標籤: reveals

Kamaru Usman revealed this week that his quest to win another UFC title at welterweight has hit a wall named Hunter Campbell.

At 38, the former welterweight king knows he doesn’t have much time left at the highest level of the sport. That’s why he’s done everything he can over the past eight months to get himself a championship fight with new welterweight champion and friend Islam Makhachev.

After picking up his first win in nearly four years over Joaquin Buckley in June, he doesn’t have the strongest case for a title shot. However, he has tried to take advantage of his friendship with the Russian and his name as one of the greatest welterweights of all-time to work his way into the fight. However, this doesn’t seem to be working.

During a new edition of their pound 4 pound In a podcast with fellow veteran Henry Cejudo, Usman revealed that he has told the company why he thinks the fight with Makhachev makes the most sense. However, despite the discussions, the former champion claims that UFC CBO Hunter Campbell “feels differently” and has no interest in the matchup.

The comments seem to support recent rumors that Campbell has taken on a larger day-to-day role for the UFC, including fight contracts, than CEO Dana White.

Kamaru Usman offered fight against Dricus du Plessis

Along with the update on the lack of progress towards a fight for the welterweight strap, Usman also offered that Campbell and the UFC approached his pitch with the idea of ​​a different fight and in a different weight class. Usman revealed that he was offered a matchup with former middleweight champion Darius du Plessis.

Although Usman is not against a fight at 185 pounds, he claims he is only interested in “meaningful” fights followed by a title opportunity. The UFC may be unwilling to guarantee a championship match following a win over DDP.

Usman scheduled a short-notice fight at middleweight against defending champion Khamzat Makhachev in October 2023. He lost the match by majority decision.

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

With Jason Dominguez’s future with the New York Yankees unclear, a team insider revealed a teammate who could play a key role in uncovering the former No. 1 prospect in 2026.

A few years ago, NY Yankees fans kept hearing about Dominguez and his potential to become an All-Star in the big leagues. In 2021, he was the No. 1-ranked player in their system and was nicknamed “The Martian” because his immense talent as a five-tool player was out of this world.

That’s why there was so much excitement when he reached the big leagues in 2023. Unfortunately, he hasn’t even come close to living up to those expectations. Despite having shown great form in his game over the past three seasons, injuries, inconsistent play and poor defense in the outfield have left the Dominican at a career crossroads at just 23 years of age.

A year ago, Dominguez was locked into the starting role for Opening Day. However, this year, there’s a good chance he starts the season in Triple-A, as there is no clear path for him to move into the outfield or at designated hitter in 2026. This has led to much speculation that he could eventually be traded by the team that signed him when he was just 16 years old.

Can Ahmed Rosario help free Jason Dominguez in 2026?

However, this week, New York Post MLB insider Joel Sherman expressed some hope that the NY Yankees could get an impressive season from Dominguez. In a new “3 Things I Think” video post, Sherman revealed one unique asset that could benefit youth in a big way. And that’s former New York Mets star prospect turned journeyman Ahmed Rosario.

The Yankees insider explained that Rosario has become a respected veteran throughout the game, and what he brings to the locker room is why the NY Yankees made sure to re-sign him this offseason.

“This is a hard-working guy who has figured out how to maximize a career that didn’t exactly go the way he wanted. And Rosario is still just 30, because he came in at a very young age, like Domíguez,” Sherman said.

The NYP reporter reported that Dominguez is following Rosario around like a “puppy dog”, having a locker next to the nine-year veteran, and that this could teach him great lessons on finding ways to be an impact player for his team, even if he is not the star.

Sherman believes that if the NY Yankees coaches can improve his defense, it is possible for Dominguez to become a 20-homer and 20-stolen base player in 2026 and beyond.

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 report shows that despite Wednesday’s disappointing loss to rival Iowa at home, Ohio State head coach Jake Diebler is in no danger of being fired after this season.

Former associate head coach Jake Diebler has done a solid job during his two and a half seasons leading the Buckeyes. He was thrust into the lead role during the 2023–24 season after his predecessor Chris Holtmann was fired. However, he led Ohio State basketball to eight wins and the final 11 and created new hope.

Last season, a first-time head coach was given considerable leeway to learn on the job and oversee a good 17-15 team in 2024-25. However, this meant that he would not play in the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season. Heading into this season, there were more expectations that Deibler could end that streak and get the program back into the tournament and, hopefully, win a game or two.

Unfortunately, over the past month, Ohio State has struggled. The Buckeyes are 4-6 since a loss to Michigan on Jan. 23. The latest blow came on Wednesday when OSU was defeated by Iowa on its home court by a score of 74-57. The loss dropped their record to 17–11 and put them in a position where they would have to win their final three games to have any chance of reaching the tournament.

Jake Diebler’s job at Ohio State is safe

The loss also reignited speculation that perhaps Deibler isn’t the guy to end his streak coming out of March Madness, and perhaps that could change in the spring. Well, according to Adam Jarry, the coach is in no danger of losing his job at the moment.

During an appearance on 97.1 The Fan t-bone and tyvisThe Columbus Dispatch OSU reporter claimed that basketball decision makers “understand the resources available and understand the playbook the program has been given to work with.” And they know they haven’t given Diebler enough opportunities to be competitive.

“There’s frustration there. Everyone would like things to get better, but if you get my drift, I don’t get the sense that this is setting up something big,” Jardi said.

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

Wendell Carter Jr. made a decisive play Tuesday night, scoring the game-winning basket to give the Orlando Magic a 110-109 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. After the win, Carter pointed to one word – “aggressive” – as the key to Orlando reaching another level offensively.

Carter finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds and two assists in 36 minutes. He made 9 of 13 shots from the field and added two free throws, controlling the paint throughout the contest before getting a late putback that sealed the victory.

After the game, Carter credited his teammates for encouraging him to maintain a tenacious mindset.

“Honestly, I give my teammates a lot of credit. You know, the guys we started with, Des, P, AB, Jay Suggs, we got there, Tristan, they all encourage me. They tell me when I’m aggressive, it takes our team to a new level on the offensive end.”

He detailed how this approach affects the group beyond the box score.

“Because I do a lot of things that don’t show up in this box score night in and night out. But they say offensively when I’m aggressive it opens up another chapter for this team. So I definitely give them a lot of credit. But at the same time, processing the game, slowing it down a little bit mentally, but still playing at a fast, fast pace.”

Wendell Carter Jr. on his big offensive night, including the game-winner over the Lakers:

“I give my teammates a lot of credit. They tell me when I’m aggressive, it takes us to another level.” pic.twitter.com/UCmb2drIVB

– Julian Ojeda (@jowepafm) 25 February 2026

The Magic relied on that interior presence against Los Angeles, especially in the fourth quarter. Orlando improved to 31–26 with the win and finished their four-game Western Conference road trip with consecutive wins over both Los Angeles teams.

Wendell Carter Jr.’s aggression leads Magic past Lakers

Carter’s production this season reflects a steady role within Orlando’s rotation. In his sixth year with the franchise, the 26-year-old center has averaged 11.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game in 54 appearances. He is shooting 48.7% from the field, 32.2% from 3-point range and a career-high 80.1% from the free-throw line, while logging 29.6 minutes per contest.

While Carter’s game-winning effort highlighted his night, the overarching theme of aggression has come up repeatedly in Orlando’s recent surge. Teammates have emphasized that when Carter strikes decisively, whether it’s finishing at the rim, stepping into mid-range looks, or crashing the glass, it creates additional spacing and rhythm for the offense.

The Magic also got another standout performance from Paolo Banchero, who recorded 36 points, 10 rebounds and six assists against the Lakers. Orlando’s ability to generate balanced contributions on both the perimeter and interior has provided momentum entering the final stretch of the regular season.

With the road trip complete, Orlando returns home to begin a four-game homestand starting Thursday against the Houston Rockets (35-21) at 7:30 p.m. ET on Prime Video. As the Magic attempt to solidify their position in the Eastern Conference, Carter’s emphasis on controlled aggression may remain a central factor in maintaining their upward trajectory.

Crystal Palace made a late attempt to sign Lyon’s Ruben Kluivert in the winter market.

On 2 February, Game Witness Covered claims from France Crystal Palace attempt to sign the defender on deadline day. The source revealed that the Eagles have held talks with Lyon and are keen to bring him to Selhurst Park.

Later that day, witness the game broadcast news Lyon immediately rejected the London club’s late approach for the 24-year-old. This is because they had no plans to approve the sale in the middle of the season.

The Ligue 1 side was against the centre-back’s exit from both a sporting and financial perspective.

There was no mention of the Dutchman’s stance on Crystal Palace’s interest and Lyon’s rejection of his advances. That was until he gave an interview to Le Progress west france Has released his comments.

Ruben Kluivert confused by Crystal Palace approach

The defender spent his career in the Netherlands until signing a contract with Casa Pisa in June 2024. He played 24 matches for the Portuguese club, and that was enough to convince Lyon, who signed him until July 2025.

Kluivert has operated primarily as a centre-back and occasionally as both a left and right-back for the French club, and has played 1,267 minutes in 19 matches. His contract is till 2030.

Lyon’s decision not to entertain Crystal Palace’s effort has pleased the player. He also talks about his Premier League dreams but insists he has no plans to leave in the near future.

