January 2026

There were 1,518 posts published in January 2026 (this is page 146 of 152).

Victor Wembanyama’s MRI comes back clean, he will not play Friday in Indiana, is day-to-day

Victor Wembanyama will not be on the court Friday night against Indiana, but, in very good news for the Spurs, he will not be out long.

The MRI on Wembanyama’s hyperextended knee came back clean and he is now day-to-day, reports Michael C. Wright of ESPN. The report said he will be questionable for the second half of a back-to-back Saturday against Portland and is day-to-day going forward.

Wembanyama was injured in the fourth quarter of the Spurs’ win over the Knicks, hyperextending his knee after landing awkwardly on a rebound next to Karl-Anthony Towns. Wembanyama fell to the ground in pain, then hopped directly back to the locker room but was telling fans along the way that he was fine. Postgame, Wembanyama was not worried.

“The good thing is that it was just a hyperextension. So, it should be minimal, whatever the thing is,” he said,

Wembanyama would be an All-Star starter based on the fan vote so far and leads the Spurs, averaging 24 points, 11.6 rebounds, and three blocks per game.

This Rally Orbital Massager Is My Tech Upgrade of the Week

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There’s something extra satisfying about starting a new year with an upgrade that actually makes a difference in your daily routine. After years of relying on my traditional percussive massage guns, I’ve made the switch to the Rally Orbital Massager. And one by one, my friends have started following in my footsteps to make the same move. Hey, there’s something validating about watching people you trust independently come to the same conclusion.

Why I love the Rally Orbital Massager

Don’t get me wrong—my Theragun still serves me well. It’s been a reliable companion after workouts, helping ease tension and speed up recovery. But with the Rally, the orbital motion technology sets it apart immediately. Instead of the percussive hammering that defines traditional massage guns, the Rally uses a circular, multi-directional approach that feels more like the hands of a skilled massage therapist. (Or like a car buffer, as the founders described it to me on a phone call.)

I’m simply more likely to reach for a device that feels good to use, rather than one that hurts. It’s a game-changer for consistency. With my old massage gun, I’d psyche myself out before sessions: “Do I really need this? Can I handle the intensity right now?” With the Rally, there’s no mental barrier. I can use it while watching TV, during work breaks, or as part of my bedtime routine, without dreading the experience.

At the same time, let me be upfront: At regularly $499 (and currently on sale for $399), the Rally Orbital Massager isn’t cheap. It’s a significant step up in price from most massage guns on the market, including the Theragun. It’s probably not an impulse buy. Still, it’s an investment that helps me maintain the active lifestyle I value.

Rally Orbital Massager


$499.00
at Amazon

The bottom line

Starting 2026 with this upgrade feels right. My Theragun will still have a place in my recovery arsenal—it’s way too useful to completely retire—but the Rally has quickly become my go-to device. The difference in how my muscles feel, the reduction in soreness, and the overall quality of the recovery experience have made it worth every penny.

If you’re serious about recovery and you’re in a position to make the investment, I’d encourage you to at least try one. Based on my friend group’s conversion rate, there’s a good chance you’ll be joining the Rally revolution too. Here’s to a year of better recovery, less soreness, and smarter investments in our health.

The Most Fun Snowball Fight Tech Money Can Buy

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Winter weather can be miserable, but there is one huge perk: snowball fights. Any time a deep carpet of snow gets dumped on us, you can count on a bunch of kids (or young-at-heart adults) engaging in epic snowball fights, sometimes involving surprisingly well-engineered snow forts and sophisticated tactics.

This is the 21st century, however—if you’re still fighting your snowball fights with nothing but your bare hands and a sense of determination, you’re missing out. We can’t all be Buddy the Elf, shotgunning perfectly made snowballs like some sort of winter weather Terminator—but we can invest in some of the most fun snowball tech money can buy. If you’re looking to dominate your neighborhood’s winter wars (or put some snowball-tossing whippersnappers in their place), here’s what to buy.

Snowball makers

Your first step is to up your snowball-making game. A cosmetically pleasing, perfectly spherical snowball is your first step toward snowball fight dominance. This set of simple snowball forms will make it easy to stockpile perfect snowballs in just a few minutes. If you don’t have a few minutes because you’re already under attack, you might turn to this 5-in-1 snowball maker that will let you quickly amass some serious firepower.

