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chelsea Despite being left out of Brazil’s World Cup squad and seeing transfer speculation quiet over the past few days, it appears that striker Joao Pedro is refusing to make a switch this summer.

The 24-year-old has spent most of the last month at center back Reports link him to Barcelona. However, those stories now look increasingly unlikely to go anywhere, largely due to Chelsea’s valuation.

according to espn brazilThe Blues have made it clear that they will not consider an offer of less than €120m (£101m) for the forward – a figure that effectively puts him beyond Barcelona’s current reach.

This differs from previous reports which suggested negotiations could be possible. Start around the €100 million (£84.3 million) mark. So Joao Pedro looks set to stay at Stamford Bridge next season.

Chelsea’s move leaves little space for Barcelona

The Brazilian only arrived last summer and has quickly established himself as one of the club’s most productive attacking players.

The club has spent years looking for stability in the striker position. joao pedro Eventually some of it was provided. He finished the season with 20 goals and six assists in 53 games.

Selling him after one season would immediately create another problem to solve.

That’s why Barcelona’s interest has always depended on Chelsea softening its position. Instead, the opposite appears to have happened.

The latest figures reported in Brazil suggest Chelsea have become even more determined to keep hold of him.

World Cup hopes are still alive

While his club’s future looks straightforward, Joao Pedro has another priority.

The striker was disappointed not to be included in Carlo Ancelotti’s final World Cup squad and was hopeful of his inclusion.

However, instead of going on leave immediately, they have decided to stay prepared.

According to ESPN, Joao Pedro is continuing to train twice a day from home, including physiotherapy sessions, while he waits to see if he gets a chance before FIFA’s final squad deadline on June 12.

The reason is quite simple. With Neymar currently struggling with a calf injury, Joao Pedro believes a late call-up remains a real possibility if Brazil need to make changes in attacking areas.

The report states that they have completely postponed vacation plans, while this possibility is still open.

Initially, the expectation was that he would remain in London as he believed the World Cup venue was coming up. Now, he’s stopping for a different reason – in case someone still comes by.

what happens next

Unless something dramatic changes before June 12, Joao Pedro is expected to spend part of his summer with family in Rio de Janeiro.

However, until then he does not seem ready to part completely. That mentality probably says a lot about why Chelsea value him so highly.

While Barcelona’s pursuit is fizzling out, Joao Pedro is still preparing as if the biggest opportunity of his career could arrive at any moment.

And for now, Chelsea’s asking price is likely to ensure that opportunity will come with the Brazilian rather than a move elsewhere.

Juraj Slachowski showed why Montreal selected him No. 1 overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, completing his first playoff hat-trick by scoring a power-play goal 1:22 into overtime, leading the Canadiens to a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in the opener of their Eastern Conference First Round series on Sunday at Benchmark International Arena.

Tampa Bay’s Jake Guentzel took a high-sticking penalty with 21 seconds remaining in regulation, and Slafkowski made him pay with his third power-play goal of the game. Lane Huston played a pass to Slafkovsky as he went to the left circle and the 22-year-old beat goalkeeper Andrei Vasilevskiy to wrap up the win.

It wasn’t a great night for Vasilevskiy, a two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Bolts. He allowed four goals on 19 shots and rarely looked like the goaltender who excelled when the Bolts won Cup in 2020 and 2021. Montreal rookie Jacob Dobbs made 20 saves.

The Canadiens lead the series 1-0, with Game 2 being played on Tuesday night in Tampa.

Slafkowski’s first power-play goal tied the game at the end of the second period, and his second goal gave the Canadiens a brief 3–2 lead in the third. Josh Anderson opened the scoring with the only goal of the first period.

Brandon Hagel scored twice for Tampa Bay after defenseman Darren Radish tied the game at 1–1 early in the second period.

The Lightning had their first good scoring chance of the game when Eric Cernak found himself alone in the slot, but Dobbs came well out of his net to narrow the angle and make the save.

The Canadiens missed a pair of 2-on-1 opportunities after the Lightning called too many people at 10:37 and failed to capitalize on their first power play. But thanks to some good work from their fourth line they went 1–0 up at 13:24.

Alexandre Carrier worked the puck free behind the net and inserted a pass into the slot, where Anderson quickly put it into the net at 13:24 to put the Canadiens ahead. Vasilevskiy appeared to lose track of the puck and the Lightning defense did the same to Andersen, one of the few Montreal players left in the Canadiens’ five-game loss to the Bolts in the 2021 finals.

