NBA News
The Washington Wizards play the Brooklyn Nets today on the road in the Big Apple. Tip off is at 3 p.m. ET, basically, right now. Let’s see if the Wizards can take care of business today while we stay hunkered down at home with extreme wind and cold warnings outside in the DMV. Go Wizards!
Now we move. The NBA trading deadline came and went, and the Nets roster is looking a bit different. Two new players – Ochai Agbaji and Josh Minott – might make their debut and everyone else is healthy. The opponent tonight is resting about half their roster after pulling off one of the biggest upsets of the season. The Washington Wizards were on the road t0 face the Eastern Conference leading Detroit Pistons on Thursday night. Washington surprised everyone and came away with a 126-117 victory.
All clear on the injury front for Brooklyn. Again, all clear.
However, the other tanking team has nearly half their players in street clothes. The following are out:
Share thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.
Arizona alum Keshad Johnson will be joining Carter Bryant in this year’s NBA dunk contest, which now features two former Wildcats.
Both played under Tommy Lloyd, and both played for one season. Johnson transferred to Arizona for the 2023-24 season, and Bryant played his lone year in college for Arizona in 2024-25.
In last year’s NBA draft, Bryant was selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the 14th overall pick.
Johnson went undrafted but was almost immediately picked up by the Miami Heat on a two-way contract, joining another former Wildcat in Pelle Larsson in Miami.
Johnson and Bryant add to the list of former Wildcats to participate in the dunk contest, putting the overall total at six players and an overall total of appearances at eight.
Aaron Gordon was the last Wildcat to participate in 2020. He has also previously participated in the 2016 and 2017 competitions.
The first former Arizona player to participate was Richard Jefferson in 2003. In between Gordon and Jefferson were Andre Iguodala in 2006 and Chase Budinger in 2012.
Gordon, Iguodala, and Budinger all had second place finishes, with Gordon being the only former Arizona player to have two second place finishes.
If Johnson or Byrant were to win the competition, they would be the first former Wildcat to win the NBA dunk contest.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Quadir Copeland and Paul McNeil Jr. combined for 42 points and N.C. State beat Virginia Tech 82-73 on Saturday.
Copeland and McNeil had 21 each, with Copeland notching a 10-assist double-double to go with five steals, tying his career high. It's the fourth time this season Copeland has had 10-plus assists, and his second straight double-double after registering zero before this week. He had 16 assists and 10 rebounds against SMU on Tuesday.
Copeland was 7 of 11 from the floor and 7 of 10 at the line, crossing the 1,000-point career mark early in the second half. McNeil was 4 of 7 from behind the arc and 7 of 8 at the stripe.
Tre Holloman added 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting with three 3-pointers. Ven-Allen Lubin added 11 points and seven rebounds.
The Wolfpack (18-6, 9-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) took a 36-24 lead into the break after an 11-0 run late in the half. The Hokies (16-8, 5-6) used a 12-2 second-half run to cut the deficit to three with 11:20 left, but the Wolfpack answered immediately with a 10-1 run. It was never closer than an eight-point margin from that point on.
Amani Hansberry led the Hokies with 19 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Tobi Lawal had 17 points and 15 rebounds. Neoklis Avdalas scored 14.
Up nextThe Hokies will remain on the road, facing No. 20 Clemson on Wednesday.
The Wolfpack will face No. 24 Louisville on the road on Monday.
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GENOA, Italy (AP) — Rasmus Højlund scored a last-gasp penalty as 10-man Napoli won 3-2 at Genoa in Serie A on Saturday, keeping pressure on the top two clubs from Milan.
Højlund was fortunate Genoa goalkeeper Justin Bijlow was unable to keep out his low shot, despite getting his arm to the ball in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
The spot kick was awarded after Maxwel Cornet – who had just gone on as a substitute – was adjudged after a VAR check to have kicked Antonio Vergara’s foot after the Napoli midfielder dropped dramatically to the floor.
Højlund’s second goal of the game moved Napoli one point behind AC Milan and six behind Inter Milan. They both have a game in hand.
