SYDNEY (AP) — South Korea edged host Australia for top spot in Group A at the Women’s Asian Cup on goal difference after a 3-3 draw Sunday in front of a tournament-record crowd at Sydney’s Stadium Australia.
Philippines maintained a chance of advancing to the quarterfinals with a 2-0 win over Iran in another Group A match that kicked off simultaneously in wet conditions at Gold Coast Stadium.
The Iranian women’s team exited the tournament on three losses and faces a return to a country embroiled in war. Organizers have not announced details for Iran's departure from Australia.
The top two teams in each of the three groups advance to the quarterfinals along with the two best third-place teams, meaning Philippines will have to sweat on other results after placing third in Group A.
South Korea will play the third-place team from either Group B or Group C in the quarterfinals, while Australia will have to face either defending champion China or three-time champion North Korea.
Australia's late goal not quite enough
Australia twice rallied from a goal down in front of a crowd of 60,279, with Chelsea forward Sam Kerr playing a key role and with Alanna Kennedy scoring twice, including the late equalizer in stoppage time. Both teams finished unbeaten in the group, but 2022 finalist South Korea finished with a goal difference one better than Australia's.
The crowd surpassed the attendance of 44,379 at Australia's opening game aganist Philippines in Perth on March 1, which was a Women's Asian Cup record.
Kerr and Caitlin Foord both missed scoring chances for Australia before South Korea opened with a counter-attacking goal in the 13th minute after Jeon Yu-gyeong outpaced the defense and set up Mun Eun-ju for the score.
Kenney made it 1-1 in the 32nd after lead-in work from Foord and Mary Fowler and Kerr gave Australia a 2-1 lead going into halftime with Kerr scoring from close range just before the break.
Kim Shin-ji and Kang Chae-rim came on as substitutes in the second half and had a quick impact, giving South Korea a 3-2 lead. Kim Shin-ji's penalty kick made it 2-2 in the 53rd and she delivered the cross for Kang's goal four minutes later.
Kennedy's goal eight minutes into stoppage time ensured Australia finished unbeaten, albeit not entirely happy with the result.
“We all know we needed to win tonight, so it felt like a loss to be fair,” Kerr said.
South Korea coach Shin Sang-Woo felt like his team should have won.
“I’d like to say thank you to all of my players because they did not give up and gave 100% to the end. I slightly feel sorry that we couldn’t end this game with three points, but I’m still delighted with the first goal to be winner of this group.”
Philippines still in contention
Philippines scored a goal in each half in a tough encounter against the Iranian women's team to clinch third place and maintain a chance of progressing.
Sara Didar had an early chance for Iran but her strike in the sixth minute was comfortably saved by goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel.
At the other end, 38-year-old Iran goalkeeper Raha Yazdani kept it level with three saves in four minutes but Philippines opened the scoring in the 29th when Sara Eggesvik had a goal awarded after a VAR review.
Yazdani made three more crucial saves late in the first half to keep it to 1-0 at the break and it took until the 82nd minute before substitute Chandler McDaniel fired in the goal to give Philippines a two-goal buffer.
State of play
In Group B, defending champion China and three-time winner North Korea are into the quarterfinals after their second consecutive wins. On Monday, North Korea plays China in a match that will decide top spot, while Bangladesh takes on Uzbekistan.
In Group C, two-time champion Japan leads with six points following an 11-0 win over India in Perth on Saturday. Japan will next face Vietnam, which lost 1-0 to Taiwan on Saturday after opening with a 2-1 win over India.
Kristaps Porzingis was healthy enough to accompany the Warriors on their current road trip, and he took another step in the right direction, returning to the court Saturday night against the Thunder.
Before Saturday, the center had only played 17 of a possible 533 minutes since the Warriors acquired him at the NBA trade deadline. Despite his recent progress, his outlook remains a mystery.
That is the unfortunate reality of living with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS, doctors who specialize in the autonomic disease told The California Post.
Kristaps Porzingis, who was acquired by the Warriors in a trade deadline deal with the Hawks, had only played 17 of a possible 533 minutes for Golden State before Saturday’s game against the Thunder. Getty Images
“It is a difficult, difficult thing to deal with,” said Dr. Tom Clennell, a physical therapist who works with POTS patients at UC San Francisco. That said, “I do think he should be able to contribute and be a productive player. … I don’t think it’s unrealistic to think they can get it under control.”
About 3 million Americans have been diagnosed with POTS, Dr. Alba Azola said. Cases in elite-level athletes such as Porzingis are rarer. But the Latvian said last fall that he got an answer to his unexplained absences toward the end of his time with the Celtics: He told The Athletic that doctors diagnosed him with POTS, which deregulates the nervous system.
“It hit me, and it hit me like a truck,” Porzingis said. “The breathing wasn’t good. I did everything I could potentially to feel as good as I could, but my engine wasn’t running the way I wanted. …
“You know how people say, ‘Oh, I’m so fatigued.’ I’ve never used those words. I don’t even like to speak in those terms, but I really was like that. At that time, I could just lay on the couch and be a house cat.”
The prone position — the natural state for many a house cat — is often the only comfortable one for a patient suffering from, as Clennell put it, “a POTS crisis.”
Without the nervous system regulating things we take for granted — heart rate, blood pressure, etc. — “the heart is not able to adjust to the demands of the body,” explained Azola, who treats patients dealing with POTS and chronic fatigue at Johns Hopkins.
