Justin Allgaier, Corey Day and Sam Mayer finished among the points leaders heading into Saturday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Dover Motor Speedway. As that race comes to a close, it’s time to check out the latest NASCAR O’Reilly standings following Saturday’s action.

Here are the O’Reilly Series points leaders after Saturday’s race at Dover.

NASCAR OARS STATUS NOW

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

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been waiting for months for quarterback Aaron Rodgers to decide whether he will play in the 2026 NFL season. Just as a solution was in sight, the story has reportedly taken another turn.

K Mark Kaboli Pat McAfee Show reported that, as far as his knowledge, “no meeting is scheduled or expected” between Rodgers and the Steelers organization.

RELATED: Insiders predict who the Steelers starting QB will be in 2027

93.7 The Fan reported Thursday that Rodgers will visit Pittsburgh in the coming days and is expected to sign a contract. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said that while the visit was taking place, there was no indication of a deal being made.

Additionally, Steelers general manager Omar Khan came forward on Friday and said he was not aware of Rodgers’ whereabouts. This is consistent with Mark Caboli’s reporting that everyone he spoke to in Pittsburgh said they had not seen Rodgers and were not aware of a possible meeting.

READ MORE: 2026 NFL Power Rankings, see where the Steelers rank

Examining the Steelers’ situation with Aaron Rodgers

At the beginning of the offseason, it seemed like the Steelers organization and head coach Mike McCarthy were willing to be patient with Rodgers. The understanding was that the future Hall of Famer would take some time off this offseason and eventually return to the team.

However, there have been signs recently that Pittsburgh is losing patience with the waiting game. The team used a rare “right of first refusal tender” on Rodgers in April. That means Pittsburgh can match any offer he gets, and he can only sign with Pittsburgh when NFL training camps start this summer.

RELATED: Mike Tomlin predicts whether Aaron Rodgers will return to the Steelers

More recently, Gerry Dulac Pittsburgh Post-Gazette The Steelers’ “patience is beginning to wear thin” with Rodgers, the report said. While the club knows he is the best starting quarterback option for 2026, they want answers from the 42-year-old quarterback soon.

If Rodgers decides to retire or the team also moves on from him, it stands to reason that Mason Rudolph will be the Steelers starting quarterback in Week 1, with Drew Allar and Will Howard also taking the field in 2026.

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

The life of former Cleveland Browns No. 1 pick Johnny Manziel took another strange turn this week.

Manziel has one of the strangest stories in the history of pro sports. In 2012, the Texas native took college football by storm with one of the best freshman seasons of all-time. In his first year at Texas A&M, he was not only All-American and SEC Offensive Player of the Year, but also the first freshman to win the “Johnny Football” Heisman Trophy.

He completed 69.9% of his passes as a sophomore, throwing for 4,114 yards, rushing for 759 more and scoring 46 total touchdowns. Despite being only 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, his spirited play led to him being taken 22nd overall in the 2014 NFL Draft by the Browns. Then things went downhill rapidly.

A wild party life and severe lack of dedication during game week quickly proved that the star, barely out of his teens, was not ready for the NFL. Then, when domestic violence allegations surfaced in 2016, the Heisman Trophy winner was out of the league after just two seasons.

Since opting out, he has played for the Canadian Football League (CFL), Alliance of American Football (AAF) and then Fan Controlled Football (FCF) a few years ago. He has been unable to recapture the success or money-making opportunities he enjoyed a decade ago.

Johnny Manziel set to do boxing bout at UFC Apex this month

That’s why he’s started venturing away from the field, including owning a bar, podcasting, and reality TV. Well, it looks like he is planning a comeback to sports soon, but not football. According to ESPN’s Andreas Hell, he will instead step into the boxing ring to take on the impressive Bob Menery inside the UFC Apex later this month (May 23).

“The fight will be promoted by Kik streamer Adin Ross’ brand Risk Promotions, which is known for pitting celebrities against content creators in boxing matches,” reports Hale.

UFC CEO Dana White has shown great interest in the fight because of his ongoing feud with Menary. While this should probably be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, in the era of Jake Paul being a star in boxing, it wouldn’t be surprising if this is the beginning of a new and unexpected career for the 33-year-old.

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

Joel Embiid doesn’t want any blame for the Philadelphia 76ers’ failures in their semifinal series against the New York Knicks. And after their defeat in Game 3, they took the path of conspiracy to escape from it.

Friday was a must-win scenario for Embiid and the 76ers. They entered last night’s Game 3 up 2-0, having lost a lot of confidence after the Game 7 win over the Boston Celtics in the quarterfinals. With the return of the seven-time All-Star after missing Game 2 and some home support, Philly was in a better position to get its first W of the series.

However, after a strong first quarter and an early lead, the Knicks took control of the game in the second quarter and never relinquished it the rest of the night. While there are many who could take the blame for going 3-0, Embiid doesn’t want to take any of it.

After Game 1, he tried to put responsibility on the referees and accused the Knicks of dirty play. Unsurprisingly, he is also blaming the referees for the Game 3 failure. Yet, he has now gone beyond claiming poor performance by officials and is taking the path of conspiracy.

Joel Embiid: ‘I think it’s good when New York wins’

Embiid said when asked about officiating after Game 3, “They shot 32 free throws, we had 16. We’re not a team that shoots a lot of threes. We attack, put the ball on the floor. I don’t know.” “I think it’s good when New York wins, so we’ve got to have a mentality of not fouling. Being smart enough to not put ourselves in a position where they can take advantage of it.”

Of course, it must be the case that the league just wants the Knicks to advance and reach the NBA Finals. It can’t be that he was 3-11 in 14 minutes and .24 when he was on the floor in Game 1. Or that he missed Game 2 because of his lame body. Or that he let Tyrese Maxey take the lead in Game 3 instead of taking 17 shots and being -9 when he clearly wasn’t hot.

Making matters worse is Embiid’s avoidance of blame for the 76ers’ 3-0 series loss, becoming a viral sensation for his flop-a-thon in Game 3 on Saturday. The one-time NBA MVP is already an elite player. Taking responsibility for losses and being a leader makes him one of the least-liked stars in the NBA.

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

AS Roma’s Wesley has been one of Serie A’s most consistent players this season and is now attracting attention tottenham, newcastle united And armory.

The Brazilian joined the Giallorossi for €25m last summer and has fitted in perfectly into Gian Piero Gasperini’s system.

He started the season in his preferred right wing-back position but has also performed well at left wing-back. Wesley now has five league goals after scoring against Fiorentina on Monday.

sports witness Having covered reports of interest from Manchester City, Brazilian media have also added their information.

The list of suitors for Wesley continues to grow. Tottenham, Newcastle United and Arsenal are now in the race for the defender.

The price has now doubled

IT migration market Believes Wesley’s first season in Italy has been ‘nothing short of amazing’. There were some doubts about him when he arrived from Flamengo but he dispelled those doubts emphatically.

Now his value has doubled in Roma’s eyes.

Tottenham, Newcastle United and Arsenal have taken note of his performances. There has been no formal offer but reports make it clear that Tino Livramiento’s future could be significant.

The Magpies full-back is of interest to the Gunners, Spurs and Manchester City. Only one of Livramiento or Wesley will be targeted by clubs, with other teams likely to make an push for the Roma star.

Additionally, losing the Englishman would prompt Newcastle United to look to Wesley as a replacement.

A deal for the 22-year-old would not normally be easy but the Italian side have financial concerns.

