標籤: hits

brentfordAttempts to sign Cologne star Said El Mala have hit a wall, with his mother now ruling out a move.

image report The 19-year-old has now rejected Brentford’s offer, despite the Bees meeting his demands.

Brentford deal agreed

According to the newspaper, Brentford had offered €45m plus €5m in bonuses for the forward. This was enough to match FC Köln’s demands, which they have been sticking to vigorously for the past few weeks.

Final transfer details were being sorted out by the clubs.Saeed relaxing on holiday in Mykonos with El Mala. However, now there has been a surprising twist.

Bild has learned that his mother, who is acting as his agent, dropped a ‘transfer bomb’ on Thursday afternoon. According to the newspaper, he has informed Brentford that his son will not be joining him this summer. He believes this is not the right move for him at this time.

This is despite everything being prepared for the move. El Mala would have received €4m per year with Brentford. Cologne’s sporting director, Thomas Kessler, was ready to approve the deal. He was preparing to take it to the German club’s supervisory board for further approval.

wait and see

Instead, he will now have to sit in the back seat and wait and see what happens. Brentford have been rejected and that’s that.

The cancellation does not mean that Saeed El Mala will remain. While the club believes it is possible, the chances are low.

Instead, he and his mother will wait until the summer for better offers to come along. There is also interest elsewhere in the Premier League, with Newcastle United notably named.

There is also a belief that the English market ‘really takes off’ in August, so it is worth waiting on that front too. Anyhow, his mother ruled that he would not be allowed to Brentford despite his attempts to broker a deal.

Manchester United Midfielder Casemiro has generally responded directly to criticism from Jamie Carragher. And liverpool Ultimately he was also included in the conversation.

Carragher questioned Casemiro’s level early this season, particularly during periods when the midfielder lost his place and looked physically weak. At the time, many people wondered whether Manchester United was taking on a declining player on a huge salary.

A few months later, the mood looks very different.

Casemiro fought his way back into the team, becoming important again, scoring goals and helping United out of difficult moments. so when tnt sports brazil After Carragher’s comments were brought up, the midfielder clearly had some fun with the reply.

Casemiro counter-attacks Carragher

“Everyone on television says anything. I’m not one to engage in them,” Casimiro said.

“But it’s a bit normal, because I won two Champions League titles on his team. Maybe there is some bitterness there after winning two titles against his club.”

The Manchester United midfielder paused. In fact, he credited Carragher with ultimately changing his stance.

“I respect his opinion. I hold no resentment. The important thing is that he recognized he was wrong and changed his opinion. That’s what matters most.”

Still, Casemiro clearly seems tired of the modern football cycle of outrage.

“Nowadays everyone has an opinion, everyone wants to go viral. Everyone thinks they know football, everyone thinks they’re a star, everyone thinks they understand everything. Today if you win, you’re the best and if you lose, you’re the worst. But football isn’t always like that.”

He also explained why he avoids social media completely.

“That’s why I don’t even have social media on my phone. Everyone wants attention now.”

Casemiro says return changed manager’s opinion

The Brazilian also revealed what he considers one of the biggest achievements of his career – changing Ruben Amorim’s mind.

At one point this year, Amorim did not trust him physically. Casemiro admitted that the manager had openly questioned whether he still had the required intensity.

Instead of accepting the situation and quietly moving towards the exit, the midfielder decided to fight back.

“One of the greatest achievements of my career was to come back and change a manager’s opinion,” He said.

“He said I didn’t have intensity. Then later he admitted he changed his opinion because of what he saw in training sessions and matches.”

Casemiro also admitted that many players would have been mentally tired in that situation.

“With all humility, the easiest thing would be to say: ‘The manager doesn’t want me? OK. I’ve already won everything, I’ve achieved enough, let it go.’ But no. I kept working. I kept trying to show the manager that he was wrong about me.

Ultimately that persistence bore fruit.

“I managed to change their opinion. I started playing again and had a great end to the season.”

Strong support for Michael Carrick

Casemiro also used the interview to strongly endorse Carrick’s work at Manchester United.

The Brazilian repeatedly praised the interim manager and made it clear that he believes Carrick should stay long-term.

“He came in as interim manager, but he handled the difficult matches very well,” Casimiro explained. “He knows the club, he understands what Manchester United is. He has class. He has the currency of a Manchester United man.”

“For me, this guy has to stay at the club for more years because he deserves it. He deserves it so much.”

Casemiro even suggested that Carrick’s personality is evident behind the scenes.

“When you work with him every day, you look at him and think: ‘This guy deserves this.'”

Casemiro has already done Confirmed he will leave Manchester United At the end of the season. Yet just before walking away, he managed to craft one final comeback story, silencing some critics and taking a dig at Liverpool while doing so.

Kyle Busch has not won more than 100 consecutive Cup Series races, punctuating his stellar career that seemingly featured him with more than 80 wins. Now, amid growing skepticism and criticism, Bush appears to be taking issue with recent comments made by his former running mate.

When The Athletic’s Jeff Gluck asked for a reaction to Denny Hamlin’s recent comments about the future Hall of Famer’s struggles in the No. 8 car on Saturday, Busch fired back at his former teammate. He also said that he could create problems for him on the track as payback.

“80 percent of people don’t know what they’re talking about. In this case, I don’t know if Denny Hamlin even knows what he’s talking about. He can curse at me all he wants. I can definitely make his life hell.”

Kyle Busch on Denny Hamlin’s comments and the ongoing conversation about his struggles

RELATED: Denny Hamlin gives clear message on Kyle Busch’s struggles

As for Busch’s aspirations to make Hamlin’s “life hell” with the No. 8 car, that may prove a little difficult if recent history is any guide. He finished 25th at Bristol Motor Speedway and 24th at Martinsville Speedway, meaning he finished several laps behind the No. 11 car. For Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway, check out NASCAR’s starting lineup today Hamlin is starting second after posting the second-best lap time (29.161 seconds) in qualifying with a top speed of 185.179 mph, while Busch qualified 23rd at 29.653 seconds with a top speed of 182.106 mph.

It’s understandable why Bush is disappointed. He is approaching his third full season without a win in the Cup Series, and his on-track results are only getting worse. He moved up to 24th in the standings on Sunday, just 7 points ahead of teammate Austin Dillon. Busch’s frustrations are heard over the radio, and it becomes clear that he is fed up with his situation at Richard Childress Racing in a contract year.

Hamlin’s comments came on the latest episode of Actions Detrimental. He also admitted of Busch that “talent-wise I can’t hold that guy’s helmet”, but added that his former teammate “must keep it better than your teammate (Dillon)” and added that Busch has long struggled with the Next Gen car.

Busch clearly heard those comments and said it’s the No. 8 car and team that is the biggest issue, adding that he would be happy to swap places with Hamlin and see how he handles it.

“If Denny wants to swap cars, I’ll swap cars with him any day of the week, any time. I’d love for him to show me he can take it better than me.”

Kyle Busch responds to Denny Hamlin’s comments about No. 8 car, Busch’s struggles

Hamlin never said RCR was blameless in Busch’s winless streak, even saying the team was “not good right now.” However, as someone who used to be teammates with Busch at Joe Gibbs Racing, he noted that he struggled with consistency; Even at that time, there were issues.

To that point, Busch had only one win in his final season with Joe Gibbs Racing, and had an average finishing position (16.7). Fast forward to 2026, Busch’s replacement, Ty Gibbs, is racking up wins and six consecutive top-six finishes, while Busch has finished outside the top 20 in the last four races.

RELATED: NASCAR Cup Series all-time win list, including Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin

Busch’s frustration is understandable, and these comments coming from Hamlin may be especially impressive given what has happened over the past three years. Since Busch’s last win in the Cup Series, Hamlin has won 12 races, and now needs just one more trip to victory lane to tie for career Cup Series wins.

Given Busch’s declining performance and some of the public’s frustration towards former teammates and current crew members, he may not even have the options he is entitled to next year after his contract expires.

RELATED: Kyle Busch winless streak, things that happened before and after the win

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

Manchester CityGianluigi Donnarumma has been going through a difficult time for the last few weeks.

