It seems Danhausen’s Cleveland Cavaliers bashing before the Eastern Conference Finals was no fluke for television.

The Cavaliers were on the wrong side of history Tuesday night. They entered their Eastern Conference Finals series against the New York Knicks as huge underdogs on the road. However, they surprised many by taking a two-point lead at halftime, then increasing it to 22 with just eight minutes remaining in the game. Then Jalen Brunson and his teammates caught fire.

The All-Stars led a spectacular rally, with both teams tied at the end of regulation time. The Knicks superstar and his teammates kept it going in overtime and somehow pulled off an incredible Game 1 victory despite a huge deficit in the fourth quarter.

Cavaliers fans were heartbroken by the shocking loss and were trying to figure out how their team blew such a huge lead late. However, many NBA fans pointed to one person: WWE star Danhausen. The “Too Good, Too Bad” star actually cursed out Cleveland during an appearance on Tuesday nba today.

“I have a special mission I’ve been sent on, and that’s for the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight. Tell them they’re damned,” he said.

The moment seemed quite random. However, in an ex post after the game, Danhausen revealed the real reason for doing so. When a fan asked, “Why would you curse the Cavs?” The WWE star responded, “Have you ever heard of this guy, The Miz?”

In that case, the Curse of Danhausen makes all the sense in the world. The Miz is a native of Cleveland and a fan of his hometown teams. And Danhausen currently has an ongoing rivalry with the WWE great and has cursed Miz and his tag partner Kit Wilson. He teamed with Mini-Hazen and scored a victory over the pair at Backlash earlier this month.

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

While some New York Mets fans have pondered the idea of ​​a Mike Trout trade, a notable team insider explained on Friday why it’s extremely unlikely.

The Mets have played better last week. They have won four of their last six and back-to-back series before their game on Friday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Still, they enter the weekend with a very disappointing 14-23 record.

A variety of issues can be raised for a team’s poor results. However, the performance of the extremely expensive batting order has surprised many people. Yes, injuries to players like Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor and Jorge Polanco have been debilitating. But his hitting should be better than ever. The injuries have nothing to do with poor play from Bo Bichette, Francisco Alvarez and Marcus Semien.

Mike Trout Stats: .260 AVG, .429 OBP, .550 SLG, .979 OPS, 11 HR, 23 RBI, 32 R, 5 SB

That’s why fans and analysts have speculated that the team could make a trade to boost their struggling offense. One name that has come up in recent weeks is that of future Hall of Famer Mike Trout. After battling injuries for six consecutive seasons, the Los Angeles Angels ace is looking like his old self in 2026. He hit 11 homers and drove in 32 runs in the team’s first 37 games.

The idea of ​​a Mike Trout trade was brought up by a fan in a new Mailbag article by The Athletic’s Mets insider Tim Britton. Interestingly, he admitted that he would love to cover the three-time MVP and could “imagine a scenario, no matter how narrow, in which it would make even an iota of sense for the Mets.” However, he also explained why team president David Stearns would never consider it.

The 11-time All-Star is making more than $37 million per year through his 38 seasons through 2030. If he were signed for another season, Stearns might consider it. But four more is too many for an executive who doesn’t like long-term investments in players over 30.

In addition to seeing a great player in New York, local fans have always been thrilled with the idea of ​​Trout playing in Gotham since he is a New Jersey native. However, there has been speculation over the years about him suiting up for his boyhood team, the New York Yankees.

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

crystal Palace Goalkeeper Walter Benítez has spent much of the last year surrounded by transfer uncertainty. Argentina’s latest comments suggest another potential move is already on the horizon.

Despite eventually moving to the Premier League with Palace, his condition never fully recovered due to limited continuity in England.

Now, back home, Boca Juniors are openly discussing the possibility of targeting him in the next market.

Not first choice in Argentina

These comments came from the journalist marcelo gonzalez During an appearance on the Argentinian program Directo al Hueso.

According to Gonzalez, Boca is still waiting to see how young player Leandro Brey develops between now and the middle of the year. However, the club is already planning the possibility of entering the market for a senior goalkeeper.

“Boca is still waiting for Bray and how he performs between now and the middle of the year. That has not changed. But Boca will definitely be looking for a goalkeeper in the next transfer window.” He said.

“They probably won’t look for a backup goalkeeper – they’ll aim as high as possible.”

Geronimo Rulli of Olympique Marseille was initially discussed internally. However, Gonzalez explained that Boca quickly realized that the operation would be extremely difficult financially.

“The first name that came up was Ruli. When I asked about him specifically, they told me: ‘Ruli costs a lot of money, we don’t think it’s possible’,” He said.

