wolves There are still ways to benefit from the rise of Bastian Meupiou in Portugal – and the defender himself now looks set for a move elsewhere.

after Portuguese this month’s report Explaining that Wolves continue to monitor the 20-year-old centre-back’s progress at Alverca, the Frenchman’s latest comments have added another layer to the situation ahead of the summer window.

game Relay an interview where Meupiou reflected positively on his first full senior season in Portugal.

The defender admitted that the experience at Alverca “exceeded expectations” after arriving from Wolves last year. And the club still holds significant influence over his future.

As first reported in PortugalWolves inserted a buyback clause worth less than €1m (£850k) when they sold him to Alverca. They are also entitled to approximately 50% of future transfer fees.

In practice, Wolves could either bring him back cheaply or profit from a sale to another club.

Defenders signal big ambitions

Bastien Meupiau did nothing to calm transfer speculation when discussing interest elsewhere.

“Like any player, I want to play in the best competitions,” He accepted.

A number of European clubs are already following his progress after 31 appearances in one season under Custodio Castro.

The centre-back also explained why Alverca’s youth team has managed to exceed expectations this season.

“Solidarity,” He said. “Everyone made an effort and there was a lot of help on the pitch.”

“To be honest, the beginning was not easy, but we never gave up and always kept our heads high.”

Wolves remain important

Although Meupiou only played for Wolves’ U21 team before moving to Portugal, he spoke positively about his time at Molineux.

The French defender highlighted the opportunity to work with senior players such as Nelson Semedo and Pablo Sarabia during his tenure at the club.

Finally, if the club believes Meupiou is ready for Championship football, the buyback option gives Wolves an inexpensive way to strengthen their defence. If another club moves instead, Wolves are still set to collect a significant percentage of the transfer fee.

The situation in summer seems like a low-risk situation. The club can be happy with whatever happens next.

The EFL announced this on Tuesday evening southampton After being warned by Middlesbrough earlier this month, he admitted spying on three clubs this season.

Oxford United and Ipswich Town were the other two clubs involved. However, given Tonda Eckert’s defense that she did not know it was wrong, it is easy to assume that more incidents occurred.

Southampton’s punishment was disqualification from the play-off final at Wembley, thus missing their chance of a return to the Premier League.

The EFL decided that Middlesbrough would skip the final and face Hull City instead.

Hull City not happy with the decision

Hull City are unhappy with the decision and are seeking legal advice. The club believes that one of the two clubs in the final has been disqualified, so the other should be awarded the victory.

Hull City owner Ekun Ilikali has been quoted help analysis As the saying goes: “Under normal circumstances, two teams would have reached the final and one would have been disqualified. Our lawyers are of the opinion that we should go straight to the Premier League, but they are investigating it right now. We can’t say anything for sure. It’s a bit of a messy situation.

“We were preparing for Southampton for 10 days. All the planning, analysis and work was focused on them. Now, with a few days left for the final, the opponent has changed. Tomorrow the players are on holiday, Thursday is the last serious training session. We will prepare for the new opponent with 1 training session.”

tight timeline

Southampton’s appeal will not be heard until Wednesday evening. The play-off final is scheduled for Saturday, and the EFL has no plans to change it.

The window of opportunity for any legal action by Hull City is therefore very small. There is a possibility that they will try harder if Middlesbrough reach the final and win the match.

Before the 2004 NFL Draft, there was no question who would be the No. 1 overall pick. Eli Manning was the unanimous choice. This meant that the then-San Diego Chargers were going to land a franchise quarterback. It’s just, it didn’t happen that way.

Eventually, it became known that Manning did not want to play for a Chargers franchise that had missed the playoffs for eight consecutive years. Still, the spin at the time was that it was Eli’s father, former NFL QB Archie Manning, who made the power play to ensure that his son arrived at a more favorable destination.

However, now after 22 years Ellie has revealed business with boys Podcast that it wasn’t her father’s idea. It was actually Eli who had no interest in playing for the Chargers.

Manning said, “My parents weren’t really supportive. My father didn’t like the idea.” “Now, he came to my defense and supported me after everything went down, but he didn’t like it. And later, he bore the brunt of a lot of criticism because he came to my defense and people were saying, ‘Oh, you played in New Orleans all those years where you didn’t win, so you’re trying to dictate where your son is going to go.’ And he just bit his tongue and said, ‘Hey, this is what Eli wants to do and I support him’ and he did some media to try to save me from doing all the media and taking the hit.”

Manning said he did not feel like the Chargers were “most committed to winning at that time.”

The Chargers acquired an incredible asset by trading Manning to the New York Giants. In exchange for Manning, the Chargers received Philip Rivers, Shawn Merriman and Nate Kaeding. Meanwhile, Manning led the Giants to two Super Bowl wins, and the rest is history.

RELATED: 2026 NFL QB rankings: From the NFL’s worst starting QBs to the best

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Aston Villa Goal Gabriel Sara is clearly enjoying a confidence boost in what he himself describes as a “magical” year.

are villas linked to galatasaray player in recent weeks, and the Brazilian’s latest interview only reinforces why clubs continue to follow him so closely ahead of the summer window.

Sara finished the season with six goals and five assists in 39 matches, while being used in several different midfield roles throughout the campaign.

talking to globo esporte After helping Galatasaray win another Turkish League title, Sara reflected on the season that took him from Turkish football to the Brazil national team setup and potentially into Carlo Ancelotti’s World Cup squad.

The midfielder admitted that the dream of representing Brazil at the 2026 World Cup is now on his mind.

“Playing in the World Cup for Brazil is every player’s dream. It has been a childhood dream for me,” He said.

“I’ve worked very hard this season thinking about it, but I keep my feet on the ground. The manager will choose who he thinks is the best. If I’m there, I’ll give everything. If not, I’ll support Brazil as always.”

Sara also admitted that tension is rising over Ancelotti’s final team selection.

“There’s a lot of anticipation and even some anxiety knowing who will be on the team. I try to live one day at a time so I don’t get worried.”

Aston Villa goal talks about versatility

One part of the interview in particular may catch the attention of Aston Villa. Sara explained that he sees himself as a player who is capable of operating almost anywhere throughout the midfield and even out wide.

That flexibility has become increasingly valuable in modern squads, especially for clubs competing in multiple competitions.

“Whenever a manager has placed me in a different position, I’ve tried to learn as much as I can,” he explained.

“I’ve played as a right-back, left-back, holding midfielder, box-to-box midfielder, number 10 and winger. I think the only things missing are centre-back, striker and goalkeeper”He joked.

The comment explains why coaches trust him in various tactical systems. And this could be important for Unai Emery. A ‘Trade-off’ with Galatasaray involving Emiliano Buendia Reportedly a possibility, his versatility will be key to Argentina’s changing abilities.

The Brazilian then further expanded on the mentality behind that versatility.

“My focus has always been on helping the team. If I need to defend the whole game as a full-back, I will do that. If I need to attack all the time as a midfielder or winger, I will do that as well as I can.”

He then summarized it more directly.

“I think that versatility can also help in the national team because I can play at 6, 8, 10 and even as an out wide.”

“Magical” season and Champions League ambitions

Sara also described this campaign as the strongest campaign of her career so far. Former Norwich City player Appeared in Champions League matches, breaking into the Brazil setup and helping Galatasaray secure another title under great pressure.

According to the midfielder, those experiences pushed him to another level.

“I feel like I’m living the best moment of my career,” He said.

“The level of competition I have faced this season, from the Champions League to the Brazil national team, makes me feel like I am still at my peak.”

Sara specifically mentioned his experience with Brazil against France during the campaign, as well as facing clubs such as Liverpool and Atlético de Madrid.

There is also a growing feeling that the midfielder now looks far more mature and complete than the player English football previously saw at Norwich City.

The technical quality was already there in the Championship, but this season has added another layer of confidence and tactical maturity.

The emotional side of Galatasaray’s title win also clearly left an impression on him. “It was magical,” Sara said.

“For me, it was my second league title and my third trophy since arriving in Turkey. For the club, it was the fourth consecutive title, something that had not happened since 1997 to 2000.”

“The supporters were absolutely crazy with anticipation. We endured that pressure to some extent because we wanted to make people’s dream come true.”

What’s next for Sara?

Yet, when talking about personal milestones, the Aston Villa target made it clear he believes there are still more to come.

“I’m happy, but not satisfied. I still feel I have a lot left to give and a lot of room to improve.”He said.

“I not only dream of playing in the Champions League, but also dream of winning the Champions League. I dream of playing in the World Cup, but my dream is to win it.”

This means Aston Villa’s Champions League push could trigger Signature of a great player In summer.

During the first three games of their second round series, the power play was actively hurting the Anaheim Ducks.

But everything changed on Sunday night.

The Ducks scored a pair of power-play goals, their first in the series, and won 4–3 over the Vegas Golden Knights at the Honda Center.

Alex Killorn and Bennett Seneca each scored with a man advantage, and Ian Moore and Mikael Granlund also lit the lamp. Goalie Lucas Dostal returned after being pulled in Game 3, making 18 saves and helping Anaheim even the best-of-7 series at 2 games to one.

Game 5 returns to Vegas on Tuesday at 6:30 pm PT

Ducks power play came up huge in Game 4

The Ducks’ power play hit rock bottom in Game 3. Anaheim was 0 of 11 with the man advantage in three games and allowed a back-breaking short-handed goal to Brayden McNabb in Game 3.

But their man-advantage rose from the ashes in the all-important Game 4.

Seneca opened the scoring with a man-advantage goal in the first period, then Killorn broke a 2-all tie and put Anaheim ahead on the power play at 17:58 of the second period.

“Once you score one, it changes the confidence on the power play,” Killorn said. “To see someone step up for us, it was kind of a momentum booster.

“Huge for us. He’s got a great PK.”

Anaheim coach Joel Quenneville talked about Anaheim needing to get the puck to the net more, as it only had two shots on two power plays in the first period. That Sunday the Ducks did just that and got a reward.

“I think sometimes you can move the puck around too much and you’re looking for the right opportunity on the power play,” Killorn said. “I think for us, it’s about getting more chances on net and more shots.”

Seneca’s blast from the point somehow went under the pads of Vegas goalie Carter Hart. Killorn then received a pass from Seneca and executed a give-and-go with Cutter Gauthier, who had three assists, before beating Hart on a stoppable shot on the power-play tally.

“I think the first three games I wasn’t getting enough shots,” Gauthier said. “Fortunately, people were able to bury one. I made a few passes.”

Anaheim’s depth also increased in Game 4

The Ducks became more physical in Game 4 with the Golden Knights. But they also got contributions from key role players.

The Ducks’ fourth line was on the ice for Granlund’s goal, with wing Jeffrey Viel getting the only assist. Moore, who had played well in Games 2 and 3 and played only 8:27 minutes in Game 4, then buried the game-winning goal, with teammate Olen Zellweger getting a secondary assist in his first Stanley Cup playoff game.

“I thought they both did a great job,” Quenneville said of Zellweger and Moore. “He may not have had a lot of minutes, but also the quality of his shifts was important. He defied us to a certain extent. He gave us a little bit of everything.”

Killorn reported that Moore has been playing both forward and defense, and has been playing throughout the season. But Quenneville put him back on the blue line with Zellweger to replace Drew Helson and Tyson Hinds, who were Game 4 scratches.

“That’s the kind of mentality you have to have in the playoffs. It’s next up,” Killorn said. “I think these guys have done a great job of putting themselves in a position where they’re ready to come in and not only play but make an impact on the game.”

Game 5 is the biggest Ducks game in nine years

The Ducks and Golden Knights have alternated wins and losses in the first four games, and Anaheim’s win assures a return to Honda Center for Game 6 on Thursday.

To the outside world, the fact that the Ducks are still tied after four games will be surprising, as they are ahead of schedule. But Anaheim deserves to stay where it is, even though it hasn’t played a game of this outcome since Game 5 of the 2017 Western Conference Finals against the Nashville Predators.

The Anaheim roster did not have a single player playing in that series, and Quenneville was the coach of the Chicago Blackhawks that year.

Still, the panic and anger will only escalate from here. buckle up.

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

of manchester united Interest in Rafael Leao has been a topic of discussion in recent weeks. The attacker is now struggling and is at the center of AC Milan’s goalscoring issues.

sports witness Covered Jorge Mendes’ involvement in a potential transfer. AC Milan are relying on the super-agent to find a new club for the attacker.

Through Mendes, Manchester United made initial contact to explore the terms of a deal. The Red Devils have an excellent relationship with the agent, having acquired Manuel Ugarte and Lenny Yoro through his work.

A deal for Leo will be cheaper than before, but that’s because his star has faded.

Leo made noise over the weekend

transfer market The report added that Leao’s performance against Atalanta was another ‘black mark’ on his season. Initially he was not expected to play but despite being given the start, he showed an ‘indifferent attitude’.

The game was important for the Rossoneri. Roma’s win over Parma took them level on points with Milan, who found themselves fourth in the table. They lost 3-2 and are now in serious danger of missing out on Champions League football.

The outlet accused Leao of ‘missing goals, poor play’ and was heavily criticized when he was removed in the second half.

Fans at San Siro protested against CEO Giorgio Furlani before the game. The 26-year-old’s performance enraged them further and the loudest boos were heard when the Portugal international was substituted.

Calciomercato doesn’t end there, adding that Leao is ‘hooked’ on the touchline.

Our Opinion: LEO is becoming an easy target

This may worry Manchester United, but AC Milan are generally struggling. They have won only three league games from nine, going from a title challenger to a team that could clinch a Conference League place.

