標籤: prove

west ham united Star Crescencio Somerville has admitted he has let Suriname down a bit by focusing on playing for the Netherlands.

NU.nl covers West Ham forward’s comments After a press conference with the Netherlands today. The 24-year-old is set to make his debut for the Dutch team in the coming weeks ahead of the World Cup.

netherland choice

In fact, Crescencio Somerville has never played for the Netherlands at senior level. He was set to do so in the last international break, before injury ended those plans.

The forward has remained focused on playing for the Netherlands, despite Suriname’s efforts to get the forward to switch allegiance.

They are now managed by Dutch manager Henk ten Cate, who has had several successes in convincing Dutch players to switch allegiance. He talked to Somerville about doing the same. However, the West Ham star resisted all attempts.

It paid off for him as he is now heading towards the World Cup with Ronald Koeman and company. And he admits it meant disappointing Ten Cate and his Suriname team.

“I was in contact with Henk ten Cate earlier this year,” he said.

“They were a little disappointed. But I strive for the highest possible goal. For me, that is the Dutch national team.”

opinions are changing

Now the focus is on changing opinion about him in the Netherlands. There are still some doubts about the forward’s attitude, which was questioned at Feyenoord.

He was and still is seen as a difficult character. However, Somerville never understood that label.

He said, “People used to say I was a difficult boy. These are opinions. You can’t change that, although I have certainly become more mature in England.”

exit west ham

The World Cup may not be the only big moment for him this summer. With West Ham relegated and in need of a sale, Crescencio Somerville is the first name on the list.

There are already clubs lining up to potentially lure him away from the London Stadium. Roma has been monitoring the situation for some time. Tottenham are also reportedly keen.

However, the first is the World Cup, where he may be able to generate even more interest with his performances.

Sunny Mehta was brought in as general manager to be bold and he certainly has the opportunity to do that this summer via the New Jersey Devils trade.

Mehta’s background shows that he is willing to take risks having been a former professional poker player, an options trader, and even a professional musician.

So, why wouldn’t he at least try to acquire Quinn Hughes?

You know the story. Quinn is the older brother. Jack Hughes and Luke Hughes have long been associated with New Jersey. It would be crazy to get these three together in New Jersey – the kind of thing fans have been daydreaming about for years.

This was almost a reality in 2025-26. Ultimately, former GM Tom Fitzgerald missed the opportunity and it didn’t happen.

Thus, Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin swooped in and ran the ball back for a touchdown. Wild believed Quinn was one of, if not the final piece of the puzzle that would ultimately lift the Stanley Cup.

Still, Minnesota was devastated by the inevitable Colorado avalanche last night.

With a new person in charge, many are wondering if Mehta will be able to do what the old front office could not.

Quinn is still under contract in Minnesota through next season. He’s coming off another big year, and the Wild are in no position to “sell.”

But contracts eventually end, conditions change, and the family works harder. Therefore this story will not end.

adventure part

If the Devils are serious about it, it will definitely be worth more than just prospects and picks.

Let’s preface this by saying that I’m not advocating that Satanists should or shouldn’t do this. All I’m saying is that it’s the kind of bold move Fitzgerald wouldn’t come close to.

The Wild’s eventual collapse in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs may be due to one very obvious thing. They have no central depth.

In New Jersey, the Devils have a frontline center with the same contract expiration date as Quinn and nearly identical cap hits for the rest of their deals.

Yes. We are talking about the captain. Nico Hischier.

Hischier has been the devil’s heart. He is a reliable, two-way center who leads by example. Trading him for a defenseman – even one as good as Quinn – will feel uncomfortable at first. But hat math is hat math. Quinn wants big money on his next deal. Hischier himself is about to get a big promotion. If you’re trying to fit three Hughes brothers under one hat while trying to build a contender, something’s got to give.

