The Toronto Raptors will play the Atlanta Hawks at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Monday night. The Raptors aim to win their fourth game of the season against the Hawks. The game will be broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network Southeast and available to stream on Fubo.
Key Facts
The game is scheduled for Monday, January 5, 2026, at 7:30 PM ET.
It will be shown on FanDuel Sports Network Southeast and can be streamed on Fubo.
The Raptors won their last match against the Hawks 134-117.
Toronto's Jakob Poeltl will miss the game due to a lower back injury.
Trae Young of the Hawks is out for the game because of a bruised right quad.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the Hawks with 31 points in the previous game.
The Raptors have won the last two games against the Hawks this season.
The Atlanta Hawks are planning to trade their main player, Trae Young, soon. They are actively working with Young and his agents to find a new team for him. Several teams, including the Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, and Dallas Mavericks, are potential destinations.
Key Facts
The Hawks want to trade their top player, Trae Young, quickly.
Trae Young and his agents are in talks with the Hawks to find him a new team.
Trae Young is an All-Star player and one of the best passers in the NBA.
He led the league with 11.6 assists per game last season.
Possible teams interested in trading for Young include the Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, and Dallas Mavericks.
Trae Young was originally drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in 2018 and traded to the Hawks.
The Hawks play their next game against the Toronto Raptors, who are also interested in Young.
The Illinois State Redbirds and the Montana State Bobcats will face off in the FCS national championship game. The game will take place in Nashville on January 5, 2026, and will be broadcast on ESPN. This marks Illinois State's first appearance since 2014, while Montana State is returning for the second consecutive year.
Key Facts
The game is on Monday, January 5, 2026, at 7:30 PM ET in Nashville.
Illinois State Redbirds have a record of 12–4 and are unseeded.
Montana State Bobcats have a 13–2 record and have won 13 straight games.
This is the first meeting between Illinois State and Montana State in the championship.
Illinois State's Tommy Rittenhouse has 3,257 passing yards, 36 touchdowns, and has run for seven scores.
Montana State's Justin Lamson has 2,892 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and also has 14 rushing scores.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN and ESPN Deportes.
Viewers can live stream the game on Fubo, with a free trial available.
Las Vegas Raiders' defensive player Maxx Crosby faced trade rumors after he was placed on injured reserve for a knee issue and left the team facility. Raiders' General Manager John Spytek did not clearly confirm or deny the trade talks, fueling more speculation. Crosby has a current contract that extends until 2029, but his future with the team remains uncertain.
Key Facts
The Raiders finished the season with a 3-14 record.
Maxx Crosby was placed on injured reserve due to a knee injury.
Crosby left the team facility before a game but returned the following Monday.
Trade rumors about Crosby have been increasing.
General Manager John Spytek gave an unclear response regarding Crosby's trade status.
Crosby signed a three-year extension last March, lasting until 2029.
The Raiders could gain a first-round draft pick if they trade Crosby.
Crosby achieved 73 tackles and 10 sacks this season, marking his fourth time with double-digit sacks since 2019.
Celtic Football Club has parted ways with their manager, Wilfried Nancy, after only eight games. This decision comes after a series of poor performances and internal club issues related to his appointment and the leadership at Celtic.
Key Facts
Wilfried Nancy was the manager of Celtic for just eight games.
Celtic decided to fire Nancy following a home defeat by Rangers.
Nancy joined Celtic after a stint with Columbus Crew, where his team finished seventh in Major League Soccer.
His appointment was influenced by Paul Tisdale, the former head of football operations at Celtic.
Nancy managed only two wins during his time at Celtic, against Livingston and Aberdeen.
Celtic has also recently lost its head of football operations and chairman.
Fans are unhappy with the club's decisions and feel disconnected from its management.
Celtic is experiencing challenges both on and off the field, despite having substantial funds available.
The New York Knicks will play against the Detroit Pistons in an NBA game on Monday, January 5, 2025, at 7:00 PM ET. Despite injuries on both teams, the game is expected to be close, with the Pistons slightly unfavored at home. Jalen Brunson of the Knicks and Cade Cunningham of the Pistons are key players in the matchup.
Key Facts
The game is between the New York Knicks and the Detroit Pistons.
It will be held on Monday, January 5, 2025, at 7:00 PM ET.
The game will take place at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
The New York Knicks have a record of 23 wins and 12 losses.
The Detroit Pistons have a record of 26 wins and 9 losses.
The Knicks are dealing with an injury to player Josh Hart.
The Pistons are without Jalen Duren and Tobias Harris.
Aaron Rodgers helped the Pittsburgh Steelers reach the NFL playoffs after they won a game against the Baltimore Ravens. Rodgers previously played for the New York Jets, where he faced challenges with an injury and the team's performance. He is now focused on the Steelers' upcoming playoff game against the Houston Texans.
Key Facts
The Pittsburgh Steelers made the playoffs after a missed field goal by the Ravens.
Aaron Rodgers is the quarterback for the Steelers after playing for the New York Jets.
Rodgers missed the entire first season with the Jets due to a torn Achilles injury.
The Steelers will play the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
Rodgers completed 65.7% of his passes, with 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns this season.
