PHOENIX (AP) — Collin Sexton scored 30 points and the Chicago Bulls held off the Phoenix Suns 105-103 on Thursday night for their second victory in three games following an 11-game losing streak.
Down 12 with under six minutes left, Phoenix pulled to 104-103 on Devin Booker's 3-pointer with 23 seconds left.
Jalen Green had a chance to give the Suns' their first lead, but missed a running layup, with Phoenix's Amir Coffey fouling Nick Richards with 4.1 seconds to go. Richards made the first free throw and missed the second, with a scramble for the rebound running out the clock.
Tre Jones added 21 points and Guerschon Yabusele had 16 for Chicago in the opener of a five-game trip. The Bulls were without Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey after they injured ankles in a home loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday night.
Booker led Phoenix with 27 points in his second game after missing four because of a right hip injury. Grayson Allen added 21 points. Green had 12 points on 5-of-20 shooting. He was 1 of 8 from 3-point range.
Seventh in the West, Phoenix had won two straight. The Suns are without Dillon Brooks because of a fractured left hand.
For the first time since early January, the Pittsburgh Penguins have lost back-to-back games in regulation.
While, on the surface, this doesn't seem like the worst thing, there are other potential ramifications from Thursday's 5-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres that could - quite frankly - alter the course of the Penguins' season and playoff hopes.
In addition to their loss to the Sabres - which kept them in a second-place tie in the Metropolitan Division with the New York Islanders for the time being - they also lost forward Evgeni Malkin, who was assessed a game misconduct for a slash to the head of Sabres' defenseman Rasmus Dahlin early in the second period.
The Sabres scored on the ensuing power play via a low-slot shot from Josh Norris, and the call was upheld after yet another failed goaltender interference challenge by Penguins' head coach Dan Muse.
And even Penguins' players admit that things may have snowballed after the Malkin sequence and another goaltender interference call failing to go their way.
"It's not easy," said goaltender Arturs Silovs, who was dealt a tough hand Thursday and stopped 21 of 25 Buffalo shots on goal. "We get [a] five-minute major we have to kill. I think we did a good job. But, sure, one of the top players leaving, it's not the best. It's like, one of the top [players in] our offense. So, it's not easy to regroup, but we tried to."
Things started off a bit sloppy for the Penguins, as Ryan McLeod scored his league-leading fifth shorthanded goal of the season on a breakaway after a tricky play at the offensive blue line to elude Penguins' defenseman Kris Letang and put the Sabres up, 1-0.
However, the Penguins responded with a shorthanded goal of their own less than three minutes later, when Bryan Rust performed his signature power move around Norris and across the net-front for his 21st goal of the season to tie the game.
Then, the second-period shenanigans with Malkin ensued, and the Sabres were up, 2-1. Two minutes after Norris's go-ahead goal, the Penguins were on a power play but found themselves in the defensive zone, where they took a penalty. On the delayed call, Alex Tuch buried his 25th goal of the season to put the Sabres on top, 3-1, and Owen Power added one just past the midway point of the second period to make it 4-1.
Mattias Samuelsson added an empty-net goal late in third period to bury the Penguins for good and secure the 5-1 win.
Here are some thoughts and takeaways from this emotional loss:
- I'll get to Malkin in a second because I won't have many thoughts numbers-wise, but I sure have plenty of thoughts. And let's start with this goaltender interference.
And, yes, this was clearly goaltender interference.
The Penguins challenged the Sabres' 2nd goal of the game for goaltender interference but the ruling was good goal 🫣 pic.twitter.com/nc4xpnEGAp
I have not agreed with all of Muse's challenges for goaltender interference so far this season, but this one seemed clear as day. Josh Doan ventured to the blue paint unimpeded initially and made contact with Silovs before Letang made contact with him. And, even if Letang did make what was very little contact, it seemed inconsequential, as Doan made no ensuing effort to get out of the way of Silovs.
This was goaltender interference. I know it. Most of the internet knows it. Analysts know it. Silovs knows it, too.
"For sure," Silovs said. "You know, it's like... I think it was clearly goalie interference. Like, I don't know. Other guy gets a little touch, doesn't count. It was blatant. He didn't even try to avoid me. Went through me, and what am I supposed to do? Yeah, I don't think the refs tried to help us at all today."
Muse also knew it. In fact, he was sure about it.
"My view on it is goalie interference because their player skated in the blue paint, made contact with our goalie, which affected the play. Which is the rule," Muse said. "He came in and made contact. Afterward, there is a little bit of a push. He initiated the contact in there. By the rules, I thought it was goalie interference. I still feel like it's goalie interference. And it seems like it changes day to day right now.
"People are again going to maybe question some of the challenges I've made. There's been lower percentage [challenges]. This one, I thought, was pretty clear."
So, if I was sure of it, the internet was sure of it, analysts were sure of it, Silovs was sure of it, and Muse was sure of it, why aren't NHL officials sure of it?
There is a disconnect with what this rule actually constitutes now, and it needs to be addressed. Especially since the loser of the challenge is punished with a penalty.
Just an egregious one to miss tonight. I don't understand it.
This is a 39-year-old franchise legend who badly wants another contract with the Penguins. That situation has become pretty public in the past week or so, even if Dubas prefers to keep negotiations private between he, Malkin, and agent J.P. Barry.
Your team is hanging onto second place in the Metro with the Islanders right on your heels in third and the surging Columbus Blue Jackets getting closer in the rearview. Your team is without its best player in Sidney Crosby for a few weeks, you have a guantlet of a schedule in March that is the hardest in the league, and despite this adversity, your team continues to battle and win most hockey games.