The goalkeeper has now vowed to make a fresh start.

Donnarumma was an important part of the Italy team that failed to make it to the World Cup. Bosnia defeated the Azzurri on penalties, despite the 26-year-old being a renowned shot-stopper.

He was also involved in a scrap after the game, which added fuel to the fire.

It’s natural that Italy’s struggles will affect their most important players. The Manchester City player has now opened up about his mental condition and how the last two weeks have been for him.

Manchester City players affected by the crisis

spoke to donnarumma sky italia Revealed about the Azzurri that he could not digest the World Cup failure for several days.

“In the first few days, I had a hard time digesting it, but the truth is that we need to start again, move forward and react.”

He urged everyone to move forward and focus on qualifying for the 2030 edition of the tournament.

“Now we have to move forward because, in recent years, despite disappointments, we have achieved important things. We have to react. It is difficult, but we need to move forward with strength and with the knowledge that Italy will return to greatness.”

Additionally, the Manchester City player also hit back at claims the Italy star was demanding a bonus ahead of the Bosnia clash. He said that he did not ask for a single penny from the Italian Football Federation (Figc).

“As captain, I never asked for a single euro from the Italian national team. Like every competition, what the national team does is give a gift to the players who qualify for the tournament.”

Elaborating on his disappointment, he said: “That is all. Nobody ever asked for anything from the federation: our gift was to go to the World Cup, and we could not succeed in it. What came out saddened me. I repeat, no one ever asked for a bonus.

Donnarumma’s leadership shined

The fact that Donnarumma was trusted to speak out about Italy’s problems shows that he is now seen as one of the most responsible players in the team. His credibility goes beyond the pitch and he is the real leader of the team.

This is very positive for Manchester City, who have no doubts about his qualities. He has made crucial saves in the Premier League and played a role in keeping them in the title race.

Pep Guardiola’s side will be hoping to have recovered from the disappointment with Italy. They have hopes of winning and can’t afford any mistakes from any team leader.

FC Köln sporting director Thomas Kessler has hit back at Said El Mala’s claims chelsea Has been constantly linked with the 19-year-old.

Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger Report Today on the Koln Star, which also includes comments from Kessler, who appears to be frustrated by the constant transfer rumours.

Chelsea’s efforts lead to disappointment

Reports over the past few weeks have repeatedly linked Chelsea with a move for Saeed El Mala. They have come from both Germany and England.

A report from Germany last month The Blues were said to have held concrete talks about signing El Mala this summer.

A week later a second report came out in which it was emphasized that Chelsea were ready to break the asking price To secure El Mala’s signature before the competition. However, Kessler insists that this is not the case.

“We maintain a very trusting and close relationship with Said and his family,” he said.

“At the moment, we have not received any offers from other clubs that we need to seriously consider. The player has also not expressed any desire to engage in discussions with other clubs.”

He then went on to dismiss suggestions that El Mala was being positioned for a Premier League switch:

He added, “Said has made it abundantly clear that his entire focus is currently on FC Köln and his development over the season.”

no agent mandate

Reports in England had suggested that ‘super-agent’ Ali Barat was working on behalf of Koln to bring Saeed El Mala to the Premier League market.

Barat has strong links to England and indeed Chelsea. He negotiated Nicholas Jackson’s move from Stamford Bridge to Bayern Munich last summer.

However, Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger reports that this is not the case. He says club sources insist that Colon has not authorized Barrat or any other intermediary to represent him in a potential sale.

The German side is refusing to rush into the summer narrative in any way. Kessler is making that point very clear.

“The ball is in 1. FC Köln’s court. Saeed is under contract with us until 2030,” he concluded.

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, stories and content you may have missed on Thursday.

montreal canadiens news

Jacob Dobbs finds ways to win easily, including his strong effort in a 2-1 win on Thursday night. The win was his 24th win of the year, more than veteran netminder Patrick Roy had in his rookie season. This was also an important game when discussing Montreal’s playoff prospects. [Canadiens Highlights: Dobes Wins, Surpasses Roy’s Rookie Haul]

Lane Hutson quietly scored 70 points on Thursday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets, becoming the fourth defenseman in franchise history to reach 70 points.

Lane Hutson joins Chris Chelios, Guy LaPointe and Larry Robinson as the only defensemen in Habs history to reach 70 points in a season. pic.twitter.com/gAtwME3N5u

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 26 March 2026

Head coach Martin St. Louis was clearly frustrated with the media Thursday morning, a common occurrence in Montreal. While members of the media have been trying to get as much information as possible ahead of the games, Saint-Louis has made it clear it will be holding its cards as the playoff race heats up.

Habs coach Marty St. Louis to reporters today:

“Are there any good questions today? Ask me some good questions.” pic.twitter.com/7og3pOshWZ

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 26 March 2026

Forward Alexandre Texier was not in uniform Thursday, replaced by Joe Veleno in the lineup. Texier has been listed as day-to-day due to a lower body injury.

Forward Alexandre Texier (lower body) is evaluated on a daily basis.

Forward Alexandre Texier (lower body) is considered day-to-day. pic.twitter.com/46QaQk4NIK

– Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) 26 March 2026

ESPN produced a very interesting segment on top Montreal Canadiens prospect Michael Hayes, discussing a few topics including the unfortunate passing of his father.

Shockingly or not, the team’s two best goalscorers spend a lot of time practicing their goal scoring.

Juraj Slafkowski and Cole Coffield are working on a one-timer #hubs Morning skate. pic.twitter.com/y8ZYxhjW2e

– Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) 26 March 2026

Sportsknot Network

When the Florida Panthers played the Seattle Kraken, it was a game that marked a special milestone and accomplishment for coach Paul Morrissey. Morris, now in his fourth season with the Panthers, became the second player to coach 2,000 NHL games, joining Scotty Bowman. [Florida Panthers]

The Bruins’ road narrative is beginning to change as the schedule gets tougher. There are 10 games remaining in the season, six of which are on the road and seven against playoff teams. In their upcoming leg, the Bruins have three sets of back-to-backs. Only three rivals (Florida, Philadelphia and New Jersey) are out of the playoff picture. [Boston Bruins]

The Detroit Red Wings need to start winning games. After losing in heartbreaking fashion to the Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators, Detroit is one point out of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs with 11 games remaining in the regular season. Despite scoring 84 points through 71 games, the Red Wings need more. [Detroit Red Wings]

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

Montreal – It feels like there’s more Montreal Canadiens news every hour, and we’re all bound to miss a story or two. On Sundays, we always recap relevant NHL news you may have missed, to help you stay in the Canadiens loop.

Make sure you don’t miss any news from Canadians by signing up for our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for a daily newsletter covering various other NHL teams, or the most exciting developments in the game.[Sportsnaut]

Montreal Canadiens News and Notes

The Canadiens lost 4-3 to the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday, a disappointing result when you consider they held a 3-2 lead midway through the game. As usual, the Canadiens had effective stretches, which combined with the turnovers, made them look like a junior team. Consistently inconsistent has been the theme of the season for the Habs. [Canadiens Highlights: Hard-Fought Loss Versus Ducks]

Another day, another point for top Canadian prospect Michael Hayes. With his goal against Penn State, Hayes now has 50 points in just 36 games. [Canadiens Prospect Rankings – No. 1 Dynamic Michael Hage]

A rip from the high slot and Hayes made it 4-2! pic.twitter.com/5cVj9o4VMG

– Michigan Hockey (@umichockey) 14 March 2026

The Laval Rocket split their weekend games, losing 5-2 to the Utica Comets on Friday, and then winning 4-3 in a shootout versus the Syracuse Crunch on Saturday. Owen Beck scored his 10th goal of the season in the win, while Kaapo Kahkonen stopped 28 of 31 shots sent his way.

Beck 🚨 1-1 pic.twitter.com/ymgFqd4DRW

– Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) 14 March 2026

Alexander Zharovsky had a great game and reached the 40-point mark in the KHL with several three-point efforts. He scored a goal and an assist against the Shanghai Dragons, ending an eight-game scoreless streak.

