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Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend

Chelsea must keep their heads at Arsenal, Anthony Gordon faces his old club and a key return for Sunderland

Unai Emery has seen most things in this game but he has never won at Wolves. In three and a half years at Villa, he has lost two and drawn one of his three away games at Molineux. Twelve months ago they lost this fixture 2-0 and this week Emery shared his poor record to stress the difficulty of the challenge facing his side, particularly given they have won just one of their past five matches in all competitions. Emery even mentioned his visit to Wolverhampton with Arsenal in 2019, when his team trailed 3-0 at half-time and lost 3-1. For Emery, there is no better time to break his duck, with the schedule dictating that Villa could move nine points clear of fifth-placed Chelsea, who visit Villa on Wednesday, before Liam Rosenior’s side travel to Arsenal on Sunday. Victory would enhance Villa’s chances of returning to the Champions League but also pile pressure on a direct rival. Ben Fisher

Wolves v Aston Villa, Friday 8pm (all kick-offs GMT)

Bournemouth v Sunderland, Saturday 12.30pm

Burnley v Brentford, Saturday 3pm

Liverpool v West Ham, Saturday 3pm

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Cavs add several new names to lengthy injury report for showdown with Pistons

CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 11: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks with Dennis Schroder #8 during the second half against the Washington Wizards at Rocket Arena on February 11, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Tuesday’s win over the New York Knicks seemed like a seminal moment for the Cleveland Cavaliers. They showed that the new-look team could hang with one of the best teams in the conference, while still acknowledging that there was room to grow.

Unfortunately for the Cavs, things haven’t gone well since that day. The team announced that James Harden broke his thumb in the win, Donovan Mitchell was added to the injury report with a groin strain, and the Cavs lost to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday due to poor perimeter defense.

A loss in the standings wasn’t the only thing the Cavs suffered that day. Three new rotation players have been added to the injury report. Keon Ellis has broken his left index finger, Dean Wade has a right ankle sprain, and Dennis Schroder also has a right ankle sprain.

This has all led to the following injury report for Friday’s game against the Detroit Pistons:

  • Donovan Mitchell – OUT, groin strain
  • James Harden – QUESTIONABLE, broken thumb
  • Dean Wade – QUESTIONABLE, right ankle sprain
  • Dennis Schroder – QUESTIONABLE, right ankle sprain
  • Keon Ellis – QUESTIONABLE, right ankle sprain
  • Max Strus – OUT, left foot Jones fracture

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The severity of any of the new injuries isn’t known at this time.

The most concerning part of the injury report is Mitchell missing his second game in a row with a groin strain. It seems like Mitchell has battled some kind of injury in late February/early March for the past few seasons. This groin strain is the latest one.

The Cavs need Mitchell at his best if they’re going to meet playoff expectations. Shutting him down for several games, if needed, would be in their long-term best interest. We’ll likely find out more information about his injury on Friday evening when head coach Kenny Atkinson speaks with the media.

Harden is expected to play through his thumb injury and could return to the court for this matchup.

The three new names on the injury report of Ellis, Wade, and Schroder are concerning. Each fills a vital role for this team that isn’t easily replaced.

We’ll see which of the questionable players are available to play. At the very least, it’s disappointing that the Cavs will be without their best player and could be missing several key contributors in Friday’s matchup with Detroit.

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Bruce Froemming, record-setting major league umpire, dies at age 86

Bruce Froemming, a major league umpire for 37 consecutive years who worked the third-most games in big league history and a record 11 no-hitters, died Wednesday, his son said. He was 86.

Froemming fell just after midnight Tuesday and hit his head on the hardwood floor at his home in Mequon, Wisconsin, and was taken to Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital in Milwaukee, according to Froemming's son, Steven.

He had brain bleeding that medical personnel could not stop because Froemming was on blood thinners, leading to his death.

Froemming was a semipro baseball player and started his umpiring career in the minor leagues in 1958 at age 18. He worked his way up and joined the National League staff in 1971. He shifted to the unified major league staff in 2000 and retired in 2007 having worked 5,163 games, second at the time to Bill Klem's 5,373. They were both surpassed by Joe West, who worked 5,460 games before retiring in 2021.

Froemming started his umpiring career at a minor league game in Waterloo, Iowa.

“I thought I was in heaven — on the ballfield, professional athletes, I was starting my professional career,” he told The Associated Press days before his retirement. “But never did you dream at the time, ever even think of going to a big league ballpark, because you had so far to go through the minor leagues to even get a chance.”

