NFL

• Ravens sign LB Roquan Smith to five-year, $100 million contract extension
  • This contract, despite setting a new high mark for off-ball linebackers, is solid value for Smith. Paying market value for a player, especially of Smith’s caliber, is perfectly fine, but not when you, as a franchise, relinquished two draft picks to acquire said player. Despite that, this contract is a separate entity from that questionable trade, and one that should age well for Baltimore. Smith is one of the NFL’s best linebackers, and now he’ll be rightfully compensated as such.
    Grade: B+

NBA

• 76ers 147, Pistons 116
  • The Pistons appear to be in full tank mode. With Cade Cunningham lost for the year, Detroit gave heavy minutes to the likes of Kevin Knox and Rodney McGruder last night. It’s only a matter of time until Alec Burks is shipped to a playoff team.
• Heat 112, Thunder 111
  • The Heat were 40-40 on free throws in this game, which was probably the night’s biggest statistical anomaly. In addition, Jimmy Butler scored 35 points, 23 of which came from the charity stripe.
  • Josh Giddey has been doing things this month. The second-year guard is averaging 17. 8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game in January. I’m a big fan of the Thunder’s future prospects.
• Raptors 132, Hornets 120
  • LaMelo Ball has posted solid numbers this year since his return from injury, but it’s a bit concerning that it hasn’t translated to more wins for Charlotte. The Hornets need lottery luck come May in the worst way.
• Jazz 116, Cavaliers 114
  • This was supposed to be a revenge game for Donovan Mitchell, and to a degree, it was, as the guard scored 46 points, but Jordan Clarkson also got his revenge on the Cavaliers by scoring 32. Much maligned in Cleveland, Clarkson has become a pretty good player in Utah, and may actually be a part of the Jazz’s long-term future, even at 30-years-old.
• Suns 125, Warriors 113
  • It definitely isn’t time to hit the panic button regarding the Warriors, but at 20-21, this season hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows for the defending champions. Losing to an undermanned Suns team is a bad look, but Golden State is still in decent shape to at least make some noise in the playoffs. The bench needs some reinforcements, though. At least Klay Thompson has been scorching of late.
• Magic 109, Trail Blazers 106
  • Things are coming together for Orlando. The team is already borderline average, despite having a gluttony of young and inexperienced players. It’d be more encouraging if Jalen Suggs had a higher level of involvement, though, as the second-year guard played just 11 minutes in this tilt.
  • Portland is at a crossroads. At 19-21, the organization’s retool hasn’t gone as planned, and some tough decisions may have to be made. Enter Jerami Grant. The 28-year-old has had a good year, but is an impending free agent. The Trail Blazers could get a haul for the forward, but that could sour the franchise’s relationship with star guard Damian Lillard.
• Clippers 113, Mavericks 101
  • Luka Doncic has to be frustrated. The star guard yet again exploded for 43 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists last night, but it was all for naught. Christian Wood uncharacteristically had just 12 points in 35 minutes. That won’t get the job done.

NCAAB

• Kansas State 65, Oklahoma State 57
  • It would be fair and reasonable to argue that Kansas State has been this season’s most pleasant surprise. Now 15-1, the Wildcats appear legit, and may be even better than the 2010 squad led by Jacob Pullen. Markquis Nowell has been a godsend in Manhattan, as his leap from a year ago has transformed the program.
• Michigan State 69, Wisconsin 65
  • Tom Izzo’s teams usually round into form at some point, and this year’s club seems to be doing so earlier than usual. Joey Hauser scored 20 points on just eight shots yesterday, and is a better player than he was last season.
• Belmont 74, Valparaiso 59
  • So far, so good regarding Belmont’s transition into the Missouri Valley. The Bruins are 5-2 in league play, and Ben Sheppard, despite the increase in competition, is still an all-conference caliber player.
• South Carolina 71, Kentucky 68
  • Um, what is happening in Lexington? This is an awful loss for John Calipari’s program. From an outsider’s perspective, it seems the Wildcat’s have prioritized length and athleticism over skill and shooting. That philosophy hasn’t worked well this year, and it’s scary to imagine where Kentucky would be without Antonio Reeves, as the Illinois State transfer took half of Kentucky’s paltry amount of 10 three point attempts last night.
• VCU 78, Loyola Chicago 64
  • Unlike Belmont, Loyola Chicago’s move to a better conference hasn’t delivered positive returns. The Ramblers are just 6-10 and fans are surely longing for the days of Porter Moser.
• Dayton 82, Fordham 58
  • Dayton might be the only Atlantic 10 team capable of competing at a high level nationally this season. Thank DaRon Holmes for that. The stud sophomore went for 32 points last night, and would be a National Player of the Year contender if this Dayton team was as good as the 2020 squad.
• Iowa State 84, Texas Tech 50
  • I keep waiting for the Cyclones to come back to Earth, but it might not happen. This Iowa State team is probably for real, and it feels like the Cyclones biggest contributor changes on a nightly basis. St. Bonaventure transfers Jaren Holmes and Osun Osunniyi have been crucial pieces in Ames.
• DePaul 75, Villanova 65
  • Villanova at 8-9 seems almost unthinkable. Perhaps other than Kansas, and maybe Gonzaga, no program has been a safer better to achieve success than Villanova over the last decade, but that was under the leadership of Jay Wright. The talent in Philadelphia hasn’t disappeared, so the Wildcats will need to find a way to get back on track. Kyle Neptune may have been the wrong hire, though.
• Utah State 83, Wyoming 63
  • At 25-9, 2022 was a special season for Wyoming, but this season has been anything but. The Cowboys are now a measly 5-11, and I’m mystified as to why. Hunter Maldonado is still around, and Ethan Anderson was brought in as a transfer from USC. Maybe down the stretch Wyoming will be able to be frisky in a tough Mountain West, but I’m starting to have doubts.

MLB

• Twins sign SS Carlos Correa to six-year, $200 million contract
  • Correa flunked two physicals before agreeing to this deal, which certainly depresses and complicates his value. This deal seems fair, though, and especially good for Minnesota in that it only has to commit to the shortstop for six years, as opposed to 12 or 13. Correa has never posted gaudy numbers, but his all-around play is phenomenal, and as long as he’s not hampered by injuries, should be a good investment for the Twins.
    Grade: B+