“Now they have to look to the Premier League, where Walter Benitez is playing.”

Brief description of Benitez

Gonzalez and the programme’s panel then spent time discussing the Palace goalkeeper’s path through European football, including his years at PSV and earlier stint with OGC Nice.

The journalist also acknowledged that Benítez has not fully established himself since arriving at Palace in the middle of last season.

“He arrived at Crystal Palace in the middle of last season and today he doesn’t have much consistency. Although he has played a few matches, it’s not like he has never played.”

Interestingly, Gonzalez himself gave a very balanced assessment of the goalkeeper.

“His performances may not have been huge, but obviously if he has had such consistency for so long in European football, there is a reason for that.”

Of course, Walter Benitez’s name has come up repeatedly in transfer discussions over the past year. During his last months in the Netherlands, Several clubs inquired about his situation As uncertainty about his future increased.

The move to the Premier League eventually came, yet his medium-term role still seems a little unclear due to a lack of regular minutes. This naturally creates space for domestic clubs to start paying attention. In fact, river bank Kept him on my radar last year.

But at 33, he fits Boca Juniors’ preference for proven personalities in key positions.

what happens next

There is no indication yet that Crystal Palace are actively attempting to move Benitez this summer. However, if the goalkeeper continues to struggle for regular consistency in the Premier League, Boca’s interest could be worth watching.

For now, this looks like the early stages of internal discussions in Argentina rather than advanced talks.

Still, Benitez’s future has felt uncertain for quite some time – and Boca are now openly looking in his direction.

It seems Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta hates name, image and likeness deals in college football. But the reason for this is a bit strange.

Zero money in college sports, especially football, has completely changed the industry. For decades, programs were built entirely around the ability to capture the hearts and minds of high school recruits in their living rooms and kitchens.

However, now a program can only turn things around drastically in one offseason if they have enough money to bring in the best players through the transfer portal or in the high school ranks. While this has brought an absurd level of volatility to college sports, it has also provided athletes with long-standing money-making opportunities. This means they are not in a rush to reach the pro ranks to earn big money

Well, it seems the Ravens general manager hates it because it means he can’t get his hands on prospects any time soon, and isn’t interested in “older” players.

Baltimore Ravens GM hates NFL Draft’s ‘old’ players

“The players are getting older. Not necessarily the average age of the players, but there are older players in the draft,” DeCosta said this week. ‘We are seeing more 24 and 25 year old players. This is because of the void, people are being paid to live. This is problematic for us because if people are coming in at older ages, they will probably get less benefit. In some cases they are not three-contract players; They are players with two contracts. And in some cases, they have suffered more injuries. “They’ve been playing college football a longer time, so they’ve had more injuries.”

“… Before 2024, 4 percent of our players on the draft board could be 24 1/2 or older. Now that number is up to 18 percent. So we’ve seen a 14 percent increase in older players on the draft board,” he said. “…I don’t think it’s certainly a good thing. Historically, we’ve tried to develop young players whenever possible. It’s something we feel strongly about.”

So essentially, DeCosta will want to make college football players less money so he can use them as quickly as possible for the best interest of the Ravens. Even if it means cutting them out of a few seasons. Additionally, while his point about accumulating more injuries is valid, the extra years in college also means being better prepared to make an impact in the NFL rather than requiring more experience and further development.

It’s a little strange to dislike more experienced talents who were able to make good money before the NFL chewed most of them out.

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

While New York Giants fans and players are thrilled that John Harbaugh is their new head coach, one of their former stars the Baltimore Ravens is very happy to see him go.

After three poor seasons with Brian Daboll leading the roster, Big Blue fans are excited about the team’s potential with Harbaugh overseeing the veterans. And for good reason. He has a career record of 180–113, led the Ravens to the playoffs in 12 of his 18 seasons, and has a Super Bowl victory on his resume (2012).

Due to his impressive success, it would be understandable if some players in Baltimore were disappointed with Harbaugh’s firing and were fearful about maintaining the standard he set. However, don’t count Jay Flowers out of that group as the two-time Pro Bowler blames the coach for the team’s injury problems in 2025.

Zay Flowers calls John Harbaugh the reason for the Baltimore Ravens’ injury problems in 2025

“Full pads all the time,” Flowers said. Fourth and South Podcast about practices under Harbaugh. “There are any number of practices you can get in pads (in the NFL), every single one. Week 17, we’re practicing one-on-one, everybody out there, we’re tired, we’re still going… That’s why we had a lot of injuries, because of how we practiced, how we went. The load was heavy.”

