By The Associated Press (AP) — Luke Kornet called on the Atlanta Hawks to cancel their upcoming collaboration with Magic City, saying he and other NBA players were surprised by the team's decision to promote the adult entertainment club.
The San Antonio Spurs center wrote Monday that allowing the March 16 event during the Hawks' game against the Orlando Magic “would reflect poorly on us as an NBA community, specifically in being complicit in the potential objectification and mistreatment of women in our society.”
“Regardless of how a woman finds her way into the adult entertainment industry, many in this space experience abuse, harassment, and violence to which they should never be subjected,” Kornet added in a blog post.
The Hawks announced the promotion last week, saying it would include a live performance by Atlanta native T.I., and have two versions of Magic City's famed chicken wings and a special hoodie available for purchase.
But Kornet noted that the press release “failed to acknowledge that this place is, as the business itself boasts, ‘Atlanta’s premier strip club.’” Therefore, he asked the Hawks to cancel the promotion.
“We desire to provide an environment where fans of all ages can safely come and enjoy the game of basketball and where we can celebrate the history and culture of communities in good conscience,” Kornet wrote. “The celebration of a strip club is not conduct aligned with that vision.”
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - JANUARY 31: Ty Jerome #2 of the Memphis Grizzlies handles the ball against Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second half at FedExForum on January 31, 2026 in Memphis, Tennessee. 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 Justin Ford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Minnesota Timberwolves at Memphis Grizzlies Date: March 3rd, 2026 Time: 7:00 PM CST Location: Target Center Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network – North Radio Coverage: Wolves App, iHeart Radio
There’s a very specific kind of confidence that creeps in when you beat the Denver Nuggets on national television. It’s the “we’re back” confidence. And right now, the Minnesota Timberwolves are flirting with that version of themselves.
Six wins in their last seven. A convincing Sunday afternoon win over Jokic and the Nuggets. A leapfrog in the standings. Suddenly they’re sitting tied for the third best record in the West, staring at the Houston Rockets, and licking their chops.
It feels good. It should feel good.
But before we start fantasizing home court in Round 1, let’s take a healthy dose of reality. The margin for error in the West is still razor thin. The Wolves have momentum, but they haven’t exactly looked like world-beaters during this stretch. They’ve won games that should’ve been comfortable by making them unnecessarily dramatic. They’ve flirted with disaster against inferior opponents and needed fourth-quarter gear shifts to survive.
Which brings us to this week’s three-game homestand: Memphis. Toronto. Orlando.
On paper? Bankable wins. In reality? Potential landmines.
Because the Wolves don’t have a “talent” problem. They have a “professional urgency on random Tuesday nights” problem. Which makes this Memphis Grizzlies team one of the most dangerous opponents they could face…
The Setup: The Games You Have to Bank
March is a gauntlet. After this homestand, Minnesota heads west to face both L.A. teams, Golden State, and then south for the fourth and final showdown with OKC. That’s not a sightseeing tour. That’s a standings reshuffle waiting to happen.
So if the Wolves want that three-seed, if they want home court in Round 1, if they want to avoid staring down OKC in the second round like it’s a dentist appointment, they have to stack the games that are sitting right in front of them.
Memphis is one of those. And before you (or the Wolves) begin to mentally add a digit to the win column, stop and remember that these Grizzlies have already beaten Minnesota twice this season. The most recent upset was at the start of February in one of those games where the Wolves assumed they could flip the switch late, only to realize the power had been disconnected.
When we get to April and we’re recapping the “what could have been” portion of the season, those Memphis losses are going to glow in neon. This is a team Minnesota has a clear talent advantage over. And yet, lack of intensity and professionalism already put two notches in the loss column.
They cannot afford a third.
#1: Take This Personally (And Take It Seriously)
The Grizzlies punched Minnesota in the mouth twice. Both times, the Wolves walked in thinking it was a formality. That can’t happen again.
This needs to be one of those games where the Wolves remember the taste of blood. Where they come out like they’ve had this date circled since February 2nd. Where they don’t “feel it out” for a quarter and a half.
