Defeat to Carlos Cuesta’s Parma leaves Rossoneri 10 points off top spot as England midfielder suffers broken jaw
These were supposed to be the weeks when Milan held the upper hand over their Serie A rivals, granted six days to prepare for a home game against bottom-half opposition while the likes of Inter, Juventus and Atalanta dragged themselves back exhausted from European away trips. Demoralised, too, after losing to Bodø/Glimt, Galatasaray and Borussia Dortmund by a combined 10 goals to three.
It was a grim week for Italian football, the sort that provokes another round of sad think-pieces about whether the nation’s teams will ever again be competitive in the continent’s biggest tournament. A discourse which often seems to skim over the fact one of them has gone to the final twice in the past three seasons.
Back in December, the Montreal Canadiens acquired center Phillip Danault from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick. This was after the Canadiens were heavily linked to the 32-year-old forward.
There was no question that Danault needed a change of scenery, as he struggled mightily with the Kings this season before the trade. In 30 games with the Kings, he had zero goals and just five assists. This was after he had eight goals and 43 points in 80 games this past season with Los Angeles.
While Danault started the season ice-cold with the Kings, there is no question that he has been bouncing back nicely during his second stint with the Habs so far.
The trade to Montreal has given Danault a nice boost, as he has recorded three goals, six assists, and nine points in 21 games. He also recorded a point in each of his two final games ahead of the Olympic break.
The Canadiens have also benefited by bringing back Danault, as he has once again been a nice part of Montreal's forward group and penalty kill.
Overall, it is clear that both the Canadiens and Danault are benefiting from reuniting. It will be interesting to see how Danault performs during the final stretch of the year for the Canadiens from here.
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 30: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 30, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
With the 2026 Winter Olympics officially in the books, the 2025-26 NHL season is set to resume this week. That means the playoff push is officially on for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The big question on everybody’s mind: What is going to be the status of captain Sidney Crosby following his injury in the quarterfinals of the Olympic tournament.
The fact he did not play in Friday’s semifinal game or Sunday’s gold medal game is not exactly an encouraging development for his short-term availability. You have to imagine if he were even anything remotely close to 100 percent he would have been out there going for his third gold medal. It seems quite likely that he is not going to be in the lineup when the Penguins return to action later this week.
While we do not when Crosby will be on the ice for them, it does seem likely that Avery Hayes is getting a call back up to the big club, and it will be a well-earned promotion if/when it happens. Not only due to the fact he scored a pair of goals in his NHL debut, but also because he just continued to keep scoring goals when he was sent back down to the American Hockey League. It is an encouraging sign for his development and the forward depth the team has accumulated over the past two-plus seasons.
As for the week of games itself, every team in the NHL is probably going to have some rust to deal with after three weeks of no games. That does not even get into the players that are returning from international travel and having just played five-six highly competitive games over the past two weeks. Every team is going to be in the same situation.
The Penguins have three games on the schedule this week, and close out the month of February with a couple of favorable matchups before they get into the brutal March schedule. It begins on Thursday night against the New Jersey Devils (and Jack Hughes, fresh off of his golden goal). That is also a big schedule advantage right at the beginning because the Devils will be playing the second half of a back-to-back after playing the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night.
The Devils had lost five of six games going into the Olympic break, with their only win over that stretch being an overtime win against the Nashville Predators.
While the Devils have some big talent on paper, things have simply not worked out for them this season and enter the week with the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference. The Penguins have split the season series so far with the Devils, losing a shootout in New Jersey in early November and then beating them 4-1 in Pittsburgh in early January.
The week continues for the Penguins on Saturday afternoon with a game against the literal worst team in the Eastern Conference so far this season, the New York Rangers. The Rangers are not only the worst team in the Eastern Conference standings, they have also already started selling players by trading defenseman Carson Soucy and star forward Artemi Panarin. There is also the chance somebody else could be moved before Saturday’s game with the trade deadline looming and the Olympic break trade freeze lifting.
Even before the Rangers started selling this was still a very flawed team that did not really do anything well other than have a great goalie in Igor Shesterkin. Without him, there is just not much here. The Penguins have won two of the first three games in the season series against the Rangers, including the first game at Madison Square Garden. That was the Penguins 3-0 season-opening win to open the schedule.
The Penguins then return home on Sunday afternoon for the second half of a back-to-back to kick off their difficult March schedule against the Vegas Golden Knights. While the Golden Knights have not really met their own expectations so far this season, they are still one of the top teams in the Pacific Division and have enough talent on paper that they will be a handful to deal with. Especially since the Penguins will be playing the second half of a back-to-back, with travel, while Vegas will be waiting for them and rested in Pittsburgh with the off day on Saturday.