He concluded that being a good umpire required “probably being patient with yourself. ... You’re going to make mistakes early on.”

Among the most famous of the no-hitters he worked was on Sept. 2, 1972. Milt Pappas of the Chicago Cubs retired his first 26 batters and went to a 1-2 count on pinch-hitter Larry Stahl before walking him. Pappas then retired Garry Jestadt on a popup.

Froemming was behind the plate for three other no-hitters, by Ed Halicki (1975), Nolan Ryan (1981) and José Jiménez (1999). He worked five World Series.

When he retired, Froemming became a special assistant to MLB's vice president on umpiring,

He is survived by his wife, the former Rosemarie Loch, whom he married in 1957; two sons, Steven and Kevin; sister Cathy Seizer; half-brother Johnny Froemming; and two grandchildren.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

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Cavs at Pistons: How to watch, odds, and injury report

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 27: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers battles for the ball against Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons during the second half at Little Caesars Arena on October 27, 2025 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. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers will look to pick up their second win this week against a team in the top half of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Cleveland has split its previous two games against the conference-leading Detroit Pistons, but its current team looks a lot different from the one that faced them in October and January. We’ll see how this version stacks up against one of the most consistent teams in the league.

The Pistons have been the best team in the conference by every statistical measure. They have the best record, best defense, and have been playing at a high level all season. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has gotten the most out of this group. Whether or not that translates to the playoffs remains to be seen.

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Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (37-23) at Detroit Pistons (43-14)

Where: Little Caesars Arena – Detroit, MI

When: Fri., Feb. 27 at 7 PM

TV: ESPN, FanDuel Sports Network – Ohio, FanDuel Sports Network App

Point spread: Pistons -7

Cavs injury report: Donovan Mitchell – OUT (groin), James Harden – QUESTIONABLE (thumb), Dennis Schroder – QUESTIONABLE (ankle), Dean Wade – QUESTIONABLE (ankle), Keon Ellis QUESTIONABLE (left index finger fracture), Max Strus – OUT (foot), Tristan Enaruma – OUT (G League), Riley Minix – OUT (G League)

Pistons injury report: Isaiah Stewart – OUT (suspension), Bobbi Klintman – OUT (G League), Chaz Lanier – OUT (G League), Wendell Moore Jr. – OUT (G League)

Cavs expectedstarting lineup: James Harden, Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Pistons expected starting lineup: Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Tobias Harris, Ausar Thompson, Jalen Duren

Previous matchup: Missed defensive rebound cost the Cavs in their Jan. 4 loss to the Pistons

Here’s a look at both teams’ impact stats via Cleaning the Glass.

Offensive RatingDefensive RatingNet Rating
Cavs118.3 (8th)114 (11th)+4.3 (9th)
Pistons117.6 (10th)109.1 (2nd)+8.5 (2nd)

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Angels 5, Cubs 4: Matthew Boyd is perfect

The Cubs lost to the Angels 5-4 in Tempe Thursday, but the big story of this one was Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd. Boyd had allowed five hits in less than two innings in his first spring start earlier this week.

Thursday afternoon in Tempe, Boyd was much better. He retired all nine Angels he faced — many of them expected to be on their Opening Day roster — and struck out three. He threw an efficient 34 pitches (23 strikes) and here’s how he struck out Mike Trout:

Boyd had seven swings-and-misses and looked really sharp. This is likely his last outing before heading to Team USA for the World Baseball Classic. Team USA is having a workout next Monday in preparation for an exhibition game against the Giants in Scottsdale next Wednesday. Then they will head to Houston to begin WBC pool play against Brazil a week from tomorrow.

The Cubs took an early lead on doubles by Jefferson Rojas and Dylan Carlson in the first inning, although Carlson got himself picked off second to end the inning.

Then the Cubs added a pair in the second. Chas McCormick doubled and went to third on a single by James Triantos. McCormick then scored on a sac fly by Pedro Ramirez. A double by Justin Dean and walk drawn by Scott Kingery loaded the bases, and the Cubs’ third run scored when Michael Busch was hit by a pitch.

Unfortunately, Jaxon Wiggins got knocked around in an inning and a third of work. He faced 10 batters and six of them had hits. The Angels scored one off Wiggins in the fourth and four in the fifth to take the lead, with five runs overall charged to Wiggins. So Wiggins’ first spring outing was… not one he’ll want to remember, except for learning purposes.

