Kawhi Leonard’s days as a Los Angeles Clipper are done. one way or another.

We are still waiting for the NBA’s decision on how to punish the Clippers for the alleged ‘cap rigging’ scandal. This could potentially void Leonard’s contract (with one year remaining on $50 million). But even if not, it appears that Kawhi’s trade from La La Land is certain this summer.

Rumors have been flying around in recent weeks, but the latest information from insider Sean Deveney seems to put the nail in Kawhi’s coffin in LA.

According to a source close to Deveney, the Clippers will “move into a rebuild” this summer based on securing the No. 5 pick in the upcoming NBA draft.

“I think you’ll see that they really move forward with rebuilding this summer, and they can probably get it done relatively quickly.”

The Clips got a huge lead on that young move before the trade deadline. They added exciting young backcourt players Benedict Mathurin, 23, of the Indiana Pacers, and Darius Garland, 26, of the Cleveland Cavaliers. He moved ahead of veterans Ivica Zubac and James Harden in the process.

Next, a perfect move to stay young in a trade to send Leonard to a team that needs a veteran superstar with championship credentials.

3 teams named as top summer contenders for Kawhi Leonard

Devenney specifically names three teams that are renowned as prime contenders for superstar-hunting Leonard:

• Miami Heat
• new York Knicks
• Golden State Warriors

The Warriors attempted to trade for any big star they could acquire at the deadline, with rumored targets including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi. They’ll try again this summer, potentially on all three fronts.

Brett Siegel of Clutch Points writes, “Trading for a big-name star is extremely relevant for owner Joe Lacob and the Warriors.”

All three teams are also in the running in the Giannis sweepstakes, but Kawhi will also be a target.

Leonard returned to the top of his game last season. He proved that even at the age of 34, after years of injury troubles, he can still be one of the top players in the NBA. Kawhi averaged a career-high 27.9 points along with 6.4 boards and 3.6 assists per game in 65 games.

He is a two-time Finals MVP, in 2014 with the San Antonio Spurs and in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors.

We head into the NASCAR All-Star Race, concluding Sunday’s finale at Watkins Glen with a points race for 12th in the Cup Series regular season. With two weeks left until the next points race, let’s take a look at the state of NASCAR right now.

Following are the Cup Series points leaders right now after Sunday’s race at Watkins Glen. Ahead, you can find out how many points drivers are behind the Chase cutline.

NASCAR Cup Series points leaders: standings after Watkins Glen

NASCAR Standings Today: The Chase Cutline

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We’re now 13 races through the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season, with strong performances from Jesse Love and Brent Cruz on Saturday afternoon solidifying their positions near the midway mark. With another race over, we’re taking a look at the NASCAR O’Reilly standings today.

Let’s take a look at the state of the O’Reilly Series right now after Saturday’s race at Watkins Glen. We’ll start with the standings where O’Reilly Series drivers are below the cutoff line for The Chase.

The NASCAR O’Reilly Series is in the lead right now

nascar paddle chase fight

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Caden Honeycutt entered the weekend sitting at the top of the NASCAR Truck standings heading into Friday’s road course race at Watkins Glen. He solidified his position on the leaderboard, scoring his first win in the Truck Series.

Let’s take you to the NASCAR Truck Series points leaders right now after Friday’s race at Watkins Glen.

NASCAR Truck Series Ponts Leaders Today

RELATED: NASCAR predictions for Watkins Glen

NASCAR Truck Series Standings: The Chase Battle

This is what the Chase Cutline looks like now after the Truck Series race at Watkins Glen. Note, Corey Heim (8th in the NASCAR Truck Series standings) is not eligible for The Chase.

RELATED: NASCAR Truck Series results at Watkins Glen

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A surprising number of the points leaders had strong performances in Sunday’s Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway, the Wurth 400. However, on a day that also included DNFs for Joey Logano, Christopher Bell and Ty Gibbs, there is still a lot of shakeup in the NASCAR standings.

Let’s take a look at the NASCAR Cup Series points leaders today after Sunday’s race at Texas Motor Speedway. Additionally, we have included a table for The Chase cutline to show how far back drivers are from 16th place in The Chase.

NASCAR Cup Series leads after 11 races

NASCAR Standings: The Chase Cutline

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Saturday’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Texas saw a few early cautions, with Tea Chase contenders like Corey Day and Taylor Gray suffering costly DNFs. As you might expect, this resulted in some major changes to the NASCAR O’Reilly Series points leaders after 12 races.

Let’s dive into the NASCAR OARS standings right now after today’s race at Texas Motor Speedway. Additionally, you can see where drivers stand below the Chase cutline.

NASCAR OARS points leaders right now

NASCAR O’Reilly Series Standings: The Chase Bubble

The focus here is on how many points below the cutline the drivers are for The Chase through 12 races.

Official 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series results at Texas Motor Speedway

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It was chaos Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway, with a massive shakeup in the NASCAR standings today thanks to “The Big One” in the Jack Link’s 500. Throw in some of the highest-scoring drivers this season getting DNFs along with a first-time winner, you get movement in the NASCAR points standings today.

Let’s take a look at the NASCAR Cup Series points leaders right now. After Jack Link’s 500 on Sunday, we are now in the race for 10 points this season. We’ve listed the point difference between The Chase contenders below points leader Tyler Reddick and the points difference between those behind The Chase cutline and in 16th place.

Official 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Standings

The NASCAR Cup Series is on top right now

Official results of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega Superspeedway

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Who won the NASCAR race today? Corey Day scored his first career win at Talladega after a back-and-forth in the closing laps in which Jesse Love lost the lead, setting off a battle between Creed, Corey Day and Sam Mayer that ended with a loss behind the leaders.

At the track known for “The Big One”, there was early chaos in Saturday’s O’Reilly Series race, with rookie Patrick Staropoli pushed loose during check-up and hitting the wall for race-changing damage on the first lap. After that, Talladega displayed some excellent racing with wild battles from start to finish.

RELATED: NASCAR starting lineup for Sunday’s Cup Series race

Let’s look at the AG-Pro 300 results from Dega. We’ll start with full race results and points totals, followed by today’s O’Reilly Series stage results.

NASCAR Results Today: O’Reilly Auto Parts Series

Here are the NASCAR O’Reilly Series results today.

RELATED: NASCAR predictions for Talladega

AG-Pro 300 results: O’Reilly Series stage results today at Talladega

Here are the AG-Pro stage results from today’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Degas.

Official 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Series standings now

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Sunday’s Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway saw plenty of dominance from the likes of Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell and Tyler Reddick. Several drivers further solidified their positions at the top of the NASCAR standings today, with Kyle Larson and Bubba Wallace also performing well.

Let’s take you through the NASCAR standings today after Kansas. As always, we’ve noted in our table where the cutline is right now for The Chase through a nine-point run this season. We’ve also covered the biggest movers in NASCAR standings this weekend.

