TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper will miss the next two games after the death of his father, Robert.
Assistant Rob Zettler was the acting head coach for the Lightning's home game against Toronto on Wednesday night and will again do so at Carolina on Thursday night.
Cooper, who coached the Lightning to Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021, was the head coach for Canada in the Milan Cortina Olympics. The Canadians left with the silver medals after losing 2-1 to the United States in overtime in the gold medal game.
“Thoughts and prayers, as always, to Coop and his family," Zettler said Wednesday before facing the Maple Leafs. “That was the No. 1 thing, that he takes care of business back home. He left this morning to go back to Vancouver. What I am in confident in is our guys. They've been excellent in so many ways this year, including in times like this where's Coop's missing or something happens to one of the guys."
The NHL restarted its season Wednesday after taking a break for the Olympic Games in Milan. Tampa Bay entered the day with a six-point lead in the Atlantic Division and the Lightning's 78 points were tied with the Hurricanes for best in the Eastern Conference.
They went 19-1-1 over the final 21 games before the break.
Boston Celtics (38-19) at Denver Nuggets (36-22) Wednesday, February 25, 2026 10:00 PM ET Regular Season Game #58 Road Game #31 TV: ESPN, NBCSB, Altitude Sports Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub,92.5 Altitude Sports Radio, Sirius XM Ball Arena
The Celtics complete their 4 game Western road trip with a stop in Denver to take on the Nuggets. This is the second of 2 games between these two teams. The Nuggets won the first game 114-110 in Boston on January 7. The Celtics won the series 2-0 last season. The Celtics are 62-41 overall all time against the Denver Nuggets. They are 21-30 in games played in Denver.
The Nuggets addressed some weaknesses in the off season while keeping their core intact. They traded Michael Porter, Jr for Cam Johnson. They traded Dario Saric for Jonas Valanciunas to address their back up center need. They signed Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway, Jr as free agents and allowed Russell Westbrook to walk as a free agent. They didn’t have any picks in the 2025 draft. At the trade deadline, they traded Hunter Tyson to Brooklyn for a 2nd round pick to avoid the luxury tax.
The Celtics are 2nd in the East, 4.5 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are 2 game ahead of 3rd place New York and 4th place Cleveland, 4.5 games ahead of 5th place Toronto, 6.5 games ahead of 6th place Philadelphia and 7.5 games ahead of 7th place Orlando. The Celtics are 14-6 against Western Conference opponents. They are 20-10 on the road and 9-1 in their last 10 games. They have won their last 4 games.
The Nuggets are 4th in the West, 8 games behind first place OKC, 5.5 games behind 2nd place San Antonio, and tied with 3rd place Houston. They are 1 game ahead of the 5th place Lakers , and 6th place Minnesota and they are 3 games ahead of 7th place Phoenix. They are 15-11 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 15-11 at home and 4-6 in their last 10 games. They are coming off a loss in their last game.
The Celtics are playing in the final game of a 4 game Western road trip. They are 3-0 so far on the trip. They will return home for games against Brooklyn and Philadelphia before a game at Milwaukee. Then they are back home for games against Charlotte and Dallas before a tough 3 game road trip through Cleveland, San Antonio, and Oklahoma City. Then they host Washington, Phoenix and Golden State.
The Nuggets have just completed a 3 game road trip where they beat Portland and lost to the Warriors and Clippers. After this game they will play one game on the road at OKC and then one game at home against Minnesota and one game at home against Utah. Then they host the Lakers and Knicks befoe playing at OKC once again. Next is one game at home against Houston before games on the road against the Spurs and Lakers.
Jayson Tatum remains out for the Celtics as he rehabs from the Achilles injury. Jaylen Brown missed Tuesday’s game against the Suns but is available for this game. For the Nuggets, Tamar Bates (foot), Aaron Gordon (hamstring), Jalen Pickett (knee), and Peyton Watson (hamstring) are listed as out. Jamal Murray (hamstring) and Julian Strawther (toe) are both listed as probable. I’m guessing they are going to start the same 5 as they did the last 2 games.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs Jamal Murray
Derrick White | NBAE via Getty ImagesJamal Murray | Getty Images
Celtics Reserves Payton Pritchard Hugo Gonzalez Luka Garza Amare Williams Nikola Vucevic Jordan Walsh Delano Banton (10-day) John Tonje (10-day) 2-Way Players Ron Harper, Jr Max Shulga Injuries/Out Jayson Tatum (Achilles) out Jaylen Brown (knee) available
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Nuggets Reserves Bruce Brown Tim Hardaway, Jr DaRon Holmes II Spencer Jones Zeke Nnaji Jonas Valanciunas
2-Way Players Tamar Bates Curtis Jones KJ Simpson Injuries/Out Tamar Bates (foot) out Aaron Gordon (hamstring) out Jalen Pickett (knee) out Peyton Watson (hamstring) out Julian Strawther (toe) probable Jamal Murray (hamstring) probable
Head Coach David Adelman
Key Matchups Neemias Queta vs Nikola Jokic Jokic is has won 3 MVP’s and is in the conversation for MVP every season for a reason. He is averaging 28.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, 10.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game. He is shooting 58.4% from the field and 42.1% from beyond the arc. Over his career, against the Celtics, he averaged 22.8 points, 10.5 rebounds 6.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He missed the first game this season in Boston. He is a handful and the Celtics need to try to slow him down by any means necessary.
Derrick White vs Jamal Murray Murray is averaging 25.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.0 steals per game. He is shooting 48.3% from the field and 42.3% from beyond the arc. The Celtics will need to defend Murray very well both on the perimeter and in the paint as he can put up points in a hurry. In the first game against the Celtics this season, he finished with 22 points, 8 rebounds, 17 assists and 1 steal. He shot 44.4% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc. Honorable Mention Sam Hauser vs Cam Johnson Johnson is averaging 11.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. He is shooting 46.1% from the field and 41.7% from beyond the arc. He didn’t play in the game against the Celtics in Boston in January. He is a good shooter and so the Celtics need to defend him, especially on the perimeter.
Keys to the Game Defense – Defense is the key to winning every game. The Celtics are 7th with a defensive rating of 112.2. The Nuggets have a defensive rating of 116.3, which is 22nd. The Celtics are 2nd in the league with an offensive rating of 120.1 but the Nuggets are 1st with an offensive rating of 120.9. The Nuggets are first in the league, shooting 39.4% from beyond the arc as a team so the Celtics have to especially defend the perimeter. They are capable of playing lock down defense but they have to commit to it and put in the effort to do so.
Rebound – Rebounding is another key to winning every game. The Celtics are 8th in the league, averaging 45.7 rebounds per game. The Nuggets are 22th in the league with 43.0 rebounds per game. Rebounding takes effort and the Celtics have to work harder to grab rebounds to limit the Nuggets second chance points and fast breaks. The Celtics are 28-8 when they have more or the same rebounds as their opponents. They are just 9-11 when they are out-rebounded. They have to put in the effort to best the Nuggets on the boards.
Effort and Energy for 48 Minutes – The Celtics must be the more aggressive team. They have to fight for loose balls, defend aggressively, be aggressive in driving to the basket, and just play harder than the Nuggets for the entire game. They have to be the team that wants it more and plays like it. They especially have to begin the game with energy and not allow the Nuggets to race out to a big lead and they can’t let up throughout the game. They also have to come out strong in the 3rd quarter and play hard until the final buzzer. As shown against the Lakers on Sunday, the team that is more aggressive and that plays harder usually gets the benefit of more calls from the refs as well.
Move the Ball Carefully – The Celtics need to keep moving the ball to find the open man and make it much harder to guard them. However, they have to be careful with their passes and they also need to be careful when they dribble the ball and not drive into a crowd and turn the ball over. The Celtics are usually very good at taking care of the ball but at times they lose focus and get sloppy. They can’t afford to do that against the Nuggets.
X-Factors Mile High on the Road– It’s tough to win in Denver because of the altitude that the teams are playing at. Denver is called the Mile High City because it is 5,280 feet above sea level. Nuggets players are used to the altitude but visiting teams often struggle with playing there and often are fatigued before the end of the game. It is a very unique home court advantage. The Celtics also have to shake off the distractions of travel and playing in front of a hostile crowd.
Last Game Back to Back – Along with playing at altitude, the Celtics are playing on the second night of back to back games and in the 3rd game in 4 nights. They usually pay well in back to back games but they have a lot going against them in this one with the altitude and travel and it’s also the final game of a long road trip and usually those are the toughest games. The Celtics need to keep their focus and hopefully they won’t be fatigued from playing back to back and at the end of the trip.
Officiating – I know that I say this every game, but the officiating can always be an x-factor. Every crew calls the game differently whether they call every little ticky tack foul or they let a lot of contact go and let the teams play. We have already seen games where the officiating made a difference in the outcome, both good and bad. The Celtics have got to adjust to the way the game is being called and not let the calls affect their focus or their play.
Oct 27, 2025; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) dribbles past Toronto Raptors guard Jamal Shead (23) in the second half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn 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.
O Canada! The Spurs are on a nine game winning streak, they’re in the midst of the Rodeo Road Trip, and they just beat the best team in the Eastern Conference on their home court. They took the best punch from the Pistons, maintained their composure, and fought back by playing their own game instead of getting into the physical style of play of the opponent. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that the win over Detroit in their arena was the best victory of the season for the Silver and Black, where they not only showed they skill at basketball, but their mental resilience and toughness as a team. It was playoff-style basketball, and the Spurs aced their first test.
Tonight they face a team that’s not quite on the same level as the Pistons, but one that’s very talented and well-coached and should provide another test for San Antonio, and the name of tonight’s test is to see if they can consistently play with the effort and focus they showed on Monday night. The Raptors lost last night to the Thunder, so the Spurs will have to beat Tolronto to keep pressure on OKC as they try to stay in first.
Scottie Barnes can score points in bunches, Jamal Shead is turning into a solid player in his second year. Former Spur Jakob Poeltl can be a force in the paint, and should be well-rested after sitting out last night’s game. Speaking of former Spurs, Sandro Mamukelashvili will be playing his first game as a Raptor against his former team, and hopefully he won’t have a scoring explosion like he did against the Knicks last year, where he scored 34 points and celebrated with Flavor Flav after the game. It’s gonna be fun to watch, and GO SPURS GOO!!
Game Prediction:
Grady Dick and Stephon Castle will exchange dunk attempts, but Stephon will win the exchange by blocking Dick.
San Antonio Spurs at Toronto Raptors February 25, 2026 | 6:30 PM CT Streaming: NBA League Pass TV: FanDuel Sports Southwest Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - FEBRUARY 11: Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on February 11, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
According to Kevin Reynolds, Lauri Markkanen was injured in practice and will receive an MRI.
Source: Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen injured in practice, to get MRIhttps://t.co/DcWKJhH0UB
Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen could miss some time after suffering an injury in practice on Wednesday.
Markkanen will be evaluated for a right ankle and right hip injury, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. The 7-footer will get an MRI to determine the severity of the injury.
The source is being granted anonymity because they had not been cleared to speak publicly on the matter.
Obviously, this will create jokes online about the amount of injuries the Jazz are having, especially with an important tanking loss needed tonight against the Pelicans. That said, the Jazz have no reason to put their players in harms way. They have already lost Vince Williams Jr. to a season ending ACL tear and the last thing they need is to lose Markkanen to a meaningless injury on-court cause they’re trying to push players to play, like the NBA apparently wants teams to do. No word on whether Silver will send “his doctors” to check on Markkanen yet.
It may be just a matter of time that we hear that Markkanen will be shut down the rest of the season.
Harden suffered a broken right thumb during the team's win over the New York Knicks on Tuesday. The injury was not discovered until after the game.
Harden, famously a left-handed shooter, could theoretically play through the injury. In fact, per ESPN's Shams Charania, Harden intends to do just that. However, that might be out of his control for now. Here's what to know about James Harden's latest injury.
Will James Harden play tonight?
Harden is currently listed as questionable for Wednesday night's game against the Milwaukee Bucks. His status for future games is still up in the air, although, as stated earlier, Harden intends to play through it.