On paper, this will be the most difficult game of the week. It is still winnable, especially given how questionable the Vegas goaltending situation has been this season.
In 1980, it was Jim Craig. In 1996, it was Mike Richter. In 2026, it was Connor Hellebuyck playing the role of goaltender spoiler keying a U.S. victory over a favored opponent. Deciding the gold medal via 3-on-3 overtime feels silly, but it’s at least an improvement over the shootout (Peter Forsberg, 1994, and Czechs over Canada, 1998) and it provided the platform for Jack Hughes and Zach Werenski to take their heroic turn against the three top players in the world.
Like the Americans of Squaw Valley 1960 and Lake Placid 1980, they’ll always have a tale to tell their descendants about 2026. Compared to all the other athletes toiling away in obscure sports most of us only hear about every four years, Olympic hockey with NHLers is kind of a sideshow, a co-opted forum for what should basically be just a World Cup. But when the players get that into it, it’s fun to see them get their reward (or in Nathan MacKinnon’s case, heartbreak…those long faces, reminiscent of Gretzky, Lindros, Yzerman & Co. in 1996 when Canada was supposed to prove once and for all who owned the sport).
I do feel bad for Bo Horvat though; all he did was everything asked of him, winning faceoffs so the superstars could get on the ice, even drawing a penalty late in regulation to erase Sam Bennett’s mistake and give Canada’s goldenboy power play a chance to win it all. They let him down though. I hope someday Bo will be proud of his medal and this experience, ‘cause the whole “gold or bust” entitlement approach is no way to go through life.
But back to U.S. legends…I’m happiest for Brock Nelson and his family Olympic lineage. Remember when he was drafted and we heard bits and pieces about the Dave and Bill Christian connection? Remember how it wasn’t clear if he would make the NHL as a winger or a center, but then he just kept getting better and better? The stars aligned for him to become an Olympian and win gold, and share a special moment (and rare status) with his 88-year-old grandpa. [NHL]
But remember, this Olympics wasn’t about Connor Hellebucyk standing on his head and the U.S. winning gold, it was about how Sidney Crosby selflessly sat out the final due to injury. He’s the real hero here. [NHL]
The Americans had the spirit of Johnny Gaudreau (and his wife and kids) with them every step of the way. [NHL]
Luke Hughes and other Devils back home were pretty jacked for Jack. [NHL]
Viewing the pain from an entertaining (vs. pompous) Canadian perspective. [Pass it to Bulis]
This is an Islanders blog, though:
Matthew Schaefer’s dad is happy for him to get a break and return home instead of heading to the Olympics at age 18. [Newsday]
With the Olympic roster freeze over and the trade deadline around the corner, what should be next for the Islanders? [THN]
CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 20: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers prepares to shoot a free throw during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on February 20, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Since James Harden has arrived in Cleveland, everything has been exactly what one would hope for. The Cleveland Cavaliers are 5–1, the offense looks rejuvenated, and the team’s vibes haven’t been higher this season. Nothing seems like it could detract from the momentum this team has built, as it now finds itself in the third seed of the Eastern Conference. Well, nothing except for the fact that we all know how Harden carries himself with his new clubs.
This is the honeymoon phase—a term that anyone who has been in a relationship knows all too well. Star-crossed lovers become so enamored with each other that they ride the euphoria and push all concerns to the side. Unfortunately, Cavaliers fans should keep in the back of their minds while they enjoy this initial phase of the James Harden experience. That, according to history, it will not last forever.
It would be nice to think the Tobias Fünke train of thought—“It didn’t work for them, but it could work for us”—didn’t have validity, but the pattern has too much credibility. Ask the fans of the Nets, Sixers, and Clippers how the initial portion of the James Harden experience went.
You go on Twitter, Reddit, YouTube, or even just talk to friends, and the quotes eerily all line up to paint the same picture. Harden joins Team X, and suddenly it’s, “Oh wow, he looks reinvigorated.” “Maybe something has changed?” Harden looks phenomenal for a stretch, which allows fanbases and front offices to quiet any reservations they had about the trade.
Then, Team X hits a bump in the road—whether it’s getting bounced from the playoffs or falling short of expectations—and things get dicey fast. The dialogue around the team and Harden suddenly pivots from, “Where did this guy come from?” to, “Will this team ever look like it did when he first arrived?” Next thing you know, the NBA trade deadline features Team X trying to appease Harden as he looks for his next venture, because your team didn’t cut it.
