Aston Villa And Manchester United Borussia Dortmund remain interested in Waldermar Anton this summer.

BILD reports this Manchester United, Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid are all interested in the 29-year-old, who is set to be handed the role of ‘third captain’ at the German club.

a quiet leader

The newspaper reports that following the departure of Julian Brandt, Dortmund will need to reorganize their leadership hierarchy for the upcoming season.

Coach Niko Kovac already has a clear plan to redistribute responsibility. And according to BILD, Waldermar Anton is the top candidate to replace Brandt as the third captain. He was already the ‘de facto leader’ on the pitch without the armband last season.

This brought praise to Kovač and was a strong endorsement of his importance.

“Waldy is a leader – a quiet leader,” he said.

“Not a guy who wants to be in the spotlight, but someone who does his job both behind the scenes, internally and on the field. He’s a true professional!”

The feeling is that the player has ‘captain’s genes for a long time’. He has not only been a consistent presence in the last three matches but also commands the pitch. And this didn’t go unnoticed by even the ‘top clubs’.

Interest from Aston Villa and Manchester United

Manchester United, Aston Villa and Atletico Madrid are all interested in him. This is not the first time that he has been named as a lover.

Sport Witness covered a report in late March Insisting that the Borussia Dortmund man was on the agenda of both Aston Villa and Manchester United.

According to that report, United had already made contact about a possible move. Aston Villa were only interested and nothing more. Now BILD insists that they remain in the picture, without giving any more details than that.

But it seems both Premier League clubs are watching with interest, perhaps even seeing huge value in Anton’s leadership qualities.

If you didn’t get it or didn’t believe it at first, the San Antonio Spurs’ Game 3 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves confirmed that Victor Wembanyama is the scariest player in the NBA, and the rest of the Western Conference players should be terrified.

Beyond his 7 foot 4 inches height – which can actually be misleading – Vembanyama is not a scary looking athlete, as he weighs only 234 pounds on his massive body. For old-school fans, he physically reminds them of frustrating, weak big men like Manute Bol and Shawn Bradley. Yet, through his first three seasons, he continues to prove that he is the league’s real unicorn, not Kristaps Porzingis.

Over the course of the season, he emerged as a top-10 talent and a legitimate MVP candidate, leading his 62-win Spurs team in scoring (25.0), rebounds (11.5), and blocks (3.1) in just 29 minutes per night. Although he did not win MVP, he earned Defensive Player of the Year honors and tied the game during the regular season. Still, the talented 22-year-old hasn’t progressed to new levels as if the NBA is his own personal video game.

Victor Wembanyama becomes the NBA’s scariest star during the 2026 playoffs

In case you haven’t noticed, Wembanyama has put himself in some elite company during this year’s playoffs. But especially in the Spurs’ ongoing series against the Timberwolves, he has been absolutely terrible. In Game 1, he made NBA history by becoming the first player to post 12 blocks in a playoff game. However, they were on the wrong end of a 104–102 loss at home. This obviously enraged the French.

In Game 2, he scored 19 points and posted 15 boards in a dominant 133–95 victory. Still, it was just an appetite for what he’ll do Friday night in Game 3. In the Spurs’ 115–108 win, the teen barely had 39 points, 15 rebounds and 5 blocks. But these aren’t the best numbers as he somehow shot an absurd 72.2% from the field while hoisting five three-pointers.

On Friday, he became the first player since LeBron James in the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals to have 35 or more points, 15 boards and shoot at least 70% in a playoff game. He is now the fourth player in NBA history to have 35 or more points, 15 rebounds and 5 blocks in a playoff game. The basketball icon is joining Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Vembanyama is not just a talented scorer in the NBA. There’s a bunch of them in the league. But because he’s 7-foot-4, when he’s on, he can’t be guarded. However, although he can be a complete problem on offense, he is the best defensive player in the game at the moment. Sending fear into any man who dares to drive in the lane. That’s why, at just 22 years old, the French phenom is officially the NBA’s scariest player.

What’s worse for the league’s teams is that they are loving every minute of it. “I’ve really been looking forward to living those moments, those high-stakes games, since I’ve been in the league. That’s what I love. That’s what I’m made for. I love it more than anything else,” he said Friday night.

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

The Dallas Stars have become accustomed to winning dramatic, seven-game series in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, as they have done so for two consecutive years.

So after a 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild on home ice in Game 5 of the Western Conference First Round, the Stars will have to do it again to advance in 2026.

Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen scored once each, with Robertson continuing his rough start in these playoffs by scoring for the fifth consecutive game. Jake Oettinger made 24 saves in the loss, and Dallas now trails the best-of-7 series 3-2.

Game 6 will be Thursday in St. Paul, Minn.

Stars didn’t do enough to win Game 5

Dallas hosted Game 5 of the first-round playoff series for the fourth consecutive year. They averaged 4.33 goals and 26 shots per game over the past three games, including a 4-0 win over the Wild in 2023.

