標籤: Tyler

Tyler Reddick has been the best driver in NASCAR this season, becoming the first driver since Dale Earnhardt three decades ago to win five of the first nine races on the schedule. This all comes at the perfect time as the driver of the No. 45 car is in a contract year.

Appearing on Fox Sports this Sunday, Reddick revealed on the broadcast that he has signed a contract extension to remain with 23XI Racing through the 2027 season.

• tyler reddick stats: 5 wins, 6 top-five finishes, 7 top-10 finishes, 6.1 average starting position, 5.0 average finishing position in nine races

This shouldn’t be much of a surprise. 23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin said on his podcast in March that an extension with Redick would be done “soon.” The reports emerged after a few weeks of changes. This came a month after NASCAR insider Jordan Bianchi said there were expectations around the garage that a deal would be signed during the season.

It’s already been a memorable year for Redick. In February, he became the first driver in 23XI history to win the Daytona 500. He got it off to a historic start, becoming the first Cup Series driver to win the first three races of the season.

Along the way, Reddick broke 23XI’s previous single-season record for wins. He is also a favorite to win the regular season points championship, which would be his second title in the last three seasons.

It has been a remarkable turnaround after a challenging 2025 season. He failed to win a race last year and was eliminated at the Round of 12, just a year after reaching Championship 4. All this happened at a time when he and his wife’s newborn baby were hospitalized due to a chest tumor that had affected his heart. Fast forward to 2026, his son is better and Redick has now signed a long-term deal with 23XI.

Although terms of the deal were not disclosed, reports last week indicated that the new contract will make Reddick one of the highest-paid drivers in NASCAR. 23XI Racing’s future also appears to be in jeopardy from contract extensions, with Reddick driving the No. 45 car, Bubba Wallace driving the No. 23 and top prospect Corey Heim expected to replace Riley Herbst in the No. 35 car next season.

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

After 23XI Racing effectively won its lawsuit against NASCAR, securing a permanent charter and a large financial settlement, the team’s focus turned to re-signing Tyler Reddick. With contract negotiations stretching into the season, the new asking price could be staggering.

Sports Business Journal’s Adam Stern reported this week that industry executives have estimated that Reddick’s demands in the NASCAR Fool’s Season could push his contract demand to as much as $7 million per season.

RELATED: NASCAR Power Rankings after Bristol, see where Tyler Reddick lands

It’s not hard to see why there could be an intense bidding war for Redick. Not only is 23XI Racing looking to bring him back to the No. 45 car long-term, but Hendrick Motorsports is also likely to have the No. 48 car available.

Bowman’s contract year has been derailed by vertigo, which has kept him out of four races, effectively leaving him with no realistic shot at making The Chase. He was already viewed as the hot seat entering the season, Hendrick wanted to find a driver who could give him another Cup Series championship contender.

RELATED: Denny Hamlin Addresses Tyler Reddick’s Future With 23XI

With the two teams making the most money, Reddick could use 23XI and Hendricks against each other to generate bigger offers. He’s also ready to hit the open market at just the right time in his Cup Series career.

It certainly would have been cheaper for 23XI to sign Redick to an extension before the season. He was coming off a winless season, seemingly taking a step back from winning the team’s first regular season cup title. Fast forward to now, he has made more team history.

Reddick became the first 23XI driver to win the Daytona 500 and the first driver to win three consecutive Cup Series races. Even before April hit, he broke the team’s single-season wins record with four trips to Victory Lane.

Realistically, 23XI will sign Redick to a new contract before the summer ends, and that could be followed by an announcement later this year that top prospect Corey Haim will replace Riley Herbst in the No. 35 car next season. In all likelihood, 23XI will have a three-driver team of Reddick, Hamm and Bubba Wallace in the near future.

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 New Orleans Saints finished last season on a high note by winning four of their last five games. Now, the Saints are looking to take the next step in their development, and franchise quarterback Tyler Shaw has an idea how to do it.

The Saints have eight selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, including three in the top 75 selections. Shaw wants the Saints to use one of them at receiver, who was his former college teammate at Louisville.

According to wide receiver draft prospect Chris Bell, Shaw is campaigning internally for the Saints to draft his old teammate.

“He said he wants me so bad, and he’s putting my name forward,” via WHAS 11’s Sarandon Raboin.

Bell is coming off a career-high 917 yards and six touchdowns in 2025 before tearing his ACL in November. He is expected to be ready for the start of NFL training camp. He also had a strong season in 2024, catching passes from Shaw, recording 737 yards and four touchdowns.

Now both want their connection to continue in New Orleans. Bell is viewed as a potential late first-round selection, with a higher chance of being selected at some point on Day 2. Holding the eighth, 42nd and 73rd picks, the Saints should have a good chance to land Bell on draft weekend.

RELATED: 2026 NFL mock draft after the first wave of free agency

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

從肯塔基大學到邁阿密熱火隊，泰勒赫羅一直是一名熱愛籃球的球員。他是兩支球隊都深受球迷喜愛的球員，作為教練和隊友，他似乎是很容易被喜歡的球員。當聽到阿肯色州現任主教練約翰·卡利帕里在帕特·邁克菲秀上分享的故事時，就不難看出原因了。

「泰勒希羅住在健身房..

有一天早上我走進去，他正在更衣室的椅子上睡覺，因為他不想穿過馬路去旅館。

如果你不住在健身房裡，你永遠不會成功」~ @CoachCalArk #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/Rp1QLPO9fe

— 帕特·麥克菲 (@PatMcAfeeShow) 2026 年 3 月 24 日

赫羅在肯塔基大學與卡爾教練一起度過了一年，場均上場近 33 分鐘，得到 14 分。在野貓隊期間，他是一個新秀，自從加入熱火隊以來，他每年的賽季都在進步，這很可能證實了他在成為職業球員後並沒有離開他的健身房迷傾向。赫羅在卡利帕里麾下的巔峰時刻出現在 2019 年甜蜜 16 強賽中，當時他投中反超三分，晉級精英八強。

野貓隊在接下來的一輪中輸給了排名第五的奧本大學，但赫羅入選了該地區的全錦標賽球隊，鞏固了自己在即將到來的 NBA 選秀中的頭號新秀的地位。他在很大程度上要歸功於那個賽季的職業道德和他的教練。

卡利帕里在肯塔基州又度過了五個賽季，然後前往阿肯色州。他帶領剃刀鯨隊本賽季取得了 22 勝 8 負的戰績，在第二輪擊敗海波因特隊後，現在將在甜蜜 16 強中對陣亞利桑那隊。卡利帕里正在尋求他的第二個全國冠軍，他的第一次全國冠軍是在 2022 年隨肯塔基州隊獲得的，但自從泰勒·赫羅在野貓隊的那一年以來，他還沒有在錦標賽中取得過這麼遠的成績。

NASCAR 杯系列赛车手泰勒·雷迪克 (Tyler Reddick) 周日在达灵顿 (Darlington) 取得了本赛季的第四场胜利，为 23XI Racing 在赛季开始后仅六场比赛中创下的单赛季胜利纪录。这一切都发生在合同年，纳斯卡愚蠢的赛季即将到来，雷迪克的未来是最大的故事情节。

在周一的《Actions Detrimental》节目中，23XI Racing 的共同所有者丹尼·哈姆林 (Denny Hamlin) 表示，球队应该很快与雷迪克完成续约。

相关：早期 NASCAR 愚蠢的赛季预测，包括泰勒·雷迪克

“是的，是的，毫无疑问。这很快就会完成。他应得的一切，他刚刚做了出色的工作。”

丹尼·哈姆林 (Denny Hamlin) 表示 23XI Racing 和迈克尔·乔丹 (Michael Jordan) 将“支持 BRINKS 卡车”以重新签下车手泰勒·雷迪克 (Tyler Reddick)

甚至在代托纳 500 比赛之前，人们就预计雷迪克将与 23XI 签订新合同。 《The Athletic》记者乔丹·比安奇在他的播客中指出，球队预计会“倾家荡产”来留住雷迪克。

这位 30 岁的杯系列赛车手在两个赛季前创造了车队历史，成为第一个赢得常规赛冠军并第四次夺得冠军的 23XI 车手。现在，雷迪克以领先第二名 95 分的优势稳坐 NASCAR 积分榜榜首，他很有可能在三年内赢得两个常规赛冠军。如果本赛季这样做，进入 The Chase 将会获得 25 分的奖励。

相关：为什么科里·海姆没有全职 23XI Racing Cup 骑行

假设雷迪克在未来几周内获得续约，23XI 的两名顶级车手将至少在接下来的两个赛季中签订合同。明年车队也可能会变得更加强大，因为顶级新秀科里·海姆 (Corey Heim) 有望取代莱利·赫布斯特 (Riley Herbst) 全职驾驶 35 号赛车。

对于 23XI 来说，2026 年的竞选已经取得了历史性的成功，距离在法庭上击败 NASCAR 并达成和解以保证车队获得永久特许权仅剩几个月的时间。这场胜利延续到了本赛季，23XI 很有可能在 2026 年接近车主积分榜榜首。

相关：纳斯卡实力排名，看看泰勒·雷迪克和丹尼·哈姆林的排名

马特·约翰逊 (Matt Johnson) 是《Sportsnaut》杂志《NFL》和《大学橄榄球》的高级编辑。他的工作包括每周 NFL 和大学……有关马特·约翰逊的更多信息