RELATED: AdventHealth 400 Winners, Losers and Analysis

NASCAR points standings now: Cup Series points leaders after Kansas

Official 2026 NASCAR Cup Series results at Kansas Speedway

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The Detroit Red Wings’ season is over. On Wednesday night, Detroit was defeated by the Florida Panthers by a score of 8–1, finishing the season with 92 points. Despite a late-season collapse, the Red Wings finished the campaign with the most points since making the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs (93 points).

This was shaping up to be a special season for the Red Wings. On January 25, the organization awoke to the leadership of the Eastern Conference. It didn’t last long, as Detroit struggled to win down the stretch. It was a historic collapse that raises many questions heading into the 2026 NHL offseason.

However, there were some surprising developments for the Red Wings this year. Alex DeBrincat scored 40 goals for the third time in his career. In fact, Detroit had not seen a 40-goal scorer since Marian Hossa during the 2008–09 season. DeBrincat was sensational after a slow start.

Meanwhile, Mo Sider emerged as arguably the best defenseman in the NHL. Seider’s defensive rating was the highest of any NHL defenseman contending for the Norris Trophy. The 25-year-old was also spectacular offensively, becoming the first Detroit defenseman to reach 50 assists in a season since Nicklas Lidstrom in 2008–09.

Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin also earned an Olympic gold medal after the United States defeated Canada in the gold medal game. While Larkin and Detroit were not able to reach the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, several personal accomplishments were still achieved.

The Red Wings hope their star player gets even better during the 2026-27 NHL season. With some new additions, Detroit hopes to return to the Stanley Cup playoffs next season after a poor showing in 2026.

READ MORE: Detroit Red Wings front office drama – Are big changes coming?

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For several months, many have assumed the Las Vegas Raiders would take quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. But what will the New York Jets do with the No. 2 overall selection?

Then again, many expected the Jets to select freak athlete pass-rusher/linebacker Arvel Reese from Ohio State. Still, Jets general manager Darren Maugy isn’t planning on doing that on April 23, when the first round of the NFL Draft will take place.

according to Sports IllustratedAccording to NFL insider Albert Breer, the Jets may be leaning toward selecting a different pass-rusher, Texas Tech’s David Bailey, instead.

As mentioned, while Reese may have more overall range, Bailey is the player who is more polished right now. After winning only three games last season, the Jets are feeling the need to win now, and Bailey may be more equipped to do that right now than Reese.

So, if the Jets turn to Bailey, it opens up the question of how far Reese will fall, and how the decision made at the top will impact the remaining top picks of the 2026 NFL Draft. Reese likely won’t be available for long; His wait may also end at the next pick, where the Arizona Cardinals will be third. If not, the Tennessee Titans select fourth, and they could be tempted by superstar prospect Reese’s offer.

RELATED: 2026 NFL mock draft: Trades that captured the first round of the NFL draft

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Cup drivers Kyle Larson and Connor Zylisch dominated Saturday night’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. While it took away a lot of points from the full-time O’Reilly drivers, there was still plenty of action in the standings tonight due to strong performances from William Savalich, Sheldon Creed, Brent Cruz, Ryan Sieg, Carson Kvapil and Sam Mayer.

Let’s jump straight into the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series standings after Saturday night’s race at Bristol. It will come as no surprise that Justin Allgaier leads the OARS points leaders at this time.

NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series status after Bristol

Official 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series results at Bristol Motor Speedway

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With the Cup Series concluding this weekend, Saturday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Rockingham Speedway was the highlight of the weekend. In the OARS debut for Cletus McFarland, we saw the series’ best drivers showcase their skills and climb up the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series rankings.

Let’s take a look at the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series points leaders after Saturday afternoon’s race at Rockingham Speedway.

NASCAR OARS status now: Outlook after Rockingham

Official 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Results at Rockingham Speedway

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West Ham United will spend tonight keeping a close eye on Mateus Fernandes, with Nuno Espirito Santo making it clear he simply wants the midfielder back fit.

The Hammers face Leeds United in the FA Cup on Sunday. Therefore, this international break carries obvious risks for the club. Speaking in Portugal, Nuno did not hide that concern, even if he expressed it with humor.

“I just hope he comes back fit [laughs]Because we have an important game on Sunday,” He said during the ANTF Coaches Forum, as relayed cnn.

That line might have raised a smile. However, it also underlined how important it is Matthew Fernandes Has become for West Ham in recent weeks.

Nuno balances pride and concern

Nuno Espirito Santo then made sure to praise the player in detail, showing how highly he rates the 21-year-old.

“I’m very, very happy for him. I think he deserves it. He’s had a great season.”

The West Ham manager did not stop there. He expanded on why Matías has earned his place in Portugal.

“He works very hard, he has a lot of talent, he is very disciplined and hopefully he can help the national team.”

Those comments reflect the role Mateus Fernandes now plays at the London Stadium. He is no longer an option for the team. Instead, he has become a regular part of Nuno’s plans. And he likes it.

according to transfer marketThe midfielder has played 29 Premier League matches this season. He has scored three goals and played over 2,400 league minutes. Those numbers point to continued confidence from the manager.

Additionally, his performances have also attracted attention in Portugal. Reports there describe him as increasingly influential in both the club and national systems.

The focus remains strong on West Ham

Mateus Fernandes may be enjoying his moment on the international stage. Still, Nuno Espirito Santo made it clear where his focus lay.

“Yesterday… We haven’t talked for a long time, but for me it’s day by day.” he explained.

“I’m traveling right now and tomorrow I have to train to prepare for the FA Cup. That’s my priority.”

This sums up the situation at West Ham. The club can appreciate the progress of Mateus Fernandes. Plus, he needs to be available and ready for a major domestic match.

The midfielder’s contract reportedly runs until 2030, giving the Hammers long-term security. However, short-term anxiety is much simpler.

West Ham want Matias Fernandes to return from international duty without any problems. Nuno Espirito Santo has already said it out loud.

🇧🇷 Gonzalo Plata | Women surreptitiously enter night clubs and hotels before matches

⚠️ West Ham goal feels chaotic
➡️ Bad boy who creates controversy
✅ …sign it immediately ‼️https://t.co/jnZ00S2tRN #whufc #koi

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 27 March 2026

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray got bored on Thursday and decided to mess around against the Dallas Mavericks.

Murray led the Nuggets past the Mavericks 142–135 at Ball Arena, dropping a season-high 53 points. He made 19 of 28 shots from the field, including 9 of 14 from long range. He also had six rebounds and four assists.

Fatigue wasn’t a problem for the prolific playmaker, even with a gutsy win over the Phoenix Suns, 125-123, at the Mortgage Matchup Center on Tuesday.

Fans are furious after Murray’s latest outburst.

“Jamal Murray is different in scorer mode,” @rickky01 said.

@firetimbanks said, “Bro, I thought Jamal Murray destroyed his ankle a few weeks ago and he’s 53.”

“Jamal Murray has been very impressive for the Nuggets this season,” @odinakach22 said.

@TheZReport_ said, “When Jamal Murray is drilling right elbows consistently, you know he’s totally dialed-in.”