FFP issues could lead to sale

As things stand, Roma needs to make some big capital gains by the end of June. Ideally, they will sell players who joined for free and are now highly rated. However, Wesley is probably the most expensive player on their team at the moment.

Tottenham, Newcastle United and Arsenal should take note. Wesley could become a key player for all of them, adding versatility and also being smaller than Livramiento. A summer move for him would be suitable for any big club in need of an attacking fullback.

chelsea Filipe Luis could once again be seen as a managerial option following the sacking of Liam Rosenior, with the Brazilian coach’s name having resurfaced just months after previous talks with the club.

The Blues sacked Rosenior after seven consecutive defeats in eight matches, bringing an abrupt end to a run that had lasted only three months.

That decision has reignited internal discussions about alternative profiles, and Filipe Luis is once again part of that conversation.

Previous contact and Flamengo exit

Filipe Luis built a strong reputation during his time at Flamengo, delivering five major trophies and maintaining a win rate close to 70% in 101 matches. His team scored over 180 goals in that period, showing a clear attacking identity.

However, his departure came shortly after an 8–0 defeat to Madureira in March. Although that result triggered the decision, there were already underlying issues. Reports pointed to disagreements behind the scenes and a difficult start to the new season.

The thing is that this is not a new link. Philippe Luiz had already held talks with the club’s hierarchy before Rosenière’s appointment in late December, when Chelsea were exploring various options.

Such suggestions have also come in Brazil Those conversations played a role in his eventual departure From Flamengo, interest from Europe affected both the timing and internal dynamics at the club.

a new opportunity

according to DayThe former Flamengo manager is one of the names being considered as Chelsea reassess their direction.

Obviously, the Brazilian is no stranger to Chelsea. He was part of the club’s 2014–15 title-winning team under José Mourinho, and contributed in several competitions during that campaign.

The left-back made a total of 26 appearances, appearing in Premier League, domestic cup and European matches. Although he was not always a starter due to competition with César Azpilicueta, he played a role in a season that ended with Chelsea winning both the Premier League and League Cup.

Filipe Luis is currently based in Spain and intends to wait until the European season ends before making a final decision.

Chelsea’s potential renewed interest introduces a different level of opportunity. However, this also comes with uncertainty given the club’s recent instability and frequent managerial changes.

Major hurdle: UEFA license and eligibility

Despite interest, there is a significant hurdle to any immediate move. As noted Lance! In Brazil, Filipe Luis does not yet have a UEFA Pro License, which is mandatory to officially manage in England or UEFA competitions.

He currently holds A and B licenses from the Brazilian FA, but has not completed the highest qualification.

There is another issue also. UEFA regulations usually require at least three years’ experience as a head coach at the top level to validate a foreign license. Filipe Luis’ time at Flamengo lasted less than two years, meaning he does not currently meet that threshold.

As a result, even if Chelsea wanted to move quickly, they would face a regulatory challenge.

There is a possible solution. The Bluco group could consider a formation similar to the one used by Cesc Fàbregas at Como. In that case, Fàbregas effectively led the team while a licensed individual was officially registered as head coach.

However, implementing that model at Chelsea would carry far greater risk. The club operates under intense scrutiny, and such an arrangement would require strong justification to supporters and the media. It will also depend on internal alignment within the club’s hierarchy.

Championship interest still active

While Chelsea are reconsidering their options, Filipe Luis continues to attract attention from the Championship.

Sports Witness Source It has previously been revealed that both Queens Park Rangers and Middlesbrough have made contact in recent weeks, with discussions having already taken place with their representatives.

Watford also admire him, although they are currently taking a more cautious approach after appointing Edward Still in February.

Middlesbrough remains the most competitive of those options. They still have a credible path to reach the Premier League via the playoffs. Meanwhile, QPR and Watford are around 10 and 11 points behind the top six respectively.

what happens next

For now, several avenues remain open. Championship clubs have already taken concrete steps, while Chelsea’s situation could evolve rapidly following Rosenior’s dismissal.

The next few weeks are likely to be decisive as Filipe Luis takes the first European step of his managerial career.

Parker Messick came so to close. With three outs remaining in the game, the young southpaw held the Baltimore Orioles without a hit in eight innings. He gave up only two free passes, walking Taylor Ward in the first and Leodi Taveras in the sixth. Taveras finally broke up the no-hit bid on the first pitch of the ninth.

Messick has performed brilliantly for the Guardians so far this year. As of Thursday night, he had allowed only one run. This came on the single shot allowed against the Chicago Cubs on April 5. Heading into Thursday, he had a ridiculously low 0.51 ERA. He ended the no-no bid by giving up two runs in the ninth, raising his ERA to 1.05 points.

that number is still there crazy Less. Messick has been a co-star with Gavin Williams for this Cleveland team that is not living up to expectations. But Messick’s near-no-no reminds MLB fans of something else.

Where have all the no-hitters gone?

It feels like the no-hitter has ceased to exist, partly because it has ceased to exist. The last no-hitter came off the combined effort of Shota Imanaga, Nate Pearson and the Cubs’ Porter Hodge. That game came on September 4 of the 2024 season. The final no-hitter pitched was a single by Blake Snell on August 2 of that year to the San Francisco Giants.

Had four no-hitters in the 2024 season. The total since then has been zero. And it’s not for lack of trying.

So far, the closest was Los Angeles Dodgers star Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s 8 2/3 no-hitter against Baltimore last year. which is definitely the biggest comeback ever SometimesOrioles second baseman Jackson Holliday broke it up by hitting a ninth-inning, two-out home run, before the O’s, down to their last out, managed a walk against the defending World Series champions.

There are a lot of pitchers out there who can throw the next one. But no-hitters are fickle. They often come when you least expect it, and not always from those you expect. Take the snail. Many questioned his ability to go deeper than six innings due to his inability to limit walks. But he managed to accomplish it on only 114 pitches.

Only time will tell if anyone will be able to accomplish it this season. Until then, the historic no-hitter drought will continue.

liverpool They face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-final second leg at Anfield on Tuesday.

Last week, Liverpool lost 2-0 to PSG in the first leg at the Parc des Princes.

L’Equipe was critical Arne Slot’s tactics and the performance of Reds trio Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Milos Kerkez against PSG.

The Premier League team faces a tough challenge to recover from the 2-0 defeat and secure a place in the last four of the competition.

Ahead of the big clash, Bafoudé Diakhaby’s move to Ligue 1 side Liverpool has been tipped in France.

Why did the coach leave PSG for Liverpool?

Team There is a report on Bafode Diakhaby, titled ‘Hidden transfer’ between Liverpool and the Paris club.

He finished his playing career with Paris FC in 2015 and worked with them for two years as a youth coach and scout.

The 37-year-old left Paris FC for PSG in 2017 and was part of their academy. Earlier this year, he left the Ligue 1 winners to join Liverpool’s academy.

At the Merseyside club, he is coaching their U12s to U16s, which is a hybrid role for the first six months.

The newspaper says that his exit from PSG has been discussed internally. Some see his departure as a ‘turning point’ in the way the French club’s academy is managed.

Diakhaby loves his former club but did not agree with the academy’s new approach. As a result, his relationship with youth team director Yohan Cabaye deteriorated.

At that time, Liverpool showed interest and the coach took advantage of this and moved to England with his family. The French took this step to experience something new.

PSG, for their part, wanted to keep him, and therefore, did not readily accept his move to Anfield.

Players trained under Liverpool’s youth coach

During his time at PSG, Bafodé Diakhaby worked with a number of youngsters, many of whom have enjoyed success.