It's the time of year where pretty much every game is a must-win, but especially the game before the NHL trade deadline, when your GM just spoke about looking to add to the team on the forward front and defensive front to shore everything up for both a playoff run and the future.
The cross-checks? Sure. They happen dozens of times per game. Matching cross-checks are one thing, but slashing the head of an opponent with your stick is another, and it comes at a time when this Penguins' team is trying to hold on without its captain.
Composure needs to be kept there. This is not Malkin's first rodeo with a stick infraction, so he's almost certainly going to miss some time. Not having Crosby AND Malkin could quite literally derail what has been a magical, expectation-defying season for this team, and it would all be the result of a selfish, heat-of-the-moment decision by a player this team counts on.
There is never a time and place for what Malkin did. But it was especially bad considering the circumstances around this team, this season, and this contract negotiation.
If the Penguins miss the playoffs, they can point to several things. But this would be looked back on as the catalyst to the collapse.
So, for Malkin's sake - assuming that he misses some time and that Crosby won't be back for at least another week - his team better find a way to ride out the storm.
- All that said, Muse offered a pretty strong statement to his team after the game.
I asked him what the message was to the team after a couple of regulation losses in a row - the first time that's happened since Jan. 10-11. This was an emotional loss, and the last time the Penguins had a condensed schedule was December, when an emotional loss against the Anaheim Ducks snowballed into an eight-game losing streak.
So how do the Penguins avoid that this time around?
"You can say the schedule... I think it's just this league in general this time of year, too," Muse said. "Like, be pissed off. I don't want anybody walking out of today seeing this as okay. You also gotta be quick to turn the page. So, you get home, you get some sleep, you get to the rink tomorrow, we've got to look at ways that we can be better, we've got to quickly turn the page, and we've got to be ready for this next game.
"That's where we're at, and that's an important part is you don't let things continue to build. And I'd say the same thing if we had a game that we really liked. You've got to be ready for the next one because these are all turning fast."
We'll see what happens. In any case, Dubas is not - contrary to some panicked belief on Twitter - going to suddenly pivot and have a fire sale.
No. This team deserves to be rewarded. They've earned that. And they're still in a divisional playoff spot. Dubas must stay the course, whatever that means.
So, buckle up, Penguins' fans. This is going to be a very interesting 24 hours.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 05: Leonard Miller #11 of the Chicago Bulls and Oso Ighodaro #11 of the Phoenix Suns reach for a loose ball during the first half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 05, 2026 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. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This might be the worst loss of the season, considering the circumstances. Chicago was down eight players and had lost 12 of their last 13 games entering this contest.
The Phoenix Suns operated with the panicked urgency of a college student starting a midnight term paper at 11:00 PM. Unfortunately for them, they got close to submitting it on time, but procrastination early on is what cost them the game in the final moments.
It was an ugly game until the very end. Collin Sexton took over and dropped 30 points, and the young guys were running wild, which is fitting for a team named the Bulls. Tre Jones had 21 points on 9-15 shooting. Credit to Chicago for playing hard, but it is unacceptable for this type of game to happen in the first of a back-to-back.
Chicago was without a great deal of key players, including Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis, who were questionable entering the day.
Devin Booker poured in 27 points, and Grayson Allen chipped in 21. Outside of that duo, the offense was just not there. They made a late run, but fell short.
Game Flow
First Half
The Suns got off to a slow start. Chicago jumped ahead to a 9-2 lead in the opening minutes after stagnant offense and easy buckets for the Bulls. That led to a frustrated Jordan Ott timeout with 8:13 remaining in the quarter.
A beautiful (ATO) after-timeout play was drawn up by Ott and executed to perfection to free up Jalen Green for a three-point connection.
We had early Khaman Maluach minutes! He checked about halfway through the quarter. He snatched two rebounds in his first minute on the court.
Cold shooting and lazy defense from the Suns led to a 20-9 Chicago lead and another Suns timeout.
The lineup of Maluach, Fleming, Dunn, Allen, and Gillespie brought some needed life back into the Suns, at least defensively. One of the lone highlights of the quarter was this rookie connection.
The offense continued to struggle. It was an ugly quarter. Phoenix trailed 24-20 after one. Scoring 20 points against this Bulls team in any quarter is unacceptable.
Grayson Allen knocked down a pair of threes early in the second quarter to kickstart the offense. The first chunk of the second quarter was just as frustrating as the first quarter was. The offense was stagnant. Iso ball. Turnovers. Lazy defense.
Chicago was in control, 41-32, while dictating the pace of the game at that point.
Devin Booker scored 7 straight points after he was frustrated with a no-call the previous play, but the Suns’ defense was not getting it done, so they didn’t cover any ground during that stretch.
The Bulls were playing loose, they were playing free, and having fun while pushing the ball up the floor nearly every possession.
Phoenix closed out the half strong and was fortunate to only be down by five after being down by as many as 11. Chicago led 55-50 at the break. Devin Booker paced the Suns with 16 points, followed by 14 from Grayson Allen. Collin Sexton led Chicago with 16 of his own.
Second Half
The third quarter looked like more of the same early on. Chicago made it clear they were not going down without a fight.
Oso Ighodaro started to find himself offensively a bit, as teammates were hitting him in stride on the way to the rim a few possessions in a row.