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Typically the body would send a signal upon standing to tighten the blood vessels in the legs and allow the heart to redistribute that blood to other areas, Azola said. The misfiring nervous system in POTS patients prevents that from happening, causing blood to pool in the legs and feet. Lacking blood flow, the brain sends a “fight or flight” signal,” Azola said.
“That, in turn, triggers this response of tachycardia (heart palpitations), sweating, nausea, lightheadedness — all of those symptoms come from that.”
The simple act of standing rapidly increases the heart rate by more than 30 beats per minute, according to Azola. “And it doesn’t normalize. It stays up, just from standing.”
All considered, it might sound like a feat for Porzingis to be playing at all. He has been effective when on the court, too, looking like the Warriors’ missing puzzle piece in his first game with Golden State and averaging 18.7 points over 60 games the past two seasons.
Unlike a broken bone or a torn ligament, POTS “is not an injury you can truly see,” said Clennell, the physical therapist. “He can come out and he can play and look really good, but the issue is … small changes to what’s going on physiologically … can create a kind of crisis.”
Hydration and electrolyte levels have to be closely monitored. Getting sick is a common precursor — 31% of POTS patients suffer from long COVID, Azola said — but environmental changes routine for most NBA players, such as the dry air on flights, can cause complications.
Porzingis’ conditioning as one of the league’s scariest stretch 5s should help him manage the disease, but his 7-foot-3 frame could also predispose him to more frequent disruptions.
“I think it can be hard for fans to grasp,” said Dr. Nirav Pandya, an orthopedic surgeon at UC San Francisco who has treated several patients with POTS. “Because it’s like, ‘Well, you should be able to push through something. You’re sick; you should be able to push through it.’
“But it becomes so debilitating for people that even doing basic day-to-day things can become really hard.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr had to walk back a claim that POTS wasn’t actually a problem with Kristaps Porzingis. AP
Warriors coach Steve Kerr described Porzingis’ condition as “mysterious,” and he’s not entirely wrong. The doctors all said POTS was not part of their curriculum in medical school.
Kerr had to walk back a claim that POTS wasn’t actually the problem with Porzingis. He told a local radio station that he consulted Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh, a former Golden State front office employee, and “got confirmation it was not POTS but it was something else that was really difficult to figure out.”
It’s possible Kerr wasn’t misled, according to Pandya. There isn’t a definitive blood test.
“We kind of diagnose it based on your symptoms,” he said. “That’s where I can understand how there can be some confusion around what the actual diagnosis is. …
“At the end of the day, you have a player that can’t play and you have something that’s not related to a torn meniscus or quad,” for example, Pandya said.
When general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. acquired Porzingis at the trade deadline from the Hawks for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield, he said he wouldn’t have done so if the team wasn’t confident that it could keep him on the court — a goal that has, for one reason or another, evaded the medical staffs at all of his five previous stops.
The doctors and trainers in the Warriors’ building are widely considered to be among the best in the NBA, but Porzingis presents a novel challenge.
Azola treated one high-level athlete at the Johns Hopkins clinic in Baltimore — an Olympic swimmer — whose career she said was “absolutely” impacted by POTS. “It’s something that requires medical management to continue to compete at that level.”
Porzingis is running out of time to prove the Warriors’ return for Kuminga is more than a $31 million expiring contract. When healthy, he gives them the ideal package of size and spacing.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 07: Ryan Rollins #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball against John Konchar #55 of the Utah Jazz during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum on March 07, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It wasn’t pretty, but the Bucks snapped out of their four-game skid last night at Fiserv with a victory over the Jazz. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
I get that Sims is playing well lately, but I don’t think Turner has been bad enough to necessitate being benched so often in clutch time. Not by a mile. I did like how they tried to get him involved inside—more of that, please.
Though Rollins had pretty loose handles and couldn’t find his shot, another sneaky near-triple double is nothing to sneeze at. Some pretty nice finishes through traffic and larger defenders.
This was the best I’ve seen Dieng as a playmaker for both himself and others—an even sneakier near-triple double. Nine assists ties a career high. Had another high-release catch-and-shoot three near the top of the arc. Stayed with his man pretty much every time.
Starting again as the Bucks opted for more size. The shooting line is nice, but it hides a rough first half. He biffed two early layups and struggled guarding Keyonte George. Came up big late with an and-one that extended the lead to six. One of his two late threes might have been a dagger, though the second was when the game was well in hand.
Grade: B
AJ Green
21 minutes, 7 points, 4 fouls, 2/8 3P, +0
The first sub after being removed from the starting lineup, Green is shooting just 30% from deep since the All-Star break. Three for his last 17 including this one. Didn’t make his first shot until 2:30 in the third but did get another shortly thereafter. Abused on defense routinely, but finally stopped fouling when bigger guys switched onto him.
Grade: D+
Bobby Portis
18 minutes, 12 points, 5/8 FG, -6
Doc remarked postgame how Portis was too uninvolved towards the end of the first quarter, when the offense first dried up. That was corrected to begin the fourth quarter, when he scored half his points. Also had a flashy spin move on Elijah Harkless during that stint.
Grade: B+
Jericho Sims
30 minutes, 6 points, 5 rebounds, 3/4 FG, -2
Probably would have had a nicer scoring line had a few lobs been better placed. Generally good defensively and on the glass. Doc says he closes because he defends and he’s switchable—also hailing his passing—but I wouldn’t say Turner doesn’t defend and isn’t switchable…
One of several Bucks whose jumper was MIA, though I was impressed by Nance on the other end. He moves his feet so well, and for all people talk about his “lack” of athleticism, you’d never notice it defensively. Doc called him a connector postgame, noting that the ball moved much better in the second unit when Nance was on the floor.