Some of them are Warren Zaire-Emery, Seny Mayulu, Ibrahim Mbaye, Quentin Ndzontou, Ethan Mbappe, Tanguy Kouassi, Edouard Michaut and Timothy Pembele.

New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn wants Geno Smith to have a big season in 2026 and he’s trying to force it into existence with public praise of the quarterback.

In his first season as head coach, Glenn convinced NY Jets fans that free agent addition Justin Fields could finally reach his potential and become a star for Gang Green. Ultimately, the former Chicago Bears first-round pick had the worst season of his career and was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs this month to serve as their new QB2.

In 2026, the coaches will go with another new QB1. This time, it will be former Las Vegas Raiders starter Geno Smith. Unlike Fields, Smith has had success in the league and is a two-time Pro Bowler. However, he is still coming off a season where he went 2-13 and threw a league-leading 17 interceptions. Still, Glenn really wants NY Jets fans to believe that Smith can be a big difference maker next season.

“There’s something about a quarterback with a chip on his shoulder,” Glenn told SNY at an NFL meeting this week. “And he’s proven a lot with what he’s done in this league. Especially when you factor in his time in Seattle. He fits the bill perfectly with what we’re trying to do. We’ve created an identity. The foundation of our offense is great now.”

“… I just feel like he’s the guy that’s going to lead us to the promised land. The guy that’s going to touch the ball more than anybody else. I know he’s had his struggles. A lot of quarterbacks have their struggles.”

Aaron Glenn is entrusting his NY Jets future to Geno Smith

Could 2026 be a comeback season for Smith? It is definitely possible. He was playing behind, arguably, the NFL’s worst offensive line last season, and also has a Comeback Player of the Year award on his resume. However, this would also be an opinion that ignores the obvious.

Before turning his career around with the Seattle Seahawks, Smith was viewed as a draft bust who developed into a journeyman QB in the league. When he won CPOTY honors in 2022, he threw for 30 touchdowns. Since then he has not come even close to that number and last year his number was 19. Additionally, his interceptions have increased from 11 in 2022 to 17 last year.

If the NY Jets were to get Smith a year or two after his big season in 2022, perhaps he could fix the weaknesses of their offense and lead them back to relevance and a playoff run. However, he is four years away from having that career year and will turn 36 in October. An age point when even consistently good QBs start to decline in numbers.

There is far more evidence that Smith will be slightly better than the bad situation he was in 2025, rather than being back to being the player he was in 2022. Glenn is choosing to ignore the obvious, and it’s confusing him. This will likely cost him his job over the next eight months because he is creating expectations that the QB will not make it next season.

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

Julius Randle sank the game-winning bucket with 8.8 seconds remaining to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves past the Houston Rockets 110-108 in overtime on Wednesday at Target Center.

The Timberwolves had to come back In an expansion to dispose of the Rockets and improve to 45-28.

Julius Randle’s game-winner lifts Wolves over Rockets

15-0 run in overtime hits stand-alone.pic.twitter.com/1rFEy7qjL5

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 26 March 2026

They also had to endure the loss of Naz Reed in overtime after he was ejected by referee Scott Foster after a critical call.

Randle’s courageous basket felt like poetic justice for the Timberwolves, and the veteran forward made his true feelings known after the game, as SB Nation’s Ryan Eichten reported.

“Julius Randle is walking down the hallway to the locker room right now: ‘Scott Foster didn’t do this,'” Eichten wrote on X.

The Timberwolves were trailing by five points when Reid scored with 4:13 left in overtime.

Randle finished with 24 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals, while Reed had 14 points, 13 rebounds, two steals and two blocks.

In a postgame interview with ESPN, the 31-year-old Randle Gave credit for this to my colleaguesAlso admitted that they now have the tie-breaker against the Rockets.

“We’re ready for now. It’s as simple as that,” Randall said.

“It feels good. We took care of business, especially at home. We’ve got another game against this team, so it’s important for us to get it done. I’m very proud of our team, for the resiliency we showed. Everyone stepped up and made big plays at different points in the game.”

“We are ready for now.” 😤

-Julius Randle after Minnesota’s OT win over the Rockets pic.twitter.com/0v7hv9JAgK

– NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) 26 March 2026

Jaden McDaniels added 25 points, two steals and two blocks, while Rudy Gobert added 14 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks.

The Timberwolves are still without Anthony Edwards due to a knee injury.

Karl-Anthony Towns and the New York Knicks narrowly avoided embarrassment during a 93-92 win over the shorthanded Brooklyn Nets on Friday. Despite playing against a rotation consisting primarily of rookies, two-way players and two-day signees, Mike Brown’s team struggled against Brooklyn’s aggressive defense for most of the game.

Towns and Jalen Brunson recovered from a slow start to hold off a Brooklyn comeback in the final minutes. After the matchup, the Nets extended forward Josh Minot said brooklyn tried to make Towns are becoming uncomfortable with their increasing physicality.

“I played with Kat for two and a half years [in Minnesota]. this is how i know her [the back of my hand]And she doesn’t like physicality,” Minot said. “I like Kat, but she doesn’t like physicality. He is also my boy. I hope this makes him angry. But we were really involved in bringing that physicality to it. He started flamboyantly in the second half. He is a really talented player. But we were going to do everything in our power to stop him.”

When Josh Minott was asked about defending him tonight he said that Karl-Anthony Towns “doesn’t like physicality”:

“I played with Kat for 2.5 years. I know him that way, and he doesn’t like physicality. I like Kat, but he doesn’t like physicality. He’s my guy too. I hope this angers him.” pic.twitter.com/tNKGojrHpY

– Eric Slater (@erikslater_) 21 March 2026

After a scoreless first quarter, in which the Knicks scored only 14 points, Towns found his rhythm late and led New York to a narrow victory.

Karl-Anthony Towns bounces back from rough start during Knicks’ close win over Nets

He finished with 26 points and 15 rebounds on 7-16 shooting from the field and 11-13 shooting from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, Minot led Brooklyn with a team-high 22 points on 8 of 13 shooting from the field and 6 of 9 from three.

Towns has struggled to replicate his production from last season during the Knicks’ irregular 2025-26 campaign. He is averaging 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds on .491/.365/.851 shooting splits in 66 appearances.

The All-Star big man is adept at drawing fouls on drives, attempting a career-high 9.0 free throws per 100 possessions. However, he has struggled to transition around the rim. According to CleaningTheGlass, Towns shot a career-low 60 percent from within four feet, which is the NBA’s worst percentage among Big 20 players who have played more than 1,700 minutes this season.

As the regular season winds down, the Knicks are attempting to catch the Boston Celtics for the Eastern Conference second seed. The five-game winning streak has pulled New York to within two games of Boston with 12 games remaining.

When you need a clutch goal, rely on defensemen. A strange reality, but the Carolina Hurricanes have survived two games in a row.

The Hurricanes did not score a single natural goal during the entire match. Nonetheless, in a unique game full of individual achievements and accomplishments, they still defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4–3 in overtime.

One of those milestones hit the moment Taylor Hall stepped onto the ice. This was his 100th game as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes, after being traded in the old three-team Mikko Rantanen deal.

Dakota Joshua scored in the first period to put the Leafs up one, but that was all he wrote for the opening twenty minutes as both teams went back and forth with the puck.