Speaking of talented prospects, Bryce Pickford scored his 44th goal of the year, meaning he is now tied with Cameron Schmidt for the league lead. There’s no doubt, Pickford is enjoying one of the most encouraging D+1 seasons in recent memory.

Cole Caufield is the first Canadiens player to reach 40 goals since Vincent Damphousse in 1993–94. Caufield scored the overtime winner against the Boston Bruins to secure two very important points in the playoff race. [Canadiens Highlights: Caufield Hits 40 In Crucial Win]

Speaking of Caufield, when asked what comes next after 40 he had a great response.

“What’s after 40? 50?”

“41” – Cole ??? pic.twitter.com/QMwGJG5poN

– TSN (@TSN_Sports) 18 March 2026

It should be noted that Caufield is now just one goal behind Jack Hughes for most goals scored by any player drafted in 2019, despite having played 62 fewer games than the New Jersey Devils forward.

#GoHabsGo Sniper Cole Caufield is just one goal behind Jack Hughes for the most goals of any player drafted in 2019.

He has also played 62 fewer games than Hughes. pic.twitter.com/sRUcQ1zs2H

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 18 March 2026

More unfortunate news on the injury front, as Kirby Dach will be absent for between two to four weeks with an upper body injury. Dach was forced to leave Sunday’s game after contact with Anaheim Ducks forward Jeffrey Wiel. With Dach out of commission, Zachary Bolduc returned to the lineup before the game against the Boston Bruins. [Canadiens Preview: Dobes Faces Bruins, Dach Injured]

It’s very easy to blame goaltending for all of Montreal’s problems this year, but the truth is that the Canadiens allow too many high-danger chances while creating too few to balance out their poor defensive play. Poor goal setting is a symptom of the problem, not the cause. [Playoff Discussion: Canadiens Issues Go Beyond Bad Goaltending]

David Rickenbacker has officially signed with Kent Hughes’ former management company Quartex. When it comes to Canadiens players represented by Shawn Coffey he joins Lane Hutson and Jacob Fowler. Rickenbacker finished fourth in our most recent edition of the top Montreal Canadiens prospects. [Top Canadiens Prospects – No. 4 David Reinbacher]

We are thrilled to welcome the Canadiens 2023 5th overall pick David Rickenbacker #quartexfamily ! pic.twitter.com/CMCijzazJX

– Quartex Hockey (@quartexhockey) 17 March 2026

A closer look at how Canadiens sniper Cole Caufield managed to touch the 40-goal mark, the first Montreal player to accomplish the feat since Vincent Damphousse in 1993-94. The most impressive aspect of his goal-scoring dominance is that he does most of his damage at even strength. No other NHLer has more goals per 60 (even-strength) in the NHL. [Cole Caufield Dominance – 40 Goals By The Numbers]

It must be said that very few players enjoy playing hockey as much as Caufield. Maybe it has to do with the fact that he’s better at scoring goals than most NHLers.

Cole Caulfield’s 40 seconds of greatness to celebrate his first 40-goal season! 😛 pic.twitter.com/7ABOgBq3mi

– NHL (@NHL) 18 March 2026

The playoff race remains fierce in the Eastern Conference, with the Habs just a few points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets, a team on the outside looking in. There are also the Ottawa Senators in the mix, making it another exciting sprint to the end. The good news is that Canadians hold their destiny in their own hands, as long as they find ways to accumulate significant points.

Projected 2025–26 NHL standings as of March 18 pic.twitter.com/hQIldYAaq8

– Dom 📈 (@domluszczyszyn) 18 March 2026

One reason it’s been difficult for the Canadiens to miss out on a playoff spot is that climbing the standings at the end of the season is a tough sell, especially when there are three-point games in play. Both Ottawa and Columbus have produced a great series of games, and yet, they are still struggling to make their way into the playoff picture.

Looking to continue their hard-hitting ways and push for a wild card spot in the highly competitive Eastern Conference @Senator The Capitals visit tonight and are 11-2-2 in their last 15 games. This record gives him the third highest points percentage on this list pic.twitter.com/3kJwwdR0SE

– StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) 18 March 2026

Everything about prospect Bryce Pickford’s season has been impressive, and his path to the WHL has been impressive too, as evidenced by the interesting video of him put together by the league. [Canadiens Top 20 Prospects: No.7 – Extraordinary Pickford]

How a young defenseman who left hockey for two years went on to break a WHL record and earn a contract with @CanadiensMTL?

this is the story @tigershockey Captain, Bryce Pickford! pic.twitter.com/VZXuHccslv

– Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) 18 March 2026

Head coach Martin Saint-Louis spent a lot of time working on the power play in practice, focusing on the top unit. Montreal still has a top-10 power play, but given the talent on their first power play unit, not to mention the overpassing issue, there’s clearly still work to be done.

Martin Saint-Louis had several discussions with the first power play unit.

The coach does not seem completely satisfied with the performance of this unit.@DLCoulisses #GoHabsGo #power play #nhl pic.twitter.com/xyBiErPW49

– Patrick Guillet (@PatGuillet) 18 March 2026

While some insiders have suggested that the Canadiens were actively involved in trade talks, including for players like Nazem Kadri or Matthew Neese, Pierre LeBrun does not believe that player has been identified, at least not yet. Considering all of the rumors involving Hubs come from outside sources, he may be on to something. Like a bucket or a proper fishing boat owned by anyone other than Henry, Kent Hughes doesn’t leak.

Pierre LeBrun: While there has been speculation about the Habs trying to acquire Mathieu Neese… Nazem Kadri and Rasmus Ristolainen… Whatever major trade the Canadiens were working on hasn’t actually been identified yet in all reports after the deadline – The Athletic (3/18)

– NHL Rumor Report (@NHLRumourReport) 19 March 2026

As for Elliotte Friedman, he reported that the Habs showed “significant interest” in Nese, while also revealing that “everyone has denied the report”. [32 Thoughts]

The Canadiens have a relatively healthy power play, but they could immediately improve on that if they decided to take a few more shots every game. The Habs rank seventh in the NHL on power plays, but are among the teams that take the fewest shots. [Canadiens Powerplay Issues Reflected In One Key Statistic]

Thursday night’s game between the Habs and Detroit Red Wings was important for both clubs, but the Canadiens made too many mistakes, giving up valuable points. [Canadiens Highlights: Habs Drop Four-Point Game]

Despite a disappointing end to Thursday’s loss against the Detroit Red Wings, the Canadiens were fired by head coach Martin Saint-Louis on Friday. The decision caused a lot of anger on social media, but if we remove emotions from the equation, it would be fair to suggest that sometimes the carrot yields better results than the stick.

#hubs Friday morning’s practice at Brossard has been canceled. Day off for the team,

– Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) 20 March 2026

Is anyone surprised that Lane Hutson decided to practice despite having a day off? Oliver Kapanen joined Hutson, with both players spending time working with skills coach Adam Nicholls.

Presumably, Len Hutson and Oliver Kapanen can’t spend a single morning without putting on their skates.

He’s on the ice this morning in Brossard with Adam Nicholls.@DLCoulisses #GoHabsGo #hutsan #kapanen #nhl pic.twitter.com/QUqrldI6rg

– Patrick Guillet (@PatGuillet) 20 March 2026

Vincent Arseneau is a despicable, mean man. He made quick work of Springfield Thunderbirds winger Cale Casey in the Rockets’ 4–1 victory.

Ouch what a fight Arseneau!! 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/yFWa7hR3NB

– The Rocket Girl 🚀🇨🇦 (@TheRocket9Girl) 20 March 2026

There were also some other incidents that did not involve a Rockets player demolishing his opponent. Samuel Blais (11), Jared Davidson (16), Philipp Messer (9), and Florian Czekaj (15) found the back of the net for the Rockets, while Kaapo Kahkonen stopped 28 of 29 shots to seal the win.

Baker Month 🚨 https://t.co/7nvQeDcAzw pic.twitter.com/VOjrLVkPPm

– X – Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) 21 March 2026

There was some unfortunate Montreal news on Friday, as former Montreal Expos announcer Roger Brulotte passed away. He was 79 years old.