@NAJJEEBB posted, “Jamal shows no signs of slowing down. This is an amazing talent.”

It seemed as if the 29-year-old Murray was in constant heat-check mode, as he scored from almost everywhere on the floor. Even against good defenders like Max Christie, Najee Marshall and Brandon Williams, he was able to get his shot in with ease.

He reached 50 points for the sixth time in his career, including playoffs.

The Nuggets extended their winning streak to four games and improved to 46–28. The Mavericks, on the other hand, fell to 23–50.

Oh, by the way, Nikola Jokic added a triple-double of 23 points, 21 rebounds and 19 assists.

Denver faces the Utah Jazz on Friday.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took a clear step back from 2024 to 2025, going from a team that won the NFC South with 10 wins to a team that missed the playoffs entirely by winning only eight games. We’ve already seen the Buccaneers say goodbye to potential future Hall of Fame receiver Mike Evans, who signed with the 49ers. Now, the Bucs may prepare to move forward without another franchise icon.

On Tuesday, the Buccaneers at the team facility. Nevertheless, no official reason has been given for the press statement.

The 36-year-old is currently a free agent. Of course, there is a possibility that this could be an announcement highlighting David’s intention to play in his 15th NFL season.

However, it’s more likely that David is calling it a career, and the Buccaneers want to give him his day of appreciation. After all, this is a linebacker who came in as the 58th overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

He never played for any other team, always remaining loyal to Tampa Bay. He earned a Pro Bowl nod, was named a first-team All-Pro, and, what no one will ever forget, he helped the Buccaneers win the Super Bowl.

Now, David may be eyeing the next chapter of his life. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers appear ready to move on without David. They have already signed Alex Anzalone and Christian Roseboom, and could add more in the 2026 NFL Draft, where the Buccaneers have seven selections.

RELATED: Tampa Bay Buccaneers lose Pro Bowl player despite offer of more money

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Drivers like Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, William Byron and Chase Briscoe posted strong points in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race. We also saw Bubba Wallace and Joey Logano’s worst performances of the season, causing quite a stir among the NASCAR points leaders after today.

Let’s look at the state of the NASCAR Cup Series after the Goodyear 400.

RELATED: Goodyear 400 results from Darlington, total points and stage results today

NASCAR Points Leaders Today: Cup Standings After Darlington

Here are the NASCAR Cup Series points leaders at the moment.

RELATED: Goodyear 400 winners, losers

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With the Cup Series drivers largely dominating the last two O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races, there hasn’t been as much movement among the points leaders for the second week in a row. However, the Help a Hero 200 still brought some changes to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series standings and Justin Allgaier made even more breathing room for himself at the top.

Let’s take you straight to the NASCAR OARS standings after Darlington.

NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Leads Right Now

Here are the current standings of the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series after Darlington.

Complete NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series results tonight at Darlington Raceway

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Luka Doncic has been on a crazy spree the past two games. The Los Angeles Lakers star has outpaced his team this season, and it was evident in LA’s latest games. Doncic nearly had a triple-double with 40 points before scoring a season-high 60 points against the Miami Heat. With LA on the verge of clinching a playoff berth, Doncic is doing everything he can to get LA into the postseason.

After his outstanding 60 points against the Heat, Doncic was asked about his performance. The Lakers star credited his hot streak to his shooting and his slashing to create opportunities for himself and his teammates.

“Yeah, I feel like my three-ballers are going good, and then I’m attacking the paint a lot,” Doncic said in response to a question, according to Spectrum Sportsnet. “So just trying to read the game.”

Doncic’s stellar performance isn’t limited to his last two games. Over the past two weeks, Doncic has averaged an incredible 40.9 points per game in eight games. In those eight games, the Lakers star is shooting 42.2% from three-point range. He’s also adding 8.9 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game. Against the Heat, Doncic also showed his defensive improvement by making five steals, increasing his average to 2.4 steals per game in eight games.

With the win over the Heat, the Lakers continued to tighten their grip on the third seed in the Western Conference. Chasing giants like the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs is almost impossible now, but that’s OK. Now, the Lakers aim to retain home-court advantage at least in the first round. They have a two-game lead over the fourth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves and a three-game lead over the fifth-seeded Houston Rockets.

As for Doncic, the Slovenian superstar is gunning for his first MVP award in his NBA career. He is averaging 33.4 points per game on 47.7% shooting from the field and 37% shooting from deep this season, while also adding 8.4 assists and 7.9 rebounds. The Lakers are just seven games away from meeting the required number of games played to qualify for the star awards.

Houston Rockets All-Star forward Kevin Durant is one of the greatest scorers in NBA history, but he has never recorded a 60-point game. His career-high score is 55, but his pace and legacy are far more important for the 19-year-old veteran. Only Los Angeles Lakers All-Star LeBron James can match Durant’s longevity and dominance as Kevin approaches his second decade in the association.

According to Michael Lee of The Ringer, Durant explained why he was never interested in scoring 60 points in a game.

“I’m in this for the long term, man,” Durant said. “I just want to win the game and go home. I know it’s been a talking point for me: ‘You don’t have 60, 70.’ You can’t just look at a 60-point game and say, ‘That’s what KD is all about.’ You have to look at my entire career and analyze what I actually did to understand the type of player I am. I like it that way.

“It’s like a story that way. I didn’t want to be a flash in the pan. I just wanted to be consistently great. I don’t have a 60, but that’s a lot of stats I’ve made up on my own.”

Durant is the only player in NBA history to finish a season with 56.0/40.4/91.9 percent shooting splits, a feat he accomplished in 2022-23. Kevin says it’s a testament to the sacrifices he’s made to pursue his career, abandoning friends, partying and having fun. However, in order to persist, he realized that he had left nothing behind.

Kevin Durant on his NBA scoring legacy

Rockets All-Star Kevin Durant was double-teamed by the Lakers in Monday’s 100-92 loss. That’s the kind of treatment you get when you’re one of the game’s elite scorers. Durant finished with 18 points on 8-for-16 shooting.

Aside from Lakers All-Star LeBron James, Durant is the only NBA player to average 25+ points for such a long period of time, which is indicative of his consistent approach.

As Lee said, “He and LeBron are the only players to average at least 25 points for more than 12 seasons.” “Durant has never played a game in which he made more than 19 field goals and averaged fewer than 19 shots per game in his career. On the night he scored a career-high 55 points, he took only 28 shots. On the night he scored a career-high 55 points, he took only 28 shots.

He reached 32,000 points in fewer games than any player other than Jordan. To which Durant asked, “What’s more important to some people – that or 60 points?” Durant remains the youngest NBA scoring champion and the youngest player to win three consecutive scoring titles.

Durant has always played the long game.

Sunday afternoon’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway has come to a close, with some of the top stock car drivers putting on an exciting battle in the final stages. As everyone now prepares for Darlington, let’s look at today’s NASCAR results.

Let’s look at the Pennzoil 400 results from Las Vegas today. We’ll start with the final results from Sunday’s Cup Series race followed by today’s NASCAR stage results.

