標籤: Mark

What was at stake for the Anaheim Ducks and Vegas Golden Knights in Game 4 in Anaheim on Sunday night? Teams that take a 3–1 lead in a best-of-seven series win the series 90 percent of the time (247 out of 275). Additionally, if a Game 4 win comes en route to taking a 3–1 series lead, that team wins 92 percent (151 of 165) of the series. Given these percentages, the pressure was on the Anaheim Ducks (2-2), who rose to the occasion and scored two power play goals en route to a 4-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights (2-2).

Both teams were without captains. Anaheim was missing Radko Gudas for the seventh consecutive game, while the Golden Knights were without captain Mark Stone due to an undisclosed injury. Stone played only 4:24 minutes in Game 3 before being sidelined with a non-contact injury. Without Stone in the lineup this season, the Golden Knights were 8–9–5 and a winning percentage of .519, while with him they were 31–17–12 and a winning percentage of .593.

The scoring began when Anaheim finally figured out the Vegas penalty kill and got the first goal of the game via the power play. The Anaheim power play was 0-11 before Game 4, but that changed at 8:43 of the first when Beckett Seneke (4) blasted a slap shot through Carter Hart’s five-hole from the top of the right circle to give Anaheim a 1-0 lead. It was Seneca’s third consecutive game with a goal in the series. Not only was the Golden Knights’ penalty kill perfect in the series before Seneke’s goal, it had killed 21 consecutive penalties and 26 of 27.

Just 1:40 into Seneke’s goal, the Golden Knights got a power play goal of their own, tying the game at one point. Jack Eichel took a slap shot from the top of the left circle that bounced off the glove of Anaheim netminder Lucas Dostal. Before Dostal could get the rebound, Pavel Dorofeyev (5) beat Anaheim forward Mikael Granlund on net, attacked the puck and put it into the net for Vegas’ third power play goal of the series in ten chances.

While Granlund could not tie Dorofeyev on the tying goal, after only 5:05, he atoned for his sins by scoring a goal on an awkward bounce. Granlund (4) fired a wrist shot from inside the left circle that hit the stick of Golden Knights forward Cole Smith, causing the stick to slip out of his hand. The deflection of Smith’s stick changed the trajectory of the puck, bouncing off the ice just past Hart and then through his tool to give Anaheim a 2–1 lead.

Vegas is known for its many high-profile magic shows, with William Carlson performing magic tricks such as Shin Lim delivering a pass to Brett Howden for a goal. Karlsson was the first to forecheck and got the puck on his stick under the goal line. As he was enduring a big hit from Jacob Trouba, he somehow delivered a backhand pass from an extremely tight area to Howden (7), who beat his man in front of the net and Karlsson was able to chip the pass over Dostal to tie the game at two. The goal came at 4:04 and Howden tied Minnesota’s Matt Boldy for most postseason goals. Mitch Marner picked up a secondary assist, moving him ahead of Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov for most points in the postseason with 15 points. Marner finished the night with three points, giving him seven points in his last two games.

Anaheim got its third power play opportunity of the game at the end of the second frame and solved the Vegas penalty kill for the second time in the game. After Seneca entered a beautiful area and did some perimeter passing, Alex Killorn (4) collected a loose puck in the bottom of the right circle, drove hard toward the net, and then fired a wrist shot that went under Hart’s left hand and in at 17:58 of the second.

After trailing by a goal to start the third, the Golden Knights started the frame on a power play due to Seneca taking a cross-checking call at the 20-minute mark of the second period. However, Anaheim was able to kill a penalty and then maintain that momentum to take a two-goal lead shortly thereafter. At the 3:43 mark of the third, Anaheim defenseman Ian Moore (1) took a slap shot from the left point with a puck that was near the rim. The shot deflected off the back of the net and deflected off Hart’s blocker, giving Anaheim a 4-2 lead. It was the first career playoff goal for the 24-year-old Moore, who was a healthy scratch for Anaheim in Games 2 and 3.

With Hart pulled for the extra attacker, Tomas Hertl (1) got on the board at 18:56 of the third minute to make things interesting, scoring his first goal in 29 games, on March 4, but it proved to be too little, too late, as the Golden Knights iced the puck with 10 seconds remaining, dashing any hopes of tying the game.

Three-to-two odds for blackjack in a Vegas casino are the best you can get. Likewise, whichever team wins Game 5 on Tuesday will take a three-to-two series lead and that team will certainly like its chances of going to the Western Conference Finals.

notes

• Anaheim’s win after leading by multiple goals was the Ducks’ 24th consecutive win in playoff history.
• With Mark Stone in the lineup, the Golden Knights are averaging 3.32 goals per game. His average without Stone in the lineup is 2.96. Similarly, the power play percentage is 22.6% with Stone in the lineup, but only 17.0% with Stone out.

statistics

• Shots on goal gave Anaheim a 23–21 victory.
• Faceoff win percentages were 52.9 percent for Vegas and 47.1 percent for Anaheim.
• Vegas was 1-3 on the power play, while Anaheim was 2-4.
• The Hits defeated Anaheim 34–27.
• Vegas had a 14-13 edge in blocked shots.
• Vegas had four more giveaways than Anaheim, 14 versus 10.
• Vegas won the takeaway battle 7-5.

俄克拉荷馬城——俄克拉荷馬城雷霆隊的賈倫·威廉姆斯在從腿筋傷勢中恢復過來的第四場比賽中就打出了自此以來的最佳得分錶現，這對主教練馬克·戴尼奧特來說並不感到意外。在長期缺席的情況下，威廉斯分享了周五以 131-113 擊敗活塞隊後他對自己和隊友的了解。他在18分的基礎上，11投7中拿下22分。

威廉斯的表現幫助尼克斯隊以 14-5 的高潮結束了雷霆隊週日晚上在 Paycom Center 的比賽，最終以 111-110 獲勝。賽後，戴尼奧討論了威廉斯的方法，對於雷霆主教練來說，這種方法早在他之前就開始了。 返回法庭 上個星期。

「要對他從傷病中恢復到比賽狀態所做的工作給予高度讚揚。當你不參加比賽時，這是很難做到的。但他似乎已經開始了。當你缺席這麼長時間時，你的表現將會出現一些起伏。而且現在是一年中比賽艱難的時候。所以，你不可能每晚都打得完美。

“他的競爭力、他的動力、他的雙向進攻對我們來說真的很有價值。即使在他的平均夜晚，但今晚，他非常出色。”

當被問及賈倫·威廉姆斯在雷霆隊戰勝尼克斯隊的比賽中的爆發/能量時，馬克·戴尼奧特表示：“要對他從傷病中恢復到比賽狀態所做的工作給予高度讚揚。當你不參加比賽時，這是很難做到的。”

但他似乎擊中了… pic.twitter.com/8rSR4Ej9As

— 約蘇埃‧帕文 (@Joe_Sway) 2026 年 3 月 30 日

全明星謝伊·吉爾傑斯·亞歷山大為雷霆隊拿下 30 分和 4 次助攻。切特·霍姆格倫拿下 16 分和 9 個籃板，盧·多特也貢獻了十幾分，其中包括兩個三分球和兩次搶斷。

賈倫威廉斯講述他在缺席期間對雷霆的了解

雷霆隊前鋒賈倫威廉斯透露了他在復出的前兩場比賽中克服的心理障礙。對於威廉斯來說，高水準得分對他來說至關重要。

威廉斯在這支球隊中也了解了很多關於他的球隊的知識，這對衛冕冠軍雷霆隊來說可能是一個驚喜。

「你會意識到自己從上到下有多有才華。當你身處其中時，你可能不會注意到那麼多，直到你和某個團隊一起在球場上。但我們非常有才華。這真的很酷，」威廉斯說。 “顯然，我不想再袖手旁觀了。”

就他在最近的腿筋傷勢康復過程中對自己的了解而言，威廉斯非常感激能夠回到球場上參加比賽。

「就我個人而言，這並不是理所當然的。並不是說我是理所當然的，但你不知道什麼時候才能再次參加比賽。這讓我對籃球的看法有了很大的不同，」威廉斯補充道。 “還有耐心。就像我說的，這是因禍得福。”

馬克戴尼奧和雷霆隊將於週一主場迎戰活塞隊。

West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes is gaining increasing international recognitionAnd his latest Portugal call-up has now been backed by strong words from someone who knows him well.

The 21-year-old has been growing in importance this season, showing greater consistency and maturity in midfield. This progression has now translated into a senior call-up for Portugal’s upcoming friendlies against Mexico and the United States.

portuguese newspaper game Adds details through comments from Filip Celikkaya, who worked closely with him at Sporting.

As we covered earlierMateus Fernandes himself said that he has personally benefited from Nuno Espirito Santo’s arrival in the Premier League team. That context adds another layer to his development, especially as he moves into a demanding league.

Early development and personality

Filip Celikkaya was the coach who introduced Mateus Fernandes to senior football at Sporting B in 2021/22. He offered detailed information about the player’s initial symptoms.

“He was a shy boy, but within the group he managed to show all his talents.”

“A great guy, someone you enjoy talking to and working with. Beyond his talent and ability, he is very humble and focused.”

That combination remains central to Fernandes’s rise. Along with his technical development, his personality has also been highlighted.

Celikkaya also believes the midfielder is already operating at international level:

“He is already the present and future of the national team. We know the quality of players in his position, but being called up to the final team shows his great quality. And because of his humility, he can make a huge impact.”

Role, maturity and strategic profile

Mateus Fernandes has developed into a complete midfielder. He contributes in the deeper build-up phases and is effective closer to the final third.

Celikkaya underlines that balance. “He manages big involvement in the build-up game, but also has the ability to serve in more advanced areas.”

More importantly, they highlighted a key feature of Premier League football.

“Despite being 21 years old, he shows above average maturity for his age.”

This maturity is reflected in their decision making ability and consistency. For West Ham, that profile is valuable. The club needs midfielders who are capable of combining phases and handling pressure.

next step for him

Mateus Fernandes enters this international window without any huge expectations. Celikkaya is clear about how he should approach this.

“He has to enjoy this time with the national team. If he manages to make his debut, it would be fantastic. If not, he will continue his path of development and there will be other opportunities.”

There is also a personal aspect to this call-up. Fernandes reunited with one of his closest friends, Renato Veiga.

“I remember when I put them to play in Liga 3, after 45 minutes they were already tired, and now they are at a very high level.”

This paradox highlights how far he has come in a short time. From early struggles in senior football to earning international recognition, the trajectory is clear.

For West Ham, this call-up reinforces the feeling that they have a player to develop in both confidence and position. If this development continues, his role at the club could become even more important in the near future.

🇨🇿 Tomas Soucek | Check outlook on renewal

⏸️ West Ham star renewal put on hold, not canceled – agent ready to contacthttps://t.co/E7SraAlI2J #whufc #koi

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 20 March 2026

Monday night was a bit of a homecoming for some players on the Oklahoma City Thunder. Their game against the Philadelphia 76ers marked second-year guard Jared McCann’s first game in Philly, returning after being involved in a trade prior to the trade deadline. The game was also important for Isaiah Joe, who spent time with the 76ers prior to his stint in Oklahoma City.