Relief Lyon did not encourage Oliver Glasner’s team

“It was confusing, because it was so late in the day. I am happy to be here, 100% committed to this project in Lyon. We are still in the Europa League and the Coupe de France, we have a lot of games to play with a really fantastic team, and I am confident that we can go very far in all these competitions,” He said.

“For these reasons, I would say the club did the right thing by keeping me. Personally, I can’t deny that the Premier League remains a dream. But if I had to choose, I prefer the way things turned out. The club made the right choice.

“I signed a five-year contract with Lyon, and I see myself wanting to stay for at least two or three years. The fact that they wanted to keep me here was a relief.”

Winning cures all ills, or so the cliché goes. However, defeating the Golden State Warriors did not prevent Dejounte Murray from leading the rebuilding New Orleans Pelicans after a disappointing former All-Star season. The 29-year-old was less modest about what James Borrego has been pushing since last August.

Instead, the veteran guard shared a blunt assessment that balances disappointment with perspective.

Murray cursed, “We didn’t have a king rebound. We were terrible. We were terrible. Like, we should have practiced rebounding yesterday.” “Literally, Herb Jones didn’t rebound. You know what I’m saying? When he rebounds, we all rebound.”

Murray finished with three assists and two boards for 13 points in 25 minutes, so there were smiles in the locker room after the game after the quick hit.

Still, he stuck to one particular game while grading the bigger picture after his first game in nearly 13 months.

“We can get better. I think I’d give us a C+ tonight. It’s beautiful to get a C+ and win a basketball game in the NBA against a good team,” Murray allowed. “I don’t care who’s in, who’s out. Steve Kerr coaches his team very well. He has a system, and he’s put the right players in there to be successful.”

The forgiving grades underlined the bigger picture. Even a “terrible” performance can serve as a useful building block.

“I think we probably got like a C or C+,” Murray reiterated. “We could have been more solid. Like, I had a little turnover there. I think I got fouled, but there’s no excuses. We have to be solid. When teams are stuck and trying to come from behind, we have to stay in our spots and be there for each other. I think that’s my job, but also, you know, it’s a collective unit. I’m a point guard, and like I said, I’m here to make everybody better. I’m here to win, so we have to be better overall. After we win, you can move on from things and, you know, correct those errors.”

Seven of the next nine games are on the road, starting with a six-game trip to the Western Conference. At least the first two games of the trip are against the lottery-picked Utah Jazz. It’s the perfect setup for Dejounte Murray’s Pelicans to let off some steam before summer break.

Chris Bosh said he recently experienced a frightening medical emergency that made him think about life and urgency, revealing in a social media video that he woke up “covered in his own blood.”

The NBA Hall of Famer explained how the episode suddenly unfolded without warning in a video posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday.

“So, I woke up covered in my own blood. It was crazy, it was fast, it was instant. There was no warning. I had no time to prepare for it. I was getting ready to go on a date with my wife and the next thing you know, I was on the ground,” Bosh said. “I won’t go into specifics, but you can see I’m still healing. If I looked different I wouldn’t try to hide it, but it was a scary thing and it came fast. And it really gave me a different perspective on life and how things go – what we do for ourselves, what we do for our family. It’s how we live our lives and no matter what it is, make sure you don’t wait. That’s the thing.” That’s what I get from it. Don’t wait to take action.”

Bosh, 41, did not reveal the exact medical cause of the incident, but emphasized how quickly it happened and how fortunate he felt afterward.

“Because it can come fast, it can come quickly, and I’m lucky to be alive and I feel great about that. And now I’m thinking about how I live my daily life. That’s really it. But don’t wait. Don’t wait to take action — you might be looking to get a promotion, you might be looking to try out for the team, you might want to go on that vacation, it could be a lot of different things that people want to do, that’s what we want to do.” And never do it. So, that’s what I get from this. Don’t wait for it.”

Former NBA champion Chris Bosh opened up about a scary medical scare he recently experienced:

“I woke up covered in my own blood.”

Prayers for Chris 🙏pic.twitter.com/1cdX98lEZT

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 25 February 2026

Chris Bosh reflects on near-death moment years after blood clot diagnosis

He concluded:

“Just do it. You might hit the deck, I don’t know. I’m lucky, I came back. It was just darkness, it was nothing else. I went into the darkness, I came back. I don’t remember any, I have no memories except coming back here. So, don’t wait up.”

Bosh’s medical scare has come several years after his NBA career was cut short due to repeated blood clots, a condition that first surfaced during the 2014–15 season with the Miami Heat. The diagnosis sidelined him for a considerable period of time and ultimately led to his retirement after the 2015–16 campaign. At that time, doctors determined that continued play could pose serious health risks.

Bosh, who won two NBA championships with the Heat, averaged 19.2 points and 8.5 rebounds during his 13-year career, which also included seven seasons with the Toronto Raptors. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.

Although he did not directly link the recent incident to his previous history of blood clots, Bosh’s message focused on urgency and gratitude, underscoring how quickly circumstances can change.

The former All-Star said the experience reshaped his daily outlook, strengthening his belief that action should not be postponed.

Despite an unsuccessful performance at Tennessee and being the backup in Green Bay the last two years, if teams like the Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns or Pittsburgh Steelers wanted to sign Malik Willis in free agency, it would be a ridiculous price.

While they had different results in 2025, the Dolphins, Browns and Steelers are all entering the offseason with the same issues. Figuring out who will be their starting quarterback next season.

Miami is expected to move on from Tua Tagovailoa this offseason after disappointing performances over the past two seasons and a trip to the Pro Bowl in 2023. Cleveland has options like Deshaun Watson and Shadure Sanders, but rumors suggest they will look at the QB market this offseason. Pittsburgh could run it back with Aaron Rodgers in 2026, but they need to find a long-term option at the position.

That’s why reports and speculation have linked all three to impending free agent Malik Willis. The third-round pick from the 2022 NFL Draft is viewed as the best QB available in free agency despite starting his career with the Tennessee Titans and then serving as a backup for the Green Bay Packers in 2024 and 2025.

Could Malik Willis get a deal worth more than $30 million annually?

Willis’ time in Green Bay and what he showed in limited action last season has created a lot of talk that the 26-year-old could be the next Sam Darnold or Daniel Jones. Due to the weak QB market this offseason and his untapped potential, Willis is clearly attracting a lot of interest, and it is driving up the asking price for teams that want to sign him.

As NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports, “As expected, Packers free agent QB Malik Willis is in demand, and the interested teams I spoke to at the combine in Indianapolis believe him getting at least $30 million per year is a foregone conclusion.”

A deal in the thirties would get them the same money as Darnold and Baker Mayfield. Players who proved more than enough during their careers and reached the playoffs. That’s a surprising amount of money Willis could get, but it’s the going rate for a demanding position that garners some of the biggest contracts in the NFL.

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 midfielder Jefferson Lerma has revealed when he expects to return from injury, while also admitting that he is not currently playing in his preferred role.

talking to espnThe Colombia international provided an update on his recovery from the hamstring problem that forced him to play against Burnley. Palace manager Oliver Glasner had already confirmed that he would be sidelined for around three weeks due to the problem.

This update comes after colombian press Considerable concern was expressed over the severity of his injury last week, especially as the March international break approaches. There were fears that he might miss the upcoming call-up window. Now, Lerma has offered more clarity on the timeline.

“I’m fine. Unfortunately we had a little setback at four weeks, but as these days go by we feel better sensations. We believe we will be back around the 7th or 13th week.” he told ESPN.

That time frame would see him return in mid-March, possibly for Colombia’s upcoming international fixtures against France and Croatia in the United States. However, Palace are focused on getting him fit for the final stages of the campaign.

Crystal Palace players are in no rush

Lerma acknowledged the emotional importance of international football, but stressed that logic must prevail during the recovery.

“Being with the national team brings up a lot of emotions because of everything it means. But in the end the cause comes first and you have to be strong. The first days are always an emotional shock, but you know the sun will come out tomorrow.” He said.

His rehabilitation is progressing well, and Palace are hopeful that if there are no setbacks he will rejoin the team in the second week of March.

Why is his current role not his best?

This season, Lerma has also been used as a centre-back. Although he has filled in capably, he has made it clear where he feels most comfortable.

“It was nothing new, I had already done it. If you choose me, I would like to play as a defensive midfielder.” He added.

This priority could be relevant as Crystal Palace approaches decisive matches in Europe and the league. The tie against Zrinjski is tied 1-1, and victory in London would send Palace into the last 16 of their first continental competition.

However, the priority right now is recovery. If Lerma returns around March 13, Palace will again have an experienced option for the run-in – and he could still try to re-establish himself in his preferred midfield role.

WWE is reportedly targeting John Cena to serve as the inductee for AJ Styles at the 2026 Hall of Fame ceremony. According to BodySlam.net, WWE officials see Cena as the ideal choice to honor their longtime rival and close friend, provided his Hollywood schedule allows for an appearance.

The induction was announced during the February 23, 2026 edition of Monday Night Raw in Atlanta, Georgia – a special tribute episode dedicated to the career of the “Phenomenal One”. In his home state, Styles gave an emotional retirement speech before symbolically placing his gloves and jacket in the center of the ring. The ceremony took a dramatic turn when the arena went dark and the Undertaker suddenly entered on his motorcycle.

