MACCLESFIELD, England (AP) — Brentford will face West Ham in the fifth round of the FA Cup after dispatching Macclesfield 1-0 on Monday, an own goal ending the fairy tale run of the sixth-tier giantkiller.
The Macclesfield part-timers knocked out cup holder Crystal Palace in the last round and were hailed for pulling off one of the greatest shocks in the competition’s long history.
But they could not match Brentford, which progressed thanks to a 70th minute own goal from Sam Heathcote.
The big defender dived to cut out a cross from Aaron Hickey but instead diverted the ball past his own keeper.
It was a cruel denouement for Macclesfield, which held the Premier League club throughout an even first half before tiring in the second 45 minutes.
“I couldn’t be any prouder," Macclesfield coach John Rooney told TNT Sports. “The lads were outstanding and the shape was really good. We train two times a week and we’ve put that performance on against a Premier League side."
The fifth-round tie will take place at West Ham’s Olympic Stadium on the weekend of March 7-8.
Brentford has never passed the quarterfinals of the competition.
“Credit to Macclesfield," Brentford captain Nathan Collins said. “They made it extremely hard for us. They put up a great fight.”
DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 19: The sneakers worn by Jaden Ivey #23 of the Detroit Pistons during the game against the Boston Celtics on January 19, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Feb 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Team World center Victor Wembanyama (1) of the San Antonio Spurs reacts in game three during the 75th NBA All Star Game at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The All-Star Game isn’t what it used to be. It used to be a star-studded, spectacular event that put the biggest basketball talents in the world on their own stage. The talent level on one court challenged even the NBA and Olympic Finals, and the players played like they had something to prove. However, in recent years, the performance level has dropped, and it has become more of a formality to simply show up and get the All-Star nod on the resume since it can lead to extra pay, be it bonuses built into contracts or a checkmark towards a supermax contract extension.
The play has been uninspiring with zero defensive effort — whether it’s out of exhaustion, laziness, fear of injury, or some of each — and the other events of the weekend have become repetitive, mundane, and not as interesting thanks in no small part to fewer stars participating. To make matters even worse for this year, All-Star Weekend was sparsely attended for multiple possible reasons: high prices, afternoon times (thanks to the Winter Olympics), the novelty of the event having worn off, etc.
With Friday’s Rising Stars Challenge typically the least popular event regardless, and the Saturday events losing luster (especially the Slam Dunk Contest), it was up to what had become the least reliable event in recent years to save the day: the All-Star Game itself. With multiple years of tinkering with the teams and format to find something that appealed — from captains drafting teams, to a round robin tournament, and finally a USA vs. The World format — the NBA needed SOMEONE to step up and save the day. Someone did, and he is none than Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama.
Already known for being fiercely competitive, he wasn’t about take any opportunity lying down. After talking the talk before the game, saying he would play hard and hoped others would follow suit, he walked the walk, and sure enough everyone else followed. He flew out of the gates, opening round 1 with a dunk, three and two blocks, and as eventual ASG MVP Anthony Edwards put it, he set the tone by playing hard, and they had no choice but to respond.
All-Star Game MVP Anthony Edwards repeats his earlier praise of Victor Wembanyama.
"I ain't gonna lie, Wemby set the tone. He came out playing hard, and we had to follow that." pic.twitter.com/yvDelkWCqL
Wemby’s Team World may have gone 0-2 and missed the finale, giving him no shot at the MVP award, but if there was an MVP of the entire weekend to be handed out, he would win it.
As a result, plenty of praise is being heaped his way, essentially calling him the savior of the All-Star Game and weekend as a whole.
If Wemby truly has set a new tone that will followed going forward, the next step will be saving the entire weekend, and making The Dunk Contest the top Saturday event again will play a big role. That’s something he and Edwards could help do, and even though they may be rivals on the court, they’re two of the most competitive players in the league and the faces of this new generation of players. Hopefully together, they can set a new tone going forward.