NASCAR 杯系列賽車手泰勒·雷迪克 (Tyler Reddick) 週日在達靈頓 (Darlington) 取得了本賽季的第四場勝利，為 23XI Racing 在賽季開始後僅六場比賽中創下的單賽季勝利紀錄。這一切都發生在合約年，納斯卡愚蠢的賽季即將到來，雷迪克的未來是最大的故事情節。

在周一的《Actions Detrimental》節目中，23XI Racing 的共同所有者 Denny Hamlin 表示，球隊應該很快就會與雷迪克完成續約。

相關：早期 NASCAR 愚蠢的賽季預測，包括泰勒雷迪克

“是的，是的，毫無疑問。這很快就會完成。他應得的一切，他剛剛做了出色的工作。”

丹尼·哈姆林 (Denny Hamlin) 表示 23XI Racing 和邁克爾·喬丹 (Michael Jordan) 將“支持 BRINKS 卡車”以重新簽下車手泰勒·雷迪克 (Tyler Reddick)

甚至在代托納 500 比賽之前，人們就預計雷迪克將與 23XI 簽訂新合約。 《The Athletic》記者喬丹·比安奇在他的播客中指出，球隊預計會「傾家蕩產」來留住雷迪克。

這位 30 歲的杯系列賽車手在兩個賽季前創造了車隊歷史，成為第一個贏得常規賽冠軍並第四次奪冠的 23XI 車手。現在，雷迪克以領先第二名 95 分的優勢穩坐 NASCAR 積分榜榜首，他很有可能在三年內贏得兩個常規賽冠軍。如果本賽季這樣做，進入 The Chase 將獲得 25 分的獎勵。

相關：為什麼科里·海姆沒有全職 23XI Racing Cup 騎行

假設雷迪克在未來幾週內獲得續約，23XI 的兩名頂級車手將至少在接下來的兩個賽季中簽訂合約。明年車隊也可能會變得更加強大，因為頂級新秀科里·海姆 (Corey Heim) 有望取代萊利·赫布斯特 (Riley Herbst) 全職駕駛 35 號賽車。

對於 23XI 來說，2026 年的競選活動已經取得了歷史性的成功，距離在法庭上擊敗 NASCAR 並達成和解以保證車隊獲得永久特許權僅剩幾個月的時間。這場勝利延續到了本賽季，23XI 很有可能在 2026 年接近車主積分榜榜首。

相關：納斯卡實力排名，看看泰勒·雷迪克和丹尼·哈姆林的排名

馬特·約翰遜 (Matt Johnson) 是《Sportsnaut》雜誌《NFL》和《大學橄欖球》的高級編輯。他的工作包括每週 NFL 和大學……有關馬特·約翰遜的更多信息

Sunday is usually a day of rest. But not for New York Knicks guard Tyler Kolek.

Kolek helped the Knicks defeat the Washington Wizards 145–113 at Madison Square Garden, finishing with 11 points on 4-of-4 shooting, including 3-of-4 from long range in just five minutes off the bench.

New York won its sixth consecutive game and went ahead 47–25.

Kolek, 24, was a very busy man on Sunday. Before being called up by the Knicks, he starred for the Westchester Knicks in the G League earlier in the day and dropped 42 points and 11 assists in a 141-131 win over the Greensboro Swarm at the Westchester County Center.

The second-year guard went 15 of 22 from the field, including 9 of 14 from three-point territory.

From Westchester to MSG in one day 👏

Earlier today, Tyler Kolek scored 42 PTS and 11 AST for the Westchester Knicks in an NBA G League game…

He then headed to MSG and scored 11 PTS in the fourth quarter for the New York Knicks. pic.twitter.com/6WeCwZn8GR

– NBA (@NBA) 23 March 2026

Kolek, who is on a two-way contract, has quickly become a fan favorite in the Big Apple due to his passionate approach to the game. He always gives his all, whether he gets five minutes or 25 minutes.

He has received even less playing time with the arrival of Jose Alvarado at the trade deadline, but Kolek remains a consummate professional, supporting his teammates as one of the team’s biggest cheerleaders on the bench.

He is averaging 4.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 11.9 minutes per outing. There was a six-game stretch in December when he averaged 14.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.3 assists, proving that he can perform well if given enough playing time.

Karl-Anthony led the Knicks over the Wizards with a double-double of 26 points and 16 rebounds.

They return to action on Tuesday when they host the New Orleans Pelicans.

MIAMI – With Miami Heat stars Norman Powell and Tyler Herro set to return together for Saturday’s game against the Orlando Magic, there’s no denying it will make for an interesting transition for head coach Erik Spoelstra. While the Heat have to differentiate the roles of Powell and Herro as Saturday approaches with 15 games left in the season, Spoelstra is relishing the challenge.

Saturday night against the Magic will be the 12th game that Herro and Powell will play together, as both have long battled injuries, especially the former, who has missed 47 games overall. However, Herro was returning to All-Star level since the break, specifically averaging nearly 26 points per game in March.

Powell had missed the last seven games before the Magic clash with a right groin strain, while Herro had been absent for the last two matches due to quadriceps soreness. In his first year with Miami, he led the Heat in scoring with 22.5 points per game, en route to becoming a first-time All-Star, with Bam Adebayo being the team’s main offensive weapon as Herro missed a portion of the time.

“I mean, we felt like we had to do whatever we needed to do the last two games, but guys being healthy and getting back on the court, it’s definitely encouraging, and they’ve both been very good the last few days at attacking the way they needed to attack. And I think they’ll be ready to go,” Spoelstra said.

Erik Spoelstra talks about the progress he’s made in getting Tyler Herro and Norman Powell back in the first video.

In the second video, Spo explains how the duo’s return will affect the rotation and lineup, “We’ll do it the best we can…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/9PKHCKs0qU

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 14 March 2026

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra in lineup with Norman Powell, Tyler Herro

Since the Heat can’t rely on Adebayo to score 83 points every game, like his historic night against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday, Powell and Herro want to take some weight off his shoulders. However, there is some question whether both Herro and Powell should eventually start together or whether one will come off the bench.

For Spoelstra, the thought process of figuring out rotations and lineups won’t be 100 percent immediately.

“We’ll do it the best way we can think of,” Spoelstra said before Saturday’s game against the Magic. “You know. Is everything going to be OK right now? I don’t know, you know, but now is the time. So it simplifies the definition of the role. We have to do whatever it takes right now to get the job done and get the win. And we need our firepower there.”

Either way, the goal for Miami is simple as they head into the home stretch of the season, which is to avoid the play-in tournament, as the team currently sits in sixth place in the East, having the needed spot to do so.

“I mean, it goes without saying, but right now it’s getting really competitive. You can see pictures of the playoffs. You can see the light in the tunnel, and I think it’s just bringing great competition. And so you’re either about it or you’re not. I think that’s our locker room,” Spoelstra said.

At any rate, the Heat’s upcoming games are important to solidifying their spot in the Eastern Conference as they enter Saturday on a seven-game winning streak. It remains to be seen how Herro and Powell will be utilized in the coming days. After Saturday, Miami will take on the Charlotte Hornets next Tuesday and return home to take on the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.

Given the frenzy surrounding the Miami Heat after star Bam Adebayo scored a historic 83 points on Tuesday night against the Washington Wizards, the team is undoubtedly focused on securing a better spot in the postseason. As the team has struggled with injuries, Friday’s injury report indicated that Heat guard Norman Powell could return, now adding Herro into the mix.

Both have been upgraded to “available” for Saturday’s crucial game against the Orlando Magic, as Powell has missed the last seven games with a right groin strain. Originally labeled as “week-to-week” by Miami, it seems as if seven games was good enough for his recovery, as the team is missing its leading scorer (22.5 points per game) and first-time All-Star.

Herro had missed the last two contests due to left quadriceps soreness, marking a major comeback from a 15-game absence due to a rib injury. Reminding the basketball world of his All-Star potential, he played every game after the All-Star break until last Tuesday.

In March, Herro was averaging 26.3 points per game on 53.7 shooting from the field and 51.7 percent from beyond the arc.

Could the Heat’s role be changing for Norman Powell with Tyler Herro?

As evidenced by the change in Powell and Herro’s Heat roles, the chemistry between the two has been a process throughout the season, with injuries coming their way, as Saturday will mark the 12th game the two have played together. Herro had missed a total of 45 games before Powell suffered a groin injury, with the latter taking on the role of being the main offensive weapon alongside Adebayo and flourishing, leading to an All-Star season.

However, Powell could perhaps see a role coming off the bench, mostly to get his feet under him to recover from injury, as Herro did the same after each injury. With Miami’s record at 38-29, sixth in the East, and Orlando at 37-28, fifth in the conference, there’s no denying how important Saturday’s game is for the Heat.