The Ravens faced a surprising amount of injuries in 2025, with season-ending illnesses to Nnamdi Madubuike and Broderick Washington Jr. and top star Lamar Jackson missing several weeks. In an era where players compete in 17 games and are getting injured more than ever, it is concerning that Harbaugh is still practicing hard at the end of the season.

This approach may have worked 10 years ago, but it may not be suitable for current players. With Harbaugh having so much control in New York, it’s unlikely he’ll be forced to part with his favorite habits in a year. If the Giants have injury problems in 2026, Flowers may have provided an early warning.

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

A New York Jets insider this week revealed the unexpected reason why the team prefers to use the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft on David Bailey instead of Arvel Reese.

After another disappointing season in 2025, the Jets are in good position heading into next week’s draft. While they don’t have the No. 1 overall pick at the event, they might as well as the Las Vegas Raiders are set to take quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the top pick in Round 1. This allows the Jets to select the most talent-rich player available this year.

There is a lot of speculation about who that player will be. However, most mock drafts and expert opinions point to the Jets selecting Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey or his Ohio State counterpart Arvel Reese. The reason a lot of people are divided on them is the perception that Bayley is better right now, with Reese having a much better fit.

Well, it seems like the Jets’ decision makers aren’t thinking long term and want to get better immediately after a three-win season.

Do the New York Jets want David Bailey because he can make an impact quickly?

During a new appearance on the gang is all here podcast, Jets insider Brian Costello claimed that many around the NFL are convinced Bailey will be the choice for two reasons. First of all, Glenn is feeling the pressure of losing his job and needs a player who can be very good now, not later. The second reason is that Bailey is a “plug-and-play” talent. On the other hand, it is unclear where Reese will play in the NFL as an EDGE or outside linebacker.

Costello believes it would be a poor decision by Glenn and management to draft a player based on what they can do for them now rather than in the long term. However, this is the opinion of sources around the NFL as to how the Jets’ brain trust will view this incident.

Jets fans will find out which way the team goes during the first day of the 2026 NFL Draft next week.

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

Former FC Twente boss Marino Pucic has revealed that he received an offer from Arne Slot to join them liverpool In 2023.

Pusic, who is now managing Al-Jazeera in the United Arab Emirates, revealed that Slott had contacted him after his first season at Shakhtar Donetsk.

But despite the prestige of a move to Liverpool and the chance to be reunited with Slot, Pusic walked away from the opportunity.

“Arne asked if I wanted to join him at Liverpool. I considered it a great honour, but it didn’t feel right to leave.” Pusic told Voetbal International.

Why did Pusic say no to Liverpool?

Marino Pusic’s decision wasn’t about football. Instead, it was his loyalty to Shakhtar, a club operating under the unimaginable stress of war, that made him feel the times had become impossible.

During his two years at the club, he guided Shakhtar through a period he describes as emotionally overwhelming and uniquely demanding.

He said, “No club in the world has performed as well as Shakhtar during the war: one national title, two national cups and thirteen points in two Champions League campaigns.”

Players and staff were regularly faced with news of loved ones killed in the conflict. Puzik said that in those moments, coaching became something deeper than strategy.

“You’re talking about life and death together. That’s how you build a close relationship.”

Love of slots for Dutch coaches

Arne Slot’s approach to reuniting with Marino Pusic is not at all surprising. The pair worked together successfully at Feyenoord before Slott transferred to Liverpool in 2024.

Slott then hired Jonny Heitinga as his assistant, then replaced him with Giovanni Van Bronckhorst when Jonny Heitinga left for Ajax the previous year.

He also wanted to take Etienne Rejan with him to Anfield. But the Feyenoord assistant could not get a work permit, which ultimately led to Heitinga’s arrival.

Sander Westerveld also asked Slott to contact Puzik again When it came to replacing Heitinga last year.

Now Puzik has admitted that the offer was there at one time. However, he could not turn his back on Shekhar at that time.

What does this mean for liverpool

Marino Pusic’s revelations have added a fascinating footnote to Arne Slot’s early recruitment plans at Liverpool.

He was clearly someone Slott had great confidence in, enough to move him into one of the biggest jobs in world football. Had he accepted, Liverpool’s backroom team would look very different today.

In fact, last season could have been very different. Many credited his replacement Heitinga for playing a key role in their title success last season.

Instead, Pusic decided to remain loyal to Shakhtar, a decision he apparently does not regret.

On Thursday, it was reported by ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania that Detroit Pistons star point guard Cade Cunningham will miss an extended period of time due to a damaged lung. The scary situation comes as the Pistons prepare for a playoff run, in which they will likely be the number one seed in the Eastern Conference.