If you want to get a little more whimsical, you can also pick up snowball-making sets that include other shapes, like ducks or hearts, if that’s your jam.

Snow throwers

Once you have your snowballs assembled, you’ll need something to augment your throwing power. This Snow Trac Ball (or these) can launch snowballs a lot further than you can with just your arm—up to 150 feet away. They also come with built-in snowball makers, so when you run out of your initial supply, you can quickly make and deploy fresh snowballs without missing a beat.

Snowball launchers

Throwing snowballs either bare-knuckled or using an implement is all well and good, but what if your opponents are serious about their snowball fighting? If you need more firepower, this Snowball Blaster is just what you need—load a snowball into the front, pull back the firing mechanism, take aim, and destroy your enemies. Want to keep things a little more primitive? This snowball slingshot keeps it simple—load a snowball, take aim, and launch for victory (this kit even comes with dye to color-code your snowballs in case you’re trying to keep score). Or go medieval on your enemies with this very cool Snow Crossbow, which even comes with a target so you can practice decimating your enemies.

Wham-O Artic Force Snowball Blaster with Detachable Snowball Maker | Comfortable Handle for Accuracy & Control | Easy toAim, Green


$35.00
at Amazon
$39.99
Save $4.99

Defense

No one wants a snowball to the face, so having a snowball shield on hand can keep you dry and unscathed while you rain snowballs on your opponents. Of course, this doesn’t have to be a snowball-specific shield—just about any plastic shield will help protect you from the snowballs being thrown your way.

Bonus: Indoor

Itching to have a snowball fight, but you live in a warm-weather area that hasn’t seen snow in decades? Or there just hasn’t been enough snowfall? Or it’s summer? Get yourself an indoor snowball fight kit and go to town. While you won’t get the visceral joy of smashing snow into someone’s head from a distance, you can replicate just about everything else that’s fun about snowball fights without the cold, damp, or, you know, snow. Throw in some couch-cushion forts and you have a guaranteed good time.

Fantasy Basketball Weekend Must-Starts: Peyton Watson shining with multiple Nuggets injured

In head-to-head fantasy basketball leagues, it all comes down to the weekend. You can have a comfortable lead in multiple categories or by a bunch of points, but if you don’t make the most of the weekend, you can walk out with a loss.

Nine teams only play once this weekend, including the Celtics, Mavericks, Nuggets, Pistons, Rockets, Clippers, 76ers, Raptors and Jazz. Avoid those teams if you’re just looking to maximize your games played.

That’s often what it comes down to in standard points and category leagues, but that’s not always the case. Leagues with some sort of games cap or best ball formats like Yahoo! High Score leagues aren’t just looking for volume, though having two chances at a big night is a good strategy in best ball leagues.

The Nuggets have been decimated by injuries this season. The recent Nikola Jokić injury is the headliner, but Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun and Cameron Johnson are all currently sidelined with extended injuries (though Gordon and Braun should return soon), and Jonas Valančiūnas injured his calf in his first start in place of Jokić.

Those injuries have opened up a ton of usage for Watson, who had 24 points and eight rebounds in Denver’s last game. The Nuggets will likely turn to DaRon Holmes II to fill the starting center spot, which means they’ll need Watson to step up on the glass and as a scorer. Matchups with the Cavaliers and Nets aren’t easy, but the lack of other healthy options propels Watson into being this weekend’s absolute must-start player.

Jones should be rostered everywhere with Josh Giddey (hamstring) and Coby White (calf) both sidelined. Jones was excellent as a starter earlier this season when White was sidelined, and in his first game back in the starting unit, he had 20 points and 12 assists without missing a shot. The Bulls will take on the Magic and Hornets this weekend. Charlotte has been a bad defensive team all season, but Orlando hasn’t been as strong of a unit over the last 10 games.

McBride didn’t move into the starting lineup with Josh Hart (ankle) sidelined, but he did play more than Mohamed Diawara, who was the one to replace Hart as a starter. McBride played 26 minutes off the bench and scored 21 points after having 14 points in 19 minutes in his first game back after missing eight games with an ankle injury. The Knicks play the Hawks and 76ers this weekend, and while Philadelphia has been good defensively, Atlanta has been a disaster recently.