MIAMI, FL - APRIL 28: Haywood Highsmith #24 of the Miami Heat dribbles the ball during the game against Cleveland Cavaliers during round 1 game 4 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2025 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Eric Espada/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Haywood Highsmith
Small and Power Forward, 6’5”, 220 pounds, 29 years old, 5 years of NBA experience
The Phoenix Suns got off to the right start of the year before the All-Star Break transpired. Even if they went 1-2 in their final three games, this team has proved every doubter wrong with their success. This team currently sits 32-23, over its win total from the beginning of the year.
The Suns (32-22) hit the over on their preseason win total before the All-Star break 😳 pic.twitter.com/czwVQgwD0i
With them exceeding expectations and setting themselves up for a postseason run, the team decided to add some more reinforcements, and a big one on the buyout market with Haywood Highsmith.
Free agent forward Haywood Highsmith has agreed to a multiyear deal with the Phoenix Suns, his agent Jerry Dianis tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/UbkwghKYRL
From watching Highsmith in the past and seeing where this team is going, this is a great move from the front office. They take a low-value swing, and if it pays off, they will make this roster even richer than before.
2024-25 Recap
Highsmith has had a bit of a wild career, but fortunately, last season dealt with a tamer one than the previous. This was due to his success with the Heat during their 2023 Finals run. He was then able to secure a 2-year deal worth a little more than $10 million.
In the 2024 season, he had a healthy year, playing in 74 of the Heat’s 82 games and starting 42. For the Heat, he played a consistent role as a solid wing defender who can take big assignments, is scrappy, plays for loose balls, and is a strong defender. Not only will he do that defensively, but he could also stretch and shoot the three-ball at a decent clip. In a year when he had his most minutes (24.6), Highsmith averaged career highs in almost every category. He had a stat line of 6.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.5 blocks while shooting 46/38/72 from the field.
Unfortunately, Highsmith suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee during training camp in the offseason. He then underwent surgery and was said to miss 8-10 weeks. With this happening in August, pretty late in the offseason, the Heat knew he would not be back and needed some additions. That is when, a week later, after getting this injury, Highsmith was traded to the Brooklyn Nets for essentially a $5.6 trade exception, giving the Heat flexibility to add to their team, knowing Highsmith would not be available to them.
The Miami Heat have traded Haywood Highsmith and a 2032 second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for a protected 2026 second-round pick, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/ilO1dBStWw
The Brooklyn Nets then waived him on February 5th, as the Nets could not trade him and did not want him. With him prepping a comeback, many playoff teams would be interested in the dynamic wing.
Contract Details
With Highsmith being waived by the Nets, he became a free agent and could have signed any deal with the Suns. He ended up signing a minimum two-year contract with the team, with the second year non-guaranteed.
This is a huge win for both Highsmith and the Suns. For Highsmith, he gets to go to a team that is in the mix of things and could actually carve out a role in this rotation. If he does and succeeds, well, the Suns are going to keep him, and he will have a home for two seasons after fighting to get to the league since 2018. For the Suns, they take a flyer on a wing who can help them now, and if he does carve out a role in the rotation, well, they got a scam contract for next year. One that is needed, given how financially stuck this team already is, and with some paydays coming in for some of their own free agents.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Highsmith’s versatility is his greatest strength, as he can help on both sides of the court and fits the scheme that coach Ott has laid out perfectly. Since he is another 3&D wing, he will fit in like a glove, just like the others on this roster. He can play solid perimeter defense, something this team has lacked a bit as some of its role players have gotten older. He brings high effort and energy, just like many others on this roster, which has been another staple. Then on the offensive end, he can strike down from three-point range, which has been a staple of the success this year on that side of the ball. With him shooting 38% and close to 40% the year previous, you can see exactly why he can fit into this offense.
My only weakness for Highsmith is that he cannot really create his own shot. The only benefit of the second one is that it is not going to be his role. I’d expect Highsmith to serve as a buffer when Grayson Allen is out and they need more size on the wing. He can slot in and be that catch-and-shoot three-point scorer, while playing some hard-nosed defense on the other end.