NASCAR Results Today: Pennzoil 400

Here are the Pennzoil 400 results today. We’ve noted stage points and Xfinity’s fastest lap point in parentheses.

Check out the updated NASCAR Cup Series standings today

NASCAR Stage Results Today: Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Here are the results for the NASCAR Cup Series round for Las Vegas.

View the status of the updated 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts line.

Who won the NASCAR race today?

Denny Hamlin won a NASCAR race today at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, his first win of the season.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Giannis at Bam Adebayo’s big night last night.

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

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 11 March 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Throughout his NBA career, Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma has never had to see a shot he didn’t like, and during the team’s game against the Phoenix Suns he reached an important career milestone with 10,000 career points.

After the Bucks’ game, Kyle Kuzma gave a heartfelt reaction to reaching the 10,000 career point plateau.

Kuzma said, “As a kid, I said I had two dreams that I wanted to play in the NBA, and I wanted to score 10,000 points. Random, that’s just how random it happens.” “I knew I was getting close for the last month or so, and I feel like it was yesterday or the day before yesterday… I looked to see how close I was, and I was praying this morning.

“I told God, ‘It would be great if I could score 30 tonight,’ because I knew where I was. And I had 33. Honestly, you can’t beat that.”

Although the Bucks lost the game against the Suns 129–114, Kuzma etched his name in the history books as the latest NBA player to score 10,000 career points. He finished the game with 33 while shooting 12-of-21 (57.1 percent) from the field, 6-of-10 (60 percent) from the 3-point line and 3-of-4 (75 percent) from the free-throw line.

Kuzma’s name came up in trade rumors as the deadline approached, but ultimately nothing materialized and the Bucks retained the veteran forward. Selected 27th overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, Kuzma has been a solid double-digit scoring threat throughout his career, helping the Los Angeles Lakers win the 2020 NBA Championship.

This season, Kuzma has been benched, playing in 59 games at a rate of just over 26 minutes per game. He averaged 13.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists with splits of 49.2 percent shooting from the field, 36.5 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 72.4 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points on March 2, 1962. This is an NBA record and is considered one of the most unbreakable achievements in all of sports. Kobe Bryant was second on the single-game scoring list for a long time, as he scored 81 points on February 22, 2006. No one thought that this figure would also be crossed. Bam Adebayo did the unthinkable on March 10, 2026, dropping 83 points.

The Miami Heat center is a great player and one of the best in the league. However, he is far from the first player that fans would have guessed could have such an insane scoring game. In fact, Adebayo is probably more known for his defensive ability, and his career high was just 41 points before scoring 83 points.

The point is, if Adebayo can score 83 points, there are definitely other players who can surpass the 80-point threshold in the modern NBA. Perhaps Chamberlain’s 100-point record is not as secure as previously thought. So, which NBA players are most likely to score more than 80 points in a game in the next one?

Stephen Curry has a career high of 62 points. He’s an all-time great and arguably the best point guard of all time, but in reality, he’s probably past his peak. Because of that, since he has yet to score even 70 points in a game, he may not be able to do so at some point in the future. Still, the mathematics behind his game needs to be included in this list.

Curry is the best 3-point shooter in NBA history. Fans have seen him go hot many times before, and his 4,233 3-pointers in his career are 891 more than second place. Curry doesn’t just make wide-open ones. He gets up and makes shots from beyond the arc, and he can intercept long bombs off speed and go off balance to the point where defenders can’t really guard him; They just have to pray he misses.

Even at the age of 37, fans can expect a lot more amazing shooting performances from Curry, and perhaps he can take it to the next level after seeing Adebayo’s performance. It helps Curry’s case that he is more than just an outside shooter. He can get anywhere on the court with one of the best handles in NBA history, and he is well known for making circus shots, which will definitely help his 80-point goal. Curry has previously mentioned playing in a flow state, and if he just focused on scoring on the night he was unconscious, he could have scored 80 points.

Although they didn’t make this list, Joel Embiid, Damian Lillard and Donovan Mitchell have all crossed the 70-point threshold before, so they shouldn’t be counted out of scoring 80 points in a day. Anthony Edwards is already one of the best scorers in the league, and Nikola Jokic deserves praise as well.

While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made a stronger claim than ever as the best player in the NBA by hitting the game-winning shot over the Denver Nuggets on March 9, Jokic is still viewed as the unanimous best player in basketball nearly half a decade on. Part of what makes him great is that he’s the best passing big man ever, and his unselfish nature will likely keep him from scoring 80 points. However, Jokic’s touch is unmatched.

He can punch his way under 80 points while hitting deep shots as one of the NBA’s best 3-point shooting bigs, while hitting one-legged slingshot somber shuffles that leave defenders with their hands over their faces in frustration. Again, Jokic’s passing ability means an 80-point performance is unlikely, but he may have the skill set to achieve it if he ever wants to, and a fellow center scoring 83 points in Adebayo only creates more realism for this possibility.

Curry’s former teammate Kevin Durant is also one of the greatest scorers in NBA history. In fact, many fans have voted him the greatest pure scorer of all time, with NBA GOAT Michael Jordan being the only player to give him a run for his money. Durant is reported to be 6 feet 9 inches tall, but in reality, he may be closer to 7 feet.

Despite this, there is no shot that Durant cannot make, which makes him truly vulnerable. He can score from mid-range, with his back to the basket, or from beyond the 3-point arc, and he hasn’t really stepped back since tearing his Achilles. Surprisingly, Durant has never even scored 60 points in a game.

His career-high in terms of scoring is just 55 points, as he has always focused on efficiency and never just conceded jack up shots. However, that doesn’t mean he isn’t one of the most likely players to score 80 points in a game. If Durant ever changes his mentality and wants to score as many points as possible, he has the scoring nature to go crazy, and there are not many players who can guard him.

In the event that Durant surpassed his career highs and defenses began to find a way to slow him down, he became too fast for the big men to guard him, and he could make his shot above most guards and wings. Durant’s 80-point game would be surprising considering he’s never gotten that close to that mark before, but it would be far less surprising than when Adebayo did it.

Devin Booker has been responsible for several all-time high-scoring games during his career. The most memorable thing is that the Phoenix Suns guard scored 70 points in 2017. His team wasn’t very good back then, which led to the Kentucky product getting the final nod. Sixty-plus, 70-plus, and now, 80-plus point scoring games were not as common then as they are becoming more so now, however, which required Booker to imitate Chamberlain and demonstrate his high scoring output in pencil on a piece of paper in the locker room after the game.

Booker is still an elite scorer after all these years. He is averaging 24.9 points per game this year due to an excellent mid-range shot and ability to go downhill and score in the painted area. Over the last few years, it didn’t seem like Booker would be able to surpass his own 70-point game, let alone score 80 points a night. This was because he shared the court with the aforementioned Durant as well as Bradley Beal.