Depending on how much time Cunningham misses, it is possible he could miss eligibility for end-of-season NBA awards, including First Team All-NBA and others that require a player to appear in a minimum of 65 games.

If Cunningham does indeed miss the cut, it would spark further backlash over award eligibility rules. The league first implemented the 65-game minimum in an effort to reduce load management, which, in fairness, was a very real concern at the time, and still is to some extent. It’s also true that the best ability is availability, and there’s certainly a limit to how much value a player can provide to his team if he’s consistently out of the lineup for any reason.

However, if Cunningham does indeed miss out on eligibility, All-NBA teams could feature some faces that many fans may not have seen play at that level on the court. Players like Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are already teetering on the edge of eligibility due to previous injury absences, as is San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.

Cunningham not getting recognition at the end of the season could potentially be the last nail in the coffin that forces the NBA to make changes this offseason.

For now, Cunningham is being considered a possible candidate for First Team All-NBA and the league MVP award.

The Charlotte Hornets turned Tuesday night against the Miami Heat into a personal playground for LaMelo Ball. While Charlotte walked away with an impressive 136-106 win, the post-game conversation wasn’t about the lopsided score, it was about how on earth Ball keeps making the impossible seem routine.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Ball went through the middle of the defense, took a heavy hit from a defender and somehow put the ball in the hoop while falling. It was the kind of circus shot that would normally be dubbed a ‘fluke’, but for the Hornets’ superstar, it was just another calculated rep.

When asked about the secret behind his highlight-reel finishing, Ball kept it refreshingly simple. He credited his coach and the unconventional reps he did behind the scenes.

“I mean, me and my guy March have been working on it, so I think I’ve been working on all my shots,” Ball said after the win. When a reporter pressed him on whether he specifically practiced falling shots because of how “pretty” they look, he didn’t even blink. “Yeah, to be honest, I work on all my shots.”

“I work on all my shots.”

LaMelo practices every possible look… even shots where he’s falling through contact! https://t.co/vu0P5BSQlJ pic.twitter.com/kxT2ut3SpT

– NBA (@NBA) 18 March 2026

That preparation was on full display as the Hornets were missing star center Bam Adebayo from the Heat squad. Ball finished the night with a spectacular triple-double, scoring 30 points and 13 assists with six rebounds. He remained efficient throughout the field, making 11 of 22 shots from the field and missing four of his 12 attempts from beyond the arc.

Without Adebayo to bolster the interior, Charlotte celebrated a turnaround, powered entirely by Ball’s elite vision and pace. The Hornets effectively closed out the contest with a huge surge in the second half, leaving Miami with no answers. For a team looking to finish 2026 strong, Ball’s magic is looking like a science.

OKLAHOMA CITY – For the second consecutive game, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault inserted Ajay Mitchell into his starting lineup. After Shai Gilgeous-Alexander extended his streak of 20+ point games to 128 in a 116–103 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Daigneault discussed Mitchell’s impact as part of his starting 5.

For Daigneault, Mitchell has proven himself enough to earn a starting spot amid the Thunder’s marquee matchups, he said, during his postgame media availability.

“We’re going to need him and despite being a high-impact player, he hasn’t played a lot of games,” Daigneault said. “So, the opportunity to get him out early in the game in some of these high-level games is an opportunity we want to take advantage of right now.”

Mitchell finished with 11 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals in 27 minutes for the Thunder. Mitchell emerged as one of Oklahoma City’s major impact players off the bench. In only his second season, Ajayi made significant progress which led to him being included in various of Daigneault’s lineups.

Mitchell’s playmaking and scoring abilities, as well as his defensive ability, have made him one of Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault’s favorite players this season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Ajay Mitchell’s impact for Thunder

Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander found out he scored 20 points after a 3-point play, causing a stampede in the crowd at Paycom Center. He extended his streak of scoring 20+ points to 128 consecutive games.

Then, after the win, Gilgeous-Alexander talked about how important Ajay Mitchell is to the Thunder.

“A guy who can make plays at any time,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “A guy who can pass, dribble, shoot at a high level on the basketball court, and also defend. And having guys like that on the court is a luxury. You don’t have any holes when he’s out on the court from his positioning standpoint. So, having him out there is a luxury. I don’t think we’ve lost since he came back, and it’s no surprise.

“He’s a really good basketball player. Makes us a better team. Makes us tough to guard and score on both ends.”

The Thunder extended their four-game home stand winning streak to eight straight after a 13-point win against the Timberwolves on Sunday.