Milwaukee takes on the Hornets and Kings this weekend, with both teams ranking in the bottom five in defensive rating over their last 10 games. It should be a good weekend for the Bucks, which usually means a good weekend for Rollins. He’s back in the starting unit, and even though he has had a pair of subpar shooting nights recently, this is a great opportunity for him to get back on track. Plus, he does enough in other categories to make up for it.

Black has been on an unreal heater, and until he cools down, he’s going to be a priority option. Matchups with the Bulls and Pacers, two bottom-10 defenses over their last 10 games, only make him more enticing. Black did see a drop in usage with Jalen Suggs back in the lineup instead of Tyus Jones, but Black was still productive and will continue to start until Franz Wagner returns.

Miller is coming off back-to-back 30-point games, his first two of the season. Now, he gets to take on the Bucks, who have allowed the sixth-most 3-pointers over their last 10 games, and the Bulls, who have a bottom-10 defensive rating over their last 10. Miller’s third season in the league has been rough overall, but he’s heating up at the right time.

With Rui Hachimura (calf) sidelined for a few games, LaRavia has replaced him as a starter. His first start was productive, though the scoring was underwhelming. However, in 10 starts this season, LaRavia is averaging 10.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game. They’ll take on the Grizzlies at home twice this weekend, and LaRavia should be able to get some revenge against the team that drafted him.

Clowney has had a strong season, though he has been limited recently. However, matchups with the Wizards and Nuggets, along with the absences of Nic Claxton (personal), Michael Porter Jr. (illness) and Cam Thomas (hamstring) on Friday, should result in at least one big night for him. Washington has been better recently, but over the course of the full season, they’ve been one of the worst rebounding teams in the league. Denver would normally be a tough matchup, but without Jokić and Valančiūnas, Clowney should feast on the glass.

Victor Wembanyama (knee) may have avoided a major injury, but he has already been ruled out for Friday’s game against the Pacers and could remain out against the Trail Blazers on Saturday. Kornet wasn’t great as a starter in place of Wemby previously, but the Pacers matchup is favorable, even if the Blazers one isn’t.

Clingan could find himself matching up against two backup centers this weekend. Derik Queen (quad) is questionable for Friday’s game, and Wemby could remain out on Saturday. Clingan struggled in his last outing, which was a blowout loss to the Thunder that was rough for the entire team. This weekend provides an opportunity for him to get back on track.

NBA Trade Rumors 2025-26: Michael Porter Jr. hot name, but market overall slow for stars

Just over one month to the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline and trade talks are picking up some momentum. Here is the latest around the league.

Expect slow trade deadline

There will be trades. Maybe a lot of smaller trades around the Feb. 5 deadline.

However, if you’re expecting another NBA blockbuster in February, well… sorry. The vibe in league circles has become to expect trades centered on tax/cap relief with some role players on the move, but the bigger names — Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, Trae Young — are likely stay put due to a combination of a limited market and the restrictive tax aprons. ESPN’s Tim Bontemps talked to an Eastern Conference executive and got this quote:

“I don’t see an eventful trade deadline, but that could set up for a crazy summer.”

That said, there will be trades, and the name to watch is…

Michael Porter Jr.

Player most likely to be traded before the Feb. 5 deadline? Brooklyn’s Michael Porter Jr.

The former Denver Nugget, 27, is in the middle of the best season of his career, averaging 25.8 points and 7.5 rebounds a game while shooting 41% from 3-point range (having the full-time green light in Brooklyn helps). That has drawn interest from a number of teams.

• Milwaukee has interest as it looks to upgrade around Giannis Antetokounmpo, reports Sam Amick at The Athletic. Porter Jr. is seen as potentially superior and certainly less expensive than bringing in Zach LaVine.

• The Warriors have had internal discussions about adding Porter, Jake Fischer reports at The Stein Line. That’s a long way from getting a deal done, but it shows the Warriors’ mindset of adding to their core.

• With Utah apparently not making Lauri Markkanen available, Detroit could kick the tires on a Porter trade, Fischer adds.

Where he lands is up in the air, but MPJ is the hottest name on the trade rumor mill right now.

Bucks interested in Anthony Davis? Dejonte Murray?

While Atlanta is still considered the team at the front of the line for an Anthony Davis trade, that line is long. Miami and Toronto are in it, with a lot of teams, such as Sacramento, at least considering a move.

Enter the Milwaukee Bucks.

They meet all the criteria of a team that might chase Davis, something Zach Lowe talked about on his podcast.