So Stars fans could be forgiven for liking what they saw from the home team on Tuesday night. Dallas had only 22 shots on goal, and only 12 in the first 48 minutes, before a late-game push in an inexplicably flat performance for a veteran team in a decisive game that was too little, too late.

“Everyone needs to step up,” Stars coach Glenn Gulutzan said. “It’s a team effort to try and get it done. … We just need a little bit more from everybody.”

Oettinger’s playoff struggles again reared their ugly head, most notably on Michael McCarron’s insurance goal at 7:47 of the third period, which ultimately served as the game-winner. Oettinger lost his balance and failed to keep his pads on the ice, and McCarron slipped the puck under him, giving Minnesota a 3–1 lead at 7:47 of the third minute.

The Stars lacked the desperation expected in such an important game. They had no high-danger scoring chances in the first period – Minnesota led 6–0 in such chances over the course of 20 minutes – and dominated expected goal chances in the first period by 1.41–0.44, even though it was 1–1 to one.

Stars need to do more at 5-on-5

Robertson’s third-period goal will go down as an even-strength tally, but even that is misleading because it came on a 5-on-4 with Oettinger pulled for an extra attacker.

The Stars are not able to score strongly in this series also. He hasn’t scored a goal at five-on-five since Robertson scored in the first period of Game 3 – a span of nearly 220 minutes. The Stars’ three goals at five-on-five are the fewest of any team still playing – and are tied with the Ottawa Senators for 15th in the playoffs, ahead of only the Los Angeles Kings’ two.

“We thought we created some opportunities for ourselves,” Gulutzan said. “Now we have to take the next step and adopt some of those.”

Dallas made only 16 shots from five in the game.

The Stars are in the series thanks to their white-hot power play, which led to Heiskanen’s game-tying goal in the first period for the ninth time in the series. But the man-advantage went to 0 of 3 after the first period of Game 5.

Dallas needs win again at Minnesota

Dallas had earned home-ice advantage for two of the final three games after a double-overtime win over Minnesota in Game 3.

But two consecutive losses, one in OT and the other in Game 5 in a largely tied affair, have pushed the Stars to the brink of elimination. They’ll have to overcome both Matt Boldy (four goals) and the Wild, but also the noisy atmosphere at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, which certainly awaits.

Dallas is 1-3 in St. Paul this season, although one of its regular season losses came in overtime. The Wild must be feeling angry, too, as this core has yet to win a postseason series – Minnesota hasn’t won a playoff series since 2015.

But the Stars haven’t won a series since the 1999 Western Conference Finals, going down 3-2. They will need a better performance in Game 6 to have a chance to potentially win the series at home in Game 7.

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

Jonathan Rowe’s performance against Aston Villa this week has sparked interest in the Premier League, including the Villans.

gazzetta dello sport And Corriere di Bologna cover the 22-year-old today. It seems that his performances despite the Bologna defeat have convinced some that he is the real player.

bologna is crazy about him

Gazzetta reports that Bologna have gone crazy over Jonathan Rowe since his arrival from Marseille last summer. Since then he has scored seven goals and four assists in 35 games.

His latest impressive performance came against Aston Villa in the Europa League this week. And the paper says demonstrations will be ‘a prelude to rumours’ now and throughout the summer.

This fact will help them Rowe has admitted that this is a dream of hers. Have to play in the Premier League sooner or later. The Premier League is also taking notice.

According to the newspaper, three clubs sent scouts to the Aston Villa match. They were also looking at Santiago Castro, but Rowe stole all the attention and the spotlight.

Bologna believes they have a diamond in their hands. They value him. They valued him at €45m after paying €19.5m last summer. The Italian side has no intention of selling cheap.

Aston Villa are also keen

Corriere di Bologna also reported that his performance against Aston Villa had ‘awakened the Premier League transfer market’.

According to his information, Via TuttoBolognaWebAston Villa could be eyeing him as a replacement for Morgan Rodgers.

The newspaper suggests Rodgers could join Arsenal this summer on a deal worth €80 million. If that happens, Villa will have the resources to capture Jonathan Rowe and stay within financial fair play rules.

However, they also add that Bologna have been warned that other English teams will approach them this summer after Rowe’s performances. The Italian side are struggling to retain possession of their star player.

On Wednesday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers got back into the win column as they closed out their East Coast swing with a road win over the Indiana Pacers. Although the game came closer than necessary down the stretch, there was still a solid performance from the Lakers, led by Luka Doncic, who scored 43 points in the game.

Doncic has been on an absolute heater for the Lakers in recent weeks, and following the Pacers’ win, ESPN NBA insider Dave McMenamin revealed the latest piece of history the star has accomplished.

“Luka Doncic is the first player to average 40 points over a six-game span since Michael Jordan in 1986,” McMenamin reported on Twitter, citing a report by ESPN’s Matt Williams.

