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According to Fightful Select, Jessie Jayne is influencing creative changes on WWE SmackDown.

Several people involved in the creative process have begun rearranging plans in the women’s division to feature Jane more prominently, inspired by crowd reactions to Fatal Influence since her arrival to the group’s main roster last month.

Fatal Influence made her SmackDown debut on April 24, interrupting the match of Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair. Later that night, Jayne faced WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley, losing by disqualification after stablemates Fallon Henley and Lanny Reed attacked Ripley during the match.

The group has wasted no time in establishing themselves at the top of the SmackDown women’s division, with Jayne’s history giving WWE a lot to work with. She is a two-time former NXT Women’s Champion, having won the title for the first time by defeating Stephanie Wacker in May 2025 and holding it for 151 days before losing it to Tatum Paxley at NXT Halloween Havoc. She regained the title at Gold Rush in November 2025 and held it for the next 137 days before dropping it to Lola Vice at NXT Stand & Deliver in a triple threat also involving Kendall Grey.

Jayne also has the honor of being the first wrestler to hold championships in both WWE and TNA simultaneously. She won the TNA Knockouts World Championship in a winner-take-all match against Masha Slamovich at TNA Slammiversary in July 2025 while still NXT Women’s Champion, although she lost the TNA title 36 days later at NXT Heatwave.

The Buffalo Sabers swept the Boston Bruins in their victory in Game One. However, B could not be caught sleeping twice.

The Bruins earned a 4-2 win over the Sabers at KeyBank Center on Tuesday night, tying the best-of-seven series at 1-1 on the evening. After being held scoreless in the first period, Boston scored three goals in the second and another in the third before a late push by Buffalo.

Victor Arvidsson opened the scoring with a backhand shot at 4:54 of the second period, assisted by Jonathan Espirot and Casey Mittelstaedt. Morgan Geikie made it 2-0 on a backhand assist from David Pastrnak and Sean Kuraly at 16:29 of the second. Pavel Zacha scored a power-play goal at 18:10 (assists: Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy) to give Boston a 3–0 lead in the third.

Arvidsson scored his second goal just 16 seconds into the third period – on assists from Espirot and McEvoy – increasing the lead to 4–0.

Sabers coach Lindy Ruff opted to pull goaltender Ukko Pekka Luukkonen after surrendering four goals after 40:16 of the game. Alex Lyon manned the Buffalo net for the remainder of the tilt, and made seven saves on seven shots in relief.

The Sabers responded late, with Bowen Byram and Peyton Krebs scoring in the final frame to make the score 4–2. A flurry of harsh penalties and misconducts occurred in the third, including a fight between Mark Kastelic and Logan Stanley, which increased the tension.

sabers pulled

Final shots were Boston 26, Buffalo 21. Jeremy Swayman got the win in net for Boston with strong play after the first period, while Buffalo’s goaltenders faced heavy pressure. Boston went 1 of 6 on the power play; Buffalo was 0 for 5.

The Bruins’ timely scoring and defensive structure in the first 40 minutes proved decisive, although Buffalo showed late fight. Game three moves to Boston on Thursday.

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

Sevilla are attempting to convince Celtic’s Luis Palma to avoid a permanent move to Lech Poznan and join them this summer.

Estadio Deportivo report that the Spanish side Despite Celtic’s agreement with Lech Poznan, Palma are working to keep him as an option for the summer transfer window.

loan deal in permanent exit

Luis Palma has been impressing on loan at Lech Poznan this season, with eight goals and nine assists in 41 appearances in all competitions so far.

The belief is that the Polish side is ‘almost certain’ Exercising a €4m option to purchase the 26-year-old on a permanent basis from Celtic. They’ll either keep it, or sell it for a quick, easy profit.

But Sevilla are looking to intervene. Nervion officials are still attempting to convince the Honduran player to join them. They want him to put pressure on Celtic to accept Leitch’s offer.

He has also targeted the winger. And director of football Antonio Cordon is now attempting to stop a permanent move from happening. He is trying to convince Palma to go to Spain.

a complementary option

Sevilla see a lot of value in this deal. Luis Palma can act as a complementary option to Ruben Vargas. Or, if it is sold as a higher-capacity replacement. It’s a win-win.

The current asking price is also not beyond their capacity. Of course, that is assuming that Celtic will sell for the same price they have agreed with Lech Poznan. There can be debate on this.

Sevilla will not make any definitive moves until their La Liga position is secure. Planning a top flight is a very different idea from planning a second flight. But the club hierarchy have plans in place that would allow him to move on if needed.

One positive is that there is room for a Celtic winger. He will occupy a non-EU roster spot, but Sevilla have room to add him. Thus, the foundation stone has been laid.

Now they are trying to persuade him to ignore Lake Poznan, return to Celtic Park this summer and move back to La Liga. Of course, that’s assuming they’re in La Liga.

