CINCINNATI (AP) — Dániel Sallói scored late in the second half behind a clean sheet from Luka Gavran and Toronto FC defeated FC Cincinnati 1-0 on Sunday night.
Sallói used an assist from Richie Laryea to score the lone goal in the 86th minute and Gavran made two saves to finish off the shutout for Toronto (1-2-0).
Sallói's goal was his first for Toronto after spending his previous nine seasons with Sporting Kansas City. It was his 54th goal in 245 appearances. Laryea's first assist this season gives him 15 in 160 career appearances.
Gavran notched his first shutout this season and his third in 19 career starts with Toronto.
Roman Celentano turned away six shots in goal for Cincinnati (1-2-0).
Toronto entered the match with a 0-4-1 record in Cincinnati and had never scored a goal at TQL Stadium.
Cincinnati coach Pat Noonan suffered his first loss to Toronto after going 7-0-1 through the first eight matchups.
Cincinnati leads the series 9-5-1 with the nine victories its most against any opponent.
Cincinnati swept Toronto last season with Kévin Denkey scoring a goal in both wins.
Up next
Toronto: Hosts New York Red Bulls on Saturday in home opener.
Lately, Austin Reaves had been a muted version of himself.
He opened the season playing All-Star-caliber basketball, looking like a breakout star. But after suffering a left calf strain that sidelined him for 19 games, the volume on his incredible start has been dialed down.
Austin Reaves drives to the basket against the New York Knicks. NBAE via Getty Images
Reaves had 25 points on 50% shooting, including going 3 of 6 from beyond the arc. He was aggressive. He was hunting for the ball. He was looking for his shot. It led to arguably the best Lakers win this season and their fifth victory in their last six contests.
The Lakers needed Reaves in peak form against a team with the third-best record in the East, especially with LeBron James sidelined for his second straight game because of a left elbow contusion and left foot arthritis.
Before Reaves’ extended absence, he was averaging 26.6 points on 50.7% shooting from the field, 6.3 assists and 5.2 rebounds a game. He was one of the NBA’s top 10 scorers.
But since he returned Feb. 3, he has only scored 20-plus points three times over 15 contests.
One of the biggest issues has clearly been that Reaves is trying to find his place in a crowded offense alongside superstars James and Luka Doncic. Before the All-Star break, the trio had only played 11 games together.
Since then, they’ve been trying to find a rhythm after James missed the first 14 games of the season because of sciatica, Reaves missed every game in January and Doncic was sidelined four games at the beginning of February because of a hamstring injury.
As the Big 3 has tried to learn how to effectively share the court, Reaves has looked a little less like Reaves.
Heading into Sunday’s game, Lakers coach JJ Redick wanted to change that.
“I think the messaging to him has just been to be himself,” Redick said. “And I think sometimes when you miss time and there’s circumstances going on with the team that you can kind of be a little passive. … We want him to be aggressive. Every time he gets the ball, we want him to be aggressive and have a mentality to touch the paint.”
Reaves played as though he internalized those words Sunday.
He dazzled with fadeaway 3-pointers. He aggressively drove through the lane. He made sure he was a threat every time he touched the ball.
“We just kept telling him, ‘Touch the paint, touch the paint, touch the paint,'” Redick said. “He was really strong today. … When people talk about physicality, we always talk about physicality on defense, but you need physicality on offense. And I thought he was very physical offensively and that allowed him to score the basket, allowed him to draw fouls. And they’ve got a lot of size and they’re a big team, and he did a great job.”
It was a great reminder of the player who dazzled at the start of the season. You know, the one who had a 51-point, 11-rebound, nine-assist performance in the Lakers’ third game of the season, followed by a 41-point performance on 59% shooting in their fourth contest.
“Hillbilly Kobe” was living up to his nickname. Reaves, who is eligible for a five-year, $241 million maximum contract extension with the Lakers this summer, was playing as though he was hungry to earn every penny of that deal. When he didn’t make the All-Star team, it was considered one of the biggest snubs in the West.
Austin Reaves shoots a free throw against the New York Knicks. NBAE via Getty Images
But since then, things have slowed down.
As for Reaves’ mentality entering Sunday’s game?
“Have fun,” he said. “Woke up, early game, I was tired when I got here. I just told myself to have fun. I don’t feel like I’ve played bad, I just haven’t made a lot of shots. I feel like I’ve done a lot of other things well. Just continuing to play the game the right way, and I feel like good will come to good.”
But Reaves took things to another level Sunday. In addition to being the second-leading scorer behind Doncic (35 points), Reaves had four rebounds, five assists, three steals and one blocked shot. He was everywhere. Now, he just needs to figure how to play at that level alongside both of the team’s superstars.
“Playing with him, it makes my life easy,” Doncic said.
Reaves’ amplified aggression helped the Lakers (39-25) secure a win of which they can be proud. The whole team was gritty. They were swarming. Entering Sunday’s game, the Lakers were 4-12 against opponents with a record better than .600, according to ESPN. They never even trailed the Knicks (41-24).
When Reaves plays to his potential, things dramatically shift for the Lakers. That was evident in the team’s 15-4 start. And it was obvious Sunday.