As is often the case, their best player receives the most criticism. The issues are big, as evidenced by the protests against Furlani and Redbird ownership. Max Allegri’s system is also failing to bring out the best from Leo, who finds himself deeper and forced to cover more distances.

While Birmingham City fans may be excited by the prospect of a pre-season friendly match against Barcelona this year, they should temper it with an unwanted dose of reality.

Why? With the World Cup also taking place this summer, Barcelona could have a small squad heading to England in July.

A report in Spain today revealed that Barcelona are planning a two-week trip to England This summer, they will spend time at St. George’s Park in England. Before this there will be a friendly match in Nairobi and then another match in Morocco.

Plan to spend time in St. George from July 27th^th till 8th August^th. And this will include a pre-season friendly against Birmingham City during the first few days of the training camp.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the Blues were chosen due to their proximity to St. George’s Park.

birmingham city spirit

Naturally, this news has caused quite a bit of excitement in the city of Birmingham. Their fans are waiting for the arrival of the Catalan giants. But sadly, due to the World Cup, only a limited team of Barcelona can make this journey.

For example, Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Pau Quibarsi, Fermín López, Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres are likely to be in the Spain squad.

Joan Garcia could also be one of the goalkeeping options while Alejandro Balde, Eric Garcia, Mark Casado and Gavi could also get the nod.

Frenkie de Jong will also be in the Netherlands squad, while Jules Kounde should also be in the French squad. Joao Cancelo is also a regular for Portugal and Marcus Rashford is likely to be in the England squad. Raphinha will also be in the Brazilian team.

Who will be in the team?

So, that would leave Wojciech Szczesny and Diego Cochen in goal, with Andreas Christensen and Gerard Martin in defence.

Marc Bernal should be available, and Robert Lewandowski should be up front. But the latter’s contract expires this summer, and the 37-year-old has been heavily linked with a departure.

In fact, his agent is meeting Barcelona for talks this week. In recent times the Catalan media have been more inclined towards Lewandowski’s stay than before. There’s every possibility that he’s going to be the biggest star of the show.

Various players could also return from loan deals, such as Hector Forte, Iñaki Pena and Ansu Fati. But this remains to be seen.

Now apparently the World Cup is ending on 19th July^thTherefore the above absent players will not be in the tournament at that time. But the trip to England is only eight days after the final. Therefore, if Spain, one of the favourites, gets that far, a big contingent will be missing.

Of course, this is just speculation at this point. But Birmingham City fans may want to curb any hopes of seeing Barcelona’s full, current squad at St Andrews.

The San Francisco 49ers are no strangers to adding impact players, whether it be in free agency, through the NFL Draft, or via trade. We’ve already seen 49ers general manager John Lynch spend big on signing Mike Evans to a three-year, $42 million contract. They also made a deal for a new starting defensive tackle, Osa Odighizuwa.

Overall, the 49ers have assembled a group of consistent star players on offense and defense. Now, another former Pro Bowl player would like to join the fray.

on Tuesday’s appearance up and adams showFree agent linebacker Kyle Van Noy revealed that he would “really love to play with the Niners with my little brother, Fred Warner.”

“I think they’ve got something cooking in there,” Van Noy said. “I know they like Joey Bosa because of Nick and all that. I get that, but I would love to play with my little brother. That’s my boy, and I think they’ve got something cooking there.”

While Van Noy is a two-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, he is also now 35 years old. Nevertheless, he played in 15 games with the Baltimore Ravens last season, recording 20 tackles, two sacks, one interception and four pass deflections.

In 2024, Van Noy recorded a career-high 12.5 sacks, resulting in his first and only Pro Bowl season. Perhaps the 49ers, or another team, still feel that Van Noy can be an impact player on their defense; We already know how he feels.

RELATED: San Francisco 49ers may trade recent draft pick

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

The Carolina Hurricanes chased the game all night, as the Philadelphia Flyers jumped ahead quickly early in the night – but once the dust settled, the skates stopped, and K’Andre Miller’s sticks were no longer breaking from sight, it was the Hurricanes who took a 2-0 lead in the series in round two.

Taylor Hall, who scored the game-winning goal, was analytically critical of the Hurricanes’ play during interviews in the first period, and tipped his hat to the Flyers in the process.

“They’re quick on the puck, they’re quick in the fight, and they made some good plays…not a good start for us.”

After the night’s events, Hall mentioned on stage that he doesn’t have his A-game, but mentioned that his time in the league had taught him how to dig in and find a good ‘B-minus game,’ as he called it.

Maybe a B-minus, but it earned Hall top marks with the first postseason overtime game-winner of his NHL career.

However, it was a difficult path for the Hurricanes to reach that conclusion…

The first period started very differently than the previous periods

Less than five minutes into the game, Jamie Drysdale found the back of the net on the power play to put the Flyers ahead and force the Hurricanes to trail for the first time this postseason. Adding insult to injury was Flyers captain Sean Couturier, who squeaked the puck through the five-hole after just 39 seconds.

Just after the halfway point of the first period, Nikolaj Ehlers launched a heck of a one-timer from the right face-off circle on the power play — served up by Jackson Blake with some help from Miller — to cut the Flyers’ lead in half.

It was Ehlers’ first postseason goal with the Hurricanes.

Rod Brind’Amour plugged into a blender and threw in a pair of forward lines

Neither team could do anything else for the remainder of the first period and the entirety of the second.

Thus, head coach Rod Brind’Amour did as he does when he tries to make things happen for his team and changed a few players, sending Jordan Martinook to play on the top line with Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov, while moving Seth Jarvis to play on the third line with Jordan Staal and Nikolaj Ehlers.

Lo and behold, that little spark lit things up for Jarvis, who, with the help of both of his new linemates, was able to tie the game midway through the third period. It was his first goal this season.

Bonus hockey, baby

Chances continued to be exchanged, but ultimately, things went into overtime – and it was a brutal extra frame for Frederik Andersen. Lasting 18:54, he faced his most shots in a single frame as the Hurricanes fell 15–8. Through defensive breakdowns, breakaways and at least three broken sticks for Miller, the Danish netminder turned it all around.

Then came the final goal – which Hall called ‘gritty’, he fell to his knees as the puck bounced around, Blake kept it alive before being pushed by the blade of Hall’s stick.

“Oh, it took a lot,” Hall said on the bench about what it took to win the game. “You know, maybe not our strongest effort. Freddy was unreal in overtime – but that’s hockey. They’re a good team, and they’re going to fight to the end.”

As for Ehlers, when he was on stage discussing his come-from-behind victory, he provided a solid analysis.

“You want adversity,” he told the media. “We had that in the Ottawa series as well. Because it’s going to happen again. And now, we know what we need to do the next time it happens.”

storm game notes

Drysdale’s game-opening goal ended an insane 618–51 streak of the Hurricanes not trailing in a game.

Logan Stankoven’s five-game postseason goal streak officially ended as he failed to get on the scoresheet.

Between the Hurricanes (6) and Flyers (7), there were a total of 13 power plays. This was the most confrontation between these two in a single game this season.

The second round between the Hurricanes and Flyers will continue on Thursday at 8:00 pm EDT, allowing an extra day for travel between games. Additionally, this would be the only game of the day.

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

The Las Vegas Raiders are set to make Fernando Mendoza the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. But they also selected nine other players and overall their draft class was extremely successful.

Of course, we won’t know the true results of the Raiders’ 2026 draft class for another year, if not longer. Still, it’s never too early to draw some early conclusions.

According to some accounts, the raiders decimated their draft class. He also got some draft steals, but those also come with question marks.

Specifically, NFL insider Tony Pauline of Essential Sports suggested that there is a “chance” that fourth-round cornerback Jermod McCoy “will never play football again.”

Pauline wrote, “Cornerback Jermod McCoy was worth the upset in Round 4.” “There’s a possibility he’ll never play football again, and he could be sidelined until at least 2026, but if he returns healthy, it’ll be a bargain.”

McCoy entered draft day as a projected first-round pick. Nevertheless, reports from NFL doctors revealed that the Tennessee defensive back had a possible “degenerative knee condition”. This led some to wonder whether McCoy might slip to second.

Of course, McCoy’s draft freefall didn’t end until Day 3, when the Raiders made him the 101st overall pick. Still only 20 years old, it would be a major tragedy if McCoy never got a chance to showcase his talents on an NFL field, yet teams clearly had concerns about his knee.

RELATED: Las Vegas Raiders 2026 NFL Draft recap: Best class in years, but the wide receiver room still needs an answer

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

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

montreal canadiens news

Tampa Bay’s strategy of rushing players, harassing goaltenders and punching opponents in every scrimmage is backfiring spectacularly. In fact, in addition to the series lead, the Canadiens have actually had more hits than their opponents through three games. [Tampa Bay’s Strategy Is Backfiring In Series Versus Canadiens]

The discrepancy in high-danger shots in the series is hard to ignore. In fact, after three games, the Canadiens have accounted for 75% of high-danger scoring opportunities at 5v5, the highest mark of all teams in the NHL playoffs.

For fun, here are the HDCF% of the various teams in the playoffs after three games. It reflects the share of high-danger scoring chances a team generates.

#GoHabsGo Leading the league by a huge margin with 75%. https://t.co/vtaVVh8y3G pic.twitter.com/1XZdiqMTul

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 25 April 2026

Apart from the physical battle, which the Habs are winning, there are several other reasons why the Canadiens have managed to take the lead in the series, including the excellent play of the third pair of Arbor Czekaj and Jayden Struble. [Top 3 Reasons The Canadiens Have A Series Lead]

Believe it or not, Shekaz leads the entire NHL in expected goal share with an impressive 83.8%. [NST]

Kirby Dach discusses support from head coach Martin Saint-Louis as he overcomes an endless list of injuries in recent seasons.

Kirby Dach on receiving a vote of confidence from Habs coach Marty St. Louis yesterday:

“I think as a competitor, you want a chance to respond. You want to be able to go out there and prove your worth. This game is tough, there are a lot of mistakes, it’s not… pic.twitter.com/uYFCvEuOqz

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 25 April 2026

This is clearly trolling, but comparatively speaking, it is quality trolling. Additionally, given that Brady Tkachuk appears to be one of the worst leaders in the league, perhaps it is time to examine his position in the Senators organization. Or maybe he is a great leader who never seems to have luck when it comes to leadership. Difficult to say.

Arbor Zekaj has more points than Brady Tkachuk in the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/t1j569ZKzS

– Alex (@ivandemigoal) 25 April 2026

The clip embedded below has nothing to do with the Habs, but when a dirtbag like Ridley Gregg starts punching a player who’s being pinned down, it’s hard not to roll your eyes. That is pure cowardice.

Will this despicable act by Ridley Gregg be sanctioned by the NHL?🤔 pic.twitter.com/drSzZb6KrY

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) 25 April 2026

Sportsknot Network

Sunny Mehta already has the option to pick up the phone and negotiate a potential New Jersey Devils trade and improve his top six. After failing to make the playoffs for the 10th consecutive season, the Detroit Red Wings are now the longest-serving team to miss the postseason after the Buffalo Sabers punched their ticket this spring. [New Jersey Devils]

Maybe it’s the rivalry factor. The Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers have a history of controversial meetings, and this includes their ongoing first-round games. Or maybe it’s a chance to see the Penguins’ big three players — Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang — back in the playoffs after a three-year absence. Perhaps it’s the continuation of interest in hockey in the United States after the Winter Olympics and the American gold medal. [Pittsburgh Penguins]

Just a week ago, the Senators were filled with hope as they entered the first round of their series against the Hurricanes. Flash forward to Saturday, and the Senators are the first team in the NHL to be eliminated, losing their first-round series 4-0. [Ottawa Senators]

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

It seems like Arvel Reese has no idea about the roster he will be joining after becoming the New York Giants’ first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Thursday night was a wild night for Ohio State linebacker Arvel Reese. Heading into the first round of the event, many draft pundits had him going to either the New York Jets at No. 2 overall or the Arizona Cardinals at No. 3. However, he did not join any team. He was not even selected by the Tennessee Titans at No. 4 overall.

Instead, a player who many football evaluators believed had genuine superstar potential fell to the Giants at fifth overall. Although few expected Reese to fall this far, it was still a possibility. Because he could go somewhere in the top five, one would hope the First-Team All-American would have done some homework on which rosters he could work on.

Well, it seems that in the case of the Giants, they abandoned that research because they may have thought there was no chance he would end up as the newest member of Big Blue on Thursday night.

Arvel Reese only knows one New York Giants player?

During the press conference following his selection, Reese was asked which new teammate he was most looking forward to meeting. The 20-year-old spent 10 seconds trying to find the answer. When he finally figured it out, the answer was that one player wasn’t even on his side of the ball. “Jackson Dart,” Reese said.

While the Giants didn’t have a great defense last year, they still have some very good players on defense. An obvious choice would have been three-time Pro Bowler – including in 2025 – Brian Burns. Or 2025 first-round pick Abdul Carter. A player who dominated Ohio State’s conference, the Big Ten, in 2024. Even three-time Pro Bowler Dexter Lawrence, because of his popular sack dance, would have made sense, even if he was traded last week.

It’s not a good thing for Reese that he knows so little about the team he’s going to. Giants fans will have to hope he was still filled with excitement about being drafted, that his mind suddenly went blank, or he was so focused on OSU getting back to the national title last season that he watched few NFL games.

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 were looking at a 2–1 series hole until their star-studded special teams took over.

Despite being outshot (61-60) and outscored (6-3) at 5-on-5, the Stars’ power play has been extremely hot in this series and scored three times in their 4-3, double-OT win over the Minnesota Wild in Game 3 on Wednesday in St. Paul, Minn.

Wyatt Johnson scored the game-winner on the power play at 12:10 of the second extra session. The Stars have won two consecutive matches and now lead the best-of-7 series 2-1.