Initially teasing “unfinished business” following their Boneyard match at WrestleMania 36, ​​”The Deadman” broke character to inform Styles that he would be the second inductee into the 2026 Hall of Fame class. Styles, along with Stephanie McMahon, are the only confirmed names so far for the event.

Brian Alvarez of Wrestling Observer Radio reported that the announcement was a real surprise to Styles, who appeared apprehensive when the lights went off for the first time.

The Hall of Fame confirmation appears to have put an end to the ongoing speculation about Styles’ in-ring future. Following his loss to Gunther at the 2026 Royal Rumble, Styles apparently avoided leaving his gear in the ring, leading to rumors that he might make an eventual run to another promotion like NJPW or TNA.

WWE made great efforts to describe the Rumble loss as the end of his “WWE career”, notably leaving the door open for other ventures.

However, the definitive nature of the Atlanta tribute, coupled with the Hall of Fame nod, indicates that Styles is officially ending his time as an active competitor. Several legends from Styles’ past in TNA—including Abyss, The Good Brothers, and Frankie Kazarian—were present at the broadcast to honor his career.

John Heitinga’s agent Rob Johnson has revealed that Tottenham Hotspur wanted his client to remain at the club.

The representative talks about his client’s brief stint at Tottenham on the podcast KieftJansenEgmondGijp and fcupdate Has released his comments.

Jensen joins journalist Michel Van Egmond and former Dutch players, Wim Kieft and René Van der Gijp to discuss football.

The quartet discussed Heitinga’s Tottenham exit in the latest episode.

short tottenham spell

Tottenham have endured a difficult period under Thomas Frank, winning seven of their 26 league matches this season. The Danish coach tried to improve things by adding Heitinga to his backroom staff on 15 January.

Last month, Assistant Manager the agent said He did not expect the Spurs to remove Frank. He was wrong as the north London club parted ways with their manager on 11 February.

Three days later, Spurs appointed Igor Tudor as interim manager until the end of the season and Heitinga exited on Friday.

Spurs wanted Heitinga to stay

sports witness Recent Dutch claims covered Heitinga left the Premier League side after talks with Tudor.

Jensen now says otherwise, with Tottenham insisting their client becomes part of the Croatian team. He explained why the Dutchman decided to leave the club.

“They were allowed to stay. They also asked them to stay. All the other coaches, all Scandinavians, left. And after three weeks, they told them: ‘Please stay and look at your contract here.’ That’s quite an achievement for someone who worked there for three weeks.” He said.

“But he said: ‘Yes, but now Croatian coach Igor Tudor is coming with the whole staff for three or four months.’ That guy is always hired for emergency jobs.

“It almost never works. Why they did that is a mystery to me. And then another coach would come. So, you could go twice. That new coach would also come with 45 people. He said, ‘This is pointless, Rob. I have to go now’.”

Why did Tottenham ignore the Dutchman?

Kieft told Jensen that he was aware of Frank’s situation at Tottenham when his client took over the job. When responding to this, the agent admitted that Heitinga’s initial plan was to take over from the Dane, but Spurs lacked confidence.

“But there was a possibility that he would take over; we had that in mind. Only: the club didn’t do that. After three weeks, they decided it was too soon. So, then you have an interim manager,” Johnson explained.

“What does the management do, or in this case, the owners, the Lewis family? They opt for some kind of security. They hire someone with a track record, someone known as a crisis manager at struggling clubs for a few months. That saves their image. Unless they dare to continue with Heitinga and a new staff, but they won’t.”

When the agent was asked if Heitinga received compensation from Spurs, he said: “As you know, I’m always good at drafting contracts in advance.”

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry is still out for a few more days as he recovers from the knee injury that has kept him out since before the All-Star break.

Curry missed all of his games in February after Jimmy Butler suffered a season-ending knee injury, leaving the Warriors without another star.

Curry’s health has been a concern for the Warriors over the past few seasons, as the 37-year-old guard’s body is breaking down due to his heavy mileage. Retirement may not be too far away for the two-time MVP.

Despite this, NBA insider Mark Spears claimed on ESPN’s “NBA Today” that Curry is still interested. to suit again For Team USA at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

“Steph Curry is still interested in making his second Olympic appearance. He’ll be 40 at the time, but look, he’s a shooter. He’s the greatest shooter of all-time. Why wouldn’t you want that on your roster?” Spears said.

“He hasn’t come out yet. Let’s just say that.”

Mark Spears: “Steph Curry is still interested in playing in his second Olympics. He’s not out, let’s just say that” 👀 pic.twitter.com/cIqfLC0fSe

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 24 February 2026

Curry ultimately made his Olympic debut in Paris 2024, helping Team USA win the gold medal, highlighted by his stellar performance in the final against host nation France.

Curry has often said that he thoroughly enjoyed the experience. He confirmed on Team USA teammate LeBron James’ “Mind the Game” podcast that he’s not closing the door on playing in the Olympics again, especially since it will be played on home soil.

If he does indeed suit up in Los Angeles, Curry would banner a roster that could include Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons, Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics and Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks, among others.

After the Orlando Magic bounced back from a double-overtime loss to the Phoenix Suns with a two-point win (111-109) over the LA Clippers, Anthony Black discussed the keys to his team securing a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference. In a season where the young and up-and-coming Detroit Pistons sit comfortably at the top of the standings, the Black and Magic are looking to build on their appearance in the play-in tournament last season.

The Magic finished with a .500 record (41–41) in 2024–25, seventh-best in the Eastern Conference. Black says the league can expect the Magic to perform best brand of basketball “Amid the final stretch of the regular season,” he said, according to ESPN’s NBA Today.

“You know, just being consistent in the way we play. Just the energy that we bring every night, especially on the defensive side of the ball,” Black said. “Just making a push. We hope to play our best basketball this season. Just figuring it out.”

“You know, just being consistent in the way we play.”

Magic guard Anthony Black on what the team needs to do to become a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference pic.twitter.com/iaky7roadM3

– NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) 23 February 2026

Anthony Black scored 11 points in the Magic’s win against the Clippers. All five starters reached double figures, including Paolo Banchero (16 points) and Wendell Carter Jr. (15 points), with Desmond Bane scoring 36 points.

Paolo Banchero reveals Magic’s biggest issues after Suns loss

After bouncing back with a hard-fought win against the Clippers, the Magic could bring back Jalen Suggs for Tuesday when they take on the Lakers. Magic forward Paolo Banchero highlighted his team’s shortcomings in Sunday’s double overtime loss, which were also evident in Sunday’s win against the Clippers.

Banchero said, “I wasn’t on the ball so my focus was on protecting the inbounder. I didn’t really look too much, just turned my head and the ball was in the air.”

“I don’t mean ideal, but [I] Thought we played hard, I didn’t think we made enough plays down the stretch they did – a little more than we did and yes, definitely a little bit of a loss. Now! [a] Tough game.”

Tuesday’s match against the Lakers will conclude the Magic’s four-game road trip.

ATLANTA – The Atlanta Hawks know they have a good opportunity in front of them with a long homestand. Not only that, but those games come against teams that haven’t played very well this season. The Brooklyn Nets were on their schedule today, and although some might have thought it would be an easy walk for the Hawks, it turned out to be a dogfight for three quarters.

The battle subsided in the first half of the fourth quarter, where the Nets went up by 11 points, and the Hawks had no answer to anything they did. Fortunately, a flip switch occurred, and the Hawks woke up with less than six minutes left in the game.

The Hawks finished the game on a 24–2 run, and after being down by 11 points at one point in the fourth, they walked away with a 115–104 victory over the Nets.

“We stepped up our aggression in the last six minutes,” Dyson Daniels said. “We had no choice, we were down 11, we had to change something. Everybody changed it. We were more physical on the ball; we were able to create turnovers, get stops and get out and run. We’ve got to be better at the beginning of the game if we want to beat good teams and give ourselves a chance this year.”

Daniels had three steals in the fourth, one of which came from defending the inbounds and catching the ball in the air.

“He kind of threw it down,” Daniels said. “I knew he already had the ball for three or four seconds, so it was coming soon, and I timed the jump.”

It was clear that defense was key in helping the Hawks come back late, and it started with the guards and flowed throughout the team.

“Collectively, we did a good job of stopping them,” Jalen Johnson said. “Nickel [Alexander-Walker] And Dyson set the tone with that and others followed suit. Dyson got some steals and that changed the momentum.”

“Defense wins games,” Jock Landell said. “I think we did a good job in the fourth quarter. C.J. turned it on and made some big shots. [Jalen] Did a good job of figuring out where he wanted the ball and got to his spot. This was a ripe game to end.

As important as defense was, the Hawks had to come back and score on the other end. It was Johnson who led the way in that category, as he scored 14 points in the fourth and sealed the game with some key buckets at the end. CJ McCollum, who moved into the starting lineup, also hit a big three-pointer at the end of the game to give the Hawks the lead.

From there the Hawks never looked back and were able to pick up a win to continue their homestand.

The Orlando Magic suffered a 113-110 double-overtime loss to the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night when Jalen Green knocked down a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end a back-and-forth contest. After the loss, Paolo Banchero identified three key issues that proved decisive: foul trouble, turnovers and second-chance opportunities.

Banchero finished with 26 points, 14 rebounds, eight assists and four blocks in 47 minutes. He shot 11 of 28 from the field and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line, while helping Orlando push the game into two extra periods.

