NEW YORK (AP) — Still recovering from a broken thumb, James Harden made a successful return for the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday.
Harden had 22 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in Cleveland's 106-102 victory at the Brooklyn Nets. The 11-time All-Star went 4 for 7 from 3-point range.
“You could see in the first half he's not 100 percent, obviously,” Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said. “I thought in the second half though he had that stretch there where we were struggling, he kind of took over, got to the free-throw line, hit a couple 3s, so that was good.”
Harden was acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers on Feb. 3. The 17-year veteran is averaging 19.3 points, 8.0 assists and 5.1 rebounds in eight games with Cleveland.
The 6-foot-5 guard had eight points in the first half against Brooklyn, and the Nets led 52-46 at the break. But Cleveland rallied in the second half.
Harden made two foul shots and converted a four-point play to help the Cavs take a 70-64 lead with 4:40 left in the third quarter.
“We needed him tonight,” Atkinson said. “Obviously playing handicapped, he still played really well.”
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - FEBRUARY 28: Luke Kennard #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Golden State Warriors on February 28, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
Los Angeles Lakers v Golden State Warriors
SAN FRANCISCO — After a game in which the Lakers’ three best players (Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves) all had strong performances, the team’s newest addition received the first name drop from coach JJ Redick after the blowout win over the Warriors on Saturday night.
“And, boy, Luke Kennard, he just starts the blender for us,” Redick said. “We frankly have not had a ton of blender starters.”
Luke Kennard drives to the basket during the game against the Golden State Warriors. NBAE via Getty Images
What does Kennard creating the blender look like?
Like what took place around the 7:14 mark of the fourth quarter when Kennard ghosted (faked) a back screen for Jake LaRavia before flying off a pindown from Maxi Kleber and relocated to beyond the 3-point arc in screen-the-screener action.
This forced Warriors big man Quinten Post to step out and close out on Kennard, who has shot 44.2% on 3s in his career and is shooting a league-best 49.1% on 3s this season. Kennard drove past Post to force the Warriors defense to collapse onto him inside the arc, with Kennard kicking out to Jarred Vanderbilt in the weakside corner.
Three passes later, Kennard benefited from the blender he created, knocking down a step-back 3 over Gui Santos.
“Obviously, Luka gets two on the ball, AR gets two on the ball, LeBron will get two on the ball,” Redick said. “But just to be able to create a closeout and then make the right read and right play from there … Luke was huge for our offense.”
The play was part of Kennard’s 16-point performance (6-of-10 shooting, 4 of 7 on 3s) against the Warriors, which was his highest scoring total since being traded to the Lakers on Feb. 5.
“Obviously, I’ve been here for a short amount of time, but when we are a team that gets in the paint and we share the ball, we have multiple passes on a possession, I feel like we’re a different team,” Kennard said. “We get a lot of great looks, and we can put up a lot of points. Obviously, we need the ball to be in (Doncic’s, Reaves’ and James’) hands to make plays for us, and that’s how it’s got to be. But for us guys coming off the bench, we need to be ready to play the right way, get the ball moving and just play with some pace.”
On the Lakers’ next possession and with Pat Spencer top-locking him, Kennard actually set the back screen for LaRavia by forcing Spencer to make contact with LaRavia’s defender (Nate Williams) to free up LaRavia for an alley-oop layup assisted by Marcus Smart.
“That’s just connective offense right there,” Redick said. “And that’s just what Luke does.”
Kennard wasn’t credited with the statistic in the box score, but his screening made the play possible.
Luke Kennard scored 16 points in tonight's win over the Warriors, which is his highest scoring total as a Lakers.
LeBron James on the impact Luke has had on LAL since being traded to the Lakers over three weeks ago:
“Being a good screener, it’s something that you don’t really talk about much,” Kennard said. “You don’t kind of see the impact of what that can be. But JJ has put me in positions to be a screener. And I think just the gravity that I have is being one of the top shooters in the league, teams don’t wanna leave me. So being a screener, getting guys open, it gets me shots if I set good screens. I take pride in being a good screener.”
The Lakers value not only Kennard’s shooting but also what the other parts of his skill set can open for the offense.