Game 4 takes place Saturday at 4:30 pm CT in St. Paul.

stars power play is on

Dallas PP picks up where it left off in the regular season.

The Stars ranked second in the NHL during the regular season in power-play efficiency (28.6%), trailing only the historically great Edmonton Oilers (30.6). But where the Oilers’ man-advantage has faltered through two games, the Stars’ development is thriving.

Dallas is 6 of 17 (35.3%) on the power play in its series and has scored multiple man-up goals in each of its last two wins. Johnson and teammate Matt Duchene have a pair of power-play goals in the series and superstar wing Jason Robertson also scored on the power play in Game 1.

“When you get opportunities, it’s important to take them,” Johnson said. “Nice to have him [in double OT]. “I was just trying to move forward and do whatever I can to help.”

Duchene’s man-up goal gave Dallas the lead for good in a 4–2 win over Minnesota in Game 2, but his power-play marker in Game 3 set the stage for Johnston’s heroics.

The Stars trailed 3–2 in the final seconds of the third period on a PP after Bobby Brink tipped Radek Faksa at 8:27. Dallas had failed on three consecutive second period power plays which gave the Wild enough momentum to take the lead late in the second period.

“This is the time of year you’ve got to stick with it. You can’t get frustrated,” Stars coach Glenn Gulutzan said. “We are playing against an elite team and elite class [penalty] Killer. The swings are going to go in that direction. It is not going to be an easy journey.”

It was Dallas’ only PP in the third period or first overtime – meanwhile, the Wild had five man-advantages in that period. But Duchesne got a sharp-angle shot past Minnesota goalie Jesper Wallstad on a great cross-slot pass from Mikko Rantanen, tying the game.

“Quite important,” said Duchene of the power-play contribution. “We were just living with it. This team, I’ve talked about how balanced we are, and it feels even more calm than in years past, just how patient and in the moment we are.”

Stars penalty kill has also been very good

Special teams can be a big X-factor in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

A strong or shaky power play can turn the momentum of a game or series, especially if a result starts snowballing.

So even though the Stars have given Minnesota 15 man-advantages in the series, and been shorthanded seven times in Game 3, after going 2 of 4 in Game 1 they have answered the bell by shutting down 10 of the Wild’s last 11 power plays.

“Our special teams have been excellent,” Gulutzan said.

Additionally, the Stars PK faced three potentially game-changing situations after Duchene tied the game. Rantanen first went to the penalty box for tripping at 12:30 of the third period, then forwards Sam Steele and Jamie Benn were each cited in overtime, but Dallas did not even allow a shot against Jake Oettinger on the OT power play.

“I had my head down, looking out of one eye and was just like, ‘Oh my God, let us deal with this,'” Duchesne said. “They were incredible. We knew after getting those two we needed to move forward [power plays] In [double] OT.”

Of course, the Wild paid a hefty price to acquire defenseman Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks earlier this season so he could join Kirill Kaprizov (19 ppg), Matt Boldy (30 power-play points) and Joel Eriksson-Ek (16 ppg). Minnesota finished third in the league in power plays (25.2%), but have been indifferent in their last two losses.

“They’ve got some great players. It’s a talented power play,” Gulutzan said. “I thought our guys did a really good job.”

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

crystal Palace Fans have mocked Florence’s city-wide lockdown despite no problems being reported ahead of the clash with Fiorentina.

Firenze Viola reports on the situation in Florence todayWhich includes photos of various Crystal Palace fans enjoying a visit to the Italian city.

Florence under lockdown

Sport Witness covered the report yesterday How Florence essentially went into lockdown before Crystal Palace fans arrived.

1,300 Crystal Palace fans have traveled for the Europa Conference League tie, and the Italians were taking no chances.

The authorities had taken various top measures for the arrival, with the work being carried out under tight security since this morning.

The plans include police in anti-riot preparedness, while municipal teams have set up anti-ram barriers around various monuments in the city.

This security will be in effect from Wednesday 8 am to Thursday midnight. The plan is to create a secure perimeter designed to prevent vandalism or accidental damage. For 48 hours, Florence is acting as a ‘fortified city’.

Crystal Palace fans behave

However, these fears are completely baseless. Firenze Viola reports Crystal Palace fans have added nothing but color to Florence since yesterday.

They have decorated the area around Santa Maria Novella in their club’s colours, chanting and reveling in high spirits. It’s all a lot of fun, as it should be.

The police have also confirmed this and said that ‘there has been no disturbance of any kind’ due to their presence. A few Crystal Palace fans have also been seen wandering around, some alone, proudly wearing shirts and scarves.

Overall, it seems the atmosphere is positive.

Crystal Palace fans are enjoying their European adventure and the opportunity to visit one of Italy’s best cities. He appeared to have no intention of causing any trouble, perhaps surprising the Italian authorities.

The Washington Capitals’ AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, clinched a spot in the Calder Cup playoffs. They did so on Wednesday with a dominant 5-1 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Ivan Miroshnichenko, Ilya Protas and Clay Stevenson all returned after being called up by the Capitals. He helped Hershey clinch a playoff berth for the sixth consecutive season and first under head coach Derek King.

Miroshnichenko recorded his 13th goal of the season on the power play with one assist, while Protas finished with two assists. Protas has 64 points in 67 games, which leads all AHL rookies and is sixth in the league. Meanwhile, Miroshnichenko now has 100 career AHL points.

Stevenson started in net a day after stopping 27 of 28 shots to help the Capitals defeat Columbus. He played even better with 32 saves on 33 shots in the Bears’ win.

Corey Schueneman and Matt Strome, Dylan’s younger brother, also contributed goals for Hershey. Then, in the third period, Alexander Suzdalev and Sam Bitton both recorded empty-netters to seal the victory.

Unfortunately, Bogdan Trineyev suffered an upper body injury in the second period and did not return. It’s bad enough that the Bears were already missing some key players in the lineup.

With the win, Hershey improved to 31–30–6–3 and is currently in fifth place in the Atlantic Division. They have two games left to decide who their first round opponent will be.

Harry Lichtman is an award-winning journalist who covers the Washington Capitals for SportsNut. He also contributes to the sites… More about Harry Lichtman

Just days after being officially eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs, the New Jersey Devils played spoiler on Saturday.

The Devils scored three third period goals and eliminated the Detroit Red Wings from postseason contention with a 5–3 victory at Little Caesars Arena.

Jesper Bratt had two goals and an assist, and Jack Hughes had a goal and an assist. The Devils snapped a two-game losing streak, taking the season series 2–1 from the Wings and winning for the ninth time in their last 15 games.

Devils rally to defeat Detroit Red Wings on Saturday

The Wings entered the game desperate, hoping to keep their playoff hopes alive. Detroit recorded the game’s first 10 shots on goal, the last of which was Justin Faulk’s 15th goal of the season to put the Wings up 1–0 at 9:41 of the first.

Less than a minute after Hughes’ goal, on the Devils’ first shot on goal, both tied the score and helped the Devils find their game. Nevertheless, the Devils were 13 minutes away from their third consecutive loss after Detroit forward Emmitt Finney scored his 13th goal of the season on a rebound at 7:00 of the final frame.

“He definitely had a lot to play for,” Bratt said. “They had to go for it and win.”

Still, Cody Glass added to his career year by scoring a spectacular goal, his 19th, at 11:18. Bratt then executed a perfect two-on-one off a turnover created by Hughes, and his 22nd of the year with just 3:34 left in regulation to give the Devils a 4–3 lead.

“We were just patient and waiting for them to make mistakes,” Bratt said. “We just took advantage of it to a certain extent.”

With Detroit’s season at stake – with a win it could have kept pace with the Ottawa Senators, who had defeated the New York Islanders earlier in the day – the Devils outscored them 12–7 in the final frame. New Jersey sealed its 41st win on an empty net goal by Dawson Mercer.

“I’m very proud of the group right now,” Bratt said. “I thought we played very well, a very solid road game.”

The second period was dominated by devils

Devils coach Sheldon Keefe attributed their early game struggles to Dougie Hamilton’s first-period tripping penalty, which “caught us off guard.” But after surviving that and Detroit’s early pressure, the Devils dominated the second period.

The Devils outshot the Red Wings 13–8 in the second and took the second-period shot-attempt count 33–13. According to Natural Stat Trick, New Jersey had a total expected goals total of 1.72 in the second period, and recorded 21 scoring chances and nine high-danger chances.

“I really liked our game today,” Keefe said. “It took us a while to get going on offense… Once we learned how to cook, I thought we were pretty good the rest of the way.

“Key second period, which is what we were looking for.”

The Devils nearly trailed 2–1 heading into the third, as David Perron gave the Red Wings the lead with his 12th goal of the season at 11:59. But Bratt’s sight-seeing shot from the high slot beat Gibson and gave the Devils the rare puck luck they had sorely lacked all year.

Keefe said, “We weren’t necessarily rewarded. It took a while.” “[The Devils’ play] “Probably got some mileage out of their top defenseman in that second period, which probably worked to our advantage later in the game.”

Jake Allen was solid in goal

Faulk’s goal was a stoppable shot, but Devils goaltender Jake Allen was difficult to stop when he was under for most of the first period.

Allen made 25 saves, 12 of which came in the first period where he allowed one goal but according to Natural Stat Trick, the Red Wings had a 1.91 expected goals against. The Wings finished with 3.78 xG, and Allen blocked six of seven high-danger shots (.857 save%) while outscoring Gibson at the other end.

Allen will likely start the Devils’ season finale at Boston on Tuesday, as Nico Douse will start Sunday against Ottawa and No. 1 goaltender Jacob Markstrom was shut down on Friday. He has been playing well all season long and has improved his numbers to 17-17-2 with a .904 save% and 2.74 GAA this season.

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

The Pittsburgh Steelers will have a new identity when the 2026 season begins. In an ideal world, Aaron Rodgers would again lead the charge on offense for Mike McCarthy. Defensively, obviously, Cam Heyward and TJ Watt lead the charge.

Still, the Steelers can only rely on Rodgers for so long. The four-time NFL MVP is in his prime and will need playmakers to help the Steelers’ offense reach its true potential.

Trading for Michael Pittman would certainly help, but is it enough? Pittsburgh may not feel like their work is done at the receiver position, and we’d be willing to bet Rodgers would agree.

Recently, NFL insider Tony Pauline of Essential Sports reported that Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. is “in play” for the Steelers with the 21st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Pauline says most analysts have Cooper as the WR4 in this draft class.

Pauline wrote, “Cooper is building momentum among scouts and receivers coaches.” “He’s athletic and a great pass catcher with a developing game, and people rave about his character. Cooper has talked with every team from picks 18 to 36. I’m told Cooper is in play for the Pittsburgh Steelers at pick No. 21 despite being traded for Michael Pittman.”

Of course, each individual team structures their draft board differently and has different prospects than others. We all know the Steelers see Cooper as someone who can be better than the fourth-best receiver prospect.

No matter what, the Steelers could definitely use another playmaker in their offense to help draw attention away from DK Metcalf, Pittman and Pat Freiermuth.

RELATED: 6 best Dexter Lawrence landing spots after Giants trade request

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

Alex Manninger initially played for two clubs in England and made a name for himself armory.

The goalkeeper was signed by the Gunners of Graz AK in 1997 as a highly rated prospect. The Austrian played 15 times in the Premier League during the 1999/2000 campaign.

Hopes of finding real success at Arsenal did not last long and in 2001 he was loaned out to Fiorentina.

In 2002 he was sold permanently to Espanyol and after several transfers he ended up at Juventus.

Manninger has now expressed regret over his exit, looking back on his time at Arsenal.

Desire more Arsenal minutes

Now talking to 48 year old Manninger gazzetta dello sport Many things related to his career.

He seemed particularly emotional when asked about Arsenal and his move to London in 1997.

The Austrian explained: “I get emotional just thinking about it. I was a 20-year-old kid. Wenger wanted to bring an international dimension to the club and focus on young players. I was one of them. Arsene even started a training camp, which was unusual for the Premier League at the time.”

Manninger revealed he is ready to become Arsenal’s first-choice forward. He still regrets not being able to fulfill that dream during his tenure at the Emirates.

“I have to say that, despite my age, I felt comfortable in goal. In front I had a legend like Tony Adams. He taught me a lot. I have only one regret: leaving too early. But you know, I wanted to play.”

Apart from Arsenal, he also opened up about his loan spell at Fiorentina and revealed why he should not have joined them.

“Yes, and it was the wrong decision. I found the situation absurd. It was 2001 and the club was on the verge of bankruptcy. We did not receive our salaries for several months.

“Coach was [Roberto] Mancini, and from time to time he would say to us, ‘I wonder if we will train tomorrow.’ He was joking, but we all knew we could go bankrupt at any moment.”

Manninger’s career was still quite long

In total, the former goalkeeper played more than 60 times for Arsenal during his Gunners spell.

He played 137 times in Serie A, with the majority of his appearances coming at Siena. Later in his career, he also worked at Liverpool, where he retired from the game. He also played more than 40 times for Juventus.

Overall, even though Manninger’s career could have been different, he did enough that he will be remembered as a cult figure of Serie A.

🇧🇷 Exclusive: Arsenal tracking Lucca Marques

⭐️ 18-year-old’s rapid growth draws attention
⚽️ Youngest player to score in Copa Libertadores in Sao Paulo history
🇩🇪Borussia Dortmund also interested
➡️The Gunners can make a formal offer in the summerhttps://t.co/u7LuPMgUyJ #afc #bvb

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 3 April 2026

Arsenal have once again been in the crosshairs of Luiz Henrique, with the Zenit winger going further than ever before by revealing talks with current Gunners players about a potential move.