After the final shot, Banchero described his advantage in the decisive game.

“I wasn’t on the ball so my focus was on protecting the inbounder. I didn’t really see much, just turned my head and the ball was in the air.”

While the game ended on Green’s shot, Banchero pointed to circumstances that developed long before the final possession. Orlando lost Desmond Benn and Wendell Carter Jr. to foul trouble, while Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs were unavailable due to injury. Suggs was ejected shortly before Saturday’s contest.

“I don’t mean ideal, but [I] Thought we played hard, I didn’t think we made enough plays down the stretch they did – a little more than we did and yes, definitely a little bit of a loss. Now! [a] Tough game.”

Turnovers, offensive rebounds tilt game toward Suns

Ben had one of his strongest performances of the season, finishing with 34 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block, before fouling out. He shot 12 of 18 from the field, 5 of 9 from 3-point range and 5 of 5 from the free-throw line in 40 minutes. Carter added seven points, 11 rebounds and one assist while shooting 2-for-4 from the field and 3-for-3 from the line in 34 minutes.

Beyond the foul trouble, Banchero emphasized Orlando’s ball security and inability to control the glass.

“Obviously we got hurt. We knew they were a big second-chance points team and they crashed the glass very hard. They did a great job of, you know, getting themselves a lot of extra possessions, getting a lot of dagger threes off offensive rebounds, so [it] “We are definitely hurt.”

The Magic committed 16 turnovers, including six from Banchero, leading to 22 Phoenix points. Orlando also surrendered 22 offensive rebounds and allowed 23 second-chance points, with the Suns scoring 8 of 23 on those extended possessions.

Jamahl Mosley says little things add up in big ways in Magic defeat

Coach Jamahl Mosley reiterated Banchero’s evaluation, noting the cumulative impact of lost possessions.

“We gave ourselves a chance. It happens within a game – guys are going to foul out, foul trouble is going to happen. There are going to be injuries throughout the season. You have to give Phoenix a lot of credit, but it was a back-and-forth battle. But in a game like this, it’s about the little things and the little details. We can’t do it more than 16 times for 22 points and also have 22 offensive rebounds. Can’t give up. Can’t come back. But our guys fought till the end, obviously, despite the situation. The best thing about the league is you have to turn around and do it again.”

Mosley also credited Green for the decisive shot.

“He had a helluva shot. I think there was some separation on that baseline, maybe he got thrown off his route, he did a helluva job of coming back and countering it, but Jalen Green hit a helluva shot. You’ve got to give him credit for that.”

Paolo Banchero turns his focus to Clippers after 2OT loss

The Orlando Magic now focus on the second night of their four-game road trip, visiting the Los Angeles Clippers (27-29) on Sunday at 9:00 p.m. on NBA TV. Banchero said many of the lessons from Saturday’s loss will carry over into the match.

“Yeah, Clippers [are] A good team, they made some trades. They look a little different, but I think it puts a lot of emphasis on the same thing that killed us tonight, hitting the glass, crashing very hard as they defend. Yes, just have to be ready for the challenge, they are a good team, good guys there so yes, it will have to change quickly.

Los Angeles has bounced back from a 6-21 start to the season despite a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night. The Clippers reshaped their roster at the trade deadline, trading James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland and sending Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Benedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks and a second-round selection.

For Orlando, the margin for error is small. As Banchero underlined, foul trouble, turnovers and second-chance points proved decisive in a game decided by a single possession.

On Saturday, Kevin Huerter returned to Chicago as part of the Detroit Pistons against the Bulls. This was his first comeback with his former team after Was part of a three-team deal Includes the Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves. A deal that would send Jaden Ivey from the Pistons to the Bulls.

Before the game, Huerter said for the first time According to Casey Johnson of Chicago Sports Network, about the impact of seven trades made by the Bulls.

“We’ve been sitting at .500 all year,” Huerter said. “It could have gone either way. As players, you have to expect everything. But in seven trades, I don’t know if I expected this.”

In the subsequent quote, Huerter described the change Experiencing its second consecutive mid-season trade.

“Change is always hard. But coming to a team that is No. 1 in the East and competes hard, it definitely makes the job easier on the court.”

Huerter came to Chicago last season As part of another three-way trade That sent Jack LaVine to the Sacramento Kings. Additionally, the Bulls received Huerter and Trey Jones from the San Antonio Spurs and Zach Collins from the Kings.

This year, Huerter is averaging 10.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. So far, he has played four games for the Pistons and is averaging 4.3 points per game. Meanwhile, he is out due to back stiffness.

The Pistons entered Saturday with a 41-13 record, the best record in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Bulls are 24-32 and on a seven-game losing streak.

During the summer, after signing an extension at Anfield, Liverpool goalkeeper Vitezslav Jarosz joined Ajax on loan.

Two months ago, Czech Republic International said He was encouraged by Arne Slott To join Ajax. He has kept five clean sheets and conceded 42 goals in 26 matches for the Eredivisie team.

Ajax appointed former Liverpool assistant manager John Heitinga as their new manager last summer.

Jarosz followed Heitinga into the Eredivisie, which saw the Dutchman relegated in November. Fred Grime took over as interim manager and initially benched the Liverpool-owned player in favor of Remko Pasvir.

Jarosh regained his place in the starting eleven in December, while Pasvir joined Heracles Almelo via a permanent transfer in the winter market. The Dutch club signed Maarten Paes as the Czech’s backup and he has yet to make his debut.

Latest injury shocks Liverpool man

espn nl Now let us tell you that the Liverpool stopper suffered a serious setback in training on Friday.

According to the report, he will be out of action for the ‘foreseeable future’.

This claim echoes football internationalWho said the Reds owned player is set to be out for the rest of the season.

VI claim January signing Pace will make his debut for Ajax when they face NEC Nijmegen today.

Ajax confirms Dutch claims on Jaroš

Amsterdam club confirm latest Dutch claims over goalkeeper injury official website.

Ajax issued a statement saying he underwent a medical examination after suffering the blow on Friday. Test results showed ‘surgery is necessary’ and Jarosz would not play again this campaign. In other words, his ‘season’ is over.

Ajax or any Dutch outlet have not confirmed when he is expected to regain full fitness. There is also no clarity on whether Jarosz will undergo rehabilitation with Liverpool or remain in the Netherlands.

The Reds initially signed the 24-year-old for their academy from Slavia Prague in 2017. Before joining Ajax, he had several loan spells at St. Patrick’s Athletic, Notts County, Stockport County and Sturm Graz.

The Portland Trail Blazers are rumored to be in the process of being purchased by Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon, leading to concerns over the limitations of the Moda Center as well as the franchise being moved out of the city. While the sale is expected to be completed around March 2026, many fans, including Denver Nuggets head coach David Edelman, do not want the Trail Blazers to move on.

Edelman was asked about his favorite childhood memories of Portland, and his response became an impassioned plea.

“They have to keep the team here. They have to find a way to do that. This is a basketball town. Northwest deserves two teams. It would be crushing for this community… Emotionally, I know what this place is and what it means to have a professional basketball team here. It’s not just something to hang out with. It’s something to go to and be a part of,” he said, according to a post on X by journalist Brenna Green.

David Edelman was asked about his favorite childhood memories in Portland @katywinge And it turned into an impassioned statement about why the Blazers should stay in PDX:

“They’ve got to keep the team here. They’ve got to find a way to do that. This is a basketball town.… pic.twitter.com/Gz95dpdVbN

– Brenna Greene (@BrennaGreene_) 21 February 2026

Edelman spent a large portion of his childhood in Portland as he is the son of former Trail Blazers head coach Rick Edelman, who also previously played for the team. The Trail Blazers have been in Portland for more than 55 years, but things could change with the expected approval of Tom Dundon’s purchase at a valuation of more than $4 billion.

The limitations of the arena’s infrastructure, along with new ownership and the fact that the long-term lease expires in 2030, have brought uncertainty about the future. The Trail Blazers are the area’s only major men’s professional sports franchise in leagues such as the NBA, NFL, MLB, or NHL, further increasing the importance of the team residing in the city.

However, an immediate transfer appears unlikely. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has indicated that a transfer is “not under consideration right now”, although according to WRAL News, this phrase makes the future uncertain.

The NBA is getting ready for the homestretch of the season, restarting the season following the end of NBA All-Star Weekend. Thursday night was the restart of the season, and the night’s game was an Eastern Conference showdown between the Detroit Pistons and the New York Knicks. The Pistons won 126–111, thanks to Cade Cunningham, but it strengthened the argument that these were the two best teams in the East.

NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson has been known to make some big moves on social media during the NBA season since leaving the Los Angeles Lakers. He spoke after watching the game on Thursday Pistons and Knicks picked to reach Eastern Conference Finals, but worth keeping an eye on The Cavaliers, 76ers, and even the Celtics.

After the game, Johnson praised the Pistons’ performance, especially that of point guard Cade Cunningham after he took over and led Detroit to a big win.

Johnson said, “NBA fans around the world, I hope you didn’t see Detroit Pistons superstar Cade Cunningham’s performance last night against the New York Knicks. He had a spectacular performance, scoring 42 points, 13 assists and 8 rebounds! Cade scored from everywhere on the court – the three-pointer, the midrange jumper, and he was taking it to the basket. When he dunked on the three he may have had the best game of the year. Hits with the left hand!”

New York had some moments, with Jalen Brunson scoring 30 and Karl-Anthony Towns adding 21 points and 11 boards, but the Knicks struggled from three-point range and couldn’t get enough stops on defense to really swing momentum. Detroit consistently created separation, extended the advantage into the high teens late in the game and never allowed it to get into danger.

Johnson’s confidence in the Knicks and Pistons stems from the fact that both teams have been the most consistent in the Eastern Conference. There’s a lot to like about teams like the Cavaliers, 76ers and Celtics, but the consistency of those top two is what sets them apart and is a significant difference.

A new report reveals a pair of New York Mets players who could have a much bigger impact on the team’s success in 2026 than fans realize.

After the turmoil of the last five months, there is new hope for what the NY Mets can do this season. After an epic collapse in August and September, then losing Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz in free agency, fans were angry and concerned about the club’s potential in 2026.

However, in January, the front office’s grand plan to improve the team came into focus after the additions of Bo Bichette, Luis Robert Jr. and Freddy Peralta. Those moves, along with other changes the team made earlier in the offseason, have created a narrative that this revamped NY Mets roster may have addressed the issues that led to their ugly end to 2025.

Although improving the defense was a goal this winter, the biggest unofficial priority was improving the locker room. After the season, reports emerged about issues in the clubhouse between various players, including some of the team’s top stars. The perception is that the departures of JD Martinez and Jose Iglesias took away veterans who had helped bring teammates together during difficult times.

The underappreciated roles of Shawn Manaea and Francisco Alvarez in NY Mets leadership

However, a new report has revealed two other bona fide members of the roster who didn’t have as much clubhouse influence last year as they did in 2024. But he could be an under-the-radar factor in the NY Mets making a big difference in 2026.

Tim Britton and Will Sammon of The Athletic report, “In diagnosing what went wrong at the end of last season, multiple sources inside the Mets pointed not only to some tough injuries, but how those injuries affected the mood inside the clubhouse.” “In particular, players like Shawn Manaea and Francisco Alvarez – who bring infectious energy – missed time at the beginning of the season and struggled to perform extensively afterward.

“It’s hard to be a clubhouse leader when you’re not performing. Alvarez brought some of that back upon his return from Triple-A last summer — ‘You notice the energy right away,’ a team source said that week — but a thumb injury sidelined him again in August,” he added.

Fans are well aware of Alvarez’s energetic personality. But interestingly, Mania also plays a major role in bringing positivity in the clubhouse. If both can have improved seasons in 2026, it could make a huge difference for the NY Mets on and off the field.

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

The trade of Jayden Ivey from the Detroit Pistons to the Chicago Bulls was meant to give him a fresh start and new opportunities, but after only five games, he has already been removed from the rotation.

Bulls guard Jaden Ivey’s comments following his first career DNP have raised concerns about his health and future. His absence came during Thursday’s 110–101 loss to the Toronto Raptors, the team’s seventh straight loss.

Opening up about his absence, Ivy got candid about the struggles he is facing physically and mentally.

“I’ve been dealing with pain in my knee. I’m sure people can tell it – I’m not the same player I used to be. This is why. I’m not the G I used to be. The old G is dead. No matter the basketball setting, I’m alive in Christ. … It doesn’t matter how many DNPs, how many points I score, those things are a temporary thing. Jesus is eternal.”

Acting head coach Wes Unseld addressed the reasons behind Jaden Ivey’s surprising DNP after the game.

Unseld described this choice as a “basketball decision”, according to Joel Lorenzi.

“It’s really hard to play six guards,” he said, noting that the team’s recent roster changes have made the rotation more crowded.

When questioned about whether Ivey’s upcoming restricted free agency influenced the decision, Unseld chose not to comment.

“That conversation is probably above my pay grade,” he said.

Ivey missed Thursday night’s game but handled it with grace. He recognized his physical limitations without making any excuses, considered the situation through his faith, and insisted that he would be ready when the opportunity arose.

Now the Bulls have to decide when that opportunity will come. Unseld said it is not his job to make major decisions, leaving it to the front office to make sure Ivey’s role matches his value in rebuilding the team.

Ivey accepted the reality of the NBA and his place on the roster, and explained his perspective on sitting out.

“Going into it, you’ve got to look at who’s on the roster. … Making trades, that’s what happens in the NBA.”

Loaded postgame from Jaden Ivey, who thinks he had the first DNP of his career tonight. He said it doesn’t change his character and he is here to “do my job, glorify God.” Asked if he thinks it’s a possibility, he says, “Going into it, you’ve got to see who’s on the roster. … pic.twitter.com/nz8BfC3PYy

– Joel Lorenzi (@JoelXLorenzi) 20 February 2026

In 37 games with Detroit and Chicago this season, Ivy is averaging 8.5 points in 18.1 minutes per game. In his four contests with the Bulls, he has averaged 11.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 28.8 minutes.

The loss dropped Chicago to 24–32, leaving them in 12th place in the Eastern Conference. Brandon Ingram had 31 points, eight rebounds and six assists as Toronto improved to 33-23.

Bournemouth’s Managing Director of Professional Football Tiago Pinto has revealed how owner Bill Foley convinced him to join the club in 2024.

Rivista Andesi today had an interview with the 41-year-old. He discusses various aspects of life at Bournemouth, including his relationship with Foley.

The American businessman is the owner and chairman of Chery after completing the acquisition in 2022.

Bournemouth is now one of several clubs under his leadership. Their network also includes FC Lorient, Auckland FC and Moreirance FC.

Bournemouth Development

His ownership has seen rapid growth for the Cherries, particularly under manager Andoni Ierola. Sport Witness has already covered Pinto’s feelings about him today.

He was the first big-ticket player to join the club in 2023, with Pinto making the move a year later.

He is in charge of the club’s wider football strategy and multi-club network. His arrival was part of a wider boardroom structure following Richard Hughes’ departure to Liverpool.

He joins Bournemouth after previous roles as Director of Football at Benfica and Sporting Director at Roma. And this was largely due to Foley, who completely convinced Pinto to take on his new role.

“In February 2024, I left Roma, and in the next three or four months, I wanted to rest a bit and refresh,” he said.

“Bournemouth CEO Neil Blake, who I was in touch with when we had talks with Vina and Justin Kluivert, called me to ask if I would be interested in a conversation. My first conversation was with him, the second with Bill.

“That video call with Foley is something I will never forget. After 10-15 minutes of conversation he said, “You know, Tiago, I don’t know much about football, but I understand a lot about people. I have no doubt that you are the right person.”

“Maybe he said that to convince me, I don’t know, but it felt so real that I said to myself, “Okay, let’s try it.”

Positive Bournemouth Relationship

Pinto and Foley have clearly had a positive relationship, with Bournemouth going from strength to strength under his guidance. At least it can be said that he is a fan of the American.

“It’s hard not to love his attitude and the way he interacts with us and the players,” he said.

“It’s something that comes from his background, his military experience and his hockey past, where he built a winning team. It protects him from the same problems as other owners who don’t understand the dynamics of the dressing room.

“He understands that, sometimes, players who don’t look technically brilliant can be vital to the balance of the team.”

Bournemouth’s Managing Director of Professional Football Tiago Pinto has revealed how owner Bill Foley convinced him to join the club in 2024.

Rivista Andesi today had an interview with the 41-year-old. He discusses various aspects of life at Bournemouth, including his relationship with Foley.

The American businessman is the owner and chairman of Chery after completing the acquisition in 2022.

Bournemouth is now one of several clubs under his leadership. Their network also includes FC Lorient, Auckland FC and Moreirance FC.

bournemouth development

His ownership has seen rapid growth for the Cherries, particularly under manager Andoni Ierola. Sport Witness has already covered Pinto’s feelings about him today.

He was the first big-ticket player to join the club in 2023, with Pinto making the move a year later.

He is in charge of the club’s wider football strategy and multi-club network. His arrival was part of a wider boardroom structure following Richard Hughes’ departure to Liverpool.

He joins Bournemouth after previous roles as Director of Football at Benfica and Sporting Director at Roma. And this was largely due to Foley, who completely convinced Pinto to take on his new role.

“In February 2024, I left Roma, and in the next three or four months, I wanted to rest a bit and refresh,” he said.

“Bournemouth CEO Neil Blake, who I was in touch with when we had talks with Vina and Justin Kluivert, called me to ask if I would be interested in a conversation. My first conversation was with him, the second with Bill.

“That video call with Foley is something I will never forget. After 10-15 minutes of conversation he said, “You know, Tiago, I don’t know much about football, but I understand a lot about people. I have no doubt that you are the right person.”

“Maybe he said that to convince me, I don’t know, but it felt so real that I said to myself, “Okay, let’s try it.”

positive bournemouth relationship

Pinto and Foley have clearly had a positive relationship, with Bournemouth going from strength to strength under his guidance. At least it can be said that he is a fan of the American.

“It’s hard not to love his attitude and the way he interacts with us and the players,” he said.

“It’s something that comes from his background, his military experience and his hockey past, where he built a winning team. It protects him from the same problems as other owners who don’t understand the dynamics of the dressing room.

“He understands that, sometimes, players who don’t look technically brilliant can be vital to the balance of the team.”

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.

After recently announcing his retirement from the NBA, Chris Paul is now looking to enjoy his personal time.

Paul went on to have an illustrious career spanning 20 seasons and cemented his legacy as one of the greatest guards in league history. Once eligible, he or she must be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Paul, 40, was looking forward to his farewell season with his return to the Los Angeles Clippers. But things quickly deteriorated, with the Clippers surprisingly releasing Paul before their game against the Atlanta Hawks in December.

CP3 remained confident that he would find another team. But he also remained realistic and set a self-imposed deadline before deciding to walk away, as he shared on “7pm in Brooklyn.”

Paul said, “When all this happened, I trained and worked out, obviously, I was in Atlanta. A whole bunch of my family was in Atlanta for that game. My brother and some of my friends were there.”

“Then we flew back, and I was working out and training, and I talked to some of my friends, and I said, ‘I’m going to give myself a deadline. If I’m not on the team by a certain point, All-Star (weekend), I’ll be done with it.'”

At the trade deadline in February, the 12-time All-Star was traded to the Toronto Raptors in a three-team deal involving the Brooklyn Nets. However, the Raptors immediately waived Paul.

Some believed that Paul, who had career averages of 16.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 9.2 assists and 2.0 steals, might eventually land with the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers or San Antonio Spurs, but nothing panned out.

Although Paul’s exit from the NBA was not ideal, he will always be remembered as a great competitor and a fearless leader.

The Boston Celtics have been one of the NBA’s most surprising teams this season. As they return to action Thursday night against the Golden State Warriors following the All-Star break, they sit in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 35-19 record.

“I’m trying to come back… I don’t know if that’s it.”@ChrisBHaynes The latest information has come from injured Celtics star Jayson Tatum on whether he will return this season. pic.twitter.com/mAYfrbpcux

– NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) 20 February 2026

While they are 5.5 games behind the first place Detroit Pistons, the Celtics look like they could be a dangerous team in the postseason. Jaylen Brown, Peyton Pritchard and Derrick White are leading the offense for head coach Joe Mazzulla and the team’s defense has been solid most nights. The fact that they are playing so well without All-Star Jayson Tatum has been a surprise to many basketball observers.

Tatum has been out the entire year due to an Achilles injury suffered in last year’s playoff loss to the New York Knicks. His rehab has been good and he has returned to practice. However, he is not sure when or if he will be able to return. There is some talk that Tatum will be able to return to the Celtics at some point during the season and lead the team to a playoff push, but Tatum doesn’t want to rush into anything before he is ready.

He Talked to an NBA insider Chris Haynes said that he is making every effort to make a comeback. According to Haynes, Tatum said, “I’m trying to get back and I’m doing everything I can to get back.” “I don’t know if I can.”

If Tatum can return to the Celtics and make a playoff run, it will improve Boston’s chances of making a long run in the postseason.

MIAMI – The Miami Heat are coming off the All-Star break looking for another shot and a turnaround in the season, the team is going to get some big help in the return of Tyler Herro. As rumors swirled about Herro’s Heat return, he spoke for the first time about his recovery after missing the last 15 games due to a rib injury.

It has been a disappointing season for Herro, as he has missed 45 games due to myriad injuries, coming off an All-Star and career year in 2024-25, playing in only 11 contests. He missed the first 17 games of this season due to offseason ankle surgery, then missed 13 more games due to a toe injury, with the most recent issue being what Miami listed as “Right costochondral; rib injury.”

Herro returned to practice on Thursday and was fully engaged in the session, which undoubtedly opens the door to a return on Friday against the Atlanta Hawks or Saturday vs. the Memphis Grizzlies. Although he wouldn’t commit to a return on Friday, he told ClutchPoints, “I’m feeling really good, just like last year.”

The 26-year-old also talked about how “unique” the injury was, noting how he had three ribs broken, and while he played three games with Torodol shots, which manage the pain, it wasn’t a season-long plan.

“It was unique,” ​​Herro told ClutchPoints. “Once I found out what it was, it was just a matter of resting and letting my body heal. There wasn’t anything I could magically do to heal my ribs; I had three, broken ribs. So my ribs were hurting a lot, just doing normal lifestyle, things I couldn’t do, so there was no way I could play basketball. I played the first three games of Torodol shots, and it was good, but I was like that for the rest. Couldn’t. Season, so it was just a matter of letting this thing cool down.

Tyler Herro speaks after returning to practice (fully) after missing the last 15 games due to a rib injury. Will travel with the team, but not sure whether he will play tomorrow or not.

Talked about recovery, their disappointing season, Norman Powell being an All-Star, etc. #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/FX13kYtkCE

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 19 February 2026

The Heat’s Tyler Herro on his injury-filled season

While there were concerns between Herro and the Heat regarding injuries, Starr is hopeful that the final 26 games will end well and healthy, expressing that there is not much discomfort now. It was bad enough that he was having trouble getting out of his bed, as Herro put it, but it has progressed to the point where he can walk “perfectly” in the way necessary to play basketball.

“Yeah, it’s been real, really frustrating,” Herro said on his injury-filled season. “Obviously, as a competitor, somebody who loves playing the game more than anything, that’s what I do. Obviously, this is what I do for a living, but I love the game of basketball, so it’s hard for me to just sit out and not be able to play. It’s never easy for me. So happy to be back here, it’s been a tough year for me… so I’ll just try to stay healthy and play some good basketball the last time I’ve been here.” I will try.” Months.”

It remains to be seen what Herro’s role looks like upon returning, after recovering from a toe injury, he played the first game off the bench to recover from that injury, then came into the starting lineup. Either way, it’s “exciting” to have Herro back with the team, as head coach Erik Spoelstra expressed the same sentiment.

“See how he reacts when we get to Atlanta,” Spoelstra said. “But it was very exciting to have Tyler out here in practice. You know, he’s done everything he’s needed to do over the last few weeks to prepare for this. And it’s exciting to have him back in the mix. We’re all excited about it.”

Erik Spoelstra talks about Tyler Herro’s return to practice and how “exciting” it was to see him socializing with the team.

As Herro said earlier, I’m not committed to him playing tomorrow. #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/3f1kwQ37we

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 19 February 2026

At any rate, Miami is 29-27, which puts them in eighth place in the Eastern Conference as they travel to take on the Atlanta Hawks on Friday.

West Ham United’s Lukasz Fabianski has revealed an approach from Everton last summer.

West Ham goalkeeper has given an interview WP SportowayFactory To discuss a range of topics including Everton.

He joined West Ham from Swansea City and left them as a free agent at the end of last season. Fabianski did not have a club until his return to the London team in September 2025.

David Moyes had a clear plan for Fabianski

Ahead of his return to West Ham, the Toffees attempted to sign him into David Moyes’ squad.

The Merseyside club’s manager knows the Pole well from his time at West Ham. He played 153 matches under Moyes, keeping 39 clean sheets.

Jordan Pickford is the first-choice goalkeeper for the Toffees, with Fabianski expected to be the backup.

Everton make offer to sign West Ham man

After West Ham released him, WP Sportowefakty asked the Pole whether he was close to retiring last summer.

He revealed the offer from Everton and said that his former club Legia Warsaw had tried to sign him. Last year, Sports Witness Polish clubs covered The latter was rejected as an option for Fabianski.

“I had several offers from Everton for a second-choice goalkeeper, and inquiries from Legia, and I had a number of talks,” He said.

“However, my family and I decided that we did not want to go anywhere else. I remember the conversations I had with my family and the people at West Ham last season. I had assumed that I would play one more season and then say goodbye. I changed my mind somewhat last summer.”

The stopper has not made an appearance for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side this season and has been on the sidelines due to injury since September.

His contract expires at the end of this season and when asked if he had held talks over an extension with West Ham, Fabianski explained: “We have different priorities now. January was very busy for us in terms of transfer activity. We have to wait until the end of the season, then we will have a better idea of ​​where we are going.”

There is a possibility that Madison Square Garden Sports CEO James Dolan is taking steps to split the New York Knicks and Rangers, the city’s NBA and NHL teams, into two separate publicly traded companies.

Reports have emerged that MSG’s board of directors has approved a plan to “rediscover its hockey and basketball clubs” (via The New York Times).

If this occurs, the Knicks and their G League team, the Westchester Knicks, will become a separate company from the Rangers and their minor league team, the Hartford Wolf Pack, will similarly be spun off into a separate company.

Still, nothing is “guaranteed to happen” and “there is no timeline in mind to complete this move.” Therefore, fans will have to keep an eye on the situation.

“We are exploring the opportunity to create value for our shareholders by separating our two professional sports franchises into separate companies,” Dolan said in a statement, via The New York Times. “Both the Knicks and Rangers are dominant teams in their respective leagues, with storied histories and large and passionate fan bases.

He further added, “We believe this proposed transaction will provide each company with greater strategic flexibility, its own defined business focus and clearer attributes for investors.”

Will James Dolan and Madison Square Garden split the Knicks and Rangers?

While Madison Square Garden’s board approved the plan, there were other factors involved. Both the NBA and NHL would have to approve the move. The New York Times also notes that “There are other views.”

Regarding the reason for this, some are speculating that such a move would make it “easier” for Dolan to sell one of the franchises. In 1994 the Dolan family became minority owners of the franchise. Shortly thereafter, he became the majority owner.

Dolan is adamant that he has no interest in selling teams. However, he and MSG executives have stated their interest in selling a minority stake.