With the way the NHL trade market is shaping up, the New Jersey Devils should consider trading Cody Glass. However, they should consider it for one reason only.

The Devils have been seeking an upgrade to their top six for quite some time. They want to add a forward with scoring skills who can play on a line with Jack Hughes – a void that has been left since Tyler Toffoli transferred two deadlines ago.

Given that the Devils’ playoff hopes are all but gone while the NHL trade market appears to be bloated, moving Glass to help the Devils accumulate assets to help them acquire the scorer they are looking for seems like an obvious move.

Glass is in the first year of a two-year contract. He has a favorable $2.5 million cap hit and is no trade protection.

A lot of teams that are scouting or heading to the postseason are in the market for a center.

The Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes, Montreal Canadiens, and Glass’ former club, the Vegas Golden Knights – currently playing Mitch Marner as a center – all fit the bill.

Maybe even the Edmonton Oilers. However, they just acquired Jason Dickinson from the Chicago Blackhawks, and will likely install him at the center position.

Glass, who plays at a favorable cap hit while scoring at a 20-goal pace with elite defensive metrics as a third-line center who can also kill penalties, makes him a desirable addition for most playoff teams.

The Devils forward explained that before playing in New Jersey, he never really had a designated role. Sheldon Keefe said Glass’ role has led to his success this season.

Thus, an inquiring team should be able to see similar success with Glass. Especially now that they know what they are getting with the former sixth overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft.

So, what can devils get from glass?

Well, recent history saw the Nashville Predators trade Michael McCarron to the Minnesota Wild for a 2028 second-round selection. Remaining with the Predators, they sent Cole Smith to Vegas for a 2028 third-round pick and a prospect.

Given that these prices are for depth forwards who don’t have scoring touch, Glass could certainly fetch more, especially because he plays a premium position.

Is a first-round pick out of the question? Especially for a team like the Avalanche? They don’t have that pick this year, but they do have 2027, and there’s no reason to believe the first-round pick won’t be closer to the second round than the top half of the first round.

Even if it isn’t that much, a few second-round picks in 2027 also seem plausible. This gives the Devils enough compensation to be flexible with their possessions to reel in a goalscorer.

The Devils are reportedly ready to land Simon Nemec in the right deal. Add the compensation from the Glass deal, or perhaps add what New Jersey has better, and maybe they could go with Jordan Kirou.

And if no moves are made by the trade deadline, perhaps the Devils could seriously add a guy like Jason Robertson into the mix should he not be dealt with Dallas this summer. Or, dare I say it, Brady Tkachuk if things go to extremes in Ottawa.

But, why trade glass if you will need it in the future?

Well, for starters, the Devils can always keep Nick Bjugstad. This was his intention after all. However, he is probably better suited in a 4C role.

Still, there will be plenty of options through free agency this summer.

Some names that come to mind – if they reach July 1 – are Charlie Coyle, JG Pageau, Bobby McMann and Boone Jenner. Dare I say, Eric Haula will also be available.

It is certainly important that the Devils do not let their 3C position become a black hole again. However, the bigger hole is on Jack’s left side, where the Devils have been looking for a goalscorer for a long time.

The Devils should trade Glass, but only if they can use the compensation they receive later to reel in the goalscorer they want in the top six.

I don’t know about you, but I’d rather have Kirau than Glass.

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

Harrison Barnes is generally the gold standard for NBA credibility. Before Tuesday night, the San Antonio Spurs forward had not missed a single professional basketball game since the end of 2021. But even the league’s most durable giants are no match for the dangers of the mid-day snooze.

In one of the most bizarre injury reports you’ll ever see, Barnes was a late scratch for Tuesday’s matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers. The reason was as simple as it was frustrating: Via AP News, he woke up with left ankle pain after a pre-game nap.

The temporary injury officially broke his incredible streak of 364 consecutive games played. The last time Barnes was eliminated from a competition was in December. 4, 2021, when he was a member of the Sacramento Kings. Since then, he has been a fixture on the court, and has provided a steady veteran presence for whatever team he has represented.

Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson had to adapt quickly without his experienced forwards, but the rest of the roster left no stone unturned. San Antonio completely destroyed a shorthanded Philadelphia team in a 131-91 blowout loss at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Devin Vassell led the scoring charge with 22 points, including six three-pointers, while rookie Dylan Harper provided a big spark off the bench with his 22 points.

Victor Wembanyama didn’t have to carry the heavy scoring load, but remained a defensive terror, finishing with 10 points, eight rebounds and six blocks in just 24 minutes. Stephen Cassel also had a stellar performance with a 15-point, 10-assist double-double, while De’Aaron Fox led the offense with 11 points and seven assists. Tyrese Maxey, on the other hand, put up a lone battle for the Sixers and finished with 21 points and eight rebounds.

