分類: 综合

Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard has been labeled “simply a global superstar” for his career, which has also included a Premier League title at the Emirates.

football news reports comments Today from Belgian icon Johan Boskamp. He is full of praise for the Arsenal forward Het Beland van Limburg.

Key role at Arsenal

Leandro Trossard has again played a key role for Arsenal this season as they secured their first Premier League title in 22 years.

The 31-year-old has been a regular player for Mikel Arteta’s side. He has made 31 appearances in the Premier League and has six goals and six assists. This has seen him perform in 60% of total minutes.

He has also contributed in the Champions League, scoring one goal and four assists in 10 games in the competition as Arsenal reached the final.

The Belgian has enjoyed an unknown role at Arsenal since a €24 million move from Brighton in 2023. Since then, he has scored 36 goals and 33 assists in 17 games for the Gunners.

lack of recognition of belgium

Despite this, he has yet to be recognized in Belgium, where he continues to fly under the radar. And it seems Boskamp wants to change that narrative.

He said, “That goal against West Ham might have won him the title. In Belgium, he’s not always appreciated at his true worth. But that boy has had a fantastic career.”

“And to think that, just ten years ago, he was sometimes sitting on the bench at OH Leuven. If you can help one of the biggest clubs on the planet become champions for the first time in twenty years, you are simply a global superstar.”

The question is whether anyone hears Boskamp moving forward. Or does Trossard need to impress at the World Cup with Belgium this summer before he finally starts to get recognition?

asks for Sunderland There is strong talk in the Dutch press that striker Brian Brobby will be the starting striker for the Netherlands this summer.

Today it is the turn of Wilfried Zinni and René van der Gijp to go through the Voetbl primer. He is very impressed with Brobby’s new, ‘ripped’ physique at the Stadium of Life.

Impressive at Sunderland

Brian Brobby joined Sunderland on the final day of the summer transfer window and has since impressed.

Despite playing only 61% of the available minutes, the 24-year-old has scored seven goals and provided one assist in 30 matches in the Premier League this season.

His performances have seen him get back on track after a difficult end to his second spell at Ajax and put him firmly back in the Netherlands’ sights. The calls for Ronald Koeman to be made the starting striker at the World Cup are growing by the week.

The striker appears to be a man reborn, having worked with a special coach this year Improve his game as well as his body.

It’s paid off, and now people like Genie want to be given a chance. He heaped praise on the Sunderland striker during the “Krantjes” segment on the Vandal Inside Show this week.

“I was scrolling through Instagram when I came across a picture of Brobbie,” says Wilfried Genie, before showing the image to Van der Gijp. “Just look at this: she’s never been this ripped before.”

Physics affects

Gijp agrees. “He is incredibly lean and fit. Would he be a viable option as the Netherlands’ starting striker? Absolutely.”

“During his time at Ajax we have never seen him like this. He is also scoring consistently in the Premier League. Would you really like to do that at the World Cup?” Ginny then asked her fellow panelists.

“Okay: Brobbey and Malen… I think Koeman will eventually take Memphis with him. But then, for five weeks in a row, the conversation will revolve around: Is he fit? Can he play? How long can he play? Can he start, or will he have to come off the bench?

“What a mess, man. Especially when you see those images of Brobby. I wouldn’t hesitate for a second in choosing between a 100 percent fit Brobby and a physically struggling Memphis.”

Atalanta midfielder Ederson was left out of the starting eleven for Friday’s clash with Fiorentina as he completes a €50m move. Manchester United.

Quotidiano Sportivo’s report on the midfielder today Following reports yesterday that Manchester United are closing in on their move for him.

manchester united finale

Sport Witness covered a report by journalist Michele Cristiello that said consensus on all fronts There is a move for the Brazilian midfielder to Old Trafford this summer.

This was followed by weeks of reports insisting that Manchester United was ‘running’ Getting the 26-year-old as a replacement for Casemiro.

Quotidiano Sportivo now report that he has been left out of the starting eleven for the clash with Fiorentina. They wanted to ‘avoid any risk of injury’ which ‘could jeopardize the potential transfer.’

According to the newspaper, talks with Manchester United are now entering the ‘decisive phase’.

The two sides could soon reach an initial agreement for a €50m fee and a future €5m bonus. Both parties are getting closer, but the deal is not finalized yet.

Manchester United appear to have beaten off competition in England and Spain, namely Atletico Madrid, who seemed close to securing the midfielder in recent weeks.

“It was a mutual decision not to field Ederson. There are ongoing developments related to the transfer market,” Atalanta midfielder Rafael Palladino said on Friday.

“The fact that he is being monitored by such an important club should be a source of pride.”

manchester united relations

This was seen as confirmation that Manchester United were closing in on their man. His absence from the starting eleven as a precautionary measure is further proof of this.

Quotidiano Sportivo reports that the two clubs have a good relationship. Manchester United have already acquired Italian forwards Amad Diallo and Rasmus Hjolund in recent years.

It now appears Ederson will make it three, with Atalanta taking no risks to ensure the deal gets done.

Feyenoord coach Etienne Rejanen “wants to move” liverpool“This summer if the Dutch club will allow it.

Journalist Mikos Gauka reports, via FR 12That Rejen wants to move to Anfield this summer comes amid reports that Liverpool are making a move to take the Dutch coach to Anfield.

liverpool reconstruction

Liverpool are expected to make some restructuring this season after a disastrous defense of the Premier League title.

Arne Slot has already hinted that this is a transitional summer for the club, with a busy transfer window expected. There will be changes behind the scenes too.

Reports indicate that the current assistant manager, Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, wishes to step down. He has been linked with a return to FeyenoordIn a position on their board or as a technical advisor at the table.

Slott is reportedly eyeing his old club Feyenoord to replace him. He would like to reunite with former coach Etienne Rejean.

Indeed, reports from the Netherlands suggest there is hope he will move to Anfield. Robin van Persie has also been asked about the possibility.

Reports in England are now insisting that a deal is on the table and Rejen will move to Merseyside some time this summer.

Rijanen wants liverpool

Gauka now gives his opinion on this matter. According to their information, Etienne Rejan wants the move if Feyenoord will allow it.

Regarding his arrival at Feyenoord he said at FC Rijnmond, “They said Bakkati is coming. It’s definitely good. He was at De Kuip earlier this week.”

“He’s certainly not just there to pick up a sandwich. He’s going to join the club, and – barring any surprises – Rene Heck will be going, maybe even to Sparta.

“And Etienne Rejan would like to move to Liverpool, provided he gets permission to do so. In that scenario, the staff would certainly need another addition.

“Because then you’re essentially missing out on that more experienced person. I haven’t heard any specific names attached to that role yet, but they’re actively working on it.”

armory Star Mikel Merino has admitted it was strange celebrating the Premier League title off the pitch as he recovers from foot surgery.

has been a midfielder speaking in spain all this week About Arsenal, the World Cup and even Pep Guardiola leaving Manchester City. This time it’s an interview with Marca.

Premier League success

It’s been a big week for the 29-year-old, who celebrated Arsenal’s Premier League title following Manchester City’s draw with Bournemouth. And Mone could be in for even more celebration when Luis de la Fuente announces his Spain squad for the World Cup.

The midfielder is expected to be part of a group that has played regularly for the European champions during De La Fuente’s reign.

However, the focus right now is on the Premier League. And he admits it was a strange feeling to celebrate the title without being on the pitch.

When asked what it was like to be crowned without playing, he said, “Weird, weird, weird.”

“I’ve talked to my teammates about this: It’s weird to celebrate, jump and be happy without your shoes on.

“But I also say that the sooner the better, and by whatever means. The important thing was to secure the championship and, above all, it was well-deserved.”

“We had a good time watching the match at the training ground and celebrating afterwards. Then we all gathered together: staff, physios, trainers and families. It was amazing.”

Suffer like Arsenal fans

That title was just one part of a broader string of titles for Mikel Merino, who is now on the verge of returning to action after nearly five months out.

He underwent foot surgery at the end of January and has since spent 115 days out of action, missing 25 appearances for Arsenal. Whether or not he features again before the season ends remains to be seen.

It means he has been forced to watch from the sidelines as Arsenal fight for their first Premier League title in 22 years. He is suffering like everyone else.

When asked how much ‘suffering’ he had endured, he said, “A lot, though for a short time.”

“Especially when I got the news and all your expectations and hopes were dashed, especially because of the long recovery time. But I quickly turned things around, trusted my wife, we looked on the positive side. And since then I’ve handled it quite well.

Although anyone who sees me might think I don’t suffer because I keep it inside. I’m calm, still, and analyzing a lot, but it’s horrible.”

the surgeon was astonished

Even worse for the midfielder was the possibility of missing the World Cup. And with surgeons also battling injuries his prospects were not looking very good.

“From the moment I got injured my heart told me: “I’m going to achieve this.” But I knew that was more wishful thinking than reality.

“When I started running and saw that everything was going well, that’s when I thought I could do it. That was the key moment to see whether the surgery was successful or not. Success.

“Even the surgeons were skeptical because there weren’t a lot of similar cases. Not having a clear plan caused me the most stress. I’m someone who likes to understand what’s going on and know the way forward.

“I have had more psychological support at this time than at other times in my career. Here, I needed more from people close to me: my family, my wife.”

“In the beginning, there were some bad moments. But as soon as I decided to focus on what I could control and give it my all to reach the World Championships, everything became much easier.”

Club Brugge star Christos Tzoulis has closed the door crystal Palace And newcastle united this summer but left it open Manchester United And Aston Villa.

I am speaking An interview with Het Nieuwsblad this weekThe 24-year-old insists he will not leave Club Brugge without a top offer this summer.

Expecting an exit from Club Brugge

There is growing speculation in Belgium that Christos Tzoulis will leave Club Brugge this summer. The winger has been the star of the show at the club since joining in 2024 on a €6.5 million deal.

He has since scored 42 goals and 44 assists in 107 games, and has quickly established himself as the best player in the Jupiler Pro League.

Sport Witness covered a report earlier this month suggesting Club Brugge were expected to sell him in a league record sale should he depart. Aston Villa and Manchester United In that report he was said to be curious about him.

He is also not the first to show interest in the Premier League. Crystal Palace tried to sign him last summerWhile Newcastle also reportedly view him as a potential replacement for Anthony Gordon.

It seems Tzolis knows too much about the interest in him. But it has specific requirements for transfer. And that’s good news for Manchester United and Aston Villa, but not for Crystal Palace and Newcastle.

“I feel good here,” he said.

“Staying for another year was the best decision I could have made last season. It would have to be a Champions League team from England, Germany, Spain or Italy. The only club that has a better option than PSG.

Asked about Crystal Palace, he said firmly, “In that situation, I would say no.” “The Crystal Palace train has already left the station for me.”

Manchester United’s interest

However, it is a different situation for Manchester United. In fact, the Greek forward is definitely open to a move to Old Trafford.

“United could convince me,” he admitted, “such a big club with such a big history. It would be difficult for them to say no.”

However, it doesn’t seem like he wants to go at any cost. “I have everything I need to be happy here,” he concluded.

“Playing in the Champions League again, great teammates… even the food here is great. I’m getting to know Brandon and Hans better and better.”

Aston Villa Goalkeeper Dibou Martínez has a minor fracture in his hand but is not in danger of missing the World Cup.

Journalist Gaston Edul reports The Aston Villa goalkeeper has had his injury checked and the news is positive.

no surgery required

According to the Argentinian journalist, the Aston Villa and Argentina number one does not require surgery on his injury.

The 33-year-old confirmed this week that he injured his hand in pre-match warmups before the win over Freiburg in the Europa League final.

However, he refused to miss that game. Instead he walked away from the warm-up while Aston Villa’s medical staff taped the finger.

“I broke my finger during the warm-up today. But I didn’t see it as a bad thing,” he told reporters after the Aston Villa win.

“I’d never broken a finger before and every time I tried to catch the ball, the finger would slide off in the other direction. But these are just things you have to go through.”

World Cup hopes alive

Edul now said that there is no need for any surgery on the injury. Instead, he will be out for around 20 days to recover from the injury.

According to information from journalists, the Aston Villa goalkeeper aims to be ready for Argentina’s first match at the World Cup. They will begin defending the trophy on June 17^th Against Algeria. They will then face Austria five days later and Jordan on June 28.^th.

Confident he will make it to both those games. But he is ready to put their friendship aside before that. Argentina will face Honduras on June 7^th Then on June 9, Iceland^th.

It seems the plan is to keep the Aston Villa goalkeeper out of those games to ensure he will be fully fit for the World Cup and defend their crown.

Aston Villa Goalkeeper Dibou Martínez has a minor fracture in his hand but is not in danger of missing the World Cup.

Journalist Gaston Edul reports The Aston Villa goalkeeper has had his injury checked and the news is positive.

no surgery required

According to the Argentinian journalist, the Aston Villa and Argentina number one does not require surgery on his injury.

The 33-year-old confirmed this week that he injured his hand in pre-match warmups before the win over Freiburg in the Europa League final.

However, he refused to miss that game. Instead he walked away from the warm-up while Aston Villa’s medical staff taped the finger.

“I broke my finger during the warm-up today. But I didn’t see it as a bad thing,” he told reporters after the Aston Villa win.

“I’d never broken a finger before and every time I tried to catch the ball, the finger would slide off in the other direction. But these are just things you have to go through.”

World Cup hopes alive

Edul now said that there is no need for any surgery on the injury. Instead, he will be out for around 20 days to recover from the injury.

According to information from journalists, the Aston Villa goalkeeper aims to be ready for Argentina’s first match at the World Cup. They will begin defending the trophy on June 17^th Against Algeria. They will then face Austria five days later and Jordan on June 28.^th.

Confident he will make it to both those games. But he is ready to put their friendship aside before that. Argentina will face Honduras on June 7^th Then on June 9, Iceland^th.

It seems the plan is to keep the Aston Villa goalkeeper out of those games to ensure he will be fully fit for the World Cup and defend their crown.

Atletico Madrid are now in ‘advanced talks’ to sign Bernardo Silva following his departure Manchester City in this summer.

Journalist Yaziz Sabuncuoglu reports That both sides are now ‘close to an agreement’ for the midfielder to move to Spain.

advanced talks

The journalist reports that Atletico are now in advanced talks with the 31-year-old player. And although no deal has been finalized yet, both sides are close to an agreement.

Bernardo Silva is set to become a free agent this summer after choosing to leave Manchester City. Reports have subsequently linked him to a move to clubs across Europe.

Juventus have been keen for some time, with Sport Witness covering a report stating that they have organized Positive talks with Galatasaray about a move this summer.

Then three days ago Atlético Madrid came into the picture. A report in Spain suggested they had turned their attention to the Manchester City midfielder. that report also Involved a surprise contact from Chelsea.

griezmann replacement

It is reported that Atlético view Silva as a potential replacement for Antoine Griezmann. And as a result talks began about a possible move this summer.

Reportedly, they were taking advantage of the fact that the Manchester City man wanted to be closer to his family in Portugal after spending nine years in England. Moving to Spain would definitely make it easier.

Sabuncuoglu now reports that negotiations are now in an advanced stage and both sides are close to an agreement. He makes no mention of the contract terms or the deal at this time.

Now, Sport Witness says it has not yet been reported in Spain. Therefore, it is advisable to take the news with utmost caution.

But Silva has been linked with a move to Turkiye this summer, and him potentially being out of the running would certainly be right in Sabuncuoglu’s wheelhouse.

Atletico Madrid are in advanced talks with Bernardo Silva! The deal is not closed yet, but the parties are close to an agreement! https://t.co/tUZ0BSoGtK

– Yagiz Sabuncuoglu (@yagosabuncuoglu) 23 May 2026

Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl has confirmed he has held talks with Anthony Gordon over a move newcastle united in this summer.

BILD report on comments From the director of Bayern Munich today. He was speaking at BILD 100 with Henning Feindt, their sports editor.

“good conversation”

Reports over the past few weeks have made it clear that Bayern Munich are keen to sign Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United this summer.

The German giants are keen to add a forward to Vincent Kompany’s squad and are reportedly eyeing Newcastle as an additional consideration.

It is clear from the reports that talks have been held with Gordon’s representatives. The 25-year-old is keen on a move to Munich. The problem at the moment is that Newcastle are demanding around €86 million for the transfer.

Now, Eberle has been questioned over a possible move. And they have not only confirmed talks with Gordon, but also stated their intention to sign the forward.

“We agreed that if an aggressive player could be financed we would sign him,” he said.

When asked if Gordon wanted to join Bayern, he explained: “We had a very good conversation and hopefully we can make progress.”

bayern munich confidence

That reassuring tone from Eberle about Anthony Gordon is Bayern Munich’s latest indication that they believe they can do a deal this summer.

Sport Witness covered a report earlier this month Explaining that there was growing confidence over a possible transfer. In fact, it has been reported that Gordon is also leaning towards pushing for a move.

After talking to the player and his teammates, perhaps Eberle’s confidence comes from here. The biggest hurdle at this point certainly appears to be Newcastle and their asking price.

But it’s possible that Bayern has a plan for that. They definitely don’t want to pay the current asking price. And with Newcastle missing out on Europe, it’s unlikely they will need to.

Portuguese side interested in Alverca watford Striker Vivaldo Semedo and has already talked about a move to the Hornets.

record The report adds that contact with Watford is already underway, with the Portuguese side having ‘already expressed’ their interest in the 21-year-old.

Watford talks begin

According to the newspaper, Alvarca have spoken to Watford regarding Vivaldo Semedo and have ‘learned about the terms’ for a possible transfer of the 21-year-old. There is no mention of what the piece might be worth.

But Semedo is currently valued at €1m. He joined Watford from Udinese last summer in an undisclosed deal, having previously been reported to be worth €3m until 2022. So, it’s easy to imagine that Watford’s demand would be in the low millions.

Alvarca is eyeing him as a replacement for Marko Milovanovic. He spent this season at the club on loan from Almería but is expected to return to the Spanish club this summer.

The 22-year-old has scored nine goals and two assists in 31 games in the league this season. This is despite playing in only 50% of the available minutes. He is their leading goalscorer, with Figueiredo second with six goals.

Therefore, his departure will fill a big gap. And it appears the Portuguese side think Vivaldo Semedo can fill the void.

return to portugal

In comparison, he has scored four goals and two assists in 26 games in the Championship for Watford this season. However, he has only featured in 17% of the available minutes. And that’s only been in the starting 11 13% of the time.

He is a product of Sporting Clube de Portugal’s youth system, playing for their U15 and U17 sides before moving to Udinese’s U19 team in 2022. He also spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Vizela.

The latter saw him score nine goals and register four assists in 27 games. Perhaps Alvarka is looking at these figures. Either way, he has started preliminary talks with Watford about a deal this summer.

Manchester United AC Milan have ‘smelled the wind’ for star Rafa Leao this summer, with AC Milan ready to listen to offers for him.

Gazzetta dello sport report Look ahead today and how his farewell to the Italian giants this weekend could play out.

Milan ready for deal

The newspaper reports that Milan’s clash with Cagliari risks becoming Rafa Leao’s last for the Rossoneri.

It is no secret that the club is ‘ready to consider possible offers’ for him. And there are already contenders ready to make their moves. Manchester United and Fenerbahçe have ‘recently sniffed the air’ for the player, with an eye on a potential deal.

LEO is basically in the market, although any negotiations will depend on the ‘tone of offers’ made to him. Milan are ready to compromise by any means, with Leo hurt by the recent hostile attitude of the home crowd.

The question is what Manchester United and the other suitors can offer. There is no mention of Gazzetta dello Sport here.

€40-60m

But Sport Witness has covered various reports about a potential move for months. It was reported in a report last month George Mendes was working On a potential €50m deal for the winger.

This idea has developed and progressed from there. Mendes is at the center of it with a potential A one-in-one deal was even considered at one point.

The last report 12 days ago said that a move to Manchester United would be a ‘dream’ transfer. It was claimed the deal could be worth €50-60m.

Now Gazzetta dello Sport are insisting that Manchester United are eyeing a potential deal. And Milan are not opposed to the idea either, or so it seems Rafa Leão is. As is usually the case, it’s all about money. With the right price the move will probably be accomplished with little hassle.

armory Midfielder Mikel Merino has insisted Manchester City The situation will not necessarily be worse without Pep Guardiola next season.

Cadena SER Report Comments From the Arsenal midfielder. He is speaking on El Larguero, discussing various topics including Guardiola’s departure.

Guardiola leaves Manchester City

Pep Guardiola announced his departure from Manchester City today. He will be leaving the Etihad after a trophy-laden 10 years at the Etihad.

This trophy includes six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups, the Champions League and the Club World Cup. At least it can be said that he has departed as a legendary player of the Premier League.

What impact this has on Manchester City remains to be seen. They are expected to name Enzo Maresca as Pep Guardiola’s replacement soon.

How he, or any other manager, follows in Pep Guardiola’s footsteps will undoubtedly be an interesting story. The perception is that Manchester City will struggle as they adapt to life without their iconic coach.

Success or failure?

This has certainly been the case at other big clubs in the Premier League. City rivals Manchester United are a prime example. But others’ journeys have been less difficult. For example, Liverpool were Premier League champions under Arne Slott last season after Jurgen Klopp left.

Such departure does not mean immediate collapse. And the Arsenal midfielder doesn’t see that happening either.

“This is a very complex question,” he said, when asked if the situation at Manchester City would be ‘worse’ after Pep Guardiola’s departure.

“They are going to lose the best manager in the world or maybe in history, but football is so unpredictable that a new manager can come in and get even better results. The incoming manager will adapt his approach, and it will be a different team.”

Of course, while this is Marino’s public view, privately he may be thinking differently. Arsenal in particular will be looking to defend their Premier League title next season.

liverpool Look to land another highly rated South American prospect. However, the excitement around Samuel Martínez in Colombia is based on what type of midfielder he already looks capable of becoming.

colombian journalist pipe sierra The Reds are reportedly finalizing the final details of a deal with Atletico Nacional for the 17-year-old. The deal is expected to be worth around €890k (£740k). Once everything is complete, Martínez is set to sign a five-year contract.

The teenager is expected to remain at Atlético Nacional until he turns 18, with the Colombian club also retaining a percentage of any future sale.

Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund were also linked with the midfielder earlier this year, but Liverpool have now won the race.

But why would this be such a big deal?

Why is Samuel Martinez attracting attention?

Samuel Martínez is one of the most exciting young midfielders currently emerging from Colombia.

He is capable of influencing matches in many phases of the game as a box-to-box midfielder. He combines South American technical quality with the physical intensity demanded in elite football.

One of the biggest compliments given to him at Colombia is his ability to accelerate attacks through the midfield. Rather than simply moving possession sideways, Martínez regularly tries to break the lines with aggressive forward passes.

He appears comfortable holding the ball under pressure and moving the game forward quickly.

He can operate in multiple midfield roles depending on the system. Martínez is capable of playing as a deep organizer in a 4-3-3, but can also function as an interior midfielder reaching into attacking spaces higher up the pitch in a 4-2-3-1.

Liverpool have spent years building a midfield around intensity, tactical flexibility and attacking variations. Samuel Martínez already appears to tick many of those boxes, despite only being 17 years old.

Colombia U17’s role says a lot about his game

Reports ahead of Colombia also highlight the role Martínez has played for the national team at youth level.

During the South American U17 Championship, he was reportedly seen as the “compass” of the Colombia team due to the way he controlled the pace of matches and directed the buildup play from midfield.

Many young midfielders stand out physically or technically at youth level. Martínez is also earning praise for his decision-making, maturity and game management.

Scouts have reportedly followed him closely during international youth tournaments last year.

Football runs in the family – but he’s built his own profile

Samuel Martínez also already has a deeply rooted football background. He is the son of former striker Jairo “El Indio” Martínez, a well-known figure in Colombian football. Jairo also played abroad during his career.