Another possible reason for the move, as The New York Times notes, is that it could serve as a “precursor” to making the Knicks and Rangers privately traded teams. They are both currently publicly traded.

Giannis Antetokounmpo said he is still committed to the Milwaukee Bucks, a sentiment that could potentially change when it comes to the offseason. As the Bucks retain Antetokounmpo ahead of the trade deadline on February 5, the star will be asked about his mindset regarding an integral decision regarding his future with the franchise.

In an interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews, Antetokounmpo said he would not want to stay in Milwaukee and would never have the feeling of winning a championship. Continuing to say that he wants to win a title with the franchise, he would consider it if “it’s not on the table or in the plans.”

“The most important thing is I want to win a championship with the Milwaukee Bucks and if it’s not on the table or in the plans, that’s when you’re like, ‘Okay, maybe I have to move on,’ because I really want to win,” Antetokounmpo said.

“The most important thing is I want to win a championship with the Milwaukee Bucks and if that’s not on the table or in the plans, then only if you’re OK, maybe I’ve got to pivot because I really want to win.”

– Giannis Antetokounmpo 👀
pic.twitter.com/c6qcd5CNNc

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 17 February 2026

In the same interview, Antetokounmpo talked about how “committed” he is to the Bucks and how “extremely loyal” he is as a person.

“To this day, I’m committed to the Milwaukee Bucks, I’m committed to the people I work with, my teammates, the coaching staff, Coach Doc [Rivers]and john [Horst] In the front office…you’ll never hear me say I don’t want to be a Milwaukee Buck. I’m a winner, and I’m extremely loyal,” Antetokounmpo said.

Giannis:

“As of today I’m committed to the Milwaukee Bucks, I’m committed to the people I work with, my teammates, the coaching staff, Coach Doc and John in the front office… You’ll never hear me say I don’t want to be a Milwaukee Buck. I’m a winner and I’m extremely… pic.twitter.com/ihRNC7zw3q

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 15 February 2026

At any rate, it remains to be seen what happens with Antetokounmpo and his future with Milwaukee, as there will be a number of teams that pursue the team in the offseason. Meanwhile, Antetokounmpo looks to help the Bucks as the team is currently 23-20, placing them in 12th place in the Eastern Conference as they face the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday.

The Los Angeles Clippers may look like a completely different team than they did before the trade deadline, but Brian Shaw believes that’s a good thing.

Shaw is best known for his long playing career, which included winning three championships with the Los Angeles Lakers led by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. The 59-year-old player has enjoyed a successful coaching career since retiring and has served as a Lakers assistant on two separate occasions. He has been an assistant for the Clippers since 2021.

The Clippers have clearly had difficulty enjoying postseason success in recent years despite being loaded with star power. In earlier years, they had the Kawhi Leonard-Paul George duo and more recently they had James Harden and Russell Westbrook. However, they have not been able to progress beyond the first round since Shaw’s arrival.

Los Angeles made a big move at the trade deadline, landing Harden, a 36-year-old star guard, for 26-year-old guard Darius Garland in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Clippers entered the season with the oldest roster in the NBA at 30.7 years. Although they are much younger now, Shaw believes this will benefit the team as they look to advance to the postseason.

Los Angeles currently sits in 10th place in the Western Conference and are playing for a play-in spot. Shaw talked about what Garland brings to the table.

“Darius can guess who you know. I coached Darius at the Nike Hoop Academy when he was in high school and just his agility, his basketball IQ, he’s a great passer, and he can score. There are players on our team that will benefit from him, being able to set the table for them, but also add to the youth and the agility that we have overall.

Shaw continued, “We started this season as the oldest team in NBA history.” “When you look at the fact that we started with Chris Paul and James Harden, we had a pretty old team. We were pretty slow, so now we feel like we can compete with these younger, faster, more athletic teams that are out there.”

Garland is one of the better, more established young guards in the league. The former fifth overall pick is a two-time All-Star selection and is averaging 18.0 points and 6.9 assists per game this season.

The 26-year-old player is still recovering from a right foot sprain injury and has not yet made his debut for the Clippers. That being said, Garland – along with Leonard – has a chance to lead the Clippers back to the playoffs. They have been a much stronger team recently, with Los Angeles going 20-6 since December 20.

A new report links the Los Angeles Lakers to seven different players as offseason targets, including a player who had one of the worst contracts in the history of NBA free agency, and is one of the game’s top stars at the moment.

The LA Lakers lead the playoff race in the Western Conference and are just a few games away from having the fourth-best record in the NBA. Suffice it to say, they’re still aiming for a deep run in the postseason this spring. However, that doesn’t mean the front office doesn’t also have an eye on the offseason.

After making the blockbuster trade for Luka Doncic last year, the organization has taken a surprisingly conservative approach. They’re not willing to give up a future first-round pick in a trade, and they don’t want to add any big contracts to their payroll so they can retain salary cap flexibility in the summer.

But expect them to be much more active in improving the roster around Doncic in the offseason. And according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Milwaukee Bucks icon Giannis Antetokounmpo will be on their wish list.

McMenamin reports, “The Lakers clearly see the appeal in Antetokounmpo and believe they would be one of the teams on a very short list if the Bucks ask to trade the star out of Milwaukee.” “A Western Conference executive tells ESPN he believes Antetokounmpo is the ‘big prize’ the Lakers are hoping to get should the Milwaukee Bucks decide to trade the 2021 NBA Finals MVP in the offseason.”

LA Lakers could target Quentin Grimes, Tobias Harris this summer

While the LA Lakers will look to pair Doncic and Antetokounmpo – two of the league’s top 10 best players – next season, completing a trade for the Greek giants will not be easy as they will be competing with at least a half-dozen other teams in the trade sweepstakes.

That’s why the LA Lakers will have other players on their radar this summer. According to McMenamin, there have already been internal discussions about pursuing restricted free agents Tari Eason and Peyton Watson.

When it comes to the unrestricted market, an NBA insider claims Andrew Wiggins, Tobias Harris, Quentin Grimes and Dean Wade are the players the organization will be looking for in the summer.

While Harris is a solid player, the five-year, $180 million deal he signed with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2019 will go down as one of the worst signed contracts ever in free agency. In Philly, he averaged 17 points, 6 boards and 3 assists over his six seasons, as he earned $36 million annually.

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

Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Jose Sa has admitted he already knows he has been dropped and even says so in the dressing room.

more football The goalie’s cover comments to DAZN today. It looks like the 33-year-old has already given up on this season despite there being 12 games left.

Wolves are currently bottom of the Premier League with nine points from 26 games. They have won only one game all season. They have lost 16 and drawn six.

It has been a miserable campaign after a positive end to the season under Vitor Pereira last year. they finished at 16^th Under him, 17 points from relegation.

edwards improvement

Their leadership has improved since the appointment of Rob Edwards, but there is a high chance of a demotion, especially as they have lost three of their last five games in the league. Most have already left the season, and it looks like Sa is one of them.

“We have to be realistic and we have to be human,” he said.

“I’ve already spoken to the manager; I like to be honest and this is what I think. It is very difficult for Wolves to avoid relegation this season, the gap is huge.

“There are still 12 games left and it’s a huge gap. Only a miracle of great people can we survive. What I’m saying to them is: at least not be the worst team in the Premier League.

“The worst team got 11 points, we have nine. Now the goal is not to be the worst, because I don’t want to live with that negative historical record. We’ll see what happens later.”

The derby wolves are in their sights

The question is whether Wolves can get the points needed to avoid that derby record. Under the guidance of Edwards, he has certainly made a positive path in this direction.

It appears Sa was ready to jump ship in the January transfer window. Nottingham Forest, fellow potential relegation candidates, were in the picture for them.

He eventually resides in Molineux, where he is also a captain. He has worn the armband in six of the last seven Premier League games. And he admits that he is trying to stay positive despite his pessimistic outlook.

“I try to be a happy person, because I’m happy and cool, I try to motivate them,” he said.

“It’s about winning as many points as possible, so we are not the worst team in the Premier League. We have to be realistic, our team is inferior to the Premier League in terms of quality and players. That is the reality.”

As the Dallas Mavericks deal with injuries to top stars like Kyrie Irving, another key player who is dealing with the issue is rookie Cooper Flagg. The Mavericks rookie was seen wearing the boots while attending a Duke basketball game in Flagg, the latest reporting detailing his outlook on his injury.

According to NBA insider Mark Stein, Flagg is wearing a boot because MRI results revealed a sprain in the middle of his left foot, with the diagnosis of which, Dallas “feels fortunate.” Despite not knowing the timeline for his return, the team ‘seems to be in relief’ from a left medial sprain, as it could have been worse.

“Cooper Flagg was seen with a boot on his left foot at Duke’s home game against Clemson on Saturday, but league sources tell The Stein Line that Dallas feels fortunate that Flagg’s MRI results last week revealed only a left foot sprain,” Stein wrote on Monday. “It is still not known exactly how long the 19-year-old will be sidelined, but the Mavericks are relieved that the injury is not more serious.”

Cooper Flagg is in attendance for today’s Duke game. He is wearing a boot because of a sprain in the middle of his left foot. pic.twitter.com/TX5G0FGIFY

– Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) 14 February 2026

Mavericks have “big concern” over Cooper Flagg’s injury

While Flagg had to miss representing the Mavericks during All-Star weekend, it can’t be ruled out that the team will take it with caution, as he is the player who will be drafted for the foreseeable future. As Steen says, the “big concern” for Dallas is the “care” of the 19-year-old, with the team having lost nine straight games heading into the All-Star break, leading to a 19-35 record at the moment.

