtime game against an ACC opponent for the first time since beating Clemson 103-93 on February 19, 2008. Carolina is 6-1 all-time when scoring 100 points in overtime against ACC teams.
Alabama Crimson Tide guard Labaron Philon drives the ball against LSU Tigers forward Corey Chest during the first half
Nate Oats wanted to see his team’s maturity in Saturday night’s game against LSU, especially since Alabama was aiming for an SEC title.
The Crimson Tide had to prove themselves without their top scorer for the second half, and after some early turnovers and mistakes, they managed to pull away in the final minutes to win 80-73 at Coleman Coliseum.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our guys in the second half,” Oats said.
Mark Sears, who has been averaging nearly 19 points per game this season, was scoreless in the first half and didn’t play at all in the second half.
Oats didn’t give a specific reason but said the coaching staff chose to play the players who gave the team the best chance to win.
Forward Clifford Omoruyi also didn’t start the second half, though Oats was happy with his performance after he grabbed four points and seven rebounds in the second half.
The game was close, with 13 lead changes and eight ties. Alabama led by five or six points for most of the second half, but they went on an 8-0 run after the last media timeout to lead by 13 with just over two minutes left. LSU fought back and cut the lead to six with less than a minute to go.
In the first half, Alabama struggled with turnovers and allowed LSU to get 13 offensive rebounds. That kept LSU in the game, and the score was tied 40-40 at halftime.
In the second half, Alabama improved, allowing just four offensive rebounds and only four second-chance points. Guard Aden Holloway said the team focused on rebounding at halftime.
Alabama center Clifford Omoruyi dives for a loose ball against LSU at Coleman Coliseum
“In the first half, we were playing–– not bad ––but they would just give that little extra effort to go get the offensive rebound,” Holloway said. “And we just made it a super key to just give that little bit of extra umph to just finish the possession, give us extra possessions on offense.”
The Crimson Tide also improved their free throw shooting, hitting 79 percent and making crucial free throws in the final minutes.
Chris Youngblood made his first start for Alabama, scoring seven of the team’s first nine points and finishing with 13 points. Holloway led the team with 19 points.
“It felt good,” Youngblood said after the game. “You know, it’s funny, because at first, my family thought I was going to be mad about not starting, but I was like, ‘Man, this team is wonderful.'”
With the win, Alabama improves to 17-3 (6-1 SEC). They will face No. 14 Mississippi State next on Wednesday.
The Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers face off in a critical matchup for two struggling teams (Buffalo Sabres/New York Rangers)
Two struggling teams will clash in Buffalo on Wednesday night, as the Sabres take on the New York Rangers.
Currently, the Sabres find themselves enduring a season-long seven-game losing streak, which ties them with the Nashville Predators for the longest active drought in the NHL.
Jason Zucker and Tage Thompson shone in the Sabres’ recent near victory but couldn’t seal the deal (Buffalo Sabres)
Both teams have experienced three overtime or shootout losses during this challenging stretch.
Frustration is mounting for Buffalo, the youngest team in the league, highlighted by their recent 6-5 shootout defeat against Detroit.
The Sabres initially held a 3-2 advantage after the first period and led 5-3 after two, thanks to two goals from Jason Zucker and a contribution from leading scorer Tage Thompson. However, they allowed the Red Wings to force overtime in the third period.
Throughout this losing streak, Buffalo has taken first-period leads in five games and has held the advantage after two periods twice. This poor performance has led to audible boos from fans during home games.
Coach Lindy Ruff addressed reporters following practice on Tuesday, noting the team’s inability to make sound decisions under pressure from the Red Wings, a trend that has persisted during the losing streak.
“We were making some good plays,” Ruff said. “We just didn’t get comfortable enough when they were trying to stress us out by pinching down the walls and coming at us.”
Compounding their woes, Buffalo’s power play has struggled mightily, scoring just once in 24 opportunities since the game against Anaheim on November 22. In stark contrast, the Sabres had scored in 10 of their previous 11 games, with 11 goals in 37 chances.
