KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Heloisa Carrera scored 16 points, including the go-ahead jumper late in the fourth quarter, and Arizona State held off Arizona 54-51 in a first-round matchup at the Big 12 Tournament on Wednesday.
The Sun Devils, 2-0 against their in-state rival in the regular season and six games better in the Big 12 standings, never led by more than four points in the second half.
The 15th-seeded Wildcats took their last lead at 51-50 when Blessing Adebanjo nailed a jumper with 2:51 remaining. The No. 10-seed Sun Devils (23-9) scored on their next two possessions when first Carrera then Last-Tear Poa knocked down mid-range jumpers, giving Arizona State its 54-51 lead. Neither team scored again.
Daniah Trammell and Sumayah Sugapong each scored 12 points and Noelani Cornfield added 10 for the Wildcats (12-18).
Arizona State led 18-17 after one quarter and 29-28 at halftime.
There were three lead changes and three ties in the first five-plus minutes of the third quarter. Neither team scored in the next 2 1/2 minutes, then Arizona State went ahead 44-42 at the end of the quarter.
Up next
Arizona State faces No. 7-seed Iowa State on Thursday, with the winner moving on to play second-seeded West Virginia in the quarterfinals.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ally Sentnor scored in the 55th minute and the United States beat Canada 1-0 on Wednesday in the SheBelieves Cup tournament, the Americans' seventh straight shutout.
Sentnor scored her seventh international goal off a corner from Rose Lavelle, gathering the ball on a bounce before punching it past two defenders and Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan.
The U.S. hasn't allowed a goal since a 3-1 win over Portugal last October, a stretch of 714 minutes.
“Honestly, our goal was just to win the game,” Sentnor said. “I think going into a rivalry game, we knew what was going to happen. It was going to be on the line and Canada gave us an incredible performance, and we really had to work for this win.”
The United States sat atop the SheBelieves table with two wins, ahead of Canada and Colombia with one each. The Colombians defeated Argentina 1-0 in the early match Wednesday at ScottsMiracle-Gro Stadium.
The United States is 55-4-9 against Canada since their first meeting in 1986. The U.S. won the last meeting 3-0 in July.
The Canadians' last win in the series came at the Tokyo Olympics. Jessie Fleming converted a penalty in a 1-0 semifinal victory. Canada went on to win the gold medal.
U.S. coach Emma Hayes included Trinity Rodman in the starting lineup despite Rodman taking a hit in the back late in Sunday's 2-0 SheBelieves victory over Argentina in Nashville. Rodman struggled with a nagging back injury last year.
Canada, which defeated Colombia 4-1 in the tournament opener, was without captain Fleming because of an illness.
The game was scoreless after the first half despite the United States dominating possession by nearly 70%.
Sentnor, who plays professionally for the Kansas City Current, broke the stalemate with her third goal of the year. The 22-year-old was named U.S. Soccer's young player of the year in 2024.
Canada coach Casey Stoney felt her team showed “huge progress” from the last time the Canadians faced the United States, but was disappointed about conceding on a set piece.
“I think we were competitive throughout the game. I think we kept our distances better, we had good discipline,” Stoney said. “I think we had moments in their box where we can have a little bit more composure."
Colombia will play the United States on Saturday in the tournament finale in Harrison, New Jersey. Canada plays Argentina in the early game.
It is the 11th annual SheBelieves Cup hosted by the United States. Canada was making its fourth appearance in the tournament.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Wizards announced Wednesday that forward Kyshawn George partially tore the UCL in his left elbow Monday against Houston.
The team says the 22-year-old George will be re-evaluated in three weeks.
George, a first-round draft pick in 2024, has started all 48 games he has appeared in this season. He's averaging 14.8 points and shooting 38% from 3-point range.
The Wizards host Utah on Thursday night in what is expected to be newly acquired point guard Trae Young's debut with Washington after he was traded from Atlanta in January.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 14: JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the second half of a game against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on December 14, 2025 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 Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
All season long, the Lakers have proven that if they are leading entering the fourth quarter, they will finish the game strong and win.
This year, Los Angeles is 27-1 when in front entering the final period, by far the best winning percentage in the Western Conference.
But what about when they are trailing as the game enters the last 12 minutes? In that category, the Lakers are a woeful 9-22.
