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Pacers aim for continued improvement vs. Hawks

NBA: Chicago Bulls at Indiana PacersJan 28, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) shoots the ball while Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (9) defends in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

The Indiana Pacers have won just 12 of their first 48 games, but every so often they offer glimpses of the team that reached the NBA finals last season.

The injury-plagued Pacers look to build on an encouraging victory when they face the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday in Indianapolis.

Indiana rallied for a 113-110 home win over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, while Atlanta had its four-game winning streak snapped in a 104-86 home loss to the Houston Rockets on Thursday.

Pascal Siakam scored 20 points and Andrew Nembhard added 18 in the Pacers’ win over Chicago. Indiana trailed by 14 points with 7:14 left in the contest before storming back to win for the second time in its last three games.

Siakam has scored at least 20 points in eight straight games for the Pacers, who have used a league-high 25 different starting lineup combinations this season.

The team’s lengthy injury list includes point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who is out for the season with an Achilles tear suffered in last season’s Game 7 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals.

“We understand that we’re in a different place and a different position,” Siakam said. “But I just feel like no matter all the adversity that we’ve been through and everything that’s happened, we just have to keep it going.

“We can’t think about our record. We can’t think about anything. We just have to keep focusing on how we can improve and not lose our identity, who we are. No matter who is out there, we have an identity, and that’s gotta stick.”

Indiana is looking to avoid a season sweep after losing its first two meetings against Atlanta. The Hawks posted a 128-108 road victory on Oct. 31 before winning 132-116 at home on Jan. 26.

Atlanta will be without center Onyeka Okongwu for the second straight game after the center suffered a dental fracture in Wednesday’s win over the Boston Celtics.

The Hawks are also monitoring the status of leading scorer Jalen Johnson, who sat out Thursday’s game against Houston with left calf tightness. He is listed as questionable.

With both Okongwu and Johnson sidelined against the Rockets, Atlanta faded in the second half and trailed by as many as 22 in the fourth quarter.

“Not having Jalen and ‘O’ is substantial,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. “Their ability to create advantages is something that we rely on defensively. That said, when we did get into the paint, we were trying to challenge.”

CJ McCollum scored 23 points to lead Atlanta in the loss. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 20 and Corey Kispert had 17. McCollum has scored at least 20 points in three of his last four games.

Christian Koloko started in place of Okongwu and recorded six points, seven rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block in nearly 26 minutes.

After averaging 120.8 points and 17.3 3-pointers during their four-game winning streak, the Hawks were held to 36.6% shooting and 12 3-pointers in the loss to Houston.

“(The Rockets) are an excellent defensive team, but I think there were some things that we’ve been doing that we didn’t do,” Snyder said.

–Field Level Media

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Wings' Paige Bueckers out vs. Liberty

Jul 19, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA;  Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) and Los Angeles Sparks guard Erica Wheeler (17) react after a play during the second half at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn ImagesJul 19, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) and Los Angeles Sparks guard Erica Wheeler (17) react after a play during the second half at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images

Dallas Wings star guard Paige Bueckers has been ruled out for Monday’s game against the New York Liberty in Arlington, Texas.

The Wings (17-8) announced the decision was based on “rest” for Bueckers, who was involved in a scary fall during the fourth quarter of her team’s 90-82 win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday.

Bueckers was cleared from having a concussion following post-game evaluation and is not in concussion protocol, but is dealing with soreness, per the team.

As Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike was dribbling down the court, she was fouled and lost her balance. Ogwumike tumbled into the legs of Bueckers, who fell and appeared to hit the back of her head on the floor.

Bueckers, 24, finished with a game-high 25 points on 10-of-18 shooting — including 2-of-4 from 3-point range — as well as five assists and four rebounds in 32 minutes.

She boasts team-best averages in points (20.9) and assists (6.2) to go along with 4.2 rebounds in 24 games (all starts) this season.

Bueckers was named the WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2025, the same year she was selected by Dallas with the top overall pick of the draft out of UConn.

–Field Level Media

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Injury-riddled Wings, Liberty tip off in rescheduled game

Jul 7, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA;  Dallas Wings forward Jessica Shepard (32) and New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones (35) at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn ImagesJul 7, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Dallas Wings forward Jessica Shepard (32) and New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones (35) at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

The Dallas Wings will be chasing their seventh straight win when they host the slumping New York Liberty on Monday in Arlington, Texas, but they will be without the services of star guard Paige Bueckers.

Bueckers spent the final minutes of Sunday’s 90-82 home win over the Los Angeles Spark in the locker room after suffering an apparent head injury late in the fourth quarter.

On Monday, the Wings announced Bueckers was ruled out due to “rest” purposes. She was cleared from having a concussion following post-game evaluation and is not in concussion protocol.

As Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike was dribbling down the court, she was fouled and lost her balance after being tripped by Azzi Fudd. Ogwumike tumbled into the legs of Bueckers, who fell and appeared to hit the back of her head on the floor.

Bueckers, 24, finished with a game-high 25 points on 10-of-18 shooting — including 2-of-4 from 3-point range — as well as five assists and four rebounds in 32 minutes.

She boasts team-best averages in points (20.9) and assists (6.2) to go along with 4.2 rebounds in 24 games (all starts) this season.

“We worked hard for this win, and when Paige went down, it was all about the rest of us stepping up,” Ogunbowale said after the victory over Los Angeles.

Wings coach Jose Fernandez said Bueckers was in good spirits.

“She’s upset at Azzi because she said Azzi tripped her (Ogwumike) and took away P’s charge,” Fernandez said lightheartedly.