Grade: B-
Doc Rivers
Credit where it’s due for upgauging the starting lineup, benching Green, sliding Dieng to guard, and reinserting Kuz. He mentioned after the Atlanta loss that they just needed more size (Giannis echoed this postgame too) and while I don’t know if this group will be as effective with Orlando or other teams, it’s worth a try. As this was another game the Bucks struggled out of half, I asked him why he thought that was:
“I don’t know why. We’ve talked about it; I have one of my coaches going out now and watching them [while shooting during halftime] to make sure they’re moving. Because this has happened a lot to us. We come out stagnant, slow… I will say this: it wasn’t because we were not playing right. We just didn’t come out and play well… in Chicago—I’ll give you an example—we just didn’t play right. We came out and didn’t play the right way. And so that’s why you could live with it a little bit more tonight. Maybe tht’s why it wasn’t pronounced as much, because once we got out of it, we got some stops. We gotta start the second half thinking defense, though. That’s the culprit, in my opinion. When we get stops, we get out running. It just seems like we ease into the third quarter, and we have to stop doing that.”
Kuzma mentioned that their sense of urgency is gone after they get momentum in the first half. We asked Giannis too, and he didn’t mention defense as much. He took it on himself:
“Today… you could see it. We come down, miss a shot, put our head down. We go the other way, they make a shot, we go to the free throw line, we wait, and we look down… everybody’s in their head… And that’s gotta change, and it starts for me. I gotta be more aggressive with it. I feel like the more aggressive I am, the more I’m [getting] downhill, the more I play with a good pace, it translates to everybody. Everybody follows, right? So sometimes, especially in the third quarter, I’m just warming up. I’m waiting for everybody else to kind of take that step, and maybe that’s a mistake for me. As a leader, I got to be able to come and set the tone, be that engine for our team. And hopefully in the next third quarters moving forward, I can do a better job with that.“
Probably more of a team effort than Giannis is letting on. But whatever that coach is doing at halftime, I guess it’s not working.
Grade: B
Limited Minutes: Cam Thomas, Gary Trent Jr.
DNP-CD: Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Gary Harris, Andre Jackson Jr.
Inactive: Alex Antetokounmpo, Kevin Porter Jr., Taurean Prince, Cormac Ryan
Bonus Bucks Bits
Oscar Tshiebwe got the assignment on Giannis out of the chute. You’ll recall his first career points from the Ballgate game back in 2023.
Milwaukee went without a point guard often: at first, Green came in for Rollins, and Giannis predictably ran the offense, and it predictably looked good. They ran this one-guard soon after with Trent, less successfully.
It took Utah nearly seven minutes to make their first two-point field goal.
The Bucks missed six free throws in the first, and only two were from Giannis. Sims and surprisingly Thomas also missed back-to-back FTs in this game.
Trent saw first-half minutes for the first time since February 6 against Indiana. Every appearance he’s had since has been in garbage time.
Thomas saw six first-half minutes, made a shot, but did not appear in the second half.
Utah shot only 30.6% from the field in the first half. Yuck. In general, this game had a college feel with the poor shooting on both sides, especially in the first half.
Milwaukee got outrebounded again (53-48) on both ends (13-7 offensive) and lost the shot battle by five. Most of that damage came in the second half.
At least the Jazz had only one more free throw. But unlike the Bucks, who missed 12 of them, they only missed four (86.2%).
33 assists is tied for third most this season. Sounded like ball movement and advance passes were a big focus of Friday’s practice.
Rollins eclipsed 1,000 points for the first time in his career.
Marquette took down UConn earlier in the day at Fiserv, and apparently, that meant Huskie alum Andre Jackson Jr. lost some money to Marquette legend Rivers.
Up Next
The Bucks are immediately back in action tonight vs. the Orlando Magic. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. CDT on FanDuel Sports Wisconsin.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JANUARY 31: Head coach Quin Snyder of the Atlanta Hawks talks with Jalen Johnson #1 of the Atlanta Hawks against the Indiana Pacers during the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on January 31, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Bobby Goddin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Your Atlanta Hawks have now won six straight games.
I’d like to open this thread to ask you: what has been the biggest key to this streak?
It could be a player, a coaching decision, the schedule, whatever you’d like. What say you?
Sunday’s NBA doubleheader on Peacock features a pair of premier matchups. The Charlotte Hornets take on the Phoenix Suns in the late window at 10:00 PM ET, and the action gets started with a Southwest Division showdown between the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs at 8:00 PM ET. Live coverage begins at 7:30 PM ET on NBC and Peacock.
See below for additional information on how to watch both and follow all of the NBA action on NBCSN and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.
Since losing to the Milwaukee Bucks on a Giannis Antetokounmpo buzzer-beater on January 2, the Hornets' season has taken a dramatic upward turn. Charlotte was 11-23 after that loss, but the team has won 21 of its last 30 games to bring its record back to .500 and land a spot in the Play-In Tournament.
Charlotte's tremendous turnaround has featured multiple six-game win streaks, the most recent of which was snapped with a 128-120 home loss to the Miami Heat on Friday.
Three starters finished with 20+ points in that one, led by sensational rookie KonKnueppel, who provided 27 points while knocking down six three-pointers. BrandonMiller contributed 22 points, 13 rebounds and five assists, while LaMeloBall added 21 points and five triples. MoussaDiabate led all players with 14 rebounds.