在邁阿密熱火隊在周日以一場聲明性勝利擊敗底特律活塞隊後，球隊現在準備在周二晚上對陣華盛頓巫師隊的比賽中延續五連勝。雖然熱火隊的諾曼鮑威爾和安德魯威金斯繼續缺陣，但泰勒赫羅和凱爾韋爾現在已經出現在傷病報告中，他們都是後期補充的。

從東部第五號種子到東部第十號種子，兩支球隊之間的差距只有五場比賽，這使得本賽季最後的17場比賽對於熱火隊來說非常重要。在參加附加賽並獲得東部第八名後，不可否認的是，球隊的目標是避免參加錦標賽。

以下是我們所知道的關於泰勒·赫羅和凱爾·韋爾的傷病以及他們對陣奇才隊的比賽狀態的所有信息。

使用 fuboTV 觀看 NBA 比賽直播（獲取訪問權限 | 節省 30 美元）

泰勒赫羅、凱爾威爾對上巫師隊的傷病狀況

因此，從希羅開始，他就經歷了一個充滿傷病的賽季，本賽季總共缺席了 45 場比賽。

他最近因肋骨受傷缺席了 15 場比賽。他參加了全明星賽後的最後九場比賽，並且表現出色。在對陣活塞隊的比賽中拿下 25 分並被評為東部周最佳球員，在此期間場均得到 26.3 分，他因“左股四頭肌酸痛”而無法在周二上場。

雖然他的身體一整天的感覺如何還有待觀察，但不可否認的是，正如小傑米·雅克斯所說，希羅的反應「令人難以置信」。

「這太不可思議了，」雅克斯說。 「他是職業球員的真正定義。能夠在很長一段時間內休息，顯然是在處理傷病，然後回來就像他沒有錯過任何一步一樣。這真的令人難以置信。我不知道有多少人能真正做到他能做到的事情。”

隨後，談到雅克斯，他希望在周二為邁阿密隊做出巨大的貢獻，週二的輪換陣容中有很大一部分缺席，其中確實包括韋爾，他將因左肩拉傷而缺席比賽。韋爾在替補席上的上場時間更加穩定，尤其是在與巴姆·阿德巴約一起組成兩個大個子陣容時，甚至這位球星也表示球隊更加“信任”他。

除了鮑威爾、維金斯、韋爾之外，球隊還將繼續因背傷缺席尼古拉·約維奇。

毫無疑問，這場比賽對邁阿密來說至關重要，因為赫羅、韋爾等人的受傷，可能會阻礙球隊以36勝29負的戰績排名東部第七，避免參加附加賽的目標。

熱傷報告

Fontecchio, Simone 受傷/生病 – 左股溝；拉緊

泰勒·赫羅 (Herro, Tyler) 可疑受傷/疾病 – 左股四頭肌；疼痛

約翰遜、凱沙德 可用 G 聯賽 – 待分配

約維奇、尼古拉因傷/疾病缺陣－腰背；傷病管理

米切爾、達維恩 受傷/生病 – 左肩；挫傷

鮑威爾、諾曼因傷/疾病缺陣 – 右腹股溝；拉緊

羅齊爾、特里不隨隊出局

Ware, Kel’el 受傷/疾病 – 右肩；拉緊

威金斯、安德魯因傷/疾病缺席 – 左大腳趾；籽骨炎

巫師傷病報告

戴維斯、安東尼因傷/疾病缺席 – 左手手指；扭傷

喬治 (George)、凱肖恩 (Kyshawn) 因傷/疾病缺陣 – 左肘；扭傷

拉塞爾、德安吉洛未隨隊出局

沃特金斯、賈米爾因傷/疾病缺席——左腳踝；腳;扭傷

Whitmore，Cam OUT 受傷/疾病 – 右肩；深部靜脈血栓形成

Young，Trae 受傷/疾病 – 右膝；傷病管理

As the Miami Heat got a 128-120 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night, it was a collective effort that saw many contributions, but it can’t be denied that Tyler Herro led the way. With the Hornets backing the Heat star into Herro after the tournament, the guard is finally showing his All-Star form of last year in the most important time of the season.

This season has been full of injuries for Herro, as he missed 45 games due to a myriad of injuries, he demonstrated on Friday night why he was an All-Star last season. Herro, who recently returned from a 15-game absence due to a rib injury, had been getting more comfortable over the past eight games, but the three-point shot came back on Friday as he was eight of 10 from that range.

Overall, Herro scored a season-high 33 points on 11 of 20 shooting from the field with nine assists and nine rebounds in 37 minutes, earning a “sensational” take from head coach Erik Spoelstra.

“You can see he’s finding more rhythm each game. And tonight finally the three ball started going his way. And then he can see how it opens up a lot for his game… He was sensational tonight,” Spoelstra said of Axe, formerly of Heat Central, on Twitter.

“I mean, it would have been great to see him have a triple-double, because he had that kind of impact, turning the ball over when he needed to, scoring when he needed to,” Spoelstra continued. “He was manipulating the defense when he needed to.”

Coach Spo on Tyler Herro:

“You can see he’s finding rhythm each game… He was sensational tonight. Being in a spot where he can create something for us offensively, but on the other side, it would have been great to see him have a triple-double, because he had that kind of… https://t.co/BEbCUyLNRr pic.twitter.com/EcJqjDWnwU

– Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) 7 March 2026

Tyler Herro on the Heat’s “collective win” over the Hornets

After the Heat’s dominant win over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, the team needed a win against the Hornets on Friday, especially since entering the contest, Miami was eighth in the East and Charlotte was ninth, separated by two games. The team is looking to take advantage of big games and Friday was a great step in the right direction, especially to stop the Hornets’ surging momentum.

Herro said in his TV interview after the game, “We woke up this morning, we came in late last night. And, I mean, our mentality was to come here and try to steal a shot on the road.” “We know how much it means to us in the standings. And it was a collective win from top to bottom. ‘Just for the competitors,’ Spo said this morning. We came and competed; That was a win right there.”

Tyler Herro on winning:

“Our mentality was to come out on the road and steal. We know how much it meant to us in the standings… ‘Only for competitors’ https://t.co/2uzfSy0G4l pic.twitter.com/zGSFwoYpbN

– Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) 7 March 2026

At any rate, the Heat (35-29) look to continue their current four-game winning streak in Sunday’s tough matchup against the Detroit Pistons, who have the NBA’s best record at 45-16.

The Miami Heat delivered another explosive offensive performance Friday night, with Tyler Herro recording a dominant win that later drew praise from the opposing locker room. Herro’s performance showcased Miami’s offensive ability when clicking, and reinforced how difficult the Heat’s perimeter attack can be for opposing defenses to stop.

The Heat defeated the Charlotte Hornets 128-120 on Friday at the Spectrum Center. Herro led the way with 33 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. The guard also knocked down eight triples while controlling the pace throughout the game.

Herro’s offensive impact versus Charlotte’s defense proved decisive late in the game. Miami trailed briefly before closing out strongly in the fourth quarter, as Herro ignited a key run, hitting multiple shots from deep while consistently moving without the ball to create open looks.

After the game, Hornets head coach Charles Lee discussed the defensive challenges created by Herro. Hunter Bailey of the Charlotte Observer shared Lee’s comments after the loss, first on Twitter.

Charles Lee described how the game slipped away in the fourth quarter:

Lee looked at Miami’s zone, Tyler Herro’s ball security and more. pic.twitter.com/P0TZOU2flr

– Hunter Bailey (@Hunter_Bailey45) 7 March 2026

“Defensively, Herro’s off-ball stuff, I thought we could have been a little tougher by staying connected to his body,” Lee said, referencing Miami’s zone defense and Herro’s movement away from the ball.

The former Kentucky Wildcats standout was repeatedly moved into open space, leading to defensive failures and creating scoring opportunities that fueled Miami’s late offensive surge.

Hornets forward Brandon Miller also accepted the challenge of controlling the Heat guard in a video shared after the game r/CharlotteHornets Community on the platform too.

“I feel like Tyler Herro was doing whatever he wanted,” Miller said. “As long as we play with the mentality of not letting everyone come here and feel comfortable, we should win every home game across the spectrum.”

🎙️ Brandon Miller: “I feel like (Tyler Herro) was out there doing whatever he wanted. As long as we play with the mentality of not letting everybody come in here and being comfortable, we should win every home game at the Spectrum.” pic.twitter.com/CVj6yeFBZ5

– r/CharlotteHornets (@HornetsReddit) 7 March 2026

The seven-year veteran’s performance snapped Charlotte’s six-game winning streak and led Miami to another impressive win.

The Miami Heat are attempting to avoid making the Eastern Conference Play-in Tournament for the fourth consecutive season. Tyler Herro’s ability to return to form will be key in that effort.

After a long absence due to ankle surgery and a toe injury earlier this season, Herro recently returned from a month-long absence due to a rib ailment. He had another efficient performance during Tuesday’s 124-98 win over the Brooklyn Nets, posting 22 points on 8-15 shooting in 28 minutes.

“I’m just trying to find my rhythm,” Herro said after the game. “I’ve only played less than 20 games. And every other team and player has been in rhythm and playing since October. I haven’t really played a lot of five-on-five games since last season. So it’s just steps in the right direction, continuing to see where my shots are coming from. It’s not all about scoring. It’s about making the right plays.”

Herro has averaged 19.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists on .484/.371/.941 shooting splits in six appearances since returning to Miami’s lineup.

Tyler Herro back in action as Heat battles to avoid play-in tournament

The Heat are 4-2 during that span, leaving them a half-game behind the Eastern Conference sixth-seeded Philadelphia 76ers.

Erik Spoelstra said of Herro, “I think he’s making this all look easier than it really is.” “He hasn’t played in a long time. It’s been a really short time since he’s been back. But I think it’s going to get better each game. I trust Tyler and his work. He puts in so much time. But he adds a lot to our offense. Now we’ve got this element of creativity. Definitely making shots. You don’t know where it’s going to come from. And then once he gets you into his three-ball rhythm, I think it’s “Will really help impact our offense at another level.”

The Heat have faced problems taking care of business despite inferior competition this season. However, they dominated on Tuesday by tanking nets from the opening tip to the final buzzer.