Monday’s game was rescheduled from July 16 because of travel difficulties for the Liberty, creating a home back-to-back for Dallas.

The Wings (17-8) enter Monday’s game carrying their longest winning streak in 11 years. Dallas has captured six straight games for the first time since the 2015 campaign when the franchise was in Tulsa, Okla.

In that season, the Wings (then known as the Shock) won eight straight outings early in the year and then six in a row before bowing out against the Phoenix Mercury in the Western Conference semifinals.

The Liberty (13-12) limp into Arlington on the heels of a 108-88 loss in Indianapolis to the Fever on Saturday. Breanna Stewart led the way with 26 points and eight boards for New York, while Jonquel Jones netted 13 points and Marine Johannes and Sabrina Ionescu each added 12.

Johannes sustained a left ankle injury in the game and has been ruled out for Monday’s game.

The Liberty jumped out to an 11-point, first-quarter lead and were up by four at halftime before succumbing in the second half. New York’s 17 turnovers which led to 30 Fever points had plenty to do with the loss.

“We don’t like where we’re at right now, but (here) we are,” Stewart said after the loss. “(We’re) playing with that, realizing that we’re in it. We’re in the trenches, and we can either keep sinking or we can dig ourselves out.”

New York has dropped six of its past seven games and eight of its last 10. The Liberty have trailed by at least 13 points at some juncture in six of their past eight games and has lost all six of those contests.

“We’re really mature about it,” Ionescu said. “It really hasn’t been too frustrating. Every team goes through it. During the process, kind of when you’re in it, it sucks, but I think everyone has a really good mindset of knowing it’ll pay off for us in the long run.”

Key New York players Satou Sabally (concussion protocol) and Leonie Fiebich (foot) have been ruled out for the game.

It is the teams’ third and final meeting of the season. Dallas took the first two matchups, both in Brooklyn, including an 88-77 decision on July 7 that started the Liberty’s current four-game losing streak.

–Field Level Media

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MLB Best Bets: Jacob Misiorowski, Dylan Cease Lead Monday's Top Picks

May 31, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (32) delivers a pitch against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn ImagesMay 31, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (32) delivers a pitch against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images

Fatigue time is over for Jacob Misiorowski as the All-Star right-hander steps on the mound for the first time since July 7 when the Milwaukee Brewers face the visiting New York Mets on Monday night. Misiorowski missed his final start before the All-Star break due to a tired pitching arm and he also sat out the All-Star Game.

Misiorowski is one of the top pitchers in the National League and the Brewers will be a trendy postseason pick if the 24-year-old fireballer is healthy. It will be interesting to see if he is on a pitch count against the Mets.

Dylan Cease of the Toronto Blue Jays took a no-hitter into the ninth inning in his last start and he will look to silence the Tampa Bay Rays. We’ll also look at the Cincinnati Reds visiting the Seattle Mariners.

NEW YORK METS AT MILWAUKEE BREWERS

Misiorowski is 10-4 over 18 starts and leads the majors with 167 strikeouts and a 1.62 ERA while throwing 111 innings, close to last year’s combined 129 1/3 innings between the minor leagues and the Brewers. Those pitches that reach 105 mph put a lot of stress on the arm and his long-term chances of avoiding a serious arm injury are a constant fear to the Brewers.

Misiorowski has fanned 10 or more batters eight times this season as he tries to silence the New York bats that sit 25th in the majors with just 409 runs scored. Juan Soto is batting .290 with 21 homers and 52 RBIs but Francisco Lindor has played in just 43 games due to injuries and has just six blasts and 15 RBIs.

Free-agent signee Bo Bichette has been a bust for the Mets with a .253/.300/.370 slash line and trade acquisition Marcus Semien is hitting just .207. It is hard seeing New York doing much against The Miz as its miserable season continues.

Jacob Misiorowski to strike out 10 or more batters, +134 (DraftKings)

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TAMPA BAY RAYS AT TORONTO BLUE JAYS

Cease ranks second in the majors with 148 strikeouts and also fanned three in his one inning as American League starter and winning pitcher in the All-Star Game. He finished play before the break with 15 shutout innings in which he allowed four hits and struck out 20.

He put up a great performance while chasing his second career no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants on July 8 before Heliot Ramos led off the ninth with a solid single to center. Toronto has been a disappointment after losing in the World Series last year and sits in last place in the AL East heading into its 100th game of the season.

The Rays own the best record in the AL but have lost a season-worst five straight games so another Cease gem is possible. Tampa Bay will look for All-Star Nick Martinez to continue a strong season in which he has issued just 19 walks in 18 starts.

Teams to combine for under 7.5 runs, -115(DraftKings)

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CINCINNATI REDS AT SEATTLE MARINERS

The Mariners have won consecutive games to get back to .500 but have been season-long underachievers after losing to Toronto in seven games in the American League Championship Series last season. Seattle has guys named Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez, Josh Naylor and Randy Arozarena on the roster but you will find surprise team leaders like Luke Raley (15 homers) and Cole Young (48 RBIs).

Raleigh has collapsed this season with a .163 average, nine homers and 29 RBIs after his monster 2025 season that included 60 homers and a second-place finish in the AL MVP race. Cincinnati is eight games under .500 and close to falling out of the National League wild-card chase in what would be a disappointing development after landing a wild-card spot last season.

Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott (5-5, 4.11) is having the worst of his four big league seasons but he’s capable of going on a strong finishing kick. He should find pitching in Seattle much to his liking despite losing in his lone appearance in the ballpark in 2024 when he gave up two runs on four hits over six innings, including homers to Raleigh and Mitch Garver.

Reds to win via Moneyline, +129 (DraftKings)

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