標籤: defeat

liverpool, chelsea And Barcelona are eyeing RB Leipzig’s Yann Diomande ahead of the summer.

On 6 April, Game Witness Covered Claims From Spain regarding the Premier League pair and Barcelona’s interest.

The same source said Liverpool and Chelsea are ready to offer €60m for the winger.

last week, Ivory Coast International said The latest claims of interest from Liverpool, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and other clubs inspire him.

Also, he ruled out the possibility of moving out in the summer.

The German club paid €20m to sign him from CD Leganés in July 2025 and he starred in his debut season.

His Bundesliga statistics are as follows:

• Appearances: 29
• Start: 24
• Total minutes: 2,137
• Minutes per game: 74
• Target: 12
• Assist: 6

Latest on Liverpool, Chelsea and Barcelona

Wednesday edition of game La Liga side’s stance on Yann Diomande is covered and Liverpool and Chelsea are mentioned.

The winger is Barcelona sporting director Deco’s favorite choice to improve the attack in the summer. Therefore, the La Liga winners had a meeting with his agent less than a month ago.

His possible arrival at the Camp Nou would depend on Barca not extending Marcus Rashford’s loan stay and Raphinha receiving an attractive offer.

Hansi Flick’s side contacted RB Leipzig to ascertain the conditions necessary to secure his services.

The latter aims to drive record sales of the 19-year-old product. Sport Points say the German claims suggest a fee of around €100m, which Barcelona cannot match.

Therefore, the Catalan club ‘gave up the dream’ of signing a winger and focused on signing a striker and centre-back. This should come as a boost for Liverpool and Chelsea.

Both Arne Slot’s team and the Blues, along with Manchester United, would be in a position to meet the fee demanded to sign him.

Leipzig are in third place, five points ahead of fifth-place TSG Hoffenheim. Champions League qualification would further strengthen their position to retain Diomande or demand a hefty fee for him.

Our opinion: Liverpool have the edge over Chelsea

In January Yann Diomande spoke about his desire to move to Liverpool.

That time, He said: : “I want to play for Liverpool. I’m a big Liverpool fan. My dad dreams of seeing me play at Anfield!”

This gives the Reds an advantage over others as long as they are willing to meet Leipzig’s demands.

The New York Knicks dominated the game for most of the time. However, the whole situation went awry when we needed it most. The double-digit lead evaporated completely, the Knicks failed in their last few games and were swept by the Hawks in the end.

What was a great opportunity to achieve a big win turned into a very disappointing defeat and an even bigger question mark has arisen in front of New York after this 107-106 defeat on their own court.​

mikal bridges didn’t give enough

Bridges should have been one of the Knicks players to calm things down when the game got tense, but he didn’t do that here. He finished with just 10 points on 3-10 shooting, and he didn’t look like the hungry scorer that New York needed at all.

The problem was not just missed shots but also inaction. In the last game, he took the final shot and missed, which added to the disappointment. A player like Bridges can’t disappear in a situation when the game is on the line.

the knicks bench was cold as ice

The Knicks’ bench was not enough to help lead the team. New York got 13 points from Mitchell Robinson and seven from Jordan Clarkson, but the rest of the bench combined to score zero.

In a playoff game where every point counts, that’s not enough. Atlanta’s bench was able to score a total of 28 points, led by Jonathan Kuminga’s 19 points, and that extra scoring made the difference in the game when the starters began to fade.

Mike Brown needs to change the system, and the Knicks need to take it more seriously

A big lesson from this loss is that the Knicks can no longer rely solely on talent. Their offense sputtered in the fourth quarter, and the stats showed it: New York managed only 15 points in the quarter, shooting 22.7% from the field; Atlanta, on the other hand, scored 28 points and shot 72.2%.

In fact, the game showed that the Hawks consistently found the right moments to score, while the Knicks kept missing their chances. Even missed a few late shots that could have ensured victory. It is not just a matter of ‘bad luck’; This is a problem of the entire system and mentality.

If the style of play is too slow, too predictable, or too relaxed, this team will be victimized in close games.



Jayesh Pagar is currently pursuing Sports Journalism from London School of Journalism and has four years of experience… More about Jayesh Pagar

The Detroit Tigers are back at Comerica Park and it was an amazing day of baseball. The Tigers won their home opener in 2026 by defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 4–0. It was an excellent pitching performance from starting pitcher Framber Valdez.

Detroit opened the scoring with a 433-foot two-run home run by starting catcher Dillon Dingler in the fourth inning. Through seven games, Dingler is the only Detroit hitter with a home run, marking his second of the 2026 MLB season. Then, Riley Green hit an RBI-single in the fifth inning, followed by another single by Javier Báez in the sixth inning.

After being defeated by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, the Tigers’ offense bounced back in their home opener at Comerica Park. There were other opportunities for runs, as Kevin McGonigle and Kerry Carpenter hit two balls deep into the outfield during the first inning.