McCann and Joe both played brilliantly off the bench for the Thunder. McCann scored 13 points on 5-11 shooting from the field (with three triples) and two assists, while Joe had nine points on 3-7 shooting from deep, with two assists and two steals. The performances of both players caught the attention of head coach Mark Dagenault, who praised the two 76ers alumni for “staying in character” against his former team.

“It was impressive,” Dagenault said, according to Justin Martinez at X.

The Thunder won easily against the 76ers, 123–103. It was a balanced effort from Oklahoma City: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 22 points to lead her team and added five rebounds, five assists, one steal and two blocks. Seven players scored in double figures for the Thunder, including McCann and Jalen Williams. Williams, who returned to the lineup after a long absence, had four rebounds and six assists among his 18 points.

For McCann, this game marks facing his former team for the first time since the trade deadline. McCann was drafted by the 76ers in 2024 and had a great start to his rookie season. However, he suffered a torn meniscus early in his rookie season, causing him to miss the majority of his rookie year. After missing the start of the season with a torn UCL, the 76ers traded him to the Thunder at the deadline.

In 19 games for the Thunder this season, McCann is averaging 12.3 points per game on 46.9% shooting from the field and 44% shooting from deep. He is looking to win his first NBA title with the defending champions.

Whenever something happens with Raiders ownership, the Internet loses its focus. Last week was no different.

When ESPN’s Seth Wickersham and Don Van Natta Jr. broke the news that NFL owners were about to vote on a succession plan that would give Silver Lake co-CEO Egon Durban the option to buy a majority stake in the team from Mark Davis ESPN, the Hot Take practically wrote itself. He is withdrawing money. The Davis era is over. Here comes private equity.

Pump the brakes.

Sources close to Davis were clear to ESPN: “Mark has no intention of selling his majority stake in the team. This sets up a seamless succession plan.”

Now, yes – the fact that the sentiment came from an unknown source rather than Davis is a little strange. But the underlying message is not complicated, even if the structure of the deal is complex.

Why is Mark Davis succession planning with the Raiders?

What’s really happening here is that Mark Davis, who will turn 71 in May and has no children, is doing something responsible. He is making sure there is a clear, pre-approved path for the franchise if control ever needs to change hands. That’s not a red flag. This is the estate plan with the NFL rule book attached.

There are no outside intruders in Durban. He purchased a 7.5% stake in the Raiders in December 2024, the same window that brought Tom Brady into minority ownership. Those partners will help the organization on the business side, Davis said at the time. Giving Durban a pre-approved route to majority ownership – contingent on Davis actually deciding to sell – is a logical extension of that existing relationship, not a fire sale in disguise.

Other details worth noting: Davis recently inherited shares in the franchise after his late mother, Carol Davis, passed away in October 2025. He has more of this team now than he did six months ago. It doesn’t seem as if a man is preparing to go out.

Attackers controlling ownership won’t change anytime soon

Look, reasonable people can question Mark Davis’s decisions over the years. Stadium moves, the coaching carousel, front office churn — there’s a long list. But mixing succession planning with the intention to sell is a fundamental misreading of what we have in front of us. Every major owner with no direct heir will eventually have to answer the question of what happens next. Davis is answering it on his own terms, in advance, with a partner he’s already vetted.

The vote at the league’s annual spring meeting, which begins March 29 in Phoenix, does not indicate any imminent changes. It signals the opposite: stability. A guarantee that if the worst happens, the league will not have to struggle and the franchise will not get into any messy legal disputes.

The Davis family has been associated with this franchise for more than 60 years. Whatever happened last week didn’t change that. Mark Davis is still the owner, still making the decisions, and still overseeing the rebuild under GMs Jon Spytek and Tom Brady, in whom he clearly has confidence. That’s not the end of succession planning. It’s more than just Mark Davis’ preparation that he is usually given credit for.

Scott Gulbransen, a quintessential expert in the field of sports journalism, serves as an editor, nfl , mlb , Formula 1 … More about Scott Gulbransen

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault did not agree with the ejection of his players following a brawl in the first half of their 132–111 win against the Washington Wizards. Three Thunder players were ejected from the game, including Ajay Mitchell, Jaylin Williams and Cason Wallace.

Daigneault addressed the ejection during his postgame media availability.

“After talking to him and seeing it at halftime, I disagreed with his decision,” Daigneault said. “But, I’ve worked with John Goble for a long time, and he’s worked with me on this. And we agreed to disagree, and both moved on. So, that’s all I can say about it.”

Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 40 points on 17-of-27 shooting and seven assists led the defending champions as they extended their win streak to 11. All-Star Chet Holmgren finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks, and Jared McCain led the bench with 18 points, including four threes.

Thunder did not visit the White House due to ‘timing issues’

The defending champion Thunder did not go to meet President Donald Trump at the White House, a traditional meeting for NBA champions. According to Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic, the Thunder explained why it would not be visiting in the following statement before the match against the Wizards.

“We have been in contact with the White House, and we are appreciative and grateful for the communication they have had, but the timing was not right,” the Oklahoma City Thunder said in a statement.

Marc Daigneault and the Thunder will continue their five-game road trip when they face the 76ers on Monday.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are not lacking in depth as they defend their title this season. Nevertheless, general manager Sam Presti managed to add another impact bench piece in Jared McCann at the trade deadline.

Stepping into a reserve role following his trade from the Philadelphia 76ers, McCann has made an immediate impact. The 22-year-old had his best performance of the season during Wednesday’s 121-92 win over the Brooklyn Nets, scoring a game-high 26 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the field and 5-of-9 from three.

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said, “He’s definitely integrated well. He’s learning his teammates. He’s learning our system and the fundamentals that we emphasize.” “I thought in the first half, especially, he had some really good defensive possessions, which has been really encouraging. He’s done a really good job of committing to our fundamentals and the things we need to do on the defensive end of the field. Obviously, he’s a very powerful offensive player, but he gives up some size and needs to be really fundamental and powerful, and he’s done that, especially lately. So we’re happy with the progress he’s made there.” And he continues to be a fan favorite in the locker room just the way he approaches things since he was traded here.”

After a stellar rookie campaign, McCann struggled early this season with the 76ers while returning from a thumb injury to his shooting hand. Philadelphia sent him to the G League in January before dealing him to the Houston Rockets for a 2026 first-round pick and three second-round picks at the deadline.

Jared McCann is making an immediate impact in the Thunder’s rotation after trade

McCann has quickly found his groove in the Thunder’s battle-tested rotation. The former Duke star is averaging 11.9 points on .475/.444/.885 shooting splits in 18.8 minutes per game in 18 appearances with the team. Oklahoma City posted a 109.3 defensive rating during his minutes, which would rank second in the league for the entire season.

McCann credited the Thunder’s coaching staff for easing his transition after the surprise deadline deal.

McCann said, “When you first get traded, you don’t know anything about what’s going to happen, especially when you find out you’re being traded to a championship team. So I didn’t have high expectations for myself.” “Just coming in and trying to learn as much as possible, which is hard because you don’t know what’s going on. But once you go out there with these guys, they give me confidence. It’s really simple. The coaching staff helped me right away. Not giving me too much information, just letting me play, letting me play my game.

“They’re champions already, so it’s just being able to fit in somehow. I think Sam Presti did a great job knowing how I would fit in. But this offense is amazing. Being able to move the ball and play with shooters, playing with guys that are specialized in the pick and roll is huge. It makes it a lot easier to come in and fit in, especially with the way I play.”

The Thunder hold a three-game lead over the NBA’s top-seeded San Antonio Spurs with 12 games remaining. McCain will compete for playoff minutes with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, Isaiah Joe and Ajay Mitchell in the backcourt rotation.

McCain said, “It’s great to be on a team that is the number one seed. It’s one thing to just have playoff hopes, and then it’s really cool to be the number one seed and try to defend it.” “Especially with them [defending] Champion. I’m just trying to come in and play every role I can to help make this team a champion again. “I’m really confident going to any game with these guys.”

Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic is making impossible looks a regular thing. Since arriving in Southern California, the Slovenian maestro has been in a statistical crisis that is leaving franchise icons in a state of disbelief.

After his latest masterclass, Doncic has officially tied Hall of Famer James Worthy for most 30-point games in a Lakers uniform with 52. While reaching that mark is an accomplishment for anyone, the speed at which Doncic did so stunned “Big Game James.” During a postgame segment on Spectrum SportsNet, Worthy couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of the motion.

“It took me 14 years!” Worthy joked, apparently surprised by how quickly the 27-year-old erased the mark that took the veteran more than a decade to establish.

This milestone comes after one of the most impressive weeks in recent memory for the Purple and Gold. On March 12, Doncic led the Chicago Bulls to a season-high 51 points in a 142–130 win. He shot an impressive 17 of 31 from the field and added 10 rebounds and nine assists, falling just one assist short of a triple-double. He then dropped 30 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds in a 127–125 overtime victory against the Denver Nuggets on March 14, even hitting the go-ahead jumper in the closing seconds.

Currently leading the NBA in scoring with 32.8 points per game, Doncic has completely transformed the Lakers’ offense since the blockbuster trade that brought him from the Dallas Mavericks. While legends like Worthy and LeBron James have seen it all, Doncic continues to find new ways to surprise the veterans. For Worth, seeing his own record fall so quickly is part of the “Luka Magic” experience. As the Lakers push for the top seed in the Western Conference, Doncic is rewriting the history books in real time.

OKLAHOMA CITY – For the second consecutive game, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault inserted Ajay Mitchell into his starting lineup. After Shai Gilgeous-Alexander extended his streak of 20+ point games to 128 in a 116–103 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Daigneault discussed Mitchell’s impact as part of his starting 5.

For Daigneault, Mitchell has proven himself enough to earn a starting spot amid the Thunder’s marquee matchups, he said, during his postgame media availability.

“We’re going to need him and despite being a high-impact player, he hasn’t played a lot of games,” Daigneault said. “So, the opportunity to get him out early in the game in some of these high-level games is an opportunity we want to take advantage of right now.”

Mitchell finished with 11 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals in 27 minutes for the Thunder. Mitchell emerged as one of Oklahoma City’s major impact players off the bench. In only his second season, Ajayi made significant progress which led to him being included in various of Daigneault’s lineups.

Mitchell’s playmaking and scoring abilities, as well as his defensive ability, have made him one of Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault’s favorite players this season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Ajay Mitchell’s impact for Thunder

Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander found out he scored 20 points after a 3-point play, causing a stampede in the crowd at Paycom Center. He extended his streak of scoring 20+ points to 128 consecutive games.

Then, after the win, Gilgeous-Alexander talked about how important Ajay Mitchell is to the Thunder.

“A guy who can make plays at any time,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “A guy who can pass, dribble, shoot at a high level on the basketball court, and also defend. And having guys like that on the court is a luxury. You don’t have any holes when he’s out on the court from his positioning standpoint. So, having him out there is a luxury. I don’t think we’ve lost since he came back, and it’s no surprise.