Rangers’ Challenges
While Buffalo is tied for the longest current losing streak, the Rangers come into Wednesday’s matchup with the league’s worst record over their last ten games, having won only two of ten (2-8-0).
This rough patch has been exposed during a challenging period for head coach Peter Laviolette’s squad. Recently, the Rangers traded their defenseman and captain, Jacob Trouba, to Anaheim for Urho Vaakanainen, who remains on injured reserve with a lower-body injury, along with a draft pick. The team’s front office had sought to move Trouba since the offseason.
On Monday, the Rangers suffered another home defeat, falling 2-1 to Chicago, which shares the bottom of the standings with Nashville. The only goal for New York came from a short-handed effort by Will Cuylle, eliciting a chorus of boos from the Madison Square Garden crowd.
Following the loss, Laviolette expressed his understanding of the fans’ frustrations. He emphasized that whatever issues are causing the team’s decline in performance must be addressed internally.
“There’s been some positive signs inside the room, (but) not (Monday),” he stated. “… I thought the intention in the first was good. The execution was off, and both slipped in the second and third.”
Looking ahead to Wednesday, Ruff indicated that the Sabres might welcome back Mattias Samuelsson from a lower-body injury. The defenseman last played on November 11.
Additionally, Ruff mentioned that Rasmus Dahlin is “progressing” in his recovery from back spasms that have kept him sidelined since December 3, although he did not provide a timeline for the captain’s return.
Kraken Beat Penguins 4-1 in Seattle, Complete Series Sweep
The Seattle Kraken and Joey Daccord were focused and determined on Saturday, securing a solid win to sweep the season series against Pittsburgh during Kids Day at Climate Pledge Arena.
Daccord faced 29 shots, including 16 high-quality scoring chances. He did allow a goal from Sidney Crosby, who moved ahead of Joe Sakic to become 10th all-time in road points, but Daccord held strong to earn his fifth win in the last seven games.
Defenseman Vince Dunn, who scored the game-winning goal, praised Daccord for stepping up in key moments: “We can always count on him to make the big saves. It’s on us to find a way to build off his momentum.
When you have a goalie you can trust, it fuels the guys in front of him and makes guys feel confident, not to play safe, to execute and want to make plays in front of him, plus knowing that sometimes things don’t go perfectly and he’s back there to stop the puck.”
Eeli Tolvanen helped the Kraken and the Kids Day crowd relax with a third goal early in the final period, and Matty Beniers sealed the win with a later goal for a 4-1 final score.
Both goals were set up by great assists from teammates. On Tolvanen’s goal, Shane Wright created the scoring chance and passed to McCann in space.
McCann then passed it to Tolvanen for the quick release and goal. On Beniers’ goal, Kakko stole the puck just outside the Pittsburgh zone, patiently handled it, and passed to Beniers for the goal.
While the four goals and Daccord’s strong performance stood out, it was also important to highlight McCann’s two primary assists on the tying and winning goals. In his last 10 games, McCann has racked up nine assists and a goal.
Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
McCann’s theory after the game
“I’m just trying to contribute as much as I can,” McCann said after the game. “I’ve said this time and time again: I’m not a big points guy. I never have been. So penalty killing, I think I do a better job blocking shots and being better defensively.”
Though McCann downplays his role in offense, he showed his playmaking ability, especially during a power play goal where he created confusion among the defense and then retrieved the puck to find Dunn for a long-range shot.
“Dunner and I, we’ve played together for a long time,” McCann said. “He always holds the middle of the ice, which is nice. So I just try to get the puck to him there.”
NHL teams get one timeout per game, and Kraken coach Dan Bylsma used his effectively on Saturday.
After two Penguins players went to the penalty box in quick succession, Bylsma took a timeout with 1:20 of potential 5-on-3 play. He handed strategy to assistant coach Jessica Campbell, who used the whiteboard to set up the next play.
The timeout worked perfectly, as Seattle fired multiple shots on rookie goalie Joel Blomqvist.
After the first flurry, the Kraken regrouped, and Vince Dunn scored with a slapshot off a pass from McCann.