Meanwhile, Valdez went scoreless six with three hits, two walks and five strikeouts. The 32-year-old starter became the first pitcher since Spencer Turnbull in 2019 to throw a quality start in a home opener. Valdez is the first pitcher since Jordan Zimmerman in 2016 to do so in both the home opener and his home debut for the Tigers.

There were other milestones, such as Green’s 500th career MLB hit, becoming the 20th player in franchise history to accomplish the feat before age 26. It was a much-needed change of pace for the Tigers after being defeated by the Diamondbacks.

In fact, the Tigers had the biggest crown for a home opener at Comerica Park since 2017. Fans were given a picture-perfect day en route to their first home win of 2026.

READ MORE: MLB Insider shares update on Tarik Skubal’s future with Detroit Tigers

Austin Konensky is a sports writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and college football. His work…More about Austin Konensky

It appears that Mario Gila could leave Lazio in the summer transfer window. Aston Villa may now need to act quickly if they are to land a centre-back.

The Roma side have faced significant financial difficulty over the past 12 months. They were handed a transfer ban last summer and were then forced to sell Matteo Guendouzi and Taty Castellanos.

Gila could now be the next major player to depart for a fee that would give Lazio a capital gain.

sports witness Tuttosport have covered claims about Aston Villa’s interest in the defender. Now, Unai Emery’s side could struggle in a potential move.

AC Milan is trying to move forward

transfer market The report on the Spaniard’s situation, makes it clear that AC Milan is doing its best to advance in the competition.

The outlet noted interest from Aston Villa but the Rossoneri discovered Mario Gila at the weekend. He started for Lazio in the game against Bologna and played a role in their 2–0 win away from home.

This seems to have reassured Max Allegri’s side, who are now aiming to make a formal offer for the 25-year-old. There is also interest from Inter Milan but everything points to Gila being a prime target for the Rossoneri.

The player is keen to leave in the summer, with the Biancocelesti having already been informed of this decision. Once Lazio executes the sale, Real Madrid will be required to pay a fee of 50% of his earnings as Gila joins the Roman club from Los Blancos in 2022.

The deal could prove important for Aston Villa

Mario Gila has been one of his most reliable defenders since joining the Serie A side. He continued to be an important player even when many others at the club left.

Under Maurizio Sarri, he has also operated as a midfielder and this shows his versatility. He has also developed as a leader, which has helped him remain in and around the Spain national team.

Unai Emery has never had a problem having players of that type in his team. Gila also has great ability on the ball, which will just be a bonus.

The only obstacle to the move is Milan, which is likely to be helped by his contract situation as it expires in 2027.

It appeared as if the Indiana Pacers would suffer their 17th consecutive loss of the season on Monday night when they visited the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center. The Magic may not be the toughest competitive team out there, but they have a winning record and are in the running for a spot in the Eastern Conference standings – pushing hard for the sixth seed and a direct playoff berth.

But the Pacers were bound to win one of these days; They had so much talent on the roster that they couldn’t have gotten a win with at least a little luck. On Monday night, they finally broke their cold spell, pulling off a 128-126 upset win over the Magic thanks to a 37-point performance from Pascal Siakam.

While Indiana has all the incentive in the world to lose the game, as finishing with the worst record in the NBA increases their chances of being a top-four pick in the first round this year, it would be very disappointing for a locker room full of winners to suffer consecutive losses.

At least, Pacers fans on social media were excited to end their bleeding.

Pacers fans in party mode on X

This season has been a complete nightmare for the Pacers. But there is light at the end of the tunnel, and fans are at least happy to see a glimmer of hope on Monday night. However, as happy as fans are after this win, they want their team to lose here so that they can keep their 2026 first-round pick.

“We may lose again but I needed a man, thank you all so much,” wrote ex user @leviteight.

“Monthly win quota. Get ready to lose your last 10 games 😈,” @PacersID added.

“Great W lose now, please,” @ddter23 added.

Neither Jonathan Kuminga nor his former team, the Golden State Warriors, looked that good in their highly anticipated reunion performance.

The Warriors were defeated by the Atlanta Hawks 126–110, their eighth loss in nine games, while Kuminga went 1 of 9 from the field for just two points, four rebounds, two turnovers and a -6 plus/minus in 22 minutes of action.

Instead, the highlights of the game were Dyson Daniels and CJ McCollum as the duo scored 28 and 23 points to lead Golden State in the backcourt. While the Warriors outscored the Hawks for most of the first half, Atlanta outscored Golden State with a 48–16 run from 6:16 in the second quarter to 6:16 in the third quarter. From there, the Dubs were helpless, lacking enough firepower to get back into the game.

The loss dropped Golden State to 33–38 on the season, its lowest mark under .500 all season. After the game, Steve Kerr acknowledged where the Warriors are at the moment.

“This is the hardest thing to go through,” Kerr said. “Losing and getting destroyed by injuries. And feeling like you’re pushing, you’re trying, you’re competing, but things aren’t going your way. It’s definitely a tough, tough time for everybody. It’s human nature to get down, hang your head.”