Charlotte is currently the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference, but the team is just three games back of the Philadelphia 76ers for the No. 6 seed. With less than 20 games left in the season, the Hornets will look to climb out of the Play-In or at the very least, hold off the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls, who are 4.5 and 5.5 games back, respectively.
Phoenix Suns Storylines
With a 118-116 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, the Suns improved to 36-27. Like the Hornets, the Suns will need to stack wins down the stretch to avoid the Play-In Tournament and earn a spot in the postseason.
All five of Phoenix's starters scored in double figures in Friday's win, led by DevinBooker, who offered a game-high 32 points with five three-pointers. JalenGreen scored 25 points with three triples, and CollinGillespie nailed four of 11 attempts from beyond the arc to finish with 12 points.
Injuries have plagued Phoenix all season, but the dynamic duo of Booker and Green are trending in the right direction at just the right time. Unfortunately for the Suns, DillonBrooks will be out 4-6 weeks, and MarkWilliams will be sidelined for 2-3 weeks, missing an opportunity to face his former team.
Sunday's showdown will be the first of two head-to-head matchups between the Hornets and Suns this season. The teams split last season's series, as the home team won each of the two games.
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
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NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule
Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.
HONG KONG (AP) — Jon Rahm won the LIV Golf Hong Kong event on Sunday for his first individual title since 2024.
Rahm shot 6 under in the final round and finished 23 under for the tournament, three shots ahead of runner-up Thomas Detry. The Spaniard hadn't won a title since LIV Golf Chicago in 2024.
“I’ve been very ecstatic for wins in the past. This one just feels like a big weight off my shoulders,” he said.
Back-to-back defending LIV Golf champion Rahm was tied with Detry and Harold Varner III on 17 under going into the final round at Hong Kong Golf Club at Fanling. Thomas Pieters finished third on 19 under.
“I played really good all day," Rahm said. "It was incredible. But I just tried to stay very patient and committed to each shot, knowing that I was doing everything right and things were going to happen.”
The Knicks (41*-23) play the Lakers (38-25) today at crypto.com Arena in a nationally televised contest. The Knicks have won seven of their last ten games, while the Lakers are six and four over the same span. This game marks their second and final matchup of the season. When they last met on February 1, The Knicks won, 112-100. OG Anunoby led the good guys with 25 points. Luka Dončić scored 30 for Los Angeles.
The Lakers profile as a slightly above-average offensive team with a shaky defense and middling results. They score 116 points per game (12th) but give up 115.3 (15th), and are ranked 21st in defensive rating. Their offense ranks ninth (117.7), but the imbalance gives them a dead-middle net rating, and one look at their roster explains why their pace is considered a trot.
Luka Dončić is having his usual elite season. He’s averaging a league-leading 32.5 points along with 7.8 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game while shooting 48% from the field and 36% from yard. At shooting guard, milky smooth Austin Reaves has enjoyed a breakout campaign, posting 23.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game on 50/37 shooting splits.
LeBron James remains productive despite taking a reduced role as he ages out of the NBA; this season he’s averaging 21.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and seven assists per game, but shooting 31% from downtown. Alongside James in the frontcourt, Rui Hachimura has averaged 11.6 points and 3.3 rebounds, while Deandre Ayton contributes 12.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. More on him in sec.
The 17th pick in 2024, Dalton Knecht had a whirlwind rookie season with the Lakers that included an awkward trade-and-rescind to Charlotte. In the current campaign, his shooting has fallen off and he’s mostly fallen out of the rotation. Despite his setbacks, Coach JJ Redick has faith that the sophomore will turn around his career as a grocery bagger.
At least Knecht hasn’t been called soft, lazy, or unserious—Deandre Ayton has that covered. The former first draft pick has played 54 games this season and grabbed 10 or more rebounds in 22 of them. To call himself DominAyton is a bit of a stretch. (For comparison, the 6’5” Josh Hart collects 7.5 boards per game) The seven-footer is dealing with knee soreness but has been cleared to play today.
In their last game, L.A. started Marcus Smart (9.5 PPTS, 2.8 AST), Luka, Reaves, Jaxson Hayes (7 PTS, 4 RBS), and Hachimura. LeBron missed the game due to an elbow injury that also has him listed as a game-time decision today. For the Knicks, only Miles McBride is on the injury report.
UPDATE:
Knicks are listing Landry Shamet as questionable for today’s game at LAL due to a neck sprain.
ESPN predicts a 63% chance for the Knicks to win. That’s slightly higher than we’d go, but cool beans. Any game against Luka can be a challenge for our Knickerbockers. In 13 games against New York, the Slovenian has averaged 30.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 8.8 assists, and although he’s won just six of them, he’s delivered some wicked highlights.
To win today, the Knicks must protect the paint and limit penetration from Dončić and James, while pushing the tempo against these slowfoots and keying up the defense. Los Angeles ranks 29th in rebounding, so there’s no excuse for the Knicks not to win the glass and generate second looks. It’s an early road game on an unfriendly court in front of a large audience, but we like their chances. Knicks by eight.
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks (41*-23) at Los Angeles Lakers (38-25) Date: Sunday, March 8, 2026 Time: 3:30 PM ET Place: crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA TV: ABC Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
* Should be one more, but NBA Cup wins dissolve in your hand.
It's an NBA doubleheader on NBC and Peacock on Sunday night! The action tips off at 8:00 PM ET as the San Antonio Spurs host the Houston Rockets. The late game features a cross-conference showdown between the surging Charlotte Hornets and the shorthanded Phoenix Suns at 10:00 PM ET. Live coverage begins at 7:30 PM ET on NBC and Peacock.
See below for additional information on how to watch both and follow all of the NBA action on NBCSN and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.
After a tough, overtime loss to the Golden State Warriors on Thursday, the Houston Rockets bounced back with a 106-99 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday. Houston used a 29-point fourth quarter to rally past the Blazers and earn a third win in five games.
AlperenSengun led the way for Houston with a game-high 28 points, and AmenThompson contributed 26 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. KevinDurant added 26 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while ReedSheppard chipped in 17 points and three triples. Houston's bench offered only 10 points, as the starters did the heavy lifting. This has been the norm all season, as the Rockets' 28.3 bench points per game are the fewest in the Association.
At 39-23, the Rockets are the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference, but the competition is fierce. The Minnesota Timberwolves are just half a game ahead for the No. 3 seed, and only four games separate the Rockets from the No. 7 seed and a trip to the Play-In Tournament. Wins are crucial at this point in the season, and a win over the No. 2 seed Spurs could generate momentum for Houston down the final stretch.
San Antonio Spurs Storylines
The San Antonio Spurs went into halftime of Friday's matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers down 66-46. Mitch Johnson apparently knew what to say to get his team motivated, as the Spurs used a 70-46 second half to sneak past the Clippers with a 116-112 victory.
Victor Wembanyama led the charge for San Antonio with 27 points and 10 rebounds, and JulianChampagnie turned in 20 points and nine boards. De'Aaron Fox provided 19 points and nine assists, and reigning Rookie of the Year StephonCastle offered six points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
The Spurs haven't had a winning record since the 2018-19 season, when they went 48-34, and they haven't won 50+ games since the 2016-17 season when they finished 61-21. At 46-17 with 19 games to go, the Spurs have already secured a winning record, and they've got a realistic chance to crack 60 wins.
San Antonio is just 2.5 games back of the Oklahoma City Thunder for the top seed in the Western Conference, and catching the reigning champs - something that seemed unthinkable two months ago - is certainly within reach.
Sunday's matchup will be the fourth and final meeting of the Rockets and Spurs this season. San Antonio leads the season series 2-1.
How to watch Houston Rockets vs San Antonio Spurs:
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
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Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You’ll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.
NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule
Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.
There’s a playoff atmosphere at Rocket Arena between two Eastern Conference heavyweights when the Boston Celtics visit the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Today’s clash will be played at a snail's pace, and my Celtics vs. Cavaliers predictions and NBA picks expect a low-scoring playoff-type contest.
Celtics vs Cavaliers prediction
Celtics vs Cavaliers best bet: Under 224 (-105)
The Boston Celtics rank near the bottom of the NBA in pace and allow about 109 points per game, but they also boast an elite defense, allowing the fewest points per game in the Association.
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers are also a Bottom-5 team in pace and, when they're healthy, like they are today, boast an above-average defense of their own.'
We’re looking at a game with about 198 possessions between two Eastern Conference teams with championship aspirations. Expect a playoff atmosphere and a low-scoring affair at Rocket Arena.
Celtics vs Cavaliers same-game parlay
Jaylen Brown has failed to score at least 26 points in three of his last five, while James Harden will likely become more of a playmaker with Donovan Mitchell expected to return to the Cavs lineup.
The Cavaliers have won seven straight games at Rocket Arena, and Mitchell’s return should give the Cavs the scoring boost they need to sneak past Boston for the first time in three tries.
Celtics vs Cavaliers SGP
Under 224
Jaylen Brown Under 25.5 points
James Harden Under 19.5 points
Cavaliers moneyline
Celtics vs Cavaliers odds
Spread: Celtics +1 | Cavaliers -1
Moneyline: Celtics -105 | Cavaliers -115
Over/Under: Over 224 | Under 224
Celtics vs Cavaliers betting trend to know
The Cavaliers have won 17 of their last 22 games for +11.05 units and a 18% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Cavaliers.
How to watch Celtics vs Cavaliers
Location
Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Date
Sunday, March 8, 2026
Tip-off
1:00 p.m. ET
TV
ABC
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MARCH 05: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates his three-point basket against the Toronto Raptors in the third quarter at Target Center on March 05, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Raptors 115-107. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A few weeks ago the Minnesota Timberwolves were sitting in the six seed, hovering in that uncomfortable place where you’re good enough to believe something bigger might happen, but close enough to the Play-In line that every loss feels like slipping on black ice.
After a strong stretch to finish February and begin March, the Wolves find themselves tied for the three spot. That’s a pretty impressive climb considering how crowded the West has been all season. But before anyone starts planning hypothetical second-round matchups or debating which playoff opponent would be “most favorable,” it’s worth remembering one simple truth about this Western Conference:
Nothing is safe.
Despite their recent strong play, the Wolves didn’t exactly sprint their way into the three spot. February set the table for them beautifully. The schedule was relatively forgiving. There weren’t many heavyweight matchups. It was the kind of stretch where a focused team could have ripped off a monster run and put some real daylight between themselves and teams like the Rockets or Nuggets.
Instead, the Wolves did what the Wolves tend to do. They dropped games they shouldn’t have. They coasted through moments that demanded urgency. They didn’t quite stack the avalanche of wins that the schedule offered them. But to their credit, they largely turned things around, allowing them to gain ground and, for a brief moment, hold sole possession of that coved three seed.
The real question now isn’t how they got there.