Chandler Stephenson, who had been questionable to play due to an upper-body injury suffered on Thursday, added his second assist of the night, bringing his total to 27 assists for the year.
Philadelphia 76ers' Guerschon Yabusele shoots with Cleveland Cavaliers' Georges Niang and Jarrett Allen defending during the second half of an NBA basketball game
The Philadelphia 76ers pulled off an unexpected win against the Cleveland Cavaliers, defeating them 132-129 and ending their seven-game losing streak. Despite missing some key players, the 76ers showed their determination against one of the best teams in the league.
Paul George led the way with 30 points, and Tyrese Maxey added 29 points. Kelly Oubre Jr. also had a strong performance, contributing 22 points and playing a key role on both offense and defense.
The Cavaliers, who had the best record at 36-8, had Donovan Mitchell leading their scoring with 37 points.
Ty Jerome also had a career-high 33 points, hitting all eight of his three-point attempts. Both teams shot well from three-point range, combining for 46 three-pointers, which played a big part in the high score.
Even though the 76ers have had a tough season, especially with star center Joel Embiid out for his tenth straight game due to a knee injury, they found a way to win.
Their shooting from three-point range was their key strength, hitting 53.8% of their attempts, which was effective even if it wasn’t sustainable.
The game started with strong energy from the 76ers, who made eight of their first ten three-point attempts and scored 39 points in the first quarter.
Maxey was crucial in the game, not only for his scoring but also for creating chances against Cleveland’s defense.
He helped lead the team in both offense and defense, forcing turnovers and turning them into fast-break points. Although it hasn’t happened much this season, Philadelphia proved it can win against the league’s top teams without Embiid.
Joel Embiid looks over the court after the game
While the 76ers shot well, they still faced challenges. Cleveland fought back, with Jerome hitting two three-pointers in a row to briefly put the Cavaliers ahead.
However, the 76ers responded with 13 straight points, with Eric Gordon hitting important threes, putting the 76ers back in control.
On defense, the 76ers still have areas to improve. They struggled at times against Cleveland’s offense, allowing easy layups and having trouble defending the perimeter.
Both teams scored easily, showing how the 76ers’ defense remains a work in progress.
The win brought the 76ers’ record to 16-27, showing they can compete with top teams. “Cleveland showed it can be beaten by a hot-shooting team from the perimeter,” the report said, pointing out the shift in dynamics on the court.
Looking ahead, both teams will quickly get ready for their next games. The Cavaliers will play the Houston Rockets, looking to bounce back from this loss, while the 76ers will head to Chicago to play the Bulls, hoping to build on their confidence.
This win is a big boost for coach Nick Nurse and the team, showing their offensive strength and determination to overcome challenges.
It raises questions about how they will continue this season, but for now, they will enjoy the victory over one of the league’s best teams.
The Los Angeles Lakers played an outstanding game on Thursday night, defeating the defending NBA champions, the Boston Celtics, with a score of 117-96.
The Lakers played one of their best games of the season, improving to a 24-18 record and securing fifth place in the Western Conference.
LeBron James led the way for the Lakers, finishing with 20 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists, showing his usual all-around ability. A dunk in the second quarter showed that, even at 39 years old, LeBron still has a lot of energy.
Anthony Davis was a strong presence inside, contributing 24 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks.
The Lakers used a bigger lineup, with Davis playing alongside Rui Hachimura, which worked well. Hachimura added 10 points and seven rebounds, helping out on both ends of the court.
Austin Reaves Continues His Strong Season
Austin Reaves kept up his career-best season, scoring 23 points and dishing out six assists. His consistent play has been one of the Lakers’ best features this season, and he played a key role in their win over the Celtics.
Bronny James walks on the court in the 1st half
On defense, the Lakers shut down the Celtics’ offense. Jayson Tatum had a tough time, finishing with only 16 points, and Jaylen Brown scored just 17.
The Celtics’ 96 points were their second-lowest total of the season, as the Lakers’ defense made it difficult for them to score.
