Good Morning,
It’s an abbreviated Thursday edition on a slow news day in sports. Tomorrow’s weekend primer will be packed with everything you need to know about the NFL’s Wild Card Weekend. For now, let’s look in on the midseason awards races in the NBA.
Letter Rip!
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NBA
NBA Midseason Awards
Handing Out Accolades as NBA Season Nears Halfway Mark
The 2021-22 NBA season hits the midseason mark this weekend, and we’re pressing pause to take a look at the players taking charge. Plenty of the usual suspects sit atop the statistical categories, but a handful of surprise breakout players are making cases for MVP, Rookie of the Year and more. Here is The Sportsletter team’s outlook with roughly 40 games to play.
MVP
1. Steph Curry (GSW): 26.8 ppg, 5.5 reb, 6.1 ast
2. Kevin Durant (BKN): 29.8 ppg, 7.7 reb, 5.8 ast
3. Nikola Jokic (DEN): 25.7 ppg, 14.1 reb, 7.0 ast
Defensive POY
1. Draymond Green (GSW): 7.6 reb, 2.2 blk, 1.7 stl
2. Rudy Gobert (UTA): 15.1 reb, 2.3 blk
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL): 11.4 reb, 1.4 blk, 1.1 stl
Rookie of the Year
1. Evan Mobley (CLE): 14.8 ppg, 8.1 reb, 1.8 blk
2. Scottie Barnes (TOR): 14.7 ppg, 8.0 reb, 3.5 ast
3. Cade Cunningham (DET): 15.4 ppg, 5.7 reb, 5.4 ast
Most Improved Player
1. Ja Morant (MEM): 24.7 ppg, 5.7 reb, 6.7 ast
2. Miles Bridges (CHA): 19.5 ppg, 7.3 reb
3. Dejounte Murray (SAS): 18.4 ppg, 8.2 reb, 8.9 ast, 2.1 stl
Coach of the Year
1. Billy Donovan (Bulls) | Record: 27-11
2. Monty Williams (Suns) | Record: 31-9
3. Taylor Jenkins (Grizzlies) | Record: 29-14
Additional Storylines
NBA: Kia Rookie Ladder: Evan Mobley & Cade Cunningham Take Top 2 Spots
ESPN: NBA Playoff Contenders: Where Every Team Stands at Season’s Midpoint
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READER POLL
NFL Wild Card Weekend
Which NFL Wild Card Matchup Are You Most Interested In?
NFC
AFC
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THE HIGHLIGHTS
NBA: Nets Throttle Bulls in East Clash
The Nets used a 45-10 run in the second half to deconstruct the Bulls Wednesday night in Chicago (138-112). Kevin Durant (27) and James Harden (25) combined for 52 while Brooklyn shot well above 50 percent from the 3-point line to pull within 1.5 games of Chicago for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
NHL: Marchand’s Hat Trick Leads B’s to 6 of 7
The Bruins have won six of their last seven games after Wednesday night’s blowout against the Canadiens (5-1). Brad Marchand tallied his fifth career hat trick, all in the first 30 minutes. Marchand has lit the lamp eight times in Boston’s last four games.
SPA: Real Madrid Takes Supercopa Clasico
Real Madrid defeated Barcelona (3-2) in Wednesday’s Spanish Supercopa edition of El Clasico. The Supercopa semifinals saw both teams trade goals in the final 20 minutes before Federico Valverde struck the winner in the 98th minute.
NCAAM: #14 Villanova Escapes #17 Xavier
The only ranked matchup of the night in college hoops was in the Big East where #14 Villanova held off a late run by #17 Xavier (64-60). Nova’s Collin Gillespie (21 points) led the way despite a poor shooting night from 3.
NCAAW: #23 Oklahoma Paces #14 Baylor
The Baylor women’s basketball team was once atop the rankings, but 23rd-ranked Oklahoma handed the Lady Bears their second straight loss and third in four games on Wednesday night (83-77). Baylor is now 0-3 in conference play after getting as high as No. 5 in the country early in the season.
Bonus: #10 Michigan State Survives Minnesota (71-69) on Joey Hauser’s Last-Second Layup
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THE STORYLINES
NBA Trade Deadline Deals for All 30 Teams
With the 2022 NBA trade deadline less than a month away (Feb. 10, 3 p.m. ET), there hasn\’t been much trade activity in the 2021-22 regular season. Only three trades have occurred since Oct. 6, but that will soon change. (ESPN+)
NFL Wild Card Weekend Injury Report
The NFL playoffs have finally arrived, and several key injuries could have an impact on the weekend\’s wild-card round. Here is the lowdown, including some players expected to return from their ailments, with an analysis of the impact on their production. (FOX Sports)
Australian Open Previews: Men | Women
The Australian Open starts on Monday, January 17, but the draws takes place today in Melbourne. We break down the top 32 men’s and women’s seeds (separate articles) and their odds of winning the tournament before today’s bracket reveal. (Draft Kings)
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THE HEADLINES
Former Rams Safety Eric Weddle Unretires, Joins Team for Playoffs to Replace Jordan Fuller
(Bleacher Report)
Baltimore Orioles Move Back Left Field Wall at Camden Yards to Help Pitchers
(ESPN)
Former Red Sox & Cubs Ace Jon Lester Retires From Baseball After 16 Seasons
(SI)
Novak Djokovic Apologizes for ‘Human Error’ on Australian Immigration Document
(Yahoo! Sports)
Texas Man Charged by Federal Prosecutors for Supplying PEDs to Olympians
(USA Today)
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