A deal that really catches Minnesota’s attention might look something like this:

• devils send: Nico Hischier, Simon Nemec (or Anton Silayev), this year’s first rounder, and maybe one more piece
• devils get:Quinn Hughes

This is a huge offer. You’re leaving your captain and a young NHL defenseman who has a shot at being a top-four prospect.

However, you are becoming arguably the best defenseman in the NHL. And the Wild have been yearning for a legitimate center for years.

Maybe bold doesn’t even cover it.

Will Mehta do this?

We’re talking about a move with a magnitude of 10 here.

However, this is not unfamiliar territory for Mehta. You have to remember, Mehta didn’t get a final shot with his former club, the Florida Panthers. However, he was instrumental in assisting GM Bill Zito with important moves that ultimately led them to consecutive Stanley Cups in the last two seasons.

One of those tricks? The foresight to move Jonathan Huberdeau and Mackenzie Weegar in exchange for Matthew Tkachuk.

In the end, that trade ultimately changed the Panthers’ trajectory from bubble threat to legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.

This was the final gamble in which the Panthers lost cash twice.

So no, don’t take such a bold step in front of Mehta. History shows that calculated risks are in its DNA.

Will this also work?

On paper, adding Quinn ahead of Jack and Luke would be ridiculous. The passing, the power play, the ability to control the game from the back end – this will inevitably force the Devils to lean back on their strengths, but on steroids.

As a result, you’ll be centering the situation and diluting your already weak prospect pool at the same time. That doesn’t mean Mehta can’t figure out another 2C solution, but it won’t be easy — they don’t grow on trees, especially ones like Hischier’s that undoubtedly have 1C quality. If this doesn’t change rapidly in the cup window, you’ll have years of regrets.

Mehta’s background in analytics and poker means he probably approaches trades differently than the previous guy. The lower the sentiment, the higher the expected value. Will this lead to any major accomplishments like this in his first few months on the job… who knows.

Right now it’s all smoke. No real traction beyond the usual off-season whispers that I’ve heard. In fact, it’s more likely that Quinn extends to Minnesota.

But that kind of boldness was lacking under the previous regime and that’s what the Devils ownership are hoping Mehta will bring to the table. If the Devils really want to unify the Hughes Triforce, Mehta will have to lure Guerin to the dance.

The offseason is young and Mehta is just getting started. However, he will undoubtedly want to make his mark on the roster.

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

Venezia’s Issa Doumbia is now attracting people’s attention everton And newcastle unitedHas attracted other British clubs before.

In December, sports witness Covered Celtic’s scouting mission for the midfielder. Southampton were also in the running, having made an offer to sign him last summer.

It was made very late in the window, leaving Venezia little time to sign a replacement. As a result, Doumbia remained in Venice and is now moving rapidly.

He has played 34 times in Serie B, scoring six times and assisting five times. It has been crucial for the Lagurani, who top the table and are on the verge of a return to Serie A.

This also means increased attention around Doumbia. Newcastle United and Everton are well into the race, with major Italian sides also keen.

Besiktas talks continue

New Venice – Go tutomercatowebLet’s see where the 22-year-old’s future may lie.

Newcastle United and Everton have ‘expressed interest’ in the Italian, with Inter Milan and Roma keeping a close eye on his development.

It doesn’t end there, as Besiktas are really working to land him. There is an agreement on individual terms between Doumbia and the Turkish side, with an offer of €15m already on the table from Venezia.

Talks are also ongoing between the two clubs, with Besiktas pushing to close a deal.

Meanwhile, the Venice club plans to use that money and strengthen their attack upon Doumbia’s departure.

Our Opinion: The deal is not done yet

It feels like an effort is being made to raise Doumbia’s profile, in order to attract as many clubs as possible. While Besiktas may be interested, a report Marco Conterio There is also no mention of Turkish clubs.

Furthermore, how Venezia’s season ends will define everything. They are three points clear at the top and could be pushed into the playoff zone.