Aston Villa And Tottenham Hotspur AFC are in the race to sign Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi in the summer.

The Argentina international’s contract expires in June and he will not be signing an extension with Bournemouth.

His contract situation has already attracted the attention of some Premier League teams such as Aston Villa and Tottenham and clubs across Europe.

Earlier this week, Sport Witness Covered claims from Italy Spurs are joining Unai Emery’s side and others are following. Premier League pair Bournemouth are willing to pay the player the same salary.

Argentina update on Aston Villa and Tottenham

hailOne of Argentina’s most popular newspapers now covers the latest on the future of Marcos Senesi.

The 28-year-old has been starring for Bournemouth as he hopes to make Lionel Scaloni’s final list for the World Cup.

He has been approached by several clubs due to his performances and status as a free agent in the summer.

Inquiries and talks have been going on with many clubs for some time. Among these clubs, those who have shown the ‘most interest’ and are making the ‘strongest effort’ are Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Chelsea.

North London clubs will only be taken into account if they remain in the top flight. Spurs are 18th in the table, two points behind 17th-placed West Ham United.

Apart from these four Premier League teams, Barcelona and Juventus are also in the race to secure his services.

The defender’s immediate focus is to continue starring for Bournemouth until the end of this season and then finalize his new club for next season.

Ole says Senesi wants to decide on his next destination before the World Cup. Aston Villa, Tottenham and others are all waiting.

Bournemouth star value and statistics

transfer market Marcos Senesi is now valued at €22m, which is €2m less than his highest value in October 2024.

His Premier League statistics for Bournemouth this season are as follows:

• Appearances: 31
• Start: 31
• Total minutes: 2.750
• Minutes per game: 90
• Interceptions per game: 1.5
• Tackles per game: 1.7
• Balls recovered per game: 4.1
• Clearance per game: 7.2
• Duels won per game: 5.2

Borussia Dortmund plan to re-sign Jadon Sancho this summer following his departure Aston Villa The rise has been rapid, and confidence in the 26-year-old within the club has changed dramatically.

What once looked like a long-term reunification full of doubts has now become a real possibility for the German side.

Sancho back on the radar

Ruhr News Today we cover Dortmund’s growing interest in signing Jadon Sancho for the third time.

Reports over the past few months have seen Dortmund analyzing a deal for their former player ahead of the summer. Sancho is set to become a free agent after his loan spell at Aston Villa ends. He will then return to Manchester United, where his contract is expiring and will not be renewed.

Dortmund is slowly talking to itself An outlook for the 26-year-old winger. In fact, sporting director Lars Ricken openly reiterated this idea to Sportbild this week.

He said, “At present we are keeping an eye on many players and investigating them.”

“We’re checking to see if he can improve our team. We’re doing the same with Jadon.”

Why has Dortmund’s stance on Sancho changed?

Ruhr Nachrichten report that Dortmund ‘intensely’ pursued Sancho for several months while he was on loan at Aston Villa.

They know that his contract with Manchester United expires this summer and he will be available on a free transfer. There were initially doubts, given his disappointing loan spell at Chelsea the previous season and his inconsistent performances at Aston Villa.

But in recent weeks, something has changed. Dortmund scouts are now reporting sharper fitness levels, more confidence and happiness on the pitch and a return of Sancho’s trademark creativity.

The atmosphere inside the club has become bad. There has been a ‘massive rethink’ about Sancho and bringing him back.

The growing belief is that Sancho still has the game-changing ability that Dortmund needs. Even his modest goal numbers at Aston Villa don’t worry him. They see Sancho as a playmaker, not a scorer.

financial reality

Under normal circumstances, Dortmund would not be able to buy a player of Jadon Sancho’s quality. But this summer the situation is different. There is no transfer fee, manageable wages of €6-7 million and there will be a signing bonus rather than a huge fee.

For Dortmund, the cost-benefit ratio is unusually favourable. However, there are some sticking points. Sancho has more offers elsewhere and wants a long-term contract.

Dortmund are wary of the latter given the trajectory of his career. After all he has hardly impressed Manchester United, Chelsea or Aston Villa in recent years. At the moment, the profits from gambling are still huge, but German clubs know they need to be careful.

At the moment, the club feel this is their best chance to bring Sancho back permanently. There is a growing consensus that they do not want to miss the opportunity.

The Arizona Cardinals are one of the most interesting teams with the top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, holding the third overall selection with pressing needs at key positions. However, efforts are reportedly being made inside the front office to make some surprise picks.

on the latest episode of The McShay ShowNFL Draft analyst Todd McShay said, “Someone in the Cardinals building is working really, really hard” for the team to select running back the Notre Dame Fighting Irish with the third overall pick.