Jump on them early. Crank the defensive aggression up immediately. Dive for loose balls. Sprint in transition. End defensive possessions with rebounds. Make Memphis feel like they wandered into the wrong building.
Because if you let them hang around, if you let this become a fourth-quarter coin flip, you’re inviting déjà vu.
And Wolves fans have had enough déjà vu this season to last a lifetime.
#2: Blanket Ty Jerome
Memphis has pivoted away from the core that knocked the Wolves out of the playoffs in 2022. Jaren Jackson Jr. is gone, shipped to Utah at the deadline. Desmond Bane was jettisoned before the season. The identity that once made Memphis dangerous has been dismantled piece by piece. Ja Morant is still there, only because nobody else was eager to take on that particular roller coaster. This is not the same Grizzlies team that one appeared to be the next great Western Conference contender.
But Ty Jerome? He’s real. He already proved a month ago that he can hang with Minnesota and put enough points on the board to steal the game. And if you let him get comfortable, he’ll start doing that annoying thing where role players turn into All-NBA guys for a night.
Anthony Edwards. Ayo Dosunmu. Jalen Clark. Donte DiVincenzo. They all need to take turns sitting in Jerome’s jersey.
#3: Keep Jaden McDaniels Unlocked
Jaden McDaniels is the Wolves’ secret ingredient. When he’s passive, the Wolves are good. When he’s aggressive, they’re terrifying. We saw it against Denver. McDaniels attacking downhill, finishing at the rim, getting high-percentage looks. He tilted the floor.
The Wolves need to treat the next six weeks as a referendum on fully integrating McDaniels as a third pillar of this offense. Not an afterthought. Not a “stand in the corner and wait” guy.
If this team heads into the postseason as a legitimate three-headed monster of Ant, Randle, and McDaniels, that’s a completely different ceiling. Minnesota needs to be done with six-point Jaden games. Finch and the staff need to scheme him into action early. Get him touches. Get him downhill. Let him feel the game.
#4: Keep the Ball Moving
One of the more encouraging trends from Sunday? Edwards passing out of doubles. He didn’t force it against Denver. He trusted the read. He let teammates cook. That’s when Minnesota’s offense feels like a five-lane highway instead of a one-man street.
Memphis probably won’t double Ant the way Denver did. But the philosophy has to stay the same: Share it. Swing it. Keep the defense honest.
There is zero reason for this to devolve into iso-heavy, dribble-the-air-out-of-the-ball basketball. The Wolves are far more dangerous when the ball is whipping around the perimeter and the defense is chasing shadows. This is not a “prove you’re the best player in the building” game. It’s a “prove you’re the most professional team in the building” game.
#5: Defend the Perimeter Like It’s a Playoff Game
The only way Memphis stays alive here is if Minnesota gifts them space with lazy rotations, turnstile perimeter defense., and wide-open threes because someone didn’t feel like tagging the shooter.
Don’t give them that.
If Memphis earns tough buckets, fine, but don’t be the reason they get easy ones. Close out hard. Contain at the point of attack. Rotate with purpose. Make it feel suffocating.
This should be a blowout win. Honestly? Anything less is unacceptable.
The Big Picture: Climb the Ladder, One Rung at a Time
The Wolves did the hard part Sunday.
They beat Denver. They flipped the script. They vaulted in the standings. It was a statement win.
But statement wins only matter if you don’t step on a rake 48 hours later.
The dog days of January and February are behind us. The postseason is visible on the horizon. Now it’s about stacking wins. Banking games you’re supposed to win. Turning momentum into separation.
You want the three-seed? You want home court? You want the opposite side of OKC? Then treat Memphis like what they are right now: a stepping stone.
No coasting. No “we’ll turn it on later.” No letting inferior teams dictate terms.
DALLAS, TX - JANUARY 29: Kon Knueppel #7 of the Charlotte Hornets looks to pass the ball during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on January 29, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. 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 Cooper Neill/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (21-39) travel to Charlotte to take on the Hornets (30-31), hoping to snap a three-game losing streak. It’ll be hard to imagine getting a better game than the last Mavericks-Hornets matchup, even though Charlotte walked away with the win, 123-121. The injury report is longer for the Mavs this time around, and with Cooper Flagg likely out, Dallas will have to get solid production from everyone who suits up. Here are three things to watch as the Mavericks take on the Hornets.