JJ Redick said Luke Kennard "starts the blender" for the Lakers. Luke on how he views those opportunities: " I love it. It kind of gives confidence in me, not just being like a spot-up shooter." pic.twitter.com/hoCitxW5Gc
“His ability to make plays, getting to the paint, uses his (shooting threat); because he shoots the ball so well, a lot of teams like to run him off the line,” James said. “But his ability to get into the lane and make plays for others as well has been a big part of what we want to do, too. Just making that extra pass, those kick-out plays and those extra ones, he’s damn good at it.”
And Kennard appreciates being able to show off his offensive tools.
“It kind of gives confidence in me, not just being a spot-up shooter,” Kennard said. “There’s been stops, I think, where that’s kind of what I’ve been, and I’ll find my role and try to do the best I can with that. But I think just creating havoc offensively, just getting in the paint … when we get in the paint and we have multiple passes on possession, we’re such a different team. I can kind of initiate some of that. If two guys are on, like Luka, Bron or Austin, and I get a swing pass, if I don’t have a shot, I can get in the paint and try to make a play. I pride myself on that, trying to make the right play every single time. I’ve been having a good time.”
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 1: Tobias Harris #12 of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket as Tristan da Silva #23 of the Orlando Magic defends in the first quarter at the Kia Center on March 1, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. 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 Peter Joneleit/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons outscored the Orlando Magic 56-35, behind 29 points from Cade Cunningham and 23 points from former Magic Tobias Harris. That second-half performance was a far cry from a sluggish first-half showing where the Pistons couldn’t hit a three to save their lives and couldn’t keep the Magic’s Paolo Banchero off the free-throw line.
Banchero was 12-of-14 from the charity stripe at halftime, and it looked like Detroit had no answers for a feisty Magic team that took a seven-point lead into the break. But the switch flipped in half No. 2. Banchero (24 points) had only seven points and two trips to the foul line in the second half. Meanwhile, the Pistons started hitting threes, getting transition opportunities, and imposing their will on their opponent.
Aside from a broken three, where he was just 2-of-9, Cunningham had everything working against the Magic. He was knifing inside for layups, hitting fadeaway J’s, and getting his teammates great open looks.
Just as impressive was Tobias Harris, who punished the team that drafted him by continually backing down his opponents for stepback jumpers on the baseline or clean looks on the elbows. He was 10-of-18 from the field and added seven rebounds of his own.
I don’t know if Harris was simply finding his shot within the flow of the game or if he pointedly wanted to punish the Magic and Banchero, who went viral for some trash talk against Unc last season. Me thinks it is the latter.
After a first half where you couldn’t credit many players with exemplary effort, it was hard to find any Piston who was giving anything less than 100% in the second half. Ron Holland was flying around, natch, and Ausar Thompson was deflecting passes and skying for rebounds. That included a poke-away steal at midcourt that led to a Thompson dunk with just over 1 minute left to put an exclamation point on the victory
The sequence gave Thompson nine points, 11 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and three blocks on the night. In other words, a vintage Ausar showing. Jalen Duren’s run of 25-plus points ended with a 16-and-10 showing against Orlando.
Banchero led the Magic with 24 points, but more than half of those were courtesy of free throws. He ended the night 5-of-10 from the floor with 11 rebounds, two assists, and nine turnovers. Desmond Bane, who has been shooting the nets off, had to settle for 17 points on 5-of-14 shooting.
The Pistons have now won 8 of 9, including 6 of the 7 games Isaiah Stewart was suspended for. Beef Stew has been out of the lineup since getting ejected in the Hornets game on Feb. 9. That means Stewart has had a three-week break to rest up and get his body right. He will be available on Tuesday as the Pistons visit Cleveland after an inexplicable and controversial 122-119 overtime win on Feb. 27.
CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — FIFA president Gianni Infantino has raised the prospect of red cards being shown to players who cover their mouths when confronting opponents.
The issue has been highlighted in recent weeks after Real Madrid player Vinicius Junior said he was racially insulted by Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni during a Champions League match.
Prestianni, who denies the allegations, had approached Vinicius while covering his mouth with his jersey during Madrid's 1-0 win in the first leg of the playoff match. He was provisionally suspended for the second leg while an investigation was being carried out.
The issue of players covering their mouths was discussed on Saturday at a meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB).
Measures could come into force at this summer’s World Cup.
“If a player covers his mouth and says something, and this has a racist consequence, then he has to be sent off, obviously,” Infantino told Sky News. “There must be a presumption that he has said something he shouldn’t have said, otherwise he wouldn’t have had to cover his mouth.
“I simply do not understand - if you don’t have something to hide, you don’t hide your mouth when you say something.
“That’s it, as simple as that. And these are actions that we can take and we have to take in order to be serious about our fight against racism.”
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 1: Jonathan Kuminga #0 of the Atlanta Hawks dunks the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 1, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Atlanta Hawks were in action on Sunday evening to face the Portland Trail Blazers. The Hawks came in on a three-game winning streak, with the Blazers being the final game of their recent homestand. As for the Blazers, this was their second game of a back-to-back after losing to the Charlotte Hornets yesterday.
The Hawks were able to get Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker back in the game after they missed the previous one against the Washington Wizards.
The Hawks started off raining three-pointers, with Onyeka Okongwu hitting a pair of them.
The defense and ball movement were on full display for the Hawks in the first, and it helped them build a double digit lead while also putting 40+ points on the board.
Jonathan Kuminga came in and lived at the free throw line, and was also a beneficiary of the ball movement.
The Hawks continued to maintain their lead as they kept making shots and getting stops on defense. Corey Kispert’s hot shooting from Thursday ran over to this game.
The game was pretty much decided, but that didn’t mean the Hawks stopped competing. Okongwu was able to knock down his seventh three-pointer of the night.
The end of the bench came in after this play, and the Hawks walked away with their fourth straight win.
Okongwu finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists, Kuminga finished with 20 points and seven rebounds, and McCollum finished with 19 points.
The Hawks will be back in action on Wednesday to face the Milwaukee Bucks.
BROOKLYN, NY - MARCH 1: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers is introduced before the game against the Brooklyn Nets on March 1, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cavs are at their best when they get their bigs involved offensively, especially Jarrett Allen. Opponents know this as well and are packing the paint anytime one of Cleveland’s bigs is rolling or available for a pass inside. This led to more than a few of their turnovers on Sunday afternoon.
Additionally, James Harden wasn’t as sharp as he usually is with the ball. He’s responsible for five of Cleveland’s giveaways. Some of these were uncharacteristically sloppy. This could also be a byproduct of playing through a broken thumb.
Opponents know that the Cavs want to get the bigs involved and that Harden isn’t 100%. This will make them more susceptible to turnovers, even against a poor defense like Brooklyn’s. Cleveland will need to be better in this area if they want to avenge Friday’s loss to the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday.
Speaking of things that also went wrong on Friday, the Cavs — once again — nearly blew this game late.
They were up seven with a minute and a half left against a bad Nets team, and then proceeded to shoot themselves in the foot. The Cavs allowed the Nets to score on four of their final five possessions, committed two turnovers, and missed two crucial free throws of their own.
The combination of poor clutch defense and not effectively closing the game out at the line is also what did them in against Detroit. Evan Mobley’s big offensive rebound after a Dennis Schröder missed free-throw saved them from being in the same situation they were in then.
A better team than Brooklyn might’ve taken advantage. These late situations are where they miss Donovan Mitchell — who sat out his third straight game with a groin injury — most.
There were still good things to take from this game, particularly how Harden opens up the offense with his passing.
Harden wasn’t perfect, but the way he’s a threat to get the ball to everyone on the court unlocks the offense in a way few in the league can for their team.
Harden has the unique ability to both make every pass and see every opening as if he’s watching everything unfold in slow motion above the action.
This play is a good example of that.
I’m not sure if Harden ever actually sees Sam Merrill on this pass. What he does know is that there’s two defenders on the ball, and two down low taking away the inside pass, and the opposite wing is covered up as well. By process of elimination, the corner must be open, which is where he riffles the pass too.
Merrill was actually drifting away from the corner when he caught it, but the velocity of the pass gives him enough time to set his feet and square his shoulders for the on-balance three.
This also illustrates how Harden just reads and reacts to everything so quickly. He keeps the decision tree open as long as possible, and if the defense gives a better opportunity to one of his teammates, Harden is going to get the ball to them even if he’s already going up with his own shot.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can buy the Jarrett Allen Fro shirt HERE. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE.
There aren’t many players who can make passes like this.
Harden contributed a team-high 22 points in the win, but did so on just nine attempts from the field. He did a great job of getting to the line, as he took 12 free throws, which ties his most in a game in a Cavs uniform. Overall, he came into this game attempting over four fewer free-throw attempts in Cleveland than he did with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Most of the fouls he drew came from attacks off-the-dribble. That’s notable because if there were something he’d be hesitant to do coming back from a broken thumb, it’d be driving to the hoop.
Even though he did on Sunday, Harden hasn’t really looked to score since coming to Cleveland. With the Clippers, he was averaging 17.5 shot attempts per game. So far with Cleveland, he’s only taken 17 or more shots once in the eight games he’s played with the Cavs.
Throughout his career, Harden’s shot attempts have mostly reflected the context and offense he was in. In his prime with the Houston Rockets, he routinely averaged over 18 shots a game. When he’s playing off another star player, he’s adjusted his shot attempts down. This was most recently seen when he took under 15 shots a game alongside Joel Embiid when he was with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Harden has mostly tried to set up his teammates in Cleveland. That’s what the situation has called for. And he’s done an excellent job of doing that so far. It’ll be interesting to see if that changes on Tuesday assuming Mitchell will still be out of the lineup.
The Cavs need Donovan Mitchell to play at a faster pace.
Harden’s deliberate style has helped the offense, but it’s done so most when he’s paired with Mitchell’s frenetic energy.
Mitchell has been a one-man break starter this season as the Cavs have gotten out in transition 1.9% more (90th percentile) when he’s on the court compared to when he’s off.
The Cavs were missing this on Sunday. They played at one of their slowest paces of the year, with only 95 possessions. They weren’t able to get anything easy in the open court and mostly relied on Harden and others to create in the half-court. It was good enough to get the win, but it wasn’t their best overall offensive process.
Mitchell and Harden’s opposite styles have blended nicely. That is more apparent when only one of them is on the court.
Keon Ellis has great hands, even if he has a broken finger. He finished with five blocks and three steals in this game. It’s nearly unheard of for a guard at his size to get his hands on the ball with such frequency.
Just look at some of these blocks and steals. I don’t think I’ve seen someone with this combination of size, closing speed, and hands. And he also never gives up on a player and has seemingly endless energy. He’s a complete game-changer on that end.
In another life, Ellis would’ve made for a great free safety.
Evan Mobley is turning the corner. He has now strung together two good games, which is encouraging given how disjointed things looked offensively for him when he first came back from the calf strain after the All-Star break.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson mentioned on Friday that it typically takes Mobley time to find his groove after he returns from an injury. I wouldn’t say he’s found it yet, but the team did play its best basketball with him as they outscored Brooklyn by 24 when he was on the court.
Things are trending in the right direction.
Allen has continued his aggressive play.
He tied Mobley for the most shot attempts on the team (12), which is exactly what you want to see.
The Cavs have continually challenged Allen to be more involved offensively. He was when Harden was out for two games, and that carried over on Sunday when he returned to the floor. The offense will continue to be at its best when he’s involved like this.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - DECEMBER 5: Brandon Williams #10 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket around Chris Youngblood #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Paycom Center on December 5, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 William Purnell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (21-38) host the Oklahoma City Thunder (46-15) on Sunday night, finishing out a three-game home stand where they’ve yet to win. After winning two in a row, Dallas put in two commanding tank performances against the Grizzlies and Kings. The Thunder are coming off an incredible overtime win against the Denver Nuggets.
Here’s the main things you need to know:
WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Oklahoma City Thunder
WHAT: Last home game before a road trip
WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
WHEN: 7:00 pm CST
HOW: KFAA Channel 29, MavsTV streaming, NBA League Pass
The injury report is lengthy for Dallas, as has been the custom this year. Cooper Flagg remains out with this foot sprain, which is starting to get concerning (but of course, this injury must heal correctly). Marvin Bagley will miss again with the neck sprain following the injury against the Kings. PJ Washington is doubtful with the same ankle sprain but the designation suggests progress on that front. Naji Marshall is questionable with a finger injury, but I bet he plays. Caleb Martin is also questionable with lower back soreness.
The Thunder have several players out as well. Jalen Williams has a hamstring injury. Ajay Mitchell has been out for a while with a few injuries. Thomas Sorber’s been out the whole year and someone named Brandon Carlson is out as well with a lower back injury.
This short homestand has been brutal, but given the state of the Dallas roster it’s not shocking. They’re tired and you can only play hard like they do for so many months before something gives. Nothing would surprise me with regard to the Thunder game tonight (well a Dallas win would); they could keep it close or get blown out.
Be sure to chime in with your predictions in the comments!
Consider joining Josh and me on Pod Maverick live after the game on YouTube, we should start LATE. Thanks so much for spending time with us here at Mavs Moneyball. Let’s go Mavs!
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder died early Sunday morning in a single-car crash, police said. He was 23.
Ponder was driving a 2023 Tesla when he lost control on a curve and hit a guardrail, according to the Colorado State Patrol. The car struck an electrical line pole and rolled down an embankment.
Ponder was pronounced dead at the scene in Boulder County. Police said a preliminary investigation “shows that speed is suspected as a factor.”
Ponder played in two games for the Buffaloes last season, going 0-for-1 passing and carrying the ball twice for a loss of 4 yards. The 6-foot-5 sophomore from Opa Locka, Florida, began his collegiate career at Bethune-Cookman before transferring.
The Buffs were slated to begin spring practice on Monday.
“God please comfort the Ponder family, friends & Loved ones,” Colorado coach Deion Sanders posted on X. “Dom was one of my favorites! He was Loved, Respected & a Born Leader. Let’s pray for all that knew him & had the opportunity to be in his presence. Lord you’re receiving a good 1.”
Colorado offensive coordinator Brennan Marion reposted Sanders' statement and called Ponder a joy to be around and coach.
“Getting that call from his dad today didn’t feel real,” Marion posted. “Love you Dom! God cover his family & our team, especially our qb room!”
Colorado athletic director Fernando Lovo said Ponder “epitomized the values of passion, enthusiasm, leadership, toughness, and intelligence that were revered by his teammates and coaches alike.” The athletic department said it would make counseling resources available to players and staff.
Fellow Colorado quarterback Colton Allen also paid tribute to Ponder on Instagram.
“Dom, you were a blessing to so many people,” Allen wrote. “You had a presence about you that just made everything better. You brought so much joy to me and everyone around you. I’m grateful for every lift, every practice, every rep, every conversation we got to share. I’ll carry those with me for the rest of my life.”
The Big 12 Conference extended its condolences in a post on X.
The USC men's basketball team is losing one of its most key players at one of the most critical points of the season.
Chad Baker-Mazara, a sixth-year graduate student, is no longer with the program, the team announced in a statement Sunday afternoon.
No further details were provided by the team, but Ryan Kartje of the Los Angeles Times reported that "it wasn’t any one incident, but an accumulation of issues that led to Baker-Mazara’s departure."
Baker-Mazara put up 14 first-half points in USC's 82-67 loss to Nebraska on Saturday but exited the game just three minutes into the second half after he fell hard on the baseline while trying to chase down Nebraska's Pryce Sandfort. He briefly went into the locker room and did not re-enter the game.
"He said he couldn’t go," head coach Eric Musselman told reporters after the game.
USC was Baker-Mazara's fifth team in six years. He began his college career at Duquesne before transferring to San Diego State a year later and earning Mountain West sixth man of the year honors. From there, Baker-Mazara spent a year in junior college at Northwest Florida State before landing at Auburn, where he played two seasons and had a prominent role in their Final Four run in the 2024-25 season. He re-entered the portal shortly thereafter and ended up at USC.
Baker-Mazara started 22 of 26 games for the Trojans this season and has been their leading scorer after Rice went down with a season-ending right shoulder injury just six games into the season. He averaged 18.6 points on 44.4% shooting (38.3% from three), 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists — all career-highs.
The Trojans have been one of the teams on bubble watch for March. They're currently one of the first four out in USA TODAY Sports' latest bracketology, but they've lost five straight games, including a critical Quad 1 matchup against rival UCLA last Tuesday.
They'll finish out the regular season this week with a road game against Washington on Wednesday before returning home for one more clash against the Bruins on Saturday.
DENVER, CO - MARCH 1: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles the ball during the game against the Denver Nuggets on March 1, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. 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 Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Minnesota Timberwolves gutted out an ugly win at the Intuit Dome on Thursday night before having two days off to prepare for a familiar opponent. The last time these two teams met up in a nationally televised affair was fireworks on Christmas Night between Nikola Jokić and Anthony Edwards duking it out in an overtime thriller where Denver came out on top.
This game could have big playoff implications as the weather warms up and teams prepare for the playoff battle ahead. Both teams head into today boasting a 37-23 record in a dead tie for the 4th seed in the Western Conference. While the Nuggets have already secured the tiebreaker, the ability to move ahead of them this late in the season is a prime opportunity to get up to the three seed.
Denver started the game out of rhythm and missing open looks, while the Timberwolves followed suit with some wobbly offense of their own. Anthony Edwards was having a tough time as Denver was committed to double-teaming him wherever he got the ball, and the rest of the offense was not able to capitalize on those advantages. A few lapses on defense, where Minnesota lost their assignments, led to Jokić killing them with passes on backdoor cuts. The three-time MVP scored 13 points and dished four assists in the first. Minnesota was outplayed in the frame and ended down 31-22 after the first 12 minutes.
Bones Hyland was getting Bizzy to close the first quarter and start of the second. He set fire to a Timberwolves team that needed an extra jolt in a Sunday afternoon game. He helped to tie the game early in the second, leading a 9-0 run, and finished the half with 15 points on a perfect 5/5 from the floor. Minnesota killed in the non-Jokić minutes and used that to go on another big 12-0 run later in the period. Nikola Jokić came back in to keep the game close, but the Timberwolves closed the half strong with a couple of Ayo buckets and Ant getting a runout to the rim for a layup to give the Wolves a 58-50 lead at halftime.
And just like that, this game is tied at 31. Wolves have begun the second quarter on a 9-0 run. Bones Hyland is responsible for all of those points. He's scored 7 of them and just assisted on that Ayo transition layup.
The offensive floodgates were wide open for both teams to start the third quarter. Donte used his hustle and grit and parlayed it into some flamethrower shooting. He hit four threes in the quarter to help the Timberwolves maintain their solid lead. Jokić kept the Nuggets afloat; he had 17 of his own in the third and kept the game from getting out of hand. After an 8-0 run late, Julius stopped the bleeding with an And-1 to help Minnesota maintain their eight-point advantage with a 90-82 score heading into the final 12 minutes.
The Timberwolves were in a prime position to grow their lead to start the fourth, with Jokić heading to the bench and them dominating those minutes in the first half. Naz Reid took that challenge head-on. He drilled a three and had a couple of nifty Big Jelly finishes around the hoop – skipping for joy after the final one. Jamal Murray punched back with a high-flying dunk to get the crowd back into it, and Denver would not go away. Even with this, the Timberwolves used their defense and turned it into offense to shut down the hopes for a comeback. Anthony Edwards led the way with 21 while Jaden added 20 of his own.
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) March 1, 2026
Donte’s Hustle
Donte DiVincenzo always shows up ready to roll. In a game where the Timberwolves struggled to wake up for the early afternoon tipoff in Denver, he continued to bring it. While the shot can be streaky at times, this is something that he can and does do consistently. Whenever there was a chance for him to go make a play, he did it. You combine this grittiness with the hot shooting, and it was one special performance.
DDV drilled four threes in the third quarter while mixing in his patented hustle to give the Wolves runouts and extra possessions. Those things add up over the course of the game, none bigger than him coming from Nikola Jokić’s blind spot to take the ball from him and help Jaden get a fast break layup when the game still felt like it was in the balance during the fourth quarter. He scored 17 points and added five assists and three boards along with a pair of steals.
Donte DiVincenzo sneaky post-up steal on Nikola Jokic + Jaden McDaniels transition layup pic.twitter.com/JlME3YroJU
Early in the game, when Minnesota was struggling, part of the reason was that Denver was committed to double-teaming Anthony Edwards wherever he was on the floor. It threw Ant off his rhythm and made him have to work hard for all his opportunities early on.
The way to combat this was through getting out in transition. The Timberwolves outscored Denver in fast-break points 30-6. They utilized their strong defense to get out for easy opportunities and grease the wheels of the offense. They also outscored Denver 22-11 in points off turnovers. The age-old saying of “the best way to beat a zone is to go before it gets set up” also applies to this defensive scheme.
The Timberwolves head back home to take on the Memphis Grizzlies, which marks the end of their three-game road trip, where Minnesota went 3-0. Tuesday’s game against Memphis will air on FanDuel Sports Network at 7 PM CT.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 01: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on March 01, 2026 in New York City. 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 Jordan Bank/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers narrowly took down the Brooklyn Nets. Let’s go over today’s winners and losers.
LOSER – Playing down to your opponent
I understand that Sunday afternoon games can lead to weird outcomes. But, seriously? A dog fight with the Brooklyn Nets?
It’s one thing when multiple key players are in street clothes. I was willing to take the moral victory against Milwaukee and Detroit. But this Cavalier squad is simply too talented to struggle against the Nets. Especially when James Harden, albeit playing with a broken finger, is back on the floor.
I don’t want to take too much away from Brooklyn. They executed their gameplan and played superb defense for most of the game. It’s just that Cleveland has enough tools in their box to overcome anything the Nets could throw at it. Not being able to counter something as redundant as trapping Harden is a huge disappointment for the Cavs.
Much of this comes down to energy and focus. Two issues that have plagued the Cavaliers at their worst this season. I’m not going to crush them for a Sunday game in March. But these things will need to be cleaned up as we enter the home stretch of the season.
WINNER – The James Harden Whistle
This was a nice change of pace.
Harden recently ended a game with zero free-throw attempts for just the fifth time since 2021. Naturally, we began to wonder if that was a sign of trouble. Could Harden’s favorable calls be neutralized by being in the Wine and Gold?
That wasn’t the case in Brooklyn.
While some of the officiating was questionable, Harden earned 12 free throw attempts. He missed four of them, which was out of character, but maybe he’s just getting used to actually taking them again. Let’s hope his free-throw rate starts to normalize moving forward.
Harden finished with 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists. It wasn’t a perfect game, but the Cavs needed his creation tonight.
WINNER – Evan Mobley
The Cavs have a few things on their to-do list before the season ends. Integrating Harden and the other newcomers is at the top of the list. But getting Mobley into a consistent groove might be the most important task.
Mobley’s had a bumpy season. He struggled early, then began to put things together before suffering multiple calf strains. These setbacks have muddied what was otherwise looking like a return to form for Mobley.
We’ve seen him dominant off the dribble in specific games. He’s remarkably light on his feet for a seven-footer, and his explosive leaping ability allows him to finish over anyone when he’s playing with aggression. Getting that assertive version of Mobley has always been the challenge.
Tonight was a small glimpse of that. Mobley had success scoring in the paint against Brooklyn, punishing mismatches and filling the gaps for easy buckets. His 6-12 shooting was complemented by 10 free throw attempts, a sign that he’s putting his head down and drawing contact by being aggressive.
Mobley also collected 13 rebounds, including the game-sealing offensive board.
The Cavs will want to build on this performance and keep Mobley as a focal point of their offense moving into the final stretch of the regular season.
WINNER – Keon Ellis
Five blocks and three steals speak for themselves. That type of defensive production is hard to find, and I remain perplexed that the Sacramento Kings couldn’t see the value in it.
Ellis is fitting in perfectly with the Cavs. You can’t overstate how useful it is to have a point-of-attack deterrent at your disposal. Unleashing chaos on the opponent is what Ellis does in his sleep. He shrinks the floor with his rangy athleticism and superb instincts. Today was just another example of how talented he is as a defender.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Sara Hjalmarsson and Laura Messier scored in a 57-second span in the first period, Raygan Kirk made 25 saves and the Toronto Sceptres beat the Vancouver Goldeneyes 2-1 on Sunday.
Hjalmarsson opened the scoring at 7:10, taking a pass from Claire Dalton and firing a shot from the low hash mark. Messier quickly doubled the lead with her first PWHL goal, with Dalton getting her second assist.
Toronto improved to 6-1-3-8, following its 5-2 victory in Seattle on Friday night in its return from the Olympic break.
Izzy Daniel scored for the Goldeneyes (5-1-2-9) at 9:07 of the third. Emerance Maschmeyer stopped 22 shots for Vancouver.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Michael Misa scored 1:40 into overtime, and the San Jose Sharks topped the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 on Sunday for their second straight win.
Misa scored for the second straight game when he drove down the slot before beating Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. It was the fourth goal of the season for the No. 2 overall pick in last year's NHL draft.