Now with those two gone, Booker has a clear mandate to be the top option in Phoenix. The rest of his team is filled with serious role players who don’t mind doing the dirty work, so it’s not hard to imagine a game in which Booker takes a high volume of shots while his teammates do their best to create extra possessions and get him open looks.

Adebayo fell short of Chamberlain’s single-game scoring record, but he followed up several iconic performances by dropping 83 points on the Washington Wizards. Of course, there was Bryant’s aforementioned 81-point performance, but Chamberlain also had another iconic scoring game in which he scored 78 points. Adebayo also beat Luka Doncic’s 73-point performance to tie for fifth all-time.

Doncic has proven he can get close to scoring 80 points. He has a methodical style of play that is difficult to defend. Doncic gets up and makes shots from beyond the 3-point arc, and his step-back is one of the best moves in basketball. He also has some of the best touches in the league. Doncic currently leads the NBA in scoring with 32.5 points per game.

Additionally, LeBron James is nearing retirement, and once one of the greatest players in NBA history is retired, there will be even more shots for Doncic. Then again, maybe the Slovenian star will get to 80 points before his partner in crime retires. After all, James is an incredible playmaker who demands attention on defense, which will make life easier on Doncic.

There is no denying that Victor Vembanyama is the future of the NBA. The French star, who plays for the San Antonio Spurs, stands 7 feet 4 inches tall. On the one hand, this has quickly made him one of the best defenders in the NBA, and he could take home Defensive Player of the Year awards on a consistent basis.

However, Vembanyama is also a unicorn when it comes to crime. Despite his size, Vembanyama has guard-like skills. He can hit step-back jumpers, put the ball on the floor and create rebounds, and hit fadeaways and turnarounds. Of course, Vembanyama’s size allows him to score inside with ease, as he barely has to try to dunk over anyone.

It’s going to be a night where Vembanyama will have serious mismatches and opposing teams will be unable to stop him. In that case, Vembanyama could potentially score 80 points, which would indicate that the future is now.

The defending MVP is on his way to winning his second consecutive award for being the best player in the NBA after his elite performance in which he scored 35 points en route to hitting the game-winner against the Nuggets. Gilgeous-Alexander is in his fourth consecutive season averaging more than 30 points per game.

He led the league with 32.7 points per game last year and his 31.7 points per game this year are the second-most. If the Oklahoma City Thunder did not have the deepest rotation in the league, one has to imagine this figure would be much higher. The Thunder have 13 or 14 players who can be in each team’s 10-man rotation, which means there are plenty of players to feed off. If Gilgeous-Alexander plays on a bad team, it’s not hard to imagine him averaging 40 points per game, and it’s almost less hard to imagine him scoring 80 points in a single game.

The MVP can really score whatever he wants. He has a reliable 3-point shot and is one of the best middies in the league. He probably scores better at the rim than any other guard, and he gets to the free throw line more often. If anyone is going to score 80 points again, or potentially even try to surpass Adebayo’s historic performance, it will surely be Gilgeous-Alexander.

It was a historic night for the Miami Heat and especially Bam Adebayo. He scored 83 points against the Washington Wizards. moving forward late Kobe Bryant For scoring the second most points in an NBA game.

This was a moment that instantly went viral with no Who’s celebrating in the NBA?. They also include LeBron James and Dirk Nowitzki. Also, Adebayo’s fiancée, Aja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces, was right there in the court Celebrating achievement.

After the game, Adebayo took time to celebrate With Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, according to SM Highlights. As Adebayo came off the floor, Spoelstra was waiting for him with open arms and he gave him a big hug.

Bam Adebayo gave his head coach Erik Spoelstra a big gift after the 83-run loss, it’s love.

❤️ ❤️ pic.twitter.com/PR48GY7ZrK

– SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) 11 March 2026

Adebayo before breaking Kobe’s record Surpasses LeBron James’ mark of 61 pointsMost points scored by a Heat player in a game. In the end, the Heat defeated the weak Washington Wizards 150–129.

Overall, Adebayo was 20 of 43 from the field, 7 of 22 at the 3-point line, and 36 of 43 at the foul line.

Furthermore, Adebayo is averaging 18.9 points per game. On January 22, 2006, Kobe Bryant scored 81 points in a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Toronto Raptors. He was 28 of 46 from the field, 7 of 13 at the 3-point line and 18 of 20 at the foul line.

The most points in an NBA game were scored by Wilt Chamberlain in March 1962. That day, in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Chamberlain and his Philadelphia Warriors were playing the New York Knicks.

Overall, Chamberlain was 36 of 63 from the field and 28 of 32 from the free throw line. The Warriors won 169–147.

It was a moment that still remains the standard for NBA individual excellence.

Adebayo has been with the Heat for nine seasons, beginning with the 2017–18 NBA season.

Bam Adebayo is a five-time All-Defensive selection, averaging 16.0 points in his career. He’s an undeniable difference-maker, but not the type of player who is expected to break the modern era single-game NBA scoring record. Well, the Miami Heat don’t often worry about expectations, and neither does their franchise pillar. The former No. 14 overall draft pick dropped 83 points against the Washington Wizards and is now behind only Wilt Chamberlain.

The possibility of Adebayo eclipsing the greatest center of all-time’s untouched 100-point mark became a shocking reality when he posted 31 points in the first quarter, single-handedly outscoring the Wizards. Although he did not reach the summit, the three-time All-Star still put on an unforgettable performance for the home crowd at the Kasia Center. He recreated the iconic Chamberlain photo after Miami’s 150–129 win.

83! pic.twitter.com/qn8x8xsuxM

– Miami Heat (@MiamiHEAT) 11 March 2026

The Montreal Canadiens hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night, a battle of two clubs on opposite poles of the trend spectrum.

The Habs are a team on the rise, while the Leafs are slowly realizing that their previous expectations were merely symptoms of delusions of sporting grandeur.

With this in mind, it was no surprise that the Canadiens defeated the Leafs, although the 3–1 score was a little favorable to the road team, as they lost to Montreal 33–18.

Let’s look at the highlights!

The future is now, old man

The Canadiens showed great pace to start the game, creating several high-danger scoring chances and frequent turnovers in the offensive zone.

This solid play ultimately culminated in rookie Oliver Kapanen’s 20th goal of the year, earning him a cool $212,500 to reach the goal-scoring bonus in his contract.

Oliver Kapanen opened the scoring with his 20th goal of the year.

A beauty, with Demidov and Newhook providing excellent assistance.

1-0 #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/cItuvSvIVs

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 10 March 2026

tertiary scoring

Montreal once again took advantage of their great start as Philippe Danault scored his fifth goal of the year, a nice individual effort that featured quick hands from the oldest player in the lineup.

It should be noted that shots in the first period were 18–5 in favor of the Canadiens, a season-high for the home team. The Canadiens were so dominant that the Leafs enjoyed their second offensive-zone start of the game just minutes into the second frame.

