標籤: injuries

Ahead of the 2025 NFL season, Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst felt strongly that his team was ready to compete for the Super Bowl. Thus, he made the biggest trade of his career by sending two first-round picks to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons.

Gutekunst’s gamble proved correct. The Packers had one of the best teams in the NFL, but one thing he could not have predicted was that the team would lose two of its best players to injuries at the end of the season.

Parsons and the team’s leading pass-catcher, tight end Tucker Craft, both suffered torn ACLs last season. Kraft’s injury occurred in Week 9. Parsons’ injury occurred in Week 15. Still, despite the six-week difference from the time of their injuries, Parsons may not need to miss as much time as Kraft, as he is “a little bit of a freak” as Gutekunst described.

“They’re doing great,” Gutekunst said on SiriusXM Radio. “Tuck comes here every day, and he’s obviously a little ahead of schedule, just because his injury happened earlier than Micah’s. But Micah is like – he’s a little crazy. So I think some of that has taken over, and he’s doing really well, too.” He added, “So, obviously both of those guys are expected to be back at the start of the season. And they’ll be a big part of what we’re doing going forward.”

The Packers lost in Week 15, in the game where Parsons suffered an injury, and lost all of their next four games. A 9–3–1 record suddenly ended at 9–8–1 after a playoff loss to the Chicago Bears.

Meanwhile, Kraft tied with running back Christian Watson for the Packers’ rushing average of 61 yards per game. Parsons led the team with 12.5 sacks. Getting two of the team’s most impactful players back early in the season could greatly help the Packers’ success in 2026.

RELATED: 4 Green Bay Packers players who could be on the roster bubble in 2026

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

Ryan Pulock could not help the New York Islanders reach the Stanley Cup playoffs despite his injuries.

Pulock reflected on his injury-plagued 2025–26 campaign and explained why multiple ailments hampered him during this period, even though he still played his final nine games. He made regular changes as the Isles lost seven of their final eight games and fell out of making the playoffs.

The 31-year-old defenseman played in 76 games and finished with three goals and 27 points. He finished second on the Islanders in average time on ice (20:49), behind rookie Matthew Schaefer.

Ryan Pulock battling knee, shoulder injuries

Pulock admitted to dealing with an upper body injury, which GM Matthew Darche confirmed as a shoulder injury that affected him throughout the season. But Pulock also suffered a knee injury during the Islanders’ 7–3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on March 21, causing him to miss two games and the rest of the season.

“I give Ryan Pulock credit, because he hung on by a thread at the end,” Darche said during his season-ending media availability on Wednesday. “He was playing with a knee brace and a shoulder brace. So he didn’t play [the Isles’ season finale vs Carolina]”

Although he was disappointed with how the Islanders’ season ended – they missed the playoffs, losing seven of their final 10 games – Pulock seemed grateful to recover before taking the ice again.

When Pulock was asked Wednesday how he was feeling, he said, “It’s still not a good day, but I have time to take care of things.” “Obviously, this is going to be an important offseason for me to recover, rehab and get myself stronger in a good place to start next year.”

Neither Pulock nor Darche seemed concerned about the defenseman’s knee injury, but the shoulder was still a different story. They were still assessing whether he would need a surgical procedure or whether he could do with rehabilitation alone.

“We are still evaluating whether [surgery] “Needs to be done,” Darche said. “But again, all credit to him, because he missed a game here and there, but you see what he does to play because we needed him.”

Ryan Pulock ‘hopes to be ready’ for Islanders training camp

Shoulder surgery may require several months of recovery time, but Pulock is not expected to miss the start of training camp in September.

“I haven’t had all these conversations or made any decisions or anything,” Pulock said. “But whatever path I take, I hope I’ll be prepared.”

Neither he nor Darche will use injuries as an excuse for their struggles in 2025-26. Although Pulock finished with his most single-season points since 2019–20, he scored his fewest goals in a season of more than 60 games and had only one power-play point.

“You’re never really 100 percent healthy; you’re always struggling with little things,” Pulock said. “For me, trying to compete every night was a little tough sometimes. I had to play through some things, but I’m not going to sit here and make any excuses.

“I wish I was better, especially at the lower levels.”