He is 42 years old and may consider returning for another season, as he will be a free agent.
Rodgers is focused on advancing to the Divisional Round and potentially his second Super Bowl.
Indiana University's football team has added a tight end player through the transfer portal from Miami Hurricanes, one of their playoff rivals. This move is part of Head Coach Curt Cignetti's strategy to strengthen the team using the new transfer rules in college football.
Key Facts
Indiana recruited a tight end named Brock Schott from Miami Hurricanes.
Brock Schott has four years of college eligibility left.
The transfer portal used by college athletes to switch schools is open until January 16, 2026.
The NIL policy allows college athletes to be paid, changing how college teams build their rosters.
Indiana's Head Coach, Curt Cignetti, is actively using the transfer portal to improve the team's strength.
Indiana is preparing to play against the Oregon Ducks in the College Football Playoff semifinal.
Schott is originally from Leo, Indiana, which is near Bloomington, the home of Indiana University.
Florida State University is looking for a new starting quarterback following the departure of Tommy Castellanos. They have hosted DJ Lagway, a highly regarded player in the transfer portal, as a potential candidate. Lagway is considering Florida State after visiting and speaking positively about the team's facilities and coaching staff.
Key Facts
Florida State needs a new quarterback after Tommy Castellanos didn't get a waiver for another college football year.
DJ Lagway, a former five-star recruit, is exploring new team options due to a coaching change at his previous school.
Lagway visited Florida State and spoke positively about the school's environment and coaching team.
Florida State's head coach, Mike Norvell, is under pressure after two poor seasons.
The school has also shown interest in former UNLV quarterback Anthony Colandrea.
Offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn and quarterbacks coach Austin Tucker contacted Lagway quickly after he entered the transfer portal.
Lagway is known for his dual-threat capability, meaning he can both pass and run effectively.
The Phoenix Suns' owner, Mat Ishbia, stated he will not trade key players before the upcoming trade deadline. Despite suggestions to trade Suns' forward Dillon Brooks for Lakers' guard Austin Reaves, Ishbia expressed his intent to keep Brooks, highlighting the team's successful performance this season.
Key Facts
The Phoenix Suns have a 21-14 record in the Western Conference.
The Suns are currently the seventh seed in their conference.
Mat Ishbia, the Suns’ owner, said he will not trade his core players.
Former NBA player DeMarcus Cousins suggested the Lakers trade Austin Reaves for Dillon Brooks.
Ishbia quickly dismissed the trade suggestion involving Brooks.
Dillon Brooks is averaging 21.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game.
Austin Reaves is set to become a free agent next summer and could earn over $35 million annually.
Joe Flacco, a veteran quarterback, decided not to retire after a short time with the Cincinnati Bengals. Despite the Bengals missing the playoffs, Flacco plans to play in the next NFL season. His future team is not certain, but he remains open to various opportunities.
Key Facts
Joe Flacco is a 40-year-old veteran NFL quarterback.
He joined the Cincinnati Bengals midseason when their star quarterback, Joe Burrow, was injured.
Flacco threw for 1,664 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions with a 61.4% completion rate in six starts for the Bengals.
Despite the team's overall 6–11 record, his presence was positively received by fans and the organization.
Flacco confirmed he will not retire and intends to find a team for the next season.
The Bengals may consider him as a backup to Joe Burrow if no starting opportunities arise for him elsewhere.
Sheffield United has denied delaying the inquest into the death of Maddy Cusack, a former captain of their women's team who died in September 2023 at age 27. The court postponed the inquest until June after lawyers for Cusack's family received a large number of documents from the club just before Christmas. Sheffield United insists they have complied with all legal requirements, and an investigation found no wrongdoing by the club related to Cusack's death.
Key Facts
Maddy Cusack, a former Sheffield United women's team captain, died suddenly in September 2023.
Her death was not considered suspicious by the police.
Cusack's family claims that Sheffield United's conduct put pressure on her.
The inquest into her death was initially set for April but is now delayed until June.
Cusack's family received 699 pages of documents from the club just before Christmas.
The Cusack family lawyers found this timing unacceptable and said it impacted them.
An earlier investigation by Sheffield United found no evidence of wrongdoing.
The Football Association is conducting its own investigation into the matter.
The article discusses a promotion by Sleeper, a fantasy sports platform, offering a $100 bonus to new users who register and make an initial deposit using the promo code NEWSWEEKXL. The bonus applies to various sports, including the NBA and NFL, for games taking place in 2026.
Key Facts
Sleeper offers a $100 bonus to new fantasy sports players who use the promo code NEWSWEEKXL.
The promotion requires new users to register and make an initial cash deposit.
The deposit bonus is a 100% match up to $100.
New users can alternatively choose a $20 no-deposit bonus.
The promotion is available for sports like NBA, NFL, NHL, college basketball, UFC, and soccer.
Interested users must provide personal information and select a payment method during registration.
Newsweek may receive a commission if users sign up through the article's links.
The article discusses a promotion where new users can sign up for theScore Bet using a special ESPN BET promo code and receive a $100 bonus after placing a $10 winning bet. This promotion is active as theScore Bet rebrands from ESPN BET. Users can wager on various sports like NBA, NHL, and college sports to qualify for the bonus.
