標籤: Stop

of liverpool Portugal’s pursuit of Francisco Trincao is being heralded as something much bigger than a manager’s choice.

Liverpool is preparing for a new era. Salah’s nine-year tenure at Anfield has come to an end. Arne Slott is set to step down from his post and Andoni Ierola is expected to take over.

Yet according to the Portuguese report, one transfer target is stuck exactly where he was before that uncertainty.

has been a sporting star Linked with a transfer to Anfield for weeks. Now morning mail ClaimLiverpool’s upcoming managerial change has also done nothing to dampen interest in the Portuguese international.

In fact, the newspaper says that Trincao is at the top of the club’s shortlist to replace Mohamed Salah.

Liverpool’s plans survive managerial change

According to the Portuguese press, Liverpool’s admiration for the 26-year-old runs deeper than a coach’s preferences.

The feeling coming from Portugal is that Trincao has become a club target rather than a manager target. And it’s easy to see why.

He was Sporting’s most-used player this season, amassing over 4,600 minutes in 54 appearances. This season, he recorded 13 goals and 15 assists. Additionally, he served in many different roles.

He started on the wing, spending most of the season as a creator behind the striker and even filling in at right-back when Sporting needed him.

Portuguese reports have also spent a lot of time recently highlighting something that Liverpool may find particularly attractive: availability. Trincao almost never gets injured.

As we have already coveredIf Liverpool’s concern after Salah is to find someone who can stay on the pitch week after week, then Trincao looks like a very obvious solution.

PSG is helping Trincao’s chances

The other development vehicle belongs to Diomande. The RB Leipzig attacker is regularly mentioned alongside Trincao in Liverpool discussions. However, Correiro da Manha believes the path is becoming too difficult.

PSG have joined the race and Leipzig are demanding €100m (£84m) to sell the Ivory Coast international, according to reports.

The Portuguese media now present him as a more attainable option. Sporting’s €60m (£50.5m) release clause is already significantly lower than Leipzig’s reported demands. Correiro da Manha Go one step further.

The newspaper claims club president Frederico Varandas is ready to discuss a sale below the release clause. This possibility has come up before in Portugal, but this is by far one of the most obvious claims Sporting could negotiate.

However, there is a catch. As we covered earlier this weekThe Portuguese club does not want to discuss any deal until after the World Cup.

Trincao is expected to be a part of the Portugal team. Sporting knows that a strong tournament can increase both his value and the number of clubs pursuing him.

But Liverpool remain the most tightly linked club, and even a change of manager is unlikely to change that.

Raider Nation is angry again as an unnamed ACC coach told ESPN this week that Fernando Mendoza doesn’t have “NFL qualities.” His receivers made him look much better than that. The back-shoulder thing won’t work in the league. Those throws get picked up in the NFL.

Before you get all upset and take it to the “national media” and take aim at the Raiders again, step back and think a little differently. This time, the media is doing the Raiders, Fernando Mendoza, and their fan base a favor.

Mendoza Criticizes 2025 Nothing Like Shedure Sanders Takedown

Read the anonymous quote a few times. Now ask yourself if this sounds familiar.

Necessary. Almost a year ago, anonymous sources spent the better part of three weeks publicly dismantling Shedure Sanders. Both situations are being framed as parallel cases of pre-draft and post-draft doubt. They are not the same. They’re not even close.

Watching the coverage of Shedure Sanders last season, it was a completely different animal. That effort, fairly or unfairly, was a constant drain on Sanders’ draft stock. Tom Pelissero reported that a longtime NFL assistant coach gave Sanders the worst formal interview of his career, said he behaved appropriately, and said he took unnecessary sacks, among other things. An AFC executive said that Sanders wanted to command the room. An NFC scouting director warned of culture shock upon hitting the real locker room. One scout told Athlon Sports he mailed it every step of the process. A former NFL evaluator went on record with a 26-game film study and an unattainable grade.

Sanders then fell to take 144. Which retroactively validated every anonymous shot taken at him.

This is what a real eviction looks like. multiple sources. Multiple angles. The football, the character, the preparation, the medicals, the whole circus. The criticism was of the story.

Criticism of Fernando Mendoza is an outlier

During the draft process, some people were skeptical of Fernando Mendoza and his ability to translate what he did at Indiana in 2025 to the next level. Don Orlowski’s criticism and critique was perhaps the most publicized example of this type.