In fact, Doncic has been obliterating the competition the last few games for the Lakers, consistently troubling opposing defenses with his step-back threes and other highlight plays.

Los Angeles recently saw its nine-game winning streak end at the hands of the Detroit Pistons earlier this week, but they bounced back in solid fashion on Wednesday, blowing a 20-point lead in the first quarter and eventually allowing Indiana to get back into the game, but things slowly wore off.

The Lakers are now 47-26 on the season, which is good for third place in the Western Conference playoff picture, a spot they are currently in the running for. Los Angeles will now return home for a much easier schedule, with their next two games against the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards.

The Nets game is scheduled to begin at 10:30 PM ET on Friday from Crypto.com Arena.

The Brooklyn Nets have re-signed Malachi Smith to a second 10-day contract, the team announced Wednesday. Smith appeared in six games during his first 10-day contract after spending most of the season with Brooklyn’s G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets.

The former Gonzaga guard averaged 6.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 19.5 minutes per game during the stretch. He shot 15 of 30 from the field and 5 of 10 from three.

Smith scored 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field with four assists and 3-of-3 from three during Brooklyn’s 126-122 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.

Malachi Smith returns to Nets on second 10-day contract after breakout performance

Smith spent the last two seasons with the G League affiliates of the Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies. He averaged 16.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 7.0 assists on .510/.416/.772 shooting splits in 29 appearances with the Long Island Nets this year before an NBA call-up.

Smith’s new 10-day contract will last through the Nets’ next five games, at which point the rebuilding team will have five games remaining on its schedule. The 26-year-old should get ample opportunities to prove his worth during his new deal.

Michael Porter Jr., Egor Demin and Deron Sharp are out with injuries. Brooklyn has been offering Smith and its two-way players extended minutes in recent games as the team vie for the top draft selection.

The Nets will conclude a four-game road trip with games against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday and the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.

The Brooklyn Nets rookie is getting extended minutes during the final stretch of the season after the team was eliminated from postseason contention. Ben Saraf has seen the biggest increase in workload during recent games.

Saraf has struggled for most of the season. However, he has started to show his skills which led the Nets to select him with the No. 26 pick in the June draft. The 6-foot-6 point guard continued his encouraging performance during Sunday’s 126-122 loss to the Sacramento Kings, scoring a season-high 22 points on 10-of-20 shooting with five assists and two turnovers.

“I think I played pretty well. I got to the rim and made two [feet] “I felt like I was able to finish at the rim, just like the coaches wanted,” Saraf said. I mean, they didn’t have any crazy shot-blockers, so I was able to go all the way. [to the basket]”

Saraf was the only Nets player to score 20 points during the defeat. The 19-year-old has scored in double figures in five of his last six games.

Ben Saraf continues his encouraging performance with a career best performance

Saraf has averaged 12.3 points on 47.5 percent shooting with 4.5 assists and 3.0 turnovers per game during that span. Jordi Fernandez praised the rookie’s finishing and ability to limit turnovers as Brooklyn’s leading ball-handler in Sacramento.

Fernandez said of Saraf’s performance, “It was great.” Possibly one of his best games finishing at the rim. You can see it right there, I love how aggressive he was. Five assists to two turnovers. Our 30 assists resulted in only seven turnovers [as a team] Very impressive. So this is definitely a step forward for us.”

While Saraf was effective as a driver and facilitator on Sunday, he missed all five of his three-point attempts. The Israeli floor general is shooting 36 percent on just 3.6 three-point attempts per 20 minutes this season.

Sunday’s loss moved Brooklyn into a tie with Sacramento for third place in the draft lottery standings. The Nets now have two fewer wins than the Kings with 11 games remaining. They have one more win than the Washington Wizards in second and two more than the Indiana Pacers in first.

Brooklyn has matchups with Sacramento, Washington and Indiana on its remaining schedule.

The Los Angeles Lakers continued their momentum and defeated the Houston Rockets 124-116, as Luka Doncic once again took control of the night. In the process, he delivered a near triple-double with 40 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists. This wasn’t just another strong night. Instead, it felt as if something rare was unfolding in real time.

Doncic controlled the pace from the beginning. He attacked mismatches, created space and punished every defensive lapse that Houston showed. At times the Rockets remained within reach and continued to apply pressure. He increased the speed and tested Los Angeles. However, the Lakers responded every time. Calm. accurate. Under control. As a result, Doncic made sure the momentum never slipped.

According to OptaSTATS, the race has now reached historic territory. Notably, Doncic is the first player in NBA history to record at least 250 points, 50 rebounds, 50 assists and 25 threes in a seven-game span while going undefeated. The numbers are clear. However, sustainability stands out even more. Night after night, the production continues. In turn, the impact never diminishes.