The Brazilian’s admiration for the club is no longer just a childhood preference – it is now linked to direct insight from inside Mikel Arteta’s team.

The 23-year-old has continued to build his strong reputation with the Russia and Brazil national teams. He made two impressive cameos in friendlies against France and Croatia and will likely be on the plane to North America in June.

His numbers support that discussion. Luiz Henrique has already made double-digit goal contributions for Zenit this season, maintaining the same explosive profile that made him stand out in Brazil. Pace, dribbling and one-on-one ability remain his main weapons, and they continue to translate at a high level.

Arsenal transfer talks and growing rift

Luiz Henrique’s relationship with Arsenal began with the player himself. Last November he said he would like to play for the Gunners. Meanwhile, his agent revealed that if his client ever left Russia he would prefer to move to England.

Now, he has taken it a step further by confirming that he has spoken directly to Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli about life at the club.

“I really like Arsenal. I’ve said this a lot in interviews. I like the way they play, very attacking, using wide players on both sides.” he explained flashscore In Brazil.

He then revealed those internal conversations: “I’ve spoken to Gabriel Magalhaes and Martinelli. They told me the team there is excellent, and also the coach. Arteta is a father figure, someone who really likes the players and always listens to them. So, God willing, I also want the opportunity to work with him.”

Those comments reinforce the idea that Arsenal are not just an abstract ambition. There is now a clear connection between the player and the club environment, which can often play a role in future transfer decisions.

Background and emerging trajectory of the Premier League

Arsenal are not alone in tracking Luiz Henrique in the past. Before his departure to Zenit, people were deeply interested Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle UnitedEnglish clubs are actively competing for his signature. This interest remains relevant given their continued evolution.

Players with direct, powerful and creative profiles in wide areas consistently attract the attention of the Premier League.

Given his age and trajectory, it would be surprising if he stayed in Russia long-term, especially as Zenit are now open to offers and have set an asking price of €40m (£34m).

But Luiz Henrique has clear priorities. He wants to win the World Cup with Brazil and continue performing at Zenit. At the same time, he is openly planning a move to England, and Arsenal sit firmly at the center of that plan.

The winger already has the level to start for several Premier League teams, and his profile suits the demands of the league. Based on current form and output, he would certainly fit in well with Arteta’s attacking structure when given the opportunity.

It would be fair to say that he has contributed to the creation of the landscape. Now the transfer is up to Arsenal.

🇩🇪 Kenneth Eichhorn, Jean-Mateau Bahoya and Nathaniel Brown

➡️Arsenal in the mix for 3 Bundesliga youngstershttps://t.co/WTT4Mfh9Hw #afc

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) April 1, 2026

Portsmouth’s decision on Gustavo Caballero is gradually becoming more complicated. The winger’s position is now shaped by club performances, international recognition and rising market expectations.

The 24-year-old joined Portsmouth on loan from Santos earlier this season. The deal already included a clear path to a permanent transfer.

As explained in detail earlierIf Caballero reaches a set number of league appearances, the Championship side can trigger a buyout clause.

That position is considered achievable, and the structure gives Portsmouth some control. If activated, the clause would pay them approximately £4.25 million (€5 million) for 80% of the player’s rights. The remaining percentage is kept elsewhere.

Since arriving in England, Caballero has begun to settle in. He has made 10 Championship appearances, scoring once against Millwall – and is increasingly being used on the left wing. His minutes have increased continuously. This reflects the confidence of the coaching staff as he adapts to the physical demands of the league.

Off the pitch, the winger has also spoken positively about his debut. In a recent interview with Paraguayan radioHe described English football as intense and competitive, while emphasizing his focus on earning minutes and adapting tactically.

That progress has not gone unnoticed internationally. Paraguay manager Gustavo Alfaro Caballero has already been highlighted As a player on their radar, his development since leaving Santos was praised and his renewed consistency in England was pointed to as a major factor.

World Cup factor puts pressure on decision

The situation with Gustavo Caballero is now taking on another layer. This could have a direct impact on the long-term plans of Portsmouth.

according to Latest reports in BrazilSantos is actively monitoring its development with a view to future sales. The expectation internally is that the value of the Caballero may increase in the coming months. This is especially true due to his increasing involvement with the Paraguay national team.

He was recently called up and featured briefly in a friendly, and there is belief that he could be part of the squad for the 2026 World Cup. This prospect represents a clear market dynamic.

Santos is not planning to reinstate the player to their team. Instead, they are presenting him as a potential sale, hoping that international performances – coupled with his time in England – will increase his value ahead of the next transfer window.

What does this mean for Portsmouth

Gustavo Caballero’s trajectory puts Portsmouth in a favorable but time-sensitive position.

The current agreement gives them a set price and a controllable trigger through appearances. However, external factors are now forming around the player. Increased visibility with Paraguay and the prospect of a World Cup could push his valuation above the current trend.

For Portsmouth, this creates an obvious incentive. Securing a player ahead of that potential growth would represent a controlled investment in a growing asset. He is already adapting to the Championship.

Additionally, the club would like more evidence on the pitch. Caballero is still early in its optimization, and although the signs are positive, sustainability will likely determine whether the segment is active or not.

Therefore, the coming weeks will bring additional load. Each appearance not only brings him closer to the trigger point, but also increases the possibility that Portsmouth may need to take action before the wider market.

The New York Giants have a new head coach, and suddenly, everyone wants to get back on the team and play for the widely respected John Harbaugh. First, it was Odell Beckham Jr., who used his recent performance in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic to campaign for a return to New York and the opportunity to catch passes from Jackson Dart.

Now, another former Giants great is singing a similar tune, though unlike OBJ, he didn’t play in a flag football event, and he doesn’t play offense either. But he still wants to play for the Giants again.

Notably, on Tuesday, pass-rusher Jason Pierre-Paul took to social media to campaign for his return to New York.

“@nygients I’m still available and ready to run some OT and dominate the Giants way in run-stop football. Let’s make it happen, Giants fans, Giants Nation let’s go!! I know, I know, I know.”

Pierre-Paul being available at this stage of the offseason isn’t really a surprise. The 37-year-old played in just three games for the Buccaneers last season, recording one pass deflection and no other statistics. In 2024, he is out of the NFL altogether.

In other words, don’t expect the Giants to be knocking on JPP’s door any time soon, but we believe it wouldn’t hurt to give the franchise icon a workout. Pierre-Paul has won two Super Bowls in his career: one with the Giants and the other with the Buccaneers. He also racked up 94.5 sacks in the process, but simply due to his age, we don’t expect him to get a chance to add to that total.

RELATED: 2026 NFL Mock Draft: End of March edition

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

There were plenty of scenes for sore eyes as everyone from the Carolina Hurricanes, regardless of injury, gathered at Lenovo Center for their annual picture day. However, it was the optimistic developments in practice that attracted the most attention on Friday.

Shayne Gostisbehere returned to full practice, skipping the non-contact gear and going straight to standard. Back in business, he claimed his usual spot alongside Alexander Nikishin and ran drills in his typical role on the power play.

Head coach Rod Brind’Amour was asked if he was confident he would participate in Saturday’s game against the New Jersey Devils, the first of a weekend back-to-back set.

“Hopefully,” he said. “I’ll find out tomorrow. I can’t commit right now, because I don’t know…Nowadays, with injuries, I just wait until they say they’re ready to go.”

Gostisbehere was injured in a March 6 game against the Edmonton Oilers during the Hurricanes’ final Western Conference road trip of the year. After delivering a hit to Colton Dach, the Oilers forward’s skate came up during his fall and struck Gostisbeer in the groin.

While he initially went down the tunnel, Gostisbeer returned for two more shifts – one in which he scored on the power play – then officially left.

Gostisbehere has missed 26 games this season.

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNut. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

Tottenham Hotspur have been given a very clear transfer message from Mathis Tell’s camp as fresh claims of a move away from North London begin to circulate again.

The 20-year-old only joined Spurs permanently last summer, signing until 2031, and the transfer was reported to be worth around £30m (€35m) after an first loan fee of around €10m.

But Tell is not a player that Tottenham have brought in for a short-term fix. He was to be part of the club’s next attacking cycle. Yet the season hasn’t really taken off for him. He made 31 appearances in all competitions scoring three goals and one assist, while 24 of those appearances came in the Premier League for 898 minutes.

With Spurs sitting perilously low in the table and Tell still trying to establish himself, it’s not hard to see why the rumors have resurfaced. recent reporting He also hinted at fitness concerns while talking about a thigh problem during the international break.

Agent sends strong Bundesliga signal

Mathis Tell’s agent Ghadiri Camara has now responded to the latest conversation from Germany. local outlet football transfers He is said to have addressed the speculation surrounding Borussia Dortmund and made the player’s situation very clear.

“I don’t know if Dortmund really wants Mathis or not, but honestly, a return to Bayern is the only possibility for Mathis to come back to Germany. He can’t play for any other club in the Bundesliga. He loves Bayern.”

This is clearly remarkable for Bayern. This is also notable for Tottenham.

The main line for Spurs isn’t really Bayern affection. This is the solidity of stance around the Bundesliga. Tell’s camp are effectively saying that, if his future in Germany were ever discussed again, there is only one destination they would entertain.

This closes down the Dortmund angle immediately and leaves Tottenham with a simple picture.

What does this mean for Tottenham

Mathis Tell is still young enough for the Spurs to be patient. He will not turn 21 until the end of April, and his contract gives the club strong control.

At the same time, it’s another reminder that Tottenham are dealing with a player whose emotional connection to Bayern has not gone away. This does not mean that he is now insisting on exit. This means that any long-term discussions over his future may eventually involve Munich again.

However, for now, the message is pretty straightforward. If Tell does one day leave Tottenham and return to Germany, his agent insists it will only be to Bayern.

Tottenham Hotspur youngster Luka Vuckovic is on Barcelona’s radar for the summer as the Catalans look for a new centre-back for the future.

Sport Bild Report Barcelona are one of the possible options for the 19-year-old, who has been recommended by Croatian icon Ivan Rakitic.

The German newspaper today covered the Tottenham centre-back ahead of what is likely to be a busy summer for him.

frosty tottenham affair

Luka Vuckovic is set to return to Tottenham later this year after a successful loan spell at HSV Hamburg. But whether he will remain at Spurs beyond that point is currently unclear.

Sportbild report that Vuckovic is on bad terms with Spurs. He was disappointed by Tottenham’s decision to loan him out last summer. He also wants to play in Europe next season.

This has made some Champions League clubs cautious of him, as the Croatian is considered a mega-talent in European football. His performances for HSV have further cemented this. Liverpool are also among those talking about him.

Barcelona eyes Vuckovic

Barcelona especially have their eyes on the centre-back. They are looking for long, strong headers on the ball and keeping an eye on Luka Vuckovic.

The defender has also made it clear that he would ‘like to play in Spain’ at some point. This is being seen as a transfer incentive for Barcelona.

There is also the fact that he is represented by Pini Zahavi. Barcelona president Joan Laporta has a good relationship with the 83-year-old. He also represents Barcelona coach Hansi Flick and striker Robert Lewandowski.

According to Sportbild it is clear that Zahavi is in contact with the Catalans about Vuckovic. Furthermore, former Barça star Ivan Rakitic has also recommended the HSV defender to his former club.

tottenham asking price

The question is whether Tottenham want to sell, especially in the summer window in which Christian Romero and Micky Van Veen are pushing to leave.

They currently value Vuckovic at €60 million, but that figure is rising. It would likely get a big boost if he plays in the World Cup with Croatia this summer.

It is unclear whether Barcelona will pay this amount or not. But they are making the rounds and it feels like Zahvi is working behind the scenes; This is a story that could pick up real steam soon.

🇹🇷 Okan Buruk | Surprise name thrown into the Tottenham mix

🏆🏆🏆Won the league for 3 consecutive years
⭐️ Experience dealing with the stars at Galatasaray
📅 Contract expires in summerhttps://t.co/t8r3u4TPxr #thfc #joyce

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 26 March 2026

The Milwaukee Bucks recently caused a stir when it was revealed that they were not on the same page with superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo regarding a possible return to the lineup this season. The Bucks prefer to shut down the superstar for the year, while Antetokounmpo himself is eager to get back on the court.

Recently, NBA insider ESPN’s Brian Windhorst speculated on what this could mean for the team moving forward.

“It’s a failure to communicate between Giannis and the Bucks,” said Windhorst, formerly of NBA on ESPN on Twitter. “It’s a failure to get on the same page as what happened during the trade season… At the risk of making a copy of ourselves, why wouldn’t the Bucks want to play Giannis? They don’t want to play him because they don’t want him to get hurt.”

This was definitely a callback to a viral meme from a few years ago, in which a clip of Windhorst pointing to the ceiling while speculating on what was going on with the Utah Jazz at the time went viral on social media.

Windhorst expressed his belief that the Bucks currently want to keep Antetokounmpo out of the lineup so that his potential value on the trade market does not diminish this offseason. Milwaukee surprised many by opting to retain the star during the recent NBA trade deadline, though some have speculated that this was simply a move to wait out the summer, in which teams would be in a better position to make a more attractive offer.

In any case, the Bucks are next scheduled to take the floor against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday evening as they continue their West Coast trip.

Liverpool midfielder Alexis McAllister has reacted to the collapse of Argentina’s plans to face Spain in the Finalsima, after weeks of uncertainty.

The match was originally scheduled for March in Qatar, but that plan soon fell through. Rising political tensions in the Middle East made the location impractical. As a result, UEFA and CONMEBOL were forced to return to the negotiating table.

From there the situation became more complicated. Several options were discussed, including holding the game in Spain, moving it to another European venue or even splitting it into two legs. However, no consensus was reached on any of those options.

Why did Finalissima collapse?

The main issue was not just logistics. It was also about checks and balances.

UEFA’s priority was to keep the match in Europe and play it before the World Cup cycle intensified. Spain was open to that idea, with Madrid being mentioned as a possible host.

Argentina and CONMEBOL, on the other hand, insisted on a more neutral solution. They were reluctant to accept a one-off match in Europe and instead suggested either a truly neutral venue or postponing the match.

That difference in approach created a standoff. With no agreement on place or time and no real need to force an agreement, the match was ultimately cancelled.

In practice, Finalissima did not collapse because of any one decision. It disappeared as a result of competing priorities between UEFA and CONMEBOL, when Qatar was no longer an option.

Mac Allister’s response

For McAllister, this situation removes a rare opportunity to play in a high-profile international final against elite European opposition. He has talked before about the much-desired stability, As we covered at the time.

The 27-year-old has been a key figure for Liverpool this season. Under Arne Slot his role has become more defined, often operating as a deeper playmaker while supporting the attacking phases.

That form has added up to his international status. He remains a regular starter for Argentina and was expected to feature prominently against Spain.

Instead, Argentina will now face Mauritania and Zambia in friendly matches at La Bombonera.

talking to TYC SportsMcAllister did not hide his disappointment.

“It’s a shame (not playing the Finalsima) because it was a good match. It didn’t happen and now we have to concentrate on friendly matches.” He said.

He then reinforced the players’ perspective on the situation: “Matches are won on the pitch. We are players and we want to play, that’s the most important thing.”

McAllister also clarified that the team still hopes that the competition can be revived in the future. “I’d like to play it later,” He added.

what happens next

For now, Finalissima remains in limbo rather than being officially rescheduled.

This allows players like Mac Allister to focus on regular international fixtures rather than a major intercontinental clash. Still, his comments underlined the widespread sentiment among the Argentina team.

They wanted to play. They were ready for this. And, at least from a player’s perspective, it’s hard to accept the decision to let it go.

🇸🇪 Demba N’Diaye | “Liverpool or Real Madrid”

➡️The defender expressed his desire to join the Reds or Los Blancos
📈There’s nothing wrong with dreaming https://t.co/Ilupk2QBhX #lfc

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 23 March 2026

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain got a standing ovation when he debuted in Monday’s 123-103 win against the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena. McCann returned to Philadelphia for the first time since his trade to the Thunder. He finished with 13 points on 5-for-11 shooting, including three triples and two assists.

After the game, McCain addressed how he navigated through emotions He said, he felt that way in his first game, according to Justin Martínez of The Oklahoman.

“A little bit. I think it will always feel weird because it happened so quickly, and it’s been almost a month. It was good to be back, but being back here will definitely always feel weird. Coming back and not being here is like a nostalgic feeling. Hopefully it will stop soon, but I still don’t feel like I have closure yet.”

Jared McCain was asked if he thinks he’s able to close a chapter by returning to Philadelphia tonight:

“A little bit. I think it will always feel weird because it happened so quickly and it’s been almost a month. It’s nice to be back, but it will definitely be… pic.twitter.com/sFYHtDSfKb

– Justin Martinez (@Justintohoops) 24 March 2026

All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 22 points on 9 of 13 attempts as the Thunder had six players reach double figures, including Jalen Williams (18 points), who returned from a hamstring injury in Monday’s 20-point win.

Jared McCain expressed his appreciation to former teammates

Thunder guard Jared McCann opened up about his return to Philadelphia, facing his former team as a member of the visiting team for the first time since their trade at the deadline. McCain will never forget the relationships he made During his time with the 76ers.

McCain said, “There are so many people in this organization that have touched me, and have been able to put a smile on my face some days. I’m very grateful for that.” “To be able to see everybody back there.” [are] I still have to meet some people. But seeing a group of guys who helped me throughout my rookie season, through my injury; It’s really great to see.”

“There are so many people in this organization who have touched me, who have brought a smile to my face… I’m very grateful for that.”

Jared McCain had a lot of positive things to say about the 76ers in their game

(via @nba)
pic.twitter.com/ByDPnK0hNx

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 24 March 2026

McCann and the Thunder are on a 12-game winning streak.

De’Aaron Fox spent the first seven and a half years of his NBA career with the Sacramento Kings. 13 months after being traded to the San Antonio Spurs, there’s no doubt where the two-time All-Star’s attention lies, including when he returns to his former home.

“No, it’s just another game to me,” Fox said. “We’re worried about us. We’re worried about trying to win a championship.”

Fox’s tenure in Sacramento included two of the franchise’s best seasons in the last 20 years. The 2022–2023 team won the division championship with 48 wins. The following year, the Kings won 46. It was the organization’s most successful season since a 50-win campaign in 2004–05.

Fox reiterated, “Obviously, it’s nice to be back here because I get a chance to meet people I’ve seen for years. But, other than that, when we get between those lines, it’s a normal game.”

De’Aaron Fox comments on current Kings

Things are a lot different in Sacramento than they were in February of 2024, when a trade sent Fox to San Antonio. Kings star Domantas Sabonis is out the remainder of the season after undergoing meniscus surgery. Russell Westbrook, who started 51-18 in his most recent contest, a 132-104 loss to the Spurs, is now a key rotational player.

“I mean, obviously, the personnel and everything has changed, but I don’t see them any more than any other team,” Fox said.

At 18–52, the Kings have the worst record in the West after the loss to the Spurs. It’s a spot these Spurs are somewhat familiar with. Two years ago, they finished 22-60 with rookie Victor Vembanyama. Although Fox was still in Sacramento at the time, it’s a reality he sees through the eyes of his current and former teammates.

“In the rebuilding phase, I think the young guys (Kings) are playing well,” Fox said. “You want to be able to see it because, looking at where we were last year, the young guys are playing well.”

De’Aaron Fox reflects on the rise of the Spurs

The former Kentucky star played just over a month with the Spurs last season and played just five games with Wembley during that span. Two weeks after the Foxes arrived in San Antonio, Wembanyama was shut down for the remainder of the regular season due to a blood clot in his right shoulder. Less than a month later, the team decided to sideline Fox for the remainder of the year, dealing with a finger injury since training camp.

Through it all, the Spurs improved by 12 wins from the previous season.

“You get that experience, you get those reps, and then you come in the next season, try to hit the ground running,” the 28-year-old guard said.

With 19 points per game this season, Fox is second to Wembley among team scoring leaders and earned his second trip to the All-Star Game. Like the Kings, he is proving to be a major factor in the Spurs’ return to winning ways.

On Tuesday night, the Orlando Magic had a golden opportunity to test themselves against the toughest imaginable opponent in today’s NBA – the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Paolo Banchero played his heart out, scoring 32 points on 12-21 shooting from the field, and the rest of the Magic’s starters did their part – Wendell Carter Jr. recorded a game-high plus-19 on the night.

However, Carter did not play 48 minutes. Unfortunately, the Magic had to play their bench that night, which did not perform well at all against the Thunder. Somehow, in just 13 minutes of play, Carter’s backup Mo Wagner was minus 28 in a five-point loss to the Thunder, 113-108.

To put it mildly, the Magic bench did not play well at all and a large portion of the blame for his team losing the game during his minutes should fall on his shoulders. And after the game, head coach Jamahl Mosley was not at all happy with his bench team, as evidenced by his answer when asked how tough their night was.

“You see it,” Mosley said, according to Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel.

The advantage is that come playoff time, the bench doesn’t have to play as much. But Mosley losing confidence in some of his bench players is not promising for the team’s progress for the remainder of the season.

Magical confidence in Franz Wagner’s eventual return from injury

Young Wagner’s eventual return from an ankle injury will help the Magic. Additionally, the team is missing Anthony Black, forcing Tristan da Silva to start – further thinning the team’s bench core.

There is only less than a month until the playoffs start, so the Magic should have time to better configure their rotation after their bench hampered them in their loss to the Thunder.

The Lakers and Rockets met for the first time since DeAndre Ayton and Clint Capela took aim at each other in the media and social media. The Lakers won 100–92, and neither player had a major impact on the game or the season. Still, Ayton got the last laugh with the win, and because he outshined Capela when he was on the floor, this rivalry doesn’t look to be slowing down either.

The reason Ayton had the last laugh on Capela was that he finished with a +/- of 11, other than the fact that the Lakers won. He was quoted as saying, “I’m no Clint Capela!” The context was that Ayton did not want to catch lobs on offense and instead wanted to do more of that.

The quote went viral when Ayton criticized Capela and his skills and Capela clapped back. He said, “You got 2 of the best floor generals in the game, my dog ​​Lockin.” Then he added two crying and laughing emojis.

It’s worth noting that Ayton may have a point about his offensive skill set being wasted in the Clint Capela role, but Capela, in his prime, was far superior to Ayton at rebounding and defense. On the other hand, the Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers spent seven years figuring out how to maximize that skill set in a way that really helped their championship chances.

Ayton’s career has been defined by talent that was perhaps not wasted, but certainly unevenly applied. This isn’t exactly what you want from a player who the Suns selected first overall ahead of players like Luka Doncic, Jaren Jackson Jr., Trae Young, Mikal Bridges, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Brunson.

The Suns got the most out of Ayton and he helped them reach the NBA Finals. This also led to him earning a max contract, but questions about his effort level have persisted and not gone away throughout his tenure with three different teams. Having a defined role like Capela could do him some good in the long term.

Recently, Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart raised eyebrows when he claimed he was pressured to return to the lineup prematurely while he was injured during his stint with the Memphis Grizzlies. Smart was a member of the Grizzlies for two seasons before joining the Washington Wizards and then the Lakers.

According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Smart said, “I wanted to be 100%, give it everything I got.” “As I’m still working out and getting ready, they’re just like, ‘No, your doctor said you’re ready now.’ And I’m like, ‘I hear what my doctor said, but… this is how I feel.’ Yes, the finger is fine after surgery. But physically, no.”

Now, McMenamin reports that “when contacted by ESPN about Smart’s claims, the Grizzlies had no comment.”

If those claims prove true, it certainly wouldn’t look good for the Grizzlies and their medical staff, although Smart acknowledged that the finger was fine from a surgical standpoint.

The Grizzlies are in full-on tank mode at the moment, having recently removed their starters from a game against the Philadelphia 76ers in the fourth quarter to ensure a loss, and many believe the team will once again explore trade scenarios for point guard Ja Morant this summer after they sent Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz at the trade deadline.

Meanwhile, Smart has fit in well with the Lakers, who are currently on a six-game winning streak, having defeated the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night.

It remains to be seen if the Grizzlies will ever break their silence on Smart’s claims, but for now, this doesn’t bode too well for the franchise.

While Devin Booker sang his praises for Jayson Tatum’s Achilles recovery, Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott made jokes for the Boston Celtics forward.

“I wish he wasn’t playing,” Ott joked on Twitter (formerly Twitter), via AZCentral’s Duane Rankin.

Even with the jokes, Tatum’s recovery was almost unprecedented, as most people thought he would not play in the 2025–26 season. Nevertheless, he came back at a very promising time.

The Boston Celtics are in second place in the Eastern Conference and have done a great job without Tatum. Guys like Jaylen Brown have been in MVP conversations, as well as potential Sixth Man of the Year, Peyton Pritchard’s play has improved.

Those two, the rest of the team and head coach Joe Mazzulla have held down the fort since Tatum was out. Now, the latter is finding its groove on the floor.

Still, keeping the six-time All-Star on the field as a threat is an entirely different game plan. Obviously, the numbers aren’t there, as he continues to recover and get back to real game-speed. The efficiency is not there, but it is something that will come at the appropriate time.

For Ott, the game planning looks much different than it did for the first time when the Suns and Celtics faced off. The Duke basketball standout is a nightmare for both sides.

Very big for a guard, very fast for a forward, seems like a good fit. As Phoenix tries to even up the season series, Monday’s game could be history repeating itself or a potential upset.

The Los Angeles Lakers not only beat the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night; He defeated them. While Luka Doncic made headlines with his game-winning block, the Lakers had that edge thanks to the high-IQ game of Austin Reaves and some veteran guidance from Marcus Smart.

With the game hanging in the balance, Reeves found himself at the charity stripe. Instead of the usual routine, Smart pulled the young guard aside with some very specific instructions.

“I told him to miss it,” Smart explained after the 127-125 overtime win. “I said listen, don’t go out there, don’t do your routine. As soon as you get the ball, one dribble if anything, but shoot it quickly. Nobody’s expecting it, they’re not going to have time to time it.”

“He read one side well.”

Marcus Smart on Austin Reeves’ heads-up play at the free throw line

(via @SpectrumSN)pic.twitter.com/uKBo2vbZXS

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 15 March 2026

Reeves executed the plan to perfection. He deliberately suppressed free throws, caught the Nuggets off guard, and “read the single side” forcing the Los Angeles Lakers to tie the game and force overtime. It was the kind of savvy play that doesn’t always show up in the box score but wins games against elite competition like Denver.

The game capped a great night for Reeves, who led all scorers with 32 points on an efficient shooting performance of 12-of-21. His backcourt partner, Smart, was equally important, providing 21 points and five steals while serving as a defensive orchestrator. Their combined efforts supported Doncic’s 30-point triple-double and helped neutralize Nikola Jokic’s 24-point, 16-rebound masterclass.

For head coach JJ Redick, it’s a dream to see his veteran leader and rising star collaborate on such a nuanced game. The Lakers are proving they have more than just star power; He has the situational awareness needed to grind out tough matches against the best players in the West.