Rui Hachimura summed things up concisely.
“When he’s aggressive, good things are going to happen,” he said.
TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 8: Klay Thompson #31 of the Dallas Mavericks drives against RJ Barrett #9 of the Toronto Raptors during the second half of their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on March 8, 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
With 20 games left in the regular season, the Toronto Raptors are in an interesting position. Currently 5th in the Eastern Conference standings, the idea that they will be playing in the postseason is pretty much confirmed. Whether or not they have to endure the NBA Play-In tournament, though, isn’t decided one way or another. They would have to drop lower than sixth in the standings to have to compete in the Play-In, but with a tough schedule still ahead of them, their 5th-place spot isn’t as cushioned as they’d like it to be.
That adds a little bit of pressure onto the team in March and April — a concept the Raptors haven’t had to deal with in a few years. They haven’t played in a playoff series since the 2022 season (Scottie’s rookie year), and one other time since then, in a pretty entertaining but still ultimately bad play-in game that resulted in a loss. Since then, this time of year has felt more like a slow descent into lottery odds than a buildup to the postseason for the team. This year changes things, as it looks like the Toronto Raptors will be competing past the regular season.
At the Raptors’ practice on Saturday, the idea that the pressure was building instead of waning was literally giving Darko Rajakovic goosebumps. “Pressure is a privilege,” he said, quoting the great Billie Jean King (apt for International Women’s Day). Yet, that also means that the Raptors have higher expectations, and their recent play since the All-Star Break has not been very indicative of a team looking to rise above their station. They came into this game on Sunday having lost four of their last five games.
Rajakovic was very vocal about Saturday’s practice being particularly good. When asked what was so good about it, Scottie Barnes told the media that their team was really communicating and holding each other accountable for their recent slump. They didn’t like how they had performed in their last games, and knew they could do better. That’s the beauty of having more than a day off in between games, especially so deep into the season, you have more time to address slumps or mistakes.
Sunday’s home game proved that whatever they did on Saturday worked. The Raptors acheived a wire-to-wire win over the Dallas Mavericks, which was expected, but obviously still needed to be earned. Every win is important this time of the year, as the conversation now shifts into playoff placement and more importantly, avoiding the Play-In. Home court advantage would also be fun, but let’s not get too ahead of ourselves in the first year back into the postseason picture. Making the postseason alone is enough progress for this year.
Toronto took Sunday’s game 122-92 over Dallas, with RJ Barrett scoring a game-high 31 points in the game. Darko though, was more impressed with Barrett’s defence, saying that the more Barrett locks in defensively, the more energy he has on the other end. Barrett agreed with him, saying the more energetic he is on defense, the more focused on the game he feels. Darko also stated the emphasis he put on his team to take care of the basketball, after turnovers have been an issue over the past week.
Barrett confirmed that their good practice from Saturday was a huge reason why they competed the way that they did today. He himself hit a milestone today, scoring his 8,000th career point, which he reflected on after the game. As one of only a select group of Canadians to achieve that milestone, he added “doing it for the Raptors is more special.”
Whatever energy Saturday’s practice held — whether it be the closeness of the postseason, the crisp spring air coming into Toronto this weekend, or just a desire to be better — they need to hold onto that. The Raptors will head out onto the road to play Houston and New Orleans this week before comign back home Friday night.
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 8: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons handles the ball during the game against the Miami Heat on March 8, 2026 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons have cemented themselves at the top of the Eastern Conference by delivering suffocating defense, getting to every lose ball, locking down the paint, and wanting it more than their opponent night in and night out. On Sunday in Miami, the Heat out-Pistons the Pistons. Detroit was outhustled and outmuscled, falling behind by 20 points early and never recovering, eventually falling 121-110.
On Saturday, you could blame the terrible effort as a team scrambling without its star Cade Cunningham. On Sunday, Cade was back, and he delivered. Cunningham scored 26 points, hit six of his nine three-point attempts, and added 10 assists. They still struggled to stay within 30 points most of the game. Jalen Duren (24 points) was 10-of-12 from the field, but the Pistons couldn’t come close to Miami because he wasn’t delivering on defense or on the boards.
Detroit lost this game because Miami did everything Detroit hangs its hat on better than it did. The Pistons are one of the premier teams in the paint, on both offense and defense, but Miami outscored them 58-56. The Pistons thrive when their locked-in defense creates turnovers that lead to transition opportunities. The Heat outscored Detroit on the fast break 22-6. They lost the board war 58-48. It seemed like Miami was forcing every deflection, getting to every loose ball, and was the one dictating everything on the floor. Detroit could do nothing but react, and they were two steps slow in every reaction.
The Heat were led by Tyler Herro with 25 points, including four three-pointers, and Bam Adebayo, who hit four from deep as well. The two also got themselves to the free-throw line, and went a collective 11-of-12. Detroit’s two stars, Duren and Cunningham, were just 6-of-7.
The biggest issue is the team’s tissue paper defense in the past few games, which is true enough, but the most worrying thing to me is that the team is letting its completely limp offensive production leak into its effort on defense. They are so devoid of trust in their ability to put the ball in the basket that they are not playing loose and aggressive on the defensive end.