One Key Factor
Even if Highsmith has had a solid couple of years recently, we cannot expect this signing to put the Suns over the moon. In NBA history, it is notoriously known that buyout guys do not make much of a difference unless you are Kevin Love joining the Heat. Now, Highsmith was only in this predicament because he tore his meniscus, but that makes you wonder: Will he be back to that form? As we all know, with injuries, especially serious ones like Highsmith’s, sometimes a player is never the same. If that were to be the case for Highsmith, it would not only be upsetting for him but also for the Suns fans.
I know personally, when I saw this notification, I was shocked. I did not expect Highsmith to come to Phoenix, and he is the best player this team could have added. So, for his sake, I want to see him healthy and able to contribute.
Prediction Time
I am excited to see Highsmith suit up for Phoenix, even if he does not have a solid field role in this rotation. For someone who can give some good energy on the defensive end, he should see some playing time just for his effort. Once he can get comfortable offensively and find his spots, that is when the threes will start falling as well. Even if he is at the end of the rotation and only used in situational situations, he will be needed for the size on the wing in the playoffs to help match up against other stars.
Stat Prediction: 20 Games Played, 5.6 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, on 45/40/75
Final Thoughts
I am excited to see what Haywood Highsmith can do for this team. After watching him take on the Boston Celtics in the 2023 playoffs, he gave me nightmares, and I hope he can recreate those same memories for other fanbases around the league now that he is in the Valley.
Jaylen Brown, left, with Jalen Duren, center, and Kawhi Leonard, during the NBA All-Star Game at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
NBA star Jaylen Brown had a public spat with the Beverly Hills Police Department Saturday night after police shut down a brand event he was hosting.
Brown, who signed a $285-million contract with the Celtics in 2023, was in Los Angeles for the National Basketball Assn.'s All-Star festivities.
He told ESPN that the event was hosted at Oakley founder Jim Jannard's house. Brown is sponsored by Oakley.
The event took place in the Trousdale section of Beverly Hills and was shut down about 7 p.m. In a video posted on Brown's Instagram account, the NBA star could be seen arguing with a BHPD officer who was shutting the party down.
"The owner didn't say we needed a permit," Brown told the officer in the video. Brown claimed the event was not a party, but rather a panel on culture.
"300k down the drain," Brown wrote in a post on X after the incident, tagging the Beverly Hills Police Department.
"An event permit had been applied for and denied by the City due to previous violations associated with events at the address," BHPD said in a statement.
"Despite the fact that the permit was denied, organizers still chose to proceed with inviting hundreds of guests knowing that it was not allowed to occur," the statement continued.
Brown plays for the Boston Celtics, a historic rival of the Los Angeles Lakers, but added that he was surprised at his treatment by the city of Beverly Hills.
"I feel like we're being targeted right now," he said in a video posted to Instagram.
And this time, it’s for something that has nothing to do with The King.
Following the abysmal showing from the contestants at the Slam Dunk Contest during NBA All-Star Saturday night, which was won by Heat forward Keshad Johnson, the ESPN personality let loose on James during his Monday morning segment on First Take.
Feb 14, 2026; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson (16) dunks over rapper E-40 in the slam dunk contest during the 2026 NBA All Star Saturday Night at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
When asked about the contest, Smith didn’t hesitate to talk about how unengaged he was.
“I didn’t think about the contest,” he said. “I want to applaud Keshad Johnson for winning. Pat Riley standing up and applauding him… but we all know it was terrible because there were no star power. The reality is that we are going to bring it home to where the GOATS can get it.”
Smith then took a turn and blamed James for how far the contest has fallen in recent years, despite James never once competing.
“I’m going to blame LeBron James, Smith spouted. “Now I’ve sat here for months and I’ve applauded his greatness and all the things he had done and he has meant to the NBA, but I’ve said it and I’m going to be very consistent… the person who really is the provocateur to ruin the slam dunk contest is him.”
Stephen A. Smith at SiriusXM on Radio Row at Super Bowl LX on February 06, 2026 in San Francisco. Getty Images for SiriusXM
It’s clear that Smith has no actual evidence as to why James is to blame and this is simply one person’s opinion, but blaming James because he never competed is an atrocious take.
