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Maxey breaks Iverson’s 76ers 3-point record in 124-117 win over Heat

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Tyrese Maxey broke Allen Iverson’s 76ers franchise record for 3-pointers, finishing with five 3s and 28 points Thursday night in Philadelphia’s 124-117 victory over the Miami Heat.

Maxey also had 11 assists and helped steady the Sixers after they blew a 16-point halftime lead. Joel Embiid had 26 points and 11 rebounds and Kelly Oubre scored 21 points for Philadelphia, which has won three straight after dropping its previous four.

Bam Adebayo had 29 points and 14 rebounds and Tyler Herro scored 25 points for the Heat, who have lost two straight.

Maxey came in with 882 3-pointers, three behind Iverson, and broke the record with 1:38 left in the first quarter. He made all five of his 3s — a career high for a period — and scored 20 points in the first quarter alone. He finished 5 of 12 beyond the arc.

The 25-year-old Maxey has 887 3-pointers midway through his sixth season; Iverson played his first 10 seasons and parts of two more for the Sixers.

HORNETS 133, PACERS 109

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Kon Knueppel broke the NBA rookie 3-point season record and scored 28 points, Brandon Miller had 33 points and Charlotte beat Indiana.

Needing six 3-pointers to top the rookie mark of 206 set by Keegan Murray in 80 games in 2022-23, the NBA’s leading 3-point shooter was 8 of 12 to get to 209 — in just 59 games. Golden State’s Stephen Curry holds the overall record at 402.

The record-breaking 3 came with 9:41 to play in the fourth quarter. Knueppel made a ball fake on Quintin Jackson to get him off his feet, dribbled left and put the shot up. The ball rattled around the rim before going through.

Knueppel, the No. 4 overall pick from Duke, helped the Hornets improve to 12-3 in their last 15. They’ve also won their last nine road games.

Andrew Nembhard led Indiana with 20 points, and Micah Potter had 19. The Pacers gave up 130 points for the third consecutive game for just the third time in franchise history.

HAWKS 126, WIZARDS 96

ATLANTA (AP) — Newcomers CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert combined for 58 points against their former team, leading Atlanta to a win against Washington.

It was the second of a two-game home series for the Hawks against the team to which they traded Trae Young in January. The Hawks received McCollum and Kispert in exchange — a decision that paid off in this one.

Kispert scored 22 of his career-high 33 points in the first half, subbing in with 4:56 remaining in the first quarter and promptly going 5 for 5 beyond the 3-point arc over the next 10 minutes. He finished the night 6 of 11 on 3-point attempts.

McCollum, who has worked his way into the starting lineup since arriving, scored 25 points and had six rebounds and three assists. The veteran guard made a 27-foot 3 pointer and a subsequent free throw right before half, extending Atlanta’s lead to 75-56.

Dyson Daniels added 13 points, 11 assists, four rebounds and tied a season high with five steals.

Will Riley and Tre Johnson led the Wizards with 14 points apiece. Anthony Davis and Young, who the Wizards traded for earlier this season, were both sidelined with injuries.

SPURS 126, NETS 110

NEW YORK (AP) — Julian Champagnie scored 26 points to lead San Antonio to its 11th straight victory, beating Brooklyn.

Victor Wembanyama had his second straight quiet night offensively, finishing with 12 points, but the surging Spurs had plenty of balance against the lottery-bound Nets. Stephon Castle scored 18 points, De’Aaron Fox and Devin Vassell had 14 apiece, Keldon Johnson scored 13 and Dylan Harper had 12.

San Antonio (43-16) is on its longest winning streak since it won 13 straight in the 2015-16 season.

Michael Porter Jr. had 24 points and 14 rebounds for the Nets, who have lost six straight. Reserve Day’Ron Sharpe had 14 points and 11 rebounds.

It took San Antonio all of 13 seconds to take a lead it would not relinquish. Wembanyama won the opening tip and dropped a pass to a cutting Castle for a spectacular two-handed dunk. By the end of the opening period, Castle had 13 points and the Spurs led 36-22.

ROCKETS 113, MAGIC 108

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 26 of his season-high 40 points in the second half and Houston wiped out a 19-point Orlando lead in less than four minutes to beat the Magic.

Reed Sheppard came off the Houston bench to add 20 points, hitting five 3-pointers in the second half. Alperen Sengun had 16 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Desmond Bane led the Magic with 30 points. Paolo Banchero added 19 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.

Jalen Suggs, coming off the Magic bench for the first time this season, scored three points in 13 minutes after missing three games with back spasms.

