MONTREAL (AP) — Zachary Bolduc scored the winner with his first goal since Dec. 23, and the Montreal Canadiens edged the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1 on Thursday night.
Jayden Struble — with his first of the season — also scored, and Jakub Dobes made 25 saves as Montreal won its third consecutive game.
Damon Severson scored for Columbus, and Jet Greaves stopped 18 shots.
The Blue Jackets fell to 19-4-4 since Rick Bowness replaced Dean Evason as head coach Jan. 12. They climbed from 28th overall to second in the Metropolitan Division ahead of Thursday’s games.
The Canadiens, meanwhile, sit third in the Atlantic Division with 11 games remaining.
Bolduc ripped a shot into the top-left corner 4:36 into the third period to snap a 31-game goalless skid and give the Canadiens a 2-1 lead.
Struble ended a drought of his own when he opened the scoring at 9:54 in the first period. He snuck a wrist shot past Greaves short side for his first goal since Nov. 26, 2024.
Two minutes later, Severson got Columbus on the board by beating Dobes blocker-side on a 2-on-1 after Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson was caught up ice.
With an assist on Struble’s goal, Hutson became the fourth defenseman in Canadiens history to register 70 points in a season — and the first since Chris Chelios in 1988-89. Larry Robinson and Guy Lapointe also reached the mark.
Up next
Blue Jackets: Host the San Jose Sharks on Saturday.
Canadiens: Visit the Nashville Predators on Saturday.
Kon Knueppel (L.) drives to the rim during the Hornets-Knicks game on March 26, 2026.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Knicks faced their toughest test, by far, in two weeks.
And they ran out of the gym.
Their defense, ranked No. 1 in the NBA since Jan. 21, turned into a porous mess for much of an ugly 114-103 defeat to the Hornets. The Knicks allowed a younger and faster opponent to run rampant, and their seven straight wins entering Thursday felt like a paper streak when it ended Thursday with a thud.
Kon Knueppel, a real threat to snatch Rookie of the Year from Cooper Flagg, scored 25 points in 37 minutes for the Hornets, knocking down 6 of 10 3-pointers. Four of his teammates had at least 17 points as the Hornets shot 53 percent overall and 39 percent on treys.
But the Knicks’ biggest problems were threefold:
They were killed by Charlotte’s pace, which started from the opening tip and never relented.
They were killed by Charlotte’s pick-and-rolls.
They were killed on rebounds.
“They just kicked our behinds on the glass,” coach Mike Brown said. “We need more production on the glass than what we got from a handful of guys. If you’re going to go on the road and let a team outrebound you 43-24, it’s not even close because we didn’t put bodies on bodies. We didn’t hit first.”
The Knicks, meanwhile, got little offensively outside of Jalen Brunson, who had a spectacular first quarter but otherwise fizzled while finishing with 26 points and 13 assists. Karl-Anthony Towns logged just 22 minutes with eight shot attempts, scoring 13 points. The All-Star center wasn’t part of the closing lineup for a second consecutive game.
The Knicks trailed for the final three quarters and by as many as 21. It was worse than the final score.
Kon Knueppel drives on Mikal Bridges during the Knicks’ 114-103 loss to the Hornets on March 26, 2026 in Charlotte, N.C. AP
“They played very well. They were physical,” Josh Hart said. “I just felt like we were a step slow. When another team is playing at that pace and with that physicality, it’s not going to be good day.”
Hart added the Hornets played as if “shot out of a cannon.”
It’s totally different than what the Knicks witnessed in their previous matchup against the Hornets, way back in December.
“Yeah, 100 percent,” Brunson said. “From the outside looking in, it looks like they all bought in to playing a certain style and bought in to playing together. And they looked great.”
Jalen Brunson shoots a fadeaway jumper during the Knicks’ loss to the Hornets. NBAE via Getty Images
By the time the Knicks turned up the intensity late in the fourth quarter, it was too late. LaMelo Ball iced the game with two free throws to put the Hornets up by 12 with two minutes left, and Miles Bridges’ tomahawk jam in the final seconds was the final insult.
It was a discouraging start to a four-game road slate for the Knicks, with tougher games coming at Oklahoma City and Houston.
Before this, the Knicks feasted on lesser opponents — including a slew of tankers — having toppled seven straight teams currently with losing records.
The Hornets are trending in the opposite direction of tanking. They’re sharpshooting and surging, riding Knueppel and a revived Ball to a legitimate hope for the playoffs.
In fact, Thursday was the first time since 2001 that the Knicks and Hornets faced off this late in a season with both teams sporting above-.500 records. It’s also a potential first-round playoff matchup, depending on how the jumbled conference standings shake out over the final two-plus weeks.