The game came alive in the second period

Early in the second frame, Andrei Svechnikov and ex-Hurricane Max Domi collided at the Leafs’ blue line. Svechnikov, who was shaken up, was briefly attended to by head athletic trainer Doug Bennett before going to the bench and later to the locker room. However, he was able to return near the halfway point.

In the inning following Svechnikov’s injury, Eric Robinson took a high-stick to the face from Brandon Carlo – drawing some blood for a double minor. In the final seconds of a four-minute power play, Jordan Staal once again proved to be one of the best things to happen to Carolina this season, as he tipped in a shot by Seth Jarvis.

Afterwards, Robinson once again performed for his team and drew a hooking penalty from Troy Stecher on a breakaway. He was given a penalty shot opportunity – the first attempt in his NHL career – and proceeded to slip a nice short wrister past Josef Woll to give Carolina its first lead of the night.

However, that lead was short-lived. Just 72 seconds later, John Tavares made his way behind Brandon Bussey’s net and put the puck in through the five-hole.

In the final minutes of the second frame, Sean Walker was fouled in the penalty box for fouling Matthew Neese. However, Walker’s defensive partner was not satisfied with simply killing a penalty, and instead, took the puck down the ice for the first shorthanded goal of his NHL career.

It was the second consecutive game for Shorty to score for the Hurricanes.

The third period arrived, and with just a few minutes remaining, William Nylander scored a goal to force overtime.

three-on-three action

When overtime began, the game-winner came off the stick of a first-time player: Alexander Nikishin. The rookie defenseman had just come on the ice in place of Jakob Slavin because Jarvis had sent him off, but he didn’t have it for long. Skating quickly to the right face-off circle, he wasted no time – launching it through an accidental Leafs screen and past the Vols after just 41 seconds of play. It was not only the first overtime goal of Nikishin’s NHL career, but also his first game-winning goal. For the second consecutive game, the Hurricanes’ overtime game winner came from a defenseman.

The game marked an unusual pattern to victory, as all four of the Hurricanes’ goals did not come on five-on-fives. Instead, they were on the power play, in the form of penalty shots, shorthanded and three-on-three in overtime.

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

JJ Redick isn’t afraid to take a hit on the bear, even if that bear is his own superstar. Following the Los Angeles Lakers’ 124-116 win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night, Redick couldn’t resist making a joke at LeBron James’ expense despite a near-perfect performance from “The King.”

James was absolutely surgical at Toyota Center, scoring 30 points on a staggering 13-of-14 shooting from the floor. He missed exactly once all night. When reporters asked Redick about the lone flaw in that historic shooting performance, the first-year head coach didn’t mince words.

“The one shot he missed, he was trying to get a foul shot,” Redick said with a laugh in the media room.

It was a classic Reddick moment, blunt, high-witted and with just the right amount of sarcasm. While the coach was clearly joking, his comments highlight the loose, confident atmosphere around this Lakers team. Los Angeles has now won seven straight games and 10 of their last 11, improving their record to 44-25 and solidifying their place near the top of the Western Conference.

James wasn’t the only person cooking in Houston. Luka Doncic continued his MVP-caliber campaign with a 40-point masterpiece that included 10 assists and nine rebounds to carry the load at the end of the fourth quarter. The Lakers shot 61% as a team, making life miserable for the Rockets defense, which welcomed Alpern Sengun. Sengun finished with 27 points and 11 assists, but it wasn’t enough to stop the purple and gold juggernaut.

The win completes a two-game sweep of the Rockets and serves as another reminder that the James-Doncic partnership is officially on the way. With Redick steering the ship and the stars playing it efficiently, the Lakers are looking like the most dangerous team in the West in April.

Dutch analyst René van der Gijp has issued a scathing criticism of modern goalkeeping following Tottenham Hotspur’s Antonin Kinski’s 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid.

The 19-year-old made two costly mistakes in this week’s Champions League last 16 tie and was replaced by manager Igor Tudor after just sixteen minutes. Since that decision, there has been a wave of debate across Europe.

Kinski made his first Champions League appearance as a replacement for Guglielmo Vicario, struggling under Atlético’s high press. Tudor later decided to fire him, citing the need to stabilize the team.

‘Something went wrong with modern football’

The Croatian coach has been criticized for that choice. But Van der Gijp disagrees, insisting he fully understands Tudor’s decision.

“Of course you have to take it off,” Voetbal Primer reported him as saying On Today Inside.

“We were always told not to pass to the keeper. Now they say you should pass to the keeper as much as possible.”

Van der Gijp cannot understand the modern obsession with playing out from the back. He believes this option is creating unnecessary risks.

“It will wipe you out and cost you a lot of money. It works with players like Pique or Busquets, but not with everyone else – and yet everyone tries it.”

Many former goalkeepers and pundits Tudor was criticized for replacing a young keeper so soon, arguing that it could damage confidence in the long term. However, Johan Dirksen believes the Tottenham manager was implicated somehow.

“If you take the goalie off, it’s considered pathetic,” Dirksen said. “But if you don’t, you are criticized.”

symbol of a large strategic division

Kinski’s Nightmare Evening has certainly sparked an interesting debate between old-school pragmatism and modern positional play. As Spurs regroup, the question is where they go for.

With a significant possibility of demotion, it would not be surprising if they go for the former. Tudor’s efforts so far to change things certainly haven’t worked.

Tottenham is currently facing defeat in six consecutive matches. He is also the first manager in Spurs’ 143-year history to lose his first four matches in charge. This has created already intense pressure, a situation that does not usually encourage strategic courage.

Phoenix Suns veteran Dillon Brooks’ promising update on his hand injury ahead of facing the Indiana Pacers could pave the way for his return. Brooks discussed the Suns’ upcoming postseason run and how a potential best-of-7 series would present “problems” for the Minnesota Timberwolves. The forward will look to regain his rhythm between now and the end of the regular season.

Brooks will make his first appearance since a 113–110 double-overtime win against the Orlando Magic on February 21. Brooks was seen during the Suns’ morning shootaround before facing the Pacers on Thursday shooting without actors According to AZ Central’s Duane Rankin, he suffered a fractured left hand.

Dillon Brooks no cast on fractured left hand for Suns morning shootaround. #Sun pic.twitter.com/GntKpKI3Fm

– Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) 12 March 2026

The Suns went 5-3 in their eight games without Brooks, including their current three-game winning streak, which was extended by a 129-114 win against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.

Dillon Brooks warns Timberwolves about Suns’ playoff run

After a heroic performance from Suns veteran Dillon Brooks to capture the top 50 ranking, they threatened the Timberwolves with a potential best-of-7 playoff series. Brooks, who rarely shy away from expressing his honest opinions, believes the Suns can upset the Timberwolves in the postseason.

Brooks claims Suns have Timberwolves’ Numberhe said, according to the Million Dollar Worth of Game podcast.

“You never know, ant [Anthony Edwards] This year it could be a great year and win a chip. . .But they come to us, there’s going to be problems,” Brooks said. “We’ve got their number this year.”

“If they run into us, there will be problems. We’ve got their number this year.”

Dillon Brooks on a potential Suns-Timberwolves playoff matchup 👀

(via @mworthofgame)pic.twitter.com/EgEBtzl7Uf

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 10 March 2026

The Suns defeated the Timberwolves 108–105 on December 8, almost two weeks after a 114–113 win against the Timberwolves at home.

The Oklahoma City Thunder continued their winning ways with a thrilling win over the Denver Nuggets at home on Monday evening. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander may very well have strengthened his MVP case in this one, hitting two monster three-pointers in the final seconds to help secure the Thunder’s victory.