Lakers looking for identity behind Luka Doncic

This latest Lakers-Rockets clash showed the full picture. From the start, Doncic shot 12 of 25 from the field and 7 of 17 from deep. As a result, he remained efficient when needed and explosive when needed. Furthermore, he read and adjusted every coverage without hesitation. Houston tried several looks. However, none lasted long.

More importantly, the Lakers are evolving. For one, the vacancy is more intense. Besides, the ball moves faster. As a result, confidence appears on every asset. It is no longer just about speed. Instead, this structure is taking shape.

And now, the big question arises. If Luka Doncic is already making history on this field, what happens when the stakes rise and the lights get even brighter?

When it was revealed that the NBA was set to vote on allowing expansion in Las Vegas and Seattle through the 2028-2029 season, many were thrilled.

Adding more teams has long been a hot topic in the NBA, and now, it may finally become a reality. The last time the league added a new member was in 2004 when the Charlotte Bobcats franchise was granted.

However, ESPN’s Bobby Marks expressed his misgivings about expansion, using the Brooklyn Nets to emphasize his argument.

“After seeing some of these numbers over the past few nights we might want to reconsider the expansion,” Marx wrote on X.

“In the last two games, Brooklyn has trailed by a combined 60 points at halftime.”

He posted it after the Nets scored just 24 points in the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Barclays Center on Wednesday. This is the team’s lowest performance since the 1997–1998 season.

For perspective, the Thunder had 28 points in the first quarter.

The Thunder are dominating the nets 👀

The 24 points in the first half matched Brooklyn’s fewest points since 1997–98. pic.twitter.com/tkdwEqkuNF

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 19 March 2026

Some have argued against expansion because it could dilute talent. Having new teams means having specific players spread out more across rosters, which will further dilute the competitive balance.

This season, the Nets, Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings have all separated the top-tier teams from the bottom-tier teams, all with less than 20 wins.

Additionally, with the NBA already dealing with the polarizing issue of load management, expansion would lead to heavier schedules, more travel and less rest. There is also the matter of rearranging conferences.

At the time of writing, the Nets are trailing the Thunder 99-67 in the fourth quarter.

Josh Minott is attempting to carve out a consistent role during his fourth NBA season. The former Boston Celtics forward is making a strong case for an extended opportunity following a trade for the rebuilding Brooklyn Nets.

Minot had the best performance of his career during Brooklyn’s 108-97 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday. The 6-foot-8 wing kept the Nets, who were down more than half their rotation, competitive for most of the game. He made a post A career-high 24 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field, 4-of-7 from three and 8-of-10 from the free-throw line with three steals and three blocks in 24 minutes.

When Minot was asked what led to the best inning of his career, he said, “I would just say my teammates.” “They were finding me at their cuts when I was open. I mean, I basically owe them everything. I didn’t really do anything that didn’t involve them finding me… I’m coming into a situation in the middle of the season. So I have to make a crazy mental shift. So for them to really help speed things up and help me understand who we are as a team — just our game, values, how we play — I mean, I would say that.” That’s everything. They definitely help guide me, and I’m looking forward to what else they have to teach me.”

https://t.co/fqqnByahKa pic.twitter.com/x6GBVVDoBo

– Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) 13 March 2026

Minot joined the Nets at the trade deadline from the Boston Celtics, who dropped his minimum salary below the luxury tax. The 23-year-old has performed well for Boston earlier this season.

Josh Minott’s heads turned during the Nets’ rebuilding audition

Minot averaged 6.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.8 steals in 18.5 minutes per game in his first 27 appearances this season. He shot 50.8 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three on 7.1 attempts per 100 possessions during the stretch.

The 6-foot-8 Memphis product, with a seven-foot wingspan and above-average athleticism, has impressed as a defensive playmaker. His promising three-point shooting and drive length at the rim offer an interesting two-way upside for the Nets team that acquired him at no cost.

Minot’s four made threes and six steals (steals + blocks) on Thursday were both career highs.

“I was looking forward to it,” he said of his performance. “But at the end of the day, I wouldn’t call it futile, but there is a goal. So overall, I don’t want to say I’m satisfied, but I’m quite happy with my performance… I’m just trying to keep that momentum going. I understand that they had a momentum before me, and I’m not trying to ruin that. I’m just trying to find a way to come in and impact the game. Just keep the team up, elevate the team and its values.” “I’m trying.”

Minot should have ample opportunity to prove his worth as the Nets increase their offensive aggression to close out the season. Brooklyn recently shut down Igor Demin and Deron Sharp for the season. Michael Porter Jr. (right ankle sprain), Nolan Traore (rest) and Zaire Williams (illness) also were ruled out against Atlanta.

The Nets have a $2.58 million team option on Minot for next season.

Mike Brown was not happy with the New York Knicks’ performance in their 110-97 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday afternoon.

Brown has been in the coaching field since 1997, spending his first year as head coach of the Knicks. He wants to get the franchise to the NBA Finals, something they have not done since 1999.