The Knicks (48-26), who could’ve clinched a playoff spot with a win, now sit third in the East. The Hornets (39-34), winners of five straight, are tied with the Heat for eighth.
Charlotte certainly looked like the better team Thursday.
“Our pick-and-roll defense wasn’t good,” Brown said. “And part of the reason why it wasn’t good is because they set great physical screens. And we didn’t do a good job protecting one another in the pick-and-roll.”
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 26: Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks grabs the ball while guarded by Moussa Diabate #14 of the Charlotte Hornets in the first half during their game at Spectrum Center on March 26, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Before tonight, the Knicks (48*-26) had won seven consecutive games. Admittedly, some of those foes were lightweight competition. The Hornets (39-34) had won four straight and compiled a 22-6 record since late January. Charlotte had the fourth-best offensive rating, New York had the third. We were salivating for a shootout at the Spectrum Center. Truth be told, these teams shot with almost equal efficiency—CHO hit 53% and 39%, NYK made 51% and 38%. Although the visitors actually took four more field goal attempts, they were clobbered on the boards 43-24, attempted only 29 longballs, and their bench was outscored 26-17. Final score, 114-103.
Believe it or not, the same Hornets that laid sneaker prints all over the Knicks in the first quarter are ranked 25th in the league for pace. Over the first six minutes, Charlotte scored 24 points, outrebounded New York 4:1, and made 9-of-14 from the field. The nucleus of their top-tier offense, Lamelo Ball (22 PTS), Brandon Miller (21 PTS), and Kon Knueppel (26 PTS), had combined for four made three-pointers and 24 points.
After trailing by 10, the Knicks realized the game was underway. They held the home team to two points over the next four minutes, thanks to inspired play by Mitchell Robinson (4 PTS, 6 RBS, +10) and Jalen Brunson (26 PTS, 13 AST, 0-of-6 3PT), and mounted a 15-5 rally. In the final two minutes, with the Knicks behind by one, Knueppel and Miller hit triples, but Mohamed Diawara (5 PTS) scored on a layup and three, and Brunson drilled free throws. By the buzzer, the Knicks trailed by two. Of their 36 points, Brunson had 17. The Hornets were shooting 70% from the field, while the Knicks had hit 64%.
Which team would cool off first? Both, actually, but not by much. Through the half, Charlotte shot 58% and 40%, and New York went 54% and 46%. After a sloppy start to Q2 that allowed the Hornets to take another eight-point lead, OG Anunoby (17 PTS), Brunson, and Robinson restored order. Jalen set up a pair of alley-oops for Mitch and dished kickouts for OG, who knocked down three triples. Nevertheless, Charlotte stayed in the driver’s seat, led by Coby White (17 PTS) off the bench, and they were ahead by 10 again at halftime, 65-55.
Brunson was scoreless in the second quarter, but Anunoby picked up the slack. He had 14 points on 4-of-6 three-point shooting. The other starters didn’t show up, combining for nine points, and the visitors had been outrebounded 20-12. Across the court, four of Charlotte’s starters were in double-digits, combining for 49 points. Plus, White had 12 off the bench. The Knicks’ offense would have to be more multi-dimensional to mount a comeback in the second half.
Kemba Walker holds Charlotte’s record for three-pointers made in a season with 260. Knueppel, who took the NBA record for most triples by a rookie, added six more to his total (253) tonight. He is sure to overtake Kemba sometime before the Hornets come to Madison Square Garden for the final game of the regular season. For a few minutes, it looked like he might break the record tonight. In the third quarter, the rookie phenom and Ball went on a shooting spree and took advantage of New York’s accommodating defense to stretch their lead to 15.
NBA: Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel just became the first player age 22 or younger to make 250 three-pointers in an NBA season.pic.twitter.com/7uTcU75JbB
Karl-Anthony Towns (13 PTS, 3 RBS) posted seven points (he scored just two before halftime) and Brunson added a few more, but they couldn’t stop Knueppel and the pace-pushing hosts. Nor could they get rebounds, being out-boarded 11-4 in the third period. Our heroes started the quarter poorly and ended it the same way, allowing that goober Grant Williams of all people to hit a three-pointer with seven seconds left. At the break, the score was 94-76.
Of note, coach Mike Brown sent Diawara back into the game in the third quarter, and he subbed Tyler Kolek instead of Jose Alvarado, who was a dud in five first-half minutes. Mike was looking for a spark from somewhere. He didn’t find it. In the fourth quarter, Anunoby drilled another longball, and KAT had a nice bucket off the glass, but the guests still fell behind by 21.