Losing Ausar Thompson to an ankle injury certainly doesn’t help. Nor does replacing his production with a completely invisible Marcus Sasser (two points and bad defense in 20 minutes of action). Javonte Green isn’t providing a spark on either end of the floor like he was in the season’s first 50 games, and when multiple spots on the floor are sputtering, it means the limitation of a player like Ron Holland really begins to show.
The Pistons, quite simply, have no answers right now. They need to figure out how to rediscover their identity as a defense-first team, and let that lead to some offensive creation. No more shooters and ball handlers in the lineup who aren’t providing any of either alongside Cunningham. I’d put Isaiah Stewart, one of the only players who seemed like he gave a damn tonight, into the starting lineup and shift Tobias Harris to small forward.
Stewart provides just as much spacing as Sasser, but also actually provides rebounding and defense. It also opens up an opportunity for minutes for Paul Reed, who you’re never sad is getting minutes.
Until the team remembers that it is one of the best defensive teams in the league, it is going to keep losing. And it’s not a stellar offensive night that is going to ignite this defense. It’s the opposite. They need to impose their will on an opponent, and the rest will become much easier.
Their next chance is a bit of redemption against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday. It is starting to feel like a must-win game.
TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 8: Daniel Gafford #21 of the Dallas Mavericks dunks the ball during the game against the Toronto Raptors on March 8, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (21-43) continued the northeastern portion of their current road swing on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors (36-27). Coming in having lost 16 of their last 18 games, the Mavs dropped yet another with a 122-92 loss.
The game started with the Raptors missing a 3-point attempt, only for Brandon Ingram to grab an offensive rebound for a put-back dunk. With how frequently Dallas allows 3-point attempts and with recent struggles on the boards, the sequence was not ideal. Dallas forced an early Raptors’ timeout less than four minutes into the game after Daniel Gafford put on a dunk clinic with six quick points on 3-for-3 from the floor. Dallas once again gave up 30-plus first-quarter points, trailing 36-29 after 12 minutes.
The Mavericks were out of sorts at the beginning of the second, committing multiple turnovers while playing a lineup that did not have many reps together. A timeout at the 7:44 mark brought starters Cooper Flagg and Max Christie back, but it did little to help as the Mavs went scoreless until P.J. Washington hit a free throw with 5:13 remaining in the half to end a 14-2 Raptor’s run. Down by 15 points, Dallas stopped a four-minute field goal drought with a Gafford layup, but couldn’t make any real headway from there, closing the half down 57-44.
Dallas started the second half with the ball, scoring on their first two possessions, with both buckets coming by way of offensive rebounds. Slowly but surely, Dallas was making small inroads by outscoring Toronto for the first five minutes, but those efforts fell apart quickly. The Raptors responded with a 10-0 run in just under a span of two minutes to put the Mavs behind by 21. Dallas spent the remainder of the quarter trying to catch up, only to end up further behind as they trailed 88-66 heading into the fourth quarter.
Flagg opened the fourth quarter with a made 3-pointer then converted an and-one, but his personal six-point burst was not enough to prevent a necessary timeout when Dallas fell behind by 26. Flagg then registered his first-ever technical foul, which was starting to feel like a long time coming. Of late, Flagg has not been getting calls that seem obvious to the naked eye. With just over five minutes remaining in the game, Jason Kidd called it a day and gave Ryan Nembhard, AJ Johnson and Dwight Powell some burn, alongside Brandon Williams and Caleb Martin. Even garbage time did nothing to make the final score any more palatable.
Let’s take a look at three key factors from Sunday night’s game.
Turnovers tell the tale
The Mavericks average 14.7 turnovers per game, but had 11 in the first half alone Sunday night. Meanwhile, the Raptors had only four across the first 24 minutes, contributing heavily to the 13-point halftime deficit Dallas faced. Dallas added six more turnovers to Toronto’s two in the third quarter. When it was all said and done, the Mavs tallied 20 turnovers against the Raptors’ 8. Giving the opponent that many extra possessions while creating so few the other way is a big part of a 30-point beatdown.
Shooting woes for Dallas
The Raptors’ defense stymied Dallas, however the Mavericks did not do themselves any favors with some wide-open misses. They shockingly fell short of 40% shooting overall, converting just 35-for-88 on the night. Some of this was also due to strange lineup combinations and only a single player logging more than 30 minutes (P.J. Washington; 31 minutes), but this was a disasterclass in shooting. Max Christie was an improbable 1-for-11 and 0-for-7 from deep to lead the woefulness.
Gafford’s return to form
Gafford had a season-high 21 points to go along with 11 rebounds (six offensive), 3 assists and shot a perfect 10-for-10 from the floor. This was Gafford at his best, and there is really no obvious explanation why he feasted like this, other than perhaps being healthy. This game was largely uncompetitive, but it’s almost frightening to think how bad it would have been without Gafford’s contributions. With fewer than 20 games remaining in the season, it will be important for Gafford to re-establish this level of play. The stats may not always look this nice, but it was obvious he was in the right position and making smart decisions throughout the night as he simply played aggressively.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) — Aaliyah Collins had 21 points, Anna Hager scored 18 and High Point held on for a 71-67 victory over Radford on Sunday night to win the Big South Conference Championship and earn an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament for a second straight season.
