An MLB prospect expert believes New York Yankees Triple-A star Spencer Jones has a lot of potential. But he also believes that this young player could easily flop in the Bronx.

This week, Jason Dominguez endeared himself to Yankees fans when he went all out to make a catch during a game against the Texas Rangers. In the process of making possibly the best catch of his career, he sprained a low-grade left AC joint in his knee and is expected to be sidelined for several weeks.

To fill his spot on the roster, the Yankees are pulling the trigger on something New York fans have wanted to see for a few years: top star Aaron Judge in the same outfield with stud prospect Spencer Jones. The pair of 6-foot-7 sluggers will now bookend the Yanks’ outfield for the foreseeable future.

Yankees fans have heard about Jones and his big power over the years. He has been a top prospect in their system and has been close to untouchable as a minor leaguer for the franchise. So, expectations are high as he joins a 26-12 team.

Could Spencer Jones be the next Race Hinds?

Baseball America editor-in-chief JJ Cooper spoke after news of his promotion on Friday foul territory show Regarding Jones, prospect experts admitted that Jones “scares” them because, in their time in this role, they have never seen a player with such a wide range of possible career outcomes.

He made it clear that he would never come close to being as good as Judge, but he believed he could become a player who hits 25 to 30 homers in the big leagues. But he also said his performance could be similar to that of Cincinnati Reds prospect Race Hinds. A player who was a beast in the minors but has a .172 average in 51 games played over the last three seasons.

The big reason he’s so unsure about Jones is not just his high strikeout rate that could lead to 0-4 with 4 Ks days, but it’s his miss rate in the zone. Jones is one of the top picks in the minor leagues. Cooper concluded by saying that Spencer Jones’ promotion to the Yankees’ big league roster this week carries “massive potential but also massive risk.”

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

Former IWGP Heavyweight Champion EVIL may debut in WWE soon.

Sources have indicated to BodySlam that EVIL is expected to debut soon following his recent signing with the company, with tonight’s NXT emerging as a possibility given the mysterious storyline currently ongoing on the brand.

PWInsider first confirmed the signing last week, noting that WWE has yet to publicly acknowledge the deal. A follow-up report from PWInsider also revealed that EVIL is currently listed internally on WWE’s diverse roster – the same category used for legends and injured talent – ​​suggesting that the company has not yet decided which brand he will be assigned to. That picture is probably about to change.

So where does evil fit in? The NXT connection stems from last week’s episode of the brand, during which Tony D’Angelo was presented with a box containing the Japanese kanji for “war”. The delivery immediately led to speculation that EVIL may have been behind it, with many fans and observers pointing out the obvious similarities between the secret package and his arrival in WWE.

Others have suggested that the sender could be Pro Wrestling NOAH’s Meteor Sasaki, who is currently on tour in NXT. No confirmation of either theory has been provided, but the timing of the bodyslam’s imminent first report on The Tonight Show fuels EVIL speculation.

EVIL had a breakout moment in his career after betraying Los Ingobernables de Japon to join up with Bullet Club in 2020. He defeated Tetsuya Naito, retaining both the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Championships, a moment that marked a significant change in NJPW’s storytelling at the time.

His overall resume includes one IWGP Heavyweight Championship reign, one IWGP Intercontinental Championship reign, four NEVER Openweight Championship reigns, two IWGP Tag Team Championship reigns, and six NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship reigns. He left NJPW in January before his WWE contract was confirmed in late April. Japanese sources are expected to drop the EVIL ring name going forward, although WWE has not publicly confirmed any new name.

A little number 86 flying around the ice playing with the puck on his stick? That must be Jack Hughes, right? Actually, it’s Buffalo Sabers rookie, Noah Ostlund.

When the Sabers learned they were losing Josh Norris to injury in Game 3, it caused a bit of panic.

Buffalo is well ahead of Ostlund, whom they selected 16th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft. However, a rookie making his playoff debut in place of a proven impact NHL forward is a big question.

Despite his initial nervousness, Ostlund didn’t let the horror of the moment overwhelm him.

“Maybe a little nervousness the first two innings,” Ostlund said with a smile. “But it also goes away very quickly.”

After a scoreless first period on Thursday night, the Boston Bruins took a 1-0 lead on the stick of Tanner Jeannott just over three minutes into the middle frame.

However, the Sabers did not bow. And finally answered.

About seven minutes after the opening goal, Ostlund advanced the puck through the neutral zone and over the Boston blueline to enter the clean zone. He slipped through the Bruins defense and down the goal line with the puck, and fed Bowen Byram at the top of the right circle for a one-time chance that beat goaltender Jeremy Swayman to tie the game at one.

Ostlund’s elusive playmaking certainly took the volatile Swayman by surprise. Nevertheless, he surprised even Byram from close.

“To be honest, he surprised me a little bit there,” Byram said. “I wasn’t sure he would make it to me. It was surreal to have him go through it.”

While the Sabers rookie turned some heads with his vision and playmaking, Ostlund shrugged it off as just another game.

“I looked at him all the way, and then [Josh Doan] Did a good job running the net,” he said. “So that lane opened up.”

The Sabers rookie put the nail in the coffin on Thursday to solidify their 3-1 win and take a 2-1 series lead. After Alex Tuch scored the game-winning goal early in the third period, Lindy Ruff iced Ostlund late in the third period when the Bruins pulled Swayman for an extra attacker.

“For his first playoff game with us, he gets an A-plus,” Ruff said.

Ostlund netted an empty-net goal as time expired to take Game 3 at TD Garden – his first goal in the playoffs.

Ostlund had a promising rookie season. He scored 11 goals and 27 points in 60 games. While he went scoreless in his first eight games since his 2024-25 debut, it’s clear that the Sabres’ rise to the plate has benefited Ostlund’s development.

However, his best game to date was probably Thursday night.

According to Natural Stat Trick, the Ostlund-led line with Zach Benson and Jack Quinn led the Sabers in expected goal share with an 89.98 xGF% all night.

In fact, during 5-on-5 play, they didn’t allow a single scoring chance against Ostlund and company on the ice.

Before last night, Ostlund had not played in nearly a month after suffering an upper body injury – ironically on March 25 against the Sabres.

Still, his immediate impact upon returning to the lineup stunned his teammates, singing his praises in the locker room Thursday night.

“I mean, jumping right in, he hasn’t played a game in a few weeks, it’s his first playoff hockey game in his rookie year, and the guy gets (a goal) and (an assist). It’s special,” Tuch said. “I mean, the hockey IQ is off the charts. But honestly, competing, he went in every single inning, made a difference every single inning, and he was phenomenal.”

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Joshua Norris can’t seem to catch a break. The Buffalo Sabers will be without their starting center for Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins on Thursday night.

Head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed that Norris is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury after not feeling well after Game 2. The 26-year-old veteran did not suffer any major injuries in the last competition, but illness has ruled him out for at least one game.

This is certainly a significant short-term setback for Buffalo – especially after losing to the Bruins in Game 2 which allowed Boston to tie the series 1-1.

Norris, in his first playoff action, was a reliable contributor in the opening two games. He averaged over 16 minutes on the ice, recorded six hits, won 53.1% of faceoffs, and helped the Sabers control 61.1% of shot attempts at 5-on-5 with him on the ice.

During the regular season, he scored 34 points in 44 games despite missing time due to upper body problems, providing valuable secondary scoring and depth from a third-line role.

Fortunately, the return of rookie Noah Ostlund is giving the Sabers a timely boost. The morning line rush showed the 2022 first-round pick slotting directly into Norris’ place as the third-line center, with presumably familiar wingers next to him.

Ostlund, set to make his Stanley Cup playoff debut, had been sidelined since March 25 with an upper-body injury against Boston – nearly a month on the shelf – but seemed ready to contribute after a solid rookie campaign in which he scored 11 goals and 27 points in 60 games.

While Ostlund brings skill, hockey sense and two-way ability, there are some concerns. Deployed primarily on the wing during the season, he has struggled on faceoffs (31.5% win rate) and is a smaller, less physical player (5’11”, 180 pounds), which has been a tough series. Buffalo has already thrown 83 hits through two games, highlighting the physical disadvantage.

The Sabers would ideally like to see both players healthy, but Ostlund’s entry provides depth and youth as they try to storm back into the series. Game 3 in Boston could depend on how effectively the third line performs without Norris’ experience and how Ostlund handles the increased responsibility in a high-risk environment.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

On March 31, Rangers Confirmed Rabbi Matondo’s Ibrox exit to join SK Brann on a permanent transfer. The Norwegian club snatched him from Danny Rohl’s team as the window there remained open until last month.

The winger joined Rangers from Schalke in July 2022 and has failed to cement a place at Ibrox.

To give context, he played 2,706 minutes in 70 matches and scored eight goals and 11 assists for Rangers.

In January 2025, the Scottish club sent him on loan to Hannover 96 and before that, we broadcast news Of interest to Ajax. Since returning from his loan spell in Germany, he lost prominence at Rangers.

Russell Martin did not give him any minutes and his successor Rohl used him twice in cup competitions this season. He played only one minute in the Scottish Premiership, which came against Aberdeen FC in November.

The restricted rule under Rohl this season may have convinced him to leave Rangers permanently in search of regular minutes.

Still to fly after the Rangers get out

Rabbi Matondo has yet to showcase his talents since leaving Ibrox for SK Brann a few weeks ago.

Since moving to Norway, Brann manager Friar Alexandersson had left him as an unused substitute in the first two matches.

At the weekend, the former Rangers man came off the bench late on to play a minute in his team’s 3-2 defeat to Viking FK.

Spoke to the Wales international after the latest defeat bergens tidende And his comments were published in Monday’s edition of the newspaper.

The attacker was barely on the pitch after coming off the bench in the 96th minute.

Matondo is unhappy with both his position and the latest defeat.

“Of course we wanted better results,” He said.

“It wasn’t many minutes. In my mind, I’m more prepared than ever and I was expecting more minutes, but this is football. I feel ready for more than three-four minutes on the pitch. If I had more time I could help more.”

Our opinion: Welshman’s slow start not surprising

The former Rangers player only playing a few minutes for SK Brann should come as no surprise.

This is because before moving to Norway, Rabbi Matondo had only played 65 minutes for Rangers this season. This suggests he lacks match practice and may need time to adjust to a new club in a new country.

Barring any surprises, players should take their time trying to solidify their place in Brains.

We’ve already seen some of the top MLB prospects make their major league debuts this season, some of them even doing so with lucrative contract extensions. In what is already shaping up to be one of the best rookie classes in over a decade, another wave of talent could be on the horizon. Let’s take a look at 10 top MLB prospects who could debut in the coming weeks.

READ MORE: MLB Power Rankings Week 3

1. Max Clark

Max Clark is a former third overall draft pick who is currently ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 8 prospect. He’s currently slashing .344/.421/.500 in Triple-A, and while he hasn’t hit any home runs yet, he’s showing off his speed with six stolen bases and eight doubles. The Tigers could also easily make room for him; All it would take is sending down Jahmai Jones, who is currently slashing .077/.077/.077.

2. Bryce Aldridge

Bryce Aldridge has already spent time in the big leagues through 2025, and while that stint was about as bad as it could go, it feels like he deserves another chance. MLB Pipeline gives him a 70 power tool, which would be a perfect fit for a Giants team that currently ranks last in MLB with just nine home runs in their first 19 games.

3. Travis Bazana

Travis Bazana was the No. 1 overall pick in 2024, and he’s already knocking on the big league door. He is currently reaching base at a .389 clip in Triple-A and slugging at .451. Meanwhile, Cleveland’s big-league second baseman, Brian Roccio, has a .688 OPS. Rocio could be moved into a utility role to make room for Bazana, who could make an immediate impact on Cleveland’s lineup. He proved himself at the World Baseball Classic earlier this year as a member of Australia’s team.

4. Walker Jenkins

The former No. 5 overall pick is ranked as the No. 11 prospect by MLB Pipeline, and although his Triple-A numbers probably aren’t where the Twins organization would like them to be, it’s probably time to call him up. The Twins are making noise in the AL Central, and Walker Jenkins could be ready to make a big impact.

5. Jonah Tong

Jonah Tong made his debut with the Mets last season and was impressive in his first start, allowing one run in five innings. It was all downhill from there. Tong lasted five starts and finished with a 7.71 ERA in 2025. But the Mets once thought he was ready, and last year he had a 1.43 ERA between Double-A and Triple-A. It feels like there hasn’t been much development for Tong at the minor league level.

6. Jett Williams

Jett Williams is one of two Brewers infielders ranked in MLB Pipeline’s top 100. The Brewers have always found ways to win by using their youth, and Williams is part of their next batch.

7. Cooper Pratt

The Brewers have already extended Cooper Pratt an eight-year, $50.75 million contract. This alone is reason enough to call him. Obviously the team has confidence in him.

8. Harry Ford

Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz is hitting .171 with a -0.2 bWAR to start 2026. Washington gave up one of their top weapons in Jose Ferrer last season to bring in Harry Ford. Why keep Ford in Triple-A when their major league catcher is struggling?

9. Ryan River

Ryan Rivers is 27 years old and is projected to be a big league reliever. MLB Pipeline still likes him so much that he is ranked as the 100th best prospect in baseball. The Dodgers have been wasting a potentially high-leverage relief arm in Triple-A, and it seems like it’s time to get him in the show.

10. Colt Emerson

Colt Emerson would be higher on this list if there was a clear path to playing in the major leagues, but there isn’t. JP Crawford, Brandon Donovan and Cole Young have locked down the infield, and the Mariners don’t want to call on Emerson just to hide on the bench. At the same time, for a good prospect like Emerson, you find a way for him to find playing time. If it means moving the defense around, that might be what Seattle needs to do.

On Friday night in Las Vegas, former WWE and AEW star Jake Hager made his successful debut in the strange world of professional slap fighting.

The man once known as Jack Swagger in World Wrestling Entertainment has proven over the past decade that he is much more than just a pro wrestler. Before joining WWE, he was an accomplished two-sport athlete in Oklahoma. Playing football and wrestling for powerhouse universities.

He had an 11-year run in the top promotion in pro wrestling, winning numerous titles, including a two-month reign as WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Following his release in 2017, he did not take his talents to any other wrestling company. Instead, he began cage fighting and amassed a 3-0 record in MMA’s No. 2 promotion, Bellator.

Jake Hager Power Slap Record: 1-0

Two years later, he returned to the industry under his real name, Jake Hager, which made him a celebrity by signing with All Elite Wrestling. Served as a key member of The Inner Circle and Jericho Appreciation Society during his five-year tenure. However, as of 2017, he eventually left wrestling to try a new sport: slap fighting.

On Friday at Power Slap 19, Hager made his sporting and promotional debut when he faced fellow heavyweight Devin Jenkins. Recognizing that Hager could attract the brand’s attention due to his wrestling history, Power Slap gave him a winnable fight after Jenkins had lost his previous two bouts in the promotion.

Although it took three rounds, Hager showed that he is a slap fish out of water and was able to score a TKO victory in his power slap debut (highlights from the victory can be found above). Now, Hager is a successful athlete in not one, not two, not three, but four combat sports.

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

The game between the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders had some ups and downs… but most of them happened before the puck even dropped at UBS Arena.

On Monday, the Hurricanes recalled two players from the Chicago Wolves, Felix Unger Sorum – who was Chicago’s leading scorer, and Pyotr Kochetkov – the goaltender projected to miss the remainder of the season.

Then, on the morning of the game, defensemen Joel Nystrom and Ronan Seely were recalled.

Roster dilemma leads to emergency backup goaltender assignment

Two hours before the game, head coach Rod Brind’Amour spoke to the media and confirmed that all three skaters – and Kochetkov – would play against the Islanders. However, a monkey wrench was thrown into that plan less than an hour before puck drop.

Kochetkov was pulled from the ice shortly after warmups began, as it was then announced that he would not be able to start due to roster technicalities. Furthermore, the problem came with an additional issue, as Frederik Andersen was unavailable to play.

Thus, Long Island native Brandon Bussey took the crease for the second consecutive night. The emergency backup goaltender was 28-year-old Thomas Sullivan, who played seven games for nearby Stony Brook University between the ACHA’s 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons, and previously warmed the bench as an emergency goaltender for the Washington Capitals in a game against the Islanders during the 2022–23 season.

game highlights

Early in the first period, Nikolaj Ehlers scored the Hurricanes’ first goal of the game, with the primary assist coming from Unger Sörum, making his second-inning of his NHL career. It was a good frame for the 20-year-old forward, who also hit the post on a shot from the right face-off circle. You could see he was enjoying the occasion too.

“It’s been really fun,” he said during the first intermission. “I’ve just been smiling all day, and just waiting for this moment, so it’s been really fun.”

To make the moment even more special for the young winger, he was joined in the stands by his family, who had traveled from Norway and Sweden.

“This is very special,” he said. “They’ve helped me a lot on my journey so far, and I have a lot to thank them for. So, it’s been really fun to have them visit here.”

In the second period, the Islanders went to work during a delayed penalty, with Bo Horvat finding the back of the net to hold the Hurricanes to 54 seconds, tying the game and scoring the 300th NHL goal of his career in the process. Additionally, the second assist came from Victor Eklund, younger brother of San Jose Sharks top-six forward William Eklund, in his NHL debut.

In the third period, Mark Jankowski scored the go-ahead goal with just over five minutes remaining in regulation. This proved to be the game-winner, as neither team was able to score after the Islanders pulled their goaltender.

A rare occurrence, the Hurricanes fell behind 29–21, but ultimately won 2–1.

storm notes

No clear explanation was ever given regarding the roster issue other than a ‘roster technicality’. After the trade deadline, teams do not have a roster limit and are limited only by salary cap rules. Thus, the impression is created that this was merely a matter of paperwork.

With the Boston Bruins clinching the top Eastern Conference wild card with a 4–0 win over the New Jersey Devils, the Hurricanes are scheduled to face the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the playoffs.

Scoring their 113th point with the win over the Islanders, the Hurricanes finished second in the entire league, guaranteeing home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs over the top-place Colorado Avalanche.

During the third period, William Carrier took a blow to the face while on the bench. He left the game after some time.

Not only was Felix Unger Sorum’s family present during the game, but Ronan Seely’s father as well as Brandon Bussey’s family were also confirmed to be in attendance.

On Tuesday, it was the first time since April 13, 2023 that the Hurricanes finished the regular season with a win, when they defeated the Florida Panthers 6–4.

Nikolaj Ehlers was the only player to skate in all 82 games for the Hurricanes this season.

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

chelsea Keeping a close eye on one of Sweden’s fastest-rising young talents, AIK winger Zadok Yohana has suddenly found himself thrust into the summer transfer conversation.

The 18-year-old player is still at the beginning of his senior career. However, their trajectory has changed sharply in recent weeks. For most of 2025, Yohanna featured mainly for AIK’s youth sides.

He picked up occasional senior minutes off the bench, usually late in matches, without making any major impact at first-team level. But now this has changed.

A strong performance in a domestic cup tie in March provided the first indication. Then he got complete success.

On 5 April, Yohanna made his full senior debut delivered promptly. He scored brilliant goals and consistently troubled defenders with direct running and confidence in one-on-one situations.

With that decisive performance, he helped AIK to a 2–1 win over Halmstad, further increasing the attention around him.

rapid growth attracts attention

Zadok Yohanna’s explosive debut did not go unnoticed. as mentioned score nigeriaChelsea is one of several clubs keeping a close eye on the winger, along with Ajax.

The report claims scouts have already taken note of his explosive full debut.

A source close to Yohanna’s youth academy was quoted by Score Nigeria as saying: “I can tell you that top clubs like Chelsea and Ajax are monitoring the boy. In the coming weeks, the boy’s transfer situation will become quite clear.”

AIK are also said to be preparing for that scenario. The Swedish club reportedly want at least €15m (£12.9m) for the teenager. This figure reflects both his ability and the increased attention around him.

What does this mean for Chelsea

Zadok Yohanna is still raw, but the profile is clear. He is a direct winger who looks to attack defenders aggressively. His recent performances show that confidence is not an issue even at the senior level.

Chelsea have consistently targeted emerging talent across Europe. They often move early, before prices rise or competition heats up.

Meanwhile, Johanna has just entered professional football. This means any move will be framed as a long-term investment rather than an immediate first-team solution.

What happens next will depend on how he handles the coming weeks. If he maintains this level, interest will only increase – and Chelsea may need to decide how quickly they want to act.

The Carter Yakemchuk era officially began last night! Talk about a great start. Yakemchuk played 12:46, assisted on the first goal of the game and scored the next goal as the Senators won 3–2 against the Red Wings. Let’s dive into the details of Carter Yakemchuk and the Senators’ incredible back-to-back wins!

Yakemchuk’s strong start

Just a week ago, I wrote about Yakemchuk’s progress in the AHL this season. For the most part, it has been a successful year, with Yakemchuk now having 10 goals and 36 points in 50 games. The downside is that he was a team-worst -30. The following sentence was in my article: “It is unlikely that Yakemchuk will get his NHL opportunity this season.” The organization seemed committed to having him play a full season in the AHL. Well, low and behold, the Senators have been ravaged by injuries, forcing Yakemchuk into the lineup for his first NHL game in the middle of a playoff push against a rival team. No pressure, right?

The credit for this goes to Travis Green. He made sure not to overshadow Yakemchuk or fellow rookie Jorian Donovan. Donovan only played 4:42, which makes sense when you consider that not only was this his first NHL game, but he had been out the last few weeks in Belleville due to injury.

Meanwhile, Yakemchuk played 21 shifts. 1:22 of that came on the power play, where he noted his penchant for assists between the legs. At 5 on 5, 50% of his shifts began in the offensive zone. For comparison, here are the other D-men offensive zones starting at 5 p.m. last night:

• cleven: 29%
• when: 24%
• spence: 18%
• mat fire: 0%

Kleven and Zub were given penalties of over 5 minutes. Yakemchuk was not used on the penalty kill. In terms of setting a young offensive D-man up for success, this is exactly how to do it. From there, of course, it was up to Yakemchuk to play well, and he certainly did that.

Best senator ever back to back?

I will not pretend to know each sense one by one. This is what I know. This was quite challenging as the Senators played both games on the road. To make matters worse, they played both games without their best defender Jake Sanderson. However, it doesn’t end here!

In their win against Rangers, he played the second half of the game with only four defenders. They lost their new number one, Thomas Chabot, at the end of the first leg. Then they lost Lassie Thomson in the second. Despite this, he only allowed 10 shots in the entire game.

In the second game last night in Detroit, they were now without Sanderson, Chabot, Jensen, Gilbert and Thompson on the back-end. Donovan played less than five minutes, leaving Cleven as their only regular left-shot D-man. They found a way to win 3–2, giving them an incredible 2–0 record in one of the greatest back-to-backs in team history.

Linus Ullmark stands tall

Let’s face it, given how the cards were stacked against them, the Senators needed Ullmark to have a great game. That’s exactly what he did last night. He saved 33 of the 35 shots he faced, including some incredible saves late to preserve a one-goal lead. This is the most saves Ullmark has made in a game all season.

It feels as if their struggle is now behind them. Since returning from his leave of absence in late January, Ullmark has gone 9-2-2 with a .902 SV%. This is by no means a typical SV%, but it is important to note that the Senators limit shots better than any team in the NHL. His 2.31 GAA during that time ranked fifth-best among all goaltenders with at least 10 games played. If he can provide that type of goaltending, the Senators have a great chance to get back to the playoffs for the second year in a row.

The Senators can’t enjoy back-to-back spectacular victories much longer. They play another big game tomorrow night at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Danny was born and raised in Ottawa and still lives in that city. He has followed… more about Danny McCloskey

The Washington Capitals (34-27-8) got a much-needed win at home on Wednesday night. They looked strong on the ice in a 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators (34-24-9).

Wednesday’s game marked the debut of Capitals defenseman Cole Hutson. He made quite an impact as he skated well and recorded an empty-net goal late on.

Alex Ovechkin also made more history when he scored the Capitals’ first goal of the night. The Great 8 tied Gordie Howe for the most 25-goal seasons in NHL history.

After this, Tom Wilson scored an own goal to give the Capitals a 2-0 lead in the middle frame. Logan Thompson also had an impressive performance in the net.

Ottawa scored late in the comeback attempt. However, the Capitals sealed it with two empty-netters from Aleksi Protas and Hutson.

Capitals got two points as they now have 76 points in the season. They are currently six points behind Boston and Detroit, who hold the two wild card spots in the East.

Next, the Capitals continue their four-game homestand by hosting New Jersey on Friday night.

capitals analysis

All eyes were on Hutson as he made his NHL debut for the Capitals. The 19-year-old was paired with Matt Roy for Wednesday’s home game.

It proved to be an impressive debut for Hutson, as he looked more comfortable as the game progressed. The rookie skated well, took good care of the puck and found his teammates at the tape.

Then, after Ottawa’s goaltender drew a late power play, Hutson recorded his first NHL goal on an empty-netter. He finished the game with one tally and three shots during 16:24 of ice time.

The Capitals outshot Ottawa 16–7 in the middle frame and the game remained scoreless. That is, Ovechkin came out of his mini-slump.

The 40-year-old redirected Rasmus Sandin’s feed past Linus Ullmark to put the Capitals up 1-0. It was Ovechkin’s 25th goal of the season and career goal No. 922.

More importantly, The Great 8 made more history as he tied Gordie Howe for the most 25-goal seasons in NHL history. Ovechkin is also one point away from 1,000 combined regular season and playoff goals.

After this, Wilson reached the bottom of the circle and made a shot on Ullmark to make the score 2-0. The 31-year-old was also very physical as he helped his team by being aggressive on the forecheck.

Wilson’s Team Canada teammate Thompson was also dominant between the pipes. He stopped 34 of 35 shots and shut out Brady Tkachuk and Ottawa most of the time.

Despite still trailing 2–0, the Senators came up with six strikeouts as Tim Stützle finished Thompson’s shutout night. However, Capitals sealed it with two empty-netters from Protas and Hutson.

capitals report card

Team: A-

One of the team’s strongest performances in recent times. The Capitals have kept their playoff hopes alive for now.

Cole Hutson: A

Hutson’s NHL debut was impressive. The 19-year-old skated well and finished with a goal and three shots during 16:24 of ice time.

Alex Ovechkin: A

Ovechkin recovered from the slump to record goal No. 922. The 40-year-old continues to make history as many question whether this is his last season.

Tom Wilson: A

Wilson contributed to the Capitals’ victory with Ovechkin scoring 25 goals on the season. The 31-year-old also showed his trademark physicality against Ottawa when needed.

Logan Thompson: A

Thompson took a big step in net with 34 saves. The netminder made several acrobatic saves to stop Ottawa’s attack.

Martin Fehrvary: B+

Fehrweri did his part to defend Thompson by bailing him out. He finished the game with six of the Capitals’ 21 blocks.

Harry Lichtman is an award-winning journalist who covers the Washington Capitals for SportsNut. He also contributes to the sites… More about Harry Lichtman

When the Carolina Hurricanes acquired Nicolas Deslauriers, everyone knew he was going to take a beating in his first few games. But, I don’t think many people expected him to fight before he even played his first match.

I highly doubt anyone doubted that the fight would be against a promoter with an equally renowned resume like Mathieu Ollivier. However, when Deslauriers skated past Ollivier during warmups and exchanged a few brief words, it appeared there might be a dust-up.

With the game almost halfway through, the Hurricanes were lifeless and needed a spark, and Deslauriers provided just that.

The clock stopped with 10:22 remaining in the second period as the gloves hit the cold, hard ice in the neutral zone. Deslauriers and Ollivier sized each other up, slowly approaching each other, before Deslauriers made the first swipe, followed by a punch.

From there, fists started flying – exchanging haymakers and yanking each other’s sweaters. Amid the melee, a punch from Hurricane’s enforcer left Olivier’s jaw bloodied, however, the bleeding appeared to be caused by Deslauriers’ broken knuckles.

For Deslauriers, it was the 137th fight of his career, and for Olivier, the 112th. Both held their positions well, and ultimately, neither won nor lost in terms of the war.

However, the spark it provided certainly gave the Hurricanes a momentary advantage, as Andrei Svechnikov scored Carolina’s first, and sadly only, goal of the game before Deslauriers stepped out of the penalty box.

Discussion about dust-up

At the second intermission, Svechnikov was tapped for an interview, where he took some time to share his reaction to Deslauriers’ contributions.

“It feels good, to be honest,” he said. “You know, we haven’t had that in a while, but it feels good. …Yeah, big respect to them.”

After the game, Deslauriers was asked about the fight.

“This is what I live for, you know,” Deslauriers told the media. “I wish I could have scored a goal, but for me these are the moments when, you know, I feel I did something good.

“When you’re in the box – I know sometimes I stay there for a long time – but when we score, and I’m there after my work, I’m as happy as if I’d scored a goal.”

WATCH: Nicolas Deslauriers takes the gloves with Columbus Blue Jackets enforcer Mathieu Ollivier in Hurricanes debut

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

AFC Bournemouth forward Ryan has officially received his first call-up to the Brazil national football team, After being included in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for upcoming international friendlies.

In form of Brazilian press anticipatedThe 19-year-old is one of the main new names in the squad selected for matches against the France national football team and Croatia national football team in the United States later this month.

His inclusion follows a strong start to life with Bournemouth in the Premier League, and the Italian coach praised the young attacker during his press conference following the squad announcement.

“Very powerful, he has quality and a good attitude on the pitch,” Ancelotti said when discussing the Bournemouth player.

“He has presented himself very well in a difficult league and he is young. He definitely has a future in the national team. I don’t know whether at the next World Cup or not, but for what he is doing for the coaching staff, he deserves to be here.”

Brazil got a chance due to the influence of the Premier League

Ryan’s rapid rise in England played a key role in convincing the Brazilian coaching staff.

Since arriving from Vasco, the attacker has enjoyed an impressive start to life in the Premier League. He has scored two goals and provided one assist in his first seven games for Bournemouth.

The youngster has recorded two goals and one assist in seven appearances for Bournemouth so far in all competitions, numbers that underline the immediate impact he has made since arriving in English football.

Those performances quickly put him on Brazil’s radar. Reports prior to Brazil had already indicated that the coaching staff had a strong internal appreciation for the young player and were monitoring his development closely.

From an analytical standpoint, his offensive output also helps explain the excitement surrounding him. According to FBRef figures, Ryan is averaging close to 2.3 shots per 90 minutes in the Premier League so far, with around 1.2 of those attempts on target.

He is also delivering around 1.4 key passes per 90, showing the ability to create chances for teammates in addition to scoring himself.

The numbers also highlight his direct style. Ryan is attempting more than three dribbles per match, with a success rate of around 55%, making him one of Bournemouth’s most aggressive ball carriers in the final third.

His early Premier League impact ultimately proved enough to earn him a place in the team.

first senior opportunity

The upcoming friendlies will now provide Ryan with his first opportunity to wear Brazil’s famous yellow shirt at senior level.

Brazil will face France on March 26 at Gillette Stadium in Boston. Five days later, Ancelotti’s team will face Croatia at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

For Bournemouth, the call-up represents another sign of how quickly the teenager’s profile is rising in European football.

Just a few months after leaving Brazil, Ryan is already taking to the international stage. And if his development continues at the current pace, the Cherries could soon add a regular Brazil international to their squad.

Robbie Keane meets Alex Toth with some very warm – and frankly lovely – words on Bournemouth

➡️ Pride makes him cry
➡️ The rise of Toth is reminiscent of himself at Wolves
⭐️ “I helped someone achieve his dream”
💬 “One of the nicest kids I’ve ever met” 👇https://t.co/L21EzOF0Ps #afcb

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 20 January 2026

After years of becoming an NBA star in Atlanta, Trae Young recently made his Washington Wizards debut as fans anticipate a new era of basketball. Coupled with a young, talented lineup that includes three top-10 NBA draft picks and now the sky could be the limit for the Young-led Wizards. While making his Washington debut, Young used a pair of perfectly matching Air Jordan 40s to compliment his new threads.

Check out our sneakers news for more upcoming releases and breaking content!

Not only was this the debut for Young in a Wizards uniform, but it also officially marked his second season under the Jordan Brand Jumpman. Endorsing the Air Jordan 39 last season, Trae Young debuted the latest Air Jordan 40 silhouette, which was loved by stars like Orlando’s Paolo Banchero and Miami’s Bam Adebayo. Young notably left Adidas in 2024 after releasing three eponymous signature silhouettes with the brand.

Launching in July 2025, the Air Jordan 40 is the newest and most updated iteration of the longest-running signature sneaker line in history. Designed with all the technologies that were not available to Michael Jordan during his playing days, the Jordan 40 is meant to represent the elite talent of the modern game.

Trae Young’s Air Jordan 40 PE

Trae Young makes his Wizards debut with the “Metallic Copper” Air Jordan 40. pic.twitter.com/QzKS1nZ98q

– B/R Kicks (@brkicks) 6 March 2026

New city, new style.

Trae Young makes his Wizards debut in the “Copper” Air Jordan 40. pic.twitter.com/wf2f2s8bgh

– SLAM Kicks (@SLAMKicks) 6 March 2026

In recent years, the Washington Wizards have made a concerted effort to return their classic gold jerseys from the 2006–2009 season. Giving fans a taste of nostalgia, the franchise announced that the uniform will return in the form of the 25-26 Nike City Edition kit and it has already been seen several times. Trae Young made his Wizards debut with a classic uniform, matching the gleaming gold uniform with an all-copper Air Jordan 40.

The “Metallic Copper” Air Jordan 40 features a shiny copper leather upper, contrasted by a flat black sole and black laces. The colorway was launched by Jordan Brand but quickly sold out due to high demand, but the shoes are available in the aftermarket at close to their original retail price.

As far as Trae Young is concerned, we’ll wait to see what new Jordan Brand sneakers he’s able to pull from the catalog during his new visit to Washington.

The energy inside the TD Garden on Friday night was unlike anything the Boston Celtics had experienced all season. After a grueling 10-month absence due to an Achilles injury, Jayson Tatum finally made his long-awaited season debut, and it felt like the missing piece of the puzzle was back in place.

While fans were losing their minds, Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla offered an especially profound perspective on this moment. Reflecting on his superstar comeback journey, Mazzulla said these are career-defining moments. “That’s why you coach,” Mazzulla said. “Being a part of someone else’s story and having someone be a part of your story.”

“This is why you train… to be a part of someone else’s story and for someone to be a part of your story” 🙌

Joe Mazzulla reflects on being part of Jayson Tatum’s journey as he works to return from injury. pic.twitter.com/O3dI4ZE5XJ

– NBA TV (@NBATV) 7 March 2026

Jayson Tatum really reminded the league what they’re missing. Tatum logged 27 minutes and looked remarkably sharp, scoring 15 points on 6-of-16 shooting. He demonstrated his trademark versatility by adding 12 rebounds, seven assists and one steal, helping the Boston Celtics demolish the Dallas Mavericks in a 120–100 blowout. His rhythm appeared seamless, especially from the perimeter where he knocked down three triples.

The supporting cast ensured that Tatum’s return ended in a “W.” Jaylen Brown led all scorers with 24 points, while Neemias Queta
Reinforced the interior with 16 points and 15 rebounds. Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg, on the other hand, finished with 16 points in his homecoming, but was no match for Boston’s new team.

The road back for Tatum was filled with tough rehabilitation and mental hurdles, but Friday night proved he hasn’t lost a step. With their cornerstone in place, the Celtics are not only looking toward a deep playoff run, but they’re also looking to the rafters.

Someone stole the spotlight from Trae Young’s debut for the Washington Wizards on Thursday night at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.

And it’s none other than Julian Reese, brother of Chicago Sky star forward Angel Reese.

In his third game in the NBA, Julian Reese accomplished a historic feat, as he finished with 18 points on 5/7 shooting from the field and a total of 20 rebounds – 10 defensive and 10 offensive. He also added two assists and a steal in 38 minutes of work, however, in a 122–112 loss to the visiting Jazz.

As of Thursday, it had been more than a decade since either of the Wizards was able to grab at least 10 defensive rebounds and 10 offensive rebounds in a game.

“He is the first Wizards player to have 10 offensive and 10 defensive rebounds in a game since Antawn Jamison on January 30, 2010,” Ax, formerly of ESPN Insights, shared via a social media post on Twitter.

On January 30, 2010, Jamison totaled 21 points and 23 rebounds in a 106–96 home win over the New York Knicks. He had 12 defensive boards and another 11 from the offensive side of the court.

Julian’s rebounding effort against the Houston Jazz was perfect for Reese. His sister is also known for her brilliant talent. In her first two seasons in the WNBA, Angel averaged 12.9 rebounds in 64 games.

A product of the Maryland Terrapins basketball program, Julian was signed by the Wizards to a two-way contract in February. Unless he’s called up to the G League, Julien will try to keep his momentum going against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Jayson Tatum is back in action, and fans are in championship excitement after his season opener in the Boston Celtics’ game against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night.

Tatum tore his Achilles in last year’s playoff series against the New York Knicks in the East Semifinals. After 10 months of rehabilitation, he successfully returned to court.

In 27 minutes of action, Tatum completed a major step in his recovery. He finished with a stat line of 15 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and one steal. He made 6 of 16 shots from the field, including 3 of 8 from beyond the arc.

It didn’t take long for fans, who had high expectations on the Celtics’ championship potential, to respond to the performance. Here are some of their reactions.

NBA insider Brett Siegel wrote, “What a great debut for Jayson Tatum, as he had 15 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists in exactly 27 minutes on the night against the Mavs. The Celtics star had a strong performance in his first game since tearing his Achilles in May.”

“Seeing Tatum back on the court is one of those iconic moments that will stick with me for the rest of my life. On behalf of basketball fans around the world, welcome back JT!” one fan said.

Another commented, “I couldn’t have imagined the reality of being a Celtic fan tonight even in my dreams.”

“Highlights: 1. Bible Belt. 2. Flagg stuck in NGL Dallas. 3. Tatum double double. 4. We’re back,” one commented.

One replied, “All it took was one try to get him to start cooking, my goat is really back.”

Jayson Tatum, how the Celtics played against the Mavericks

Jayson Tatum played brilliantly and the Celtics defeated the Mavericks 120–100 in a home win.

Six players, including Tatum, scored in double figures for Boston in the win. Jaylen Brown led the way with 24 points and seven rebounds, Derrick White had 20 points and four assists, while Payton Pritchard provided 18 points and seven rebounds.

Boston improved to a 42–21 record on the season and finished second in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers while trailing the Detroit Pistons.

The Celtics will look forward to their next matchup while on the road. They will take on the Cavaliers as tip-off takes place on March 8 at 1pm ET.

Washington DC – The Washington Wizards lost 122-112 at home to the Utah Jazz on Thursday, but it was a perfect night for the franchise. Between star guard Trae Young’s Wizards debut, tank standings and rookie big man Julian “JuJu” Reese’s historic outing, there was a lot to like.

Head coach Brian Keefe spoke openly about Young’s on-court leadership after the game.

“People love it, they generate energy and confidence for their teammates,” he said. “There’s an energy he plays with, the unselfishness he plays with, that thing is contagious. You can feel it with our passing. He’s a scorer too, but his unselfishness… that’s the thing I really believe is contagious. The ball was moving around well and I was really happy with that.”

According to Keefe, eight of Washington’s 10 players dished out multiple assists and eight scored in double figures. The only one who didn’t do so was guard Jaden Hardy, who recorded four points (1-7 FG, 1-4 3-point) with one assist in 11 minutes.

Young finished with 12 points (4-9 FG, 1-5 3-point) with six assists, two rebounds and two steals in 19 minutes, but the excitement he brought to Capital One Arena couldn’t be measured by the box score. The 27-year-old, many among the 17,689 fans, was left screaming for his first bucket, a behind the back fake pass Another drive, another three, and more highlights.

Try Young Wizards Debut Highlights

12 points – 6 assists (19 minutes) 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dkrxtygMwK

– WizardsMuse (@WizardsMuse1) 6 March 2026

Young is on a minutes restriction as he recovers from knee and quad injuries that limited him to just 10 games played for the Atlanta Hawks this season before being traded to the Wizards on Jan. 7, but Thursday still showed why the latter team acquired him. The four-time All-Star’s ability to get to the rim and create open looks for teammates has been foreign to Washington since the John Wall era, outside of Russell Westbrook’s tenure with the team in 2020-21. Instead of a committee approach at point guard, the squad finally has an engine.

Along with big men Alex Sarr (hamstring) and Anthony Davis (finger), Young primarily set up the other guards for three-point attempts. The former All-NBA honoree assisted two-way forward Leakey Black, third-year guard Bilal Quibly, rookie guard Trey Johnson (twice), and second-year guard Bub Carrington on long-range buckets. Overall, he was responsible for 29 points.

At the same time, the Wizards still lost to the Jazz, who were without starters such as forward Lauri Markkanen (hip), forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee), and guard Keyonte George (ankle). This gives them more relief to tank in the standings, as they have the fourth-worst record (16-46) while Utah is fifth-worst (19-44). Washington would have to finish with a bottom-four record this summer to be guaranteed to retain their top-eight protected lottery selection.

Plus, the team is now just one game ahead of the Brooklyn Nets and Indiana Pacers, who are tied for second-worst. Finishing second worst would guarantee selection in the top six, while finishing third worst would guarantee selection in the top seven, and so on.

For now, Wizards fans can enjoy finally having a star player in the lineup again before the franchise focuses on winning games next season and beyond.

JuJu Reese makes the most of Wizards’ opportunities

With Davis out since the beginning of January, Washington did not have much depth after sending Marvin Bagley to the Dallas Mavericks in the Davis deal on February 4. Sir has not played since a 132-101 loss to the Miami Heat on Feb. 8, and backup seven-footer Tristan Vukcevic (thigh) has not played since a 134-125 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Saturday.

Enter Reese. The Wizards signed the Baltimore native to a two-way contract on Saturday and thrust him into the starting center role for Monday’s 123-118 home loss to the Houston Rockets, his NBA debut. He started again in a 126-109 loss to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday and had 18 points (5-7 FG), 20 rebounds (10 offensive), two assists and a block in 38 minutes on Thursday. His rebounds were the most by any rookie this season and the most by any Washington rookie since Tom Gugliotta (20) against the Philadelphia 76ers on January 29, 1993. Additionally, her sister Angel Reese was the youngest WNBA player to record more than 18 points and more than 10 offensive rebounds in a game last season, and she is the youngest NBA player to do so this season.

JuJu told ClutchPoints his impressions of the Wizards organization after the game.

I asked JuJu Reese his first impressions of the Wizards:

“Great team, great organization. Great for developing guys. A lot of guys have come here who are good players and make a lot of money, they told me that right away. Just try to maximize your talent…” pic.twitter.com/oPz6sJp3gh

-Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) 6 March 2026

“Great team, great organization. Great for developing guys,” the former Maryland Terrapin said. “There are a lot of people who come here who are good players and make a lot of money, they told me that right away. Just try to maximize your talent…”

Since general manager Will Dawkins and president Michael Winger took over in 2023, Washington’s development program has built a foundation of young talent led by Sarr, second-year wing Kishawn George (UCL), Johnson, Coulibaly and Carrington. Reese will need more than one historic game against another tanking team to be a part of that long-term group, but if he continues to perform like this he’ll give the front office something to think about.

Next up for the Wizards is a road date with the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night.

The Washington Wizards finally saw Trae Young on the field against the Utah Jazz, as his debut offered the first real glimpse of the trade that brought the star guard to Washington earlier this season. Young arrived with high expectations for the Wizards’ rebuild. Fans waited months to see him in action again. That wait ended with a 122–112 loss to the Jazz. Still, the atmosphere inside the ground felt different.

Young stepped onto the court as the new face of the Wizards’ future. His presence changed the atmosphere immediately. The attack proceeded with greater speed. Whenever the ball touched his hand, there was noise in the crowd.

The moment was crucial for a rebuilding team searching for identity. The Trae Young trade has already changed the direction of the franchise. Now the Wizards are finally seeing what their move could look like on the court.

Trae Young shares first impressions after Wizards debut

After the game, Young reflected on that moment and the reception he received from the crowd. The point guard immediately connected the energy of the arena to the bigger vision he hopes to create with the Wizards.

Trey after his first game with the Wizards:

“I definitely felt the energy from all the fans… That’s what I want here like I want the fans to feel included, to feel involved and be a part of our winning in the future… It’s a special group and I really believe in it… pic.twitter.com/TOi7jlI0q8

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 6 March 2026

“I definitely felt the energy from all the fans… That’s what I want here like I want the fans to feel included, to feel involved and be a part of our winning in the future… This is a special group and I really believe in the potential we’ve got with all the youth and the future we’ve got here.”

Young also talked about the adjustment period that comes with joining a new team in mid-season. Chemistry, timing and trust will take time. Yet he already sees the pieces being formed.

tray:

“I’m learning these guys and they’re learning me, too. I think there will be times where they’ll have some bullshit moments like I’m open and they get the ball when they’re not expecting it.” pic.twitter.com/KML59nR5A6

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 6 March 2026

“I’m learning these guys and they’re learning me. I think there will be times where they’ll have some lame moments like I’m wide open and they get the ball when they’re not expecting it.”

The Wizards still lost the game. The scoreboard did not support him. But in the arena lights something else began: belief. And if Trae Young’s vision comes together, this start could be remembered as the start of something big in Washington.

Someone stole the spotlight from Trae Young’s debut for the Washington Wizards on Thursday night at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.

And it’s none other than Julian Reese, brother of Chicago Sky star forward Angel Reese.

In his third game in the NBA, Julian Reese accomplished a historic feat, as he finished with 18 points on 5/7 shooting from the field and a total of 20 rebounds – 10 defensive and 10 offensive. He also added two assists and a steal in 38 minutes of work, however, in a 122–112 loss to the visiting Jazz.

As of Thursday, it had been more than a decade since either of the Wizards was able to grab at least 10 defensive rebounds and 10 offensive rebounds in a game.

“He is the first Wizards player to have 10 offensive and 10 defensive rebounds in a game since Antawn Jamison on January 30, 2010,” Ax, formerly of ESPN Insights, shared via a social media post on Twitter.

On January 30, 2010, Jamison totaled 21 points and 23 rebounds in a 106–96 home win over the New York Knicks. He had 12 defensive boards and another 11 from the offensive side of the court.

Julian’s rebounding effort against the Houston Jazz was perfect for Reese. His sister is also known for her brilliant talent. In her first two seasons in the WNBA, Angel averaged 12.9 rebounds in 64 games.

A product of the Maryland Terrapins basketball program, Julian was signed by the Wizards to a two-way contract in February. Unless he’s called up to the G League, Julien will try to keep his momentum going against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Head coach Brian Keefe is excited about Trae Young’s debut with the Washington Wizards in Thursday’s game against the Utah Jazz.

Keefe discussed who stands out According to Ben Strober of Locked On Wizards, he raved about Young’s play before the guard’s Wizards debut.

Keefe said, “I’ve played against him for many years. This guy makes other guys better. We see his own scoring ability, his ability to draw free throws, his ability to get into the paint.” “I think his best skill has always been his passing.”

Keefe was an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder during the first two seasons of Young’s NBA career. Keefe also coached against Young for an additional two seasons during his time with the Brooklyn Nets before joining the Wizards’ coaching staff in 2023.

“This guy makes other people better…his best skill has always been his demise.”

Wizards head coach Brian Keefe meets with Trae Young ahead of his debut tonight

(via @strobersports)pic.twitter.com/xWOYYRd6dC

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 5 March 2026

Young will make his Wizards home debut in Thursday’s matchup.

Trae Young is set to make his Wizards debut

After nearly upsetting the Rockets in a 123–118 loss, the Wizards’ third-year guard Bilal Koulibaly led the way with 23 points on 9-16 shooting, including five threes. Wizards fans are excited to see Young paired with Koulibaly before his debut against the Jazz on Thursday.

According to Joshua Valdez of ClutchPoints, Koulibaly recently talked about the reason for his offensive streak for the Wizards.

“Just getting more reps, getting out there more,” Coulibaly said. “Finding my rhythm, and yeah, just my thing.”

Bilal Coulibaly scored a season-high 23 points tonight and went 5 of 7 from deep. His shot has improved significantly recently, and he attributes it to getting more reps and finding his rhythm. The oft-injured guard has been in the lineup consistently since late January, having… pic.twitter.com/EbxySnQcwl

-Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) 3 March 2026

Koulibaly scored a season-high 23 points in the Wizards’ 123–118 win against the Rockets. He is averaging 10.4 points on 41.3% shooting, 4.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists this season.

Questions surrounding Ivica Zubac’s debut with the Indiana Pacers will remain unanswered for at least one more game.

Indiana listed Zubac out with a left ankle sprain on its injury report Wednesday morning ahead of the team’s game with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Pacers begin a four-game West Coast road trip in Los Angeles on Wednesday night at 10:30 pm ET.

The injury designation means Zubac will not face his former team as he continues to work towards his first appearance since being acquired at the February trade deadline.

Indiana acquired the 28-year-old center from the Clippers in a landmark deal that also included Pacers-bound forward Kobe Brown. Los Angeles received a package centered on Benedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson, along with two first-round picks in 2026 and 2029 and a future second-round pick.

Zubac was enjoying one of the most productive periods of his career before the trade. In 43 games with the Clippers this season, he averaged 14.4 points, 11 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, while shooting 61.3 percent from the field and 70.5 percent from the free-throw line. He started 42 of those contests and recorded 30.9 minutes per game, becoming a consistent interior presence.

Ivica Zubac Pacers debut delayed as Benedict Mathurin moves on with Clippers

His most recent appearance came on February 2 in the Clippers’ 128–113 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Zubac recorded eight points, nine rebounds, two assists and one block while shooting 3-for-3 from the field in 33 minutes.

Indiana continues to wait for the veteran center to debut as it looks to stabilize a frontcourt that underwent major changes at the deadline. The Pacers enter Wednesday at 15-46 and are looking for consistency during the final stretch of the season.

Meanwhile, Mathurin has begun to carve out a role with the Clippers following the trade. The 23-year-old guard has averaged 18.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists in eight games with Los Angeles, shooting 40.2 percent from the field and 85 percent from the free-throw line while playing 30.4 minutes per contest.

Mathurin recently contributed in the Clippers’ 114-101 win over the Golden State Warriors. He finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, one block and one steal while shooting 6 of 13 from the field and converting all five of his free-throw attempts in 31 minutes.

Although Zubac will not make his debut against his former team in Indiana, the Pacers expect him to eventually take on an interior role as the organization evaluates its new-shaped roster following the deadline trade.

Will the Phoenix Suns’ newest acquisition, Haywood Highsmith, make his season debut on Tuesday against the Sacramento Kings? The 6-foot-5 forward is unsure himself.

He was given a timetable of two to three weeks to return from knee surgery in August 2025. From the moment he arrived at the Valley of the Sun, Highsmith was committed to being ready for the final stages of the season.

“Doing a lot of work. Making good progress. Making progress faster than they thought and getting more comfortable every time working with rehab and stuff. Just looking good and feeling good,” Highsmith said during Tuesday’s shootaround, via AZCentral’s Duane Rankin on Ax (formerly Twitter).

The former Miami Heat forward has defensive ability, which Phoenix was very interested in acquiring. After the Suns executed at the NBA trade deadline, they vacated a roster spot.

The signing of Highsmith was a bit of a surprise, given how he fits into Miami’s culture. But he fits seamlessly into Phoenix head coach Jordan Ott’s defensive scheme of players who can switch and be versatile on that end.

What can Haywood Highsmith bring to the Suns?

Defense, defense, and more defense. Despite not being the best offensive player, this was his calling card. However, Highsmith developed into a good 3-point shooter, getting 42 starts last season.

The 3-and-D philosophy will never go away in the NBA, and as long as a player can be effective on both sides, it’s usually a recipe for success.

And with Jordan Goodwin scheduled to be evaluated in about a week or two, Highsmith’s appearance comes at a critical time. Like Goodwin, the newest addition to the team will bring his own calling card.

“Defensively, that’s what I do. Pressing. Picking up, being that dog defensively. Crashing the glass, being a good shooter, playing off guys like (Jalen Green and Devin Booker) as a spot up shooter and just bringing that energy,” Highsmith said via Rankin.

“Just being a tough, solid guy and doing the intangibles and doing whatever it takes to win.”

No-ego is an automatic green flag for Suns, and they may find themselves a perennial lockdown savior. Now it remains to be seen whether he is fit on Tuesday despite no injury report.

Washington, DC – One of the Washington Wizards’ most dramatic games of the season was a 123-118 home loss to the Houston Rockets on Monday, which included a Trae Young ejection. But third-year guard Bilal Coulibaly’s season-high 23 points (9-16, 5-7 3-point) were the most important aspect of the night for Washington’s development.

The 21-year-old player told ClutchPoints after the game What has helped him improve? Recently his shooting took place.

Bilal Coulibaly scored a season-high 23 points tonight and went 5 of 7 from deep. His shot has improved significantly recently, and he attributes it to getting more reps and finding his rhythm. The oft-injured guard has been in the lineup consistently since late January, having… pic.twitter.com/EbxySnQcwl

-Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) 3 March 2026

“Just getting more reps, being out there more,” he said. “Finding my rhythm, and yeah, just my thing.”

Koulibaly’s recent increase in shooting efficiency has coincided with his healthiest stretch of the season. The 6-foot-7-inch, 195-pound player has appeared in 15 of the Wizards’ last 16 games after missing multiple contests in each month from October through January. He struggled offensively throughout the postseason, topping out with a 41.7% field goal clip in January and a 29.6% 3-point clip in November. However, he posted a 46% field goal clip (33.3% 3-point) in February.

Head coach Brian Keefe was asked if the improvement was due to more reps or any specific changes such as his shooting form.

He said, “I’m not going to go into that specifically, but you know, he’s diligent about his craft, he’s working on specific things.” “It’s really intentional, and you have to put time into it, and he’s doing it all.”

While Keefe kept the details to himself, Coulibaly’s look now looks more effortless than ever. For example, the shot of the original Frenchman in this practice clip from October 18 was disjointed, because he didn’t always release the ball At the top of his jump.

After practice, Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly hit three shots. Coulibaly continued to work after suffering a thumb injury at the EuroBasket. pic.twitter.com/xVcoVyCm8d

-Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) 18 October 2025

However, Monday’s game was a different story. The clip below shows Coulibaly shooting with fluid motion And without a hitch, when he hit an off-dribble three after letting the ball go at the top of his jump.

Four triples in the first half for Bilal

📊 14 PTS | 4 pm 3 pm pic.twitter.com/Q5d76aewLj

– Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) 3 March 2026

The eye test shows that Coulibaly has made necessary changes to his mechanics, which could change the direction of his career. At this point, the two-time Rising Star has established himself as a defensive specialist with supreme athleticism, as he is known for explosive dunks. But his field goal clip has decreased each season, as he posted a 43.5% mark as a rookie before dropping to 42.1% last year and 41.9% this year. Additionally, his three-point percentage as a rookie dropped from 34.6 last season to 28.1, and this year he is at 30.4%. This has made him a liability offensively.

Injuries have played a role, as Koulibaly was shut down in March 2024 with a right wrist fracture and then again last March with a hamstring strain. Additionally, the 2023 No. 7 overall pick had thumb surgery in September after tearing a ligament while playing for France at EuroBasket, causing him to miss the first four games of the season. He also had other minor illnesses due to which he lost time.

It’s difficult for a player to settle into a rhythm and improve when he’s constantly injured, but if Koulibaly continues to stay healthy and efficient offensively, he’ll make a strong case as a long-term player ahead of his first extension-eligible offseason.

Young, who will make his Wizards debut on Thursday at home against the Utah Jazz, should get more open looks than Coulibaly because of his offensive intensity. If the latter player takes advantage of the opportunity, he could finish the season with a career-best shooting percentage.

Trae Young, Kevin Durant headline fun Wizards-Rockets contest

Young (knee/quad) didn’t play Monday, but he made his presence known when he was ejected for walking the floor in street clothes while Washington rookie Jameer Watkins and Houston forward Tari Eason got into an altercation. Youth was stuck For Watkins, as Eason had pushed him to the ground moments earlier.

Trae Young was benched from Wizards-Rockets before even playing a minute with the team 😳

He went to the floor during an argument between Jameer Watkins and Tari Eason.

pic.twitter.com/T5vsaMdneK

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 3 March 2026

Fans cheered Young as he entered the tunnel, and after the game he posted about the incident on social media.

He added, “Don’t expect me to be out in DC that many times.. but I’ll definitely bring that energy and competitiveness when I come back for my brothers.”

Although Young broke the rules by taking the court as a passive player, it showed that he cared about his teammates. Additionally, the former All-NBA honoree announced via social media on Tuesday that he will not be suspended before Thursday’s start.

Additionally, Rockets superstar and D.C.-area native Kevin Durant recorded 30 points (8-15 FG, 3-6 3-point) with seven rebounds in 37 minutes on his homecoming night. The 37-year-old also became irritated with second-year Wizards guard Bub Carrington as the two talked trash before pushing Carrington back at the end of the game. The latter player then fell to the ground and Durant faced a technical foul.

However, the future Hall of Famer held no grudge against Washington. it was seemed to be giving signals Second-year Wizards wing Keyshawn George postgame via On SI’s Lachard Binkley.

KD loves basketball. Even after playing 37 minutes, he is still giving the other team’s youngsters pointers that they can use for the rest of their careers. pic.twitter.com/HvUUvyak7m

– Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) 3 March 2026

Durant also said he is “excited for the hometown team”, now that youth and star big man Anthony Davis is in the district via Carita Park of Double Take Sports. Wizards fans haven’t had much to get excited about in recent years, but the team’s young core combined with their new stars and whoever they draft in the lottery this summer gives them a chance to be competitive next season and beyond.

Although Trae Young has not played a game for the Wizards yet thrown out during Lost 123-118 to the Rockets last night. Late in the third quarter of the game, there was a brief skirmish between Jameer Watkins and Tari Eason that led to the game being stopped. While Young did not involve himself on the field, he walked off the court as it was happening, causing him to be ejected.

Trae Young was benched from Wizards-Rockets before even playing a minute with the team 😳

He went to the floor during an argument between Jameer Watkins and Tari Eason.

pic.twitter.com/T5vsaMdneK

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 3 March 2026

Although ejections do occur from time to time and are used as both punishment and deterrent to prevent situations from escalating, it is not every night that a passive player is ejected. It is also rare for a player who is not a good fit for a team to be dropped. As a result, questions arose as to whether Young would be punished for the ejection. According to NBA insider Mark Spears, he’s in the clear.

“I’ve been told that no further discipline is expected from the league office for Washington’s Trae Young after he was ejected for ‘running on the court’ in Monday night’s game against Houston,” Stein said. He said Young’s highly anticipated debut as a member of the Wizards will come Thursday when the team faces the Utah Jazz.

Young has only played 10 games this season due to injury, but is averaging 19.3 points and 8.9 assists as well as one steal per game.

On Monday evening, the Los Angeles Clippers moved closer to the .500 mark with a convincing win over the Golden State Warriors after outscoring the Dubs by 15 points in the fourth quarter. This game marked the Clippers debut of point guard Darius Garland, who came off the bench and scored 12 points with two assists in 23 minutes of action.

After the game, Clippers star Kawhi Leonard had high praise for the performance the young guard brought to the table.

“Number one, just competitive nature…we’re looking for him to get involved, get him some shots, push the transition pace for us, and just get everybody involved and call sets so we don’t get stagnant at times. I think he’s capable of doing that. He’s an All-Star player. I’m just looking forward to playing more basketball with him,” Leonard said, according to former Joe Lynn on Twitter.

Garland was brought to the Clippers after the team surprisingly traded James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers shortly before the deadline.

The 26-year-old has been a two-time All-Star in the NBA, although injury concerns have unfortunately become a major part of the story of his career in recent years, and Los Angeles will hope those concerns subside for the rest of this season and beyond.

While he may not be as adept at making plays as Harden, Garland is still a capable distributor capable of creating his own offense off the dribble, as well as a solid catch-and-shoot threat from beyond the arc.

All of these tools make him a good fit next to Leonard in Los Angeles, even if the team further depleted their roster at the deadline by sending Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers.

The Clippers next face Indiana on Wednesday evening.

The LA Clippers entered Monday night’s game against the Golden State Warriors hoping to win their second consecutive game. However, more importantly, the Clippers were preparing for the debut of new guard Darius Garland.

Acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers at the NBA trade deadline in a blockbuster trade that sent James Harden to the Cavs, Garland has been out since January 16 with a sprained right toe. After undergoing evaluation with his new team, the Clippers decided to hold Darius Garland out during the 2025 offseason due to some residual pain in his surgically repaired left foot.

The Clippers only had two games in the last week of February, giving them three practice days. Those days were used to scrimmage and push forward Darius Garland into five-on-five action with his new teammates.

With 3:20 remaining in the first half of his first game with the Clippers, Darius Garland came off the bench and scored his first bucket. Pull-up three-pointer Going left.

Darius Garland’s first basket as a member of the LA Clippers. pic.twitter.com/sMRLqhLBKg

– Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) 3 March 2026

Garland finished the first half with five points, one assist and three turnovers, while shooting 1-of-3 from the field, all three-pointers and 2-of-2 from the free throw line.

The Warriors led 56-42 at halftime. Brandin Podziemski led the way for the Warriors with 20 points, four rebounds and one assist on 8 of 12 shooting from the field. Moses Moody was the only other player in the game in double-figure scoring with 10 points.

Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with eight points, five rebounds and two assists, while Kris Dunn added seven points and three rebounds.

There was a new face for the Washington Wizards as they hosted the Houston Rockets at Capital One Arena on Monday. However, WNBA star Angel Reese may be quite familiar with them.

His brother, Julian Reese, made his debut for the Wizards after spending the season with the Capital City Go-Go’s in the G League.

He started the game but could not score. first bucket Till the third quarter. It was certainly memorable as he did it against two-time All-Star Alpern Sengun.

Julian Reese made his presence felt inside as he got a chance to drop in for his first NBA bucket. pic.twitter.com/aP0Us17ajI https://t.co/jywZiRlzFf

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 3 March 2026

The Wizards lost to the Rockets, 123–118. The 22-year-old Reese finished with two points, four rebounds, three steals and four turnovers in 28 minutes.

Although there were obvious nerves, he showed some potential to be a contributor, especially on defense, given his size and length. Perhaps he could take advice from his older sister on how to improve his rebounding.

The elder Reese, who is dating Orlando Magic’s Wendell Carter Jr., expressed how thrilled she was for her younger brother when he signed a contract. two-way contract With magicians. He went undrafted out of Maryland in 2025.

“My baby brother. Ouch, I’m so proud of you! Your journey has never been easy, and you’ve always stuck to your path! Let’s go, JuJu!” Reese, 23, wrote on X.

My dear brother🥺oops, I’m so proud of you! Your journey was never easy and you always stayed the course! Come on JuJu! 🥳🙏🏽 @reese10julian https://t.co/6b6OloTHeo

– Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) 28 February 2026

They were born only a year apart, so it’s no surprise that they have a close relationship. Basketball is in his blood, as both his parents played professionally overseas.

With the Wizards in tanking mode, many players have been given opportunities on the floor. In addition to Reese, guys like Will Riley, Sharife Cooper, Jameer Watkins and Jaden Hardy have enjoyed playing.

The LA Clippers are set to take on the Golden State Warriors on Monday night for the second night of back-to-back sets. It will also mark the Clippers debut of guard Darius Garland.

Garland was acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers during NBA trade deadline week, bringing him to Los Angeles and sending James Harden to the Cavs. But Garland missed last month’s trade as he worked to recover from toe problems in both feet.

After weeks of running and rehab, Darius Garland will make his Clippers debut against Draymond Green and the Golden State Warriors. But what’s a bit surprising is that Garland won’t start in his first game.

“The thought of bringing him off the bench so he doesn’t have to play with Kawhi [Leonard] “So he can find his own rhythm, his own timing and just try to run everything through him,” head coach Tyronn Lue said in his pregame media availability on Monday. “Just being aggressive, getting our tempo up, so that’s kind of the thought process behind bringing him in off the bench. It’s to try to get him going at a faster pace than he’s been. So he’ll keep doing that until we get his minutes up and then obviously he’ll be our starter.”

Between offseason foot surgery and a sprained right toe, Garland has played in a total of 25 games this season, which is why the Clippers have been so cautious about slowly bringing their prized guard back.

In addition to coming off the bench, Garland will face a minutes restriction for the foreseeable future until Garland gets into game shape and the Clippers become comfortable with his return to competition.

“I’m very excited that he’s going to be on the floor,” Lue said. “Just excited for him and then to let him play. Be aggressive, try to get his air, try to get his timing down, and just play free. Just want to get him out on the floor, see what we can do, how we can change some things up, but just excited to get him on the floor.”

In his introductory press conference, Garland told members of the media that Tyronn Lue planned to use him like Kyrie Irving, and Lue confirmed those plans.

“That’s what I told him,” Tyronn Lue explained in early February, shortly after the trade. “He went back and watched a lot of film from those days. We’ll put the ball in his hands, he’s got to be able to make plays for himself and his teammates. He’s got the ability to do that.

“If you look at all the charts, he’s second in the league in pick-and-rolls and making quick decisions off plays, so he knows how to play the game. We need everything from that, his ability to score the basketball, his ability to make people better, create momentum, create momentum. He can do it all.”

In his 408 game career over seven NBA seasons, Darius Garland has averaged 18.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game, while shooting 45.3 percent from the field and 38.6 percent from three.

The Washington Wizards pulled off one of the biggest blockbuster deals of the trade deadline when they acquired star point guard Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks. Young has yet to make his Wizards debut as he continues to recover from injury, but that’s about to change this week.

Trae Young is on track to return from injury and make his Wizards debut on Thursday for the team’s home game against the Utah Jazz, the star guard announced via his podcast, ‘From the Point.’ Young had been battling knee injuries this season, and was already sidelined when the Hawks traded him.

Young has been limited to only 10 games this season, and the last time he suited up for the Dawgs was on December 27 when he played a little more than 31 minutes in the Hawks’ loss against the New York Knicks. Since then he has missed 29 consecutive games.

In the 10 games that Young appeared in this season, he averaged 19.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, 8.9 assists and 1.0 steals, including 41.5 percent shooting from the field, 30.5 percent shooting from the 3-point line, and 86.3 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Selected with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft, Young played his entire career so far with the Hawks. Now in his eighth season in the NBA, the four-time All-Star is hoping to be part of the Wizards’ turnaround after a rebuilding few years.

Young wasn’t the only big acquisition the Wizards made at the deadline. The team also acquired star big man Anthony Davis from the Dallas Mavericks, who complemented Young with an elite threat in the paint and around the basket. With the Wizards’ current young core, the team appears poised to take a step forward next season.

Nolan Traore is finding his feet with the Brooklyn Nets. The 19-year-old rookie has impressed with his composure as the team’s primary ball-handler after earning the starting role. He put in another encouraging performance against fellow Frenchman Victor Wembanyama during Brooklyn’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday.

Wembanyama, who first met Traoré during the French national team’s preparations for the 2024 Olympics, spoke highly of his potential future teammate.

“[Nolan’s] Very young, and he was even younger when we were preparing for the Olympics in 2024,” he said, “and already, what I saw in him was maturity and the way he could control the game. And by the way, it doesn’t matter who the opponent is. He has real guts, and I believe he is someone who will make incredible growth in his career.

Victor Wembanyama has high praise for Nolan Traore as he trains in the lead up to the 2024 Olympics:

“What I saw in him was maturity and the way he could control the game. And the way he could control the game, no matter who the opponent was. He has real guts. I believe… pic.twitter.com/rAr5i8lfj4

– Eric Slater (@erikslater_) 27 February 2026

Many considered Traore to be one of the top five prospects at the start of the 2025 pre-draft process. However, after an up and down 2024-25 season, he dropped to number 19 in the nets.

Nolan Traore impresses in starting point guard role in Nets’ rebuild

Traore struggled during his first NBA appearance and the Nets assigned him to the G League at the beginning of the season. After a highly productive extension with Long Island, the rookie point guard has emerged as the focal point of Brooklyn’s offense during the second half of the season.

Traore is averaging 11.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists on 44/30/76 shooting splits in 15 starts. The French floor general is the only NBA rookie to average 11 points and five assists during that span. His 6.2 assists per 100 possessions this season ranks third among all rookies who have played more than 800 minutes, trailing only Walter Clayton Jr. (6.6) and Dylan Harper (6.2).

“Nolan always believed he belonged,” Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez said. “He always fights back, and he’s becoming the voice and presence that we believe he is. He’s not there yet because we also believe his ceiling is very high. These last 23 games are huge for him, huge for this group going into the summer, which will be the greatest summer of our lives.”