Bronny James Gets His Chance
With the game well in hand, rookie Bronny James, LeBron’s son, got his chance to play. Fans had been asking head coach Darvin Ham to let Bronny play, and he got a few minutes on the court, creating a memorable moment on an already successful night for the Lakers.
This victory shows that the Lakers are finding their rhythm as the season reaches its halfway point. With a 24-18 record, they are six games above .500, matching their best record of the season.
With their momentum, the Lakers will look to keep it going when they play the Golden State Warriors on Saturday, hoping to continue climbing in the competitive Western Conference.
Kobe Bryant playing for the LA Lakers against the Washington Wizards (NBA)
When Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas five years ago this week, the city of Los Angeles was in shock. Known as one of the best basketball players ever, the 41-year-old was loved locally as the rookie who spent his entire 20-year career with the LA Lakers.
Soon after his death, murals honoring Bryant appeared all over the city, showing him as a figure between a god and an angel for his amazing basketball achievements.
On Saturday (January 25), the first episode of a new three-part documentary, Kobe: The Making of a Legend, aired on CNN.
The first part of the series covers his childhood, his rise in youth basketball, and his marriage to his wife Vanessa, which caused a rift with his parents and closest advisors.
However, the second episode, set to air on January 31, will be the most controversial. It includes details of a newly discovered police interview with the 19-year-old hotel worker who accused Bryant of sexual assault in 2003.
At 24, Bryant was already a star when he checked into the Cordillera Lodge and Spa in June 2003. He was in the quiet Colorado town of Eagle to have minor knee surgery. The woman who accused him worked at the hotel front desk.
She claims in the police interview that after showing Bryant to his room, he asked her for a personal tour. Once they were back in his room, he asked for a hug and then kissed her.
While she said that part was consensual, she claims that when he began to touch her inappropriately and she objected, she tried to get away but he grabbed her by the neck.
When Bryant was arrested and charged with sexual assault, the small town of Eagle, Colorado was quickly overwhelmed by media attention. Bryant’s lawyers held a press conference where he denied the assault but admitted to having sex with the woman.
Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant and his wife Vanessa attend a news conference at Staples Center
Kobe was furious with his actions
Holding hands with his wife Vanessa, he told reporters that he was “furious with myself, disgusted at myself for making a mistake of adultery.”
He added that he loves his wife deeply. “She’s my backbone,” he said, before turning to her and saying: “You’re a blessing.”
From the footage of the press conference, it’s clear that Bryant was very scared. He knew that if he was convicted, he could face at least four years in prison, which would separate him from his wife and their five-month-old daughter, as well as end his basketball career.
However, public opinion seemed to be on Bryant’s side. Just 14 days after the charges were filed, he was named Male Athlete of the Year at the Teen Choice Awards, with the crowd cheering for him.
The same support was visible outside the courtroom when the trial began in August 2003, with massive TV coverage and large groups of fans cheering for him.
District Attorney Mark Hurlbert believed he could win the case, though he admitted that the budget for his office for the entire year ($2 million) was half of what Bryant had spent on a diamond ring for his wife ($4 million), which was seen as an apology.
Although Bryant’s lawyer, Pamela Mackey, was instructed not to identify the victim, she mentioned her six times in court as the trial began (Mackey chose not to speak for the CNN documentary).
The woman was relentlessly pursued by the media, received death threats, and was expected to reveal her sexual history in court.
By September 2004, the trial ended when the judge dropped the charges after the woman said she didn’t want to testify.
She later filed a civil lawsuit against Bryant, and in March 2005, they settled the case outside of court for an amount believed to be more than $2.5 million.
During the trial, basketball commentators portrayed Bryant’s problems as something for him to overcome, rather than focusing on the crime he was accused of.
In the documentary, journalists and friends suggest that Bryant used the negative attention to motivate himself and reach new heights, which helped inspire the “Black Mamba” nickname he gave himself. Scoop Jackson, who knew Bryant well, says that a “switch was flipped and the Black Mamba was born.”
