Following Syracuse’s 86-72 win against Notre Dame on Saturday night in the JMA Wireless Dome, many are wondering: what grades would you give the team?
How would you evaluate the offense? And what marks would you assign to the defense? Finally, what’s your overall grade for the team’s performance?
If you’re having trouble viewing the stats on your mobile device, click here to access them.
Ace Flagg made a crucial foul shot with 1:55 remaining to give Maine the lead, and the Black Bears held on to beat Albany 52-49 in an America East men’s basketball game on Thursday in Orono.
Flagg, a Newport native, finished the game with 12 points, eight rebounds, and four assists for the Black Bears (4-17, 2-4 America East), helping Maine snap a two-game losing streak. He extended Maine’s lead to three points with 42 seconds left in the game.
Logan Carey then stepped up, sinking three foul shots to secure the victory. Carey and Mehki Gray led the team with 13 points each.
For Albany (7-13, 3-2), Abdoulaye Fall scored a team-high 14 points, while Isaac Abidde contributed 10 points in the effort.
https://www.centralmaine.com/2026/01/22/maine-mens-basketball-holds-off-albany/
CHAPEL HILL — With all the noise surrounding the North Carolina basketball team this past week, it must have seemed like old times to head coach Hubert Davis.
A year ago, there were similar rumblings about whether Davis was the right fit to lead the illustrious program, but the Tar Heels went on a six-game winning streak near the end of the regular season to quiet the clamor.
Wednesday night, limping home after a two-loss West Coast trip and three defeats in four games, the 22nd-ranked Tar Heels faced a Notre Dame team enduring even greater struggles. The Fighting Irish were on a four-game losing streak, losers in five of their last six, and without their top scorer, Marcus Burton, who was injured after averaging 18.5 points through ten games.
Davis juggled his starting lineup for the third straight contest and the changes worked. Point guard Derek Dixon, starting his second consecutive game, opened the scoring with a 3-pointer from the right corner, and the Heels never trailed, coasting to a 91-69 victory.
“I thought about moving forward and not dwelling on California,” Davis said about his coaching approach in practice after the disappointing loss. “I didn’t want that to lead to the next game against Notre Dame. I wanted to be positive with these guys, give them confidence to go out there and play, and they were able to do that tonight.”
North Carolina is 12-0 at home this season, and the Tar Heels have won six in a row over Notre Dame. UNC is now 15-4 overall—a record most programs, not named North Carolina, would be happy with—and 3-3 in the ACC, while the Irish fall to 10-9 on the season, 1-5 ACC.
Notre Dame made two first-half runs at the Heels. Braeden Shrewsberry’s 3 cut the lead to one, but Luka Bogavac hit a 3-pointer from the left wing and Kyan Evans’s trey from the right corner gave UNC an 18-10 lead. When the Irish cut the margin to three, Carolina went on a 10-2 run and led 42-33 at the half.
After Henri Veesaar opened the second half with a hook shot and a 3-pointer, followed by another Dixon trey—extending the margin to 50-33 with less than two minutes gone in the half—the outcome was clear.
“At halftime, I said, ‘OK, let’s take another step, let’s get off to a good start, let’s raise our level even more,’” Davis said. “And we started off on an 8-0 run and we just continued it throughout the second half. That’s something that we hadn’t done in a while and I was very proud and very happy for them.”
Perhaps the loudest complaint after the loss to California was the perceived failure to get the ball to the Heels’ best player, Caleb Wilson—although the freshman took 12 shots, barely below his 12.3 shots per game average. Against Notre Dame, Wilson took only 11 shots but made eight, while converting 5 of 8 free throws to finish with 22 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
It was the 19th game in a row Wilson scored in double figures, just one off the UNC record to begin a career set by Rashad McCants. Veesaar scored 15 points and hauled in 12 rebounds for his 10th double-double of the season, and Dixon finished with 11 points.
