Sports
Knicks look to avenge recent loss to lowly Kings
Jan 14, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings center Dylan Cardwell (32) drives to the basket against New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby (8) during the fourth quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images The first time this month the New York Knicks gained some momentum, it vanished with a surprising loss to the Sacramento Kings.
The Knicks will look to avoid repeating history Tuesday night when they host the Kings in the final battle of the season between the nonconference foes.
The Knicks have been off since Saturday night, when they rode a dominant third quarter to a 112-109 win over the host Philadelphia 76ers. The visiting Kings suffered their fifth straight loss Sunday night, falling to the Detroit Pistons 139-116.
The win was the second straight for the Knicks — their first set of consecutive victories since a three-game streak from Dec. 25-29. In between, New York went 2-9 with a pair of four-game losing streaks.
The second skid started Jan. 14 when the Knicks, who had won two of their last three games, lost 112-101 to the Kings, who fired current New York head coach Mike Brown on Dec. 27, 2024, after more than two seasons at the helm and the franchise’s only playoff appearance since 2006.
Brown looked as if he might be in danger of suffering a similar fate when the Knicks — whose impatient and reclusive owner, James Dolan, said during a rare radio appearance earlier this month that he expected his team to make and then win the NBA Finals — sustained their fourth straight defeat by trailing wire-to-wire in a 114-97 loss to the floundering Dallas Mavericks on Jan. 19.
But the Knicks achieved their most lopsided victory in franchise history last Wednesday, crushing the Brooklyn Nets 120-66, before showing some familiar traits Saturday in a game that could impact postseason seeding in the Eastern Conference. New York stayed in fourth place in the East and now sits 3 games ahead of the 76ers, who occupy the sixth and final guaranteed playoff spot.
The Knicks held 76ers star Joel Embiid scoreless in the third quarter, when they outscored Philadelphia 30-13. New York, known for its hustle and grit under former head coach Tom Thibodeau, also held a 26-4 advantage in second-chance points.
“When you’re a team that’s struggling to put together wins, you got to do the little things,” Knicks forward Josh Hart said. “You’ve got to have good attention to detail, good focus, good energy and you’ve got to get all those 50-50 balls.”
The sight of the Knicks across the court Tuesday will serve as a reminder of the best stretch of the year for the struggling Kings, who are in 14th place in the Western Conference, just a half-game ahead of the New Orleans Pelicans.
The win over the Knicks was the third in a season-long four-game winning streak for the Kings, who bookended the streak with lengthy losing streaks. Sacramento dropped seven straight, one loss shy of its season-high, from Dec 28 through Jan. 9.
The Kings’ current skid began Jan. 18 with a 117-110 loss to the visiting Portland Trail Blazers. The 23-point loss Sunday marked the 11th time this season Sacramento has lost by at least 20.
Head coach Doug Christie, who replaced Brown last season, lamented the lack of physicality from the Kings this season, who are allowing an average of 121.1 points per game, the fourth-highest figure in the NBA.
“We have to not only match the physicality of the opponent, but exceed it, in my opinion,” Christie said. “That can be uncomfortable. It can be uncomfortable not only for yourself, but it can be uncomfortable for them because when you’re that physical with somebody, it’s going to cause a reaction and you’ve got to be about that life.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Thunder's Nikola Topic back after cancer battle
Oct 5, 2025; North Charleston, South Carolina, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nikola Topic (44) drives up the court against the Charlotte Hornets at North Charleston Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Arthur Ellis-Imagn Images Nikola Topic, an Oklahoma City Thunder first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, made his debut in the G League Monday night as he returned from fighting testicular cancer.
The 12th overall pick in that draft, Topic scored seven points and added seven assists in 16 minutes for the Oklahoma City Blue in their 137-135 overtime win over the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
He is a 6-foot-6 point guard from Serbia.