Spoelstra’s squad shot 45 of 91 (49.5 percent) from the field with 28 assists and 12 turnovers. Meanwhile, they held Brooklyn to 33 of 86 (38.4 percent) from the field and 6 of three (18.8 percent) from three, while forcing 18 turnovers.

Miami, Philadelphia and the Orlando Magic are separated by a half-game for the East’s sixth to eighth seeds.

Bam Adebayo said, “It’s the second half of the season. We need these wins. We can’t afford to miss any more.” “We had enough during the first half of the season. You have to hold yourself to a higher standard of accountability, and it gets uncomfortable sometimes because you know you feel like you don’t want to go too far. Uh, but you know in that sense man we are us, we’re past that stage and you know we’re trying to do something special. Uh, and it’s going to take all of us and we have to hold each other accountable and Uh have to face some intense situations.”

迈克尔·乔丹 (Michael Jordan) 从 NBA 退役几十年后，仍然值得庆祝，23XI Racing 的泰勒·雷迪克 (Tyler Reddick) 在美洲赛道上取得了胜利，赢得了 DuraMAX 德克萨斯大奖赛。途中，雷迪克成为杯赛历史上第一位赢得赛季前三场比赛的车手。

由于纳斯卡杯系列赛服装的共同拥有者不是乔丹，因此它带来的祝贺信息不是别人，正是魔术师约翰逊。

“我想再次祝贺我的朋友迈克尔·乔丹！他的 23XI Racing 车队连续 3 次赢得 NASCAR 比赛，开启 2026 赛季，创造 NASCAR 历史！👏🏾”他在 X 上写道。

这是雷迪克职业生涯第 11 次捧杯，也是 COTA 的第二次胜利。他在 95 圈中取得了比赛最高的 58 圈，并在第 79 圈控制了最后的重新开始，并阻止了该领域最好的公路赛车手之一肖恩·范·吉斯伯根 (Shane van Gisbergen)，后者正在追求连续六场公路赛胜利。 3.944秒的差距仅在纸面上看起来很舒服。在最后 16 圈绿旗跑的前半段，范·吉斯伯根 (van Gisbergen) 处于惊人的距离，之后雷迪克 (Reddick) 的 45 号丰田凯美瑞 (Toyota Camry) 逐渐驶上山坡进入一号弯。

这场胜利让雷迪克在积分榜上领先队友布巴·华莱士 70 分。这意味着 MJ 的 23XI Racing 现在有三支全职参赛队伍，是合法的冠军争夺者。

此外，雷迪克在赛后举起三个手指的庆祝动作，是对乔丹在芝加哥公牛队的标志性NBA三连冠的直接致敬。卫冕冠军克里斯托弗·贝尔获得第三名。

泰·吉布斯 (Ty Gibbs) 和迈克尔·麦克道尔 (Michael McDowell) 跻身前五名，而亨德里克赛车运动 (Hendrick Motorsports) 将凯尔·拉尔森 (Kyle Larson) 和蔡斯·埃利奥特 (Chase Elliott) 排名第六和第七。无论如何，这场胜利代表了 23XI Racing 的意图声明，该车队拥有布巴·华莱士（Bubba Wallace，第 23 名）、莱利·赫布斯特（Riley Herbst，第 35 名）和雷迪克（Reddick，第 45 名）等人。

Decades after his retirement from the NBA, Michael Jordan still has reason to celebrate, as 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick triumphed at Circuit of the Americas, winning the Duramax Texas Grand Prix. Along the way, Reddick became the first driver in Cup Series history to win the opening three races of a season.

Since the NASCAR Cup Series organization is co-owned by none other than MJ, it came with a congratulatory message from none other than Magic Johnson.

“I want to congratulate my friend Michael Jordan once again! His 23XI Racing team made NASCAR history by winning their third consecutive NASCAR race to start the 2026 season! 👏🏾” he wrote on X.

It was Reddick’s 11th career Cup win and second overall at COTA. He led a race-high 58 of the 95 laps, controlled the final restart on Lap 79, and defeated one of the field’s best road-course racers, Shane van Gisbergen, who was chasing his sixth consecutive road-course victory. The margin, 3.944 seconds, looked comfortable only on paper. For the first part of the final 16-lap green-flag run, Van Gisbergen was in striking distance of Reddick’s No. 45 Toyota Camry before slowly pulling up the hill into Turn 1.

The win gave Reddick a solid 70-point lead over teammate Bubba Wallace. This means MJ’s 23XI Racing now has three full-time entries and is a legitimate championship contender.

Additionally, Redick’s post-game celebration, during which he raised three fingers, was a direct allusion to Jordan’s iconic NBA three-peat with the Chicago Bulls. Defending race winner Christopher Bell finished third.

Ty Gibbs and Michael McDowell rounded out the top five while Hendrick Motorsports fielded Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott in sixth and seventh. Regardless, this win shows the intent of 23XI Racing, which includes players like Bubba Wallace (No. 23), Riley Herbst (No. 35), and Reddick (No. 45).

On Sunday, Tyler Reddick made NASCAR history by becoming the first driver since 1949 to win the first three races of a season. This Duramax came to the Circuit of the Americas at the Texas Grand Prix. His car owner Michael Jordan was sitting next to him.

Jordan definitely knows a thing or two about three-peats.

After the win, Reddick decided to honor his car owner by recreating Jordan’s iconic three-peat image.

pic.twitter.com/D8ZS9NVkbf

– Tyler Reddick (@TylerReddick) 2 March 2026

The original image was taken after Game 6 of the 1993 NBA Finals. The Chicago Bulls defeated the Phoenix Suns in a tough six-game series for their first three-peat. At the time, the Bulls were the first team in NBA history to win three consecutive championships, following the Celtics’ 1960s dynasty.

A year later, Jordan had a bat and glove in his hand while playing for the Birmingham Barons in Minor League Baseball. In 1995, he came back, and by the next season, the Bulls were on top again. From 1996 to 1998, Jordan and company achieved their second three-peat.

Jordan co-owns 23XI Racing with NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin. In addition to Reddick, Bubba Wallace drives the No. 45 Toyota Camry. Riley Herbst drives the No. 35 Toyota, and Corey Heim is a development driver.

Reddick is coming off wins in the Daytona 500 and next weekend’s Autotrader 400.

Jordan has been involved with 23XI Racing since 2020. Overall, he has won 12 races. Most recently, Jordan was heavily involved in an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR regarding its charter system. Ultimately, a compromise was reached, whereby team owners were granted permanent charters.

周日，泰勒·雷迪克 (Tyler Reddick) 创造了 NASCAR 历史，成为自 1949 年以来第一位赢得本赛季前三场比赛的车手。它出现在 DuraMAX 德克萨斯大奖赛的美洲赛道上。在他旁边的是他的车主迈克尔·乔丹。

乔丹当然对三连冠略知一二。

胜利后，雷迪克决定通过重现乔丹标志性的三连冠形象来纪念他的车主。

pic.twitter.com/D8ZS9NVkbf

— 泰勒·雷迪克 (@TylerReddick) 2026 年 3 月 2 日

原始图像是在 1993 年 NBA 总决赛第六场比赛后拍摄的。芝加哥公牛队在一场艰难的六场系列赛中击败了菲尼克斯太阳队，首次实现三连冠。当时，公牛队是自 20 世纪 60 年代凯尔特人王朝以来，NBA 历史上第一支连续三年夺得总冠军的球队。

一年后，乔丹在小联盟棒球比赛中为伯明翰男爵队效力时，手里拿着球棒和手套。 1995年，他复出，下个赛季，公牛队重回巅峰。 1996年至1998年，乔丹和他的队友们实现了第二次三连冠。

乔丹与 NASCAR 车手丹尼·哈姆林 (Denny Hamlin) 共同拥有 23XI Racing 车队。除了雷迪克之外，布巴·华莱士也驾驶着45号丰田凯美瑞。 Riley Herbst 驾驶 35 号丰田汽车，Corey Heim 是开发车手。

雷迪克即将赢得 Daytona 500 比赛，并在下周末赢得 Autotrader 400 比赛。

Jordan 自 2020 年以来一直参与 23XI Racing 赛事。他们总共赢得了 12 场比赛。最近，乔丹卷入了一场针对 NASCAR 的特许系统反垄断诉讼。最终达成和解，给予球队老板永久特许权。

MIAMI – As Miami Heat star Tyler Herro had a big role in their 115-105 win over the Houston Rockets, he will bring a jolt of energy to the game, in addition to making shots and being a playmaker. The exchange of words between Heat guard Herro and Rockets star Kevin Durant got heated when they both talked after the game about what happened.

In Miami’s win, Herro would be reinserted into the starting lineup after playing the final four off the bench as he was coming off a 15-game absence due to a rib injury. With Norman Powell out and being labeled “week-to-week” with a groin sprain, Herro will fill the void, and bring instant energy as both he and Durant barked at each other in the first quarter.

It got to the point where, after a timeout, Durant and Herro would exchange more words, to the point where Durant had to be stopped, with both receiving technical fouls. The intensity would continue throughout the game, with the two talking to each other, but it would be contagious as the outing was physical.

They had to be stopped as more words were exchanged between Tyler Herro and Kevin Durant. Tech for both. #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/mWEFk3xDAQ

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 28 February 2026

By the end of the game, Herro and Durant hugged each other in a show of respect, as the guard told ClutchPoints after the game that it was just “competition at the end of the day.” Herro will say Durant defended himself.