Feb 24, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Boston Celtics guard Ron Harper Jr. (13) celebrates a three point shot against the Phoenix Suns in the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
On the front-half of a back-to-back, the Boston Celtics faced off against a short-handed Phoenix Suns team, securing a commanding 97-81 victory. The Celtics weren’t at full-strength themselves, though, Jaylen Brown missing the game with a knee contusion. It was a night where the offense was dragging, but the defense picked up all the slack.
This was Boston’s 7th time holding their opponent under 100 points in their last 12 games. It was also the second lowest point total that the Celtics allowed in a game this season, the lowest being a win over Milwaukee in a game which the Bucks only scored 79 points.
Everyone in Boston has been stepping up their intensity as of late, and the man who stepped up into JB’s spot in the starting lineup against Phoenix was a huge part of that. That man was Ron Harper Jr., who, as of now, is still on a two-way contract. This was only Ron’s 24th game of his four-year career, and just his second start, both coming this year.
He certainly stepped up to the moment, bringing every bit of intensity the Celtics needed against a gritty team like Phoenix right from the tip. In the first quarter alone, Ron picked up four rebounds, all on the offensive glass. All of them were contested, too, but he simply outworked everyone else to wrangle in every loose ball.
Ron Harper Jr had 4 offensive rebounds in that 1st quarter. His length in comparison to other guys at his position is a huge plus. When you couple that with activity you get this production pic.twitter.com/yqXIFiXXnD
Not only that, but he did an excellent job of “guarding his yard,” holding his matchups to just 3-12 shooting for the game. He also picked up a steal, and an emphatic chase-down block in what might have been the highlight of the night.
Jamaree Bouyea was running a 1-on-1 fastbreak for Phoenix, Baylor Scheierman the lone defender in front of the play. Baylor did an excellent job staying upright and not fouling to slow Bouyea down as he went up for a layup, and that gave Ron just enough time to catch up to the play and spike the shot against the backboard, igniting a fastbreak for Boston which resulted in a Hugo Gonzalez layup on the other end, and a Baylor-Ron dap up mid-play.
Ron finished the night with 8 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block. After the game, Coach Mazzulla was asked about what allowed him to trust Ron in these moments: ““He cares about the details. Obviously, the offensive stuff — he can make shots, he can think, he can play. But defensively, just competing, understanding the details, executing the game plan, taking pride in defense… He just loves basketball… Just another guy who — We can count on him… And he’s earning that.”
Sam Hauser shared some similar praise for Harper, saying “he makes the most of it, that’s for sure. He fits right in like nothing… And he’s a great player. He’s a great defender, and he helps us in a lot of different ways.”
Harper is still working towards a standard contract, which almost feels inevitable given his play as of late, along with the Celtics financial situation for this season. If he were to get a standard deal, he would come relatively cheap and help Boston stay under the Luxury Tax while bringing in a high-impact player. The Celtics won’t be making a standard signing for some time, though, as they try to wait as long as possible to make it a pro-rated deal that keeps some money off the books.
With Ron’s two-way status, he remains eligible to appear in all 23 of Boston’s remaining games this season, though he won’t be eligible for the playoffs unless he gets a standard deal. He’s been bringing excellent vibes both on and off the court, and would be a worthy addition to the roster, even if he doesn’t see much playing time.
Jayson Tatum’s return to the court is getting closer.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Celtics star has progressed to full 5-on-5 scrimmage work in recent practices, marking a significant step in his recovery from a torn Achilles. Boston has held multiple workouts during its recent road swing, with Tatum steadily increasing his on-court activity in controlled settings.
“Right now, it’s about him continuing to put in the time, continuing to get his conditioning up, and that comes through a number of practices and scrimmages,” Charania said. “There are two elements right now at play. One is increasing the strength in both of his calves off of that Achilles tendon injury, and the big hurdle of all this is getting 100 percent there on the mental side — getting the confidence in his leg fully when he’s back.”
The shift to live action, even in practice, is one of the final hurdles in the rehab process. Conditioning, lateral movement and game-speed reps are difficult to simulate without full competition. Now, Tatum is getting those reps.
The Celtics have consistently emphasized that Tatum will dictate the pace of his return. There is still no official timetable, and neither the team nor Tatum has attached a target date to his debut. As Charania described it, the Celtics are allowing Tatum to control the timeline.
40 weeks🙏🏽 I’ve really grown to appreciate this journey I’ve been on and allow time for me to pat myself on the back for showing up everyday!
“The common theme that I’ve gotten around Jayson Tatum is he will be back on the floor when ‘JT feels like JT,’” Charania said. “The Celtics have continued to let him lead that process. He’s in the driver’s seat. They will take Jayson Tatum’s lead as far as when he feels like he’s ready and cleared.”
Boston has managed well in his absence, winning nine of its last 10 games and climbing near the top of the Eastern Conference standings. The team has leaned heavily on its defense, rebounding, and depth development, with young wings and role players stepping into larger responsibilities.
Still, Tatum’s eventual return changes the equation. Selected to the All-NBA 1st Team each of the last four seasons, his scoring gravity, late-game shot creation and two-way versatility remain central to Boston’s ceiling.
For now, it’s a milestone. Full 5-on-5 participation is progress. The next phase will be sustaining that workload, building stamina and clearing the final medical and performance benchmarks.
There is no date circled publicly on the calendar. But we now know the Celtics are one step closer to getting their franchise cornerstone back on the floor.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 24: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after scoring against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first quarter of an NBA game at Smoothie King Center on February 24, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Sean Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors will not have Draymond Green available to play in Wednesday night’s matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies. While Green had been listed as questionable earlier in the day, the team later announced that the four-time All-Star was downgraded. So, the Dubs will face the Grizzlies without Green, Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, De’Anthony Melton, Kristaps Porzingis, or Seth Curry available for head coach Steve Kerr. Green has appeared in 48 games this season and is averaging 8.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.1 assists on 41.0%/32.0%/70.7% shooting.
The Dubs should still have a fighting chance for victory despite the absences since they are facing a tanking Grizzlies squad that is arguably missing just as sizable a portion of its rotation. The Grizzlies injury report listed Ja Morant, Zach Edey, Santi Aldama, Cedric Coward, Brandon Clarke, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as out. Grizzlies forward Kyle Anderson is also listed as questionable.
Despite Green’s pedigree, the Warriors have often looked far more fluid offensively with him on the sidelines this season. Green’s already limited offensive game has been even more diminished in his mid-30s and has empowered opposing defenses to focus attention elsewhere. With Draymond out, the Warriors will primarily rely on Al Horford and Quinten Post at the center position, two legitimate three-point shooting threats.
On 2/24, inside the serene halls of Hoag Hospital, Vanessa Bryant stood in a place that once echoed with the first cries of her four daughters and unveiled something that now carries a different kind of sound — legacy.
The “Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Court” isn’t a basketball court dressed in purple and gold. It’s a welcome and departure space inside the Sue & Bill Gross Women’s Pavilion, where mothers cradle newborns and fathers hold the future in trembling hands.
Vanessa Bryant stood in a place that once echoed with the first cries of her four daughters. X/kobehighlightIt honors Kobe’s No. 24 and Gianna’s No. 2 — numbers stitched into basketball history. Getty Images
It honors Kobe’s No. 24 and Gianna’s No. 2 — numbers stitched into basketball history and now etched into something more intimate: community care.
On 2/24, Vanessa Bryant unveiled the new Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Court at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, a date that honors both Kobe’s No. 24 and Gianna’s No. 2.
"Today on 2/24, we unveiled the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family court at Hoag Hospital in Newport… pic.twitter.com/1I6JGszZe7
Vanessa, steady and resolute, reminded everyone that Hoag will always hold a sacred place in her heart. This is where her daughters were born. Where nurses became extended family. Where life, not legend, took center stage.
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There are critics who say public memorials risk becoming monuments to nostalgia. They miss the point. This isn’t nostalgia. It’s infrastructure for hope.
Families will pass through that court for decades, unaware of the full weight of the numbers 2 and 24. That’s the beauty of it.
Legacy doesn’t always need applause. Sometimes it just needs a doorway — and the courage to keep walking forward.
“We’re just focusing on celebrating the women in our room, the extraordinary efforts," Knight told ESPN on Wednesday. “And continue to celebrate three gold medals in program history as well as the double gold for both men’s and women’s at the same time.”
Knight, a two-time gold medalist whose 15 goals and 33 points in Olympic competition are the most by a U.S. hockey player at the Games, said she's not focusing on an offhand comment by Trump after the American men topped Canada for gold in overtime on Sunday.
Talking on a speakerphone in the postgame locker room, Trump extended an invitation to the White House to the men's team, then added, “We’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that.” The president later joked that if he didn't extend the invitation, he would probably be impeached.
While the vast majority of the men's team flew to Washington on Tuesday and visited Trump in the White House before being guests at the State of the Union, many of the women's players were on the way back to their professional or college clubs.
USA Hockey, which said it was “honored” by the invitation, cited logistical issues as the major hurdle that prevented the women's team from stopping by the White House. The team was originally scheduled to fly commercially into New York on Monday, but was forced to reroute through Atlanta due to a snowstorm in the Northeast.
Several players were going to stick around New York for promotional purposes, even ringing the bell at the New York Stock Exchange. Those scheduled appearances had to be canceled because of flight changes.
Knight lamented that the video — which included several players laughing after Trump's comments — took on a life of its own and didn't convey the true nature of the relationship between the men's and women's teams.
“I think the guys were in a tough spot,” Knight said. "So I think it’s a shame this storyline and narrative has kind of blown up and overshadowing that connection and genuine interest in one another and cheering each other on.”
Kelly Pannek, a forward on the women's team, told reporters, “the video is what it is" but added it was a “special feeling” spending time with the men's team after they won the first Olympic gold for the U.S. in 46 years. Pannek believes there is mutual respect and support on both sides of the relationship.
Goaltender Jeremy Swayman told reporters in Boston after returning to practice with the Bruins that the men “should have reacted differently” to Trump's remarks.
“To share that gold medal with them is something that we’re forever grateful for,” Swayman said. "And now that we’re home we get to share that together forever and see the incredible support we have from the USA and share this incredible gold medal.”
The earliest the U.S. women could make a visit would be in late spring after the conclusion of the Professional Women's Hockey League season.
Knight called the dustup a “really good learning point” and hopes that it will affect the way women are talked about both inside and outside of the sports world.
The U.S. won 12 gold medals in Milan Cortina, with women playing a hand in eight of them.
“Women aren’t less than," Knight said. "And their achievements shouldn’t be overshadowed by anything else other than how great they are.”
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 24: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This is always good news to hear, but especially so after some recent reporting.
The Sixers released their injury report for their upcoming contest against the Miami Heat and it is relatively clean. Most notably Joel Embiid is listed as probable with right knee injury management and shin soreness after returning earlier this week against the Indiana Pacers.
The Sixers have an injury report for tomorrow's game vs. Miami:
Joel Embiid – right knee injury management; right shin soreness — PROBABLE
After that return in Indy, a game in which Embiid dropped 27 points, he told the Inquirer’s Gina Mizell that he experienced what was basically a stress reaction in his right leg during his recovery process over the All-Star break. The full article from a reporter is well worth a read, but Embiid likened the feeling to an electric shock and said he had trouble walking.
Of course the team only specified “shin soreness” on every injury report, but that report being less than 100% accurate is just another Wednesday for these guys.
Having Embiid good to go will be crucial for this Eastern Conference bout at home. The Sixers are currently just 1.5 games up on the Miami Heat for that sixth and final playoff spot that avoids the Play-In tournament. Miami of course isn’t the only team they’re trying to fend off — the Sixers only a half game up on the Orlando Magic as well.
Miami’s injury report is littered with banged up rotation players, but most of them are listed as available. Tyler Herro, Norman Powell and Andrew Wiggins will all play despite being listed with various ailments and Davion Mitchell is questionable with a head injury and an illness.
Marques Johnson is a hoops legend. He is a Crenshaw High School icon who helped lead the UCLA Bruins to a national championship at the end of the John Wooden era (and was the first winner of The Wooden Award), was a No. 3 pick of the Milwaukee Bucks in 1977 and went on to play 11 years in the NBA, was a five-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA player who averaged 20.1 points and 7 rebounds a game for his career.
Johnson has been dunking on his birthday for 15 years, ever since, as a joke, he jumped over two Matchbox cars in a joking play off Blake Griffin's over-a-car dunk at the 2011 All-Star Game.
At 70, the long-time Bucks color analyst can still throw it down.
Remember the 1998 movie “Sliding Doors“? It represents how minor, coincidental or inconsequential actions can lead to major, life-changing consequences. The “what if …” or parallel universe phenomenon.
Well, there are sliding door moments in sports history, too, and today’s is that Michael Jordan, not Kobe Bryant, could have been the original “Black Mamba.”
According to Baxter Holmes of ESPN, back in 2003, inside a sleek conference room at Nike headquarters, executives studied a braided, black industrial sleeve called Tech Flex. It looked like a snake. It felt like a snake. Someone typed “most badass black snake” into a search bar and found their answer: the black mamba. Lightning fast. Deadly. Precise. The perfect metaphor for Jordan as he prepared to launch the Air Jordan 19 sneaker.
The Washington Wizards Michael Jordan (L) of the East Squad of the NBA All-Stars brings the ball upcourt against Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of the 52nd annual NBA All-Star game. REUTERS
There was just one problem that nobody knew about.
Jordan was afraid of snakes.
Not mildly uncomfortable. Not uneasy. Terrified. The kind of phobia that makes a competitor who never blinked in the Finals suddenly shift in his chair during a marketing pitch. He allowed one print ad — a black mamba coiled around the $165 sneaker in ESPN The Magazine — and then he shut it down. Reconcept. Move on. Kill it before it kills the brand.
In the March 13, 2004, issue of ESPN The Magazine, a two-page spread featured the full ad — the Air Jordan 19, wrapped by a black mamba snake.
And so the “Black Mamba” slithered into the archives of history, but only briefly before it was reborn.
A year later, fate intervened in the dark glow of a television screen. “Kill Bill Vol. 2” flickered across the room as Bryant watched Darryl Hannah’s assassin introduce a venomous serpent as “Death Incarnate.”
Bryant, drowning in scandal, scrutiny and a Colorado courtroom, needed armor. He needed separation from the noise. He created the Black Mamba — not as a sneaker pitch but as a survival mechanism.
Nike insiders insist Bryant never knew the moniker was once floated for Jordan. Different silos. Different eras. A coincidence so bizarre it feels scripted.
But imagine if Jordan had embraced it.
Imagine “Mamba Day” belonging to No. 23. Imagine sneakers textured in snakeskin before Bryant ever held one for that iconic SLAM cover.
The first image of Bryant with the black mamba snake appeared on the cover of SLAM Magazine in the summer of 2006.
Imagine “Mamba Mentality” attached to the man already nicknamed “Air Jordan.”
It wouldn’t have worked.
Jordan was a predator, yes — but he was myth built on flight, not venom. He soared. Jordan’s other nickname, “His Airness,” was apropos.
Kobe Bryant was different. Yes, he studied Jordan on VHS tapes as a kid. Yes, he also could jump high and dunk with the best of them — just ask Dwight Howard. But when Kobe was in kill mode, he struck. Just like a deadly snake.
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Miami Heat legend and basketball Hall of Famer Chris Bosh didn't go into specifics but said he received a medical scare, to the point where he woke up covered in his own blood, in a recent social media post.
Bosh, an 11-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion, posted a video of himself to Instagram where he was sitting inside of his car, explaining his recent episode in vague detail because he could not recall what happened.
"It was crazy. It was fast. It was instant. There was no warning. I didn’t have any time to prepare for it,” Bosh said during an Instagram post.
"I was getting ready to go on a date with my wife and the next thing you know, I was, I was on the ground," Bosh said. "I won’t get into specifics, but you can kind of see I’m still recovering. I’m not gonna try to hide that one in case I look different.”
PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 24: The sneakers worn by Ron Harper Jr. #13 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Phoenix Suns on February 24, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