However, Colombian reports emphasize that Samuel has quickly stepped out of his father’s shadow. He has made his mark as a midfielder.

However, the influence of their upbringing still matters. colombia brand Claims from those around the player often point to his professionalism and understanding of the specific football environment from an unusually young age. Off the field he is also praised for his discipline and strong focus on performance development.

The recognition of his leadership is also increasing. Despite still being in the academy stage of his development, Martínez has already captained the youth teams at Atlético Nacional.

Marca described him as one of the extraordinary personalities of his generation.

Atlético Nacional development seen as another positive

Liverpool are also signing a player developed within one of South America’s most prestigious academies.

Atlético Nacional has long been known for prioritizing technical quality, tactical intelligence and strong decision-making in its midfield players. Colombian reports state that Martínez has benefited enormously from that environment.

That basis may explain why he already seems comfortable adopting various strategic demands. It also explains why Liverpool seem keen to move so quickly.

Reds have become aggressive in South America in recent years. They prefer to identify specific possibilities before moving to Europe becomes financially inaccessible.

For around €890k (£740k), Liverpool believe they may have secured one of South America’s standout midfield talents before the wider market has fully caught on.

In Colombia, there is already growing belief that Samuel Martínez could eventually reach Europe as another promising youngster.

There is a feeling around him now that if his development continues in the same direction he has the talent, mentality and tactical maturity to become a genuine top level midfielder.

tottenham It is still being linked with a permanent move for Joao Palinha, but the mood in Portugal is becoming cautious.

On the one hand, Sporting is now building parts of next season’s midfield with the Tottenham midfielder already on his way back to Lisbon.

On the other hand, Portuguese reports are beginning to acknowledge that the operation may be more difficult than recent optimism has suggested.

That paradox is turning out to be one of the most interesting parts of the story.

Sporting is already planning its midfield around Palhinha

Record Now report Sporting BK are close to signing the Hacken midfielder silas andersonThe deal is expected to be completed in the coming days. However, what matters most is how the Danish midfielder is being described internally.

According to the newspaper, Anderson is seen as “a complementary piece” to Palhinha – not a replacement for him.

This is another clear sign that Sporting are already planning next season’s midfield, assuming the Tottenham player can return.

The report also states that Rui Borges personally views Palhinha as an idol Replacement for Morten HjulmandWhich is expected to go away this summer. This sentiment became common throughout Portugal.

Recent reports have already claimed that Sporting are prioritizing other midfield targets due to the growing confidence around Palhinha. Now the structure of reconstruction is being built around itself.

Tottenham clause questioned

There is also another notable change. Earlier Portuguese reports focused on tottenham is trying to negotiate Bayern Munich’s €30m (£25.8m) buyout clause has been reduced.

Now A Bola goes further by suggesting that Spurs may not activate the clause at all. Although they did not explain the reasons behind such a decision, the statement naturally strengthened Sporting’s expectations.

The Lisbon side are reportedly already discussing a loan deal with Bayern Munich with an option to buy outright. This shows that the situation has gone beyond simple player interest or casual contacts.

The report also states that Sporting president Frederico Varandas has been quietly working behind the scenes to carry out the operation.

Sporting must face its own issues

despite everything Optimism about the player’s wishesThe Record also described Palhinha as Sporting’s “most complex” transfer operation of the summer.

This is significant because recent coverage in Portugal had begun to portray the move as straightforward. The reason for this was Midfielder wishes to return home.

So while Portugal are treating the move as something being actively made behind the scenes, a little more realism is now also entering the coverage.

Sporting may actually believe that Pelhinha wants to come home. Actually closing the deal is a completely different matter.

Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme has responded to claims he wants to target Manchester CityErling Haaland if he is elected.

Today Sport Cover Comments from RiquelmeWhen asked directly about a move for Haaland should he take charge at Real Madrid.

presidential campaign

For those who do not know, Enrique Riquelme intends to challenge Florentino Pérez for the presidency of Real Madrid this year.

He is currently preparing his candidacy, which will need endorsement and approval by Saturday to challenge the President.

His current focus is on that, but reports in Spain are already linking him to bigger plans to potentially succeed the election.

Manchester City on target

Sport Witness covered a similar report yesterday. It adds that Riquelme not only wants to appoint Jurgen Klopp as manager, but also sign Erling Haaland from Manchester City.

In fact, he and his team are reportedly in contact with Haaland representatives to discuss a possible move.

Now, speaking at the Cox shareholder meeting (he’s the company’s chairman), he’s been asked directly about those rumors. And he has not shied away from the idea of ​​signing the Manchester City striker.

“That’s the most enjoyable part after whether someone runs (for election) or not,” he said.

“The best players should be at Real Madrid. They always have been. The best will always want to come; this is the best club. So we need a candidacy that brings back transparency and good governance to attract talent, so that talent wants to come.

“Talents have to come to Real Madrid. The greatest club in history must have the best talents, and we have to provide the right conditions so that people feel comfortable within the club. So, yes, of course, all the talents in the world will be welcomed at Real Madrid.”

Aston Villa The Europa League triumph has thrust Emiliano Buendia back into the spotlight at exactly the right time for the club – and also at an awkward moment regarding his future.

The Argentine midfielder was one of Villa’s standout performers during the latter stages of the competition. However, the uncertainty surrounding his long-term condition has not gone away.

Recent reports link them to a Possible move to Turkish side GalatasarayWhile his current contract at Villa Park now has just over a year left.

This means Buendia will be able to negotiate a free transfer with foreign clubs from January, unless Aston Villa extend his deal or sell him this summer.

Against that backdrop, the 29-year-old has now opened the door to another future possibility – one that probably won’t please everyone in Argentina… or in Birmingham.

The dream of returning home exposed

As relayed by Argentine outlet TN SportsBuendia admitted that his dream was to one day play for River Plate. He also made it clear that he would reject a move to rivals Boca Juniors, even if club legend Juan Román Riquelme, now their director of football, personally called him.

“River is Argentina’s only club,” Buendia said. “If Roman calls me? No, not there.”

Then he added: “Playing for River has been my dream since childhood.”

This is a very bold stance considering Boca remains one of the most prestigious clubs in world football. It also reinforces how strongly Buendia still identifies with the River, despite spending almost his entire professional career abroad.

The midfielder left Argentina as a teenager to join Getafe and later starred for Norwich City and eventually Aston Villa.

Europa League victory changed the picture

Emiliano Buendia’s future looked much less certain at the start of this season. Things were already complicated after recovering from a serious ACL injury a few years ago, while Villa’s squad depth was boosted again after a more aggressive recruitment effort.

Still, he ended the campaign on a high note. His performances in Europe ultimately helped Villa win silverware under Unai Emery, and it may yet influence the club’s thinking ahead of the summer window.

Villa also face a delicate contract situation. Buendia’s deal expires in June 2027, making his gains weaker with each passing month.

It explains why clubs abroad are already keeping a close eye, and attention is likely to increase if it becomes clear Villa are willing to negotiate.

The river’s dream has now come out in the open

Buendia also revealed that despite the time difference from England he still tries to follow River whenever possible.

“I don’t watch much Argentine football, mainly River,” he explained. “The schedules are tough but I try to keep up.”

He also shared memories of the 2018 Copa Libertadores final in Madrid. Buendia said he stayed in the same hotel with the River squad before the match and later met club icon Enzo Francescoli in the lift. At that time, according to Buendia, asking for photos became inevitable.

It is unclear whether Aston Villa will keep him forward this summer. However, Buendia has now made one thing absolutely clear – if he ever returns to Argentina, there is only one destination he really wants.

armory Midfielder Mikel Merino has revealed that the team considers the Premier League title more important than the Champions League.

Cadena SER Report Comments The 29-year-old after appearing on his show El Larguero today.

arsenal return

The midfielder is keen to make a comeback at the end of the season after spending the last few months injured.

He is expected to be in Luis de la Fuente’s Spain squad for the World Cup, while he is also expected to play some role in the Champions League final. Arsenal will face PSG on 30th^th May.

They head into that game as reigning Premier League champions, with Manchester City drawing with Bournemouth to seal the Gunners’ title victory with a game remaining.

Premier League or Champions League?

They can make the season even more special with a first Champions League title. But according to Marino, the team has already achieved its top priority.

“The Premier League title. It’s a league win. And because of the way we won it and the context, going 22 years without winning it, it’s great,” he said.

When he was asked ‘Premier League or Champions League?’

“Coming from Spain, I thought the Champions League was the most important. But seeing how difficult the Premier League is, it’s hard for me to choose one or the other.

“I think they would prefer to win this league title than the Champions League against PSG. Although it is true that it is their first title.”

Then he was asked which of the two he preferred. And he admits, unlike his peers, he wants to be greedy with his selections.

“We’ve already won the Premier League, so the answer is a bit of a double-edged sword. I’d be greedy and ask for both,” he said.

brighton And Igor Julio looks set to part ways this summer. The defender is now sending clear signals that his time at the club is coming to an end.

The Brazilian centre-back has spent recent months surrounded by transfer speculation. Cruzeiro’s interest grew rapidly. Brighton rejected initial offer From Brazil. Negotiations remain active behind the scenes.

Nevertheless, the wider picture now points to the end of Igor Julio’s Brighton spell. That seems possible, regardless of which club ultimately signs him.

Instagram post gives latest update on the future

Igor Julio is already aware that Brighton are hoping to negotiate his departure during the upcoming transfer window, according to the Brazilian’s latest comments. People close to the situation believe the player’s cycle at the club is nearing its conclusion.

Fresh discussion started after this Igor Julio published A short message on Instagram: “What had to be done was done. Thank God.”

The post did not directly mention Cruzeiro or any transfer. However, when discussing the publication live on air, espn brazil Journalists brought the latest information about the defender’s condition. He added that Brighton have already informed Igor Julio that talks are expected to take place this summer.

According to the update, the player understands that, following some final market adjustments, he will leave the club during the upcoming window.

This matches broader sentiment about its future. Igor Julio is now focused on where he’ll go next, rather than whether he’ll stay.

Difficult weather aggravated the situation

Igor Julio never managed to build momentum this season.

The defender spent part of the campaign on loan at west hamWhere he made only four appearances between September 2025 and January 2026. He then returned to Brighton and added just one more appearance for the Seagulls.

The lack of minutes led to transfer discussions, especially as Brighton continued to reshape defensive options under Fabian Herzeler.

Interest remains active from many directions. Cruzeiro continued negotiations despite seeing his first proposal rejected. Meanwhile, clubs elsewhere in Europe are also monitoring the situation.

what happens next

Igor Julio’s next club has not been decided yet. However, both Brighton and the player understand that a summer exit is approaching.

Negotiations continue with Cruzeiro Brazil has confidence A deal may still be struck after adjustments are made to the payment structure and valuation. At the same time, European interest remains part of the equation.

At the moment, the final destination is open. However, the feeling around Brighton is that Igor Julio’s chapter at the club is coming to an end.

Manchester United, Manchester City And armory On their radar is Club Brugge star Christos Tzoulis.

The winger has been one of the standout players in the Jupiler Pro League this season. He scored 21 goals and provided 28 assists in 51 matches, helping his team win the title.

This included a goal and an assist in Thursday’s 2-2 draw against KV Mechelen and the points helped Club Brugge secure the title.

His performances have drawn attention from several clubs including Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal.

Last week, Sports Witness Claims covered from Belgium That Aston Villa and especially the Red Devils made contact. The source said Club Brugge want more than €36m so that could be their new record sale.

The latest claims from the UK list Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea as suitors.

Star not ruling out PL trio

After the draw against KV Mechelen, DAZN Belgium Interviewed the Club Brugge star duo of Christos Tzoulis and Hans Vanaken.

DAZN took over xon what was formerly known as Twitter, to share a clip of the Greece international talking about his future.

Patro Eisden’s manager Stijn Stijnen works as a consultant for the channel. He specifically asked the player: “What will this Christos be? Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal.” Stijn’s co-panelists immediately jumped in, saying that all of these names had been in the press.

Responding to that he said: “I don’t know. It’s up to Club Brugge. It’s not up to me to decide.”

“We will see what is the best option for me. It is not just about the name. We also have to ask ourselves what is the best project.”

“Why not stay at Club Brugge? I have a contract until 2029. I’m a professional. I have to respect my team. The team that pays me. I’m here to celebrate. Then we’ll see about our future. It’s still early. Today, I have to celebrate. It’s my day off.”

Tzlois has already opened the door for a PL move

Last summer, Crystal Palace were keen to sign him and even offered €32m, but Club Brugge turned it down.

earlier this year, Christos Tzolis confirmed The Eagles proposed and said he was ready to join them.

Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal or any other Premier League side would have to offer a concrete project to secure his services.

Greeley’s contract expires in 2029 and his value, accordingly transfer marketIs €30m.

亚历克斯·克鲁克猛烈抨击狼队球员在0-3输给布莱顿的比赛中对严厉的评价“没有自豪感”。

罗布·爱德华兹的球队在美国运通球场遭遇了灾难性的开局，他们在英超比赛的前五分钟内就落后了两球。

阿恩·斯洛特坚称抽筋是他在利物浦对阵切尔西的比赛中替换里奥·恩古莫哈的原因。

周六安菲尔德1-1战平的比赛中，当这位新星在第67分钟被换下时，安菲尔德主场球迷发出了一阵嘘声。

The Minnesota Timberwolves completed a historically unprecedented comeback victory over the Houston Rockets in a 110–108 victory. After the game went into overtime, the Timberwolves came back from a 13-point deficit to win by two points and broke several records along the way.

Most notably, they broke the 0-180 trend for NBA teams trailing by 10+ in OT over the past 29 seasons and marked the largest overtime comeback in the play-by-play era, according to a post by the
Keerthika Uthayakumar. Minnesota was down 108–95 with just over three minutes left in overtime after Houston started the extra period with 13 unanswered points, scoring on its first six possessions.

From that point, the Timberwolves executed a perfect 15–0 closing run, scoring on six consecutive possessions, while holding Houston scoreless the rest of the way. The Timberwolves saw several key plays come together in the final minutes.

This included a Mike Conley three, a Kyle Anderson three-point play, and Donte DiVincenzo’s tying triple, before Julius Randle hit the go-ahead jumper with 8.8 seconds remaining. The Timberwolves also forced significant defensive failures, including an 8-second violation and several empty Houston possessions.

Houston went ahead early in OT with six straight field goals, but failed to score again after the 3:01 mark. This win will be a major confidence boost for Wolves.

This came despite the absences of Anthony Edwards and Ayo Dosunmu, which was exacerbated by an injury to Jaden McDaniels in the fourth quarter. Additionally, Rudy Gobert fouled out while Naz Reed was also ejected early in overtime. Despite not playing the full game, McDaniels top-scored with 25 points, while Julius Randle had 24 points, six rebounds and six assists, while Gobert finished with a double-double of 14 points and rebounds.

Count De’Aaron Fox among those who are surprised by the fact that the San Antonio Spurs are in second place in the Western Conference standings and have already secured home court advantage in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Well, sort of.

“I saw the potential in it. I don’t know if I’d say I thought it would happen so quickly,” the Spurs star admitted when his team clinched a postseason berth.

Fox quickly added a warning, however.

“I was out the first eight games. Then we won five games in a row. I said, ‘We could be really good.’ I got back in the lineup and obviously that momentum continued.

That 5–0 start was the first in the history of the prestigious Spurs franchise. Thanks to several impressive wins, including three big wins against an Oklahoma City Thunder team that started the season 24–1, San Antonio finished 2025 at 24–9. They have won 23 0f 25 games between 11–0 February and the end of March, virtually guaranteeing the franchise the second seed in the West. at the very least.

Fox added, “Throughout the season, when we’re playing good teams or when we’re playing bad teams, I feel like we always give ourselves a chance to win, even when we’re not playing well because of what we’re able to do defensively.” “And obviously, a lot of it has to do with Vic [Victor Wembanyama]. And that’s why we have so much confidence in ourselves, because we have a lot of guys that can put the ball in the basket. And even when we’re not making shots – and it’s not every day that nobody on our team is making shots – we give ourselves a chance to win because of the way we defend.

“I saw the potential. I don’t know if I would say I thought it would happen so quickly…
I was out the first eight games…we won five games in a row, I thought, ‘We could be really good.'”

-De’Aaron Fox on #spurs19-2 in last 21, Superior Tax Service reports https://t.co/riXwx24cXf pic.twitter.com/SsRUOvGg1k

– Hector Ledesma (@HectorLedesmaTV) 19 March 2026

De’Aaron Fox talks about Spurs’ unselfishness

A career scorer of 21.2 points per game, who has averaged at least 25 in three recent seasons, Fox is averaging 18.9 points per contest in his first full year in the Alamo City. A big reason is that he’s okay with that dip?

“We have guys that can put the ball in the basket by themselves, but we enjoy playing together,” the 29-year-old guard shared. “We enjoy seeing each other succeed.”

Fox shares the Spurs backcourt with reigning Rookie of the Year Stephen Cassel, 2026 second overall draft pick Dylan Harper and Devin Vassell, who scored 19.5 points per night as Wembanyama’s sidekick in Fox’s rookie year.

“It makes it a lot easier to share the ball, because, obviously, Vic might be different, I might be different. Steph, Dylan, we have a group of guys that can just go out there and get it, but we don’t play that way,” Fox said. “And we know that during the game, there are times when we just have to be able to go out and get buckets. But, we continue to move the ball and, like I said, just try to make our offense that’s already good, try to make it easier for ourselves. Being able to move the ball makes that happen.”

Following the Boston Celtics’ 119-109 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Spurs are just two losses behind the defending NBA champions. San Antonio has nine games remaining in the regular season and a tie-breaker against OKC.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been performing great during this stage of the season, and with the postseason slowly approaching the timing is perfect. They got another win recently when they defeated the Indiana Pacers 137-130, and while Luka Doncic stole the show with his 43 points, it was also helped by contributions from other players.

One of those players was Bronny James, who played 13 minutes in the game with Marcus Smart out due to injury. He may have only finished with 4 points, but what he did on the other side of the ball was impressive.

“Felt like this was a game we really needed him,” JJ Redick said, via Dan Woik of The Athletic. “It was a game that, you know, his athleticism, his defense…we saw it last year, and we’re seeing it again this year, just his development as a player.”

Not only was James able to get impressive minutes, but he did so with his father on the court.

“Especially knowing the path, you know, the road…,” LeBron James said. “So, just proud of him. I’m very proud of him. And he’s his. He’s his.”

Bronny has shown these past two seasons that he can come in and be an energy player for the Lakers, and he has done that every time he steps on the floor. Getting reps in the G League has also helped Bronny in the process, so when he steps onto an NBA floor, it doesn’t feel like he’s missed a beat.

“I like to go out there and play my game and be as aggressive as I can, so that when I get these minutes out here, I’m comfortable playing with Luka, Braun, AR and everybody else,” Bronny said.

With only a few games left in the season, it will be interesting to see if Bronny can make an impact going forward.

The New York Knicks have been on the rise lately, currently sitting in third place in the Eastern Conference, but have a real chance to unseat the Boston Celtics for second place. The Knicks have played the last portion of the schedule without Miles McBride, who is sidelined after sports hernia surgery.

Recently, Knicks insider James L. Edwards III provided an update on McBride’s status, which should get New York fans excited.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Deuce McBride returns Sunday against OKC,” Edwards III, formerly of the Ax, reported on Twitter.

It will certainly be a welcome sight for Knicks fans to have McBride back in the lineup as soon as possible. When healthy, the former West Virginia star provides New York with elite outside shooting, solid on-ball defense and the ability to facilitate play for his teammates.

The Knicks have largely been operating without a consistent backup point guard behind Jalen Brunson in recent weeks, as Tyler Kolek hasn’t seen much playing time after a midseason bounce. However, McBride is projected to return to his normal workload before the playoffs, which are scheduled to begin next month.

Meanwhile, the Knicks have a big game on the road against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday evening. The Hornets have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA over the past few months, emerging from NBA purgatory and looking like a real threat to scare a potential playoff opponent, should they reach that stage.

New York, led by rookie standout Kon Nueppel and former All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball, will have to do its best to guard the Hornets’ range of three-point shooters.

Tipoff between the Knicks and Hornets is scheduled for 7:00 pm ET from Charlotte.

Recently, San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama made headlines by publicly staking his claim for the league MVP award following his team’s win over the Miami Heat. It was another dominant performance for the Spurs in their win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday evening.

Vembanyama’s public plea caused a stir in the NBA social media world, and most recently, the Golden State Warriors power forward weighed in on the controversy.

X, formerly on Twitter According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Green said, “I hate it… and I love it.”

Green also spoke on Wembanyama’s proclamation regarding his impact on the defensive end of the floor.

“Wemby said, ‘Defense is 50% of the game,’ and it was like, oh, nobody realized that?” Green said. “Has no one realized that 50% of the game we play happens on that end of the floor?”

Wembanyama became one of the best defenders in the league the moment he stepped onto an NBA floor and has continued to expand that part of his game since then.

While his block numbers remain specific, Wembanyama also prevents players from attempting shots that they could have made against another team on a nightly basis.

Meanwhile, on offense, Vembanyama is having the best season of his career in 2025-26, cutting down on three-point attempts and terrorizing opponents around the basket, while maintaining solid efficiency from the field, and improving his facilitation skills.

All of this, combined with the Spurs’ elite record, is leading some to wonder whether Wembanyama would have emerged as a true MVP candidate in his third season, and it appears that other players, including Green, have mixed feelings on Wembanyama’s advocacy for themselves.

When Billy Donovan was asked about the possibility of leaving the Chicago Bulls to coach North Carolina, he expressed complete reservations. According to Tony Jones of The Athletic, Donovan would not deny that he had some interest in coaching the Tar Heels, instead turning his attention to his job with the Bulls.

“My main focus is on these guys and this new team,” Donovan said. “I understand there are things out there, and I understand there will be some speculation. But, I’ve got to focus on this group, and really, my focus is on what we’re doing here in Chicago, having a game tonight, and traveling to play back-to-back.”

The message in these comments suggests that Chicago’s current head coach is still keeping the door open to a move to North Carolina after the season. The Bulls will play their final game on April 12, but he is under contract with Chicago after signing a multi-year deal last offseason. This line of thinking is in line with ClutchPoints’ report that there was some uncertainty over Donovan’s future.

Brett Siegel reported, “This has led to a lot of questions being asked among NBA personnel about Donovan’s long-term future with the Bulls.” “One of which revolves around whether he would really consider going back to college to a prolific program like North Carolina if he was offered the job.”

If Billy Donovan were ever to return to college after his successful stint at Florida from 1996 to 2015, it would likely be for the allure of a program like North Carolina.

The San Antonio Spurs have been on a roll lately and continued their winning ways with an impressive win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday evening. It was another solid game for Victor Vembanyama, who scored 19 points with 15 rebounds in the win.

One of the Spurs’ unsung heroes this year is Keldon Johnson, who is one of the leading candidates for the Sixth Man of the Year award.

Recently, Spurs commentator and former player Sean Elliott joked about Johnson’s listed weight of 215 pounds after a win over the Grizzlies.

“I wanted to ask you what you have listed here, because we’ve had a lot of fun with it over the last few months. According to the official game notes, you weigh exactly the same as Julian Champagne at 215, Stephen Castle weighs 220, which is more than you… Keldon Johnson, 6’6″, 215. What you’re doing there at 215 pounds is amazing… I want to know how in the world you’re getting away from that. Are,” X, Elliott previously said on Twitter, per FanSided’s Josh Paradee.

Johnson responded with a smile, “I’m not 215 years old.” “Maybe a year ago. I’m a little over 215.”

Regardless of his weight, Johnson has been a key piece for the Spurs this year, providing solid defense, showing an improved three-point touch, and continuing to be a force as a driver to the basket, putting consistent pressure on opposing defenses around the rim.

He is one of several Spurs players who have stepped up to give Wembanyama an elite supporting cast this year, and San Antonio is looking like a legitimate championship contender as a result.

The Spurs next play on the road against the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.

One of the safest bets in sports is that when Isiah Thomas appears on a talk show, he’ll find a way to disrespect his former rival Michael Jordan, with whom he had a much-publicized beef during his NBA career. Thomas was apparently very upset when he was left off the 1992 Olympic “Dream Team”, allegedly on Jordan’s orders.

Recently, Thomas stopped by FanDuel’s “Run It Back” show and took a wild hypothetical about what might have happened if Kevin Durant, not Jordan, was running the ship for those iconic Chicago Bulls teams of the 1990s.

“I said to Kevin Durant, if you had played in our era, and they put you in the triple post in that mid-post area, and they took Michael Jordan out, and you played with Pippen, and you played with Kukoc… could he have won six championships? Absolutely,” Thomas said, previously on Twitter, according to Run It Back on X. “…With all of them around, and him getting a chance to post up in the mid-range…yeah, he can do the same thing.”

Thomas could have possibly made his point about Durant’s greatness without bringing up Jordan’s name, but that might have been asking too much of the great point guard.

Thomas and the Detroit Pistons were one of the few teams that had their way against Jordan early in his career, before he overcame them en route to winning six NBA championships over an eight-year period in the 1990s.

Of course, Thomas was a special player in his own right, winning multiple championships with the Pistons and establishing himself as one of the greatest point guards of all-time.

However, it doesn’t look like he and Jordan will be making amends any time soon.

On Thursday night, the New York Knicks will take the field for a road game against the Charlotte Hornets. This will be a big test for the Knicks against a Hornets team that has been one of the best teams in the league since the beginning of 2026.

The Knicks have several players listed on the injury report, including Miles McBride, who will be out until he recovers from surgery, but James L. According to Edwards III, he could return as soon as this weekend. Meanwhile, Landry Shamet will also miss the game due to a tibial plateau injury in his right knee.

Trey Jamison III, Dillon Jones, and Kevin McCullers Jr. are all questionable due to being in the G-League.

For the Hornets, Pat Connaughton is questionable with an illness.

The Knicks have been playing some solid basketball lately, with Karl-Anthony Towns looking more comfortable in Mike Brown’s offensive system, and Jalen Brunson coming out of a brief shooting slump and returning to his All-Star form.

New York is currently third in the Eastern Conference, but not far behind the Boston Celtics for number two.

Meanwhile, the Hornets haven’t been able to make much headway in the conference standings due to the hot streaks of some of the other teams in the East, but make no mistake, they have been playing some better basketball over the past few months, thanks in large part to the emergence of rookie star Kon Nueppel as well as LaMelo Ball being able to overcome his injury concerns and stay on the floor.

There is sure to be an electric crowd in Charlotte on Thursday night when the Knicks and Hornets tip off at 7:00 pm ET.

The New York Knicks have been playing some better basketball lately, dominating the Boston Celtics for the number two seed in the Eastern Conference. However, what no one might know is that they got the news from ESPN’s “First Take,” where Stephen A. Smith routinely lambasts the Knicks, the team he claims to be a fan of, in a dramatic attempt to drum up an audience.

One person who is not involved in the gimmick is none other than Knicks forward Josh Hart.

“For me, I think as a part-time Knicks fan, Stephen A. needs to shut up. He barely knows the people that are on the team,” Hart said, according to Steve Popper of Newsday Sports, formerly of Newsday Sports, on Twitter.

In fact, there have been several occasions in which Smith falsely claimed that certain players were on the Knicks who moved on to different teams, and there were other situations where fans had ample reason to question how much of a fan he really was.

Over the past few weeks, the target of Smith’s criticism on ESPN has primarily been Mikal Bridges, who, to be fair, has had a disappointing season at times for New York, especially considering the hefty price the Knicks paid the Brooklyn Nets to land him last offseason.

Still, at the current juncture, New York has as good a chance as any to make it out of the Eastern Conference this year and make its first NBA Finals in two decades.

In any case, the Knicks will have a chance to silence some of their haters when they next take the field on Thursday evening for a tough road game against the aggressive Charlotte Hornets.

The Chicago Bulls have been struggling in recent weeks, most recently giving up 157 points in a surprising loss against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Bulls are headed to the NBA lottery once again this year, and all the teams headed to play this season are looking at what some of their young players have.

Unfortunately, Chicago got tough news Thursday afternoon about an injury to one of those players.

“The Bulls have announced that Jayden Ivey will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season for treatment of his left knee soreness,” reports X, former ClutchPoints NBA Insider Brett Siegel on Twitter.

The Bulls also got another update regarding a big man coming off their bench.

“The Bulls also say Jalen Smith, who suffered a right calf injury Wednesday night, will miss the remainder of the season,” the Seagull reports.

The Bulls acquired Ivy in a deal involving the Detroit Pistons before the NBA trade deadline, and so far, he’s not looking like a pre-injury, lottery pick version of himself in Chicago. Ivey is one of the guards currently on the Bulls roster, viewed by many as one of the most poorly constructed guards in the entire NBA landscape.

Hopefully, shutting down Ivy now will give the former Pistons guard the time he needs to fully recover from the knee pain and get back to being like his old version next season.

The Bulls are currently 29-43 on the season, and things don’t get any easier from here, as Chicago will take the field on Friday night for a road game against the defending NBA Champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Tipoff for that contest is scheduled for 8:00 pm ET.

The Orlando Magic have lost six straight games and will now host the Sacramento Kings on Thursday at the Kia Center. The losing streak came as the Magic played their best basketball this season en route to a seven-game winning streak.

They are still 10th in the East and within shooting distance of the playoff spots, and will now attempt to turn their fortunes around against a Kings team that has struggled to win in recent games as well. They have lost three of their last four matches and are struggling with several injuries themselves.

For the Magic, Jalen Suggs is on the official injury report due to illness. Suggs last played in a 105–104 loss against the Los Angeles Lakers, when he contributed 14 points and six assists. Orlando is also facing three other confirmed absences, although their injury list is shorter than the Kings’.

Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray, Russell Westbrook, and De’Andre Hunter have all rounded out the supporting cast.

Jalen Suggs vs. Kings injury status

Suggs’ potential absence means the Magic can once again rely on the indispensable production of Paolo Banchero to get them over the line. Suggs has not featured in the last two matches and has been a key presence for his team when fit.

He’s averaging 13.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game and his production will be a big miss despite the Kings’ weak lineup. Paolo Banchero, who is averaging 22.7 points, 8.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game, recently became the fifth player in franchise history to record consecutive 35-point games.

Regardless, with Franz Wagner also sidelined, fans will be hoping Suggs can return to the lineup. Despite their mixed performance, the Kings have plenty of talent to test in Orlando.

DeMar DeRozan is averaging 18.2 points on 49.2% shooting, while Malik Monk is going 39.7% from three-point field, but struggled against the Charlotte Hornets last time out. Devin Carter and Maxime Renaud have also been in points in recent weeks, and their production could prove key to Sacramento once again competing.

The Magic completely defeated the Kings in their last meeting, winning 131-94, and will once again be looking for a comfortable win given the extent of Sacramento’s absences.

magical injury report

Jalen Suggs – questionable (illness)

Anthony Black – out (left lateral abdominal strain)

Jonathan Isaac – Out (left knee sprain)

Franz Wagner – Out (left high ankle sprain; injury management)

Kings injury report

Precious Achiuwa – Questionable (Lower Back Pain)

Killian Hayes – doubtful (swelling of left toe).

Nick Clifford – Out (middle left hamstring sprain)

Drew Eubanks – Out (left thumb UCL repair)

De’Andre Hunter – out (retina repair of left eye)

Zach LaVine – out (right fifth finger tendon repair)

Keegan Murray – out (left ankle sprain)

Domantas Sabonis – Out (left knee meniscus repair)

Russell Westbrook – Out (inflammation in right big toe joint)

After Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody is out with a groin injury in Monday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks, star Draymond Green has spoken out about what caused the frustrating incident. While Moody suffered a patellar tendon injury with the Warriors, Green expressed some thoughts on the injury.

Green was on his self-titled podcast and show, where he said he and the players thought the wet floor caused Moody’s injury, but they had a different view after watching the video. As replays showed, Moody’s foot gave out, causing the unfortunate injury.

“What people were saying is like, man, we kept telling them the floor was wet,” Green said. “We kept telling them the floor was wet because we all thought he slipped. If you see him going full speed, you see him flying. We thought he slipped. When you go back and watch the replays, he doesn’t slip.”

“So we’re all standing there like, man, it’s one thing to see a guy get hurt, but it’s another thing when you see a guy get hurt because of a wet spot on the floor. So we all thought he slipped. Go back and watch the replay; he didn’t slip. He went to go up, and he was out. But that’s what the conversation was about. We kept telling them this floor is wet,” Green continued.

Moses Moody has gone down, caught his leg and appears to have seriously injured his left knee.

Hope he is okpic.twitter.com/OYkdqF0IG3

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 24 March 2026

Some good news on Warriors’ Moses Moody

With the Warriors dealing with Moody’s injury, the team has had to deal with a number of issues with the likes of Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry, but there has been one bright spot for the recent issue. Golden State head coach Steve Kerr would say on 95.7 The Game that “the MRI was clean” for Moody.

“it is [patellar] Tendon. There was no damage to the cartilage or bone, so that’s good news. That makes it a very basic surgery,” Kerr said.

“The MRI was clear. It’s [patellar] Tendon. There was no damage to the cartilage or bone, so that’s good news. This makes it a very basic surgery.”🙏

– Steve Kerr shares some positive news about Moses Moody’s knee injury @willardanddibs). pic.twitter.com/SkJAOz2YOi

– 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) 25 March 2026

At any rate, it remains to be seen how Moody recovers for next season as the Warriors look to overcome their troubles.

On Wednesday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers got back into the win column with an easy win over the Indiana Pacers. Luka Doncic once again led the way for Los Angeles, scoring 43 points on an efficient shooting night from the field to end a historic road trip.

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark was in attendance at the game and brought a camera with her to the game.

After the competition, Clark took to Twitter to share some candid photos He got to know LeBron James during the game.

King👑…shot by me pic.twitter.com/AbcVqVR8lo

– Caitlin Clark (@CaitlinClark22) 26 March 2026

Apparently, in addition to his skills on the basketball court, photography is also one of the many talents that Clark possesses. Clark is hoping to have a much healthier 2026 WNBA season than she did suffering from fever in 2025.

Meanwhile, with this win, the Lakers were able to overcome their recent tough road defeat at the hands of the Detroit Pistons and end their road trip on a high note. It was a very successful offensive outing in the East for the Lakers, who had recently ridden a nine-game winning streak, with James enjoying one of the most efficient scoring stretches of his career during the hot streak.

However, the head of the snake for Los Angeles remains Doncic, who has put up Herculean stat lines every night for the Lakers this entire season, and has worked his way into MVP conversations as a result.

The Lakers will now return home for an easier stretch of the schedule, starting with a Friday night tilt against the tanking Brooklyn Nets. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 10:30 pm ET from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

The Milwaukee Bucks have had a rough season and will likely miss the playoffs. Recently, the NBPA attacked the Bucks and their decision to shut down Giannis Antetokounmpo for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury and bone spur. According to Bucks beat writer Eric Nehm, coach Doc Rivers fired back at his criticism.

“Bucs coach Doc Rivers dismissed the NBPA’s claim that Giannis Antetokounmpo is healthy and is being held out. He also responded to Adam Silver’s comments about looking into the injury. ‘He’s making progress, he’s just not healthy,’ -Rivers,” Nehm wrote on X.

Antetokounmpo suffered an injury against the Indiana Pacers and has been out the past two weeks. Because of this, discussion has started on how serious his injury is. There has been trade speculation regarding Antetokounmpo throughout the season and the NBA world has been waiting for a decision. There has been no discussion yet about whether he will stay in Milwaukee or go to another team.

Antetokounmpo has suffered recurring injuries throughout the season, and is a major reason why the Bucks are 29-43 and nearly out of playoff contention. His struggles have led to speculations about his departure.

The Greek superstar has spent his entire 13-year career with the Bucks. He led them to the 2021 NBA Finals, where they defeated the Phoenix Suns. Since that win, the team has struggled to regain the position it achieved that season. With the team’s competitive future in flux, there may be more pressure to send Antetokounmpo off. If Antetokounmpo misses the remainder of the season without incident, there will be even more doubt about his future in Milwaukee.

Brooklyn Nets rookie Ben Saraf continued his breakout on Wednesday. The 6-foot-6 point guard scored 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field with seven assists and four turnovers during a 109-106 loss to the Golden State Warriors. He delivered one of the Nets’ top highlights of the season during the final minutes of a tight contest.

With the Nets trailing 106–104 with 50 seconds remaining, Saraf drove and threw a poster dunk over Draymond Green to tie the game. The game started when he drove and made a go-ahead bucket and the game was tied with two minutes left.

Ben Sarraf drives and dunks over Draymond Green to tie the game. Glass. pic.twitter.com/uCj5oKrWij

– Eric Slater (@erikslater_) 26 March 2026

Ben Saraf drives, pump fakes Kristaps Porzingis in the paint, sends him flying, and scores a clutch layup to beat the shot clock with an amazing move

What a trick!
ice in his veins#netsworld

Ben Sharaf enters ringside, fraudulently sends Kritpas Porzingis to pluck oranges… pic.twitter.com/Bkx1jT8DqX

– MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) 26 March 2026

Trailing by one in the final seconds, Jordi Fernandez called the rookie’s number again. Saraf drove to left field but failed to advance on D’Anthony Melton as Brooklyn lost its ninth consecutive game.

“I wanted the ball in [Ben’s] Hand. I wanted him to touch the paint. I mean, seven assists tonight, 5 for 9 from the field. He was aggressive, and he had incredible dunks the game before. That was the thought process,” Fernandes said of the final play.

After a slow start to his rookie campaign, Saraf is finding his rhythm as he steps into an expanded role to finish out the season.

Ben Saraf continues to cheer during Nets’ tough loss to Warriors

The Israeli floor general has taken on increased ball-handling responsibilities amid injuries to Igor Demin and Michael Porter Jr. Over his last eight games, he is averaging 12.3 points on 46.2 percent shooting with 4.5 assists and 3.1 turnovers in 26.6 minutes per game.

Saraf’s on-ball advantage creation, the main selling point of his skill set entering the draft, has been on full display. The 19-year-old has averaged 14.9 drives per game in his last eight appearances, the most on the team by a wide margin, and is shooting 51.1 percent. He’s attempting 6.2 free throws per 100 possessions during the stretch and converting 85.7 percent.

“I feel like every time I’m in the right mindset of being aggressive at the rim and being in control, something good comes from it. So I just need to stick to that mindset,” the rookie said.

Saraf’s two made threes on Wednesday were a welcome sight for the net, as he was 13 of 67 (19.4 percent) entering the matchup. The No. 26 pick’s defensive improvement has impressed Brooklyn’s coaching staff. He had two steals on Wednesday as the Nets forced the Warriors into a season-high 26 turnovers.

Saraf played a key role in slowing down Jalen Brunson during Brooklyn’s near upset of the New York Knicks on Friday. The rookie guarded Brunson for long periods of time, as the Nets held the Knicks star to 17 points on 7-of-19 shooting.

The Boston Celtics delivered one of their best performances of the season in a 119–109 victory over the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Boston snapped the league’s longest active streak of 12 wins, pushing itself to 48–24 for the season.

The impressive manner in which the win was accomplished was also acknowledged by Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, who claimed his team was on a different level according to a post on X by Daniel Donabedian.

Joe Mazzulla explained how he thought the Celtics contributed to their win tonight:

“I like the fact that we brought physicality. I like the fact that we brought our offensive organization. I like that we executed. I like that we took it to a different level defensively.” pic.twitter.com/oQVzqGDkhL

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 26 March 2026

“I like the fact that we brought physicality. I like that we brought our offensive organization. I like that we executed. I like that we took it to a different level defensively,” Mazzulla said.

After trailing by nearly 13 points in the first quarter and shooting only 29.2% early on, the Celtics proceeded to methodically flip the script. The turning point came early in the fourth quarter, where a 20–11 run turned a five-point lead into a 14-point lead (108–94).

Six different players contributed to that surge. Despite this, Jaylen Brown was once again the main man, finishing with 31 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

Jayson Tatum, who has become stronger since returning from injury, had 19 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists, going 3-6 from beyond the arc. A total of six Boston players scored in double figures, with Peyton Pritchard and Baylor Scheuerman adding 14 and 11 off the bench.

For the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 33 points, while also contributing eight assists and two steals. Brown outscored Gilgeous-Alexander 10-7 in the fourth quarter and shot a perfect 3-for-3 in that period, playing a major role in the win.

Despite OKC’s early control, resulting in an 11-point lead after the first quarter, the Celtics struggled as a unit, outscoring the defending champions from beyond the arc as they converted 18 of their 41 three-pointers, compared to 12/37 for the Thunder. Regardless, as Mazzulla claimed, it was Boston’s ability to restrict their opponents that was the major reason behind the victory.

On Wednesday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers got back into the win column as they closed out their East Coast swing with a road win over the Indiana Pacers. Although the game came closer than necessary down the stretch, there was still a solid performance from the Lakers, led by Luka Doncic, who scored 43 points in the game.

Doncic has been on an absolute heater for the Lakers in recent weeks, and following the Pacers’ win, ESPN NBA insider Dave McMenamin revealed the latest piece of history the star has accomplished.

“Luka Doncic is the first player to average 40 points over a six-game span since Michael Jordan in 1986,” McMenamin reported on Twitter, citing a report by ESPN’s Matt Williams.

In fact, Doncic has been obliterating the competition the last few games for the Lakers, consistently troubling opposing defenses with his step-back threes and other highlight plays.

Los Angeles recently saw its nine-game winning streak end at the hands of the Detroit Pistons earlier this week, but they bounced back in solid fashion on Wednesday, blowing a 20-point lead in the first quarter and eventually allowing Indiana to get back into the game, but things slowly wore off.

The Lakers are now 47-26 on the season, which is good for third place in the Western Conference playoff picture, a spot they are currently in the running for. Los Angeles will now return home for a much easier schedule, with their next two games against the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards.

The Nets game is scheduled to begin at 10:30 PM ET on Friday from Crypto.com Arena.

It doesn’t matter who wins in the end and who gets the last shot a shining momentWith the NCAA Championship trophy raised in the air, March Madness is always a great time for NBA Draft prospects to start making a name for themselves before the full pre-draft cycle begins.

Performing well and shining in the spotlight can make a difference in the lives of many of these collegiate players, and if you don’t believe it, just ask Donte DiVincenzo.

This year’s 2026 NBA Draft class figures to be one of the deepest, most talented groups we’ve ever seen enter the league at once, and the list of standouts from this year’s tournament is already long after the first weekend.

AJ DiBantsa and BYU didn’t win their first-round game, but NBA scouts across the country have begun labeling them as the clear favorites for the No. 1 pick. Obviously, his 35-point, 10-rebound performance without missing a game didn’t hurt him in any way in this No. 1 pick argument.

Cameron Boozer continues to make headlines with Duke winning his first two games, and the same can be said about Houston freshman guard Kingston Flemings, who looks to punch his ticket to the Final Four with two more wins just seven minutes from his campus.

And then there are several other names that emerged during the first weekend of the tournament – ​​Darius Acuff Jr. clearly dominated social media content and led all players in scoring in Arkansas’ first two games.

March Madness is in full swing, and the Sweet 16 begins Thursday night. Looking at the remaining 16 teams, there are plenty of prospects and stories, but here are the four NBA Draft prospects making the most noise that are worth keeping an eye on this weekend.

West Region: Darius Acuff Jr. – Arkansas

No player has been more impressive than Darius Acuff Jr. during the latter stages of the college basketball season and through his first two games of March Madness.

Whenever Arkansas needs a basket, Acuff is there to deliver, and he did just that in that thrilling second-round game against High Point that came down to the final few possessions.

Acuff finished the game with 36 points, scoring 12 of the Razorbacks’ 16 points in the final five minutes of the game. It seems like this guy lives and performs in the biggest moments, which is why he has fans all over the country anticipating a Sweet 16 matchup with Arizona, a team that many think can win the entire tournament.

Not only has Acuff scored 60 points in his two tournament games to lead all players offensively, but he is shooting nearly 46 percent from 3-point range in March Madness. He will now face Arizona’s Jaden Bradley, one of the best guard defenders in the country. This is must-see basketball Thursday night in San Jose.

East Region: Taris Reed Jr. – UConn

Before the NCAA Tournament started, we highlighted Tyrese Reed Jr. as one of the most interesting draft prospects moving forward and could find himself a first-round pick depending on how he performs for UConn.

Well, the UConn center played pretty well against Furman in the first round, dropping 31 points and 27 rebounds. Yes, you read that right – 27 rebounds. Reed joined Tom Gola (1995), Elvin Hayes (three times; 1966 and 1968), and Jerry Lucas (twice; 1960 and 1961) as the only players to record a 30-point, 25-rebound game in NCAA Tournament history.

In their next matchup against a much stronger-willed UCLA team, Reed had 10 points and 13 rebounds, bringing his tally to 41 points and 40 rebounds through the Huskies’ first two tournament games. Since 1971, only four players have had at least 40 points and 40 rebounds through two games: Bill Walton (1972 – UCLA), Hakeem Olajuwon (1983 – Houston), Tim Duncan (1997 – Wake Forest), and now Tyrese Reed Jr.

This is a list to be a part of and it’s the beginning of Reed’s rise. Tom Izzo coaching against Dan Hurley is entertainment in itself, but if you need another reason to watch UConn’s Sweet 16 game, it should definitely be for Reid.

By the time June comes around, we can discuss Reed as the best center prospect in this draft class, assuming he doesn’t return to college with several major zero offers that will likely come his way.

Midwest Region: Keaton Wagler – Illinois

Since Illinois is one of the top offensive teams in the country, individual performance often gets overlooked for the Illini. However, Keaton Wagler has been a standout freshman for Illinois this season, and if not for his consistent play and timely shots throughout the season they would not have been in the Sweet 16.

In his two games against Penn and VCU, Wagler scored a combined 32 points on 12-of-24 shooting, including 6-of-12 from 3-point range. Not only is he shooting very efficiently from everywhere on the court, but he has also recorded 12 rebounds and nine assists during his first two tournament games.

When it comes to NBA Draft prospects, Wagler won’t blow you away like the athletic and dynamic players at the top of the board will, but he is developing a very consistent, honest approach on the offensive end of the court, and his length provides a lot of advantages to becoming a tall scoring guard on the perimeter at the next level.

This Sweet 16 matchup against Houston is a great opportunity for Wagler to raise even more eyebrows of NBA personnel, as how he attacks his opponent’s strong defense and handles pressure will be two key elements of a potential Illinois upset in the Cougars’ backyard.

South Region: Morez Johnson Jr. – Michigan

It was difficult to choose between Moraes Johnson Jr. and Yaxel Lendeborg for this spot in the South Zone. Lendeborg was a player we highlighted as a highly touted draft prospect before the tournament started, and he scored 25 points in Michigan’s Round of 32 game against St. Louis.

While Lendeborg is the player most likely to go in the lottery out of these two Wolverine prospects, there is a lot to like about Johnson, and NBA scouts are monitoring him closely as one of the late-season players to consider before things fully kick off with the draft cycle.

Johnson is a big-bodied forward who does almost all of his damage in the paint, and that has allowed Lendeborg to thrive. Not only can Johnson be a double-double threat, but he is extremely efficient when it comes to finishing around the rim, shooting nearly 64 percent from the floor in the tournament.

As good as Lendeborg and others on Michigan’s roster are, Johnson is likely the key for this team to cut down the net in Indianapolis. Every successful college team has that one guy who can be labeled as the stabilizer and who really steps up when his team needs it.

Johnson is that player for Michigan, and his play is getting a lot of attention when it comes to the talent selections hovering around the outside of the lottery.

The Denver Nuggets put on one of their best offensive performances of the season in a 142-135 win over the Dallas Mavericks, and Jamal Murray was once again at the center of the proceedings. Murray finished with 53 points on 19-28 shooting, another historic day amid a career season so far.

And according to a post on Vinny Benedetto’s X, Nuggets head coach David Edelman believes he’s in contention for the All-NBA First Team as well.

“I really hope All-NBA is something that’s obvious and there’s no argument,” Edelman said, referencing another “special night” for the 29-year-old.

According to The Athletic, Edelman claimed he has had several such nights this season before matching the accomplishments of both Murray and Nikola Jokic with Denver.

“It’ll be really cool when this thing is over and we look back at what these two have done together here. We’re really fortunate in this city to have these two guys playing for this basketball team,” he concluded.

Murray went 9-14 from beyond the arc and also had six rebounds and four assists. The guard had already scored 33 points at halftime, almost half of Denver’s 68 points in the first two quarters.

The Canadian international is having a career season, posting his best-ever averages of 25.4 points, 7.1 assists and 4.4 rebounds. He is also making 7.4 three-pointers per game and 10.9 two-pointers per game, which are career highs.

In addition, Murray’s three-point efficiency (42.6%) this season is also slightly higher than his career-high 42.5%, which came during the 2023-24 season. These statistics have come along with several game-winning performances, with Murray already receiving his first All-Star call-up this season.

Of course, his coach also took this opportunity to praise Nikola Jokic, who returned with a spectacular triple-double of 23 points, 21 rebounds and 19 assists. Jokic reached 6,000 career assists despite shooting only 8-19 from the field during the game. The Nuggets shot 56% overall and 50% from three-point field, much of the credit for Murray’s almost obscene shooting in the game.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been on a roll the past few weeks, and it’s largely due to the scoring streak that Luka Doncic continues to put up. In his latest matchup against the Indiana Pacers, Doncic finished with 43 points, and although Rick Carlisle may have been upset, he teased a ray of hope.

“We held him below average against us,” Carlisle said, via Tony East of Forbes Sports.

In two games this season, Doncic has averaged 43.5 points per game against the Pacers. It looks like a win in Carlisle’s eyes, and he knows there’s not much you can do against a player who is in the same position as him right now.

The Pacers have had difficulty getting stops all season, and it shows in their record. One of those reasons is because of the injuries they have had to deal with, and they don’t have the personnel they need in those moments. When they have been healthy enough at times this season, they have shown that they can be competitive, and a good example of that was when they recently beat the Orlando Magic.

With the season the Pacers are having, there’s a good chance they could get the top pick in this year’s draft, and they’ll add back Tyrese Haliburton next season. This is good news for them, and hopefully they can get back to their competitive ways from the last two seasons.

They were also able to add Ivica Zubac at the trade deadline, and although he was sidelined for the rest of this season, he should be a big help next season, especially after they lost Myles Turner to the Milwaukee Bucks last offseason.

The future looks bright for the Pacers, and hopefully they don’t hand over 40 points to Doncic when they get back to the Lakers.

The Detroit Pistons suffered a tough 130-129 loss to the Atlanta Hawks in overtime at Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday, ending their four-game winning streak.

The Pistons had two chances to win on the final possession, but Tobias Harris missed a jumper with 2.9 seconds remaining, while Jalen Duren, who had grabbed the offensive rebound, buried a gimme as time expired.

Courtesy of Harris’ jumper, Detroit overcame a 21-point deficit to send the game into extension. However, the team still ultimately fell short.

Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff praised his return, but also said he couldn’t celebrate the loss, as shown in video posted by Coty Davis of the Detroit News.

“We didn’t like the way we dug into a hole in the first half. But to be able to negotiate at halftime and then come out and play like we played in the third and fourth quarters, credit to those guys,” Bickerstaff said.

“Obviously, we fell a bucket behind. But most teams wouldn’t even get themselves in that position. Most teams don’t have the strength to dig deep, collect themselves, pick themselves up off the mat, and do what our guys did. No moral victory, but I’m proud of our guys’ effort.”

“We didn’t like the way we dug a hole in the first half…no moral victory.”

speak on bickerstaff #piston They are battling a 21-point deficit after the loss to the Hawks. pic.twitter.com/cIbhluHyM5

– Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) 26 March 2026

The Pistons lost for the first time since Cade Cunningham was diagnosed with lung failure.

They have played well even without the two-time All-Star with Duren, Harris, Duncan Robinson, Dennis Jenkins and Aussie Thompson. They all scored in double figures against the Hawks, led by Duren with 26 points.

The Pistons, who fell 52-20, including 28-9 at home, will look to bounce back against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday.

When the Philadelphia 76ers hosted the Chicago Bulls at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Wednesday, VJ Edgecombe was probably happy to see some of his teammates in uniform.

Joel Embiid returned from an oblique strain, while Paul George returned from a 25-game suspension for violating the league’s drug policy. The 76ers made light work of the Bulls, 157–137, to return to the win column.

The Sixers bounced back from a 123-103 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder at home on Monday, leaving Edgecombe to lead the team as Embiid, George, Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr. were out.

The 20-year-old Edgecombe has learned to mature quickly while accepting the responsibilities of being a key member of the Philadelphia Phillies. He told Philly Sports Network how he has avoided the so-called rookie wall.

“It’s all a mental thing. I try to stay mentally strong. I have a good group of guys around me. That helps with that. So I just try to stay mentally strong and enjoy it. I’m just enjoying the whole process. I haven’t got time to just sit back and cope and get angry about anything,” Edgecombe said.

VJ Edgecombe explains how he avoids the “newbie wall” 🏀🔥

(@CiavoNBA) pic.twitter.com/bwM2yI8PqA

— Philly Sports Network (@PhiladelphiaSN) 26 March 2026

He scored 22 points on 7-of-9 shooting against the Bulls, including 4-of-5 from long range. He added six rebounds and six assists.

The third overall pick is averaging 16.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.4 steals and will likely make the All-Rookie First Team.

Although he can be erratic at times, that’s understandable for a young player finding his way in the NBA. The learning curve is high for Edgecombe, and he is ready to put in the work and learn more from his teammates.

The New Orleans Pelicans and Detroit Pistons are set to play on Thursday night. Trey Murphy III and Dejounte Murray both dealt with injury concerns before the game. So, are the Pelicans stars playing tonight vs the Pistons?

Murphy and Murray are both impressive players. New Orleans is trying to pull off an upset on Thursday night, so having Murphy and Murray on the field will be important.

Here’s everything we know about his injury status ahead of tip-off.

Trey Murphy III, Dejounte Murray injury status vs. Pistons

Murphy is dealing with a right ankle sprain and Murray is listed on the injury report with managing a right Achilles injury. According to the NBA’s injury report, both players are questionable to play Thursday.

At 25-48, the Pelicans are 11th in the Western Conference standings. The Pistons lead the Eastern Conference with a 52–20 record. It will be a challenge to get a win on Thursday night, but the Pelicans will do their best to pull off the upset at home.

When it comes to the question of whether Trey Murphy III and Dejounte Murray are playing tonight, the answer is probably.

pelicans injury report

The Pelicans have six players listed on the injury report.

• Trey Murphy III (right ankle sprain): Questionable
• Dejounte Murray (right Achilles injury management): Questionable
• Bryce McGowens (fractured right little toe): out
• Trey Alexander (G League Two-Way): Out
• Hunter Dickinson (G League Two-Way): Out
• Josh Oduro (G League Two-Way): Out

The Pistons lost to the Atlanta Hawks 130-129 on Wednesday. Thursday’s game represents the second consecutive game for the Pistons, so their injury report has not been released as of the writing of this story.

SAN FRANCISCO – This has not been a good season for the Golden State Warriors. And it sure wasn’t a good performance for the Warriors in the tanking 109-106 win over the Brooklyn Nets. However, the sight to behold for sore eyes is Gui Santos and the leaps he has made this season.

The 23-year-old Brazilian scored a career-high 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting from the field, giving a boost to a depleted Warriors team dealing with Moses Moody’s season-ending serious knee injury. After the game, Steve Kerr had nothing but praise for the 55th pick of the 2022 NBA Draft.

“He’s spent a lot of minutes here despite all the injuries this past month, and he continues to get better,” Kerr said. “He’s really smart. He’s finding ways to get to the rim with great footwork, and is a really smart player, feels very confident with his shot. So it’s fun to see Gui really blossom.”

Not known as a scorer coming from Brazil or even the Warriors’ Santa Cruz G-League affiliate, Santos has developed his offense to become a better on-ball creator. His teammates and coaches have noted the developments he has seen in his footwork, his 3-point shot and his playmaking, an all-around level on that end of the floor.

“It’s a good feeling,” Santos said after the game. “I was talking to my family right after the game, and they were asking me how many Brazilian players in the NBA had 30 points? And I think it was just three or four. [players]. I, Leandro Barbosa, [Anderson] Varjao, and Nene Hilario. We all had 30 marks. “It’s special, not gonna lie.”

Gui Santos said his family called him after the game to tell him he was one of four Brazilian players to score at least 30 points in an NBA game:

“It was me, Leandro Barbosa, Varjao and Nene Hilario. So we all had 30 points. It’s special, not gonna lie.” pic.twitter.com/6P24kcQW7m

– Kenzo Fukuda (@kenzofuku) 26 March 2026

Draymond Green’s honest reflection of Gui Santos’ hard work

As far as Draymond Green, who can relate to Santos’ underdog story, Santos’ success is due to the hard work he has put in. Green expressed pride in seeing Santos, a sophomore teammate, work so hard to get to this point.

“My honest answer is that when Gui came here he didn’t look like an NBA player,” Green said candidly. “And he put his head down. Worked every day.”

Green recounted times when he would arrive at the practice facility in the morning and find Santos already completing a workout or shootaround.

It’s a tough and tough climb that Green admires because he got his chance not by scoring and doing the things he does now, but by doing the dirty work. Green cited aggressive counterattacks. And for Green, it’s a wonderful thing to see.

“He worked to become this person,” Green explained.

“You talk about countless hours in Santa Cruz, he never complained. Always stuck to the process. And I’ve said since the day he came here, he never turned his back on it. Stuck, kept his head down, kept working, and he’s now getting an opportunity to show everything he’s worked on and the game he’s built, and it’s a beautiful thing to see.”

Draymond Green was asked about the work Gui Santos has done to get to this point:

“When Gui came here, he didn’t look like an NBA player, and he had his head down. Worked every day… From the day he came here, he never turned his back on it.”

Full Soundbyte: pic.twitter.com/GXGT7UJDbB

– Kenzo Fukuda (@kenzofuku) 26 March 2026

That work resulted in Santos earning a three-year extension worth $15 million this season. A win-win deal for both the player and the team.

The Los Angeles Lakers are just a few weeks away from the playoffs and have won nine of their last 10 games, including a 137-130 win against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Nearly everyone on the team is playing at a high level, led undoubtedly by Luka Doncic, who has averaged close to 40 points in his last 10 contests, LeBron James and Austin Reaves.

One player who is benefiting from the Lakers’ surge is Bronny James. He may not be able to perform in big numbers like his teammates, but his confidence in his game has increased.

The young James said his stint with the South Bay Lakers in the G League has been a big factor continual improvementAs the OC Register’s Benjamin Royer reports.

“I like to go out there and play my game and be as aggressive as I can, so that when I get these minutes here, I’m comfortable playing with Luka, Braun, AR and everybody else,” the 21-year-old guard said.

I asked Bronny James about G’s travels and his goal-oriented process with South Bay:

“I like to go out there and play my game and be as aggressive as I can be, so that when I get some minutes here, I’m comfortable playing with Luka, Braun, AR and everyone else.” https://t.co/ENGUPpFbBv

– Benjamin Royer (@thebenroyer) 26 March 2026

In 12 games with South Bay, he averaged 15.3 points on 54.6% shooting, 3.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.3 steals.

Lakers coach JJ Redick will be the first to point out that young James, who is on a two-way contract, has been playing remarkably well recently.

“He has a lot of confidence right now,” Redick said in a video posted by Royer.

“He’s had a great season in South Bay. He’s been the best player every time in our stay-ready games the last three or four weeks. There’s a bounce in his step right now. It comes from that confidence.”

The second-year playmaker, whose athleticism and defensive skills also earned praise from Redick, contributed four points, one rebound, one assist, two steals and one block in 13 minutes off the bench against the Pacers.

SAN FRANCISCO – Given the state of the Golden State Warriors season, it’s fair to ask the tough question about whether Stephen Curry should return from knee soreness.

With Golden State stuck in the play-in tournament, and Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody lost to season-ending injuries, is it worthwhile to bring Curry back for what looks like a lost season? If Curry returns and they try to escape, is the risk of further complicating Curry’s health outweigh that meager benefit?

Those questions are circulating in the Warriors environment right now. And for the most part, the Dubs have been adamant that they are not considering closing him down.

“The main thing is if Steph is healthy, he’s going to play because that’s what we’re here for,” Kerr said earlier this week in Dallas. Since Curry suffered a patellofemoral pain syndrome and a bone spur injury in his right knee, he has been sending a message loud and clear.

“Having a chance to get to the playoffs is a big deal for us, big deal for Steph.”

But after the Warriors’ 109-106 win over the tanking Brooklyn Nets, Draymond Green weighed in on whether he believes Curry should return.

“I think it’s a slippery slope, telling a guy who loves basketball, you can’t come back and play basketball when they feel like they’re healthy enough to win basketball. So I think if there’s
There was a feeling of doubt from his knees. no I will not.”

“But if he’s healthy and he can definitely play. Because that’s what you’ve worked for. To give yourself a chance to have a great season, to get to the postseason, and thrive on that stage. You don’t know how many opportunities you get.”

Draymond Green explains his thinking

Green’s answer is quite logical. And not very controversial either. If Curry’s knee is healthy he should return. But if he doesn’t feel 100%, he should play it safe. Greene isn’t really falling into that line of thinking.

But there’s something about the fact that Green has vocalized it.

As one of the more powerful and public voices in the Warriors organization, the fact that he is willing to put that debate on the table is noteworthy. There’s an old adage repeated among veteran Warriors reporters and insiders — when the big voices speak in Golden State, you listen. And you read between the lines.

“You can always kick the can down the road and say, ‘Hey man, we’ll be back.’ But it doesn’t always work that way,” Green explained.

“Last year, we didn’t kick the can down the road, and unfortunately, Steph got hurt. But let’s say we kicked the can down the road last year, like, ‘Hey man, we’ll bring it back next year.’ And then look at this year.”

Green slammed his hand on the table, referring to how injuries have derailed any chance he had of competing this season.

“You’ve got to take advantage while you can,” Green explained.

It’s really easy to use health as an excuse to wait out your time in the NBA. But the clock is always ticking, especially for guys Curry’s age and a franchise on the receiving end of a dynasty. Opportunities open and close in the NBA the way they do, and taking that opportunity out of the way doesn’t always guarantee another opportunity.

risk vs reward

Ultimately, the dilemma for Curry and the Warriors comes down to timing. And how to maximize it. Because the whole world knows that Curry’s great career is in its final stages. But as far as how this final chapter plays out, it all depends on how the Warriors take it.

Do they strike while the iron is hot and push Curry to play as many games as possible before time runs out? Or do they play it safe, prolonging their careers by not risking injuries that could shorten what little time they have left? Again, these are the tough questions facing Golden State right now.

However, Green has made it clear that Curry should not return if he doesn’t feel right.

Green added, “I know if he’s healthy he’ll be there.” “But I think if there’s any doubt that he’s not where he needs to be then no. I don’t [think he should come back]”

“But I think for anybody, everybody, when we can play this game, we want to be heroes. We all want to throw [the] Cape on and save the day. But if it puts her at risk of future injury, I don’t think anyone would agree that it’s right. [plan]. “Whether we’re 35 and 38 or 58 or 12, if you’re not healthy, you have to play the long game.”

Does Draymond Green think Steph Curry should try to bounce back from a lost season?

“If there’s any doubt about his knee, no, I don’t think so. But if he’s healthy and he can play, then absolutely, because that’s what you’ve worked on.” pic.twitter.com/YsUshYGUtr

– Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) 26 March 2026

The first step for Curry to return is to engage in five-on-five battles, something the Warriors are trying to do at some point this week. Until then, we can only guess what Golden State decides to do moving forward.

On Wednesday night, in a game loaded with playoff implications in the Western Conference, the Houston Rockets defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in a 110-108 overtime classic at the Target Center. Down 13 in the extra period, Minnesota mounted the largest overtime comeback in NBA history, capped by Julius Randle’s clutch jumper with 8.8 seconds on the clock.

Alpern Sengun led Houston with 30 points on 22 shots and finished with four blocks. His most dramatic play came at the end of regulation when he blocked Randle while sustaining a bloody lip, keeping the Rockets alive and forcing overtime.

Sengun with a game-saving block – and a bloody lip! For longer periods of time. pic.twitter.com/sXCUbgKwQi

– ClutchFans (@ClutchFans) 26 March 2026

Kevin Durant matched Sengun with 30 points, but got off to a slow start, shooting 1 of 6 in the first quarter and 2 of 11 before halftime, although he scored the final seven points for Houston in the fourth quarter to tie the game. Jabari Smith Jr. and Reed Shepard shot 10 of 28 with five turnovers, while Amen Thompson just missed a triple-double with 11 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.

The Timberwolves were missing five of their top seven players, including Anthony Edwards (knee), Ayo Dosunmu (calf), and Rudy Gobert, who fouled out with 14 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocks. Still, Minnesota got needed contributions from Randle (24 points), Jaden McDaniels (25 points on 10 of 17 shooting), Donte DiVincenzo (17 points), and Naz Reed (14 points, 13 rebounds). Mike Conley and Kyle Anderson also provided key scoring late in overtime.

Houston had a chance to close out the game when Sengun’s dunk gave them a 108–95 lead in overtime, but Minnesota cut the lead with a series of threes, layups and free throws, tying it at 108–all before Randle’s game-winning jumper.

At 43-29, the Rockets are in sixth place in the West, 1.5 games behind the fifth-place Timberwolves (45-28), with the Phoenix Suns in seventh. Houston faces the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday and plays Minnesota again on April 10.

The Los Angeles Lakers continued their late-season streak by defeating the Indiana Pacers 137-130 on Wednesday night behind another stellar performance from Luka Doncic. The Slovenian star finished with 43 points, seven assists and six rebounds, his league-leading 14th 40-point game of the season.

Setting the pace early, Doncic scored 21 points in the first quarter, his eighth instance of a 20-point span this season, approaching Stephen Curry’s 2015–16 record of 11. He reached 11 consecutive 30-point games, equaling the longest streak in the last 20 years.

The 27-year-old has been historically productive during this period, averaging 40.7 points on the Lakers’ six-game road trip, the first player to average 40 over that span since Michael Jordan in 1986-87. He currently leads the NBA in scoring with 33.6 points per game.

Doncic shot 15 of 30 from the field and 9 of 10 from the free-throw line, including five 40-point games in his last 11 outings.

Los Angeles (47-26) took control of the game early and went on a 10-0 run to lead 45-28 after one quarter. They led by 29 points and entered the fourth quarter ahead 105–85 before Indiana (16–57) made a late push to cut the margin to six in the final minute.

LeBron James contributed 23 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, while Austin Reaves finished with 25 points and eight assists. Jackson Hayes recorded his first double-double of the season with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

Playing without Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart, the Lakers finished the road trip 5-1 and have now won 13 of their last 15 games. They sit in third place in the Western Conference with nine games remaining and next host the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night.

Wednesday’s thrilling game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets was marred by controversy after Naz Reed was ejected in overtime.

Reed was ejected with 4:13 remaining in the extension after arguing with referee Scott Foster following an offensive foul call. Reid was whistled for a violation against Alpern Sengun, but the Timberwolves challenged it. The review upheld the decision, prompting Reed to say something. However, Foster was not having it and threw Reed out.

The Timberwolves were trailing, 100–95. That time. They eventually won the game 110–108. Naz Reed finished with 14 points, 13 rebounds, two steals and two blocks.

Naz Reed gets a technical foul and is ejected in overtime vs. Houston. pic.twitter.com/gZHdMafpFZ

– NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) 26 March 2026

Ax fans became angry at Foster, who also heard his controversial decision from the crowd at the Target Center.

@akwolvesfan said, “Scott Foster nailed it for this team. Sengun was still moving his left foot (not set) while Naz was in his shooting pace.”

@christ_finch said, “I feel true hatred for Sengun and Scott Foster. I don’t have the slightest respect for either of them. It feels so good to beat both of them.”

“Scott Foster deserves to go to jail,” @minnyshow19 wrote.

@Td00392420 commented, “Scott Foster is a kid.”

@imonlymason posted, “I’m afraid Julius Randle’s hatred for Scott Foster will completely conquer me again.”

@ravenluke said, “Even Tim Donaghy thinks Scott Foster is embarrassing.”

Chris Paul tried to warn us.

This isn’t the first time that Foster has been slammed by fans for his questionable actions. He is one of the most experienced referees in the NBA.

His relationship with Donaghy, the disgraced referee convicted of game-fixing, was questioned a few years ago.

Minnesota won four of its last five assignments to move to 45–28, while Houston fell to 43–29.

BOSTON – As a reigning MVP who is often nicknamed the “free-throw merchant,” Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander credits Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown’s frequent trips to the charity stripe. Brown led the Celtics to a 119–109 victory against the Thunder, ending the defending champions’ 12-game winning streak.

Brown shot 12 of 31 from the free-throw line, making all but two of his 14 attempts. After the game, Gilgeous-Alexander gave Brown his flowers and credited him with giving him a pair of flowers Dominant performance in both the meetings Against the Thunder.

Gilgeous-Alexander said, “They did a really good job of getting to the free-throw line, especially against us. I think it’s 14 twice. So, 28 free throws in two games? Great job.” “The best players in the history of the game go to the free-throw line. It’s part of the game and statistically the most effective way to score points.”

SGA on Jaylen Brown’s approach vs. the Thunder: “He’s done a really good job of getting to the free-throw line, especially against us. I think it’s 14 twice.

So 28 free throws in two games? Very good work. The best players in the history of the game go to the free-throw line.… pic.twitter.com/OVlyEfKFsQ

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 26 March 2026

In a 104–102 loss to the Thunder on March 12, Jaylen Brown went 13 of 14 from the free-throw line, before he and the Celtics avenged that loss in a 10-point win on Thursday. Scoring 12 of his 31 points from the line, Jaylen led Boston to an impressive two-point victory at the TD Garden.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander admits Thunder ‘failed’ against Celtics

Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander saw his team suffer setbacks amid multiple injuries throughout the regular season, he knows what to expect against the Celtics — a stellar effort. Gilgeous-Alexander description A lively playoff-type atmosphere At TD Garden.

Gilgeous-Alexander said, “Every time you play the Boston Celtics, you get that playoff feel. No matter what day it is. No matter who’s there. They’re very well-coached. They have really good players.” “This is one of the premier organizations to play in the league, and they bring it every night. It doesn’t matter who is there.

“[They] There is a culture. They check all the boxes, and that’s why they’ve been successful over the years. It’s a game where you see where you really are, and they test you. Tonight we were tested; We did not pass it.”

SGA on playing at TD Garden: “Every time you play the Boston Celtics, you get that playoff feeling. It doesn’t matter what day it is. It doesn’t matter who’s there.

They are very well trained. They have really good players… It’s a game where you see where you really are and they test you. We got… pic.twitter.com/9BG0gRrqXa

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 26 March 2026

Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 33 points, eight assists and two steals in Thursday’s loss to the Celtics.