Topic, 20, has yet to play in a regular-season game for the Thunder. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee a few weeks before the draft and did not play as a rookie. Then, in October, he was diagnosed with cancer and underwent chemotherapy.
“There was probably a ton of emotions that he was going through,” Blue head coach Daniel Dixon told reporters postgame. “Having something taken away from you that you loved from a young age cannot be easy, and so, just to see his resilience and him to know that the whole organization is behind him, we’re pushing him forward.”
He added: “Just seeing him crack a smile while being out there on the court again, doing what he enjoys doing, what he loves to do, being out there with his teammates. I mean, there was so many positive things.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Raptors' Brandon Ingram to replace Stephen Curry in ASG
Feb 5, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) holds the ball from Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams (44) in the second half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram on Tuesday was named to replace injured Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry on USA Stripes in the upcoming NBA All-Star Game.
The selection of Ingram was made by NBA commissioner Adam Silver. The All-Star Game will take place on Sunday at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif.
Ingram, 28, will be playing in his second NBA All-Star Game and first since the 2019-20 season.
He is averaging 22.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 52 games (all starts) this season.
Curry, a two-time NBA All-Star Game MVP, will not compete in Sunday’s annual showcase due to an ongoing injury to his right knee.
The 37-year-old is averaging 27.2 points, 4.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 39 games (all starts) this season.
Curry, who has not played since leaving a Jan. 30 home game against the Detroit Pistons, joins Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdomen) as All-Stars who will miss the game. Gilgeous-Alexander has been replaced on the Team World roster by Houston Rockets’ center Alperen Sengun.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jayson Tatum’s Possible Return Changes Everything for Boston Celtics
This was supposed to be a down year for the Boston Celtics.
Al Horford, the heart and soul of the Celtics, went to the Warriors in free agency. Kristaps Porzingis was shipped off to the Hawks for virtually nothing. Jrue Holiday was flipped to the Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons, and even depth pieces like Luke Kornet elected to leave for the Spurs in free agency.
Most importantly, in last season’s Eastern Conference Semifinals, Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles tendon — an injury most would have assumed would sideline him for all of this season.
Fast forward to today, and the Celtics are 34-19 and tied for second place in the East. Jaylen Brown has silenced plenty of haters with an MVP-level season, and head coach Joe Mazzulla continues to prove why he’s one of the best leaders in the NBA.
It’s truly been an incredibly fun season for Celtics fans. This year felt like house money, but now Boston is in position to win the East in what was supposed to be a down season.
I wouldn’t bet on this Celtics team to win the East as they’re currently constructed. I’m not sure I love their trade for Nikola Vucevic, but the move I’m most excited about is the potential return of Jayson Tatum.
Boston continues to say it’s being cautious with Tatum, so if that’s the case, he might be superhuman. Early reports highlighted how quickly Tatum was progressing in his recovery, and now he’s been cleared to practice with the Celtics’ G League affiliate in Maine.
Every rational person assumed Tatum would miss the entire season. He still might be out for the remainder of the year, but it’s starting to look like that won’t be the case. If he’s already able to fully practice, how long before he’s back as a full participant?
The Eastern Conference is completely wide open. You cannot rush Tatum back for the sake of his career, but if he’s able to play, would the Celtics instantly become the favorites again?
Most players need a full year of live action to get their legs back after an Achilles tear, but with how quickly Tatum has recovered, he may simply be an athletic anomaly.
Once again, Boston looks like the smartest organization in the league. They moved off big-money contracts in Porzingis and Holiday, retained an elite core led by arguably the best coach in basketball, and now their top-10 player could return for the playoffs.
Boston is +380 to win the East, and that number feels like it has real value. Revenge against the Knicks would certainly be on the table after last year’s second-round upset, and if James Harden doesn’t mesh in Cleveland, Detroit may be the only true competition.
It might be time to start respecting the Celtics again.
Thunder's Nikola Topic back after cancer battle
Primary Ventures raises healthy $625M Fund V to focus on seed investing
