that shot and you make it, it's an unbelievable feeling, and it's just something i wish i could feel every day. kenny: thanks for watching. i'm your host, kenny smith, and no matter where you are, remember to play it forward on your home court. [music] torch: oh, that one's good! that one's good! yeah! wham: we having a lot of fun out there. . narr coming up, wildfires explained. we'll look at what

fuels these blazes and how you can stay safe. then, sick and tired? the best ways to fight off a cold and flu. also, a ds' guide to the inauguration. plus, these stuffed animals are getting a second life. and hip hip hooray, this baby pygmy hippo is giving us all a reason to smile. >> people have just really gotten to love hippos. and slam dunk. >> this is it. just about gametime in the garden. this is where the magic happens. >> our kid correspondent, sam, takes us behind the scenes with the boston celtics, the reigning nba champions, for a special look inside their operation and what happens on game day. >> reporter: you're known for making big plays in clutch moments, especially during the fourth quarter. how do you block out the pressure and noise around you, and get the job done? >> i kind of just try to breathe, calm myself down, and then just trust the work that i put in, and you gean opportunity,

just be confident in it, and make the most of it. ♪ >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" kids edition. welcome back to "nightly news: kids edition." it's great to be with you on a saturday. we have a really awesome lineup ahead, including a visit to one zoo in virginia where poppy is stealing the show. plus, we'll put you to the test in this week's pop quiz. let's begin with one of the stories making headlines, and it's a pretty serious one.. we're talking about winds that have caused some devastating wildfires to break out across southern california this week, including in los angeles. and it's forced evacuations, some destruction. we know it can sound awfully scary, but it's important to understand what wildfires are all about so we can better protect ourselves. kids, you may want to grab a parent or grown-up to watch along with you in case you have questions. >> reporter: a wildfire is an unplanned fire that usually starts in natural areas like forests and prairies,

places that give the fires the fuel they need to spread rapidly. wildfires sometimes start because of a natural occurrence like a lightning strike, but often, they are caused by human activities like leaving a camp fire unattended. a fire source is one part of what experts call the fire triangle that creates wildfires. this also includes oxygen from the air, and that fuel, which can be anything from trees and shrubs to structures. weather also can play a key role in determining how much a wildfire will grow. windy conditions like those happening this week in southern california can increase the amount of oxygen in the air and higher temperatures and decreased rainfall dry out trees and plants, making it easier for fires to start and spread quickly. >> big part of why

we're seeing more wildfires is climate change. places like california, where we typically see the most wildfires are experiencing a drought, and when you have a drought, you have more vegetation that is dried out and ready to provide the fuel that that fire needs. >> reporter: we know this can sound kind of scary, but there are some things you can do. a lot of wildfires actually begin when people leave something burning in the environment, so if you go camping, and you build a campfire, really make sure that you put it out whenever you leave. >> reporter: also, be prepared. talk to your parents and have an emergency plan in place. pack a bag with some essentials like a change of clothes and medication. >> maybe packing a little bag can give you some peace of mind that if a wildfire does occur, you're ready to go, and you have a plan. >> reporter: these actions only take a few minutes, but they can save lives. >> and hats off to all

the fire crews working in southern california this week. in other news this week, some parts of the midwest and midatlantic got hit with the first major snowstorm of the year. the winter weather also means cold and flu season is in full force. dozens of states are reporting a high number of flu cases, and here with some tips on what you can to when you're feeling crummy is our good pal, dr. john torres. ♪ >> sometimes, even when we do everything right, viruses sneak into our body, and they can make us sick. regardless of what type of illness, covid, the common cold, the flu, a sore throat, or even a stomach bug, we do have a few tools to fight them off. the first? sleep. when you're sick, your immune system is working really hard to fight off the virus. this will make you more tired than usual. you want to get as much rest and sleep as possible, because sleep slows down other functions your body does while awake, like thinking, talking, and even blinking.

this saves energy so your immune system can keep fighting. to help you feel better, your parents may give you some medications that they got at the store or from your doctor. these can relieve symptoms like coughing, fever, or a sore throat. the most important thing when you're sick, stay hydrated. it's very important that you drink a lot of fluids. that can include water, fruit juices, or sports drinks. why? well, all the cells in your body need water in order to work properly. and when you're sick, it's especially important because water helps the immune system create more antibodies. and remember, antibodies, those soldiers are what fight off viruses. now, what about food? well, you may have heard the phrase, feed a cold, starve a fever, but kids, this is a myth. yes, a myth. regardless of whether you have a cold, the flu, or something else, you want to try to eat because food gives your body energy to fight the virus. uits, vegetables, and peanut butter are

some good options. but sometimes, getting sick causes you to lose your appetite, plain fos like crackers or toast. and there's nothing better than a comforting bowl of chicken noodle soup when you're sick, and it really does help you get better. it thins the mucus in your nose and throat to make you less congested and helps hydrate you. when you combine all these tools together, sleep, fluids, food and medication, it can help you get better faster. >> dr. john torres, thanks very much for that. in just a little over a week, the inauguration will take place in the nation's capital. president-elect donald trump will be sworn in as the 47th president. he's the second president to serve two nonconsecutive terms with a gap of four years. our friend, kristen welker, has more on the history and what you can expect on inauguration day. >> reporter: an inauguration is a ceremony to mark the

beginning of something. every four years, a presidential inauguration is held to mark a new term for the president of the united states. according to the 20th amendment of the u.s. constitution, the president and vice president begin their termrting at noon on january 20th. but if january 20th falls on a sunday, the public ceremony moves to january 21st. in 2013, president obama took the oath privately on the 20th and repeated it the next day in public. >> a presidential inauguration u used to be on the 4th of march, not the 20th of january, as it now is. the reason they made the change was there was a feeling that there was much too much time between an election in early november and an inauguration in early march. >> reporter: presidential inaugurations were first held in new york and philadelphia. the ceremony moved to the nation's capital in 1801. thomas jefferson was the first president to be sworn in in

washington, d.c. the vice president elect first takes the oath of office and then the president-elect. >> i, donald john trump. >> do solemnly swear. >> that i will faithfully execute. >> the office of president of the united states. >> so help me god. >> reporter: did you know with some exceptions, the chief justice usually administers the oath of office to the new president? the new incoming president will then give an inaugural address. george washington started this tradition in 1789 where he delivered a speech to a joint session of congress in new york city. starting in 1977, jimmy carter started the tradition of walking the mile and a half journey from the capitol to the white house as a part of the inaugural parade. on the night of the inauguration, the president and first lady attend the inaugural ball, another tradition that officially began with president james madison. >> this is the chance for a new president to talk to americans and say what he would like

to do. >> a new chapter to welcome the new president. >> okay, kristen, thanks very much. time now for our pop quiz. the question this week, what is the name of the plane the president of the united states travels on? is it a, air force one? b, marine one? or c, united one? i'll give you a few seconds to think about it. okay, time's up. the answer is a, air force one. the white house says technically, air force one is used to designate any air force aircraft carrying the president, but it is now standard practice to use the term to refer to specific planes that are equipped to transport the commander in chief. today, this name refers to one of two highly customized boeing 747-200b series aircraft for the president. just ahead, the baby hippo who is

melting hearts. what makes her so special? >> poppy is more than doubled in size since she was born, and she's trying to learn all the ropes that she can, and she has really pretty spunky, and she will follow mom sometimes, but sometimes, she leads the way. >> we're in virginia with all the details. plus, stuffy spa day. these stuffed animals are getting some tlc before they're sent to their second homes. a sweet story you won't want to miss. and celtic pride. go behind the scenes with the reigning nba champs on game day. >> great one tonight. going into 2025, is there anything that you guys are focused on continuing or improving upon? >> we're only as strong as each link, so, you know, empowering guys to continue their great play.

>> university of maryland global campus allowed me to write my own story. they want you to succeed, and for me, it was a school of opportunity. i feel like i had a support system behind me

within the school. they provided me the opportunity to get my degree, as well as to take the full-time job. umgc put me on a path to be successful by giving me credit for my certifications and transferring my prior course credits. umgc supported me and allowed me to achieve my goals. [ music ] you know, when it comes to our careers, we all feel stuck at some point. so find a mentor. go grab a bite with someone you admire. their experience, perspective, and network can make all the difference. and you might leave with more than a muffin.

welcome back to "nightly news: kids edition." i hope you're enjoying the weekend so far. you're looking at one of my favorite videos this week, two pandas having an absolute ball playing in the snow at the national zoo in washington, d.c. the pair, who came from china, will make their public debut at the zoo later this month. meantime, there's a new addition to one zoo in virginia, and this baby is stealing the show. move over, moo deng, and meet poppy. we get the details from our friend, anne thompson. >> reporter: say hello to poppy. a baby pygmy hippo who is capturing the hearts of america. >> she's very spunky. she's very brave. she is curious. and she loves life. people just really have gotten to love

hippos. >> reporter: born last month at the metro richmond zoo in virginia, poppy's popularity is soaring, thanks in part to another baby hippo. >> people call her the american moo deng, but there's nothing more cute than a baby hippopotamus. >> reporter: the baby hippopotamus got her name after a poll generated more than 100,000 votes from 160-plus countries. >> poppy's more than doubled in size since she was born, and she's trying to learn all the ropes that she can, and she is really pretty spunky, and she will follow mom sometimes, but sometimes, she leads the way. >> reporter: did you know pygmy hippos come from west africa and are the smaller species of hippo? >> adults can get up to about 600 pounds. iris, her mom, is just about that, so she's a

good size pygmy hippo. >> reporter: pygmy hippo pygmy hippo also have a unique ability when it come to feeding their young. >> one of the things i ri think is really incredible is they will nurse underwater. she'll nibble on some of the hay. >> reporter: as poppy gets older, she'll be able to spend more time under water. >> the adults can hold their breath for 15 to 20 minutes under water. the little guys, not quite as long, probably around five minutes. but as they get bigger, their lung capacity is more, and they'll be able to stay under water longer. >> reporter: and if you're wondering why pygmy hippos in general are so shiny? well, experts say it's because their blackish skin can cause them to dehydrate more quickly so their skin oozes a pigment called blood sweat, and this is what makes them appear shiny or wet. it also acts as a

natural sunscreen for them. pygmy hippos are considered endanger, making poppy's birth an important milestone for the species. >> less than 2,500 of them that live in the wild, and so, this birth here is important, because we want to maintain a genetic viable population in the world, and under human care so that some of these animals, if they need to be reintroduced to the wild. >> reporter: one tiny hippo already making a big splash. and thanks so much. that was fun. and poppy, you are sure a cutie. all right, let's head overseas now to england where one company is giving some stuffed animals a second life. we get more from our friend, meagan fitzgerald. ♪ >> reporter: for so many kids, there's a certain magic behind our stuffed animals. >> and do they protect you at night? >> yeah, yeah. >> reporter: they do? >> they definitely do.

>> reporter: 8-year-old albert bowman says his stuffed toys give him a lot of comfort, but albert says these stuffies are even more special. it's why he's used his allowance to buy two, and this one is his third. >> because they're loved before. >> reporter: what does that mean? >> somebody had them before. >> reporter: all these stuffed toys on the shelves have been donated, which means someone owned them before and gave them away so someone else an love them again. it's pretty cool. but first, they have to be scrubbed and cleaned so there aren't any germs. it's a process that happens here in this workshop just outside of london. the company is called loved before. >> l loved bore are a totally one-of-a-kind stuffed animal rehoming center, and what we do is we take in stuffed animals that people are ready to pass on so they don't go into the bin. >> reporter: it's an idea that owner charlotte says is

making other kids happy, but it's also helping our environment. it's another form of recycling, so these teddies get a very special bath. >> all of them will go through a base level of cleaning and sanitization, but it includes things like anti- antibacterial cleansing. >> reporter: before they're steamed at a high heat and even given a massage. they're stitched up and repaired as needed before they're boxed up and shipped out to stores. >> just messages about overconsumption and sustainability and how to prolong the lives of and relove the things that we already have. it's really, really important to instill in this next generation. >> referee: before they do, each one is sent off with their own personal story that are usually written by their former owner. >> she loves watching clouds drift by and finding shapes in the sky. she's a very calm bear. >> reporter: it's just

a little detail that shows how much they were loved before and could be loved again. ♪ >> meagan, thanks very much for that. finally, in this week's spotlight, we're now just about at the midway point of yet another exciting nba season. our kid correspondent, sam, got special access to go behind the scenes with the boston celtics as the reigning nba champions try to keep that momentum going into 2025 and beyond. ♪ >> reporter: step inside boston's legendary td garden, and you can't help but feel the weight of history. walking in the footsteps of some of the greatest to ever play the game. bird, parish, mchale, pierson, garnet. with their 18th championship win in 2024, the celtics broke their longstanding tie with the los angeles

lakers, becoming the winningest team in nba history. ♪ >> reporter: i got an inside look at the operation, and my day started long before game time. i was invited to the auerbach center. >> just doing a regular day with the boston celtics. >> reporter: that's an informal practice where players can hone their skills at their own pace. i was just feet away from jaylen brown as he sunk one after another and joined a media scrum where forward sam hauser took a few questions. the team is led by coach joe mazzulla. how's the team looking? >> our team morale and culture is really good. over the course of a long season, you have to go through ups and downs and stretches, and so, you got to be able to rely on the togetherness and the connectivity of the guys. >> reporter: as prtice finished, we got a look at one of star point guard derrick white's famous trick shots. ♪