Eight different Tar Heels made 3-pointers in the game, tying the all-time UNC record.
Tar Heel fans also blamed Davis for North Carolina’s porous defense. In their three recent losses against SMU, Stanford, and Cal, opponents shot 54% from the field and 54.3% from the 3-point line. Against Notre Dame, the Heels mixed man-to-man defense with a 1-3-1 zone to limit the Irish to 36% shooting from the floor and 32% on 3-pointers—although Notre Dame did convert 6-of-12 treys in the first half.
“We talk about communication all the time, and the communication at times wasn’t there in the first half,” Davis said of his team’s 3-point defense. “We did a much better job of communicating in the second half.”
If there was a chink in the Heels’ armor, it was on the offensive boards where Notre Dame beat them 18-10, although UNC still held a 17-13 advantage in second-chance points. The Heels shot 50.8% from the field, 38.2% from 3-pointers, and enjoyed a 13-2 advantage in fast break points.
The win gives Davis and the Heels some breathing room, as the performance may quiet the discontent—at least a bit. But Carolina can hardly rest on its laurels as it faces 14th-ranked Virginia in Charlottesville next Saturday, and a loss—especially a bad loss—will put the spotlight back on its head coach.
“This is the first time with this group and we have 11 new players,” Davis said. “We’re learning, we’re growing, we’re getting better, and we’re looking forward to practice and preparation to play a really good Virginia team.”
https://www.wilsontimes.com/sports/lineup-changes-renewed-defense-help-no-22-tar-heels-cruise-past-notre-dame-0c03fff9
It’s the existential question that will hover over the Knicks until proven otherwise: Can a team win a championship with a small, less-athletic guard like the Knicks’ Jalen Brunson as their best player?
“Tough. It’s tough,” former NBA guard Tim Legler, now ESPN’s top NBA analyst, told The Post. “Even if you just took out the ‘not as athletic’ component, and you just said ‘at his size as your highest-volume shot-taker,’ just look historically how many teams have done that.”
Legler points to past examples to illustrate his point. “Let’s take a smaller guard that won a championship. Take an Isiah Thomas, for example; look at the balance on their scoring. You didn’t have the discrepancy that you have here where your leading scorer is seven points better than your next leading scorer. Then there’s another five-point drop before you get to your third leading scorer.”
“The teams that have done it and won it all with a guy that size as your top shotmaker have been more balanced teams. Chauncey Billups was a little bit bigger than that but still was a grounded player. He wasn’t a super athletic guy; strong base, all that kind of stuff. Look at the balance on that team.”
Entering Saturday’s game against the Suns at Madison Square Garden, Brunson averaged more than six more shots per game than the next closest teammate, Karl-Anthony Towns. In contrast, during the Detroit Pistons’ championship seasons in 1988-89 and 1989-90, Isiah Thomas was around two more shots per game than any of his teammates. And on the 2003-04 Pistons championship team, Billups wasn’t even the leading scorer or shot-taker; it was Richard Hamilton.
The only recent example of a smaller guard winning a championship as the lead scorer is Stephen Curry. The reigning champion Thunder have a guard in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as their best player and top scorer, but he is much bigger at 6-foot-6 and much more athletic.
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Unlike the Knicks, Oklahoma City was also an elite defensive team, similar to those Pistons squads.
“It’s not as easy,” former longtime NBA coach Stan Van Gundy, now an “NBA on Prime Video” analyst, told The Post. “Small guards in today’s game are not easy because you can’t switch as much. Steph Curry has shown us that certainly you don’t have to be a big guard to play on a championship-level team. One of the things that Steph has done throughout the course of his career is he has really improved at the defensive end.”
Van Gundy adds, “It’s one of the things in my preparation [for Warriors games]. Teams try to go at him, but it’s not that easy anymore. He has great pride in what he does at the defensive end. Can you have somebody that size on a championship team be the best player? Yep, you can. Is it easy? No.”
Looking back over the past decade, the non-Warriors championship teams have been led by players like LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as their best player and top scorer.
The discourse became a national talking point when Becky Hammon, then an ESPN analyst, said two years ago that Brunson is too small to be a “1A dude” capable of leading a team to a championship. Allen Iverson and Steve Nash were examples she used as precedent.
Since then, the Knicks have added depth around Brunson with players like Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, rather than using resources to land a superstar like Antetokounmpo that could potentially make Brunson more of a second option.
Legler sums it up: “It’s a smaller guy, highest usage rate, biggest shot taker, kind of know exactly what’s gonna happen late in games. Being honest? It’s not easy, it’s very rarely been done in the history of the league. That’s what they’re trying to pull off and it’s not an easy thing to do.”
The silver lining, according to Legler, is Brunson’s efficiency. “Most guys his size aren’t this efficient. Most guys his size that shoot that much do not shoot 48 percent from the field. They don’t shoot 40 percent from the 3-point line. Most of those guys, in that size range that take a lot of shots, are in the low 40s. They’re 34 percent from the three. That’s way more typical than what Brunson does.”
Brunson has defied expectations throughout his career. But the vast majority of recent NBA history remains a challenge to overcome.
https://nypost.com/2026/01/17/sports/smaller-jalen-brunson-leading-knicks-to-nba-title-is-tough-task-nba-analysts/
Cleveland Cavaliers forward De’Andre Hunter made his 2025-26 season debut on Sunday night during the wine-and-gold’s home opener, and his presence was immediately felt by the team.
“Just his size,” Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson said after the 118-113 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. “You see our offense, I don’t know how many [offensive rebounds] he had, but we were just the more physical team. If he doesn’t play, do you win that game? That’s probably up in the air. He was huge, I thought.”
To answer Atkinson’s question, Hunter grabbed four boards, with only one coming on offense. However, those numbers don’t fully capture his true impact on the glass. Hunter was in the mix whenever a shot went up, putting a body on opponents or leaping to disrupt their rebound attempts. Cleveland is challenging him to elevate this aspect of his game even further this year.
Hunter contributed 16 points and dished out a couple of assists in his 27 minutes on the court. His off-the-dribble game was on display with a couple of mid-range pull-ups from the right elbow, and he also got closer to the basket. At a crucial moment to start the fourth quarter, he nailed a three-ball at the top of the perimeter off a pass from Donovan Mitchell.
“It was just efficient for him, and then, finding his spots,” Mitchell said. “Obviously, there were certain shots he turned down that we wish he didn’t. But the fact that he’s continued to be aggressive, getting on the offensive rebounds, being a pest defensively, being able to switch 1-5 at the end — that’s what he brings to us.”
“Just another option offensively,” added Evan Mobley. “Defensively, to have a big guy out there like that, especially against Giannis [Antetokounmpo] and the team that we played Sunday, him being out there is definitely a different look.”
Hunter was also unafraid to apply aggressive ball pressure, an area the Cavs are aiming to ramp up despite some early-season foul trouble.
With his physicality and versatility, Hunter looks to be a pivotal piece for Cleveland as they continue their campaign this season.
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/cavs-news-deandre-hunter-impresses-kenny-atkinson-teammates-season-debut
Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton is set to miss the entire 2025-26 NBA season due to a serious injury.
Haliburton is currently recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, which will sideline him for the duration of the upcoming season.
This news is a significant setback for the Pacers as they look ahead to the challenges of the next NBA campaign. Fans and teammates alike will be eagerly awaiting his return to the court.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/news-tyrese-haliburton-wows-coach-rick-carleslie-with-surprise-dunk-pacers-star-mirrors-jayson-tatum-s-achilles-rehab-flex
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves is dealing with ankle discomfort but is expected to play Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, coach JJ Redick told reporters after Thursday’s practice.
“I know Austin and I expect him to play,” Redick said, per Lakers insider Jovan Buha. Reaves was a modified participant in the Lakers’ practice after he shone in their season-opening 119-109 loss to the Golden State Warriors.
The Lakers guard put up 26 points on 9-of-16 shooting, along with nine assists and five rebounds, showing his growing confidence and importance to the team’s offense. Despite the ankle discomfort, Reaves has a knack for playing through pain.
In one of their preseason matches against the Warriors, Reaves survived an injury scare after he collided with Golden State guard Brandin Podziemski.
“[Reaves] got kneed in the posterior anterior calf or somewhere around there,” Redick said at the time. “I think he just took a knee to his lower leg muscle. I think he’s fine.”
In the season opener, the Lakers — behind Luka Dončić and Reaves — were competitive despite missing LeBron James, who is still recovering from sciatica, until the third quarter.
### Reaves Addresses Lakers’ Ongoing Third-Quarter Struggles
Even after his strong performance, Reaves expressed frustration with a familiar issue: the Lakers’ inability to maintain intensity after halftime.
“We’ve just been bad in the third quarter,” Reaves said after the loss. “Last couple of years for sure, but I think ever since I’ve been here, we’ve had a problem with the third quarter. So, we’ve got to figure out a way to come out with a little more energy.”
Redick addressed the same concern postgame, challenging his players to take responsibility. Reaves agreed.
“That’s on us players, not the coaches,” Reaves said. “They come in here and give us the answers to the test, and we just didn’t come out and execute. We have to be better.”
The Lakers will have a chance to respond Friday in a playoff rematch against the Timberwolves — the team that eliminated them in five games in last season’s first round.
### Contract Year Adds High Stakes to Reaves’ Season
Reaves, 27, entered the season with more than just on-court motivation. He’s playing the final guaranteed year of his four-year, $54 million contract, which includes a $14.8 million player option for next season — one he is widely expected to decline.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst recently reported there is “a 0.0% chance” Reaves signs an extension and a “99.9% chance” he opts out of his deal next summer.
“Reaves has one of the best value contracts in the NBA,” Windhorst wrote, explaining that current extension rules cap his raise at 140% of his existing salary, or roughly $89 million over four years — far below his expected market value.
The Lakers have full Bird rights on Reaves, meaning they can offer him any salary up to the max to retain him, but competition is looming.
### Reaves Drawing Interest From Multiple Teams
According to The Athletic’s Dan Woike on The Zach Lowe Show podcast, Reaves is already drawing interest from rival teams preparing “lucrative offers” potentially exceeding $40 million per year.
According to ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks, there will be about 10 teams projected to have significant cap space next summer.
“If he has a good year, he could be a fringe All-Star candidate for sure,” Lowe said. “And honestly, the max is not out of the question.”
Woike added that with the expected cap spike, Reaves’ maximum salary offer from another team could start around $42 million per year.
“It’s him and Trae Young — those are the free agents everyone’s watching,” Woike said.
### Rising Star With Higher Stakes Ahead
Reaves’ rise from undrafted rookie to potential nine-figure free agent has made him one of the NBA’s most intriguing stories entering the 2025 season.
His mix of shooting, playmaking, and poise has made him a cornerstone of Redick’s new system and a priority for the Lakers to keep long-term.
For now, Reaves’ focus remains on the floor. Despite the ankle discomfort, he’s expected to suit up Friday, continuing to prove his value on both ends.
If his early-season form continues, Reaves won’t just be one of the Lakers’ most important players — he could be one of the NBA’s most expensive free agents by next summer.
https://heavy.com/sports/nba/los-angeles-lakers/reaves-injury-update-2/
The Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs entered the season with roughly the same expectations. However, after just one game, it’s clear that the Mavericks are already lagging behind. In their season opener, Dallas suffered a heavy 125-92 loss to the Spurs.
Victor Wembanyama led the charge for San Antonio, delivering a dominant 40-point performance that exposed Dallas on both ends of the floor. Meanwhile, Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg struggled, managing an inefficient ten-point effort. Despite Flagg’s underwhelming showing, fans and teammates remain optimistic about his potential.
### Mavericks to Rely on PJ Washington’s Breakout
Klay Thompson, however, believes another player is poised to step up for Dallas this season: PJ Washington. Quietly one of the better 3-and-D players in the league, Washington showed flashes of his potential in the opener against San Antonio. Last season, he averaged 14.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 38.1% from three-point range.
In the opener, Washington contributed 17 efficient points and played his role well, even as San Antonio outpaced Dallas. Thompson expressed high hopes for Washington’s development:
“There are so many great players on this roster,” Thompson told CBS. “I think PJ has All-Star potential. I really do.”
Though the Mavericks are headlined by Thompson, Cooper Flagg, and Anthony Davis, success in the competitive Western Conference will require key role players to evolve into stars. Thompson elaborated on Washington’s value:
“I really believe PJ can be one of the better two-way players in the NBA. There aren’t many players who can do what PJ does as far as guarding one through five, scoring from the outside, scoring on the interior, rebounding on both ends of the court. Very excited for him. I think he has another level to get to.”
### Dallas Mavericks Need to Bounce Back
The loss to the Spurs was clinical — even embarrassing. Wembanyama was unstoppable, Stephon Castle added 22 points, and De’Aaron Fox didn’t even suit up. Dallas entered the season with high hopes of contending for a title. After one game, those hopes are far from dashed, but it’s evident that Cooper Flagg still has a lot of development ahead, the defense needs to tighten up, and roster depth remains a concern.
If Washington can emerge as a reliable 20-point scorer and become one of the league’s better defenders, Thompson’s optimistic prediction might just come true. For now, the Mavericks face an uphill battle as they look to build chemistry and improve across the board. Fans will be watching closely to see if this promising squad can rise to the challenge in what’s shaping up to be a tough Western Conference season.
https://heavy.com/sports/nba/dallas-mavericks/klay-thompson-first-time-all-star/
OKLAHOMA CITY – The 2025-26 NBA season opens with a historic night for the champion Oklahoma City Thunder as they celebrate their first title in franchise history at the Paycom Center.
Before taking on the Houston Rockets, head coach Mark Daigneault and the Thunder players will receive their championship rings and raise a banner in honor of the title. Then, it’s back to work for the defending champions.
The Thunder enter the regular season as favorites to repeat in 2026, but recent NBA history suggests the odds may not be in Oklahoma City’s favor. Over the past 23 years, only three teams have won back-to-back titles: the Golden State Warriors (2017-18), the Miami Heat (2012-13), and the Los Angeles Lakers (2001-02).
Will the 2025-26 Thunder beat the odds? Here are four of the biggest Thunder storylines heading into Opening Night.
### 1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Shines in Thunder Preseason
After scoring 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting in his preseason debut, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished the preseason with a combined 51 points on an efficient 20-for-24 shooting, including 5-for-7 from beyond the arc in three appearances. He played no more than 20 minutes per outing, highlighted by a 23-point performance in a 116-112 win against the Milwaukee Bucks.
From his 29-point effort in the Finals-clinching Game 7 victory against the Indiana Pacers to the upcoming regular season, Gilgeous-Alexander is picking up right where he left off. The league’s reigning MVP and the Thunder’s title defense begin after their championship ring and banner-raising ceremony at the Paycom Center. SGA could be on pace for another MVP campaign.
### 2. Will 2025-26 Be Chet Holmgren’s Breakout Season?
Chet Holmgren looked promising in his preseason debut against the Denver Nuggets in the Thunder’s final preseason game before Opening Night. He finished with nine points, six rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block in 19 first-half minutes as head coach Mark Daigneault rested his starters after halftime.
Much has been said about Holmgren’s busy offseason, which is expected to translate into his first All-Star campaign. From playing only 32 regular-season games last year to becoming a catalyst for the Thunder’s championship run, there’s plenty of reason to believe 2025-26 will be a breakout year for Holmgren.
Considering Jalen Williams’ All-NBA stride last season as a fellow 2022 draft classmate, it’s reasonable to assume the second overall pick could be headed down a similar path. Barring significant injury—Holmgren’s fourth-year kryptonite—the forward is projected for a big year. He averaged 18.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.8 blocks, and 0.8 steals per game before a pelvic injury cut his 2024-25 season short.
### 3. Mark Daigneault Sees Significant Growth in Cason Wallace
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault frequently reminded reporters throughout the preseason that while his young players proved themselves by winning the NBA Finals, their growth hasn’t stalled. It’s one of the many benefits of being the NBA’s youngest team.
Daigneault singled out Cason Wallace as a player showing marked development heading into 2025-26. Wallace started 43 of the Thunder’s 68 regular-season games last year, often starting on nights Daigneault opted against his double-big starting lineup featuring Isaiah Hartenstein.
Alongside Holmgren, Wallace is among the young players who have shown significant progress. “He just keeps getting better. He’s a developmental player. He’s young. This is only his third season. Sometimes you forget guys are developmental players when they’re that impactful,” Daigneault said.
“Chet is a high-impact player still getting better. Cason is a high, high-impact player still getting better. Even Dub [Jalen Williams], last season was just his third year, and as high-impact as he was, he’s still getting better. Cason has a lot of runway.
“He’s got a lot of things he can still improve on. He worked really hard in the summer. He’s not interested in staying the same. He’s ambitious with his work, as humble as he is. He’s definitely getting better since last season.”
### 4. Jalen Williams to Miss Season Opener and Beyond
The Thunder announced their active Opening Night roster without All-Star Jalen Williams, who is still recovering from surgery on his right wrist. Williams played through a torn ligament in his shooting wrist throughout the Thunder’s championship run last postseason.
Updates on Williams’ recovery have been scarce during training camp and preseason, but the Thunder will begin their title defense without their All-Star forward. The team confirmed that Williams is currently in the “return to play” process and does not expect him to miss an extended period.
—
As the Oklahoma City Thunder prepare to defend their first championship, all eyes will be on their young stars and how they navigate the challenges ahead. Will they beat the odds and capture back-to-back titles? The 2025-26 season promises to be an exciting chapter for the franchise and its fans.
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-4-biggest-storylines-champion-preseason-opening-night
DENVER (AP) — Shooting guard Christian Braun has agreed to a $125 million, five-year contract extension with the Denver Nuggets, his agent Bill Duffy confirmed to The Associated Press. The deal was first reported by ESPN.
The 24-year-old Braun is coming off a season in which he solidified his place in the Nuggets’ starting lineup, averaging 15.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Known for his high-energy defense and hustle, Braun fits seamlessly alongside Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon.
Braun is also sporting a new look this season, debuting a buzz cut hairstyle. Standing 6-foot-6, he was selected by Denver with the 21st overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft after a collegiate career at Kansas, where he won a national title.
During his rookie season, Braun played a key role in helping the Nuggets capture their first NBA championship. He scored a career-high 30 points last April against the Indiana Pacers. In last season’s playoff run, Braun averaged 12.6 points and 6.4 rebounds, although Denver’s journey ended in a seven-game second-round loss to the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
Looking ahead, the Nuggets remain among the favorites to compete for an NBA crown this season. The team has a fresh look following the trade of Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn in exchange for Cam Johnson, as well as a separate deal with Sacramento to acquire big man Jonas Valanciunas.
Denver also added veterans Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown, the latter of whom, alongside Braun, was a key contributor off the bench during the Nuggets’ 2023 title run.
https://www.denver7.com/sports/nuggets/christian-braun-agrees-to-125m-5-year-extension-with-denver-nuggets