Off the court, Bryant and Vanessa had a second daughter in 2006. In 2011, Vanessa filed for divorce citing “irreconcilable differences,” but by 2013, they had reconciled and publicly announced they were staying together.
The couple had two more daughters in 2016 and 2019, and Bryant worked to restore his reputation as a committed family man. When he passed away in the crash with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, they were on their way to his Mamba Sports Academy, where he was going to coach her basketball team.
In the end, the 2003 incident did little to stop him from being remembered as a hero after his tragic death, but as The Making of a Legend shows, it continues to affect his legacy.
Head coach Dave Hakstol praised his team's strong start, emphasizing their readiness from the very first puck drop (Seattle Kraken)
The Seattle Kraken decisively defeated the San Jose Sharks in their inaugural matchup of the season, showcasing their dominance from the outset.
The Kraken’s offense was explosive, netting four goals in the first period, while the Sharks appeared outmatched throughout the contest.
An explosive first period propelled the Kraken to an impressive 4-0 lead, leaving the Sharks struggling to keep pace (Seattle Kraken)
Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol emphasized the team’s readiness right from the beginning, stating, “We came out, we scored early, but just the way we played from the drop of the puck, I thought, really, it put the momentum where we needed it to be.”
Several Kraken players had standout performances, with Oliver Bjorkstrand contributing one goal and three assists, and Eeli Tolvanen adding two goals and one assist.
Their line, along with Yanni Gourde, accounted for four goals and nine total points. Other contributors included Brandon Tanev, Jared McCann, and Adam Larsson, who each found the back of the net, while Jamie Oleksiak provided two assists.
Three Takeaways from the Kraken’s Dominance
Takeaway #1 (Darren): Assessing the Performance of Both Teams
Determining whether the Kraken’s performance was exceptional or a reflection of the Sharks’ struggles is complex. It likely represents a combination of both factors.
Seattle effectively overwhelmed San Jose, dominating possession and keeping their opponents pinned in their defensive zone for extended periods.
This strategy forced the Sharks’ defenders to clump together near the goal, creating ample opportunities for the Kraken to operate effectively around the perimeter.
Tolvanen confirmed this observation, stating, “Oh, yeah. I think we did a really good job changing. They had tired guys out there, and we were able to change, then we’d get fresh guys out there. So I think that’s going to make it easier, and you don’t get tired when you play in the offensive zone.”
The Kraken achieved an impressive 82 percent shot quality during the match, which highlights the deserving outcomes for both teams.
From the Sharks’ perspective, their coach and players expressed frustration after the game, with coach David Quinn labeling the effort as “embarrassing.” He remarked, “We weren’t ready to play.
Two breakaways in the first minute and a half – just absolutely embarrassing. We lost every single battle, got beat off the walls, and every time there was a 50-50 puck battle, we were fishing for pucks and got on the wrong side of it.”
His passionate remarks indicate that this level of performance is unacceptable, even for a team struggling this season. However, Seattle should still be commended for executing their game plan against a weaker opponent.
Takeaway #2 (Curtis): Defense as a Key Component of Offense
Seattle’s defensive efforts were integral to their scoring success, effectively limiting San Jose’s offensive opportunities to an unprecedented level in franchise history.
The Kraken allowed the Sharks a mere 14 shots on goal, which ties for the fewest allowed in franchise history, matching the record set against Ottawa on April 18, 2022. Moreover, the majority of the shots were of low danger.
According to Natural Stat Trick, the Sharks generated shot quality that was expected to yield just 0.75 goals. This figure is 0.31 goals lower than the previous best defensive performance by Seattle.
While the Sharks have struggled offensively this season, entering this game with only 27 goals, the combination of poor finishing and bad luck has contributed to their challenges.
San Jose has produced shot quality expected to generate 45 goals over their first 18 games, averaging 2.5 goals per game.
Their most disappointing offensive showing occurred on November 10 against Vegas when they were shut out on shots worth 1.43 expected goals.
In terms of shot quality, Wednesday’s performance by the Sharks was nearly 50 percent worse than their prior low in the 2023-24 season, underscoring Seattle’s strong defensive display even against a team facing difficulties.