Stein wrote, “The bigger concern for the Mavericks – of course, that the injury not get worse – is taking care of Flagg during their ongoing losing season of 19-35.” “Dallas has lost nine consecutive games, which is certainly the longest losing streak in Flagg’s basketball career and certainly the franchise’s longest losing streak since a 15-gamer stretch in 1997–98.”

At any rate, it remains to be seen when the flag returns, as the Mavericks are in 12th place in the Western Conference, with their first game after the break on Friday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In just a few days, the NBA will begin the second half of the season, and it is expected that most teams will try to strengthen their positions to earn the much-coveted ticket to the playoffs.

As far as other squads are concerned, let the tanking begin.

Tanking has been a persistent issue for the NBA, affecting the integrity of the league. Whenever teams don’t play to win, it’s the fans who lose.

Although there are fines that punish tanking, ESPN’s Bobby Marks said they are not necessarily a deterrent, because team owners have very deep pockets.

“When you’re a billionaire, you would rather write a blank check for the ability to be drafted in the top three or top four because those players are game-changers and everything,” Marks said on “The Hoop Collective.”

“A team texted me and said, ‘Listen, what is this? Seven million? Eight million? How much will it cost? We’ll pay the fine.’ Now, listen, when you come out and say we’re going to start taking away draft picks and we’re going to start taking away resources, now it becomes something else.

Wisely, Steve Ballmer, who owns the Los Angeles Clippers, is one of the richest people in the world with a net worth of $140 billion.

Most of his fellow team owners are multi-billionaires, including Miriam Adelson and Patrick Dumont of the Dallas Mavericks ($40 billion), Robert Pera of the Memphis Grizzlies ($30 billion), and Dan Gilbert of the Cleveland Cavaliers ($26 billion).

Recently, the NBA fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 and the Indiana Pacers $100,000 for sitting out healthy players, deeming it “conduct detrimental to the league.”

The Jazz have the third-worst record in the Western Conference, while the Pacers have the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference.

In a season where some thought the Boston Celtics would have a bad year, they are still one of the top teams in the league without their star player Jayson Tatum. One reason for this is the play of Jaylen Brown, who should be in MVP conversations for his current season.

The Browns have also found a way to take advantage of things outside of basketball this season, one of which is live streaming. Through this, he has shown people a different side of himself, while also enjoying other things in his life.

According to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, during All-Star weekend, Brown was asked about the idea of ​​getting into MMA, and apparently, he’s already talked to Dana White about the opportunity.

“To be honest, I’ve toyed with it and I’ve talked to a few people,” Brown said. “Maybe after certain parts of my career, I’d love to be involved in something like the UFC or boxing. I’ve talked to Dana White about some things, but as things progress, we’ll see. We’ll see.”

Brown has Muay Thai training, so he’s not too far from MMA. At some point it wouldn’t be a surprise if Brown finds his way into the ring in some capacity, whether it’s for one of his streams or an actual match.

At the moment, this may not be the best move during the season, and it’s clear he has bigger goals to achieve on the court. The Celtics are in good shape heading into the second half of the season, and they could make the playoffs.

There’s also a possibility that Jayson Tatum returns as he continues to check the boxes in his rehab. He recently took part in the Maine Celtics practice and it will be interesting to see what other steps he needs to take to return to action.

On Sunday afternoon, the NBA All-Star Game will take place, with Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic among the event’s starters. Jokic will be a member of the “World” team, which includes several star international players, who will compete against stars from the United States.

In that spirit, Jokic recently revealed his Mount Rushmore of international players in NBA history, per ClutchPoints’ David Mendes-Yapkowitz: Dirk Nowitzki, Manu Ginoble, Hakeem Olajuwon and Tony Parker.

Jokic also listed Pau Gasol as a possible candidate.

The Nuggets star selflessly declined to have his name placed on his Mount Rushmore, but he’ll definitely make a spot on everyone else’s list, considering he’s already brought home three MVPs and an NBA Finals win for Denver fans.

These days, the NBA has become more global than ever, with many viewing the World Team as the clear favorite to win the championship heading into All-Star weekend.

Jokic will be teammates with the likes of Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Vembanyama and Los Angeles Lakers MVP candidate Luka Doncic for the event, among other talented international players. Those players, along with Antetokounmpo, are widely viewed as the five best players in the league today, and the fact that they are all from outside the United States shows how much the game has expanded in recent years.

A big point of discussion heading into this year’s All-Star Game is whether or not the players will put in a better effort than in previous years, with many accusing them of depleting fan attendance by playing below their potential.

Given his performance over the years, Jokic may not be the guy to solve this problem, but the league will hope the USA vs. World format will be enough to motivate players to exert some energy.

Utah Jazz rookie Ace Bailey may be bursting with gravity-defying highlights in his first professional season, but even the league’s brightest young stars have to be humble eventually.

During the Rising Stars media availability at the Intuit Dome on Friday night, the 19-year-old forward finally opened up about his official “Welcome to the NBA” moment. Unsurprisingly, it featured one of the league’s most lethal scoring machines: Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker.

That moment was a simple, cold-blooded masterclass in mid-range. Bailey explained that trying to guard the four-time All-Star is a nightmare for any defender, let alone a rookie.

He said when it comes to Devin Booker, you’re dealing with a signature fadeaway shot that is almost impossible to stop without fouling. Bailey jokingly recalled thinking, “Bro, come on,” as he realized the level of difficulty he now faced every night.

NBA’s rising stars share their “Welcome to the League” moments pic.twitter.com/xZ0oxtOUMC

– Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) 14 February 2026

Bailey, who stepped in as an injury replacement for Cooper Flagg on Team Melo in the Rising Stars game, is certainly playing the way he plays. Over his last 15 games, the fifth overall pick has averaged 11.7 points and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 45.0 percent from the floor. He brought that momentum to the Rising Stars Tournament, leading the Carmelo Anthony-led team to a 65-60 victory over Team Austin in the semifinals.

While Dylan Harper stole the spotlight with the game-winning bucket, Bailey’s defensive versatility was on full display throughout the evening. Team Melo ultimately fell short in the championship game and lost to Team Vince 25–24 after VJ Edgecombe iced the game at the free-throw line.

All-Star Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks have won eight of their last 10 games, including an eight-game winning streak, as they head into the All-Star break with the third-best record in the Eastern Conference standings – 35-20. Since Brunson called a players-only meeting following a blowout loss to the Dallas Mavericks — 114-97 — the Knicks have lost only two games in the past three weeks.

For Brunson, the Knicks’ recent extension is an example of how successful they can be when everyone is on the same page, as the All-Star guard looks forward to closing out the regular season According to NBATV’s Chris Haynes, he spoke on a high note before the postseason.

Brunson said, “It was more about proving myself than proving people wrong.” “I just wanted to prove to myself that this is where I should be. No matter what happens, I’m not afraid to fail.”

Before appearing in his third consecutive All-Star Game since joining the Knicks, Brunson had arguably one of his better seasons, averaging 27.0 points on 47.0% shooting, including 37.4% from deep, 6.1 assists and 3.3 rebounds.

Jalen Brunson’s soul-searching demands for the Knicks

Knicks All-Star Jalen Brunson booed his team after the loss to the Mavericks. According to ESPN, Brunson berated his team for not giving the effort they were capable of, but did not back down.

“There’s a lot of things to figure out, but I mean, as a team, we know what we have to do,” Brunson said. “It’s either we do it, we care enough to do it, or we don’t.”

After the Knicks’ defense gave up 75 points in the first half of a 17-point loss to the Mavericks, Brunson hasn’t backed down and his team has never lost more than twice in 10 attempts.

Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard is the 2026 Three-Point Contest Champion. He achieved this feat despite sitting out this season due to an Achilles tear. He managed to defeat guard Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns and rookie Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets in the championship round of the tournament.

While accepting his award, the 35-year-old point guard was asked what was going through his mind as he watched Booker take his turn in the three-point contest. Lillard cheerfully admitted he was “praying” for the Suns star to “fall.”

“I was praying for his downfall,” Lillard claimed.

“I was praying for his downfall”

What Damian Lillard was thinking when he saw Devin Booker in the final round😅

pic.twitter.com/4329tM90fm https://t.co/bci6DfMFGu

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 14 February 2026

It appears to have worked, as Devin Booker failed to surpass Damian Lillard’s 29 points in the championship round. The win marked Lillard’s third three-point contest win of his career. he joins larry bird And Craig Hodges is the only player in league history to win the competition three times.

With the competition over, Lillard will likely go back to taking care of his Achilles tendon tear in preparation for the 2026-27 campaign. The nine-time All-Star is not expected to return this season, even if the Trail Blazers reach the playoffs. Meanwhile, Portland will continue to lean on Deni Avdija and its young roster. The club is ranked No. 9 in the Western Conference at the All-Star break.

Damian Lillard signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Trail Blazers last season after the Milwaukee Bucks waived him. His deal includes a no-trade clause, so there’s a chance Lillard finishes his career in Portland. Over the course of 13 years in the league, Lillard has career averages of 25.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game as well as a 43.9% career field goal percentage and 37.1% three-point percentage.