Key Facts
TheScore Bet has rebranded from ESPN BET.
New users can use the ESPN BET promo code NEWSWEEK to receive a $100 bonus.
To earn the bonus, users need to place a $10 initial bet and win.
The promotion offers a 10-to-1 odds boost for new users.
Users can bet on NBA, NHL, college basketball, college football, NFL, and more.
TheScore Bet app is available on both iOS and Android platforms.
NBA has eight games on Monday, providing many betting options.
The Kansas City Chiefs are facing challenges as key players and coaches may be leaving. Patrick Mahomes had knee surgery, and Travis Kelce might retire. The team is also over the salary cap and might lose their defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo, who is considering a head coach position elsewhere.
Key Facts
The Kansas City Chiefs missed the postseason for the first time in 10 years.
Patrick Mahomes had knee surgery for a torn ACL.
Travis Kelce is considering retirement.
The Chiefs ended the season with a 6-11 record, the worst under head coach Andy Reid.
The team is $52 million over the next season's salary cap.
The Tennessee Titans have asked to interview the team's defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo.
Spagnuolo has previously transformed the Chiefs' defense into a top-ranking unit.
Spagnuolo has a history of success, including coaching a high-ranking defense and serving as a head coach and interim head coach.
The WWE "Raw" episode on Monday will feature a major match between CM Punk and Bron Breakker for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. The match is expected to be the main event of the show at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. This continues Punk's ongoing feud with Breakker, which has become personal.
Key Facts
WWE "Raw" will have its first show of 2026 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
CM Punk, the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, will defend his title against Bron Breakker.
The match between Punk and Breakker is expected to be the main event.
CM Punk has been feuding with Breakker, building on a storyline rivalry.
The conflict became personal when Breakker brought up Punk's wife, AJ Lee, in their exchanges.
CM Punk previously regained the championship by defeating Jey Uso.
The outcome of the match will decide if Punk retains his title or if Breakker will become the new champion.
The Toronto Blue Jays signed Kazuma Okamoto, a Japanese baseball player, for four years at $60 million. This signing could impact the team's decisions regarding other players, such as Bo Bichette, who might now be more likely to join the Los Angeles Dodgers. The move may result in player position changes within the Blue Jays.
Key Facts
The Toronto Blue Jays signed Japanese free agent Kazuma Okamoto for four years at $60 million.
Okamoto's signing might affect the team's lineup and player positions, such as Addison Barger potentially moving to right field.
There is speculation the Blue Jays might focus on signing Kyle Tucker instead of Bo Bichette.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have a better chance of signing Bo Bichette due to the Blue Jays signing Okamoto.
If signed by the Dodgers, Bichette could play second base, a position he is open to.
The move reflects the Blue Jays' aggressive approach in the offseason.
An FCS Championship football game will take place on January 5 in Nashville, Tennessee, featuring Illinois State and Montana State competing for a national title. The game starts at 7:30 p.m. Eastern and will air on ESPN. Safety Caden Dowler, a key player, may not be fully fit to play due to an injury.
Key Facts
The FCS Championship game is on January 5, in Nashville, Tennessee.
The match features Illinois State (12-4) against Montana State (13-2).
Montana State is favored to win according to FanDuel.
The game starts at 7:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.
Safety Caden Dowler is a standout player for this game but may not play due to an injured arm.
The 2024 FCS Championship winner was North Dakota State.
The FCS playoffs included 24 teams, with 11 conferences receiving automatic bids.
Three college football playoff games remain this season, with the national championship on January 19.
Georgia's football team, led by Coach Kirby Smart, lost their star player Zachariah Branch, who is skipping his final college year to join the NFL Draft. This follows their recent loss to Ole Miss in the College Football Playoff and the departure of multiple players via the transfer portal.
Key Facts
Zachariah Branch, a star receiver for Georgia, declared for the NFL Draft.
Branch was previously at USC before transferring to Georgia.
He performed well with 81 catches for 811 yards in a successful season.
Branch also excelled as a punt returner, showing his versatility.
Georgia, under Coach Kirby Smart, recently lost to Ole Miss in the CFP.
The team is dealing with multiple player losses through the transfer portal.
The transfer portal remains open until January 16, 2026.
Alabama's football team is seeing changes as they lose key player Jaylen Mbakwe to Georgia Tech through the NCAA transfer portal. The team, led by head coach Kalen DeBoer, is adjusting after this loss as they also deal with other player transfers. Meanwhile, Georgia Tech is strengthening its roster under head coach Brent Key.
Key Facts
Alabama's football team had a disappointing season end with a loss to Indiana in the College Football Playoff.
The NCAA transfer portal opened, allowing players to move between college teams.
Jaylen Mbakwe, a top-ranked cornerback and wide receiver, will transfer from Alabama to Georgia Tech.
Georgia Tech, coached by Brent Key, ended their season with a 9–4 record.
Alabama has lost 15 players to the transfer portal, including four wide receivers.
Alabama is still connected with potential new players to strengthen their team.
Quarterback Ty Simpson might return to Alabama next season.