After that a lot of the Cubs regulars departed. Riley Martin took over in the sixth and there was a brief delay while Craig Counsell and the Cubs trainer had a look at Martin after a pitch, but Martin stayed in the game. He threw a scoreless sixth.

Minor league plate umpire Louie Krupa had four calls challenged in this game and all four were overturned.

And that’s pretty much it from this game. Dylan Carlson had two hits and is 4-for-8 in the early spring going with three walks. It’s really hard to tell whether Carlson or McCormick has the “lead” in the fourth outfielder race, given the very small sample size. You can be sure, though, that both will get more opportunities, especially with Pete Crow-Armstrong departing soon for the WBC.

The Cubs return to Sloan Park Friday afternoon to take on the Cleveland Guardians. Game time Friday is 2:05 p.m. CT. Edward Cabrera will make his first spring start for the Cubs, and Logan Allen will go for Cleveland. No TV or radio coverage for Friday’s game.

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Anthony Edwards fined $25K by NBA for throwing game ball 'with force'

Minnesota Timberwolves' guard Anthony Edwards has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for throwing the game ball "with force" into the stands during halftime of Minnesota's 124-121 road win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday.

The incident occurred at the end of the second quarter, when Edwards snagged a rebound off a Portland miss, then faked a heave to end the half. After the buzzer had already sounded, Edwards launched the ball toward the basket and struck someone standing nearby.

Edwards did not throw the ball out of anger or frustration, but the ball did clearly hurt the bystander.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards works around Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. during the second half at Target Center.

WATCH: The heave that cost Edwards $25K

You can watch the full video of the incident here, on nba.com.

Has Edwards been fined before?

He's certainly no stranger to fines. Last year, Edwards was fined $420,000 across eight transgressions, mostly for foul language used in interviews with the press following games.

Has anyone else been fined for similar actions?

Funny enough, Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane was also fined $25K for throwing a ball into the stands "with force" during the team's Tuesday night win against the Los Angeles Lakers. Bane's incident occurred at the end of the game.

You can watch that incident here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Watch the ball toss that cost Anthony Edwards $25K

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Homer happy Dodgers remain undefeated

There were a lot of firsts in Thursday’s game against the Chicago White Sox, and all of them were good and promising.

Tyler Glasnow had his first outing of the season and is just another starter that looks like they are in mid-season form. He struck out the side first inning and had a ground out and two more K’s in the second inning.

Glasnow started the day with a two-inning/30 pitch limit. Since he finished the second inning with 29 pitches, he came out to start the top of the third where he gave up a base hit and called it a day.

Most promising was his fastball velocity. Last year, Glasnow’s fastball velocity averaged 95.7mph. In the first inning of Thursday’s game, it was sitting at a 97.1 average. Overall, for his 33 pitches, he averaged 96.7mph.

After his outing, Glasnow remarked that the uptick in velocity is something he had been working on over the offseason and has been very intentional about it. He feels like his mechanics are in a much better place and is feeling fully healthy. All that and the addition of 20 pounds on Glasnow’s long frame having him looking like he’s in a great spot to start the season.

In his first start of the season, Max Muncy grounded out to third in the first inning, followed by line drive base hit in his next at bat. He ended up going 1-3 on the day.

Muncy talked to reporters after the game and commented on why some of the older Dodgers are taking a slower approach in Spring Training. He noted that there was a conversation with several players, and it was “give your body as much rest as possible” mentality going into the season. The Dodgers have had to start back-to-back seasons with trips across the Pacific and have played more postseason games than any other team in the last two seasons. A slow start for the veterans is well deserved.

Blake Treinen also had first outing of spring where he set the White Sox down 1-2-3, with two strikeouts and a groundout using only 15 pitches.

The team finally broke their home run drought, with Will Smith hitting the first home run of Spring Training. He was followed later in the game by Keston Hiura and Hyeseong Kim who went back-to-back with solo homers of their own.

What the Dodgers did not have their first of, however, was a loss. They beat the White Sox 7-6 to remain the only undefeated team in spring. Does this mean anything? Of course not but it makes it a lot more fun.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto will have his second outing of the spring on Friday against the San Francisco Giants, before heading out to join Team Japan for the World Baseball Classis.