The defensive intensity picked up a bit for Phoenix, but unfortunately, the shots weren’t consistently falling, not to mention the turnover issues. Devin Booker was still getting to his spot, at the very least.
Collin Sexton was absolutely cooking Phoenix, pouring in 24 points well before the end of the third quarter.
Outside of Booker and Allen, the rest of the Suns’ shotmakers struggled to put the ball through the hoop. The Bulls had 58 points in the paint through the opening three quarters. They were relentless in attacking the rim all game long.
After three, Phoenix trailed 83-77.
Chicago opened the 4th on a 7-2 run to extend their lead to 11, leading to a Jordan Ott timeout. Chicago was leading by double digits with less than five minutes remaining. A Jalen Green transition slam, followed by a Grasyon Allen triple, made it a seven-point ballgame with 4:22 left in the game.
An Amir Coffey triple injected some caffeine (sorry) into the arena to cut it to four, 98-94. Coffey drilled another one to cut it to three with less than 40 seconds remaining to answer a Yabusele triple the prior possession.
A Devin Booker triple made it a one-point game after Chicago split a pair of free throws on the other end. It was 104-103 with 22.2 seconds left after a 16-4 Phoenix run.
Nick Richards missed a free-throw in a two-point game with just a few seconds left, then Tre Jones made a high IQ play after the rebound bounced his way by throwing it straight up in the air as the time expired.
Up Next
The Suns get the Pelicans at home tomorrow night for the second of a back-to-back.
Over three years removed from the second Tommy John surgery of his career, Walker Buehler is only now pain-free — and he doesn’t know why.
The right-handed pitcher, who signed a minor league deal with the Padres in mid-February, made his spring debut Thursday against the Mariners, allowing two earned runs over three innings while striking out four.
Buehler said competing for a spot in an MLB rotation — as elbow issues plagued him over the winter — seemed like a long shot just weeks earlier.
Buehler made his spring training debut with the Padres on Thursday. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“About four weeks ago, my elbow just stopped hurting,” Buehler told reporters after the game. “That’s a new one for me. … Things have kind of ticked up from there.”
Along with veteran Germán Márquez and former Met Griffin Canning, Buehler is among several pitchers competing to fill out a spot in the back end of San Diego’s rotation.
Walker Buehler says his elbow stopped hurting about 4 weeks ago.
"I've tried every treatment, supplement, and vitamin you can…something got rid of it and it hasn't come back…I don't know exactly what did it that fixed it. I hope if it hurts again, we get lucky again." pic.twitter.com/lte6SoBhgS
Still just 31 years old, Buehler is not too far removed from his Dodgers dominance when he made two All-Star teams (2019, 2021) and firmly entrenched himself as a perennial Cy Young candidate.
In 2021, he finished fourth for the National League Cy Young award before undergoing his second Tommy John procedure the following season — and he has failed to recapture that previous success.
Though Buehler sealed the Dodgers’ 2024 World Series victory with bullpen heroics in Game 5 at Yankee Stadium, he struggled for much of his return, posting a 5.38 ERA in 16 starts.
He signed a one-year, $21 million prove-it deal with the Red Sox last season in an attempt to reestablish himself, but the results were disastrous.
Boston released Buehler in late August after he went 7-7 with a 5.45 in 23 appearances.
He latched on with the Phillies down the stretch, going 3-0 with a 0.66 ERA in three outings, offering a glimpse of his prior standout form.
A two-time All-Star with the Dodgers, Buehler was one of several promising young pitchers in the game before undergoing a second Tommy John surgery. Jason Szenes / New York Post
Buehler’s new teammate Joe Musgrove, also recovering from Tommy John surgery, recently told The Athletic that he, along with other pitchers he’s spoken with, typically oes not feel fully back to normal until “the two-year mark.”
As he fights to revive his career and experience the other side of the Padres-Dodgers rivalry, Buehler agreed with the former All-Star.
“My first [Tommy John surgery] was a bit of an outlier,” Buehler said. “I was 21 years old and got way bigger, way stronger and my first live I felt better than I ever had. The second [surgery], that timeline checks out. … Maybe mine was even more delayed.
“I’ve tried every treatment and supplement, and vitamin you can. … Something got rid of it, and it hasn’t come back. I’m a little scared. I don’t know exactly what did it that fixed it.
“I hope if it hurts again, we get lucky again. But, all in all, it’s in a really good spot.”
The Winnipeg Jets are sending defenseman Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn to the Buffalo Sabres in a package deal, according to insider Frank Seravalli.
The move helps Buffalo’s in their efforts to strengthen its blue line as the Sabres explored a trade for Colton Parayko of the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday, but the deal ultimately fell through when Parayko declined to waive his no-move clause on Thursday. With that option off the table, Buffalo appears to have had the Winnipeg duo as their backup plan with the return package not yet known.
Stanley, 27, has emerged as one of Winnipeg’s most productive defensemen this season. The Kitchener, Ontario native is in the midst of a career year, recording nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points in 59 games.
Not that he needs it, but confirming Chad’s reporting - #GoJetsGo are completing a deal to send both LD Logan Stanley and RD Luke Schenn to #Sabrehood in one package deal, pending trade call. https://t.co/TtXdk5WEpl
His breakout campaign has made him an appealing trade target around the league, particularly given his ability to handle significant minutes while playing under a very manageable cap hit. Stanley is averaging just over 17 minutes of ice time per game and carries a cap hit of $1.25 million. Over the course of his NHL career, he has appeared in 261 games with 14 goals and 43 assists.