Congratulations to legendary Montreal Expos broadcaster Roger Brulotte 💔🙏 pic.twitter.com/a7E2MFSyPo

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 21 March 2026

Jacob Fowler was given the start against the New York Islanders on Saturday night, but the story of the evening was Montreal’s dominance in a crucial game that had huge implications for the playoffs. Caufield led the way with his third career shutout, while Slafkowski contributed two goals in the 7–3 victory. [Canadiens Highlights: Mr. Saturday Night Stars In Pivotal Win]

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

Rich Paul isn’t happy with talk of the Los Angeles Lakers playing better without his superstar client LeBron James.

James is going through the 23rd year of his illustrious NBA career. He has developed chemistry with co-stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, forming a powerful trio on the Lakers team.

However, there have been concerns about the team’s level of play should James play or be absent. The latter has been more active as Los Angeles seems to be winning more with James on the sidelines.

Paul shut down all the hot takes that the Lakers are better off without James. He says that James is a person who can play in any position, he has never had any problem fitting into any team and he always plays basketball the right way. In other words, he believes none of James’s teams will be better off without him.

“Do you know how hard it is to not start training camp and not be in a rhythm. Well, it’s not like he’s ever had a problem fitting in versus fitting out, or playing the right way. He’s always just played the right way. He’s a guy that can play, really play, and knows how to play, in every position on the floor. Think about it, if he was your five man, he’d be playing some small ball five,” Paul said in Game Over. Said at the 33:05 mark. podcast.

What’s next for LeBron James, Lakers

The Lakers benefit when their star trio is active and healthy. As for LeBron James, he will have to take care of his health as the quest for a fifth title continues.

Los Angeles has a record of 42–25 on the season, placing third in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets, while trailing the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Following their matchup against the Rockets on Monday, the Lakers will prepare for their next contest. They are scheduled to play a rematch against Houston as tip-off begins on March 18 at 9:30 pm ET.

MIAMI – There’s no denying the sports world is buzzing about Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo, who scored 83 points against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night, surpassing Kobe Bryant’s 81 points to become the second-highest scoring game in a game. While there is debate about the “ethics” of the Heat captain’s 83-point outing, the big man himself spoke about the play after Miami’s 112-105 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Adebayo’s 83-point night drew polarizing reactions, from the center celebrating to making incredible NBA history, with the other side questioning the performance due to a myriad of factors, especially in the fourth quarter. Whether it’s the 43 free-throw attempts or Miami’s strategy of passing the game to gain more possessions, these have been some talking points.

There has also been discussion about whether Adebayo should have surpassed Bryant’s mark in starts, saying that instead of making history, he would have taken himself out of the game. Adebayo will have a message for the “couch coach”, touching on every criticism of the 83-point game, mentioning Washington’s poor defense, and aiming to surpass Bryant’s milestone.

“First of all, you all are blaming me; you should blame their head coach,” Adebayo told ClutchPoints. “Get it first. I wasn’t going to let one go the whole game until I had 70. Then you started sending the double. At that point, I got 70 with, like, what, nine minutes left in the game. Do you think I’m not going for that?”

“And that’s the thing that’s crazy,” Adebayo continued. “When they talk about the unethical part of basketball. I’m like, I’ve got nine minutes left now. Who would be like, you know, coach, just take me out. Yeah, OK! There’s somebody in my spot who’s got nine minutes left? One minute? OK. Nine? Yeah, I’m going for it. You can’t be mad at that. If you’re mad, I don’t care.”

Had to ask Bam Adebayo about people questioning the “ethics” of his 83-point game.

Touched every conversation point around you.

“First of all, you’re all blaming me, but you should blame their head coach… That’s the thing to chase after, so you can move past it…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/yhQtFNhk6d

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 13 March 2026

Heat’s Bam Adebayo on 43 free-throw attempts in 83-point game

With Adebayo scoring 83 points and the Heat having a broader impact on a franchise making league history, the impact of Thursday’s win over the Bucks can’t be denied. Adebayo would still make his presence felt in the contest, scoring 21 points with eight rebounds, but one could tell the fatigue was emotionally and physically draining on Tuesday.

For 21 points, he shot six of 20 from the field and missed all five of his three-point attempts, but it was the fourth quarter that turned his night around. Entering the final frame with eight points, he scored a crucial 13 points, making nine of 12 from the free-throw line, helping Pelle Larsson finish with a career night with a total of 28 points.

It was certainly a quiet game for Adebayo, who made 43 shots, 22 from deep and 43 free-throw attempts on Tuesday, the most in association history. Adebayo continued the criticism, saying he was “being humiliated every time”, which the film proves.

“Because a lot of guys, they’re upset because if they played, they never would have had a chance to get close to chasing greatness,” Adebayo said. “And if you get that close to chasing greatness, that’s the point of chasing it, so you can surpass it. And some guys have never played basketball.”

“They’re going to talk about free throws. It’s not like I shoot 15 free throws a game,” Adebayo added. “It’s not like I averaged 10 free throws a game. I was, you can watch the film, I was legitimately getting fouled every time I went to the free-throw line.”

At any rate, Adebayo’s 83-point game will continue to be talked about, but for now the main focus is on Miami as they look to extend their seven-game winning streak (a season-high) with a crucial game on Saturday night against the Orlando Magic.

Regardless of how you feel about Bam Adebayo’s performance against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night, he still recorded 83 points, the second-highest scoring game by a player in NBA history. It was an incredible moment and accomplishment for Adebayo and the Miami Heat, which is why many, including Giannis Antetokounmpo, will be paying tribute to the Heat star.

Because he was also playing well on Tuesday night, Giannis wasn’t really able to see live what was happening in South Beach on Tuesday night, when Adebayo passed Kobe Bryant’s 81-point mark and fell behind only Wilt Chamberlain on the all-time single-game scoring list. However, Antetokounmpo wants everyone to stop and appreciate what really happened.

More importantly, Giannis doesn’t want the stigma against Adebayo to continue.

“Unbelievable. Incredible. Says a lot about his hard work. I haven’t watched the game. I have to watch the game and see,” Antetokounmpo said of Adebayo’s 83-point game after the Milwaukee Bucks lost to the Phoenix Suns 129-114. “It doesn’t matter how you got it. It just means that you got it.”

“In 10, 20, 30 years from now, no one is going to remember how many free throws he shot. I don’t think I remember how many shots Kobe made, or how many free throws he made, or three. You just remember 81, 100. You don’t remember that, you know?”

“It doesn’t matter how you got there… 30 years from now, no one will remember how many free throws he shot… At the end of the day, he got 83 points.”

Giannis at Bam Adebayo’s big night last night.

(via @box)pic.twitter.com/Vjku27KiUl

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 11 March 2026

Unlike some players who used their platform to criticize Adebayo’s performance due to his free throws and hunting shots at the end of the game, Giannis Baum can’t respect what he did enough.

Although they may play on different teams and compete against each other in the Eastern Conference, what many people don’t know is that Antetokounmpo and Adebayo have a close relationship with each other. These two NBA All-Stars share the same agent, and they have great respect for each other.

That’s why Giannis Adebayo couldn’t be happier and he won’t tolerate any infamy coming his way.

Antetokounmpo added, “I know his family, his close friends, are extremely excited and happy for him.” “And again, it speaks volumes about his hard work. I know Bam. He works hard every day. He never cheats the game. And to see a guy like him do something like that is incredible.”

Interestingly enough, Adebayo and Antetokounmpo will be playing against each other on Thursday, which will be Bam’s first game after creating history with his 83-point performance.

While Giannis will be celebrating Adebayo’s accomplishment and congratulating him on the accomplishment, the Bucks star sent a humorous message to his friend in Miami ahead of this matchup.

“He’s going to score 82,” Giannis said with a smile. “So, we try our best for him to score 82, not 83.”