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NBA fines Anthony Edwards, Desmond Bane $25,000 each for throwing ball at opposite basket after buzzer

The NBA is sending a message: After a buzzer, don't take the ball and throw it toward the opposite basket (not as a shot, more of a celebration... or just because).

That message is going to cost the Timberwolves Anthony Edwards and the Magic's $25,000 each as both were fined by the league on Thursday "for throwing the game ball with force into the spectator stands."

What does that look like? Here's what Edwards did at halftime in Portland to earn his fine:

Bane did essentially the same thing at the end of the Magic's dramatic win over the Lakers Tuesday night.

Were those really worth $25,000? The league's concern is that a ball thrown into the stands could hit someone and injure them, but a fine?

Adidas and Ant responded to this perfectly (they must have had this in the can, waiting for the moment).

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The Yankees’ bullpen is benefiting from internal competition

DUNEDIN, FL - FEBRUARY 24: Jake Bird #59 of the New York Yankees pitches during the spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark on February 24, 2026 in Dunedin, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Yankees’ bullpen has a little bit of everything. It has All-Star fireballers, sinker specialists, a splitter maestro, a couple of guys who rely on finesse rather than pure stuff, a pitch-to-contact lefty, and a few flawed, but talented arms vying for a couple of spots. It’s not hard to see that a few guys, barring an unexpected turn of events, have a spot locked up already. This is the case of David Bednar, Camilo Doval, Fernando Cruz, and Tim Hill. One has to think that Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn will be in there, as well.

After that, there are as many as six or seven pitchers with at least an outside chance of making the roster, not to mention the fact that the team usually takes a long look at the post-spring training cuts to add names, as well. The likes of Jake Bird, Cade Winquest, Kervin Castro, Osvaldo Bido, Ángel Chivilli, Brent Headrick, and Yerry De Los Santos are actively competing to see who makes the roster, and most of them are looking good if we combine their offseason, their early-camp work, and the first few days of Grapefruit League games.

It’s still February, though, so it’s too early to even think about who makes the roster of this group and who gets left behind. What we are seeing, however, is that at least a couple of interesting names from that list could be on the outside looking.

Just because of the assets invested in them, one can conclude that Winquest, as a Rule 5 Draft pick, and Bird and Chivilli, as trade pieces that required the organization to give away prospects, could have a leg up in the competition. It’s important not to rule out a guy like Headrick, though, owner of a 3.13 ERA and 30 strikeouts in just 23 innings with the Bombers last year. His swing-and-miss stuff could definitely boost the Yankees’ bullpen and give it another lefty to complement Hill.

Yes, there is still the feeling that the Yankees are one or two quality relievers short of boasting a high-flying bullpen, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t talented hurlers in the organization with enough juice to win a spot and contribute.

Bird himself is a solid bounce-back candidate after last year’s disaster, and he has thrown 2.1 scoreless innings this spring with no walks and three strikeouts. Chivilli has big fastball velocity and two breaking balls, his changeup and slider, that had a whiff rate over 40 percent last year. Sometimes, it’s a matter of bringing in guys one or two adjustments away from unlocking the full extent of their potential, and Chivilli could be that guy.

And if the Grapefruit League ends and the Yankees are still not happy with their group of arms for the bullpen, they can always review other teams’ cuts and bring in a useful pitcher. That’s exactly how they got Yarbrough last year, and he went on to put up a 4.36 ERA in 64 frames in 2025 with long stints of dominance. On top of it all, the Yankees’ relief corps could also get some reinforcements in the form of starters, if and when Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, and Clarke Schmidt rejoin the rotation. The first two are expected back in April, while Schmidt is more of a second-half play.

Other unexpected names might join the bullpen mix eventually, such as Carlos Lagrange. Yes, pitching coach Matt Blake revealed on Wednesday that moving him to relief is a possibility later down the road.

There are multiple avenues for a great bullpen, and having several talented guys taking the ball in spring training and showing off the improvements they made in the postseason in a healthy competition is definitely one of them. The Yankees may not have a top-five bullpen this year, but internal competition is strong and that’s always a positive.

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Atlanta Hawks' 'Magic City Monday' to feature NSFW local institution

Welcome to Atlanta, where the players play and the gentlemen's clubs have the best wings in town.

The Atlanta Hawks are leaning into the city's famed hip-hop culture and history, featuring what the team is calling an "iconic cultural institution" that's definitely NSFW in an upcoming promotional night.