Will Smith also scored for San Jose, and Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 27 shots. The Sharks had lost five in a row before Saturday's 5-4 victory over Edmonton.
Morgan Barron scored for Winnipeg, and Hellebuyck finished with 31 saves. The Jets lost for fourth time in five games.
Barron put Winnipeg in front when he beat Nedeljkovic from the left circle 2:44 into the first. It was Barron's first goal since Dec. 21 and No. 8 on the season.
Smith tied it at 1 with his 18th goal 1:47 into the third. Macklin Celebrini picked up his team-high 54th assist on the play.
Hellebuyck and the Jets lost their second straight in overtime after falling 5-4 at Anaheim on Friday night in the goalie’s first game since backstopping the United States to Olympic gold.
Up next
Both teams are at home on Tuesday night. The Jets face the Chicago Blackhawks, and the Sharks take on the Montreal Canadiens.
CHESTER, Pa. (AP) — Tayvon Gray scored in the ninth minute of stoppage time to help New York City FC beat the Philadelphia Union 2-1 on Sunday.
Hannes Wolf scored in the 36th minute to give NYCFC (1-0-1) a 1-0 lead.
Olwethu Makhanya was shown his second yellow card in the second minute of stoppage time and the Union played a man down the rest of the way.
Agustin Ojeda, from the left corner of the 18-yard box, flicked an arcing cross to the back post where Gray skipped a header back inside the front post to cap the scoring.
Wolf, who had a career-high 11 goals in 2025, scored his first of the season to give NYCFC a 1-0 lead in the 36th minute. On the counter-attack, Nicolás Fernández had his shot from the left corner of the 6-yard box parried by goalkeeper Andre Blake, but Wolf slammed home the first-touch putback.
The Union's Stas Korzeniowski drew a penalty, conceded by Thiago Martins, and Indiana Vassilev converted from the spot to make it 1-1 in the 89th.
Blake finished with eight saves for Philadelphia (0-2-0), which won the 2025 Supporter's Shield.
Matt Freese had three saves, which included a kick-stop of a shot by Agustín Anello in the 60th minute and a diving parry that denied Nathan Harriel in the 81st.
Ojeda cut back to evade Union defender Frankie Westfield, but his shot from the center of the area banged off the right post.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 01: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on March 01, 2026 in New York City. 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 Jordan Bank/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Brooklyn Nets 106-102. It shouldn’t have been this close, but a win is a win.
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
James Harden
22 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 turnovers
Harden will be playing through a broken finger on his non-dominant hand for the foreseeable future. If these are the results, we can’t complain too much.
I don’t think this was Harden’s sharpest game. He turned it over five times and maybe held onto the ball longer than he should have. Still, he was the engine to the offense and helped get them across the finish line on an otherwise sloppy day.
Grade: B
Jarrett Allen
20 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals
February is over. March is here. And Jarrett Allen is still balling.
These games are becoming too regular. Cleveland is 11-2 this season when Allen scores 20+ points. He shot 7-12 from the floor tonight.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the new City Edition shirt can be found HERE.
Evan Mobley
17 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block
Mobley’s starting to settle back into a groove. He was strong off the bounce in this game and has put together two quality performances in a row. His offensive rebound late in the game sealed the deal.
Grade: A–
Jaylon Tyson
9 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 3 turnovers
Tyson can be hard to grade sometimes. He struggled to generate offense when Harden was being trapped (3-7 shooting and 3 turnovers). But when the game called on him, he nailed a huge three-pointer in the fourth quarter.
Grade: C+
Dennis Schroder
12 points, 5 assists, 1 rebound
Schroder’s playing through a sprained ankle, but you wouldn’t be able to tell watching him. He’s still lightning quick, dashing into the paint, and he converted a ridiculous layup high off the glass in this one.
Ellis returned from a broken finger and didn’t miss a beat. He was disruptive as ever, deflecting passes and ruining Brooklyn’s possessions. Eight stocks is absurd stuff.
Every time Porter hits a three-pointer, I wonder why he doesn’t shoot them with more confidence. His hesitant trigger can make it difficult to keep him on the floor. Playing him at power forward makes it borderline impossible.
Grade: D
Thomas Bryant
4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal
Bryant wasn’t as impactful tonight. Still, he’s a steady presence off the bench.