Bam Adebayo may not be far behind when it comes to scoring, but there’s a reason he’s a superstar in the world’s best basketball league. The Miami Heat star stunned the world after scoring 83 points, becoming the owner of the second-highest scoring game in NBA history, leading the team to a 150-129 win over the hapless Washington Wizards.

Although the Wizards did not represent the toughest opponents, especially as they were looking to lose games late in the season to earn better lottery odds, this accomplishment should not be underestimated. After all, only three players in NBA history have surpassed the 80-point mark, and Adebayo made it clear The way he carried himself after the game.

“You talk about how they don’t play defense but at the end of the day they’re an NBA team,” Adebayo told SportsCenter’s Scott Van Pelt.

SVP: “The Wizards’ defense is not their strength…”

Bam: “You talk about how they don’t play defense but at the end of the day they’re an NBA team”

Respect there! pic.twitter.com/LR3wc4ak8

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 11 March 2026

Seriously, the Wizards aren’t a very good team. But they have capable defenders and players who are in the NBA for a reason. But for some unknown reason, the Washington Heat couldn’t stop the star from committing fouls, allowing him to score points when facing double or even triple teams late in the game.

The accomplishments of Heat star Bam Adebayo cannot be overstated.

Would Adebayo’s 83-point night mean more if he came against a team with a better record? Not necessary. Adebayo still had to go through hoops to score 83 points and the Wizards made him work for his buckets, especially during the second half.

Is it Adebayo’s fault the Wizards couldn’t stop him from hacking? What he was doing was his job. He made these field goals. He made those buckets. And it is his name that will forever remain in the NBA record books.

The Boston Celtics had to play behind the eight-ball during the second half of Tuesday’s 125-116 loss to the San Antonio Spurs when Jaylen Brown was ejected early by officials after picking up two technical fouls in quick succession.

Brown was protesting a no-call that went against him when he turned the ball over on the sideline after being pushed by Stephen Castle, and he was so irate that the officials felt as if they had no choice but to discipline him.

The Celtics star expressed his displeasure to crew chief Tyler Ford, who was at least willing to listen to Brown’s protests. Ford then gave Brown a technical when he felt the Celtics star had crossed a line. But this did not stop Brown. He continued to pass Ford, after which umpire Suyyash Mehta felt he had to intervene and whistled Brown for another technical, sending him out of the game.

After the game, head coach Joe Mazzulla made fun of On the officials, in particular Ford, for the decision to eject Brown using the ridiculous high school analogy.

According to Noah Dalzell of CelticsBlog, Mazzulla said, “I give my high school principal a lot of credit. He had the guts to throw a student out. He didn’t leave it on the hall monitor.”

Joe Mazu has Jaylen’s ejection:

“I give my high school principal a lot of credit. He had the courage to expel a student. He didn’t leave it on the hall monitor.”

“He was a great principal.” https://t.co/ExlyfzyXD1

– Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) 11 March 2026

Celtics couldn’t keep up with Spurs’ firepower

Without Brown for the final 27 minutes of the game, it was always going to be difficult for the Celtics to keep up with the Spurs. Jayson Tatum has not yet reached full speed, pushing Derrick White into first-option duties. White made up for his troubles by scoring 34 to lead Boston to an unexpected victory over his former team.

Schedule difficulties continue for the Celtics; Their next game, which takes place on Thursday at 9:30 PM ET, will be against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

After the Charlotte Hornets extended their winning streak to six with a 118-89 win against the Boston Celtics, head coach Charles Lee may have reminded Philadelphia 76ers fans of his old “trust the process” slogan. Injuries have been a frequent hindrance for the Hornets, limiting their growth in the past. With a young team like Charlotte’s, some parallels can be drawn with the young, promising 76ers of nearly a decade ago.

Lee says health has limited the Hornets’ potential, which is now blossoming this season, amid a team’s playoff potential that has boosted its record over .500 to 32-31, he said, according to Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer.

“It’s been good to have a healthy roster,” Lee said. “It’s definitely played a role in some of the changes we’ve made. But I think our guys have embraced the process even more. It started in the offseason. I thought everyone has increased their work habits, their work standards and their togetherness about how we can lift each other up. We’ve come out stronger through all of this.”

For Hornets center Moussa Diabate, beating the Celtics, who are in second place in the Eastern Conference standings, is an impressive feat for a young team, but it is also a testament to how much the Hornets have improved.

“They [Celtics] is a great team, we also believe we are a great team,” Diabate said, per Boone. “At the end of the day, we’re not trying to focus too much on them. Obviously, we want to win the game, but if we focus on what we have to do it will win on its own. For us, that’s a great thing, it’s a good message to the league as well – understand that the Hornets are here.

Amid a six-game winning streak, Charles Lee and the Hornets have won seven of their last 10 games.

ESPN analyst warns about Hornets’ recent surge

One could argue that this is the most exciting time to be a Hornets fan since the 1990s, as head coach Charles Lee has led his team to a 32-31 record, which few expected ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. With only 19 games left in the regular season, the Hornets are moving at an ideal time, which could make them a tough first round opponent In the playoffs, as Alan Hahn reported on ESPN’s Get Up.

“There’s a dragon slayer hiding in plain sight. They’re in the play-ins right now. They’re seeded 9th. They’re finally at .500 for the first time, I think, since Grandmama and Muggy Boggs. We haven’t seen them play like this for a long time, but they’re that team with this offense, and a defense, by the way, that’s in the top 3 these 20 games,” Hahn said.

The Hornets’ well-balanced attack on both ends of the floor makes them a tough matchup for the top Eastern Conference teams.

“Not only are they playing great offense, they’re playing great defense,” Hahn said. “They’re the team that, if you’re a contender, if you’re a higher seed, No. 1, No. 2, or No. 3, and you have to face them in the first round, you don’t want to do that because they’re unknowns and they can play free as well.”

🗣️ @alanhahn: “A dragon slayer hiding in plain sight. They’re in the play-ins right now. They’re the 9th seed. I think, after Grandmama and Muggy Boggs, they’re finally at .500 for the first time. We haven’t seen them play like that in a long time, but they’re that team… pic.twitter.com/Gze5F5ANwA

– r/CharlotteHornets (@HornetsReddit) 5 March 2026

The Hornets will look to extend their winning streak to seven when they host the Heat on Friday.

On Thursday, the NBA world was shocked when Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum was upgraded to questionable for the team’s upcoming game against the Dallas Mavericks. Tatum has not played yet this season as he recovers from an Achilles injury suffered in last year’s playoffs, and if he plays on Friday, it will be one of the quickest recoveries the league has ever seen.

Recently, NBA legend Carmelo Anthony adopted 7pm in Brooklyn Podcast to describe how he thinks Tatum should approach his return, now that Jaylen Brown has taken over as the team’s leader this year.

“Now it’s like JT, what are you going to sacrifice? But now I’ve held down the fort for you and the entire organization. JT has to be very mature about this situation. This is no ego, no pride. We got a chance to come back and win a championship. So I have to put my pride and ego aside for the next 3 months and let JB continue to steer the ship,” Anthony said.

One person who doesn’t agree with those comments is Tatum’s trainer, Drew Hanlen.

“The irony of Carmelo Anthony trying to tell Jayson Tatum how to win…” Hanlen, formerly of the Ax, wrote on Twitter.

In fact, Tatum already has a far more accomplished postseason resume than Anthony has accomplished in his career, though he was certainly drafted under very different circumstances.

Ironically, Anthony’s arrogance was seen as a negative trait throughout his career, as his tendency to dominate the ball in halfcourt settings was often at the expense of his teammates’ shots.

Still, there will clearly be an adjustment period for the Celtics as Tatum takes the court, and it will be interesting to see how Brown’s usage is affected by the return.

The Mavericks and Celtics are scheduled to tip off on Friday at 7:00 PM ET.

When the Golden State Warriors traded Jonathan Kuminga to the Atlanta Hawks for Kristaps Porzingis, it created a storm of discussion around the league. Many questioned Steve Kerr’s ability to develop young players. 95. According to a post from The Game, Kerr is now hitting back at fans who are critical of the Warriors’ youth development.

“Any frustration from our fans is probably coming from the idea that young players should get it right away. It doesn’t work that way.”

– Steve Kerr addressed some fans’ opinion that he “doesn’t develop young players” (via). @willardanddibs). pic.twitter.com/5Ch2uReWbb

– 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) 5 March 2026

Kerr emphasized that youth development involves a process. Furthermore, he indicated that it is more complicated than giving them all the minutes.

The Warriors are still technically contending, sitting at 31-30 and eighth in the Western Conference. But recent games have shown that this season is starting to get away from them.

Things began to deteriorate for the team when Jimmy Butler suffered a season-ending injury. Then, Stephen Curry suffered a knee injury, which has kept him out since January 30. The Warriors officially traded Kuminga, ending an experiment that looked promising at one point but failed over time.

After winning four titles over the past decade, the Warriors hoped to continue building their roster by keeping Curry, Butler, Draymond Green and other veterans who can help them. But after drafting Kuminga in 2021, they weren’t able to develop him into the star that Curry and Butler are.

Kuminga never averaged more than 16.1 points with the Warriors. In three games with the Hawks, he is averaging 21.3 points per game. Brandin Podziemski has been a solid role player, but still isn’t developing as quickly, averaging 12.4 points per game while shooting 44.7% from the floor, including 36.2% from the triple. Meanwhile, Moses Moody has battled injuries while averaging 11.9 points per game.

Assuming Curry returns, he will once again be the main focus as the Warriors attempt to make a run at the end of the season. But the Warriors’ youth development hasn’t gone according to plan, and Kerr may be tired of hearing about it.

DeAndre Ayton recently made headlines when he expressed his frustrations about his role for the Los Angeles Lakers. He was heard saying that the Lakers were turning him into “Clint Capela”, as if that in itself was a bad thing.

It seems as if Ayton wants a bigger role in the Lakers offense rather than being relegated to a roll man/dive option for players like Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James. But Ayton hasn’t shown enough consistency to warrant that kind of involvement in the Lakers offense.

Capela has known her role from day one and has tried to be the best version of herself as possible. And from the perspective of retired big man Channing Frye, he urged the Lakers center to do just that in a fiery speech on the Road Trippin’ Show.

“Deandre Ayton is not an expert at anything. In what world would I play basketball to Deandre Ayton when I’m messing with Austin Reeves, LeBron and Luka. Stop it. You’re going to fire JJ Redick. Who’s running those plays? When have you seen consistency in that guy? You’ve never seen it. So he said, ‘They want me to be Clint Capela.’ “Yeah, crap, he’s averaging double that for most of his career,” Fry said.

Deandre Ayton needs to buy into his role for the Lakers

Ayton’s offensive game hasn’t developed enough for him to be a consistent night-in-night option for the Lakers. It may be better to try to help the Lakers win rather than trying to do it your own way.

The 27-year-old big man has flourished on a winning team in the past, as he was the starting center on a team that was two wins away from winning the title. So it’s not that he doesn’t know what it takes to win. Now maybe it’s time for him to look in the mirror and admit that he probably isn’t “the one.”

Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant is unquestionably a future first ballot Hall of Famer and he is definitely in the discussion as to who is the best scorer to ever play for the NBA. Durant’s legacy is secure; He has two championships to his name, has won two Finals MVPs, and he was a regular season MVP in 2014.

However, Durant’s investigation makes sense. He gave up some legacy points by joining the Golden State Warriors (where he won a title), and he has yet to blossom into the undisputed best player on any team. He came close a few times with the Oklahoma City Thunder but pulled the plug just as OKC was reaching its peak with the Durant-Russell Westbrook duo.

Now, many are convinced Durant can’t hack it as “the man” — Houston-based rapper Killa Kylan said in a guest appearance on the Road Trippin’ Show’s Perk Unplugged segment that the Rockets star serves as a competing team’s “Robin,” not “Batman.”

“I’m going to say this, and I’m going to say it looking into the camera. Easy Money, I rock with you my boy, but you’re the best Robin to ever play basketball. You’re not Batman. That’s not Batman,” said Killa Kylon.

“He’s good for scoring, no doubt about that. He can pick off the son of a b***h and perform well, but when you need that team leadership and when you need that nucleus to be Batman, he’s not going to be Bruce Wayne.”

The Rockets’ Kevin Durant remains one of the most polarizing stars of all time

No one can ever dispute the greatness of Durant. But some people feel as if he has betrayed the game by joining the Warriors, and he has lagged behind in every successful stop. With the Brooklyn Nets, he could only reach the second round. His Phoenix Suns career ended badly. And with the Rockets, according to the rapper, he’s still not the “Batman” the team needs.

“I’m going to tell you this, he’s Nightwing. Nightwing was the best motherf**king version of Robin ever. He was ultimately a superhero of the caliber of Batman, but he always lived in the shadows. Wherever he went, he was never a bus driver,” Killa Kylan said.

It’s a tough life for the Chicago Bulls. They are on a losing streak of 10 consecutive matches, their longest in seven years. At the same time, accusations of tanking are being made against the Bulls in order to achieve a higher ranking in the NBA Draft Lottery.

However, according to Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic, Matas Buzelis vehemently denied those claims. Instead, Bouzelis took advantage of his intense desire to win.

“I don’t really like that term. And people might think (we’re tanking), but I’m going out and trying to win every night. All these guys are too.”

Undoubtedly, the losing streak is taking a toll on Bouzelis. On Tuesday, Chicago lost its 10th straight to the Charlotte Hornets, 131-99. A game in which Bouzelis scored a season high of 32 points.

Asked about his ongoing development after the Chicago Bulls’ latest loss, Bouzelis said, “I’m sorry, I just… I want to win games, and that’s everything.”

Additionally, the Bulls are still in the adjustment phase with the new roster after several trades. Trades that sent Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Nikola Vucevic and Kevin Huerter.

But to hear Bouzelis tell it, that’s no reason not to play to win.

“When you trade half the team, and you bring in new guys, it’s tough,” Buzzellis said. “However, that’s no excuse. We have to come and figure it out. And I’m going to say it again: I know we’re capable of doing that.”

The Bulls will close out the month against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday. They are currently at 24-35.

The recent clash between perennial rivals the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics ultimately proved unproductive. Before the matchup, a statue of Pat Riley was unveiled, who declared to his former team that it was time to kick the “Boston A**”.

However, the script was flipped when Jaylen Brown ran the show for the Lakers in a devastating 111–89 loss, even though the historical value of this rivalry was also evident from the number of people watching the game on the NBC stream. According to a post by ClutchPoints on

This may make the performance even more difficult for fans to digest. Before tip-off, the Lakers unveiled a nearly eight-foot bronze statue of legendary coach Pat Riley outside Crypto.com Arena, celebrating the architect of the “Showtime” era who brought four championships to the city as head coach.

The pre-game festivities were to set the tone for a heavyweight clash against their most bitter, historic rivals. Instead, the Lakers were a complete failure despite all three of their Big-3 being fit and firing.

Jaylen Brown was the tip of the spear, leading the offense with a masterclass 32-point, eight-rebound and seven-assist performance. However, it was Sixth Man of the Year Peyton Pritchard who served as the ultimate dagger.

Pritchard scored 30 points off the bench, knocking down six 3-pointers and dishing out eight assists. The duo combined for 38 points in the second half alone and thrashed the Lakers with a barrage of step-back jumpers and offensive drives.

Despite the dysfunction surrounding him, James officially became the first player in NBA history to reach 43,000 career regular season points, accomplishing the feat in the third quarter. Additionally, he made his 1,600th regular season appearance, tying Celtics legend Robert Parish for the second-most games played in league history.

Luka Doncic led the team with 25 points, but struggled with his mid-range efficiency, missing five of his six long two-point attempts, while Austin Reaves (15 points) disappeared completely in the second half, attempting only 10 total shots on the night, allowing 15 points.

The battle between the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic at Crypto.com Arena has a tendency to go straight down to the wire, and their contest on Tuesday night was no different. However, the Magic prevailed in the end – Wendell Carter Jr.’s putback layup proved to be the difference in a 110–109 defeat.