RELATED: 2026 Positional Dynasty Rankings, See Where Jeremiah Likes to Land

Note, according to McShay, this is someone who has some hold on the Cardinals organization and has some influence on what will be done with the No. 3 pick. However, Arizona is still keeping their options open, and that includes the possibility of trading up to multiple spots and then selecting Love.

Why wouldn’t the Cardinals possibly draft Jeremiah Love?

Drafting Love with the third overall pick would be a bit of an odd decision considering the Cardinals’ offseason moves. Arizona signed running back Tyler Allger to a two-year, $12.25 million deal, re-signed Bam Knight, and worked out a deal to retain James Conner.

There’s one more thing to keep in mind that will make selecting Love with the third overall pick a little difficult. Under the NFL’s rookie salary scale, drafting Love with a top-three pick would lock him into a contract that would effectively make him one of the 10 highest-paid running backs in the NFL.

On the other hand, selecting an edge rusher or offensive tackle at No. 3 overall would mean they would have to sign a rookie-scale contract that is valued outside the top 20 at the position. This shows how much more valuable offensive tackles and edge rushers are than running backs.

Of course, many NFL teams view Love as the best prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft. If Arizona doesn’t take him third overall, the Tennessee Titans (fourth overall pick), New York Giants (fifth overall pick), and Washington Commanders (seventh overall pick) are viable options for him as landing spots.

Ultimately, given the investment already made this offseason and the team’s obvious needs at both an edge rusher and right tackle, we would be surprised if the Cardinals end up using their top selection on Love.

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

The Charlotte Hornets may not be quite there, but they have arrived as a winless team in the Eastern Conference. Since the beginning of the 2026 calendar year, the Hornets have posted the fifth-best record in the NBA at 27–12. Their strong performance this year continued on Tuesday, as they swept the Sacramento Kings and demolished them with a 134-90 victory.

Making the jump from bad to good isn’t as easy as the Hornets are making it out to be. But under the tutelage of head coach Charles Lee, they are doing just that. They have made a habit of winning and never let their foot off the gas pedal – which explains their historic average margin of victory this season.

After the game, Lee explained what makes Why the Hornets are so good and why they are so dominant whenever they are on victory lane.

“Every play is meaningful, every possession is meaningful,” Lee said via HornetsReddit.

🎙️ Charles Lee: “Every play is meaningful, every possession is meaningful.”

“To see that group compete at the end of the game and see the way they communicated… it shows, from up and down the roster, the level of commitment, everybody’s ‘care factor’ is really high.” pic.twitter.com/Dy8yijDNQE

– r/CharlotteHornets (@HornetsReddit) 25 March 2026

The Hornets enjoy embarrassing other teams, and this killer mentality of theirs bodes well for their chances of making the jump from good to great in the coming years.

The entire Hornets roster has been purchased

The Hornets have been one of the best teams in the NBA over the past few months, and it’s no coincidence. Lee’s team is playing for each other every single game, and the team is humming as a result.

Charlotte has one of the best starting five players in the association (LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate), and their bench team consists of Ryan Kalkbrenner, Coby White, Zion James, Josh Green and Grant Williams, who are playing their roles in the team.

MIAMI – As the Miami Heat make a push for the 2026 NBA Playoffs, the team is currently trending in a negative direction, tied with five consecutive losses following Monday’s 136-111 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. As the Heat and Bam Adebayo are unable to overcome Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, the team captain will keep it real even after the loss.

Wembanyama finished with 26 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks, leading San Antonio to an impressive win on both sides of the ball, outclassing Miami from the start. There came a time when frustration grew for the Heat as Adebayo and head coach Erik Spoelstra were teasing each other after the star was out.

As Adebayo’s minutes seemed to mirror Wembanyama’s, as Spoelstra inserted Kel’El Ware into relief as the Spurs star was relieved, the Miami big man’s competitive edge came to the fore. Now in the midst of a five-game losing streak, Adebayo would chime in on the heated exchange with Spoelstra, including his NSFW reaction to not wanting to attend the play-in tournament for the fourth consecutive season.

“I mean, he’s been watching what I’ve been doing the last number of games,” Adebayo said while recording 18 points (5-17 FG, 2-10 from deep) with four assists and three rebounds. “I don’t want to be in the play-in. So some of it is, yes, he has to save me from myself, but at the same time, I don’t want to be in the play-in. So every game, I’m going to try to go out there and do my best to push this team and force us out of this.”

Bam Adebayo barked back and forth with Erik Spoelstra from the beginning:

“Some of it is that he has to protect me from myself, but at the same time, I don’t want to be in the f**king play-in…”

Full response: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/gxHj4gxPVh

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 24 March 2026

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra ‘barking’ at him and Bam Adebayo at each other

While the Heat weren’t able to maintain their identity in the loss to the Spurs, it started with the defense, as the team struggled on the boards, getting out-rebounded 62-38 in addition to giving up 136 points. San Antonio also won the second-chance points battle 25–6, and excelled in the paint, scoring 60 in that area compared to Miami’s 40.

Adebayo played a stellar 45 minutes in Saturday’s loss to the Houston Rockets, but that was unlikely to be the case on Monday, as Spoelstra said he liked Adebayo’s competitive nature.

“He and I were barking at each other. That’s why I love him. I think he loves me,” Spoelstra said, laughing. “But even if he doesn’t, I’ve still got to do what’s best for the team. You know, I don’t want to play him 24 minutes in a row every half. If I’m forced to do it like Houston did, I’ll do it. But it’s the first half. I didn’t think it was necessary, you know. So some minutes, yes, most of the minutes are matchup ones. But it shouldn’t be all the minutes for us.”

Erik Spoelstra talks about him and Bam Adebayo “barking” at each other.

“That’s why I love him, I think he loves me,” Spoelstra said, laughing. “But even if he doesn’t do that, I have to do what’s best for the team, I don’t want to play with him for 24 minutes straight…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/ZKS2cX4I2C

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 24 March 2026

One of the words spoken in Spoelstra’s postgame press conference after the loss in Houston was that the Heat are going through “pain,” a feeling that continues to be “uncomfortable” during this skid.

“We’re being tested right now, we’re not the only team that’s being tested,” Spoelstra told ClutchPoints. “It feels uncomfortable, no doubt about that. We definitely got outplayed tonight, in basically every aspect of the game. It’s a game, I understand the other four, but there are some really good things in other games, even more so, and we just have to stay the course.”

Erik Spoelstra was asked about the “pain” the Heat are going through after their loss to the Rockets and speaking about his situation after the Spurs:

“We’re being tested right now… It feels uncomfortable, there’s no doubt about it…”

Full response: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/rXxRb08Dtj

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 24 March 2026

What the Heat lacked in the Spurs defeat, and what a ‘good problem’ they have

As the Heat disappointed against the Spurs in almost every category, one area that can’t be seen in the statsheet is the “competitive spirit” that the team lacked, as Adebayo reiterated, shouting out Myron Gardner’s energy despite the result.

“We didn’t bring competitive spirit. That’s really what it was. Shout out to Myron Garner, man, I looked up to Myron because he plays so hard,” Adebayo told ClutchPoints after Gardner played 18 minutes and scored nine points. “We honestly need to match his energy, all of us, because we play like this, we’ll be a completely different team, but our energy has to transfer, and then basketball is going to be basketball. We missed shots, whatever, but you have to continue to play through the missed shots. I felt like we let those shots get to our heads, and it affected us on the other end.”

Asked Bam Adebayo what was the catalyst for Spurs’ disappointing defeat:

“We didn’t bring the competitive spirit, that’s really it, shout out to Myron Gardner… We just needed to match his energy honestly…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/9FoUc3vONX

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 24 March 2026

Another challenge for Miami in the game was having the healthiest roster in a long time, with the return of Andrew Wiggins (toe), Jaime Jacquez Jr. (hip), and Norman Powell (calf) from injury. While Spoelstra is still looking for the right rotation to use with 10 games left, Herro would say it’s a “good problem to have.”

“I’m not sure, but we’ve got to figure it out. I’d rather be completely healthy than not go out there, so we have a good problem to have. It’s a good problem to have, and we’ve just got to get back on track,” Herro said after scoring 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field with five rebounds.

Tyler Herro speaks after the Heat’s fifth consecutive L, this time for the Spurs.

We talk about what needs to be fixed, including me asking him if being the healthiest he has been in a long time is part of the problems.

Says it’s a “good problem” for every healthy person. #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/lYMQOZJRC0

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 24 March 2026

Summer ‘keeps releasing the rope’

The Heat are trying to recover from the pain Spoelstra talks about, playing time is limited after the loss to the Spurs, making it a tough adjustment to have a fully healthy roster for the first time. Despite being an All-Star this season, mostly as a starter, Powell’s coming off the bench has been a step up.

After scoring 21 points on seven of 18 shooting from the field and four of 11 from deep, Powell talked about how the team continues to “let go of the rope” even in adversity.

“I think when things get tough, we let go of the rope,” Powell told ClutchPoints. “I think that’s what happens when we lose like this. We get hit, have some adversity, miss some shots and then everyone starts worrying about what happened on offense, and teams take advantage of that and keep punishing us. When we get hit, we keep going.”

Asked Norman Powell about the five consecutive defeats and what he saw in the defeat:

“I think when things get tough, we let go of the rope… have some adversity, miss some shots, then everyone starts worrying about what happened on offense and teams take advantage…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/V1KJahjCy2

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 24 March 2026

As previously stated, there are now 10 games left in the regular season as the Heat are now 38-34, leaving them in ninth place in the Eastern Conference heading into a two-game road trip on Wednesday and Friday, both of which they will face the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Manchester United’s interest in Bruno Guimaraes is not new, but the situation around the Newcastle United midfielder is beginning to develop ahead of the summer window.

The Brazilian remains one of Newcastle’s most influential players. He played a major role in last season’s Carabao Cup success and continues to carry the momentum into the 2025-26 campaign.

Their numbers support that position. according to FBrefGuimaraes ranks among Newcastle’s top players for progressive passes, passes into the final third and ball recovery. He offers a mix of defensive intensity and control in possession, which explains why top clubs continue to keep an eye on him. Nevertheless, his future is still open.

Guimaraes has already decided that he will not engage in serious talks until after the 2026 World Cup. His contract runs until June 2028, with a possible extension to 2029 requiring agreement from both parties. Newcastle have contacted their camp discuss renewalBut those talks are stalled.

At the same time, the club has a Clear stance on any possible transfer. Newcastle would be more open to talks with clubs outside England such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Barcelona.

However, they are expected to take a stronger position if a Premier League rival makes a move. This context is important in view of the latest developments.

Manchester United’s interest is becoming more concrete

Manchester United have been linked with Bruno Guimarães for months, but the situation now looks more clear.

information from espn brazil indicates Newcastle will demand between €75m and €80m (£65m-£69m) to consider a sale. The figure is in line with the offer made by Barcelona in 2023-24, which the player rejected to stay at St James’ Park.

There has still been no formal offer from Old Trafford. Furthermore, Guimaraes is part of a wider shortlist, meaning United are not solely focused on him.

However, now a new internal factor has emerged.

Casemiro moving forward behind the scenes

Casemiro, who is expected to leave Manchester United, is actively supporting a move for his Brazil teammate.

He has reportedly recommended Bruno Guimarães as his ideal successor in midfield. His voice carries weight inside the club, both because of his experience and his position in the dressing room.

That support changes the dynamics of the situation. United’s interest is no longer limited to recruitment plans. Now it has support from within the team itself.

Now the Red Devils are pushing for Champions League qualification, while Newcastle could miss out on European football this season.

For now, Guimaraes is quiet and focused on his recovery and the World Cup. He is not pushing for a move and his relationship with Newcastle remains strong.

Yet, with the stark valuation, internal pressure on Manchester United and Newcastle’s reluctance to strengthen their domestic rivals, it is a situation that could become more complicated come the summer.

Our belief: not a natural replacement

Bruno Guimaraes would be an excellent addition to an already strong Manchester United squad. He brings control, pace and progression, all of which will lift the team’s midfield. However, he is not an equal replacement for Casemiro.

Both work in very different ways. Casemiro is primarily a defensive midfielder. Their game is based on positioning, duels, interceptions and defending the back line. It supports the structure.

Guimaraes, on the other hand, plays with more freedom. He contributes defensively, but his main impact comes in possession. He moves the ball forward, connects phases and sets the tempo.

In this sense, the profiles are almost complementary rather than identical.

Manchester United will undoubtedly improve by signing Guimaraes. Nevertheless, replacing Casemiro with him would require a tactical adjustment or an additional midfielder to balance the system.

It is an upgrade in some aspects, but not a direct replacement.

🇩🇰 FC Midtjylland | Manchester United and Liverpool got there last night, with several possibilities on offer…https://t.co/wocwF5gneh #free #lfc

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 20 March 2026

The San Antonio Spurs earned their 51st win of the season, defeating the Sacramento Kings 132–104. Victor Wembanyama says achieving his first 50-win season in almost a decade is a feat that has been more than a year in the making.

“I look back and think, ‘I hope we can be locked in like this for all of the upcoming offseason,’ because it was a high level of preparation mentally, physically for everybody; the amount of film we did. And that’s why we were so prepared for the season. So, that’s what I think when I look back.”

San Antonio entered the year with a 34–48 campaign, following a 22–60 mark in Wembley’s rookie season. While this provides a context for what could prove to be a very impressive 2025-2026, it reaches the minimum expectation for generational talent.

“One thing you can say is take each step at a time and validate the boxes checked. My goal was never to make the play-ins or win the play-ins. It was to go to the playoffs without question and that would have been a successful season at that point,” the Spurs’ leading scorer said after the win against the Los Angeles Clippers the night before.

At just 22 years old, Vembanyama displayed wisdom beyond his years. It’s been this way since he entered the NBA at the age of 19. And it’s a gift that he went home after the win in LA.

“It’s always difficult to look at a season as a whole. We can look at the season as our worst at the end of 2025 or as our best right now in the month of February.”

After a stint in which they won 11 of 12 games, including three against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Spurs lost consecutive home games to the Utah Jazz and then-struggling Cleveland Cavaliers team. A week later, they again lost consecutive games, this time to the Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies, who were in 10th and 11th place in the Western Conference standings by mid-March.

In contrast, San Antonio did not lose in February and recently lost only one game at a home field filled with postseason contenders, including some of the league’s best players. And that loss came to the Denver Nuggets without Wembanyama.

Spurs resume makes history with 50+ wins

Before this season, the last time the Silver and Black had 50 wins was in 2016–17 when they won 61 and reached the Western Conference Finals. That run, which ended in a 4–1 series loss to the eventual champion Golden State Warriors after Kawhi Leonard re-aggravated an ankle injury, marked the franchise’s 20th consecutive win of 50+ (or the equivalent – ​​37 in strike short ’99).

The Spurs are 51-18 after a 132-104 loss in Sacramento.

“It’s very possible that these last 14 games have been satisfactory. Or not. That’s why we have to take each step at a time,” Wembanyama said after the aforementioned win over the Clippers.

“Although the season will be somewhat successful when viewed overall, we still have (13) games left.”

The truth is that Wembanyama and the Spurs look set to play even better with 13 games left in the regular season.

The Atlanta Falcons will have a new head coach next season. They may also have a new quarterback.

Michael Penix Jr., the eighth overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, is still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered on Nov. 16. He may not be ready for the start of the season.

Either way, the Falcons are making other plans at the QB position after recently moving on from Kirk Cousins, who is set for free agency again. With Cousins ​​gone, the Falcons need more depth at the position, and new head coach Kevin Stefanski may also have a say in the matter.

According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Falcons are “making a push” to sign recently released Tua Tagovailoa.

The Dolphins are still paying Tagovailoa $54 million in 2026, so they are expected to sign the veteran for a minimum of $1.3 million. It’s an incredible deal for him, whether he gets any starts or not.

Still, the Falcons can have confidence in Tagovailoa returning as a Pro Bowl QB under Coach Stefanski. At least, the 28-year-old brings 76 games of starting experience to Atlanta, where Penix has only 12 starts.

Additionally, Penix and Tagovailoa are both left-handed quarterbacks, which should make for an easier transition for receivers to catch passes moving in a different direction.

RELATED: 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Round 1 projections ahead of NFL free agency

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 Atlanta Hawks have seen different iterations of their team come and go this season, but they currently have this group they are used to down the stretch. With a mix of experienced and young players, the Hawks have the right ingredients to make the playoffs, and they are doing so, as evidenced by their current winning streak.

One player who has been a big help for the Hawks since January is CJ McCollum, and he seems to fit in well with what the team is trying to accomplish. Quin Snyder recently made the move to insert him into the starting lineup, as statistics show he is a much better team when he plays with Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu.

Players also see the difference McCullum makes when he is on the field.

“From an experience standpoint, we have CJs who are experienced, and the same thing with nickel, Okongwu said. “They’re leading us to better basketball, we’re having fun out there.”

“C.J. has been great for us,” Daniels said. “That vet presence, a guy who can make things happen. He’s a leader for us. A guy we can rely on, a guy who can get a bucket when we need to. It’s been really good to have him.”

When the Hawks needed a bucket, McCollum was there to make the save many times. This is what he has done throughout his career, and he is helping the Buckeye Hawks as they try to climb the Eastern Conference standings.

Snyder believes the Hawks have found something with McCollum and the other newcomers to the team.

“There was a period of about a week or two where those guys were really trying to figure it out,” Snyder said. “The thing that allows teams to come together is to bring yourself to the team and not be able to worry about a lot of numbers. I think those guys have really started to embrace that, and it makes the whole greater than the sum of the parts.”

The Hawks are clicking at the right time of the season, and if they take care of business, they could find themselves higher than the ninth seed by the end of the year.

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.

The Memphis Grizzlies have a track record of finding diamonds in the second round. One of his latest discoveries is increasingly making the case that his value far exceeds current wages. With an All-Rookie year on his resume and another productive season underway, Jaylen Wells should consider pushing for a contract extension worth approximately $15 million annually this summer.

Selected with the 39th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Wells has outperformed his draft slot in ways that typically command top dollar on the open market. The Grizzlies aren’t going to let Wells hit free agency any time soon. According to Tuomas Isalo, EVP Zach Kleiman knows the value of the early caliber two-way wing and why Wells is the best fit for Beale Street.

“Jaylen is extremely solid. (Wells) fits into a variety of lineups because he doesn’t need the ball to have a positive impact on the game,” Isalo explained. “He’s hitting open shots and he’s also improved his mid-range scoring, which is higher efficiency for him. Defensively, he gets into different matchups. He’s always been an on-ball specialist for us. Now, for the second year, his off-ball defense, his awareness, his disruptions have really gotten better.”

That last sentence is statistical logic in simple language. Wells is producing 12.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.8 three-pointers and 0.9 steals in 26.7 minutes per game in his sophomore season. Those are cool numbers. There were even louder noises when Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. were out. Wells averaged 14.3 points, 3.8 boards and 2.0 assists while shooting 36.8% from beyond the arc in December. That three-point accuracy is up to 45.3% in February.

Wells has had three 20-point games in a five-game span and posted four steal games twice. After the NBA All-Star break he went 10-13 from the field for 25 points against the Miami Heat. It’s not just the scoring, but the efficiency that separates this race from the usual production. Committing almost one turnover per game despite the huge increase in usage rate (20.8) is acceptable in this part of the process. Thankfully for the Grizzlies, the 10-year rolling comparison of the CBA cap and second-round picks provides a great framework for a team-friendly deal.

Jaylen Wells, Grizzlies on the clock

Herb Jones, the 35th pick in 2021 by New Orleans, signed a four-year, $54 million extension ($13.5 million AAV) after two seasons of averaging 10 points and strong defense. Andrew Nembhard, selected 31st overall in 2022 by Indiana, signed a three-year, $59 million ($19.7 million AAV) deal after a sophomore year of 9.5 points and 4.5 assists. Ayo Dosunmu, the 38th pick in 2021 by Chicago, earned a three-year, $21 million ($7 million AAV) contract after similar 3-and-D production.

Isaiah Joe (49th, 2020) signed a three-year, $30 million ($10 million AAV) deal with Oklahoma City; Aaron Wiggins (55th, 2021) agreed to a five-year, $47 million ($9.4 million AAV) extension. Wales should seek a number near the top end of that scale. If his February surge (51.6% FG, 44.9% 3PT) continues into the offseason, the $15 million target may prove conservative.

For the Grizzlies, Wells’ extension now aligns with building cost-controlled talent amid salary cap constraints. This is a contract that will have immediate first-round value. For Wells, pushing for a $15 million AAV could take advantage of his speed before injuries or roster changes alter his leverage. Unrestricted free agency is still a long way off, and the NBA would be a big gamble for such a small return under the CBA’s projected average player salary structure.

However, there is no telling where the organization will be a year from now, nor can anyone assure that the 22-year-old (birthday in August) has any significant role in it. Therefore, first lock the middle money. Negotiate player options by Labor Day. Either way, this must be done before training camp opens. There must be some protection in place to cover the prime years before Wales are at risk of another sudden injury.

This past weekend, the Los Angeles Lakers honored the great Pat Riley with a statue outside the Crypto.com Arena. But during the festivities, one of the biggest sound bites to come from the program was Riley’s suggestion that NBA coaches should wear suits and ties to games. Well, count Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka as one person who isn’t a fan of the idea.

Before the Rockets’ game against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, Ime Udoka said NBA coaches vote on whether or not they should wear suits and the overwhelming majority say no. During Udoka’s days as an assistant coach in the NBA, he used to wear suits.

“No, thank you,” said Udoka. “I enjoyed it at the time, but the Covid year obviously changed that. For comfortable packing, less thinking, I think about all of the above. They vote on coaches every year and I think 87 per cent of people say no. About five say yes and the others don’t care.”

Udoka got his start in coaching in 2012 as an assistant under Gregg Popovich with the San Antonio Spurs. He was a part of the Spurs staff until 2019 when he joined the Philadelphia 76ers for the 2019–20 season. He spent another season in 2020–21 as an assistant with the Brooklyn Nets before getting his first head coaching job with the Boston Celtics ahead of the 2021–22 season.

Udoka led the Celtics to the NBA Finals in his first year as head coach, ultimately losing to the Golden State Warriors in six games. He was let go from the Celtics in 2023 after serving a season-long suspension for violating team policies. He became the head coach of the Rockets ahead of the 2023–24 season.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been a bit of Jekyll and Hyde this season. When things go right, it looks like they can compete with any team in the league. But when things are not going well, the team does not look very competitive.

After being defeated by the Boston Celtics on Sunday, the Lakers suffered a blowout 110-109 loss to the Orlando Magic. The loss dropped Los Angeles to 34–23, two games ahead of the Phoenix Suns in the Pacific Division.

The teams will face off in the desert on Thursday. Thankfully for the Lakers, Phoenix will once again be missing some of their most important pieces.

According to AZ Central’s Duane Rankin, Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Jordan Goodwin, Haywood Highsmith and Cole Anthony have all been ruled out. Of course, Booker is the biggest loss for the Suns.

Booker strained his right hip last week against the San Antonio Spurs. In the three games since, Phoenix’s offense has been mediocre. The Celtics also beat them by 16 points, 97-81, on Tuesday night. In the first game against the Portland Trail Blazers, they were able to score only 77 points.

With the Lakers likely to play the Big Three, it could prove difficult for the Suns to keep up.

The second unit in Los Angeles could also get a boost. Backup center Jackson Hayes was upgraded to probable on Wednesday, while Rui Hachimura is listed as questionable due to illness.

The Lakers have had their share of troubles, but for the most part the offense has not been a part of them. The defensive end of the court has left a lot to be desired. But with Jalen Green struggling in his return, and the Suns lacking many other scoring options, Thursday appears to be a prime opportunity to get back in the win column.

This game could go a long way in determining the division winner. The Suns have won two of the first three meetings and a Lakers loss would ensure a tiebreak for Phoenix.

It seems like just a few years ago San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson was a wide-eyed rookie out of Kentucky. Now, he is Spurs’ longest-tenured player, providing toughness and leadership.

They proved it again when they visited the Detroit Pistons on Monday at Little Caesars Arena.

Things turned sour in the second quarter when Pistons guard Cade Cunningham knocked Spurs guard Stephen Cassel to the floor. Johnson came forward and nudged Cunningham, saying a few words to him.

Pistons center Jalen Duren entered the field and pointed the finger at Johnson. Luckily, before it escalated further, cooler heads prevailed. full dispute. Johnson and Duren were both whistled for technical fouls.

Keldon Johnson and Jalen Duren received technique after this conversation

Cade Cunningham was called for an offensive foul for the initial push on Stephen Castle.

pic.twitter.com/ClIliygbSP

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 24 February 2026

As expected, tensions were high between the two top NBA teams, especially since it was their first meeting.

While Spurs have other players older than him, the 26-year-old Johnson has taken on a big brother role on the team. He has taken Victor Wembanyama under his wing, even shaving his head, to help his young teammate develop and transition to the NBA.

Johnson has progressed in coach Mitch Johnson’s first full year, averaging 13.4 points, 54.5% shooting and 5.7 rebounds off the bench. He is a strong candidate for Sixth Man of the Year.

At the time of writing, there is still a close battle between the Spurs and Pistons in the third quarter.

Cassel had 12 points, two rebounds and seven assists, while Johnson had six points and two rebounds.

As Quin Snyder’s upstart Atlanta Hawks navigate the post-Trae Young era and jockey for a spot in the NBA’s Eastern Conference play-in tournament, Nickell Alexander-Walker has emerged as an unexpected offensive catalyst. The former Virginia Tech standout has also rewritten the story of his career. Alexander-Walker is no longer just a rotational piece, he’s posting amazing statistics that will make even the most optimistic front-office executives do a double take.

The 27-year-old guard is no longer a filler piece hidden on the sidelines. NAW is a primary option, a go-to scorer, and quickly becoming one of the most compelling breakout stories of the NBA season. With career-highs averaging 19.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.2 steals, Alexander-Walker is in line for some NBA Most Improved Player votes.

Snyder saw the surge coming, but it all started with trusting him to make the right decisions, even if it meant extra attention.

“As far as playmaking, you know (Alexander-Walker) can get into the lane,” Snyder said. “He’s not your typical playmaker, but I think he’s unselfish and he’s willing to get off the ball when he’s guarded.”

Alexander-Walker is also shooting 37.2% from three-point range on 8.2 attempts per game. This amount is almost double with almost the same efficiency despite increase in other responsibilities. Hawks GM Bryson Graham, who was with the New Orleans Pelicans at the time of Alexander-Walker’s draft, bet that all the extra shooting work would eventually prove beneficial somewhere.

Snyder said, “I think we saw it early in (Alexander-Walker’s) career, and now you can tell where it came from. It’s the person he was, the competitor he was. I think at Minnesota, he really established himself as a defender and a knockdown three-point shooter, especially from the corners. We’ve tried to encourage him to be really aggressive in shooting. Even Even some competitive shots from three, I think, his confidence motivates him.”

That’s exactly the aggression the Hawks need when navigating the treacherous waters of the play-in race. With the stakes increased in each game, Snyder has found a reliable scoring option that can stretch defenses to their breaking point.

However, what makes Alexander-Walker especially valuable in Snyder’s system is his unorthodox approach to playmaking. He’s not a traditional point guard who dominates the ball, yet NAW is creating offense in ways that keep defenses off balance. Jalen Johnson appreciates someone else stepping in to ease the offensive load.

As far as Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s late 20s trajectory? Well, he arrived in the NBA with a defined skill set, worked to expand it, and now finds himself in a system that actively encourages him to do more. The Hawks took note of Alexander-Walker’s best performances and then leveraged him. Shoot the three in dispute. Get down. trust yourself. It’s the perfect home for their prime years.

And by almost every measure, they have responded. Whether that translates into a play-in berth or perhaps something else, will define the rest of this season. But Alexander-Walker’s success has already answered a question that had been pending for years. What can one become if one has the right environment and the right sound in the ears? The answer, it turns out, is a 20-point scorer on a playoff team.