The Rookie of the Year race is tight
The last time these two teams met, we got a classic. Cooper Flagg notched his career high of 49 points, also adding 10 rebounds and 3 assists. His former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel hit eight of his 12 threes, posting 34 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. The two future stars put on a show and proved why the Rookie of the Year race is one of the closest ever.
For the first time since November, betting sportsbooks have Kon Knueppel edging out Cooper Flagg for Rookie of the Year. The two former teammates have separated themselves as being on a tier of their own in the 2025 NBA draft class. Each has shown their basketball brilliance in different ways. Knueppel is a marksman, shooting an astounding 44% from three this season on eight attempts per game. He broke the NBA rookie record for three pointers made in a season, netting his 207th — in 59 games. The previous record was held by Keegan Murray in 2023, who took 80 games to reach 206 made threes. Knueppel, who was taken fourth in the 2025 draft, has also put up an impressive stat line of 19.3 points per game, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. He’s arguably the biggest reason why the Charlotte Hornets could reach their first season of being above .500 since 2022.
Cooper Flagg, the perennial favorite to win the Rookie of the Year race, has slipped behind Knueppel largely because he’s been sidelined with a left foot sprain since February 10. Charlotte will be his eighth consecutive game missed. Before the injury, Flagg was living up to the hype of everything Mavs fans were hoping to see from the number one overall pick. He’s averaging 20.4 points per game, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists — all slightly ahead of his former Duke counterpart.Prioritizing Flagg’s health is, of course, most important. Once he returns, it could be a photo finish for who takes home the Rookie of the Year trophy.
Charlotte is better than its record
After an abysmal start, the Hornets have been red hot. It looked like Charlotte was headed for another rebuilding year as it started 15-26 by the halfway point in the season. Since then, they’ve won 15 of 20 games and now the only thing standing between them and a .500 record is the Mavericks. They have a 3.0 net rating this season, better than the Heat, Raptors, Sixers, Magic, Lakers, Suns, and Warriors — all teams that are above .500. In their past 20 games, the Hornets own the third-best net rating in the NBA at 9.8, only behind the Pistons and Celtics.
Charlotte’s athleticism and size cause matchup problems for many teams. They are second in the NBA in offensive rebounding percentage at 35.8. If the Mavs want any chance at keeping the Hornets from breaking the .500 plateau, they’ll have to keep them off the glass. Charlotte’s offensive rating has also cracked the top-10 in the NBA, scoring 117.5 points per 100 possessions, largely due to its efficient three-point shooting. They make 15.9 threes per game, trailing only the Warriors, and are third in percentage at 37.8%, trailing only the Nuggets and Bucks. Shooting a lot of threes and elite offensive rebounding for second and third opportunities will put you in the upper third of efficient NBA offenses.
Embrace the weird stat lines
The injury list these days reads more like a Walmart receipt. With so many key rotation guys out, the Mavs are digging deep into their bench to fill minutes. In a season that’s largely lost and with eyes already shifting to the draft, these last 22 games still have purpose. They’re a glorified tryout for real minutes on (hopefully) a much better team next season.
If 48 minutes are largely filled by your bench, you’re bound to get some bizarre stat lines. In Dallas’s 100-87 loss to Oklahoma City on Sunday, Moussa Cisse recorded 12 rebounds, 0 points, 0 assists, 0 blocks, and 0 steals. But with weird stat lines come real questions. Who should be on the roster next season? Now is the time to find out. Is Cisse a viable big man Dallas should give a roster spot to next season? Caleb Martin was the leading scorer with 18 points against the Thunder. Can he reset his value and be a real contributor next season? How does Ryan Nembhard respond after securing his NBA contract? Who will the Mavericks choose to run the bench unit once Kyrie returns? Where does Brandon Williams fit in? In the bigger picture, these minutes matter.
A lot of losing is happening, but that’s OK. This grind part is important for the rebuilding process. Speaking of the Thunder, who are widely considered the favorite to repeat as NBA champions, let’s look at the beginning of their rebuild. In the 2021-2022 season, the Thunder lost 16 games by 20+ points, including a 50-point loss to the Clippers and a 73-point loss to the Grizzlies. In comparison, the Mavericks have four losses by 20+ points this season. The Thunder finished with a record of 24-58. This is the same season Oklahoma City discovered Lu Dort as an elite defender, Aaron Wiggins as a real scoring threat, and Kenrich Williams as a serviceable wing who can contribute off the bench. Most of that 2022 roster didn’t make the 2025 title team, but these guys did. Oklahoma City knew Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the star, but who were the guys that could contribute around him? With no pressure to win games, now is the time to find out who those players are for the Mavericks. This is part of the process.
How to watch
It can be hard to get motivated to watch Mavericks games without Cooper Flagg. But even without him, these games are a good way to see what Dallas has around him. The star is the hardest part to get in a championship puzzle. The hardest part is done. But as fans saw with Dirk Nowitzki and Luka Doncic, the talent you put around your star matters. With or without Flagg, let’s see how the Mavs compete.
The Mavs and Hornets tip off at 6:00 PM CST on KFAA Channel 29, MavsTV streaming, and NBA League Pass.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 1: Will Ferrell and Dalton Knecht #4 of the Los Angeles Lakers shake hands after the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 1, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Hey guys!
We’re back with another open thread for the week. Want to discuss movies, games, basketball, TV, the weather, what you had for lunch, your wins of the week? Here’s the place. This can also serve as a spot to chat about non-Lakers games going on around the league as well.
The only rule is to follow the guidelines. Be nice and be civil. Everything else is fair game.
Young has not played since Dec. 27 due to right knee and quad issues. Since that date, the four-time All-Star was traded from Atlanta — the only team he had ever played for — to the Wizards.
In the 10 games Young has played this season, he's averaged 19.3 points and 8.9 assists per game, while shooting 35.1% from 3-point range. His shooting should help space the floor for Washington, and his passing will make life easier for Alex Sarr and the other Wizards big men. Young will upgrade the Wizards' offense.
Washington also traded for Anthony Davis around the deadline, but he is out for the season after finger surgery.
While the addition of Young is exciting for Wizards fans starving for something to cheer for, the team does not want to start winning too many games the rest of this season. Washington owes its first-round pick to New York, but it is top-eight protected. Washington currently has the fourth-worst record in the league and cannot lose its pick in the lottery. However, start racking up wins and getting a better record than Utah, New Orleans or Dallas, and the odds of keeping that pick go down, slightly at first, but they drop. With that, expect the Wizards to keep Young limited this season.
Young is expected to reach a contract extension deal with the Wizards this offseason, reports Marc Stein at The Stein Line. Young has a $48.9 million player option for next season, the conventional wisdom around the league is that he agrees to a shorter extension, two or three years, worth less money per year but more money total.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JANUARY 04: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the second half against the Detroit Pistons at Rocket Arena on January 04, 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
The Cleveland Cavaliers are familiar with injury troubles. They’ve been dealt a short hand for most of the season. So it’s no surprise they will again be without one of their key players as they host the Detroit Pistons tonight.
Donovan Mitchell is listed as OUT with a groin injury. The seven-time All-Star has missed Cleveland’s previous three games with the same injury. He last played in their win over the New York Knicks on February 24.
The Cavs will also be without Riley Minix and Darius Brown, both of whom are on G League assignment. Max Strus is still out, as well. Dean Wade is questionable with an ankle injury. Everyone else is currently available.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can buy the Mark Price shirt HERE. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE.
Mitchell is averaging 28.5 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds this season while shooting 48.3% from the floor and nearly 37% from downtown. He’s having a career-best year while the Cavs are 3-4 without him this season. He’s been surprisingly available for a player carrying such a massive load each night. It makes sense that the Cavs are being cautious with his latest groin injury. They’ll need him moving forward.
Cleveland is better equipped to withstand a stretch without Mitchell than they were at the start of the season. Trading for James Harden has given them an All-Star-caliber guard to replace Mitchell during these stretches. While Darius Garland was previously capable of doing the same thing — Garland’s own injuries became too much of a roadblock. Harden, albeit currently dealing with a broken finger, has historically been more durable than both Mitchell and Garland.
Harden had 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists in the Cavaliers’ latest win over the Brooklyn Nets. He’s capable of carrying the offense on his own.
The Cavs will have their hands full against a Pistons team that probably feels they shouldn’t have gone to overtime with this shorthanded Cleveland squad last week. But the Cavs are upset with themselves for not sealing the deal in that one. This should be a fun game even without Mitchell.
Los Angeles, CA - February 22: Head coach JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers react against the Boston Celtics in the second half of a NBA basketball game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 22, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
The Lakers are never going to get a fair shake when it comes to national media coverage.
This isn’t a new revelation. In fact, the very topic of this article has already been written about by our own Darius Soriano just two months ago.
And while there’s lots of season left to play and things could always change, right now, the Lakers are actually a good story! They’ve been hammered by injuries and all they’ve done is win nearly two-thirds of their games through almost half the season.
No one’s asking to anoint them the favorites to win the title or anything like that. But if we could maybe just start treating them as though they’re a good team that is actually finding ways to win games they probably shouldn’t and position themselves well to actually make the run no one thinks they will, that would be okay too?
Or maybe we put another blowhard on TV saying how they should trade LeBron or Austin Reaves for role players? Yeah, let’s do that instead.
Not surprisingly, the media hasn’t changed its tune on the Lakers since that article was posted.
The only change in the last two months is that head coach JJ Redick has also taken notice. After wins on either side of the team’s weekend back-to-back, Redick spoke about the resiliency of his side and took a subtle jab at the overreactions at various moments this season.
“Again, the world has fallen for us 19 times and it’s just part of the nature of this cycle,” Redick said. “Our guys have bounced back and responded well throughout the season. Tied in the loss column for fifth and a couple of games out of third with a number of these teams coming up that are right there with us. So, we’re going to keep plugging away.”
Certainly, there are times when strong reactions are warranted. There should be criticism when the team loses three straight games as they did last week. When they were trending in the wrong direction in late December and into January, criticism was warranted.
However, the issue is that the noise isn’t nearly as loud for other teams. Frankly, after the Thunder and Spurs, the next tier of teams in the Western Conference — which includes the Lakers — is remarkably mid. Houston, Minnesota, Denver and LA are separated by 1.5 games.
While the Lakers have gone 5-5 in the last 10 games, Denver has gone 4-6. The Warriors team the Lakers blew out in Golden State on Saturday? That starting lineup without Draymond Green beat the Nuggets one week ago. Houston had a monumental collapse in the fourth quarter against the Knicks a week ago, to say nothing of Kevin Durant’s burner accounts and how that mess has just quietly gone away.
Could you imagine if it came out that LeBron was creating accounts and trashing teammates to random people on Twitter? It wouldn’t have just gone away inside of two weeks!
Frustratingly, things are just louder when it comes to the Lakers. Again, that’s not new and that won’t change. But it’s nice to see the head coach calling that out as well.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Trae Young appears set to make his first appearance for the Washington Wizards on Thursday.
Young made an Instagram post of himself working out in Wizards gear and ended it with “3/5.” The Wizards are set to host Utah that night.
Asked later Monday about the plan before Washington hosted Houston, coach Brian Keefe said the point guard was trending toward being ready to play against the Jazz. He said Young would likely be restricted to about 17 to 20 minutes, mostly in the first half.
Young played in 10 games for the Atlanta Hawks this season, averaging 19.3 points and 8.9 assists, before being sidelined by knee and quadriceps injuries. The Wizards acquired him for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert in January.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 02: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers handles the ball defended by Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter at Crypto.com Arena on December 02, 2023 in Los Angeles, 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors will host another Southern California rival as they take on the Clippers on Monday night. The game will be played at 7:00 PM PT in San Francisco and can be watched on Peacock and NBC Sports Bay Area.
