Giannis Antetokounmpo, Pat Riley, and Ja Morant (Images via Getty)

Since Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ja Morant’s names have hit the trade market, the league’s atmosphere changed. With teams gunning for the Greek Freak and Mr. 360 degree, salary caps have been continuously moved around to make space to afford these superstars. As reported, the Heat are exploring an option of a monumental double-swoop to acquire both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ja Morant before the NBA trade hits its deadline on February 5 at 3:00 PM ET. But there’s a catch. According to Steve Popper of Newsday, Heat’s President Pat Riley is looking for a scenario that could land both superstars while keeping All-Star center Bam Adebayo and veteran guard Norman Powell in Miami.

Miami Heat looking to acquire Giannis and Ja without losing its core

Steve Popper via his X account tweeted, “With about 30 hours to go ahead of the deadline, of all the rumors one wild one a league source told me yesterday he’s hearing: possibility of — Miami pairing moves for Giannis and Ja Morant without giving up Bam or Powell.”Reflecting on the situation, Popper said, “My reaction was what most will be — How could they pull that off? I was just told don’t doubt Andy Elisberg and then Spoelstra ability to fill out the rotation.”An ideal scenario for every franchise to construct a trade for two maximum-salary players without including the team’s most valuable asset, and that is what the Miami Heat is looking for. They want to acquire Bucks’ cornerstone Giannis Antetokounmpo, who’s currently earning $54.1 million, and Grizzlies star guard Morant, who carries a cap hit of $39.4 million, but without disrupting their core players, Bam Adebayo and Powell. With a potential $90+ million in salary cap space to get Ginnais and Ja, Miami would need to build a package with other younger players to be able to make their dream come true.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ja Morant’s impact on the hardwood

Giannis Antetokounmpo is currently sidelined with a right calf strain suffered on January 23 against the Nuggets, and as per the protocol is not expected to return until late February. Before the injury, he was averaging 28 points, 10 rebounds, and was shooting 64.5% from the field. Ja Morant is also recovering from a left-elbow UCL sprain and will be out through February. He played only 10 games this season and averaged 19.5 points and 8.1 assists. While the Heat may be interested, the injuries of both Giannis and Ja add a layer of risk. Despite all the speculations, Antetokounmpo recently told The Athletic on Tuesday that he remains committed to winning in Milwaukee, and he emphasized that his primary goal is to be in a position to compete for another championship immediately.

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Navi Mumbai: India’s Ishan Kishan (PTI Photo/Shashank Parade)

In-form Ishan Kishan continued his red-hot form with a rapid half-century as India secured a 30-run win over South Africa in their only warm-up match ahead of the T20 World Cup on Wednesday at DY Patil Stadium. The wicketkeeper-batter raced to 53 off just 20 balls, smashing seven sixes and two boundaries, cementing his spot in the top order alongside Abhishek Sharma. The Indian batters collectively posted a daunting 241 for five on a flat track, with Ishan and Abhishek putting on an explosive 80-run partnership inside the powerplay. Abhishek contributed 24 off 17 balls before retiring, allowing Ishan to continue his onslaught and retire unbeaten after reaching his fifty, ensuring both got a final hit ahead of India’s opener against the USA on February 7.

India rotated their bowling arsenal, using nine different bowlers, including Abhishek Sharma, who picked up 2/32 in three overs, to restrict the Proteas to 210/7. Harshit Rana, however, was forced to leave after just one over due to discomfort in his run-up. South Africa’s experimental opening pair of George Linde (0) and Aiden Markram (38 retired out) failed to make an impact, with Linde dismissed for a duck by Arshdeep Singh. Ryan Rickelton top-scored for the visitors with 44 off 21 balls, while Jason Smith contributed 35 off 23. Dewald Brevis fell cheaply, but Tristan Stubbs provided resistance with a 21-ball 45 not out, including four sixes. Other notable performances for India included Tilak Varma, who made a quick 45 off 19 balls before being bowled by Marco Jansen, and Suryakumar Yadav, who struck 30 off 16 balls. Vice-captain Axar Patel added 35 off 23, while Hardik Pandya finished with a fiery 30 from just 10 deliveries. Rinku Singh contributed 16 before being hit on the helmet. India’s batting dominance, combined with disciplined bowling, ensured a comfortable 30-run victory in their final warm-up ahead of the tournament. Brief scores: India 240/5 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 53, Tilak Varma 45; Marco Jansen 1/18) beat South Africa 210/7 in 20 overs (Ryan Rickelton 44, Tristan Stubbs 45*; Abhishek Sharma 2/32) by 30 runs.

