Sports
Hurricanes' Brandon Bussi hands Rangers another home blanking
Feb 5, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi (32) makes a save against New York Rangers left wing J.T. Miller (8) during the second period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Rookie Brandon Bussi made 16 saves in a successful homecoming as the visiting Carolina Hurricanes extended their points streak to 10 games with a 2-0 victory over the New York Rangers Thursday night in the final game before the Olympic break.
Andrei Svechnikov scored early as Hurricanes improved to 8-0-2 in their past 10 and earned their second shutout win on the Rangers’ home ice this season.
A Long Island, N.Y., native, Bussi won his seventh straight game and improved to 23-3-1 since joining the Hurricanes as a waiver claim from the Florida Panthers on Oct. 5.
Bussi was rarely tested, but he delivered a left pad save on J.T. Miller midway through the second period and denied Will Cuylle on a partial breakaway six minutes into the third to highlight his second career shutout.
The Hurricanes had plenty of chances to turn the contest into a blowout, but New York goalie Jonathan Quick made a season-high 41 saves. Carolina finished its latest victory with 86 shot attempts and improved to 7-1-0 in its past eight games against the Rangers.
Jordan Staal added an empty-net tally in the final minute for the Hurricanes, who earned their third shutout of the season.
A day after trading Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings as part of their retooling attempt, the Rangers dropped their fourth straight. New York fell to 6-15-4 at home and was blanked for the seventh time in front of its frustrated fans, who were heard chanting for GM Chris Drury to be fired on a few occasions.
Svechnikov scored the only goal Bussi needed 6:26 into the contest thanks to defensive pressure by teammate Mark Jankowski deep in the offensive zone.
Jankowski forced New York defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov into the giveaway in the right circle. The puck went to Svechnikov, who walked into the slot unimpeded and sent a shot from between the circles past Quick’s left arm.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Raptors subdue Bulls' deadline-depleted roster
Feb 5, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Ja’Kobe Walter (14) dunks against Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams (44) in the first half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Brandon Ingram scored 22 of his 33 points in the first half Thursday night and the Toronto Raptors defeated the visiting Chicago Bulls 123-107.
Immanuel Quickley added 24 points for the Raptors, who have won two of three to open a five-game homestand. Sandro Mamukelashvili posted 17 points, Collin Murray-Boyles had 17 points and three blocks, Scottie Barnes notched 13 points and Ja’Kobe Walter scored 12.
The Bulls, who completed seven trades before the deadline, featured two new players in their starting lineup and three overall. Anfernee Simons, acquired from the Boston Celtics for Nikola Vucevic, led the way with 22 points and ex-Detroit Piston Jaden Ivey added 13 as his starting backcourt partner. Guerschon Yabusele had 15 points and 11 rebounds off the bench.
Matas Buzelis contributed 18 points for the Bulls, who completed a 1-3 road trip with their sixth loss in seven games. Jalen Smith had 13 points and nine rebounds and Isaac Okoro scored 10.
Toronto led by 12 points going into the fourth quarter. The lead reached 15 on Mamukelashvili’s driving hook with 7:57 to play. Simons cut the lead to 10 on a 3-pointer with 4:53 left, but Quickley’s 3-pointer restored the 15-point margin with 2:34 remaining.
Toronto led 33-25 after the first quarter.
While the Bulls were having problems adjusting to a revamped lineup, the Raptors pulled out to a 15-point lead when Quickley hit a 10-footer with 8:12 to play in the second quarter. The Bulls responded with a 7-0 burst, capped by Simons’ layup with 5:46 to go. The Bulls pulled to within five on Ivey’s steal that set up a Buzelis layup with 1:10 remaining in the first half, but Toronto led 65-58 at halftime.
Toronto shot 58.7% (27-for-46) from the field in the first half. Chicago shot 50% (23-for-46).
Toronto took a 12-point lead early in the third quarter, but the Bulls rallied to forge a 76-76 tie when Buzelis drained a 3-pointer at the 7:28 mark.
Chicago’s lack of familiarity showed again on defense, though, and the Raptors came back with 10 straight points capped by Quickley’s six-foot floater with 5:13 to go. The Raptors led 100-88 after the third quarter.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jock Landale, in debut with new team, helps Hawks down Jazz
Feb 5, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Jock Landale (31) shoots against the Utah Jazz in the first quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Jock Landale matched his season high with 26 points in his Atlanta debut and Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 23, including the game-winning basket with 1.3 seconds left, helping the Hawks defeat the visiting Utah Jazz 121-119 on Thursday.
