The Los Angeles Lakers will play against the Toronto Raptors at the Crypto.com Arena on Sunday night. This NBA matchup features key players Luka Dončić for the Lakers and Scottie Barnes for the Raptors. The game offers an important opportunity to evaluate both teams' progress in the season standings.
Key Facts
The game takes place on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at 9:30 PM ET.
It will be broadcast on Spectrum SportsNet in Los Angeles.
A live stream is available via DIRECTV, with a free trial option.
The Lakers feature Luka Dončić, a top scorer in the league.
Toronto Raptors recently won against the Philadelphia 76ers in overtime.
Lakers are performing well overall, balancing offensive and defensive plays.
The Raptors face challenges with inconsistent scoring and roster depth.
The game is significant for both teams in terms of their mid-season progress.
The Denver Broncos advanced to the AFC Championship but will be without their quarterback Bo Nix, who broke his ankle and requires surgery. The New England Patriots, led by quarterback Drake Maye, will face the Broncos in the upcoming game as they also qualified for the championship by defeating the Houston Texans.
Key Facts
Bo Nix, the quarterback for the Denver Broncos, fractured his ankle and will miss the rest of the postseason.
The New England Patriots defeated the Houston Texans 28–16 to reach the AFC Championship.
Drake Maye, the Patriots' quarterback, spoke about his close relationship with Bo Nix after hearing the news of his injury.
Both Maye and Nix were drafted in the first round of the 2024 draft and are considered part of a strong draft class.
The Broncos will play the Patriots in the AFC Championship, with the game scheduled for Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.
Jarrett Stidham, a former Patriots player and current backup for the Broncos, will replace Nix as the starting quarterback.
The Kansas City Chiefs are considering future options for their tight end position as Travis Kelce's career plans are uncertain. They have met with Ethan Conner, a tight end from Troy University, who is eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft. This move shows the Chiefs are preparing for a possible future without Kelce.
Key Facts
The Kansas City Chiefs are thinking ahead about their tight end position during the offseason.
Travis Kelce's future with the team is uncertain as he is considering whether to continue playing.
The Chiefs met with Ethan Conner, a tight end from Troy University, as a potential future player.
Conner is eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft and has caught the attention of multiple NFL teams.
Kelce has not yet made a decision about retiring, and his contract ends in 2026.
The Chiefs also have other potential replacements for Kelce on their current roster, like Noah Gray.
The team is focusing on making decisions before the NFL free agency and draft process begins.
The Golden State Warriors are experiencing tension with player Jonathan Kuminga, who has been benched despite being healthy. Coach Steve Kerr was recently voted the most admired leader in North American sports. The team is considering trading Kuminga, who has a contract worth $48.5 million.
Key Facts
Jonathan Kuminga, a player for the Warriors, has missed 15 games because of the coach's decision.
Kuminga started the season as a regular player but was moved to a less prominent role in November.
Kuminga averages 11.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.
Kuminga reportedly requested a trade from the team on January 15.
Coach Steve Kerr was named the most admired sports leader in North America by The Athletic.
Kerr has led the Warriors to four NBA championships as their coach.
The Warriors are currently in eighth place in the Western Conference standings.
Kuminga is on a two-year contract with the Warriors, valued at $48.5 million.
Everton won a soccer match against Aston Villa with a goal by Thierno Barry after a mistake by Villa's goalkeeper, Emi Martinez. This victory prevents Aston Villa from moving up to second place in the Premier League standings.
Key Facts
Everton defeated Aston Villa in a soccer match.
Thierno Barry scored the only goal for Everton.
The goal resulted from a mistake by Aston Villa's goalkeeper, Emi Martinez.
The match ended with a score of 1-0 in favor of Everton.
This win stopped Aston Villa from moving to second place in the Premier League.
The event took place in the English Premier League.
John Harbaugh has accepted the role of head coach for the New York Giants, signing a five-year contract. Harbaugh was previously the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens for 18 seasons. He expressed excitement about joining the Giants and aims to improve the team's performance.
Key Facts
John Harbaugh is the new head coach of the New York Giants.