Collins and Hager took over for top-seeded High Point (27-5) on a night when Macy Spencer, the league's leading scorer at 18.8 per game, was held to six points.
The Panthers beat No. 2 seed Radford (22-12) to earn their third trip to the main event, also appearing in 2021.
Hager hit a 3-pointer and Brecken Snotherly followed with a three-point play as High Point jumped out to an 8-0 lead. Radford battle all the way back to tie it 16-all on Angelina Nice's tip-in before Collins made two free throws with one second left to put the Panthers up two heading to the second quarter.
Kirah Dandridge hit two 3-pointers and the Highlanders outscored High Point by five to take a 32-29 lead into halftime.
Cate Carlson sank a 3-pointer to give Radford a 39-33 lead, but Hager answered with a 3 to spark 13-2 run capped by Spencer's 3-pointer and High Point moved in front 46-41 with four minutes left in the third quarter. The run grew to 20-4 and the Panthers led 56-45 heading to the final period.
Joi Williams buried 3-pointers on both sides of a Dandridge basket in an 8-0 spurt to cut the deficit to three less than 90 seconds into the final 10 minutes.
Williams drove for a layup to tie it 63-all with 4:50 remaining, but Collins and Hager had back-to-back baskets and the Panthers stayed in front from there.
Williams had 30 points to pace Radford and Ellie Taylor scored 10.
The Highlanders last appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 2019 after making three appearances in the 1990s.
The High Point men’s team also advanced to the NCAA Tournament
CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 8: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on March 8, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Boston is a bad matchup for Cleveland. They can press the Cavs in a lot of the areas they struggle with most on both ends of the floor.
Offensively, they can spread the Cavs’ defense out and force them to guard one-on-one. This isn’t ideal for a team that has struggled with point-of-attack defense all season. And if the backside help comes, the Celtics have capable enough playmakers to find the open man and make them pay with their three-point shooting.
Defensively, they stay out of rotation due to their willingness to switch everything. They trust each player on the court to hold their own in any matchup, and they mostly do. This allows them to limit the amount of disruption an off-ball shooter like Sam Merrill can cause or the effectiveness of the pick-and-roll because they’re okay with giving up mismatches if it means slowing down the offense’s ball movement.
The problems this can cause the Cavs came through, particularly in the second quarter when the game got away from them.
The Cavs lost this game in the second quarter. They mustered just 10 points, went 0-14 from three, and just 4-25 from the field.
“I think that first half man, it was really just about shots,” Donovan Mitchell said.
The Cavs generated good looks in the second quarter that simply didn’t fall. Below is a clip of eight threes that were either quality attempts or, at the very least, open enough that you’re okay with the shot in a vacuum.
“If we get a couple shots to fall, layups, threes, anything…it’s a different ballgame,” James Harden said. “It’s draining when you feel like you’re getting easy looks and they’re not going, but it’s part of the game.”
Missing threes in the second quarter wasn’t an issue for the Cavs; their inability to find other ways to score was.
“Part of basketball is missing and making shots, but our competitive nature, our competitive spirit [needs to be there] for a full game,” Harden said. “That’s what we do. We force the game to be in our hands.”
This is what the Celtics did better, particularly in the second quarter. They also shot poorly, going 1-9 from three in the second, but they found ways to attack the basket and get to the free-throw line.
Boston only scored 21 points in that frame, but their ability to keep their offense on schedule allowed them to create separation. If the Cavs hadn’t abandoned trying to get inside in the second quarter, they might’ve been able to stay in the game until their three-point shot came around.
The same three-point looks that weren’t falling in the first half fell in the second. They went 11-23 (47.8%) from three en route to a 62-point half.
If you look at most of the makes below, you’ll see that the offensive process that led to the attempts wasn’t too different. It’s just that the shots went in this time around.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can buy the Mark Price shirt HERE. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE.
“I think we did an unbelievable job in the second half,” Harden said. “We just kept fighting and giving ourselves a chance.”
The Celtics don’t have an answer for Evan Mobley. This is a matchup he’s historically done well in, and did so again on Sunday. He punished mismatches when he got the switch and did a good job of getting into the paint on opposing center Neemias Queta.
While the Cavs don’t have an answer for Boston’s wings, the Celtics also don’t have an answer for Cleveland’s bigs. This was evident even though the Cavs were without Jarrett Allen.
Boston’s role players were the biggest difference in this matchup.
Both teams had good enough games from their stars. The same can’t be said about the supporting cast.
The Celtics’ bench outscored the Cavs’ 41-13. This included standout performances from Payton Pritchard (18 points) and Baylor Scheierman (16 points). Sam Hauser was a starter, but his 15 points were more than any Cavalier outside of Mitchell, Harden, and Mobley.
Conversely, the Cavs received a substandard performance from everyone outside of their stars. Jaylon Tyson provided eight points and didn’t make an impact defensively, Sam Merrill went 1-7 from three, Dennis Schroder registered just two points, and Keon Ellis didn’t score at all.
Even though this game felt one-sided at times, the Cavs aren’t far off.
