PISA, Italy (AP) — Luka Modrić scored a late winner for AC Milan to beat Pisa 2-1 and close the gap on Serie A leader Inter Milan to five points on Friday.
Inter plays fourth-placed Juventus on Saturday.
Milan had drawn three of its last six games, including against struggling Fiorentina and Genoa, and made heavy work of a match against the second-from-bottom club that had won only one league game all season.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek got the opener just before halftime when he rose unmarked to head home a cross from the right, and Niclas Füllkrug missed a penalty as Milan took control after a slow start.
However, Pisa threatened to dent the visitor’s title hopes when Felipe Loyola equalized with 20 minutes left.
Former Tottenham and Real Madrid midfielder Modrić came to Milan’s rescue six minutes from time when he stole into the box and poked home the winner.
There was still time for Milan’s Adrien Rabiot to be sent off but no more time for goals and Massimiliano Allegri’s men celebrated an important three points.
Pisa was equal on points with Verona. Fiorentina was three above both teams and Lecce another three points clear.
The Milan teams meet in the city derby at the San Siro on March 8.
DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Borussia Dortmund beat Mainz 4-0 to extend its unbeaten league run to 15 games and close the gap with Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich to three points on Friday.
The result, anchored by three first-half headers, left Dortmund three points behind Bayern, which is at Werder Bremen on Saturday.
Although its European form has been poor, Dortmund has been the form team in the Bundesliga and came into the game having won its last five in a row; it showed precisely why by overwhelming Mainz from the kickoff.
Serhou Guirassy’s perfect header from a free kick on the right after nine minutes set Dortmund on the winning path and six minutes later it was 2-0.
Again, the damage came from a cross from the right and a header, Maximilian Beier meeting Ryerson’s delivery at the far post.
Guirassy rounded off a near perfect half of football when his header almost on the goalline made it 3-0 shortly before halftime.
Dortmund was able to take its foot off the gas in the second half but there was still time for a fourth when Ramy Bensebaini nudged a corner into the net nine minutes from time.
It was a rude awakening for a Mainz side that appeared to have put its early season struggles behind it over the last few weeks.
Last weekend’s win against Augsburg lifted it out the relegation zone for the first time since September. Friday’s defeat left it 14th, four points above the drop zone but only two clear of Wolfsburg and Werder, both of which have a game in hand.
DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 11: Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets dribbles the ball during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on February 11, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. 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 Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Before the 2026 NBA All-Star Game kicks off from the new home of the Los Angeles Clippers, the Intuit Dome, on Sunday, the league is gathering for another rendition of All-Star Saturday featuring the Dunk Contest and the Three-Point Shootout.
The Dunk Contest has fallen on hard times as of late, and once again there’s a disappointing field of participants. Mac McClung isn’t around to save the dunk contest this year, but there is one NBA All-Star in the field. Meanwhile, the Three-Point Contest features two top rookies, plus an aging superstar who hasn’t played a game this season because of an injury. Let’s make predictions for the dunk and three-point contests ahead of All-Star Saturday.
NBA Dunk Contest 2026 field and prediction
Here’s the field at the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest:
Jase Richardson, G, Orlando Magic: The son of two-time dunk contest champ Jason Richardson is a rookie guard for the Orlando Magic who was picked No. 25 overall out of Michigan State. He’s listed at 6’1, 180 pounds, and has never been known for his hops like his old man.
Jalen Duren, C, Detroit Pistons: Duren is a first-time All-Star for the Pistons and one of the best young bigs in the league. Listed at 6’10, 250 pounds, he’s about the same size as Dwight Howard when he won the the Dunk Contest in 2008.
Carter Bryant, F, San Antonio Spurs: A strong and athletic 6’8 wing, Bryant was chosen by the Spurs with the No. 14 overall pick in hopes of being a 3-and-D wing around Victor Wembanyama long-term.
Jaxson Hayes, C, Los Angeles Lakers: Athletic backup center for the Lakers.
Our pick: Jaxson Hayes. It’s hard for a big man to win the dunk contest, but I saw Hayes an under-the-leg in-game a couple weeks ago, so I figure he’s got a deep bag for a contest like this. He’s so long and bouncy that could produce some cool dunks.
Here’s the field for the 2026 NBA Three-Point Contest:
Kon Knueppel, G, Charlotte Hornets: Kneuppel is the front-runner to win Rookie of the Year. The No. 4 overall pick looks like a potential franchise player for the upstart Charlotte Hornets.
Damian Lillard, G, Portland Trail Blazers: Lillard hasn’t played a game this season as he recovers from a torn Achilles. It was shocking to see him on this list. He’s going for his third title in this contest after winning it in 2023 and 2024.
Devin Booker, G, Phoenix Suns: An All-Star and one of the best shooting guards in the league, Booker is the leader of a surprisingly feisty Suns team.
Jamal Murray, G, Denver Nuggets: A first-time All-Star and NBA champion, Murray is a big shot taker and maker.
Tyrese Maxey, G, Philadelphia 76ers: An All-Star guard playing at an All-NBA level, Maxey’s combination of speed and touch is one of the best in the world.
Donovan Mitchell, G, Cleveland Cavaliers: The Cavs superstar is arguably the best American-born player in the league right now.
Norman Powell, G, Miami Heat: A first-time All-Star at age-32, Powell can fill it up as a microwave scorer.
Bobby Portis, F, Milwaukee Bucks: A veteran forward and NBA champion, Portis is a cult hero up in Milwaukee who has always been a stretch forward.
Our pick: Jamal Murray. Murray always rises to the occasion. I think he’ll be looking to prove himself in his first ever All-Star Weekend, and that starts by ripping the nights on Saturday night.
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 8: The sneakers worn by Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the New York Knicks on February 8, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - DECEMBER 18: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers in action during a game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on December 18, 2025 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. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Thanks to Luka Dončić’s best effort to recover from his hamstring strain, it appears likely that he will be representing the Lakers in the All-Star Game on Sunday.
Luka dealt with a hamstring strain for more than a week that caused him to miss the last four Lakers games before the All-Star break.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, that workout went well and Luka playing this weekend is still the plan.
The Lakers’ Luka Dončić is indeed on course to play for a short stint in Sunday’s All-Star Game after a strong pregame workout Thursday, league sources tell @TheSteinLine. pic.twitter.com/nUvNyyN8Gf
Before the Lakers took on the Mavs, Lakers head coach JJ Redick said Luka was expected to return after the All-Star break. It seems that timeline is accurate and Luka will even play in this weekend’s signature contest.
Also important to note that Stein reports Luka will play a short stint. Even in an All-Star Game that few take seriously, there is risk for injury. So, it’d be wise for Luka to take it easy and just play for a moment so fans can celebrate their local star.
This will be Luka’s first time participating in the All-Star Game as a Laker.
Dončić was the top vote-getter in the NBA, and with the festivities taking place in Los Angeles, he will be one of the biggest stars this weekend.
Luka is having one of the best years of his career, averaging a league-high 32.8points per game. He will represent and play for Team World in this new All-Star format.
Luka’s return is great news. It means he should be good to go once the Lakers begin regular-season play, and it’s another example of how much he loves the game and wants to give back to his fans.
He worked hard to return as quickly as possible, and barring a setback, it seems he’ll be on the court Sunday as the NBA celebrates its biggest stars.
The new format for the 2026 All-Star Game throws MVP betting into chaos. As much as betting on the best player, a smart gambler identifies which team is likely to win the event. Thus, before even pondering Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Edwards and Kevin Durant, the round-robin format must be considered.
The "World" team should be a shoe-in for the championship game. Of the NBA's MVP candidates, the "World" team may feature ... all of them. Combining Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama is a bit of a cheat code, certainly in a 12-minute game where fatigue should not be an issue.
Of the two U.S. teams, the "Stripes" are veteran-laden. LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard should capitalize on one last chance to team up. Favor the team heavy with Olympic gold medalists, all due respect to the "Stars" and Anthony Edwards and Devin Booker.
This may be LeBron James' last All-Star Game. The 12-minute games should allow him to run without tiring, and those runs should lead to a few highlight-worthy dunks.
Getting the chance to bet James at effectively 19-to-1 odds is too delightful a chance to turn down, particularly if trusting "Stripes" to reach the final.
2026 NBA All-Star Game MVP odds
2026 NBA All-Star Game MVP Award analysis
Victor Wembanyama may be the clear favorite, but everyone in the NBA will defer to King James if the vibe takes hold.
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Each market is priced based on implied probability, which can be converted to American, Decimal, or Fraction odds using the Covers odds converter.
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PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 10: Collin Gillespie #12 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on February 10, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA All-Star Break is not the exact halfway point of the season. Most teams have played in the ballpark of 53-55 games, meaning most squads have played nearly 65% of their season. Nonetheless, here we are. No NBA games for the next week as select players are in Los Angeles for the next few days for All-Star week festivities.
With players and coaches having a time to reflect and relax, it’s a fair time to look at the Phoenix Suns’ season so far holistically.
Sitting at 32-23, Phoenix has already surpassed the win total that many sports books and pundits projected for them going into the season, but what grade are you giving the team?
After having a strong start to 2026 and Jordan Ott winning Western Conference coach of the month, the Phoenix Suns have cooled down a bit, going 3-3 through their six games in February, and have continued to hover around the 6th and 7th seeds in the Western Conference standings.
The team hasn’t lost three in a row since October, so they’ve been able to avoid major down stretches. Conversely, the team has just one winning streak of more than five games since November, so while they’ve won more than they’ve lost, they haven’t had a chance to zoom up the standings.
While Devin Booker is heading to his fifth All-Star game, the team has been filled with many surprising performers. Dillon Brooks is having a career year and not just with technical fouls. His 21 points per game is the most he’s averaged in a season for his career, and his 44% shooting from the field is tied for his best percentage of his nine-year NBA resume. Collin Gillespie, who was on a two-way contract a season ago, has turned into a proven starter for the Suns, averaging career bests in points, assists, rebound,s and steals. With his 30-point, 10-assist game last week against the Portland Trailblazers, he joined Devin Booker and Steve Nash as the only Suns to have 8+ assists and 8+ threes in a game.
Mark Williams has already played the most games in a season of his career, and while his scoring is down from previous seasons, he’s shooting a career-high from the field. While Jalen Green and Grayson Allen have been in and out of the lineup, when Allen has played, he’s been having a career season, and Green has not played enough games to make a full assessment of his year on the court.
At the trade deadline, the team mostly stayed pat, trading away Nick Richards and Nigel Hayes-Davis in return for Amir Coffey and Cole Anthony, who has yet to report. The move was made to help the team get under the tax for the first time in four seasons. Neither of the players the team traded is playing a big role, and the players they acquired do not look to be typical contributors.
What grade would you give the Suns as a team through 55 games?
On Saturday, the Kia Shooting Stars competition returns after an 11-year break, and the Knicks have some dogs in the fight.
The competition uses a two-round structure. In the first round, four teams compete one at a time, with 70 seconds to score points by rotating through seven designated shooting locations around the court. All three teammates shoot at each spot in a fixed order. The two teams with the highest scores advance to the final round, where they repeat the course head-to-head. The higher-scoring team wins the title.
Each team has two current players and one legend. For the Knicks, that legend is H20!
The lineup:
Team All-Star: Scottie Barnes, Chet Holmgren, and Rip Hamilton
Team Cameron: Jalen Johnson, Kon Knueppel, and Corey Maggette (Dukies)
Team Harper: Dylan Harper, Ron Harper Jr., and Ron Harper Sr. (A family affair)
Team Knicks: Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Allan Houston
Brunson is an Eastern Conference starter for the second-straight year. This will be the sixth All-Star appearance for Towns, a Team World reserve and one of the best shooting big men in the league.
And Houston, he of the silky smooth stroke? The former Knick made the All-Star team twice in his 12-year career and won the Shooting Stars event in 2012, alongside Landry Fields (Knicks) and Cappie Pondexter (New York Liberty). These days, he serves as the Knicks’ Vice President of Player Leadership & Development.
The Shooting Stars event originally ran from 2004 to 2015 and often included a WNBA player per team before its hiatus. For some of us old guys, seeing Houston putting up shots again will be the highlight of the whole weekend.
The event occurs Saturday, during NBA All-Star Saturday Night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood. Coverage starts at 5 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. Tipoff is around 5:30 p.m. ET, right after the State Farm 3-Point Contest wraps up.
With much due respect to the legacies of Vince Carter, Jason Richardson, and Nate Robinson, the NBA 3-Point Contest has become the premier event of NBA All-Star Saturday Night.
This year's field includes a two-time champion in Damian Lillard, and my NBA 3-Point Contest predictions expect the veteran point guard to run the table tonight.
Find out more in my NBA picks for Saturday, February 14.
The 3-Point Contest has gotten increasingly complicated over the years, with new modifications added almost annually. Familiarize yourself with the latest rules before wagering on the event.
Players are given 70 seconds to shoot 27 balls from five racks located around the arc.
Four of the five racks contain four NBA game balls and one tri-colored "moneyball." The fifth rack contains five tri-colored moneyballs. Players choose in advance where they would like to have the Moneyball rack positioned.
Regular game balls are worth one point, and moneyballs are worth two points.
There are two additional "Starry Range" ball pedestals, one between racks 2 and 3, and the other between racks 3 and 4. These shots are 29 feet and 9 inches from the basket (six feet behind the arc) and are worth three points each.
The order of the competition is determined by a random draw, except for the previous year's winner, who automatically goes at the end of the opening round.
The three players with the highest scores in the opening round will advance to the championship round. If there is a tie to determine the championship round participants, a 30-second tie-breaker round will take place between the tied players.
The order for the Final Round will be the inverse of the opening round scores (i.e., the player with the lowest score shoots first). If a tie occurs in the final round, a full 70-second tiebreaker round will be used to determine the champion.
NBA 3-Point Contest favorites
Kon Knueppel (+260)
Shooting 43.1% from deep in your rookie year warrants a bounty of praise. Doing so on nearly eight attempts per game turns Kon Knueppel into something far more intriguing for the Charlotte Hornets.
And by no means has Kneuppel cooled off of late. The sharpshooter has shot 45.7% in February while taking 9.2 threes per game over five games.
The biggest question for Knueppel may be how he handles the Los Angeles nightlife this weekend. Then again, he is only 20 years old.
Damian Lillard (+450)
Damian Lillard tore his Achilles on April 27 of last year, nearly 10 full months ago. His surprise return to All-Star Weekend should be less of a shock than it has been.
The Portland Trail Blazers veteran is a two-time 3-Point Contest champion, and including Lillard in this field adds a compelling storyline.
No, Lillard has not taken a shot in a game this season. Then again, this is not a game either.
Jamal Murray (+600)
Jamal Murray has spent most of this season single-handedly carrying the Denver Nuggets amid injury after injury after injury to the starting lineup, including some nagging worries for Murray.
It has been merely human nature that he has lagged a bit since Nikola Jokic returned to the lineup; Murray could finally relax.
But Murray has shot just 14-of-50 in his last six games, a 28% showing that should cause concern if thinking about backing the Denver guard this weekend.
NBA 3-Point Contest pick
A skeptic might wonder if Lillard will be rusty. The better thought is to expect Lillard to be peaking.
No one else in this contest has as much experience in it as he does, and no one else has circled this Saturday night as the highlight of their season. Achilles recovery allows for catch-and-shooting nearly from the start; players cannot jump early on, but they can shoot.
Lillard has been training for this contest for months. This is not simply a bet on a storyline; it is also a bet on value.
Best bet: Damian Lillard 3-Point Contest winner (+450 at bet365)
Past 3-Point Contest winners
Year
Player
2025
Tyler Herro
2024
Damian Lillard
2023
Damian Lillard
2022
Karl-Anthony Towns
2021
Steph Curry
2020
Buddy Hield
2019
Joe Harris
2018
Devin Booker
2017
Eric Gordon
2016
Klay Thompson
2015
Steph Curry
Players who have won multiple 3-Point Contests
Player
Years
Larry Bird
1986, 1987, 1988
Craig Hodges
1990, 1991, 1992
Peja Stojakovic
2002, 2003
Jeff Hornacek
1998, 2000
Mark Price
1993,1994
Jason Kapono
2007, 2008
Steph Curry
2015, 2021
Damian Lillard
2023, 2024
Larry Bird added to his legacy by winning the first three 3-Point Contests from 1986 to 1988 before retiring from the event with nothing left to prove.
A master of the mental arts, the "Hick from French Lick" famously psyched out his opponents in his final 3-point shootout by walking into the locker room and casually asking, "Who's coming in second?"
The answer, as it turns out, was Seattle's Dale Ellis, who could only watch in awe as Bird cooly eliminated him in the final round while still wearing his warm-up jacket.
3-Point Contest trends
Dirk Nowitzki (2006) and Karl-Anthony Towns (2022) are the only 7-footers to win the contest.
No one had won the contest in back-to-back years since 2008, until Damian Lillard accomplished the feat in 2023-24.
No one has ever won the contest on their own home court.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 10: Ron Harper Jr. #13 of the Boston Celtics and Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs high five after the game on January 10, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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
LOS ANGELES — In a crowded room at the Intuit Dome, dozens of reporters from across the globe surrounded Ron Harper Jr.
Several were from the Philippines, inquiring about whether the 25-year-old Celtic would ever consider eventually playing for the Philippine national team (he would).
Others hailed from Portugal, eager to know what it was like to share the floor with Neemias Queta, the nation’s first-ever NBA player (the two have long been close friends).
For Harper, this kind of media frenzy — being the main event — has not been the norm for a very long time.
For the last few years, he’s bounced around in the G League, fighting for a spot in the NBA. He’s been on four two-way contracts in three different cities, been waived multiple times, and suffered a season-ending shoulder injury two years ago that hindered his confidence — and, for a stretch, his career.
Now at All-Star weekend for the first time, and on the heels of his best-ever stretch in the league, he is eager to show that he belongs.
On Friday, he’ll participate in the Rising Stars game as a member of the G League team; the Celtics guard was selected to represent the Maine Celtics as one of the G League’s best players after averaging 24.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists this season. He’ll share the floor with other G League standouts, a list that includes Alijah Martin, Yang Hansen, Jahmir Young, and Sean East II, among others.
“We were talking a little bit in the locker room before we came out here — I think we were all really excited to compete and represent the G League and be able to go out there and show people that we can compete on the grandest stage,” Harper Jr. said. “So I feel like we all got a common understanding that we are gonna go out there, play the right way, play as a team — and we’re ultimately trying to get a win.”
Then, on Saturday, he’ll lace up in the NBA’s Shooting Stars competition as part of a three-person team that also includes his father, former NBA Star Ron Harper, and younger brother, San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper, who was the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NBA draft.
That plan came together at the last minute, and Harper couldn’t turn down his brother and father once he was presented with the ask.
“They had both agreed to it, and they asked me to do it,” he said. “And I was like, ‘Yeah, why not?’ I wasn’t gonna stick them in with some random on the team. And, it made sense. I knew I was gonna be here already for the Rising Stars game. It was just gonna be a great opportunity to create some lifelong memories with family.”
The timing of the high-profile weekend is fortuitous; this month, Harper has begun to break into an NBA rotation for the very first time.
In fact, he’s played nearly as many NBA minutes in February (70) as he has in his entire NBA career before that (105).
His breakout game came earlier this month, when he started in a game against the Houston Rockets and tallied 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists — all career-highs. Most notably, he got the Kevin Durant assignment on defense — and held the Rockets’ star to one of his worst games of the season.
On Friday, Harper deemed guarding Durant his “Welcome to the NBA” moment.
“A dude like that, you don’t want to let him catch the ball,” he said. “And then sometimes he gets to the spot, and you can’t do nothing about it.”
Ron and Dylan Harper join forces at NBA All-Star Weekend
One of the cool elements of the weekend for Ron Harper is the opportunity to spend time with his brother, Dylan. The two will face off against one another in Friday night’s Rising Stars challenge and team up on Saturday night.
The brothers, who are six years apart, grew up battling each other in 1-on-1 basketball games in the driveway.
“I had a very strict older brother philosophy where — you got to earn it, I’m not gonna let him win,” Ron Harper said. “I used to tell my parents every time — he used to get mad at me because of it — that he’s gonna do it to somebody else one day.”
While both have had very different journeys to the NBA, they’re similarly in position to impact winning on elite NBA squads.
Both brothers are on the second-best teams of their respective conferences; the Celtics hold a 35-19 record, while the Spurs are 38-16.
Dylan was a lottery pick with expectations to come in and contribute to the Spurs right away; he’s averaged 10.9 points in 21.7 minutes per game this season.
Ron’s only averaging 10.7 minutes across 10 games this season, but his production and on-court opportunities have trended up, particularly in the wake of the midseason trade that sent Anfernee Simons to Chicago and created a larger opportunity in the Celtics backcourt.
And, Ron still likes his chances against his younger brother.
“If we play tomorrow in the driveway, ain’t no refs out there? I’m winning.”
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Bad Bunny really wanted to see Carlos Correa play for Puerto Rico at home in the World Baseball Classic.
Correa, the infielder for the Houston Astros left off the WBC roster over insurance coverage, said Friday that the music superstar and fellow native of Puerto Rico had offered to pay for a policy.
“It means a lot that he’s that involved,” Correa told reporters at the Astros' spring training complex. “He tried to do everything possible. I wanted to play and make sure that I was going to go out there and play for Team Puerto Rico in Puerto Rico. The fact that he did that means a lot in how much he cares for the country, how much he cares for the fans back home. I’m deeply grateful that he tried that hard.”
While not providing the name of the provider Bad Bunny proposed, Correa said it was one that was not approved by Major League Baseball, the Astros and Correa’s agent, Scott Boras. A person familiar with the process said MLB was not contacted about the possibility of Bad Bunny arranging an insurer. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no public statements were made.
“I could not sign my life away with something that three people that I trust are telling me not to do,” Correa said.
Puerto Rico is hosting pool play games in the WBC next month.
Bad Bunny's sports representation firm, Rimas Sports, and the MLB Players Association settled a lawsuit last year after the union disciplined the agency over violations of its agent regulations. It revoked the agent certification of Rimas’ William Arroyo and denied certifications of executives Noah Assad and Jonathan Miranda, citing citing a $200,000 interest-free loan and a $19,500 gift. The union issued a $400,000 fine for misconduct. Arbitrator Ruth M. Moscovitch upheld the union’s five-year suspensions of Assad and Miranda and cut Arroyo’s suspension to three years.
___
AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report from New York.
RENNES, France (AP) — Coachless Rennes stunned Ligue 1 leader Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 at home and snapped a five-game winless run on Friday.
The home side fired coach Habib Beye on Monday after its early season gains looked to be slipping away, and it was a firm underdog against PSG, which came to Brittany after winning all seven of its last league fixtures.
But Rennes hit the post early on and it got a reward for its confident start after 33 minutes. Jordanian midfielder Mousa Al-Tamari charged forward on the counterattack and found enough space between two defenders on the edge of the penalty area to curl in a superb opener.
PSG came into the game but was hesitant in front of goal and Esteban Lepaul doubled Rennes' lead midway through the second half. The prolific center forward rose highest to bullet a header past Matvey Safonov for his 11th goal of the season.
Former Rennes player Ousmane Dembélé pulled one back for PSG two minutes later but Breel Embolo restored Rennes' two-goal cushion in the 81st when he finished off another counterattack.
PSG remained atop the table but second-placed Lens can take over if it beats Paris FC on Saturday.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 12, 2026: Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (11) reacts towards Los Angeles Lakers guard Luke Kennard (10) after the Laker stake a double digit lead against the Dallas Mavericks at Crypto.com Arena on February 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The NBA season is a marathon, and at some point during the race, exhaustion sets in long before the finish line is within reach. That’s where the Lakers find themselves 54 games into their season.
They’ve been dealing with injuries all year long, and Luka Dončić is currently out with a hamstring strain. Record-wise at 33-21, they still have work to do to be considered legit contenders, as they sit at the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference.
Add in long road trips, a recent back-to-back against the two best teams in the West, and a schedule that hasn’t allowed for rest or practice, and LA is as happy as a team can be for the All-Star break to finally be here.
“I think it’s well-timed for everybody in the league,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said before LA’s game against Dallas. “Everybody in this league is going through it in some way. Even the, even the top teams. Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander’s] out, Jalen [Williams]’s out again. Detroit’s got guys suspended…We’ve talked about it as a group.
“This is probably the hardest schedule that I’ve been a part of in 17 years in the league prior to All-Star break. It’s not that it gets any easier. Last time we practiced was December 27. We don’t have two days between games from that point until I think it’s late March, so it’s almost three-month stretch. We’ll be able to get some work done next week on Wednesday and Thursday and it’ll be good for everybody for the mental and physical reset.”
Sometimes rest is the best path towards success and locking in. A week away from the beautiful game during the NBA season is rare, and the Lakers need to take advantage.
Still, most Lakers will have more free time than usual, and considering all the injuries they’ve had, this is an opportunity to get as healthy as possible.
Once they do return from the All-Star break, it will be a mad dash to the end of the season, and there will be no time to take a breather until the summer.
Hopefully, the Lakers are just as aggressive with their relaxation as they are with their level of play, so they can come back rested, recharged and ready to go on a run.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — After 21 seasons — which included 11 All-NBA nods, nine All-Defensive Teams and being a member of the NBA's 75th Anniversary team — Chris Paul announced he is retiring from the NBA.
Paul started the season with the Clippers, but things did not go according to plan. He was traded to Toronto at the deadline, and with the Raptors releasing him on Friday, Paul confirmed he was retiring in an Instagram post.
"This is it! After over 21 years I'm stepping away from basketball...
"While this chapter of being an 'NBA player' is done, the game of basketball will forever be ingrained in the DNA of my life. I've been in the NBA for more than half of my life, spanning three decades. It's crazy even saying that! Playing basketball for a living has been an unbelievable blessing that also came with lots of responsibility. I embraced it all. The good and the bad."
Paul will go down as one of the greatest point guards to ever play the game and his next stop will be the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
"Chris is a legend, man," said his former teammate and current NBC broadcaster Austin Rivers. "I think people get so caught up in the little things with Chris – and I call them little because they are, they're not in any way even of value compared to what he's done in basketball...
"Chris has cemented his legacy so long ago, he's one of the greatest point guards to ever play. Some of the most meaningful years of my career were playing with Chris. I got to back up Chris. Chris taught me how to be a pro, taught me how to approach the game with such a seriousness. He's one of the most competitive people I've ever seen in my life.
"I'm really happy for him that he's able to be at peace with basketball. He should. He's a top-five point guard to ever touch the ball, and only four other guys can say that."
Paul was a legend for his ability to squeeze out every little advantage he could find. He was the master of two-for-ones at the end of quarters, or calling out opponents whose jerseys were not tucked in, or any other little edge he thought he could gain. While Paul's intensity wore on some teammates, it also made the teams he was on winners. CP3 talked about this in his retirement announcement.
"As a lifelong learner, leadership is hard and is not for the weak. Some will like you and many people won't. But the goal was always the goal, and my intentions were always sincere (Damn, I love competing!). It feels really good knowing that I played and treated this game with the utmost respect since the day my dad introduced me to it."
Paul retires averaging 16.8 points, 9.2 assists, and 4.4 rebounds a game, while shooting 37% from 3-point range. He was a 12-time All-Star, a six-time league leader in steals, a five-time leader in assists, and the 2006 Rookie of the Year.
Paul is an unquestioned first-ballot Hall of Famer. That is the only thing left in his NBA career.
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