Schenn, 36, could also be part of the discussions according to early rumours surrounding the negotiations. This season he has recorded one goal and seven points in 46 games while providing a physical presence through hits and shot blocking. The veteran defenseman brings a wealth of experience, including two Stanley Cup championships across a career that has spanned more than 1,100 NHL games.
Buffalo already had one of the deepest defense cores with Stanley and Schenn joining the likes of Rasmus Dahlin, Michael Kesselring, Owen Power, Mattias Samuelsson and Bowen Byram.
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ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 5: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Orlando Magic on March 5, 2026 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The return of Cooper Flagg netted an all too familiar feeling for Mavericks fans; another clutch loss.
The Mavericks fought hard all night, but as usual were unable to execute in the clutch, leading to the Magic stealing an improbable win.
Without further ado… let’s grade the Mavericks
Cooper Flagg: A
18 PTS / 5 REB / 6 AST / 1 STL / 5 BLK -26 MIN
After what felt like an eternity, Cooper Flagg finally made his return to the lineup.
It’s wasn’t Flagg’s best shooting game, as his touch was clearly rusty, but he impacted the game in a multitude of ways. His defense was especially impressive, as his rim protection was felt all night, including an incredible sequence towards the end of the game.
His ability to effect the game in so many ways, on both ends, is what separates him in the rookie-of-the-year race, and makes his potential so tantalizing.
Khris Middleton: B
19 PTS / 2 REB / 7 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK -32 MIN
Khris Middleton may be older than time itself, but he can still get buckets.
Middleton’s off-ball ability and scoring chops have proven to be very valuable for this team, and could be very valuable for next year.
Daniel Gafford: B
12 PTS / 13 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 2 BLK -25 MIN
While Daniel Gafford had a good statistical performance, he still had a very frustrating game.
This mainly boils down to his sheer lack of awareness defensively, as he often finds himself completely out-of-position, which included the game winning shot by Wendell Carter Jr.
Max Christie: C-
6 PTS / 3 REB / 3 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK -28 MIN
Max Christie receives this grade simply because he was nearly invisible during the game, contributing nothing on either offense of defense.
P.J. Washington: B+
18 PTS / 5 REB / 1 AST / 2 STL / 1 BLK -33 MIN
P.J. Washington has had an incredibly frustrating season, but has begun to find his form in the last month.
While this won’t quell the trade rumors that are sure to follow him into the offseason, it is nice to see the old, uber-impactful version of Washington.
Klay Thompson: A+
24 PTS / 4 REB / 1 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK -26 MIN
Klay Thompson may be washed in many aspects, he can still shoot the ball with the absolute best of them.
Thompson’s ability to make threes from any angle is so unique, and could be so valuable for next year’s Mavericks.
Naji Marshall: D-
6 PTS / 4 REB / 5 AST / 2 STL / 0 BLK -25 MIN
In a game that was decided by one point, Naji Marshall’s scoring was missed dearly, as he struggled to find any offense.
The one positive was his playmaking, as he racked up five assists.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MARCH 05: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates his three-point basket against the Toronto Raptors in the first quarter at Target Center on March 05, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There are games that you want to remember and ones you want to forget. There are games where everything goes perfectly, and games where everything goes terribly. There are also games like tonight, where seemingly all of those things happen all at once. Most nights, that would be a nightmare to watch and even worse to be on a recap for. Instead, tonight was fun.
It was not fun for Jaden McDaniels, who found himself in foul trouble for the entirety of this game, leading to what was likely the worst performance of his season. It was not fun for head coach Chris Finch, who perpetually looks miserable on the bench, whether it’s through ten point deficit or a 21-5 run.
21-5 Wolves run from 7:48 to 2:26 to turn a 1-point deficit into a 15-point lead
Started with consistently great Rudy defense + Donte hustle plays
Amplified by an Anthony Edwards poster
Taken to another level by a crowd pop for two straight loud Naz Reid buckets https://t.co/RYJRRwftih
Still, it was also really fun for most of the team. Donte DiVincenzo had three threes in the first half. Kyle Anderson is playing backup point guard. Anthony Edwards had that aforementioned crazy poster dunk.
Nights like this are the meat and potatoes of the NBA season. These are not headlining matchups. These are not appointment viewing. These are not even on primetime television; instead, boasting the “FanDuel sports network.” Instead, these are the games that we miss in August when the season is a distant memory.
There’s so much left to discuss, so many bits of minutia we can focus on. So, to that note, let’s get started—
Wait, I’m being told I failed to mention something here.
Here’s what you guys missed from this game.
ANTHONY EDWARDS REALMENTE ACABOU COM A CARREIRA DO RJ BARRETT
Alright. With all our Ts crossed and Is dotted, let’s get down to business.
The Kyle Anderson Experience
Slo Mo finished tonight’s game with four points, four assists, and three rebounds in only 15 minutes. Even with the deadline’s other acquisitions all being point guards, it’s been Anderson who is taking the bulk of the bench playmaking role.
When people spoke about how the Wolves needed to improve, so many of the questions came down to backcourt depth. Conversations largely focused on finding a point guard to fix both playmaking and ball-handling deficiencies. Instead, Minnesota has found a bit of a platoon approach.
Anderson’s role also holds some playoff promise. The rotation has now expanded out to nine players. While it’s probably less than ideal long term that both TJ Shannon have been relegated to garbage time, Kyle offers the type of backup 3/4 minutes that Shannon ideally would have provided.
A frequently threadbare bench has now become a bit of a strength, with both the depth and specialists that mean that Finch can go from a seven-man rotation to a nine-man one and back again if needed.