“He was a superstar who put on a dunk contest every night in the layup line, particularly when he knew there was momentum swelling for him to participate, and he never did. He even teased that he was going to participate one year.”
After having done so much for growing the game of basketball and being one of the top two players to ever suit up, it’s not James’ responsibility to save the dunk contest.
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Steph Curry isn’t shying away from the Dillon Brooks comparisons tied to his new animated film “GOAT.”
In fact, he’s fully embracing it.
While discussing the movie — in which Curry voices Lenny Williamson, a giraffe “roarball” player — the Warriors star laughed when the conversation turned to the film’s rival character, Mane Attraction, and whether the on-court antagonist drew inspiration from Brooks.
“See? People are taking from the movie what they’re supposed to take,” Curry said. “I love it.”
“GOAT” marks Curry’s animated film debut as both a voice actor and producer. The movie follows teenage goat Will Harris, voiced by Caleb McLaughlin, as he pursues greatness in roarball, a fictional basketball-like sport.
While the Mane Attraction comparison was made jokingly, Brooks’ history with Golden State adds context to the theory.
The outspoken forward has been at the center of multiple heated moments against the Warriors, most notably during the 2022 Western Conference semifinals when he was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul and ejected after striking Gary Payton II on a fast-break layup attempt. Payton fractured his elbow on the play, and Brooks was suspended the following game as the Memphis Grizzlies went on to lose the series in six.
And in last season’s opening-round NBA playoff series between the Warriors and Houston Rockets, Curry and Brooks got into it during Game 4.
More recently, Brooks — now with the Phoenix Suns — was called for a Flagrant 1 foul in December 2025 after striking Curry in the chest during the final minute of a one-point Warriors loss.
Curry, though, appears to be taking the villain comparisons in stride.
And if audiences see a familiar rivalry reflected in roarball form, he seems more than happy to lean into the humor.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 22: Alperen Sengun #28 and Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets talk during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Arwen Clemans/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Thanks to another deal with the Thunder, one you can spend plenty of time arguing over on this very blog, the Sixers are now in control of the Houston Rockets’ first-round pick in this upcoming draft. So, every week we’ll be checking in on the Rockets to see how they’re doing and where the Sixers’ pick might fall as a result.
That’s far from set in stone, as the Rockets are just a half game up over the Los Angeles Lakers and only two games up in the loss column over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the West. In terms of league-wide standings for draft order, the Cleveland Cavaliers are right in that bunch as well with a 34-21 record.
With how bunched up the middle of the pack is, there could be a ton of movement between now and the end of the regular season and a Houston slump to help the Sixers out is not impossible.
Going 6-4 in their last 10 games, the general vibes around the Rockets seemed a bit off after they’ve come down to earth from a scorching start. The vibes there may now be in utter chaos thanks to another potential Kevin Durant burner account saga.
The Sixers won’t be counting ping pong balls in the lottery like last year. Their process to acquire this Rockets pick may come back to bite them, but at the same time, they might have picked the perfect team for their fans to hate-watch for the rest of the regular season.
The Obamas took over the NBA All-Star Game over the weekend.
Former President Barack Obama, a known basketball fan, and first lady Michelle Obama were met with a burst of cheers from the crowd at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California on Sunday, Feb. 15.
NBA legend Julius Erving sat next to them on the court. People gushed over their appearance, and videos of the duo went viral on social media.
Here are photos of the Obamas' date night at the NBA All-Star game.
After the 126-113 road win at the home of the Golden State Warriors last week, I spent most of the two hour public transit ride home flipping back and forth between these two views of the standings:
The best thing about this successful season is that there are no more instances of Warriors-loving friends sending me smack-talk pregame or postgame. This was the type of game that previous Spurs squads may have just accepted their fate and taken the deflating loss. However, San Antonio never seemed too far out of it this time — despite the sizable deficits — and was able to pull even with and away from the Warriors.