US markets traded mixed on Wednesday as renewed selling in technology stocks — led by a sharp fall in Advanced Micro Devices — weighed on sentiment despite gains in several non-tech sectors, according to AP.Advanced Micro Devices plunged 15.7% even after reporting stronger quarterly profit than analysts expected and issuing revenue guidance for early 2026 that also topped estimates. The decline came as investor expectations remained elevated after the stock had doubled over the past 12 months.Technology stocks more broadly faced pressure even where earnings remained strong. Market participants have increasingly questioned whether valuations in major technology companies had risen too sharply following years of market leadership.The S&P 500 slipped 0.2%, marking its fourth modest drop in five sessions. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 389 points, or 0.8%, while the Nasdaq composite declined 1% as of 11:30 a.m. Eastern time, reflecting weakness concentrated in technology shares.Software companies are also facing uncertainty over whether artificial intelligence-led competition could disrupt existing business models.Uber Technologies fell 3% after reporting quarterly results below analyst expectations and issuing weaker profit guidance for the current quarter, while also announcing a new chief financial officer.Some technology-related names moved higher. Super Micro Computer rose 14% after reporting stronger-than-expected quarterly profit, supported by demand for artificial intelligence servers and related equipment.Outside the technology segment, Eli Lilly gained 9.2% after beating profit expectations, supported by strong demand for its Mounjaro and Zepbound products.Match Group rose 5.7% after reporting better-than-expected results and raising its dividend, citing early success from safety improvements including a facial verification feature for Tinder.Walmart edged up 0.2%, a day after its market capitalisation crossed $1 trillion for the first time.In commodities, gold traded nearly flat at $4,935.60 per ounce after earlier rising above $5,000, while silver rose 3.7%, extending volatile moves seen in recent sessions.In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year US Treasury eased slightly to 4.27% from 4.28% in the previous session after mixed economic data, including weaker-than-expected private hiring and steady services sector expansion.In global markets, Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined 0.8% from record highs, while South Korea’s Kospi rose 1.6% to a fresh record level.

Russia could face a sharp drop in oil revenues if US President Donald Trump succeeds in pushing India to scale back or halt purchases of Russian crude, potentially forcing Moscow to cut prices to attract alternative buyers, analysts and traders told Reuters.The development comes after Trump said a recent US-India trade deal included provisions linked to India halting Russian oil imports, even as Washington increases pressure on Moscow amid ongoing Ukraine peace negotiations.India has not officially halted purchases, citing energy security needs and the importance of access to cheaper crude. However, recent data indicates Indian refiners have adopted a more cautious approach, already affecting Russia’s earnings.According to Reuters calculations, India’s imports of Russian oil fell 22% to 1.38 million barrels per day in December from November — the lowest level since January 2023. Russia’s share in India’s oil imports dropped to 27.4%, while OPEC’s share rose to 53.2%. This follows a peak of nearly 2 million barrels per day in June 2025.“Any further reduction would already be meaningful, because there is only one relevant alternative buyer — China — which has also its limitations in taking in sanctioned crude,” David Wech of Vortexa consultancy told Reuters.Analysts said widening discounts and shrinking buyer pools are already pushing Russian oil prices to record lows, while Moscow’s budget is facing strain due to weaker energy revenues.

Sanctions pressure and supply re-routing risks

Russia has faced nearly 30,000 Western sanctions linked to the Ukraine war since 2014 but has managed to redirect oil flows from Europe towards China, India and Turkey. However, Turkey has also reduced purchases in recent months.Russia’s total oil exports stood at 4.91 million barrels per day in December, with China accounting for about 2.3 million barrels per day, according to the International Energy Agency.If India were to sharply cut imports, Russia would likely need to divert supplies to China at deeper discounts or cut production, said Igor Yushkov of Russia’s government-run Financial University.“Output and export cuts would lead to an oil shortage. Hence we are not seeing a full US ban on Russian oil imports — they would suffer themselves from higher oil prices,” Yushkov said.

Short-term flows may fall further

Indian refiners have not received formal instructions to stop buying Russian oil and would require time to wind down existing contracts, sources told Reuters.Imports could decline further in April when Nayara Energy, a Russian-backed refinery with capacity of 400,000 barrels per day, undertakes scheduled maintenance for one month, traders said.Beyond April, trade flows will likely depend on the trajectory of Russia-Ukraine peace talks and India’s broader strategic stance.Trump has suggested India could increase purchases from the US or Venezuela to replace Russian crude. However, US crude differs in quality and cannot directly substitute Russian grades, while Venezuela’s export capacity remains limited, Alexandra Hermann of Oxford Economics told Reuters.Instead, crude from Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Iraq may emerge as more practical alternatives. However, analysts said steep discounts may continue to make Russian oil attractive for Indian buyers despite geopolitical pressure.

In a fresh development in the case concerning the detention of Bollywood actor Celina Jaitly’s brother in the United Arab Emirates, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to facilitate legal representation for Major (Retd.) Vikrant Kumar Jaitly in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.As reported by ANI, Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav asked the MEA to issue an order in favour of Al Maree Partners, a law firm willing to represent Vikrant Jaitly on a pro bono basis. The court further said that if there is any impediment in issuing the order, the same must be stated in an affidavit. The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for February 10.

“An 18-month-long battle for us”: Celina Jaitly on Delhi HC order

“This has been an 18-month-long battle for us. Today, after 18 months, my brother and our country’s soldiers finally has his dignity given back to him. The Justice kindly passed the order for Almarri Partners and advocates in the UAE to represent Major Vikrant Kumar Jaitly… We want to bring him back, and I’m sure now things will move in a very positive direction and very fast,” she said.Her counsel, advocate Raghav Kacker, described the order as “very positive” and significant for the defence of Major Jaitly. He said the Delhi High Court had directed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to appoint a lawyer identified by the family in Dubai. He further explained that the appointment letter would enable the legal team to obtain a power of attorney from Major Jaitly and to initiate an appropriate defence.“We have got a really good order from the Delhi High Court. The Justice has agreed to direct the MEA to appoint a lawyer we had found in Dubai. This is very important because that appointment letter will now enable them to get a power of attorney from Vikrant and initiate a proper defence for Vikrant, and we are very hopeful, especially after the deal that has happened between India and the UAE, that we will secure a very quick release for our soldier,” Kacker said.Also See: Preity Zinta asks Celina Jaitly to not lose faith as Delhi HC rules in her favour, orders to facilitate help for her brother Major Vikrant Jaitly

Pro bono firm ready to take up case

The firm was suggested by Celina Jaitly’s counsel, Raghav Kacker, assisted by advocates Madhav Agrawal and Suradhish Vats. It was submitted that the firm has independently obtained the case details and is ready to represent Vikrant Jaitly free of cost.However, the submission was opposed by counsel for the MEA, who stated that the firm’s name already figures among the four legal firms suggested by Vikrant Jaitly himself. It was also argued that Vikrant had informed embassy officials that the decision to engage a legal firm would be taken by his wife, Charu Jaitly.

‘What is the impediment?’ court asks

Countering the MEA’s submissions, Celina Jaitly’s counsel argued that crucial facts were being suppressed, stating that Vikrant Jaitly does not wish to communicate with his wife. Taking note of the arguments, the court questioned the objection, noting that the firm was willing to represent him without any financial burden.“What is the impediment if the name is suggested by his father, mother or sister?” the court observed.

Celina Jaitly alleges illegal detention since September 2024

In her petition, Celina Jaitly has alleged that her brother was illegally abducted and detained in the UAE in September 2024. She further contended that despite more than a year having passed, the Centre has failed to secure even basic information regarding his welfare, legal status, or communication. Earlier, on November 3 last year, the Delhi High Court had directed the MEA to provide legal assistance to Vikrant Jaitly, facilitate communication between the siblings, and appoint a nodal officer to oversee the matter.

India produced a commanding all-round performance to defeat Afghanistan by seven wickets in the second semi-final of the ICC Under 19 World Cup 2026 at the Harare Sports Club on Wednesday. Chasing a daunting target of 311, the Indian youngsters showcased composure, depth and firepower to seal the contest with 53 balls to spare, underlining their title credentials.

Afghanistan U19 post impressive 310/4 after choosing to bat

After winning the toss, Afghanistan opted to bat first and made full use of the conditions to post an imposing 310 for 4 in 50 overs. The innings was anchored by Uzairullah Niazai, who played a superb unbeaten knock of 101 off 86 balls, striking 12 fours and 2 sixes at a healthy strike rate.

Earlier, Khalid Ahmadzai set the tone with a fluent 31 off 39 balls, while Osman Sadat added stability at the top with a 70-ball 39. The backbone of Afghanistan’s innings, however, was the 148-run partnership between Faisal Shinozada and Niazai. Shinozada’s attacking 110 off 93 deliveries, laced with 15 fours, accelerated the scoring through the middle overs.

India bowlers showed discipline despite the onslaught. Deepesh Devendran was the standout performer, returning figures of 2 for 64 from his full quota of overs, while Kanishk Chouhan also picked up two crucial wickets. Though Afghanistan managed to maintain a run rate above six, India’s ability to restrict wickets in the final overs prevented the total from ballooning further.

Aaron George, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre lay the perfect foundation

India’s chase began with intent and clarity. Aaron George and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi added a brisk 90-run opening stand, immediately putting Afghanistan under pressure. Sooryavanshi was particularly aggressive, smashing 68 off just 33 balls, peppering the boundary with ease.

George played the anchor role to perfection, rotating strike and punishing loose deliveries. Even after Sooryavanshi’s dismissal, the momentum remained firmly with India, as the asking rate never spiralled out of control.

Skipper Ayush Mhatre walked in with maturity beyond his years and combined with George for a vital 114-run partnership. Mhatre’s knock of 62 off 59 balls balanced caution with calculated aggression, ensuring India stayed ahead of the required rate.

George went on to score a composed 115 off 104 deliveries, a knock that blended patience with authority. His dismissal with just 11 runs needed was merely a footnote in what had already become a one-sided chase.

Also READ: ICC T20I Rankings – Abhishek Sharma retains numero uno spot amongst batters, Saim Ayub becomes No. 1 all-rounder

With the heavy lifting done, Vihaan Malhotra and Vedant Trivedi guided India home without fuss. Malhotra remained unbeaten on 38, while Trivedi chipped in with 5 to take India to 311 for 3 in 41.1 overs, sparking celebrations in the Indian camp.

The five-time champions march into the final in dominant fashion🙌#U19WorldCup #TeamIndia #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/uRNgTDacTn

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 4, 2026

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