“When Dallas fired Nico Harrison and I went through all the fake Anthony Davis trades, I said right away, you’ve got to look at teams that are desperate to win and underperforming and can bundle some expiring salary. And I said like I’d look at the Bucks… To me, if the Bucks continue on this stance of buy buy buy, they’re just a lock to end up with one of these sort of distressed high leverage high salary players like a Zach LaVine, Michael Porter Jr., I mentioned AD.”

Milwaukee also may consider bringing in Dejounte Murray, a player they looked at previously, reports Fischer at The Stein Line.

The bottom line in Milwaukee is simple: It is not trading Antetokounmpo at the deadline, but to avoid having to do it this summer, the Bucks need to find a way to win more and are considering every option to make that happen.

Stop talking LeBron to Warriors

LeBron James and Stephen Curry had such great chemistry playing alongside one another while winning gold at the Paris Olympics. The Warriors are trying to add players to win now, the Lakers are moving on from the LeBron era to the Luka Doncic era, so what about…

No. LeBron’s agent and long-time friend Rich Paul shot down the idea emphatically on the latest episode of the Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul podcast. It started with Kellerman trying to stir things up, saying, “Bill Simmons said a couple of days ago… he said, look, the numbers work… LeBron and Steph have always said that they wanted to play together. What about Jimmy Butler for LeBron James?”

Rich Paul was emphatic in shooting it down.

“Because I don’t like to get into that. It’s not going to happen. So why are we talking about things that are not going to happen?”

Welcome to the world of sports talk, where making up fake trades — usually wildly unrealistic fake trades — then arguing about why a team should do them is its lifeblood.

Warriors not trading Butler, Green

While Golden State is testing the market for Jonathan Kuminga (who can’t be traded until Jan. 15), the reality is that to land a real difference maker the Warriors would have to package Kuminga with another player and picks.

That has led to some speculation about a Draymond Green with Kuminga trade — or maybe Jimmy Butler straight up for Anthony Davis — but the Warriors aren’t doing any of that, reports Sam Amick at The Athletic.

Team sources say they’re staunchly against the notion of trading either Draymond Green or Jimmy Butler, which creates quite a predicament when you’re trying to match salaries of high-level players.

The Warriors are still actively looking at trade options, which brings us to…

Jonathan Kuminga

The Warriors are talking to teams about a potential Kuminga trade, and Sacramento still has some interest. However, after another unimpressive season in Golden State — he has been on the court in just one of the team’s last 10 games — there isn’t much of a return coming back to the Bay Area in any deal, The Athletic’s Sam Amick said on Sactown Sports Radio 1140:

“For one, the Kings and everyone else, the price has gone down, it just has. So what does that look like in a possible Kings deal, because the Warriors are known to not have interest in Malik Monk, and he was front and center in those discussions in the offseason. So is it a [DeMar DeRozan] thing potentially? Who knows? I don’t probably see that happening.”

Teams are willing to take a flyer on Kuminga, but they do not give up players or picks of real value in those trades.

Clippers not trading stars

We’ve written in this space before that the LA Clippers were not going to have a fire sale, they have not been looking to trade James Harden or Kawhi Leonard at all. That is especially true with the team on an impressive six-game win streak.

If you doubt me, here is what Amick wrote at The Athletic.

If anything, league sources say the Clippers are expected to explore the prospect of adding an impact player around Harden and Kawhi Leonard as a way to revive their season in the second half. They can match a star-player level salary with expiring deals, with the contracts of John Collins ($26.5 million), Bogdan Bogdanović ($16 million this season; team option worth $16 million next season), Brook Lopez ($8.7 million this season; team option for $9.1 million next) and Nicolas Batum ($5.6 million this season; team option for $5.8 million next) all potentially handy on that front.

While the Clippers are open to a big move, they would not take on long-term salary that extends past 2027 (unless the player were a young star who could be part of their future). That lack of wanting long-term money on the books is why trading for Anthony Davis — who wants a massive contract extension this summer — is highly unlikely. (Plus, the one player the Clippers love and have on the books past 2027 is center Ivica Zubac, and he and Davis would be an odd fit next to one another.)

Petkit Just Announced Three New Smart Devices for Your Pets

Petkit just announced three new smart pet tech products ahead of CES. Despite the conference not kicking off until Tuesday, the company shared details around its upcoming devices that are likely to launch this spring. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Petkit advertises all three pet devices as “AI-powered,” and while that’s been a go-to gimmick for companies since 2023, there are some unique applications here—assuming the devices actually do what Petkit says they do.