Harbaugh agreed to a five-year contract with the Giants.
He was previously the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens for 18 seasons.
Harbaugh said he is honored to work with the Giants and is excited about the team's future.
The Giants finished the 2025 season with a 4-13 record.
Harbaugh succeeds Brian Daboll, who was dismissed last season.
John Mara and Steve Tisch, the Giants' co-owners, have expressed confidence in Harbaugh's leadership.
Harbaugh has a winning track record, including a Super Bowl title with the Ravens.
The New York Giants announced John Harbaugh as their new head coach. Giants running back Cam Skattebo shared his excitement about the change on social media. Harbaugh brings a strong track record, including a Super Bowl win, to the Giants.
Key Facts
John Harbaugh is the new head coach for the New York Giants.
Harbaugh previously coached the Baltimore Ravens and won a Super Bowl.
Cam Skattebo, a Giants player, expressed excitement about Harbaugh's hiring on social media.
Skattebo was drafted in 2025 and had an ankle injury cut his rookie season short.
In his rookie year, Skattebo gained 410 rushing yards and scored five touchdowns in eight games.
Harbaugh has a history of 18 seasons with the Ravens and made 12 playoff appearances with the team.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are searching for a new head coach after Mike Tomlin stepped down following the 2025 season. Mike McCarthy, a native of Pittsburgh with a significant NFL coaching background, is a strong candidate for the position. Despite interest in McCarthy, the Steelers are considering several other candidates and have no set decision yet.
Key Facts
Mike Tomlin resigned as the Steelers' head coach after a 19-year tenure.
The Steelers lost their wild card game to the Houston Texans with a score of 30–6.
Mike McCarthy, who is from Pittsburgh, is being considered as a replacement.
McCarthy has a long history as an NFL head coach, including a Super Bowl win with the Green Bay Packers.
McCarthy has coached the Dallas Cowboys for the past five seasons.
There are connections between McCarthy and current Steelers’ management from their past work together.
The Steelers are conducting a broad search and have talked to other potential candidates.
The team's management has not decided on any new head coach yet.
The Houston Texans lost to the New England Patriots 28-16 in an NFL playoff game. Quarterback CJ Stroud struggled, throwing four interceptions, but head coach DeMeco Ryans defended his decision to keep Stroud in the game. Despite the loss, Ryans expressed confidence in Stroud's ability to improve.
Key Facts
The Houston Texans lost 28-16 to the New England Patriots in an AFC Divisional Round playoff game.
CJ Stroud, the Texans' quarterback, threw four interceptions during the game.
One interception by Stroud resulted in a "pick-six," where the Patriots scored directly from the interception.
Texans' head coach DeMeco Ryans defended his choice to keep Stroud in the game despite his struggles.
Stroud completed 20 of 47 passes, totaling 212 yards with one touchdown pass.
The Patriots capitalized on the Texans' mistakes, particularly in the first half.
Head coach Ryans expressed confidence in Stroud's ability to perform better in future games.
Chris Paul posted a video on Instagram showing he's still actively training, sparking rumors about a potential connection to the Los Angeles Lakers. He tagged JJ Redick, linking to a workout routine he shares with Redick, who is now coaching the Lakers. Chris Paul remains in a holding position after the Clippers recently parted ways with him.
Key Facts
Chris Paul shared an Instagram video of himself making multiple three-point shots, adding intrigue about his next move in the NBA.
He tagged JJ Redick in the post; Redick coaches the Los Angeles Lakers.
The number "342" in Paul's post refers to Redick's well-known shooting workout routine.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been struggling with three-point shooting this season.
Chris Paul, aged 40, recently left the Los Angeles Clippers and is considering his career options.
Paul stated that he continues to train daily and does not want his NBA career to end yet.
Paul was last active in an NBA game on December 1, 2025, before being sidelined while his future gets arranged.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner criticized the club’s leadership for selling key players, including captain Marc Guehi to Manchester City, without replacement plans. Glasner feels the squad is not receiving enough support, especially after their recent FA Cup exit and struggles in the Premier League. Despite this, there are currently no plans to dismiss Glasner.
Key Facts
Crystal Palace recently lost in the FA Cup to Macclesfield, a lower-league team.
Marc Guehi, the team captain, is set to join Manchester City for £20 million.
Oliver Glasner, the manager, announced he will leave at the season’s end.
Glasner criticized the club’s leadership for selling Guehi just before a league game.
He also compared this situation to the sale of player Eberechi Eze to Arsenal.
Glasner has asked for more team investment after winning the FA Cup last season.
Since December 7, Palace has not won a game in the Premier League.
The team is still in the European Conference League competition.
The Buffalo Bills lost an overtime game to the Denver Broncos, which was one of the toughest losses in the NFL postseason. ESPN analyst Rex Ryan praised the Bills and their quarterback, Josh Allen, expressing confidence that the team will reach the playoffs again despite some mistakes.
Key Facts
The Buffalo Bills lost to the Denver Broncos in overtime.
The final score remained tight, with the Broncos winning due to a crucial interception.
Broncos quarterback Bo Nix sustained a fractured ankle during the game.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen completed 25 passes for 283 yards, three touchdowns, and made two interceptions.
Rex Ryan, an ESPN analyst, believes the Bills will return to the playoffs because of their talented quarterback.
Ryan pointed out two critical mistakes by Josh Allen that affected the game's outcome.
Despite the loss, Ryan remains confident in the team's ability due to Allen's skills.
The Denver Broncos will replace their quarterback Bo Nix with Jarrett Stidham after Nix suffered a fractured ankle during an overtime game against the Buffalo Bills. The game ended with a controversial interception, sending the Broncos to the AFC Championship for the first time in ten years. Stidham will lead the team in the upcoming match against the New England Patriots.
Key Facts
Bo Nix, the quarterback for the Denver Broncos, fractured his ankle during overtime.
The Broncos will now rely on Jarrett Stidham as their quarterback.
Stidham has played 20 games, accumulating 1,422 yards, eight touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
The Broncos reached the AFC Championship for the first time in ten years.
The game against the Buffalo Bills ended with a contested interception by Ja'Quan McMillian.
The Broncos will face the New England Patriots next in the AFC Championship.
Nix had a strong performance before his injury, completing 26 of 46 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns.
The Denver Broncos have advanced to the AFC Championship Game but lost quarterback Bo Nix to a season-ending ankle injury. To fill the gap, the team signed Ben DiNucci to their practice squad, while Jarrett Stidham will start in the upcoming game against the New England Patriots.
Key Facts
The Denver Broncos won against the Buffalo Bills, advancing to the AFC Championship Game.
Quarterback Bo Nix suffered a severe ankle injury, ending his season.
Jarrett Stidham is set to replace Nix as the starting quarterback.
The Broncos signed Ben DiNucci to their practice squad for additional quarterback depth.
DiNucci was previously with the Broncos two years ago and has played in three NFL games.
In his NFL games, DiNucci completed 23 of 43 passes for 219 yards.
Stidham has not played much this season and last threw a pass in the 2023 season, gaining 496 yards and two touchdowns.
Wilbur Wood, a former Major League Baseball pitcher known for his durability and knuckleball pitching style, passed away at the age of 84. Wood played over 17 seasons with teams like the Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Chicago White Sox, and was recognized for his impressive pitching performance in the 1970s.
Key Facts
Wilbur Wood was a Major League Baseball pitcher for 17 seasons.
He passed away at the age of 84.
Wood appeared in three All-Star Games during his career.
He was known for his knuckleball pitching style.
In 1972, Wood pitched 376.2 innings, a record not likely to be matched in today's game.
Wood learned to focus on the knuckleball as his main pitch during his time with the Chicago White Sox.
He won a total of 164 games and had a career earned run average (ERA) of 3.46.
Wood's career ended in the late 1970s due to the stress of his heavy pitching workload.
The Los Angeles Rams will play against the Chicago Bears in the NFC Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs on Sunday. The game will take place at Soldier Field, and fans can watch it live on NBC or stream it on Peacock. The Rams recently won a close game against the Panthers, while the Bears pulled off a comeback victory over the Packers.
Key Facts
The Rams and Bears are playing in the NFC Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs.
The game is scheduled for Sunday, January 18, 2026, at 6:30 PM ET.
It will be broadcast on NBC and available for live streaming on Peacock.
The Rams defeated the Panthers 34-31 in their previous playoff game.
Matthew Stafford is the Rams quarterback, having thrown for over 300 yards in the last game.
Puka Nacua from the Rams had more than 100 receiving yards and scored twice in the recent victory.
The Bears won against the Packers 31-27, marking their first playoff win in 15 years.
Caleb Williams, the Bears rookie quarterback, led a comeback in their last game.
Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United secured victories in the Women's FA Cup, advancing to the fifth round after scoring multiple goals in their matches. A total of 55 goals were scored across 12 games, with notable performances from debuting players. Arsenal also moved forward with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa, while other teams like Charlton Athletic and Bristol City progressed with impressive victories.
Key Facts
Liverpool won 6-0 against the London Bees, featuring goals from five different players.
Manchester City beat Bournemouth 6-0, maintaining a 16-game unbeaten streak.
Manchester United achieved a 5-0 win over Burnley with contributions from new and young players.
Arsenal defeated Aston Villa 2-0 in an all-WSL match.
Charlton Athletic scored the most goals of the weekend with a 10-0 win against Swindon Town.
Bristol City advanced with a late victory over Southampton in extra time.
York City, the lowest-ranked team left, was eliminated after losing 3-0 to Chatham Town.
New players made strong debuts, scoring important goals for their teams.
bet365 offers a special promotion for new users betting on the Los Angeles Rams vs. Chicago Bears playoff game. New users can place a $5 bet and receive $200 in bonus bets, regardless of the outcome. The game details include the Rams being favorites and various odds and trends for both teams.
Key Facts
bet365 has a promotion where new users can bet $5 and receive $200 in bonus bets.
This promotion is available for the Los Angeles Rams vs. Chicago Bears playoff game.
New users in Pennsylvania get 50 free spins for bet365's casino, while those in New Jersey get 10 Golden Chips.
Bonus bets must be used within seven days after the initial $5 bet settles.
The Rams are the favorites with a strong record as such, winning 17 of their last 20 games when favored.
The Bears have a strong record as underdogs, particularly in primetime games.
The game's total points over/under is set at 48.5.
To activate the bet365 offer, users must create an account, deposit, and place a $5 wager.
Some of the top NBA teams, including the Lakers, Warriors, and Knicks, are keeping their trading assets available in case star player Giannis Antetokounmpo becomes available. These teams are facing a decision on whether to make trades now or wait for the possibility of acquiring Antetokounmpo. The Milwaukee Bucks may try to hold onto him and compete this season.
Key Facts
The NBA trade deadline is on February 5, 2026.
Teams like the Lakers, Warriors, and Knicks are waiting to see if Giannis Antetokounmpo becomes available for a trade.
There is talk that Antetokounmpo might want to leave his current team to have a better chance at a championship.
The Milwaukee Bucks may try to keep him and build a stronger team around him this season.
Trading too early could risk missing out on acquiring Antetokounmpo if he becomes available later.
Teams face tough choices as their current players may need immediate support to compete effectively this season.
The Boston Red Sox are considering trading outfielders Jarren Duran or Ceddanne Rafaela to acquire third baseman Isaac Paredes from the Houston Astros. The Red Sox are looking to improve their lineup with a right-handed power hitter like Paredes. However, the Astros have shown little interest in trading Paredes.
Key Facts
The Red Sox want to add a right-handed power hitter to their lineup.
Isaac Paredes, a third baseman for the Astros, is being considered for a trade.
Paredes has hit 92 home runs in his major league career.
The Astros reportedly do not want to trade Paredes.
Jarren Duran and Ceddanne Rafaela are possible trade options from the Red Sox.
Duran has better offensive metrics than Paredes and is faster, with 91 career stolen bases.
Rafaela recently won a Gold Glove, indicating his strong defensive skills.
The decision to trade would depend on whether Paredes is seen as worth the loss of Duran or Rafaela.