The Celtics are the standard in the East. They’re the only proven, championship team among the four top teams in the conference. Games like this show why. They understand who they are and what they want to do on both ends. That came through in the stretches where they weren’t getting their shots to fall in the second quarter, and didn’t let it affect how they played. That, in the end, is what won them the game.
The Cavs aren’t on the Celtics’ level right now, but that doesn’t mean they can’t get there.
“In that second half, we found something in ourselves,” Harden said. “That’s the level we got to get to, Boston. Once we’re there, because I know we’re good enough. We will get there, then we’ll be a much better team.
“If we’re making shots, we’re going to blow teams out. And tonight we didn’t make our shots.”
You never know what will happen to anyone sitting courtside during an NBA game.
In fighting for a loose ball, Lakers guard Marcus Smart crashed into longtime television host and political commentator Bill Maher while facing the Knicks in a Sunday afternoon tip-off at the Crypto.com Arena.
It’s only the fourth time this season the Lakers held an opponent under 100 points, and the Knicks are by far the best team L.A. has done this against, with the others being the Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors.
Luka Doncic led the LeBron James-less Lakers with 35 points, eight rebounds and four assists, making five threes in the process.
Smart shot just 1-for-10 and went 0-for-5 from deep, ending the day with just five points, four assists and two steals.
Tyrese Maxey has played in 61 games this season — Joel Embiid and Paul George combined have played 60. Maxey has become the All-Star starter and star of the 76ers. Which is why this may be the little finger but it's big news.
Maxey will miss both ends of the 76ers back-to-back Monday (Cleveland) and Tuesday (Memphis) because of a sprained pinkie finger on his right hand, the team announced. Here is the statement from the 76ers.
"Tyrese Maxey suffered a sprain of the right fifth finger. He will undergo additional testing and consultation in the coming days to determine a treatment plan. He is OUT for the next two games and further updates will be provided after the back-to-back."
While not good news, it's better than how bad it looked when the injury happened. The injury happened with 16.2 seconds left in the 76ers' Saturday night loss to the Hawks. Maxey collided with teammate Adem Bona and instantly grabbed his right hand in pain, then immediately left the game.
Maxey sprained the same finger last season and, while he returned, he struggled with his shot after that (the team shut him down early in what was a tanking season).
This season, Maxey was voted an All-Star starter by the fans, and with good reason: He is averaging 29 points and 6.7 assists per game, shooting 37.3% from 3-point range. He has been the one consistent player for Philadelphia this season and the team gets outscored by 4.6 points per 100 possessions when he is off the court.
Which is a concern for a 76ers team that sits as the No. 8 seed in the East, but needs wins with only three games separating No. 6 (and avoiding the play-in) from No. 10 (red-hot Charlotte, with Atlanta at No. 9).
Philadelphia also will be without Embiid (oblique strain) and George (suspension) for the back-to-back to start the week. The 76ers can only hope Maxey doesn't miss more time than that. The good news is that it appears guard VJ Edgecombe (lumbar contusion) may be able to return for the back-to-back.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Yaxel Lendeborg scored 19 of his 27 points in the first half and Morez Johnson Jr. finished with 18 points, leading No. 3 Michigan in a 90-80 win over No. 8 Michigan State on Sunday to give the Big Ten champions a 15th straight conference win.
The Wolverines (29-2, 19-1 Big Ten) head to the conference tournament, hoping to earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament before shooting for the school’s second national championship and first since 1989
The Spartans (25-6, 15-5) were swept by their rivals in the regular season, but might get a third shot against them in a week at the Big Ten Tournament final.
Lendeborg, a preseason All-America selection, was the best player on the court for the second time in the series.
The UAB transfer was 8 of 12 from the field, matched a career high with five 3-pointers, had three assists and also made winning plays at the other end of the court.
After Jeremy Fears Jr. made a jumper to pull Michigan State within three points with 3:47 left, Lendeborg made a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to start a 10-2 run that sealed the victory.
NO. 9 NEBRASKA 84, IOWA 75, OT
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Cale Jacobsen came off the bench to score 13 of his 15 points after halftime and hit the tiebreaking 3-pointer in overtime, and Nebraska matched its program record for wins in a season with a victory over Iowa.
Sam Hoiberg, who scored 15 points and had five steals on his senior day, hugged teammate Pryce Sandfort near halfcourt as time ran out and then heaved the ball high into the stands. He and his father, coach Fred Hoiberg, embraced and a short time later the rest of the Huskers came out of the tunnel to salute the sellout crowd at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Nebraska (26-5, 15-5 Big Ten) led by 10 points with five minutes left in regulation but missed five of its next seven shots and a couple of late free throws to let the Hawkeyes back in it. Kael Combs scored Iowa’s last eight points of regulation, including a second-chance 3-pointer that tied it 70-all with 2.7 seconds left.
After Cooper Koch tied it at 75-all in overtime, Jacobsen made a 3 from the corner and the Huskers went on to score the final nine points. The Huskers beat Iowa (20-11, 10-10) for the first time in five meetings and split the season series.
NO. 11 ILLINOIS 78, MARYLAND 72
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — David Mirkovic had 22 points and 11 rebounds as Illinois held off Maryland.
The Terrapins (11-20, 4-16 Big Ten) have had a desultory season under first-year coach Buzz Williams, losing 20 games for the first time since 1988-89, but they gave the Illini (24-7, 15-5) a battle. Illinois led 63-62 before Ben Humrichous made a 3-pointer that started a 7-0 run for the Illini.
The Terps pulled back within two, but a successful challenge of an out-of-bounds call enabled the Illini to keep the ball with 1:04 to play. Mirkovic worked free for a layup inside, and Maryland’s next possession went about as badly as possible when the Terrapins used most of the shot clock before Andre Mills misfired from 3-point range.
Maryland was down four in the final seconds when Darius Adams was unable to convert a layup.
The win gave Illinois a bye into Friday’s quarterfinals in the Big Ten Tournament. The Illini also tied a program record with their eighth road win in Big Ten play.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 4: Mo Bamba #11 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 4, 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
According to Michael Scotto, the Utah Jazz have signed center Mo Bamba to a second 10-day contract.
The Utah Jazz have signed center Mo Bamba to a second 10-day contract.
Bamba fills a need with the injuries to Walker Kessler and Jusuf Nurkic. We’ll see if this amounts to anything but it’s clear that the Jazz are more interested in giving center minutes to Kyle Filipowski. That said, we have seen Bamba get some backup minutes with some mixed results. He has had some nice moments protecting the rim, but there have been a lot of minutes where you don’t feel his presence on the floor. It’s too bad because Bamba’s measurables are off the charts. Knowing those measurables, it’s worth giving Bamba a chance. Can he show something to end the season that could have him stick to the roster? It would be a huge deal if they could help Bamba reach his potential with his measurements. He’s never been able to stick to a roster, but it’s easy to see why he’s so intriguing.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 28: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates with Keldon Johnson #3 in the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on January 28, 2026 in Houston, 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. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much.
The Spurs played an awful game against the Clippers for about 30 minutes of game time on Friday night, letting the Clippers take a 25 point lead, followed by 18 minutes of frantic play where the team showed a level of effort and mental resilience that we Spurs fans haven’t seen for at least a decade in the Alamo City. The last few minutes weren’t beautiful, as both teams made critical mistakes, but the Silver and Black made the critical plays and Wembanyama’s gravity led to Champagnie and Stephon Castle getting key rebounds on free throw misses that iced a thrilling 116-112 victory in the Frost Bank Center.
Tonight the Spurs face the Houston Rockets, who are currently in third place in the west, six games behind the Spurs in the loss column. This is the fourth and final meeting between the two teams, and the Spurs currently own a 2-1 lead, so a win tonight would lock up the tiebreaker, and also give the Spurs a seven game lead over the Rockets with 18 games to play, which could be propitious for a team looking to lock up home court advantage in the playoffs.
The Rockets are a tough opponent, even without Steven Adams who they lost for the season last month. With Kevin Durant will be in the hall of fame, and he’s capable of scoring points in bunches. Reed Sheppard has been doing a great job recently since he’s moved to the starting lineup, with elite shooting and quick hands on defense. Amen Thompson is a tough defender and paint scorer, and Alperen Sengun is a tough inside presence. The Spurs will have to put together a 48 minute game tonight to put this one away early. The Celtics are coming to town on Tuesday night, but the Spurs can’t look past tonight’s game to focus on Jason Tatum and Boston. Let’s look for another great Victor Wembanyama game and for Champagnie and Castle to put the game away early. Let’s GOO SPURS!!
Game Prediction:
Reed Shepard will get switched onto Wembanyama, and Victor will taunt him by dangling the ball over his outstretched hands. Unfortunately, he will have so much fun doing it that he loses track of time and gets called for a 24 second violation.
San Antonio Spurs vs Houston Rockets March 8, 2026 | 7:00 PM CT Streaming: Peacock TV: Peacock, NBC Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Gianna Kneepkens scored 19 points and Kiki Rice added 15 points and eight assists Sunday as No. 2 UCLA rolled past No. 9 Iowa 96-45 to win its second straight Big Ten Tournament crown.
Rice was named the tourney’s Most Outstanding Player.
It’s the first time the Bruins (31-1) have captured back-to-back postseason conference titles, and it’s also the first time they have won regular-season and league tournament titles in the same season. The Bruins also extended their school-record win streak to 25 games and their Big Ten win streak to 24, dating to last season’s tourney run.
And they did it with most the lopsided championship-game margin in tournament history, easily surpassing Iowa’s 33-point win over Ohio State in 2023. Six UCLA players scored in double figures, including Sienna Betts — the younger sister of star center Lauren Betts — who matched a season high with 14 points. Lauren Betts had 10 points in 24 minutes.
Ava Heiden scored 15 points for the Hawkeyes (26-6). Addie Deal added 11 points while all-conference forward Hannah Stuelke struggled as she played through a right elbow injury and an illness for the third straight day. Stuelke was scoreless on 0-for-4 shooting and had only three rebounds as Iowa’s eight-game winning streak was snapped.
NO. 1 UCONN 100, CREIGHTON 51
Sarah Strong had 23 points, seven rebounds and six steals to lead UConn to a win over Creighton in the Big East semifinals as the Huskies advanced to a conference championship game for the 22nd season in a row.