This time, ESPN reports, only one coach took aim at Mendoza. a coach. A coach who last saw Mendoza at Cal in 2024, before his signature year and his incredible run to the College Football National Championship. This coach saw him First 41 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2025. They saw him before he became the runaway Heisman Trophy winner. Before he became that guy, four other coaches told the same ESPN reporter that he was either “one of the more complete quarterback prospects” they had seen or someone who “grows up” in those moments that you can’t teach.

Please read the coverage of the ACC coach’s quote and see how it is handled. Bleacher Report ran it ahead of the Big Ten coaches’ praise. Clutch Points called the criticism “a bit unfair”. Hoosier State of Mind kept the word “somehow” in the title. Just Blog Baby went with “completely ridiculous and not supported by its peers”. Comeback speculated that Kirk Cousins ​​might have “some credibility” before heading to the safety net.

No one is treating this as a Sanders moment. Outlets are running the quote so they can include it in the same article.

RELATED: Raiders rookie minicamp 2026: Fernando Mendoza already looks like a boy

Mendoza consensus is much more positive

That’s why the national media, coaches, former players and evaluators talk more positively than negatively about the Raiders’ new franchise quarterback. The wealth of evidence is there. If Fernando Mendoza had serious question marks like Sanders, you’d be hearing it everywhere, but he doesn’t. Mendoza was first in FBS in EPA per dropback last season, second in EPA per dropback on third and fourth downs. Ranked fourth in EPA when tied or trailing in the fourth quarter. He is just a clutch player and the visual evidence is overwhelming.

Mendoza played hurt against Ohio State, came back and won the Big Ten title. He scored the game-winning touchdown in the national championship game. ESPN’s draft scouting report, written by a former college quarterback, identified pocket movement as his real weakness. No back-shoulder throw.

This coward of an ACC coach, who last saw Mendoza at Cal, has some kind of ax to grind. This is clear. He is criticizing a player who no longer exists. 2025 Mendoza completed passes at a different clip, threw to a different level of receivers, ran a different offense, and was asked to do different things. Treating those two players as the same prospect is the analytical equivalent of evaluating a stock based on last year’s performance.

On the bus: #attacker First-round quarterback Fernando Mendoza is training and throwing to Ohio State superstar WR Jeremiah Smith.

They are both Miami natives and potentially top-2 #nfl Draft picks back-to-back.

Future teammates in Las Vegas.

👀 pic.twitter.com/KDQ1a0Am2t

– mlfootball (@mlfootball) 7 May 2026

That doesn’t mean Mendoza is bulletproof or has proven himself in the NFL yet. In fact, he said as much at last week’s rookie minicamp. He knows he has to earn respect and admiration in the NFL by being the best quarterback he can be. Given his conduct, intelligence and track record, how can you doubt him?

As I’ve said before in this area, the Raiders need to develop a young quarterback. It remains to be seen whether this season’s impressive offseason moves and draft performance mean the organization is finally on the right track. The Raiders have unfortunately underperformed with talented players in the past. Inheriting the league’s worst offense by 2025 has a rookie quarterback to do the job, no matter what the consensus board said in April. But framing matters here. An opponent’s old decision is not a referendum.

Sanders had institutional doubts. Mendoza is a man with a chip on his shoulder.

If anything, this ACC coach trying to start a fire proved just how little fuel is needed.

Scott Gulbransen, a quintessential expert in the field of sports journalism, serves as an editor, nfl , mlb , Formula 1 … More about Scott Gulbransen

Philadelphia 76ers great Joel Embiid isn’t getting any sympathy from New York fans and radio hosts when it comes to complaints about the New York Knicks’ physicality in their ongoing playoff series.

On Monday night, the highly anticipated semifinal series between the Knicks and Sixers began at Madison Square Garden. Both teams entered the series performing brilliantly. However, basketball fans only needed three quarters to see that New York was the real team on fire en route to a 137-98 victory.

After the game, to no one’s surprise, Philly big man Joel Embiid complained about the Knicks’ physicality. Specifically, the moment when his stomach hurt during a screen. The blow left him in pain as the area had been damaged since his appendix was removed a few weeks ago.

Embiid said, “I thought it was unnecessary, but we move on. Whatever it is, it’s playoff basketball. If that’s the reality of it, I think we have to go out and be physically active as well.”

It’s hard to know if Mikal Bridges had any malicious intent on the play. But this claim comes just days after Jaylen Brown took aim at Embiid for being a dedicated flopper in their series against the Boston Celtics. This is a few years removed from the series where the center injured Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson with a dirty move. Most people outside of Philadelphia wouldn’t feel bad for the seven-time All-Star.

You can add popular midday WFAN host and New York Giants great Tiki Barber to that group. On the Tuesday morning edition of the show he co-hosted with Evan Roberts, the one-time NFL star questioned Embiid’s toughness.

“If there’s going to be an injury, there’s going to be a physical injury, and someone may accidentally or otherwise attack you, then don’t play,” Barber began by saying. “Remember when I broke my hand in 2000? I had to tape up my other hand because they were literally stepping on it, not knowing my hand was broken. I didn’t complain about it. That’s part of the risk of injury. So, stop being quiet.”

It will be interesting if it is used as bulletin board material in the 76ers locker room before Wednesday’s game or if it gets some “unique” chants from Knicks fans inside MSG for Game 2.

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

Nicolo Fagioli has been a shining light in a dark season for Fiorentina tottenham Interest in the midfielder has now emerged.

The first few months of the season were not good for Fiorentina. They found themselves in the bottom three and struggled to find any momentum.

That’s when Fagioli played a big role in pulling them up the table by maintaining his presence in deep midfield. In recent weeks, he has impressed even more and at the weekend against Sassuolo he was the best player on the pitch.

sports witness It previously covered English interest in the former Juventus player, who was controversially left out of the Italian national team last month.

This has not stopped his reputation from growing further. Tottenham are looming as a threat for a player whose future is under constant discussion.

suitors warned

corriere dello sport Note that Fagioli has been exceptional for Paolo Vanoli’s side over the last three months. He makes it clear that his talent was always on the cards, even at Juve, who loaned him to Fiorentina in January 2025 before a permanent sale last summer.

This is beneficial for La Viola, who have seen the Italian become one of the most sought-after midfielders in Serie A.

Tottenham, Atletico Madrid and AC Milan are also interested. Max Allegri managed him in Turin and appears keen on a reunion.

But the report issues a ‘hands-off’ warning to clubs. Fabio Paratici is a big fan of Fagioli and wants to start an ambitious project from next season.

That’s why Fagioli will be central to the Fiorentina squad, which will undergo other changes in the summer.

We believe: Tottenham will have a chance

The report is good for publicizing Fiorentina’s ambitions. However, this seems to be another attempt to paint Paratici’s views in a brighter light, as the club needs little else to remain in Serie A.

As a result, Tottenham should keep an eye on the 25-year-old. He is a complete midfielder who is capable of playing in a variety of roles. That’s why Luciano Spalletti, during his tenure as Italy manager, called them up for the European Championships in 2024.

Sunderland Added Nilsson Angulo and Jocelyn Ta B to their team to improve their attack in the winter market.

Before Angulo’s arrival at the Stadium of Light from Anderlecht, Sunderland looked at CA Osasuna’s Victor Munoz.

In fact, the Black Cats made several bids to convince the La Liga side to approve the sale of the left winger.

The Premier League side initially offered €20m and increased this to €25m, along with Eliezer Mayenda on loan.

14 February, Osasuna Sports director Braulio Vazquez said His side did not listen to Sunderland’s attempts to sign Munoz. At the end of that month, official disclosure The player also did not want to leave Osasuna for Regis Le Bris’s team in January.

Sunderland still look keen

Friday edition of As Pointing again to Sunderland’s €25m offer which clearly failed to convince CA Osasuna.

The Black Cats couldn’t match his €40m release clause, but it looks like they’re not ready to give up just yet.

That’s because the newspaper says a number of Premier League teams are keeping an eye on him and Sunderland have been mentioned.

It has been claimed that Regis Le Bris’ side are the latest club to show interest in Victor Munoz, indicating that they have revived their interest.

Either way, the English club still need to offer €40m to activate his clause, and without that there will be no deal.

Osasuna sporting director Braulio Vazquez again made it abundantly clear and AS released his comments.

“We are not listening, we are stuck on the stream,” He said.

Real Madrid buyback clause

The La Liga side signed Victor Munoz from Real Madrid for €8m in July 2025. Los Blancos retained the buyback option and 50% sell-on clause.

“Real Madrid have a three-year buy-back option that has already been agreed. What we are doing is enjoying Victor until the end of the season.” Vazquez explained.

“Many people criticized us for signing such a young player with so few minutes in La Liga. Now they are asking us why we didn’t buy him outright. We accepted the conditions set by Real Madrid. Victor made the right decision by coming here and so did we.”

Our view: Sunderland need €40m to sign

Osasuna will not consider any offer less than €40m for Victor Munoz.

Therefore, the Black Cats have no option but to pay the figure and convince him to secure his services.

The attacker scored six goals and five assists in 34 appearances this season.

One reason the New York Islanders hired Pete DeBoer at the end of the season was because of the potential new coach conflict.

mission accomplished.

The Islanders put 24 shots on the beleaguered Toronto Maple Leafs net in the first period and snapped their four-game losing streak with a 5-3 victory at UBS Arena on Thursday.

The Isles’ win, coupled with a loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in Detroit and a loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets in Buffalo, pushed them ahead of Columbus and one point behind Philadelphia for the No. 3 seed in the Metropolitan Division.

New York defeated Toronto 44–16, and five different Islanders scored, including Matthew Schaefer’s 23rd goal, which tied the NHL record for most goals by a rookie defenseman. Callum Ritchie earned the game’s No. 1 star with one goal and one assist.

Islanders came out flying against Toronto

The Islanders had 16 shots in a 4-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday in their last game under Patrick Roy.

It took him 12:04 to record that many shots against Artur Akhtyamov and the Maple Leafs on Thursday night.

In a must-win game against an opponent that was already out of the playoff race, the Isles took their most shots in the first period in 18 years. New York outshot Toronto 24–3 in the first period and scored the first two goals of the game, the first when Brayden Schenn scored just 128 seconds in and the second by JG Pazo at 4:55.

“A lot of good things,” DeBoer said. “We’ve been talking all week about playoff habits, and you’ve got to adopt them this time of year to have a chance to get to the playoffs, and I thought he worked on that.”

The new-coach bump delivered much-needed results. The Isles had taken 40 shots in their previous two games, losses to the Hurricanes and Flyers on Friday and Saturday, yet attempted 39 shots in the first period and 60 in the first 40 minutes.

“I think we were just excited to have Pete back there,” Schaefer said. “We really wanted to show him what a great team we are and what a great group we’ve got here.”

It was the second time this year the Islanders had 24 shots on goal in a period. But since it was the first period since changing their head coach in a game they needed to win, the Islanders’ first period felt different Thursday.

“I thought we played fast, and it seemed like a seamless transition into some of the things we were trying to do,” DeBoer said.

matthew schaffer was brilliant again

DeBoer is famously tough on young players, but he had nothing negative to say about the Islanders’ 18-year-old defenseman.

“For me, it’s great to see him live like that off the bench,” DeBoer said. “To see him live at the age he’s at and how dynamic he is, on both ends of the rink… he’s really a special player.”

Schaefer once again led all Islanders skaters in time on ice (24:49) and certainly broke the 2-all tie with his record-tying goal, which tied him with Brian Leach in 1988–89.

“I can’t say enough about him and the way he plays,” Islanders defenseman Tony DeAngelo said. “Just a special player, a special talent.”

Also, on a night when Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin made just 13 saves and allowed some very poor goals, Schaefer also supported his netminder by calmly making a goal-line save on Toronto’s first shot of the game.

“Sorokin doesn’t let many of them in. He’s the best goalie in the world,” Schaefer said. “I think we should help him when something like this happens. He supports us a lot… If I can do that, I can do the same.”

Islanders’ power play saved the day

Although they completely dominated the shot clock, the Isles found themselves in a tied game after Easton Cowen’s power-play goal early in the second period.

But New York’s moribund power play came alive in the second half of the game. Emil Heineman scored his 22nd goal and fourth on the power play, which was ultimately the game-winning goal, and Ritchie gave the Isles some relief at 10:20 to give them a 5–2 lead.

“We have a great staff at PP,” Schaefer said. “I think we went there and we thought ‘let’s try to do something.'”

The Islanders’ man-advantage was a major talking point in DeBoer’s first days as head coach. New York entered the game with a 16.7% man-advantage, the 30th-best mark, and had scored on only three of their last 16 ppg (15%).

But Isles’ power play on Thursday was lethal. Mathew Barzal set up the goal for Heinemann after moving the puck around in the offensive zone, and Heinemann fired a laser past Akhtyamov, giving the Isles a 4–2 advantage.

“I thought we just walked [the puck] All around,” Schaefer said. “I guess we were waiting. We have that in the tank. We just had to highlight it.

Ritchie’s goal, which came at five-on-three in the third, came after a spectacular left pad stop by Akhtyamov on Shen. But the puck bounced straight off Ritchie’s stick, giving New York a 5–2 advantage.

“There were some signs of it turning around and going the right way before I got here,” DeBoer said. “Like any of your systems, you need to be rewarded to build on trust. … We have to build on that.”

Pat Pickens is an award-winning sports writer and author who has covered the NHL since 2013. He reveals more about Pat Pickens.

Eddie Hearn has made another strong statement about the heavyweight division, this time outlining a clear path for Anthony Joshua’s return. Speaking to FightHubTV, the Matchroom boxing promoter said Joshua could face Deontay Wilder ahead of a planned bout with Tyson Fury in late 2026.

The comments come as Joshua continues to recover from a serious car accident in Nigeria in late 2025. He is working through rehabilitation and recently resumed light training. Hearn’s comments set up a possible schedule that includes a return fight, which would be followed by one of the biggest bouts in modern heavyweight boxing.

Eddie Hearn outlines Anthony Joshua’s comeback plan

Hearn explained that Joshua will need a fight before he can step into the ring with Fury. He pointed to the time Joshua spent away from boxing due to injury and recovery.

“We need a warm-up fight before we fight Tyson Fury because AJ is recovering from the accident, he’s rehabbing his body etc,” Hearn said. “We’ll have Deontay Wilder as that warm-up fighter and then we’ll fight Tyson Fury in December.”

Joshua has not fought since the accident which injured his ribs and required several months of physical therapy. His return to full training is scheduled for 2026 gradually. Hearn’s plan reflects a structured approach, starting with a fight against a known opponent before moving to a bigger event.

Hearn predicts quick stoppage against Deontay Wilder

Hearn also made a clear prediction of how the fight between Joshua and Wilder will end. He said Joshua would stop Wilder within three rounds.

Hearn said, “They sent your soul into retirement. I was sitting there in the front row.” “Well, I respect Wilder, and I think he looked a lot better. But let me tell you because I was six feet away… Anthony Joshua will go through Deontay Wilder within three rounds.”

Wilder, a former WBC heavyweight champion, remains active in the division. He is known for his knockout power and has scored several stoppage victories during his career. According to Hearn, his recent performances have seen adjustments in pace and timing.

This fight could lead to Joshua vs. Fury

The fight between Joshua and Wilder will carry extra significance because of their history. The two fighters have been linked for years, but past negotiations did not lead to a fight. Issues relating to purse division and promotion terms delayed any agreement during their championship run.

If the fight takes place in 2026, it would serve as an important step towards a meeting with Fury. Joshua and Fury have also been linked to a potential matchup for several years, but scheduling and other factors have prevented it from happening.

Hearn’s timeline suggests Joshua could return in the summer, face Wilder and then move on to fight Fury in December. Fury remains one of the leading names in the heavyweight division, and a bout with Joshua would be a huge event.

Wilder’s participation will depend on the terms of the agreement between the two camps. They have topped the division and faced major opponents over the last decade. The outcome of any proposed fight will dictate the direction of the heavyweight scene.

Dogley Wilberforce is a boxing writer for SportsNaught, covering fight news, fighter reactions and major bouts in the sport… More about Dogley Wilberforce

Imagine if the New Jersey Devils were this good all year? This is the team we anticipated coming in 2025-26. It’s a big disappointment, but at least you can see that this team has good bones.

They hung out in Music City last night. James Birley has your postgame recap linked below.

Also linked below, should the Devils hold off their star rookie due to injury?

Elsewhere, raw reaction to the Blueshirts missing the playoffs, Sidney Crosby getting injured again, more.

Devil’s Trade Rumors and News

New Jersey Hockey Now: Despite giving up their two-goal lead, a late surge by the Devils took them to two more points – this time over the Nashville Predators – and are winners of nine of their last 12. Here’s last night’s Devils postgame from our James Bierle.

NJ.com: Arseniy Gritsyuk won’t finish the road trip with the Devils. Should they consider shutting down the star newbie?

📺 devil’s rink report: Jack Hughes is the one who suggested Connor Brown play on his line with Jasper Bratt. Initial returns are promising. Here’s why it’s working, via the latest Devils Rink report.

Full episode here 👇🏼 Watch the full Devils Rink report here:

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NHL Trade Talk, News and National Hockey Now

Forever Blueshirts: The New York Rangers are officially out of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. No one is happy with the raw reaction in the locker room to missing the postseason.

Pittsburgh hockey now: Oh man, this was the last thing the Pittsburgh Penguins needed as they continue their quest for the playoffs. Last night against the Ottawa Senators, Sidney Crosby was injured again.

Boston hockey now: Here’s colleague Jack Studley on James Hagens’ new start with the Boston Bruins’ AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins.

Florida hockey now: That’s why the Florida Panthers are still fighting despite knowing the fact that their season is over.

Sportsnet: Goaltender interference has been a hot topic this season. Why? Because similar situations have produced different results. There’s more here in Elliotte Friedman’s latest 32 Ideas blog.

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

Whenever something happens with Raiders ownership, the Internet loses its focus. Last week was no different.

When ESPN’s Seth Wickersham and Don Van Natta Jr. broke the news that NFL owners were about to vote on a succession plan that would give Silver Lake co-CEO Egon Durban the option to buy a majority stake in the team from Mark Davis ESPN, the Hot Take practically wrote itself. He is withdrawing money. The Davis era is over. Here comes private equity.

Pump the brakes.

Sources close to Davis were clear to ESPN: “Mark has no intention of selling his majority stake in the team. This sets up a seamless succession plan.”

Now, yes – the fact that the sentiment came from an unknown source rather than Davis is a little strange. But the underlying message is not complicated, even if the structure of the deal is complex.

Why is Mark Davis succession planning with the Raiders?

What’s really happening here is that Mark Davis, who will turn 71 in May and has no children, is doing something responsible. He is making sure there is a clear, pre-approved path for the franchise if control ever needs to change hands. That’s not a red flag. This is the estate plan with the NFL rule book attached.

There are no outside intruders in Durban. He purchased a 7.5% stake in the Raiders in December 2024, the same window that brought Tom Brady into minority ownership. Those partners will help the organization on the business side, Davis said at the time. Giving Durban a pre-approved route to majority ownership – contingent on Davis actually deciding to sell – is a logical extension of that existing relationship, not a fire sale in disguise.

Other details worth noting: Davis recently inherited shares in the franchise after his late mother, Carol Davis, passed away in October 2025. He has more of this team now than he did six months ago. It doesn’t seem as if a man is preparing to go out.

Attackers controlling ownership won’t change anytime soon

Look, reasonable people can question Mark Davis’s decisions over the years. Stadium moves, the coaching carousel, front office churn — there’s a long list. But mixing succession planning with the intention to sell is a fundamental misreading of what we have in front of us. Every major owner with no direct heir will eventually have to answer the question of what happens next. Davis is answering it on his own terms, in advance, with a partner he’s already vetted.

The vote at the league’s annual spring meeting, which begins March 29 in Phoenix, does not indicate any imminent changes. It signals the opposite: stability. A guarantee that if the worst happens, the league will not have to struggle and the franchise will not get into any messy legal disputes.

The Davis family has been associated with this franchise for more than 60 years. Whatever happened last week didn’t change that. Mark Davis is still the owner, still making the decisions, and still overseeing the rebuild under GMs Jon Spytek and Tom Brady, in whom he clearly has confidence. That’s not the end of succession planning. It’s more than just Mark Davis’ preparation that he is usually given credit for.

Scott Gulbransen, a quintessential expert in the field of sports journalism, serves as an editor, nfl , mlb , Formula 1 … More about Scott Gulbransen

Oklahoma City Thunder veteran Alex Caruso attempted to make a unique defensive stop during the second quarter of Tuesday’s 113-108 win against the Orlando Magic. Caruso used his shoe to stop Tristan da Silva, who was driving to the rim for a layup.

Caruso received a technical foul, and the Magic were awarded a goaltending layup. caruso addressed the play After the game, according to Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman.

Caruso said, “I’d never been in that situation before. It came next to me. So, I was like I’m going to use it.” “I just thought I was going to block it. Honestly, I didn’t know what the call was going to be. I didn’t know it was going to be goaltending and a take. If I had known that, I probably wouldn’t have made it.”

When Caruso realized it was too late to put his shoe back on during the game, he decided to use it.

“As soon as I got my shoe in my hands, I was thinking of using it,” Caruso said. “Not in a malicious way, but I’m going to try to make a play to stop the ball. It’s one of those weird NBA plays that probably won’t happen for the next 10 years.”

“As soon as I got my shoe in my hand, I thought about using it… It’s one of those weird NBA plays that probably won’t happen for another 10 years.”

Alex Caruso finding a technique for using his shoes to block a shot.

(via @justintohoops)pic.twitter.com/8QyPsPf1OB https://t.co/DPknnY5ha1

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 18 March 2026

Alex Caruso finished with eight rebounds, two points and two steals in the Thunder’s win.

Thunder seal playoff spot with win against Magic

All-Shy Gilgeous-Alexander’s 40 points led the Thunder to a five-point win against the Magic, extending their winning streak to eight. The defending champion Thunder clinched a playoff spot with 13 games remaining in the regular season.

Despite an injury-filled campaign, due to the absence of Jalen Williams – the All-NBA forward has played only 26 games – the defending champions have remained on top of the Western Conference standings throughout the season.

Gilgeous-Alexander recorded his 129th consecutive 20+ point game. On the second night of a back-to-back, the Thunder will face the Nets on Wednesday.

Denzel Dumfries has emerged as a target for Liverpool over the past few months. Inter Milan are now attempting to lure the Dutchman away from the Reds.

In the winter transfer window, sports witness Covered the Anfield club’s approach to wing-back.

Even though Dumfries was injured at the time, Liverpool were approached for his signature. Inter CEO Beppe Marotta also confirmed this and the wing-back was seen as a short-term replacement for Jérémy Frimpong, who soon returned from his injury.

More recently, Corriere dello Sport made it clear That Arne Slott’s team will return to the field for Dumfries in the summer. They are attracted by his €25m release clause, which is seen as a bargain for a Premier League team.

Now, it seems the Nerazzurri are trying their best to tie down Dumfries to a new deal.

€25m release clause can be removed

The Interista The report adds that the Netherlands international is seen as one of the best players at Inter. This was made abundantly clear in the club’s 1-1 draw against Atalanta at the weekend.

The Nerazzurri now believe that Dumfries cannot be easily replaced. His current contract expires in the summer of 2028 and Inter will now try to renew it until 2029.

The Dutchman currently earns around €4m per season and a new deal would take it to around €5m per season.

Furthermore, the Serie A league leaders want to waive his €25m release clause. They want to have more control over the ex-PSV player’s situation and ensure that Liverpool cannot sign him for such a cheap fee.

It is believed that Inter are keen to treat him with great importance and give him what he deserves.

Liverpool can do better than Dumfries

It’s fair to say that the Reds still haven’t fully replaced Trent Alexander-Arnold. Frimpong has converted from a full-back to a winger, showcasing his trademark ability to carry the ball forward.

In a way, Dumfries is exactly that. He has never really been a technical outlet and his best performances have come as a right wing receiver. He’s not a creator by any means and perhaps, Frimpong is better at carrying the ball forward.

Inter usually play Dumfries to his strengths and that is why he is so important to them.

He could become a problem for Liverpool and weaknesses could be exposed. He is 29 years old and possibly looking for one last big contract at the highest level. Talk of a move to Anfield would only help him and his teammates, which is probably why this topic keeps coming up again and again.

What do the Vegas Golden Knights have in common with someone who takes blood thinners? Once bleeding starts it may be difficult to stop.

All season long, the Golden Knights have suffered from an uncharacteristic problem: they tend to spiral after allowing a goal. That’s exactly what happened when they hosted the Minnesota Wild at T-Mobile Arena on Friday. The Wild scored three quick goals in the second period, which proved too much for the Golden Knights to overcome in the 4–2 loss.

The first round was equal. The Golden Knights got off to a good start, shutting down the Minnesota power play and defeating the Wild 8–6. Colton Sissons got two breakaway chances, but Phillip Gustavsson shut the door both times.

Except for a three-minute gap early in the second period, the Golden Knights were the better team. They outshot the Wild 10-7 and created five high-danger scoring chances while allowing only one.

The problem is that during that 3:07 exception, Minnesota scored three times.

The Wild broke the ice at 5:18 of the second period. Noah Hanifin couldn’t connect with Mitch Marner on a no-look backhander, and Matt Zuccarello raced to the loose puck. Zuccarello slipped between Hanifin and Rasmus Andersson, drove in alone, and completed the breakaway.

The Wild doubled their lead at 8:25 of the second minute. Yakov Trenin had the puck behind the goal and found Daniil Yurov for a one-timer. Akira Schmid made the save, but the rebound went to Zack Bogosian above the right circle and the defenseman deflected the shot past the Rockets.

Just 18 seconds later, the Wild added to their lead. Brock Faber hit a shot from the point and Michael McCarron redirected it home.

After McCarron’s goal, the Golden Knights finally managed to stop the bleeding and not dig their hole any deeper. They renewed their attack, but Filip Gustavsson was exceptional.

As has often been the case this season, the Golden Knights ultimately finished in third place. Pavel Dorofeyev scored a penalty just 1:22 into the period, giving his team its first power play of the night.

The Golden Knights scored their third goal at 2:17, less than a minute into the power play. Jack Eichel delivered a pass through the middle and Pavel Dorofeyev found the winger’s 30th goal of the season.

Solving Filip Gustavsson did wonders for the team’s confidence and the Golden Knights continued their attack. He recorded 14 shots and created 13 scoring chances in the third period; However, their desperate offense resulted in the Wild having 10 scoring chances.

The Wild took advantage of one of those scoring opportunities and restored their two-goal lead at 15:42 of the third. Michael McCarron passed the puck out to Vladimir Tarasenko, who raced up the ice on a 3-on-1 with Yakov Trenin and Jared Spurgeon. Tarasenko entered the field, played catch with Spurgeon and fired a shot that went past Akira Schmidt short-side.

The Golden Knights refused to go quietly and responded with 3:05 remaining in regulation. Tomas Hertl pressured Kirill Kaprizov under the goal line and forced a turnover. Pavel Dorofeyev sent a centering pass to Mitch Marner, who redirected it to Filip Gustavsson.

Despite pulling Akira Schmid for an extra attacker, the Golden Knights failed to generate the expected looks and lost 4–2.

“It’s pretty much the same,” head coach Bruce Cassidy said after the team’s loss. “We fall behind. Our stretch is very bad, and one becomes two and becomes three… It should be better now, with a more experienced group.”

Hannah Kirkel is a beat writer who covers the Vegas Golden Knights for Vegas Hockey Now on SportsNote. She studied more about Hannah Kirkel

Before the Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green blamed the Rockets for his team suffering another home loss, head coach Steve Kerr put the win in perspective during his postgame media availability. For a winning team without Stephen Curry against the Rockets, the Warriors pulled out a thrilling 115-113 victory in overtime.

kerr discussed the importance According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, the Warriors win on the Rockets’ home field.

“It’s a good building for us. We’ve won some playoff series here,” Kerr said. “There’s a lot of good memories in that locker room. It’s interesting, we’ve won playoff games here the last few years, series, we won Game 7 here. You win a game like tonight, and it feels the same way. You’re just trying to win. Winning is just an amazing feeling.

“Even though it’s just a regular season game, seeing a group of young guys compete and win, it feels like a playoff win – it really does.”

Steve Kerr on another win in Houston

“It’s a good building for us…there’s a lot of good memories in that locker room.”

“Feels like a playoff win.” pic.twitter.com/YK0JYNPJhC

– Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) 6 March 2026

Brandin Podziemski’s 26 points, including four threes, paced six Warriors players who scored in double figures, including De’Anthony Melton (23 points), Al Horford (17 points), Gui Santos (14 points), and Green (10 points). Warriors’ score became 32-30.

Steve Kerr on Draymond Green’s performance in Warriors win

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr says veteran Draymond Green was firing on all cylinders in Thursday’s overtime win against the Rockets, reminding the veteran coach when the forward was at his peak.

Kerr noted while those days are behind Green at this stage of his career glimpses of the past He noted, as ESPN’s Anthony Slater noted, the performance of Drummond, who was surrounded by Warriors youth in Brandin Podziemski.

” Vintage Drummond. Defense, leadership, force, passing.” “I thought that was Brandin’s (Podziemski) best game of the year,” Kerr said.

Steve Kerr after Houston’s win: ” Vintage Drummond. Defense, leadership, force, passing.”

“I thought that was Brandin (Podziemski’s) best game of the year.” pic.twitter.com/21oYsHOMy3

– Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) 6 March 2026

Kerr and the Warriors’ road trip continues on Saturday against the Thunder.

Orlando Magic rookie Jess Richardson gave fans a big scare at the Intuit Dome on Saturday night, but luckily, he’s leaving Los Angeles with nothing more than a bruised ego and a viral moment.

While attempting his second dunk of the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, Richardson suffered a terrible fall, hitting the back of his head on the hardwood. Despite the scary scene, the young guard quickly revealed on social media that he was “crying laughing” at the replay.

I’ve been crying laughing for the last hour😭 https://t.co/3rxhHUFFNu

– Jase Richardson (@JaseRich4) 15 February 2026

Richardson, the son of two-time dunk champion Jason Richardson, entered the night looking to keep the family legacy alive. He opened the competition with a 45.4 after hitting a clean reverse slam on a bounce-up.

However, he needed a huge score in his second attempt to keep pace with Keshad Johnson and Carter Bryant. Richardson opted for a 360 tomahawk from the side of the backboard, but he misjudged the angle, causing it to hit the board before crashing hard onto the floor.

After a few tense moments, the former Michigan State star was able to get up under his own power. He even finished the round with a safe 360 ​​slam to record the score, although a 43.4 on his attempt effectively ended his night. Richardson finished last in the field of four with a total score of 88.8, behind Jackson Hayes of the Los Angeles Lakers.

While the Orlando Magic guard isn’t adding a trophy to his dad’s, his ability to find humor in a “backboard block” has already won over social media. With Miami Heat forward Keishad Johnson finally taking home the crown, Richardson is just happy to be healthy and heading back to Orlando with a story.