Philadelphia 76ers Joel Embiid vs New York Knicks (Image via Getty).

The Philadelphia 76ers visit the New York Knicks on January 3, 2026, for an Atlantic Division game at Madison Square Garden. Both teams come in dealing with injuries, and those absences could decide how this game plays out.New York has been strong at home, while Philadelphia has held its own on the road. With key players listed as out or questionable on both sides, this game is likely to lean heavily on the stars who are available, especially in the fourth quarter.

Philadelphia 76ers vs New York Knicks Injury report (January 3, 2025)

Philadelphia 76ers will be without Kelly Oubre Jr., who is sidelined with a left knee sprain. Trendon Watford is also out due to a left adductor strain. The biggest question is Joel Embiid, who is listed as probable because of right knee injury management. If he plays, the Sixers gain a clear advantage inside. If not, their frontcourt becomes much thinner.The New York Knicks are also missing important pieces. Josh Hart remains out with an ankle injury and has already missed several games. Mitchell Robinson is listed as probable as he continues to manage his own ankle issue. Landry Shamet is unavailable with a shoulder problem, while Karl-Anthony Towns could return after missing time due to illness.

Philadelphia 76ers vs New York Knicks When and where to watch (January 3, 2026)

Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will air on NBA TV nationally, with local broadcasts on NBC Sports Philadelphia and MSG Network. Streaming options include NBA League Pass, the ESPN app, and Fubo.

How both teams are playing

New York enters the night at 23-11 and has been one of the league’s best home teams, going 15-3 at Madison Square Garden. Even with recent injuries, the Knicks have stayed competitive by controlling the glass and limiting second chances.Philadelphia is 18-14 overall and 9-6 on the road. Tyrese Maxey has carried the offense, averaging 30.9 points per game, especially when Embiid’s minutes are managed. The Sixers have had success with strong second quarters, but injuries have made it harder to sustain that level across a full game.

Matchups to watch in tonight’s 76ers vs Knicks game

The guard matchup between Maxey and Jalen Brunson will set the tone. Both control the pace and take most of the late-game shots. If Embiid plays, his minutes against the Knicks’ bigs will matter just as much. Bench production is another concern, as both teams are missing rotation players.

Philadelphia 76ers vs New York Knicks Betting outlook (January 3, 2026)

New York is favored by 3.5 points at home. The total sits around 232.5 points. The Knicks are listed between -162 and -166 on the moneyline, with Philadelphia between +136 and +138. Projections lean toward a narrow Knicks win, with recent trends pointing toward another high-scoring game.

WASHINGTON: In an audacious raid into the heart of the world’s most oil-rich country, US special forces on Saturday captured Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores while they were asleep at their home in a military fortress in the early hours of the capital Caracas. Trump administration officials justified the abduction, as it was described in some quarters, on grounds of national security and law enforcement, including charges of narco-terrorism. The couple was dragged out of their beds and flown out on choppers by an elite Delta Force, CIA agents, and FBI agents, who reportedly coordinated the raid, and placed on the warship Iwo Jima anchored off the country’s coast, to be taken back to New York City to stand trial. President Trump gave interviews to media outlets at 4.30 am to boast about the raid, excitedly telling journalists he had watched the incursion live from his Mar-a-Lago resort, and how meticulous and professional it was, with few casualties on the American invading forces.