Landale was acquired by Atlanta from the Grizzlies on Wednesday, drove from Memphis to Atlanta for the Thursday morning shootaround and was in the starting lineup later that day. He shot 10-for-14 from the field, tied his season high with 11 rebounds, matched his career high with five assists and had a season-best four blocked shots.
With the game tied 119-119 after Utah’s Ace Bailey made a 3-pointer with 10.3 seconds remaining, Alexander-Walker dropped in the go-ahead hoop, which rattled on the rim before falling in. Bailey’s contested 3-point attempt at the buzzer was no good.
Atlanta also got 22 points, 16 rebounds and 15 assists from Jalen Johnson, his 10th triple-double of the season. Corey Kispert came off the bench to score 20 as the Hawks won their second game in a row.
Utah was led by Isaiah Collier, who scored a career-high 25 points while adding seven rebounds and 11 assists. Collier played 48 minutes for the second straight game. Bailey didn’t score in the first quarter but finished with 20 points. Lauri Markkanen and Brice Sensabaugh each scored 18.
The win gave Atlanta a sweep of the two-game season series. The Hawks have won four straight against the Jazz.
There were five ties and nine lead changes in the first quarter, which ended with Utah up 31-30 behind Kyle Filipowski’s 10 points. The Jazz ran off nine unanswered points midway through the second period to take a 12-point lead, only to have Atlanta outscore them 18-5 and go up 61-60 entering halftime after a late layup from Alexander-Walker.
Atlanta had a five-point lead early in the third quarter, but Utah rode a 10-point quarter from Bailey to overtake the Hawks and lead 96-92.
Landale’s effort was needed since starter Onyeka Okongwu missed his fourth game since undergoing dental surgery following a nasty elbow in the mouth against the Boston Celtics. Atlanta’s other acquisitions — Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield and Gabe Vincent — had not yet joined the team. The Hawks waived N’Faly Dante and Duop Reath.
Utah’s Keyonte George (left ankle sprain) and Kevin Love (illness) did not play. Newly acquired Chris Boucher, Jaren Jackson Jr., John Konchar and Vince Williams Jr. had not joined the team.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Kon Knueppel, streaking Hornets handle sputtering Rockets
Feb 5, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) handles the ball against Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) during the third quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images Rookie Kon Knueppel scored 24 points, LaMelo Ball added 20, and the visiting Charlotte Hornets extended their winning streak to eight games with a 109-99 win over the sputtering Houston Rockets.
Knueppel finished 8 for 13 overall while Ball drilled five 3-pointers to pace a balanced offensive attack for the Hornets, whose winning streak is the franchise’s longest since the 1998-99 season. Three others scored in double figures for Charlotte, which shot 17 for 43 from deep.
Miles Bridges added 18 points while Josh Green tallied 14 on 4-for-4 shooting and four steals off the bench. Brandon Miller, plagued by foul trouble, posted 11 points and three steals. Moussa Diabate grabbed 12 rebounds for the Hornets, who produced a 46-40 rebounding margin.
Kevin Durant scored a game-high 31 points for the Rockets, who have split their last six games and dropped both contests of a home back-to-back. Jabari Smith Jr. chipped in 17 points and seven rebounds for Houston, which committed 18 turnovers that Charlotte turned into 27 points. Durant and Smith were the only double-digit scorers for Houston.
Live-ball turnovers doomed the Rockets in the first half and greased the skids to a 12-point halftime deficit. Both teams had at least 11 turnovers at the break (Houston had 13), but while the Rockets scored just four points off the Hornets’ miscues, they conceded 19 points on their turnovers to fuel the Hornets.
Ball and Durant offset one another in the first quarter, scoring 10 and 11 points respectively as the Hornets carried a 29-26 lead into the second. But after Reed Sheppard nailed a 3-pointer for Houston that knotted the score at 34-34, Ball and Bridges stroked 3s that ignited a 19-5 run capped by a Knueppel 13-footer. That 14-point margin was the largest of the half for Charlotte.
The Hornets had their way before the intermission, shooting 9 of 21 from behind the arc while also recording 28 points in the paint. Houston clawed to within seven points in the third quarter, but when Ball drilled a stepback 3-pointer at the 4:29 mark, the Hornets claimed an 83-70 lead.
The Hornets led by as many as 22 points in the fourth quarter.
–Field Level Media