“We showed that we’re a team that never gives up, even in difficult situations, in emergencies, and despite being outnumbered, we had the determination to win. I’m proud of my players’ attitude, and I thank them and congratulate them because the victory was deserved,” Napoli coach Antonio Conte said.
His team got off to a bad start with goalkeeper Alex Meret bringing down Vitinha after a botched back pass from Alessandro Buongiorno just seconds into the game. A VAR check confirmed the penalty and Ruslan Malinovskyi duly scored from the spot in the second minute.
Scott McTominay was involved in both goals as Napoli replied with a quickfire double. Bijlow saved his first effort in the 20th but Højlund tucked away the rebound, and McTominay let fly from around 20 meters to make it 2-1 a minute later.
However, McTominay had to go off at the break with what looked like a muscular injury, and another mistake from Buongiorno allowed Lorenzo Colombo to score in the 57th for Genoa.
“Scott has a gluteal problem that he’s had since the season started. It gets inflamed sometimes," Conte said of McTominay. "He would have liked to continue, but I preferred not for him to take any risks because he’s a key player for us.”
Napoli center back Juan Jesus was sent off in the 76th after receiving a second yellow card for pulling back Genoa substitute Caleb Ekuban.
Genoa pushed for a winner but it was the visitors who celebrated after a dramatic finale.
"The penalty wasn’t perfect. I was also lucky, but what matters is that we won,” Højlund said.
Fiorentina rues missed opportunityFiorentina was on course to escape the relegation zone until Torino defender Guillermo Maripán scored deep in stoppage time for a 2-2 draw in the late game.
Fiorentina had come from behind after Cesare Casadei’s early goal for the visitors, with Manor Solomon and Moise Kean both scoring early in the second half.
A 2-1 win would have lifted Fiorentina out of the relegation zone, but Maripán equalized in the 94th minute with a header inside the far post after a free kick for what seemed like a defeat for the home team.
Fiorentina had lost its previous three games, including to Como in the Italian Cup.
Earlier, Juventus announced star player Kenan Yildiz's contract extension through June 2030.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Location: Paycom Center — Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
TV: ABC
Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790
Online: Rockets App
Time: 2:30om CST
Rockets: Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun
Thunder: Jared McCain, Luguentz Dort, Alex Caruso, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein
Who: Phoenix Suns (31–21) vs. Philadelphia (29-22)
When: 7:00 pm Arizona Time
Where: Mortgage Matchup Center — Phoenix, Arizona
Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports
Listen: KMVP 98.7
The Phoenix Suns return home on Saturday night, looking to steady themselves after one of the most frustrating losses of the season. Waiting for them are the Philadelphia 76ers, making their lone trip to the Valley this season as they are in the midst of a five-game West Coast swing. Tonight is game four.
This is a familiar opponent. Phoenix handled business in Philadelphia two weeks ago, 116-110. Since then, the 76ers have found rhythm and confidence, winning five of their last six games. Their most recent outing was a loss to the Lakers, a game they controlled for long stretches before it slipped away late. A little help there would have been appreciated, Philly.
Tyrese Maxey sets the tone. He is fast, fearless, and relentless in space. VJ Edgecombe complements him well as another young guard who thrives in chaos and pressure. Together, they apply constant stress on defenses, especially when rotations are slow or communication breaks down.
That pressure matters because of where Phoenix currently stands health-wise. Devin Booker is listed as questionable, along with Jalen Green. For Booker, this is the first time he has received that designation since injuring his ankle against Atlanta on January 23. He has missed seven straight games, with the Suns going 4–3 in that stretch.
Green last played a full game against Philadelphia. His availability carries weight here, especially given the matchup. Why? Because Grayson Allen is out after tweaking his right knee against Golden State. That absence thins the guard rotation in a hurry. If Booker and Green remain sidelined, the Suns are looking at Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin taking on major responsibility, with limited margin behind them.
Ball security has to be sharp. Maxey lives off live-ball turnovers and broken possessions. He leads the NBA with 5.6 points per game off turnovers. Phoenix cannot feed that fire.
Shot quality matters. The Suns have to generate clean looks early in the clock, especially if legs are heavy in the backcourt. Interior balance helps everything. When Phoenix gets steady production inside, whether through rolls, seals, or second-chance points, it stabilizes the offense and slows the tempo of the game.