Purobot Crystal Duo litterbox

Petkit says the Purobot Crystal Duo is the first AI-powered open-top litter box, and that the Purobot uses the tech for health detection. This device has an 720p AI-powered camera that monitors your cat’s stools as well as their behavior when visiting the litter box. The Purobot looks at things like stool consistency and urine pH, as well as “vocalizations,” and noting all in the Petkit app. You can take any of those findings to your vet if you have concerns.

Petkit says the Purobot uses crystal litter to absorb urine and dehydrate waste to manage odors. The company claims users can wait 30 days before needing to scoop the contents of the litter box, which also comes with disposable trays. The company plans to launch Purobot in July, on both Amazon as well as Petkit’s official site.

Eversweet Ultra water dispenser

Petkit’s new water dispenser also uses an AI-powered camera to track health habits, only this time through your pet’s “hydration habits.” The device ships with a 1080p camera with a 140-degree wide-angle view that tracks your pet as they drink, even in the dark. The Eversweet supports facial recognition for multiple pets, which, in theory, allows it to track the habits of specific pets drinking from the same device.

The dispenser comes with a five-liter tank, which Petkit claims supports two full weeks of drinking water for one pet. The device detects when the water is low, and refills the bowl when needed, passing through a “antibacterial filter cube” to prevent bacterial growth. Any “waste” water is not recirculated through the dispenser, and is instead separated, so pets should always have fresh water while the reservoir is full.

Petkit says the Eversweet Ultra may launch in April, though that’s only an estimate. It, too, will be available on both Amazon, as well as Petkit’s official site.

Yumshare Daily Feast

Perhaps Petkit’s biggest announcement is the Yumshare Daily Feast, an automatic feeder that works with wet food. This feeder can portion out fresh food for cats and dogs on a custom schedule, while tracking your pet’s eating habits to build “eating insights.” Those insights are partially informed by the feeder’s built-in 1080p AI-powered camera, with a 140-degree wide-angle view. It also supports facial recognition for multiple pets.

Petkit says the Yumshare Daily Feast supports up to seven days of fully automated wet meals—the keyword being “automated.” The machine opens each food pack itself, and each portion is “kept within its freshness window.” That means if your pet doesn’t finish its meal, the device will take away the leftovers, and uses ultraviolet light (specifically UVC) to sanitize before delivering the next portion.

Petkit estimates it will release the Yumshare Daily Feast in April, both on Amazon as well as Petkit’s official website.

As with any new products, we’ll have to wait until reviewers can perform hands-on testing before deciding whether these devices can actually achieve what they claim to. However, if Petkit’s products are up to snuff, they could offer pet owners some legitimate benefits. The wet feeder really could be great for anyone who needs to leave their cat for long periods of time. The Purobot and Eversweet could also provide some essential health insights ahead of a vet visit: If you’re seeing reports that your cat is crying while using the litter box, or isn’t drinking as much water as they usually do, you could get ahead of a health problem by notifying your vet early.

Fact or Fiction: Nikola Jokić’s Denver Nuggets will be just fine

Each week during the 2025-26 NBA season, we will take a deeper dive into some of the league’s biggest storylines in an attempt to determine whether trends are based more in fact or fiction moving forward.

Last time: The Golden State Warriors are cooked

Nikola Jokić, the NBA’s best player, is hurt, and he is rarely so.

The ripple effects of a hyperextension to his left knee, which will cost him at least four weeks of the season, will be many. Because the NBA requires its players to appear in 65 games to be eligible for its postseason awards, Jokić’s quest to join Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, LeBron James and Wilt Chamberlain as the sixth player ever to win four MVP awards may be on hold for another year.

(The 65-game rule is revealing itself to be ridiculous, as both Jokić and Victor Wembanyama — once favorites to win the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards, respectively — may no longer be in the conversation for either honor before we reach the season’s midway point. The media is fully capable of weighing the entire scope of a player’s candidacy, including missed time, without an arbitrary cutoff.)

Here, though, we are more concerned with Jokić’s Denver Nuggets and what this injury means for them.

After all, the Nuggets, when healthy, or when healthier (we’ll get to their additional injury woes), looked every bit as good as the team that won the 2023 NBA championship, if not better. Certainly deeper. Because of Jokić they felt like the biggest threat to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a seven-game series, even as Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs beat the defending champs three times in a two-week span.