It looked like the Lakers had the momentum in the fourth, but their defense failed to stop them when they needed to. They took a 109–108 lead after a lazy defensive possession by the Magic that gave LeBron James room for the go-ahead wide-open dunk, but they could not complete the defensive stop as Orlando regained possession after a midrange miss from Paolo Banchero, leading to Carter’s game-winner.

The Lakers still had a chance to win, but Luka Doncic missed open three-point attempts twice to win the game, causing James to take a difficult turnaround shot for the game-winning attempt, which he missed.

After the game, head coach JJ Redick summed up The Lakers fell to 34–23 on the season.

“We’re a work in progress,” Redick said in his postgame presser via @ohnohedidnt24 on X (formerly Twitter).

JJ Redick: “We’re a work in progress” pic.twitter.com/Vjd9KZoIIq

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 25 February 2026

The Lakers’ defense needs a lot of work

The Lakers’ defense was very good in the final few months of the 2024-25 season, but it hasn’t quite clicked in this current campaign. DeAndre Ayton suffers from letdowns, Doncic and Austin Reaves have their shortcomings on that end of the field, James is aging, and the team doesn’t yet have the personnel to build a strong defensive infrastructure.

They currently rank 24th in the NBA in defensive rating, allowing 116.6 points per 100 possessions. It may take the Lakers another year or two before they can maximize the roster around Doncic.

Recently, Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle made headlines by hitting back at the NBA for the franchise’s fine that revolved around the team allegedly sitting healthy players in an effort to tank. Carlisle claimed that the league had insisted that the injured Aaron Nesmith play, even after being prescribed medication for his ankle injury.

Now, the NBA has hit back at Carlisle’s harsh words with its own description of the events.

“Coach Carlisle’s description of the process involved in the decision to fine the Indiana Pacers is inaccurate. An independent physician led the medical review,” a league spokesperson said, per Brett Siegel, formerly of Twitter, via The Athletic. “…The Pacers confirmed that he provided all information requested by the league and the team stated that an interview with Coach Carlisle or the team physician was not necessary.”

Apparently, Carlisle and the league front office are not on the same page about what happened regarding Nesmith.

The NBA has been trying to crack down on tanking in recent weeks, as well as fining the Utah Jazz a hefty amount for sitting healthy players as teams try to secure the best draft picks.

The 2026 NBA Draft class is widely considered loaded, and the process of teaming a blue-chip prospect with a healthy Tyrese Haliburton next year is certainly an attractive one for the Pacers.

However, all things considered, it seems there are even more questionable tanking practices going on around the league than what is happening in Indiana.

The Golden State Warriors got back into the win column with an impressive win over the Denver Nuggets at home on Sunday afternoon. Despite trailing for much of the second half, the Warriors were able to turn up the heat late and ultimately win 128–117 despite Stephen Curry being out of the lineup.

Recently, ESPN personality Kendrick Perkins raised eyebrows during his appearance on the Road Trippin’ Podcast when he said the Warriors should give up in 2025-26 and shut down Curry for the remainder of the season due to Draymond Green’s lack of production in the recent game against the Boston Celtics.

Now, Green himself has responded to those comments on The Draymond Green Show, produced by Audacy.

“We played great players, and we got clips of them. So you know, bad plays are going to happen every once in a while,” Green said. “…Be careful listening to the little kids out there who are trying to make it, because it’s garbage a lot of the time… You know how to have a bad game. I can promise you, Big Perk. I don’t care where you were at the end of your game.”

In fact, Perkins had several bad games toward the end of his playing career. Meanwhile, Green has seen a steady decline in production over the past few seasons, but he is still one of the smartest players in the game today, and remains a staple of the Warriors’ defense.

At this point, it’s hard to envision the Warriors competing for anything meaningful this season, even if Curry returns fully healthy, as Jimmy Butler is already out for the remainder of the season, and trade acquisition Kristaps Porzingis is already dealing with an illness.

However, at this point, it doesn’t seem like the Warriors are seriously considering following Perkins’ advice and locking up their franchise leader.

The Phoenix Suns prevailed 113-110 at home against the Orlando Magic on Saturday after Jalen Green’s game-winner at the buzzer in overtime. With the score tied at 110 and the Suns in possession, Green caught an inbounds pass on the move from Royce O’Neale, firing a sharp shot from the corner that found the bottom of the net.

Jalen Green’s game-winner at the buzzer snapped a two-game losing streak for the Suns, which went back to before the All-Star break. He finished with 19 points, five rebounds, six assists and one steal in 37 minutes of play. He did not have the most efficient night, shooting only 6 of 26 from the field, including 2 of 11 from the 3-point line. But his last shot in OT was the biggest.

After missing 41 of the Suns’ first 43 games due to a hamstring injury, Green returned to the lineup in late January. However, he was still troubled by injury problems and played in only five of the Suns’ games just before the All-Star break.

In the Suns’ first game after the break last Thursday, Green returned to the starting lineup and played a little more than 26 minutes in a loss to the San Antonio Spurs. He had 26 points, three rebounds, two assists and three steals in that game.

With Green not seeing a majority of play in the first half of the regular season, his return to the Suns rotation was almost like a trade deadline acquisition in itself.

Coming into Saturday’s game, Green had appeared in eight games for the Suns at a rate of just over 16 minutes per game. He averaged 13.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists with splits of 42.7 percent shooting from the field, 37 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 84.6 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

The Orlando Magic etched their place in the record books with an easy 131-94 win over the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on Thursday.

The Magic rained down three-pointers on the Kings, scoring 27 in total, setting a new franchise record for a single game.

orlando broke old team record Courtesy of Jett Howard with 2:33 left in the fourth quarter. For good measure, he added another three-pointer with 33 seconds remaining.

Jett Howard’s trey sets franchise-record 26 threes in a single game for Magic 🔥pic.twitter.com/uXY5kdLEsR

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 20 February 2026

Paolo Banchero made 5 of 7 shots from long range and finished with a game-high 30 points. He also had five rebounds and six assists.

Howard, Anthony Black and Tristan Da Silva each had four three-pointers, while Desmond Benn, Jalen Suggs and Devon Carter each had three three-pointers. Mo Wagner added a three-pointer.

Overall, the Magic went 27 of 50 from beyond the arc.

This may simply be an aberration, as Orlando is averaging just 11.5 three-pointers this season while shooting at a 34.2% clip, tied with three other teams for the league-worst percentage.

He was just three three-pointers away from breaking the league record of 29 long bombs set by the Boston Celtics against the New York Knicks in 2024 and the Milwaukee Bucks versus the Miami Heat in 2020.

The Magic were also part of another team record – sort of – as they handed the Kings their 15th consecutive losing streak, the longest in franchise history.

Black scored 20 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals, while Benn had 17 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Orlando improved to 29-25, while Sacramento fell to 12-45.

The Magic will look to continue their impressive shooting from deep on Saturday against the Phoenix Suns.

The Memphis Grizzlies have embarked on a rebuild for some of their young players such as Cedric Coward and were looking to trade for Ja Morant before the 2026 NBA trade deadline. As rumors continue to swirl about Morant and his future with the franchise, Coward wants everyone to know what the Grizzlies point guard is really like.

Speaking with HoopsHype at All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, Cedric Coward was asked about Ja Morant’s perception of the league and what it’s like to actually be around him.

It is safe to say that cowards did not retreat.

“Yeah, it depends what people think about him,” Cedric Coward told HoopsHype. “If you want to say all the negative connotations about him, you’re absolutely wrong and you need to keep your thoughts to yourself. Jaa is one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. One of the nicest guys. He’s the same way, goofy — we quote movies all the time. I mean, he’s always cracking jokes.”

Ja Morant and his leadership were ousted by head coach Tuomas Isalo in early November 2025 and he was suspended one game due to “conduct detrimental to the team.” Morant wishes to remain a member of the Grizzlies, and has remained professional throughout the process.

Coward continued to talk about what a great teammate Morant has been to him.

“He’s not what people make him out to be. He’ll take care of you, like, when we had the snowstorm, he offered to buy my groceries, just little things like that that he didn’t have to do, but he just takes care of people out of the kindness of his heart, just because that’s who he is. It’s like his nature. And then at the same time, he’s a great person to be around. As I tell people all the time, he’s one of those guys. The ones I’ll bring to my cookouts, you know, and you’ll be like, “Hey man, come over.” You know what I’m saying?

In 48 appearances so far this season, Cedric Coward has averaged 13.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game, while shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 34 percent from three.

Ja Morant has struggled to stay on the court this season, playing in only 20 games this season. He averaged 19.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 8.1 assists and 1.0 steals in a career-low 28.5 minutes per game.

The Detroit Pistons remain on top of the Eastern Conference with a 40–13 record, led by stellar play from Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren, along with steady contributions from a supporting cast.

The Pistons display toughness on both ends of the court, with some claiming they are reminiscent of the team’s “bad boy” era of the late 1980s and early 1990s. However, others are not happy with the pistons, saying they are too stiff and too physical.

However, Detroit coach JB Bickerstaff expressed a different opinion, as he noted in an appearance on Road Trippin’.

“People are talking about and limiting the basketball abilities of our guys, and just calling them roughhouses and hooligans and things like that,” Bickerstaff said.

“Our guys get grabbed, tackled and wrestled. You go back every night and look at us and see everything that happens, and it’s physical, right? We put out as much as we can, but we don’t cross the line, OK? I want everyone to be aware of that. Our guys go out and impact winning basketball games through their physical ability and the toughness of it all.”

Recently, the NBA suspended Duren for four games and Isaiah Stewart for seven games for fighting with the Charlotte Hornets. This was not the first time that Duren and Stewart were involved in a controversy.

Bickerstaff, who joined the team in 2024, admitted that although they are trying to emulate the Pistons’ “bad boy” era, they are not intentionally trying to hurt anyone. He stressed that he is only working hard for the fans because that is what is expected of him.

“He loves that style of play, that grit, that toughness, you know, the ability to not back down from anybody, play an unselfish brand of basketball and work extremely hard every night,” Bickerstaff said.

Detroit returns to action on Thursday against the New York Knicks.

The Detroit Pistons remain on top of the Eastern Conference with a 40–13 record, led by stellar play from Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren, along with steady contributions from a supporting cast.

The Pistons display toughness on both ends of the court, with some claiming they are reminiscent of the team’s “bad boy” era of the late 1980s and early 1990s. However, others are not happy with the pistons, saying they are too stiff and too physical.

However, Detroit coach JB Bickerstaff expressed a different opinion, as he noted in an appearance on Road Trippin’.

“People are talking about and limiting the basketball abilities of our guys, and just calling them roughhouses and hooligans and things like that,” Bickerstaff said.

“Our guys get grabbed, tackled and wrestled. You go back every night and look at us and see everything that happens, and it’s physical, right? We put out as much as we can, but we don’t cross the line, OK? I want everyone to be aware of that. Our guys go out and impact winning basketball games through their physical ability and the toughness of it all.”

Recently, the NBA suspended Duren for four games and Isaiah Stewart for seven games for fighting with the Charlotte Hornets. This was not the first time that Duren and Stewart were involved in a controversy.

Bickerstaff, who joined the team in 2024, admitted that although they are trying to emulate the Pistons’ “bad boy” era, they are not intentionally trying to hurt anyone. He stressed that he is only working hard for the fans because that is what is expected of him.

“He loves that style of play, that grit, that toughness, you know, the ability to not back down from anybody, play an unselfish brand of basketball and work extremely hard every night,” Bickerstaff said.

Detroit returns to action on Thursday against the New York Knicks.

Every year, the NBA’s All-Star Game is heavily criticized by fans. Over the past few decades, the All-Star Game has transformed from a semi-competitive game between two conferences to a glorified shootaround between two teams. There have been some good All-Star Games, but they have been few and far between. Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant blamed Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic and Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic for their lackadaisical approach to the All-Star Game.

“You have to ask the European and world teams if they’re going to compete,” Durant said earlier. “If you look at Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic right now, let’s go back and see what they do in the All-Star Game. Is that competition? So we haven’t questioned what they’re doing. But we’re going to question the old heads and the Americans.”

This quote has generated considerable discussion: it is rare for a player to publicly call out his teammates, and Durant conceded defeat against two of the league’s best players. Now, Doncic has responded to Durant’s comments. In a recent interview with Slovenian sports website Sportsklub, the Lakers star revealed that the All-Star Game was treated loosely before he and Jokic arrived in the league.

“It was the same way when I first came to the All-Star Game, so I don’t know why they picked us,” Doncic said. “But I think it would be better because it’s the world against the United States.”

In fact, the Lakers star was right: The World vs. USA format lit a fire inside the players. Many fans praised the efforts of Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama during the game. Team USA ultimately won thanks to Edwards, but most spectators were happy to have an entertaining and competitive game for once.

Doncic earned his sixth All-Star selection this season and his fifth as a starter. The Lakers star is averaging 32.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.6 assists per game this season. LA is in fifth place in the West with a 33-21 record before the All-Star Game.

In 2026, LeBron James made the All-Star team for the 22nd time in his career, with coaches recognizing how impactful he is as a star, even though he hasn’t really been that great in the past for the Los Angeles Lakers. James has the most All-Star nominations in NBA history with 22, but as a wise imaginary man once said, “With great power comes great responsibility”.

Since James has made the All-Star Game 22 times, losses are bound to happen, even for a great guy like him. In 2026, his team, Team Stripes, fell short in the latest edition of the famous exhibition competition, giving them their 11th loss in All-Star Game history.

As HoopsHype reported on

Of course, this isn’t a statistic that was just posted in jest. The All-Star Game doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things, and outside of a few years (from 2020 to 2022), not many players even take the game seriously.

And as a result of making the All-Star Game every season, James has more opportunities to lose than everyone else. Not that losing 11 times in ASG is a big deal for someone who has made it 22 times.

Has Lakers star LeBron James played his final All-Star Game?

At age 41, it’s also an anomaly that James is still playing at such a high level that his All-Star Game participation can be argued on merit, unlike Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki in 2019, when they were the only participation nods.

It’s not at all clear if this is the Lakers star’s final season in the NBA. But if that’s the case, he may have just played his final All-Star Game, because there’s no way he’s going to miss the ASG next year if he’s active and healthy.

NBA All-Star Weekend begins with the Celebrity Game. giannis and taco fall playful banter exchangedWhereas Jeremy Lin was exceptional.

During the game, Lynn showed a glimpse of his greatness By converting an 8-point shot, according to ClutchPoints. Lynn was representing Team Giannis, going up against Team Anthony, coached by actor Anthony Anderson.

Team Giannis included Keegan-Michael Key, Glorilla and Shams Charania. Team Anthony included Jason Williams, Keenan Allen and Andre De Grasse.

Jeremy Lin 8-point shot 🤯👀

pic.twitter.com/Xlnp6A27P3

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 14 February 2026

Team Giannis won 65–58. Lynn is remembered For their breakout “Linsanity” season With the Knicks during the 2011–12 NBA season.

At the time, Lin was a graduate of Harvard University. Additionally, the Knicks were struggling and decided to move Lin off the bench and into the lineup. Almost overnight, his amazing performance helped push the Knicks to a seven-game winning streak.

In the process, Lynn overcame racial prejudice and became a global phenomenon. During one game he scored 38 points against Kobe Bryant. Overall, Lin played in the NBA from 2010 to 2019 and for eight teams. Lin played for the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, LA Lakers, Charlotte Hornets, Brooklyn Nets, and Atlanta Hawks. He would average 11.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.

In 2019, Lin was a part of the Toronto Raptors when they won their first NBA championship in franchise history. Last year, he officially retired from sports After 15 years, including a stint in the Taiwan Basketball League.

NBA All-Star Weekend concludes Sunday with the highly anticipated All-Star Game, which promises to be one last showdown of basketball’s brightest stars.