The Minnesota Timberwolves (40-26) have dropped to sixth place in the Western Conference after losing three consecutive games by at least 14 points. When Anthony Edwards and Ayo Dosunmu landed on the injury report before Friday night’s game against the Golden State Warriors (32-33), some fans believed West Coast’s problems could continue. Luckily, both players will be in action inside Chase Center, according to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel.

Edwards is dealing with right knee soreness, but will move on. Dosunmu missed Wednesday’s 153-128 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers with a thumb sprain, so it’s encouraging to know he’ll be on the floor for this contest. While it remains to be seen how effective these guards will be, this update is important.

The Wolves should theoretically do well against the shorthanded Warriors, but fans aren’t taking any capable opponent lightly just yet. Minnesota is just one game away from the NBA Play-In Tournament, with the Phoenix Suns applying the pressure from the No. 7 seed. Although Chris Finch’s group has overcome challenging situations before, no one wants to play an extra game in this tough conference.

Conserving energy may be necessary in potential postseason meetings with the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs or Denver Nuggets. Therefore, it is important for the Timberwolves to take care of business in the final 16 games of the regular season. They can’t accomplish that task unless their franchise keystone is healthy.

Anthony Edwards is scoring a career-high 29.4 points per contest while shooting 49.2 percent from the field and 40.2 percent from behind the 3-point line. He’s getting better year after year and climbing the ladder of NBA superstars. When a two-time All-NBA Second-Team selection is on the final stretch, Minnesota can compete with anyone. Edwards is “the guy” on this team, but Ayo Dosunmu is valuable in his own right.

Acquired in a trade with the Chicago Bulls, the 2021 second-round draft pick is able to ease the No. 5 offensive burden somewhat. He attacks the rim and plays with ferocity, making him a perfect fit for this Timberwolves team.

Edwards and Dosunmu will do their best to overcome any discomfort they are feeling in this matchup with the Warriors. Tip-off is scheduled for 10 pm ET.

The Boston Celtics were in a primetime matchup with another top team in the Western Conference after losing to the San Antonio Spurs a few nights earlier. This time, they had the Oklahoma City Thunder, but they could not win this one either and lost 104–102.

Jaylen Brown played until the end in this game after being ejected against the Spurs for arguing with the referees about a foul call. After this game, he shared that he was mostly satisfied with how the game was called as he went to the free-throw line 14 times, but he felt he could have gone more in the fourth quarter after some hard drives.

Brown then said that maybe he should have flopped to get those calls, and although he didn’t mention Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s name, some believe he might be calling the Thunder star.

Brown said, “We applaud the players for playing the game the right way, but we give an advantage to people who try to manipulate the game for their own advantage. I don’t think that’s basketball. All the false allegations… it’s anything to me.”

Brown wouldn’t be the first to say something about Gilgeous-Alexander’s ability to get to the free-throw line over the past two weeks. When the Thunder played the New York Knicks recently, Mike Brown had some things to say after the game about how it was handled.

“SGA, that’s a tough cover,” the coach said. “He does a very good job of convincing the refs, probably better than anyone in the league, that he’s getting hit.”

At this point, everything people are saying about Gilgeous-Alexander and dirty talk is not working. The referees are seeing something completely different, and it’s causing them to consistently go to the free-throw line.

Most recently, Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo etched his name in the NBA record books with an 83-point performance against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday. This stellar performance put Adebayo past Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game against the Toronto Raptors two decades ago, and he now trails only Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point output for the highest-scoring game in NBA history.

Of course, Bryant had his fair share of high-scoring games throughout his Hall of Fame career, including the final game of his run in LA, in which he scored 60 points against the Utah Jazz. One player on the court for the Jazz that night was Gordon Hayward, and recently, the former NBA wing talked about why Bryant’s 60-point game needs a little context.

“That game was different than any game I’ve ever been a part of… I think he took 50 shots, something like that, so that wasn’t even a legitimate game. Both teams were out. We knew we weren’t getting to the playoffs, they knew they weren’t getting to the playoffs,” Hayward, formerly of SiriusXM, said on Twitter, according to SiriusXM NBA Radio.

However, he made sure to clarify that regardless of the shot attempt statistics, Bryant’s accomplishment was still impressive.

He said, “Obviously, we weren’t just letting him score… His last three minutes were completely different than the last three minutes of the Miami game. His last three minutes in that game were great. It was like old Kobe for three minutes.”

Many have taken issue with the Heat’s late-game strategy on Tuesday to get Adebayo more shot attempts and free throws, claiming that it does not fall into the “ethical” category of scoring records.

Still, no one will ever forget that monster game, or Bryant’s 60-point career finale.

The Golden State Warriors host the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday, and Kristaps Porzingis is not on the team’s injury report, while Draymond Green is listed as questionable. Porzingis is dealing with illness-related issues while Green is listed as undergoing management of a lower back injury. Everything we know about the injury status of Kristaps Porzingis and Draymond Green heading into the Warriors’ game against the Bulls.

*Watch NBA Games Live with fuboTV (Free Trial)*

Kristaps Porzingis, Draymond Green injury status vs. Bulls

It’s good news for Warriors fans that Porzingis is not on the team’s injury report. Since being acquired by the Warriors at the trade deadline, Porzingis has only played in two games as he deals with health uncertainty. Given that Green is questionable, he likely won’t get a concrete update until game time.

In the two games in which Porzingis has had success, he is averaging 10.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 steals, while shooting 42.1 percent from the field, 25 percent from the 3-point line and 50 percent from the free-throw line.

Green has played a little over 27 minutes per game in 53 games. He averaged 8.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists with splits of 41.3 percent shooting from the field, 32.1 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 69.8 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

When the question arises whether or not Draymond Green will play in the Warriors’ game against the Bulls tonight, the answer is not yet clear.

warriors injury report

-Jimmy Butler III out (right ACL surgery)
-Seth Curry out (left sciatic nerve injury management)
-Stephen Curry out (right patellofemoral pain syndrome)
-Draymond Green questionable (management of left lower back injury)
-D’Anthony Melton questionable (left adductor soreness).
-Moses Moody out (right wrist sprain)
-Gary Payton II probable (left ankle injury)
-Quinton Post questionable (bilateral leg pain)

oxen injury report

-Matas Bouzelis probable (right ankle sprain)
-Jack Collins out (surgery on right toe)
-Noah Asengue out (left shoulder surgery)
-Josh Giddy probable (right ankle sprain)
-Jaden Ivy out (left patellofemoral pain syndrome)
-Mac McClung out (G League two-way)
-Lachlan Olbrich out (G League two-way)
-Colin Sexton doubtful (contusion of left fibular head)
-Anfernee Simmons out (left ulnar styloid fracture)
-Jalen Smith probable (left calf strain)
-Patrick Williams questionable (left ankle sprain)

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum had to wait nearly 300 days to play in an NBA game after rupturing his Achilles in May. So, it is safe to say that he is enjoying life on the court, especially since his remarkable comeback has seen C go 2-0 up.

On Sunday afternoon, Tatum and company picked up a 109-98 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on the road. The six-time All-Star finished with 20 points, three rebounds and two assists in a nearly wire-to-wire win. And although Tatum missed seven of his nine attempts from deep, he nailed a wide-open triple with just 1:59 remaining in the fourth quarter to seal the Cavs’ first season sweep of the Celtics since the 2019-2020 campaign.

The Celtics are up by 9 and need to stop the bleeding…who else but Jayson Tatum

He still has to work on some things, but his confidence remains intact. When he saw an open space he called Ball without hesitation:
pic.twitter.com/XWtXgHnlyz

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 8 March 2026

“I can’t stress it enough, I’m just happy to be here and playing with the guys on the team, competing, making plays, making mistakes,” Tatum told ESPN’s Jorge Sedano in an interview after the game.

While Tatum continued to embrace regular season momentum, fellow Celtics star Jaylen Brown recorded a team-high 23 points with nine rebounds and eight assists. Boston’s third-leading scorer on the day was point guard Peyton Pritchard, who scored 18 points off the bench while shooting 58.3% from the field.

These were pretty normal outings for Brown and Pritchard, so Tatum wasn’t surprised by what they were able to do with the contending Cavs.

Tatum described Brown and Pritchard, saying, “They’ve been playing great all season.” “It’s been fun to watch from the sideline, and, like I said, I’m happy to be out there playing with them.”

to jayson tatum @celery About Jaylen Brown and Peyton Pritchard:

“They’ve been playing great all season. It’s been fun to watch from the sideline, and, like I said, I’m happy playing with them.” pic.twitter.com/eHq3sPwLQP

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 8 March 2026

With Tatum sidelined, the Celtics managed to go an impressive 41-21 this season. They now improve to 43-21 overall and are benefiting from his arrival on the court and in the standings, as the Celtics are 2.5 games behind the first-place Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference.

However, the Pistons hold the tiebreaker over the Celtics. Also, the C’s may have to face the league’s two best teams in consecutive games. They are now in Texas to meet the San Antonio Spurs 47-17 on Tuesday night and will soon have to fly to Oklahoma to take on the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday evening.

Regardless of the final scores of those games, Tatum is glad to be back doing what he loves.

“Very happy to be here,” Tatum reiterated with a smile Sunday.

Juventus’s Cheffren Thuram has become one of the best midfielders in Serie A over the past two seasons. Manchester United, Liverpool and Aston Villa are now focusing on his situation in Italy.

The Red Devils’ interest was covered exclusively sports witness Over the weekend.

Calciomercato IT believed Juve were rushing to tie down the Frenchman to a new contract. There was also interest from Inter Milan, who are looking for a big midfield signing in the summer.

Given Thuram’s rise in Serie A since arriving from Nice, all of this really comes as no surprise.

today’s tuttosport The forward looks to mention Manchester United, Liverpool and Aston Villa as potential suitors.

Aston Villa, Liverpool and Man United will have to run

The Turin newspaper began the report citing agent Misa N’Diaye, who represents not only Thuram but also another Juve player in Jeremy Boga. The attacker joined on loan in January and they are looking to sign him permanently.

The article believes that N’Diaye will be very important for the Bianconeri in the summer. His operation could also determine Thuram’s future at Juventus after the season.

Sirens are coming from Manchester United, Liverpool and Aston Villa for the 24-year-old. Juve, meanwhile, have taken evasive action and have already spoken to N’Diaye about a renewal.

Preliminary talks have taken place, with the Old Lady willing to guarantee Thuram a big pay upgrade. He currently earns €2.4m per season and with progress, the new deal could net him more than €4m per season.

The France international is seen as ‘untouchable’ property by the Italian side. That’s one reason why there is growing concern about tying him down and beating Premier League clubs to a renewal.

Our opinion on Khefren Thuram’s situation at Juventus

Khefren Thuram is probably one of the most recognizable faces in Serie A. He is of great value to the Bianconeri at a time when Juve are looking for such players in a period of instability.

He has developed into a very reliable ball-carrying asset in the midfield. He would add a lot to any club – even Manchester United, Liverpool or Aston Villa. But it seems that the point of interest to English clubs is the agent matter.

The Tuttosport report seems like a way to promote the midfielder’s agent and the good work he is doing for Juve.

LOS ANGELES – A coach yelled at Luka Doncic for his frustration on the court and ignoring him during a recent substitution.

The Los Angeles Lakers star needs to collect just one more technical before serving a one-game suspension.

Still, Lakers coach JJ Redick downplayed those concerns based on how Doncic manages his competitive fire.

“He’s a special type of player, a special type of person and a special type of competitor,” Redick said. “I’d prefer someone who’s going out every night and trying to kill, rather than someone who you literally have to resuscitate with a different defibrillator every other day. So I’ll take Luca all day.”

So will Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, who managed Doncic during the first three of his seven seasons with the Dallas Mavericks (2018-2025).

“You show me a great player who isn’t stubborn and doesn’t get angry at things,” Carlisle said. “I’ll show you someone who’s not a great player.”

Instead, Carlisle views Dončić as “the greatest player I’ve ever coached”. Carlisle predicted that Doncic would eventually win the NBA regular-season MVP award. Carlisle described coaching against Doncic as “hell” and argued that “it’s impossible to gameplan for him.”

Over the next two and a half hours, Doncic proved his former coach right. He led the Lakers to a 128-117 win over the Pacers on Friday with 44 points, while going 14-for-25 from the field, 7-for-14 from 3-point range and 9-for-10 from the free-throw line, along with nine rebounds and five assists.

The Lakers missed LeBron James (left elbow soreness) and Deandre Ayton (left knee soreness). No matter. The injury-plagued roster only encouraged Doncic.

Doncic passed Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards for most 40-point games this season (10). by recording 12^th 40-point games in the last 1 1/2 seasons with the Lakers, Doncic passed Gail Goodrich for ninth place on the franchise’s all-time list. Ultimately,

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a player who controls an NBA game in every possible way,” Carlisle said. “You can’t speed him up. You can’t slow him down. It’s really an impossible task. You have to hope he misses some shots. If you think double teaming is the answer, it’s not. The stats will tell you that when you double team him, things get worse because everyone else is going, and there are wide open shots everywhere. So he’s as difficult a player to gameplan as I’ve ever seen.”

It’s even more difficult considering the Pacers (15-48), who boast the Eastern Conference’s worst record. The Lakers’ Austin Reaves (19 points), Luke Kennard (15), Rui Hachimura (13) and Marcus Smart (11) also scored in double figures, making it even more difficult. Nevertheless, Redick observed that Doncic still had “ridiculous shot-making” against Indiana guards Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith, whom Redick praised as one of the NBA’s best on-ball defenders.

“He can make every shot,” Redick said of Doncic. “He can make floaters. He can make floaters that go left or right. He’s a shot maker. But he’s also a playmaker. He has the ability, whether it’s single coverage or double coverage, to make reads and make open shots and closeouts and lobs for his teammates. And he’s done that for seven years now. He’s seen every coverage. So he has a progression of reads.”

However, has Doncic made enough progress by keeping his emotions in check?

The numbers say no. Doncic scored his 15^th Technical during Thursday’s loss at Denver. The NBA automatically suspends a player without pay when he accumulates 16 technicals. With the Lakers (38-25) trailing the Nuggets (39-25) by a half-game for fifth place in the Western Conference, Doncic’s potential suspension could dramatically alter the team’s playoff seeding.

Against Indiana, Doncic looked more subdued in front of the referees. Redick said that “he had a very pleasant conversation with the officials.” Doncic argued that “I just want to play my game.”

“Just to me it shows that I really care about the game,” Doncic said. “I want to win every game. Obviously, there’s a lot of emotion in it. But it means caring a lot about the game. This game has given me everything.”

Doncic, meanwhile, is averaging a league-leading 32.3 points and third-best 8.6 assists per game. The Lakers also praised him for his improved defensive effort. Certainly, Doncic’s frustration with the officials could impact his focus on both ends of the floor. He may also be angry with the coaching staff. So, Redick’s anger erupted during the Lakers’ recent win at Golden State.

Still, the Lakers mostly encourage Dončić to play with emotion because he scores and passes more efficiently than gathering technicalities. Mavericks also generally came to the same conclusion.

“He’s a tremendous competitor. I don’t see that changing,” Carlisle said. “I don’t see that changing. But he’s great.”

Mark Medina is an NBA contributor for SportsNut. follow him x, blue sky, Instagram, Facebook And threads.

NBA Insider for Sportsknot. Former NBA writer for NBA.com and USA TODAY, Warriors writer for The Mercury News, Lakers… More about Mark Medina

The primary storyline heading into Friday night’s game between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks is the return of superstar Jayson Tatum after tearing his Achilles 10 months ago. The Celtics are hoping to have Tatum back in the lineup for the final 20 games of the season so that they are in a position to compete for an NBA title with their entire team when the playoffs begin. The other story is that Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg will get a chance to play on the same court as Tatum for the first time in his career.

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd on Cooper Flagg’s excitement for today’s game:

“He mentioned Tatum as one of the guys he looks up to.”

“It is not easy to play against this team, because they understand big games and big situations, and so it is a big challenge.” pic.twitter.com/taU0G38zwk

– Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 6 March 2026

Flagg grew up in nearby Maine, and he regularly followed Tatum in his formative years because he admired the way the Celtics superstar played the game.

Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said Flagg is excited to play in Boston against a player he has followed for several years. “He mentioned Tatum as one of the guys he looks up to,” Kidd said during his media availability before Friday’s game. “It is not easy to play against this team, because they understand big games and big situations, and so it is a big challenge.”

Flagg and the Mavericks come into the game as 14.5-point underdogs against the Celtics. The rookie is averaging 20.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game and is recovering from a recent foot injury. The No. 1 pick in last year’s draft has shown that he will likely be a superstar in the coming seasons.

Tatum is scheduled to play his first game since suffering an injury in last year’s second-round playoff game with the New York Knicks. He is a six-time NBA All-Star and partnered with Jaylen Brown to lead the Celtics to the 2024 NBA Championship. Tatum is averaging 23.6 ppg over his eight-year career.

Kasparus Jakusionis has been playing a valuable role with the Miami Heat during his rookie season. After a ball-dominant freshman season at Illinois, the No. 20 pick’s dramatic shooting improvement has allowed him to catch up with Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and others.

After shooting 31.8 percent from three with Illinois, Jacusionis is shooting 44.0 percent from three on 7.5 attempts per 100 possessions this season. The 19-year-old leads all rookies in three-point percentage (minimum 30 attempts).

“Kas has really been working on it, and he’s obviously one of our better three-point shooters,” Erik Spoelstra said after Thursday’s win over the Brooklyn Nets. “I don’t know if you can make that case in July. He was a good three-point shooter, but he’s really refined it. His release is sharp. His reps are always at the top of our roster in the gym. And he’s able to do a little bit more going forward now, and it really helps us. We need that differentiation, we need his creativity, we need the things he can do off the dribble, but we look at his shooting, others. He is getting the benefits of playing. And he will get even better.”

“It’s hard to find players that can do both. They can make plays off the ball and move and get into open spaces. He’s also a very good, smart catch-and-go guy. But in his one year at Illinois, he was ball dominant, so he’s one of those guys. It won’t be as much with us right now, but you can see he’ll have a skill set that he can lean on as well.”

Jacusionis’ floor spacing has allowed him to make an immediate impact.

Kasparas Jakusionis getting attention amid shooting improvement with Heat

According to CleaningTheGlass, the Heat score 3.7 more points per 100 possessions with the rookie on the court versus off. This is the fifth-best mark in the NBA among all players under the age of 22.

“He’s not hesitating. He’s not really thinking about it. He’s just catching and just shooting it,” Bam Adebayo said. “When you’re in that kind of rhythm, we want you to just catch and shoot. Don’t overthink it. Because a lot of times that’s going to be the best shot you’re going to get. So for Kass, it’s just keeping it simple for him.”

Jaksionis would play a key role in the Heat’s playoff run in the final 19 games of the regular season. The Lithuanian guard has played 19.8 minutes per game over the past five weeks, eighth-most on the team.

The Heat are struggling to avoid falling in the Eastern Conference Play-in Tournament for the fourth consecutive season. Miami, the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic are separated by half a game for the East’s sixth to eighth seeds.

This season saw a great battle between two of the best teams in the NBA, with the San Antonio Spurs emerging as 121-106 winners against the Detroit Pistons after a stellar performance from Victor Wambayama. Wemby finished the game with 39 points, 16 rebounds and three assists, setting an impressive record along the way.

En route to the win, Wembley recorded an NBA-leading fourth game with at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks this season, reaching the historic mark in just three quarters, according to a post on ESPN. The result means San Antonio has now completed a season sweep of the conference-leading Pistons, who are now 45–16 for the season.

Victor Vembanyama is in a league of his own 🙌

Wembley recorded his NBA-leading 4th game this season with at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks tonight, and did it in just 3 quarters. pic.twitter.com/sfQRYu7PYo

– ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) 6 March 2026

Vembanyama scored 39 points on 12 of 24 shooting, including 4 of 10 from three-point range, and was nearly flawless from the free-throw line, converting 10 of 11 attempts. This was accompanied by a dominant defensive job inside the paint as Detroit finished with only 36 interior points.

Additionally, despite playing 39 minutes, Vembanyama committed zero turnovers and finished with a +20 plus-minus. The win continued a phenomenal run for San Antonio, who have now won 13 of their last 14 games and move to 45–17 on the season.

The Spurs started quickly, taking an early 10–2 lead and eventually pushing it to 17 at the end of the first quarter. Overall, San Antonio shot 50% from the field and 13 of 37 from three-point range (35%).

De’Aaron Fox added 29 points by shooting 12 of 22 from the field and 4 of 10 from three-point range, while rookie Stephon Cassel recorded 11 points and 12 assists. Cade Cunningham top-scored for Detroit with 26 points and eight assists.

However, he went 10-26 from the field and struggled to make shots all night. Of course, Detroit also struggled due to the early exit of Aussie Thompson, who was withdrawn after just two minutes in the first quarter due to a right ankle sprain. Despite the loss, Detroit remains in first place in the Eastern Conference at 45–16, although the loss capped a 1–2 road trip.

Despite this, the game clearly belonged to Wembanyama, who dominated from the start and proved impossible for the Pistons to stop.

For several seasons now, Trey Hendrickson trade rumors have been a major talking point of the NFL offseason. Now the All-Pro pass-rusher finally gets a chance to test free agency, where he’ll be one of the best players available regardless of position.

The Cincinnati Bengals had plenty of time to avoid this scenario. Heck, they could even put the franchise tag on the four-time Pro Bowler earlier this week.

Alas, the now 31-year-old finally got what he wanted, a chance to test free agency, where he would certainly be compensated as one of the highest-paid players at his position after recording 61 sacks in five seasons in Cincinnati.

Still, according to ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter, Hendrickson, a Florida native, would “love” to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“I think he’d love to stay in Tampa,” Schefter said. “I think he’d love to live in Tampa. He lives in Ponte Verde. I don’t think the Jaguars have the cap room they need for him. Tampa would be a great fit. I think in an ideal world, Trey would love to live in Florida. No state income tax. But, he’s also willing to go to the best possible situation. If Trey has a choice, I think he’d want to end up (with the Bucks), but we’ll see if that works out.” Does. way.”

Hendrickson will have several teams pursuing him in free agency. Chances are, at least one of those teams will have a Florida zip code like Hendrickson.

RELATED: Max Crosby trade could happen very soon; NFL Insider Link 7 Teams

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

Dallas Mavericks cornerback Cooper Flagg has missed the last seven games due to a foot injury, putting his Rookie of the Year chances in serious doubt heading into the final seven weeks of the season. Tuesday night’s road matchup against the Charlotte Hornets will give him a chance to surpass former Duke roommate Kon Knueppel, his biggest competition for the aforementioned award. Flagg is not expected to suit up at Spectrum Center, but his return is imminent.

NBA correspondent Mark Stein writes in his Substack, “Mavericks coach Jason Kidd has already announced that Flagg ‘probably won’t’ play in another Rookie of the Year showdown against the Hornets’ Kon Nueppel on Tuesday in Charlotte… but stay tuned.” “The one game that certainly matters just as much for the Maine-raised flag – Dallas’s lone trip to Boston of the season – is Friday night.”

The 19-year-old suffered a mid-left hamstring sprain against the Phoenix Suns on Feb. 10 and is certainly becoming a concern after being confined to the sidelines. Dallas doesn’t mind improving its NBA Draft Lottery odds until the flag is fixed, but the organization understands how much the TD Garden game means to the New England native. Although a sea of ​​green will still fill the arena, the Mavs phenom is sure to get a warm welcome in Boston.

Cooper Flagg is scoring a rookie-leading 20.4 points per contest while shooting 48.2 percent from the field and 30.2 percent from 3-point land. He averaged 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.2 steals in 49 games. Knueppel is emerging as a new ROTY favorite after making history from beyond the arc, but no one can underestimate the burden the No. 1 overall pick has had to endure amid the Mavericks’ injury troubles and organizational idiosyncrasies.

Flagg would ideally gain valuable experience after facing substantial adversity in his first NBA season. He doesn’t need to win any hardware this year to know he has a promising career ahead of him. If the teenager can continue to improve and finish the campaign strongly, both he and the franchise will be thrilled in the summer.

ClutchPoints will keep you informed about the latest injury updates around the flag.

Cooper Flagg has missed six consecutive games with a left medial sprain. Although the walking boot was recently removed, it appears there is still no timetable for the Dallas Mavericks star’s return.

According to Grant Afseth of the Dallas Hoop Journal, reports indicate the 19-year-old rookie will miss Sunday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. It marked Flagg’s seventh consecutive game missed since suffering an injury in the Mavericks’ 120–111 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Feb. 10.

“Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg (left medial sprain) has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.”

The news that the former No. 1 overall pick was rejected on Saturday may not be so surprising. Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said Friday that he doesn’t expect Cooper Flagg to be available for the March 3 game against Kon Nueppel and the Charlotte Hornets. If so, Flagg could be out for at least two more games.

Despite injury issues in recent weeks, Flagg has looked every bit like a franchise cornerstone during his rookie season. He is still in consideration for the Rookie of the Year award, as he has played at a high level while healthy. In 49 games played, Flagg has averaged 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.2 steals per contest, while shooting 48.2% from the floor and 30.2% from beyond the three-point line.

With Cooper Flagg out once again, RJ Nembhard Jr. and Brandon Williams should see some action at the point guard position. With PJ Washington and Marvin Bagley III also out for the game against the Thunder, the Mavericks will likely rely on Max Christie, Klay Thompson and Daniel Gafford.

MIAMI – As the Miami Heat try to shake off their disappointment of avoiding another year of play-in tournament purgatory, head coach Erik Spoelstra will work on building consistency over the final 2o or so games of the season. While Spoelstra looks to lead the Heat, he will also have an even bigger task of leading Team USA in future international play, particularly at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where a big star recently advocated for playing.

Although there was some speculation about Durant not attending alongside stars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry, the Houston Rockets star shrugged off that conversation to ESPN, adding that his eagerness to play has increased.

“Yeah, I want to play,” Durant said. “I would love to, but I have to be on top of my game, I want to perform on the field and make Grant and whoever is making the decisions want to put me on the team. I don’t want to — not just for seniority. I still want to prove I can help the team win. Today, yes, I feel like I’m going to put my name in that hat.”

If there’s anyone who loved hearing Duran’s comments, it was Spoelstra, as he said before Miami’s game with Houston on Saturday afternoon that the star embodies “the culture of USA Basketball.”

“I mean, it’s incredible for him to say that and that’s the culture of USA Basketball,” Spoelstra said. “You just want the best American players to raise their hand and say, I want to do this. And you can feel his passion to represent the country and America on the jersey. He’s been unbelievable in those competitions. But as far as him, what he’s doing right now, his game is timeless, it really is.”

Erik Spoelstra reacts to Kevin Durant saying he wants to play for Team USA in LA as he approaches 40 years old:

“I mean, it’s incredible for him to say that…”

Full response: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/ES4HSVbXIn

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 28 February 2026

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra on his experience with Kevin Durant on Team USA

Durant’s impact on Team USA Basketball is immense, as he is the men’s all-time leading scorer in Olympic competition and a four-time gold medalist. Currently 37, the star will be approaching 40 by the time of the 2028 Olympics, but there’s no doubt that Durant is still an elite player, as evidenced by his current stint in Houston.

Currently with the Rockets, Durant is averaging 26.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game, while shooting 50.8 percent from the field and 40.2 percent from deep. Spoelstra will highlight how timeless Durant’s game is and what he saw from the star when he was an assistant coach on the 2024 gold medal team.

“You look at what he does at this age, and you can book him for 26-plus, shooting 50 percent on jump shots,” Spoelstra said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re there or not. He’s a complete tactician in terms of his work ethic and practice. It’s a great lesson for all the young players coming into the league. Making shots is one thing, and really working on player development is another.”

“And I think it’s an accomplishment that we all had, you know, watching him work during the summer, six weeks after practice, before practice, the days in between, he’s going out there with intent,” Spoelstra continued. “You know, even at this age, trying to get better and improve, what a beautiful mentality to have, so he’s definitely added a lot to his team.”

At any rate, it remains to be seen what Spoelstra’s roster will be like for Team USA in 2028, with Durant having a good chance of being on the team.

KNThe Cleveland Cavaliers will need less time for their showdown against the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons on Friday as star guard James Harden has been sidelined with a thumb injury, according to the team. Harden was the Cavs’ major trade deadline acquisition in hopes of making a jump in the East standings and making a push into the postseason.

James Harden initially suffered the injury during the Cavs’ win against the New York Knicks on Tuesday, and has been sidelined since. Shortly after the Cavs traded for the former All-Star guard, the team won five consecutive games before losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder last weekend.

The Cavs lost 118-116 against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday with Harden out due to injury. Overall, the Cavs have gone 8-2 in their last 10 games, and are currently in fourth place in the East standings. They are 37-23, and only a half-game behind the No. 3 Knicks.

Since the deal, Harden has appeared in seven games at a rate of just over 32 minutes per game. He averaged 18.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 8.0 assists with splits of 49.4 percent shooting from the field, 48.8 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 86.7 percent shooting from the free-throw line. It’s a small sample size, but if those field goal and 3-point shooting percentages hold up, they’ll be career highs for the 17-year veteran.

Before the trade, Harden had spent the previous three and a half seasons playing for his hometown LA Clippers. He was acquired by the Clippers in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers at the beginning of the 2023–24 season.

The San Antonio Spurs have built one of the most dangerous defenses in the NBA. Victor Wembanyama’s MVP-level play has garnered the most attention. However, Stefan Kassel’s emergence as one of the league’s top on-ball defenders is a specific compliment to the French superstar.

“[Stephon] Understand your role well. “The level he’s playing at is really invisible for a second-year player,” Wembanyama said of Castle’s defense. “We make it uncomfortable for guys playing against us. That’s the goal. To dribble around one of the best on-ball defenders and then hit a shot over some of the best rim protectors, it’s very hard.

The Spurs have the NBA’s third-best record (43–16) amid a league-best 11-game winning streak. Cassel’s two-way contributions during his second season have sped up San Antonio’s deadline.

The 21-year-old has put in solid offensive performances, averaging 16.6 points and 6.8 assists on 46.7 percent shooting in 49 appearances. However, Cassel’s success in an expanded defensive role has been the catalyst behind his impact.

Stefan Cassel blossoming as defensive stopper with surging Spurs

San Antonio has tasked Cassel with guarding the league’s top scorers on a nightly basis. The 6-foot-6 guard has faced challenges and led a defensive unit with Wembanyama that ranks third in the NBA.

According to CleaningTheGlass, Cassel posted a -4.7 defensive rating swing (team points allowed per 100 possessions with a player on versus off), the sixth-best mark in the NBA among guards playing over 1,000 minutes. The Spurs have posted a 109.3 defensive rating with him and Wembanyama.

st anthony MVP candidate placed Cade Cunningham scored 16 points on 5-of-26 shooting during Monday’s 114-103 win over the Detroit Pistons. Cunningham shot 3 of 13 (23.1 percent) with two turnovers when defended by Cassel.

“[Stephon] “The potential for that was shown last year,” Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said, adding that he had some good moments defensively. This year, we’ve obviously increased the interrogations, which has increased their opportunity to guard the big scorers and ball-dominant guys in this league. And I think he has proved his capabilities. I think he needs to continue to move the ball in other ways. But I think he’s as good on the ball as any player in the league.”

Stephen Cassel’s defense on Cade Cunningham during the Spurs’ win over the Pistons

(h/t @MrBuckBuckNBA)pic.twitter.com/4B5kblpddQ

– FullCourtPass (@FullCourtPass) 24 February 2026

With Castle and Wembanyama already wreaking havoc on opposition attacks, Spurs have another potentially elite on-ball stopper in rookie Dylan Harper. At 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, with a 6-foot-10.5 wingspan and above-average athleticism, the No. 2 draft pick has caused problems for opposing ball-handlers at only 19 years old.

Harper is learning on the job while supporting Castle.

“The biggest thing about Stephon is he’s a competitor. I already saw it when I got to San Antonio,” he said. “No matter what the circumstances or who he goes up against, he’ll compete. On the biggest stages, all the work he’s put in is showing. He’s physical [at the point of attack]With the elite wings and other defenders, and then you have Victor and Luke. [Kornet] Down on the shore, it’s like choosing your poison. You have to either shoot this pull-up or kick it out.

The Spurs are currently tied with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the third-best odds (+950) to win the title, trailing only the Denver Nuggets (+600) and Oklahoma City Thunder (+135). Wembanyama, Castle and Harper will still be on their rookie contracts next season.

The Olympic break is over and the NHL schedule resumes tonight. Upon their return to the docks the New Jersey Devils will host the Buffalo Sabers in one of eight games. It’s a quick turnaround from the Olympic Games, with Team USA celebrating their victory in Miami and then visiting the White House in Washington, D.C., so will Devils franchise forward Jack Hughes play tonight in Newark?

According to the Devils, Hughes will not participate in Wednesday’s morning skate after returning to New Jersey from the White House late Tuesday night.

However, he would hold a press conference after the game that would detract from the post-game locker room media brawls with the players and head coach Sheldon Keefe.

The Devils expect Hughes to be ready and playing against the Sabers when the puck drops around 7:08 pm ET.

Hughes scored the golden goal for Team USA to lead them past Canada, capping a tremendous tournament for the Devils franchise after facing some criticism before the start of the Olympic Games.

Hughes scored four goals—leading Team USA—and seven points in six games during the tournament.

What started as a trial run on the fourth line after a disappointing 4-nation face-off tournament last season ended with glory as he became America’s hero, helping capture gold for the first time since the 1980 Miracle on Ice.

Now, the focus turns back to New Jersey where the Devils have a 2.4% chance of making the playoffs. The Devils have 25 games remaining on their schedule, and they are 11 points out of a playoff position behind the New York Islanders in the Metropolitan Division and the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference wild card race.

In 36 games for the Devils this season, Hughes scored 12 goals and 37 points despite missing 21 games due to two separate injuries.

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

A new rumor from the New York Jets tells Gang Green fans they can expect more poor quarterback play in 2026.

The NY Jets have a lot of questions going into March about what they will do at the QB spot next season. A year ago, they made their first major move in free agency when they signed former first-round pick Justin Fields after a productive season in limited action with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Unfortunately, his six starts in 2024 proved foolish, and he was a disaster for the NY Jets last season. In his nine starts in 2025, the former Chicago Bears first-rounder threw for less than 100 yards four times.

This has led to months of speculation about how the team will address the situation in March. Will they use a draft pick in April on a QB prospect? Could they trade for a veteran signal-caller like Kyler Murray or Deshaun Watson? Or maybe they’ll invest money in another option in free agency?

According to Tony Pauline of Essential Sports, it’s likely they will attempt a trade to add a veteran QB in the coming weeks. But it won’t even come close to the big-name players who should be available.

NY Jets could target Davis Mills in the offseason

“Most of the narrative outside the league has centered around the team potentially trading for Kyler Murray. Yet people around the league tell me that if general manager Darren Maugy gets his way, the Jets will try to bring in a less-expensive signal caller, and two names continue to be included in the conversation: Tanner McKee and Davis Mills,” Pauline reports.

McKee was a sixth-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023 and has played in only six games during his three seasons in the NFL. He has played well in his two starts and has a 1-1 record. That includes a 20-13 win over the New York Giants in 2024, where he threw for 269 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Mills is a name that NY Jets fans will be more familiar with as he was thrust into the starting role for the Houston Texans during the 2021 and 2022 seasons after Watson was suspended following sexual assault allegations. His record as a starter is 8-19-1. However, he went 3-0 last season, including a 292-yard throwing day in a big win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in November.

Either way, a pair of veteran backups won’t excite NY Jets fans. A case can be made that no one is better than Fields, which means QB play for Gang Green could get even worse in 2026.

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

LOS ANGELES – During the Los Angeles Lakers’ 125-122 win against the LA Clippers on Friday, Marcus Smart didn’t attempt a shot until the fourth quarter. When he finally got a chance to shoot the ball, he hit some clutch shots to stop the Clippers, going 3-4 in the final period. And for Smart, getting players into their roles is vital to the Lakers’ success.

After Lakers practice on Monday, Marcus Smart acknowledged that it’s not always easy to get players to buy into roles, especially when shot attempts and playing time are involved.

“Just understanding the game. Understanding what the game requires and how the game flows. Sometimes you might get a shot, maybe not. You might get more shots than last night, Smart said. “And in minutes, you might get more minutes than last night, you might not. It just depends on the game.”

“And it sucks sometimes because we’re competitive,” Smart added. “We want to win and we want to always be there to help our team. But you have to take advantage of whatever the game requires and understand what the game is giving you.”

Without Smart’s contributions, the Lakers cannot win that game against the Clippers. And before the team’s game against the Boston Celtics on Sunday, Lakers head coach JJ Redick talked about the sacrifices Smart has made as the fifth starter who won’t necessarily get as many shots playing with other starters.

“I think it’s important to embrace how smart it is,” Redick said. “I think it’s all on the line for all of our guys, in some ways, we’re going back to free agency stuff and having a lot of guys with uncertain futures, I think that’s something we’re going to have to deal with all season. But it’s on the line, we just have to play the game. The game will dictate how many shots you get.”

Smart was one of the Lakers’ major free agent acquisitions in the offseason. He signed a two-year contract that includes a player option for the next season. He has appeared in 46 games, including 39 starts, at a pace of just over 28 minutes per game.

He averaged 9.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals on 39.8 percent shooting from the field, 32.3 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 81.2 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Now that the Lakers have a solid full rotation, Redick appears to have settled on Smart as the eventual starter alongside LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Deandre Ayton.

On Saturday morning, the Carolina Hurricanes were on the ice at Invisalign Arena. Since Tuesday – when the league allowed skating to resume after a twelve-day break – the Hurricanes have already held four practices.

Notably, Eric Robinson returned to the yellow non-contact sweater during those practices. However, on Saturday, the Hurricanes’ speedy fourth-line winger ditched the yellow jersey for a San Jose Sharks-esque teal sweater with a ‘Property of Carolina’ crest.

It’s unknown what the teal sweater represents – but it’s not yellow, which is a good sign. After practice, head coach Rod Brind’Amour discussed Robinson’s possible availability for Thursday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“I think he would be a good choice,” he told the media. “I mean, we’re not rushing it. …At this point, it looks like he’s trending toward being ready to go.”

Robinson suffered an upper-body injury on January 19 during a matinee game against the Buffalo Sabres. Early in the game, Rasmus Dahlin threw a high-speed hip-check at him while he was stationary near the Sabers net. As he came back from the ice, he was seen holding his left shoulder and immediately left the game.

His first day back on the ice was Tuesday and he has remained as an extra forward during practice since.

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

A new report reveals a pair of New York Mets players who could have a much bigger impact on the team’s success in 2026 than fans realize.

After the turmoil of the last five months, there is new hope for what the NY Mets can do this season. After an epic collapse in August and September, then losing Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz in free agency, fans were angry and concerned about the club’s potential in 2026.

However, in January, the front office’s grand plan to improve the team came into focus after the additions of Bo Bichette, Luis Robert Jr. and Freddy Peralta. Those moves, along with other changes the team made earlier in the offseason, have created a narrative that this revamped NY Mets roster may have addressed the issues that led to their ugly end to 2025.

Although improving the defense was a goal this winter, the biggest unofficial priority was improving the locker room. After the season, reports emerged about issues in the clubhouse between various players, including some of the team’s top stars. The perception is that the departures of JD Martinez and Jose Iglesias took away veterans who had helped bring teammates together during difficult times.

The underappreciated roles of Shawn Manaea and Francisco Alvarez in NY Mets leadership

However, a new report has revealed two other bona fide members of the roster who didn’t have as much clubhouse influence last year as they did in 2024. But he could be an under-the-radar factor in the NY Mets making a big difference in 2026.

Tim Britton and Will Sammon of The Athletic report, “In diagnosing what went wrong at the end of last season, multiple sources inside the Mets pointed not only to some tough injuries, but how those injuries affected the mood inside the clubhouse.” “In particular, players like Shawn Manaea and Francisco Alvarez – who bring infectious energy – missed time at the beginning of the season and struggled to perform extensively afterward.

“It’s hard to be a clubhouse leader when you’re not performing. Alvarez brought some of that back upon his return from Triple-A last summer — ‘You notice the energy right away,’ a team source said that week — but a thumb injury sidelined him again in August,” he added.

Fans are well aware of Alvarez’s energetic personality. But interestingly, Mania also plays a major role in bringing positivity in the clubhouse. If both can have improved seasons in 2026, it could make a huge difference for the NY Mets on and off the field.

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