Pat Pickens is an award-winning sports writer and author who has covered the NHL since 2013. He reveals more about Pat Pickens.

fulham Striker Rodrigo Muniz is having a very different season compared to his previous two campaigns, scoring just one goal in 19 appearances in all competitions.

After signing a new contract and becoming a key attacking figure at Craven Cottage over the past few seasons, expectations were higher this time around. However, injuries and a lack of rhythm have disrupted his momentum, forcing the Brazilian to rebuild his form step by step.

Those struggles formed the backdrop for a recent interview espn brazilHeld just before Fulham’s trip to Anfield last Saturday. Muniz started that match, leading the line and later being substituted, as Fulham were defeated 2–0 at home.

Hurt struggles and searches for rhythm

Rodrigo Muniz opened up about the difficult times he has endured in recent months.

“The last six months were tough. I’ve been back for a month now. I don’t feel 100% yet. In the last two weeks without playing, they worked on me more with different training, and now I feel good.”

This is a huge difference from the 2024/25 season. Due to his excellent form, his name was added a lot One step towards Atalanta This could not happen last summer. And he knows that everyone misses his performance.

“I still hope to be the Rodrigo of last season. I think I have everything to be the same player again who scores goals.”

He also pointed to external factors that can affect performance levels.

“Not only Brazilians, but players everywhere feel better when it’s warm. When it’s cold, it’s no excuse, but it’s a little harder.”

Studying the forwards and improving my game.

Rodrigo Muniz revealed he is still studying other forward players closely, especially Ollie Watkins.

“He’s a player that catches my attention. I watch videos because of his movement. He can come in short and attack space. That’s what I need to do. He makes movements that confuse defenders. Because of that and the goals he’s scored, he really stands out.”

However, he also admitted that his game needs to be adapted depending on the opponent.

“I think Marco Silva prepares the team very well for each week. There are games where I have to drop deeper, others where I have to push the defense back more. It depends on the match.”

Teammates, Brazil relations and dressing room life

Rodrigo Muniz also spoke emotionally about former teammate Andreas Pereira.

“He is someone I will have like a brother for the rest of my life. I miss him every day. For the last three years he was here, helping me. The club also misses him because he was one of the captains and brought good things on and off the field.”

He also shared a lighter moment about his time in England, which included watching the match from the stands while injured.

“I asked the club if I could watch, but there was no room in the boxes. They said there was a place with fans. I said OK and went there. It was a great experience.”

He remembered hearing his mantra.

“When I arrived, the fans were already singing my song. I thought, ‘This is amazing’.”

Future ambitions and goals of Fulham

Looking at the bigger picture, Muniz made it clear that Fulham still have ambitions for the final stages of the season.

“Marco Silva is very ambitious. In the meetings, he makes clear that we can reach Europe, but we need results. We have seven finals left and must treat them like finals. We have everything to do it because our season is going well.”

His motivation on a personal level is equally clear.

“Playing in Europe has been a dream since I was a kid. I’ve been here for a long time, from the Championship to the Premier League, and it will be very special.”

Ultimately, the defeat at Anfield underlined the challenge ahead for him. He is back on the field, but still searching for his best form.

The final weeks of the season will now be crucial for Fulham’s ambitions and Muniz’s attempt to prove last season was not a one-off.

The Washington Wizards were victorious 133-110 against the Utah Jazz in the meeting between the two teams in the Cellar at the Delta Center on Wednesday.

The Jazz suffered their seventh loss in eight games, while the Wizards lost 16 games. Washington took a huge lead of 72–45 at halftime and never looked back.

If there was a ray of hope for the Jazz, Ace Bailey delivered another all-around performance with 15 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks. However, he struggled from the field, going 7 of 19, including 1 of 6 shots from long range.

Still, Utah coach Will Hardy decided to focus on the positives, and praised the 19-year-old rookie for accepting the pressure. top choice Amid their depleting roster.

“Ace is taking on more responsibility for a longer period of time in the game. I think it’s really good for him to take so much time off. I don’t want him to feel like he has to go the whole game and be like that,” Hardy said in a video posted by Sports Illustrated.

“But matchup recognition is a big part of not only the ace’s life, but also the development of our young players. When the ace has a favorable matchup, we want him to take advantage of it without turning our team into a one-on-one team.”