That’s why Everton and Newcastle United should keep an eye on Doumbia. He boasts the ability to cover ground and adds unpredictability in the final third. Doumbia also places a strong emphasis on winning the ball back, making him a good fit for English football.

On Tuesday evening, Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo had a night in the history books by scoring 83 points against the Washington Wizards, the second-most in NBA history. This historic game takes him ahead of Kobe Bryant, who scored 81 on the Toronto Raptors in January 2006, with only Wilt Chamberlain now surpassing him in scoring 100 points.

Adebayo has been in a highly publicized relationship with WNBA star A’Ja Wilson for some time now, and the reigning Finals MVP was in attendance to watch Adebayo torch the Wizards in Miami on Tuesday. In fact, according to a post by Legion Hoops on X, formerly Twitter, both Wilson and Adebayo now hold active scoring records for their respective leagues.

Sure, Adebayo scored 83 points in Tuesday’s loss to the Wizards, while Wilson scored 53 points against the Atlanta Dream in 2023.

Adebayo’s huge night has opened up a circle of discussion in the NBA world, with some believing that the method by which he scored 83 points, including over 40 free-throw attempts, and the team kept him in the game through garbage time in pursuit of the record, was not necessarily “ethical.”

However, years from now, fans will likely remember the landmark point, not the means by which it was achieved.

Meanwhile, the Heat’s win over the Wizards gave them their sixth consecutive win and moved them into a virtual tie with the Toronto Raptors for fifth place in the Eastern Conference. While this would be a stretch before the bracket tightens up to be able to reach as high as Miami, it’s still an impressive turnaround for a Heat team that hasn’t always been the model of consistency this season.

The Heat will next take the field on Thursday evening for a home game against the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Los Angeles Lakers faced the LA Clippers for the fourth and final time in the 2025-26 regular season, and it was another chance for Luka Doncic to play against a team he has struggled with more than any team in his career.

In their first game out of the All-Star break, the Lakers led by 14 points at the end of the first quarter, 41–27, thanks to Luka Doncic’s hot shooting start. In the first 12 minutes of the game, Doncic recorded 17 points, two rebounds and four assists, while shooting 6 of 8 from the field and 4 of 5 from three.

Doncic’s four assists led to a pair of three-pointers and a pair of two-pointers, meaning he accounted for 27 of the Lakers’ 41 points in the opening period.

Doncic’s 17-point first quarter marked the 30th time the guard recorded at least 10 points in a quarter against the Clippers. This is the 60th time that Doncic has recorded 10 or more points against the Clippers in a single quarter, including the regular season and postseason.

Tonight’s first quarter was the 60th time in Luka Doncic’s career that he recorded 10+ points in a quarter against the LA Clippers.

This was his 30th appearance in the regular season.

– Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 21 February 2026

The only other player to have a quarter of 10 or more points against the Clippers is Kevin Durant, with 79 points. Doncic tied Stephen Curry’s 60 quarters of 10 or more points against the Clippers.

What is the difference between the three? Durant is currently in his 18th season in the NBA, Stephen Curry is in his 17th season, and Doncic is only in his eighth season. By the time it’s all said and done, who knows how far up on that list Luka Doncic will be.

Additionally, Luka Doncic has the second-most points per game average of any player versus the Clippers franchise.

Doncic’s 32.1 points per game average against the Milwaukee Bucks trails only Michael Jordan’s 32.3 points per game. The next three highest points per game averages against a single franchise are also owned by Michael Jordan (32.0 vs. the Cavs, 32.0 vs. the Knicks, and 31.9 vs. the Knicks).

Luka Doncic is averaging 32.1 points per game against the LA Clippers.

This is the second-highest career points per game average of any player versus one franchise (regular season and postseason). pic.twitter.com/Bw2fVALr7w

– Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 21 February 2026

Entering Friday’s game, Luka Doncic had played 42 games against the LA Clippers, combining both the regular season and postseason. Their record in those games is 23-19.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The Indiana Pacers traded Benedict Mathurin to the LA Clippers at the NBA trade deadline in a package including Isaiah Jackson and some first round picks. In return, the Pacers got Ivica Zubac, a player they had been courting since the surprise departure of Myles Turner in free agency.