“He was saying, ‘I couldn’t defend,’ then I said something to him. But, we’re competing. And at the end of the day, you want to play with the best players in the world and compete like that. That’s what I live for, I love competing,” Herro said after recording 18 points on eight of 12 shooting from the field and two of four from deep.

ClutchPoints will ask what Herro said in response to Durant’s comment:

“Ask Kevin,” Herro said.

Tyler Herro talks about the matchup with Kevin Durant that got heated. It is said that he wanted to give the team an edge, there was only competition.

I confirmed that KD said he could not protect, Herro said he responded. Will asked about what he said in response, “Ask Kevin.” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/fAbORr5GRq

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 1 March 2026

Tyler Herro and Kevin Durant hug after a controversial play. #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/8oQZrUrfFk

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 28 February 2026

Bam Adebayo gives his opinion on Tyler Herro-Kevin Durant exchange

With the Heat growing increasingly frustrated after two consecutive disappointing results, with even captain Bam Adebayo questioning the team’s effort level, Saturday was a huge step in the right direction. As for Herro, he would even say that he wanted to bring an “edge” to Miami.

“No crazy, I know the Cavs a little bit, just competing. I feel like as a team, we didn’t have the edge we had in Milwaukee or Philly, so I was trying to bring a little edge to it,” Herro said.

“I mean, we won, the team responded,” Herro continued. “So we were down 14-4 at that point, just being able to get some fire going. I feel like we’re at our best when we have guys that are on edge.”

Durant echoed Herro’s similar sentiments, saying “those words are just words” and the respect between him and the Heat star goes both ways via a video of Brady Hawk, as evidenced by the embrace at the end of the game.

I asked Kevin Durant about the back-and-forth with Tyler Herro tonight:

“I think we both just needed a nudge to get the game going.”

“You saw it. We started laughing and joking right after that. I have respect for Tyler, he has respect for me.”

“Those words are just words.” pic.twitter.com/1ueDWzD4Ke

– Brady Hawk (@BradyHawk305) 28 February 2026

For Adebayo, “It’s just competition.”

“That’s what you want,” Adebayo said after recording 24 points and 11 rebounds. “I mean, that’s what happens when we play pickup. You don’t see it all. You know, it brings out the best in everybody. When you have those type of matchups, you have that type of competitor on the court, that makes for a great game of basketball, and you want to see it that way. You want guys to go at each other and then obviously, the best guy wins, or the best team wins.”

Bam Adebayo said the conversation between Tyler Herro and Kevin Durant is “getting competitive.”

Full response: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/lw2LtEJ40c

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 1 March 2026

At any rate, this was a big win for Miami as the team is 32-29, leaving them in eighth place in the East as their next two games come against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday and Thursday.

When Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets flew to South Beach for an afternoon showdown against the Miami Heat, fans knew they were in for a show.

Sure, the Heat are in the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference, sitting as the eighth seed with a 31-29 record, but Erik Spoelstra teams are always a fierce player, especially at home, where they have a 17-11 record so far in 2025-26. With the Rockets working hard to keep their third seed in the highly contested Western Conference, getting a win in Miami seemed important as the season came to a close.

And not surprisingly, when the rubber hit the hardwood, that consciousness veered into the realm of technical fouls, after a war of words on the court resulted in both Tyler Herro and Durant getting separated.

They had to be stopped as more words were exchanged between Tyler Herro and Kevin Durant. Tech for both. #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/mWEFk3xDAQ

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 28 February 2026

While players never want to commit technical fouls, especially during timeouts, his interaction with Herro was nothing more than a minor hindrance in the way of KD getting his work done for KD. The future Hall of Famer led all scorers with 14 points in just 19 minutes, while putting up the best plus-minus of any player in the game at +17. The Durant Rockets outscored the Heat 24–19 in the second quarter and entered the half with a one-point lead at 52–51.

Will the Rockets win in Miami? Only time will tell, but with 24 minutes left to play at the time of publication, things are likely to get even more heated in South Beach before the final buzzer.

MIAMI – With Miami Heat star Norman Powell considered “week-to-week” with a groin strain, the team is looking for ways to fill the void the All-Star has left now that there is no doubt a big question as to how productive he can be. With the Heat growing frustrated after taking a step back after their last two disappointing losses, head coach Erik Spoelstra has expressed confidence the team can keep the ship afloat, especially with star Tyler Herro.

While Powell is dealing with a Grade 1 groin strain that could cause the 32-year-old to miss a few games as Miami has four games this upcoming week, Herro is the clear choice to step into the role as the main offensive option alongside Bam Adebayo. Still, Powell has been key to the Heat’s offense, leading the team with 22.5 points per game, but one can’t forget that Herro was an All-Star last season, averaging 23.9 points per game.

Although Miami is losing Powell for an unknown amount of time, Herro’s workload is likely to increase, with Spoelstra even telling ClutchPoints that he was “planning on playing him a few more minutes anyway.”

“Well, we know what we miss with Norm,” Spoelstra said before Saturday’s game against the Houston Rockets. “He’s proven this year that he’s a versatile, explosive scorer in our system, but we also have other guys that can step up. Tyler, certainly, is a guy that’s already starting to get into a better rhythm and were planning on playing him a few more minutes anyway.”

“So, we need this,” Spoelstra continued. “You can see him in the second part [of last Thursday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers] He’s just being himself, and I think he’s going to get even better.”

Asked Erik Spoelstra about Norman Powell’s absence and Tyler Herro’s increased workload.

“We have other guys that can step up, certainly Tyler is a guy that’s already starting to get into a better rhythm, was planning on feeding him a few more minutes anyway…” #heatanarian pic.twitter.com/eTj690ezyW

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 28 February 2026

More on Heat’s Erik Spoelstra, Tyler Herro on Norman Powell’s treatment

While the Heat are tired of participating in the play-in tournament and trying to climb the standings with 22 games remaining before Saturday, Herro will be key in keeping the offense going. However, from what fans have seen there may be a role change, as Herro has been coming off the bench for the last four games after missing 15 games due to a rib injury.

There was already a question whether Herro would be reinserted into the starting lineup, but now with Powell out, does Miami have an option? Only time will tell, but it can’t be denied that Herro wants to stay healthy for the remainder of the season and help the Heat after he has missed 45 games this season due to a myriad of injuries.

In addition, the trio of Herro, Powell and Adebayo have only played 11 games this season, giving the team a small sample size on the ceiling. At any rate, Powell will work to get back, though it remains to be seen how much time will be lost.

“We took everything we had available to us today,” Spoelstra said. “I feel for Norm, because he wants to be out for all the games, especially in these moments, you know, right now. But we’ll treat him, and we’ll see where he’s at after the week.”

On Norman Powell being labeled “week to week” by Erik Spoelstra and where that leaves the team.

“We have everything available to us today. I feel for Norm because he wants to be there for all the games… but we’ll treat him and we’ll see where he is after the week…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/3sn4FpTUoS

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 28 February 2026

Before Saturday’s game against the Rockets, Miami is 31-29, leaving them in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, but the good news is that, including the aforementioned contest, the Heat are at home for the next seven of eight contests.

MIAMI – As the game between the Miami Heat and Memphis Grizzlies began late in the game, a scuffle broke out between Myron Gardner and Scottie Pippen Jr. The game Saturday ended with the home team leading by a score of 136–120. As the Heat look to achieve their individual goals with 24 games left in the season, Norman Powell and Tyler Herro revealed what’s at the top of the team’s list of things to win.

For the past three seasons, Miami has finished in familiar territory, closing in on the eighth seed, struggling to make the playoffs through the play-in tournament. To be out of the tournament race, a team would have to be at least the sixth seed, with the Heat making progress after Saturday’s win and the Orlando Magic’s double-overtime loss to the Phoenix Suns. Miami is now in seventh place at 31-27.

At the moment, the Philadelphia 76ers are in sixth place with 30-26, and the standings may change at time depending on the results of each game. Powell acknowledged after the win over the Grizzlies how “focused” the team is on playing to their strengths and avoiding the play-in tournament.

“We want to get out of the play-in. So we’re locked in, we know what we need to do obviously… no one is going to help us,” Powell said after scoring 25 points. “It’s all on us to control what we can control as a team…to ​​do our best to give us a chance to get out of it and move forward.”

“Obviously, we want [teams] Powell added, “There’s been a little bit of a letdown as we’ve been getting into gear and getting wins. But we’re focused on how we need to play and how we need to compete every night.”

Norman Powell on Heat focusing on exit from play-in tournament: #HeatNation

“That’s what we’re focused on. We want to get out of the play-ins. We’re locked in. We know what we need to do. We’re not expecting anyone to come help us, it’s all on us…” pic.twitter.com/9yF8jHEfd0

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 22 February 2026

What the Heat’s Tyler Herro, Erik Spoelstra talk about all the time

While the Heat are trying to maximize their potential, especially now that the team is the healthiest it has been in some time, although they were without Davion Mitchell and Nikola Jovic on Saturday, it is important to get wins. Miami was also having trouble winning consecutive games to begin 2026, but now, with the offensive boost in Herro’s return after missing a total of 45 games this season, the goal is to clinch at least the sixth seed.

Herro once again came off the bench, and although he scored a game-high 24 points against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, he was not as efficient against Memphis, scoring 14 points. Still, he’s finding his footing after losing 15 straight games before Friday and admitted that besides him and Bam Adebayo, they want to get most of the play-in play out because they’ve experienced it the most, so head coach Erik Spoelstra wants the same.