This is all part of the Harden experience. James Harden is an NBA mercenary. Mercenaries aren’t sentimental; they don’t get emotionally attached. In Harden’s case, if he doesn’t get what he wants quickly, things get sour fast.
This is nothing against Harden—he doesn’t hide his wishes or tendencies. This is very much out in the open. A key factor to consider when getting into the Harden business is that he never gets comfortable, always willing to press the buttons necessary to maximize his chances of winning a title. This is an important piece of information that Koby Altman and the Cavaliers front office were, without a doubt, aware of.
The Cavaliers, with all their chips on Harden, either unknowingly or unwillingly, have put themselves on a rapid and delicate timeline. This is probably the most open the Eastern Conference will be for the next few years, with the Pistons sitting at the top, the Celtics recuperating and reintegrating Jayson Tatum into the fold, and the Knicks looking like the main threats to Cleveland’s chances to represent the East in the NBA Finals.
It’s fair to anticipate that Cleveland has made some indication to Harden that they will either extend him or provide incentives for him to remain in town through next season, at minimum. The Cavaliers are currently benefiting from the Harden experience and show no signs of slowing down. The team should ride this momentum into the postseason. However, it is the playoffs that will set the tone for the team heading into next season, based on the recent chapters of Harden’s career.
This is the deal that Cleveland signed up for. Harden has always shown his cards. If the Cavaliers expect a different response from their newest star, then they got into the wrong business.
In a marquee Eastern Conference matchup, the New York Knicks will face the Cleveland Cavaliers in a Tuesday night game on Peacock.
The Knicks (36-21) and Cavaliers (36-21) are tied for third in the East, one game behind Boston for second place.
Cleveland will enter Rocket Arena as one of the league's hottest teams, riding a seven-game winning streak and having won 14 of the past 16. The visiting Knicks have the second-best record (11-3) over the past month behind the Cavaliers.
This is the third and final regular-season meeting between the teams. The Knicks won both at home — 119-111 in the Oct. 22 season opener and a 126-124 victory on Christmas Day that included a 17-point comeback in the fourth quarter.
Because of the State of the Union address on NBC, the game will be shown exclusively on Peacock and NBCSN (available on YouTubeTV).
See below for additional information on how to watch the Knicks-Cavaliers matchup and a breakdown of the game. Also check out the schedule for the NBA on NBC and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the 2025-2026 season.
Because of their recent streaks, the Knicks and Cavaliers have emerged with the shortest odds to make the NBA Finals. Per DraftKings Sportsbook, Cleveland is the current favorite at +300, and the Knicks are second at +330 (first-place Detroit is +350, and Boston is +380).
The Cavaliers are hoping to erase the memory of going wire-to-wire as the top seed last season at 64-18 before losing in 5 games to the Indiana Pacers in the conference semifinals.
Seven-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell has scored at least 30 points in seven of the Cavs' past 13 games and remains on track for a career high in scoring at 29 points per game (ffith in the NBA). Cleveland has been rolling since the Feb. 4 acquisition of 11-time All-Star James Harden, who has yet to play with Evan Mobley (out since Jan. 26 with a left calf strain).
Defense has spurred the recent success of the Knicks, who are allowing just over 101 points per game over their last 15 games after giving up more than 117 points per game in the 11 previous games. In their first 43 games this season, New York held only three teams to fewer than 100 points.
“I think the biggest part of our defense has been our communication, physicality and accountability without having to point fingers and say who was wrong and who wasn’t," said guard Jalen Brunson, who leads the team in scoring and assists during his fourth season in New York. "Just kind of being on the string and being on the same page is the biggest part of our turnaround so far.”
Teammate Karl-Anthony Towns is down in several major categories (points, rebounds, shooting percentage), but OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and recent acquisition Jose Alvarado have helped pick up the slack.
What other NBA games are on Peacock and NBCSN on Tuesday?
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Portland Trail Blazers, 10 p.m.
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
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NBA on NBC 2025-26 schedule:
Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 21: Spencer Jones #78 of the New York Yankees smiles before the game against the Detroit Tigers at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’re a couple games into spring now, and already seen a few highlight performances from the handful of innings that each player has gotten into thus far. Aaron Judge stole the show in the home opener with a two-homer showcase, but right before the Captain went off we got a glimpse of Judge’s potential protege going deep for the first time this year too. Spencer Jones launched one out to right field on Saturday, displaying the power that so many have been captivated by… and he also struck out twice, underscoring the primary concern scouts have had with his development.
This season figures to be a critical one for Jones’ future as a Yankee. Many of the cards are out of his control, namely the packed Yankee outfield that is set to get consistent playing time that doesn’t even include Jasson Domínguez as a regular yet. Jones would be next in line afterwards, meaning that unless the injury bug strikes particularly hard or Jones goes on a season-long scorcher to force their hand, he probably isn’t seeing much time on the major league roster.
With that in mind, unless the Yankees swing a trade involving him he’ll have a full season in Triple-A to develop his power further and work on the big swing and miss flaws in his game. So what should we expect from the outfielder entering his age-25 season? He took a major leap last year, jumping his OPS up from .789 in Double-A in 2024 to a .932 mark split between Double-A and Triple-A. The power skyrocketed, going from 17 long balls to 35, and the notorious strikeouts continued to pile up as he whiffed 179 times in 438 plate appearances compared to 200 times in 482 PAs.
Jones is one of the most volatile prospects to project that the Yankees have had in a while. His ceiling could genuinely be a left-handed version of the Captain’s prowess in the box, but his floor could be a bat with pop that cannot convert on it because he struggles too much to make any contact. Will he take another leap and fill out the holes in his swing, especially given that he’s made changes to his stance already? Will we see more of the same from Jones, talent to be tapped into with enough frustrating flaws to hold him back? Will the Yankees even be the ones to see how it all pans out, or will they ship him out for other needs somewhere midseason? What’s your take on the Yankees’ biggest bat down in the minors?
Today on the site, we’ve got a double-feature for Josh leading off with a birthday tribute to Elston Howard and his legacy with the franchise as a barrier-breaking great before kicking off our team previews with a look at the lowly Rockies out west. In-between we’ve got Sam giving us a preview of the funky lefty in the bullpen, Tim Hill, and then after the exhibition game I’ll be back to open up this week’s mailbag for questions.
Duke and Arizona looked like the teams to beat in the upcoming men's NCAA Tournament after taking down No. 1 Michigan and No. 2 Houston, respectively, on Feb. 21.
The No. 3 Blue Devils beat the Wolverines 68-63 behind Cameron Boozer's 18-point, 10-rebound and seven-assist performance. Guards Isaiah Evans and Caleb Foster added 26 combined points in the win.
Meanwhile, the Wildcats defeated the Cougars 73-66 behind a career-high 22 points from Anthony Dell'Orso, who played 34 minutes off the bench for the national championship contenders.
There will be a shakeup in the polls on Feb. 23, as No. 6 Iowa State fell to No. 22 BYU and No. 12 Kansas was upset by unranked Cincinnati. No. 18 Vanderbilt also lost to unranked Tennessee.
Here's a look at the latest risers and fallers for March Madness as the regular season winds down:
March Madness bracket predictions
Risers
Duke
Projected seed: No. 1
Duke is coming off a 68-63 win over No. 1 Michigan on Feb. 21 and looks to be the new frontrunner for the No. 1 overall team in the NCAA Tournament. The Blue Devils are 25-2 on the season and their two losses are to Texas Tech and North Carolina, which are both virtual locks for March Madness.
Duke still has remaining games against Notre Dame, Virginia, NC State and UNC in the regular season.
Arizona
Projected seed: No. 1
Arizona was the last undefeated team in Power Four until it lost to Kansas on the road Feb. 9, before losing again to Texas Tech in its next game. The Wildcats bounced back on Feb. 21, though, defeating No. 2 Houston 73-66 on the road.
Arizona is back to being a contender for the No. 1 overall seed, along with Duke.
Florida
Projected seed: No. 2
Florida was shaky at times early in the year, but has hit its stride in recent weeks and is dominating the SEC. The Gators have won 12 of their past 14 games, including wins over Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky and Vanderbilt.
Florida's frontcourt trio of Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu might be the best in college basketball and starting guards Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee are also heating up, which could be scary for opposing teams facing the reigning national champions.
UCLA
Projected seed: First Four Out
UCLA coach Mick Cronin went viral for the wrong reasons after its blowout loss to Michigan State on Feb. 17. However, the Bruins turned around and defeated No. 10 Illinois 95-94 at home on Feb. 21, which is a huge boost to their resume.
UCLA still has some work to do but holds an 18-9 record with ranked wins over Purdue and Illinois, two of the top projected teams in March Madness.