Bane hit all five of his 3-point attempts in the first half, helping Orlando to a 53-43 lead.

The Magic led 76-57 when Banchero converted a steal by Suggs into a dunk with 5:04 left in the third quarter. The Rockets responded with a 21-0 run over the next 3 1/2 minutes. Ryan Sheppard hit three 3-pointers and scored 11 points during the run, which left Houston with a one-point lead.

KINGS 130, MAVERICKS 121

DALLAS (AP) — Precious Achiuwa had a career-high 29 points and added 12 rebounds, Maxime Raynaud scored 22 points and Sacramento beat Dallas.

The Kings (14-47) have won two of their last three following a franchise-record 16-game losing streak. Averaging an NBA-low 110.1 points per game, they fell short of a season high by five points.

Naji Marshall scored a season-high 36 points, one short of his career best, and had 10 rebounds and six assists for the Mavericks (21-37), who have lost 11 of their last 13 games and six consecutive at home.

Dallas cut a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to 123-121 with 1:56, but Sacramento scored the final seven points beginning with Achiuwa’s putback off his miss with the shot clock about to expire.

The four Mavericks who were acquired on Feb. 5 in the three-team trade that sent Anthony Davis to Washington made their Dallas debuts. They were led by Khris Middleton with 17 points.

TRAIL BLAZERS 121, BULLS 112

CHICAGO (AP) — Jerami Grant scored 27 points and Portland held on for a victory over Chicago for its 11th straight loss.

Toumani Camara scored 16 points, Robert Williams III had 14 points and 14 rebounds and Vit Krejci also scored 14 points for the Trail Blazers, who were without All-Star Deni Avdija (back) for the second straight game.

Matas Buzelis scored 20 points to lead the Bulls, who matched the third-longest losing streak in franchise history. Chicago has dropped 11 straight games in February since last winning against Miami on Jan. 31.

Tre Jones had 19 points as the Bulls fell to 0-5 on their seven-game homestand. Josh Giddey scored 15 points and had nine assists and Nick Richards had 14 points and 10 rebounds.

In a game that featured 17 lead changes and 13 ties, Portland pulled away in the fourth quarter to take a 15-point advantage — its biggest of the game — at 105-90 on two free throws by Blake Wesley with 9:02 remaining.

PELICANS 129, JAZZ 118

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Saddiq Bey scored 42 points, Zion Williamson had 20 and New Orleans beat Utah to open a two-game set.

The teams will meet again in Salt Lake City on Saturday night. The Pelicans, who opened a six-game trip, have won three straight and five of seven to improve to 18-42.

Bey was 14 of 20 from the field, making 5 of 9 3-pointers, and hit all nine of his free throws. Williamson was 9 of 14 from the floor.

Pelicans point guard Dejounte Murray added 17 points and nine assists in his second straight game after missing more than a year because of a torn right Achilles.

Ace Bailey led Utah with 23 points, and Brice Sensabaugh had 20. The short-handed Jazz have lost four straight to fall to 18-41.

SUNS 113, LAKERS 110

PHOENIX (AP) — Royce O’Neale made a 3-pointer with 0.9 seconds remaining, Grayson Allen scored 28 points and short-handed Phoenix beat Los Angeles after blowing a late 12-point lead.

Allen drove into the lane on the Suns’ final possession before finding Collin Gillespie in the corner. Gillespie quickly swung the ball to an open O’Neale.

L.A.‘s Austin Reaves missed an open corner 3 at the buzzer. Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 41 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

Reaves’ miss capped a thrilling final few minutes.

The Lakers bounced back from a 12-point deficit with 6:28 left to tie it at 108 on Reaves’ 3-pointer with a minute to go. O’Neale responded with a layup after an offensive rebound to take a 110-108, but LeBron James had a tip-in on the ensuing possession to tie it at 110 with 22.7 seconds left.

Phoenix bounced back from a 13-point deficit early in the third quarter to tie it at 80 going into the fourth. Allen scored 16 points in the third, hitting four 3-pointers.

Gillespie made four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and finished with 21 points. The Suns shot 22 of 50 (44%) from 3-point range.

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Manny Machado blasts two home runs, Padres fall to Reds, 11-10

GOODYEAR, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 26: Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres hits a grand slam home run in the sixth inning during the spring training game against the Cincinnati Reds at Goodyear Ballpark on February 26, 2026 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Manny Machado got his first two hits of Spring Training in dramatic fashion on Thursday. Machado came to the plate with the San Diego Padres trailing the Cincinnati Reds, 3-1 in the top of the third inning and blasted a two-run home run to left to tie the game, 3-3. He then watched the Reds put up six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and returned to the plate in the top of the sixth with the bases loaded and a chance to tie the game again. Machado did just that with a grand slam to center field that tied the game, 9-9. In the end, Cincinnati was able to scratch out one more run than San Diego and Machado and the Padres dropped the game at Goodyear Stadium in Goodyear, Ariz., 11-10.