Oklahoma City was playing without several key players, including Alex Caruso, who has been in and out of the lineup all year due to various injuries. Recently, Caruso stopped by the “Pardon My Take” podcast, and one of the questions discussed was the Thunder’s inability to win the NBA Cup the past two years, despite making it to the tournament in Las Vegas both times.

Host Big Cat joked, “When the lights go as bright as they can at the NBA Cup, it’s suffocating. You’re the bran.”

Caruso then makes a joke at his expense, also ruining the NBA Cup in the process.

“When the platform is at its peak, he can’t step up to the plate,” he said, according to Big Cat on X, formerly of Twitter.

Indeed, many agree with Caruso’s opinion that the stakes of the NBA Cup have still not been raised high enough for fans to truly invest in the event.

Last season, the Thunder lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the Cup semi-final round, the first of four losses to San Antonio this season, leading many to speculate that a Western Conference Finals matchup between the two teams could occur.

Meanwhile, the Thunder have resumed their dominance after a bit of trouble over the past few weeks, with Gilgeous-Alexander returning to form after a long injury layoff with an abdominal strain./

When the Thunder are healthy, no team in the NBA can come close to matching their depth, and Caruso is a big part in helping the team get to the table on both ends of the floor when healthy.

Caruso hopes to be seen again when the lights are really brightest during the NBA Finals in June.

Someone stole the spotlight from Trae Young’s debut for the Washington Wizards on Thursday night at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.

And it’s none other than Julian Reese, brother of Chicago Sky star forward Angel Reese.

In his third game in the NBA, Julian Reese accomplished a historic feat, as he finished with 18 points on 5/7 shooting from the field and a total of 20 rebounds – 10 defensive and 10 offensive. He also added two assists and a steal in 38 minutes of work, however, in a 122–112 loss to the visiting Jazz.

As of Thursday, it had been more than a decade since either of the Wizards was able to grab at least 10 defensive rebounds and 10 offensive rebounds in a game.

“He is the first Wizards player to have 10 offensive and 10 defensive rebounds in a game since Antawn Jamison on January 30, 2010,” Ax, formerly of ESPN Insights, shared via a social media post on Twitter.

On January 30, 2010, Jamison totaled 21 points and 23 rebounds in a 106–96 home win over the New York Knicks. He had 12 defensive boards and another 11 from the offensive side of the court.

Julian’s rebounding effort against the Houston Jazz was perfect for Reese. His sister is also known for her brilliant talent. In her first two seasons in the WNBA, Angel averaged 12.9 rebounds in 64 games.

A product of the Maryland Terrapins basketball program, Julian was signed by the Wizards to a two-way contract in February. Unless he’s called up to the G League, Julien will try to keep his momentum going against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Nottingham Forest goalkeeper John plans short-term return to Brazil According to a report from the local outlet, his recovery continues after knee surgery Earth.

The 30-year-old Premier League star is expected to complete the final stages of his rehabilitation at Botafogo’s training center in Rio de Janeiro.

John underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in London on January 14 after suffering cartilage damage earlier this year. Before the injury, he had established himself as Nottingham Forest’s first-choice goalkeeper and had already received two call-ups to the Brazil national team at the end of 2025.

The plan now is to accelerate his path to full fitness while keeping his international ambitions alive ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Final stages of Nottingham Forest recovery

The player himself recently decision explained To undergo surgery. now aAccording to O Globo, John has already completed most of the physical conditioning phases of his recovery. The training step in Botafogo is intended to support the final phase before returning to full field work.

The Rio club holds personal significance for the goalkeeper. John previously played for Botafogo and was part of the team that won both the Copa Libertadores and the Brazilian League during his time there. As a result, the club’s facilities and atmosphere are seen as a comfortable setting for his rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, Brazil national team staff have maintained regular contact with the goalkeeper until his recovery. Being in Brazil could make his negotiations easier as he approaches the crucial stage of his comeback.

comeback race for nottingham forest

For Nottingham Forest, the main issue is time. John became a central figure in the team’s Premier League campaign before the season was disrupted by injury.

His rehabilitation suggests a return to the pitch is getting closer. However, the club will likely take a cautious approach to avoid setbacks following knee surgery.

From John’s perspective, the motivation is clear. He broke into the Brazil setup last year and now aims to remain in the conversation ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

If the recovery proceeds without complications, Forest could soon have their first-choice goalkeeper back. And the player may still have a chance to keep his international hopes alive.

Someone stole the spotlight from Trae Young’s debut for the Washington Wizards on Thursday night at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.

And it’s none other than Julian Reese, brother of Chicago Sky star forward Angel Reese.

In his third game in the NBA, Julian Reese accomplished a historic feat, as he finished with 18 points on 5/7 shooting from the field and a total of 20 rebounds – 10 defensive and 10 offensive. He also added two assists and a steal in 38 minutes of work, however, in a 122–112 loss to the visiting Jazz.

As of Thursday, it had been more than a decade since either of the Wizards was able to grab at least 10 defensive rebounds and 10 offensive rebounds in a game.

“He is the first Wizards player to have 10 offensive and 10 defensive rebounds in a game since Antawn Jamison on January 30, 2010,” Ax, formerly of ESPN Insights, shared via a social media post on Twitter.

On January 30, 2010, Jamison totaled 21 points and 23 rebounds in a 106–96 home win over the New York Knicks. He had 12 defensive boards and another 11 from the offensive side of the court.

Julian’s rebounding effort against the Houston Jazz was perfect for Reese. His sister is also known for her brilliant talent. In her first two seasons in the WNBA, Angel averaged 12.9 rebounds in 64 games.

A product of the Maryland Terrapins basketball program, Julian was signed by the Wizards to a two-way contract in February. Unless he’s called up to the G League, Julien will try to keep his momentum going against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The Washington Wizards made two blockbuster trades at this offseason’s deadline, acquiring two stars in Trae Young and Anthony Davis. But while Trae Young is set to make his Wizards debut this week, a debut for Anthony Davis is a little less clear as he continues to work on his injury recovery.

On Thursday, the Wizards released a new update on Anthony Davis, saying that the big man’s hand injury was re-evaluated this week, and he is now able to make progress on limited individual on-court basketball activities. The team also said that Davis will be re-evaluated in two weeks and that’s when the next update will come.

Davis was acquired by the Wizards in a trade with the Dallas Mavericks a day before the deadline. Davis suffered injuries during his tenure with the Mavericks, and was already sidelined at the time of the deal.

An All-Star caliber and Defensive Player of the Year candidate when healthy, Davis has been limited to just 20 games this season, a little over 31 minutes per game. He averaged 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.7 blocked shots while splitting 50.6 percent shooting from the field, 27 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 72.8 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

The Wizards’ addition of Young and Davis signals a shift from rebuilding the franchise to now being able to compete in the Eastern Conference. The team has fielded a solid young group of players, some of whom were on display during the Rising Stars competition at All-Star Weekend. Davis and Young give the team capable, proven stars to help lead the group.

As the playoff season approaches, the Timberwolves have added running back Kyle Anderson to the team. Anderson is no stranger to Minnesota fans, as he played with the Timberwolves from 2022 to 2024. After playing with the Warriors, Heat, Jazz and Grizzlies, he has now returned to the Timberwolves after being waived by Memphis.

Rudy Gobert, the starting center for the Timberwolves, jokingly teased Anderson upon his return to the team. In a clip posted by Underdog NBA, Gobert explained what the team missed without Kyle Anderson.