It’s a tough way to end a great “Iron Man” race. Barnes was not sidelined due to a hard screen or a playoff foul; He was betrayed only by his own bed. While Spurs have dominated without him, they will soon need his consistency. Barnes has already been ruled out for the upcoming game against the Detroit Pistons, meaning the wait for his new streak to start continues.

The LA Clippers are set to take on the Golden State Warriors on Monday night for the second night of back-to-back sets. It will also mark the Clippers debut of guard Darius Garland.

Garland was acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers during NBA trade deadline week, bringing him to Los Angeles and sending James Harden to the Cavs. But Garland missed last month’s trade as he worked to recover from toe problems in both feet.

After weeks of running and rehab, Darius Garland will make his Clippers debut against Draymond Green and the Golden State Warriors. But what’s a bit surprising is that Garland won’t start in his first game.

“The thought of bringing him off the bench so he doesn’t have to play with Kawhi [Leonard] “So he can find his own rhythm, his own timing and just try to run everything through him,” head coach Tyronn Lue said in his pregame media availability on Monday. “Just being aggressive, getting our tempo up, so that’s kind of the thought process behind bringing him in off the bench. It’s to try to get him going at a faster pace than he’s been. So he’ll keep doing that until we get his minutes up and then obviously he’ll be our starter.”

Between offseason foot surgery and a sprained right toe, Garland has played in a total of 25 games this season, which is why the Clippers have been so cautious about slowly bringing their prized guard back.

In addition to coming off the bench, Garland will face a minutes restriction for the foreseeable future until Garland gets into game shape and the Clippers become comfortable with his return to competition.

“I’m very excited that he’s going to be on the floor,” Lue said. “Just excited for him and then to let him play. Be aggressive, try to get his air, try to get his timing down, and just play free. Just want to get him out on the floor, see what we can do, how we can change some things up, but just excited to get him on the floor.”

In his introductory press conference, Garland told members of the media that Tyronn Lue planned to use him like Kyrie Irving, and Lue confirmed those plans.

“That’s what I told him,” Tyronn Lue explained in early February, shortly after the trade. “He went back and watched a lot of film from those days. We’ll put the ball in his hands, he’s got to be able to make plays for himself and his teammates. He’s got the ability to do that.

“If you look at all the charts, he’s second in the league in pick-and-rolls and making quick decisions off plays, so he knows how to play the game. We need everything from that, his ability to score the basketball, his ability to make people better, create momentum, create momentum. He can do it all.”

In his 408 game career over seven NBA seasons, Darius Garland has averaged 18.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game, while shooting 45.3 percent from the field and 38.6 percent from three.

For Lakers guard Marcus Smart, the best is yet to come for his team, as he offered an optimistic outlook in practice on Monday. While coach JJ Redick took responsibility for the Lakers’ offensive shortcomings, Smart identified the bigger picture for Los Angeles.

Smart believes in the Lakers have enough talent According to Khobi Price of the California Post, he said, he is looking to reach his full potential, and he is confident he will find his stride between now and the end of the regular season.

“We’re good. The talent is there, we have the pieces. It’s just netting them. We’re not healthy, which is a big part when you’re trying to get the pieces to the net. You have to stay healthy. Different lineups in the game, but I think it’s going to help us in the long run because we’ve got to see different lineups — guys in different spots and different roles that they’re not used to. We definitely have some work to do.

“Everyone knows that. But we’re hanging in there. The goal is to have everyone in this league coming in at the right time, and getting ready to play the best basketball you can play.”

Marcus Smart explained how good the Lakers are and how close the group is to its best version: “We’re good. The talent is there, we have the pieces. It’s just netting them. We haven’t been healthy, which is a big part when you’re trying to net the pieces.” pic.twitter.com/2xlR7CE262

– Khobi Price (@khobi_price) 23 February 2026

Marcus Smart and the Lakers scored a season-low 89 points in their blowout loss to the Boston Celtics (111-89) on Sunday.

JJ Redick takes responsibility for Lakers’ offensive shortcomings

Blamed head coach JJ Redick for the Lakers’ inability to find their offensive rhythm in a 22-point loss to the Celtics. After Lakers forward Rui Hachimura discussed his failed offense, Redick took responsibility.

As for the Lakers head coach, he has to prepare his team to be ready to take on an elite defense like the Celtics, as Redick said, he failed to do soAs noted by Khobi Price of the California Post.