The Kraken’s defenders excelled in protecting high-danger areas of their zone, allowing only two shot attempts from the slot. More importantly, Seattle minimized San Jose’s time in the offensive zone.
As noted earlier, the Kraken controlled possession effectively, particularly in the neutral zone and their offensive zone.
A notable sequence in the second period demonstrated this dominance, as the Kraken maintained pressure in the Sharks’ defensive zone for nearly two full shifts.
While this sequence did not result in a goal, it contributed to an 18-minute stretch in the second period where San Jose failed to register a single shot on goal.
As the saying goes, a strong offense often serves as the best defense, and that proved true for the Kraken in this matchup.
Takeaway #3 (Darren): Thriving Top Lines
With an impressive showing from the Tolvanen/Gourde/Bjorkstrand line, all three of Seattle’s top forward lines are currently functioning effectively together.
While the third line stood out on this night, the top two lines also played a role in Larsson’s goal, with assists from Eberle and McCann, and Tanev scoring the opening goal following a well-executed breakout pass from Alex Wennberg.
Bjorkstrand commented on their chemistry, saying, “I think we’re feeling it. Maybe a few lucky bounces off the glass, but we like playing together, and I think it just kind of went our way today.”
The Jaden Schwartz/Wennberg/Tanev line has also been performing admirably since Tanev’s return from injury.
Head coach Dave Hakstol (Seattle Kraken)
Coach Hakstol acknowledged their effectiveness, stating, “It might be a bit of an odd look on a line chart when [Tanev] is on the right side there with Wenny, but it’s been a good fit because he brings that pace, he gets you up ice, he gets you into the offensive zone.”
With all three lines operating in sync, there’s optimism surrounding the Kraken’s potential to build on this momentum.
The players are expressing a positive mindset, recognizing their improvement since a challenging start to the season, while also demonstrating a desire to continue striving for better results.
As the Kraken celebrated their victory, other Pacific Division teams such as Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, and Anaheim all suffered losses.
This development places Seattle in a playoff position heading into Thanksgiving, a crucial checkpoint in assessing a team’s playoff prospects.
The question remains: can Seattle continue to capitalize on this positive momentum to solidify their place in the playoff picture? What are your thoughts?
I arrived at the McGuire Center just a bit too late to catch the start of Marquette women’s basketball’s game against Georgetown on Saturday.
Due to some circumstances beyond my control, I got settled in my seat during the first-quarter media timeout.
At that point, Marquette was leading 14-6. It turned out Georgetown had just ended a 12-0 Marquette run right before the timeout. After the break, Marquette went on to score the next eight points.
That was a 20-2 run. With the score at 22-6, Marquette just had to maintain their lead for the rest of the game.
They did give up the last five points of the first quarter, but then they won the second quarter by three points and outscored Georgetown by 11 in the third. That’s better than just holding steady.
Even though Georgetown started the fourth quarter with a 9-0 run, it didn’t really change much in the grand scheme of things.
The lead was still 16 points at 68-52. Marquette then outscored the Hoyas 7-6 for the final six minutes, and that was it.
The surprising part? Marquette wasn’t even playing at its best offensively. They finished the game shooting 55% from the field and a remarkable 67% from three-point range.
Marquette Women’s Basketball wins against Georgetown in Milwaukee
When they did get a shot up, it was likely to go in. But because Marquette committed 21 turnovers—just like Georgetown—they didn’t quite hit their usual average of one point per possession.
Despite this, they still won by 17 points thanks to their strong defense. In fact, you could argue that Marquette really stepped up on defense, as Kelsey Ransom scored 25 points on 21 shots, and Ariel Jenkins had 16 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out.
Lee Volker led Marquette with 20 points, while Halle Vice added 19 and Skylar Forbes contributed 18.
Vice led the team in rebounds with eight, Volker had the most assists with six, and Forbes tied with Vice for the team-high in steals with three. Forbes also added four blocks for a well-rounded performance.