It’s whether they can stay there.
Wolves Fans Are Optimistic
We recently asked the Canis Hoopus faithful where they think the Wolves will ultimately finish in the standings, and let’s just say Minnesota fans are feeling pretty good about things.
The overwhelming majority of respondents believe the Wolves will ultimately hold the three seed. A smaller chunk expects them to slip slightly to fourth. A very tiny percentage sees them landing in fifth.
And the sixth seed? The Play-In?
Not a single vote.
Now that’s confidence.
Whether it’s justified or not remains to be seen, but it does reflect something real about this team. The Wolves have earned a certain level of trust over the past two seasons. They’ve built a reputation for getting stronger late in the year, building momentum heading into the postseason, and then delivering when the lights get bright. Two straight Western Conference Finals appearances have a funny way of doing that.
Still, optimism is one thing. The math of the Western Conference standings is another.
What It Will Actually Take
Obtaining the three seed is going to require navigating a closing schedule that looks a lot less friendly than February’s.
The Wolves will face a handful of heavyweight Eastern Conference games against the Detroit Pistons and the Boston Celtics. Those games don’t directly impact the Western Conference race in terms of knocking rivals down a peg, but they still matter. Lose those games and suddenly you’re handing free ground back to the teams chasing you.
But the real swing games lie closer to home.
The Wolves still have a final showdown with the Los Angeles Lakers, the same team they bounced from the first round of the playoffs last season. That game carries some symbolic weight, but more importantly it’s another opportunity to create separation from a Western Conference opponent that would love nothing more than to pull Minnesota back into the standings traffic jam.
The most crucial dates remaining on the calendar are the two games against Houston, which might ultimately determine the entire race for the three seed. If the Wolves drop one of those matchups, they hand the Rockets the tiebreaker, potentially giving Houston a clear path to leapfrog them in the standings. But if Minnesota wins both? Suddenly the Rockets start looking a lot smaller in the rearview mirror.
Those games are essentially four-point swings in the standings. Win them and the Wolves gain ground while Houston loses it. Lose them and the opposite happens.
And hovering in the background, as always, is Denver. The Wolves have already played all four games against the Nuggets this season, and unfortunately for Minnesota the results didn’t go their way. Denver took three of the four meetings, which means they hold the tiebreaker. That matters. In a Western Conference where the standings are packed tighter than rush-hour traffic, those tiebreakers can become incredibly valuable.
The Wolves can’t change the head-to-head results now. That ship has sailed. The only way to keep Denver at bay is the old-fashioned way: Stack wins.
It’s not glamorous. It’s not complicated. But it’s the reality of the situation.
The Road Trip That Could Decide Everything
If there’s one stretch of games that could determine whether Minnesota climbs the next run to the three seed or slides back into the standings chaos, it’s the upcoming road trip.
It’s a brutal one.
First comes that matchup with the Lakers, a team Minnesota has yet to beat. Then the Wolves face two teams that have given them problems at times this season, the Clippers and the Warriors. Both have proven capable of knocking Minnesota off on nights where the Wolves drift or lose focus.
And then, just to keep things interesting, the road trip concludes with the fourth and final matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder. No explanation needed there.
If the Wolves stumble through that four-game gauntlet, they could very easily find themselves sliding back toward the fifth or sixth seed. But if they hold serve and walk away with three wins out of four? Suddenly the standings start looking much more stable.
That’s the difference between surviving March and truly owning it.
Can the Wolves Grab the Three Seed?
The potential is there. The roster is deep. Anthony Edwards is playing at a superstar level. The defense still has Gobert anchoring the paint. The supporting cast has proven capable of stepping up when needed.
But potential only matters if it translates into wins.
The Western Conference isn’t going to hand Minnesota anything. The Rockets are staring them down. The Nuggets are lurking. The Lakers are a team with the potential to go on a random heater at any moment.
.And if that playoff race alone isn’t enough excitement for you, well… there’s always another way to add a little adrenaline to the ride. You can always head over to FanDuel Sportsbook, where fans can wager on Wolves games.
Because if this Western Conference race has taught us anything, it’s this: The next few weeks are going to be must-watch basketball.
HOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 26: Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the first half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 26, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Lakers v Phoenix Suns
And with the trade for Mark Williams that was rescinded, Hayes received the most significant playing time for the best team he had been on up to that point of his career.
He delivered, for the most part.
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes might see more court time if starter Deandre Ayton is sidelined due to injury. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Which is why, along with his improvements from the end of last season through three-fourths of this season, the Lakers have confidence in him if they need to rely on him more in light of starting center Deandre Ayton being day to day with left knee soreness.
“Jaxson’s had a really good season,” coach JJ Redick said. “And I know [this because] I played with him his first two years — he’s a better basketball player. He’s gotten better. He’s making touch shots around the rim. He’s making great pocket decisions.
“He’s a good basketball player. He consistently injects energy into the group when he runs the floor, blocks a shot or he gets those dunks.”
Ayton’s status for Sunday’s home game against the Knicks wasn’t known as of Saturday afternoon.
Lakers center Deandre Ayton is day to day due to left knee soreness. Getty Images
But if Hayes, 25, needs to play more against the Knicks, like he did against the Nuggets or Pacers, the Lakers know he’ll be up to the task.
“We have the utmost confidence in Jaxson,” LeBron James said.
Hayes had 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting and five rebounds in 27 minutes against the Nuggets. He finished with nine points and four rebounds in 25 minutes against the Pacers.