“When teams play deep drops, we have our counters, and we just got there [execute],” Reddick said. “I took ownership of it. We have our counters for deep decline. We have to do a better job…we noticed that today. Our lowest potential assist games are against deep downs, so I have to do a better job.

JJ Redick’s response when asked about the Lakers’ ball movement, and whether the lack of it makes them more predictable on defense:

“When teams play deep drops, we have our counters and we just get [execute]…I took ownership of it. We have our counters for depth… pic.twitter.com/wwfRZ1OAXl

– Khobi Price (@khobi_price) 23 February 2026

The Lakers will host the Magic on Tuesday.

After considering the idea of ​​retirement, Al Horford decided to change things last summer and leave the Boston Celtics during free agency in favor of moving to the Western Conference to join the Golden State Warriors. The 39-year-old veteran spent a total of seven seasons in Boston, split over two separate stints, and he won a championship with the franchise in 2024.

Horford’s decision to join Golden State, his fifth different organization, was a surprise to many, especially those in Boston.

He had been a veteran leader of the Celtics for years, and Horford played a key role in the team’s success during and before the championship. Although leaving Boston was obviously a difficult decision for Horford and his family, he felt as if it was time to move on and finish his career elsewhere.

As for why Horford made this decision, the Warriors big man shed some light on the topic for the first time since deciding to join Golden State over the summer. However, the exact reason why Horford left is still unclear.

“The decision, it’s something that’s much deeper than basketball stuff. And it’s something I’ll share with people at some point, but for me, it felt like it was time for me to go somewhere else,” Horford told reporters in the Warriors locker room, via Bobby Manning of CLNS. “As far as the end of my career, I don’t know. I’m always keeping it open and it would definitely be a privilege to do that (return to Boston).”

“I’m just focused on trying to finish this year out.”

The Celtics insisted on cutting salary in the offseason, which is why they traded Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks and Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers in the summer. This philosophy continued at the trade deadline, as the Celtics went from being a second-apron team in the summer to below the luxury tax at the deadline.

Whether money played a role in Horford leaving Boston is unknown, but from his tone and the reasoning for his departure it seems as if something was going on behind the scenes that upset the veteran. Although he would not close the door to a possible return to finish his career with the Celtics, Horford made it clear that his decision was influenced by something “deeper than basketball.”

In his first game against the Celtics after signing with the Warriors, Horford recorded five points, eight rebounds and four assists in 28 minutes off the bench. The Celtics defeated the Warriors 121-110 on Thursday night.

The Chicago Bulls lost their seventh consecutive game to the Toronto Raptors, 110–101. This was his first game after the All-Star break. one thing that came to light there was a notable absence Jaden Ivey’s.

He did not play the entire game. Later, interim head coach Wes Unseld Jr. explain why According to Gavin Dorsey of The Roundtable Network, this was the case. Overall, it came down to basketball and the fact that the Bulls are loaded with guards. Additionally, they also had Josh Giddy and Trey Jones both are returning After being out due to a hamstring injury.

“Strictly a basketball decision,” Unseld said. “It’s really hard to play six guards. I wanted to try to see if I could increase Josh and Trey’s minutes. I think we were comfortable, considering where they were.”

He later said, “I thought those guys gave us the best chance. We had some very good stretches, very good combinations. He was absolutely the odd man out tonight.”

Ivey arrives in Chicago from Detroit Pistons As part of three-way trade That sent Kevin Huerter to Detroit. He has played four games with Chicago and is averaging 11.5 points per game.

As a result, the Bulls are now 24-32. This weekend, they have back-to-back home games against the Detroit Pistons on Saturday and the New York Knicks on Sunday.

Afernee Simmons led the way with 20 points. Additionally, Isaac Okoro finished with 16 points and five rebounds. Jones had 12 points and six assists. Colin Sexton came out with 11 points.

Meanwhile, Giddy finished with 5 points and was 1 of 7 from the field. Additionally, Matas Buzelis only had four points but finished with six rebounds.

Manchester United and Inter Milan have shown serious interest in AS Saint-Étienne’s Paul Aimard.

is according to But! football clubWhich cover the failures of both Manchester United and the Serie A side to sign the 18-year-old.

He left Le Puy Foot 43 Auvergne as a free agent in 2022 to become part of Saint-Étienne’s youth system. Aimard progressed through the ranks and forced his way into the first team at the start of this season.

Manchester United and Inter Milan offered

The midfielder has played 390 minutes in seven matches so far, scoring two goals and providing one assist. He was also a regular for France U17 between 2024 and 2025. Aimard’s performances and potential may have attracted the attention of Manchester United and Inter Milan.