The team announced Wednesday it will collaborate with prominent Atlanta strip club Magic City for a one-night only, in-game celebration of hip-hop called "Magic City Monday" against the Orlando Magic on March 16.

“From the food to the music and the exclusive merchandise, we are excited to team up with Magic City to create an authentic, True to Atlanta-inspired game experience,” Hawks Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Melissa Proctor said in a news release.

Magic City Kitchen will serve two versions of their "world famous" lemon pepper wings, Louwill Lemon Pepper BBQ, named after Atlanta-native and three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year-winner Lou Williams.

More NBA: Suns owner willing to pay millions to get best NBA players in dunk, 3-point contests

What else is planned for 'Magic City Monday'?

The Hawks' celebration of "Magic City Monday" doesn't stop at wings. Atlanta rapper and entrepreneur T.I. is expected to perform at halftime.

Being that Tip is back home in Atlanta, at the State Farm Arena, it'll be interesting to see if he'll perform any recent cuts including diss tracks toward rapper and entrepreneur Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson.

Keeping it so ATL, the organization tabbed native DJ Esco to provide the pregame tunes.

Before the game, ticketed fans will have a chance to view a recording of the Hawks AF Podcast featuring a conversation with Magic City founder Michael “Mr. Magic” Barney and T.I., hosted by comedian D.C. Young Fly, another Atlanta native.

“We doin’ this one for the city ... Magic City,” T.I. said in a news release.

Why is Magic City famous?

Magic City has become influential not only in Atlanta but as a tourist stop for those who visit the city. Ask NBA players who have a road game against the Hawks about the lore of Magic City wings.

Williams famously couldn't help but visit the spot for its wings in 2020 when he was excused from the NBA Bubble in Orlando to attend a funeral, while everyone was social distancing due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

The moment went viral after a photo he snapped with rapper Jack Harlow during the visit that was posted to social media.

"We had our masks on, I thought we did it how we were supposed to do it," Williams said, explaining the incident during a June 2025 episode of Gil's Arena, a podcast hosted by former NBA player Gilbert Arenas with Nick Young, Kenyon Martin, Rashad McCants and Josiah Johnson.

He continued: "I want to put this to bed. I didn't sneak out the bubble to go to Magic City. They excused me from the bubble to go to a funeral. ...The funeral home was a block away from Magic [City]. I've been staying in a hotel [in the NBA bubble in Orlando] eating hotel room service food. Magic got good food, this is my hometown and if you know ATL, we eat in our strip clubs. That's where you can find the best food."

Williams received a 10-day quarantine for violating safety protocols but maintains that the league's focus was on him going to a strip club rather than his real reason for going – the food.

The incident did two things: birthed the nickname "Lemon Pepper Lou" and also cemented Magic City's kitchen's place as the stuff of NBA and Atlanta legend.

But long before Williams's visit, the site was a landmark for Atlanta and its visitors, which is the focus of the documentary "Magic City: An American Fantasy" that discusses the impact of the club on Atlanta music, sports and culture through interviews with Atlanta rappers Big Boi, Killer Mike and T.I., along with other celebrities and artists who they discuss its role in hip-hop and Black culture.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Atlanta Hawks to feature prominent strip club in upcoming promotion

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Nottingham Forest v Fenerbahce: Europa League knockout round playoff, second leg – as it happens

Two goals from Kerem Akturkoglu put Forest under pressure, but Callum Hudson-Odoi’s goal calmed things and they saw out a 4-2 aggregate win

On the telly, they’ve just been discussing James McAtee, and I’m looking forward to seeing how he does tonight. City are now in that spot United were under Alex Ferguson, where clubs buy their players because they know the standard can be too high for good ones to make it and respect the managers who keep them around. He’s got a lovely touch and decent vision, but does he have the ability to impose that? We don’t yet know.

Forest actually did pretty well to keep as many players as they did after last season – and getting £52m+£3m for Anthony Elanga was a remarkable piece of business. I’m not sure Anderson will still be around after the summer, whereas Gibbs-White has a contract – but there surely comes a point at which players don’t trust Marinakis with their careers and just want to up sticks from the upheaval.

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Deandre Ayton doesn’t seem thrilled about his role with the Lakers

Oct 26, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (5) reacts to a call during the fourth quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images | Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images

Deandre Ayton has gained a reputation for being something of an enigma during his relatively brief time in the NBA. The latest feature story on him is going to do nothing to change any of that.

On Thursday, a story by Dave McMenamin of ESPN profiling Ayton with the Lakers this season had some of the most insane anecdotes imaginable. While we’ll dive into those shortly, the most notable on-court takeaway from the article was Ayton’s reaction to his role with the Lakers.

When he was finished speaking to the group, Ayton made his way back toward the showers and said what he really felt — loud enough for anyone still in the locker room to hear.

“They’re trying to make me Clint Capela,” Ayton said, referring to the Houston Rockets’ now backup center, who a decade ago made his impact as a lob-catching, rim-running big on a team that made it to two conference finals.

“I’m not no Clint Capela!”

Well, Deandre, therein lies the problem.

Luka needs a lob-catching partner at center. He went to the NBA Finals with two of them on the Mavs. Everyone knew the Lakers were searching for one this summer.

Ayton hasn’t ever been that player, even in his college days. No one expected him to become Clint Capela this season. But, like, you understand why they’d want him to be more like that, right?

No only is it beneficial to Luka to have a lob-catching center, but the centers get paid, too! Ask Derrick Lively II and Daniel Gafford about their stats, success and payday playing with Luka.

On one hand, it’s great awareness from Ayton that he sees the Lakers trying to turn him into Capela. On the other hand, it’s incredible awareness to understand why they would do that.

The wild stories of Deandre Ayton

Now, for the real meat and potatoes of this article: the anecdotes about Ayton.

The first one begins with a reference to the shirts the team wore early in the season that donned half of Ayton’s face and half of a lion. But it flows into an insane detail that hardly feels real.

The Lakers have stoked that ego, too: Rob Pelinka, team president of basketball operations and general manager, commissioned a black T-shirt with a gold screen print depicting half of a lion’s face and half of Ayton’s face that he presented to the 27-year-old. Members of the training staff wrap Ayton’s water bottle in athletic tape and write “DA’s Crunk Juice — Drink this to unleash the beast” in black marker on it before games.

DA’s Crunk Juice.

10/10. No notes. I’ve been covering the Lakers for a long time and this ranks near the very top of stories in that time period.

Is this more or less powerful than Michael’s Secret Stuff from Space Jam? The fact the most immediate comparison for this story is an animated movie is really just a perfect summary of the situation.

But on the topic of cartoonish moments…

There was less than an hour before tipoff against the Atlanta Hawks on Jan. 13 when Ayton entered the Lakers’ locker room.

Just inside the door, Ayton’s breezy walk slowed down and his gait suddenly stiffened for a few awkward steps before the big man hurtled toward the floor.

What would have been one of the more bizarre pregame injuries in NBA history morphed into something else completely: Ayton caught his fall by placing both hands over his head and gracefully executed a cartwheel, followed by a somersault, to land safely on two feet.

Yeah, what needs to happen for us to see Ayton recreate that on the court. Is he saving that for a potential game-winner? A playoff series win? The Lakers aren’t winning a title this year, so it can’t be saved for that. But I absolutely need to see Ayton go full Willy Wonka.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

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Deandre Ayton isn't Clint Capela. But it's what he and Lakers need | Opinion

There was no need for Clint Capela to catch this stray.

Capela, a 12-year center currently on the Rockets, became the target of a dig uttered by Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton. According to ESPN, Ayton was speaking with reporters after a frustrating loss Tuesday, Feb. 24 against the Magic. As the interview ended, ESPN reported that Ayton revealed a candid thought loud enough for anyone in the locker room to hear.

“They’re trying to make me Clint Capela,” Ayton said, per ESPN. “I’m not no Clint Capela.”

Ayton is right. He’s not Clint Capela; he’s far more athletically gifted. But, if anything, Ayton should aspire to the consistency and effort Capela has shown in his career. He should embrace the buy-in Capela showed over his stops in Houston and Atlanta. Because that’s just what the Lakers need.

Los Angeles is currently in sixth place in the stacked Western Conference, at 34-23. The Lakers are two games ahead of the No. 7 team, the Phoenix Suns, and it will be essential for L.A. to maintain its position there to avoid the play-in window.

But, going back to games before the NBA All-Star break, the Lakers have lost four of their last six. This comes at a time when Los Angeles is actually enjoying a spell of health, with Austin Reaves returning from a left calf strain. Aside from a few bumps and bruises, the Lakers are as close to full health as they’ve been in some time.