Montreal spent most of the remaining period killing penalties. Tampa Bay played 4:13 of the final 5:23 with an extra man in the opening period, but did not get much offense. Despite falling behind 10-4, the Canadiens took the lead with a one-goal lead.

Neither team led much in the first half of the second period, but at 10:43 the Canadiens were looking to double their lead when Anderson stepped up and drilled a point shot into the net. However, a video review showed that Anderson’s stick was slightly above the crossbar, and the goal was disallowed.

Anderson was called for charging 12 seconds later, and the Lightning took advantage of their fifth power play to tie the score. Radish evened it up at 12:15 when he took an accurate feed from Nikita Kucherov and one-timed it past Dobbs from inside the left circle at 12:15 to tie the game at 1–1.

This match lasted only 29 seconds. The Canadiens misplayed the puck behind their own net, and Guentzel slipped a pass off a defender’s stick that came straight to Hegel, whose quick backhander from out of the blue beat Dobbs at 12:49. In just over two minutes, the Canadiens went from an apparent 2-0 lead to an actual 2-1 deficit.

It seemed as if this period might end just like this. Montreal managed only one shot on goal until Tampa Bay’s Connor Geikie took an unnecessary high-stick penalty with 1:28 remaining. Vasilevskiy made some great saves, but had no chance on Slafkovsky’s one-timer from inside the right circle, tying the game 2–2 at 19:36.

Each team scored another power-play goal before reaching the midpoint of the third period. Slafkowski found some space in bumper situations and converted a perfect pass from Cole Caufield at 5:56 to give Montreal a 3–2 lead. But Hagel tied it at 8:58 when he extended his shot in front of the net and redirected Guentzel’s pass past Dobbs.

The game was tied 3–3 in overtime – but not before Guentzel took a high-sticking penalty at 19:39 when he tried to put an airborne puck into the net but missed and hit Canadiens defenseman Caden Guhle in the face, leading to Slafkowski’s OT winner.

Key takeaways after Canadiens outlast Lightning in OT to win Game 1

Slafkowski’s next step

When the Canadiens made Slafkowski the first player taken in 2022, a lot of eyes were raised. He is quick to erase any questions about choice.

Slafkowski became the first Montreal player to score a power-play goal in overtime since PK Subban did so in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Second Round against the Boston Bruins in 2014. It is the first playoff hat trick by a Canadian since Rene Bourque scored a goal against the New York Rangers in Game 5 of the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals.

The hat trick followed a regular season in which he set career highs with 30 goals and 73 points. He led the Canadiens with 15 power-play goals and when he scored one the Canadiens’ score was 22–3–1.

Unsettled night for Vasilevsky

When he calls it a career, “Vesey” becomes a lock for the Hockey Hall of Fame. He has won the Stanley Cup twice, the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP (2021), and the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goaltender (2018–19). He has started 113 consecutive playoff games for the Lightning, and his 67 playoff wins are 12th all-time.

But Vasilevskiy wasn’t sharp on Sunday. The TNT studio crew noted this after Anderson’s first-period goal, and he was not sharp for most of the night, failing to make big saves when the Lightning needed it most.

Vasilevskiy’s career goals-against average in the playoffs is 2.46 — but it has been 3.22 or worse in each of the past three seasons, a big reason the Bolts have not advanced beyond the first round since reaching the final in 2022. If the Lightning hope to avoid a fourth consecutive early departure, they need to be much better.

No home-ice advantage in OT for the Lightning

The Lightning sell out East Amaali Arena every night and have done so for every game since COVID restrictions ended. But playing at home doesn’t help when it comes to overtime in the playoffs.

Slafkowski’s game-winner handed the Lightning their seventh consecutive overtime loss in the playoffs. Overall, they are 9-13 in their own building, while they are 14-8 when they have visitors. Tampa Bay has not won a playoff game in home OT since defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 4–3 on May 12, 2022.

Jon Krieger covered his first New York Rangers game (against the California Golden Seals) in November 1975 and it… More about Jon Krieger

Paulo Costa has important decisions to make after his third-round knockout of Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 327 in Miami. “Borrachinha” moved up to light heavyweight for the bout and handed previously undefeated Murzakanov the first defeat of his career, and has since revealed that his current deal with the UFC has almost expired.