The Nuggets are, as we speak, in third place in the Western Conference, owners of a 23-10 record, comfortably on another side of the bracket where they would not have to face the Thunder until the Western Conference finals. It is right about where they wanted to be and where we expected them to be.

That was a big deal, too, because Jokić had maintained a 56-win pace in the absences of three starters — Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson and Christian Braun — all of whom remain on the injury report. That is right: Jamal Murray, who could be in line for his first All-Star selection, is now the team’s sole healthy starter.

With the newly acquired Jonas Valančiūnas in place of Jokić and homegrown talents Peyton Watson, Spencer Jones and Jalen Pickett in tow, Murray led the Nuggets to a 106-103 victory against the Toronto Raptors in their first game without their offensive hub. Denver head coach David Adelman was visibly pleased with his team’s performance, knowing how difficult it is going to be to win at all without Jokić.

“It’s gonna be like this every night,” he said. “We’re gonna have to find a way to get to the fourth quarter.”

That will not be easy. When Jokić has been on the bench this season, the Nuggets have been outscored by 5.3 points per 100 possessions, operating at a 26-win pace. In a relatively small sample size, without Jokić, Gordon, Johnson and Braun, the Nuggets have been outscored by 19.8 points per 100 meaningful possessions, according to Cleaning the Glass, or worse than the bottom-dwelling Washington Wizards.

On the bright side, Denver has one of the league’s easiest schedules in January, featuring 11 games against could-be lottery teams, including a pair apiece against both the Wizards and Brooklyn Nets.

Then again, the Nuggets are now without Valančiūnas, too, as he suffered a right calf strain in the win over Toronto, and he too will miss at least four weeks. That leaves DaRon Holmes, a 2024 draft selection who has played a total of 34 minutes in his NBA career, as the team’s lone healthy center. This is bad.

[Get more Nuggets news: Denver team feed]

Just how bad is going to be the question. The Nuggets lead the sixth-place Minnesota Timberwolves by only three games in the loss column. Drop any lower than that, and Denver is in danger of losing its grip on a guaranteed playoff seed. And the seventh-place Phoenix Suns trail the Nuggets by just four losses.

It is likely that Denver takes a tumble down the standings. If they go 4-13 in the month of January — entirely within the realm of possibility — the Suns would only need to play .500 in order to catch them.

Remember, though, that Jokić will be back, as will Gordon, Johnson, Braun and Valančiūnas — all presumably by the All-Star break, when the Nuggets will have two months to play themselves back into championship contention. They should still operate at their 56-win pace, if not even better, and settle somewhere around 50 wins, which was good for anywhere from the third to the fifth seed last year.

Worse-case scenario: The Nuggets fall into a fourth or fifth seed and have to play the Thunder in the second round, where they took Oklahoma City to seven games — despite a similar litany of injuries — last season. Or worst-case scenario: They fall into the play-in tournament, where they would have to win one of two games (does anyone think they wouldn’t?) and could face OKC in the playoffs’ opening round.

Just as likely, the Nuggets could play their way back into the third seed. Or land the sixth seed.

Is either scenario really so bad? They will, in all likelihood, have to face the Thunder anyway, and couldn’t it be advantageous to play them earlier in the postseason, when the wear and tear of the playoffs on Jokić’s knee, Gordon’s hamstring and so on and so on will not be so harsh? And we could either be treated to one of the great first-round series of all time or a Western Conference finals for the ages.

Either way, the Nuggets are not cooked. They are merely on hiatus, as our League Pass watching will be less entertaining without Jokić in rotation. But we have seen enough to know: The Nuggets are capable of winning the title again, capable of beating the Thunder, so long as Jokić is healthy, and with two months still to build chemistry they can still hit the ground running in the playoffs, even if on the road.

And who knows: Maybe this experience for Watson, Jones and Pickett, plus all the other role players who could be called upon in a playoff series, will better prepare them for the moments that actually matter.

Determination: Fact. The Nuggets will be just fine.

Fact or Fiction: Nikola Jokić’s Denver Nuggets will be just fine

Each week during the 2025-26 NBA season, we will take a deeper dive into some of the league’s biggest storylines in an attempt to determine whether trends are based more in fact or fiction moving forward.

Last time: The Golden State Warriors are cooked

Nikola Jokić, the NBA’s best player, is hurt, and he is rarely so.

The ripple effects of a hyperextension to his left knee, which will cost him at least four weeks of the season, will be many. Because the NBA requires its players to appear in 65 games to be eligible for its postseason awards, Jokić’s quest to join Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, LeBron James and Wilt Chamberlain as the sixth player ever to win four MVP awards may be on hold for another year.

(The 65-game rule is revealing itself to be ridiculous, as both Jokić and Victor Wembanyama — once favorites to win the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards, respectively — may no longer be in the conversation for either honor before we reach the season’s midway point. The media is fully capable of weighing the entire scope of a player’s candidacy, including missed time, without an arbitrary cutoff.)

Here, though, we are more concerned with Jokić’s Denver Nuggets and what this injury means for them.

After all, the Nuggets, when healthy, or when healthier (we’ll get to their additional injury woes), looked every bit as good as the team that won the 2023 NBA championship, if not better. Certainly deeper. Because of Jokić they felt like the biggest threat to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a seven-game series, even as Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs beat the defending champs three times in a two-week span.

The Nuggets are, as we speak, in third place in the Western Conference, owners of a 23-10 record, comfortably on another side of the bracket where they would not have to face the Thunder until the Western Conference finals. It is right about where they wanted to be and where we expected them to be.

That was a big deal, too, because Jokić had maintained a 56-win pace in the absences of three starters — Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson and Christian Braun — all of whom remain on the injury report. That is right: Jamal Murray, who could be in line for his first All-Star selection, is now the team’s sole healthy starter.

With the newly acquired Jonas Valančiūnas in place of Jokić and homegrown talents Peyton Watson, Spencer Jones and Jalen Pickett in tow, Murray led the Nuggets to a 106-103 victory against the Toronto Raptors in their first game without their offensive hub. Denver head coach David Adelman was visibly pleased with his team’s performance, knowing how difficult it is going to be to win at all without Jokić.

“It’s gonna be like this every night,” he said. “We’re gonna have to find a way to get to the fourth quarter.”

That will not be easy. When Jokić has been on the bench this season, the Nuggets have been outscored by 5.3 points per 100 possessions, operating at a 26-win pace. In a relatively small sample size, without Jokić, Gordon, Johnson and Braun, the Nuggets have been outscored by 19.8 points per 100 meaningful possessions, according to Cleaning the Glass, or worse than the bottom-dwelling Washington Wizards.

On the bright side, Denver has one of the league’s easiest schedules in January, featuring 11 games against could-be lottery teams, including a pair apiece against both the Wizards and Brooklyn Nets.

Then again, the Nuggets are now without Valančiūnas, too, as he suffered a right calf strain in the win over Toronto, and he too will miss at least four weeks. That leaves DaRon Holmes, a 2024 draft selection who has played a total of 34 minutes in his NBA career, as the team’s lone healthy center. This is bad.

[Get more Nuggets news: Denver team feed]

Just how bad is going to be the question. The Nuggets lead the sixth-place Minnesota Timberwolves by only three games in the loss column. Drop any lower than that, and Denver is in danger of losing its grip on a guaranteed playoff seed. And the seventh-place Phoenix Suns trail the Nuggets by just four losses.

It is likely that Denver takes a tumble down the standings. If they go 4-13 in the month of January — entirely within the realm of possibility — the Suns would only need to play .500 in order to catch them.

Remember, though, that Jokić will be back, as will Gordon, Johnson, Braun and Valančiūnas — all presumably by the All-Star break, when the Nuggets will have two months to play themselves back into championship contention. They should still operate at their 56-win pace, if not even better, and settle somewhere around 50 wins, which was good for anywhere from the third to the fifth seed last year.

Worse-case scenario: The Nuggets fall into a fourth or fifth seed and have to play the Thunder in the second round, where they took Oklahoma City to seven games — despite a similar litany of injuries — last season. Or worst-case scenario: They fall into the play-in tournament, where they would have to win one of two games (does anyone think they wouldn’t?) and could face OKC in the playoffs’ opening round.

Just as likely, the Nuggets could play their way back into the third seed. Or land the sixth seed.

Is either scenario really so bad? They will, in all likelihood, have to face the Thunder anyway, and couldn’t it be advantageous to play them earlier in the postseason, when the wear and tear of the playoffs on Jokić’s knee, Gordon’s hamstring and so on and so on will not be so harsh? And we could either be treated to one of the great first-round series of all time or a Western Conference finals for the ages.

Either way, the Nuggets are not cooked. They are merely on hiatus, as our League Pass watching will be less entertaining without Jokić in rotation. But we have seen enough to know: The Nuggets are capable of winning the title again, capable of beating the Thunder, so long as Jokić is healthy, and with two months still to build chemistry they can still hit the ground running in the playoffs, even if on the road.

And who knows: Maybe this experience for Watson, Jones and Pickett, plus all the other role players who could be called upon in a playoff series, will better prepare them for the moments that actually matter.

Determination: Fact. The Nuggets will be just fine.

Peloton Is Having a Big Sale to Kick Off the New Year

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If you actually want to stick to your healthy goals for the year, I’m warning you now, you need some kind of plan—something concrete to motivate you. Something that helped me stay on top of my workouts a ton over the last year was my Peloton Bike and subscription to the brand’s app—they enabled me to work out from home, at the gym, or anywhere, basically. Right now, you can get both those (and other equipment, if you’re so inclined) for a discount, so this might be the moment to consider an investment.

The Peloton equipment sale

Cross Training Bike+


$1,795.00
at Peloton
$2,695.00
Save $900.00

If you head over to Peloton’s website right now, you’ll see some steep cuts on equipment pricing. In fact, the prices are similar to the Black Friday deals the brand ran in November, though not every piece is priced exactly the same as it was then. Some, like the Cross Training Bike, are a little pricier, but others, like the Cross Training Bike+, are even cheaper.

A new purchase of each of these also comes with a free month of Peloton’s app—an app I happen to use every day. (I even track my non-Peloton workouts through it.) If all you want is the app and you don’t need equipment, you can get a serious deal there, too, until Jan. 15: The company is offering three months for the price of one to new subscribers. App One is $12.99 and App+ is $28.99. If you have equipment, you’ll need the All Access membership, which is $50 per month (that’s what you get free for a month with a new bike, treadmill, or rower purchase), but these allow you to work out with the app only and are useful for people who don’t have the brand’s proprietary machines.

A note on the equipment

If you’re wondering what the words “Cross Training” are referring to in the product list above, let me explain. Last fall, Peloton overhauled its fleet, rolling out the Cross Training and Cross Training+ series. If you want to know more about what that all includes, I wrote a guide for you here.

The gist is this: The new Cross Training series features some equipment adjustments, like a better Bike seat, phone holders, and swiveling touchscreens. The + series includes all that as well as an AI component, which powers a movement-tracking camera designed to help you with your workouts. The swiveling screens come in handy here, as you can move them around to keep the tracking camera on you, even as you move from a ride or row to a floor exercise.

Celtic v Rangers: Pick of the stats

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  • Celtic are winless in their past four league games against Rangers (D2 L2); they had only failed to win four of their previous 12 Old Firm derbies in the Scottish Premiership beforehand (W8 D3 L1).
  • Both of the past two league Old Firm derbies have been drawn; Celtic and Rangers haven’t played out three successive league draws since October 2002.
  • Celtic are winless in the past three occasions that their first league game of a calendar year has come against Rangers (D1 L2), although each were at Ibrox. When playing their league opener of a year at home to Rangers, Celtic are unbeaten in four (W2 D2) since a 4-2 defeat in 1994.
  • Rangers have only lost their opening league match in one of the past 14 calendar years (W11 D2), going down 2-1 away to Kilmarnock in 2019.
  • The last league meeting between Celtic and Rangers in August featured just nine shots and 0.34 expected goals. Since Opta have this data in the competition (from 2019-20), it’s the lowest xG on record in a Scottish Premiership match, and also the second-lowest shot tally in this time, ahead of only St Johnstone v Livingston in May 2021 (seven).
  • Celtic have lost five of their 19 league games so far this season. It’s already their most defeats in a single campaign since 2020-21 (also five), while they last suffered more defeats in 2012-13 (seven).
  • Rangers have won four of their past five league games (L1), just one fewer than they had in their first 14 this term (W5 D8 L1). Both of their defeats so far have been against league leaders Heart of Midlothian.
  • This will be the first league Old Firm derby for both Celtic’s Wilfried Nancy and Rangers’ Danny Röhl.