“I think just passing the ball…Yeah, somebody that wants to pass the ball to his teammates.”

But Gobert acknowledged after his joke that Anderson brings an important skill in playmaking to the team.

“But yes, he’s a coordinator. So, somebody who makes plays for his teammates.

Kyle Anderson began the season with the Utah Jazz, a team he landed in the 2025 offseason after being included in a three-team trade. With the Jazz, he averaged 7.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists. He was then part of the huge trade deadline move that sent Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz. He played four games with the Grizzlies before ultimately being released by the team.

The addition of Andersen to the Timberwolves’ rotation gives them more depth at forward. He can also serve as a veteran presence in the locker room. As a veteran vet over his 12-year career, he also saw the Timberwolves achieve contender status, as he was a member of the 2024 Minnesota team that reached the Western Conference Finals against the then-Luka Doncic-led Dallas Mavericks.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic, two players who have jockeyed for the top spot in the NBA MVP rankings all season, have played two games against each other so far this season. The Oklahoma City Thunder and SGA claimed the first matchup, setting up a highly anticipated game between these two foes on Friday.

Once again, the Thunder were victorious over the Denver Nuggets, winning 127–121 in overtime. Although Jokic had 23 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists in the game for his league-leading 22nd triple-double of the season, it was Gilgeous-Alexander who grabbed the headlines with 36 points in his first game after suffering an abdominal strain before the All-Star break.

It was a big game for Gilgeous-Alexander to get back into action, but this head-to-head matchup against the three-time MVP certainly mattered to the defending league MVP. Besides being a chance for the Thunder to extend their lead in the Western Conference standings, it was a chance for Gilgeous-Alexander to prove that he should win back-to-back MVP awards.

Well, after another strong performance against Jokic and the Nuggets, the Oklahoma City star is back in the top spot in the NBA MVP rankings with six weeks remaining in the regular season.

There are two more showdowns left against these two MVP candidates, and these battles will undoubtedly carry equal importance in helping determine this year’s MVP. However, there is still an outside chance for others to steal the first-place votes.

Cade Cunningham is having a great season and has extended the Detroit Pistons’ lead to the 1st-seed in the East. Jaylen Brown has led the Boston Celtics to the second-best record in the East without Jayson Tatum, and Luka Doncic leads the league in scoring for the Los Angeles Lakers.

And then there’s Victor Wembanyama, who continues to lead the San Antonio Spurs, who are just three games behind Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder in the West standings, and who has dominated Oklahoma City this season.

Can any of these other MVP candidates surpass Jokic or Gilgeous-Alexander over the next several weeks? This is where the MVP rankings currently stand, now that SGA is back on top.

Previous 2023-24 NBA MVP Rankings: Week 18 | Week 17 | Week 16 | Week 15 | Week 14 | Week 13 | Week 12 | Week 11 | Week 10 | Week 9 | Week 8 | Week 7 | Week 6 | Week 5 | Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | week 1

1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – Oklahoma City Thunder*

Previous ranking: #2

2025-26 season stats: 51 games, 31.8 points, 6.4 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 55.1 FG%, 38.1 3P%

*Only a maximum of 6 more games can be left to remain eligible.

Gilgeous-Alexander missed nine consecutive games before returning against Jokic and the Nuggets on Friday night, meaning he is only allowed to miss six more games for the remainder of the season to remain eligible for season-ending honors and awards such as MVP.

Gilgeous-Alexander did not look stiff at any point in this game, as he made 12 of 29 shots from the floor and scored 36 points, while also recording nine assists. He followed that performance up with another 30-point performance on Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks, leading Oklahoma City to two consecutive wins.

The Thunder are now three games ahead of the Spurs for the 1-seed in the Western Conference, and Gilgeous-Alexander has moved closer to history with his two big-scoring performances since returning from injury.

Gilgeous-Alexander has now scored at least 20 points in 123 straight games, meaning he is three games away from tying Wilt Chamberlain’s record of 126 consecutive games with 20-plus points.

2. Nikola Jokic – Denver Nuggets*

Previous ranking: #1

2025-26 season stats: 45 games, 28.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 10.5 assists, 1.4 steals, 57.0 FG%, 40.1 3P%

*A maximum of 1 more game can be missed to remain eligible.

As good as Jokic’s numbers may look, he hasn’t looked like himself since returning from his hyperextended left knee.

In the 13 games that Jokic has played since returning from a knee injury, the Nuggets star has averaged 26.8 points, 13.8 rebounds and 9.2 assists per game, while shooting 49 percent from the floor. Obviously, these are MVP-like stats, but what stands out is his 4.1 turnovers per game during this span.

Jokic’s efficiency has declined, his shooting splits have decreased, and turnovers are a concern. Needless to mention, Denver is not playing well overall and is now down to the 5-seed in the Western Conference.

These are the main reasons why Jokic has fallen behind Gilgeous-Alexander in the MVP race.

3. Cade Cunningham – Detroit Pistons

Previous ranking: #3

2025-26 season stats: 53 games, 25.5 points, 9.8 assists, 5.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 46.0 FG%, 33.2 3P%

Besides Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic, if there is another player who needs to be voted for MVP this season, it has to be Cade Cunningham. Aside from the “feel-good” story with the Detroit Pistons, Cunningham has arguably been the best full guard in the league this season, making a greater two-way impact than Gilgeous-Alexander.

Only Jokic has provided more assists than Cunningham this year, and what the Pistons’ star has done to lead his team to the top of the East standings is remarkable. Not only is he doing this with his scoring, but Cade has set a tough standard for how the Pistons will play every night.

He doesn’t back down from any opponent and Cunningham takes on his opponent for the full 48 minutes and puts all the pressure of the game on them. It’s what’s allowed Jalen Duren to have a breakout All-Star campaign, and it’s what’s allowed this young Pistons team to suddenly go from being the favorite to make it to the NBA Finals in the East.

Between rarely missing a game and being on the team with the best winning percentage in the entire NBA, Cunningham is definitely in the MVP race with SGA and Jokic. Quite honestly, if you look at the MVP race from the perspective of a player who has exceeded expectations at the top of the league, Cunningham Is MVP. If you ask JB Bickerstaff, he’d agree.

4. Victor Wembanyama – San Antonio Spurs*

Previous ranking: #4

2025-26 season stats: 46 games, 23.7 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.9 blocks, 50.1 FG%, 34.1 3P%

*Can only miss a maximum of 4 more games to remain eligible.

Since the All-Star break, Victor Wembanyama has averaged 19.2 points, 12.0 rebounds and 4.3 blocks per game, while shooting 42.7 percent from the floor. His plus-minus stats over his last six games are among the best in the league, but Wembley’s MVP case has unfortunately come down to where the San Antonio Spurs finish in the West standings.

Should the Spurs move on from Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder, it would be difficult to deny Wembley the MVP award as he will have the numbers and best record in the NBA to back it up.

However, for the moment, what Gilgeous-Alexander has done with the best record in the West is surpassing Vembanyama’s success. While many would argue that this is an individual award that should be given to the league’s best player throughout the season, team success always plays a role in the race for this award each year.

This season is no different, and while Wembley can increase his MVP odds by racking up his playoffs in the stretch run of the season, the Spurs will still need to pass the Thunder in the standings to win the MVP.

5. Luka Doncic – Los Angeles Lakers*

Previous ranking: #5

2025-26 season stats: 48 games, 32.5 points, 8.6 assists, 7.7 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 47.3 FG%, 36.0 3P%

*Can only miss a maximum of 5 more games to remain eligible.

The only MVP case for Luka Doncic at this point might be that he leads the league in scoring, and his nearly triple-double numbers are the best of his career. While both of those things may be true, one can’t argue with Doncic being ahead of any of the other four players in the MVP rankings.

Not only is Doncic behind the level of play of Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic, but expectations for both Cunningham and Wembanyama make more sense in this race as well. In addition, the Los Angeles Lakers have not been playing well recently and are in danger of falling into the play-in zone of the West standings.

Very few players have won the MVP award while their team was not at the top of the league standings, and those who did had historic seasons that will forever be remembered in NBA history. That’s not the case with Doncic this year.

just missing the cut

6. Jaylen Brown – Boston Celtics [Ranked No. 6 last week]

7. Anthony Edwards – Minnesota Timberwolves [Ranked No. 8 last week]

8. Donovan Mitchell – Cleveland Cavaliers [Ranked No. 7 last week]

9. Jalen Brunson – New York Knicks [Ranked No. 9 last week]

10. Kevin Durant – Houston Rockets [Ranked No. 10]

*Signals players are in danger of meeting the 65-game minimum threshold for awards/accolades.

Some view Dwyane Wade as one of the best basketball players in the modern NBA, and his portfolio supports that claim. His portfolio also supports that he is a very successful entrepreneur, but that’s a story for another day.

The Miami Heat legend is also a rotating hybrid game and studio analyst for Amazon Prime Video’s NBA coverage, and if this latest clip is anything to go by, Wade doesn’t need all the hustle. That’s because he still has it, as evidenced by a clip from the NBA on Prime set, according to a post on X by ClutchPoints.

He still got it!

Dwyane Wade hits a no-look jumper 🔥

(via @NBAonPrime)

pic.twitter.com/skonV7g5Qc

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 28 February 2026

In it, Wade can be seen hitting and sinking a no-look jumper with almost overconfidence before casually strolling over and patting several team members. Wade is part of a star-studded NBA on Prime roster that also includes Blake Griffin, Dirk Nowitzki, Udonis Haslem, Steve Nash and Candace Parker.

“Light work for D.Wade,” the clip said.

Spending the majority of his career with the Miami Heat, Wade won three NBA championships (2006, 2012, 2013) and was named 2006 NBA Finals MVP. Statistically, his dominance is undeniable: he earned 13 All-Star selections, eight All-NBA Team nods and three All-Defensive Team honors.

During his peak in the 2008–09 season, Wade won the NBA scoring title by leading the league in both total points (2,386) and points per game (30.2). To date, he remains the Miami Heat’s all-time franchise leader in points, games played, assists, steals, shots and shots taken, while he also holds the NBA’s all-time record for blocked shots by a guard.

And well, Wade is finding similar success off the court. They have aggressively bought into sports ownership, acquiring minority stakes in the NBA’s Utah Jazz (2021), the WNBA’s Chicago Sky (2023), and the MLS/NWSL’s Real Salt Lake and Utah Royals.

Through his 59th & Prairie Entertainment banner, he has become a heavyweight producer, garnering two Sports Emmy Awards (for The Redeem Team and The Dads) and an Oscar nomination for the short documentary The Barber of Little Rock.

La Liga president Javier Tebas has taken aim at Everton and Aston Villa in his continued complaints about Premier League spending.

Mundo Deportivo covered La Liga Supreme’s comments today. And it looks like Everton and Aston Villa are on target this time.

Tebas regularly complains about the Premier League’s spending power compared to La Liga. It is a constant point of complaint for the Spanish chief, who believes English clubs are being allowed to operate unfairly.

The complaints persist despite changes to spending rules this summer.

PSR abandoned

The Premier League is abandoning its old PSR model to adopt a more UEFA-compliant model. Under the current system, clubs cannot make a loss of more than £105m over a three-year period.

This will be deemed obsolete and replaced by rules that allow clubs to spend up to 85% of their revenue on transfers, wages and agent fees.

The new rules will also prevent actions by clubs such as selling assets such as hotels and women’s teams to circumvent financial rules.

Everton and Aston Villa have both used it in recent years. To make room for transfer spending, Everton sold Everton Women to Roundhouse Capital Holdings in July 2025. Aston Villa have sold their women’s team to a parent holding company in a deal reportedly worth £55m in early 2025.

Chelsea’s deal was even bigger, reportedly worth around £200 million. This allowed them to turn a large loss into a pre-tax profit.

Everton and Aston Villa in the firing line

However, he seems to have avoided the wrath of Tebas. Instead, he took aim at Everton and Aston Villa in his comments at a press conference in London.

“We’re fooling ourselves,” He said.

“It is commendable that we are demanding Financial Fair Play rules. But the turnover of English football, excluding transfers, is twice that of the Spanish League and twice that of the Bundesliga, which is next in line.

“With normal financial fair play, its investment potential will always be double. We know we cannot compete financially with the Premier League.

“We can sign better players, hire better coaches, but we can’t compete. The Premier League alone, with normal financial fair play, is enough to be number one by a wide margin.”

Pete Crowe-Armstrong will give Los Angeles Dodgers fans reason to make him Public Enemy No. 1 when the Chicago Cubs visit LaLa Land in April.

In his second full season in the big leagues, the man nicknamed PCA took Chicago sports by storm. After an up-and-down 2024, the former New York Mets prospect took a big step forward last season. Posting 31 homers, 95 runs batted-in, 91 runs batted in, and 35 stolen bases. Additionally, his slugging and OPS were up nearly .100 points from the previous season.

The outfielder walked away with a lot of upside from a prospect that the organization was still developing for a starting MVP candidate in 2025. The 23-year-old has become the new face of the franchise, and unsurprisingly, he has been a top focus of the Chicago media in Spring Training. Along with this also comes a lot of interviews ahead of the new season.

In a new conversation with Chicago Magazine, PCA talked about his love for Chicago and its sports fans. While doing so, he took an interesting shot at one of his home-state teams. The current big evil of MLB, the LA Dodgers.

Pete Crowe-Armstrong claims LA Dodgers fans come to games only to take photos

“I love Chicago,” Crowe-Armstrong said. “It’s an incredible city. The people are great. They give a shit. They’re not just baseball fans who go to the games to take pictures and do whatever, like Dodgers fans. They’re paying attention. They care.”

This comment would further endear him to Cubs fans, and his honesty is part of his unique charm. However, baseball fans in LA will definitely be tuning in for a three-game set when Chicago visits Chavez Ravine in late April.

Although the comments will be stinging, they will not necessarily be baseless. While Los Angeles has millions of dedicated sports fans, the group has always had a reputation for coming to games late and having a very casual attitude about loving their teams.

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

Sacramento Kings star point guard Russell Westbrook always plays at 100 mph.

During the first quarter of Sacramento’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedExForum in Memphis, the former NBA Most Valuable Player’s offensive play claimed a victim in the form of a Flor Bear.

While bringing the ball up the court, Westbrook was hit by Memphis guard Scottie Pippen Jr. and fouled. This sent Westbrook to the sideline, where he inadvertently stepped on a drink (probably beer). The sheer force of Westbrook’s speed caused the drink to spill over him and onto the floor, delaying the game as it took some time to clean up the mess on the court.

Meanwhile, Westbrook took a seat at courtside as things settled down. He can also be seen asking for a towel to wipe the drink from his body.

Russell Westbrook spikes courtside fan’s drink at Kings-Grizzlies 💦😭pic.twitter.com/ERpobw8ZdE

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 24 February 2026

Symbolically speaking, that drink could represent the type of season Westbrook and the Kings are having. Sacramento has been consistently pursued by teams heading into the 2025-26 NBA campaign.

In fact, the Kings entered Monday on a terrible losing streak, as they have lost 16 consecutive games. With a 12-46 record heading into Grizzlies games, the Kings are the worst team in the league at the moment based on the standings.

However, Sacramento’s record won’t be a factor in how the 37-year-old Westbrook, who is signing a one-year deal with the Kings, performs in every game, as he can be expected to continue playing like everything is on the line.

There are a lot of worthy candidates and compelling storylines in the 2025-26 NBA MVP race, so much so that some fans think the award is theirs. The latest ESPN straw poll suggests otherwise. Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is in position to retain his crown.

A panel consisting of 100 local, national and international media members believe the 27-year-old guard is the man responsible for the beating. Gilgeous-Alexander received 78 first-place votes, surpassing Nikola Jokic (18), Cade Cunningham (1), Victor Vembanyama (3) and the rest of the field. With a lead of 230 points, the consensus is that a player will earn MVP honors in back-to-back seasons for the seventh time since 2006.

A lot has changed since ESPN’s initial survey in December. Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic were locked in a tight battle, with only 15 first-place votes and 43 total points separating the former from the latter. Luka Doncic also secured third place. Due to another injury, the NBA’s scoring leader (points per game) lost much of the lead and fell to fifth in the second poll. The Los Angeles Lakers’ position in the Western Conference standings (fifth) may be a factor.

The Thunder have held first place in the West throughout the season (although the San Antonio Spurs are close). Gilgeous-Alexander is the best player predicted by many to become the league’s first repeat champion in eight years. Stability is also working in their favor.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can easily overtake his competitors

Although the 2025 NBA Finals MVP is currently dealing with an abdominal strain, he has only missed seven games to this point in the campaign. Jokic is dangerously close to falling below the mandatory 65-game requirement (with only one more contest to go), and Wembanyama and Doncic don’t have much room for themselves. Cunningham, who has played in 48 of 54 possible games, could emerge as Gilgeous-Alexander’s biggest competition.

It’s important to note that these votes were tallied before the Detroit Pistons cornerstone rolled into Madison Square Garden and torched the New York Knicks for 42 points, 13 assists, eight rebounds and two blocks. While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to recover from his injury, Cade Cunningham has the perfect opportunity to delight voters with his superbly versatile skill set. He is also leading the team that currently has the best record in the NBA.

The Thunder and Pistons face off next Wednesday at Little Caesars Arena, but based on the latest updates, OKC could be without their top man for that potential MVP showcase. Cunningham can still dominate and find grace, which he will need a lot of if there is to be any suspense around this awards race.

Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.8 points, 6.4 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, while shooting 55.4 percent from the field (career high) and 39.0 percent from 3-point range. The three-time All-NBA First-Team selection is truly in the midst of a stellar performance, and his trophy collection reflects as much. Assuming he can return to action soon, Gilgeous-Alexander may need to make room for more hardware.

The Phoenix Suns may not have gotten the start they wanted toward the end of the season, but Jalen Green may have been a ray of hope in Thursday’s 121-94 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

He scored 26 points in 26 minutes, but it was not the point total that stood out. This was his confidence. After Green battled a hamstring injury for most of the season, the All-Star break was the perfect time to settle things down.

He also talked about using the break to get his physical condition back to 100%. Following the loss, Green stated via Duane Rankin of AZCentral that he felt he was in control of where he was.

“I feel good. It’s the first time I’ve felt this good all season,” Green said after the game.

Having Jalen Green at 100% does wonders for the Suns

His availability has been the biggest question throughout the season. In the small sample size, Green offers something that no one else on the Suns can provide.

Lethal scoring, unmatched athleticism and underrated playmaking ability. At just 24, he appears to be just scratching the surface of his potential.

Playing with Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks certainly helps him too, but Green has his own unique style of play.

No one on the team can really attack downhill like he can and put pressure on the basket. Despite “missing” some of his usual looks, the fact that he is attacking the paint with confidence is a huge positive.

With Booker missing part of Thursday’s game due to right hip soreness, Green may be the one carrying the responsibility to put the team on his back and carry him into the season finale.

West Ham United’s Edson Alvarez has been on loan at Fenerbahçe since the summer.

The Mexico international has not had a good run with the Istanbul club, mainly due to injuries and fitness issues.

To put this into context, the West Ham-owned player has missed more than 85 days since joining Fenerbahçe. This limited his playing time in all competitions to 1,125 minutes from 17 matches.

west ham player status

The defensive midfielder has made three appearances this calendar year and has not featured for the Turkish club since February 2. Recent claims from Türkiye that the 28-year-old man was most likely stabbed have now reached Mexico.

you can This is relayed to Mexico and then given their opinion on the current situation of the West Ham man. Journalist Mauricio Yamme has shared the latest..

Both the national team and Yellow Canaries specialists are monitoring Álvarez’s ankle injury.

Since he is still contracted to Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, West Ham will have a big role to play in his recovery process. According to Yemey, the Hammers need to make a final decision on whether he will undergo surgery or not.

Injury a matter of concern for the national team

Journalists insist there is hope in the Mexican camp that he will avoid going under the knife. This is because if the former Ajax man undergoes surgery his recovery will take ‘a very long time’.

This is worrying for Mexico as he will certainly miss the March international break and his participation in the next World Cup could be in doubt.

What’s next for Alvarez?

Despite his limited role for the Super Lig side, the Mexican attracted interest from elsewhere in the winter market. Last month, Fenerbahçe Director Devin Ozek Close His exit door was curious after being confirmed by several clubs.

Fenerbahçe has €22m purchase option and Sport Witness Turkish claims covered That it is high for them.

If Álvarez’s loan stay is not made permanent he will return to West Ham.

Aston Villa may have to rethink their numbers if they want to make a comeback for Jenni Catamo. according to recordThe Sporting CP winger has now renewed his contract until 2029, strengthening the Portuguese club’s position after months of transfer noise.

The new deal sets his release clause at €60m (£51m) and almost doubles his wages. Catamo will now earn around €700,000 (£600,000) a year, up from around €400,000 (£340,000).

This is the second renewal in more than a year, following its previous extension in December 2023. Sporting knows that Aston Villa is interested And are clearly protecting both a key player and valuable asset.

New Deal Support Form

Time is not random. Catamo has been one of Sporting’s standout performers this season. Since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, he has scored three goals in league, cup and Champions League matches. In the AFCON, he found the net twice and helped Mozambique reach the knockout stage.

Overall, the 25-year-old has scored 10 goals and provided six assists in 36 appearances for club and country this season. He is now one goal away from equaling his best senior scoring campaign and one assist short of equaling his previous personal best. Their influence has increased, and so has outside interest.

Summer still open despite renovation

last summer, Aston Villa made an approach. Fenerbahçe also reached €20m (£17m). Sporting demanded between €25–30m (£21–26m) and refused to sell.

The record now suggests Sporting would be open to negotiations for a figure slightly above €20m (£17m) in the summer. However, with interest from clubs in England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France, his base could easily expand if his form continues. Galatasaray has also been linked before.

Sporting have secured Catamo’s immediate future, but they have not closed the door to a sale. Instead, they have strengthened their negotiating power.

If Aston Villa revisit the situation, they will face a more protected player, stronger numbers and a market that may be more demanding than last year.