Which brings us to our next topic…
Bench Mobbing
Remember when the Wolves relied on Naz Reid as the only capable player outside of the top five starters? Remember when Mike Conley would come in and immediately get blown by, only for Chris Finch to tell non-believers that there were just no other options up and down the roster (Rob Dillingham believers did NOT like that idea)? Remember when Bones Hyland needed to be relied upon, even on nights when his shot wasn’t falling?
Well, these are not those Wolves of yesteryear. Between the additions of Ayo Dosumnu and Kyle Anderson, and the continued value of shock impact player Hyland and Sixth Man of the Year favorite Naz Reid, this bench unit is shockingly capable.
Nowhere was that more obvious than in the scoring column tonight. Six players finished in double digits. That was with McDaniels missing out by one bucket because of foul trouble.
There is no reason that can’t continue.
Most importantly, there’s no reason why that isn’t translatable to a playoff environment. This era of Wolves basketball is defined by an overperformance of unexpected players. Realistically speaking, it is Bones Hyland who will find himself out of the rotation in May. However, that doesn’t mean his role of offensive sparkplug will cease to matter.
To that end, this team makes sense in a way that I can buy into. That has to count for something.
Kyle Anderson and Ayo Dosunmu pretty much help with all of Minnesota’s weaknesses. Incredible
With just about two months left in the regular season, the Wolves now sit at third in the West, a full game ahead of the fourth-seeded Rockets. They are a full five games back from the Thunder and Spurs pack of it all, but a few months ago, the idea of escaping the play-in felt far away and unlikely.
There is no team that these Wolves can’t beat. They will once again be a popular dark horse for the title. But the good news is that no one is playing better than them. The same thing happened last year. And the year before.
Maybe the Anthony Edwards era will be defined by late-season runs that extend deep into the playoffs. There are far worse things to be known for than that. Even better, maybe sometime soon, those flameouts will become Finals appearances. And maybe, just maybe, those appearances become victories.
While Edwards is unquestionably the motor and frame of the car that is the Timberwolves, there is more to this vehicle than there was earlier. It’s not a carry job. It is an F1 construction finding stability through its well-tested and well-engineered parts, each functioning as needed.
Goodnight Wolves fans. Dream of Max Verstappen, or Dale Earnhardt, or Lightning McQueen. The race starts in 60 days. The car is hitting top form. The drivers are raring to go.
Time to get to work.
Up Next
The Timberwolves will go for six in a row on Saturday afternoon against the Orlando Magic. The game begins at 2:00 PM CT, airing on Amazon Prime Video.
HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 5: Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket during the game against the Houston Rockets on March 5, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
You can criticize the 2025-26 Golden State Warriors for a lot of things, but lack of heart is not one of them.
Missing Steph Curry, Moses Moody, Kristaps Porzingis and Gary Payton II, the Warriors rode an incredible team effort on defense to a 115-113 overtime win against the Houston Rockets. Draymond Green locked down Kevin Durant late and then the NBA’s burner account king missed two clutch free throws and accidentally made another in OT.
Brandin Podziemski led the Warriors with 26 points and nine rebounds, but the shorthanded Warriors got contributions all the way down the roster. DeAnthony Melton scored 23 points, blocked two shots and got three steals. Green led the team with eight assists, scored 10 points and turned the ball over only once.
Al Horford scored 17, drained three threes and got a huge hustle block on Alperen Sengun in overtime. And Gui Santos had 14 points, six rebounds, and six assists and was +20 in 42 minutes, a remarkable accomplishment for a two-point victory. He also delivered what turned out to be only the second-most embarrassing moment of the game for Durant.
Golden State looked like they’d taken control of the game late in overtime when Podziemski hit a three and a driving layup on consecutive possessions, thanks to some powerful screens from Green.
The Warriors’ timely help defense on Durant forced a miss and they had the ball and a five-point lead with 1:20 to go.
It fell apart quickly. All-Defensive guard Amen Thompson stole the ball and got fouled. He split his free throws, but the Rockets got an offensive rebound and whipped the ball around to Durant, who canned a three to cut the lead to one. But the resilient Warriors went to the veteran Horford, who posted up Thompson, 16 years younger then him, and hit a bucket.
Durant drew a three-shot foul on Melton, and it looked like the game would be tied. After all, Durant had made 34 consecutive free throws. That streak would end at 36.
He missed the third freebie, then the Warriors got two offensive rebounds on their next possession before Melton scored for another three-point lead.
DE'ANTHONY MELTON SEALS IT FOR THE WARRIORS IN OT!
It’s a testament to the tenacity of the Warriors that they got the most important offensive rebound against the Houston Rockets. Up three, Green fouled Durant, who missed another free throw. Needing to miss and get an offensive rebound, KD accidentally made his final free throw.
To add insult to injury, the game ended after the Rockets let all but 0.1 seconds run off the clock before fouling, and Green threw the ball off Durant to end it. X.com user “getoffmydickerson” will surely have a lot to say about that later.
Steve Kerr has plenty of critics among Warriors fans and people writing this very recap, but Thursday’s game was another example of why he remains one of the NBA’s best-ever coaches. Somehow, the Warriors have a top-12 defense this season, and they handled everyone but Reed Sheppard (30 points, six threes) and forced 17 turnovers.
Out of a timeout just under four minutes, Kerr drew up a sweet out-of-bounds play for Green, who got an and-one off a dime from Brandin Podziemski.