Execution late has to improve. The Warriors’ loss unraveled in the final minutes because structure disappeared. Whoever is on the floor needs clarity and trust in the reads.
This one hinges on the injury report.
If Devin Booker plays, I like Phoenix’s chances. His presence brings order. It brings pacing. It brings a calming force that has been missing at the back end of games. If Jalen Green plays, I like the Suns’ chances. His explosiveness mirrors what Maxey brings, and we saw him hold his own against this same group before he went down.
If both are out, the climb gets steep. Not impossible. This team has made a habit of overshooting expectations. Still, the margin narrows fast when the backcourt is stretched thin.
Suns 112, 76ers 108
Hey there Planeteers, hope you all had a great trade deadline week, even if the Suns weren’t the best on the court. With that being said, we were lucky to have another guest on our show this week: Siro, the Kenyan Suns Fan. He has a fantastic story and hopped on to discuss his thoughts on the team this year and what happened this week.
We also all gave one trade from the deadline a grade and discussed some of the other shocking moves that transpired. Check it out here
LONDON (AP) — England inflicted a 48-7 hiding on Wales to open its Six Nations title bid on Saturday at Twickenham.
England got a bonus-point seven tries, including three for winger Henry Arundell, in a 12th successive win dating to last year's Six Nations.
The 41-point margin of victory was England's biggest against Wales at home since a 62-5 result in a 2007 Rugby World Cup warmup.
That scoreline looked reachable at halftime when England led 29-0 but the game lost its fizz and descended into errors and indiscipline.
Wales also became more competitive but received four yellow cards and went down to 13 men twice. England received two yellow cards, including one for Maro Itoje just seconds after he came off the bench in a Six Nations match for the first time since 2020.
Wales suffered a record-extending 12th straight loss in the championship dating to 2023 and returns to Cardiff next weekend to face France, the title favorite.
England goes to Scotland, where it hasn't won since 2020.
“To start the championship with that kind of result, we're very pleased,” England coach Steve Borthwick told the BBC.
“I thought we defended exceptionally well, we kicked really well and we scored some nice tries but I think we left a lot out there on the grass. We could do a lot better. Those are the things we need to step up next week.”
England was heavily favored on Saturday and stretched and stressed Wales, but the visitor gifted the home side territory and possession from basic errors, especially in the first half.
“England fought more than us, they were harder in the tackle than us, the rugby they played was beautiful,” Wales try-scorer Josh Adams told the BBC.
“Teams like England, the way they're playing, it’s hard enough with 15 players on the pitch. So with yellow card after yellow card it's impossible to stay in the game and the pressure keeps piling."
Yellow cards galoreSam Underhill charged down Wales fullback Louis Rees-Zammit — playing his first Six Nations game in three years after his NFL stint — and gave George Ford the opening points off the tee.
Two penalties against Wales, one for obstruction, gave England entry into the Wales 22 and Ford lined up Arundell for his first try.
After Wales front-rowers Nicky Smith and captain Dewi Lake were sin-binned within a minute of each other under tryline pressure, Arundell got his second try from a Ford kick-pass.
Wales conceded a second try while with 13 men when No. 8 Ben Earl carried Ellis Mee over the line.
Just before halftime, a dropped pass by Wales on its 22 was scooped by Fraser Dingwall who released Arundell for his third try, his 11th in 12 tests, and a first hat trick by England in the Six Nations since Jonny May against France in 2019.
“They were tap-ins but a hat trick is a hat trick,” Arundell told ITV.
Dingwall also laid on a try for Tom Roebuck, the late replacement for injured winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, to start the second half.
But at 36-0 in the 45th England went off the boil and Wales showed some pride.
Itoje, on the bench after grieving the death of his mother in December, entered to a loud cheer but went off seconds later when he offended with England on a yellow-card warning.
Wales scored immediately through an Adams try after quick rucks.
Wales center Ben Thomas made a try-saving tackle on Roebuck but was sin-binned for an illegal rip of prop Trevor Davison on the tryline. Taine Plumtree joined him two minutes later and reduced Wales to 13 men again.
Plumtree tackled Henry Pollock into touch over the tryline but his arm tackle around Pollock's neck earned him a yellow card and conceded a penalty try.
England finished the game with 14 after Tom Curry's yellow card but around that center Tommy Freeman had a try ruled out and a try given when he beat three defenders. Ford's sideline conversion hit the post, only his second miss from seven goalkicks.
___
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
There will be a new All-Star Saturday Night Dunk Contest champion — three-time winner Mac McClung is taking this year off.
One of these four men will take the crown as the NBA announced the participants in the 2026 All-Star Saturday Night Dunk Contest:
• Carter Bryant, San Antonio Spurs
• Jaxson Hayes, Los Angeles Lakers
• Keshad Johnson, Miami Heat
• Jase Richardson, Orlando Magic
The 2026 @ATT Slam Dunk field!
— NBA (@NBA) February 7, 2026
NBA All-Star Saturday: 2/14, 5:00pm/et on NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/IQ4oIWaWgy
Hayes has proven himself to be an amazing in-game dunker and has pulled out the East Bay more than once in live action.
JAXSON HAYES BETWEEN THE LEGS DUNK OH MY GOODNESS pic.twitter.com/6ZZ3TWoXH7
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 27, 2026
For rookie Jase Richardson, he is following in his father's footsteps: In 2003, it was Jason Richardson and Desmond Mason battling it out in the dunk contest.
Jason Richardson vs. Desmond Mason in the 2003 NBA Dunk Contest pic.twitter.com/vh8Tz2iXNo
— ThrowbackHoops (@ThrowbackHoops) February 5, 2026
The Dunk Contest will be part of NBA All-Star Saturday Night — which also includes the Shooting Stars competition and the 3-Point Contest — which starts at 5 p.m. Eastern on Feb. 14 from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The earlier start time is because the All-Star weekend events will flow directly into continued coverage of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics on NBC.
Every moment of All-Star Weekend — the Rising Stars challenge on Friday. (Feb. 13), All-Star Saturday Night with the 3-Point Contest and Dunk Contest (Feb. 14), as well as the All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 15 — will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
The 75th NBA All-Star Game will take place on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 5 p.m. Eastern, a time earlier than in previous years, leading into more coverage of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. The same is true of an earlier start for the All-Star Saturday Night series of competitions.
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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A pair of black and blue teams tip off at United Center tonight when the Chicago Bulls host the Denver Nuggets.
Both teams are potentially dealing with key injuries, with Josh Giddey ruled out for Chicago and Nikola Jokic questionable for Denver.
Jamal Murray has stepped up in a big way for Denver over their last few games, and I’m predicting another high-flying game for the guard in my Nuggets vs. Bulls predictions & NBA picks for Saturday, February 7.
Nuggets vs Bulls best bet: Jamal Murray Over 25.5 points (-115)
Nikola Jokic returned from a knee injury in late January but is right back on the injury list for tonight’s game with an ankle sprain. Of course, NBA players play through sprains all the time, but Jokic has not quite looked like himself since returning from his knee injury, shooting just 45% from the field.
Fortunately for the Denver Nuggets, they’ve got another capable scorer in Jamal Murray, who’s been carrying the load for the past month.
Murray is fresh off two straight games with 32+ points, and since the start of 2026, is averaging 27.7 ppg in 37 minutes per contest. The Nuggets guard is shooting and scoring more than ever, and seems to be thriving in this role.
Murray has scored Over 25.5 points in nine of his last 15 games and looks poised for another big performance vs. a Chicago Bulls defense that ranks fifth-last in the NBA (120.2 papg).
Christian Braun has played just 16 games this season due to an ankle injury and hasn’t been much of a factor in his few appearances this calendar year. The Nuggets guard has scored six points or fewer in each of his last six outings.
Still, the Nuggets should cover the spread tonight, especially if Jokic is good to go. Denver has covered the spread in 57.7% of its games this season – the third-highest mark in the NBA – while Chicago’s lineup is in turmoil right now with injuries and ongoing trades.
Jokic posted a triple double on Wednesday and leads the NBA with 17 this season – seven more than anyone else. If Joker is healthy, he’ll dominate against a depleted Bulls team.
The Over is 5-0 in the last five meetings. Find more NBA betting trends for Nuggets vs. Bulls.
| Location | United Center, Chicago, IL |
| Date | Saturday, February 7, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | Altitude, CHSN |
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Someone is going to need to check in on Jay Williams after Saturday's edition of "College GameDay" after the heart attack he just gave Duke basketball fans.
Why? Well, the former Blue Devils point guard started a Tar Heels chant during Saturday's pregame show inside Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina ahead of Saturday night's top-15 ranked men's college basketball matchup between the Tobacco Road rivals.
"I just want to witness this for one second because I usually never do this," Williams said before starting the chant while next to former Duke center Jay Bilas.
Jay Williams does the Tar Heel chant 😭
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) February 7, 2026
Duke fans turn away. pic.twitter.com/UYcC0m3UQp
Bilas, perhaps speaking on behalf of former Duke players, was rather blunt with his response.
"What a suck up," Bilas said.
The Blue Devils head into Saturday's top-15 matchup looking for their fourth consecutive win over the Tar Heels, after sweeping the regular season series and picking up a win over UNC in the ACC Tournament semifinals last season.
Led by star freshman Cameron Boozer, Duke ranks No. 3 in the NET rankings with a 9-1 Quad 1 record, which is the second most Quad 1 wins — an important statistical used by the NCAA Tournament selection committee — in the country, only behind top-ranked Arizona.
The Tar Heels, led by their star freshman Caleb Wilson, find themselves ranked in the top 30 of the NET Rankings at No. 27. A win for Hubert Davis' squad would be a significant one, as it would give them just their fifth Quad 1 win of the season.
UNC and Duke are slated for a 6:30 p.m. ET tip-off on Saturday in Chapel Hill.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Former Duke guard Jay Williams breaks out Tar Heel chant UNC rivalry game
The Spurs’ representation at All-Star weekend just got even wider as the Spurs announced the Harpers will participate in the Kia Shooting Challenge together. That will include Spurs rookie Dylan Harper, his brother Ron Harper, Jr., who is currently a two-way player for the Boston Celtics, and their father: five-time NBA champion Ron Harper, Sr.
Dylan was already set to represent the Spurs in the Rising Stars Challenge, along with sophomore and reigning MVP of the event, Stephon Castle. Spurs two-way player David Jones-Garcia was also set to participate on the G League team but has been ruled out after undergoing ankle surgery last week. Also representing the Spurs will be their other rookie, Carter Bryant, in the dunk contest, and of course Victor Wembanyama will be an All-Star starter for Team World in the main event.
All-Star weekend will take place next weekend at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. You can check out the entire schedule here. Rising Stars will be on Friday, February 13 beginning at 8:00 PM CT on ESPN. Saturday will feature Shooting Stars starting at 4:00 PM CT, followed by the 3-point Shootout and Slam Dunk Contest (I guess the Skills Challenge is defunct now), and finally the All-Star Game on Sunday, beginning at 4:00 PM CT.
The Philadelphia 76ers play their fourth game in a five-game Western Conference swing when they head to Phoenix.
The Sixers have won five of their last six games, including two of the first three on this trip, while going 4-2 ATS.
Meanwhile, the Suns are squandering a favorable stretch, sitting at just 4-3 (3-4 ATS) during a run of 16 home games in 19 contests and coming off back-to-back home losses.
Phoenix is also banged up, which his why my 76ers vs. Suns predictions & NBA picks expect the Sixers to get a moneyline win on Saturday, February 7.
76ers vs Suns best bet: 76ers moneyline (+100)
The Philadelphia 76ers opened its Western Conference road swing with wins over Golden State and the Clippers. Those same two opponents have each posted wins at Phoenix, holding the Suns under 100 points.
The Phoenix Suns blew a 14-point lead against the Warriors, scoring just 15 points in the final quarter to help Golden State rally. They scored just seven points in the final 10 minutes and were shut out for the last 3:55.
Phoenix’s offense has sputtered largely due to injuries. Devin Booker has been out seven games with an ankle issue, and Jalen Green has missed six with hamstring and hip injuries, costing the Suns Booker’s scoring punch and Green’s 11 points per night on 42.3% shooting from three.
Making matters worse, Grayson Allen hurt his knee late in the Golden State game. That removes Phoenix’s most prolific three-point scorer and another 17.9 points per game.
The Sixers, meanwhile, are enjoying some stability after a crazy few weeks leading up to the trade deadline. The team lost the services of Paul George to suspension and had trade rumors swirling around before finally sending away Jared McCain. Despite that, the team has played well through the turmoil.
The Suns have struggled to score, failing to reach 100 points in their last two home games and topping out at 102 or 103 in several recent outings.
With Phoenix ranked 22nd in pace and Philly 19th, a slower tempo favors the under, which has hit in both Suns games with totals this high and in three of five for the Sixers.
Meanwhile, Dillon Brooks has shouldered more offense with Booker out, boosting his shot attempts and averaging 25.1 points over the last seven games because even if Booker returns, his ankle could limit him.
VJ Edgecombe has been playing with growing confidence, shooting 18-of-36 over his last two games while posting performances of 19 and 25 points. He also torched Phoenix for 25 in their first meeting just over two weeks ago, showing he’s comfortable in that matchup.
The Phoenix Suns have only hit the Team Total Over in 12 of their last 35 games. Find more NBA betting trends for 76ers vs. Suns.
| Location | Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, AZ |
| Date | Saturday, February 7, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 9:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | NBCS-Philadelphia, KTVK |
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
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MADRID (AP) — Teenage star Lamine Yamal made up for missing an open goal with a trademark curler from outside the penalty area as Barcelona beat Mallorca 3-0 on Saturday to move four points ahead at the top of La Liga.
Robert Lewandowski had put Barcelona ahead and 18-year-old homegrown player Marc Bernal scored his first career goal late on to seal a convincing win. Yamal and Lewandowski have scored 10 league goals each this season.
Second-place Real Madrid can close the gap to one point if it wins at Valencia on Sunday.
Lewandowski pounced from close range in the 29th minute following good work down the left from Marcus Rashford. His shot was blocked and Lewandowski showed typically cool composure to control the ball and guide it past a defender before picking his spot.
Rashford's form has improved throughout the season and he came close to scoring in first-half injury time when his curling free kick produced a brilliant save from Leo Roman.
The ball fell to right back Jules Koundé near the penalty spot and his scuffed shot landed at the feet of Yamal, who somehow skewered wide from almost on the goal line.
The 18-year-old prodigy was given a pat on the back by Lewandowski, who is one of the modern era's most prolific scorers with over 650 club goals — including 344 with his former club Bayern Munich and more than 100 for Barça.
Yamal showed his class in the 61st minute with a brilliant strike, ghosting past one defender on the edge of the area and then planting a powerful dipping shot into the bottom corner, a strike hit so cleanly with his left foot that Roman did not even move.
Yamal and Lewandowski were replaced and both applauded Bernal's excellent goal in the 83rd.
Barça sliced Mallorca open in midfield with four quick passes to send Bernal racing through, and he showed good composure to cut inside a defender and stroke the ball inside the post.
In Saturday's only other game, Real Sociedad beat Elche 3-1 to move into eighth place.
Goals from Croatia midfielder Luka Sučić and Spain forward Mikel Oyarzabal put Sociedad 2-0 up, only for Portugal striker André Silva to pull one back close to halftime.
Iceland captain Orri Stein Oskarsson replaced Oyarzabal near the end and netted his side's third goal in the 89th.
Matches postponedTwo matches were called off.
Rayo Vallecano’s home match against Oviedo was postponed at short notice because of safety concerns over the field at Vallecas Stadium. The league also called off Sevilla vs. Girona due to adverse weather conditions.
While Oviedo said it understood the decision, the team criticized the short notice and was considering legal action.
Cutting tiesBarcelona became the latest club to cut ties with a proposed breakaway European Super League.
It had previously led the fight to get a rival competition to the Champions League off the ground. But, in a short statement on Saturday, Barcelona said it would no longer be part of the contentious project. ___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer