Morant returns, lifts Grizz past Magic in London

Ja Morant had 24 points and 13 assists in his return to the lineup to lead the Grizzlies to a 126-109 victory over the Magic on Sunday in the first NBA regular-season game in London since 2019.

Curry’s ’22 Finals Game 6 jersey sells for $2.45M

The jersey Stephen Curry wore in the championship-clinching Game 6 of the 2022 NBA Finals has been sold privately for $2.45 million.

Lakers rule out Luka (groin) against Trail Blazers

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic will miss Saturday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers because of left groin soreness, the team announced Friday.

Zvonimir Ivisic scores 18 points and Keaton Wagler adds 17 as No. 13 Illinois beats Minnesota 77-67

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Zvonimir Ivisic scored 18 points and pulled down nine rebounds off the bench and Keaton Wagler had 17 points to lead No. 13 Illinois to a 77-67 victory over Minnesota on Saturday.

David Mirkovic and Tomislav Ivisic each scored 10 points, all in the second half, for the Illini (15-3, 6-1 Big Ten), who won their seventh straight.

It was the 10th consecutive game that Wagler scored in double figures. He’s had at least 16 points in nine of those games.

Andrej Stojakovic scored seven points for Illinois, which gave him 1,000 for his career. He played at Stanford and California before joining the Illini this year.

Jaylen Crocker-Johnson scored 22 points and had eight rebounds for the Gophers (10-8, 3-4), who have lost three straight after a five-game winning streak.

Crocker-Johnson tallied Minnesota’s first 11 points, including triples on the Gophers’ first two possessions that caused Illinois coach Brad Underwood to call a timeout only 1:12 into the game.

Cade Tyson had 15 points and eight rebounds for Minnesota before the Big Ten’s second-leading scorer fouled out with 52 seconds left. Langston Reynolds had 11 points for the Gophers.

The teams were tied 34-34 at halftime, with Illinois shooting only 34% from the field. The Illini erased a 56-55 Minnesota lead midway through the second half with a 10-0 run and never trailed again.

Illinois is off to its best 18-game start since it also went 15-3 to begin the 2011-12 season.

The Illini have won nine in a row against Minnesota in a streak that began in 2019. Saturday’s game was the 200th meeting between the teams. The Illini lead the series 132-68, including 77-19 at home.

Up next

Minnesota: At Ohio State on Tuesday.

Illinois: Hosts Maryland on Wednesday.

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Kentucky completes another second-half comeback to stun No. 24 Tennessee, 80-78

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Denzel Aberdeen scored 22 points, 18 in the second half, and Kentucky rallied from a 17-point first-half deficit to knock off No. 24 Tennessee, 80-78, on Saturday.

Trailing 80-78 with 2.6 seconds left, Tennessee’s Ja’Kobi Gillespie went to the free throw line for one shot. He intentionally missed, and teammate Jaylen Carey got the rebound in a scrum. His attempt to tie the game at the buzzer was stuffed by several Wildcats players.

After the buzzer, pushing and shoving in front of the Tennessee bench ensued. Players from both teams were quickly separated.

It was the second time this week that the Wildcats (12-6, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) won after being down in the second half by at least 17 points. They trailed Auburn by 18 on Wednesday night before winning by one.

Otega Oweh, Jasper Johnson and Collin Chandler all scored 12 points and Mohammed Dioubate added 10.

Gillespie scored 24 points for the Volunteers (12-6, 2-3). Nat Ament added 17.

Gillespie had 14 points at halftime and Tennessee’s physicality was obvious in the Vols’ 42-31 advantage. Tennessee dominated the boards, 20-12, and led 8-1 in offensive rebounds.

Next up

Kentucky: The Wildcats will host Texas on Wednesday.

Tennessee: The Vols have a week off before they travel to Alabama next Saturday.

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Finley Bizjack scores 25 points to lead Butler over No. 25 Seton Hall 77-66

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Finley Bizjack scored 25 points and Butler snapped a four-game losing streak with a 77-66 win over No. 25 Seton Hall on Saturday.

Bizjack was 4 of 7 from 3-point range and 7 of 7 from the line.

Azavier Robinson added 14 points and Michael Ajayi scored 13, the 17th time this season he has scored in double figures for Butler (11-7, 2-5 Big East).

AJ Staton-McCray led Seton Hall (14-4, 4-3) with 17 points. Mike Williams and freshman Najai Hines chipped in with 11 points each. Hines also pulled down 16 rebounds.