Fallers
Houston
Projected seed: No. 2
Houston is coming off back-to-back losses to Iowa State and Arizona and appears to have fallen behind both schools in the Big 12's pecking order. While the Cougars are still national championship contenders, they have some work to do to get back onto the No. 1 seed line.
Kansas
Projected seed: No. 3
Kansas was blown out by Iowa State on Feb. 14, before defeating Oklahoma State on Feb. 18 with limited help from star guard Darryn Peterson. The Jayhawks then suffered perhaps their worst loss of the season on Feb. 21, falling to unranked Cincinnati by 16 points at home.
Thankfully for Kansas, Peterson played 32 minutes in the loss after pulling himself from the game against the Cowboys.
Vanderbilt
Projected seed: No. 5
Vanderbilt, losers of three of its past five games, is quickly falling out of contention to be the higher seed for the Round of 32, should it reach that stage of the NCAA Tournament.
The Commodores have dropped back-to-back games to Missouri and Tennessee, who are looking to surpass Vanderbilt in the SEC order. The losses were only by five combined points, though, showing how slim the margins can be between winning and losing.
Vandy ends the regular season with games against Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee again, which could all go either way.
Clemson
Projected seed: No. 9
Clemson was looking to compete with North Carolina to finish second in the ACC standings, until its current four-game losing streak started. The Tigers are 20-8 on the season, but have lost four straight, including three against unranked teams in Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and Florida State.
The Tigers have upcoming games against Louisville and North Carolina, two ranked teams. Things could get ugly quick if they can't win at least one of those two games, in terms of seeding and even avoiding the bubble.
When is Selection Sunday 2026?
The 68-team bracket for the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament will be unveiled on 6 p.m. ET, Sunday, March 15.
March Madness 2026 schedule
The 2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament will transpire over the next three weeks, which will end with the Final Four and the national championship game in Indianapolis.
Here’s a rundown of the schedule for the 2026 NCAA Tournament:
Los Angeles, CA - February 22: Guard Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics talks with head coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics in the second half of a NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 22, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — Jaylen Brown broke into a toothy grin as he chest-bumped Payton Pritchard at the center of Crypto.com arena, moments after Pritchard crossed up Austin Reaves en route to his sixth three-pointer of the night.
Brown, Pritchard’s longest-tenured teammate, relished the offensive explosion.
“Payton has been playing at an All-Star level,” Brown said after the Celtics 111-89 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. “And I’m happy to see it. Nobody happier to see it than me.”
Pritchard’s three-pointer extended the Celtics’ lead to 22 points, their 37th win of the season all but secured. And, a team that was once heralded by many as destined for the lottery extended their lead for second place in the Eastern Conference.
On the sidelines, Jayson Tatum chuckled, in awe of Pritchard’s masterful offensive display (the Celtics guard finished the afternoon with 30 points on 10-14 shooting).
Jayson Tatum can’t believe Payton Prichard is absolutely cooking LeBron and the Lakers. pic.twitter.com/WfbK8RFzkO
But afterwards, in quintessential fashion, Pritchard said he wasn’t a finished product.
“[There’s] another step I can get to,” Pritchard said. “So, just gonna keep working — and I’m gonna get to it.”
In one sense, Payton Pritchard was the story of the Celtics’ blowout win over the Lakers — the 27-year-old has been on a tear as of late, averaging 23.6 points and shooting 54.4% from the field in his last 7 games (since Anfernee Simons was traded to the Chicago Bulls).
Payton Pritchard, the NBA’s most efficient isolation scorer this season, overcame an ice-cold start to the year to average 17.6 points and 5.4 assists per game, both career-highs.
But, was Pritchard the story of the Celtics’ Sunday afternoon victory? Is he the story of the Celtics’ season?
Jaylen Brown, of course, deserves plenty of the limelight
In the victory, Brown talled 32 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, putting forth another all-around performance that earned praise from LeBron James himself.
“This whole MVP thing, I don’t understand why his name is not getting talked about some as well,” James said, per CLNS Media. “Like, nobody gave them a shot to start the season. And he’s averaging what, 30 [points]? Just under 30? It’s a popularity contest sometimes, I tell you.”
Brown has received his fair share of accolades this season; in January, he earned his first-ever Eastern Conference Player of the Month selection. Last week, he started in an All-Star game for the first time in his NBA tenure. And, before the game, Lakers head coach JJ Redick stated simply that there were no holes in Brown’s game.
Is Brown’s leap the story of the Celtics’ season?
There’s a strong case to be made. Jaylen Brown has played some of the best basketball of his career, averaging 29.2 points, 7 rebounds, and 4.9 assists — all career-highs.