Of course, the real secret to a killer defense is having Draymond Green. He did a great job of denying his old teammate the ball, but Sengun kept making tough shots to keep the Rockets in it. But, the Warriors won the mathematics battle, because three is more than two. De’Anthony Melton hit a three and then Al Horford nailed a huge triple off a broken play and a heads-up pass from Green.
At the end of regulation, Durant blocked Melton, a play originally called a foul and reversed, because this is what happens late in Rockets-Warriors games. The ageless Horford won the subsequent jump ball, but Thompson blew up the Warriors’ inbounds play to send the game to OT.
LJ Cryer had a strong performance back in the city of his college basketball glory. In his first game since Jan. 25, Cryer scored 12 points, guarded Reed Sheppard in big moments, sank four three-pointers and provided 20 crucial minutes for a Warriors team light on guards.
But the star was Podziemski. Eight days after his 23rd birthday, Podziemski took command of the offense late in games, grabbed five offensive rebounds and went 4-for-8 from behind the arc. For a player who seems to constantly draw the ire of the Warriors fanbase, Podziemski continues to do a lot of good things for his team, even while being clotheslined by Rockets defenders and being constantly whipped in the face by his beautiful, wild hair.
Golden State moves to 32-30 and 1.5 games ahead of the 9th-place Los Angeles Clippers. They’ll play the San Antonio Spurs Friday while the Warriors play the Oklahoma City Thunder Saturday, so let’s just assume they’ll be 32-31 1.5 games ahead on Sunday.
Except, after Thursday, you just never know with this team and their new adopted Splash Cousin LJ Cryer. There will be time enough to bemoan Kerr’s coaching decisions and the insane roster choices later. This is the time to savor the most satisfying Warriors win of the season.
LeBron James has broken yet another NBA record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
In the final seconds of the first quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers' game against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night, James posted up Zeke Nnaji along the baseline before hitting him with a turnaround fadeaway for the 15,838th made field goal of his career — the most all-time by a player.
Though he passed Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA's all-time leading scorer in 2023, the fact that it took another three years to surpass him in made field goals speaks to the evolution of the game, and the power that the 3-ball and the free throw line have in today's NBA.
James and Abdul-Jabbar are the only two players to score at least 15,000 career field goals; the next closest is Karl Malone with 13,528. The only other active player in the top 10 is Kevin Durant, who is in ninth with 11,075.
NEW YORK (AP) — Alexis Lafreniere scored the go-ahead goal on a deflection in the third period, and the New York Rangers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-2 on Thursday night to pick up their first regulation win at home in more than three months.
It was the Rangers’ 19th game at Madison Square Garden since defeating St. Louis on Nov. 24. They had lost 13 of 18 since, with the only victories during that stretch coming in overtime or a shootout.
Falling behind 13 seconds in, they rallied to win for just the eighth time in 28 home games all season.
Jaroslav Chmelar scored his first career NHL goal a few minutes after Lafreniere put the Rangers up, bringing some joy to the team and crowd at the three-quarter mark of a season that long ago went off the rails.
Playing on the eve of the trade deadline, who was not in uniform for New York and Toronto to safeguard them from injury was just as notable if not more notable than who was on the ice.
The Rangers scratched centers Vincent Trocheck and Sam Carrick. The Maple Leafs for a second consecutive night opted not to dress defenseman Oliver Ekman Larsson and forwards Scott Laughton and Bobby McMann. Roster management was the reason given.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ryan McLeod and Alex Tuch scored short-handed goals and Buffalo beat Pittsburgh.
McLeod now has a league-best five short-handed goals this season. Josh Norris added a power-play goal, Owen Power scored and Mattias Samuelsson scored an empty-net goal for the Sabres, who won their fifth straight game.
Tage Thompson established a career-best, nine-game point streak with an assist. Buffalo has points in 10 straight road games, matching the longest road point streak in franchise history.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 26 shots for the Sabres, who are 11-2-1 in their last 14 games.
Bryan Rust scored a short-handed goal for the Penguins, who lost consecutive games in regulation for the first time since Jan. 10-11.
BLUE JACKETS 4, PANTHERS 2
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Jet Greaves made 26 saves, Mathieu Olivier scored twice and Columbus dealt another blow to Florida’s playoff hopes with a victory.
Two-time defending champion Florida is in danger of becoming the first Cup-winning team to miss the playoffs the following season since Los Angeles in 2014-15. Ten points behind Boston for the final wild-card spot in the East, the Panthers have lost the first four games of a trip that ends Friday night in Detroit.
Defenseman Ivan Provorov had a goal and two assists and Boone Jenner also scored to help Columbus, fighting for a wild-card spot in the East, win its third straight. The Blue Jackets were coming off a back-to-back sweep, beating the Rangers 5-4 in overtime in New York on Monday night and Nashville on Tuesday night to open a four-game homestand.
Defenseman Niko Mikkola and Sam Bennett scored for Florida in a 5:36 span of the third period.
Gustav Forsling appeared to tie it with 2:55 to go, but Columbus successfully challenged for goaltender interference. Olivier then put it away with an empty-netter with 1:42 left.
MAMMOTH 3, FLYERS 0
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Vitek Vanecek stopped 16 shots in his 100th career win and Dylan Guenther assisted on two Utah goals as it beat Philadelphia.
Nick Schmaltz and Clayton Keller scored in the second period for the Mammoth, and Michael Carcone added an empty-net goal at 18:12 of the third.