The Pirates closed to 63-57 with 4:02 to play, but Ajayi and Drayton Jones, who scored 11 points, each scored two from the free throw line to put the Bulldogs up 67-57.

The Pirates shot only 17.6% from behind the 3-point arc (3-of-17). It was their second straight poor performance from long range. They were 1 of 16 in a 69-64 loss to No. 3 UConn on Tuesday.

The Bulldogs outscored Seton Hall 15-8 to start the second half to increase their lead to 49-32.

Seton Hall was picked to finish last in the Big East pre-season poll conducted by the coaches following a 25-loss season last year — the most in program history.

The Pirates are appearing in The Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time in four years with an overhauled roster that features 10 new players.

Butler closed the first half on a 15-4 run to take a 34-24 advantage. Bizjack contributed six of his 14 first-half points in the run on two 3-pointers.

Up next

Butler hosts DePaul on Tuesday.

Seton Hall is at St. John’s on Tuesday.

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Wizards vs Kings Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

The Washington Wizards traded for Trae Young with the long term in view, and his impact is already being felt before he takes the court. “Felt” as in, Washington is quickly improving its lottery odds because of what it gave up in that trade. 

My Wizards vs. Kings predictions recognize how bad everything is in Washington.

Find out more in my NBA picks for January 16.

Wizards vs Kings prediction

Wizards vs Kings best bet: Kings -7 (-110)

The Washington Wizards are 0-4 against the spread in their last four games and 1-5 in their last six, falling short of bookmakers’ expectations by an average of 8.25 points per game since trading for Trae Young. 

Well, the more precise thought there would be since trading away CJ McCollum. The veteran shooting guard had scored double digits in every game since November 7, with his reliability and leadership more needed than known.

That may sound abstract or intangible, but Washington has a young roster to start with, one lacking thorough talent. Pouring 24 or more minutes into Malaki Branham for two of those games as a McCollum replacement is not a recipe for success.

Wizards vs Kings same-game parlay

DeMar DeRozan averaged 17.4 points in 11 games alongside Domantas Sabonis this season, a distinct drop from the 19.8 he has averaged in 30 games without Sabonis.

As the Sacramento Kings’ cornerstone returns to the lineup, he’ll overlap with DeRozan’s midrange game, though Sabonis may himself be rusty.

Wizards vs Kings SGP

• Kings -7
• DeMar DeRozan Under 20.5 points
• Domantas Sabonis Under 13.5 points

Our “from downtown” SGP: Under thunder

Sacramento has cashed seven Unders in its last 11 games, a stretch that very much overlaps with Washington cashing eight Unders in its last 10 games.

Wizards vs Kings SGP

• Kings -7
• DeMar DeRozan Under 20.5 Points
• Domantas Sabonis Under 13.5 Points
• Under 233.5

Wizards vs Kings odds

• Spread: Wizards +7 | Kings -7
• Moneyline: Wizards +220 | Kings -270
• Over/Under: Over 233.5 | Under 233.5

Wizards vs Kings betting trend to know

The Kings are 3-0 against the spread in their last three, exceeding bookmakers’ expectations by an average of 23.8 points in three outright upset wins. Find more NBA betting trends for Wizards vs. Kings.

How to watch Wizards vs Kings

Wizards vs Kings latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

J.T. Realmuto agrees to $45 million, 3-year deal to stay with Phillies, AP source says

Veteran catcher J.T. Realmuto agreed to a $45 million, three-year contract to stay with the Philadelphia Phillies, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Friday.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced.

Realmuto can earn an additional $5 million annually in bonuses, the person said.

A three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner, Realmuto made his decision a month after designated hitter Kyle Schwarber also chose to remain with the Phillies, agreeing to a $150 million, five-year deal.

Realmuto, who turns 35 in March, hit .257 with 12 homers and 52 RBIs in 134 games last year, when he tied for the major league lead with 132 games at catcher. He was in the final season of a $115.5 million, five-year contract.

Realmuto has a .270 career batting average with 180 homers and 677 RBIs in 12 seasons with the Miami Marlins (2014-18) and Phillies.

Philadelphia also reached deals this offseason with right-hander Brad Keller ($22 million for two years) and outfielder Adolis García ($10 million for one year).

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Young (MCL, quad) still out through All-Star break

New Washington Wizards star Trae Young is still recovering from MCL and quad injuries on his right leg and will be reevaluated after the mid-February All-Star break, coach Brian Keefe said Wednesday.

Mavs’ Flagg doubtful vs. Jazz with ankle sprain

Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg is listed as doubtful for Thursday night’s home game against the Utah Jazz due to a left ankle sprain.