So, the Lakers finding a way to come back and beat the Pelicans on Tuesday was a nice change of pace. Sure, the deficit was just one point as the fourth began, but they won with some great team defense and it was the type of victory that could galvanize LA, helping them to go on a run.
After the game, Lakers head coach JJ Redick talked about what made this win unique.
“Frankly, that’s not a win we’ve had since probably November, where we’re down late,” Redick said. “A lot of those early wins when we started 15-4, we had a number of double-digit deficits in the second half and just stuck with it and kept playing. It was a good win for our group to be able to do that again.”
The Lakers had a couple of these kinds of wins early on that met Redick’s criteria.
Constantly winning in the NBA is hard. And to win when you aren’t playing your best and trailing late in a game is even harder. As Luka Dončić said postgame, the Lakers played an ugly game against New Orleans, but good teams find ways to win those contests as well.
If the Lakers keep stacking wins and finding ways to win when losing seems like the most likely outcome, then they should begin to rise in the Western Conference standings.
And if they can accomplish that, then this season still has the potential to be something special.
For now, it’s just good to see that the Lakers can win in multiple ways and that they still have the opportunity to play their best basketball during this final stretch of the season.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Sam Alexis scored 17 of his 23 points in the first half to help Indiana jump out early and cruise past Minnesota 77-47 on Wednesday night that ended the Hoosiers' four-game losing streak.
Lamar Wilkerson added 16 points for Indiana (18-12, 9-10 Big Ten). Tucker DeVries chipped in with 13 points and Nick Dorn scored 11. The three combined for 10 of the Hoosiers' 24 3-point attempts.
Indiana held a double-digit lead the entire second half. The Hoosiers shot 57% (31 of 54) overall. Alexis and DeVries each grabbed nine of their 37 rebounds.
Cade Tyson scored 21 points and Isaac Asuma added 13 for Minnesota (14-16, 7-12). The Golden Gophers shot 26% (6 of 23) in the second half and 32% overall.
Indiana built a double-digit lead early before Minnesota pulled within three points midway through the first half. The Hoosiers ended the half on a 10-2 surge that included Wilkerson's 100th 3-pointer of the season, followed by a DeVries 3-pointer and dunk for a 43-28 lead at the break.
With 11:23 to play, Indiana began a 14-0 run that lasted about five minutes to turn it into a rout. Dorn and DeVries each hit a 3 during the stretch.
Up next
Minnesota hosts Northwestern in a regular-season finale on Saturday.
Indiana ends its regular season at Ohio State on Saturday.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 3: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs handles the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 3, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Spurs are back to their winning ways after a stumble in New York. They demolished the shorthanded 76ers in a 40-point blowout that saw eight players finish with 10 points or more.
Among those 8 players, Victor Wembanyama was the closest to not reaching double digits. The big man only took five shots in 25 minutes, yet the Spurs outscored Philadelphia by 41 points with him on the floor, the highest numbers on the team. As J.R. Wilco and I previously discussed, Wemby is dominating games without having to score, which is a fantastic development.
A blowout win is not the best data point, but the win against the Pistons also showed this dynamic. Wembanyama had five points in six shots in the first quarter. He took 10 shots the rest of the way and racked up his points from the free throw line and by scoring late against a scrambling Detroit defense. Wembanyama was a monster on the boards, finishing with 17. He blocked six shots and walled off the paint, and he dished out four assists. He had a usage in the mid-20s, and he passed the ball on a two thirds of his total touches. He didn’t force things or hold on to the ball.
Let’s compare it with the loss to the Knicks. Wembanyama led the team in scoring and field goal attempts and had seven turnovers. He took seven three-pointers and made just one. His usage was in the low 30s while no one else got more than the very low 20s, and he passed the ball in about half of his touches. The final stat line is not that dissimilar. Against Detroit, Wemby finished with 21 points on 16 shots and four assists to three turnovers. Against New York, he finished with 25 points on 17 shots and four assists to seven turnovers. The main difference is how much more in the flow of the offense he played in the Pistons game and some recent others.
Now, Wembanyama being the clear first option on offense is not a bad thing in itself. There are also different ways he’s guarded, some of which only work if he’s passive. By no means is the suggestion here that The Alien needs to be a defense-only role player instead of using his impressive offensive tools. The main point is that Wemby, despite occasionally falling into old habits, seems to be doing a better job of reading what the defense is giving him and recognizing when others might have a better matchup. He only took five shots against the 76ers because he only had to take five shots for the team to win in a blowout.
You can see the new approach in action when you watch him. The Spurs don’t have the most sophisticated offensive playbook, so they stick to a few plays to get Wemby a good look, usually involving an off-ball screen or having him as a screener. When those plays are executed well and the defender doesn’t stick closely to Victor, he can act as a finisher. Then you have the isolations at the mid-post or the elbow, and the inverted pick-and-rolls that turn him into a shot creator. Finally, there are the threes that Wemby has the green light to attempt whenever he wants.
There are games when he simply doesn’t get good looks off those plays, mostly because the defense sells out to stop him, but he tries to make something happen anyway, to normally bad results.
The drives that end in turnovers, the fadeaway twos out of balance, the rushed threes, the pleas for a call as he falls won’t ever be fully eliminated from his game, because he’ll never be perfect. But they can be limited. When Wemby has a center sticking on him, he can simply screen or space the floor and let the guards drive into an open paint. When he has a big wing on him to match his agility or is single-covered, he can hunt switches that will lead to doubles or rotations and just move the ball.
The offense can and should revolve around him most of the time he’s on the court, but he doesn’t have to make tough buckets and get crazy assists to be useful on that end. We’ve seen it, and he’s realizing it.
What makes Wembanyama special is that he can be Rudy Gobert 2.0 on defense but also bring the scoring, spacing, and connective passing of offensively gifted bigs. He can drop 40 if the defense doesn’t have the personnel to stop him or when his shot is going in. But some days, he can just dominate so thoroughly defensively that playing a less central role on offense is the best way for him to contribute to winning. It may seem counterintuitive, but playing the decoy to give an opportunity to the rest of the Spurs’ offensive weapons, might just be what’s necessary to open things up for him to score more.
The fully realized version of Wemby will likely be unstoppable on offense, but for now, he can be an elite finisher and an opportunistic creator who picks his spots. It’s what he’s done in some of the recent wins, and it bodes well for the upcoming playoff run and the near future, when San Antonio’s already impressive guards progress to the point of needing more touches, just like Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili did back in the day.
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Kaitlyn Duhon scored 14 points, Harissoum Coulibaly added 11 and Khady Leye sank the go-ahead layup with 5.2 left on the clock for No. 15 seed Auburn in a 50-49 win over No. 10 seed Texas A&M in the first round of SEC Tournament on Wednesday night.
Leye finished with 11 points and 15 rebounds for the Tigers (15-16). She committed a blocking foul on the previous possession that sent Janae Kent to the free throw line with 11 seconds to play for Texas A&M. Kent sank both shots to take a 49-48 lead.
Leye slipped through the screen and drove to the basket to put up the shot. The Aggies didn't have enough time to get the shot they wanted and airballed their last attempt. It is the first time the Tigers have beaten the Aggies in the postseason tournament, and it snapped Texas A&M’s five-game winning streak.
The Aggies (14-12) were led in scoring by Ny'Ceara Pryor with 25 points.
Up next
Auburn will play No. 24 Ole Miss in the second round on Thursday. The Rebels are the No. 7 seed in the tournament.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Berry Wallace scored 22 points, Destiny Jackson added 21, and No. 10 seed Illinois beat 15th-seeded Wisconsin 82-70 on Wednesday in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.
Cearah Parchment scored 14 points for Illinois (20-10) and Lety Vasconcelos — the tallest player in program history, listed at 6-foot-7 — scored a career-high 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting
Wisconsin (13-17) has lost 10 in a row, including a 92-60 loss at Illinois on Feb. 11.
Gift Uchenna tied her season high with 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting, Kyrah Daniels scored 17 and Laci Steele 12 for the Badgers. Destiny Howell, who went into the game averaging a team-leading 14.1 points per game, finished with six points on 2-of-12 shooting.
Uchenna scored seven points in a 12-3 run that cut Wisconsin's deficit to a point a little more than four minutes into the third quarter, but the Illini scored 16 — eight by Vasconcelos — of the next 19 to take a 62-48 lead with 41 seconds left until the fourth.
Illinois shot 83% from the free-throw line, where the Illini outscored Wisconsin 24-10.
The Illini have won seven of eight against Wisconsin and lead the series 44-43
Jackson had five assists moved past Jill Estey (154 in 1990-91) into second on the program's single-season assist list with 156. Alexis Smith set the record of 168 in 2012-13.
Up next
Wisconsin: Season complete.
Illinois: Plays seventh-seeded and No. 18 Michigan State in the second round Thursday.
Mar 27, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) dribbles the ball against Dallas Mavericks forward-center Dwight Powell (7) in the third quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images | Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images
The NBA slows for no team, and Dallas continues to struggle with injuries as they get set to continue their extended road trip, this time with a game against the Orlando Magic.
Cooper Flagg and Marvin Bagley have been rules out, while Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, and Brandon Williams are all game-time decisions. It’s bad enough being without Flagg and Bagley, who has shown promise in the early returns of his Maverick tenure, but that’s a lot of scoring production from three guys who will be up in the air until game time. Get ready to learn AJ Johnson, Mavs fans.
What’s old is new
Dallas started this season looking like a team stuck in the mud, scoring the fewest points per game in the league through October, managing just 107.8. They’d gotten that number up to 114.2 at the start of February, which, while not setting the league on fire, wasn’t dead last.
However, in the eight games Flagg (and others) has been out, the Dallas offense is back to its old ways. They’re putting up 108.9 per game, 25th in the league over that span; 25th in the league. It hasn’t helped that even the guys who have been healthy are experiencing a slump. Max Christie is shooting the three ball at below .300 after starting the season making nearly half his shots from deep. Missing so many other players who would open up good looks for him has obviously played a role, but even his good looks have ended up as bad misses lately.
If the Mavs really are going to be without Flagg et al, hopefully Christie, or someone else who may or may not be named John Poulakidas, can get it going from three. It might not be enough to get a win, but it’s always fun to watch a Dallas player on a heater.
Magic’s big two
Dallas’ defense had its work cut out for it against the explosive Hornets. Charlotte had seven players attempt five or more three-point shots in the process of going 20-51 from behind the arc as a team. It’s some solace then that, in Orlando, the defensive concerns largely hinge around two players — Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane. Those two, over the Magic’s last 10 games, are the only ones averaging more than 15 points for Orlando, putting up 24 and 26, respectively. Banchero specifically is coming off a 37-point performance on Tuesday against Washington.
If Dallas’ defenders can slow those two, they may stand a chance to keep the game close. With Franz Wagner out, Orlando doesn’t have quite the amount of scoring depth that Charlotte had. Guys can get hot, but if Dallas doesn’t let Paolo beat them, they at least make Orlando earn it. It’s a shame Flagg isn’t quite ready to be back on the floor, because the Flagg/Paolo matchup, two of the league’s most promising young wings, will be a fun one to watch as both players round into All-Stars.
The thrill of the free throw
With as bad as Dallas’ offense has been, there’s one spot where the Mavs are thriving without Flagg — at the free-throw line.
In his eight-game absence, Dallas is drawing 22.6 personal fouls per game, the third-highest mark in the league, and is attempting a league-leading 29.1 free throws per contest. When Charlotte’s three-point onslaught began during Dallas’ game on Tuesday, the huge discrepancy in free throws kept the game nearly level until the third quarter.
It’s not the most thrilling style of basketball, but it’s impressive that Jason Kidd has found something that his players can control, and it’s putting their head down and trying to get to the basket. A good strategy when the team is missing as much shooting talent as it is, currently.
How to watch/listen
You can watch the game at 6:00 pm on KFAA Channel 29 or MAVS TV (streaming), or listen at 97.1FM KEGL (English), and 99.1FM KFZO (Spanish).
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 26: Rasheer Fleming #20 of the Phoenix Suns defends Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 26, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Lakers 113-110. 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) | Getty Images
Something that has happened over the years since I started writing here at Bright Side of the Sun back in 2020 is that my approach to the craft has changed. It evolved. Slowly, almost without me noticing at first. The longer you do this, the more you feel a responsibility to look at the game with a clearer lens. So I started leaning into the analytical side of things. When I sit down to write, I try to examine what I am watching with a little discipline. I look at the numbers. I watch the possessions again. I try to understand why something is happening rather than reacting to the first emotional wave that hits you while you are on the couch.
The goal is balance. Acknowledge the different sides of the conversation. Lay out the context. Let the statistics speak when they need to. Lean on the eye test when the numbers do not tell the full story. Then land somewhere that feels honest and grounded based on what actually happened on the court. In short, I try to stay level-headed. Present. Rooted in reality. I allow space for possibilities and projections, although I try to keep my feet planted on the floor while doing it.
Although let’s be real for a second. I am still a fan.
I still get excited about the dumb stuff. I still fire off ridiculous takes on social media like a lunatic shouting from the top of a tower overlooking the Valley. I will tweet something absurd in the heat of a moment and then turn around later and write something far more measured and thoughtful about the exact same thing.
*John writes column about tempering expectations and preaching patience*
That is part of the fun of sports. The hope. The adrenaline. The moment when you leap out of the chair and yell something that would make no sense if it were written down five minutes later. The overreaction is baked into the experience. Yes, there are moments when it gets exhausting. Anyone who has read my writing over the years knows I have complained about it plenty. Yet it is also part of the culture of being a fan. It always has been.
So for this column, I am leaning into that side of it. The fan hat is going on. The analytical brain can sit quietly in the corner for a minute. Today, we are letting the emotional side of the ride take the wheel.
I know it has only been a couple of games where we have truly seen Rasheer Fleming flash glimpses of what he could become, although I am fully here for it. I am talking full fan mode, leaning forward on the couch, eyes wide, letting the imagination run a little wild. Because the possibility that he is scratching the surface of what he might become as a player is the kind of thing that gets the gears turning.
And if he hits — if he truly hits — it shifts the trajectory of this franchise in a meaningful way.
Maybe I am holding onto that idea a little too tightly. I can admit that. The draft cupboard is not exactly overflowing right now, and the Suns need one of these recent picks from the past couple of seasons to turn into something real. Something more than a guy who fills ten minutes off the bench and disappears into the rotation chart. They need impact, they need growth, and they need a young player who bends the arc of the roster forward.
That context probably fuels some of my excitement.
Although when you watch what Fleming has done over the last two games, it is hard not to feel something. You see the length. You see the instincts. You see those defensive possessions where he slides, contests, disrupts, and suddenly the court feels smaller for whoever he is guarding. Then he pops up on the other end with a confident three or a strong finish and the mind starts wandering.
You may not be as hyped as I am, and that is fair. I acknowledge that I might be a few feet off the ground right now. Although you watch those moments and the feeling creeps in. Something might be there.
Shout out to Kellan Olson for putting the following clip together.
Back-to-back exciting performances from Suns second-round pick Rasheer Fleming.
6-foot-9 and 240 pounds with a 7-foot-5 wingspan and a whole lot of agility. It gets dangerous when an athlete as good as him starts chaining together winning plays. pic.twitter.com/M2YESzYIbQ
What I see in Rasheer Fleming are shades of a young Kawhi Leonard.
Yes, those are massive shoes to fill. Yes, it is way too early to start tossing around a comparison like that. Although remember, this is a fan piece. The measured and tempered version of me can clock back in tomorrow. Today, the imagination is allowed to roam a little.
Because imagine it for a second. Imagine if the Suns somehow ended up with a player who became 80% of what Kawhi Leonard has been. That is a guy who owns two championships. A Finals MVP. A player who, for a stretch of years, lived in that conversation with the very best in the league. Not a brief flash. Not a single magical season. Multiple years where he bent playoff series with his presence on both ends of the floor.
When you step back and think about where the Suns are as a franchise, the thought carries a little extra weight.
Phoenix spent a mountain of draft capital to get here. The moves to acquire Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal drained a lot of the future chips from the table. That reality places a little extra pressure on the youth that remains.
Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro arrived in the 2024 draft. If those two grow into dependable rotation players for this organization, that already qualifies as a success based on where they were selected. When we talk about Khaman Maluach, the expectations rise slightly, because a lottery pick always carries a heavier spotlight. Early signs suggest the 19-year-old is developing the right way and might start carving out real impact in a season or two.
Then there is Rasheer Fleming.
The Suns took him with the first pick of the second round in the 2025 draft. They maneuvered to get him. They saw something in the kid from Saint Joseph’s that made them move pieces around the board. A humble kid from a military family. A personality that fits the blueprint of someone who wants to show up, do the work, and let the effort speak for itself.
If that pick hits, if it becomes anything beyond a simple rotation piece, the ripple effect could be massive. Imagine if he turns into an All-Defense type of player. Imagine if he sneaks into an All-Star conversation someday. What a story that would become. What an endearing player he would be for the fan base.
It is unfair to place those ideas on his shoulders right now. I know that. Although when you watch him move on the floor, when you see that NBA-ready body and those long arms stretching across passing lanes, the imagination cannot help itself.
Personally? I am getting ridiculous with it. I am buying Rasheer Fleming rookie cards like a man who has lost control of his own wallet. Autos. Topps Chrome. I grabbed one yesterday that has a piece of his jersey stitched right into the card. That is how deep the hype spiral has gone.
This 21-one-year-old kid with wings like a condor reminds me of a young Kawhi. “Baby Claw.” That nickname is fantastic, and all credit goes to Miah Scott for that one.
Eventually, I will come back to reality. He probably will too. The NBA does that to everybody. Not every night becomes a highlight reel. Growth does not travel in a straight line where every game is better than the last.
Although that little voice sits in the back of the brain and whispers a question. “What if it does last?” What if that is the road Rasheer Fleming is about to walk down? What if jersey number 20 becomes the one Suns fans start tossing into their carts when they scroll through the team shop? It sounds ridiculous after a couple of flashes from a rookie. Although it is fun to think about.
The road ahead is long. The climb is steep. These small flashes along the way are the mile markers that make the journey enjoyable. They keep the imagination alive. They give fans something to hold onto. A little annoying at times. A little irrational. Although that is sports. That is why we watch.
Maybe it becomes something. Maybe it becomes everything Suns fans are hoping for. For now, the flashes are enough to let the imagination run, and sometimes that is the most fun part of the ride.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 9: Kyshawn George #18 of the Washington Wizards looks to pass the ball during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on January 9, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 Kenny Giarla/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Washington Wizards forward Kyshawn George will miss three weeks with a partially torn UCL in his left elbow, the team announced Tuesday.
George injured his elbow in the Wizards’ 123-118 loss to the Houston Rockets on Monday. He left the game in the third quarter and didn’t return before missing the team’s next game against the Orlando Magic.
The 22-year-old forward has ascended in his second NBA season, averaging 14.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.
George joins a long list of injured Wizards that includes Alex Sarr, Anthony Davis, Tristan Vukcevic and several more.
TORONTO, CANADA - FEBRUARY 4: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles against Brandon Ingram #3 of the Toronto Raptors during the second half of their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on February 4, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Toronto Raptors Date: March 5th, 2026 Time: 7:00 PM CST Location: Target Center Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network – North Radio Coverage: KFAN FM, Wolves App, iHeart Radio
If you’re a Timberwolves fan, you know how this goes.
They win four straight, you convince yourself the three-seed is inevitable… and then the Wolves play a random midweek game against a feisty team and suddenly you’re stress-eating Oreos at 10:43 p.m. wondering how you got here again.
Minnesota has won four straight after taking care of Memphis on Tuesday night. They’re technically tied with Houston in the standings, even if the head-to-head tiebreaker currently has them sitting in the four spot. Things are looking up.
But the Wolves’ job is nowhere close to finished.
The Memphis Win
The Wolves didn’t exactly stroll through their outing with Memphis. They were sluggish early and fell into a hole. For a minute it looked like we might be headed toward another one of those night….
But they stabilized in the second quarter, chipped away, and eventually the talent gap showed. By the fourth, Minnesota turned on the jets and the game tilted the way it should tilt when you have the deeper roster and the best player on the floor.
Speaking of which… Anthony Edwards dropped his ninth 40-point game of the season. Ninth!
Memphis was feisty, played hard, and put on a solid performance. But in the end, it didn’t matter because Edwards is a cheat code when he decides a game is over.
The Raptors Landmine Game
Now comes Toronto, one of those opponents that always looks harmless on paper until you actually play them. The Raptors aren’t among the league’s elite, but they’re solid. They have scorers and defenders. They push the pace. They play with energy. And they’re jockeying for their own positioning out East, meaning this is not some “show up and collect the win” opponent.
Also, they’re going to be mad.
They absolutely remember last month’s game in Canada, when Minnesota came back, stole their lunch money, and left Anthony Edwards to deliver that “Bruce Lee died” line like he was doing crowd work at a comedy club. That kind of thing leaves a mark. Teams don’t forget that. So if Minnesota walks into Wednesday night thinking, “We already handled these guys,” then congratulations: you’ve just written the first chapter of a very familiar Wolves horror story.
Here are the keys to the game…
#1 – Turn the Key on Defense and Don’t Let Up
This Raptors team will absolutely take whatever you give them. If the Wolves come out sleepwalking, Toronto will run, slash, move the ball, and suddenly you’re down 12. The Wolves need to treat this like a dogfight from the opening tip. Defensive intensity from the jump.
And this is where Minnesota’s depth should matter. The Wolves are deeper now. They can throw bodies. They can rotate. They can stay fresh. Between the trade deadline pickup of Ayo Dosunmu and grabbing Slo-Mo after his buy-out, they have more options to keep legs moving and pressure up. This should be a game where Minnesota’s defensive depth shows up like a wave, not a couple of isolated moments of effort.
#2 – Use the Size Advantage Like You Actually Know You Have It
This one is simple: the Wolves have a three-headed interior monster with Gobert, Randle, and Naz. It’s a real, tangible advantage that should show up in the most basic basketball ways:
Win the rebounding battle
Protect the rim
Create second-chance points
Punish smaller lineups
Force Toronto into tough shots
And this isn’t just about “posting up” It’s about wearing a team down. It’s about making the Raptors feel Gobert’s presence on every drive. It’s about making Randle’s physicality a problem. It’s about Naz bending their coverage because he can pop out and torch you.
If Minnesota is serious about stacking wins, they can’t treat their size like an accessory. It has to be the engine.
#3 Connect from Deep
Against Memphis, the Wolves shot 29% from three. That’s not “slightly off.” That’s “someone please check the rim” territory. Edwards was an amazing 7-for-13 from deep, but the rest of the team? Three made threes on 21 attempts. That’s the kind of stat that makes you blink twice and re-check it like a typo.
The Wolves got away with it because Memphis is dismantled and outgunned. Toronto is not going to be so forgiving. If Minnesota is going to win, the supporting cast has to hit shots.
#4 Ignite the Offense with Ball Movement
The Wolves offense is at its best when it’s generous. When Edwards and Randle play the dual role of scorers and facilitators, the whole floor opens up. The ball moves. The defense shifts. The shots get cleaner. The Wolves look like a real contender.
When it devolves into ISO ball, you can literally feel the offense stiffen. Yes, Ant can bail you out. That’s part of the fun. But the whole point of chasing the three seed is that you’re trying to be a team that doesn’t need late-game miracles against middle-tier opponents.
#5 Feed the “Three-Headed Monster” and Keep Jaden Involved
The Wolves’ ceiling isn’t just Ant + Randle. It’s Ant + Randle + Jaden McDaniels becoming a real, consistent third pillar.
McDaniels has been a strong contributor the past two games against Denver and Memphis. That can’t be a two-game blip. It needs to be a trend. When Jaden is engaged, cutting, attacking closeouts, hitting open threes, and finishing around the rim, the Wolves become a nightmare because now you’re dealing with three guys who can tilt the game.
While that matters for Wednesday, it matters even more big-picture. If Minnesota wants to be more than a “dangerous second-round team,” they need that third threat. They need the three-headed monster to show up consistently, not occasionally.
Ant and Randle have to make a point of it: get Jaden touches early. Let him feel involved. Let him build momentum. Because when he’s part of the offense, it unlocks everyone else.
Bank the Win
Toronto isn’t OKC. They’re not Denver. They’re not the kind of opponent you circle in red ink and treat like a playoff rehearsal. But that’s exactly why this game matters. These are the wins you bank. These are the nights you protect your home floor. These are the games that separate you from the play-in chaos and move you toward the three seed.
Minnesota has a four-game streak going. They’re tied in the standings with Houston. Denver is lurking. The margin is razor-thin. And the Wolves are about to head into a road trip that gets real, real fast.
So this is the assignment: Show up with urgency, defend like you mean it, use your size like a weapon, move the ball like a contender, and let your depth do what it’s supposed to do.
Because the three seed isn’t going to fall into Minnesota’s lap. Not in this West.
The Lakers hired former Dodgers executive Michael Spetner as the team’s new chief strategy and growth officer, a freshly minted position designed to stretch the Lakers’ brand across the globe.
New Lakers owner Mark Walter (not pictured) has already implemented Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman (left) and front office executive Farhan Zaidi as special advisers to Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka, and recently hired Lon Rosen as president of business operations . (Photo by Scott Varley/Digital First Media/Torrance Daily Breeze via Getty Images) Dodgers Front Office Press Conference MediaNews Group via Getty Images
“As we look to redefine what’s possible across the sports landscape for fans and partners, we will build on the Lakers legacy and orient toward the future to consider what’s next,” Rosen said in a statement released by the Lakers. “Michael’s leadership will help us optimize our business to ensure long-term value.”
While Spetner didn’t sign Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto or Roki Sasaki, he was working behind the scenes building analytical frameworks, developing business intelligence tools, and most importantly, helping the Dodgers plant their flag in Japan.
With international players including Luka Doncic and Rui Hachimura now in purple and gold, Spetner will now bring that same playbook courtside.
The Lakers said Spetner will oversee long-term business strategy and identify international growth opportunities — executive-speak for something much simpler: turning the Lakers into an even bigger global empire than they already are.
The Dodgers have become an international powerhouse in recent years, and Walter is applying that same philosophy to the Lakers.
The Dodgers have won three championships in the last six years, and fans are hoping Walter can bring that same pedigree to the Lakers.
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 24: Trae Young #3 of the Washington Wizards speaks to the media prior to the game against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on February 24, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Washington Wizards guard Trae Young takes center stage in his expected debut Thursday against the Utah Jazz at Capital One Arena.
Game info
When: Thursday, Mar. 5 at 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network, League Pass
Injuries: For the Wizards, Kyshawn George (elbow), Tristan Vukcevic (thigh), Jamir Watkins (ankle), and Anthony Gill (illness) are questionable, while Anthony Davis (hand, groin), Cam Whitmore (shoulder), Alex Sarr (hamstring), and D’Angelo Russell (not with team) are out.
For the Jazz, Lauri Markkanen (hip), Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee), Walker Kessler (shoulder), Jusuf Nurkic (nose), and Vince Williams Jr. (knee) are out.
What to watch for
Two words, nine letters: Trae Young. Washington hoops fans can catch their first glimpse of Young playing in a Wizards uniform since the blockbuster trade that sent the All-Star point guard to D.C. Young has successfully worked his way back from lingering MCL and quad injuries in his right leg.
Young may have been too eager to return to the court on Monday against the Houston Rockets, when Trae got ejected for straying too far from the bench during rookie Jamir Watkins’s altercation with Tari Eason. Young, thankfully, was not slapped with a suspension.
Trae Young announced he won’t receive a suspension for walking onto the court during an alternation in last night’s game:
The matchup against the Jazz also carries serious draft lottery implications.
The Wizards, who enter Wednesday’s slate of games sporting the fourth-worst record in the league, can completely secure their top-8 protected pick if they finish with a bottom-4 record. Utah owns the fifth-worst record and sits two games above Washington in the standings.
The Jazz will be on the second night of a back-to-back, and may very well sit some of their few remaining key players in Thursday’s tanktastic matchup.
The New York Knicks (40*-22) host the Oklahoma City Thunder (48–15) tonight at MSG, with both teams playing the second night of a back-to-back after wins. This marks the first meeting of the season between OKC, who hold the league’s best record, and the Knickerbockers.
Tip-off is 7 PM on MSG and ESPN. This is your game thread. This is Thunderous Intentions. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Enjoy yourselves and let everybody else do the same. And go Knicks!
* Should be one more, but want NBA Cup Finals are riddles trapped inside enigmas.