Philippe Danault has fun and doubles the Canadian’s lead! 🚨🔵⚪🔴 pic.twitter.com/1iiU68de09

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) 10 March 2026

stem the tide

Toronto clearly lacked enthusiasm to start the game, but they increased their effort level significantly midway through the second period, as evidenced by the game when William Nylander limited Montreal’s lead to just one goal.

Cowan and Nylander connect to cut Habs lead in half pic.twitter.com/2cUZlI0DdH

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) 11 March 2026

Partiality? We don’t need no smelly prejudice

With all due respect to the good folks at Sportsnet, their coverage of Tuesday’s game was completely tilted toward the Leafs.

Keep in mind that the Canadiens beat Toronto by a wide margin and are miles ahead of the Leafs in the standings. Toronto’s season is essentially meaningless, with the playoffs out of reach, while Montreal is engaged in an extremely competitive playoff race. Sportsnet spent more time discussing Benoit-Olivier Groulx’s handful of changes than anything remotely related to the Habs.

Of course, we have to allow for some disappointing catering at the Toronto market, but based on the comments, you’d assume Toronto won the game handily.

Rather, it was the Canadiens who emerged with a solid 3–1 victory, a sign of things to come between the respective franchises.

The Montreal Canadiens are back in action on Wednesday facing the Ottawa Senators. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm ET.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

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

Kenny Atkinson praised James Harden’s career milestone of scoring 29,000 points following the Cleveland Cavaliers’ win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night.

Harden has been in the NBA since 2009, making him one of the league’s greatest scorers of all time. Heading into Cleveland’s clash with Philadelphia, he had scored 28,996 regular season points in his entire career. He needed # of points to reach the milestone of 29,000 points, to get closer to the great achievement of 30,000 points.

Harden accomplished the feat with a stellar performance during his 29 minutes of action. He finished with a stat line of 21 points, five rebounds, five assists and one block. He made 6 of 11 shots from the field, including 3 of 8 from beyond the arc and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line.

Atkinson reacted to Harden’s milestone via reporter Paris McGee Jr. after the game. The head coach hailed the moment as a testament to the veteran star’s longevity as an elite scorer in the league.

“It’s a testament to his resiliency. It’s very hard to do that consistently for so long in this league. This version of James we’re seeing, you don’t just think about scoring, I think about this complete player… When they announced it today, I was in shock, 29,000. Wow. Incredible,” Atkinson said.

Kenny Atkinson called James Harden’s milestone of 29,000 career points a testament to his longevity and elite level of flexibility.

Video: Paris McGee Jr., cleveland.com pic.twitter.com/KNkEFrC6TV

– cleveland.com Cavs (@PDcavsinsider) 10 March 2026

James Harden, how the Cavaliers played against the 76ers

It’s clear that Kenny Atkinson is proud to see James Harden make history as one of the best veteran scorers in the league. He is now eager to see Harden aim for the 30,000-point milestone.

Six players scored in double figures for Cleveland in the win over Philadelphia, including Harden. Keon Ellis proved to be a big spark off the bench with 19 points on 5-of-9 shooting overall, including 4 of 7 from downtown. Donovan Mitchell came next with 17 points and six assists, Evan Mobley had 15 points and eight rebounds, Dean Wade put up 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Jaylon Tyson provided 11 points.

Cleveland improved to a 40–25 record on the season and finished fourth in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic, while trailing the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics.

The Cavaliers look forward to their next matchup while on the road. They will take on the Magic as tip-off takes place on March 11 at 7:30 pm ET.

Even before the start of the 2025–26 season, Cooper was the favorite to win the Flagg Rookie of the Year award. A good opportunity awaits him with the Dallas Mavericks, as after the Luka Doncic trade, he has a chance to step up immediately and become the superstar talent the team needs to develop. And for its price, the Flag is as good as advertised, if not better.

While Flagg’s averages of 20.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this season are certainly good enough for him to win the prestigious award, Kon Nueppel’s consistency for a much-improved Charlotte Hornets team could take the award away from the Mavericks star.

NBA insider Mark Stein, who has many ties to the Mavericks, also believes that the conflict between what is best for Dallas at the end of the year and what is best for Flagg from a personal standpoint could hinder Flagg’s ROTY candidacy.

“The Mavs have 18 games left, and the truth is, if they can go 0-18 it would be the best thing for them. That’s the way the system is,” Steen said on the All NBA Podcast. “The way the system is structured, the best thing for the Mavs is to lose, and lose royally, and that’s obviously not going to be very good if you’re chasing Rookie of the Year.”

Mavs face crucial year in Cooper Flagg-focused rebuild

As Steen said, 2026 is the last time the Mavericks control their first-round pick until 2031. It simply means Dallas has all the incentive in the world to try to lose as many games as possible to put itself in a better position to add a blue-chip prospect in the 2026 NBA Draft.

This will be the priority of the team. It is imperative for Flagg to acquire a potential long-term co-star if he is to bounce back from the Luka Doncic tragedy.

Now that we’re officially four races into the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, the battle leading up to the 10-race The Chase is only starting to heat up. After a battle at Phoenix that saw some top drivers wrecked while others cracked the top 10, there is still some movement for the Cup Series points leaders.

Let’s take a look at the NASCAR points standings today after the Straight Talk Wireless 500.

RELATED: NASCAR Results Today Phoenix, NASCAR Stage Results Today

NASCAR points standings today: Cup Series playoff picture

Here are the NASCAR points leaders right now after today’s race at Phoenix. For the top 16 drivers who made The Chase, we’ve listed how many points behind Tyler Reddick they are. Below 17th is how many points they are behind the 16th and final Chase position.

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

Luka Doncic didn’t even start the game on Friday night; They took over the Crypto.com Arena in a hostile manner. The Slovenian superstar turned the arena into his personal playground during a blowout opening frame against the Indiana Pacers, and reminded everyone why the Lakers moved mountains to get him.

Luka Doncic is on fire in the first quarter against the Pacers

🔹22 points
🔹4 rebounds
🔹3 help

🔹7-in-9 FG
🔹5 out of 5 3pts

pic.twitter.com/ToxtTEnkbV

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 7 March 2026

Doncic came out of the gate like a man possessed, and torched the Indiana Pacers for 22 points in the first quarter. He wasn’t just scoring; He was conducting a masterclass in efficiency. Luka shot a ridiculous 7-of-9 from the field and was a perfect 5-of-5 from beyond the arc in those first 12 minutes. He added four rebounds and three assists for good measure, accounting for nearly every bucket the Lakers produced early on.

Brian Windhorst pointed to a strategic approach the Golden State Warriors could use during Stephen Curry’s injury recovery.

Curry has been sidelined since his last game appearance on January 30 and has missed the entire month of February. He has missed 11 consecutive games and is nursing a knee injury, forcing Golden State to be cautious with his recovery.

NBA insider Brian Windhorst provided insight on the team’s situation with its superstar guard on The Hoop Collective show. He explained how the Warriors are looking at their position in the playoff picture and deciding whether it’s best to bring Curry back or shut him down for the remainder of the season.