>> got it. >> how are you? >> reporter: before an exclusive one-on-one interview -- you're known for your trick shots. how do you come up with them? >> it's a group of us kind of think of it on the fly. we might see something in a game or online, and we'll try it. or like the one today, we just kind of make it up on the fly, and have fun with it. >> reporter: 2024 has been a huge year for you. you have a championship win and an olympic gold medal. how do you plan to keep this momentum going into 2025? >> just try to keep being better. it's a lot of fun and exciting things i did last year, but just moving forward, and kind of just building on it and having fun doing it. >> reporter: you're known for making big plays in clutch moments, especially during the fourth quarter. how do you block out the pressure and noise around you, and get the job done? >> i kind of just try

to breathe, kind of calm myself down, and then just trust the work that i put in, and you get an opportunity, just be confident in it, and make the most of it. >> reporter: do you have any advice for the kids who love to play basketball but maybe aren't making, like, their team? >> keep going. if you're having fun with it, that's kind of how my whole journey began, just having fun playing with my friends, and kept working and getting better and better. so, as long as you're having fun, meeting the right people, learning a lot, and i think it's a great game. >> reporter: if the celtics need me, i can shoot. >> yeah? you're a shooter? >> reporter: i can shoot. >> shoot some threes for us. we need it. >> reporter: i have a rec game next weekend, do you want to pop up and help out? >> we don't got a game, you know, if you need some help, give me a phone call. i appreciate you. >> reporter: of course. ♪ >> reporter: then, it was time to head to the garden to see the celtics take on the indiana pacers. this is it. just about gametime in the garden. this is where the magic happens. but first, i joined

the team on the court for a warm-up. ♪ that was crazy. rebounding for the celtics. as fans began to feel the garden, the energy was electric. i'm on the big screen! while i thought i had the coolest job today, as a sideline reporter, abbey chin travels with the team to every game. how cool is your job? >> pretty awesome. >> reporter: what do you look for when you're covering a game? >> that's one of the favorite parts for me of my job is that every day is different, and every day, we get to tell a different story. ♪ >> reporter: but on the court, the one who has the most fun, besides the players, of course, is the team's beloved mascot, lucky the leprechaun. what's up, lucky? >> sam, how's it going? >> reporter: what has made your job fun here? >> easily, it's the fans. that's really what i'm here for is the fans. the energy. every night in the garden is just so exciting.

>> steady, look at that. leprechaun in training. >> reporter: i also learned that the celtics family is about more than just basketball alone. the team highlights local heroes like jim mulgrew, an advocate for life-saving equipment in youth sports. and local artists like monique amy. amy is designing a series of works featuring players the team hopes to send to the all-star game. >> i'm honored to make artwork for boston and my community here. >> reporter: by gametime, i joined my fellow reporters in the media section. at this game, it was boston's time to shine. beating the pacers in their first of two back-to-back matchups. but my job wasn't over until i attended the post game press conference. great one tonight. going into 2025, is there anything that you guys are focused on continuing or improving upon?

>> i think we're only as strong as each link, so, you know, empowering guys to continue to -- continue their great play. >> always getting my work in, and just like i said, always trying to find different areas to keep growing as a person. >> reporter: and that's good advice on and off the court. ♪ >> sam, that was terrific. what a great opportunity. well, that's going to do it for us. parents, just a reminder, if your child has a question about any topic in the news, email a video to us at nightlynewskids@nbcuni .com. you can follow us on instagram. and just a program note, you can catch a new episode of "nightly news" kids edition every thursday on nbcnews.com and youtube and streaming on the weekends on nbc news now. have a great weekend, guys, and remember to take care of yourself and each other. so long. ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

pete g. writes, "my tween wants a new phone. how do i not break the bank?" we got you, pete. xfinity mobile was designed to save you money and gives you access to wifi speeds up to a gig. so you get high speeds for low prices. better than getting low speeds for high prices. right, bruce? -jealous? yeah, look at that. -honestly. someone get a helmet on this guy. xfinity internet customers, ask how to get an unlimited line free for a year, plus a free 5g phone.