UConn (33-0) shot 71% from 3-point range in the first three quarters on the way to its 49th consecutive win. It was also the 38th conference tournament win in a row as the Huskies scored 100 points in the Big East tournament for the first time. Kayleigh Heckel added nine points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the Huskies.
Kennedy Townsend had 13 points for Creighton (16-15), which was looking to advance to conference title games in consecutive seasons for the first time since losing in the 2009 and 2010 Missouri Valley Conference championship games.
UConn made 11 of its first 13 shots as the Huskies jumped out to a 27-4 lead, Creighton only hit consecutive shots twice in the first half. Strong had 17 points, four rebounds, four assists, six steals and two blocked shots in the first half. Arnold had 15 points on 7-of-7 shooting at halftime as the Huskies lead 57-22 at the break.
NO. 4 TEXAS 78, NO. 3 SOUTH CAROLINA 61
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP)- Madison Booker scored 18 points as Texas sprinted to a 14-0 lead and beat three-time defending champion South Carolina to win its first Southeastern Conference Tournament title.
Booker was named MVP of the tournament. Justice Carlton added 15 points and Jordan Lee had 12 for the Longhorns (31-3), who joined the SEC in 2024.
Texas shot 57% from the field to avenge last year’s 19-point loss to the Gamecocks in the championship game.
Joyce Edwards had 13 points for the Gamecocks (31-3), who had their 12-game win streak snapped.
The powerhouse programs split two tightly contested meetings earlier this season, with the Longhorns winning 66-64 at a neutral site in November and the Gamecocks earning a measure of revenge with a 68-65 win on their home floor in January.
This one was never close.
NO. 15 WEST VIRGINIA 62, NO. 10 TCU 53
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jordan Harrison scored 20 points, Sydney Shaw added 17 and West Virginia avenged two regular-season losses to TCU by beating the reigning Big 12 Tournament champion in the conference title game.
Harrison also had six rebounds and four assists while wreaking havoc on defense, and Kierra Wheeler contributed 10 points, helping the second-seeded Mountaineers (27-6) win their second Big 12 tourney title and first since the 2016-17 season.
Olivia Miles, the league player of the year, scored 17 points for No. 1 seed TCU (29-5) despite playing most of the way in foul trouble. Marta Suarez added 16 points but was just 6 of 19 from the field and fouled out in the final minute.
West Virginia led 56-43 with 90 seconds left before TCU ran off seven straight points to provide some hope. But Harrison, a senior from Oklahoma City, calmly made two free throws with 33.4 seconds remaining to help put the game away.
NO. 13 DUKE 70, NO. 12 LOUISVILLE 65, OT
DULUTH, Ga. (AP) — Taina Mair had 19 points and 12 rebounds, Delaney Thomas also scored 19 and Duke rallied to win its second straight women’s Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament title after beating Louisville.
Thomas’ layup with 4 seconds left in regulation tied the game at 60-all and sent it to overtime after Louisville held the lead for 35 of 40 minutes.
In overtime, another layup by Thomas moved the Blue Devils (24-8) ahead to stay, and Riley Nelson put the game away when she buried a 3-pointer with 6 seconds left. Nelson finished with 12 points.
Imari Berry scored 18 points and Mackenly Randolph had 17 points and 11 rebounds for Louisville (27-7). Randolph played all 45 minutes.
The stars came out for a sun-splashed Sunday afternoon in downtown Los Angeles.
Inside Crypto.com Arena, the Lakers hosted the Knicks in a nationally televised showcase between two of the NBA’s most historic franchises — two cities that see themselves not merely as markets but as cultural capitals.
It was also the annual gathering of people who live in Los Angeles but arrive wearing their Knicks gear to let everyone know they’re originally from New York City.
And like any big stage in either New York or Los Angeles, the seats were filled with stars.
Yes, LeBron James was there. Luka Dončić, too. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns carried the hopes of Manhattan into the afternoon light. But on this particular Sunday, the audience sometimes felt just as headline-worthy as the performers.
If the Knicks and Lakers represent basketball royalty, then the celebrities sitting courtside looked like a Hollywood premiere with a shot clock.
Almost exactly one year ago, when the Lakers beat New York in a 113-109 overtime thriller, the celebrity roll call looked like an Oscars seating chart: Larry David, Timothée Chalamet, Spike Lee, Ben Stiller, Kylie Jenner, Denzel Washington, John McEnroe, Brenda Song, Macaulay Culkin, Jason Sudeikis, Kevin Connolly, Kyler Murray and Rams star Puka Nacua.
Soaking in the atmosphere with the grin of someone who has seen plenty of big games in this town was actor Martin Lawrence, who sat across from James on the Lakers’ bench. To his right sat Jordan Howlett, the wildly popular internet personality known as “Jordan the Stallion.”
Next to Howlett was Action Bronson — the Queens-born rapper and lifelong Knicks diehard — wearing a Knicks hat just as you’d expect. Across the court from him was Sacha Baron Cohen, who watched with the kind of quiet curiosity that suggests he might be mentally filing the whole thing away for some future satirical masterpiece.
Martin Lawrence sits courtside.NBAE via Getty Images Action Bronson holds a drink while watching NBA action.NBAE via Getty Images Knicks legend Patrick Ewing is all smiles courtside.NBAE via Getty Images Flea, Melody Ehsani and their son at the Lakers game.Getty Images LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 08: Bill Maher and Sacha Baron Cohen (R) attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks at Crypto.com Arena on March 08, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
Celebrities At The Los Angeles Lakers GameGetty Images LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 08: Freddie Gibbs (R) and Ben Lambert attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks at Crypto.com Arena on March 08, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
Celebrities At The Los Angeles Lakers GameGetty Images
Bill Maher, never one to hide an opinion, leaned back and observed the circus unfolding around him — a political comic sitting comfortably in the middle of Los Angeles’ most apolitical ritual: celebrity watching. He even got a taste of the action up close and personal as Lakers guard Marcus Smart dove for a loose ball and crashed into him and his girlfriend, film-producer Noor Alfallah, who has a child with actor Al Pacino.
Pacino’s “Godfather III” co-star Andy Garcia, whose Hollywood gravitas feels almost as timeless as the Lakers’ purple and gold, sat a few seats away as well.
Actor Ben Lambert, decked out in a Knicks jersey and Yankees hat, sat courtside next to rapper Freddie Gibbs.
Rich Paul, one of the most powerful agents in sports and the architect behind LeBron’s business empire, sat courtside as he always does. Comedian and actor Jay Mohr, who is married to Lakers governor Jeanie Buss, chatted with his wife throughout the game.
Sitting in Jack Nicholson’s legendary courtside seats was his son, “Smile” actor Ray Nicholson.
Nearby, was Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, who has practically become part of the architecture of Los Angeles sports. His presence at Lakers games now feels as routine as the national anthem.
Former big men from both teams: Patrick Ewing of the Knicks and Dwight Howard of the Lakers sat back and smiled from their courtside seats as well. Two Hall of Fame legends sharing the same building.
Some of the celebrities sitting courtside this afternoon for Knicks vs. Lakers on ABC:
Ray Nicholson (son of Jack), Flea, Knicks’ owner James Dolan, Rich Paul, Martin Lawrence, Influencer Jordan Howlett (Jordan the Stallion 8), Patrick Ewing, Dwight Howard, Action Bronson, Bill… pic.twitter.com/hHwt7hafoG
The Knicks billionaire owner sat in attendance as well, a reminder that even the most famous arena in sports — Madison Square Garden — must occasionally take its show on the road.
Because that’s what these games become.
The Knicks versus the Lakers isn’t simply an NBA matchup. It’s a cultural summit meeting between the East Coast’s intellectual swagger and the West Coast’s cinematic glow.
Sunday’s gathering proved something important about basketball in these two cities: The game is never just about the game.
It’s about identity.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
In New York, Knicks fandom is almost tribal — gritty, loud, impatient. Spike Lee pacing the Garden sideline is part of the mythology. In Los Angeles, Lakers fandom is something different. It’s cultural. Sitting courtside isn’t merely about watching basketball; it’s about participating in the entertainment capital’s most glamorous public ritual.
That tension between authenticity and spectacle is exactly what makes Lakers-Knicks such an irresistible television event.
The NBA knows it. Networks know it. Hollywood certainly knows it.
Because when these teams meet, the arena becomes something bigger than sports. It’s about two American cities that believe they sit at the center of the universe.
New York brings the attitude.
Los Angeles brings the spotlight.
And on Sunday afternoon at Crypto.com Arena, the spotlight was bright enough for everyone to share.
HARRISON, N.J. (AP) — Wiki Carmona scored two goals against his former team after Prince Owusu found the net on a penalty kick and CF Montreal thumped the New York Red Bulls 3-0 on Sunday.
Montreal (1-2-0) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 8th minute on a PK goal by Owusu. Montreal's first goal of the season was set up when Iván Jaime drew a foul on Red Bulls' defender Justin Che.
Carmona scored unassisted in the 44th minute off a free kick to give Montreal a 2-0 lead at halftime.
Carmona stole the ball and capped the scoring with another unassisted goal in the 68th minute. Carmona had six goals in 102 appearances over five seasons with the Red Bulls. He failed to score in 21 starts over 34 appearances last season.
Thomas Gillier finished with five saves for Montreal, earning his first clean sheet in his 11th career start. Gillier allowed eight goals through the first two matches.
Ethan Horton finished with one save for the Red Bulls (2-1-0) in his third MLS start. Horton was coming off his first clean sheet in a 1-0 victory over the New England Revolution.
New York started teenagers Julian Hall (17), Adri Mehmeti (16) and Matthew Dos Santos (17) for a third straight match.
First-year coach Michael Bradley's Red Bulls were trying to open a season with three straight victories for the first time in club history.
Marco Donadel notched his first victory as Montreal's head coach after taking over on an interim basis last season when the club finished 13th and missed the playoffs.
New York outscored Montreal 3-0 in a pair of victories last season.
Up next
New York: At Toronto FC on Saturday.
Montreal: At Orlando City on Saturday in the fourth of six straight road matches to begin the season.