Will Hardy breaks down how Ace Bailey has handled the scoring options while the Jazz have dealt with injuries:

🗣️”Ace is taking on more responsibility longer in the game. I think it’s really good for him to get so much time…” pic.twitter.com/L7zbVaSScL

– Utah Jazz On SI (@JazzOnSI) 26 March 2026

Bailey, who had consistency problems at the beginning of the season, has been putting up solid numbers in recent weeks. Hardy also credited his other players for helping the fifth overall pick and putting him in favorable situations.

“It takes all five players thinking together to really make it work, but the ace recognition has definitely improved,” Hardy said.

The Jazz were severely weakened against the Wizards, as Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George, Kyle Filipowski, Isaiah Collier and Bryce Sensabaugh were sidelined.

Utah fell to 21–52.

The Golden State Warriors will be shorthanded against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday as they try to post their first win in two months. With Jimmy Butler out for the season, Stephen Curry will miss his 23rd consecutive game with a right knee injury. Meanwhile, Moses Moody (left patellar tendon rupture), Quentin Post (right foot injury management), Al Horford (right soleus strain) and Seth Curry (left adductor strain) are also sidelined.

Steve Kerr clarified the Warriors’ stance on a potential Curry return during an interview on Wednesday.

“If we don’t feel good about (his knee), he’s not going to play. We’re not going to push him into anything if things aren’t really clear,” Kerr said on 95.7 The Game.

The Warriors have suffered injuries to several other rotation pieces amid the absences of Curry and Butler.

Warriors try to maintain momentum in play-in race amid injuries

Horford has missed the team’s last six games due to a calf strain. Meanwhile, Moody ruptured the patellar tendon in his left knee during Monday’s win over the Dallas Mavericks. The post mentioned a problem with his right foot. Wednesday will be his fifth absence since March 7.

The Warriors are 7-15 during Curry’s absence. They rank 25th in offense, 23rd in defense and 22nd in net rating (-5.4) during that span.

Golden State continues to hold on to 10th place in the Western Conference standings. Kerr’s team is 1.5 games behind the ninth-place Portland Trail Blazers and two games behind the eighth-place Los Angeles Clippers with 10 games remaining.

Luckily for them, the Nets will also be severely shorthanded on Wednesday. Michael Porter Jr. is out with a hamstring strain, while Noah Clowney (right wrist sprain), Nolan Traore (rest), Danny Wolf (left ankle sprain), De’Ron Sharp (left thumb surgery) and Egor Demin (left plantar fascia injury management) are also out.

Brooklyn has lost its last eight games.

A new ranking of MLB’s pitching staff from a top insider puts the New York Yankees well ahead of the New York Mets, despite several key pitchers expected to miss significant time to start the new season.

There is a lot of excitement surrounding the Yankees and Mets this week leading up to the start of the new MLB season. Expectations are always high in the Bronx, and despite being eliminated in the Divisional Round in October and not making notable changes to the roster, many experts believe they still have a team that can reach the World Series.

The Mets, on the other hand, suffered a disastrous collapse at the end of the season, costing them a chance at a playoff spot. That disappointing finish surprisingly led to an overhaul of the coaching staff and roster for 2026. A big addition this offseason was Milwaukee Brewers ace Freddy Peralta.

On paper, it seems like the Mets’ starting rotation is in a better position to start the 2026 season than the Yankees. Mainly because they are healthy. The Yanks will begin the campaign with one-time Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon and Clark Schmidt all on the injured list and expected to miss the first few weeks or months of the season.

Bowden ranks the Yankees’ rotation as the third-best in MLB

However, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden doesn’t see it that way. On Tuesday, the outlet released the MLB Insider rankings of all 30 rotations, and the Mets cracked the top 10, but dropped to No. 9. The former general manager, of course, ranks above rookie Nolan MacLean and was a fan of his depth. However, he praised the Yankees far more.

“Despite those injuries, the Yankees still have a strong rotation to start the year, led by their top hitter Max Fried followed by right-hander Cam Shitler, right-hander Will Warren, newly acquired southpaw Ryan Weathers and former AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil,” he said of the rotation ranked No. 3 on his list.

“By the end of the season, they may have the best rotation in baseball, especially if Cole can return to his Cy Young Award-caliber form.”