Vanecek earned his first shutout of the season and the 11th of his career. The 30-year-old had four shutouts during the 2021-22 with the Washington Capitals.
Utah has won two straight games and five of its last seven while completing a two-game season sweep of the Flyers.
Dan Vladar made 20 saves for Philadelphia and slipped to 19-10-6. The Flyers had their three-game winning streak halted.
After a scoreless first period, the Mammoth outshot the Flyers 14-7 in the second period and took a lead they never relinquished.
PREDATORS 6, BRUINS 3
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Matthew Wood scored twice to lead Nashville to a victory over Boston.
Filip Forsberg had a goal and two assists, Nicolas Hague, Erik Haula and Luke Evangelista also scored for the Predators. Juuse Saros made 20 saves for Nashville, which snapped a three-game losing streak. The Predators trail the Seattle Kraken for the Western Conference’s second wild card by three points.
Charlie McAviy and Viktor Arvidsson each had a goal and an assist and Morgan Geekie also scored for Boston. Joonas Korpisalo made 24 saves for the Bruins, who have lost two of their last three games. Boston is one point ahead of Columbus for the Eastern Conference’s second wild card.
Hague scored the game’s first goal at 13:53 of the opening period on a slap shot between Korpisalo’s pads.
Wood made it 2-0 at 1:24 of the second with a short-handed goal.
JETS 4, LIGHTNING 1
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Connor Hellebuyck made 26 saves, Mark Scheifele had a goal and an assist and Winnipeg beat Tampa Bay.
Morgan Barron, Gustav Nyquist and Kyle Connor, into an empty net, also scored for Winnipeg. The Jets improved to 25-26-10, extending their home winning streak against Tampa Bay to five games.
Nyquist scored his first goal in 41 regular-season games dating to last season. He gave Winnipeg a 3-1 lead at 5:34 of the third period.
Brayden Point scored for Tampa Bay, and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 26 shots. The Lighting have lost four straight to fall to 38-18-4.
Point scored at 1:52 of the third period to spoil Hellebuyck’s shutout bid. Jake Guentzel picked up his 39th assist, matching his total last season.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Ehis Etute and Katie Fiso combined for 32 second-half points to lead Oregon 73-68 past No. 14 Maryland in the second round of the Big 10 Tournament on Thursday.
After two points from Etute in the first half and none from Fiso, Etute tallied 18 points, five rebounds and three blocks in the second half. Fiso had 14 on 7-of-13 shooting and four assists after halftime.
After a back-and-forth in the final three minutes that had Maryland within two points, Avary Cain hit a 3-pointer with five seconds to go to seal the result for the No. 11 seed Ducks (22-11). She had 13 points and two blocks.
Oluchi Okananwa scored 27 points — including 17 in the second half — going 10 of 18 from the field and 7 of 8 at the line to go with three steals for the Terrapins (23-8).
Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu added 10 points as the only other Terrapins player in double figures.
Neither team lead by double digits, with Maryland's eight-point lead in the first quarter the largest of the game. It's the second meeting and second time this season that the Ducks have upset the Terrapins.
Up next
Oregon will face No. 8 (and No. 3 seed) Michigan on Friday.
Lakers star LeBron James dunks to tie Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record of 15,837 career field goals in the regular season during the first quarter Thursday against the Denver Nuggets. (David Zalubowski / Associated Press)
James broke Abdul-Jabbar's record for the most career field goals in the regular season Thursday against the Denver Nuggets, but an elbow injury limited his contributions in crunch time of the Lakers' 120-113 loss.
After scoring over Denver center Nikola Jokic in the fourth quarter, James fell to the court and immediately grabbed his left elbow. He eventually got up and went to the bench with 3:58 remaining. He returned with 2:05 left and the Lakers down 112-111 before leaving again with 22 seconds left after Jokic scored consecutive baskets to give the Nuggets a 116-111 lead. Jokic finished with a triple-double of 28 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds.
Jamal Murray had 28 points and two game-sealing free throws for Denver (39-24).
James finished with 16 points, eight assists and five rebounds and Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 27 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.
James entered the game needing to make three field goals to pass Abdul-Jabbar for the most made field goals in league history. James tied Abdul-Jabbar’s mark for most regular-season field goals when he dunked off a lob pass from Doncic with 8:33 left in the first quarter.
He set the new mark of 15,838 with a fadeaway jumper near the Lakers’ bench with 11.8 seconds left in the first quarter.
When James went to the bench with the Lakers (37-25) trailing 32-22 at the end of the quarter, the Denver Nuggets’ public address announcer told the crowd about his accomplishment. James was given a standing ovation from the fans at Ball Arena.
“LeBron's greatest hits, he just keeps adding to them,” said Lakers coach JJ Redick before the game. “He just plays and plays and plays. And the greatest hits are just ... he's got a hell of a catalog.”
James finished the game with 15,842 career field goals.
Lakers center Deandre Ayton didn’t return for the second half against the Nuggets after sustaining a knee injury.
Ayton left the court in the first quarter. The Lakers didn’t say which knee Ayton injured.
He played four minutes and 30 seconds and had two rebounds and no points.
Jaxson Hayes started the second half in Ayton's place.
Ayton entered the game averaging 12.8 points on 66.8% shooting with 8.3 rebounds.
Not having Ayton meant Hayes (19 points) and Rui Hachimura (16 points) had to take on the role of defending Jokic.
Etc.
Doncic picked up his 15th technical foul of the season against the Nuggets. If he draws one more technical before the end of the season, he will receive an automatic one-game suspension.