Talking to AG. In the post-fight win, Costa was clear about where things stood contractually. “I have one fight left on this contract,” he said. “Let’s see what happens next. I think we’re probably in a good position to fight for the belt.”

Following a win over middleweight Roman Kopylov, the win over Murzakanov extended Costa’s win streak to two fights. Costa believes the quality of his recent opponents and the manner of his victories put him in a credible position to earn a title shot at 185 or 205 pounds. He specifically pointed to Murzakanov’s undefeated record and his sixth ranking in the official UFC light heavyweight rankings as proof that his latest win holds real significance in the title picture conversation.

With his contract expiring, the UFC has already approached Costa about an extension. His comments suggest he is in no rush to sign and wants to carefully evaluate his options before committing. “The UFC already wanted to renew the contract,” Costa said. “We’re seeing if we do one more thing and then sit down to negotiate.” He was also clear that his intention was not to simply test the market or look for a more attractive deal elsewhere. “I’m very grateful to the UFC,” he said. “But this is my life, right?”

Costa’s backstage interview time added an interesting layer to the evening’s events. Moments after he spoke, Carlos Ulberg defeated Jiri Prochazka in the opening round of the UFC 327 main event to capture the Light Heavyweight Championship, doing so on one leg after suffering an apparent knee injury during the fight. Ulberg has not yet disclosed a diagnosis or timetable for his return to the Octagon, which adds uncertainty to the 205-pound title picture that Costa now has his sights set on.

Brooklyn Nets rookie Ben Saraf continued his breakout on Wednesday. The 6-foot-6 point guard scored 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field with seven assists and four turnovers during a 109-106 loss to the Golden State Warriors. He delivered one of the Nets’ top highlights of the season during the final minutes of a tight contest.

With the Nets trailing 106–104 with 50 seconds remaining, Saraf drove and threw a poster dunk over Draymond Green to tie the game. The game started when he drove and made a go-ahead bucket and the game was tied with two minutes left.

Ben Sarraf drives and dunks over Draymond Green to tie the game. Glass. pic.twitter.com/uCj5oKrWij

– Eric Slater (@erikslater_) 26 March 2026

Ben Saraf drives, pump fakes Kristaps Porzingis in the paint, sends him flying, and scores a clutch layup to beat the shot clock with an amazing move

What a trick!
ice in his veins#netsworld

Ben Sharaf enters ringside, fraudulently sends Kritpas Porzingis to pluck oranges… pic.twitter.com/Bkx1jT8DqX

– MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) 26 March 2026

Trailing by one in the final seconds, Jordi Fernandez called the rookie’s number again. Saraf drove to left field but failed to advance on D’Anthony Melton as Brooklyn lost its ninth consecutive game.

“I wanted the ball in [Ben’s] Hand. I wanted him to touch the paint. I mean, seven assists tonight, 5 for 9 from the field. He was aggressive, and he had incredible dunks the game before. That was the thought process,” Fernandes said of the final play.

After a slow start to his rookie campaign, Saraf is finding his rhythm as he steps into an expanded role to finish out the season.

Ben Saraf continues to cheer during Nets’ tough loss to Warriors

The Israeli floor general has taken on increased ball-handling responsibilities amid injuries to Igor Demin and Michael Porter Jr. Over his last eight games, he is averaging 12.3 points on 46.2 percent shooting with 4.5 assists and 3.1 turnovers in 26.6 minutes per game.

Saraf’s on-ball advantage creation, the main selling point of his skill set entering the draft, has been on full display. The 19-year-old has averaged 14.9 drives per game in his last eight appearances, the most on the team by a wide margin, and is shooting 51.1 percent. He’s attempting 6.2 free throws per 100 possessions during the stretch and converting 85.7 percent.

“I feel like every time I’m in the right mindset of being aggressive at the rim and being in control, something good comes from it. So I just need to stick to that mindset,” the rookie said.

Saraf’s two made threes on Wednesday were a welcome sight for the net, as he was 13 of 67 (19.4 percent) entering the matchup. The No. 26 pick’s defensive improvement has impressed Brooklyn’s coaching staff. He had two steals on Wednesday as the Nets forced the Warriors into a season-high 26 turnovers.

Saraf played a key role in slowing down Jalen Brunson during Brooklyn’s near upset of the New York Knicks on Friday. The rookie guarded Brunson for long periods of time, as the Nets held the Knicks star to 17 points on 7-of-19 shooting.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oleksandr Usyk has eased his stance on a potential clash with Agit Kabayel, raising fresh uncertainty over a long-discussed third fight with Tyson Fury. Speaking in an interview with the Daily Mail the undisputed heavyweight champion said Kabayel could fit into his plans following his upcoming title defense against Rico Verhoeven in May.

Usyk had previously outlined a clear path away from Kabyle, but his latest comments suggest a change. While he remains linked to the winner of the WBO eliminator between Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois, the bigger picture now looks more flexible than before.

Oleksandr Usyk leaves options open after Verhoeven fight

Usyk made it clear that his plans are not on hold, even if expectations remain for his next few fights.

“Maybe I’ll fight Kabyle, maybe I won’t face Tyson Fury for the third time, and instead I’ll fight Kabyle. I only tell my plan, but that’s not set in stone. I understand the agit fans are saying you have to fight him. But I don’t have to fight him. I’ve got to live my life, I’ve got to take care of my team, my kids. As far as fighting goes, I just work hard, and my Opponents work hard.”

“Maybe it’s possible that I fight Agit. He’s a great fighter, and he’s very smart.”

The tone is different from earlier this year when Usyk’s roadmap appeared certain. Now, depending on how things go, he is clearly keeping multiple doors open.

Inevitable pressure builds around Agit Kabyle

Kabayel’s status as a WBC mandatory challenger has been a topic of discussion for months. His camp has worked hard for a title shot, arguing that he has earned it.

The 32-year-old is unstoppable and is considered one of the more disciplined legends outside the top level. Usyk’s public praise only adds weight to his case.

If Usyk chooses Kabayel next, it will satisfy quiet criticism of his avoidance of the expectations and mandates of the sanctioning body. If not, the pressure is likely to increase.

Tyson Fury Trilogy No Longer Guaranteed

After the previous two fights, a third fight with Fury seemed inevitable. Now, that scenario is much less certain.

Fury has continued to seek a trilogy following his defeat in December 2024, but Usyk’s latest comments suggest it is no longer a priority.

Now everything depends on time. The Wardley-Dubois winner still factors into the title picture, and Usyk’s May bout with Verhoeven remains the immediate focus.

For now, the heavyweight division remains fluid. However, one thing is clear. Usyk is still deciding what’s next.

The LA Clippers were the hottest team in the NBA entering Saturday night’s contest against the worst team in the NBA. The Sacramento Kings entered the contest with a league-worst record of 16–51, while the Clippers had won 28 of their previous 39 games, coming back from 15 games under .500 in a single season to climb above .500 for the first time.

What followed was a potentially season-changing play.

The Clippers lost the game against the shorthanded Kings, 118–109, but it was a contest in which they fell behind by 20 points and never got involved. There was a stretch in the fourth quarter where the Clippers got within three, but it coincided with Kawhi Leonard, who suffered an injury in the first half that required stitches, exited the game with 9:27 remaining in the fourth quarter and did not return due to a sprained left ankle.

Leonard was out of favor in the next game against the San Antonio Spurs, leading to another loss against the second-best team in the NBA despite holding an 18-point lead in the first half. Benedict Mathurin suffered a toe injury in that loss that has kept him out of the Clippers’ three-game road trip, and depending on how his toe responds to rehab and treatment, it could keep him out even longer.

On Wednesday and Thursday the Clippers head to New Orleans to take on the Pelicans, a venue that has famously suited the franchise over the past half-decade. And if you’re a fan of the team, it was no surprise that the Clippers lost both games that Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland played in, with both having to sit out.

This was seen as a huge opportunity for the Clippers to make a run at the Western Conference standings and potentially clinch a play-in berth. It was a long shot, but entering the Kings game on March 14, the Clippers climbed to a 34–32 record, trailing the seventh-seeded Phoenix Suns by just four games in the loss column and the Denver Nuggets by six games in the loss column.

The Clippers are now in a three-way tie for the 8th seed. The injuries came at the worst possible time, as they have now lost 4 games in a row (including the 3rd worst teams in the league).

LA has lost all its momentum and is unable to make any headway on the Suns, who have also lost 4 games… pic.twitter.com/qjZXrDvSCk

– Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 20 March 2026

LA had a very favorable schedule based on strength of schedule and remaining advantage games compared to their opponents, while the Suns were facing a road trip that included the Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, and San Antonio Spurs.

Now the Clippers are riding a four-game losing streak, holding no lead on Phoenix despite their four-game losing streak, while the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers come right behind them to try to avoid the dreaded 9-10 play-in game.

The Clippers are considered one of the easiest remaining schedule powers, with several games against the Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks still on tap. However, it appears this season will be reduced to three games:

March 31 vs. Portland Trail Blazers
April 10 @Portland Trail Blazers
April 12 vs. Golden State Warriors

Entering Friday, the Clippers, Blazers and Warriors are all tied in the loss column with 36 losses. The Clippers are dealing with injuries to Kawhi Leonard and Benedict Mathurin, the Blazers are still without Shaddon Sharp, and the Warriors are without Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler.

LA currently holds a 2-1 series lead over the Warriors with one game remaining on the final day of the season. Last season, the Clippers and Warriors played a game on the final day of the NBA regular season to decide who would receive a top-six seed and who would advance to the play-in tournament.

The Clippers currently lead 2–0 in their season series against the Trail Blazers, with two more games in the final two weeks of the season.

It remains to be seen how troublesome Kawhi Leonard’s ankle injury is and how serious Benedict Mathurin’s toe injury is, but with the Blazers having won four of their last six games and the Warriors expected to get Stephen Curry back by the end of the month, we could be in for an epic battle for play-in positioning.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault did his best to put All-Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s new record-breaking streak of scoring 20+ points in 127 consecutive games into words best suited for the reigning MVP. After breaking the 63-year-old record, Gilgeous-Alexander reflected on how he has emerged as one of the NBA’s elite scorers before Daigneault delivered his flowers to the SGA.

Talking about who Gilgeous-Alexander is as a player, a leader and a person, Daigneault it took time to explain What makes his All-Star guard so special during his post-game media availability?

“Number one, he’s skilled at his craft. Nobody is more precise at his craft than him. Number two, the streak his entire life hasn’t stopped us from having a ton of team success and hasn’t stopped his teammates from being successful as well,” Daigneault said. “The individual scoring streak hasn’t come at the expense of the team or his teammates. And again, great father, great husband, great teammate.

“He treats everyone in the building with respect from top to bottom. So, he’s obviously a great basketball player, but he’s such a guy that you couldn’t be happier when he accomplishes something like this. So, huge congratulations to him.”

Mark Daigneault’s honest opinion on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s streak of 127 consecutive 20+ point games, the most in NBA history, and his lead:

“There is no one more precise at his craft than him. The entire life of the streak did not prevent us from having a lot of team success… pic.twitter.com/WDNrrO2AZ5

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 13 March 2026

His 35 points on 13 of 18 attempts, nine assists, six rebounds, three blocks and two steals led the Thunder to the win. gilgeous-alexander Exceeded the 20-point threshold He received a standing ovation during the third quarter of a 104–102 win against the Boston Celtics at Paycom Center.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made NBA history with his 127th consecutive 20+ point game.

Historic Night at Paycom Center pic.twitter.com/lu7DrRPBWP

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 13 March 2026

In a matchup against the Celtics’ MVP candidate Jaylen Brown, who finished with 34 points, seven assists, six rebounds, two steals and a block, Gilgeous-Alexander exchanged key buckets to tie the game. Then, Thunder All-Star Chet Holmgren was fouled on a rebound, sending him to the line for two with 0.8 seconds remaining in the game.

Holmgren sealed the win for the Thunder by making two free throws, putting Oklahoma City ahead by two. He finished with 14 points and nine rebounds.

SGA issues subtle warning after making NBA history

Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander believes his improvement every season over the past few years has made him the leading scorer he is today. Adding a string of most consecutive 20+ point performances to his trophy haul, Gilgeous-Alexander explained that this was no coincidence, but a testament to his dedication.

“Over the years, I’ve just built my game, watched the defense, and just attacked the defense with the tools I have,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It feels like every year I’m getting better and better at doing this, and I think that’s why. I just watch coverages, learn from them, try to get better, and implement them whenever possible.”

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault watched Thursday’s historic night, followed by a 129-126 win on Monday in another duel against Nikola Jokic and an MVP candidate in the rival Nuggets, where Gilgeous-Alexander tied Wilt Chamberlain’s streak for consecutive 20+ point performances, and became only the second player to finish with at least 35 points, 15 assists and zero turnovers. Went.

The New York Knicks got back into the win column on Wednesday with a road win over the Utah Jazz, but it still wasn’t an inspiring win over a tank opponent. Previously, the Knicks had suffered two consecutive uncompetitive losses to the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers on their West Coast trip, and the team is currently in third place in the Eastern Conference.

One person who believes the Knicks have everything they need to compete for a championship this year is none other than team owner James Dolan, who has put the organization on notice with his bold comments recently.

“We want to go to the finals,” Dolan said, per WFAN via ESPN.com’s Vincent Goodwill. “And we must win the final. This is sport and anything can happen. But to reach the final, we definitely have to do that.”

Many speculated that the Knicks might try to shake things up at last month’s NBA trade deadline amid a difficult stretch for the team, but it seems New York is mostly back on track since then, with emphatic wins over the San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets last week being some of the highlights of the season.

On paper, the Knicks have as much talent as anyone, and they’ve made several win-now moves over the past few seasons to build their roster into a contender. However, concerns still remain regarding the team’s two best players, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, both of whom have been markedly negative on the defensive side of the ball, and most recently, there have also been major questions raised about Mikal Bridges’ reliability to perform with consistency in what has been a disastrous road trip for him.

The Knicks will hope they are able to get back to form before the NBA Playoffs, which begin in just over a month.

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

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

Victor Vembanyama is in a league of his own 🙌

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

– ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) 6 March 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Houston Rockets’ Monday night contest against the Washington Wizards proved to be much tougher than anticipated, especially as the Wizards were deliberately looking to lose games to gain better lottery odds. The Rockets won by only five points, 123–118, and they suffered an early exit from Amen Thompson, who left after about four minutes in the fourth quarter due to an ankle injury.

Houston’s depth was already quite shaky, and Thompson’s early departure made things worse for the team. But when a man goes down, there’s an opportunity for someone to step up, and that’s exactly what Reed Shepard did.

Shepard did not have good shooting nights; He went 7-18 from the field and just 4-11 from beyond the arc. But the Rockets made up for it with their disruptive ability on defense, playmaking and stat sheet-stuffing tactics.

He swiped the ball six times on the night, blocked two shots, recorded 10 dimes and pulled in seven boards and in doing so, he became the fourth sophomore in NBA history to average at least 15 points, five rebounds, 10 assists, five steals and two blocks in a single game, joining Larry Bird, Alvin Robertson and Alexander Volkov as the only ones to do so, according to StatMuse.

Reed Shepard is impressing Rockets brass

The Rockets’ competitive identity is built on grit and defense, and Shepard appears to be the antithesis of such an identity, as he plays with a more free-flowing style and steals numbers despite not being the most dominant on defense. But Shepard is stepping up on that end of the floor, and it will be important for him to earn more minutes under head coach Ime Udoka.

With Thompson facing a potential multi-game absence due to ankle trouble, Shepard could be in for a strong finish to the 2025-26 campaign.

Kawhi Leonard accomplished an impressive feat in franchise history after his performance in the Los Angeles Clippers’ win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night.

Leonard is in the 15th season of his NBA career, his seventh with the Clippers. Despite injuries impacting his time with the franchise, he continued to shine as one of the league’s best veteran stars when healthy.

His latest game against New Orleans was another example of his elite skills. In 29 minutes of action, Leonard finished with a stat line of 23 points, five assists, three rebounds and one steal. He shot 8 of 18 from the field, including 1 of 7 from beyond the arc and 6 of 7 from the free-throw line.

As a result, Leonard has maintained his 20-point streak for the 37th consecutive game. As a result, according to reporter Tomer Azzarly, he made franchise history by tying with Bob McAdoo in statistical scoring.

“Kawhi Leonard has extended his streak of 20+ point games to 37 straight. This is the third-longest streak in franchise history. Kawhi becomes the only player in franchise history to score 20 points in 37 consecutive games, joining Bob McAdoo,” Azarly wrote.

Kawhi Leonard, how the Clippers played against the Pelicans

Kawhi Leonard’s impressive performance continues, leading the Clippers to a dominant 137-117 win over the Pelicans.

Five players scored in double figures for Los Angeles in the win, including Leonard. Jordan Miller delivered a strong performance with 19 points, eight assists, three steals and two rebounds. He made 5 of 6 shots overall, including 1 of 1 from downtown and 8 of 11 from the charity stripe. Derrick Jones Jr. was next with 17 points and two rebounds, Brook Lopez had 16 points and seven rebounds, while John Collins provided 15 points and seven rebounds.

Los Angeles improved to a 28–31 record on the season and finished ninth in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies while trailing the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns.

The Clippers will look forward to their next matchup while on the road. They will take on the Warriors as tip-off takes place on March 2 at 10 PM ET.

Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey continues his progression as one of the NBA’s deadliest players, and at the rate he’s progressing, he may find himself rewriting the record books.

The 76ers defeated the Boston Celtics 114-98 on Sunday at TD Garden. Nevertheless, Maxi once again performed exceptionally well and scored a game-high 33 points. He also had three rebounds, six assists and two blocks.

In the fourth quarter, he made a fallaway jumper to keep them safe. In the process, he also reached an impressive feat. he did his calculations 65th game With at least 30 points and five assists, he surpassed 76ers legend Wilt Chamberlain for fourth most in team history.

With this bucket, Tyrese Maxey recorded his 65th game with 30+ PTS and 5+ AST, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain (64) for the fourth most in 76ers history! pic.twitter.com/jnyOkgGYxs

– NBA (@NBA) 2 March 2026

Whenever you surpass Chamberlain on any list, you know you’re doing something excellent.

Chamberlain, who led Philadelphia to a title in 1967, was very talented in his heyday. Maxi would be honored to know that he has succeeded the late Hall of Famer.

The 25-year-old Maxi had to carry the heavy load for the 76ers against the Celtics, as Joel Embiid sat out again with an oblique injury. Embiid has already missed 27 games this season.

Maxey received support from VJ Edgecombe, who recorded 23 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Andre Drummond, who started in Embiid’s place, contributed 10 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and four steals. However, their efforts were not enough to overthrow the Celtics.

Philadelphia’s three-game winning streak was snapped and it dropped to 33–27, while Boston improved to 40–20.

The Sixers will take on the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.

Despite swapping life for a relegation battle at Manchester United, Christian Eriksen has braved life at Wolfsburg.

Kicker has the 34-year-old’s comments today. The Dane insists he is very happy with life at the Bundesliga club.

Eriksen left Manchester United on a free transfer in the summer window, ending three seasons at Old Trafford.

Serving as a consistent presence under Eric ten Hag and Ruben Amorim, he made 107 appearances in that time, scoring eight goals.

Pushed forward decision in search of playing time

Christian Eriksen took his time choosing his next club during the summer. Sport Witness covered the veteran’s comments on how much he Enjoyed your leisure time while choosing that option.

Ultimately, Wolfsburg won the race for his signature, with Eriksen joining on a two-year deal until June 2027. Since then he has been a regular starter with 21 appearances in all competitions.

However, it has been a tough campaign for him. The German club currently sits 15^th With 20 points in 23 games in the Bundesliga. This leaves them just above the relegation play-off places on goal difference.

The battle of accusations and counter-accusations was not expected

Their recent form has seen them struggle to move out of the relegation battle. But Eriksen is not worried, despite their aim being to qualify for Europe.

“Actually I’ve mostly been on the other side,” He said.

“At many of the clubs I have played for, it was more important to finish in the top 10. Brentford was probably the only exception.

“And in the VFL, it’s actually my first time fighting demotion. But that’s football; in the end, it’s an experience that comes with the territory.

“I can handle it! Of course, you’d love to be on a winning team. But that doesn’t always work out. Then it’s about getting back on track.

“For us, it’s a battle right now, and there are a lot of little things going against us, which makes it even more difficult. Still, I’m positive when I see how we’re doing.”

Asked whether he had made the right decision by choosing Wolfsburg over Manchester United, Eriksen said: “Yeah, soccer is fun. I wanted to play soccer, and that’s what I’m doing here.”

On Sunday, at the Target Center, Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey thrilled fans with a powerful third quarter dunk over Minnesota Timberwolves stars Anthony Edwards and Jon Beringer. This play helped Philly cruise to a 135–108 victory.

Maxey, who had recently played with Edwards in the All-Star Game, scored a team-high 39 points on 16 of 28 shooting. The win snapped the Sixers’ four-game losing streak, leaving them at 31–26, and ended Minnesota’s three-game winning streak, leaving them at 35–23.

Even after Maxey threw a large poster at Edwards, he remained relaxed and smiling, showing no frustration towards the rising 76ers star.

“He’s unbelievable, man, he already knows he’s one of my favorite players to watch in the league. He even attacked me today, I really don’t like it,” Edwards told reporters after the game.

“I didn’t know he was going to lay it down… I finally turned my head. I was thinking he was going to lay it on, then he went and punched it… That’s why we play the game, I’m not mad about it.”

“I didn’t know he was going downhill…finally my head turned. I was thinking he was going to lay it up, then he went and punched it…that’s why we play the game, I’m not mad at it.”

Anthony Edwards on Tyrese Maxey’s dunk 😅

(via @adukeMN)pic.twitter.com/tMH3TiO5rT https://t.co/WDw98cSWGz

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 23 February 2026

Maxi performed exceptionally well despite the absence of Joel Embiid and a Paul George-less 76ers team, with neither star taking the court.

Edwards scored 28 points and grabbed nine rebounds, but Maxey’s game-high 39 points led Philadelphia to a dominant win over Minnesota.

Rudy Gobert sat out due to a one-game suspension, and Nazi Reed missed the game with a shoulder injury, leaving Minnesota shorthanded.

Edwards and Maxey would meet once again on April 3 for the last regular season game between Minnesota and Philadelphia.

Even after the viral dunk and the tough loss, Edwards remains a must-watch player at just 24 years old. Whether he is underrated can be debated, but there is no doubt that he is one of the top talents in the game.

For now, Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves will look to bounce back when they face the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have a way of making Target Center feel like a highlight factory, and Friday night was no exception. While the Timberwolves were recently sitting comfortably in the Western Conference playoff race, Nazi Reed decided to provide a moment that will be played on loop for the rest of the season.

With less than two minutes left in the first quarter and Minnesota already having a 10-point cushion, the sixth man of the year took matters into his own hands.

Reed caught a pass at half-court and took off on a one-man fastbreak. Most big men will look for the trailing guard or decide to drop to safety, but Reed is not most big men. He took a smooth “around the world” step to get past a retreating defender, picked up his pace and took off.

Naz Reed. Hey mom‼️

Put Danielle Gafford on a poster 🖼️pic.twitter.com/17BnlSl90p

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 21 February 2026

Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford attempted to meet him at the summit, but he quickly realized he was on the wrong side of things. Reed hit a powerful poster dunk at home that literally sent the Minneapolis crowd into a frenzy. It wasn’t just a dunk; It was a statement.

Reed scored 6 points on 3-of-5 shooting, while also grabbing three rebounds and one assist. His energy off the bench led to a massive run that the Mavericks couldn’t answer. Minnesota is shooting a collective 46% from the field, overwhelming a Dallas team that is struggling to find its rhythm without rookie star Cooper Flagg.

Anthony Edwards led the Wolves with a game-high 20 points, while Rudy Gobert had 12 points and 11 rebounds. On the other hand, Khris Middleton is trying to keep the Mavericks afloat with 12 points.

If you weren’t a believer in the “Naz Reed” hype before, this poster on Gafford should officially convert you.

It is a well-known fact that NBA legends Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo have a long-standing rivalry that dates back to the late 2000s, which ultimately resulted in controversy in 2018 when the two played for the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers respectively.

However, sport knows sport, and Paul quickly put aside this long-standing feud when asked about the NBA players with the best attitude on the court.

“When you even say court vision. Rondo, I would say Rondo. Rondo got one of the worst passes ever when he threw a behind-the-back pass into the corner,” Paul said during his appearance on the In Brooklyn podcast at 7 p.m. CP13 just debuted and went into detail about what really set the Rondo apart.

“If you watch sports over the years. You’ll watch teams over the years, you’ll see teams get rebounds, and you can see me being like, ‘Yo, yo, yo, let me get it.’ Rondo was the same way, right. Like, let me get the ball, let me get the ball. It’s because everyone’s like, ‘Oh, he’s got to have the ball.’ It’s like, no. We all have a job to do, I know who I am. I’m not a finisher,” he said.

Some would say similar things about Chris Paul, though the point guard could also score at will during his long time in the league. Nonetheless, both Paul and Rondo fall into the category of truly intelligent players who can control a game on their own regardless of their competition.

Rondo’s exclusion from the 2008 Olympics “Redeem Team” roster, which also included Paul, was seen as an early flashpoint. On the court, the rivalry escalated when Rondo reportedly reminded Paul of Boston’s championship lead during a heated 2009 argument.

However, the largest incident occurred during the 2018 Lakers-Rockets brawl, when a heated exchange turned into a physical fight that involved punches and multiple players.

Of course, Paul’s latest comments indicate that regardless of the incidents, there is immense respect between the two former superstars.