The Mets have Peralta, Rookie of the Year favorite Nolan McLean and a pair of one-time All-Stars in Dave Peterson and Kodai Senga in the rotation. But Bowden still has more confidence in Will Warren, Cam Shitler, Lewis Girl and Ryan Weathers.

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

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is out of Italy’s 28Man squad for the international break.

He suffered an injury just hours before Gennaro Gattuso announced his selection.

Gattuso confirmed the decision today and immediately recalled Alex Meret, who returned after being sidelined with injury at the start of the season.

Goalkeeping changed due to late injury

tuttomerkatoweb It is reported that Vicario will undergo a trial with Tottenham in the coming hours. As a result, Gattuso decided not to involve him and called up Meret instead.

Doctors have not yet clarified the nature of the injury, and further assessment will determine how long Vicario could be sidelined.

Italy’s goalkeeper hierarchy confirmed

Gianluigi Donnarumma will lead Italy’s goalkeeping group as first choice. Marco Carneschi is ranked as the primary backup, Elia Caprile plays the number-three role, and Meret completes the four-man unit.

Concerns for Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham will now assess Vicario to establish the severity of the problem, and the club are hopeful the 29-year-old will avoid a long absence amid an ongoing investigation into the goalkeeping situation.

If Vicario misses time, Antonin Kinski could get another chance to impress after his tough performance against Atletico Madrid.

Domestic and international bets ahead

Tottenham face Nottingham Forest in a relegation six-pointer this weekend, which adds urgency to the situation.

Meanwhile, Italy will turn their attention to World Cup qualification and gather in Coverciano ahead of the decisive week.

World Cup qualification pressure

Italy will host Northern Ireland in their World Cup play-off semi-final in Bergamo on Thursday, March 26, before a possible final against Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 31.

Although Vicario did not play a starting role, his absence still represented a blow, as it disrupted Gattuso’s carefully balanced team at a crucial moment.

Stability is a priority for Italy

With Italy only two matches away from a World Cup berth, the team needs stability, and late changes complicate preparations.

For Tottenham, the focus now turns to Vicario’s recovery timeline and whether the club can rejoin him as soon as possible.

The Dallas Mavericks will face off against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and they will be without a handful of their players for the matchup. In the Mavericks’ latest game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Klay Thompson was ruled out due to rest, and that meant he played more minutes than usual in the game before facing the Atlanta Hawks.

On the second night of a back-to-back, the Mavericks would rule out Daniel Gafford due to rest after he finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds against the Grizzlies. PJ Washington is listed as questionable with a sore left ankle, and Najee Marshall is listed as questionable with a sore left foot.

Of course, other players on the list have been out most of the season due to injuries, such as Kyrie Irving and Derek Lively II.

The league has never been afraid to look at why teams aren’t playing specific players, but the Mavericks have a good argument if they do. This is back-to-back, and they actually won the game against the Grizzlies, so it doesn’t seem like they’re obviously trying to lose the game.

It has been a tough season overall for the Mavericks health-wise, as most of their key players have been in and out of the lineup. Irving did not fit in at all as he recovered from an ACL injury suffered last season. When Anthony Davis was still on the team, he only played 20 games due to injuries, and he has yet to play for the Washington Wizards.

Before the All-Star break, Cooper Flagg suffered a foot injury that caused him to miss a few games, but he has been able to return and play in the last few games.

It may be disappointing for Mavericks fans to wonder what this team would look like if everyone were available at the same time.

The Indiana Pacers have all the incentive in the world to lose every game through the end of the 2025-26 season, as if their 2026 first-round selection ends up within picks five to nine, they will be dealt to the Los Angeles Clippers courtesy of the Ivica Zubac trade.

Since all critical teams are trying to lose games with the aim of maintaining their preference in protected grounds, the Pacers don’t need to do much to try and prevent defeat. Injury problems have plagued the team throughout the season, and after Sunday night’s 131-111 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, they lost two more key contributors, with TJ McConnell suffering a hamstring injury and Jarres Walker twisting his ankle.

That’s all Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle could do give vague feedback When asked about the respective positions of McConnell and Walker.

“Concerned. We’ll see.” [Walker] Ended up spraining my ankle. Look, we are a little worried right now. We’ll circle the wagons with the medical staff tomorrow and see what’s what,” Carlisle told reporters, via Tony East of Forbes.

Rick Carlisle on TJ McConnell’s hamstring and Jarace Walker’s late-game injury: https://t.co/y4ULLNOLc8 pic.twitter.com/hBk5V80NeF

– Tony East (@TonyREast) 9 March 2026

Fast bowlers could not take a break on the injury front

Before the 2025-26 season begins, no one would be surprised to see the Pacers remain semi-competitive amid the absence of Tyrese Haliburton. In this regard they would have been similar to the Boston Celtics. Fast forward to March, the Pacers have a record of 15-49 – the second worst record in the NBA at the moment.

Injuries have been very disappointing for the pacers. Guys like Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Obi Toppin and McConnell have missed significant time. They are slowly bringing Ivica Zubac on board. And this season has simply been a nightmare of a gap season that could ultimately lead to gold medal in draft season.

The Oklahoma City Thunder arrived at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night looking to prove why they have the best record in the NBA, but they left with more questions than answers regarding their health. In a physical performance against the New York Knicks, Oklahoma City lost two of its most important defensive anchors as Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein were both forced to foul out early via Brett Siegel.

Caruso, a versatile defender known for his tireless perimeter defense, suffered a left hip injury during the heat of the action. The team immediately ruled him out for the remainder of the night, a major blow to a unit that relies on his ability to disrupt opposing stars like Jalen Brunson. Shortly after, the frontcourt suffered a blow of its own. Hartenstein, who was returning to his former home in New York, was sidelined with left calf tightness.

On Monday evening, the Golden State Warriors’ losing streak continued with a blowout loss at home to the Los Angeles Clippers. The Warriors controlled the game for most of the season, but fell behind in the fourth quarter, trailing by 15 in the final frame and losing the game 114–101.

Now, things have gone from bad to worse with some tough news on the injury front regarding shooting guard Moses Moody.

Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area, formerly of the Ax, reported on Twitter, “According to Steve Kerr, Moses Moody jammed his right wrist and hurt his shoulder.” “The Warriors will know more about his condition tomorrow.”

It’s a tough break for a Warriors team that was already weakened from an injury perspective, with Stephen Curry out for most of the last month with a knee injury, and Jimmy Butler already out for the year with a torn ACL.

Moody is enjoying a good season for the Warriors, hovering around 40 percent from beyond the arc throughout the campaign, and he’ll certainly be hoping these injuries aren’t too serious.

Currently, the Warriors are 31-30 on the season, and if the regular season ended today, they would be in the Western Conference play-in tournament for the third consecutive year.

Making matters more frustrating for Golden State is that recent trade acquisition Kristaps Porzingis, whom the team brought in from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Jonathan Kuminga, has played just one game for the team as he battled an illness.

Kuminga, meanwhile, has had a great start to his tenure in Atlanta.

In any case, the Warriors next face off on Thursday evening when they hit the road to take on the Houston Rockets.

On January 23, Giannis Antetokounmpo found himself suffering from a strained calf after the Milwaukee Bucks’ close loss against the Denver Nuggets. It was the second time this season that Antetokounmpo missed significant time with a calf strain and contributed to Milwaukee’s troubles early in the season.

But on Monday night, in a clash against the Boston Celtics, Antetokounmpo returned to action. While the Bucks still couldn’t put up much of a fight against the red-hot Celtics, ultimately losing by 27 points, 108-81, the fact that Antetokounmpo returned to action and had 19 points and 11 rebounds in 25 minutes of play is a good sign for Milwaukee — especially when, before the trade deadline, it looked like Giannis might have made his final appearance for Milwaukee in some time. Had played the game.

After the game, Antetokounmpo admitted to not making things After straining his body so hard, it all became easier for him, much to his and Bucks’ dismay.

“I’m just stubborn… I just have to be smart. I’m not old, but I’m definitely old. It’s tough when you deal with a lot of soft tissue injuries. I feel like I’ve been playing with losses all year,” Antetokounmpo said on Twitter (formerly @ohnohedidnt24) via Twitter.

Giannis on dealing with his injuries: “I’m just stubborn… I just have to be smarter. I’m not old, but I’m definitely bigger. It’s tough when you deal with a lot of soft tissue injuries. I feel like I’ve been playing with a deficit all year.” pic.twitter.com/ZnBlzi4IyN

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 3 March 2026

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks face all-important crossroads

The Bucks being uncompetitive is very frustrating for Antetokounmpo, who wants to compete year after year. Milwaukee finally retained their franchise cornerstone, but it looks like his days with the team are numbered.

Milwaukee was so weak in its return game that only three players scored in double figures – Antetokounmpo, Ousmane Dieng and Bobby Portis. Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr.’s outing was a nightmare. Even Giannis went 7-18 from the field – an uncharacteristically poor field goal percentage for him.

With the offseason now upon us, it’s now or never for the Bucks to try to convince the franchise’s all-time great player to stay.

MLSE head Keith Pelley sent a letter to Toronto Maple Leafs ticket holders on Wednesday. A sort of ‘State of the Union’ for the team, if you’ll pardon the expression. The letter explained why they could not publicly discuss the team’s deadline plans and their continued goal of producing a Stanley Cup winner.

But also, more importantly, why do they believe they find themselves in a hopeless situation. The Leafs are six points back of a wild card berth with 25 games to play.

As TSN reports, the letter was sent in an email, and outlines injuries as the main contributing factor to the team’s poor position at this point.

The 2025-26 season for the Maple Leafs, so far, has been a series of ups and downs, and unfortunately due to several key injuries affecting the team, we are currently not in the position we had hoped for, but this is professional sports…

It has been an honor to be able to witness and be a part of the passion and commitment that Leafs Nation has for this team and we will not stop until we deliver a championship to our loyal Leafs fans and the city of Toronto.

We understand the strengths of this team, as well as the areas we need to focus on, and we know that with the support of our fans, we will achieve this ultimate goal together. While we always strive to be as open as possible, I know you understand, in the world of professional sports, protecting competitive advantage is paramount and limits our ability to reveal team strategy until appropriate times.

The injury excuse is as old as the game itself, and let’s just say it’s not going down well with the Blue and White faithful. On TSN’s Overdrive Wednesday afternoon, Brian Hayes and the crew explained how they felt.

The Utah Jazz have been in full tank mode lately, regularly pulling their starters down during games and most recently having Jaren Jackson Jr. out for the rest of the season due to injury. Now, as the season enters its home stretch, the team has received tough news regarding an injury to its best player, Lauri Markkanen.

“Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen could be out for a while after suffering a concussion in practice Wednesday,” Kevin Reynolds of The Salt Lake Tribune reported.

According to a source familiar with the situation, Markkanen is being evaluated for right ankle and hip injuries, and will undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the ailments.

The news comes amid allegations that the Jazz are intentionally trying to lose games in order to gain a higher pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, which many predict will be loaded with high-end talent. Recently, the NBA issued a hefty fine against Utah’s ownership for their blatant tanking efforts, and given Utah’s history, some fans may be skeptical about this latest injury update regarding Markkanen.

This season, Markkanen is averaging nearly 27 points per game and that’s part of the Jazz’s vision for the long term, as they hope to pair him and Jackson Jr. with another blue-chip prospect in the upcoming draft.

In any case, the Jazz next face off at home against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday evening. Tipoff from the Delta Center is scheduled for 9:00 pm ET.

If there was any hope that the understaffed, dysfunctional Golden State Warriors could regain some momentum after their disappointing win over the Denver Nuggets, it came crashing down in the bayou.

The Warriors lost badly to the New Orleans Pelicans, 113–109. Although the close score indicated a highly contested, competitive affair, it spoke more about the Dubs’ weak offensive performance in the first quarter, in which they made only 8 of 25 shots, which they ultimately could not overcome.

And while Moses Moody continued his consistent play with 24 points and five rebounds, and De’Anthony Melton exploded for 28 points in just 28 minutes, Pelicans star Zion Williamson proved unstoppable in the end with a team-high 26 points on 11 of 21 shooting. After the game, Steve Kerr evaluated the Dubs’ tremendous performance.

Kerr said, “I don’t know what ‘Down the Stretch’ got us. It was all 48 minutes.” “21 turnovers. We didn’t execute very well offensively. The spacing was bad. Transition, we had three potential layups in the first half. We didn’t run, we didn’t cut to the rim, we didn’t get to the corners. We just looked disjointed.”

The Warriors felt frustrated all night as bad basketball troubled them up and down the hardwood. Midway through the third quarter, the broadcast showed a heated exchange between Quinton Post and Brandin Podziemski as the two walked toward the bench, with Draymond Green having to step in between the two to stop things from escalating.

And while the Warriors had a chance to steal this game from the jaws of their poor play, unsurprisingly the aggression died down, and they couldn’t dig themselves out of the hole they dug for themselves.

Offense remains a problem without their stars

It’s no surprise that the Warriors’ offense has struggled with consistency lately. With Stephen Curry in a day-to-day funk due to his swollen runner’s knee, Jimmy Butler out for the season, and Kristaps Porzingis suffering from a nasty, undisclosed illness, Golden State lacks an on-ball creator or engine to center the offense.

Kerr has talked about the need for a “trigger” for the defense to struggle in the post, i.e., Curry’s snapping or Butler drawing double teams. But without him, they don’t have what it takes to lead a drought like the one they suffered against the Pelicans.

And sure, Melton can get penetration, and Moody can run around a screen off-ball, but in 48 minutes of play, they need more. What they did against Denver is certainly at the extreme end of what’s possible when everything is humming. But ultimately, an outing of sorts is required to keep everything running smoothly. That means no messy transitions, no missed opportunities.

For this, good movement of the ball and hitting open shots is required. And the Warriors didn’t do it in New Orleans.

“The game was perfect for us, we just couldn’t perform well enough,” Kerr said. “With the injuries we’ve had, we have to play well to win. And I don’t think we played well tonight.”

Resting Al Horford on the front end of the back-to-back certainly didn’t help, and they’ll bring him back against the Memphis Grizzlies. But help will not come soon. Curry’s re-evaluation won’t come until the end of the week, and knowing his tendency to lean conservative upon returns from injury, there will likely be a ramp-up process before he returns. Meanwhile, Porzingis may have the Warriors’ worst fear confirmed with this latest health scare.

The Dubs will look to bounce back with a game at Memphis in less than 24 hours.

Other notables

• To add insult to injury for the Dubs, Jonathan Kuminga looked quite comfortable in his Atlanta Hawks debut. 25 points, 7 rebounds on 9/12 FGs against the tanking Washington Wizards. It’s only one game, and against a bad team at that, but the Kuminga era in Atlanta is off to a good start.
• Porzingis did not make the trip south, ruling him out for Memphis. It is unknown what specifically caused his illness. He has a history of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), which the Warriors were aware of when they traded for him, but the Warriors have not confirmed if this ongoing illness has anything to do with it. Kerr said the condition was so severe Sunday that Porzingis was unable to leave his hotel room.
• NBC Sports Bay Area has begun adding live graphics to its broadcasts. There are things like a gray circle hovering below who has the ball, names popping up whenever someone gets the ball, and a distance counter whenever someone shoots from deep. Looks like NBA 2K and it’s driving many viewers (including me) forward.

Bournemouth’s Luis Sinisterra faces even more uncertainty over his future, with reports coming from Brazil indicating that Cruzeiro does not intend to invoke a buyout clause in his loan deal.

According to a Brazilian journalist Thiago FernandesCruzeiro have no plans to sign the winger permanently.

The Colombian has not met the appearance-related targets that would trigger a mandatory buyout, and the Brazilian club are unwilling to pay €3.5m (£3m) for a full transfer.

Meanwhile, a recent detailed report globo esporte This explains why the deal is stalled.

Why did the injury record derail Cruzeiro’s plans?

Sinisterra joined Cruzeiro on loan from AFC Bournemouth last August, with the Brazilian side paying around €2.9m (£2.5m) for the temporary transfer. The idea was clear. He will regain rhythm, build fitness and strive to return to the Colombia national team before the 2026 World Cup. However, the gamble has not yet paid off.

In six months at Cruzeiro, Sinisterra suffered four different injuries and played only three matches. His latest setback came against Mirasol, when he was diagnosed with right thigh inflammation and was ruled out again.

The pattern is familiar. At Bournemouth, after transferring from Leeds United, he also struggled with muscle problems. Brazilian reports remind that he suffered three muscle injuries in England and missed more than 30 matches.

Cruzeiro implemented a Personal Strength and Balance Program From day one. Yet, the issues returned. He suffered a right thigh strain in September, then a left thigh muscle injury in October. Later in the season he managed seven matches, including two starts. another muscle problem Make it smaller.

In January, he even gave up part of his holiday to continue treatment and started pre-season early. He returned slowly, playing 30 minutes in the derby against America-MG and 54 minutes against Mirasol. breaking again.

What does this mean for Bournemouth

The loan runs until the middle of the year. Since mandatory purchase targets have not been met, Cruzeiro is not expected to proceed with the €3.5m (£3m) deal. From Bournemouth’s point of view, this creates a new decision point this summer.

Sinisterra is 26 years old and still under contract on the south coast. However, recurring muscle injuries continue to affect his market value and limit consistency. Without consistent minutes, it becomes difficult to structure a permanent exit.

Unless there is a drastic change in the coming months, the current direction points towards a return to Bournemouth and another reassessment of his future.

In the first half of the season, sports witness Kept a close eye on the situation of Brighton loanee Ivan Ferguson.

During his tenure at AS Roma, the striker’s fitness has been a constant cause of concern. There was anger at the club regarding his weight issues.

Ferguson also played for Ireland despite injury and this did not impress many at Roma. Consideration was being made to send him back to Amex.

Now, similar issues are resurfacing for the Brighton player, who has not played in Serie A since January 10.

Ferguson is asking for fitness help

romanist The report states that the 21-year-old player’s injury concerns are increasing.

As a result, he has been ‘almost forgotten’ in Rome. Despite him being assigned a personal training routine, things have not changed for the better.

Now Ferguson has asked for help from Brighton. He recently flew to England to speak to doctors at the Seagulls about his injuries. The Ireland international wanted to assess all possible scenarios and find out if he might need surgery.

That possibility has been ruled out but it will just depend on whether he improves.

Notably, Ferguson is reported to be in an ‘extremely critical’ condition. This has left him out of Gian Piero Gasperini’s squad, which has seen the player suffer four different ankle sprains this season.

From bad to worse for the Brighton player

Earlier in the season, the striker had faced adaptation issues under Gasperini. He started well but did not score in a game against Cremonese until late November.

That never proved enough. Now, Roma have Donyal Malen and he is thriving playing forward.

This suggests that Ferguson’s time at Roma is already over and injuries have ended any chances of his revival. This is quite unfortunate as Gasperini usually gives more advantage to attackers who perform poorly. Now, fitness problems have become a pattern for the Ireland international.

With the tank in full swing in Sacramento, the Kings are seeing two members of their veteran core, former All-Stars Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine, undergo season-ending surgery to repair their respective knee and finger injuries. With Sabonis and LaVine gone, the Kings are certainly going to establish themselves as the worst team in the NBA, which they are currently on with their poor 12-44 record.

It may be terrible in Sacramento currently, but it’s not all doom and gloom, as the Kings have at least a few young players on the roster who have shown glimpses of being members of the next great iteration of the team, the most prominent being Keegan Murray.

Murray was performing well at the start of the season, but his progress to becoming a main player for the Kings has been halted due to injuries. However, with the Sacramento Giants’ improved condition, Murray now has a bigger opportunity upon his return from injury.

“I think it’s a big opportunity for me to grow as a player. I mean, with DeMar [DeRozan] These past few years, [De’Aaron] The Fox guys love it, I’m not able to take those big shots and things like that and in those moments,” Murray said, per Brendan Nunes of Sactown Sports.

“Just being able to step up in those moments and be able to create and take shots that win or lose games. I think that’s something I really haven’t done in my career so far.”

Keegan Murray will be the main man for the Kings

Murray hasn’t really had the opportunity to be the number one option for the Kings yet. However, he doesn’t have that opportunity yet, as DeMar DeRozan is still on the roster and he has been very durable for his entire career.

But the Kings, being in tank mode, should hand the keys to Murray and the rest of the team’s youngsters, including Nick Clifford, Devin Carter and Maxime Renaud, so they can at least get an idea of ​​the talent they have.