The Reds won the game, but Machado was the top story from the Padres side. He was quickly followed by Sung-Mun Song who recorded his first hit in MLB action on a 96.5 mph cutter from Cincinnati reliever Graham Ashcraft, which resulted in a single to start the six-run top of the sixth inning. The base hit was a step forward for Song, who admitted in a recent report he was going to need some time to adjust to pitch velocity in the majors. Song also worked two walks in the game.

With all the offensive fireworks, the fact that Nick Pivetta started the game for San Diego kind of got lost in all the numbers. He worked two innings and allowed three runs on three hits with two walks and a strikeout. It was not the outing Padres fans expected to see from Pivetta who was the staff ace in 2025, especially after Michael King looked so dominant in his start against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. However, it was the first start of Spring Training for Pivetta and play-by-play announcers Jesse Agler and Tony Gwynn Jr. made note on the broadcast that it appeared the right-hander was working on specific pitches in his outing.

Padres pitchers Miguel Mendez and Justin Yeager each had difficult outings, which resulted in a combined six runs for the Reds. Mendez lasted 0.2 innings and allowed three runs on four hits with two walks and a strikeout. Yeager was called on to finish the inning for Mendez and he allowed two runs on two hits with a walk and a strikeout.

On the offensive side, Machado and Song were joined by Nick Solak, Gavin Sheets, Anthony Vilar, Marcos Castonon, Clay Dungan and Rodolfo Duran who all recorded at least one hit in the game. Duran had two hits, one of which was a solo home run to open the top of the third inning.

San Diego will travel to Salt River Fields at Talking Stick to take on the Colorado Rockies on Friday at 12:10 p.m.

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Bey scores 42 points, Pelicans beat Jazz 129-118 to open 2-game set in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Saddiq Bey scored 42 points, Zion Williamson had 20 and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Utah Jazz 129-118 on Thursday night to open a two-game set.

The teams will meet again in Salt Lake City on Saturday night. The Pelicans, who opened a six-game trip, have won three straight and five of seven to improve to 18-42.

Bey was 14 of 20 from the field, making 5 of 9 3-pointers, and hit all nine of his free throws. Williamson was 9 of 14 from the floor.

Pelicans point guard Dejounte Murray added 17 points and nine assists in his second straight game after missing more than a year because of a torn right Achilles.

Ace Bailey led Utah with 23 points, and Brice Sensabaugh had 20. The short-handed Jazz have lost four straight to fall to 18-41.

Utah star Lauri Markkanen was injured in practice Wednesday, and was held out of the game because of a sprained right ankle and right hip impingement.

Starters Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic were shut down for the season following surgeries, and Utah lost Vince Williams Jr. to a torn ACL on Monday night in a loss at Houston.

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

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Grant’s 27 points lift Trail Blazers past Bulls 121-112 as Chicago’s skid hits 11

CHICAGO (AP) — Jerami Grant scored 27 points and the Portland Trail Blazers held on for a 121-112 victory over Chicago on Thursday night, sending the Bulls to their 11th straight loss.

Toumani Camara scored 16 points, Robert Williams III had 14 points and 14 rebounds and Vit Krejci also scored 14 points for the Trail Blazers, who were without All-Star Deni Avdija (back) for the second straight game.

Matas Buzelis scored 20 points to lead the Bulls, who matched the third-longest losing streak in franchise history. Chicago has dropped 11 straight games in February since last winning against Miami on Jan. 31.

Tre Jones had 19 points as the Bulls fell to 0-5 on their seven-game homestand. Josh Giddey scored 15 points and had nine assists and Nick Richards had 14 points and 10 rebounds.

In a game that featured 17 lead changes and 13 ties, Portland pulled away in the fourth quarter to take a 15-point advantage — its biggest of the game — at 105-90 on two free throws by Blake Wesley with 9:02 remaining.

But Chicago scored the next seven points before Camara broke the Bulls' run with two free throws that made it 107-97 with 5:16 left. The Bulls kept coming, though, and cut their deficit to three at 108-105 on a cutting dunk by Leonard Miller.

Grant made a 3-pointer to open a 13-7 closing run by the Trail Blazers, who got a pair of free throws from Camara, Jrue Holiday and Grant to seal the win.

Up next

Trail Blazers: Play at Charlotte on Saturday.

Bulls: Host Milwaukee on Sunday.

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

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Achiuwa has career-high 29 points to lead the Kings past the Mavericks, 130-121

DALLAS (AP) — Precious Achiuwa had a career-high 29 points and added 12 rebounds, Maxime Raynaud scored 22 points and the Sacramento Kings beat the Dallas Mavericks 130-121 on Thursday night.

The Kings (14-47) have won two of their last three following a franchise-record 16-game losing streak. Averaging an NBA-low 110.1 points per game, they fell short of a season high by five points.

Naji Marshall scored a season-high 36 points, one short of his career best, and had 10 rebounds and six assists for the Mavericks (21-37), who have lost 11 of their last 13 games and six consecutive at home.

Dallas cut a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to 123-121 with 1:56, but Sacramento scored the final seven points beginning with Achiuwa’s putback off his miss with the shot clock about to expire.

The four Mavericks who were acquired on Feb. 5 in the three-team trade that sent Anthony Davis to Washington made their Dallas debuts. They were led by Khris Middleton with 17 points.

With Sacramento completing a back-to-back and Dallas beginning one, the teams had lengthy unavailable lists. The Kings’ included Russell Westbrook and Keegan Murray, the latter having reinjured an ankle Wednesday in a loss at Houston. Dallas’ list included rookie Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall draft pick, who missed his fifth consecutive game with a left midfoot sprain.

Up next

Kings: At Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night.

Mavericks: Host Memphis on Friday night.

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

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Purple Row After Dark: Which Rockies position player prospect will break out in 2026?

SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 20: Charlie Condon #66 of the Colorado Rockies looks on from first base in a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields on Friday, February 20, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Kyle Cooper)

On Tuesday, I asked which pitching prospect you thought would make a name for himself in 2026.

Tonight, let’s look to the position player side of the roster.

Which Rockies prospect do you see stepping up this season?

And if you need a refresher, the most-recent PuRPs rankings are here.

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

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O'Reilly scores late and Predators use 3 goals in the 3rd period to beat the Blackhawks 4-2

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Ryan O'Reilly scored with 3:16 remaining and the Nashville Predators scored three times in the third period in a 4-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night in the teams’ first game following the Olympic break.

Filip Forsberg and Matthew Wood also scored for Nashville. Steven Stamkos scored his 29th of the season into an empty net in the final minute for the Predators, who had lost two in a row and five of their last seven games heading into the break. Justus Annunen stopped 21 of 23 shots.

Connor Bedard and Tyler Bertuzzi scored for the Blackhawks, who have one victory in their last eight games. Spencer Knight made 22 saves.

Forsberg scored unassisted with just over six minutes remaining in the first period. Forsberg, who played for fourth-place finisher Sweden at the Olympics, scored his 25th of the season.

Bedard scored his career-best 25th goal just over four minutes into the second period to tie the game at 1. Ryan Greene had his 14th assist. Bedard had 22 goals in 68 games in 2023-24 and 24 goals in 82 games last season.

Bertuzzi scored his team-leading 26th goal of the season on a power play at 3:16 of the third to give the Blackhawks the lead. San Rinzel and Teuvo Teravainen, won a bronze medal with Finland at the Milan Cortina Olympics, assisted.

The Blackhawks' lead was short-lived as Wood tied it at 2, also with a power-play goal, just under four minutes later. The assists went to Erik Haula and Luke Evangelista.

Haula and Juuse Saros were considered game-time decisions after they returned to Nashville on Wednesday after playing for bronze medal-winning Finland at the Olympics.

Up next

Blackhawks: At the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.

Predators: At the Dallas Stars on Saturday.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

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No. 12 Duke women secure share of ACC title by beating Florida State 80-52

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Toby Fournier scored 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and 12th-ranked Duke broke it open after halftime to beat Florida State 80-52 on Thursday night for at least a share of the ACC regular-season title.

Duke secured the top seed in next week's ACC Tournament with the win.

Delaney Thomas added 13 points and a career-high 20 rebounds and Taina Mair also had a double-double for the Blue Devils (21-7, 16-1) with 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Ashlon Jackson scored 15 points and Riley Nelson had 11.

Jasmine Shavers scored 21 points and Sole Williams 12 for Florida State (9-19, 4-12), which was outrebounded 54-30.

Duke, which led 33-29 at halftime, used a 13-2 run to start the third quarter to take control and the Blue Devils outscored the Seminoles 47-23 in the second half.

Duke was coming off its first loss since Dec. 4, falling at Clemson 53-51 on Sunday.

The Blue Devil’s 16 ACC victories are the most in a season under head coach Kara Lawson.

Up next

Florida State: Ends the regular season on Sunday playing at Wake Forest.

Duke: Travels to Chapel Hill to face 21st-ranked North Carolina on Sunday to also conclude the regular season.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

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Holloway has hat trick in injury return to lead Blues past Kraken, 5-1

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Dylan Holloway had a hat trick and added an assist in his return from a sprained ankle, Joel Hofer made 23 saves and the St. Louis Blues came off the Olympic break to beat the Seattle Kraken 5-1 on Thursday night.

Jordan Kyrou and Holloway — activated from injured reserve before the game — scored in a 23-second span early in the second period to give St. Louis a 3-1 lead.

Pius Suter added a goal and two assists to help the Blues end a three-game losing streak.

Holloway completed St. Louis’ first hat trick of the season with 3:01 left, scoring into an empty net for his 11th of the season.

Kaapo Kakko tied it at 1 for Seattle in the first period, and Philipp Grubauer stopped 26 shots. The Kraken were coming off a 4-1 loss in Dallas on Wednesday night.

Kyrou made it 2-1 at 1:12 of the second off a feed from Pavel Buchnevich on a break. Holloway poked the puck past Grubauer off a scramble at 1:35. Suter scored at 1:56 of the third.

St. Louis' Cam Fowler appeared in his 1,100th game, becoming the 10th active defenseman in the NHL to reach the mark.

Up next

Kraken: Host Vancouver on Saturday night.

Blues: Host New Jersey on Saturday. ___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhla

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Pageau's OT winner caps Islanders' rally past Canadiens 4-3 and Schaefer sets another rookie mark

MONTREAL (AP) — Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored 3:14 into overtime, rookie Matthew Schaefer had two goals in a 55-second span in the second period and the New York Islanders rallied to beat the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 on Thursday night.

Schaefer has 18 goals to surpass Denis Potvin for the most by a rookie defenseman in team history. Schaefer, selected first overall in last year’s draft, also moved past Phil Housley for the most goals in NHL history by an 18-year-old defenseman.

Islanders captain Anders Lee, skating in his 900th game, also scored and Ilya Sorokin made 21 saves to help New York win its third straight. Sorokin improved to 7-0-2 in his career against Montreal.

The Canadiens' Noah Dobson scored two goals in his first game against his former team. Cole Caufield scored his team-leading 33rd goal for Montreal in the third period and Samuel Montembeault made 23 saves.

Dobson, who scored at even strength and on the power play, spent his first six NHL seasons with the Islanders before being traded last June to Montreal for Emil Heineman and two 2025 first-round draft picks.

It was the first game back for both teams following the NHL’s 19-day pause for the Milan Cortina Olympic Games.

Dobson took advantage of a poor line change by the Islanders to open the scoring for Montreal in the first period. The Canadiens defenseman took a stretch pass from Lane Hutson before firing a wrist shot from the left circle that beat Sorokin to the glove side.

Dobson has 12 goals, one shy of his single-season high set with the Islanders in both the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.

Up next

Islanders: At the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.

Canadiens: Host the Washington Capitals on Saturday.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

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Dylan Larkin scores his 2nd goal of game in OT to lift Red Wings past Senators, 2-1

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Dylan Larkin scored in his second goal of game at 1:50 of overtime, John Gibson made 26 saves and the Detroit Red Wings beat the Ottawa Senators 2-1 on Thursday night.

Larkin beat Linus Ullmark with a backhander in the tiebreaker.

Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk opened the scoring in the first period. Ullmark stopped 18 shots.

Detroit tied it at 1 on a power play early in the second when Lucas Raymond fed Larkin at the side of the net for a one-timer past Ullmark.

Just over two minutes later, Simon Edvinsson stepped into Tkachuk, with the Senators forward’s stick bouncing up and hitting him in the face. Tkachuk dropped to the ice, and Dylan Cozens jumped to his captain’s defense. Edvinsson and Cozens were both sent to the box.

Tkachuk returned to the ice before play resumed and skated to the penalty box to confront Edvinsson, drawing a 10-minute misconduct. Once in the box, Tkachuk continued to voice his displeasure.

Up next

Red Wings: At Carolina on Saturday night.

Senators: At Toronto on Saturday night.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

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Power in, and power out

Heliot Ramos smiling while high-fiving in the dugout.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 26: Heliot Ramos #17 of the San Francisco Giants greets his teammates in the dugout after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of the spring training game against the Colorado Rockies at Scottsdale Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images

For the second straight day, the San Francisco Giants engaged in a Cactus League slugfest. And for the second straight day, the power they provided was surpassed by the power they allowed. This time, it wasn’t quite as close as on Wednesday, as the Giants fell to the Colorado Rockies 11-3.

The good was extremely encouraging, and the bad was extremely concerning. So let’s begin with the bad, and get it out of the way as quickly as we can.

Hayden Birdsong, who opened up the spring for the Giants a week ago and only retired one batter, made his second appearance of the preseason. In the most basic statistical sense, it went better this time around. But in reality? Honestly, it might have been worse.

Birdsong entered in the fifth inning, and the first batter he faced — non-roster invitee designated hitter Chad Stevens — took him deep. In Birdsong’s defense, it was the epitome of a Spring Training, humid desert home run: it left the bat at just 99.1 mph, it traveled a mere 365 feet, and, per Statcast, it had an expected batting average of only .170. Were this a Major League game, it probably would have been an out that we didn’t think too much about … unless the Rockies were hosting the game, that is.

He recovered against the next batter, blowing a 97.1-mph fastball past center fielder Jake McCarthy in a 2-2 count.

Then the hiccups started again. Catcher Brett Sullivan had a hard-hit double, and scored on an even harder-hit single by shortstop Cole Carrigg. Right fielder Jordan Beck singled, and then Birdsong’s defense both helped him out and hurt him. Luis Arráez committed an error on what should have been a fielder’s choice, allowing third baseman Kyle Karros — son of Eric — aboard, but then Patrick Bailey threw out Beck for the second out of the inning. Birdsong, slightly rattled, engaged in an eight-pitch battle with first baseman Charlie Condon, which resulted in a walk, before retiring second baseman Adael Amador to end the inning.

Allowing three runs in one inning is emphatically better than allowing five runs in a third of an inning, but the bad results felt mere emblematic of the performance this time around, with Birdsong throwing just 19 of 32 pitches for strikes, and having a few uncompetitive encounters. Critically, after Tony Vitello expressed optimism about Birdsong’s stuff following Saturday’s rough-up, things were quite different on Thursday. This time, the manager made no attempt to put any window dressing on a bad game.

The spring is still young, but unfortunately, the early returns suggest that Birdsong has not been able to fix what doomed his season a year ago. It appears this may not be the quick fix we were all looking for.

San Francisco’s other young, ultra-electric arm in this game was better than Birdsong, though certainly not great. Blade Tidwell got the start and set down the side in order in the first, albeit narrowly avoiding the only-in-Scottsdale home run that damaged Birdsong’s ERA. The second inning was a different story for Tidwell, who was sitting around 96 and, unlike most of the team’s starters this spring, did not lose velocity in his second frame.

He lost effectiveness, though. Tidwell opened the inning with a six-pitch walk in which all six pitches were outside of the zone. That run immediately scored when Karros scorched a triple at 108.1 mph, making it the fourth hardest-hit ball of the entire game. The next batter, Condon, one-upped Karros with the second-hardest hit ball of the game: a 111.2-mph RBI single.

While that wasn’t ideal, Tidwell’s composure most certainly was. Despite having given up a pair of runs, and despite there being a runner on base with no outs, and despite a flurry of hard contact, Tidwell settled in and set down the next three batters on just six pitches, without throwing a single ball.

I wasn’t at the game, and it wasn’t televised, so I can’t speak to how Tidwell or Birdsong looked. But Tidwell’s composure to bounce back in that inning, juxtaposed against Vitello’s comments about Birdsong’s body language, certainly paint a picture for us.

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While those were the most notable pitchers to take the bump for the Giants, there were a trio of other arms who joined Birdsong in giving up long balls. Lefty Reiver Sanmartin pitched the fourth and gave up a solo shot to Condon, which left the bat at 102.8 mph. Non-roster invitee Wilkin Ramos handled the sixth, and it did not go well for him. He ceded a 105-mph, 410-foot dinger to Ryan Ritter on the first of 28 pitches that he needed to get through the inning. He gave up two walks, two singles, a double, and two more runs before mercifully getting through the frame.

Prospect and NRI Trent Harris also allowed a long ball, though his performance was fairly encouraging. The undrafted reliever mostly shelved his signature curveball — something to keep an eye on — and instead leaned heavily on his cutter and slider. In the seventh inning, it worked wonders: he struck out the first two batters he faced, and then induced an inning-ending groundball.

But he stayed on the mound for the eighth inning and, while he struck out the ultra-talented Zac Veen, he also gave up a single and a two-run home run. In Harris’ defense, that dinger — Colorado’s fourth and final one of the day — was also a vintage Cactus League bomb. It was hit at just 95.2 mph, and carried an expected batting average of only .190. In all, even though he allowed as many runs as innings pitched, it was an encouraging outing for Harris, though he was pitching at the point of the game where there aren’t many Major Leaguers to be found.

The Giants couldn’t match that thump, but they did have a pair of powerful swings of the bat, including the most impressive swing of the day. In the bottom of the first inning, Matt Chapman — who is once again having a delightful swing — absolutely caught hold of one and let it ride. On the first pitch he saw from fellow righty Valento Bellozo, Chapman hit the ball 108.4 mph (the third hardest-hit ball of the day), and a staggering 460 feet for an absolute no-doubter. A thing of beauty!

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In the fifth, it was the man with a new look: left fielder Heliot Ramos. Sporting bleached hair to match his Puerto Rican teammates as he heads off for the WBC, Ramos looked in midseason form against veteran reliever Viktor Vodnik, a fellow righty. Ramos got ahead in the count 2-0, and then blasted a 99-mph challenge fastball 400 feet into the opposite-field desert air for his first home run of spring.

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The Giants would score their third and final run of the game two batters later: after Patrick Bailey singled and was replaced by pinch-runner Grant McCray, Harrison Bader continued his excellent spring with an RBI double.

A few more notes from the game:

  • Bailey, after going a perfect 3-for-3 on challenges in his last game, lost a challenge in the first inning of this one. I’m guessing that’s not something we’ll see in the regular season.
  • Ramos, as we’ve grown accustomed to, hit the absolute snot out of the ball. His home run was the seventh-hardest hit ball of the game, while his other at-bat was a single on the fifth hardest-hit ball of the day. Chapman, similarly, had the third-hardest hit ball on his homer, and the sixth hardest-hit ball on a groundout.
  • NRI Parks Harber has been opening eyes ever since the Giants acquired him in the Camilo Doval trade, and there’s one primary reason: he hits the stitches off the ball. That was on display Thursday, when Harber only had one at-bat, but used it to record the hardest-hit baseball all game, a 111.8-mph single.
  • If you were listening to the audio of the game, the highlight came during Harris’ strong seventh inning. The broadcasters were sitting near Harris’ family, and you could hear them screaming and cheering very loudly with every strike thrown and every out recorded. It was a great moment.
  • Right-hander Spencer Bivens worked around a pair of singles to record a scoreless third inning.
  • Lefty NRI Juan Sánchez made his second appearance of the spring, and it went very well. He handled a scoreless ninth inning and struck out two batters, while giving up a single. He peaked at 95.3 mph in his first spring since 2024, after missing all of last year recovering from Tommy John surgery.
  • The Giants host the Dodgers tomorrow at 12:05 p.m PT and hey, what do you know, there will actually be video for that game! It’s Robbie Ray vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Tyler Mahle is expected to make his Giants debut on Saturday.

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Desbiens turns away 34 shots and the Victoire beat Sirens 4-1 in 1st PWHL game since Olympic break

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Lina Ljungblom notched her first two points of the season and Ann-Renée Desbiens saved 34 shots to lead the Montréal Victoire over the New York Sirens 4-1 on Thursday night in the first PWHL game since the Olympic break.

Dara Greig opened the scoring five minutes into the game for the Victoire (8-3-0-5), with Ljungblom and Natálie Mlýnková assisting. J ade Downie-Landry doubled the Victoire's tally just 47 seconds later.

Skylar Irving made it a 3-0 lead on an unassisted goal with 9:53 left in the first period, making it three goals on four shots for the Victoire (8-3-0-5), which moved into a 30-point tie for first place with the Boston Fleet.

The Victoire had another goal taken off the board due to goaltender interference. The fourth-place Sirens (7-0-3-7) quickly made a goalie change, switching out Kayle Osborne for Callie Shanahan early in the second period.

The lone Sirens goal came on a power play a few minutes later on a shot by Casey O'Brien assisted by Maja Nylen Persson and Sarah Fillier, who picked up her 10th assist of the year (second in the PWHL).

The Victoire extended their lead to 4-1 with a power-play goal early in the third on a puck that deflected awkwardly off the stick of Ljungblom — her first goal of the season — over the head of Shanahan.

Desbiens, who entered with the second-lowest goals-against average (1.16 per game) finished with a .971 save percentage, saving all but one of the 35 shots she faced. Erin Ambrose and Marie-Philip Poulin were out due to injuries.

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AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey

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San Antonio at Brooklyn, Final Score: Spurs do enough to comfortably get by Nets, 126-110

Feb 26, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) drives to the basket against Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton (33) during the second quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

You know the Spurs have reached a new level from even a month ago when they can look tired and a step slow, and still blow out a bad team (remember, playing down to opponents used to be a thing of theirs). After a hard-fought, exhausting win in Toronto the night before, the Spurs avoided a letdown game against the Brooklyn Nets by beginning the game strong and overcoming some rough stretches by spreading the wealth and riding the hot hand of the moment on their way to a 126-110 victory.

Seven Spurs scored in double figures, led by 26 from the hometown kid Julian Champagnie on 10-14 shooting, 6-9 from three. Michael Porter, Jr. was cold in the first half but exploded in the second for the Nets, finishing with 25 points and 14 rebounds.

Observations

  • Ed Malloy has always been one of my least favorite refs in the league (egotistical, heavy with the technicals, etc.), and he reminded me why at tip-off. Nic Claxton was grabbing Victor Wembanyama and crossing into his territory, so there were lots stops to reset him. Then, when Malloy finally threw the jump ball, Claxton was draped all over Wemby, who still won it. However, instead of either letting it go and allowing the game to start or calling a foul on Claxton, Malloy decided to redo the throw. Wemby again won it, but come on, Ed! (I think I’m running out of basketball brain cells to want to type this all out.)
  • The first quarter was a snooze fest, but in a good way because the Spurs were doing what they’re supposed to do: methodically (if unexcitedly) work down an inferior opponent. It lacked the excitement of recent games and opponents, but Devin Vassell remained hot, hitting is two three-point attempts, and Stephon Castle carved up the Nets’ putrid defense for 13 points in the quarter on the way to a 36-22 lead.
  • The Spurs hit four straight threes to open the second quarter each from their two NY/NJ-area players in Champagnie and Dylan Harper, but things got for sloppy as the Spurs seemed to lose focus, and the Nets managed to cut what had been a 22-point lead down to 12. But, they again did what good teams do and got their act back together to regain control by halftime, behind 19 first-half points from Champagnie.
  • The Spurs were again asleep at the wheel to start the third quarter as the Nets got within six while Porter Jr. got hot with 17 points in the quarter. This time, it was De’Aaron Fox’s turn to be the stabilizer with 10 points and initiating ball movement. That helped spark everyone else back into form, and five more made threes helped the Spurs get the lead back out to 20, and that was essentially the ball game with the fourth quarter being extended garbage time.
  • Victor Wembanyama had his third straight off game on offense, although he wasn’t forcing things tonight. He finally got his first field goal late in the second quarter and finished with 12 points on 3-9 shooting, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 blocks. He mentioned after last night’s win in Toronto that he was tired from the lack of rest during All-Star weekend and he hadn’t slept well the night before. The back-to-back tonight probably didn’t help much in that regard, but they have two days off before they play the Knicks, followed by a quick train ride to Philadelphia, so hopefully the rest and lack of travel over the next several days helps him regain his rhythm.
  • The win gives the Spurs their third undefeated month in franchise history (with a minimum of 10 games played). Their entire 11-game win streak has been within the month of February, with their last loss being the infamous snow game in Charlotte. Also, if they win the next two, they will sweep the Rodeo Road Trip. Who saw this happening coming into the season?
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Lauri Markkanen reportedly out at least two weeks with hip injury suffered at practice

Utah Jazz leading scorer Lauri Markkanen is out and will be re-evaluated in two weeks after an MRI of an injury suffered in practice on Wednesday found a hip impingement, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN.

Markkanen also tweaked his ankle during that practice, but the MRI on it was clean, Charania added. (The NBA did not send a doctor to review the MRI results, despite an online report, which was quickly retracted.)

Markkanen has played at an All-Star level this season, leading the Jazz in scoring, averaging 26.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. He has missed 16 games lately due to a variety of ailments.

Markkanen found himself in the middle of the NBA’s tanking debate when the Jazz, for a short stretch, played him and just-acquired Jaren Jackson Jr. for 25 minutes per game but sat them in the fourth quarter (Utah blew a lead to Orlando and lost in one of those games). Utah owes its pick to Oklahoma City but it is top-eight protected, and the Jazz are tanking to hold on to that pick (they currently have the sixth-worst record in the league and a 96% chance of retaining the pick).

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was not amused by the creative benchings and brought the hammer with a $500,000 fine for Utah for sitting its stars in key moments of an undecided game. The Jazz got the message and since then Jackson (knee) and Jusuf Nurkic (nose) both needed surgeries that happen to end their seasons.

Now Markkanen will miss at least two weeks, and likely more. For medical reasons.