The Los Angeles Clippers are finally getting a look at their shiny new toy. After weeks of waiting and disappointing performances on the sidelines, All-Star guard Darius Garland is ready to make his season debut.

Sources indicate Garland plans to dress on Monday night when the Clippers host the Golden State Warriors at the Intuit Dome. It marks a major turn around for a franchise that has struggled since acquiring the former Cleveland Cavaliers star in the blockbuster James Harden trade.

Garland has not played since January 14 due to a serious toe injury. The layoff was long, but the timing of his return couldn’t have been better. The Clippers have spent the last month focusing heavily on their depth, and adding a dynamic playmaker of Garland’s caliber completely changes the scope of this roster.

During his last healthy outing in Cleveland, the 24-year-old averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists to go along with the walking bucket, while shooting 47.2 percent from the field. His ability to navigate the pick-and-roll and knock down shots from deep provides a much-needed secondary scoring option alongside the existing core.

The matchup against the Warriors serves as a high-level litmus test. While the coaching staff will likely monitor his minutes as he regains his playing legs, Garland’s presence alone will loosen things up for the rest of the offense.

For a Clippers team trying to solidify its identity in the crowded Western Conference, Monday night isn’t just another regular season game. This is the beginning of the Darius Garland era in Los Angeles. If he can recapture the All-Star form that has made him one of the most coveted guards on the market, the rest of the league is officially on notice.

Josh Minot played extended minutes for the first time with the Brooklyn Nets on Friday. While the Nets were thoroughly embarrassed during their 148-111 blowout loss to the Boston Celtics, Minot surprised everyone with his play against his former team.

The trade deadline acquisition was one of Brooklyn’s only bright spots, posting nine points and two rebounds on 4-of-7 shooting in 16 minutes off the bench.

“It’s just me trying to play basketball to the best of my ability,” Minot said after the game. “Being here I know a little bit about the enemy’s tactics, but overall I’m just trying to play as hard as I can for my team, my coaches and trying to play the Brooklyn way.”

Minot showcased his athletic talent and two-way versatility against his former teammates. The 6-foot-8 forward was comfortable making plays off the dribble, breaking down Boston’s defense on two possessions, leading to easy Brooklyn buckets. He also threw down a poster dunk over Celtics rookie Hugo Gonzalez early in the game.

Josh Minot looks very comfortable creating bounces. pic.twitter.com/WiPrHfWV3B

– Eric Slater (@erikslater_) 28 February 2026

Josh Minot looks very comfortable creating bounces. pic.twitter.com/WiPrHfWV3B

– Eric Slater (@erikslater_) 28 February 2026

Minot has impressed for the Celtics early this season.

Josh Minot impresses during first extended minutes with Nets after trade from Celtics

The 23-year-old averaged 6.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.8 steals in 18.5 minutes per game in his first 27 appearances with Boston. He shot 50.8 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three on 7.1 attempts per 100 possessions during that span.

However, he fell out of Boston’s rotation as the team got healthy. The Celtics salary-dumped Minot to the Nets in exchange for $110,000 at the deadline to get out of the luxury tax.

Minot played three games with Brooklyn’s G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, before being called up Thursday. Jordi Fernandez hinted that the fourth-year forward could be in line for an extended NBA audition.

Fernandez said, “He played in Long Island, did a great job. We needed him to be in game shape and I think he took advantage of those minutes and now he’s ready to play here. So, very happy with him and trying to help him develop and see what we got.” “[Josh is a] Great personality. You can tell he’s been a teammate in the group for a long time, the way he’s blended in right away. He knew what we were about. I sat down with them in my office, and sometimes you feel like it’s going to be a quick conversation, and all of a sudden, we’re talking for about 20-30 minutes, and it was cool getting to know these guys. The reality of the NBA, sometimes trades happen, and it can be weird, but it’s part of it. And he’s done a great job of trying to be a part of it [here] right away.”

With the Nets tanking, Minot should continue to see heavy minutes as the season progresses. He has a $2.6 million team option for 2026–27.

When the Vegas Golden Knights took on the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday night, they did so without five key regular players – Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, Mark Stone, Noah Hanifin and Shea Theodore. If you think this would be a recipe for disaster, you would be partially right.

“[We knew] “We needed everybody to step up and play a good, hard game,” Colton Sissons said after the 6–4 win.

And that’s exactly what happened.

The Golden Knights entered the third period trailing the Kings 2–1, but scored three goals in 4:14. Despite missing the salary cap total of $46,275,000, the Golden Knights managed to hold off a defensively strong division rival by six.

What changed in the third period?

“I’m not quite sure,” Sissons admitted after the game. “We obviously made some attacks, and we were able to capitalize on our opportunities… Things can change quickly in this game, especially after such a long hiatus.”

The Golden Knights broke the ice at 10:59 of the first period. Reilly Smith made a great play on a 2-on-1 with Tanner Lazinski and Pavel Dorofeyev near the wall. Lazinski’s shot went wide, but the puck took an awkward jump off the end board and Dorofeyev slammed it home.

The Kings responded on the first power play at 14:31. Artemi Panarin sent a centering pass to Quinton Byfield in the slot, who put it past Adin Hill.

The Kings took the lead at 14:44 of the second period. Kaidan Korczak turned the puck over after driving into the offensive zone, and Adrian Kempe tipped it to Artemi Panarin the other way. Panarin received a cross-ice pass past Anze Kopitar; Kopitar sent a touch-pass to running back Kempe, who finished the game.

In the third period, everything changed. Both teams got their looks, but the Golden Knights converted more of them.

The Golden Knights tied it at 8:07 of the third period. Adin Hill sent a stretch pass to Brayden Bowman, who made a play along the wall to get the puck to Colton Sissons. Sissons entered the field, played catch with Bowman and dodged Anton Forsberg.

The Golden Knights took the lead at 11:16 of the third minute. Colton Sissons drove into the zone, but was pushed off the puck by Joel Armia. Brandon Saad reached him first, turned back and fired a shot. Mikey Anderson got in the way, but Saad blocked the rebound and beat Anton Forsberg from distance.

Just 1:05 later, the Golden Knights doubled their lead. Reilly Smith went coast-to-coast; After moving into the offensive zone, he dodged Brandt Clark and Joel Edmundson, protected the puck and covered the backhand.

The Kings made it a one-goal game at 13:26 of the third minute. Andrei Kuzmenko took a hit into the back of the net to tie the game and Quinton Byfield scored his second goal of the night.

The Golden Knights restored their two-goal lead on the power play at 15:59 of the third, after Jeremy Lauzon drew a penalty. Tanner Lazinski found Pavel Dorofeyev back-door for his second goal of the game.

The Kings pulled Anton Forsberg for an extra attacker with 3:39 remaining in regulation, and it paid off. Adrian Kempe set up Brandt Clark for a one-timer, and the defenseman scored from the point.

After once again trailing by only one goal, the Kings again pulled Forsberg for an extra attacker. However, this time, they could not make the change. Tomas Hertl forced a turnover, and Ivan Barbashev hit the empty net.

Despite missing five of their most important offensive players, the Golden Knights rallied for another third period comeback and an all-important regulation victory over a division rival.

“That’s what good teams do,” Pavel Dorofeyev said after the game. “No matter what, they embrace each other. Maybe we looked a little different on paper tonight, but we’re still the Golden Knights.”

Hannah Kirkel is a beat writer who covers the Vegas Golden Knights for Vegas Hockey Now on SportsNote. She studied more about Hannah Kirkel

Winning cures all ills, or so the cliché goes. However, defeating the Golden State Warriors did not prevent Dejounte Murray from leading the rebuilding New Orleans Pelicans after a disappointing former All-Star season. The 29-year-old was less modest about what James Borrego has been pushing since last August.

Instead, the veteran guard shared a blunt assessment that balances disappointment with perspective.

Murray cursed, “We didn’t have a king rebound. We were terrible. We were terrible. Like, we should have practiced rebounding yesterday.” “Literally, Herb Jones didn’t rebound. You know what I’m saying? When he rebounds, we all rebound.”

Murray finished with three assists and two boards for 13 points in 25 minutes, so there were smiles in the locker room after the game after the quick hit.

Still, he stuck to one particular game while grading the bigger picture after his first game in nearly 13 months.

“We can get better. I think I’d give us a C+ tonight. It’s beautiful to get a C+ and win a basketball game in the NBA against a good team,” Murray allowed. “I don’t care who’s in, who’s out. Steve Kerr coaches his team very well. He has a system, and he’s put the right players in there to be successful.”

The forgiving grades underlined the bigger picture. Even a “terrible” performance can serve as a useful building block.

“I think we probably got like a C or C+,” Murray reiterated. “We could have been more solid. Like, I had a little turnover there. I think I got fouled, but there’s no excuses. We have to be solid. When teams are stuck and trying to come from behind, we have to stay in our spots and be there for each other. I think that’s my job, but also, you know, it’s a collective unit. I’m a point guard, and like I said, I’m here to make everybody better. I’m here to win, so we have to be better overall. After we win, you can move on from things and, you know, correct those errors.”

Seven of the next nine games are on the road, starting with a six-game trip to the Western Conference. At least the first two games of the trip are against the lottery-picked Utah Jazz. It’s the perfect setup for Dejounte Murray’s Pelicans to let off some steam before summer break.

ATLANTA – In 24 minutes of playing time, everyone was reminded of what Jonathan Kuminga can do when he gets the opportunity to play.

Athleticism. Driving on slopes. Selflessness.

Forget everything that happened in the last months after the Golden State Warriors made the trade. Kuminga always had the skills to make an impact in wins, but at some points he was not given much of a chance to do so. With the Hawks, he will be able to do that, and he showed it in his debut against the Washington Wizards.

His first shot came in transition, when he sidestepped his defender and drove into the lane for a layup. His next production was a dunk in transition. From there, he got into a rhythm and started knocking down three-pointers over defenders.

Jonathan Kuminga’s first bucket as Hawk! pic.twitter.com/xY2hhDBrJ2

– Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) 25 February 2026

Kuminga finished the game with 27 points, seven rebounds and four assists. No Hawk debuted with 25+ points in less than 30 minutes.

“I got confidence from my teammates,” Kuminga told reporters after the game. “They told me not to worry about anything. Just go out there and be you. Everything will be OK. I had a lot of people in my ear telling me to go, be you, play basketball. The first two minutes I was just thinking about it, but after that, everything was good.”

Head coach Quin Snyder always talks about the fundamental things the Hawks need to do to win games. Pass the ball, defend and run. Kuminga surpassed all those standards in his debut.

Snyder said, “Things we talked about as a team were obviously a focal point. Playing with the pass, that’s what you’ve heard me say since October, and he really demonstrated it right away to the point where I told him it was OK to shoot, too. But he allowed himself to come into the game, how he connected with his teammates and let the game come to him. I think it shows a lot of maturity on his part and how he feels about the group.” Let’s do it.

His teammates were looking forward to playing with him for the last few days and he did not disappoint them. All four of his assists came in the first quarter, and there were a few chances when he could have taken an open shot, but instead, he sent the extra pass.

“Another guy that’s going to put pressure on the rim, put him in the paint,” Nickell Alexander-Walker said. “His willingness to pass and fit within the system. To have fun with everybody. He was always locked in and vocal throughout the game, so it was good for him to come out and do that.”

The noise that was around Kuminga easily shut down every rumor and every negative report about him in a single night. If there were a statue for smiling, Kuminga would lead the night in that category.

“For people who really know me, all my teeth are out. I’m smiling, I’m laughing all the time,” Kuminga said. “Since I’ve been here, just being with the guys, I’ve developed a bond with them. Good people, good team. We all want to win. Winning comes with joy, so as long as we’re all out there enjoying ourselves, it’ll help us win games.”

This was just the beginning, but it was a good start for Kuminga. For people to really move forward, they just need a change of scenery to become the best version of themselves. It seems like this is exactly what Kuminga needed, and he could be with a team that can help him get to where he wants to go in his career.

Kuminga isn’t going to score 27 points in 24 minutes every game. He won’t have 12 shot attempts. He knows this, but his entire focus is on winning.

“It doesn’t matter if I go out there and hit two shots. As long as it’s impacting us to win, that’s what really matters,” Kuminga said.

On Tuesday night, Jonathan Kuminga made his highly anticipated debut for the Atlanta Hawks after the Golden State Warriors decided to trade him along with Buddy Hield in exchange for Kristaps Porzingis. And as it (unfortunately) happened, the Hawks’ main man and starting power forward Jalen Johnson had to exit early with a hip injury – paving the way for Kuminga to defeat the Washington Wizards in his first game with his new team.

Kuminga, in just 24 minutes off the bench, scored 27 points on 9-12 shooting from the field, leading all players in scoring in the process. If Johnson were to miss time for the Hawks, Kuminga would be called upon to take on a larger scoring load, and based on early returns, he is capable of doing so for a team looking to establish itself as a playoff team.

As a result of Kuminga’s lackluster first game in a Hawks uniform, some Warriors fans expressed disappointment that head coach Steve Kerr could not make things work in Kuminga’s five seasons with the team, especially after Golden State lost a close game against the lifeless New Orleans Pelicans.

“I’ll never forget what Kerr did to Kuminga,” wrote X user @__pettyhardaway.

“As surely as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, some people are going to say, ‘Well, Kuminga didn’t do it for Golden State…’. Well, I say it, it’s hard to do anything off the bench,” @Rickygreeneyze said.

@klewis1123 added, “I see Kuminga had 27 days for ATL tonight…glad the GS decided he had no real use for that kind of athleticism, scoring or perimeter shooting.”

@RookieHigh reported, “Kuminga with 27 points on 12 shots in just 24 minutes… extremely talented but Kerr wanted to force him to be a corner screen setter.”

“The Warriors could have used Kuminga tonight but at least they have Porzingis… wait… Porzingis doesn’t play…” @NinerGangManny joked.

The Charlotte Hornets are set to make the debut of guard Coby White, who is battling a left calf strain. White will be ready for Charlotte when the team takes on the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday. He is listed as probable on the team’s injury report.

White used to play for the Bulls, so this will be somewhat of a revenge game for the experienced guard. This season, White is averaging 18.6 points per game. After spending several years in Chicago, he was traded to the Hornets in early February.

Charlotte has a record of 27–31 on the season. The club has lost two of its last three matches.

Kobe set to debut for White Hornets

White played his college basketball at North Carolina, so he’ll be playing in front of a lot of fans in Charlotte. The talented guard has averaged double figures in scoring in almost every NBA season he has played.

White says he was not at all surprised to be traded.

“Every time in my career I was like, I don’t think [it] Was [going to] That’s really what happens,” White said, according to the Associated Press. “But with the circumstances now, you know, a lot of us are coming into free agency this summer. And the team had to go in a certain direction, in a way. So, I wasn’t really surprised or anything like that.

This season with the Bulls, White started 26 games while appearing in 29 contests. He last played on February 3 in a match between the Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks. He scored 21 points in that game.

White is shooting nearly 44 percent from the field this season. His shooting statistics are down from last season, when he averaged over 20 points per game.

Charlotte and Chicago play Tuesday at 8:00 ET. Chicago’s record this season is 24–34.

A new report suggests Juan Soto was a big win for the New York Mets in 2025 on and off the field.

Many people in baseball and the sports world in general scoffed at the news that the NY Mets had agreed to a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million deal with veteran outfielder Juan Soto. Sure, he was a 26-year-old four-time All-Star who won a championship with the Washington Nationals, but earning $62 million in the first season of the deal seemed ridiculous.

When he posted a .253 average and eight homers over the first three months of the season, it seemed as if the NY Mets had another overpriced free agent bust on their hands. However, in June, Soto began playing like the MVP candidate fans had seen during his lone season with the New York Yankees.

By the end of the 2025 campaign, he had a slash line of .263/.396/.525/.921 with 43 homers, 105 runs batted in, 120 runs scored and a career-best 38 stolen bases. Those numbers and his third-place finish in the National League MVP voting seem to suggest that for at least one season, he was worth the money, even if the team collapsed in the final weeks of the season.

However, that data is what the outfielder brings to the field for the NY Mets in 2025. However, what he delivered in terms of fan interest last season proves why the club decided to give him a record-breaking deal ahead of last season.

NY Mets set new record for ticket sales in 2025

According to a new disclosure first reported by Sportico, the team generated $311.4 million in revenue last season. This was a large increase compared to the $260.8 million earned in 2024 and $237.8 million earned in 2023. Ticket revenue also increased by more than $20 million – from $136.7 million to $157.6 million – after a sellout to more than 850,000 fans at Citi Field last year.

The outlet also reports that luxury suite and club premium revenues doubled in 2025 ($39.1 million), and concessions increased 55% ($38.3 million).

The big difference fans found between the 2024 team and the 2025 team was the inclusion of Soto. So it makes sense that he was the biggest factor in their turnover surge last season.

However, while they generated revenue of $311 million, they suffered losses three times that amount sometime in 2025. The loss was mostly caused by payroll costs of $347 million and the accompanying $92 million tax bill.

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

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The LA Clippers begin the post-All-Star break portion of their season with a matchup against the powerful Denver Nuggets, led by three-time MVP Nikola Jokic. The game got off to a bad start for the Clippers. That is, until Benedict Mathurin checked in.

Denver blew a 13-4 lead over the Clippers in Thursday night’s contest, trapping Kawhi Leonard 30 feet from the basket and forcing him to make other players. Benedict Mathurin checked in midway through the third quarter and immediately contributed 11 points off the bench in six minutes of the first quarter.

This was a far cry from the Mathurin everyone saw debuting for the Clippers against the Houston Rockets a week ago, and it was exactly what the Clippers needed against the Nuggets.

“We had a conversation during the first game in Houston,” head coach Tyronn Lue said of Benedict Mathurin. “I thought he was really passive, turned down some shots, wasn’t aggressive. I pulled him to the sideline during a timeout and told him, ‘You’ve got to be aggressive, you’ve got to be who you are, and we’ll figure out the rest.’ We needed everything we got tonight. “He’s aggressive, getting to the basket, getting to the free throw line and making some big shots for us.”

Mathurin not only made a strong start to the Clippers’ offense and did not give up all night. In his third game since the trade deadline deal that traded him to the Indiana Pacers, Benedict Mathurin recorded a Clippers franchise record for points in a home debut. The Clippers guard led the way with 38 points on 12-of-22 shooting from the field and 12-of-13 from the free throw line.

“Man, this is going to be awesome [playing for Tyronn Lue],” Mathurin said after the win. He could be my best friend. He told me to be aggressive, man. He told me to be myself, and I feel like he really knows my game. He really knows what I can do. It’s been a pleasure to have him as a coach. And I think by bringing everybody together, we can do a lot of great things.”

Kawhi Leonard, who was battling an illness, recorded 23 points, four rebounds and three assists, but saw double-teams and traps all night by the Nuggets defense that made it difficult for him to find a rhythm. However, he had a 10-point third quarter that helped the Clippers clinch the win in the minutes that Benedict Mathurin was off the field.

“Business went so fast, man,” Mathurin said. “I found time to talk [Kawhi] A little bit, just to meet him after the All-Stars. Great boy! We’re trying to build that relationship as quickly as possible so we can make a deep run in the playoffs.

Mathurin started the game with 11 points in the opening period and finished his 38-point performance with 16 points in the final frame.

“It’s fun to see how happy my teammates were for me,” Mathurin said after the win. “Just winning, actually winning my second game with the team. So far, so good.”

Mathurin recorded his second straight game with double-digit free throw attempts, repeatedly displaying the ability to take contact, finish through contact and get to the free throw line.

“I think I’ve always been aggressive, just getting to the rim,” Mathurin said after the win. “That’s one of my biggest strengths. So I think, you know, just knowing when to take a shot or be aggressive is kind of the difference between those two.”

In three games so far with the Clippers, Benedict Mathurin has averaged 21 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.0 steals in 30 minutes per game.

The Clippers are back in action on Friday night when they take on the Los Angeles Lakers inside Staples Center, the second game of a back-to-back set.

Last week, the San Antonio Spurs waived Jeremy Sochan less than four years after selecting him with the No. 9 overall pick in the NBA Draft. He was considered a key member of the franchise’s future, but as time passed and his younger teammates moved on, the former Baylor standout became stagnant and eventually fell out of the rotation. Now, he’s welcoming the opportunity the New York Knicks (35-20) are giving him in the second half of the 2025-26 campaign.

Before making his debut with his new team in Thursday’s highly anticipated battle against the first-place Detroit Pistons (40-13), the 22-year-old forward sported a knickerbockers-inspired, blue-and-orange hairstyle via ClutchPoints. Sochan has been fighting for some minutes and is therefore at least somewhat frustrated, but the sentiment shows how excited he is to play for this organization.

Jeremy Sochan rocks blue and orange hair ahead of his Knicks debut pic.twitter.com/Xi4rIkSmb8

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 20 February 2026

The Polish-American who was born in Oklahoma and raised in England is more in tune with New York culture than most people might imagine. He brings energy and defensive intensity, two qualities that fueled the Knicks during the 1990s and 2000s. Sochan could provide vital frontcourt depth and allow head coach Mike Brown to keep his core players fresh.

Furthermore, he still has time to develop into an impactful NBA contributor, and team president Leon Rose believes that process could potentially coincide with New York’s 2026 playoff run. The 2022 Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year could see his free agency value increase significantly if he helps the Knicks advance to the NBA Finals for the first time this century.

Jeremy Sochan averaged 10.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 28.7 percent from 3-point land in 212 games with the Spurs. The future is uncertain, but he’s incredibly grateful to have a fresh start in The Big Apple. The top of his head clearly illustrates that point.

On deadline day, sports witness Covered the loan of Aston Villa player Samuel Illing-Junior to Pisa. This came after he spent the first half of the season on loan at West Bromwich Albion.

In the championship, the winger played 24 times and scored one goal. Although he did not contribute many goals, the Englishman was a regular.

He started each of the Baggies’ final four games before his surprise departure. It was the first time in some time that he got regular minutes.

Now, it seems the decision to leave Aston Villa on a second loan is paying off.

Aston Villa player praised

Iling-Junior made his debut for Pisa against AC Milan on Friday. He came off the bench to play 33 minutes and made a real impact.

It was noted NationWho saw some ‘very positive things’ from the attacker. Despite not starting, he was one of the bright spots in the 2–1 defeat, as Pisa almost equalized the game.

Coincidentally, his Pisa debut came against Max Allegri, who had given Iling-Junior his debut during his time at Juventus.

Against the Rossoneri, he showed his blistering pace and worked reliably in tight spaces. This helped Pisa to hold Milan during counter-attacks.

There is a belief that manager Oscar Hiljemark could give the 22-year-old a start against Fiorentina.

A big opportunity for Pisa Illing-Junior

Last season, the winger spent two separate loan spells at Middlesbrough and Bologna. For the Serie A team, he only played 117 minutes in the league. In the Championship, he made 16 appearances but was never able to produce consistent performances.

This was also the situation at West Brom at the start of this season and that is why this is a huge opportunity for Pisa Illing-Junior to really prove himself.

Expectations will be low from Bologna Magic, especially since Pisa is struggling for survival. If he makes significant contributions in such a situation, his stock will naturally rise.

This would net Aston Villa a large fee from any future sale.