“Yeah, our coaches talk about it every day,” Herro said, talking about missing out on the tournament. “We as players, mainly me and Bam, who came here, we want to get out of the play-in. That’s our goal, and that’s our first goal. We’ve got a lot of goals.”

Tyler Herro speaks after the game about how he’s feeling after coming back from a rib injury, the team’s depth, how the coaches approach being eliminated from the play-in tournament, and more: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/mFqiBqau9A

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 22 February 2026

If one thing is for sure, Miami seems to be on the rise offensively, scoring over 120 points in the last three games, even as the team has scored at least 70 points in the paint in the last two contests.

“I like what’s been happening offensively the last two games,” Spoelstra told ClutchPoints. “Playing a real collective game, sharing the ball, being aggressive, back-to-back 70-point games in the paint. Taking proper shots, guys are really playing the right way, and you can see it.”

Erik Spoelstra was asked about the offense not missing a beat, although the defense giving up 120 runs is not something he wants to give up every game.

“I love what’s been happening offensively the last two games, playing the real college game…”

Complete answer: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/VaQj1lxed9

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 22 February 2026

Norman Powell on what the Heat are starting to do

Despite a current three-game winning streak against inferior teams like the New Orleans Pelicans, Hawks, and now the Grizzlies, the team has had trouble handling weaker opponents in the past. At any rate, it’s the first time in more than a month that Miami has won three games in a row, leading Powell to tell ClutchPoints how the Heat are “starting to buy into the collective effort.”

“I think now, at this point in the season, all the clutter aside, nothing else matters but winning,” Powell said. “I think that’s the most important thing. And I think we’re really starting to put in a collective effort and trust each other and work on the game. And I think that’s the biggest part.”

“I think obviously we’re finally getting healthy, you know, we didn’t have that [Mitchell] Like tonight, but I think this is the healthiest time we’ve had all year, and we just want to continue to build that chemistry and do all the little things to help us get out of these games and not have any slipups and continue to focus on our goal of getting out of the play-in. [tournament]Powell continued.

Norman Powell was asked about the Heat winning three consecutive games for the first time, and while he joked about it being a shot (laughs), he explained how the team is “starting to buy into the collective effort” and the goal of getting out of the play-in tournament: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/5WOEXWbFUw

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 22 February 2026

Miami is now 31-27, placing them in seventh place in the East as they begin a two-game road trip against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.

MIAMI – As Miami Heat star Tyler Herro returned from his rib injury with a dominant 128-97 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night, there’s no denying the guard has given the team a big boost. The Heat are looking to maximize their lineup now that Herro is in the mix, as chemistry appears to be building between the star and rookie Kasparus Jaksionis.

There are a couple of guys on the team who still haven’t figured out how much time Herro has missed, as he’s been absent not only 15 games prior to Friday’s win, but 45 games total with a myriad of issues. The saving grace is that the rookie Jacusionis is getting extended minutes at some point, either off the bench or in the starting lineup.

Since January 15 against the Boston Celtics, Jaksionis has recorded double-digit minutes in every game, showing the trust he has built with head coach Erik Spoelstra. On Friday, with both Herro and Jacusionis on the floor, there was a strong one-two punch in the backcourt as the rookie put the star in spots to score, also drawing the attention of Spoelstra, who saw a “rapport” blossoming.

“Obviously, we haven’t seen a lot of them, just because of availability, but the skill level, the talent, the offensive talent, just without spending a ton of time with them, you can see how the synergy could be,” Spoelstra said before the team took on the Grizzlies on Saturday night. “Kaas [Jakucionis] Is a playwright. He plays with speed, he wants to kick the ball forward, he wants to get the ball to people almost to a fault, and you could see that last night, he was looking for Tyler like every time.

Erik Spoelstra last night when Tyler Herro and Kaspars Jaksionis were on the court together: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/j6YsK8eKpl

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 21 February 2026

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra talks Kasparus Jaksionis’ improvement

While Jaksionis has some unique attributes for the Heat, as he was drafted with the 20th overall pick in the last NBA Draft, he gives the team a true point guard with potentially elite play-making abilities, an ideal the roster is looking for.

At just 19 years old, there’s no denying the raw talent, however, as Jacusionis is recording consistent minutes, averaging 22.7 minutes so far in February. His improvement from his first season has been noticeable, with even Spoelstra talking about the Illinois product’s “work ethic.”

“So I’m excited about the prospects, but Kass continues to get better,” Spoelstra said. “If you look at where he was in summer league compared to where he is now, it’s really a credit to his work ethic. He spent a lot of time with Coach Quinn and all the pre-practice and post-practice sessions. You know, he’s improved a lot. He’s earned it.”

It remains to be seen what Jakusionis’ role looks like with the team getting healthy, though with Davion Mitchell missing Saturday’s game due to a head ailment, the rookie will also get a start over Herro as the team manages minutes following the star’s injury. Nevertheless, Herro led the Heat throughout the game with 24 points on nine of 14 shooting from the field and two of four from deep.

At any rate, the team is looking for continuity, as prior to Saturday’s tilt hosting Memphis, the team was 30-27, which puts them in eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Next, the Heat move on to take on the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.

Miami Heat star Tyler Herro made an explosive return from a rib injury, scoring his game-leading 24 points to help the team defeat the Atlanta Hawks, 128-97, on Friday night. The guard will be coming off the bench in his first game. As the Heat guard Herro looks to excel over the remainder of the season, head coach Erik Spoelstra talks about Herro’s role with 25 games remaining.

Herro was impressive in his debut as he had missed the previous 15 games due to a “right costochondral; rib injury”, which began when the guard fractured three ribs on January 10. Although he played in three games after taking Torodol shots to suppress pain, he missed time, which led to Spoelstra coming off the bench on Friday, saying he was managing his minutes and trying to “maximize” the rest of the season.

“Right now we’re trying to get him out of there,” Spoelstra said, according to The Miami Herald. “We’re going to manage the minutes. I’m not thinking too much about it, I’m not putting anything into it, I don’t have a timeline for anything.”

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra fit in with Tyler Herro and Norman Powell

After Herro returned to Heat practice on Thursday, it cannot be denied that the team is relatively cautious as the guard has missed 45 of 57 games this season due to numerous injuries.

Herro also had to come off the bench in a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 6 after returning from a 13-game absence due to a toe injury. But Herro returned to the starting lineup in the next game, which could indicate a similar outcome for the current situation.

He and Powell had an interesting pairing early in the season, but on Friday they had to run in different lineups, with the two playing less than three minutes together. But, Spoelstra says those two will need to spend more minutes together, as Powell also emphasized the “versatility” of the two fitting together.

“It’ll work,” Spoelstra said about playing Herro and Powell together. “I’m not thinking too much about it at all.”

It remains to be seen how Herro’s role develops, especially with Norman Powell, as Miami next faces the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night.

Looking to make an impact after the All-Star break, the Miami Heat got off to an explosive start with a 128-97 win over the Atlanta Hawks with the return of a key piece to the puzzle. As soon as Heat star Tyler Herro returned to practice on Thursday after missing the previous 15 games, he came back on Friday night, and made an immediate impact that caught the attention of captain Bam Adebayo.

It has been a disappointing season for Herro to say the least, as in addition to missing the last 15 fixtures, he has been absent in 45 of the 57 games he has played so far. Coming off the bench in the win at Atlanta, he led the team with 24 points on nine of 14 shooting from the field, two of four from deep, four rebounds and three assists.

For Adebayo, who recorded 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists, it is not surprising to see how Herro could impact Miami, but he felt the guard has an “edge” to him.

“We know what Tyler can do – it’s not a shock…but I think he had an edge about him today, and he showed it,” Adebayo said, via the team’s video, which was posted on Twitter by HeatCulture, formerly of X.

Bam Adebayo on Tyler Herro’s return:

“We know what Tyler can do – it’s not a shock… but I think he had an edge about him today and he showed it.”

24 points in 23 minutes from Hero😮💨 pic.twitter.com/6EOI01Hr19

– 𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙂𝙡𝙩𝙂𝙧𝙚 (@WadexFlash) 21 February 2026

It was Herro’s 11th game of the season, which was an “encouraging” sign to see, as head coach Erik Spoelstra reiterated.

“It was definitely exciting,” Spoelstra said. “Obviously, it’s been a unique season for him. We know how competitive he is; we know how much he wants to be there. But these are things you can’t control. But we’ve never forgotten about the talent he brings. He changes our dynamic tremendously.”

Heat’s Tyler Herro speaks on his return from rib injury

While the Heat are looking to turn their season around after finishing close to a .500 record and finishing eighth in the Eastern Conference, Herro’s involvement could reflect the totality of what this team is really like. At the end of the day, Herro’s health is paramount to as far as this team can reach.

“It felt great,” Herro said. “Finally, it was amazing to be out there. To be out there with my teammates, playing games and getting into my routine again. It felt good.”

The focus has now turned to what his role will be at Will, whether he will continue to come off the bench or return to the starting lineup. After missing 13 games with a toe injury, Spoelstra benched him in a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 6, but returned to the starting lineup.

“Right now we’re just trying to get him out of there,” Spoelstra said. “We’re going to manage the minutes. I’m not thinking too much about it, I’m not putting anything into it, I don’t have a timeline for anything.”

That remains to be seen, but the answer will be revealed soon as Miami takes on the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night.