However, there have been ups and downs for New York. While most of the season has been positive, they were underwhelmed by their loss to the Lakers, leading to questions about the team’s ceiling.

According to reporter James Edwards, Brown reflected on the loss after the game. The head coach said that not being able to control the controllables was the root of his frustration.

“We didn’t have a chance to win most of the game,” Brown said.

Mike Brown, how the Knicks did against the Lakers

Mike Brown and the Knicks look to get back on track during a West Coast trip after losing to the Lakers.

New York got off to a slow start and trailed 31–23 after the first quarter. He played better in the second period but was unable to remain consistent defensively as Los Angeles took advantage in the second half. The Knicks were unable to recover after the third quarter and lost 34–20 in that frame.

Four players scored in double figures for New York in the loss. Karl-Anthony Towns led the team with a stat line of 25 points, 16 rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block. He shot 8 of 17 from the field, including 1 of 5 from beyond the arc and 8 of 8 from the free-throw line. Jalen Brunson came next with 24 points and seven assists, OG Anunoby had 13 points and eight rebounds, while Landry Shamet added 10 points and two assists.

New York fell to a 41–24 record on the season, finishing third in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors, while trailing the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons.

The Knicks will try to bounce back by remaining on the road in their next game. They will take on the Los Angeles Clippers as tip-off takes place on March 9 at 10 pm ET.

ATLANTA – At the end of a close game, sometimes you just need your star player to take the lead. Jalen Johnson, who has been a star for the Atlanta Hawks all year, came on late in the fourth quarter to lead his team to a 125-116 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

It started with a three-pointer midway through the fourth that gave the Hawks their largest lead of the game, eight points. Down the stretch, he drove past Kelly Oubre Jr. and dunked over him and Dominic Barlow.

Jalen taking over in the fourth 💥 pic.twitter.com/Yq3bMvDKC1

– Atlanta HaWWWWWWWks (@ATLHawks) 8 March 2026

With less than two minutes left, Adem Bona became his next victim, as he went behind him and got to the rim to complete a one-handed dunk.

Jalen Johnson y’all pic.twitter.com/UbOitpTQPm

– Atlanta HaWWWWWWWks (@ATLHawks) 8 March 2026

After every one of those shots, he made sure to let the crowd – and the 76ers – know that he kicked it up a notch. The younger generation can call it aura farming. Some people would even say that he was locked in that part. As for Johnson, he says this is nothing new for him, and it led to him finishing with 35 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.

“I feel like I’m always off,” Johnson told reporters after the game. “Obviously, when the pace is up, you come in and you’re running. There are a lot more emotions going on than at the beginning of the game. So maybe the emotional part of it feels more like a trap.”

Johnson has shown what he can do in these moments at the end of games. Whether it’s hitting a clutch jump shot, making the perfect pass, or outrunning the opposition, he knows how to break down defenses using his skills.

“He’s making the right play, and sometimes the right play is hitting Dyson a little bit [Daniels]. Sometimes it’s just coming to the rim. And sometimes when people are messing with you it takes your jumper. I think he did all those things, and he did them really skillfully. I think it’s one of his best games,” Quin Snyder said.

Even his colleagues were impressed by his work.

“It was amazing,” Nichelle Alexander-Walker said. “Just aggression, he played with determination. Going downhill, didn’t calm down. It was very timely and at a time when we needed it. He just kept rolling, and we were all behind him.”

The Hawks didn’t get off to a good start and had to prepare to get to that point. They surrendered 73 points and committed 19 turnovers in the first half. The second half was completely different, as they held the 76ers to 43 points and turned the ball over 10 times.

“It was about taking people out of their rhythm,” Alexander-Walker said. “We’ve worked up to this point to become a better team competitively and just defensively. I thought we took a step back in the first half, but then we made up for it quickly, and we were able to adjust right away.”

“It was a good halftime,” Johnson said. “Guys talked, and we knew we’d eventually get on our run. We came out of the gate, and we came out aggressive and swinging. We laid the tone in those first few minutes of the third quarter for how the rest of the game was going to be.”

Once the Hawks found their rhythm in the fourth, the ball was passed to Johnson and out of the way. Unfortunately, the 76ers didn’t get the memo.

“I just knew what to expect from them, being an aggressive defensive team, and I tried to match that as best I could and let things fall in there,” Johnson said.

With this win, the Hawks have won six games in a row, and have an opportunity to extend that streak next week with the Dallas Mavericks.

The Los Angeles Clippers are unable to catch any breaks this season. The Clippers were playing against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night. The game also marked former Clipper Ivica Zubac’s debut with his new Indiana team. However, during the game, LA lost one of its key centers to injury. According to Tomer Azzarly of ClutchPoints, Yannick Konan Niederhauser, who backed up Zubac in LA, missed the game with a foot injury.

“Yannick Konan Niederhauser is out for the remainder of Clippers-Pacers with a right foot injury,” Azarly posted.

More coming soon.

Doc Rivers didn’t stop the Milwaukee Bucks from making mistakes during Sunday night’s 120-97 loss to the Chicago Bulls.

Rivers has been a head coach in the NBA since 1999 and has represented five teams throughout his coaching career. He currently represents the Bucks, going through his third season with the franchise.

Milwaukee has played poorly throughout his tenure, with consecutive first-round exits and the future of the franchise is in question as Giannis Antetokounmpo potentially tests free agency in 2027. The team’s loss to Chicago didn’t help matters, losing 27–0 in complete games.

According to reporter Eric Nehm, Rivers reflected on the crushing defeat after the game. He highlighted inconsistent stretches that prevented Milwaukee from taking control, resulting in Chicago’s surge in the contest’s biggest moments.

“The good looks came after bad basketball in the first 11 minutes of the third quarter. In the second group, they gave us a 15-point lead. The first group came in before halftime, lost it and then got it and then lost it again. They lost two 15-point leads… I don’t know if there is such a thing as a basketball god, but if there is, he was alive tonight,” Rivers said.

“When you get that close to the game and play like that, you don’t deserve to win. If we had won the game, I would have been upset. I would have won because we needed it, but that’s not how you play basketball. I don’t know how many jump shots we made in-between in the third. I can’t wait to see it. It felt like every second shot was a dribble, 16 dribbles, a jump shot in between and a contested shot in between.” That’s the worst shot of the game, unless it’s the last five seconds on the clock, so it was a disappointing loss and I hope we all feel that.”

Doc Rivers, how the Bucks performed against the Bulls

Doc Rivers and the Bucks have some soul-searching to do. They may still be without Giannis Antetokounmpo due to injury, but they can’t afford the loss against the Bulls.

Six players scored in double figures for Milwaukee in the loss. Bobby Portis led the team with a stat line of 18 points, five rebounds and one block. He made 7 of 14 shots from the field, including 3 of 8 from beyond the arc. Cam Thomas finished second with 15 points and three assists, AJ Green had 13 points and two assists, while Ryan Rollins had 11 points and seven assists. Meanwhile, Kyle Kuzma and Kevin Porter Jr. provided 10 points each.

Milwaukee fell to a 26–33 record on the season, finishing 11th in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards, while trailing the Charlotte Hornets and Atlanta Hawks.

The Bucks will look to bounce back in their next game at home. They will host the Boston Celtics as tip-off begins on March 2 at 7:30 PM ET.

Walter Clayton Jr. accomplished an impressive rookie feat with his performance in the Memphis Grizzlies’ 125-106 win over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night.

Clayton is going through the rookie campaign of his NBA career, having enjoyed an incredible collegiate career that includes a national championship with the Florida Gators. He began the 2025–26 season with the Utah Jazz before they traded him and several players to Memphis in a player-stacked deal.

The move gave Clayton a chance to take on a larger role, earning more starts as Memphis’ season ended. Clayton has progressed as a two-way guard, showcasing his skills against Indiana. In 34 minutes of action, he finished with a stat line of seven points, 14 assists, four steals, three rebounds and one block.

This performance allowed him to make franchise history with the Grizzlies. He recorded the most assists in any game as a rookie, putting himself at the mountaintop of Memphis’ rookie charts in that statistic.

Walter Clayton Jr. in tonight’s Grizzlies win over the Pacers:

🔹 7 points
🔹 15 assists
🔹4 theft

He now has the most assists in a game by a rookie in Grizzlies history! pic.twitter.com/zY6edF7s9w

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 2 March 2026

Walter Clayton Jr., how the Grizzlies played against the Pacers

Walter Clayton Jr. was active in the drama production department with his 14 recipes. As a result, he helped the Grizzlies defeat the Pacers in a strong road win.

Seven players scored in double figures for Memphis in the win. Taylor Hendricks impressed with a stat line of 19 points, five rebounds and one assist. Jaylen Wells was next with 18 points and three rebounds, Olivier-Maxence Prosper had 17 points and three assists, while Scottie Pippen Jr. had 16 points and five assists. Ryan Rupert, meanwhile, provided 16 points and six rebounds.

Memphis improved to a 23–36 record on the season and 11th in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans. However, they are behind the Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers.

The Grizzlies will remain on the road and await their next matchup. They will face the Minnesota Timberwolves as tip-off takes place on March 3 at 8 PM ET.

Ochai Agbaji is getting a fresh start with the Brooklyn Nets. Traded by the Toronto Raptors at the deadline, the former lottery pick has an opportunity to regain his form in Brooklyn during the second half of the season.

Agbaji took a step in the right direction during his first extended action in net. The 25-year-old was one of Brooklyn’s only bright spots during Thursday’s 112-84 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He posted 13 points, three rebounds, three assists and one block on 5 of 8 shooting from the field and 3 of 6 from three.

Agbaji finished with a team-best minus-four in 28 minutes.

“[Ochai] Very good job,” Jordi Fernandez said after the game. “He was ready to shoot. He still has to get used to the spacing, the rules, certain plays and defensive concepts. But I think he was great. He was ready; he fought. Physically and mentally, he was ready to go. Nice to see this.”

Agbaji had the best season of his career in 2024–25, averaging 10.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists on 50/40/71 shooting splits in 64 appearances. However, he fell out of the Raptors’ rotation this year due to a career-worst shooting slump (12 of 65 from three in 42 games with Toronto).

Ochai Agbaji struggling to secure long-term role after trade with Nets

While the Nets received a second-round pick in exchange for Agbaji’s contract, Fernandez praised the guard’s skills upon his arrival. With a 6-foot-5 wingspan, a 6-foot-10 frame and above-average athleticism, the former Kansas star has the tools to be an impact guard.

that athleticism was on display On Thursday.

Agbaji got Uttar Pradesh for this rejection

➡️ Watch Live on YES & THE @gothamsports App: https://t.co/sWMqNZ0hci pic.twitter.com/sqneGAEdL6

– Yes Network (@YESNetwork) 20 February 2026

His ability to put together a positive shooting night will go a long way in earning an expanded role.

“It felt good. It felt good to see the ball go in and get some rhythm with my guys and score some runs,” Agbaji said after the game. “Obviously, that was one game before the All-Star break, but [it was] Little minutes here and there. Saw this for the first time [extended] A few minutes to really get my form and go with them, and I’m excited. I’m excited about what we can do. The style we play is very unselfish and I’m that type of player. So I fit in.”

Agbaji will be a free agent when his rookie contract expires this summer. He is one of several players — including Ziaire Williams, Jalen Wilson and Josh Minott — fighting to secure a new deal on the back-end of Brooklyn’s roster.

Manchester City loanee Vitor Reus was brilliant on Monday night as Verona beat Barcelona 2-1 in La Liga. The 19-year-old centre-back played a decisive role in the upset. As a result, the Spanish and Brazilian media have begun to push the idea that Pep Guardiola should look into this ahead of next season.

Victory in the 24th round of La Liga. However, most of the post-match attention was focused on Vitor Reis. The defender finished the match with 14 defensive contributions and did not face a single successful dribble against him. Additionally, he leads all Brazilian players in LaLiga in minutes played this season.

Praise for the Spaniards after their heroic victory

Catalan outlet Mundo Deportivo did not hold back in its assessment. “Imperial! A machine for winning duels inside the box!” the newspaper wrote after the final whistle. The article headline after his match called him “Boss of the new Verona”.

spanish journalist Victor Laboria Escutia He went even further in his analysis. “I see Vitor Reus as one of the most promising centre-backs this season. He is a leader and has great qualities. He should be an option for all the big clubs.” He said.

Such praise comes after a strong month for the Manchester City defender. In January, LaLiga named him the best under-23 player in the competition. This recognition came after continuous performance and increasing authority behind.

Verona brought him on loan to guarantee minutes and continuity. So far, that strategy has worked. The Brazilian has secured a starting role and rarely leaves the field. so, development plan The agreement with Manchester City appears to be yielding clear results.

Brazil calls on Guardiola to take action

The Brazilian media have now begun to link his rise directly to Manchester City’s plans. Trivella argued that his performance against Barcelona, ​​along with their campaign overall, “Proves that he can already be considered a member of Manchester City.”

Meanwhile, journalist Fernando Campos offered a more forceful opinion. “Vítor Reus is a monster of the new generation of centre-backs. Absolutely extraordinary at Verona. Guardiola needs to use him next season,” He said.

Those comments increase the spotlight surrounding the teen. Manchester City signed him for £34m (€40m) with a long-term plan in mind. At the time, the club prioritized growth over immediate impact.

However, the story is now changing. There is external pressure building, with Verona competing strongly and Vitor Reis lining up against Barcelona.

what happens next Much will depend on Guardiola’s team’s plans this summer, but the noise around the Brazilian is growing.

Despite Anthony Edwards winning MVP, Kawhi Leonard stole the spotlight at the NBA All-Star Game. Leonard later earned much praise. According to First Things First, from former Boston Celtics player Antoine Walker.

“I thought Kawhi Leonard was awesome. To be a hometown guy, in front of your fans… we need to make this game very competitive again.”

“I thought Kawhi Leonard was awesome. To be a hometown guy, in front of your fans… we need to make this game very competitive again.”

Antoine Walker was a big fan of the way Kawhi played in the All-Star Game 🔥

(via @FTFonFS1)

pic.twitter.com/Dl7uu6rOiF

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 17 February 2026

The NBA All-Star Game format consisted of four games: World vs. Stars, Stars vs. Stripes, and World vs. Stripes. Notably, during the World vs. Stripes game, Leonard scored 31 points and shot 11 of 13 from the field, leading the Stripes to a 48–45 win.

Based on his All-Star Game performances, Leonard is now a seven-time NBA All-Star (2016, 2017, 2019–2021, 2024, 2026). Notably, he was named the All-Star Game MVP in 2020. This year, Leonard is averaging 27.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.

While Leonard has performed well individually, the Clippers are currently 26-28 and in 10th place in the Western Conference standings. Additionally, Leonard has been dealing with injuries and inflammation recently in his left knee.

Adding to the challenges this season, Leonard’s accomplishments attracted media attention amid the NBA’s scrutiny bypassing the salary cap With the help of defunct company Aspiration.

Leonard has been playing with the Clippers since 2019, the same year he won the NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors. In the 2021 playoffs, he tore his ACL, causing him to miss the 2022 season. The following year, additional knee problems sidelined him.

Walker played 13 NBA seasons (1996 to 2008), was a three-time All-Star with the Celtics, and won the 2006 NBA Championship with the Heat.

In the January transfer window, sports witness Donyell Malen’s transfer from Aston Villa to AS Roma was closely watched.

The deal progressed quickly, as Unai Emery’s side agreed to loan the striker with an obligation to buy. Already, the Dutchman is making a big impact in Rome.

He scored two goals in Roma’s 2–2 draw against title-chasing Napoli. This helped him take his goal tally to five in all competitions with goals against Torino and Cagliari.

While Gian Piero Gasperini has risen Compare As for the attacker, Malen himself has spoken about his life away from Aston Villa.

Striker enjoying life after Aston Villa

The 26-year-old spoke to the press after his impressive performance against Napoli.

He explained that things are going very well in the Italian capital and he is feeling positive about life in the Giallorossi.

He said- relayed by romannews: : “Since I came here, I feel good. I know what my qualities are, and sometimes in football you also need a little luck. I’m very happy to be here.”

Malen also shared his thoughts about the game and expressed his disappointment that Roma could not win.

“To be honest, I’m a little disappointed. I think we deserved to win. We played well. Obviously, I’m happy for myself, but I wanted to win.”

Furthermore, the ex-Borussia Dortmund player revealed Gasperini’s role in the transfer to Roma.

“A great role. He talked to me about the position and what he wanted me to do.

“Roma is a great, ambitious club, and I know I can showcase my football here. I’m happy to sign with Roma.”

Perfect for grinding Gasparini

It is no surprise that Malen joined Roma largely because of Gasperini. The Italian has a great reputation for getting the most out of attacking players. In the past, his system has improved underperforming attackers and taken them to a different level.

Malen falls into that category, as he had little game time at Aston Villa. He made his mark in the Europa League but it never seemed enough for Unai Emery.

Now, he is Roma’s undisputed starter, with Artem Dovbyk and Ivan Ferguson failing to impress.

Gasperini has always liked strikers who offer more than just goals. Malen has reliable 1v1 ability and this has already shown at Roma.

Marcus Rashford’s ‘excellent performances’ are encouraging Barcelona to buy him permanently from Manchester United.

This is according to Mundo Deportivo. The Spanish newspaper reports that Barcelona are considering invoking the €30m clause they negotiated with Manchester United in the summer. His best performance in recent years.

He joined Barcelona in the summer, and the deal includes the option to make it permanent. He has been impressing since then and Sport Witness has covered various reports stating that Barcelona want to buy him permanently.

Those reports began in December But there has been an increase especially in the last month. A report made it clear what the plan wasEarlier Rashford was given the front page Situation at the beginning of this month.

‘Great market opportunity’

Now Mundo Deportivo has added its voice to the growing noise. The newspaper reports that Rashford ‘has practically all the qualities a club like Barca needs’.

The Catalans view the €30m purchase option as a ‘great market opportunity’ given their current performance. He even thinks his agent was ‘skilled’ in convincing Manchester United to do so in the summer.

Rashford is fourth in La Liga in assists, second on the team behind Lamine Yamal. He also has four goals, making him among the top five goalscorers at the club. No one in the team has many shots on target.

In the Champions League, he is the joint-top goalscorer and assist provider. And he is back in the England picture under Thomas Tuchel.

‘Clearly profitable operation’

He is valued at €40m, but he could easily reach €50-60m by the end of the season, especially if he features at the World Cup, so €30m looks like an absolute bargain.

Using it would be a ‘clearly profitable operation’. He could prove to be the ‘real deal’ and Barcelona want to take advantage of that.

Rashford would certainly welcome a quick deal. At present, he is living every game as if it is a test. He will get mental peace and confidence, which can translate into even better performance.

Barcelona is considering paying the clause. They view it as a bargain, with a similar player likely to cost at least €60–70m, and consider the summer deal with Manchester United to be one of their best in recent years.