When asked to play more minutes as a starter, he’s stepped up, with averages of 11.4 points (81.6% shooting), 4.5 rebounds and two assists in the eight games he’s started, with the Lakers going 6-2 in those games.
“That’s my job,” Hayes said. “That’s what they pay me to do is stay ready. Even if I wasn’t in the rotation, they pay me to stay ready. That’s all NBA players’ job is just stay ready and get better every day. I’m gonna just do whatever the team needs me to do.”
Ayton, the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft, is considered a more talented player than Hayes. And there are several areas — such as 1-on-1 scoring, midrange shooting and defensive rebounding — that Ayton is better at than Hayes.
But there are some areas in which Hayes excels, making him more equipped to help the Lakers against a Knicks team that’s won 16 of its last 21 games.
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes has meshed well with star Luka Dončić this season. David Gonzales-Imagn Images
Hayes has been just as good, if not better, as an interior defender over the course of the season.
Hard rolls from an athletic center who can provide vertical spacing opens up lob opportunities, which Doncic is one of the best at delivering.
“Him and Luka have a really good connection right now,” Luke Kennard said. “They’re playing really well and playing off each other.”
Factor in Hayes’ improved playmaking out of the short roll and the Knicks will have to ensure they don’t give Hayes too much of a runway while also trying to contain Dončić.
“I love playing with Jaxson,” Dončić said. “This year, his improvement is unbelievable. He understands, I think this year even more, how to play with me. We’ve been working on that. So playing with him is very special for me.”
Hayes arguably had a career year last season.
And he’s following it up with another one.
“Maturity, the way he approaches the game day to day,” Austin Reaves said in the ways Hayes has grown the most. “He does what he needs to do in his off time around the gym, gets his work in, takes care of his body and then just the preparation that he puts into it, you can tell he’s grown in those aspects, and that’s just made him a better player.
“We can probably all agree that this is some of the best basketball he’s played in his career. I’m happy for him. We need him to continue to do that. He’s a big part of what we’re going to do.”
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PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 6: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket as Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans plays defense during the game on March 6, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Going into the week, there was some uncertainty revolving around the Phoenix Suns’ starting wings as Dillon Brooks remains out. With Devin Booker returning from injury, Jalen Green or Ryan Dunn was destined for the bench. Jordan Ott and his coaching staff decided with keeping Green in the starting lineup and bringing Dunn of the bench, but fans think Green should be starting games with the second unit.
Considering how inconsistent Green has been on offense and his lack of size, I’m not surprised that nearly two-thirds of fans want him to come off the bench. He’s had two of his strongest games this season this week, with his 20-point, 44% shooting game against the Kings, and 25-point, 47% shooting performance playing the Pelicans on Friday, but he had another inefficient game Thursday, when the got upset against the Bulls, and he shot 25% from the field on 20 shots.
The fifth-year guard has had a hard time adjusting to the Suns’ offense as he’s been working back from his hamstring injury. His inefficient three-point shooting (Green is shooting a career-low 27% of his threes) has hindered the team’s deep shooting. When Green is playing, the Suns are shooting 34.8% from three, when he’s not, they’re shooting 36.3% from behind the arc.
Yes, the Suns have still been winning games of late. While they dropped a game they were more than 10 point favorites in to the Chicago Bulls, Phoenix has won three of four, and are still firmly in the race to finish with a top-six seed.
While it may not be a longterm solution, Green coming off the bench could give him more of an opportunity to utilize his playmaking abilities. He’d assuredly be spending less time playing alongside Devin Booker, Phoenix’s lead playmaker, so Green would have more opportunity to do what he’s best at, alongside Grayson Allen, who is making the most threes per game of his career by more than half a triple per game. Green clearly needs more room to operate as he continues to work his way back from his long absence.
Additionally, with Mark Williams out for the next few weeks, adding Green to the bench would not be disrupting any bench chemistry, as Oso Ighodaro has moved to the team’s starting center with Williams sidelined. The second unit is already dealing with change.
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 26: Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on October 26, 2025 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Sam Hodde/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Before a single possession takes place on the court, the Toronto Raptors are already expected to beat the Dallas Mavericks at home on Sunday.
At least that’s what the Raptors fan base believes, especially after being held hostage by exceeded expectations and a timeline that’s regrettably ahead of schedule.
Simply put – the NBA’s lone Canadian franchise isn’t very good against competitive teams.
Fine then.
But that means the Raptors can’t drop games against the bottom dwellers of the league. Their fragile lead over the play-in team is in danger of slipping away. With the Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons and the Denver Nuggets awaiting them later this month, the Raptors desperately need to take care of business against lower-ranked teams.
That begins with defending home court against the Mavericks, even if Cooper Flagg overcomes his questionable tag before the 6:00 p.m. EST tip-off on Sportsnet.
The last time the Raptors dropped a game to a team below .500 was in a 121-117 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Jan. 16. Former fun guy Kawhi Leonard sat the game out with a right ankle sprain, but James Harden bullied the Raptors defence and finished with 31 points and 10 assists. When adjusting the bar to a slightly lower level, the Raptors haven’t lost to an opponent currently in a playoff or play-in spot since falling 138-117 to the Washington Wizards on Dec. 26.
Since their last meaningful victory over a playoff staple – a 103-101 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder back on Jan. 25 – the Raptors have struggled mightily in the second half. Toronto is 3-5 in the third and fourth quarters against playoff teams during this stretch. Often, it’s a disastrous third quarter that leads to a comfortable final frame for the opponent, or it’s a Raptors meltdown in back-end of the fourth quarter.