The Miami Heat visited the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night, with Tyler Herro and Norman Powell heading into the matchup on Miami’s injury report. According to the official injury report, Herro is listed as probable while dealing with a right costochondral rib injury, while Powell is questionable due to lower back tightness after missing time before the All-Star break.

Here’s everything we know about Tyler Herro and Norman Powell’s injuries and their game status vs. the Hawks.

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Tyler Herro, Norman Powell’s injury status vs. Hawks

Given that Tyler Herro is probable on the injury report, the expectation is that he’ll be fit for at least limited minutes against the Hawks. Herro has missed significant time this season after fracturing three ribs in a loss to Indiana in January, forcing him to sit out 15 consecutive games entering the All-Star break.

The timing of his return is important for a Miami team that is 29-27 and sitting in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, just two games behind the sixth seed in a tight playoff race.

Herro has been productive when available, averaging 21.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists, while shooting 49.7% from the field and 35.8% from three in limited appearances. During his absence the Heat’s offense has dropped from 13th (115.7) in offensive rating at the start of the season to 22nd (112.6).

Norman Powell’s position is less certain. The veteran wing is listed as questionable due to lower back tightness after missing the Heat’s final two games before the break.

Powell has been one of Miami’s most consistent scorers, averaging 23 points per game, while ranking among the league’s better perimeter threats with 2.9 three-pointers per game.

heat injury report

Tyler Herro – Probable (right costochondral rib injury)

Norman Powell – doubtful (lower back tightness)

Keshad Johnson – Questionable (sore left calf).

Terry Rozier – Out (not with team)

Andrew Wiggins – available (toe inflammation)

Pelle Larsson – available (finger injury)

Simone Fontecchio – available (illness)

Drew Smith – Available (ankle soreness)

Kasparus Jacusionis – Available (Ankle Swelling)

hawks injury report

Jonathan Kuminga – out (knee)

MIAMI – Miami Heat star Tyler Herro returned to practice Thursday after missing the last 15 games due to a rib injury, with his status for Friday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks likely to be revealed. With rumors swirling as to when the Heat guard will return to Herro, it looks like the answer has been resolved by the injury report.

Miami is listing Herro as “probable” for Friday’s game as the team travels to take on the Hawks, which is a significant point in time for a guard who has missed not only the last 15 games due to injury, but has been absent 45 games this year.

He would miss the first 17 games of the season due to an offseason ankle injury, then missed 13 games due to a toe injury, and an injury that was listed as “Right costochondral; rib injury”. In reference to his role with the team in his first game since January 15, he was asked on Thursday afternoon if he would come off the bench, thus he returned from a toe injury on January 6, but then started after that contest.

“I don’t know, we’ll see what happens if I’m able to play tomorrow. Whatever minutes I get, I’m just happy to be out here again, playing with my teammates and playing a game that I finally love,” Herro said.

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

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

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 19 February 2026

Herro told ClutchPoints that he suffered three broken ribs, and he played three games on Torodol shots to deal with the pain, but he would be unable to play the entire season that way due to his absence.

In the 11 games he has played, Herro has averaged 21.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game, while shooting 49.7 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from beyond the arc.

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra returning to rotation on Tyler Herro

While the Heat are coming off the All-Star break, the team is still looking for a level of consistency, as injuries have been a problem plaguing the team, such as Herro’s continued absence. When Herro returns, no matter what role he plays, his offensive impact cannot be denied and head coach Erik Spoelstra said how “exciting” it was to see the guard back at practice at full strength.

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

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

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

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 19 February 2026

With 26 games left in the season, Spoelstra will look to find ways to get the best out of Herro, especially with Norman Powell and Bam Adebayo, as the trio have only played in eight games together this season. While that means there will be less playing time for any player on the roster, Spoelstra says there are “levels of sacrifice” that need to be made.

“Let’s not forget, Tyler is a talent,” Spoelstra said. “We need to maximize our rotation, we need our talent; we need to put it together fast. We know what our identity is on both sides of the floor; our guys have a stake in what we’re trying to do. There’s going to be some level of sacrifice throughout the rotation. If all the guys are available then that’s how it should be.”

Erik Spoelstra speaks on using different lineups with Tyler Herro back: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/WJ3kkC7gWF

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 19 February 2026

At any rate, Miami is 29-27, which puts them in eighth place in the Eastern Conference as Herro looks to officially return to action on Friday in Atlanta.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 19 February 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 19 February 2026

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

The Miami Heat are coming out of the All-Star break with practice on Thursday afternoon, hopefully bringing back a familiar face who could turn the season around. As the Heat are in the midst of an inconsistent season, it has also been a year that has been filled with questions about what the team’s ceiling really is, with a plethora of injuries, most notably to star Tyler Herro.

Herro had missed the last 15 games in Miami with a condition listed as “right costochondral; ribs bruised”, as more details regarding the injury emerged via the Miami Herald. Herro, who suffered an injury during the team’s loss to the Indiana Pacers on January 10, played the next three games with Toradol shots, but an MRI revealed the severity of the injury.

Fast forward to the present, Herro’s return to gaming appears to be imminent, or in the words of Anthony Chiang, “in the coming days.”

“According to a league source, Herro is recovering from three broken ribs following a buckle rib fracture,” Chiang wrote.

Chiang added, “But Herro will make his return soon, as he is expected to participate in Thursday’s practice and, barring a setback, return to game action in the coming days.”

Heat’s Tyler Herro has “determination” to get through challenging season

While the timeline surrounding the Heat guard was unclear for some time, there is no doubt that it has been a disappointing season for Herro, who has missed a total of 45 of 56 games this season, in addition to missing the last 15 games. He was absent from the first 17 games of the season due to offseason ankle surgery, as he then missed 13 contests due to a toe injury, and then rib injuries.

It’s been challenging for Herro, but he has the “determination” to get everything done, as head coach Erik Spoelstra reiterated to ClutchPoints on Jan. 31.

“One thing I know about Tyler after spending so many years with him is that he’s determined. He’s got grit. He fights and focuses on the things he can control… I’ve always admired that quality of his,” Spoelstra said.

No update on Herro, but I would ask Erik Spoelstra about his disappointment in missing nearly 40 games due to myriad injuries.

“One thing I know about Tyler… is that he has determination… Right now, he’s getting healthy and they’ll get to work…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/8egipXHHzI

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 31 January 2026

If one thing is for sure, Miami can use Herro’s offense to finish with the team 29-27, which would move them into eighth place in the East. Herro could return for the Heat on Friday against the Atlanta Hawks or on Saturday when the team hosts the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Daytona 500 officially kicked off the 2026 NASCAR season for the Cup Series on Sunday, with Daytona International Raceway offering a spectacular battle. Between crashes, podiums and the battle of the finals, some of the best drivers in NASCAR races today had mixed results.

Let’s take a look at our winners and losers from the Daytona 500.

Winner: Tyler Reddick

Tyler Reddick is back. Last season, he clearly wasn’t himself as he faced a 23XI Racing lawsuit against NASCAR that clouded his future while he and his wife were dealing with their newborn son’s dire medical condition. Fortunately, both issues have been resolved and Reddick is now the winner of the Daytona 500. On Sunday he only led one lap, but it was the only lap that mattered. Reddick’s move to move ahead of the field in the final seconds – snatching the lead as a large debris burst behind him – was a masterclass in driving. The No. 45 car has returned to its 2024 form, meaning Reddick is a legitimate championship contender this season.

RELATED: Insider sheds light on Tyler Reddick’s future with 23XI Racing

Loser: BJ McLeod

BJ McLeod gained a spot in the Daytona 500 field after Anthony Alfredo failed post-qualifying inspection. However, his luck was short-lived, as disaster struck just five laps into the Great American Race. A right-rear tire failure caused the No. 78 to spin sideways; The ensuing damage destroyed the braking system and forced him to end his day.

RELATED: NASCAR Truck Results from Daytona International Speedway

Winner: Bubba Wallace

Had William Byron not cut in front of him and forced a sudden deceleration – to which the No. 23 team did a great job reacting and avoiding a massive crash – Bubba Wallace would have finished in the top five at the Daytona 500. Nevertheless, he finished 10th, won Stage 2, and led the most laps in NASCAR’s season-opening race. Wallace seemed to have some good luck today, finding debris that his car may have been magnetized to in the past. What matters is that he looks like a top-10 driver once again on superspeedways, building on his success at the end of the season in 2024. Furthermore, he starts the season with a solid 37 points.

RELATED: Daytona 500 results, NASCAR stage results today

Loser: William Byron

There are a few reasons why no one has won the Daytona 500 three consecutive times; Bad luck almost always plays a role. William Byron entered Sunday in an unfavorable situation, after an incident in the Duel at Daytona forced him to use the backup car. Just five laps in, BJ McLeod suffered a tire failure and a subsequent crash just before the No. 24 led to Byron making heavy contact with the wall. The damage required three separate trips to pit road under caution. Afterwards, he crashed into the wall again and then got caught in the “major incident” resulting in even more damage at the end of Stage 2. However, all things considered, finishing in 12th place isn’t so bad, considering everything that came before it.

RELATED: NASCAR points standings today after the Daytona 500

Winner: Shane van Gisbergen

Few would have assumed that the changes NASCAR made in 2026 — eliminating the “win-and-you’re-in” playoff format and reducing the number of road-course races — would keep Shane Van Gisbergen out of the Chase this year. At Sunday’s Daytona 500, SVG showed why that’s not the case. He didn’t just perform well on superspeedways; He led several laps and spent a significant portion of the race at the front of the field. He has clearly begun to master the art of oval racing, and today’s performance is the latest example of his improvement on the superspeedway. SVG is an even better driver than 2025. Unfortunately, his total points today will not show it because he has got into big trouble.