“Yeah, he's aware that he's close,” Redick said before the game. “And I think he's trying [not to get anymore].”
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Connor Hellebuyck made 26 saves, Mark Scheifele had a goal and an assist and the Winnipeg Jets beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1 on Thursday night.
Morgan Barron, Gustav Nyquist and Kyle Connor, into an empty net, also scored for Winnipeg. The Jets improved to 25-26-10, extending their home winning streak against Tampa Bay to five games.
Nyquist scored his first goal in 41 regular-season games dating to last season. He gave Winnipeg a 3-1 lead at 5:34 of the third period.
Brayden Point scored for Tampa Bay, and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 26 shots. The Lighting have lost four straight to fall to 38-18-4.
Point scored at 1:52 of the third period to spoil Hellebuyck’s shutout bid. Jake Guentzel picked up his 39th assist, matching his total last season.
Rasmus Dahlin #26 of the Buffalo Sabres has a disagreement with Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 5, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Things got heated — and potentially dangerous — on the ice between Penguins center Evgeni Malkin and Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin on Thursday.
Late in the first period of the Sabres’ 5-1 win, Malkin was given a match penalty for slashing after he and Dahlin battled for position in front of the net.
Dahlin gave Malkin some hard cross-checks, which then prompted the 20-year NHL veteran to turn around and swing his stick, hitting Dahlin, 25, in the side of the head and the neck.
Evgeni Malkin was assessed a game misconduct for slashing Rasmus Dahlin in the head with his stick. pic.twitter.com/fAGxWy3bm3
Malkin, 39, then dropped his glove and tried to fight further, but Dahlin grabbed his neck in pain before anything else happened.
Dahlin was issued two minutes for cross-checking, and Malkin got two minutes for cross-checking, along with a five-minute major penalty for slashing.
Malkin was also issued a game misconduct, resulting in his immediate ejection.
It is still unclear whether Malkin will face further discipline from the NHL.
Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabres has a disagreement with Evgeni Malkin of the Penguins on March 5. NHLI via Getty Images
Across his lengthy career, Malkin has built himself a history of suspensions and NHL discipline, most recently being sidelined for four games during the 2022 season for cross-checking Predators defenseman Mark Borowiecki across the face.
In 2019, Malkin was suspended for one game by the NHL for “an intentional stick swing with force for the purpose of retaliation” to Flyers forward Michael Raffl.
It is still unclear whether Malkin will face further discipline from the NHL for the play. Sportsnet on X
He was fined in that same season for high-sticking Senators forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau and slashing Jets defenseman Logan Stanley.
Across 45 games played this season, Malkin has racked up 13 goals and 34 assists, where he now has an increased role for the Penguins as the team’s leading scorer, Sidney Crosby, is recovering from a lower-body injury sustained during the 2026 Winter Olympics.
As of Thursday night, the Penguins currently sat in second in the Metropolitan Division, trailing the Hurricanes by nine points.
Mike Tauchman led off Thursday’s 7-4 loss to the Nationals at Ballpark of the Palm Beaches with a long double and also started the game in left field, again showing the defensive versatility that the Mets believe could make the lefty-swinger valuable.
As the camp looks now, it’s difficult to see a path for both Benge — also left-handed at the plate — and Tauchman to make the Opening Day roster.
But as Carlos Mendoza noted after the game, there remains a long way until the Mets face the Pirates to start the regular season on March 26.
Mike Tauchman connects on a double during the Mets’ 7-4 Grapefruit League loss to the Nationals on March 5, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
But Tauchman, who didn’t sign with the Mets until late in the offseason, is more than an insurance policy for the team.
“A lot can happen between now and Opening Day,’’ Mendoza said. “[Tauchman] is playing well, too. He can play left field and all three [outfield positions] and give you a quality at-bat. He’s versatile on defense and he’s got pop.”
All of that was on display against Washington, with Tauchman looking to stand out amid the crowd of Benge, Tyrone Taylor and MJ Melendez.
Mike Tauchman celebrates after scoring during the Mets’ March 5 game. Imagn Images
While Ben Rortvedt got the start behind the plate Thursday against the Nationals, Mendoza made it clear that Luis Torrens would be the primary backup to Francisco Alvarez at catcher this season.
“They’re both going to play and [Alvarez] is going to get the majority of the playing time,’’ the manager said prior to Thursday’s game.
The goal is to keep Alvarez healthier — and more consistent — than he has been in recent years.
Having Torrens on the field regularly will help that cause.
“We have to monitor [Alvarez] and make sure we keep him healthy for 162-plus [games], and Luis is a big part of that.”
The team is also handling Alvarez with care, encouraging him to take things slow this spring in an effort to avoid wearing him out.
“He’s a hard worker and is more mature now,’’ Mendoza said. “Instead of 200 swings every day, maybe you don’t need to take that many. We don’t have to tell him that. He’s learned over the years.”
Nolan McLean reported no issues after his outing on Wednesday and was scheduled to meet Team USA in Houston on Thursday.
The right-hander has had no issues after recovering from vertigo-like symptoms that lingered for several days last week and caused him to drop weight, but he’s on track to start in the WBC against Team Italy on March 10 and again in the finals on March 17, if Team USA advances that far.
Luis Robert Jr., who played his first game of the spring on Wednesday in a minor league contest, bounced back fine and is expected to be in center again Friday for another minor league game as the Mets try to protect the outfielder who has been bothered by lower-body injuries in the past.
— Additional reporting by Jon Heyman in Port St. Lucie