For most supporters who have followed the team this season, it’s a script that’s repetitive in the worst possible way. It feels like the Raptors are destined to lose in the opening round of the post-season. It’s like Toronto is on a collision course that can be seen before the car leaves the driveway.
But despite the doom and gloom, there’s still basketball to be played, and the Raptors aren’t necessarily firing on all cylinders (yet).
Centre Jakob Poeltl’s minutes are back to where they should be. The Austrian big man is averaging 27.4 minutes in his last five games. However, there’s still ample room for improvement. Poeltl is often good for a double-double in roughly half the games he appears in. Still, he only has one double-double in seven games since returning from injury on Feb. 11. With Collin Murray-Boyles already ruled out due to a thumb sprain, it’s imperative that Poeltl quickly works his way back to full strength. The rookie performed admirably in the veteran’s presence, and Poeltl returning the favour would go a long way in sustaining the Raptors’ lifeline.
With Brandon Ingram listed as questionable, it’s important for Scottie Barnes to summon the aggression he showcased earlier in the 2025-26 campaign. Barnes’ February numbers (and his two-game sample size in March) are down across the board in comparison to his season averages. His three-point shooting is the most glaring downward spiral, but that’s been a concern since early January. The bigger red flag is the rebounding totals. Since the All-Star break, Barnes has averaged 3.3 rebounds against playoff teams. That’s a drastic dip from the eight boards he averages on the season. Understandably, it’s also affecting his assist numbers since he’s initiating fewer breakouts.
Historically, Barnes is the type of player that goes as his team does. The best version of Barnes have arguably come during his rookie season, when he was surrounded by championship-level auxiliary players, and earlier this year when the Raptors were one of the hottest teams in the NBA. But when the Raptors struggle, Barnes does as well. If he can eventually tap into a state where he can consistently will Toronto to victories, it’ll help the team stay afloat in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
GOLD COAST, Australia (AP) — Iran’s soccer team lost its last group match at the Women’s Asian Cup on Sunday and had to contemplate returning home to a country embroiled in war.
Their silence during the anthem before an opening loss to South Korea last Monday was viewed by some as an act of resistance and others as a show of mourning. The team hasn't clarified. But the players sang the anthem and saluted during the national anthem ahead of their 4-0 loss to Australia last Thursday and a 2-0 loss to Philippines on Sunday.
Amid concerns for player welfare following reported criticism in the Iranian media, the Australian Iranian Council wrote to Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke urging the government to protect the squad members while they’re in Australia.
It launched an online petition, which had more than 50,000 electronic signatures before kick-off Sunday, urging Australian authorities to “ensure that no member of Iran’s women’s national football team is to depart Australia while credible fears for their safety remain” and also to provide independent legal advice, support and interpreters.
Iran team management and players have mostly declined to comment on the situation at home during more than a week preparing for and playing games on Australia’s Gold Coast, although Iran forward Sara Didar choked back tears in a news conference last Wednesday as she shared their concerns for their families, friends and all Iranians during the conflict.
The online petition asked local authorities to ensure any player seeking protection “can do so safely, privately, and without interference” and to “make clear that Australia will uphold its … humanitarian protection obligations in relation to any player at risk of persecution or serious harm.
“Where credible evidence exists that visiting athletes may face persecution, imprisonment, coercion, or worse upon return, silence is not a neutral position," it said. “The current wartime environment has intensified repression, fear, and the risks faced by anyone publicly perceived by the Islamic Republic as disloyal.”
Foreign Minister Penny Wong declined to comment on whether the Australian government had made contact with individuals but told domestic media Australia stood in solidarity with the Iranian women's team.
“It has been really moving for Australians to see them in Australia, and (Australia's women's team) swapping jerseys with them was a very evocative moment,” Wong told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. on Sunday. “We know this regime has brutally oppressed many Iranian women.”
Iranian Australian activist Tina Kordrostami, a local government member in Sydney’s Ryde Council, told The Australian newspaper the Iranian players “need an opportunity, a safe space, a chance to actually speak up about what their needs are and what their requirements are.”
“We can’t give them that space without the government helping us,” she said.
The Iranian women's team needed to beat Philippines on Sunday to maintain any chance of advancing to the Asian Cup quarterfinals, which would have extended its stay in Australia for more than another week, but conceded goals to Sara Eggesvik in the 29th minute and Chandler McDaniel in the 82nd in a tough loss in wet conditions at Gold Coast Stadium.
The San Antonio Spurs announced plans for their Barbie game day, presented by Trü Frü, taking place on Sunday, March 8 as the Spurs host the Houston Rockets, tipping off at 7 p.m. This theme night is part of the Spurs month-long celebration of Women’s History Month with the organization’s 2026 theme being “Give and Gain,” and will feature a $40,000 donation and in-game “Leaders and Legacies” spotlight, special jersey ticket package and more.
The Spurs Barbie Game Day jersey and fanny pack are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Prio to the game, the Spurs will host a special meet and greet with Eileen Collins, the first woman to pilot and command a space shuttle. The entirety of the game will feature an all-female cast with Ashley and Valerie leading the night in-arena, while music throughout the game will be curated by both DJ Sweetbeatz and DJ Catwalk.
In addition, the Spurs are distributing $40,000 in grants to five female operated local organizations whose leadership and service have made a lasting impact across the San Antonio community.
Fans can text HER to 210-444-5940 to learn more about the Barbie Game Day festivities and secure their exclusive jersey ticket package.
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