A Warriors fan behind me kept asking the Spurs fan to my left why he kept recording everything on his phone, and the young man turned around and simply said “These guys don’t make it out our way very much.” <conversation finished>
One of the benefits over the last decade-plus of living in the Bay Area is being able to see San Antonio visit Golden State and Sacramento at least twice a season for most years. Here are some of the highlight plays that I captured after the very sluggish start (there was a group of people that had more alcohol to drink during the game than I had consumed water that entire day, so the angles of the videos got increasingly higher and higher to minimize invasive scalp appearances):
2nd Quarter Hustle Plays
Carter Bryant seems to have found his way into the Bruce Bowen corners, like Keldon has, in order to find some offense:
This Fox to Wemby lob that was volleyballed in makes me think of how hard it was in previous seasons for the guards to feed the big man these types of ‘rewards’ for his great defense:
It fun win to watch in a place where the Spurs don’t always get them, so hopefully they can repeat it when they visit again on April 1 — and possibly even a few weeks later if a thing or two changes in those standings.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Ava Heiden had a career-high 27 points and 11 rebounds, Taylor Stremlow added a career-high 17 points, and No. 13 Iowa beat Nebraska 80-67 on Monday to sweep the season series.
Iowa (20-5, 11-3 Big Ten) secured its 10th straight 20-win season.
Heiden helped Iowa build a 45-27 lead by halftime after scoring 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting.
Nebraska went on a 10-1 run early in the third quarter to get within 52-41, but the Cornhuskers did not get any closer the rest of the way.
Iowa led by as many as 27 points, 76-49, with 7:54 left in the fourth.
Chazadi Wright chipped in with 14 points and seven assists, and Journey Houston added 10 points off the bench for Iowa. Heiden was 12 of 15 from the field, and Stremlow made her first six shots.
Britt Prince scored 13 points for Nebraska (16-10, 5-10), which has lost five straight games. Eliza Maupin added 11 points and Amiah Hargrove had 10. Prince had her consecutive free-throw streak end at 56 straight makes.
Nebraska has lost 13 of the last 15 meetings with Iowa.
Up next
Iowa: Stays on the road to play at Purdue on Thursday.
Nebraska: Travels to Oregon to face the Ducks on Thursday.
Following the NBA’s All-Star Game at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Jokic passed around his Team World jersey to his squadmates for autographs, but when he got to Wembanyama, he demanded more than a mere John Hancock.
JOKER: “I want the alien”
WEMBY: “Say less.”
Nikola Jokić asks Victor Wembanyama to draw an alien after he signs his NBA All-Star jersey! pic.twitter.com/rTMKA7K3rV
In video the NBA shared after Team World bowed out of the entertaining round-robin tournament, Jokic could be seen requesting a unique drawing from the Spurs center in addition to his signature.
“Where’s the alien?” Jokic said bluntly. “I want the alien.”
Following Nikola Jokic’s demand for an alien drawing, Victor Wembanyama drew an extraterrestrial caricature on the Nuggets star’s jersey. X/@NBA
Barack Obama was nearly flattened by Nikola Jokic during Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game, but a quick-thinking Devin Booker helped save the day for the former president.
The funny scene all unfolded during USA Stars’ matchup with Team World at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, when Jokic was chasing down a loose ball.
The Nuggets big man — who’s 6 feet 11, 284 pounds — went full speed to try to get possession, but when Booker noticed a possible collision with Obama could result from the hustle play, he stepped in.
Devin Booker helped save Barack Obama by shoving Nikola Jokic during a play in Sunday’s All-Star Game. Getty Images
The Suns point guard threw a shoulder into Jokic’s midsection, knocking him off course and rescuing Obama from a potentially dire situation.
Obama appeared grateful for Booker’s actions — he stood up and gave the 29-year-old a hug. Even Michelle Obama appeared to reach out for a thank you handshake.
Barack Obama gave Devin Booker a thank you hug following his heads-up play. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Booker laughed off the whole scene, and then returned to play.
The Phoenix ball handler and his USA Stars team eventually went on to beat Team World, and then they won the entire All-Star Game.
Booker scored 12 total points in the exhibition’s round-robin tournament, and afterward, USA Stars coach J.B. Bickerstaff said he “was huge for us.”
Barack & Michelle Obama 