“I was able to watch it in real time, and I watched every aspect of it, and I listened to the communication between, you know, where we were in Florida and out in the field in Venezuela,” Trump told Fox News, adding, “It was amazing to see the professionalism, the quality of leadership…” He compared the military operation to the botched U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan during the Biden administration, saying, “We’re not a laughingstock anymore.”There was shock, concern, and anger in the region and beyond despite Maduro’s sketchy reputation and multiple indictments on drug smuggling charges, including a $25mn bounty going back to the Biden administration. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ office said he was deeply concerned that the rules of international law have not been respected, and independently of the situation in Venezuela, “these developments constitute a dangerous precedent.” Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum condemned the military action and said it breached the UN Charter, while urging the U.S. to comply with international law and end “all acts of aggression against the Venezuelan government and people.”President Trump often accused the Venezuelan President and his government of conspiring to flood the US with drugs and illegal immigrants. Maduro was indicted in 2020, during Trump’s first term as president, on charges of smuggling cocaine into the US, with a $15 million bounty offered for his arrest at that time. That was increased to $ 25 million by the Biden administration and further doubled to $50 million in the Trump second term after he alleged Maduro of heading a drug mafia called Cartel de los Soles and designated the group a foreign terrorist organisation. There was support for the raid and capture from U.S legislators of Venezuelan origin, but several Democratic lawmakers questioned the legality of the attack and the lack of authorisation from Congress, which is vested with the sole authority to declare war. The Pentagon notified Capitol Hill on Saturday morning, after the raid, that it had been “authorised” by the president to launch a “military operation” inside Venezuela in response to “national security threats posed by the illegitimate Maduro regime.”Vice President JD Vance, in his first public comments after Maduro’s capture, applauded the mission and defended its legality. “Maduro has multiple indictments in the United States for narcoterrorism,” Vance wrote on social media. “You don’t get to avoid justice for drug trafficking in the United States because you live in a palace in Caracas.”In recent days, after Trump openly signaled his days were numbered, Maduro literally begged for peace, telling a Spanish reporter two nights ago that the “The American people should know they have a friendly, peaceful people here, and a friendly government as well,” while handing the journalist a red hat in the style of the Make America Great Again cap with the words: “No War. Yes, Peace.”By any measure, the U.S. military operation marks one of the most consequential acts of American force in Latin America in decades, coming only weeks after the Trump White House signalled its intention to assert its hegemony in the western hemisphere in a national security strategy document. Venezuela, by most estimates, has the largest oil reserves in the world, greater than even Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. The Maduro abduction was evocative of the raid that captured the late Panamanian leader Gen. Manuel Noriega in the late 1980s. Once a U.S. ally, Noriega was accused of conspiring with drug traffickers to ship cocaine to the U.S. He was convicted of drug trafficking charges in a Miami federal court in 1992 and sentenced to 40 years in prison, serving 17 years before he was extradited to Panama, where he died in 2017. The latest abduction is a clear signal to other small countries in the region, which have been increasingly courted by China: Behave and fall in line behind the U.S, or else…The Trump administration’s 2025 National Security Strategy identified China as a primary threat in the hemisphere, alongside migration, drugs, and crime. Beijing has expanded its economic footprint across South America through trade and critical minerals. The U.S. intervention in Venezuela signals a muscular reassertion of American primacy—and a warning that Washington is prepared to use force to defend it.In fact, Maduro met with a Chinese diplomatic team led by Beijing’s special representative for Latin American affairs, Qiu Xiaoqi, just hours before the raid to discuss the seizure of Venezuelan oil tankers bound for China, with the envoy reiterating Beijing’s support for the Venezuelan President. Of great concern now is what the Venezuela raid will have on China’s approach to Taiwan, and more immediately, Russia’s position on Ukraine.

US president Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States would assume control of Venezuela in the immediate aftermath of the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.“We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump said at a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. “We don’t want to be involved with having someone else get in, and we have the same situation that we had for the last long period of years. So we are going to run the country.” He did not provide a timetable for the transition.Trump praised the US military for its “breathtaking speed, power, precision and competence”, describing the troops as “highly trained warriors” operating alongside U.S. law enforcement. He said Venezuelan forces were “waiting for us” and in a “ready position”, but were “completely overwhelmed and very quickly incapacitated”. He added that no U.S. personnel were killed and no equipment lost.Trump also claimed the US has “knocked out 97% of drugs coming in by sea”, alleging each drug boat kills 25,000 people on average.He said the capture of Maduro took place under cover of darkness. “No nation in the world could achieve what America achieved yesterday,” Trump said, adding that “the lights of Caracas were largely turned off”. “It was dark and it was deadly,” he said.Earlier today, the Trump announced that the US had captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a military operation early on Saturday, following weeks of escalating pressure from President Donald Trump’s administration. Speaking on Fox News, President Donald Trump said the US would play a central role in shaping Venezuela’s future. “We’ll be involved in it very much,” he said, adding: “We can’t take a chance in letting somebody else run and just take over what he left.”Trump described the raid in detail during an interview on “Fox and Friends Weekend”, saying Maduro had been “highly guarded” inside a presidential palace “like a fortress”. US forces, he said, were prepared to breach steel-reinforced rooms using “massive blowtorches” and had rehearsed the operation on a full-scale replica of the building. “He didn’t get that space closed,” Trump said. “We were prepared.”The operation took place under cover of darkness, with Trump claiming the US turned off “almost all of the lights in Caracas”. At least seven explosions were heard, and the assault lasted less than 30 minutes. Venezuela’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, said civilians and members of the military were killed, though she did not give figures. Trump said only “a couple of guys were hit” on the US side.The White House said weather conditions had delayed the raid for several days. The Justice Department has since released an indictment accusing Maduro and Flores of involvement in a narco-terrorism conspiracy.

KULLU: A professor and three female students of Govt College, Dharamshala, have been named in an FIR after the mysterious death of a 19-year-old girl student who had accused them of sexual harassment and ragging.The woman died in a Ludhiana hospital on Dec 26, said Kangra SP Ashok Ratan, adding that the cause of death is being investigated. In what’s said to be her last video – recorded in a Pathankot hospital – she says: “Sir would go after me.”

A woman is heard asking her repeatedly if the professor touched her inappropriately, and she nods and says “Yes”. Father: Harassment by prof and accused pushed daughter into depression In the video, which surfaced on social media Thursday, the woman seems to be in distress and finds it difficult to talk. Acting on a complaint filed by her father, Dharamshala police registered a case against the professor and three students under BNS Sections 75 (sexual harassment), 115(2) (causing hurt), and 3(5) (common intention), and Sec 3 of the Himachal Pradesh Educational Institution (Prohibition of) Ragging Act, 2009, on Thursday. The three women were classmates of the victim and are now in their second year, while the victim failed her first year exams.The father alleges that harassment by professor & other accused pushed his daughter into depression. According to the complaint, on Sept 18 last year, the three female students harassed her and beat her during a ragging session. One of them allegedly hit her with a bottle and cut her hair.“This incident troubled and scared her a lot. She kept saying that she did not want to go to the college as the students would kill her,” her father claims in the complaint, adding that he enrolled her in a private computer academy at her insistence on Sept 20. “But her condition kept deteriorating, and I took her to a doctor in Dharamshala. I changed many hospitals during the course of her treatment,” he claims. The girl was treated at various hospitals in Himachal and Punjab. At the time of her death she was in Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana. “The victim was treated at seven hospitals. We are obtaining the treatment records to find out the exact cause of death. Many allegations were levelled, and we are verifying all the facts. A thorough inquiry will be conducted in this case,” the SP said.

The 2025-26 Ashes series reaches its emotional conclusion at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). While Australia have already retained the urn with a 3-1 lead, the final Test carries immense weight: England are hunting for a 3-2 ‘respectable’ finish after their stunning two-day win at the MCG, and the Australian cricketing public prepares to bid farewell to legendary opener Usman Khawaja, who has announced this will be his final Test match.

England arrives in Sydney with renewed belief. Their four-wicket victory in Melbourne—their first Test win on Australian soil in 15 years—proved that ‘Bazball’ can pierce the Australian armor under the right conditions. For Ben Stokes, a 3-2 series result would be a major statement of intent for the future of English cricket.

Australia, led by Steve Smith in the absence of the rested Pat Cummins, is looking to restore order. Despite losing in Melbourne, the hosts have dominated the series, winning in Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide. The primary narrative for the Baggy Greens is sending Khawaja off with a win at his home ground, where he famously scored twin centuries against England in 2022.

Team combinations

Australia have a selection headache in the all-rounder department. Cameron Green is under pressure after a lean run, with Beau Webster waiting in the wings. Todd Murphy is almost certain to return to the side to provide a frontline spin option. England have named a 12-man squad. Gus Atkinson is out with a hamstring injury, making Matthew Potts the likely replacement. The final spot is a toss-up between the aggression of Will Jacks and the specialist spin of Shoaib Bashir.

Pitch report of 5th Test

Curator Adam Lewis has prepared a pitch with roughly 6mm of grass (lower than Melbourne’s 10mm). While it currently looks green due to a lack of recent sunlight, it is expected to bake under the sun and transition into a traditional Sydney ‘straw’ color. Traditionally Australia’s friendliest spin venue, the SCG has recently favored pace. However, both teams have included specialist spinners in their squads, anticipating that the surface will dry out and offer turn by Day 3.

Also READ: Usman Khawaja announces retirement from international cricket, SCG Test to be his final bow

Test stats and records at Sydney Cricket Ground

• Total Matches: 115
• Matches won batting first: 47
• Matches won bowling first: 44
• Average 1st innings Score: 316
• Average 2nd innings Score: 310
• Average 3rd innings Score: 248
• Average 4th innings Score: 169
• Highest total recorded: 705/7 (187.3 Ovs) By India vs Australia
• Lowest total recorded: 42/10 (37.3 Ovs) By Australia vs England
• Highest score chased: 288/2 (60.3 Ovs) By Australia vs South Africa
• Lowest score defended: 97/10 (107 Ovs) By Australia vs England

Also READ: Ashes 2025-26: Shoaib Bashir returns as England unveil squad for the SCG Test

Mumbai: More than six people died every day from various causes while commuting on the Railways in Mumbai last year. Total fatalities dipped by 7% from 2,468 in 2024 to 2,287 in 2025, while the number of injured people reduced by 5% from 2,697 to 2,554, according to data with the Govt Railway Police (GRP).The Thane section reported the highest number of fatalities (278), followed by Kalyan (266) and Borivli (244). Although there was a reduction in deaths and injured individuals year on year, the overall numbers are still substantial, said activists, attributing the high volume of fatalities in the outskirts of the city to unchecked development and the lack of an alternative mode of transport to reach workplaces.Nearly half of all fatalities (1,063) last year were caused by track crossing, with the Thane section (144) reporting the maximum numbers. Another leading cause of fatalities was overcrowding and commuters landing on the tracks after losing their balance (525 deaths). Kalyan section reported the highest numbers (98) of commuters falling off trains.On Central Railway (CR), about 30% of all deaths were reported in the Thane, Dombivli and Kalyan sections put together. Regular commuters say that the “Mumbra curve” is particularly dangerous. On June 9, five commuters were killed and a few others were injured after two coaches of trains running in opposite directions came dangerously close to each other at Mumbra.“The middle class cannot afford homes in Mumbai and scores of new apartments have mushroomed beyond Thane. But the frequency and capacity of trains have not kept pace with demand,” said passenger rights activist Lata Arghade. Thane resident Mangesh Patil said that peak-hour locals are so packed that, despite letting go of a few services, boarding is still a struggle. “Suburban trains often face delays due to priority given to long-distance trains,” added Arghade. She also pointed out that the Railways constructed compound walls in some sections to prevent track crossing, but people broke part of them to gain access.In July last year, CR informed the Bombay High Court, in connection with a PIL, about several safety initiatives implemented, such as fencing at 47 platforms, plugging of 204 trespass-prone openings, removal of 1,260 encroachments and installing warning systems at high-risk spots. In the long term, CR plans to implement major corridor upgrades, including the Panvel-Karjat and Airoli-Kalwa links.On Western Railway (WR), the commute to Virar can be a struggle. A WR spokesperson told TOI that 7,700 crore worth of capacity augmentation work is currently going on to enhance the capacity of suburban trains. “Over 479 lifts and escalators are digitally monitored through a centralised system; 45 lifts and 62 escalators will be installed in the next two years,” he said.MSID:: 126324350 413 |

Desert Vipers captain Sam Curran (left) and MI Emirates captain Kieron Pollard (right) pose with the DP World International League T20 trophy at the Dubai International Stadium a day ahead of the tournament’s season 4 final. (ILT20)

Dubai: True to their form across the various T20 leagues, the MI Emirates(MIE) — Mumbai Indians’ UAE-based franchise — have had a patchy campaign in the fourth season of the ILT20. They secured two wins in their first five matches before registering five wins on the bounce to secure the playoffs berth. Following a stumble in the first Qualifier, they booked their place in the ILT20 2025-26 final against the Desert Vipers.Meanwhile, the Desert Vipers have been one the most consistent than MIE this season. The now Sam Curran-led franchise started with six consecutive wins, progressing to the playoffs in a jiffy, and maintained that dominance by beating MIE in Qualifier 1.

This journey to the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium is not a first for either team. MI Emirates triumphed in 2024 while the Vipers have reached the final twice already but fell short on both occasions (2023, 2025).Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Curran stepped in as captain following a calf injury to New Zealand’s Lockie Ferguson, whose T20 World Cup appearance is also under threat. Following two finals lost in three years, the England all-rounder hopes Sunday’s final plays out differently.“You take learnings, but it’s a new season, completely different players, of course, but the conditions might be slightly different. I guess you take learnings from it, but we’ve done so many things well this season, so I guess we stick to the process. Last year we lost a close game,” said Curran on the eve of the final.“I think getting to the final is a huge achievement in itself, and there’s one more to go, so let’s hope we see how tomorrow goes,” he continued.“Finals are always different — the pressure, the crowd, the occasion — but that’s what you play for. We’re excited, fully aware of what it demands, and are looking forward to the challenge,” said Curran who has scored 323 runs this season and is the second-highest scorer.MI have tasted success in all the T20 leagues they have a presence in (IPL, SA20, MLC and ILT20) with MIE skipper Kieron Pollard involved in some of them. On Sunday, they will look to increase their tally in the UAE with experience expected to play a key role.“You can say it counts (experience), yes, but again, it’s different players at different times, you do it in different parts of the world with different players. It’s interesting to understand what is needed to win, so again for us, we have lost a lot of players… for us, I’m just happy that the guys have rallied and gotten to this point,” said Pollard.“I want them to just enjoy the experience of playing in a final, and whatever happens, happens, you’re going to play to win, you’re going to do everything you’re looking forward to, but just enjoy the experience,” he continued.

Players to watch out for

Curran, the last year’s Red Belt (MVP) winner, is one of the players to watch out for in the final. Equally impressive has been Andries Gous whose unbeaten knock of 120 in the Qualifier kept MIE at bay.For the locals, the focus will be on UAE international Muhammad Waseem, who currently leads both the Green Belt (most runs) and Blue Belt (best UAE player) standings, having amassed 344 runs this season. The UAE opener is also on track to win the Blue Belt for a fourth consecutive time.

Pollard had positive things to say for the UAE players who have made themselves count this season: “What we’ve seen from the UAE players over the past few seasons has been outstanding, both for the franchise and for UAE cricket. When you give them opportunities, they show real hunger and deliver when called upon.“Rohid [Muhammad Rohid] was a last-minute call-up, but he was outstanding to pick up two wickets in Qualifier 2. Seeing them step up and perform consistently at this level is encouraging, not just for us as a team, but for the future and the growth of UAE cricket.”Head-to-headPlayed: 7MI Emirates won: 3Desert Vipers won: 4