Golden State is coming off a 129–101 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night. Unfortunately, the game was never close as a healthy Lakers squad jumped out to a first-quarter lead and never looked back against the undermanned Warriors. Luka Dončić, who celebrated his 27th birthday on Saturday, led all scorers with 26 points, followed by LeBron James with 22 points.
As for the Warriors, they needed a strong shooting night to stay competitive, but it never came as the team shot just 12-of-44 from three-point range (27.3%). Gui Santos led Golden State with 14 points, while Moses Moody came in second with 12 points, including four made threes.
The Warriors look to bounce back against a Clippers team playing on the second night of a back-to-back. On Sunday, Los Angeles snapped a three-game losing streak with a 137–117 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points in 29 minutes, marking his 37th straight game with at least 20 points, and he continues to lead the Clippers with an average of 28 points per game this season.
Golden State, meanwhile, remains without its top scorer in Stephen Curry. The team announced on Sunday that Curry will miss at least 10 more days with a lingering knee injury.
The Warriors are 4–6 in the 10 games they have played without Curry. Although expectations have understandably been lowered in his absence, along with Jimmy Butler’s season-ending ACL injury, head coach Steve Kerr has praised the effort and coachability shown by the rest of the roster during this challenging stretch of the season. And with the Clippers trailing just 2.5 games behind them for the eighth seed in the West, Golden State will once again be counting on their depth and effort to give them a chance without their stars.
What has been your biggest challenge this season in terms of trying to keep this ship on course?
STEVE KERR: "I'm enjoying the season. Our guys have competed and really done a good job of finding ways to win… these guys are great… It's a fun group to coach." pic.twitter.com/CxfxDPQ4RN
San Antonio Spurs' Luke Kornet reacts to a call during a game Sunday against the New York Knicks. (Seth Wenig / Associated Press)
At least one NBA player objects to the Atlanta Hawks paying tribute to the famous Magic City adult entertainment club during their game Monday against the Orlando Magic.
San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet posted a statement on Medium asking the Hawks to call off the promotion "as to ensure that the NBA remains a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment for everyone involved."
"The NBA should desire to protect and esteem women, many of whom work diligently every day to make this the best basketball league in the world," Kornet wrote. "We should promote an atmosphere that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers, and partners that we know and love.
"Allowing this night to go forward without protest would reflect poorly on us as an NBA community, specifically in being complicit in the potential objectification and mistreatment of women in our society. Regardless of how a woman finds her way into the adult entertainment industry, many in this space experience abuse, harassment, and violence to which they should never be subjected."
The Hawks announced its "Magic City Monday" promotion last week. Hawks principal owner Jami Gertz was a producer on the docuseries "Magic City: An American Fantasy" that aired last year on Starz. Atlanta-based artist T.I. will perform at halftime. A collaborative hoodie will be available for purchase, and some of the club's well-known wings will be served — including the lemon-pepper wings named after former Hawks player Lou Williams.
In 2020, while he was playing for the Clippers during the pandemic, Williams made headlines for visiting Magic City during an excused absence for personal reasons to return home to Atlanta. The NBA was finishing its season in a so-called bubble in Orlando meant to protect against COVID-19. Williams has said he was at the club just to pick up food.
In expressing his objection to the promotion, Kornet stressed that NBA teams should be held "to a higher standard of what they find worthy of promoting."
"I and others throughout the league were surprised by and object to the Hawks’ decision," Kornet wrote. "We desire to provide an environment where fans of all ages can safely come and enjoy the game of basketball and where we can celebrate the history and culture of communities in good conscience. The celebration of a strip club is not conduct aligned with that vision."
MIAMI, FL - FEBRUARY 28: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets during the game against the Miami Heat on February 28, 2026 at Kaseya Center in Miami, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid lost a second straight La Liga match when a stunning volley from Martín Satriano gave Getafe a shock 1-0 win at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Monday.
The result prevented the capital club from cutting the four-point gap to leader Barcelona.
Getafe had lost all eight of its previous league encounters with Real Madrid and early saves from goalkeeper David Soria kept it from falling behind.
Soria turned over a shot from Arda Güler midway through the first half, not long after frustrating Vinicius Junior when he was through on goal.
Madrid had more of the ball but lacked punch up front and it paid a price for its profligacy six minutes before halftime when Getafe took the lead.
A hopeful cross from the right was headed clear but it fell to the feet of Satriano, who volleyed into the roof of the net from 20 meters out.
It was the second goal in three games for the Uruguayan, who joined on loan from Lyon during the last transfer window.
Madrid continued to dominate possession in the second half and Antonio Rüdiger and substitute Rodrygo were among those who came close to grabbing an equalizer.
But it could not find a way past Getafe’s stuffy rearguard and an in-form Soria.
Madrid’s task became even harder when Franco Mastantuono was sent off for dissent in stoppage time and although the numbers were evened up in the last minute when Getafe’s Adrian Liso was also shown a red card it came too late to make any impact.
Getafe held on to secure a historic win, its first at the Santiago Bernabeu since 2008, and a vital three points in its bid to stay in La Liga.
“Coming here is always very difficult," Getafe defender Kiko Femenía told broadcaster DAZN. "We have to congratulate the team, we did a superb job at the back and we scored when had the chance. We might even have scored more on the counterattack.”
They jumped three league places into 11th and were eight points above the relegation zone.
The person spoke under the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly on the matter.
The Instagram post includes a reel of Young going through drills in Wizards gear and includes B-roll footage of Washington D.C. The caption of the post simply reads: “March 5th."
This comes as the Wizards remain well outside of the play-in picture, at 16-43 and 13th in the Eastern Conference. Washington has lost eight consecutive games while dealing with several key injuries.
Young, 27, is a four-time All-Star who is averaging 19.3 points, 8.9 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game this season. Though he remains one of the top distributors in the NBA — Young led the NBA in assists last season with 11.6 per game — his defense has been a significant issue.
Washington is navigating a delicate balance for its first-round draft pick. The selection is Top-8 protected, which means that it will convey to the New York Knicks, if it falls to No. 9 or below. This means that any victories over the final quarter of the season could compromise Washington's draft positioning; the Wizards currently have the NBA’s fourth-lowest winning percentage (.271).
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 1: The Los Angeles Lakers celebrate before the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 1, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers’ pregame routine has gone viral across social media this season. Led by LeBron James, the Lakers wrap up their warm-up with a bit of synchronisation before walking off the floor.
Is it a bit silly? Sure. But basketball is a game and not everything has to be serious. It’s a fun tradition the team does every game, home or away.
However, for reasons unclear, LeBron wasn’t around pregame on Sunday and, unfortunately, disaster struck. Rui Hachimura attempted to step in and lead things, but failed miserably at just throwing the ball up in the air in the right direction.
Rui Hachimura tried to replace LeBron in the Lakers pre-game ritual but botched it lmao
Fortunately, this did not set a tone for the night as the Lakers comfortably took care of business, blowing out the Kings for their second win in as many days. Those good vibes from the win meant the elephant in the room could be addressed pregame.
“I literally said no to everybody, but they all pointed at me,” Rui said. “I don’t know…You know what it is, I think because I was doing it before [when] [LeBron] was coming back from the injury. So, they all pointed at me, but I wasn’t really feeling doing it. I was like ‘No, no, no.’ The time was going on, so I was like, ‘Alright, come on.’ I did it. I got booed.”
Luka, the de facto leader of the team, could only react in one way to Rui’s performance: disgust.
“I don’t know why,” Luka said postgame. “Never again. Never again. It was terrible.”
In a contract year, you’d expect a better showing from Rui. Will this hurt him in contract negotiations? Do the Lakers want to bring back someone who struggles to throw the ball up in the air?
If the Lakers want to move into the post-LeBron era seamlessly, then someone is going to need to go through a crash course over the final weeks of the season to learn how to properly toss the ball into the air. Otherwise, that could be another skillset they will look to acquire this offseason.