“You know right away there were people who were thinking, like, they’re considering shutting him down for the season. I don’t think they’re doing that. I think they’re evaluating where they are in the standings and evaluating where Steph is and trying to play their strategy here. But it’s obviously a significant development that Steph is going to be out for a few more weeks,” Windhorst said at the 29:49 mark.

Stephen Curry, what’s next for the Warriors

The Warriors remain strong in the playoff picture despite the absence of Stephen Curry, defeating the Houston Rockets 115–113 in overtime.

Six players scored in double figures for Golden State in the win. Brandin Podziemski led the way with a stat line of 26 points and nine rebounds on 10 of 18 shooting from the field, including 4 of 8 from beyond the arc. De’Anthony Melton finished second with 23 points and six rebounds, Al Horford had 17 points and six rebounds, Gui Santos added 14 points and six assists, while LJ Cryer provided 12 points and three rebounds. Meanwhile, Draymond Green contributed 10 points, eight assists and five rebounds.

Golden State improved to a 32–30 record on the season and finished eighth in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers, while trailing the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers.

The Warriors will remain on the road and await their next matchup. They will face the Oklahoma City Thunder as tip-off takes place on March 7 at 8:30 PM ET.

The third points race of the 2026 NASCAR season has concluded, with Circuit of the Americas holding the first road course race this year. Driving on the road course means we have a slight bump on the Cup Series points leaderboard, as we see in the latest standings.

Here are the NASCAR points standings today after the Duramax Texas Grand Prix at COTA.

RELATED: NASCAR results today COTA, NASCAR Cup Series stage results

NASCAR awards points leaders now: standings after COTA

Along with the NASCAR points leaders, we’ve listed how many points behind Tyler Reddick the top-16 drivers are. For drivers below the cutline (16th), we’ve listed how many points below it they are.

RELATED: Winners, losers of NASCAR races today at COTA

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

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards is having another stellar campaign, once again showing why many consider him the face of the NBA.

Although he has scoffed at the label, Edwards cannot ignore the impact he has had on the league, especially among fans. Edwards’ charming style and colorful personality have made him a very popular player in his generation.

The 24-year-old Edwards has also matured over the years, understanding the game better and accepting that he needs to become a complete player, not just a scoring machine.

Former NBA star Blake Griffin pointed out people have ignored Edwards’ defensive skills.

“Offensively, he’s getting better and better every year, and it shows. But one thing I don’t hear talked about enough is how good a defender he really is. He’s not a target guy. You don’t think about putting him into a ton of work. You avoid him. He’s second on the team in steals, fourth in deflections,” Griffin said on NBA on Prime.

“He’s really a guy that’s doing it on both ends of the floor, which is huge for a team.”

“He’s really a guy that’s doing it on both ends of the floor.”@blakegriffin23 On the defensive growth of Anthony Edwards 🐜 pic.twitter.com/reOavxKkny

– NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) 27 February 2026

Griffin, who was also a very popular player, also noted the importance of Edwards’ fun-loving attitude. Even when he is on the court, he likes to chat around and joke, which motivates him to play more.

Griffin said, “The other thing I love about Ant is that he plays the game of basketball and really lives it. It’s contagious to a team, and that team carries that personality.”

Edwards, who recently won his first All-Star Game MVP, has often been praised for his work ethic and stubborn attitude to join the NBA’s elite.

He has led the Timberwolves to a 36-23 record – fifth in the Western Conference – entering their game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Intuit Dome on Thursday.

We’ve officially entered the first two races of the 2026 NASCAR season, with Sunday’s Cup Series race at Atlanta bringing more changes to the points leaderboard early in the year. Every week matters in the months leading up to the 10-race The Chase, so today’s results could determine who is the regular season winner.

Here are the NASCAR points leaders in the Cup Series after the Autotrader 400 at Echopark Speedway.

RELATED: Winners, losers from today’s NASCAR race at Echopark Speedway

NASCAR points standings today: Cup Series points leaders

RELATED: NASCAR results for Cup Series today, NASCAR stage results for Atlanta

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

Anthony Edwards once again looked close to his best performance against the Dallas Mavericks as his 40 points helped them suffer their tenth consecutive loss. At the same time, Ant wasn’t the only superstar to score 40 points, with Cade Cunningham also coming back with 42 in the Detroit Pistons’ recent win over the New York Knicks.
And as it turns out, ANT took inspiration from the Pistons’ main man.

“I actually do this shit in my sleep… I woke up today and I knew I was about to turn 40. I saw Cade [Cunningham] Go for 40 and I said bullshit, that means I have to go for 40 too,” Edwards revealed after the game, according to a clip on the X posted by ClutchPoints. Not only did the Timberwolves star watch his fellow young superstar put in one of the best performances of his career, but he also used it to push himself.

“I actually do this shit in my sleep… I woke up today and I knew I was about to turn 40. I saw Cade [Cunningham] Go for 40 and I said nonsense, that means I should get 40 too.”

Anthony Edwards on his huge game last night against the Mavs 🔥

(via @timberwolves)pic.twitter.com/zAAudJn61B

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 21 February 2026

The Timberwolves won 122–111 as Edwards scored 40 points on 16-of-30 shooting with five threes and six rebounds, his eighth 40-point game of the season. This included 14 points in the fourth quarter, showing the same kind of efficiency Cunningham showed a few days earlier.

Cunningham proved exactly why he previously said he loved playing at Madison Square Garden. The Pistons guard had one of his most complete games of the season, posting 42 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds on 50% shooting in a 126–111 win over the New York Knicks.

Cunningham scored 14 points in the first quarter and even had a stretch where he scored 11 consecutive points for the Pistons, who extended their run to 41–13, best in the Eastern Conference.

And yet the biggest contribution may have come in the form of inspiration provided by ANT, who responded with a memorable night of their own. The All-Star MVP returned to familiar form with Minnesota’s third consecutive win.

They will now face the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.

Anthony Edwards is unquestionably one of the best players in the association, and some even believe he is the best player in the NBA bar one. Now, it’s hard to crown Edwards given how talented his teammates are, but the fact that he’s keeping pace with the elite is nothing less than a huge win for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

On Friday night, with Edwards playing for the Timberwolves for the first time since the All-Star break, the 2026 NBA All-Star Game MVP picked up right where he left off. He scored 40 points for Minnesota to lead them to a 122–111 win over the Dallas Mavericks, and in doing so, he notched his eighth 40-point game of the 2025–26 campaign.

This places him in rarefied air; This season, only two players have scored 40 points in a single game at least eight times, with Edwards joining Luka Doncic in that exclusive club, as reported by the official ClutchPoints account on Ax (formerly Twitter).

Edwards is now averaging 29.5 points per contest on the season, which ranks him third in the association behind Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. That’s why the Timberwolves are emerging as a secret contender in the Western Conference, and Edwards is a big factor in that.

Timberwolves don’t let off the gas pedal vs. Mavericks

It was thanks to a stellar first quarter performance that the Timberwolves managed to create a comfortable cushion between themselves and the Mavericks. At the end of the period they were already ahead by 15, and Edwards scored only three runs during that period. Edwards led the way in the second frame, scoring 17 points in 10 minutes, and Minnesota kept Dallas at bay for most of the game.

Edwards, who was without Cooper Flagg on Friday night due to a foot injury, battled his way against an overmatched Mavs team.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The LA Clippers begin the post-All-Star break portion of their season with a matchup against the powerful Denver Nuggets, led by three-time MVP Nikola Jokic. The game got off to a bad start for the Clippers. That is, until Benedict Mathurin checked in.

Denver blew a 13-4 lead over the Clippers in Thursday night’s contest, trapping Kawhi Leonard 30 feet from the basket and forcing him to make other players. Benedict Mathurin checked in midway through the third quarter and immediately contributed 11 points off the bench in six minutes of the first quarter.

This was a far cry from the Mathurin everyone saw debuting for the Clippers against the Houston Rockets a week ago, and it was exactly what the Clippers needed against the Nuggets.

“We had a conversation during the first game in Houston,” head coach Tyronn Lue said of Benedict Mathurin. “I thought he was really passive, turned down some shots, wasn’t aggressive. I pulled him to the sideline during a timeout and told him, ‘You’ve got to be aggressive, you’ve got to be who you are, and we’ll figure out the rest.’ We needed everything we got tonight. “He’s aggressive, getting to the basket, getting to the free throw line and making some big shots for us.”

Mathurin not only made a strong start to the Clippers’ offense and did not give up all night. In his third game since the trade deadline deal that traded him to the Indiana Pacers, Benedict Mathurin recorded a Clippers franchise record for points in a home debut. The Clippers guard led the way with 38 points on 12-of-22 shooting from the field and 12-of-13 from the free throw line.

“Man, this is going to be awesome [playing for Tyronn Lue],” Mathurin said after the win. He could be my best friend. He told me to be aggressive, man. He told me to be myself, and I feel like he really knows my game. He really knows what I can do. It’s been a pleasure to have him as a coach. And I think by bringing everybody together, we can do a lot of great things.”

Kawhi Leonard, who was battling an illness, recorded 23 points, four rebounds and three assists, but saw double-teams and traps all night by the Nuggets defense that made it difficult for him to find a rhythm. However, he had a 10-point third quarter that helped the Clippers clinch the win in the minutes that Benedict Mathurin was off the field.

“Business went so fast, man,” Mathurin said. “I found time to talk [Kawhi] A little bit, just to meet him after the All-Stars. Great boy! We’re trying to build that relationship as quickly as possible so we can make a deep run in the playoffs.

Mathurin started the game with 11 points in the opening period and finished his 38-point performance with 16 points in the final frame.

“It’s fun to see how happy my teammates were for me,” Mathurin said after the win. “Just winning, actually winning my second game with the team. So far, so good.”

Mathurin recorded his second straight game with double-digit free throw attempts, repeatedly displaying the ability to take contact, finish through contact and get to the free throw line.

“I think I’ve always been aggressive, just getting to the rim,” Mathurin said after the win. “That’s one of my biggest strengths. So I think, you know, just knowing when to take a shot or be aggressive is kind of the difference between those two.”

In three games so far with the Clippers, Benedict Mathurin has averaged 21 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.0 steals in 30 minutes per game.

The Clippers are back in action on Friday night when they take on the Los Angeles Lakers inside Staples Center, the second game of a back-to-back set.

During his first appearance at All-Star weekend, a reporter asked Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren about the growth he has seen with the Denver Nuggets. The Thunder’s Holmgren discussed his personal growth this season ahead of his first All-Star Game selection. However, he was hesitant to talk about how much the Nuggets have improved as a team.

Instead, Holmgren discussed the injuries the Nuggets have experienced this season, much like the Thunder’s injury-plagued campaign.

“Denver has some different players on the roster who have taken some steps this summer,” Holmgren said. “They were a really good team last year. They’re a really good team this year. They’ve had some injuries, as we have, as everybody in the league has. Hopefully, they can get those guys back, and we can get all our guys back. At the end of the day, every team wants to be completely healthy and playing at their best. So, that’s what we’re hoping for.”

The Nuggets were without All-Star Nikola Jokic for more than a month. The Thunder have been missing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the last five games. Oklahoma City has also struggled with injuries to Jalen Williams, who has missed 30+ games this season; starting center Isaiah Hartenstein, who has missed 16 games; And Ajay Mitchell, who has been out since January 21.

Chet Holmgren reacts to the new All-Star Game

Thunder forward Chet Holmgren discusses the new All-Star Game format after making his debut in the star-studded event. Holmgren reflected on career milestones.

Holmgren said, “I thought it was good. I thought everybody out there was playing a good brand of basketball.” “It felt like, I guess you would say, a pick-up game, and when there’s that level of talent on the field, it’s always fun, it’s always good.”

He also talked about the ring he received for his All-Star selection, which was unexpected for Holmgren.

Holmgren said, “It was pretty cool. I didn’t know you could get an All-Star ring until I got it.” “So, it was pretty cool. It comes with a little box with a little video in it. It’s too bad, but I think I like our ring from last year a little more.”

Holmgren says he treasures the moment of his first All-Star Game.

“I definitely tried to take a moment during pictures yesterday and then warming up and playing the game today and think what a great opportunity this is,” Holmgren said. “I felt like I was beautiful most of the time. Just taking it all in.”

Holmgren and the Thunder resume their regular season schedule when they host the Nets on Friday.

The Los Angeles Lakers were certainly lucky to get Luka Doncic in a blockbuster trade that continues to be talked about around the association. However, the Lakers have already built their roster with Anthony Davis in mind that L.A. hasn’t yet been able to surround Doncic with the pieces he needs to make a championship charge.

Currently, the Lakers sit in fifth place in the Western Conference, and they have glaring roster deficiencies that they were not able to address before the trade deadline. Their defense is missing a lot of pieces to help cover for Doncic and Austin Reaves’ shortcomings on that side of the ball.

Of course, it’s impossible to count out any team with Doncic and LeBron James either way. Still, James acknowledged that the Lakers are dealing with the same issues as they have in years past, even though Doncic is now his co-star instead of Davis.

“We’re playing good ball sometimes, but the number one important thing for us is health. We finally got healthy with AR coming back and then Luka went down with the hamstring. So that’s going to be most important for our team. And it’s been that way for our team the last couple of years,” James said on the latest episode of the Mind the Game podcast.

The Lakers’ injury problems keep them from getting into a more consistent rhythm

Every game seems like a dogfight for the Lakers, as their defensive limitations force them to constantly outshoot their opponents. Against lockdown defensive teams, the Purple and Gold have struggled, especially with Doncic, Reeves and James in and out of the lineup.

“We’re not set up to the point where we have a lot of room for error or, like, when Eddie was on the team. When Eddie goes down it’s like, crap. We don’t have enough to pick him up. When Luka goes down you know it’s crap, it’s Luka. AR was down, but it was tough for us,” James said.