In the quarter, the Hornets committed six turnovers (of their total 17), which allowed the heavy-footed Knickerbockers to think about a comeback. But their shooting turned frigid at the worst possible time. All those golden opportunities were squandered by one-and-done misses. Almost by accident, they were within 12 with three minutes remaining. Robinson grabbed an O-Board (finally!) and kicked the rock to Hart, who had hit a long two to cap a 15-4 run at 2:20.
Down 12 with 1:17 left, Josh Hart hit a three-pointer. Ball missed at the other end, but New York watched as Sion James chased down the loose ball, which became a Miles Bridges dunk that broke their backs.
Up Next
Chef Miranda is presently applying the frosting to your recap. Meanwhile, the road trip continues as our City Slickers take on the Okies this Sunday. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.
The New York Knicks saw their seven-game winning streak snapped in Charlotte, falling to the Hornets, 114-103.
They were in range for most of the evening, but their upstart Eastern Conference rivals were too deadly from deep, going 16-for-41 from three.
Jalen Brunson fought valiantly to try and carry his team, scoring 26 points and dishing out 13 assists on 10-for-23 shooting. OG Anunoby added 17 on 5-for-9 shooting from three-point range.
Charlotte rookie Kon Knueppel put up 26 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists on 9-for-14 shooting from the field. Brandon Miller added 21 points and LaMelo Ball had 22, each contributing with four threes.
Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart had 14 and 16 points, respectively, while Miles Bridges and Coby White chipped in 17 apiece for their squad.
Here are the takeaways...
-- The buzzing Hornets got off to an incendiary start, going 4-for-8 from deep in the first six minutes to jump ahead by double digits early. Ball led the charge early with a couple of difficult floaters and a deep, contested three.
Brunson wouldn’t allow the Knicks to stay in a hole, hitting tough shots and drawing fouls en route to a 17-point, 4-assist opening period. A 15-5 New York run knotted the game back up, but Charlotte held a 38-36 lead going into the second.
-- The Hornets built on their lead behind solid reserve play, going back up by as much as eight.
-- It was Brunson who led the turnaround again once he returned midway through the second quarter. He found Mitchell Robinson for a couple of lobs, then Anunoby stepped up for some timely jumpers to tighten the game up, finishing the half with 14 points.
The Hornets would end the half on a flurry, getting energy off the bench from White (12 points in nine minutes), and more shooting from Knueppel, who went 3-4 from deep in the first half. Charlotte led 65-55 at the break, ending the second on a 15-6 run.
-- The second half opened much like the first, with the Hornets raining threes. Ball dribbled into two, and Knueppel added another in rapid succession to put his team up 15 quickly.
New York kept a solid pace offensively, but Charlotte was too voluminous from three. Brunson tried to keep the Knicks in it with more tough bucket-getting.
-- Tyler Kolek supplanted Jose Alvarado as the backup point guard in the second half rotation. The shakeup did little to contain the Hornets' onslaught, as they went up 94-76 after three.
-- New York got off to a strong start in the fourth, but Charlotte matched them score for score. Ball leaked open for a wing three, panicking the Knicks defense, which opened up a Grant Williams touch feed to Moussa Diabaté for a dagger slam.
The Hornets continued their beatdown, getting another three from White and a tomahawk slam from Miller in the open court, building their lead beyond 20. The Knick starters returned to try and make a push, getting the lead down to 10 behind an 18-6 run late, but to no avail.
The No. 2 seed Boilermakers avoided the upset from 11th-seeded Texas with a last-second put-back shot by Trey Kaufman-Renn in the Sweet 16 to continue their March Madness run into the Elite Eight with a 79-77 win.
It was a back-and-forth game the entire way, and in the winding moments, the Longhorns were down by three points. Texas' Dailyn Swain got a bucket and foul with 11 seconds left to tie the score at 77.
The Boilermakers had the final possession and guard Braden Smith drove into the lane for the game-winner, but missed. Luckily for Purdue, Renn was right there to clean it up, getting the putback to take the lead with 0.7 seconds left. Texas was unable to get the full-court heave to pull off the shocker.
Renn's winning bucket capped off a big night for him, finishing with a team-high 20 points in the victory. Purdue now awaits the winner of No. 1 Arizona and No. 4 Arkansas in the Elite Eight, with a trip to the Final Four on the line on Saturday, March 28.
USA TODAY Sports will have much more coverage of this game.
DETROIT, MI - MARCH 26: Kevin Huerter #27 of the Detroit Pistons shoots the ball during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on March 26, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With Cade Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart already on the injury report, the Detroit Pistons were even more shorthanded tonight with Duncan Robinson ruled out. Kevin Huerter started at SG in place of Robinson and he’d give Detroit an early 14-11 lead after a corner three thanks to a behind-the-back assist from Jalen Duren. New Orleans would outscore Detroit the rest of the way and a Zion Williamson layup at the buzzer gave the Pelicans a 33-31 lead after the first quarter.
Daniss Jenkins again filled in for Cunningham in the starting lineup and had back-to-back threes early in the second quarter to help recapture the Detroit lead. The Pistons would extend their lead to double digits due to hot shooting beyond the arc, including a nice step back three from Huerter. Jalen Duren finished a strong first half with an off-the-dribble midrange jumper for his 17th point.
Detroit would take a 65-56 lead going into halftime. JD’s 17 points led the way for Detroit, but their first-time backcourt of Jenkins and Huerter were making an impact as well – they combined for 21 points and five made threes. Zion Williamson (13), former Piston Saddiq Bey (12), and Dejounte Murray were the halftime leaders for the Pelicans.
Duren kicked off the second half with a deep touchdown pass to Ausar Thompson for an easy bucket in transition after throwing a lob to Tobias Harrison on the previous possession. Huerter would add another three-pointer on the night to give Detroit an 88-75 lead with three minutes left in the third. Yet, the Pelicans would close the quarter on an 11-2 run to bring it back within six.
With a 92-86 lead heading into the final frame, Detroit needed to push the New Orleans deficit back to double digits and send the Pelicans home. After a quick Pels bucket, Huerter hit a movement three to put the Pistons up seven early in the fourth. Duren would then find Javonte Green for a corner three to give them their double digit lead again. A Jenkins three from a Ron Holland assist would force James Borrego to call a timeout and gave Detroit a 15-2 run to start the quarter.
A Duren right-handed hammer was another poster for him on his way to his 30th point and Detroit would push the lead to 20 with a couple minutes left. JB Bickerstaff would be able to empty the bench early in this one on the second game of a back-to-back, and Chaz Lanier, Bobi Klintman, and Tolu Smith were able to get in on the fun. Detroit would go on to win 129-108.
Jalen Duren approached triple-double territory with 30 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. He shot the same from the field as he did from the free throw line: 10-for-12. He has been the focal point of the offense since the Cunningham injury and he’s thriving. Could he be the 20+ PPG scorer next to Cade that we’ve been looking for?
Elite starting backcourt Daniss Jenkins and Kevin Huerter were fantastic. Jenkins had 19 points and nine assists while Huerter added 22 points. They combined to shoot 9-for-14 from beyond the arc – no other Piston had more than two made threes. The two would play the most minutes of anyone else on the team with Huerter leading the way at 34.
We have now reached single digits in regards to games left on the schedule. Detroit will travel to Minnesota to take on Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves on Saturday night.
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. (AP) — Boston College hired UConn assistant Luke Murray on Thursday as coach of a slumping men's basketball program that has gone 17 years without an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Murray, the son of actor Bill Murray, will be a first-time head coach. He replaces Earl Grant, who was fired earlier this month after the Eagles had a losing record in four of his five seasons. Grant went 72-92 overall and 30-67 in Atlantic Coast Conference games.
In five years with UConn under coach Dan Hurley, Murray has been a part of two national championship teams, with Bill Murray often in attendance at games. The Huskies play Michigan State on Friday in the Sweet 16.
“In Luke Murray, we have found a leader who does not just understand the modern landscape of college basketball, he has helped define it,” Boston College athletic director Blake James said. “His role in building a national championship caliber program, his sophisticated offensive vision, and his relentless pursuit of excellence make him the perfect fit.”
Prior to UConn, Murray spent three years each as an assistant at Louisville and Xavier. He also had stints on staffs at Towson, Wagner, Arizona, Post and Quinnipiac. The 2007 graduate of Fairfield will be the 14th head coach in Boston College program history.
The Eagles have been buried in the supersized ACC for more than a decade, with a 10th-place finish in 2022-23 their highest since the league expanded from 12 to 15 teams in the 2013-14 season. They were second-to-last in the newly expanded 18-team conference in each of the last two years.
PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 23: Head coach Jordi Fernandez of the Brooklyn Nets looks on during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on March 23, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s “must lose” stretch for the Nets. They want to get the best odds in May 10 lottery, maybe even secure that last envelope Mark Tatum, the NBA’s deputy commissioner, opens that night. At the moment, they are so close to success, sitting alone in second, one game behind the Indiana Pacers.
BUT…
Per various draftniks, the Nets have the easiest schedule the rest of the way and many of those games are with competitors in the race to the bottom. Moreover, six of the nine are at home. A win in such a tight race could change the lottery order on a spring night in Chicago.
Starting Friday night with the Lakers, the Nets will have four games with teams likely to be in the post-season: Los Angeles, the Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors and the Charlotte Hornets.
On the flip side of the ledger are five games with teams whose fate is close to theirs: two games with the Milwaukee Bucks (with or without Giannis Antetokounmpo) as well as games with the other three teams Brooklyn is currently competing with: the Indiana Pacers, still ith the best odds; the Washington Wizards; currently with third best, and the Utah Jazz who’ve dropped down to fifth. Making things even more interesting is the fact that the Jazz have the hardest schedule of the rest of the way.
As C.J. Holmes of the Daily News wrote Thursday:
Five of the Nets’ last eight games will come against teams currently living in the same neighborhood of the standings, Sacramento, Washington and Indiana, plus two matchups with the Milwaukee Bucks. Those games matter because they’re direct swings in the race for the bottom.
In a normal season, the phrase “must-win” would hover over a stretch like that. For Brooklyn, it’s the opposite. The Nets have spent the year searching for progress, but the finish line is now defined by draft lottery placement. With the Pacers only a game ahead, the Nets can realistically chase the league’s worst record if they simply stay on their current trajectory.
The Nets at this point are arguably the worst team in the league: They have lost nine straight. They have shut down Egor Demin (plantar fascia), Day’Ron Sharpe (hand), and have functionally done the same with Michael Porter Jr. (hamstring). They won’t re-evaluate MPJ till the last few games of the season. Noah Clowney (wrist) and Danny Wolf (ankle) situation remain uncertain. Even 10-day Grant Nelson (knee) had to sit after his 10-day. They have called up the reserves from Long Island in their three two-ways and a 10-day but no wins have materialized.
As Holmes notes, the Nets have gotten some positives vibes from Ben Saraf, Josh Minott and Ziaire Williams, ages 19, 23 and 24, but they’re not going to carry teams to many wins. Many fans on other record tweeting or saying they don’t want to win another game..
It WILL get hairy at the end. In the last week, the Nets will play five games:
April 5 – Washington Wizards at home;
April 7 – Milwaukee Bucks at home;
April 9 – Indiana Pacers at home;
April 10 – Milwaukee Bucks in Milwaukee;
April 12 – Toronto Raptors in Toronto.
Still note this: while the top three teams all have a 14% chance at the No. 1 and 52% chance at a top four pick, the team with the worst record will have a 48% chance at the fifth pick. Indeed, that’s happened the last three lotteries and remember the team with the worst record hasn’t won the top overall pick in the lottery since rules were changed back in 2019.
The jockeying may not even end with the lottery, either. One NBA decision-maker suggested that the wealth of picks Sean Marks & co. have accumulated could play a role by draft night: moving up if Brooklyn is disappointed in where they landed, as they were when they dropped from No. 6 to No. 8 last May.
“The only reason you bank firsts like that is to be able to strike opportunistically,” he told ND. “Now this draft will cost them (if they try to move up) and they will have to find a dance partner but say they land at the dreaded 5 spot. They have enough draft capital to get the to the third pick.”
He did not suggest possible packages.
Bottom line for him: somehow get one of the top three consensus picks, all of whom he considers franchise-changers. The names remain the same for him: A.J. Dybantsa, Cam Boozer or Darryn Peterson. Beyond that, he said, the Nets will get a good player but nothing that will change their current timeline.
It is all total speculation, of course. So,what’s the best way to handle the anxiety of these last nine games? Maybe one part praying for good luck, another part looking for players like Ziaire Williams and Ben Saraf to keep developing but the biggest part is rooting for the Brooklyn scouting staff to find the best player available no matter where they pick. After all, it isn’t just about the lottery pick. Tankathon thinks they have second best group of picks at Nos. 3, 33 and 43, That has to be comforting.
Mar 16, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Golden State Warriors guard De'anthony Melton (8) advances the ball against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images | Brad Mills-Imagn Images
The Washington Wizards play the Golden State Warriors on Friday night. Let’s get to it.
Game info
When: Friday, Mar. 27 at 10 p.m. ET
Where: Chase Center, San Francisco
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network, League Pass
Injuries: For the Wizards, Leaky Black, Anthony Davis, Kyshawn George, D’Angelo Russell, Cam Whitmore and Trae Young are out. Tristan Vukcevic and Alex Sarr are day-to-day.
For the Warriors, Both Currys, Al Horford, Moses Moody and Jimmy Butler are out. Quinten Post and Malevy Leons are day-to-day.
What to watch for
The Wizards finally ended their long losing streak! Let’s hope they don’t start another long one. The Warriors are on a two game winning streak, most recently against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday.
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran has banned its sports teams from traveling to countries it considers “hostile," Iranian state TV reported Thursday ahead of Tractor FC's scheduled soccer game in Saudi Arabia.
The ban announced by Iran’s Ministry of Sports in Tehran didn't mention the World Cup which starts June 11 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The ministry's statement singled out the Tractor game against Shabab Al Ahli of Dubai that was set to be played in Saudi Arabia. It's a playoff game in the Asian Champions League Elite.
“The presence of national and club teams in countries that are considered hostile and are unable to ensure the security of Iranian athletes and team members is prohibited until further notice,” it said.
Tractor's playoff game in Saudi Arabia was the result of the Asian Football Confederation's draw Wednesday to determine the quarterfinal pairings, a day after announcing that the western zone playoffs that were postponed because of the war in the Middle East have been rescheduled for April 13-14 in Jeddah.
The Saudi city is also slated to host the tournament quarterfinals, semifinals and final from April 16-25, with organizers setting the dates and hoping for peace in the region.
The Iranian ministry added that the soccer federation and clubs “will be responsible for notifying the Asian Football Confederation of this matter in order to relocate the games.”
Iran's stance on the World Cup
The Iranian ambassador in Mexico City has said the country was negotiating with FIFA to move Iran’s three group-stage matches from the United States to Mexico after U.S. President Donald Trump discouraged the team from attending the 48-nation tournament, citing safety concerns.
Last week, however, FIFA President Gianni Infantino further dampened Iran’s attempts to move its World Cup matches, saying global soccer’s governing body wants the tournament “to go ahead as scheduled.”
Iranian government and soccer officials have said they do not want to boycott the World Cup but that it is not possible for the national team to come to the U.S. because of military attacks on the country by Israel and U.S. since Feb. 28.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MARCH 23: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on March 23, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images
UPDATE: Beating the tanking Nets just got easier for the Lakers. Luka Dončić and Rui Hachimura were originally listed as questionable to play, but have now been upgraded to available.
Via the Lakers: Luka Dončić (left hamstring soreness) and Rui Hachimura (right calf injury management) have been upgraded to available for tonight’s game vs. Brooklyn.
Luka will now get one game closer to the 65-game threshold he must reach to be eligible for the end-of-season awards. Hachimura has missed the last two Lakers games due to this right calf injury, so it’s good news for LA that he’s ready to go.
With their best player and a key rotation piece available, the Lakers should have no problem winning on Friday and maintaining their lead over the other teams in the West fighting for the No. 3 seed.
Original story follows.
Getting back in LA was easy for the Lakers, but returning healthy has proven difficult. As they prepare to take on the Nets, the injury report is once again full of names.
Luka Dončić is now questionable to play due to left hamstring soreness. Rui Hachimura is also listed as questionable, and both Marcus Smart and Adou Theiro are out.
Luka Dončić is now listed as questionable to play against the Nets with left hamstring soreness. Rui Hachimura is also questionable and Marcus Smart and Adou Thiero remain out. pic.twitter.com/eKaRSIbcnq
The only bright side to this report is that Deandre Ayton is no longer listed. The center missed LA’s most recent game against Indiana due to back soreness.
Luka missing would be the biggest blow for the Lakers. Dončić is having an MVP-level season and needs to play in just four more games to qualify for end-of-season awards.
If he’s out against Brooklyn on Friday, he’ll have to wait until Monday, when LA plays Washington, to participate in his 62nd game of the year.
Hachimura has missed the past two games with this right calf injury. Lakers head coach JJ Redick said he was day-to-day, so hopefully he can return this weekend.
Calf injuries can be tricky, so caution is needed to prevent them from becoming a bigger issue.
Similar to Hachimura, Smart has also missed the last two Lakers games. Although since he’s already been ruled out against Brooklyn, it’ll be three and counting for the team’s starting guard.
Redick also stated Smart was day-to-day, so we’ll see if there’s a more detailed update this weekend on his injury and his return.
This late into the season, every injury is a big deal.
The Lakers are playing some of their best basketball, but they can only keep it up if their full rotation is available.
Even if Dončić and Hachimura are out for this game, the Lakers should beat the Nets. They are a tanking team and are only playing for NBA Draft Lottery odds at this point.
The best-case scenario for LA is that they get the win in their first game back from their road trip, and everyone who is out gets the rest they need so they can begin next week fully intact.
ATLANTA (AP) — Texas junior Rex Maurer defended his title in the 400-yard individual medley at the NCAA swimming and diving championships, and the Longhorns held the team lead after Day 2 on Thursday.
Texas has 215.5 points, followed by Florida with 205 and Arizona State 133.5.
Josh Liendo won the 100 butterfly for Florida in a NCAA record time of 42.49, just passing Texas' Hubert Kos on the final stroke. Kos matched Liendo's record set in the prelims at 42.54. Arizona State's Ilya Kharun also broke the 43-second mark.
Virginia freshman Maximus Williamson won the 200 freestyle from lane eight in 1:30.03. In the prelims, Williamson tied his teammate David King for the final spot in the final and King ceded the spot.
California sophomore Yamato Okadome out-touched two Texas swimmers to win the 100-yard breaststroke in 49.90. Longhorns Campbell McKean and Nate Germonprez came in second and third, respectively.
SMU sophomore Luke Sitz claimed the one-meter diving title.
Day 3 of the four-day event continues on Friday with the 100 backstroke, 200 breaststroke, 500 freestyle, 50 freestyle, 400 medley relay and three-meter diving.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 19: Luke Kornet #7 and Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs high five during the game against the Phoenix Suns on March 19, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Spurs are on a seven-game win streak and seem to be peaking at the right time, just as the playoffs near. They’ve looked like one of the best teams in the league for a while, but they have been playing like a true contender since the All-Star break and have fully separated themselves from the pack of teams below them in the West.
There are many reasons why the team seems to not only have a high ceiling but has looked more stable recently, from improved individual performances to pristine chemistry. One of the more underrated causes for the steadiness it has been displaying has been the optimization of some lineups. So let’s look at what has been working and why.
The new starting lineup is a juggernaut
With Harrison Barnes struggling, Mitch Johnson decided to start Julian Champagnie and have the veteran forward come off the bench. The results have been great. Since the change, the new starting lineup of De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Champagnie, and Victor Wembanyama has outscored opponents by over 21 points per 100 possessions, a ridiculous amount. For the season, that group sits with a 17.7-point net rating, one of the best among units that have played at least 100 minutes together.
The Spurs’ previous starting lineup was also among the best, but not as effective as this new group. There are some weaknesses to this unit, particularly against opponents who have big forwards, but the shooting is a major plus, as San Antonio connects on 41.7 percent of its three-pointers with those five players on the floor. It remains to be seen whether rebounding will be an issue with this configuration against elite opponents, but the success it has had so far suggests Mitch Johnson was right to make the change, and the fact that he doesn’t over-rely on any lineup allows him to adjust.
A scoop of French Vanilla is fine, but don’t overdo it
One of the most intriguing aspects of the Luke Kornet signing in the offseason was the potential for him to not only back Victor Wembanyama up but also play next to the star center. Kornet had done it successfully with Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford in Boston and his ability to slot in with another big gave the Spurs the potential to play jumbo lineups. The duo even got a nickname: French Vanilla.
The reality hasn’t been as exciting as the idea. The Spurs simply can’t score enough with both centers on the floor, posting a sub-100 offensive rating. That main reason for the struggles won’t surprise anyone: lineups with both in them struggle to shoot, especially from distance, where they connect on just 26.4 percent on three-pointers. Wemby is not as reliable as the Boston bigs from long range, and adding a non-shooter like Kornet to groups that likely feature others hurts the spacing in general. The minutes for the combination are down in the post All-Start stretch, which isn’t surprising.
Those lineups could still have a place against specific matchups, which is why it’s good that they haven’t been scrapped completely. They are great defensively, allowing just 103.5 points per 100 possessions, and they dominate the offensive glass, with the Spurs recovering 41 percent of their misses. If some of those second-chance opportunities turn into points, the offense might improve. As a change of pace option rather than a go-to strategy, it could have a place in the offseason in short stints.
The Spurs are slowly figuring out the non-Wemby minutes
Like most teams, the Spurs have struggled to make units that don’t feature their superstar work. It’s not a huge issue when Wembanyama plays heavy minutes, as the Kornet-led lineups are just expected to keep pace for short stints instead of vastly outscoring opponents, but San Antonio can’t afford to have combinations that are liabilities, and some of the lineups they were using were just that.
Before the All-Star break, the most used lineup featuring Kornet and at least two other bench players consisted of the big man, Dylan Harper, Keldon Johnson, Stephon Castle, and Julian Champagnie. It bled points, getting outscored by 17 points in just 32 minutes. Granted, no sweeping conclusions can be drawn with such a small sample size, but in general, units featuring Kornet, Castle, and Harper struggled. The offense simply wasn’t good enough, largely because opponents could simply wall off the paint.
The apparent solution has been to have De’Aaron Fox or Devin Vassell share minutes with Kornet, Harper and Keldon Johnson, the three main bench rotation players. Post All-Star break, the most used Kornet plus at least two bench players unit has featured the two young guards, Keldon and Vassell, and has only been outscored by six points in 27 minutes. The second most used has Harrison Barnes and Fox along the bench trio, and has outscored opponents by two in 21 minutes. After that, there’s a unit featuring both Harper and Carter Bryant that has been a mess, but won’t likely be used much in the postseason.
It can’t be stressed enough how noisy the data of lineups that only share the floor for a few minutes a game can be, but good coaching staffs notice patterns and make small adjustments to try to win on the margins. Some teams are probably going to outscore the Spurs when Wembanyama isn’t on the floor, so the goal is to find units that can hold the fort and phase out those that can’t. It seems that Johnson is doing just that as the playoffs approach, which provides even more reason for optimism about a deep run.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm has sued his parents for millions of dollars, accusing them of siphoning large amounts of his money into financial accounts they managed for him and then using some of the cash to pay their own expenses.
Bohm's lawsuit, filed Wednesday in a Philadelphia court, comes after he began to review his personal and financial affairs in recent months, and said that his parents refused to give him access to the accounts or provide him with the information he sought about them.
They sought to “freeze” him out of four accounts — established as limited liability companies — and he now believes they “converted a sizeable amount” of his money from those accounts “to their own use,” the lawsuit said.
By the time he sought the information, his parents had already transferred millions of dollars from his personal accounts to the accounts they controlled, the lawsuit said.
Bohm’s parents, Daniel and Lisa Bohm, denied doing anything wrong and, through their lawyer, said they are “deeply saddened by the allegations” and will aggressively defend themselves. Alec Bohm has had full access to the accounts and his parents are paying his expenses on their personal credit cards, their lawyer, Robert Eckard, said in a statement.
“Mr. and Mrs. Bohm love their son very much and have always acted in his best interests, both personally and professionally, and still do so to this day,” Eckard said.
After Thursday's 2026 season opening game, Bohm declined comment to reporters, saying "I'm not going to address any personal matters right now."
Both parties say the first of the accounts was opened in 2019. His parents told him that they assigned themselves a 10% stake, strictly for administration purposes, and that Bohm was the “true” owner of all of the LLC's assets, Bohm's lawsuit said.
The accounts had various purposes, such as investing in securities or buying real estate. Bohm's lawsuit also said they used money from The Alec Bohm Foundation to pay their expenses.
Bohm’s lawsuit asks his parents to pay at least $3 million in damages, hand over control of the accounts and hire an accountant to track every dollar they transferred from Bohm's personal accounts to the accounts they controlled.
Bohm, 29, has a $10.2 million contract with the Phillies for the 2026 baseball season. The lawsuit said his parents live in a recreational vehicle and travel the country.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 23: Darius Garland #10, Jarrett Allen #31 and Jaylon Tyson #20 of the Cleveland Cavaliers wave to fans prior to a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Rocket Arena on December 23, 2025 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. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers have only had their new core four players of James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen all together on the court for three games this season. Friday’s contest against the Miami Heat could be their fourth.
Allen, who has missed the team’s last 10 games with a knee injury, is questionable for Friday’s rematch.
The Cavs made a bold decision at the deadline by sending out a much-younger Darius Garland for Harden. That move was done with the hopes that they would have a better chance of winning a title in the next few seasons, even if it cost them some long-term security. One of the issues of doing a move that drastic is that there isn’t much time to see how it all works.
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Allen was the biggest beneficiary of the Harden acquisition. He displayed an instant chemistry with Harden, which led to him playing the best basketball of his career in February. This resulted in team success as well, as the Cavs registered a +8.5 net rating (87th percentile) and 124.2 offensive rating (96th percentile) in the 256 minutes Harden and Allen shared the floor.
We know those groupings work. We don’t know for sure how it works when you throw Mobley into that mix. The Cavs have only played 35 minutes with all four on the court together. Those lineups have done incredibly well — +36.7 net rating — but it isn’t close to being a large enough sample size to draw any conclusions from. Figuring out how that lineup looks is critical to team success in the postseason.
Additionally, the Cavs have struggled defensively without Allen. That’s been seen in recent games as they’ve consistently over-helped to stop dribble penetration, which has led to giving up open threes. Having an additional rim protector should theoretically help with some of those issues.
This new group would ideally like more time to gel before playoff basketball starts. There’s only nine games left in the regular season. At the very least, Friday could be an opportunity to see how this looks when at least the team’s top players are fully healthy.
On the season, Allen is averaging 15.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game on 63.6% shooting.
The Cavs will still be without Jaylon Tyson (toe), Craig Porter Jr. (groin), and Dean Wade (ankle) on Friday. Miami could be missing Jaime Jaquez Jr., who’s questionable for Friday’s game with an ankle sprain.