It was a high price to pay – other than draft compensation – for a Pacers team that drafted Mathurin sixth overall in the 2022 NBA Draft and saw his scoring ability on display on the night. As an athletic, three-level scorer, Mathurin should be able to fit seamlessly into a Clippers team that desperately needs his scoring punch.

“It’s been pretty good so far,” Benedict Mathurin said after his second practice with the LA Clippers on Wednesday afternoon. “You know, I think we have great guys on our team. Everyone is pretty familiar with my game. So that helps a lot. I think there’s still a lot to do and a lot to learn with the system offensively, defensively and especially off the court.”

Benedict Mathurin on practicing and fitting in with his new Clippers teammates:

“It’s been great so far. I think we have great people on our team. Everyone is pretty familiar with my game. So that helps a lot. I think there’s still a lot left to do and there’s still… pic.twitter.com/tFGIPdwUno

-Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 19 February 2026

As great as Mathurin has been in his young career, he struggled to get consistent playing time at Indiana. Whether it was due to Rick Carlisle’s system or simply the need for more catch-and-shoot abilities around Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton, Mathurin saw his minutes fluctuate in his last season with the Pacers.

Mathurin played less than 15 minutes in nine of the Pacers’ 23 playoff games last season and logged 30 minutes in a game only once during the entire season. Now that he has transferred to a new team with a greater need for his scoring abilities, playing time is not something he thinks will be an issue.

“I think it’s just about me being myself,” Ben Mathurin said. “I feel like Ty Lue is going to give me an opportunity to really go out there and play my game without any restrictions. So, I think this will be the biggest, biggest jump for me, especially playing with great players like Kawhi and [Darius Garland] And the rest of the team, which will allow me to go even shorter.”

Coming out of college, Benedict Mathurin was known as a fast-paced, athletic scorer and, at 6 feet 5 inches tall, he had the potential to be a good defender. That end of the floor is something Mathurin is looking to prove he can do at a high level.

“I would just say my aggression. I feel like [there are some] Wrong stories about me, that I can’t play defense. But people, people who need to know that I play defense, know that I play defense. So, just going out there and doing my thing on that end of the floor and just being there for my teammates.

The past two weeks for Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson included being traded from Indianapolis to Los Angeles, flying to L.A. to get physicals, meeting with the team in Minneapolis, but not debuting until the team got to Houston for back-to-back sets. Mathurin and Jackson then got an All-Star break to collect themselves before heading back to Los Angeles for practice on Tuesday and Wednesday before back-to-back sets on Thursday and Friday.

What Benedict Mathurin wants to prove with the Clippers:

“I think just doing it on a nightly basis, just coming to work every day. I think the ability to be here consistently is definitely more realistic, in terms of the role, coming into a new setting. And… pic.twitter.com/pvfsplSoe9

-Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 19 February 2026

“It’s been a lot, man. Like you said, the last two weeks have been business. It’s been an All-Star break, and then coming back here. So, very, very grateful to really get going for the second half of the season.

“There’s no challenge [with the trade]Man. Like I said, I’m very grateful to come to the NBA and play, so now it’s just about what I can do to go out there and just be the player I want to be and the team the team needs me to win, so it’s just about living and learning.

In 239 career regular season games, Benedict Mathurin has averaged 16.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists while shooting 44.3 percent from the field. Mathurin was having a career season with the Indiana Pacers before the trade, averaging career highs in points (17.8), rebounds (5.4), and assists (2.3).

The LA Clippers will begin their post-NBA All-Star break schedule with back-to-back sets against the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers. Benedict Mathurin’s new team won’t leave the state of California for two weeks, with five home games and the only road game at the Lakers and Warriors.