With a storm of injuries sidelining not only their stars, Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry, but also key role players like Moses Moody and Al Horford, the Warriors have completely collapsed after the All-Star break. After taking a strong hold on the eighth seed in the West, they now find themselves in 10th place, a game and a half behind the Clippers.

Are reinforcements on the way for the Warriors?

The good news for the Warriors is that they should get some firepower soon in the coming days. Curry’s re-evaluation on Saturday gave him the all-clear to resume live-action work in team practice in the coming days.

It’s another step in the right direction after Curry resumed working non-contact shooting drills with the team on the road this week. Before traveling with the team to Dallas, Curry will participate in 5-on-5 scrimmages with available coaches and players in Atlanta on Sunday morning.

Kerr called this specific checkpoint a “big day” because the team will have a better understanding of when he can return after Rick Celebrini evaluates him. Curry has missed 21 consecutive games due to patellofemoral pain syndrome and a right kneecap injury. Golden State is 6-15 since Curry was sidelined.

As far as Moody’s is concerned, their recent reassessment has also brought positive results. According to the team he is making “good progress”, and they have stepped up his work on the court with shooting drills after not being able to shoot due to his sprained right wrist. He will also be cast in live-action work in the coming days.

Moody missed the last 10 games due to a wrist injury, derailing his productive season. He is averaging 11.9 points on 40.2 percent 3-point shooting in 59 games this year.

Can Golden State rally?

At the end of the day, it seems like it’s a season from hell for Golden State. A team can only do so much when it loses its best performance due to an ACL tear.

But it is not that they have lagged behind like other teams this season. To his credit, he has battled and competed in every game since Curry went out. Two-way players have given him as much as two players can give. Youngsters like Gui Santos and Brandin Podziemski have shown how good they would look if they were next to the stars. It’s just that their efforts and patience have not been rewarded.

“I’m just trying to encourage guys to keep competing,” Kerr said after the game. “But to try to bring energy and stay positive because reinforcements will come, and we have to be ready for that. But in the meantime, I’m proud of the way they’re playing. They’re working hard, but they’re in a tough situation. We’re all in a tough situation.”

The Warriors will look to complete their 1-4 road trip with a matchup with the Dallas Mavericks.

The Los Angeles Lakers recorded their seventh consecutive win by defeating the Houston Rockets 124–116 at the Toyota Center.

The Lakers swept the Rockets in their back-to-back contests, with Luka Doncic and LeBron James combining for their best performances of the season.

Doncic had a near triple-double of 40 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists, while James added 30 points, missing only one of his 14 attempts. He also had five rebounds and two assists.

Doncic had seven three-pointers, including a dagger in the final minute, giving them a nine-point lead. After the game, Lakers coach JJ Redick was asked what Doncic said after hitting the shot. In response, Redick told a joke.

“I’m very excited to go to Miami,” Redick said, per Benjamin Royer of the OC Register.

There is no time to rest for the Purple and Gold as they face the Miami Heat on Thursday at Kasia Center.

Redick has talked about his busy schedule this season and reiterated that he has to deal with it and do his job as a professional.

The 27-year-old Doncic has been poor in his recent win streak, averaging 38.7 points. He has reached 40 points for the third time in seven matches. He is on his way to winning his second scoring title.

At the risk of spoiling it, it looks like the Lakers are peaking at the right time. With great play from Doncic and James, Austin Reeves regaining his form, Deandre Ayton learning to buy in and Marcus Smart playing his role perfectly, they will pose a real threat in the playoffs.

This is not a joke.

Suffice it to say, New York Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns is not a fan of the way the Dominican Republic bowed out of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

It appeared that the Dominican Republic had been betrayed by the home plate umpire, who proceeded to call two questionable third strikes on Juan Soto and Geraldo Perdomo – with Perdomo’s last at-bat of the game – giving Team USA a 2–1 victory, who are now advancing to the WBC Finals.

After the game, the Knicks star, who has represented the Dominican Republic in FIBA ​​competition, expressed his disagreement with the way his home country was eliminated from the WBC in animated fashion.

“Oh yeah, that was a ball, man! That was some bullshit. They should have got a chance. They had Tatis Jr. coming in. Come on, man,” Towns told reporters via Knicks video on SNY on X (formerly Twitter).

Pitch data on MLB GameDay says it all. ClutchPoints lead MLB reporter Joey Mistretta took note of this by showing how far below the strike zone the strike three call against Perdomo was.

I’m glad Team USA got the win, but this is a terrible way to end the game pic.twitter.com/YNDI8ITHCc

– Joey Mistretta (@JoeyMistretta_) 16 March 2026

It’s hard for a neutral observer to say that the Knicks star’s thoughts about what happened to the Dominican Republic in the semifinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic aren’t justified.

Dominican Republic’s stacked lineup shut out by Team USA

While the questionable strike three call will be the lasting legacy of this semifinal encounter, the Dominican Republic had a few other opportunities to put runs on the board against Team USA, but were not able to do so. Team USA deserves credit for shutting down a stacked DR lineup and holding them to just one run.

However, it certainly would have been exciting if Perdomo had reached base and Tatis had a chance to tie or win the game. The top of the DR lineup was coming up, and the home plate umpire took that opportunity away from them.

SAN FRANCISCO – If things couldn’t get any worse for the Golden State Warriors, already a team without stars Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler, it did in a 127-117 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.

Al Horford, Quinton Post and Seth Curry all sat out Golden State’s fourth consecutive loss. And before that, Draymond Green was scratched 20 minutes before the game started. That left the Warriors struggling for healthy bodies as T-Wolves star Anthony Edwards finished with 42 points on 13-22 shooting.

After the game, Dubs coach Steve Kerr acknowledged how depleted and injured the Warriors were at the moment as they fell to 32–34 on the season.

“We’re definitely going through it,” Kerr said. “But you saw how hard the guys played and stuck in it and got the fans into it. And we can’t ask for anything more from our players right now. What they’re giving as far as effort and playing together. But yeah, we lost just as well as any team I can ever remember.”

Beating is an understatement.

With seven players out due to injury, the Warriors were missing more than $160 million in salary. That’s about 70% of their $233,853,209 payroll. And to add literal insult to injury, this latest skid has allowed the Los Angeles Clippers to overtake them for the eighth seed, leaving them just a half-game ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers in 10th.

status of wounded warriors

However, it remains to be seen whether these latest injuries will persist.

Kerr had no update after the game on Green, Post or Curry. As far as Horford is concerned, Kerr had few details regarding the veteran big man’s situation. While the team announced during the game that Horford was out due to right calf soreness, Kerr described Horford’s injury as a “strain” after the game.

“With a calf strain, I don’t know how long Al will be out,” Kerr said. “But I hope that with the calf, we won’t have to move him back too quickly.”

With Horford potentially out for a while, Kerr hopes to turn to Kristaps Porzingis for starts in the meantime. Porzingis, who has battled injuries this season and throughout his career, has had some encouraging games after missing six consecutive games due to illness. Porzingis finished with 20 points in 19 minutes of action, the most points he has scored in his four games for the Warriors.

“Feeling fine,” Porzingis said after the game. “Step by step, just trying to get back into really good shape. Still got a way to go, but happy with the progress so far.”

Captured the fort for the Golden State

In the meantime, the onus will be on Porzingis and the rest of the healthy Warriors to deal with this latest storm of injuries.

But with injuries also come opportunities. Brandin Podziemski, who has excelled in basketball since Curry’s passing, understands that common NBA adage.

“I look at it as a blessing in disguise,” Podziemski said optimistically after collecting 25 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.

“Just because it’s an opportunity and you’re able to build confidence when you’re out there, especially when there’s no expectations, and people are probably expecting us to lose. So it’s a blessing to me that when other guys come back, that confidence you build, you can be ready to show when you come back as well.”

There is an obvious concern that due to not having enough healthy bodies, the remaining players may get tired from the extra workload. But Kerr isn’t too worried about that potential issue. He pointed to the medical staff’s diligence in monitoring that potential problem and the youth of the remaining players.

Despite this, Kerr is keeping an optimistic outlook, presenting this latest round of injuries as something he has to get past.

“I feel like there are really brighter days ahead,” Kerr said. “So you just have to go through a tough situation.”

SAN FRANCISCO – Back-to-back losses to two actively trying teams are hard to swallow. But that’s what the Golden State Warriors will have to do after losing 130-124 to the Chicago Bulls in overtime.

The Warriors led by eight with 91 seconds left in regulation, but their performance fizzled out at the end of the game in the final seconds of overtime.

“We couldn’t finish it off,” Kerr said bluntly after the game. “They got two free throws with one second left, and they were able to send it to overtime. And then they were the better team in OT.”

The reason the Bulls got to OT were two mistakes by the Warriors. Two-way rookie LJ Cryer missed a free throw with a chance to give Golden State three points, opening the door for Bulls center Jalen Smith to knock down two free throws to tie the game after Draymond Green fouled him with his hand on his hip as he caught a pass in the corner.

From there, as Kerr said, Chicago attacked the Warriors in overtime. Matas Buzelis finished with a career-high 41 points with a dagger three with 2:20 left in OT, while Josh Giddy topped the scoring with a 21-point, 13-rebound, 17-assist triple-double.

But despite a stellar performance from the Bulls’ young core, the loss was caused by Green’s uncharacteristic mistake at the end of regulation. When Kerr was asked what happened on Green’s mistake, he took responsibility for his mistake.

“It was a foul. I saw the replay, and I’m convinced.” [Green would] Love getting it back. Just his hand fell in the wrong place. And [it] This would have been a tough shot for Smith to hit. And Dre knows he just needs to challenge [Smith]. He was in a difficult situation. He did not play the entire fourth quarter. And then I threw him out there for some defensive possessions, because I know how good he is on that end, but he wasn’t exactly loose and in flow. And I’m sure that didn’t help the case.”

Defensive woes plague Golden State

Still, the Warriors said they haven’t lost a game in a game or two. After the game, Pat Spencer pointed to their defensive issues and how Chicago controlled the flow of the game.

“We were a little soft on the ball,” Spencer said. “Think they’re very smart, and I think if we’re being honest, they didn’t have a group of guys that typically knocked down the three ball at a high rate. They still didn’t shoot that well. It felt like we were a little passive on that side. They’ve got some guys that can create a little bit. It felt like they played at their pace most of the night.”

Golden State lost 64-49 on the boards, holding the Bulls to 20 offensive rebounds. Buzzellis and Giddy got where they wanted, usually breaking down the Warriors’ shell and getting into the paint.

However, it is not that the Warriors did not work hard. While Cryer missed crucial free throws, he finished with 17 points on 3-of-5 from deep. Spencer himself was +18 plus/minus with 17 points and six assists as he led the Dubs’ leads in the third and fourth quarters. They even got a strong game from Kristaps Porzingis, with the big man collecting 17 points and four blocks in his third game with the Warriors. Porzingis got the crowd at Chase Center going when he hit a big three on the wing to cap a 12-0 run late in the third.

But ultimately, the Dubs lost, and that loss on their tab erases any good they did. This is the defeat of a team in the middle of a tank, which had previously lost to a team Fined By the league for tanking.

It doesn’t help that the Warriors are injured, no Steph Curry, no Jimmy Butler, and Moses Moody and De’Anthony Melton are out. But this kind of defeat is devastating for a team trying to survive.

how warriors move forward

With Golden State falling to 32-33 on the season, he hasn’t had time to nurse his wounds. They are in danger of falling far behind the Clippers, who passed them for the eighth seed this week. The Warriors are currently in ninth place, where they need to win two consecutive games to make it to the playoffs. They’ll get an update on Curry’s knee on Wednesday, but in all likelihood they’ll have to do without him when they get him up.

Gary Payton II said, “We can’t feel sorry for ourselves. We know if we play the right way we can be ahead in any game.” “Bus [got to] Finish the season strong. Like I said, late, late in the second half, you know, clear up some mental things. “And I think we’ll put ourselves in a great position to close out the game.”

The Warriors’ optimism still remains. The high end of what this team can be, like the upset over the Houston Rockets, gives them confidence. But consecutive losses to tanking teams shows where the Warriors are at this season. Barely stepping into the water with a faint hope that their star might return in time to save them.

There were a lot of good things for the Senators in tonight’s game, but they were all overshadowed by the bad. It’s hard to know how bad it is right now. During the second period, Jake Sanderson was hit by Brandon Montour. He left the game with a sprained right shoulder and did not return. Time will tell what the diagnosis is. For now, let’s look at the details of the Senators’ 7-4 win over the Seattle Kraken.

READ MORE: Analyzing the Senators trade deadline

Foegele’s first term as senator

What do you think of Warren Foegele’s senatorial debut? Having been traded to Ottawa by the Kings just days earlier, Foegele scored the fifth goal of the game for the Senators. He played on the fourth line with Eller and Zetterlund, playing at full strength, averaging only less than 12 minutes of ice time. As advertised, he came in playing a responsible two-way game while also doing some heavy fore-checking.

pinto’s big night

Pinto’s final scores tonight were:

• 1 goal, 2 assists, 4 PIM, 17:26 time on ice

The penalty minutes are a little strange from Pinto, but the production is exactly what the Senators need from their two-way center. Pinto is always asked to do the heavy lifting defensively, whether it’s killing penalties or attacking the opposition’s best line. However, his offense has not been as consistent. Tonight is his first multi-point game since January 1st. It was his first three-point game since the start of the season.

additional comments

Tim Stützle extended his point streak to 12 games, while also scoring 30 goals for the second time in his career. Now let’s see if he can score 40 runs. Tyler Kleven has the ability to land a big hit after one of his players gets hit hard. Cleven pounced on Jordan Eberle shortly after Sanderson left the game. Kleven also scored a goal in this game. His cross-check on Jared McCann late in the game was not as good. He ended up with a five-minute major and a game misconduct. Let’s hope he doesn’t have to face suspension there. Let’s also hope that the upcoming Jake Sanderson update is a positive one.

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

To say that the Philadelphia 76ers’ NBC “Throwback Night” showdown against the San Antonio Spurs did not go as planned would be an understatement.

Taking the court to Joel Embiid, Paul George and eventually VJ Edgecombe, who exited at halftime after a hard fall from fellow rookie Carter Bryant, the 76ers trailed the Spurs by 38 seconds in the game and never recovered, losing 78–53 at halftime and finishing with a certified blowout 131–91.

What happened? How did the 76ers, even with a depleted personnel, allow a game against a potential NBA Finals opponent to get so far away from them? Well, Nick Nurse tried to break it up, even if he didn’t realize it.

“I thought we were doing a good job of finding shots. I thought it was taking some time, and I kept saying that in the timeouts. The open shots aren’t coming as fast as they did last night, but they’re still there, you just have to be a little more patient and keep kicking out,” Nurse explained.

“And I thought, for the most part, I mean, obviously, he blocked some guys inside from our bigs. But I thought, other than that, we were doing a good job out there for a while. And then we just couldn’t; they made a lot of turnovers. Really, defensively the second quarter was really bad. Obviously, they were really rolling, hitting a lot of threes, getting to the rim. There was no resistance defensively.”

On offense, the 76ers were borderline destructive, with Tyrese Maxey outscoring the rest of Philadelphia’s starters 21–10, while only two other players, Jabari Walker and Cam Payne, managed to reach double figures. Sure, Embiid, PG13, and, for half of the game, Edgecombe, weren’t available, but when rotation players like Quentin Grimes, Dominic Barlow, Trendon Watford, Adem Bona, and Justin Edwards combined for just 26 points, the 76ers aren’t going to win many, if any, games, even if they lock in and play elite defense.

Nick Nurse discusses the impact of Victor Wembanyama and what went wrong in Tuesday night’s defeat to Spurs. | @kia pic.twitter.com/6G1OqhprvL

– NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) 4 March 2026

As the NBA world reacts to the New York Knicks breaking Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs’ 11-game winning streak, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst sees it as a warning to fans. Wembanyama and the Spurs’ crushing 114–89 loss to the Knicks ended a long winning streak, but also put San Antonio’s weaknesses on full display.

Spurs never recovered from 19-0 Knicks run in the second quarterThat reminded some of his inexperience, Windhorst said, according to ESPN’s First Take.

Windhorst said, “I’m not going to overreact to the afternoon’s game at the Garden. If you’re making the case why Spurs won’t win, you saw it yesterday.” “When the Knicks threw some punches at them they couldn’t handle it. It was a 19-0 run in the second quarter. You’re not going to win a playoff game when you give up a 19-0 run on the road. So, you see things like that.”

The Spurs also finished 9-for-34 from beyond the 3-point arc (26.5%) against the Knicks.

“They are still, as a team, inconsistent on 3-point shots. When they get to the playoffs, opposing teams, when they’ve got a fully fleshed out game plan for a playoff series, they’re going to force them to take threes. And they want Victor Wembanyama to take threes. They’re still a bottom 10 3-point percentage shooting team. Whether you like it or not, the NBA is still 3-point. League.”

“If you’re making the case why Spurs won’t win, you saw it yesterday.”

—@WindhorstESPN On the concerns over the Spurs’ NBA title hopes 👀 pic.twitter.com/EDFohIBK2g

– First Tech (@FirstTech) 2 March 2026

Brian Windhorst says 3-point shooting and experience are glaring weaknesses for the Spurs.

Victor Wembanyama’s confession after Spurs defeat

Spurs All-Star Victor Wembanyama took responsibility for Sunday’s 25-point loss to the Knicks. While admitting that the Knicks’ defense prevented them from finding their offensive rhythm, Wembanyama also said that he wished he would have passed the ball more, as the Spurs were in a heavy deficit.

“I think they had some physicality, but not what we’ve seen… For some reason, we were a little hesitant… I was especially hesitant on threes… I was holding the ball too much… We gave them a breather. We should have been better, especially in the first quarter. That was the game.”

Wembanyama finished with 25 points on 8-for-17 shooting, 13 rebounds and four blocks in Sunday’s loss.

Chelsea have seen many strikers pass through Stamford Bridge this century. Few have made as much of a mark as Diego Costa, who has now officially announced his retirement at the age of 37.

The former Blues forward confirmed the decision in an interview with the podcast mario’s wayHosted by his former teammate Mario Suárez. “It’s been a long time since I retired. My agent was looking around for something, but I lost the desire to keep playing.” He said.

brazilian outlet globo esporte That story was reported and reminded that Costa had not played a competitive match since December 2024, when he featured for Grêmio in Brazil. However, for Chelsea supporters, his story is strongly linked to the club’s most impressive recent era.

Premier League winner with bite

Chelsea signed Costa from Atlético Madrid in 2014. In his first season, he scored 20 Premier League goals and helped the club win the title under José Mourinho. They then achieved another league victory in 2016–17, this time under Antonio Conte, where he again finished as a key attacking figure.

Costa’s style divided opinion throughout England. He was combative, physical and tireless. Still he was decisive. He scored important goals in big matches and gave Chelsea the edge they often lacked in tight matches.

Overall, he won two Premier League titles and one League Cup with the Blues. In all competitions, he scored 59 goals in 120 appearances. This return underlines how central he was to Chelsea’s success during that period.

From Stamford Bridge to the Broad Forum

After leaving Chelsea in 2018, Costa returned to Atlético Madrid. He later had stints in Brazil with Atlético-MG, Botafogo and Grêmio. His last official appearance took place in late 2024.

Nevertheless, his prime years were in the Premier League. Despite being born in Sergipe, Brazil, he represented Spain at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups.

A mark in Chelsea’s recent history

Time has softened the edges of the controversy surrounding his Stamford Bridge exit. All that remains are silver vessels and tablets.

Costa was not subtle. He was not universally loved outside West London. However, during their peak, they embodied a ruthless Chelsea team built to win at any cost.

For a club that is struggling to find long-term stability, his retirement also serves as a reminder. Reliable, title-winning numbers of nine are rare. Chelsea had one in Diego Costa – and they knew it when he was at his best.

A lot of things didn’t go right for the Milwaukee Bucks when they welcomed the New York Knicks to town for an Eastern Conference showdown on Friday night.

Entering the half with a 20-point deficit, the Bucks were able to play the Knicks even in the third quarter, but ultimately lost without much of a fight in the final frame of the game, scoring only 15 points in a 127–98 loss.

Discussing how the game got away from their Bucks on their home court, Doc Rivers laid it out clearly for those in attendance and beyond: Milwaukee just got beat By New York.

“Yeah, yeah, I mean some guys on their team gave us shots, and we’re OK with that,” Rivers said. “You know, and we should have still gone out and defended it, but I thought they got everything they wanted and forgot the 3s. Like when they wanted to drive, they drove the ball, when they wanted to shoot, they shot the ball. And I didn’t think we met their physicality and their intensity. And you know, that’s a good lesson for them. He knew he knew how the game was going to be played, And we couldn’t capitalize on that moment.”

Now, heading into the game, few expected the Bucks to pull out a win, as they still don’t have Giannis Antetokounmpo and have a 26-32 record with a few more weeks left in the season. Still, after some strong performances following the arrivals of Cam Thomas and Ousmane Dieng, it’s clear that Rivers is ready to break down game film and move on.

“I don’t think we could meet their physicality and intensity…we couldn’t meet that moment,” Doc Rivers says after tough loss at home to the Knicks #nba #after the game #be afraid of dear pic.twitter.com/bDf3gS4EPK

– ESPN Milwaukee (@ESPNMilwaukee) 28 February 2026

The highlight of the night for the New Jersey Devils at PPG Paints Arena was when the Pittsburgh Penguins faithful gave golden goalscorer Jack Hughes a standing ovation to solidify Team USA’s victory at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Then again, it was penguins all night.

Fork is found in the kitchen. In other words, the Devils gave up the game’s first goal – once again – to the Penguins in the first period.

Late in the opening frame, Arseniy Gritsyuk was charged a minor penalty or fouled Penguins defenseman, Parker Wotherspoon, and the Penguins went on the power play.

About a minute into the man advantage for Pittsburgh, Kris Letang’s blast was redirected by Tommy Novak, giving the Penguins a 1–0 lead.

It was a slow first period for the Devils, who ended the period with a 9-6 shot differential deficit.

However, the second season started much better. In a similar manner to how Novak scored – albeit at power – Hughes fed Dougie Hamilton at the Penguins blueline for a one-time blast.

Paul Cotter redirected a Hamilton shot and tied the game at one.

Dan Muse and the Penguins challenged the Devils goal for goaltender interference. Still, the challenge went New Jersey’s way, which put a goal on the board and sent the Devils to the power play.

Still, the Devils failed to convert the man advantage and three additional power plays gained in the second period.

It was all Penguins in the third period as they regained the lead after quickly taking control of the game.

At 6:30 of the final frame, Ryan Shea’s rocket from the left circle hit the cross bar and bounced off Connor Clifton at the opposite point. When the puck came to him the veteran defenseman did not hesitate, wound up and scored to give the Penguins a 2–1 lead.

50 seconds later, Yegor Chinakhov caught the Devils napping. He slipped behind the Devils defense and Evgeni Malkin fed him for a half-breakaway and Chinakhov scored to put the Penguins ahead by two goals, making the game 3–1.

The Devils pulled Markstrom with less than four minutes to play and after the man advantage, Clifton had the puck taken out of play and sat for delay of game.

Blake Lizotte hit an empty net to seal the Devils’ 29th loss of the season and fifth consecutive.

Jacob Markstrom’s strong start wasted. The Swiss goaltender brought a little Olympic swag back with him. Still, they surrendered three goals on 33 shots they faced.

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

Although the Pistons deployed a defensive gameplan based on physicality to slow down Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs emerged victorious 114–103 in their Monday matchup. Although Vembanyama had 21 points, he was only 6-16 from the field. But, Vembanyama still proved effective in other areas of the game, grabbing 17 rebounds and six blocks.