“He’s a really good basketball player. Makes us a better team. Makes us tough to guard and score on both ends.”

The Thunder extended their four-game home stand winning streak to eight straight after a 13-point win against the Timberwolves on Sunday.

The Oklahoma City Thunder received an encouraging update regarding forward Jalen Williams as he recovers from a hamstring strain.

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault recently indicated that Williams is making progress in his rehabilitation. The update was reported Saturday by OKC Thunder Wire’s Clemente Almanza on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Mark Daigneault says Jalen Williams is making ‘progress’ in recovery from hamstring strain.”

Williams, 24, has been sidelined since February 11. His most recent appearance came in Oklahoma City’s 136–109 win over the Phoenix Suns. In that game, Williams gave one of his most efficient performances of the season, recording 28 points, five assists and four rebounds.

He shot 11 of 12 from the field, 4 of 5 from the free-throw line and converted both of his three-point attempts during 20 minutes of play. The performance helped the Thunder earn a dominant win before Williams’ injury absence began.

Thunder continue seven-game winning streak as Jalen Williams works toward comeback

Williams is currently in his fourth NBA season and remains a key part of Oklahoma City’s lineup when healthy. In 26 games this season, he has averaged 17.5 points, 5.4 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. He is shooting 47.9% from the field, 31.3% from three-point range and 83.3% from the free-throw line, while averaging 29 minutes per contest.

Even during his absence, Oklahoma City continued to grow. The Thunder finished atop the Western Conference with a 52–15 record and entered their next contest with a seven-game winning streak.

The Thunder will attempt to extend that run on Sunday when they conclude a four-game homestand against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who enter the matchup with a 41-26 record. The game is scheduled for 1:00 pm ET and will be broadcast on ABC.

Williams’ continued progress could give Oklahoma City a timely boost as the team heads toward the postseason.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault did his best to put All-Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s new record-breaking streak of scoring 20+ points in 127 consecutive games into words best suited for the reigning MVP. After breaking the 63-year-old record, Gilgeous-Alexander reflected on how he has emerged as one of the NBA’s elite scorers before Daigneault delivered his flowers to the SGA.

Talking about who Gilgeous-Alexander is as a player, a leader and a person, Daigneault it took time to explain What makes his All-Star guard so special during his post-game media availability?

“Number one, he’s skilled at his craft. Nobody is more precise at his craft than him. Number two, the streak his entire life hasn’t stopped us from having a ton of team success and hasn’t stopped his teammates from being successful as well,” Daigneault said. “The individual scoring streak hasn’t come at the expense of the team or his teammates. And again, great father, great husband, great teammate.

“He treats everyone in the building with respect from top to bottom. So, he’s obviously a great basketball player, but he’s such a guy that you couldn’t be happier when he accomplishes something like this. So, huge congratulations to him.”

Mark Daigneault’s honest opinion on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s streak of 127 consecutive 20+ point games, the most in NBA history, and his lead:

“There is no one more precise at his craft than him. The entire life of the streak did not prevent us from having a lot of team success… pic.twitter.com/WDNrrO2AZ5

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 13 March 2026

His 35 points on 13 of 18 attempts, nine assists, six rebounds, three blocks and two steals led the Thunder to the win. gilgeous-alexander Exceeded the 20-point threshold He received a standing ovation during the third quarter of a 104–102 win against the Boston Celtics at Paycom Center.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made NBA history with his 127th consecutive 20+ point game.

Historic Night at Paycom Center pic.twitter.com/lu7DrRPBWP

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 13 March 2026

In a matchup against the Celtics’ MVP candidate Jaylen Brown, who finished with 34 points, seven assists, six rebounds, two steals and a block, Gilgeous-Alexander exchanged key buckets to tie the game. Then, Thunder All-Star Chet Holmgren was fouled on a rebound, sending him to the line for two with 0.8 seconds remaining in the game.

Holmgren sealed the win for the Thunder by making two free throws, putting Oklahoma City ahead by two. He finished with 14 points and nine rebounds.

SGA issues subtle warning after making NBA history

Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander believes his improvement every season over the past few years has made him the leading scorer he is today. Adding a string of most consecutive 20+ point performances to his trophy haul, Gilgeous-Alexander explained that this was no coincidence, but a testament to his dedication.

“Over the years, I’ve just built my game, watched the defense, and just attacked the defense with the tools I have,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It feels like every year I’m getting better and better at doing this, and I think that’s why. I just watch coverages, learn from them, try to get better, and implement them whenever possible.”

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault watched Thursday’s historic night, followed by a 129-126 win on Monday in another duel against Nikola Jokic and an MVP candidate in the rival Nuggets, where Gilgeous-Alexander tied Wilt Chamberlain’s streak for consecutive 20+ point performances, and became only the second player to finish with at least 35 points, 15 assists and zero turnovers. Went.

俄克拉荷马城——俄克拉荷马城雷霆队主教练马克·戴尼奥竭尽全力，将全明星后卫谢伊·吉尔吉斯-亚历山大连续 127 场比赛得分超过 20 分的破纪录记录用语言表达出来，以符合卫冕 MVP 的最佳状态。在打破 63 年的纪录后，吉尔吉斯-亚历山大回顾了自己如何成为 NBA 的精英得分手之一，随后戴尼奥向 SGA 献花。

谈论吉尔杰斯-亚历山大作为一名球员、一名领袖和一个人的身份，Daigneault 花时间解释 是什么让他的全明星后卫在赛后接受媒体采访时如此特别。

“第一，他对自己的技术进行了外科手术。没有人比他更精确地掌握自己的技术。第二，整个连胜生涯并没有阻止我们取得大量团队成功，也没有阻止他的队友取得成功，”戴尼奥说。 “与得分有关的个人连续性并没有以牺牲球队或他的队友为代价。然后，伟大的父亲，伟大的丈夫，伟大的队友。

“他对待大楼里的每个人，从上到下，都充满尊严。所以，他显然是一位伟大的篮球运动员，但当他完成这样的事情时，你会为他感到高兴。所以，热烈祝贺他。”

马克·戴尼奥特 (Mark Daigneault) 对谢伊·吉尔吉斯·亚历山大 (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) 连续 127 场连续 20 分以上的比赛（NBA 历史上最多得分）的诚实评价以及他的领导能力：

“没有人比他更精确地掌握自己的技术。整个连续的生涯并没有阻止我们取得大量的团队成功…… pic.twitter.com/WDNrrO2AZ5

— 约书亚·皮科克 (@Joe_Sway) 2026 年 3 月 13 日

他18投13中得到35分、9次助攻、6个篮板、3次盖帽和2次抢断，带领雷霆队取得胜利。吉尔杰斯-亚历山大 突破20分门槛 在 Paycom 中心以 104-102 战胜波士顿凯尔特人队的第三节比赛中，全场起立鼓掌。

谢伊·吉尔吉斯-亚历山大连续第 127 场比赛得分超过 20 分，创造了 NBA 历史。

Paycom 中心的历史性夜晚 pic.twitter.com/lu7DrRPBWP

— 约书亚·皮科克 (@Joe_Sway) 2026 年 3 月 13 日

在与凯尔特人队的 MVP 候选人杰伦·布朗的对决中，杰伦·布朗拿下 34 分、7 次助攻、6 个篮板、2 次抢断和 1 次盖帽，吉尔吉斯-亚历山大在最后时刻交换了关键的得分机会，将比赛打成了平局。随后，雷霆全明星切特·霍姆格伦在篮板球上被犯规，在比赛还剩 0.8 秒时罚球两分。

霍姆格伦两罚全中，帮助雷霆锁定胜局，将俄克拉荷马城领先两分。他最终得到14分和9个篮板。

SGA 在创造 NBA 历史后放弃了微妙的警告

雷霆队全明星谢伊·吉尔杰斯·亚历山大相信，多年来每个赛季的进步使他成为了今天的统治得分手。吉尔杰斯-亚历山大将连续得分超过 20 分的记录添加到荣誉奖杯中，他解释说这并非巧合，而是对他奉献精神的证明。

“这些年来，我刚刚建立了自己的游戏，看到了防守，然后我就用我拥有的工具攻击防守，”吉尔杰斯-亚历山大说。 “感觉每年我在这方面都做得越来越好，我认为这就是原因。我只是看到报道，从中学习，努力变得更好，并在可能的时候应用它们。”

雷霆队主教练马克·戴尼奥特观看了周四的历史性夜晚，继周一以 129-126 战胜尼古拉·约基奇和竞争对手掘金队后，吉尔吉斯·亚历山大追平了威尔特·张伯伦连续 20 分以上的纪录，并成为第二位至少得到 35 分、15 次助攻和零失误的球员。

The Dallas Mavericks have seen their fair share of ups and downs during Mark Cuban’s ownership. They have seen many top-class players play for the franchise, from Dirk Nowitzki to Luka Doncic and now Cooper Flagg.

However, the Mavs have missed out on several big names over the years, and one reason for this is selecting the wrong players in various drafts. When asked about his biggest misses over the past few years, owner Mark Cuban gave two very valid responses in the form of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Tyrese Maxey.

“Oh, there are a lot of them. Tyrese Maxi was a big miss for us recently. Greek Freak [Giannis Antetokounmpo] Was probably the biggest,” he said on the Adam Friedland Show, according to HoopsHype.

And well, that makes perfect sense. Dallas had the No. 13 and No. 18 picks in the 2013 and 2020 drafts, with Antetokounmpo selected as the 15th and 21st overall picks, respectively. Instead, Dallas selected Kelly Olynyk and Josh Green in their respective drafts.

Despite this, both Giannis and Maxi have established themselves as All-Stars in their final homes with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers. However, it would definitely hurt more to miss the Greek Freak.

The Bucks’ talisman has also become a 10-time All-Star and two-time MVP. He is on his way to becoming a Hall of Famer and by the time he retires, he may be viewed as one of the best players in modern NBA history.

On the other hand, Tyrese Maxey has also established himself as one of the best young offensive stars in the NBA. The 2024 MVPs have continued to improve their averages year after year, and Cuban has every right to view these two players as his biggest misses.

The trajectory of the Dallas Mavericks franchise changed on February 1, 2025, when the franchise inexplicably traded superstar guard Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers were gifted a 25-year-old megastar after their first NBA Finals appearance, while the Lakers traded away 31-year-old Anthony Davis, 21-year-old Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick.

Dallas has been unable to recover from the brutal trade, and fans said they would not be satisfied until Nico Harrison was fired, which came less than a year after the trade was pulled off.

The Mavs selected Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft last year, and hope to add another piece to their puzzle this summer.

In a recent interview with Adam Friedland on The Adam Friedland Show, former Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban talked about the franchise’s decision to trade Luka Doncic without consulting him.

“Do you regret hiring Nico Harrison? Cuban was asked.

“Yeah, sometimes, I do,” Cuban replied. “When we do stupid things like the Luka trade. I miss it because I think the fans have been let down, and I think because I’ve let them down. That’s what bothers me the most.

“As much as I loved it, and I still love the Mavs. I’ll always be a Mavs fan, sometimes there’s bigger things to do. I love the Mavs.”

To this day, Mark Cuban says he still remembers exactly where he was and how the famous Luka Doncic deal happened.

“I remember exactly where I was,” Cuban said. “I was talking to Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, literally I was at a health care event and there were six or seven politicians there. We were having beers and I got a message from our general manager and he said, ‘Hey can you talk?’

“I hired him. Yeah, looking back now, it was a mistake. He was like, ‘Mark call me,’ and I did and when he told me about it, I thought he was asking me instead of telling me and he said, ‘No, it’s done.’ And I was like fuck?!

Mark Cuban has retained a small ownership stake after once seeing the majority prior to the Doncic trade. At 23-41 on the season, the Dallas Mavericks are the third-worst team in the Western Conference and will hopefully be able to acquire pieces that will best complement each other.

俄克拉荷马城——俄克拉荷马城雷霆队主教练马克·戴尼奥特在观看谢伊·吉尔吉斯·亚历山大连续第 126 场比赛拿下 20 分以上，然后在以 129-126 战胜丹佛掘金队的比赛中投进致胜三分球后，反思了他的特别之处。吉尔吉斯-亚历山大让掘金队遭遇了十天内的第二场失利，而人手不足的雷霆队将连胜场数扩大到了六场。

在没有全明星切特·霍姆格伦、以赛亚·哈尔滕斯坦和贾伦·威廉姆斯的情况下，吉尔杰斯·亚历山大以35分、15次助攻和9个篮板对抗尼古拉·约基奇的三双（32分、13次助攻、14个篮板）。获胜后，戴尼奥讨论了吉尔吉斯-亚历山大的沉着以及他如何在压力下茁壮成长。

“他从不施压。他只是对环境有令人难以置信的认识，对比赛时间的认识；我认为这是他的超能力之一，”戴尼奥说。 “他知道比赛有多长。所以，他可以做出正确的比赛，知道自己会取得突破。如果他过早投丢球，他知道还有更多比赛要做。他总是在精神上保持专注。我认为这就是他始终如一的部分原因。”

杰林·威廉姆斯全场得到29分，其中包括职业生涯最高的7个三分球和12个篮板。阿贾伊·米切尔 (Ajay Mitchell) 拿下 24 分，领先第二阵容。

“我认为今晚他的传球真的很棒。即使是那些不是助攻的简单传球，”戴尼奥补充道。 “他们整晚都包夹了他。他很早就下场了，就像阿贾伊那样 [Mitchell] 很晚阿杰开车把哈达威带到了那里。这只是防守前的简单打法。今晚他打了一场精彩的比赛。显然，这是一个伟大的结束。一位伟大的球员。”

马克·戴尼奥特还见证了吉尔吉斯-亚历山大在对阵约基奇的比赛中强化了自己获得 MVP 的理由，继 2 月 27 日加时赛以 127-121 获胜后，雷霆队在 Paycom 中心让掘金队第二次失利。

谢伊·吉尔杰斯·亚历山大在雷霆获胜后麦克风掉落

雷霆队全明星谢伊·吉尔吉斯-亚历山大在周一以 3 分战胜掘金队的比赛中追平了威尔特·张伯伦连续 126 场得分的记录，距离创造 NBA 历史还差一场比赛。赛后，吉尔杰斯-亚历山大讨论了他对阵掘金队的方法，掘金队对卫冕 MVP 进行了包夹。

然而，吉尔杰斯-亚历山大在比赛最后时刻适应并火力全开，连续投进三分球，其中包括致胜的三分球。

“我不知道我要做什么。我有测试的答案，但我必须先看到问题，”吉尔吉斯-亚历山大在谈到最终的剧本时说道。 “一旦我看到他在我左边，我就往右边走。我认为是克里斯蒂安·布劳恩在间隙中。所以，我知道如果我开车去射击一个水兵，可能会引起争议。所以，我试图与三个人分开，并获得一个良好、舒适的射击，然后它就失败了。”

雷霆队将于周四主场迎战凯尔特人队。

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault reflected on what makes him special after watching Shai Gilgeous-Alexander record his 126th consecutive 20+ point game before draining the game-winning 3-pointer in a 129-126 win against the Denver Nuggets. Gilgeous-Alexander handed the Nuggets their second loss in 10 days, as the shorthanded Thunder extended their winning streak to six.

Without All-Stars Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Jalen Williams, Gilgeous-Alexander matched Nikola Jokic’s triple-double (32 points, 13 assists, 14 rebounds) with 35 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds. After the win, Daigneault discussed Gilgeous-Alexander’s poise and how he thrives under pressure.

Daigneault said, “He never presses. He has incredible situational awareness, awareness of the length of the game; I think that’s one of his superpowers.” “He understands how long the game is. So, he can make the right plays, knowing he’s going to hold his own. If he misses a shot early, he knows there’s still more to play. He’s always in it mentally. I think that’s why he’s as consistent as he is.”

Jaylin Williams finished with 29 points, including a career-high seven threes, and 12 rebounds. Ajay Mitchell’s 24 points led the second unit.

Daigneault said, “I thought his passing tonight was really cool. Even ordinary people weren’t supportive.” “They doubled him all night. He got over it early, like it happened with Ajay [Mitchell] Even late, Ajay got Hardaway there. It’s just a simple game before defense. She played a very good floor game tonight. Obviously, a great finish. A great player.”

Mark Daigneault also saw Gilgeous-Alexander strengthen his case for MVP against Jokic as the Thunder handed the Nuggets their second loss at Paycom Center since a 127–121 overtime win on February 27.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s mic falls off after Thunder’s win

Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one 20+ point game away from making NBA history after matching Wilt Chamberlain’s 126 consecutive games in a 3-point win against the Nuggets on Monday. After the game, Gilgeous-Alexander discussed his approach against the Nuggets, who threw double-team coverage on the reigning MVP.

However, Gilgeous-Alexander adapted and caught fire in the final minute of the game, draining back-to-back threes, including the game-winning triple.

“I didn’t know what I was going to do. I have the answers to the test, but I have to look at the questions first,” Gilgeous-Alexander said, referring to the final game. “Once I saw he was to my left and I was going to the right. I think it was Christian Brown who was in the gap. So, I knew if I drove to shoot the middy, it was probably going to be contested. So, I tried to get away from the three, and took a nice, comfortable shot and it went down.”

The Thunder will host the Celtics on Thursday.

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault says Jared McCann’s consistency stands out. Still, he’s learning a lot about his second-year guard after a deadline trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. Amidst the injuries in the defending champions’ backcourt, McCann’s fit with the Thunder has been seamless. Over the course of a dozen games, he is averaging 11.8 points on 41.5/39.5/88.9 percent shooting splits and 2.2 rebounds per game.

Additionally, McCain’s Mid-range touch has devastated opponentsThat’s an aspect of his game Daigneault says he wasn’t familiar with until McCain joined the Thunder, he said, according to Thunder Wire’s Clemente Almanza.

“His shooting ability. He’s a guy you have to make runs off the line, which opens up some of those drives. I didn’t know his game well, especially that part of his game — those mid-range games show his strength,” Daigneault said. “He’s going downhill, and he’s able to absorb contact and rise up and shoot a balanced rhythm shot, which is harder than it looks. He makes it look easier than it is. So, he’s done a great job.”

Mark Daigneault on Jared McCain’s mid-range game: “He’s a guy you’ve got to run off the line, that opens up some of those drives. I didn’t know his game well, especially that part of his game, the mid-range game shows his strength. He’s driving downfield and he’s … pic.twitter.com/ICzCnh3l86

– Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) 6 March 2026

Daigneault also praised McCann for being a secondary playmaker for the shorthanded Thunder, who are missing players like Ajay Mitchell, who has been out since January, and Alex Caruso, who has been in and out of the lineup. All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returned from an abdominal injury in Friday’s 127-121 overtime win against the Denver Nuggets.

He had not played since Feb. 3, and Caruso, dealing with a left hip injury, left Wednesday’s 103–100 win against the New York Knicks, as did Isaiah Hartenstein with a left calf injury.

Jared McCann continues to grow for the Thunder

Across a 12-game sample size, Thunder guard Jared McCann has made his presence felt on both ends of the floor, making life easier for his new teammates. In the recent 121-113 win against the Cavs, Jaylin Williams and McCann led the Thunder’s bench production while the defending champions were playing without All-Stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell and Alex Caruso.

Isaiah Joe, who got the nod to start for Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault, explained how McCann’s influence opened up offensive opportunities he didn’t have before.

“It puts the defense in a dilemma whether to help or not, and it kind of creates driving lanes, even when they went box-and-1, and they made that run, we were still getting really good looks,” Joe said. “I think Lou got some wide-open shots – Jay-Will, Chet. The shot didn’t fall, but given that severity, we just try to find ways to either get looks, take shots, and a lot of times it creates opportunities for other guys, and creates other opportunities for everybody else.”

McCann and the Thunder will look to extend their four-game winning streak when they host the Warriors on Saturday.

New Los Angeles Lakers owner Mark Walter continues to make big changes to the organization’s basketball and business operations department, and he made another change to his new staff on Wednesday.

Following the hiring of Lon Rosen as the Lakers’ new President of Business Operations a few weeks ago, Walter and the organization announced on Wednesday that Michael Spetsner has been named the new Chief Strategy and Development Officer.

Spetsner has spent the last decade of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, most recently holding the position of Vice President of Business Strategy and Analytics for the organization. Working with Walter for the Dodgers, Spetsner played a key role in identifying commercial opportunities for the franchise, implementing new business models for rights holders, and modernizing the fan ecosystem.

In this newly created role with the Lakers, Spetsner will lead the organization’s long-term business strategy to drive value and identify international growth opportunities.

“As we look to redefine what’s possible across the sports landscape for fans and partners, we will build on the Lakers’ legacy and look to the future to see what’s next,” Rosen said in the team’s press release. “Michael’s leadership will help us optimize our business to ensure long-term value.”

This role designed for Spetsner appears to be a continuation of what he was doing with the Dodgers, as he did a lot of work with international engagement and led L.A.’s efforts to launch a Japan-based fan club. He was also instrumental in helping create a massive museum-style exhibit in Tokyo to celebrate the Dodgers’ history and global appeal.

The Lakers announced the hiring of Spetsner just one week after adding former NCAA champion and Virginia basketball head coach Tony Bennett as the organization’s new NBA Draft advisor.

In this role, Bennett will play a key role alongside executive Rob Pelinka in the Lakers’ decisions during and before the draft, assisting with player evaluation, scouting and the final decision on who the organization should select.

As far as Pelinka’s role in leading the team is concerned, Walter and Rosen have made it clear that they do not want to make any changes to the executive’s position and ability to usher in a new era of success for the Lakers.

“I just run the business side, Rob has the authority to do what he does,” Rosen said, via ESPN. “Look, I have a great relationship with Rob. I’ve known Rob Pelinka since he was representing Kobe [Bryant]. I met him many, many years ago.”

Since purchasing the Lakers from Jenny Buss and her family, Walter has continued to position this historic organization for success by making key decisions on the business side of basketball. Spetsner is the latest name to join this newly revamped staff, which features plenty of faces who have turned the Dodgers into MLB’s marquee powerhouse.

Walter aims to do the same in the NBA with the Lakers.

洛杉矶湖人队新老板马克沃尔特继续对该组织的篮球和业务运营部门进行重大调整，他在周三又增加了新员工。

几周前，在聘请朗·罗森（Lon Rosen）担任湖人队新任业务运营总裁后，沃尔特和该组织周三宣布，迈克尔·斯佩特纳（Michael Spetner）被任命为新任首席战略与增长官。

斯佩特纳在洛杉矶道奇队度过了职业生涯的最后十年，最近担任该组织的业务战略与分析副总裁。斯佩特纳与道奇队的沃尔特合作，在特许经营权的商业机会、为权利持有者实施新的商业模式以及实现球迷生态系统现代化方面发挥了重要作用。

在湖人队新设立的这个职位上，斯佩特纳将领导该组织的长期业务战略，以推动价值并寻找国际增长的机会。

罗森在球队的新闻稿中表示：“当我们希望为球迷和合作伙伴重新定义体育领域的可能性时，我们将在湖人队的传统基础上继续发展，面向未来，考虑下一步的发展。” “迈克尔的领导将帮助我们优化业务，确保长期价值。”

这个为斯佩特纳精心设计的角色似乎是他在道奇队所做的工作的延续，因为他在国际参与方面做了很多工作，并领导洛杉矶队成立了一个日本球迷俱乐部。他还在东京帮助创建沉浸式博物馆式展览以庆祝道奇队的历史和全球吸引力方面发挥了关键作用。

湖人队在任命前 NCAA 冠军、弗吉尼亚篮球主教练托尼·贝内特为该组织新任 NBA 选秀顾问一周后宣布聘用斯佩特纳。

在此职位上，贝内特将与执行官罗伯·佩林卡一起在选秀期间和选秀前的湖人队决策中发挥关键作用，协助球员评估、球探以及组织应选择谁的最终决定。

至于佩林卡在球队前进中的角色，沃尔特和罗森已经明确表示，他们打算不改变这位高管的地位和能力，为湖人队开创一个成功的新时代。

“我只是负责业务方面的工作，罗布有权做他所做的事情，”罗森通过 ESPN 说道。 “听着，我和罗布的关系非常好。我从罗布·佩林卡代表科比的时候就认识他了 [Bryant]。我很多很多年前就认识他了。”

自从从珍妮·巴斯及其家人手中收购湖人队以来，沃尔特通过在篮球商业方面做出关键决策，继续为这个历史悠久的组织取得成功做好准备。斯佩特纳只是加入这支新改组的球队的最新名字，他们中有很多面孔，他们将道奇队变成了美国职业棒球大联盟的豪门强队。

沃尔特的目标是在NBA的湖人队中做同样的事情。

The Oklahoma City Thunder decided to trade some of their valuable future draft picks to bring in Jared McCann via trade from the Philadelphia 76ers. McCann has yet to recapture the heights he hit during his incredible, yet short, rookie season in Philly, but it looks like he’s on the way back, if his recent contributions to his new team are any indication.

On Tuesday night, the Thunder’s first night of back-to-back sets without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, head coach Mark Daigneault had to rely on McCann for an extra offensive boost. That’s exactly what McCann provided, scoring 20 points off the bench to lead OKC in scoring. He shot 8-15 from the field (4-9 from deep) and did everything OKC expected of him and more.

After the game, Daigneault revealed how McCain become a valuable weapon For Thunder.

“I mean the word is ‘consistency’. I think he really has everything consistent. He’s a consistent guy day in and day out. He’s a great worker. He makes consistent plays, he never gets out of his game. He’s always ready to play,” Daigneault said in his postgame presser, via Adam M. Francisco of Suave Report.

Asked Mark Daigneault what he’s seen behind the scenes from Jared McCain that contributed to their integration in such a short time. pic.twitter.com/PnBuAOO0T6

– Adam M. Francisco (@SuaveCEO_) 4 March 2026

Every good Jared McCain Thunder game is like a stab in the heart for 76ers fans

With the way McCann stepped up during a disastrous 2024-25 campaign, he quickly became a fan favorite in Philly. He was cut short due to a torn meniscus, but he seemed to have a place in the team for the long term.

Instead, the 76ers traded him to the Houston Rockets for a 2026 first-round pick and three second-round draft picks, so they could also avoid the luxury tax. At just 22 years old, McCann is looking like a savior for the Thunder – 76ers fans are seeing a repeat of the mistake the team made when they let Isaiah Joe go.

The New Orleans Pelicans have been playing some better basketball lately, Dejounte Murray recently returned from an Achilles injury and the team is slowly but surely making its way up the standings. Perhaps the most surprising development over the past few months for New Orleans has been Zion Williamson’s ability to stay on the court consistently.

Recently, Williamson got 100% honest about how he envisions the Pelicans’ identity moving forward.

“We’re building our own identity. We’ve dealt with injuries, coaching changes… despite all that, our energy is still high, we have a positive locker room. It’s ‘What’s next?’ It’s ‘How do we build from this?'” Williamson said via ESPN, per the Pelicans Film Room.

Sadly, injuries have been a major part of Williamson’s NBA story so far, with the former number one overall draft pick constantly being sidelined due to various ailments, most of which are related to his feet.

When he is on the court, Williamson remains a terror to opposing defenses, able to consistently attack the basket and finish at the rim, while also being a threat on the offensive glass.

However, persistent foot injuries throughout his career have threatened to derail the athleticism that was once his hallmark, and he has missed several seasons so far in his career.

Still, it’s certainly a positive sign that he’s able to remain on the court consistently as the calendar turns to 2025-26, though it’s unclear whether the Pelicans’ front office, who recently traded a potential 2026 lottery pick in exchange for fellow big man Derrick Queen, still views Williamson as part of the team’s long-term plans.

In any case, the Pelicans are scheduled to take the field on Tuesday evening for a road game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Before facing the Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault responded to Denver Nuggets head coach David Edelman’s recent comments on Lou Dort’s flagrant -2 against Nikola Jokic in Friday’s win. Edelman called out the Thunder’s Daigneault for his opinion on Dort’s ejection, which was mentioned to a reporter by Daigneault before Sunday’s matchup against the Mavericks.

Daigneault doubled down on my tech As of Friday night, reminding reporters that his stance on Dort’s flagrant -2 has not changed in the past 48 hours since the Thunder’s 127-121 overtime win against the Nuggets, according to Sports Illustrated’s Rylan Stiles.

“I’ll reiterate what I’ve said whenever we’ve played Denver for a long period of time, which is I have nothing but respect, we have nothing but respect for Denver,” Daigneault said. We are respected from top to bottom. We obviously have respect for Jokic, Gordon, Murray because those guys have worked together for so long and had a lot of success, but we also have respect for their staff.

I mentioned this during the playoffs last year. Like I said, I have nothing but the highest respect. I said it the other night – teams make each other better. That’s why this is a great matchup. That’s all I’ll say about it,” Daigneault concluded.

Mark Daigneault was asked about David Edelman’s comments today about Lou Dort’s Hardcore II over Nikola Jokic “We have nothing but respect for Denver” pic.twitter.com/ycNEp339jw

– Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) 1 March 2026

Clearly, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault is not going to shadow Dort for his Major-2. At this point, he will stick to his response that the Nuggets and Thunder matchup is a physical match that brings emotions to a boil.

David Edelman responds to Thunder’s firing of Lou Dort

Nuggets head coach David Edelman didn’t hold back in his reaction to Thunder veteran Lou Dort after his stellar performance against All-Star Nikola Jokic on Friday. Daigneault never criticized Dort for his vicious foul on Jokic, which led to an interesting response from Edelman ahead of the Nuggets’ matchup against the Timberwolves on Sunday.

“Yeah, I think that’s him,” Edelman said. “He’s a more measured guy throughout the season — I think most guys are. If they’re measured they’re more productive. But there’s a point where we play these games, and he tackles anybody on the night [would] React that way. For Dort to take that shot – and then I guess it was no big deal from his perspective, how he saw it – is ridiculous.

“He was malicious. It was a cheap shot. Lou Dort is a great player, and I haven’t seen him do that before. But at some point, you’ve got to stand up for yourself, and so does the team. They’re a great team. That game itself was like that. But, yeah, Nicola, he’s who he is, man. You can’t have the success he’s had and you can’t be as competitive. There’s feelings inside that he’s in control, but that guy is very capable. And very willing to respond emotionally,” Edelman concluded.

The Thunder will face the Mavericks on Sunday.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Following Friday’s 127-121 win in overtime, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault gave his honest opinion on Lou Dort’s fourth quarter ejection for a scuffle with Denver Nuggets All-Star Nikola Jokic. The two were forced to separate, which led to a physical altercation between Thunder centers Jaylin Williams and Jokic. Both centers received double technical fouls, while Dort’s night ended in the fourth quarter.

Daigneault addressed Dort after the victory fourth trimester ejection Coming off of their seven-game series in the Western Conference Semifinals, he reminded reporters how familiar his Thunder team is to the Nuggets.

“That was a weird game. These are two teams that played each other in a seven-game series. We’re in the same division. We’ve played each other 100 times,” Daigneault said. “They know our playbook. We know their playbook. It is what it is. It’s going to be an imperfect game, and things escalate like that sometimes. I know Lu [Dort]. I know [Nikola] Jokic.

“I know J-Will. I don’t think anybody is trying to hurt anybody; they’re just great competitors. It just ended up being over. I think it was nothing more than that.”

Jaylin Williams and Nikola Jokic just went here to OKC.

Both could have been ejected after Williams came to the defense of Lou Dort. The fight is still under review pic.twitter.com/1zxS2glQJT

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 28 February 2026

One could argue that Nikola Jokic took his frustration out on Lou Dort’s lead-2 layup on Williams, who defended his teammate, as most centers in the NBA do. This likely played into the referee’s decision to keep Jokic in the game, causing him and Jaylin to be slapped with a double technical foul.

Daigneault’s only hope is that if the situation were reversed, Jokic would be heading to the locker room because of a major-2.

“I will say this: If J-Will is running upfield and slips, we expect a flagrant -2 from this point forward. That’s all,” Daigneault said. “If that’s the precedent, if it becomes a malicious game, and Major-2 is the line in the sand on that, then we would expect that if it’s J-Will. We would expect that if it’s anyone. And if that’s the case, we’re good.”

Mark Daigneault’s honest opinion on Lu Dort’s ejection after scuffling with Nikola Jokic: “I will say this: If J-Will is running the floor and slips up, we expect a flagrant -2 from this point forward.

That is all.” pic.twitter.com/HFTcdINFdN

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 28 February 2026

Williams finished with 12 points, five rebounds, three assists and a block off the bench before closing out the Thunder’s victory in overtime.

Mark Daigneault missing overtime on Thunder’s SGA

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault sat Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in overtime of Friday’s win against the Nuggets. Due to an abdominal injury that caused him to miss the Thunder’s last nine games, Gilgeous-Alexander was on a one-minute ban that went on unannounced before the defending champions’ showdown against the Nuggets.

Daigneault explained what was a factor in the Thunder decision Gilgeous-Alexander was benched after the fourth quarter.

“He’s coming off a 24-day injury. He’s coming back to play. One of the conditions to get him on the court tonight is to hold him to a certain point in terms of minutes,” Daigneault said. “We actually discussed that situation with both him and [Hartenstein] Before the game. Just so we can all be clear, in a non-emotional moment, that if we were in that situation, this is what we would do.

“We obviously did that. I understand it’s a little unconventional, but, at the end of the day, we’re trying to prioritize the health of our players as they come back from injury.”

Mark Daigneault on SGA sitting out in OT: “He’s coming off a 24-day injury. Getting back to playing. One of the conditions to get him on the court tonight is to keep him at a certain point in terms of minutes.

“We actually discussed that situation with both him and [Hartenstein]” pic.twitter.com/WjoOQwiwO9

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 28 February 2026

Gilgeous-Alexander’s 36 points, nine assists, three rebounds, two blocks and two steals led to a 16-point comeback by the Thunder in the second half before the defending champions won in overtime without their reigning MVP.

俄克拉荷马城——俄克拉荷马城雷霆队主教练马克·戴尼奥见证了全明星谢伊·吉尔吉斯·亚历山大在四个季度中的统治地位，然后缺席了周五加时赛以 127-121 战胜丹佛掘金队的加时赛。在西部半决赛的重赛中，两队的身体对抗从一开始就开始了，吉尔吉斯-亚历山大在第一节就对尼古拉·约基奇吃到了技术犯规。

然而，戴尼奥和吉尔吉斯-亚历山大在因腹部受伤缺席过去九场比赛后回归，创下了 未宣布的会议记录限制 一切顺利。吉尔杰斯-亚历山大在常规比赛中打了不到 34 分钟（33 分 46 秒），戴尼奥特指出，无论比赛情况如何，这都是 SGA 之夜的结束。

“他已经从 24 天的伤病中恢复过来，可以回归比赛了。今晚让他上场的条件之一就是让他在某个时间点上场，从分钟角度来看，”戴尼奥说。 “我们实际上与他和 [Hartenstein] 比赛前。只是为了让我们在非情绪化的时刻都清楚，如果我们处于那种情况，那就是我们会做的。

“我们显然做到了。我知道这有点不正统，但是，归根结底，我们会努力优先考虑伤愈复出的球员的健康。”

虽然首发中锋以赛亚·哈滕斯坦因小腿拉伤而受到同样的限制，但杰林·威廉姆斯完成了比赛，贾里德·麦凯恩代替雷霆队的谢伊·吉尔吉斯·亚历山大开始了加时赛。

“那里的人付出了令人难以置信的努力。团队的其他成员并不知道我们进行过这样的谈话，”戴尼奥补充道。 “我们刚刚在加时赛开始时替换了 MVP 和我们的先发球员，他们在那场比赛中发起了进攻。为此，他们应该得到很多赞扬。”

马克·戴尼奥 (Mark Daigneault) 谈到加时赛中的 SGA：“他刚刚经历了 24 天的伤病。他即将回归比赛。今晚让他上场的条件之一就是让他在几分钟内保持在一定水平。”

“我们实际上与他和 [Hartenstein]” pic.twitter.com/WjoOQwiwO9

— 约书亚·皮科克 (@Joe_Sway) 2026 年 2 月 28 日

吉尔吉斯-亚历山大下半场拿下36分、9次助攻、3个篮板、2次盖帽和2次抢断，带领雷霆队反超16分。切特·霍姆格伦拿下职业生涯最高的 21 个篮板、15 分和 3 个盖帽。贾里德·麦凯恩8投6中得到14分，其中包括两个三分球，在替补席上领先。

卢·多尔特的恶意2分导致尼古拉·约基奇与雷霆队发生混战

雷霆老将卢·多尔特在第四节还剩 8 分 03 秒时绊倒了掘金全明星尼古拉·约基奇，导致 MVP 候选人与雷霆中锋杰林·威廉姆斯发生肢体冲突，得了 2 分。

经过审查，裁判认为吕多特对尼古拉·约基奇的犯规“不必要且过分”，将他的普通犯规升级为恶意犯规两罚并驱逐他出场。威廉姆斯和约基奇领到两次技术犯规，而多特的夜晚也结束了。

约基奇拿下统治级的三双（23分、17个篮板、14次助攻），掘金队在加时赛中以六分之差输给了雷霆队。

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault watched All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dominate for four quarters before sitting out the extra period of Friday’s 127-121 overtime win against the Denver Nuggets. In the Western Conference Semifinal rematch, the physical relationship between the two teams began with a flourish, as Gilgeous-Alexander earned a technical foul against Nikola Jokic in the first quarter.

However, Daigneault and Gilgeous-Alexander, returning after missing the previous nine games due to an abdominal injury, scored a set Unannounced minutes restriction He continued doing his work. Gilgeous-Alexander played just under 34 minutes (33:46) in regulation, which Daigneault pointed to as the end of SGA’s night regardless of game status.

“He’s coming off a 24-day injury. He’s coming back to play. One of the conditions to get him on the court tonight is to hold him to a certain point in terms of minutes,” Daigneault said. “We actually discussed that situation with both him and [Hartenstein] Before the game. Just so we can all be clear, in a non-emotional moment, that if we were in that situation, this is what we would do.

“We obviously did that. I understand it’s a little unconventional, but, at the end of the day, we’re trying to prioritize the health of our players as they come back from injury.”

While starting center Isaiah Hartenstein was under the same restriction due to a calf strain, Jaylin Williams finished the game, as Jared McCann started the extra period in place of the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

“Incredible effort by the people who were there. The rest of the team had no idea we had that conversation,” Daigneault said. “We took over the MVP and our starter at the beginning of overtime, and they attacked that game. They deserve a lot of credit for that.”

Mark Daigneault on SGA sitting out in OT: “He’s coming off a 24-day injury. Getting back to playing. One of the conditions to get him on the court tonight is to keep him at a certain point in terms of minutes.

“We actually discussed that situation with both him and [Hartenstein]” pic.twitter.com/WjoOQwiwO9

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 28 February 2026

Gilgeous-Alexander had 36 points, nine assists, three rebounds, two blocks and two steals as the Thunder rebounded by 16 points in the second half. Chet Holmgren finished with a career-high 21 rebounds, 15 points and three blocks. Jared McCann led the bench with 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting, including a pair of threes.

Lu Dort’s flagrant -2 leads to scuffle between Nikola Jokic vs. Thunder

Thunder veteran Lou Dort earned a crucial 2-0 with 8:03 remaining in the fourth quarter by outplaying Nuggets All-Star Nikola Jokic, which led to a physical altercation between the MVP candidate and Thunder center Jaylin Williams.

After review, officials deemed Lu Dort’s foul against Nikola Jokic “unnecessary and excessive”, upgrading his simple foul to a serious foul penalty two and ejecting him from the game. Williams and Jokic received double technical fouls, ending Dort’s night.

Jokic finished with an impressive triple-double (23 points, 17 rebounds, 14 assists) as the Nuggets lost to the Thunder by six points in overtime.

Entering Wednesday’s matchup with a long list of injuries, head coach Mark Daigneault and the Oklahoma City Thunder struggled, led by backup center Jaylin Williams, in an effort to upset the Detroit Pistons. Daigneault and the shorthanded Thunder faced the Pistons without four starters. And although Detroit snapped Oklahoma City’s three-game winning streak, Daigneault spoke highly of Williams’ performance.

Williams finished with a career-high 30 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal in a 124–116 loss to the Raptors. Daigneault expansive According to Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman, Williams was praised for his impressive performance for the Thunder.

Daigneault said, “He was unreal tonight. Great toughness and obviously great attack – I think this will be the highest level of his career.” “We helped him against a team that really presses, like we’ve had to do recently. He was a big help for us again tonight.”

Mark Daigneault was asked about Jaylin Williams’ toughness tonight:

“He was unreal tonight. Great toughness and obviously great attacking. I think it will be a career high for him. We faced him against a team that really presses, as we have had to do recently. He… pic.twitter.com/7xYzLWCbYi

– Justin Martinez (@Justintohoops) 26 February 2026

The Thunder’s Aaron Wiggins, who started for All-Star Chet Holmgren alongside Jaylin Williams, finished with 20 points, six assists and four rebounds. Cason Wallace added 23 points on 9-for-17 shooting, including 3-for-6 from deep, and five assists.

Mark Daigneault’s honest opinion on the Thunder’s ‘mental toughness’

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault praised his team for beating good teams without key scorers like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell. The Thunder prevailed without three of their top four scorers in a 116-107 win against the Raptors on Wednesday, which left a lasting impression on Daigneault.

“It’s very hard to win games when you get a lead like that and they come back and tie the game,” Daigneault said. “Even the Cleveland game over the weekend was like that; we got out to an early lead. They came completely back in the game. They took the lead. It takes a lot of mental toughness to get yourself going on the next possession.

“Cason was great all night, but he was huge in that period. He had four points in a row. And then, Isaiah got it. So, he scored seven points right after the tie that got the game going again. But the team showed great mental toughness.”

The Thunder will host the Nuggets on Friday at Paycom Center.

Head coach Mark Daigneault and the shorthanded Oklahoma City Thunder saw their 25-point lead disappear in the fourth quarter against the Toronto Raptors, but still held on for a 116-107 victory on Tuesday. In another Thunder matchup without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City responded with a 15–6 run to earn its third consecutive win without its two leading scorers.

With the game tied at 101, the Thunder’s defense forced back-to-back turnovers, while Cason Wallace (27 points), who tied his career high, and Isaiah Joe (22 points) made key shots to keep the Raptors at bay. Daigneault addressed his team’s poise after a hard-fought win.

“It’s very hard to win games when you get a lead like that and they come back and tie the game,” Daigneault said. “Even the Cleveland game over the weekend was like that; we got out to an early lead. They came completely back in the game. They took the lead. It takes a lot of mental toughness to get yourself going on the next possession.

“Cason was great all night, but he was huge in that period. He had four points in a row. And then, Isaiah got it. So, he scored seven points right after the tie that got the game going again. But the team showed great mental toughness.”

Wallace (11 for 16) and Joe (six threes) combined to make 18 of 30 shots, including 10 for 16 from deep. Alex Caruso led the way with 16 points.

Mark Daigneault impressed with Thunder’s patience amid injuries

Head coach Mark Daigneault praised the Thunder for adapting to playing with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell for such a long period of time, lasting until January. Similar to Sunday’s matchup, where the Thunder faced a 20+ point deficit against the Cavs, the defending champions stayed the course.

For Daigneault, it’s a testament to the Thunder’s ability to quickly adapt and make changes against the Raptors, which, in many ways, has been the story of the defending champions’ regular season.

Daigneault said, “You can’t control your circumstances. We always want to be completely healthy and get along with everyone. But when you get help, you have to make the best of it and we try to be optimistic.” “And we try to be a team that takes the circumstances in our favor, and try to take advantage of every situation, even if it’s a challenge to create some momentum. The guys have done an incredible job.

Daigneault concluded, “They see these types of things as a challenge. And that’s one of the special things about this group of guys. And they’ve done a great job since the break, sure, but also in the break.”

Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain) and Mitchell (abdominal strain/left ankle sprain) will be reevaluated this week, while Williams (right hamstring) will have to wait a week. The Thunder will face the Pistons on Wednesday night on the second night of a back-to-back.

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry is still out for a few more days as he recovers from the knee injury that has kept him out since before the All-Star break.

Curry missed all of his games in February after Jimmy Butler suffered a season-ending knee injury, leaving the Warriors without another star.

Curry’s health has been a concern for the Warriors over the past few seasons, as the 37-year-old guard’s body is breaking down due to his heavy mileage. Retirement may not be too far away for the two-time MVP.

Despite this, NBA insider Mark Spears claimed on ESPN’s “NBA Today” that Curry is still interested. to suit again For Team USA at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

“Steph Curry is still interested in making his second Olympic appearance. He’ll be 40 at the time, but look, he’s a shooter. He’s the greatest shooter of all-time. Why wouldn’t you want that on your roster?” Spears said.

“He hasn’t come out yet. Let’s just say that.”

Mark Spears: “Steph Curry is still interested in playing in his second Olympics. He’s not out, let’s just say that” 👀 pic.twitter.com/cIqfLC0fSe

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 24 February 2026

Curry ultimately made his Olympic debut in Paris 2024, helping Team USA win the gold medal, highlighted by his stellar performance in the final against host nation France.

Curry has often said that he thoroughly enjoyed the experience. He confirmed on Team USA teammate LeBron James’ “Mind the Game” podcast that he’s not closing the door on playing in the Olympics again, especially since it will be played on home soil.

If he does indeed suit up in Los Angeles, Curry would banner a roster that could include Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons, Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics and Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks, among others.

Two years away from having the 12th pick in the 2024 draft, Oklahoma City Thunder executive vice president and GM Sam Presti has both prospects — Nikola Topic and Jared McCann — he backed up Mark Daigneault. The timing of both guards could not have come at a better time. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is out with an abdominal injury, Ajay Mitchell hasn’t played since January, and Jalen Williams will be reevaluated in March.

Losing three of its leading scorers shows that Oklahoma City is unable to get close to its 119.4 point average without its reigning MVP and two of the Thunder’s top four scorers. It’s a good thing Presti parted ways with a 2026 first-round pick and two future seconds at the trade deadline to acquire a young guard he’s had his eye on since McCann’s 2024 pre-draft workout with the Thunder.

Presti also trusted the 19-year-old Serbian prospect with an old-school approach to the point guard position despite suffering a season-ending ACL injury. Presti was fine with the debut of Topch, who was selected by the Thunder at No. 12 in 2025-26. Back then, no one could have predicted what would happen after the Thunder preseason games. Now, McCain and Topic are both playing in Oklahoma City at unexpected times in their respective careers.

Jared’s trade to the Philadelphia 76ers made him cry. The subject is four months away from a cancer diagnosis. This was all unexpected, but they both fit like a glove into the Thunder’s offense. McCann’s ability to make open threes and create space gives Daigneault another scorer to utilize. Topic gives the Thunder a secondary playmaker who can score quickly off the bench, which he has already proven in the first two games of his NBA career.

It’s another win for coach Mark Daigneault and Thunder GM Sam Presti amid the defending champions’ quest to win back-to-back titles.

Jared McCann scores season-high in Thunder vs. Nets win

Second-year guard Jared McCain has made at least one 3-pointer in each of his five appearances with the Thunder. He’s also efficient at connecting on 9 of 20 (45%), including half of his six 3-point attempts in a 105-86 win against the Nets. McCain led the Thunder with a season-high 21 points on 7-for-12 shooting, four rebounds and one steal. And his presence has also had a positive impact on the defending champion’s supporting cast.

Isaiah Joe, who has missed at least two threes in five consecutive games, extended his streak to six to 11 points as his hot streak continued in Friday’s win against the Nets. Joe shot a career-best 41.7% clip from deep this season. However, that percentage has increased to 55.8% with McCann making 19 of 34 attempts in the five games since his arrival.

Still, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault reminded reporters it’s not all about shooting with McCain and Joe, as their increased roles amid Oklahoma City’s injuries have elevated them to do other things that help win.

“It’s not the only thing they do,” Daigneault said. “Jared is a guy that – he’s dynamic offensively – there’s a lot more to his game than spot-up shooting. You could see it tonight. Again, Isaiah Joe rebounded the ball great tonight. We play short games with him on the court, even though he’s a light guy because he’s good physically, he executes, and he gets his nose in the ball to make plays.

“It’s not just taking advantage of the shooting. It’s being able to put them out there because of the other skills they bring. But, yes, we have optionality, and that’s what you want. You never know what you need. You never know who’s going to do well. We obviously try to lean into that with changing rotations and lineups, and they definitely give us more options,” Daigneault concluded.

Since McCann joined the Thunder, Joe has averaged 15.8 points on 49.4% shooting, including 55.8% from deep, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game.

“We all have a role to play, and we all know it, and he’s done a great job of helping me with that. I think once we get the ball moving, we can all create shots for each other. Once we get the ball moving, good things are going to happen,” McCain said. “[We’re] This becomes known as we move forward. It’s hard to do it without those people. “However, we are figuring it out.”

Nikola Topic’s playmaking wraps up Thunder’s win

While Jared McCann and Isaiah Joe’s scoring gave the Thunder double-digit relief, Nikola Topic, in his second NBA game, closed the door in the final frame with playmaking, shooting and smooth finishing at the rim. For coach Mark Daigneault, the Thunder’s theme is a traditional pure point guard with a pass-first mentality, and the confidence to score when he sees fit.

Daigneault says Topic is proof of what’s missing in the NBA modern day point guard During the Thunder head coach’s postgame media availability on Friday.

“There aren’t a lot of real pure point guards in basketball anymore. There’s incredible skill, but there’s not a ton of traditional team runners, those guys, and that’s it: He can run your team,” Daigneault said. “He’ll settle you down to ground level. He understands what we’re trying to achieve, even at this very early stage of his career, and he’s got the ability to go along with it.

“He’s still got a long way to go. Offensively he’s got a lot to learn in terms of getting the edge, reading different coverages that he’s going to see as the league gets to know him a little bit; it’ll be a new challenge for him. But he’s off to a great start.”

Topic finished with nine points, three rebounds and two assists in 11 minutes, as the rookie guard is finding his feet in the early stages of his career. Still, Daigneault feels his team will benefit from the influence of both McCann and Topic amid the Thunder’s title defense.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault was amazed by rookie Nikola Topic, who he says helped his team earn a 105-86 win against the Brooklyn Nets. Topic finished with nine points and two assists, shutting the door on the Nets in the final frame.

To Daigneault, Topic is one of the NBA’s rare pure point guards, he explained during his postgame media availability, as the Thunder head coach really impressed By playing in Topic’s only second game.

“There aren’t a lot of real pure point guards in basketball anymore. Incredible skill, but traditional team runners, not a ton of them, and that’s what he is: He can run your team. He’ll organize you on the floor. He understands what we’re trying to accomplish, even at this extremely early infant stage of his career, and he has the passing to go with it.

“He’s still got a long way to go. Offensively he’s got a lot to learn in terms of getting the edge, reading different coverages that he’s going to see as the league gets to know him a little bit; it’ll be a new challenge for him. But he’s off to a great start.”

Mark Daigneault says Nikola Topic is one of the few “pure point guards” left in the NBA: “There aren’t a lot of true pure point guards in basketball anymore…

And that’s what he is: He can run your team. He will settle you to the top. He understands what we’re trying to do… pic.twitter.com/tHcweGPdys

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 21 February 2026

Daigneault put Friday’s performance into perspective, reminding reporters that Topic is still in the early stages of his NBA career, despite the rookie’s impressive debut following an ACL injury and testicular cancer diagnosis.

Daigneault said, “This is his second NBA game. So, it would be unfair to really evaluate him in this context.” “But, he’s obviously a really good player. He has a really good feel for the game. He goes out there and treats it like it belongs to him. He shoots threes. He’s not afraid to drive.”

Subject went 4-for-6 from the floor, including 1-for-2 from deep. He also grabbed three rebounds in 11 minutes off the bench.

Nicola Topic reflects on ‘amazing’ Thunder win

In only his second game, Thunder rookie Nikola Topic helped his team clinch the win by outscoring the Nets in the final frame of a 19-point win at the Paycom Center. Jared McCain’s season-high 21 points off the bench led the Thunder in scoring. However, in his second game, Topic addressed the media in his first postgame press conference of the season.

Topic took time out to thank Thunder fans for their warm embrace during his NBA debut last week.

Topic said, “Amazing moment. I’ll remember this for the rest of my life – thanks to the fans.” “Definitely, I will remember it for the rest of my life.”

Still getting back into the swing of things Topic, who hadn’t played a basketball game in nearly two years, said it took him a while to get used to playing again.

Topic continued, “It was weird at first. I’m just getting back to the game experience again.” “I was out for a while. It was very weird coming back. I was finding myself doing things I had never done before. It was pretty hard to adjust to, but every game was better. The first game in the G League. The second game was better. The first game here was OK. The second was better. But I think it will only get better.”

The Thunder will host the Cavs on Sunday.

John Heitinga is facing criticism for his decision to leave Tottenham Hotspur, a move that could impact the way he pursues his career.

Sports news covered the Dutchman today And question why he decided not to stay at Tottenham.

Heitinga left his role as Tottenham assistant manager on 16 February, only 33 days after joining the club. Tottenham brought him in to support Thomas Frank as the pressure increased on the Dane.

However, he was unable to help Spurs turn the situation around. And his departure comes on the heels of Frank’s departure last week.

Tottenham exit questioned

His departure has since been covered in various reports from the Netherlands. Sport Witness covered the story, One report described the exit as painful.

This was followed yesterday by journalist Valentin Driessen’s comments. Heitinga reportedly felt disappointed by his exit from Tottenham He is expected to take charge on an interim basis.

Instead, Spurs appointed Igor Tudor until the end of the season. Sport Nieuws raised questions as to why he took this step. They say the 42-year-old ‘jeopardises his hero status’ with his ‘unusual choices’.

As far as he is concerned, Heitinga has shown that he ‘did not think the situation through properly in the first place.’ He even feels it was ‘wishful thinking’ for him to get the job at Tottenham despite his time at Ajax.

Tottenham a ‘strange move’

He struggled greatly with the Dutch giants and his ‘talent clearly did not lie in turning around a difficult period’. Why would Tottenham have thought differently?

In fact, the move to Tottenham was a ‘strange move’ for him. The outlet believes the move was disastrous from the start and has only hurt Heitinga’s resume.

His reputation has changed from praise at West Ham and Liverpool to disappointment at Ajax and Tottenham. The latter ‘has clearly made its mark’.

Now, he needs to choose a club with a more relaxed atmosphere. The problem is that the top clubs won’t want to touch him. They will ‘think twice’ before signing Heitinga. As far as Sport Nieuws is concerned, he needs to prove himself again.

As the Dallas Mavericks deal with injuries to top stars like Kyrie Irving, another key player who is dealing with the issue is rookie Cooper Flagg. The Mavericks rookie was seen wearing the boots while attending a Duke basketball game in Flagg, the latest reporting detailing his outlook on his injury.

According to NBA insider Mark Stein, Flagg is wearing a boot because MRI results revealed a sprain in the middle of his left foot, with the diagnosis of which, Dallas “feels fortunate.” Despite not knowing the timeline for his return, the team ‘seems to be in relief’ from a left medial sprain, as it could have been worse.

“Cooper Flagg was seen with a boot on his left foot at Duke’s home game against Clemson on Saturday, but league sources tell The Stein Line that Dallas feels fortunate that Flagg’s MRI results last week revealed only a left foot sprain,” Stein wrote on Monday. “It is still not known exactly how long the 19-year-old will be sidelined, but the Mavericks are relieved that the injury is not more serious.”

Cooper Flagg is in attendance for today’s Duke game. He is wearing a boot because of a sprain in the middle of his left foot. pic.twitter.com/TX5G0FGIFY

– Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) 14 February 2026

Mavericks have “big concern” over Cooper Flagg’s injury

While Flagg had to miss representing the Mavericks during All-Star weekend, it can’t be ruled out that the team will take it with caution, as he is the player who will be drafted for the foreseeable future. As Steen says, the “big concern” for Dallas is the “care” of the 19-year-old, with the team having lost nine straight games heading into the All-Star break, leading to a 19-35 record at the moment.

Stein wrote, “The bigger concern for the Mavericks – of course, that the injury not get worse – is taking care of Flagg during their ongoing losing season of 19-35.” “Dallas has lost nine consecutive games, which is certainly the longest losing streak in Flagg’s basketball career and certainly the franchise’s longest losing streak since a 15-gamer stretch in 1997–98.”

At any rate, it remains to be seen when the flag returns, as the Mavericks are in 12th place in the Western Conference, with their first game after the break on Friday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

俄克拉荷馬城——十月份，俄克拉荷馬城雷霆隊主教練馬克·戴尼奧特 (Mark Daigneault) 替補尼古拉·托皮克 (Nikola Topic) 參加他在睾丸癌診斷僅四個月後的第一場 NBA 比賽。在對陣密爾瓦基公鹿隊之前，戴尼奧談到了 Topic 在 Paycom 中心的首次亮相，但沒有任何保證 2024 年首輪選秀權會真正上場。

然後，托皮克在對陣雄鹿隊的第一節快結束時上場，贏得了全場起立鼓掌。戴尼奧是 高興極了 托皮克和他的家人在通往托皮克與雷霆隊的第一場 NBA 比賽的路上走過了一條不確定的道路。

「為他感到興奮。在過去的幾年裡，他的生活顯然經歷了很多逆境。他是一個年輕人，他想做的就是打籃球，但這已經好幾次被剝奪了，」戴尼奧說。對他來說，能夠做到這一點，讓自己站起來，是一項偉大的成就。我喜歡看球隊在比賽中和賽後對他的回應，我也忍不住想起他的家人。

我家裡有年幼的孩子，很難想像他的家人經歷了什麼。不只是他一個人這樣。他有一個非常愛他的美好家庭，他們一直陪伴著他。所以，我為他們感到興奮，當然也為他的家人、他和我們的團隊度過了一個非常美好的夜晚。

遺憾的是我們沒有打出最好的比賽。 」

馬克戴尼奧特 (Mark Daigneault) 談到尼古拉托皮奇 (Nikola Topić) 在雷霆隊的 NBA 首秀時表示：「為他感到興奮。在過去的幾年裡，他的生活顯然經歷了很多逆境…

對他來說，能做到這一點，讓自己站起來，是一項偉大的成就……不禁想到…… pic.twitter.com/lTHL3GH5A3

— 約蘇埃‧帕文 (@Joe_Sway) 2026 年 2 月 13 日

週四對陣公鹿隊時，主題在 12 分鐘內得到 2 分、1 次助攻和 1 個籃板。

馬克戴尼奧對尼古拉主題的雷霆首秀有何反應

雖然主教練馬克·戴尼奧對新秀尼古拉·托皮奇在周四對陣雄鹿隊的比賽中在雷霆隊的首秀感到欣喜若狂，但他知道在經過三輪化療後，托皮奇的狀態還遠未達到 100%。

儘管如此，Topic 的雷霆首秀無疑是朝著正確方向邁出的一步。

「重要的是要記住，本週早些時候他在藍色隊打了兩分鐘非常短的時間。這只是讓他加入我們球隊的一個獨特機會，從表現的角度來看，我們的期望很低，」戴尼奧補充道。 「他正處於恢復完整比賽狀態的嬰兒階段。化療對你的身體的影響真的很顯著。它對你身體的影響是瘋狂的。

「從那時起的道路對每個人來說都是不同的，而且非常具有挑戰性。如果他的巔峰運動能力是十分之十，那麼他現在在體能、運動能力、力量以及所有對身體產生影響的方面都還沒有接近這個水平。在這種情況下評價他是不公平的。我們很高興他今晚上場並回到了賽道上補充道。這是最重要的事情，」戴尼奧今晚補充道。

雷霆隊在 Paycom 中心以 110-93 輸給公鹿隊，這是五場比賽中的第三場失利。

丹佛野馬隊在輸給愛國者隊的比賽中出現了一些問題。主教練肖恩·佩頓做出了一個值得懷疑的決定，儘管他看到熊隊以類似的方式傷害自己。但佩頓接受了分析，馬克·施勒雷斯表示，在決定在亞足聯冠軍賽中不踢射門後，他討厭書呆子。

施勒雷斯表示，佩頓在上半場以 7 比 10 失利的情況下，在第四個落後的時候就發起了進攻，這是一個失態。看來，最大的錯誤是聽取了書呆子的意見。

“我陷入爭論是因為我討厭分析，”舍勒斯說。 “我討厭所有分析人員。我不喜歡書呆子。

“你得到了這樣的數據樣本量。但如果我沒有整天阻擋你的防守鋒線，那麼數據就會改變。如果我的後衛無法處理你的三技術。而我的鏟球無法處理你的防守端。數學不起作用。數學從來沒有鏟斷過。數學從來沒有阻擋過任何人。你必須了解比賽的感覺。拿分。“

野馬隊錯失絕佳機會

施勒雷斯說他正在佩頓·曼寧的套房裡觀看比賽的進行。施勒雷斯說，他從來沒有想過野馬隊應該在第四個位置上爭取這一機會。

“你有一個替補四分衛，”施勒雷斯說。 “你有機會以 10-0 領先。但你的防守已經失控了。當時我們所有人都同意。只要踢射門就行了。”

“十無是一個大比分，尤其是在天氣預報的情況下。下半場比賽會變得很糟糕。”

據 ESPN 報導，賽后佩頓表示他對這個決定感到遺憾。

“總是有遺憾，”佩頓說。 “我覺得我們現在已經是第四名和第一名，足夠接近了。這也是你根據你所效力的球隊以及你在球另一側所看到的情況做出的決定。所以，是的，總會有第二個想法。”

此外，佩頓表示傳球戰術可能不是正確的舉動，並補充說“事後看來”，他所說的最初的跑動戰術“是一個更好的決定”。

UFC 著名的 Apex 場地已更名為 Meta Apex。

UFC 首席執行官達納·懷特 (Dana White) 週三通過社交媒體宣布了這一變化，這是與馬克·扎克伯格 (Mark Zuckerberg) 的 Meta 達成的具有里程碑意義的冠名權協議的一部分。

5

這筆交易反映了 UFC 和 Meta 之間的長期合作夥伴關係，這種合作關係始於 2025 年，當時這家科技巨頭成為了該賽事的首個官方粉絲技術合作夥伴。

“當我們進入新年時，競爭者係列賽、一些拳擊之夜、祖法拳擊和 UFC BJJ 的主場現在將被稱為 Meta Apex，”懷特說。

“Meta 始終處於技術和沈浸式體驗的前沿，它們的增強將改變粉絲觀看現場戰鬥的方式。

“此次品牌重塑恰逢其時，該設施正在完成重大改造，擴大容量、優惠、接待和 UFC 零售。

“有史以來第一次，粉絲們可以來到 Meta Apex，通過互動 VR、人工智能和可穿戴技術體驗 UFC 格鬥。我迫不及待地想讓粉絲們看到它。”

冠名權交易完成後，Meta Apex 將進行進一步翻修

自 2019 年首次開放以來，Apex 已成為格鬥運動中最受認可的場館之一。

它坐落在毗鄰 UFC 拉斯維加斯總部的一座 130,000 平方英尺的工業園建築內。

UFC 在 2018 年以 4000 萬美元的價格購買了 Apex，但沒有計劃使用它，直到 COVID-19 迫使促銷活動在競技場舉辦為期七週的比賽。

布洛克·萊斯納（Brock Lesnar）曾與澳大利亞前橄欖球聯盟運動員、現職業拳擊手保羅·加倫（Paul Gallen）就交叉比賽進行談判。

萊斯納自 2016 年在 UFC 200 擊敗馬克·亨特以來就沒有參加過比賽，儘管這場比賽后來被裁定為無比賽。

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這位前UFC重量級冠軍一直與達納·懷特(Dana White)重返晉級聯繫在一起。

MMA兄弟會成員推測萊斯納將在2024年4月重返UFC 300，因為他同時參加了UFC 100和UFC 200。

其他人則幻想著 6 月份 UFC 白宮的回歸，UFC 首席執行官懷特表示，他將為這一標誌性賽事創造“有史以來最偉大的戰鬥卡”。

雖然萊斯納今年隆重回歸 WWE，但沒有多少粉絲會想到聽到“野獸化身”差點擊敗澳大利亞重拳出擊的跨界王加倫。

布洛克·萊斯納 (Brock Lesnar) 與保羅·加倫 (Paul Gallen) 幾乎是如何發生的

無極限拳擊首席執行官喬治·羅斯在接受澳大利亞福克斯體育採訪時透露，在萊斯納於 2020 年擊敗亨特後，他即將製作萊斯納對陣蓋倫的比賽。

“在某個階段，我們實際上是在關註一場之間的戰鬥 [Gallen] 還有布洛克萊斯納，”羅斯說。

“那是在憑記憶擊敗馬克·亨特之後。”

加倫於 2014 年轉型為職業拳擊手，並在前 10 場比賽中贏得了 9 場，其中一場以多數比分戰平前澳大利亞規則選手巴里·霍爾。