RELATED: NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series results from Daytona International Speedway

Loser: Chase Briscoe

Coming off a highly successful first season in the No. 19 car with Joe Gibbs Racing, Chase Briscoe had a relatively strong Stage 1, leading 23 laps. Unfortunately, a run of luck struck him at the start of Stage 2. When Connor Zylisch got loose at the front of the field, the pack piled up and Ross Chastain got in front of Cody Ware’s right. Ware then broke loose and collided with Brisco. As the No. 19 slid down the infield and into the pit lane, it was T-boned by Austin Dillon. The damage caused Briscoe’s car to be sent to the garage for significant repairs, knocking him out of contention on Sunday. He would leave Daytona in last place among full-time drivers in points.

Winner: Zane Smith

In 2025, Zane Smith led only 22 laps in 36 races and failed to score a single stage win. He immediately changed his fortunes at the start of the 2026 campaign. By increasing his fuel while most of the field was pitting, Smith led nine laps and won Stage 1 to collect 10 points. It was a risky strategy – as evidenced by Noah Gragson running out of fuel shortly after – but Smith made it work, scoring his first career stage win and leading both the first laps at Daytona. Smith finished the day in sixth, marking a top-10 finish to start the season and demonstrating the potential for a breakout year.

Loser: Denny Hamlin

We’ll start with this: The Big One wasn’t Denny Hamlin’s fault. The No. 11 made an aggressive move to the high side in a tight gap, but Justin Allgaier reacted too late when attempting to block, causing a pileup behind Hamlin. This seems especially painful for the future Hall of Famer; After a disappointing performance in the duel, he returned to the front and set himself up for the Stage 2 victory. Allgaier’s mistake wiped out that progress, resulting in the destruction of 19 other cars. It’s been an extremely difficult year for Hamlin, both on and off the track. With 10 laps remaining, Hamlin again set himself up for a strong finish until his favorite young driver got by him. 23XI Racing’s Corey Heim contacted Hamlin and passed the No. 11 to teammate Christopher Bell. No. 20’s loss ended its day and No. 11 suffered its own loss. Ultimately, he finished the day in 31st place and possibly ruined any good feelings he had as a co-owner of 23XI Racing.

Winner: Chris Buescher

Forced to start the race from the back of the field in the backup car, Chris Buescher showed why he is one of the most underrated drivers in NASCAR. The No. 17 fought hard to finish fifth in Stage 1 (6 points) and followed that up with a sixth-place effort in Stage 2 (5 points). Having collected the second-most stage points (11) earlier in the day, Buescher kept himself at the front of the field to finish seventh and demonstrate why he is a strong contender for top-eight points this year.

Loser: Connor Zylisch

Connor Zylisch is one of the best NASCAR prospects of the modern era, but the “broadcast curse” eventually gets to everyone. As the FOX crew began praising the 19-year-old for maintaining a top-three finish, the No. 88 broke loose and caused the first major crash of the day. Ultimately, the mistake was caused by Zylisch’s inexperience driving a Next Gen car on a superspeedway. He’ll learn with time, but the Daytona 500 humbles every driver, and Zylisch experienced that firsthand today.

Winner: 23XI Racing

Michael Jordan took NASCAR to court to overturn the system he believed to be flawed, resulting in a multi-million dollar settlement and teams eventually receiving permanent charters. Clearly, the hunger to win on NASCAR’s biggest stage remains through 2026. Jordan celebrates as 23XI’s Tyler Reddick wins the Daytona 500 with an incredible finish. The trophy is headed home, and Jordan can also be proud of the fact that Bubba Wallace finished 10th with a Stage 2 win, Corey Haim ran at the front of the field during the race, and Riley Herbst finished eighth. This is an impressive start to the 2026 season for 23XI Racing.

RELATED: Winner of 23XI Racing lawsuit, loser wins over NASCAR

Loser: Carson Hocevar

Did Carson Hocevar offend the NASCAR gods at Daytona? Tire problems derailed his chances in the Truck Series, and a series of chaotic events forced him out of the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race on Saturday. Entering the final lap of the Daytona 500, the No. 77 was looking for his first career Cup Series win as the race leader. However, he was knocked out and pinned to the wall. Hocevar was effectively dead in the water at that point, losing control and ultimately finishing 18th.

RELATED: NASCAR Predictions 2026

Winner: Riley Herbst

Ignore the circulating narrative: Tyler Reddick definitely had help from a teammate on the way to his Daytona 500 victory. However, one can show some leniency toward the team, as few expected it to be teammate Riley Herbst – who failed to record a single top-12 finish last season – who pushed the No. 45 to victory. Herbst played the best teammate role, using the No. 35 car to pass Reddick for the lead and then making sure Chase Elliott couldn’t make a desperate bid for the win. Additionally, Herbst secured eighth place for himself. While it is widely known that Herbst has entered the hot seat in 2026, this selfless performance will earn him significant credit within the 23XI organization.

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

新奧爾良聖徒隊以高調結束了 2025-26 NFL 賽季。他們贏得了最後五場比賽中的四場，總共取得了六場胜利。沒有多少人預計他們會贏得超過 3-4 場比賽。新秀四分衛泰勒·肖在 11 場比賽中表現出色，每場比賽都展現出進步的跡象。肖夫可以將自己打造成 NFL 的一名合格的四分衛，而且他已經具備了幫助他實現這一目標的年齡和經驗。

週四，在老牌新英格蘭愛國者隊和西雅圖海鷹隊之間的第 60 屆超級碗比賽之前，肖與約翰·德沙齊爾談論了即將到來的休賽期以及對下賽季的期望。

“你必須每天進步 1%……我們必須繼續前進。我們感受到了緊迫感，我們感受到了我們的能力，現在我們就出去去做吧。”

AP OROY 決賽入圍者 Tyler Shough 迎頭趕上 @約翰德沙齊爾 談及他對下賽季的期望 pic.twitter.com/5sVLCMulgf

— 新奧爾良聖徒隊 (@Saints) 2026 年 2 月 5 日

“每週都在增長，每週都在增長，”Shough 說。 “我了解到，這是一個漫長的賽季，最終目標是贏得國聯南部賽、進入季后賽、贏得超級碗。無論看起來如何，你都可以做到。我感覺每週我都在進步，球隊也每週都在進步。我很高興我們所有的教練都回來了。我的目標是每天都保持同樣的狀態，並繼續前進。”

“你必須每天進步 1%……我們必須繼續前進。我們感受到了緊迫感，我們感受到了我們的能力，現在我們就出去去做吧。”

Shough 傳球推進 2,384 碼並取得 10 次達陣，同時衝球推進 186 碼並取得 3 次達陣。他的傳球評分為91.3，還算不錯。總的來說，這對他來說是一個很好的起點，因為他正在準備成為一名特許球員。

以下是聖徒隊進入 2026 年休賽期的三名潛在裁減候選人。

在泰勒·肖（Tyler Shough）擔任中鋒的情況下取得了令人驚訝的成功後，新奧爾良聖徒隊在休賽期的未來看起來一片光明。

了解了凱倫·摩爾擔任主教練的第一個賽季什麼對他有效、什麼無效後，聖徒隊很快就能加強他們在自由球員市場的深度，然後在 2026 年 NFL 選秀中瞄準新奧爾良的下一代中堅力量，他們在第一輪第八順位選秀權。

在討論預期的前十順位新秀卡內爾·泰特公開宣稱他想在新奧爾良的 Up & Adams 與肖一起打球時，這位路易斯維爾的產品給了他一個提示，指出聖徒隊肯定可以在進攻上使用另一名組織核心。

“我確信，我確信他們已經意識到了。他們正在與所有這些人進行盡職調查。這會很有趣，”肖指出。 “這會很有趣。我知道有很多很棒的前景。我的意思是，誰知道，誰知道什麼位置，呃，但是，是的，我認為我們肯定可以增加一個像他這樣的組織核心。”

當被問及下賽季是否願意與泰特一起打球時，肖夫表示願意，並指出俄亥俄州立大學外接手在 NFL 級別上擁有良好的成功記錄是有原因的。

“當然，當然，”肖夫說。 “我的意思是，他在俄亥俄州立大學所做的一切，我認為我們已經證明了名單上已經有一位非常優秀的俄亥俄州立大學接球手。所以，嗯，你不會出錯。”

泰特是俄亥俄州立大學外接手機器的最新產品，目前已經為約四分之一的 NFL 球隊培養了先發球員，泰特的統計數據可能不如賈克森·史密斯·尼格巴、小馬文·哈里森或埃梅卡·埃格布卡那麼令人印象深刻，但當球傳到他身邊時，這位前五星級球員上場了，平均每次接球推進 17.2 碼，同時在短短 11 場比賽中增加了 9 次空中達陣。如果聖徒隊希望在 2026 年將進攻提升一個檔次，並為肖夫增加一些強大的火力，那麼如果泰特仍在名單上，他可能會成為第八順位的球員。

聖徒隊四分衛泰勒·肖回應俄亥俄州立大學外接手卡內爾·泰特想和他一起打球：

“我們絕對可以增加一個像他這樣的組織核心……你不會出錯的。” 👀@carnelltate_ | @tylershough2 | @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/n4ZU82McS7

— Up 和 Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) 2026 年 1 月 30 日