everton And ipswich town OH Leuven defender Rogerio is one of several European suitors for Nyakosi.

Foot Mercato report that a raft of sides are showing interest in the 22-year-old centre-back thanks to his performances in Belgium.

Everton and Ipswich in the mix

Rogerio Nyakosi is enjoying a ‘remarkable comeback’ in Belgium after ‘unofficially’ leaving Olympique de Marseille in January 2025, the website reveals.

He is now seen as one of Europe’s most promising defenders and as a result, is poised to become a key figure in the summer transfer window.

RC Strasbourg and Olympique Lyonnais are pushing hard for his signature, but they are not alone. Several German and English clubs are also in the mix, while Marseille have a buy-back clause they can also use.

Everton and Ipswich Town are the two English sides named in the report. He has focused on the defender. Liverpool had shown interest earlier also Which the defender was curious about.

He has been described as a defender who is ‘formidable in duels’, ‘also dominant in the air’ and ‘particularly technically talented’. He is also strong on the ball and enjoys excellent passing ability in the high line. In other words, he is an ideal modern center back.

€8m asking price

Their change ‘has whetted the appetite’, while OH Leuven would want at least €8m from any sale. This is a 10x profit on their original purchase.

Everton and Ipswich fans are in droves. These include Feyenoord, Augsburg, Hoffenheim, Stuttgart and Werder Bremen. FM’s own information is that Strasbourg and Lyon could also be added. The French pair have already made inquiries.

Marseille could get him back for €6m this summer. This is a section that can prove to be a very smart addition to the core sales.

But the final decision will remain with the player. It remains to be seen whether he wants to return to the club where it all started, or move elsewhere.

New York Giants running back Cam Scatebo impressed in his rookie season, recording 617 scrimmage yards and seven total touchdowns before suffering a season-ending injury. Luckily for New York, there is promising news on his return to the field.

Speaking to reporters, Skattebo said he is still “a little out of it” and the mental side of rehabilitation has been the biggest challenge, but he will be on the field in the first week.

“Obviously there are ups and downs with the injury process and the comeback and rehab, but the mental battle has been the hardest part: making sure I completely trust it,” Skattebo said. “I’m a little away. Not too far, but I’ll be ready to go. 1 week, I’ll be ready to go.”

New York Giants RB Cam Scatebo on return from injury (via AP)

Taken with the 104th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Skattebo impressed from the jump. From Weeks 2–7, the Giants running backs averaged 66.8 rushing yards per game and 4.2 yards per carry, totaling six touchdowns.

On October 26, against the Philadelphia Eagles, Skattebo suffered an ankle injury that required season-ending surgery. Fast forward to March, he had worked his way up to a jogging pace.

There was speculation in the weeks leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft that New York would use the fifth overall pick to select running back Jeremiah Love. However, he was selected third overall, and the Giants did not use a single 2026 draft selection on a running back.

This shows that the new Giants coaching staff has a lot of confidence in Skatabo even after the injury. While he plans to once again break up with Tyrone Tracy Jr., it appears the Giants offense will be healthy when Week 1 begins.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The Montreal Canadiens faced the Buffalo Sabers in Game 5 of their tied second-round series on Thursday night.

A hectic first period paved the way for a dominant effort from the Habs, not to mention a solid 6-3 win.

There’s a lot to discuss, so let’s dive into the highlights!

the way she goes

Buffalo opened the scoring thanks to an accidental bounce, leading to Jason Zucker’s first goal of the playoffs, but it must be said that Alexandre Texier had a chance to clear the zone before the goal, making it another early, unforced error.

Double deflection beats Dobbs, Sabers lead 1-0.

Jason Zucker’s first goal of the playoffs: pic.twitter.com/dURKfL4PXR

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 14 May 2026

As the elders foretold

As we discussed in the ad before Game 5, the first line has done a much better job of producing solid underlying numbers at 5v5, but their lack of goals at this point in the playoffs is absolutely unacceptable.

This may sound harsh, but such is life in professional sports.

The good news is that Cole Caufield scored his first 5v5 goal of the spring on Thursday night, immediately responding to the Sabres’ lucky bounce to tie the game at 1-1.

Unsurprisingly, fellow first liners Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkowski provided assistance.

Tie the game!

#GoHabsGo Respond with a goal via Cole Caufield, his first 5v5 goal of the playoffs!

Surprisingly, or not, Nick Suzuki provided assistance. pic.twitter.com/5BFEqHElfW

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 14 May 2026

luck returned

Although the Canadiens were unlucky and lost 1–0 early in the first period, they cannot claim that luck was solely on Buffalo’s side.

Alexandre Texier tied the game at 2-2 with another incredibly fortuitous layup. It was his third goal of the playoffs, with assists from Alexandre Carrier and Philippe Danault. As has been the case all year, Canadiens hockey included a heavy dose of excitement, along with a side order of chaotic defence.

Exactly how the Habs planned it.

The game was tied, as the puck hit Texier just wide of the net. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/EZPxbwcqTP

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 14 May 2026

Bananarama

Speaking of chaos, the Sabers re-established their lead shortly after on what can only be described as an incredibly weak goal on Jacob Dobbs.

To Dobbs’ credit, he has clearly been the team’s most valuable player in the playoffs, but there’s no doubt that the entire team groaned when Kostas Helenius scored with a weak wrist shot from distance.

It was just a bad goal, but it was also the Sabers’ first three shots in a row. Dobbs rebounded nicely in the latter part of the frame, but it was clearly a tough start for the 24-year-old netminder.

Three goals on three shots for the Sabres.

Dobbs would like the last one back, it was tough. pic.twitter.com/Z2pI6zSS7f

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 14 May 2026

Faaaaaaaaaair be

As the game began, Dobbs settled in well, and provided excellent goaltending while the Sabers applied pressure in the second period.

Jacob Dobbs showed great patience to prevent Thompson from getting separated. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/XaAa19mBwT

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 15 May 2026

phenom

As per tradition, it didn’t take long for the leadership to disappear.

This time, it was phenom Lane Hutson who carried all the burden, giving up an easy goal to veteran Josh Anderson, his third of the playoffs.

No matter how many times I’m lucky enough to witness Hutson’s magic, her ability to command everyone’s attention never ceases to amaze me. If there were a metric for creating time and space for teammates in the offensive zone, I’m sure Hutson would be among the league leaders.

I’d venture to say he’d probably be No. 1 with a bullet, but I digress.

To be fair to the Sabres, they aren’t the first to be charmed by Lane Hutson.

A great pass sets up Josh Anderson’s goal. Game tied again. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/iUZm3KGZab

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 15 May 2026

It wouldn’t be a true Canadiens hockey game without an unfair dose of adversity. That’s when hubs are at their best.

Ideally, they won’t have to be in a situation where their back is against the wall before they can find a rhythm, but some things in the game are ideal.

All that matters is that the Canadiens play well when the game is on the line, as evidenced by Ivan Demidov’s nice flurry that resulted in Jake Evans’ first springtime goal.

Eva…Jake Evans!!!! pic.twitter.com/OaR4VjaACC

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) 15 May 2026

opening the floodgates

From that point on, the Sabers continued to explode, but mainly because the Canadiens refused to apply the brakes.

Instead of maintaining their lead, they went overboard and this resulted in a flurry of goals.

Suzuki extended the lead to 5–3 with a powerplay goal, although Slafkowski deserves credit for offering a great assist.

Nick Suzuki makes it 5-3 #GoHabsGo!

The Habs made the most of their only power play of the game, with a big assist from Juraj Slafkowski. pic.twitter.com/A9r1ackTeW

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 15 May 2026

rookie effect

Demidov, a player who has had difficulty creating scoring chances in recent games, enjoyed his best game of the playoffs, adding a goal to his assist midway through the third period.

Game 5 was really a case of the Canadiens firing on all cylinders from an offensive standpoint, which bodes well for the upcoming matchup against the Sabres.

A sweet Ivan Demidov gives SNIPE #GoHabsGo 6-3 lead!

What do you think about that save by Lane Hutson at the blue line? pic.twitter.com/hrmi4dLRkk

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 15 May 2026

Game 6 between the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabers is scheduled for Saturday, May 16 at 8 PM ET.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

A return to Grand Casino Arena, a three-day break and big nights from key players were all the Minnesota Wild needed to bounce back in their Western Conference Second Round series against the Colorado Avalanche.

Kirill Kaprizov and Brock Faber each had a goal and two assists, while Quinn Hughes added a goal and an assist to lead the Wild to a 5-1 win over the Avalanche on Saturday night in Game 3 of their best-of-7 series. Minnesota bounced back with a solid defensive effort after giving up 14 goals after losing the first two games in Denver. The Wild won a second-round game at home for the first time since May 9, 2014. They handed Colorado its first loss in seven games this postseason and evened the series with a win on Monday night.

Wild coach John Hynes went back to rookie goaltender Jesper Wallstad, who was replaced by Filip Gustavsson for Game 2 after allowing eight goals in a 9–6 series-opening loss. He justified Hines’ decision by making 34 saves, allowing only Nathan MacKinnon’s second-period power-play goal. Walstead played as he did in Minnesota’s first-round series win against the Dallas Stars and gave Minnesota a solid night between the pipes.

He also got a lot of help. In addition to Kaprizov, Faber and Hughes, Ryan Hartman and Matt Boldy scored for the Wild, with Matt Zuccarello adding two assists.

Neither team made any continuous attack for the first 15 minutes. Colorado’s Parker Kelly had the best chance around 11 minutes, but his backhander was denied at the right post by Volstad.

However, things opened up after roughing penalties to Kelly and Hartman at 14:54 and each team left with one man skating.

Kaprizov took advantage of open space to put the Wild ahead 1-0 at 15:11. He took a pass from Faber and raced to the middle of the Colorado zone, knocked Wedgewood to the ice and lifted the puck over himself.

Hughes, who had the second assist on Kaprizov’s goal, made it 2–0 with a 4-on-3 power-play goal at 16:44. With Devon Toews hooking up, Hughes controlled a pass at the left point, made his way to the high slot and fired. Wedgwood had lost his stick, was screened by Kaprizov and was helpless as the shot passed him.

Hughes was called for an unnecessary cross-checking penalty at 17:42. But the Wild kicked the penalty without any trouble and ended the period with their first two-goal lead of the series.

Minnesota’s power play came again at 4:23 of the second period and the score became 3–0. Zuccarello’s shot hit Toes on its way to the net; Hartman got a piece of the airborne puck and put it in the net.

That was the end of the night for Wedgwood, who came into the game 6-0 with a 2.12 goals-against average and .923 save percentage. Mackenzie Blackwood, who had not played at all in Colorado’s first seven games, replaced him.

MacKinnon got the Avs on the board at 13:11. Wallstedt made a save after Gabriel Landeskog took the puck to the net, but Wild defenseman Damon Hunt caught him and both men fouled Wallstedt. This caused the puck to sit just outside the crease; MacKinnon scored his 60th career playoff goal.

But before Wild fans had a chance to worry, Faber restored Minnesota’s three-goal lead at 13:31. During a delayed penalty, Blackwood blocked Vladimir Tarasenko’s shot near the left face-off dot. But the rebound hit him, bounced off Faber and slid past the goal line for a 4–1 lead.

Wallstadt stopped all 13 shots he faced in the third period. Boldy’s 155-foot empty netter with four seconds remaining sealed the victory.

Highlights from Minnesota’s 5-1 win over Colorado in Game 3

Big night for Kaprizov

“Kirill the Thrill” lived up to his nickname in Game 3.

The NHL’s soon-to-be highest-paid player was named the game’s first star on a night when he was seemingly everywhere. His compete level was off the charts, he went to the corners, got to the front of the net to screen Wedgwood on Hughes’ goal, blocked two shots and finished plus-3.

“He was going tonight,” Faber told TNT’s postgame show. “When he’s moving his hips, that’s when he’s playing fast. He’s one of the best players in the league and one of the hardest workers. He was at his best tonight.”

Volstad reclaimed the net

When you’re down 2-0 in a series against the reigning NHL regular season champion, your goaltender needs to step up. That’s exactly what Volstad did in Game 3, denied by the Avs’ flurry of goals in Game 1 and benching in a 5-2 loss in Game 2.

Kelly being saved for the first time might have been the biggest highlight of the night. The game was scoreless when Volstad blocked his wide-open backhander and managed to keep the rebound out of the net. Instead, Wild were not playing from the back; After less than six minutes they were leading 2–0.

Barring injury, it’s hard to imagine Hines changing goaltenders again.

Wild power play finally pays off

Minnesota was 0-for-5 with an extra man in two losses in Denver and 1-for-15 in its last five games before cashing in twice on Saturday.

The Wild cannot afford non-productive power plays when they are facing the NHL’s top regular season team. Even with two PPG in Game 3, Minnesota is just 5 of 33 (15.1 percent) with the extra man. But the advantage the Wild gained by converting their first two chances was clear. By turning a 1–0 lead into a three-goal lead, Minnesota forced Colorado to chase the game – something that had not happened this postseason.

stat shots

Kaprizov’s three-point night gave him 14 points, the most of all NHL players so far this postseason. Hughes is tied for second with Mitch Marner of the Vegas Golden Knights with 13 points.

Kaprizov extended his individual point streak against Colorado to 16 games (regular season and playoffs).

Faber (plus-12) and Kaprizov (plus-11) are 1-2 in plus-minus in the league through Saturday.

Zuccarello has nine points (three goals, six assists) in six games this postseason. He missed three times due to injuries but has at least one point in every game he has played.

Jon Krieger covered his first New York Rangers game (against the California Golden Seals) in November 1975 and it… More about Jon Krieger

The New York Mets welcomed back All-Star outfielder Juan Soto last week, but lost star shortstop Francisco Lindor to a calf strain in the same game. Unfortunately for New York, it appears Lindor won’t be back on the field at Citi Field for a long time.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY, the Mets are “privately expecting” Lindor to be out until mid-June.

RELATED: MLB Hot Seat Rankings 2026, See Where the NY Mets Skipper Ranks

Lindor’s absence is obviously a blow to the Mets’ lineup. However, perhaps there is some hope in New York that the vacation time could benefit the Silver Slugger Award winner long-term. Through his first 105 plate appearances this season, Lindor was on his way to a career-worst season with a .226/.314/.35 triple-slash line.

Surgery to repair his broken hamate bone in February was taking a toll on him. Therefore, it can be hoped that the rehabilitation of his calf strain over the next month may also prove beneficial for his wrist to fully recover from the February surgery and his swing to return to form.

RELATED: New York Mets managerial candidate to replace Carlos Mendoza

Meanwhile, former top prospect Ronny Mauricio is filling in at shortstop. He has posted a .286 batting average with 5 strikeouts in his first 14 at-bats, but just a .286 SLG. If he struggles, Bo Bichette could be moved to shortstop with Brett Batty and Mark Vientos getting time at third base when Jorge Polanco comes off the injured list. However, this would come at a great cost to the Mets’ infield defense.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

If the Portland Trail Blazers can somehow upset the San Antonio Spurs in the quarterfinals of the NBA playoffs, a new report suggests they could get a boost from one of the greatest players in franchise history.

The Trail Blazers entered their first playoff series against the Spurs in several years as major underdogs. And it’s understandable why. San Antonio appears to be a real threat to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder thanks to 2026 Defensive Player of the Year and MVP candidate Victor Wembanyama.

However, in Game 2, the French phenom had a bad leak, causing him to fall on his face and suffer a concussion. While he is traveling with the team, he is unlikely to feature in Game 3, and is likely to return in Game 4. After winning Tuesday’s game, and with Wembayama’s return date unclear, suddenly, this series is looking a lot more winnable for the Trail Blazers.

The door is open for Damian Lillard to return during the 2026 NBA playoffs

Well, if they can somehow accomplish the unthinkable and advance to the next round, it seems like there’s an outside chance they could get the inclusion of a certain Trail Blazers legend.

“Although it may seem unbelievable, the franchise has not completely ruled out the possibility that Damian Lillard could make a surprise appearance in the postseason this year,” multiple sources told The Oregonian. “I wouldn’t rule out any possibilities,” one source said.

Obviously, Lillard won’t progress and become the player he was before tearing his ACL a year ago. However, in a potential series against the Denver Nuggets or Minnesota Timberwolves, he could at least serve as a rookie. But there’s a possibility he could be a prolific scorer and three-point threat off the bench. The nine-time All-Star won this year’s NBA Three-Point Contest.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Newark – The New York Sirens have made a habit of comebacks in the third period. Their latest performance came on Wednesday night at the Prudential Centre, where they came back from down 2-0 to defeat the Toronto Raptors 3-2.

New York scored three times in the final 10:30 – including twice in a span of 1:10 – capped by defender Maja Nylen Persson’s power-play equalizer and rookie Casey O’Brien’s game-winner at 16:03 of the third.

Already without Kristina Kaltunkova, Taylor Girard and Savannah Norcross, all on long-term injured reserve (LTIR), the shorthanded Sirens faced another hurdle on Wednesday. Captain Micah Zandi-Hart watched New York’s home finale from the sidelines after receiving a one-game suspension for an illegal check against Minnesota Frost on Sunday.

Nevertheless, amid a tight race for the PWHL’s final playoff spot, the Sirens prevailed in a hard-fought victory and tied Toronto.

“It was a gutsy win from our group,” Sirens coach Greg Fargo said after the game. “It wasn’t a perfect game, but they found a way. As far as I’m concerned, they deserve those three points.”

Sceptres could move up to fourth with a regulation win, and looked poised to do so midway through the third. Instead, they dropped to sixth in the standings with three games remaining. New York and Toronto are deadlocked on 34 points, although the Sirens own the tiebreaker with more total wins (9-2-3-13).

Thanks to some more heroics late in the game, New York is two points behind the Ottawa Charge, and can move into a playoff position on Saturday with a regulation win at TD Place.

“I think a win gives a lot of energy to the group. It’s something we can build on,” Nylen Persson said after the 3-2 win. “It’s in our hands, and we have to make the most of it.”

Goalie Kayleigh Osborn held on to New York’s third-period lead, stopping 24 of 26 shots — including several highlight-reel saves — for her 10th win of the season.

Osborne weathered some first-period flurries from Toronto, but her best work came in the second period, robbing Trench forward Emma Gentry on the end of a Jaime Bourbonnais interference penalty.

A long point shot from Sceptres defender Kali Flanagan from the left side of the goal went to Gentry, who fired into an open net. But Osborne dived wide of the left post and wide of the paddle to deny the Grade-A chance.

“I just saw she was going to shoot at an open net, so do everything you can at that point to hope the puck doesn’t go in,” Osborn explained. “At that time, it was a diving save and a diving effort, and it worked in my favor.”

Osborne came up big again in the third, separating from Renata Fast.

Fargo praised him after the game, saying, “I thought Kayleigh played a great game. She really held us in the first two periods.” “He did a great job of not only making saves, but controlling the game. Made some key saves on the end of the power play, several breakaways, a paddle save. I mean, without him, we’re not in that fight for very long.”

Toronto scored against Osborn at 14:03 of the second, just 40 seconds into New York’s second power play. Speed ​​snatched the puck from O’Brien and passed it to Daryl Watts, who raced down the ice and clipped the top shelf for the jailbreak goal.

Former Sirens defender Ella Shelton made it 2–0 at 8:51 of the third minute, moments after New York failed to convert another power play, a sharp-angle shot slipping past Osborne. Shelton ended a 19-game goal drought with his first goal since December 23 – the longest of his PWHL career.

Fargo considered a timeout, but held out, and the siren rewarded them 39 seconds later when Denisa Krisova scored her first goal since joining New York via trade on March 30. Krysova cleared a loose puck in the slot and fired a backhander past Sceptres goaltender Regan Kirk at 10:30, prompting an immediate reaction after Shelton’s potentially back-breaking score.

Nylen Person tied the score at 2–2 at 14:53 of the third following a delay-of-game penalty on Kirk, giving New York its fifth power play of the game. A Sirens defender intercepted a long rebound from O’Brien at the right circle and put it back into the net, ending New York’s 0-of-20 power-play drought.

“For me, every time I’m put on the ice, I want to make the most of it,” said Nylen Person, who scored the memorable shootout winner at Madison Square Garden against the Seattle Torrents on April 4.

O’Brien’s winner came at 16:03, when the 2025 No. 3 overall pick deflected a long shot past rookie defender Nicole Valario off a faceoff.

With the two-point outing on Wednesday, O’Brien became the second rookie in PWHL history to reach 20 points, joining linemate Sarah Fillier, who posted 29 points (13 goals, 16 assists) en route to Rookie of the Year honors last season. O’Brien’s 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) matched Fillier for the team lead and tied for seventh leaguewide.

Sceptres coach Troy Ryan lamented his team’s third-round collapse.

Ryan said after the game, “I think we felt it in the room. It’s tough to lose.” “Just uncharacteristic decisions. You’re not going to win by making decisions like that at this time of year.”

For the second consecutive game at the Prudential Center, the New York Sirens came back scoring 3 unanswered goals.

It’s hard to do once, let alone twice. He needs to keep scoring points, but his fight should not be questioned. pic.twitter.com/tsziHmwGKR

– Lou Orlando (@SweetLouuuu) 16 April 2026

The Sirens scored three unanswered goals for the second consecutive game at the Prudential Center, before a weekend-record crowd of 6,237 in the final home game of the regular season. The Prudential Center in New York averaged 4,015 fans this season, a 45 percent increase from 2024-25.

Key takeaways after Siren’s full comeback in decisive game against Toronto

Sirens maintain control of playoff destiny

With games at a premium, New York could not afford to leave the Prudential Center empty-handed against Toronto. The comeback win gives the Sirens control over their playoff destiny, but it also greatly impacts their next two games.

The Sirens will visit Ottawa on Saturday and Toronto next Tuesday before concluding the 2025-26 season in Boston against the Fleet on April 25. Regulation wins against the Charge and Scepters would be good for New York’s playoff hopes, but that’s easier said than done. The Sirens have not won three consecutive games since January 6.

If they are to overtake Ottawa and Toronto for the final playoff spot, the Sirens will need two more strong performances from Osborne, who entered the game with a 1–5–0 record and an .874 save percentage over his last six games.

“Personally, I don’t look at stats,” Osborne said after the game. “I don’t think it tells the whole story of any goaltender on any team. I don’t think it’s really a factor.”

Osborn didn’t play like a goalie burdened by her second-half struggles on Wednesday, but she’ll have to beat two red-hot goalies in Kirk and Ottawa’s Gwyneth Phillips. Even in the loss, Kirk blanked New York in the first 50:30 before allowing three tough goals in their first loss since March 8.

Ryan explained, “That’s how goals are scored – directing them to the net, getting the body there, getting the stick on it.” “I don’t think it’s some of the things we did poorly. I think [the Sirens] Deserves some credit for the actual completion of the goal.”

The Ottawa Charge earned a big 2-0 win over the Toronto Raptors with an empty netter. Ottawa moved into the final playoff spot by 2 points over Toronto with a regulation win.

Toronto defeated Ottawa 42–18 but lost. Gwyneth Phillips makes the most saves in shutouts in PWHL history

– Kyle Cushman (@Kyle_Cush) 11 April 2026

Points will again be important in New York’s final meeting with the Charge on Saturday, especially with Ottawa holding a double-digit lead in the fourth. If Phillips’ 42-save shutout against Toronto last Saturday was any indication, those points won’t come easy.

Sirens showed ‘great resilience’ amid Zandi-Hart suspension

There’s never an ideal time for your captain to miss a game, but Wednesday’s game against Toronto was about as unfair as it gets.

“We had to work really hard for this game tonight,” Fargo said. “The guys fought hard. The way our D-core stepped up and played – I think we showed a lot of resiliency tonight.”

Zandy-Hart’s one-game suspension snapped his streak of 75 consecutive games played – dating back to January 20, 2024 – and left New York with only six active defensemen against the Cubs. Fargo deployed primarily a five-defender rotation, as rookie Delle Ross logged just 3:36 in an extremely limited role on Wednesday.

Alison Simpson, Lauren Bernard, and Bourbonnais all moved into the top pairing with Nylen Person, a spot usually filled by Zandi-Hart.

“Such a good player and our captain,” Nylen Person said of Zandi-Hart. “But other players have to step up and get bigger roles, and I think everyone did a great job of that today. That’s what we need in this situation. I’m proud of our D-core.”

The Sirens’ blue line will be back at full strength Saturday against Ottawa, where Fargo believes Wednesday’s resiliency can lead to another strong effort.

“Getting Micah back and keeping that momentum going, I think it’s something we can build on.”

Sirens still need more from power play: ‘It has to be better’

New York’s power play came at a crucial time, when Nylen Person scored the equalizer with a laser from the right point. Still, that doesn’t erase all the upside from another long slide.

Fargo candidly admitted, “It was a source of frustration.” “As we know, it’s not clicking.”

At one point Wednesday, in a desperate search for a new look on the netfront, Fargo turned to 5-foot-11 rookie forward Kira Judikis — who was making her PWHL debut. It failed to deliver, and if the offensive stoppage wasn’t bad enough, New York’s top unit handed Watts a momentum-changing jailbreak goal.

The Sirens made the most of their fifth and final power play, thanks to the aggressive puck pursuit of Nylen Person, giving Fargo hopes of giving a boost to a sagging group.

“The goal we had tonight, the way it happened — just the significance of it and the timing of it — you hope something like this can carry it forward,” Fargo said. “We know our power play – if we’re going to push here – it better be. But I think scoring that goal at a key moment in our season, hopefully, can be something we can build on in these last three games.”

With their two top goal scorers in Kaltunkova and Girard sidelined, the Sirens cannot afford to miss golden scoring opportunities. They also can’t count on getting five power plays every game.

No deadline for Kaltunkova’s return

Kaltunkova became eligible to be activated from LTIR on Tuesday, but there is no sign the New York novice event is close to a return.

Fargo declined to give a timeline for Kaltunkova’s injury after the game, and the 2025 No. 1 overall pick has not resumed skating after being on the shelf with a lower-body injury.

The Czech native made a name for himself in the PWHL by scoring a league-leading 11 goals before the Olympic break. His scoring touch was greatly missed, especially after the side ruled Girard out for the remainder of the 2025–26 season with a knee injury.

It is highly unlikely that Kaltunkova will return before New York’s regular season finale against Boston on April 25, and her status for a potential postseason run is in question.

Lou Orlando is an alumnus of Fordham University, where he covered the New York Rangers for three seasons… More about Lou Orlando

on weekends, Tottenham HotspurCristian Romero suffered a knee injury during the Premier League defeat to Sunderland.

The Argentina international clashed with his own goalkeeper Antonin Kinski and suffered a concussion.

On Monday, Sports Witness Covered claims from Argentina The Tottenham star will undergo tests to find out the extent of the damage.

Later that day, we broadcast news That the centre-back could be out of action for five to eight weeks.

However, there was no confirmation as to how long the 27-year-old would be sidelined.

plasma treatment for tottenham player

Argentina assistant manager Roberto Ayala talking to Hernan Castillo, Lucas Castroman and Pablo Alvarez.

hail The Argentine has released his comments on the latest injury to Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero.

Lionel Scaloni’s assistants are happy that the 27-year-old has suffered no serious injuries and has no further complications with his knee. He also discussed what type of treatment the Spurs man will undergo.

“This morning we got the results of QT’s MRI. Thank God, in quotes, that there’s nothing else wrong with his knee,” He said.

“Now they’re going to stabilize it and possibly give him the platelet-rich plasma treatment, which is being used right now. We’ll see what happens after that.”

The coach said the national team is in regular contact with its players and Scaloni has sent them a message ahead of the World Cup.

“We started praying every weekend that nothing happens to anyone, so that they can finish their matches. We are communicating with everyone via Zoom or directly by phone to see how everyone is performing.” Ayla explained.

“The coaching staff has quarantined several players and we are in charge of monitoring them. If there is anything that requires the doctor to come in, he will take care of it. What did we do, Leo? [Scaloni] Told him at some point: ‘Think about the national team’. When you think you have to…think a little.

Romero’s injury is a big blow for Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur are now two points behind 17th-placed West Ham United.

New manager Roberto De Zerbi’s immediate task is to help the north London club stay in the Premier League. If Cristian Romero is out for eight weeks, the Italian will not be able to rely on him for the last six league matches this season.

Tottenham’s remaining Premier League matches:

• vs brighton and hove albion [home] on 18th April
• v Wolverhampton Wanderers [away] on 25th April
• vs aston villa [away] on 2 may
• v leeds united [home] on 12 may
• in chelsea [away] tbd
• vs everton [home] tbd

Tyson Fury returned to the ring on Saturday night with a unanimous decision victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The fight was Fury’s first appearance since announcing his retirement. The judges scored the fight 120-108, 120-108 and 119-109 after 12 rounds.

Moments after the result, Fury focused on Anthony Joshua, who was sitting at ringside. Fury called him out in front of the crowd and demanded immediate answers about a possible fight. Joshua did not enter the ring. Instead, he responded from his seat when approached, leading to a tense interaction that immediately gained attention inside the stadium and online.

Tyson Fury takes control of the fight and issues a direct challenge

Fury took control of the fight from the early stages. He used his reach and movement to manage distance and limit Makhmudov’s offense. He remained disciplined and avoided heavy exchanges. By the middle rounds, Fury maintained a steady pace and landed clean shots while maintaining control.

The judges reflected that control in their scorecards. Two judges gave every round to Fury, while the third gave one round to Makhmudov. The result gave Fury a clear victory in his return bout.

After the decision, Fury took the microphone and addressed Joshua directly. “I want to give you the fight you’ve all been waiting for. I challenge you next, Anthony Joshua. Do you accept my challenge?” The crowd reacted as Fury continued to press for a reaction. She called again and asked Joshua to answer immediately.

Anthony Joshua responded from ringside and refused to face off

Joshua remained at ringside and did not step into the ring. When he was asked for his reaction, he gave a calm statement. “Tyson, you’re trying to get attention,” Joshua said. “I’ve never had a problem getting in the ring with you. I beat you when we were little, and after seeing you tonight, I’ll do it again.”

He continued by saying that he would not be directed in public. “You don’t tell me what to do. I’ve been in this fight for years. When you’re ready, meet me with your terms. I’m in control.”

Joshua also explained how the potential fight would be arranged. “I’m here to fight, not get attention. Contracts will be sent out, we’ll do everything properly, and you’ll probably see us in the ring next time.” His response ended the possibility of an immediate in-ring confrontation.

Focus the conversation on a possible fight

The exchange highlighted the ongoing situation between the two giants. Fury and Joshua have been linked to a possible fight for several years. Both fighters have held world titles and remain dominant figures in the division.

Recent talks have boxing officials and promoters working towards a possible event in late 2026. Turki Alalshikh is one of the people involved in the discussions about the major matches. Fury has said he is ready to move forward, while Joshua’s comments indicate he expects formal talks to take place before any agreement is reached.

Saturday’s events combined activities inside the ring with events outside it. Fury scored a clear victory and used the moment to call for a bigger fight. Joshua responded by outlining his position and the process he expects to follow. The situation is now moving towards talks as both sides consider the next steps.

Dogley Wilberforce is a boxing writer for SportsNaught, covering fight news, fighter reactions and major bouts in the sport… More about Dogley Wilberforce

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.

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.

Oleksandr Usyk has offered strong public support for Anthony Joshua, describing his former opponent as a brother and backing his return to the top of the heavyweight division. The undisputed champion shared his thoughts in a recent interview, where he talked about their growing relationship outside the ring. The message comes at a crucial moment for Joshua, who is working through recent defeats and personal challenges as he aims to rebuild his career.

Oleksandr Usyk made his stance clear as he reflected on how their bond has changed. “I showed Anthony my national food, my culture, Ukrainian music and my church. My church is a very important place for me. Anthony liked Ukrainian food, especially borscht. I really appreciate that he came here. Now he is like a big brother to me. He is not my rival or rival. He is my partner, my brother.”

Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua’s relationship has changed beyond rivalry

The two fighters faced off in back-to-back title bouts in 2021 and 2022, with Usyk winning both bouts. Since then, their relationship has grown beyond competition. Usyk now describes Joshua as a person close to him, sharing regular communications and time outside of boxing.

He cited Joshua’s character and work ethic as major reasons for his respect. “I know Anthony is a very kind person. He is well-mannered, very hard-working and very smart. He is a good guy. Mentally, I think he is good because we talk every day. We train twice a day, in the morning and in the evening.”

Usyk supports Joshua’s mentality during difficult times

Joshua’s recent period has included setbacks in the ring and personal losses. Usyk addressed this directly by focusing on flexibility rather than titles. He said that despite not holding the belt at this stage of his career, Joshua still meets his definition of a champion.

“Anthony is a champion. He may not have the belts right now, but that doesn’t matter to me. A champion is someone who never gives up. Life brings tests. God tests me and he tests Anthony too. God has a plan.”

Heavyweight comeback remains the goal for Anthony Joshua

Usyk also teased what could be next for Joshua in the heavyweight division. He pointed to the possibility of a return to the top level in the coming years based on current work and mentality.

“Maybe in 2026 or 2027, Anthony can become the undisputed champion. It’s possible. He can do it.”

The comments have attracted the attention of the entire boxing sector, with fans and celebrities of the sport noting the level of respect between the two fighters. The clip has spread widely on social media, with many highlighting Usyk’s tone of support as Joshua rebuilds.

Their story now reflects much more than the feuds of the past. It shows how competing at the highest level can create long-term respect and bonding, even in a sport defined by rivalry.

After weeks of low-key teasers, from vacation flicks to offseason party cameos, Patrick Mahomes stopped playing timid and addressed the biggest question hanging over Kansas City. Throughout the offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs—and their fans—were stuck on one thing: Will Mahomes be ready come Week 1? Now, we’ve got our answer.

Mahomes just hit IG. And Chiefs’ Kingdom is reading between the lines.

Could Patrick Mahomes be ready by September?

QB1 dropped a new post on Instagram featuring in-game shots, rocking number 15, a Chiefs hoodie, signature Adidas cleats, and tunnel walk energy. caption? Just a ⏰ (clock emoji). And if you know Mahomes, you know the clock means only one thing – he’s gearing up.

Mahomes is still rehabbing from the torn ACL he suffered in Week 15 of the 2025 season. He went under the knife on December 15, with an expected recovery window of 9-12 months – so we’re looking at September at the earliest.

In February, Andy Reid said that Mahomes was grinding. Logging seven-hour rehabilitation days at the facility. Classic QB1 behavior. But let’s be real: ACL recovery is not a straightforward path. There are outages, failures, and occasional audible noises. Mahomes probably has his sights set on Week 1, but nothing has been decided yet.

And the Chiefs are playing it smart. He made a move on March 16, trading with the Jets for Justin Fields. That’s your insurance policy; QB2 on paper, but he’s more than capable of holding down Mahomes if he doesn’t get the clearance.

The LA Clippers have played their last seven games without starting forward John Collins, but they appear to be on the verge of getting him back in short order.

Collins has missed the last seven games for the Clippers after suffering a neck strain against the New Orleans Pelicans on March 1. It was the second neck-related injury in 10 days for Collins, who was sidelined for nine days due to a head injury and neck soreness following a scary fall against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 20.

John Collins suffered these two neck injuries within a span of 10 days:

– 1/20/26 – Landed hard on left side of head, avoided injury, but had head injury + neck pain.
– 3/1/26 – In the first game, hits the head/neck on the same left side on a drive and immediately catches… https://t.co/3Aj6WFgQH5 pic.twitter.com/rwzmpnkP32

– Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 4 March 2026

John Collins hasn’t played a game, but is sitting on the Clippers bench and appears to be in good mood after taking some scary hits to the head. Collins told ClutchPoints that he hopes to return to the court as soon as possible in the next few days.

“I’m feeling good, just trying to get back to form,” Collins said. “It’s been a tough period for me to stay available. So I’m trying to do what I can to get back into shape.”

Collins participated in a scuffle Thursday between the Clippers’ home games against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Chicago Bulls. He came out of that situation feeling good, but the Clippers will want to get another one of those “be ready” games and continue to evaluate him as he makes a run for his return.

“Yeah, I’m back in the Stay Ready Games, I’m feeling better. These types of injuries are just freak accidents, freak injuries. Just looking on the bright side, it could have been worse, it could have been something else. Again, I don’t even really want to think about it, but again, I’m doing good. And I’m just trying to, again, stay healthy and make sure I’m ready to go.”

Through November 25 – eight games after joining the starting lineup – John Collins averaged 14.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists, while shooting 60.1 percent from the field and 46.5 percent from three.

So how do the Clippers plan to re-engage a player like Collins after he missed a significant amount of time?

“He fits in very well,” Tyronn Lue told ClutchPoints. “It’s definitely worth seeing where he is with his minutes restriction. Jesse has been a big part of us all year. His game, once he started playing well, really changed our season for us. Just see where he is minutes-wise, see how he feels, and go from there.”

Benedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson also returned, leaving John Collins to take on a larger role for the team after losing Ivica Zubac in the trade. And while he hasn’t played since the loss of rookie center Yannick Konan Niederhauser, Collins’ absence has been felt on the glass.

“His ability to rebound the basketball, offensive rebound,” Lue said of where the Clippers have missed John Collins most. “And then to slow the game down, we can post somebody up, go to the mid-post area to slow the game down. He’s been really good at that, so we miss him. And like I said, miss his energy. His energy on the floor is really good.”

Since the Clippers started the season 6-21, John Collins has been the focal point of the Clippers’ offense, averaging 15.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 blocks per game, while shooting an absurd 63.6 percent from the field and 54.9 percent from three.

At one point, the New York Knicks’ game against the Utah Jazz was not looking good, as they found themselves in a big loss that almost kept superfan Ben Stiller from watching, before Jalen Brunson’s heroics saved the team.

At the beginning of the game, Stiller took to Twitter to discuss his discomfort in watching the Knicks lose early against the Jazz, writing, “Couldn’t watch for 10 minutes – feels like we finally remembered we’re the NY Knicks.”

Ultimately, New York came out on top, and a lot of that can be attributed to Brunson’s performance. Thanks to Brunson’s performance, they won by 17 points, which initially seemed impossible. He scored 28 points and had four rebounds and eight assists.

Stiller didn’t let his heroics go unnoticed, giving the point guard a shout-out, writing, “Brunson really stepped up [in the] Second half],” after the game.

Jalen Brunson leads Knicks comeback against Jazz

After the first quarter of the Knicks’ game against the Jazz on March 11, New York was down by 15 points, and lost 41 points. Even at the half, they were down 65–56.

Fortunately, they turned things around in the second half, outscoring the Jazz 40–29 in the third and 38–23 in the fourth. It was a much-needed win on the road for the Knicks, who are just 19-16 on the road this year.

Brunson made the biggest splash, but he wasn’t the only impact player. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 21 points and was extremely efficient, making eight of his 13 shots. OG Anunoby also scored 22 points while making 70% of his shots from the floor and all five of his free throws.

Jordan Clarkson also scored 27 points off the bench. In 26 minutes, Clarkson made 10 of his 15 shots with four free throws. Clarkson is averaging only 8.9 points per game this year, so this was a phenomenal performance for the guard.

The Boston Celtics have seen superstar Jayson Tatum bounce back from his Achilles injury in spectacular fashion, and it’s something that has impressed LA Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue.

Just 10 months after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in his right foot, Tatum returned to the court for the Celtics and played very well.

Tatum played surprisingly well in his return against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night, recording 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in 27 minutes of play. Tatum recorded his first bucket on a putback dunk in the second quarter, and followed it with a corner three-pointer on the ensuing possession.

In his second game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Tatum had 20 points, three rebounds and two assists in 27 minutes, including 12 points in the opening period.

LA Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue, who hails from Mexico, Missouri and actually calls St. Louis native Jayson Tatum his cousin, talked about the return of the former six-time NBA All-Star.

“I talked to him the night before [his return against the Mavs] And he was very excited,” Lue told ClutchPoints. “He’s very excited to get back on the field because he loves the game. Just happy for him. A tough recovery, 10 months of rehab, doing all the things to get back and he very easily could have just turned around and just waited until next year, but he wanted to be on the floor, he wanted to help his team win.

“Boston is second in the East and has a real chance to win another championship, so for him to come back and be on the court shows you a lot about who he is.”

During his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Tyronn Lue actually revealed that Tatum is someone he considers his little cousin.

“He’s my little cousin,” Lew said in a 2016 interview. “His dad, Justin Tatum, is Larry Hughes’ best friend and they come over all the time. They’re part of my extended family, Justin, so they come over all the time and it’s crazy seeing him from when he was six or seven years old to what he is today. Seeing the player he’s become, you knew he was going to be good, but now he’s at a whole new level.”

Without superstar Jayson Tatum, the Celtics compiled a 41–21 record in the first 62 games of the season. Since his return, the Celtics have won two consecutive wins without much difficulty. Boston is also currently only 2.5 games behind the Detroit Pistons, so the Celtics are a very real possibility.

Meanwhile, Tyronn Lue’s Clippers have continued to play well after starting the season with a dreadful 6-21 record. Since December 20, the three teams with the best records are the Boston Celtics (27–10), San Antonio Spurs (27–10) and LA Clippers (26–11).

“I just feel confident,” Lue said of his team’s goals this season. “I feel confident in our players, I feel confident in our coaching staff, and I feel confident in the environment and culture we’ve set. Why wouldn’t you want to play to win? That’s our mentality, that’s my mentality every night. No matter how hard it is, if you start 6-21 or whatever, you’re playing to win. We’ll try to make the playoffs and then anything can happen. Our goal is to make the playoffs.” Is.”

The Celtics and Clippers have already played their two games against each other, so Tatum and Lue won’t see each other again this season.

Victor Wembanyama’s emotions continued after the game after the San Antonio Spurs came back from 25 points to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers.

Noting that generational talent often cites the importance of progress, ClutchPoints asked Wembey how such a big win fits into the bigger picture of what Spurs have achieved and continue to work on.

“For me, it’s very meaningful, that win. It’s definitely not a game that I would have seen us winning two years ago. It’s actually a game that two years ago I would have seen us losing by 30 or 40.”

Wembanyama’s first winning season is taking the NBA by storm. After going 22-60 in his rookie year, the Spurs have gone from an elite team with the first overall pick to championship contenders in just two seasons. After a reported 116-112 win against the Clippers, the Spurs are in second place in the Western Conference at 46-17. While there are still 19 games left, they have already won 12 more than last year.

“It’s like, even when the opponent is bad or the opponent is figuring out our game plan, these guys still find a way to have fun. You know what I mean?” Wembley continued his response at ClutchPoints. “It’s not just about having fun, but also doing the little things that are difficult and that make it so we have a lot of fun on the court.”

San Antonio has already had a lot of fun during the season, defeating the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder four times. The Spurs have now beaten every team in the Western Conference at least once, courtesy of the rally vs. the Clippers.

“It’s a lot of progress on the court. When you see it, you know it,” Wembanyama told ClutchPoints.

“For me, it’s very meaningful. It’s definitely not a game that I would have seen us winning two years ago. This is actually a game that two years ago I would have seen us losing by 30 or 40…”⬇️

-Talked to Vic about how great as last night’s 25-pt comeback was, this one is in line with #spurs are building pic.twitter.com/JEC7ysF2cM

– Hector Ledesma (@HectorLedesmaTV) 7 March 2026

Victor Wembanyama details incredible Spurs win against Clippers

Twice separate times in the final 13 seconds of the win against Los Angeles, San Antonio missed the back end of a free throw, yet recovered an offensive rebound. Wemby gave his thoughts on watching that kind of fight as his teammates were putting the finishing touches to an improbable victory.

“The fact that we were down 25 and nobody quit and I had limited minutes. I know our starters had limited minutes and everybody who stepped on the court helped in some way.”

The Spurs’ leading scorer played just 22 minutes against Kawhi Leonard and company. He had 39 in a hard-fought win against the Detroit Pistons the night before.

“It means a lot to me because, literally, that fourth quarter was all I had,” Vembanyama admitted. “All the effort, it feels like everyone’s full effort, all the energy went into those last minutes.”

With a successful Rodeo road trip off the back of San Antonio, wins against Detroit and LA began a six-game homestand filled with playoff contenders.

Wembley revealed, “The best thing I’ve noticed is that no one gives up on anything or anyone. Everyone’s got everyone’s back and that’s why I have blind faith in these guys. I mean, I love them so much. It’s such a joy to play with them, share the court and see them every day.”

The Spurs face the Houston Rockets, Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets and Charlotte Hornets before going back on the road to face the same Clippers team they just defeated.

The San Antonio Spurs are currently doing things that shouldn’t be possible. On Friday night, the Silver and Black erased a massive 25-point deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers 116-112, convincing the NBA world that a championship run is not just a dream, it is hope.

It appeared as if the Clippers were playing on the ice, but they were caught in the clutch. Despite San Antonio gifting them three missed free throws late in the fourth quarter, Los Angeles couldn’t muster a single defensive rebound to save their lives. The collapse was historic, the second-largest comeback in the Spurs’ play-by-play era.

pic.twitter.com/fr3wPPMAmy

– Marquis Swinton (@SwishDish720) 7 March 2026

What did we do to deserve this?pic.twitter.com/etHW3NNGQ3

– Spurs Culture (@SpursCulture) 7 March 2026

These spurs will kill me man😭 pic.twitter.com/DBJKYU28ZT

– Bala (@BalaPattySZN) 7 March 2026

good game poetry pic.twitter.com/EgtGW3GFjH

– Spurs Culture (@SpursCulture) 7 March 2026

Harrison Barnes will never take a nap again https://t.co/jwtPYdqfnX

– Spurs Culture (@SpursCulture) 7 March 2026

“Tonight was a great example of why the Spurs are the best team in the NBA right now,” one fan posted on X.

Victor Wembanyama led the way with 27 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks in just 22 minutes of action. However, the most iconic moment belonged to rookie Stefan Cassel. During the game, Castle missed a free throw, grabbed his own rebound and sealed the win. “What an exciting finish in San Antonio!” another fan commented. “Castle missed the free throw… grabbed his own rebound… and sealed the win!”

Wemby started crying after Spurs win 😭
pic.twitter.com/tfRyJr71iU

– Logion Noops (@LogionNoops) 7 March 2026

Spurs win!! Carter Bryant is special!! pic.twitter.com/eY7w8PeSEu

– PJ Hoops (@RealPjHoops) 7 March 2026

you can’t beat my spurs lfgpic.twitter.com/aWk9zwbUqa

– CLAN THE SPURS FAN (@ClanTheSpursFan) 7 March 2026

Spurs defense man.

Carter is flying everywhere.

Victor dominates the paint.

Steiff is the Nels POA in Primary.

Spurs were down 25 and are now up 2.

This is Spurs basketball. pic.twitter.com/MFAOcoCLq5

– Eric Salinas (@EricSal_7) 7 March 2026

Wembley is so sick that he is crying at the regular season victory in March. pic.twitter.com/FDSnfZCdNX

– 🥽 (@spursbeliever) 7 March 2026

The patience displayed by Vembanyama and Spurs is causing many skeptics to reconsider their stance. As another supporter said, “25-point comeback and people still try to say he’s overrated…the league is in trouble.” If San Antonio can find a way to win games like this while their superstar looks like he’s “about to pass out,” the rest of the league is in for a really long postseason.

The Golden State Warriors received an encouraging update about Kristaps Porzingis as the team prepares to begin a three-game road trip Thursday against the Houston Rockets.

According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Porzingis is traveling to Houston with the Warriors, indicating a positive step toward recovery from his recent illness that has sidelined him in recent games.

“Kristaps Porzingis is traveling to Houston with the Warriors today, I’m told. No word yet on his playing status for the next three (Rockets, Thunder, Jazz), but notable progress since stopping on the last road trip. He’s missed the last five games due to general illness,” Slater wrote Wednesday on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Porzingis has been unavailable for Golden State’s last five games due to what the team described as a general illness. His appearance on the trip suggests he is close to a potential return, although the Warriors have not confirmed whether he will play during upcoming games.

The 30-year-old joined the Warriors earlier this season after being traded to the Atlanta Hawks at the February deadline. Golden State acquired the versatile big man in a deal that sent Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to Atlanta.

Kristaps Porzingis nears potential return as Warriors begin road trip

Porzingis made his Warriors debut on February 19 in a 121–110 loss to the Boston Celtics. In that game, he recorded 12 points, one rebound, one assist and one block while shooting 5-for-9 from the field and 2-for-5 from beyond the arc in 17 minutes.

In 18 games this season, including 12 starts, Porzingis is averaging 16.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 blocks per game. He is shooting 46.1% from the field and 36.3% from three-point range while playing 23.9 minutes per contest.

Golden State enters the road trip with a 31–30 record as it attempts to stabilize its position in the Western Conference standings. After Thursday’s game against Houston, the Warriors are scheduled to face the Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz before returning home.

The Miami Heat are attempting to avoid making the Eastern Conference Play-in Tournament for the fourth consecutive season. Tyler Herro’s ability to return to form will be key in that effort.

After a long absence due to ankle surgery and a toe injury earlier this season, Herro recently returned from a month-long absence due to a rib ailment. He had another efficient performance during Tuesday’s 124-98 win over the Brooklyn Nets, posting 22 points on 8-15 shooting in 28 minutes.

“I’m just trying to find my rhythm,” Herro said after the game. “I’ve only played less than 20 games. And every other team and player has been in rhythm and playing since October. I haven’t really played a lot of five-on-five games since last season. So it’s just steps in the right direction, continuing to see where my shots are coming from. It’s not all about scoring. It’s about making the right plays.”

Herro has averaged 19.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists on .484/.371/.941 shooting splits in six appearances since returning to Miami’s lineup.

Tyler Herro back in action as Heat battles to avoid play-in tournament

The Heat are 4-2 during that span, leaving them a half-game behind the Eastern Conference sixth-seeded Philadelphia 76ers.

Erik Spoelstra said of Herro, “I think he’s making this all look easier than it really is.” “He hasn’t played in a long time. It’s been a really short time since he’s been back. But I think it’s going to get better each game. I trust Tyler and his work. He puts in so much time. But he adds a lot to our offense. Now we’ve got this element of creativity. Definitely making shots. You don’t know where it’s going to come from. And then once he gets you into his three-ball rhythm, I think it’s “Will really help impact our offense at another level.”

The Heat have faced problems taking care of business despite inferior competition this season. However, they dominated on Tuesday by tanking nets from the opening tip to the final buzzer.

Spoelstra’s squad shot 45 of 91 (49.5 percent) from the field with 28 assists and 12 turnovers. Meanwhile, they held Brooklyn to 33 of 86 (38.4 percent) from the field and 6 of three (18.8 percent) from three, while forcing 18 turnovers.

Miami, Philadelphia and the Orlando Magic are separated by a half-game for the East’s sixth to eighth seeds.

Bam Adebayo said, “It’s the second half of the season. We need these wins. We can’t afford to miss any more.” “We had enough during the first half of the season. You have to hold yourself to a higher standard of accountability, and it gets uncomfortable sometimes because you know you feel like you don’t want to go too far. Uh, but you know in that sense man we are us, we’re past that stage and you know we’re trying to do something special. Uh, and it’s going to take all of us and we have to hold each other accountable and Uh have to face some intense situations.”

As the playoff season approaches, the Timberwolves have added running back Kyle Anderson to the team. Anderson is no stranger to Minnesota fans, as he played with the Timberwolves from 2022 to 2024. After playing with the Warriors, Heat, Jazz and Grizzlies, he has now returned to the Timberwolves after being waived by Memphis.

Rudy Gobert, the starting center for the Timberwolves, jokingly teased Anderson upon his return to the team. In a clip posted by Underdog NBA, Gobert explained what the team missed without Kyle Anderson.

“I think just passing the ball…Yeah, somebody that wants to pass the ball to his teammates.”

But Gobert acknowledged after his joke that Anderson brings an important skill in playmaking to the team.

“But yes, he’s a coordinator. So, somebody who makes plays for his teammates.

Kyle Anderson began the season with the Utah Jazz, a team he landed in the 2025 offseason after being included in a three-team trade. With the Jazz, he averaged 7.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists. He was then part of the huge trade deadline move that sent Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz. He played four games with the Grizzlies before ultimately being released by the team.

The addition of Andersen to the Timberwolves’ rotation gives them more depth at forward. He can also serve as a veteran presence in the locker room. As a veteran vet over his 12-year career, he also saw the Timberwolves achieve contender status, as he was a member of the 2024 Minnesota team that reached the Western Conference Finals against the then-Luka Doncic-led Dallas Mavericks.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic, two players who have jockeyed for the top spot in the NBA MVP rankings all season, have played two games against each other so far this season. The Oklahoma City Thunder and SGA claimed the first matchup, setting up a highly anticipated game between these two foes on Friday.

Once again, the Thunder were victorious over the Denver Nuggets, winning 127–121 in overtime. Although Jokic had 23 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists in the game for his league-leading 22nd triple-double of the season, it was Gilgeous-Alexander who grabbed the headlines with 36 points in his first game after suffering an abdominal strain before the All-Star break.

It was a big game for Gilgeous-Alexander to get back into action, but this head-to-head matchup against the three-time MVP certainly mattered to the defending league MVP. Besides being a chance for the Thunder to extend their lead in the Western Conference standings, it was a chance for Gilgeous-Alexander to prove that he should win back-to-back MVP awards.

Well, after another strong performance against Jokic and the Nuggets, the Oklahoma City star is back in the top spot in the NBA MVP rankings with six weeks remaining in the regular season.

There are two more showdowns left against these two MVP candidates, and these battles will undoubtedly carry equal importance in helping determine this year’s MVP. However, there is still an outside chance for others to steal the first-place votes.

Cade Cunningham is having a great season and has extended the Detroit Pistons’ lead to the 1st-seed in the East. Jaylen Brown has led the Boston Celtics to the second-best record in the East without Jayson Tatum, and Luka Doncic leads the league in scoring for the Los Angeles Lakers.

And then there’s Victor Wembanyama, who continues to lead the San Antonio Spurs, who are just three games behind Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder in the West standings, and who has dominated Oklahoma City this season.

Can any of these other MVP candidates surpass Jokic or Gilgeous-Alexander over the next several weeks? This is where the MVP rankings currently stand, now that SGA is back on top.

Previous 2023-24 NBA MVP Rankings: Week 18 | Week 17 | Week 16 | Week 15 | Week 14 | Week 13 | Week 12 | Week 11 | Week 10 | Week 9 | Week 8 | Week 7 | Week 6 | Week 5 | Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | week 1

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Oklahoma City Thunder*

Previous ranking: #2

2025-26 season stats: 51 games, 31.8 points, 6.4 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 55.1 FG%, 38.1 3P%

*Only a maximum of 6 more games can be left to remain eligible.

Gilgeous-Alexander missed nine consecutive games before returning against Jokic and the Nuggets on Friday night, meaning he is only allowed to miss six more games for the remainder of the season to remain eligible for season-ending honors and awards such as MVP.

Gilgeous-Alexander did not look stiff at any point in this game, as he made 12 of 29 shots from the floor and scored 36 points, while also recording nine assists. He followed that performance up with another 30-point performance on Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks, leading Oklahoma City to two consecutive wins.

The Thunder are now three games ahead of the Spurs for the 1-seed in the Western Conference, and Gilgeous-Alexander has moved closer to history with his two big-scoring performances since returning from injury.

Gilgeous-Alexander has now scored at least 20 points in 123 straight games, meaning he is three games away from tying Wilt Chamberlain’s record of 126 consecutive games with 20-plus points.

2. Nikola Jokic – Denver Nuggets*

Previous ranking: #1

2025-26 season stats: 45 games, 28.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 10.5 assists, 1.4 steals, 57.0 FG%, 40.1 3P%

*A maximum of 1 more game can be missed to remain eligible.

As good as Jokic’s numbers may look, he hasn’t looked like himself since returning from his hyperextended left knee.

In the 13 games that Jokic has played since returning from a knee injury, the Nuggets star has averaged 26.8 points, 13.8 rebounds and 9.2 assists per game, while shooting 49 percent from the floor. Obviously, these are MVP-like stats, but what stands out is his 4.1 turnovers per game during this span.

Jokic’s efficiency has declined, his shooting splits have decreased, and turnovers are a concern. Needless to mention, Denver is not playing well overall and is now down to the 5-seed in the Western Conference.

These are the main reasons why Jokic has fallen behind Gilgeous-Alexander in the MVP race.

3. Cade Cunningham – Detroit Pistons

Previous ranking: #3

2025-26 season stats: 53 games, 25.5 points, 9.8 assists, 5.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 46.0 FG%, 33.2 3P%

Besides Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic, if there is another player who needs to be voted for MVP this season, it has to be Cade Cunningham. Aside from the “feel-good” story with the Detroit Pistons, Cunningham has arguably been the best full guard in the league this season, making a greater two-way impact than Gilgeous-Alexander.

Only Jokic has provided more assists than Cunningham this year, and what the Pistons’ star has done to lead his team to the top of the East standings is remarkable. Not only is he doing this with his scoring, but Cade has set a tough standard for how the Pistons will play every night.

He doesn’t back down from any opponent and Cunningham takes on his opponent for the full 48 minutes and puts all the pressure of the game on them. It’s what’s allowed Jalen Duren to have a breakout All-Star campaign, and it’s what’s allowed this young Pistons team to suddenly go from being the favorite to make it to the NBA Finals in the East.

Between rarely missing a game and being on the team with the best winning percentage in the entire NBA, Cunningham is definitely in the MVP race with SGA and Jokic. Quite honestly, if you look at the MVP race from the perspective of a player who has exceeded expectations at the top of the league, Cunningham Is MVP. If you ask JB Bickerstaff, he’d agree.

4. Victor Wembanyama – San Antonio Spurs*

Previous ranking: #4

2025-26 season stats: 46 games, 23.7 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.9 blocks, 50.1 FG%, 34.1 3P%

*Can only miss a maximum of 4 more games to remain eligible.

Since the All-Star break, Victor Wembanyama has averaged 19.2 points, 12.0 rebounds and 4.3 blocks per game, while shooting 42.7 percent from the floor. His plus-minus stats over his last six games are among the best in the league, but Wembley’s MVP case has unfortunately come down to where the San Antonio Spurs finish in the West standings.

Should the Spurs move on from Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder, it would be difficult to deny Wembley the MVP award as he will have the numbers and best record in the NBA to back it up.

However, for the moment, what Gilgeous-Alexander has done with the best record in the West is surpassing Vembanyama’s success. While many would argue that this is an individual award that should be given to the league’s best player throughout the season, team success always plays a role in the race for this award each year.

This season is no different, and while Wembley can increase his MVP odds by racking up his playoffs in the stretch run of the season, the Spurs will still need to pass the Thunder in the standings to win the MVP.

5. Luka Doncic – Los Angeles Lakers*

Previous ranking: #5

2025-26 season stats: 48 games, 32.5 points, 8.6 assists, 7.7 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 47.3 FG%, 36.0 3P%

*Can only miss a maximum of 5 more games to remain eligible.

The only MVP case for Luka Doncic at this point might be that he leads the league in scoring, and his nearly triple-double numbers are the best of his career. While both of those things may be true, one can’t argue with Doncic being ahead of any of the other four players in the MVP rankings.

Not only is Doncic behind the level of play of Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic, but expectations for both Cunningham and Wembanyama make more sense in this race as well. In addition, the Los Angeles Lakers have not been playing well recently and are in danger of falling into the play-in zone of the West standings.

Very few players have won the MVP award while their team was not at the top of the league standings, and those who did had historic seasons that will forever be remembered in NBA history. That’s not the case with Doncic this year.

just missing the cut

6. Jaylen Brown – Boston Celtics [Ranked No. 6 last week]

7. Anthony Edwards – Minnesota Timberwolves [Ranked No. 8 last week]

8. Donovan Mitchell – Cleveland Cavaliers [Ranked No. 7 last week]

9. Jalen Brunson – New York Knicks [Ranked No. 9 last week]

10. Kevin Durant – Houston Rockets [Ranked No. 10]

*Signals players are in danger of meeting the 65-game minimum threshold for awards/accolades.

It looks like the Boston Celtics are on the verge of seeing Jayson Tatum return after suffering a setback during last year’s playoffs.

According to The Stein Report on Substack, Marc Stein, a veteran basketball writer, believes in a “conspiracy theory” as to when and why Tatum will return. Basically, Tatum would like to return to the Celtics’ games on NBC.

“PPS – Boston has games March 10 (at San Antonio) and March 22 (home game against Minnesota) on NBC. If you buy the conspiracy theory that Jayson Tatum wants to make his comeback from an Achilles tear the network is running extended coverage behind the scenes of his rehab.”

However, media personality Bill Simmons believes Tatum will return much earlier on Friday against the Dallas Mavericks.

Tatum suffered an Achilles injury during the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks last May. A series in which the Celtics lost in six games.

Tatum finished last season averaging 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game.

Currently, the Celtics have the second-best record in the Eastern Conference at 40–20. At the same time, they have won eight of their last ten matches.

Tatum won an NBA championship with Boston in 2024. He is also a 6-time NBA All-Star and was the 2023 NBA All-Star Game MVP.

Additionally, he has won two Olympic gold medals with Team USA, in Tokyo in 2020 and Paris in 2024.

Tatum has been with Boston since the 2017–18 NBA season as the third overall pick out of Duke.

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson didn’t provide any official medical update on Max Strus ahead of the team’s win over the New York Knicks, but what he had to say falls in line with the impression that the veteran swingman is getting healthier by the day.

“I watched him work on the court today,” Atkinson said Monday night. “It’s been a really positive trend. A lot of activity, contact with coaches, changes in direction. So that’s all I’ll tell you. What it means — when you start playing, all that — I can’t give you that. I haven’t even asked.

“I was so pleased and surprised, like, man, he’s starting to pick it up now.”

This is the first instance in which Atkinson mentions that Strus graduated from non-contact court work and conditioning to working against contact. Although this is only against the coaching staff, it is an important development that portends a comeback.

Strus has yet to play a game this season after suffering a Jones fracture of his left foot in late August, a few weeks before training camp. The Cavs’ last official statement on the injury came on January 6, indicating it required more time to heal. Strus had a follow-up evaluation four weeks later, but other than Atkinson emphasizing his progress, the team has not released any other updates since then.

“The hardest part for him is just being patient,” Cavs president Koby Altman said in his post-trade-deadline Zoom call with the media in early February. “That injury was a terrible offseason injury. It took a long time to heal, but he’s making progress. He’s getting back on the field, and we’re excited to have him for this stretch run, but we’re definitely taking our time to make sure that when he comes back, he’s 100 percent.

“I know there’s no one more excited than him to come back. No one’s pushing harder than him to come back. But at the same time, we want to make sure he’s 100 percent when he comes back. And unfortunately I still don’t have a timetable for you.”

Atkinson recently shared that Cleveland does not have a target number of games for the Struts to play in order to advance to the postseason. He hopes to suit up in the regular season.

“Getting Max back any time before the playoffs would be a huge bonus,” Atkinson said. “I mean, he missed a lot of time last year with an ankle. He’s not a 22-year-old, right? A guy with that experience and the way he works in the weight room. Of course, he wants a little runway where he can find his rhythm. But, as long as we get him to make a run in the playoffs, I think it’s a win for us. He has a lot of experience. Obviously, he played very well in the playoffs last year.”

It will be interesting to see how the Cavs’ rotation looks when Strus returns to the floor. Atkinson has plenty of options to go with the rebuilt core of James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Guys like Dean Wade, Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson and Keon Ellis have proven their ability to step up when needed. Unfortunately, someone will have to fall down a peg due to the depth of the team.

“Obviously, thrilled that we’re getting healthy. We’re almost there,” Atkinson said last week. “Max, like that last part, but almost perfect. So I think it’s figuring out the rotation and the lineup. That’s the biggest thing. And also, when you have everybody healthy, obviously, the minutes are distributed differently. Guys who are playing a lot may not be playing as much.

“There’s a lot of moving pieces with this, which we all know is part of it. And everybody has to make sacrifices and do their part. But listen, it’s a good problem to have with the talent we have. So, excited to see James with the new guys we’re integrating.”

chicago bulls lost their 10th consecutive game Charlotte Hornets 131-99 on Tuesday. They have not won a single game yet this month.

Nevertheless, Matas Buzelis led the way with a season-high 32 points. However, to hear him say this, he it doesn’t matter that much As a must-win game, according to Chicago Sports Network’s KC Johnson.

“I want to win games,” Bouzelis said. I’m working every day to try to win. And so does everyone else.” Additionally, Bouzelis came up with a team-high six rebounds as well as six 3-pointers.

As a result, the Bulls are now 24-35. On Thursday, they will conclude the month with a home game against the Portland Trail Blazers. On Tuesday, Buzzellis & Co. welcomed back my ex Coby White is playing his first game in Chicago since being traded. White finished the game with 10 points.

Bouzelis is averaging 15.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Recently, Buzzellis coming to grips With a completely new dynamic after the trade deadline. He saw his former teammates, White, Ayo Dosunmu, Nikola Vucevic and Kevin Huerter move on to other competitors. Thus, Chicago’s remaining key players join Buzellis, Josh Giddy and Jalen Smith.

Additionally, he is being tasked with carrying out more of the Bulls’ offense, especially since he is still adjusting. Bouzelis is in his second season with Chicago. He recently Competed in the NBA Rising Stars Game During All-Star Weekend. Furthermore, he has Went viral for his explosive dunks this seasonS.

However, this does not compensate for winning the game.

Oscar De La Hoya suggested over the weekend that he could be the next boxing legend to return to the ring. But Terence Crawford’s reaction perfectly explained why the 53-year-old should stay.

It has recently become common in the sport for great boxers to return to the ring after a decade or more away. Mike Tyson has fought two exhibition bouts since 2020, despite being in his 50s. Manny Pacquiao had one championship fight last year at the age of 46. And Floyd Mayweather last week announced plans to end his exhibition tour for an official fight in September.

After this weekend, boxing fans may have to add gold medalist De La Hoya to that list. Following his big win over Golden Boy fighter Ryan Garcia, De La Hoya posted a video on Instagram of himself shadowboxing in the backyard and said, “Inspired last night. My journey starts today.”

In the video, the six-division champion looked to be in great shape and moving quite well. On the surface, he seemed like a man ready for another fight. Then a comment on Terence Crawford’s post revealed why a return to the ring might be a bad idea.

Crawford wrote, “Shake your head, champ, and give me some upper body action.”

This is a smart and honest critique of the video. But it also explains why the returns may not be worth the risks. While Oscar De La Hoya’s arm movement looked great and his legs were solid, there was no movement in the head or shoulders. His chin will be an immovable target for potential opponents.

Considering the success De La Hoya has had as a promoter, it doesn’t seem fair to suffer some brain damage for another moment of glory.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

NEW YORK – Jalen Brunson was the NBA’s 2025 Clutch Player of the Year for a reason. On Saturday night against the Houston Rockets, he added to his crunch-time resume by finalizing New York’s 18-point comeback. It took almost half of the third quarter for Brunson to make his first field goal, but the final six minutes of the fourth quarter were his showcase.

New York reduced Houston’s lead for the first half of the fourth quarter with Brunson on the bench. The guard entered the game with 6:27 left, shooting 4-4 ​​from the floor and knocked down the lead-taking mid-range jump shot with 29.5 seconds remaining. It was the guard’s 14th game-tying or go-ahead save since joining the Knicks’ roster, good for second in the NBA in that span.

According to ESPN, Brunson trails only DeMar DeRozan in that regard. The superstar guard told reporters after the game that, despite the game’s make-or-miss reputation, his fourth-quarter masterpiece was about a change in approach, not just a variation.

“I didn’t like how I was playing and I saw I had to change it, it’s that simple. It has nothing to do with shooting. It’s the mentality of getting down the slope and trying to make plays. And not hesitate and not be passive. If there are mistakes, they’re offensive mistakes. They want you to be on your heels. And I think that’s what I was in the first few quarters,” the Knicks captain told the media on Saturday.

Brown says the Knicks “have to get better” after being swept by the Rockets.

Reporters asked head coach Mike Brown about his group’s tendency to underestimate competition and flip the proverbial “switch” when needed. He said after the game that although he has coached teams that can “flip the switch”, such as the Golden State Warriors group that included Durant, those were unique situations that he was not counting on replicating in New York.

“We’ve found a way. But we’ve got to be better,” Brown said.

The organization chose this coach to lead this group because his focus was on team process regardless of results. Sunday night’s tilt in Chicago will conclude the weekend’s back-to-back. After that, the Knicks have 24 games left in the regular season. Brown, and his players, will spend time honing that same process – trying to get as close to perfection as possible.

The New York Knicks performed one of their most epic comebacks in recent memory in a 108-106 win over the Houston Rockets, overcoming an 18-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Karl-Anthony Towns led the way with 25 points, and a spirited fourth quarter saw the Knicks score 33 points while holding the Rockets to just 15.

After the game, Catt elaborated on how he helped his team mount a comeback, claiming that he challenged his teammates to perform aggressively in the final period.

“I have challenged my team to start the fourth down as a challenge. You know, we can win this game and I see us doing that. It starts with the first possession of the fourth quarter playing defense, we have to make stops. It’s the most important possession of the game, the first play in the fourth quarter,” he explained according to a Knicks video posted on X.

“I just challenged our team to make the fourth start”

Karl-Anthony Towns talks about his message to his teammates before the fourth quarter, challenging them to stop to start the quarter: pic.twitter.com/NkwWAwj8kr

– Knicks Video (@sny_knicks) 22 February 2026

Catt, for his part, offered an explanation, claiming that the Knicks were expected to go out in the final period and win.

“And, I also wanted to get that stop on my end. And from that point, you move on. It sets the tone for our team and sets the level of intensity we need to play for because we’re expected to go out and win,” he explained.

KAT helped New York lead a decisive 14–2 run at the end of the fourth quarter, cutting Houston’s lead to two with just over three minutes remaining. But the Rockets’ failure to convert shots also helped the Knicks.

Houston missed eight consecutive shots during the Knicks’ decisive push and finished with 20 turnovers, which translated into 30 Knicks points. Regardless, if KAT set the tone, Jalen Brunson delivered the final blow.

The All-Star guard scored 18 of his 20 points in the second half, including the tying jumper and the go-ahead pull-up that sealed the comeback. Now the Knicks will face the Chicago Bulls.

The Golden State Warriors are entering the most important phase of their season, but they will have to do it without their North Star. Stephen Curry recently met with the media to provide the latest on the persistent right knee injury that has kept him sidelined since late January, and while the news isn’t “bad,” it’s certainly not what fans wanted to hear.

“It’s not going the way I wanted it to,” Curry admitted via NBC Sports Authentic. The two-time MVP has been battling patellofemoral pain syndrome, commonly known as “runner’s knee.” While a second MRI on Wednesday night confirmed that there was no structural damage, the lingering pain and swelling has refused to subside. Curry said that although he is “moving in the right direction,” the priority is to stay healthy for the postseason rather than getting back in time for a February matchup.

Steph Curry shares the latest update on his knee injury and recovery:

“Feels good. I mean, it’s not going the way I wanted it to, but I think we’re on the right track to try to get back there as quickly as possible. The goal is to stay healthy come playoff time and… pic.twitter.com/LpXdWwryol

– Ali ✶ (@jinttherty) 21 February 2026

The timing couldn’t be worse for Golden State. The team is already missing Jimmy Butler, who is out for the season after ACL surgery. This latest delay is also a big personal sting for Curry: By missing his 18th game of the season against the Boston Celtics on Thursday, he becomes officially ineligible for All-NBA and MVP honors under the league’s 65-game rule.

On the court, the shorthanded Warriors have been bad but inconsistent. They recently pulled off a stunning 101-97 comeback win against the Phoenix Suns with the help of a career-high 20 points from Pat Spencer and 18 points from Gui Santos. However, a lack of late-game shot creation was evident as they relied on a 25-7 closing run to escape. D’Anthony Melton scored 17 points, but the offense clearly lacked the “gravity” provided by Curry.

The Warriors, currently 29-27 and in eighth place in the West, will reevaluate Curry in 10 days. For now, “Dub Nation” faithful will have to hold their breath and hope the supporting cast can keep the ship afloat until No. 30 is cleared for takeoff.

In an NHL season in which goaltender interference has been an increasingly frustrating topic, an ambiguous and often downright judgment call went to Team Canada in the men’s Olympic hockey semi-finals, and led the Canadians to a 3–2 victory over Team Finland.

With two Canadian referees, no less.

With 6:35 remaining and Canada trailing 2-1, dangerous winger Brad Marchand came to the crease with no hesitation. He then approached Team Finland forward Erik Haula from behind. Those are undeniable facts.

From there, how fans watched the drama had a lot to do with the passports they held. Finland did not challenge the call for fear of being outmatched against rising Canada.

Shea Theodore ties it for Team Canada 🇨🇦

They were trailing Finland 2-0 at the start of the game

(via @NBCOlympics)pic.twitter.com/rYJTaBPdgM

– Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) 20 February 2026

Referees Eric Farlat and Dan O’Rourke could have waived the goal, but the call on the ice was a good goal.

To this writer, it certainly looked like Marchand made contact and then tripped over Saros because of the contact, and Saros did not have time to reset his position for play again, but the referee ruled that Haula caused the contact or that Saros had enough time to regain his position.

Shea Theodore was credited with the call. This season, nearly 70% of goalie interference challenges in the NHL have been unsuccessful. Finland decided not to take the chance, potentially giving the Canadiens a power play.

After the quarterfinal loss to Canada, Czechia coach Radim Rulik criticized the referees and questioned their impartiality.

“I feel like everyone is afraid to say anything against Canada,” Rulik said after the game on Wednesday.

To add insult to injury, Finland lost on a late power play goal after a high-sticking penalty. Canadian forward Nathan MacKinnon blasted a shortside one-timer from the left circle with just 35 seconds remaining.

Canada will face the winner of Team USA vs. Slovakia on Sunday for the gold medal.

Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner will be sidelined indefinitely coming out of the NBA All-Star break after needing additional time and pain to recover from a left ankle sprain, as first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The team released a statement on Wednesday, saying Wagner was experiencing soreness in his left ankle and would need additional time to heal after the All-Star break. Wagner will be reevaluated in about three weeks.

The injury first occurred on December 7 against the New York Knicks, and Wagner missed 16 consecutive games. Although he returned to play in his hometown of Berlin on January 15 and again overseas in London, England on January 18, Wagner missed nine consecutive games to deal with his ankle injury.

In his lengthy absence, Anthony Black has emerged as a key weapon in Orlando alongside Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bain.

Wagner, who missed 25 of the Magic’s last 29 games due to an ankle injury, has played in only 28 games this season due to various injuries. This directly resulted in Orlando having a mediocre 28–25 record at the All-Star break.

Since the start of the 2024–25 season, Wagner and Banchero have played just 58 games together. When both players are on the court, the Magic are 29-29 overall.

Wagner isn’t the only player to miss significant time this season for the Magic, as Jalen Suggs has missed a total of 20 games so far on the season due to various injuries. Most recently, Suggs suffered a Grade 1 right MCL injury in the knee, and he missed eight consecutive games.

The good news for Orlando is that Suggs has played in each of the Magic’s last seven games before the All-Star break. Additionally, the Magic are still not fully developed this season and Wagner, Banchero, Suggs and Benn are on the court with each other for consecutive games.

In his 28 games this season, Wagner is averaging 21.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting 47.9 percent from the floor.

LOS ANGELES — As he explained Saturday, it was a short stint for Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic during the NBA All-Star Game. Doncic took the court for the first time since suffering a minor hamstring injury during the Lakers’ win against the Philadelphia 76ers on February 5.

During his media availability session as part of All-Star Weekend, Doncic admitted that he was only going to play a little bit in the actual game, and that his hamstring injury was looking good. Sure enough, Doncic only played five minutes in the first game of Team World’s new All-Star format, sitting out the second game. He finished with two points and two assists while shooting 1-3 from the field.

After Team World’s exit from the new All-Star Game tournament, Doncic explains how his injury felt after getting back on the court

“It was cool. Obviously I wanted to be there, the fans voted for me to be in this game so I wanted to be there and be a part of it a little bit,” Doncic said. “But [my hamstring] I liked it.”

Doncic missed four consecutive games after the injury. The Lakers went 3–2 in those games. They came into the All-Star break with a 33–21 record and fifth place in the Western Conference standings. They are only one and a half games behind the current No. 3 seed Denver Nuggets, but only one and a half games behind the No. 7 seed Phoenix Suns and the play-in spot.

As the Lakers try to build some stability during the final stretch of the season, one thing they are counting on is staying healthy. Injuries have forced the Lakers to shuffle their lineup, and while they have a full roster available, they have yet to find a consistent extension.

Doncic thinks that’s the main thing for the team to finish strong over the next few months.

“Just health,” Doncic said. “We are struggling with injuries a lot, so this will help.

In his first full season with the Lakers since the trade, Doncic appeared in 42 games at a rate of just over 35 minutes per game. He averaged a league-leading 32.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.6 assists and 1.5 steals while splitting 47.3 percent shooting from the field, 34.5 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 78.1 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

The Lakers will resume play after the All-Star break on Friday, February 20 at home against the LA Clippers.