According to the report, both the Red Devils and Nerazzurri submitted offers to secure his services.

However but! The football club says the player ‘rejected offers’ from both clubs to sign his first professional contract with Saint-Étienne in January.

His decision to ignore Manchester United and Inter Milan in favor of remaining at the Ligue 2 team was a ‘bold but calculated choice’.

Reasons for rejecting top clubs

The outlet has also aired Ayred’s comments on rejecting bigger clubs to continue with Saint-Étienne.

“I tell myself that I still have a long way to go and that I have many obstacles to overcome. There are countless players who were seen as great prospects but did not succeed, and some of them were definitely stronger than me.” He said.

“Just because people are starting to talk a lot about me, because big clubs are showing interest, doesn’t mean I’m going to be successful.”

“I need to prove myself at the professional level and then we will see. My squad, my agent and even the club are supporting me so that I don’t get disappointed.”

“I decided to sign my first professional contract with ASSE because it is the club that trained me, so it is a natural step in my development. I have to start there, with the club I love and support.”

“It’s too early to talk about big European clubs. I don’t want to rush things. ASSE has also given me a project where I will work with professionals on a daily basis, which is a big plus. Overall, the club is ambitious and constantly evolving. And then there are always the supporters and all their enthusiasm.”

With former Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul retiring from the game of basketball, there will no doubt be remembered for his long legacy, but also how his previous tenure with a team ended so abruptly. As soon as the Clippers traded Paul to the Toronto Raptors, who was later waived, the famed point guard called it a career, but being sent home by Los Angeles created controversy as he talked more about the situation.

Paul was on the show “7 PM in Brooklyn”, where when asked how the relationship ended in a flash, he said that the team wanted him not to give “advice to players”. He would explain how there was “a lot of back and forth.”

“I’m still understanding and trying to figure out how it got there,” Paul said. “During training camp, I talked to one of my guys for a while, and then as I walked into the dining room, someone came up to me and was like they don’t want me giving advice to players.”

Chris Paul details conversations with Kawhi, Ty Lue and Lawrence Frank before sudden exit from Clippers 👀 pic.twitter.com/fG3ojh2YE4

– 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn) 17 February 2026

Chris Paul talks what he wants to say about playing in his final year with the Clippers

It got to the point where Paul was sent back home in December, but it wasn’t always a negative as the star was planning to finish the season and his career with the Clippers by playing in front of his family. He talked about it with head coach Tyronn Lue and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank.

“I hit [up] T-Lew, I’m like, ‘I’d love to finish my career here.’ L-Frank, I hit him up, said the same thing,” Paul said. “At the beginning of the season, Lawrence Frank sent me an article about how great my leadership was, an article that I had never seen. He texted me saying, ‘Man, this is great leadership here.’ I was extremely grateful, you see, I was emotional when I went back. I knew this was my last year and I would get a chance to play in front of my family.

While that’s in the rearview mirror, Paul is now enjoying retirement after an amazing career.

The Philadelphia 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey may not have returned with a good performance at the All-Star 3-Point Contest. However, the rest of the weekend was as ideal as could be, with Maxi’s Team Stars emerging as the winners of the tournament.

And well, the player had a very simple reason for his team’s victory.

“We won because we’re young and turned!” According to a post on X by ClutchPoints, he hilariously explained.

Tyrese Maxey explains why Team Stars won the All-Star Game 😅

“We won because we’re young and turned!”

pic.twitter.com/zwDc4xg2zQ

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 16 February 2026

Team Stars won the round-robin tournament, defeating Team World in the opening match, losing by a narrow margin to Team Stripes, and then dominating the championship rematch. Maxey’s best performance came in that final, where he scored nine points on 4-of-8 shooting, had three steals, and an assist in the decisive 47–21 victory.

During his tenure, Team Stars outscored Team Stripes by 22 points. The second game against Team Stripes was quieter statistically, as Maxey scored two points in nearly eight minutes during a close 42–40 loss decided by De’Aaron Fox’s buzzer-beating three.

Nevertheless, the short 12-minute game structure meant that individual production was often limited, and the scoring load was carried primarily by Anthony Edwards and Cade Cunningham. Maxi’s most impressive performance came in the title game.

He scored on several isolation drives, hit a deep three after forcing a turnover, and made a key defensive stop on Jalen Brunson, allowing a teammate to score a triple. His explosion helped Team Stars build a 26–9 lead midway through the contest, a margin that ultimately decided the championship.

From a broader perspective, the weekend also cemented Maxi’s growing position in the league. He entered the season scoring 28.9 points per game, ranking sixth in the NBA with 6.8 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.0 steals.