In postgame comments obtained by Omari Sankofa II, Pistons star Cade Cunningham admitted that his team could not adjust to the intensity that Wembanyama brought to the defensive side of the floor.

“We couldn’t figure out Wemby early. We changed a lot of our shots, changed our approach and had opportunities where we found things and did things we wanted to do. He changed a lot of shots and couldn’t figure out his early.”

Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff explained his approach to attacking the Wembanyama-led defense, saying, “You have to go through him, you can’t go around him.” (Duren) did a great job late where he was passing to him. “He’s very smart, very talented…if you allow him to play in space, you have to become more familiar with him.”

Jalen Duren punched Wembley, also committed foulpic.twitter.com/L0xLWKoM9o

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 24 February 2026

Jalen Duren finished the game with 25 points, including a thrilling poster dunk over Victor Wembanyama that went viral on social media. But Duren didn’t get much help offensively, especially as Cunningham finished the game with 16 points and was 5-26 from the field.

But Bickerstaff saw the loss in a broader perspective, noting that San Antonio allowed 18 three-pointers, which ultimately put the game out of reach.

“They moved the ball well, they attacked the rebounds to get those looks. Some of them had mistakes, we gave up strong side corner 3s that we don’t normally do… Credit to them. They played a strong game.”

Los Angeles – After a first quarter in which the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics were tied at 28 each, the Lakers could not keep pace with their historic rival and were outscored 83–61 the rest of the game and lost 111–89. According to Lou Murray of The Athletic, the 89 points were the second-lowest total this season for a Lakers team that has been explosive offensively, and Luka Doncic admitted it was not normal.

“I thought they were playing physical. They were playing great defense,” Doncic said during his postgame press conference. “We need a better offense. We scored 89 points. That’s not like us so we have to be better.”

Coming into the game against the Celtics, the Lakers were 12th in the NBA in points per game with 116.2 points. They were 10th in offensive rating at 117.6. The Celtics, on the other hand, came in second in the league in opponent points per game with 108.4 and eighth in defensive rating with 113.5.

The Celtics’ swarming defense was certainly on display, especially their use of deep drops and strong perimeter ball pressure.

“You just have to match the physicality … especially on the defensive end,” Doncic said. “You have to match the physicality.”

Doncic finished the game with 25 points in 33 minutes while shooting 9-of-22 (40.9 percent) from the field and 4-of-7 (57.1 percent) from the 3-point line. He also added five rebounds, three assists and one steal.

The Lakers’ offensive struggles were also highlighted by head coach JJ Redick, who felt the team generally played good enough defense to win games. This was a reversal of the team’s norm this season in which they have generally scored a lot of points, but struggled to stop opposing attacks.

“We did a good job limiting their fast break points, did a good job limiting their points in the paint. We played great defensively,” Redick said. “We were very aggressive tonight.”

For Redick, one of the key areas the Lakers struggled offensively was making shots at the rim and putting more pressure on the Celtics’ defense.

“I think there were opportunities to put more pressure on the rim, especially in the first half,” Redick said. “We took 11 non-paint twos. We were 13 of 29 on paint twos, non-rim paint twos. That’s not normally how we shoot. And then we got some good looks from three, we didn’t knock them down. You’ve got to make shots in this league.”

Redick added, “I think a lot of times when teams are on more downs than all of our guys playing pick and roll, it puts you in a bind of not having obvious options to pass.” “We’ve got to do a better job of finding guys and moving the ball.”

Before the game, the Lakers honored legendary coach Pat Riley, who battled against the Celtics in his day, by erecting a statue outside the team’s arena.

The Chicago Bulls’ losing woes continued as they lost 105-99 to the New York Knicks on Sunday. This is their ninth consecutive defeat and they are now leading 24-34. Still, they had Isaac Okoro do as he has been doing lately.

Even in the loss, Okoro finished the game with 12 points and six rebounds. In the process, Okoro equaled his career achievementWith his sixth consecutive 10+ point game, according to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. This streak began on February 5 against the Toronto Raptors, when he scored 10 points in a 123–107 loss.

Additionally, Okoro’s latest series of 10+ points is dated May 2021. From 5/7 to 5/16, he scored in double figures. So far, Okoro has played 48 games and is averaging 9.1 points per game. Matas Buzelis led the way for Chicago with 15 points. Jalen Smith tied Okoro with 12 points. Guershon Yabusele came in with 11 points and Patrick Williams finished with 10 points.

On Saturday, he finished with 15 points in a 126–110 loss to the Detroit Pistons. Earlier, Okoro scored 16 points in a 110–101 loss to the Raptors, the Bulls’ first game since the All-Star break.

In 2025, Bulls acquired okoro From the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Lonzo Ball. A big reason for bringing in Okoro was to strengthen Chicago’s defense, as he is known for his irritating and disruptive presence in the passing lanes.

The loss marked the first time in seven years that the Bulls have lost nine consecutive games. On Tuesday they will play at home against the Charlotte Hornets.