It’s unusual for a player in their 10th season to make such a substantial lap — Brown is scoring 7 more points per game than he did last year — and it’s the first time in his career he’s been in MVP conversations.
“I feel like I’m the best two-way player in the world,” Brown said. “I play both ends on the court night-to-night. I’m available, which is hard to do. I’m a leader. Help lead my team, empower my team to come out and play confidently, stuff that doesn’t always show up on the analytics. And I’m a winner. I come out and try to win every single night.”
In some ways, Celtics-Lakers was all about the young bucks
It’s hard to boil down the Celtics’ success to the elite play of one player, when all season long has so loudly been about the team. Contributions have come from different players every night — for a stretch, it was Josh Minott starting games for Boston (Minott is no longer on the team).
For a couple-month period, Jordan Walsh, who started 20 consecutive games, was the talk of the town. For a stretch, it was Hugo Gonzalez, who began to break through at just 19 years old.
A hallmark characteristic of this group has been that regardless of who is available, the same attention to detail is on full display.
Nowadays, Sam Hauser and Baylor Scheierman regularly start games for Boston, with Pritchard and Nikola Vucevic coming off the bench.
There were turning points in Sunday’s beatdown that felt like the Celtics’ success could largely be attributed to the team’s trio of young defenders: Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez, and Jordan Walsh.
Mazzulla said that Brown pulled all three aside — as well as Sam Hauser — at Saturday’s practice in Santa Monica in order to go over some of the Lakers’ stars offensive tendencies. That extra scout carried over into Sunday’s game; James, Austin Reaves, and Luka Doncic combined to shoot just 22 of 53 (41%) from the field.
And, Brown liked what he saw from that trio in action on Sunday afternoon.
“Hugo made some big plays for us,” Brown said. “Baylor was amazing tonight. Defense is what we’ve got to continue to elevate.”
The Celtics, in turn, tallied their third consecutive victor.
They now have the NBA’s fourth-best record (trailing only the Detroit Pistons, Oklahoma City Thunder, and San Antonio Spurs) and third-best net rating (trailing only the Pistons and Thunder).
After the win, Mazzulla was asked what he thought was the story of the Celtics’ season.
His answer perfectly reflected the Celtics’ mindset: focus on the right now, on the controllables. Focus on the process, not the result.
“The story’s not done,” Mazzulla said. “We are only a product of what we do tomorrow, what we do the next day, and that’s just the story. If we would have lost this game by 1, tomorrow’s film session [would have] to be as detailed and as disciplined as it is going to be with the result that we had. And so that’s the story. It’s not done yet.”
Asked Joe Mazzulla what he thinks the story of this Celtics team has been:
“The story's not done. We are only a product of what we do tomorrow, what we do the next day, and that's just the story. And if we would have lost this game by 1, tomorrow’s film session has to be as… pic.twitter.com/kM8dPvM0UW
Mazzulla doesn’t expect Monday’s Celtics film session to feel any different on the heels of a victory as it would feel after a loss. After the 22-point win, he noted the Celtics gave up two back-cuts and an after-timeout lob to LeBron. He also noted that the Celtics overhelped on several three-point attempts.
All of those plays — win or loss — is what the group will focus on tomorrow.
“We haven’t done anything,” Mazzulla said. “All we’ve done is stick to the process of winning on both ends of the floor, put our head down. [We] don’t overreact to a good win or to a bad loss. And, [we] get better in the next game.”
After their poorest pair of tournament performances in years, Steve Borthwick’s project is inevitably under scrutiny
The band on the stadium concourse were playing a familiar tune in the immediate aftermath of England’s latest debacle on Saturday. “Zombie! Zombie!” the vocalist sang, ostensibly in tribute to Ireland’s record 42-21 victory at Twickenham. Alternatively he might just have been riffing on the horribly listless, blank-eyed performance that ended England’s Six Nations title hopes for another year.
“In your he-ad, in your he-ad…” The old Cranberries anthem, synonymous with Ireland’s 2023 World Cup campaign in France, will be heard a few more times over the next month if Andy Farrell’s team maintain their revitalised excellence and no-nonsense physical intent. For England’s players, though, the past two weekends have been truly grim, a return to the bad old days they had dared to hope were over.
Rio Ngumoha lifts Liverpool, the tussle to be Harry Kane’s England deputy and Chelsea self-destruct
Tottenham weren’t quite as dreadful as they were in losing 4-1 to Arsenal in November, but they were still extremely so, devoid of wit, energy, solidity, creativity, quality, and everything else one would hope to see in a football team. Make no mistake, they are in serious danger of going down and, assessing their fixtures, it is not easy to see where they might win enough points to stay up – all the more so given the form of West Ham and Nottingham Forest who are both playing well. Spurs, on the other hand, haven’t won a league game in 2026 and look like they’ve forgotten how – partly, it must be said, because of an awful injury list. So, where does Igor Tudor go from here? It may well be that his only option is to pick both Dominic Solanke and Randal Kolo Muani, get balls into the box, and hope they can make enough of them to save him – which might not be The Tottenham WayTM, but is a lot better than relegation. Daniel Harris
DETROIT, MI - MARCH 25: Harrison Barnes #40 of the San Antonio Spurs handles the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons on March 25, 2025 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Three seasons ago, the San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons faced off on January 6th. At the time, the winner of the game was actually considered the loser. Both teams were on a downward slide and playing to increase their lottery odds for the ultimate prize, the chance to draft Victor Wembanyama. Now, after two incredible turnarounds by these historic NBA franchises, they meet for the first time this season, looking to secure top seeding in their respective conferences.
Detroit holds the best record in the NBA, and San Antonio has the third. Both teams have a top-five defense and a top-ten offense. They are led by two of the best young players in the NBA, in Wembanyama and Cade Cunningham. In many ways, this is shaping up to be one of the best East vs. West rivalries for the foreseeable future. Monday will be the first of many battles between these two in the years to come.
San Antonio and Detroit are similar teams on the court, too. Both have dominant paint big men in Wembanyama and Jalen Duren, athletic wings like Stephon Castle and Ausar Thompson, and good lead guards like De’Aaron Fox and Cade Cunningham. They lock down the paint and use their athleticism on the perimeter to take chances and create turnovers.
San Antonio is on an eight-game winning streak and is nipping at the Oklahoma City Thunder’s heels for the top seed in the West. Beating Detroit on the road would be another statement victory for the up-and-coming Spurs.
Spurs Injuries: Harrison Ingram – Out (G League), Stanley Umude – Out (G League), David Jones-Garcia – Out (G League), Mason Plumlee – Out (conditioning), Lindy Waters III – Questionable (knee)
Pistons Injuries: Isaiah Stewart – Out (suspension), Isaac Jones – Out (G League), Bobi Klintman – Out (G League), Chaz Lanier – Out (G League), Wendell Moore Jr. – Out (G League)
What to watch for:
Cade vs. Wemby
Surface-level analysis here: the Pistons and Spurs will go as far as Cunningham and Wembanyama take them. That will be true again on Monday night. Cunningham is Detroit’s offensive engine. He’s one of the best scorers and passers in the NBA. He has great floor vision and, at 6-foot-6, the size to make plays in the paint. His one weakness is that he isn’t an elite three-point shooter, hitting just 33.8% from deep this season. Expect Castle to get the Cunningham assignment and hound him on drives and in the pick-and-roll.
On the other end, Wembanyama will likely have to contend with Duren, a sturdy big body in the middle. Wembanyama has found a lot of success against opposing big men this season, and has sometimes struggled against smaller, more agile defenders. For that reason, we could see Thompson guarding San Antonio’s big man to keep him from establishing a rhythm.
Winning a mud fight
The Pistons are one of the most physical teams in the NBA, living up to the franchise’s identity. The Spurs have dealt with their fair share of big, tough teams. Wins against the Houston Rockets prove what San Antonio can do when they make the other team feel their presence. This game could very well come down to which team can assert its physical will. San Antonio has a shot, even against a tough team like Detroit, but they’ll have to stay locked in for 48 minutes to make it happen.
Managing the possession battle
Detroit is great at securing extra possessions. They are first in the NBA in steals (10.6 per game), opponent turnovers (17.4 per game), and fourth in offensive rebounds (13.1 per game). The Spurs have gotten much better at securing the boards (3rd in the NBA in rebounding) and taking care of the ball (5th in the league in turnovers per game), but like we saw on Saturday night against the Sacramento Kings, they can have stretches of mental lapses. So can the Pistons, who are 23rd in the NBA in turnovers (15.2 a game). The Spurs will need to take care of the ball, win the battle on the glass, and take advantage of Detroit’s mistakes to give themselves an edge.
BOTTOM LINE: Boston will try to continue its three-game win streak with a victory over Phoenix.
The Suns are 19-11 on their home court. Phoenix ranks third in the NBA with 13.1 offensive rebounds per game led by Mark Williams averaging 3.1 offensive boards.
The Celtics have gone 19-10 away from home. Boston is eighth in the league with 45.6 rebounds per game led by Nikola Vucevic averaging 8.9.
The Suns are shooting 45.4% from the field this season, 1.1 percentage points higher than the 44.3% the Celtics allow to opponents. The Celtics are shooting 46.8% from the field, 0.2% lower than the 47.0% the Suns' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Williams is shooting 64.2% and averaging 11.9 points for the Suns. Collin Gillespie is averaging 13.1 points over the last 10 games.
Jaylen Brown is averaging 29.2 points, seven rebounds and 4.9 assists for the Celtics. Payton Pritchard is averaging 21.3 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Suns: 4-6, averaging 106.2 points, 44.4 rebounds, 23.8 assists, 9.7 steals and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 42.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.5 points per game.
Celtics: 8-2, averaging 109.2 points, 49.7 rebounds, 25.6 assists, 6.0 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 99.3 points.
INJURIES: Suns: Grayson Allen: out (knee), Cole Anthony: out (not injury related), Jordan Goodwin: out (calf), Devin Booker: out (hip), Dillon Brooks: out (hand), Haywood Highsmith: out (knee).
Celtics: Jayson Tatum: out (achilles).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Philadelphia 76ers (31-26, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Indiana Pacers (15-43, 15th in the Eastern Conference)
Indianapolis; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Indiana looks to end its three-game slide when the Pacers play Philadelphia.
The Pacers are 11-28 against Eastern Conference opponents. Indiana is 6-5 in one-possession games.
The 76ers are 19-19 in conference games. Philadelphia has a 6-8 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Pacers are shooting 45.0% from the field this season, 2.1 percentage points lower than the 47.1% the 76ers allow to opponents. The 76ers average 12.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.4 more made shots on average than the 11.4 per game the Pacers give up.
The teams meet for the third time this season. The 76ers won 113-104 in the last matchup on Jan. 20. Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 30 points, and Andrew Nembhard led the Pacers with 25 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Pascal Siakam is averaging 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists for the Pacers. Jarace Walker is averaging 14.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists over the last 10 games.
VJ Edgecombe is averaging 15.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, four assists and 1.5 steals for the 76ers. Tyrese Maxey is averaging 27.2 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 44.1% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pacers: 3-7, averaging 117.3 points, 41.3 rebounds, 29.7 assists, 8.1 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 48.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.1 points per game.
76ers: 5-5, averaging 114.9 points, 43.0 rebounds, 23.5 assists, 9.6 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.7 points.
INJURIES: Pacers: Aaron Nesmith: out (ankle), Obi Toppin: out (foot), Johnny Furphy: out for season (knee), Ivica Zubac: out (ankle), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles), T.J. McConnell: out (hamstring).
76ers: Johni Broome: out (knee), Joel Embiid: out (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Washington Wizards (16-40, 13th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Atlanta Hawks (28-31, ninth in the Eastern Conference)
Atlanta; Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Atlanta faces Washington in a matchup of Eastern Conference teams.
The Hawks are 5-6 against division opponents. Atlanta allows 118.3 points and has been outscored by 1.4 points per game.
The Wizards are 11-24 in conference play. Washington allows 122.8 points to opponents and has been outscored by 10.3 points per game.
The Hawks average 116.9 points per game, 5.9 fewer points than the 122.8 the Wizards give up. The Wizards are shooting 45.9% from the field, 1.6% lower than the 47.5% the Hawks' opponents have shot this season.
The teams meet for the third time this season. The Hawks won 131-116 in the last matchup on Dec. 7. Jalen Johnson led the Hawks with 30 points, and Tristan Vukcevic led the Wizards with 18 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Johnson is averaging 23.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 8.1 assists for the Hawks. CJ McCollum is averaging 20.1 points over the last 10 games.
Kyshawn George is averaging 14.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists for the Wizards. Will Riley is averaging 13.7 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hawks: 4-6, averaging 112.9 points, 44.9 rebounds, 26.8 assists, 8.2 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 44.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.0 points per game.
Wizards: 4-6, averaging 113.6 points, 40.5 rebounds, 26.5 assists, 9.5 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 125.2 points.
INJURIES: Hawks: Jonathan Kuminga: out (knee).
Wizards: Anthony Davis: out for season (finger), Justin Champagnie: out (knee), Tristan Vukcevic: out (hand), Cam Whitmore: out for season (shoulder), D'Angelo Russell: out (not injury related), Alex Sarr: out (hamstring), Trae Young: out (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