This is where Ayton’s offensive fit becomes an issue. On a team with a pair of ball-dominant playmakers like Luka Dončić and LeBron James, a tertiary option is going to see his usage drop considerably. But, this season, the Lakers have seen the rise of guard Austin Reaves, who’s averaging career highs in points (25.0) and field goal attempts (15.7).

That has reduced opportunities for Ayton, who is 13.2 points on 9.0 attempts per game. Ayton is shooting a career-high 66.7% from the floor and is adding a career-low 8.5 rebounds per game. Often, especially late in games, Ayton becomes more of a threat as a screener than he does as a scorer, which is understandably frustrating.

The question for the Lakers becomes if they feel it’s more efficient and effective to have the offense run through Dončić, James and Reaves (which it is) as opposed to manufacturing targeted touches for Ayton.

At his peak, Capela was a high-effort defensive force in the paint who adapted to his limited jump shot and offensive efficiency, instead becoming an efficient lob threat who found high-percentage buckets by sprinting into position.

Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton (2) drives to the basket as he is double teamed by Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela (15) and forward De'Andre Hunter (12) Mar 13, 2024 at Moda Center. Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

The thing is, Ayton is far more athletic than Capela ever will be. A 7-foot big with an absurd wingspan and speed and leaping ability, Ayton has the ability to blow past defenders and outwork and outjump rebounders. It’s his effort that has let him down.

Consider this: Ayton’s best statistical season came in his final season in Phoenix, in 2022-23. Capela’s top year was in 2018-19, with the Rockets.

Ayton: 18.0 points on 58.9% shooting, 10.0 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game in 67 appearances.

Capela: 16.6 points on 64.8% shooting, 12.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game in 67 appearances.

Capela, however, led the NBA in rebounding (14.3) in 2020-21 and led the league in offensive rebounds (4.7) that same season, tied for the league lead in 2023-24 (4.6). Capela was the No. 25 selection in the 2014 NBA Draft. Ayton was the No. 1 overall pick in 2018.

Ayton has had a fine, if underwhelming, career. Though his athleticism is undeniable, he often finds himself out of position on defense. When his usage drops, he often becomes disengaged and his effort dips.

Capela hasn’t been perfect, or even stellar, in his own career. But there are plenty of things Ayton could learn from him.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Deandre Ayton should embrace Clint Capela-type role | Opinion

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Reports: Italian golfer Pavan badly injured from fall down elevator shaft when car was not there

STELLENBOSCH, South Africa (AP) — Italian golfer Andrea Pavan was badly injured from a fall down an elevator shaft when the doors opened and he was unaware the car wasn't there, according to multiple reports.

Golf Channel cited people on a text thread with Pavan's friends on the European tour and former Texas A&M teammates in reporting he suffered injuries to his back and shoulder and had undergone surgery Wednesday night in South Africa.

Pavan was scheduled to play in the South African Open, which began Thursday.

“By all accounts, he's in good spirits, thankful to be alive and FaceTiming with his kids,” J.T. Higgins, his former coach at Texas A&M, told Golf Channel. Higgins said he had not spoken with Pavan but was updated on his condition.

Golf Channel reported Pavan was staying near Cape Town and called for an elevator. He fell three stories and was taken to the hospital for surgery. The European tour, citing medical confidentiality, could only report he had withdrawn from the South African Open due to injury.

Pavan, 36, is a two-time winner on the European tour. His most recent victory was a playoff win over Matt Fitzpatrick in the 2019 BMW International Open.

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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

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NBA fines Anthony Edwards $25,000 for throwing a ball into the stands after the halftime buzzer

NEW YORK (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Thursday for “throwing the game ball with force into the spectator stands,” the league announced.

The incident occurred at halftime of Minnesota's victory at Portland on Tuesday. After a missed shot by the Trail Blazers as the buzzer sounded, Edwards casually grabbed the loose ball and hurled it the length of the floor toward the opposite basket. The NBA's announcement included video that showed the ball appearing to hit an arena staff member in the head.

The NBA also announced a $25,000 fine to Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane, also for throwing the game ball with force into the stands. Bane’s incident occurred at the end of Orlando’s 110-109 win at the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.

Edwards was fined a total of $420,000 by the league last season for eight different transgressions, mostly for profane language in postgame interviews. After one incident he was docked $35,000 for failing to leave the court in a timely manner and throwing the ball into the stands after his ejection from a game.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA