TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Malik Reneau scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, Tre Donaldson had 21 points, six assists, and six rebounds, and Miami held on late to defeat Florida State, 83-73 on Tuesday night.
The Hurricanes (22-6, 11-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) led by 11 points with 3:16 remaining in regulation, but FSU cut the deficit to four points down the stretch. Miami ended the game on an 8-2 run to prevent the comeback.
Reneau has scored 20 or more points in 16 games this season, and picked up his eighth double-double of the year. He ranks fifth in the ACC in scoring.
Miami shot 53% from the floor and 43% from beyond the arc. They entered tonight's game sitting atop the ACC and 11th nationally in field goal percentage.
The 'Canes closed the first half up 38-32, and Tru Washington scored 10 of his 11 points in the opening frame. Washington also had a game-high four steals.
For the Seminoles (14-14, 7-8), Lajae Jones scored 21 points (8-of-14 shooting), and Chauncey Wiggins added 14 points and five rebounds.
BROOKLYN, NY - FEBRUARY 24: Naji Marshall #13 of the Dallas Mavericks dribbles the ball during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on February 24, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Mavericks cruised past the Nets 123-114. The Mavericks were led by a dominant front-court effort with 22 points from Marvin Bagley, and Naji Marshall had 19. The Nets lost to Michael Porter Jr.’s 26.
The Mavericks closed the first quarter up 36–29, fueled by Naji Marshall’s downhill scoring and Daniel Gafford’s interior finishes, while Klay Thompson added timely threes to stretch the floor. Dallas was sharp offensively early, moving the ball and capitalizing on Brooklyn’s defensive breakdowns rather than playing chaotic basketball. Marvin Bagley III gave strong minutes off the bench, scoring efficiently in the paint with tip-ins and hooks that kept the pressure on the rim. The second quarter turned into a scoring duel, but Dallas never fully surrendered control. Marshall continued attacking, Middleton steadied possessions with midrange buckets and free throws, and Thompson added more perimeter shot-making as the lead stretched. Brooklyn answered through Claxton’s rim runs and Porter Jr.’s scoring bursts, but the Mavericks kept stacking efficient possessions and went into halftime up 76–64. Unlike some of their recent games, this half was defined by offensive rhythm and composure rather than turnovers and stalled stretches.
The second half was about maintaining control and answering every Brooklyn push. In the third quarter, Dallas kept the offense humming, trading makes but never letting the lead truly shrink. Brandon Williams continued his efficient scoring with pull-up jumpers and drives, Bagley finished an alley-oop and added interior touch, and Klay Thompson mixed in perimeter shot-making to keep the spacing honest. Brooklyn had moments, including a Michael Porter Jr. dunk and some midrange scoring, but Dallas consistently answered and carried a 99–91 edge. The fourth quarter never turned into a collapse either. Naji Marshall attacked downhill and lived at the line early, Bagley added another interior finish and controlled the glass, and Gafford chipped in with a free throw and putback to steady things. Brooklyn tried to generate late energy through T. Mann threes and pull-ups, but the Mavericks’ efficiency and rebounding edge held firm. The box score shows Dallas finishing at 58.5 percent from the field and winning the assist battle 26 to 29 while limiting turnovers to 11 total
22: Marvin Bagley points
Marvin Bagley III was a legitimate swing factor in this game. In just 19 and a half minutes, he poured in 22 points on 10 of 13 shooting, finishing everything around the rim and converting at a ridiculous 76.9 percent clip. His scoring was not empty volume either. It came at moments when Dallas needed to steady the offense or respond to Brooklyn runs. Alley-oops, hooks, quick seals in transition, second-chance finishes, every touch felt purposeful. When the Mavericks went inside, good things happened, and Bagley was at the center of that pressure.
More importantly, this was not an isolated explosion. Over the last few games, Bagley has quietly stacked efficient outings, rebounding consistently and finishing at a high rate without demanding touches. He looks more comfortable within the system, playing off movement rather than trying to create outside his role. If this stretch continues, it is more than fair to say he deserves a real look in training camp next season. Dallas is always searching for dependable frontcourt depth, and performances like this show he can provide interior scoring and energy in limited minutes. At a minimum, he has earned the opportunity to compete for a roster spot based on what he has shown recently.
66: Mavericks points in the paint
Dallas’s 66 points in the paint were the defining factor in the game. That number reflects dominance, not just shot selection. The Mavericks attacked relentlessly, forcing Brooklyn to defend the rim on nearly every possession. Bagley’s efficiency, Gafford’s rim runs and putbacks, Marshall’s downhill drives, and Washington’s interior finishes all compounded into constant pressure. Instead of settling for contested jumpers, Dallas played through contact and punished soft rotations.
That interior emphasis controlled the flow of the game. It neutralized Brooklyn’s perimeter rhythm, limited long rebounds that fuel transition, and allowed Dallas to score efficiently even when outside shots cooled. When a team generates 66 points at the rim, it usually means they dictated physicality and tempo. That was exactly the case here. The Mavericks did not win this one from the three-point line. They won it by overwhelming the paint and never letting up.
The Pittsburgh Penguins made a trade with the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday, sending defenseman Brett Kulak to the Avalanche in exchange for fellow defenseman Samuel Girard and a 2028 second-round pick.
Kulak was with the Penguins for a little over two months before being traded to the Avalanche. He was originally acquired by the Penguins in the Tristan Jarry trade back in December.
Now that the dust has settled, this is a nice piece of business from Penguins president and general manager Kyle Dubas. He got a younger defenseman who is signed for one more year, along with a second-round pick, for a defenseman who was going to walk into free agency this summer. Dubas has been on an absolute heater for the last year and a half and is showing no signs of slowing down.
That 2028 second-rounder is one of seven second-round picks that the Penguins have in the next three drafts. They also have three first-round picks and six third-round picks in the next three drafts. There's still plenty of time for those numbers to grow, too.
Dubas continues to prioritize his plan to get the Penguins back to being a long-term contender as urgently as possible, while also rewarding his team for the season they're having. He knows this is a team capable of making the playoffs and potentially earning home ice in the first round.
Girard brings a different skill set than Kulak. He may not be as steady in his own zone or in front of the net, but he's a good puck-mover, something the Penguins need more of on the backend. Outside of Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang, the Penguins don't have another true puck-mover. Girard is also someone who plays well in transition and exits his own zone cleanly.
He brings more of an offensive presence, and if the Penguins really want to, they can have an offensive-first defenseman on all three of their defensive pairs.
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard (49) stretches during the warmup before the game against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
They're going to keep the Wotherspoon-Karlsson pairing together since it's been their best pairing all year. After that, they could look to reunite the Shea-Letang pair since it was successful at times earlier this season. That would leave Girard to play on the third pair with one of Connor Clifton or Ilya Solovyov. Either way, you'd have a pure offensive-first and a defense-first player on each defensive pair.
However, the Penguins could also look to try Girard with Letang and at least see how it goes. It might turn into a full chaos pairing, but head coach Dan Muse hasn't been afraid to try new lines/pairs at times this year.
Girard's underlying numbers have been really strong this year. He has played 653 minutes at 5v5 and has been on the ice for 56.4% of the shot attempts, 54.9% of the expected goals, 58.1% of the scoring chances, and 53.4% of the high-danger chances. Yes, the Avalanche are a juggernaut this season, but those numbers speak to his ability to drive possession and work the puck into the offensive zone for some good chances.
All in all, Girard is a nice fit for the blue line and will have the chance to help this team in a multitude of ways on a nightly basis.
We'll see if he's in the lineup on Thursday when the Penguins host the New Jersey Devils. It will be their first game in three weeks since the NHL has been on its Olympic break.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 24: Oso Ighodaro #11 of the Phoenix Suns controls a rebound over Ron Harper Jr. #13 and Baylor Scheierman #55 of the Boston Celtics during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 24, 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Celtics did not shoot the ball well but that did not prevent them from blowing out the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night in a 97-81 win that was headlined by their defense, 22 offensive rebounds and a really big Derrick White game for their 3rd straight win of the road trip.
Jaylen Brown joined Jayson Tatum on the injury report, so the Celtics started Derrick White, Ron Harper Jr., Baylor Scheierman, Sam Hauser and Neemias Queta. The Suns had a lengthy injury report: Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Jordan Goodwin, Haywood Highsmith and Cole Anthony; they started Collin Gillespie, Jalen Green, Royce O’Neale, Ryan Dunn and Mark Williams.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 01: Ryan Dunn #0 (R) warms up next to Mark Williams #15 of the Phoenix Suns before the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 01, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Clippers defeated the Suns 117-93. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was a very slow start from three for the Celtics as they started 2/10 from beyond the arc and a 10-0 Phoenix run put the Suns up 15-10. Ron Harper Jr. had 3 rebounds but started the game 1/6 from the field.
Joe Mazulla made mass substitutions at the first time out putting Payton Pricthard, Nikola Vucevic, Jordan Walsh and Hugo Gonzalez in with Sam Hauser.
Not a very good quarter for the Celtics: they got 9 offensive rebounds but shot just 9/28 from the field and 3/15 from three. They trailed the Suns, 26-21. Derrick White led the team with 5 points while Nikola Vucevic had 4 points off of the bench.
The Celtics struggled to get their offense going in the first half, but then a Derrick White three and Neemias Queta dunk lead to a Suns timeout. Phoenix still led 41-37 but the Celtics needed some life on offense and those baskets were signs that it was possible.
The Celtics led the Suns at the end of the half, 50-46. It was not a pretty offensive half for Boston: 50 points on 38% from the field and 25% from three but their offensive rebounds and defense got the job done through 24 minutes. Derrick White led the team with 18 points while Neemias Queta had 10 points and 5 rebounds.
The Celtics took it to the Suns in the third quarter. Sam Hauser got going from three, hitting 3 threes in the period and scoring 13 points. Baylor Scheierman had 6 rebounds and was a +19 in the quarter. However, it was the Celtics defense that dominated the quarter. Boston outscored the Suns 30-11 in the 3rd, as Phoenix shot 18% from the field and 11% from three — dominant stuff from Boston’s defense. Sure, Phoenix missed some good looks, but Boston was dominant on the defensive end. The Celtics also out rebounded the Suns 21-6 in the quarter.
It was a Ron Harper Jr. block that was the play off the quarter, however.
The Celtics led 80-57 at the end of three quarters. Derrick White led the team with 18 points while Hauser had 16 and Neemias Queta had 14.
The 4th quarter saw a different start as the Suns fought back into the game scoring the first 7 points of the period and forcing Mazzulla to call a timeout not even 2 minutes in.
Boston was able to regain control of the game, thanks to a pair if Derrick White baskets and big three pointers from Harper Jr. and Baylor Scheierman. An 8-2 run put the Celts back up 22 points.
Scheierman had a double-double in the game with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
It was a dominant 2nd half from the Celtics as they blew out the Suns.
Derrick White was unbelievable in the game with 22 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. Meanwhile, Neemias Queta finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds. The Celtics won, 97-81.
Boston shot 40% from the field and 28% from three while the Suns shot 37% from the field and 33% from three. The Celtics next game is Wednesday night at 10 EST in Denver against the Nuggets.
Feb 24, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) and center Jarrett Allen (31) during the first quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the New York Knicks 109-94. Let’s see who won and lost the night.
WINNER – Packing the Paint
Have you heard the term “open for a reason”? Well, after tonight, Josh Hart is certainly familiar.
The Cavs approached this game with a straightforward defensive game plan. Jarrett Allen matched up with Hart and chose to pack the paint rather than honor him as a three-point shooter. The results benefited Cleveland as they were able to crowd New York’s drives, while Hart only managed to shoot 2-8 from downtown.
Cleveland deployed a similar tactic whenever Jose Alverado was in the game. Alverado shot 1-4.
At times, I thought the Cavs were maybe being too lax about covering Hart. Surely he’s a good enough shooter to warrant some sort of closeout. But the Cavs bet against him tonight, and Hart wasn’t able to make them regret it.
Having more bodies in the paint is self-explanatory, especially against a Knicks team that has previously crushed Cleveland on the glass. Being able to stay home minimizes the damage that can be done through offensive rebounds. It also relieves pressure to scramble on the perimeter and forces the opponent into taking lower-quality shots.
Of course, it all becomes easier when your opponent is missing shots. New York finished the night shooting 10-37 (27%) from downtown overall.
LOSER – The James Harden Whistle
So… what’s going on?
Harden is historically known for having one of the best whistles the game has ever seen. Has that good fortune with the officials been canceled out by playing for a small-market team such as the Cavs?
Harden attempted zero free throws tonight for just the fifth time since 2021. It wasn’t for a lack of trying.
There was a point in this game where Harden got slammed on a drive to the basket. When he got back to his feet, Harden gave the officials a look of pure bilwederment and betrayal. This type of stuff hasn’t happened before.
Harden’s free-throw rate has plummeted since joining the Cavs. Part of that, I assume, is because he hasn’t been attempting field goals at nearly the same volume. He’s instead been playing the role of playmaker as he gets initiated with his new team.
But at a certain point… You begin to wonder.
WINNER – The Backcourt
Listen, it’s not always going to be perfect. The Cavs’ starting backcourt didn’t score efficiently or post an assist-to-turnover rate that will make you blush. But, they got the job done — and that means something when considering what this team looked like three months ago.
A big reason why Cleveland acquired James Harden was his availability. For all the great things that Darius Garland brought to the floor, his issue recently has simply been being on the floor. That’s why even an 8-18 shooting night from Harden can still feel like a massive win. Because even when things aren’t going exactly to plan — Harden can elevate the offense through his playmaking and… well, availability.
Pair that with Mitchell, who also had a tough shooting night (5-18) but made timely shots. The two guards combined for 43 points and kept relentless pressure on New York’s defense to contain them. That pressure creates gravity, and that gravity makes it so that other players, such as Jarrett Allen, can find the gaps and attack.
Sometimes, high volume is better than no volume. Efficiency is great, but it can also be overrated. The Cavs guards did what they needed to tonight.
With an injury report more impressive than their starting five, the Warriors couldn’t overcome a sloppy start to their road trip against the lowly Pelicans.
The Warriors threw the ball just about everywhere — off their shoes, into opponents’ hands, out of bounds, off every inch of iron — except the bottom of the net in a 113-109 loss to the second-worst team in the Western Conference.
With an injury report more impressive than their starting five, the Warriors couldn’t overcome a sloppy start to their road trip against the lowly Pelicans. APThe Warriors threw the ball just about everywhere — off their shoes, into opponents’ hands AP
Without Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, Al Horford or Kristaps Porzingis, Golden State fell behind 31-19 by the end of the first quarter and didn’t hold a lead until midway through the third.
“With the injuries we have, we have to play well to win. I don’t think we played well tonight,” said coach Steve Kerr, whose team committed 21 turnovers leading to 18 points.
It was almost the second consecutive game Golden State’s reserves completed a second-half comeback after they used a 33-18 fourth quarter to beat Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets on Sunday.
“The game was right there for us,” Kerr said. “We just couldn’t execute well enough.”
They fell behind by as many as 14 points and scored their third-fewest points in any half this season (trailing 46-39 at intermission) before a split-action assist from Draymond Green to Brandin Podziemski gave them their first lead, 61-59, midway through the third quarter.
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Green, who missed Golden State’s 129-118 win over Denver on Sunday, returned and helped set up a fair share of open shots, but the Warriors failed to convert many of them.
Golden State came back to take an 86-85 lead with 7:39 to go, but the Pelicans answered with a 15-3 run following a failed coach’s challenge by Steve Kerr that would have overturned a basket by Zion Williamson that instead turned into a three-point play.
Williamson led the Pelicans with 26 points — 10 in the fourth quarter.
What it means
The Warriors fell to 11-17 on the road with another game in Memphis looming Wednesday. Golden State is the only team among the top eight in the Western Conference with a losing record away from home (next-worst: Suns, 14-14).
Green, who missed Golden State’s 129-118 win over Denver on Sunday, returned and helped set up a fair share of open shots. AP
Turning point
As soon as the Warriors’ charter flight left San Francisco, apparently.
Whatever momentum the team’s reserves built with their come-from-behind win over one of the West’s top teams was absent from the opening tip inside the Smoothie King Center on Tuesday.
“We did not execute very well offensively,” Kerr said. “Spacing was bad. Transition we had probably three potential lay-ups in the first half. We didn’t cut, we didn’t run to the rim. We didn’t get to the corners. We just looked a little disjointed. I thought their pressure early took us out of some stuff.”
They missed 16 of their first 21 shots from the field (23.8%) and didn’t get to the foul line until New Orleans was called for a three-second violation with 46 seconds left in the quarter.
MVP
Jonathan Kuminga | The best basketball played by anyone associated with the Warriors on Tuesday night wasn’t anyone in uniform in New Orleans. Jonathan Kuminga made an electric debut with the Hawks against the Wizards, scoring 27 points in 24 minutes on 9-of-12 shooting.
Jonathan Kuminga made an electric debut with the Hawks against the Wizards. Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Stat of the game
21-for-95 (22.1%) | Despite the Warriors’ struggles offensively, the game never got away from them. On the other end of the floor, the Pelicans were having just as much trouble scoring the basketball.
New Orleans made only 10 of its 40 shots from beyond the perimeter, but the Warriors were even worse, converting 11 of 45 attempts (23.3%).
Up next
The Warriors head to Memphis, where they will play the second half of their 11th back-to-back of the season. They are 5-5 in the second game of back-to-backs this season, falling to 6-5 in the first half with their loss to the Pelicans.
Already without Curry (knee), Butler (knee) and Porzingis (illness), Golden State is also expected to be without De’Anthony Melton (knee), who has yet to be medically cleared to play games on consecutive days. Horford (toe) sat in New Orleans with the expectation of playing against the Grizzlies after scoring 22 points with six 3-pointers in their win against Denver.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 24: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics handles the ball against Collin Gillespie #12 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 24, 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns started the evening promising, jumping out to a 26-21 lead after the opening quarter. It looked like just maybe this group was starting to figure it out… until it was clear they weren’t. Boston dominated in the second half, and the Suns’ offensive struggles continued.
They have now scored just 158 points combined in their last two games.
The Suns have now scored just 158 points combined in their last two games.
The third quarter was unacceptable. Phoenix mustered just 11 points and was outscored by 19 in that quarter, which dug them a hole too deep to get out of. They went on a 14-0 run to make it somewhat competitive late in the game, but Boston applied another knockout punch to create distance and unleash the third string.
We could sit here and talk about injuries, but Boston is dealing with a couple of their own. No Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum, yet the Celtics were a well-oiled machine. Phoenix will need to figure this out quickly because none of Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, or Jordan Goodwin is coming to save the day anytime soon.
Some credit is due to Boston, but the Suns just didn’t do anything well tonight.
Game Flow
First Half
The game started with each team trading threes: one from Derrick White and then a corner hit from Jalen Green. Sam Hauser drained a
Boston jumped ahead to a 10-5 advantage, getting easy looks early from deep and from crashing the glass. Phoenix went on a 7-0 run to take a 12-10 lead.
Phoenix’s offense picked up a bit as Jalen Green and Collin Gillespie started to get in a rhythm. Even Ryan Dunn got in on the scoring action!
The defense followed suit. After allowing 10 points in the opening 3 minutes, they held Boston to just 11 points the rest of the quarter.
Phoenix led 26-21 after the opening quarter. Jalen Green and Ryan Dunn led the way with 7 points each.
We got some early Rasheer Fleming minutes! He didn’t do much in his first stint, but he was playing aggressive point-of-attack defense. Oso continued to show his ability to be feisty and mix it up a bit, which is a welcome sight for Suns fans.
The tempo was in favor of Phoenix for the first six minutes or so, but Boston went on a 7-0 run to cut the Suns’ lead down to four, 41-37, leading to a Jordan Ott timeout.
Boston stormed back to take a 44-41 lead after a Derrick White triple extended their run to 14-0. The offense fell flat. Grayson Allen hit three free throws after a failed challenge attempt by Joe Mazulla to even the game back up at 44.
Boston finished strong to take a 50-44 lead into the half, led by 18 points from Derrick White. Royce O’Neale, Grayson Allen, and Jalen Green all had 9 points to pace the Suns in the opening 24 minutes.
Second Half
The Suns opened up the third quarter a bit flat, carrying over from the end of the 2nd quarter. Boston’s suffocating defense seemed to squeeze the life out of them and built their lead back up to 11, their largest at the time.
Boston’s defense continued to stifle the shorthanded Suns, and Sam Hauser got hot, propelling the Celtics’ lead to 19. It quickly turned into another one of those nights. There wasn’t a lot to highlight in the 3rd quarter unless you are a Celtics fan.
Boston won the third quarter 30 to 11 to take an 80-57 lead into the 4th. Yes, 11 points were scored in total by the Suns in the third. Eleven.
Phoenix opened the 4th on a 9-0 run, showing a bit of life after a disastrous third to cut the lead down to 14. It was a 14-0 run dating back to the end of the third.
Derrick White and company decided to turn it up a notch as soon as it became a game again, and they were able to take a convincing lead and slam the door shut on the Suns.
Then we had garbage time… the rookies got some run. And that was all she wrote.
Up Next
The Suns will host the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night at the Morg.
The Yankees were both aggressive and mostly accurate with their challenges Tuesday during an 8-7 win over the Blue Jays at TD Ballpark. That included Austin Wells and José Caballero both going 2-for-2 in getting calls overturned. Caballero used both in a single at-bat to draw a walk, Jazz Chisholm Jr. nailed his only challenge and Trent Grisham went 1-for-2, though Boone did have a slight issue with Grisham’s miss.
“We want to be really good at it,” Boone said. “We want to be the best at it. I feel like our guys, we’ve been preaching around here long enough about controlling the strike zone.
“I thought Grish’s second one where he was wrong was probably a little emotional for him. He kind of wanted to challenge the first one and then the last one, when he probably wasn’t convicted. But overall, I thought guys did a good job with it.”
Home plate umpire Tom Fornarola makes an announcement as New York Yankees shortstop José Caballero challenged a call that was overturned. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
With teams getting two challenges per game — and retaining them as long as they are correct — one thought might be to save them for big spots late. But Boone does not agree with that idea.
“This isn’t ‘save them for the seventh, eighth and ninth,’ ” Boone said. “I want us to be right. … But I just want us to also inherently understand leverage. You’re down to one and it’s the fifth inning, nobody on, two outs, 1-0 count, that’s one I feel like we got to nail that one if we’re challenging that one. But it doesn’t change [in a] big spot, two strikes, fourth inning, two men on, that’s the biggest spot at that moment.”
Spring training stats mean next to nothing, especially for a veteran like Paul Goldschmidt. But they don’t hurt, either, and the first baseman continued his solid start Tuesday by crushing a two-run homer off tough righty Tyler Rogers and later adding a two-run double against righty Jesse Hahn.
Paul Goldschmidt blasted a home run on Tuesday for the Yankees. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“It’s definitely not a time where you just want to go through the motions,” said Goldschmidt, who will leave camp this weekend to play for Team USA in the WBC. “You want to have good at-bats and really more than anything, just keep building toward the regular season.”
Two relievers vying to break camp in the Yankees bullpen had solid outings Tuesday, with Jake Bird delivering 1 ¹/₃ scoreless innings and lefty Brent Headrick making his spring debut with a scoreless frame.
Kervin Castro, another bullpen candidate after he was added to the 40-man roster this offseason, tossed two shutout innings.
Rosen started his career with the Lakers as an intern while in college before becoming a front office executive in the 1980s, eventually becoming an agent and business executive – including being the Dodgers’ executive vice president and chief marketing officer since 2012.
“Being able to sort of return to really where I started, it’s a really exciting thing for me,” Rosen told a handful of beat reporters on Tuesday night. “And I like the challenge, and I’m really looking forward to it. There’s really great people working with me, which is what makes things enjoyable.”
For Lon Rosen, becoming the Lakers’ president of business operations is a full-circle moment. Variety via Getty ImagesRosen served as the Dodgers’ executive vice president and chief marketing officer since 2012. AP“Being able to sort of return to really where I started, it’s a really exciting thing for me,” Rosen told reporters. Penske Media via Getty Images
Rosen added: “For me, it’s a challenge. It’s something new, but it is sort of like returning home. But because I still have my connection with the Dodgers, it’s a fun thing.”
“I’ve spoken to others that do this type of work. Luckily there’s a great team that works here at the Lakers that I’ve met for the last two days. And I have a really great team that works for the Dodgers and we all just fit together,” he added.
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In a wide-ranging conversation, Rosen addressed a variety of topics.
He confirmed the plan for president of basketball operations/general manager Rob Pelinka to continue to lead the franchise’s basketball operations, along with input from special advisers Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi,
“Rob’s empowered to do what he does,” Rosen said. “And he’s talked about it and I can talk about it; Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi, they have involvement helping Rob a bit. It gives you a deeper bench, and I think Rob appreciates that. And it is unique. But they have a skill set that they can transfer some of it here. And that’s really how we look at it.
Rosen added: “For me, it’s a challenge. It’s something new, but it is sort of like returning home.” Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
“I have a really good relationship with Rob. I’ve known Rob Pelinka from when he was representing Kobe [Bryant]. I met him many many years ago.”
Friedman, Zaidi and Rosen are among the Dodgers connections added to the legendary NBA franchise since Mark Walter, who’s also the majority owner of the Dodgers, bought majority ownership of the team from the Buss family in the fall.
Lakers icon Magic Johnson won’t rejoin the franchise in an official role. Johnson was the team’s president of basketball operations from February 2017-April 2019 before he abruptly resigned.
“He’s always gonna have some type of involvement with all the teams, but he is not gonna have day-to-day involvement,” Rosen said. “It’s gonna be no different since he left the Lakers. Obviously he’s a huge fan of the Lakers, but he’s not gonna be, ‘Hey Rob go sign this player. Do that.’ He’ll always be involved with all the teams that he’s involved in, but no, he’s not gonna have day-to-day involvement at all. He is a super Laker fan and he’ll continue to be a super Laker fan. It’s not bad to have that.”
Rosen also had a message for fans after the recent increased season ticket prices for next season – which included a 3% “admin fee”.
Rosen also revealed Lakers icon Magic Johnson won’t rejoin the franchise in an official role. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
“We hope they renew,” Rosen said. “And obviously it reflects on what the market is now and the demand for tickets. You can look at how tickets sell and what the prices are. You look at the primary and secondary market and you can see where their demand is.”
Rosen said he’ll spend a “majority” of his time working for the Lakers, but will still provide “some services” to the Dodgders.
“We’re gonna look at best practices for both teams,” Rosen said. “I haven’t gotten into the weeds of how the Lakers operate, but I have a sense of how they operate and they operate very well. There’s things that we do at the Dodgers that we do really really well.
“Both organizations are gonna learn from each other. I don’t know where it’s all gonna fall. People say, the Dodgers are, the, this gold standard. And you know what, we do a really nice job there. And the job here is, I’ve been to a lot of games here. I know their business model is very successful, so I just gotta make sure I don’t mess it up.”
ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson left the game against the Washington Wizards with a left hip flexor injury Tuesday night.
Johnson was injured in the first quarter and ruled out after being evaluated by the training staff.
“There was enough there not to send him back in the game,” coach Quin Snyder said.
Johnson, who earned his first All-Star Game berth this season, will be re-evaluated before the Hawks face the Wizards again Thursday to complete back-to-back games in Atlanta. It’s not known if he will miss any additional playing time.
Johnson finished with five points, three rebounds and two steals in about 5 1/2 minutes against the Wizards. He came into the night averaging 23.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 8.1 assists.
His absence cleared the way for Jonathan Kuminga to score a season-high 27 points in his Hawks debut. He was acquired from Golden State at the trade deadline.
Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates reacts during a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on September 24, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Americans are only getting one World Baseball Classic start from one Cy Young Award winner, but could get multiple from another.
Paul Skenes told MLB insider Ken Rosenthal that he expects to make one start for Team USA in pool play and possibly another if the team advances in the international tournament.
“We win, we go as far as we should, I’ll pitch again in the tournament,” Skenes said.
Paul Skenes reacts during the Pirates’ win over the Reds on Sept. 24, 2025 in Cincinnati. Getty Images
The 2025 National League Cy Young winner’s decision stands in contrast to left-handed Tarik Skubal, who said Monday he will make one outing against Great Britain on March 7 before returning to spring training with the Tigers.
“I’m trying to do both things, trying to pitch for Team USA but I understand the need to be here with these guys and get ready for the season,” Skubal said. “I think it’s kind of the best of both worlds in that aspect, and I’m grateful they took me in that capacity.”
Skubal, the two-time reigning Cy Young winner in the American League, said he would like to return to the team to watch — if the Americans reach the final round.
Giants ace Logan Webb said Tuesday that he plans to stick it out throughout the WBC, and while he will be there for the entirety of the tournament, said he understands why Skubal, an impending free agent, is deciding to pitch just once.
“I’m not in his shoes,” Webb said, according to MLB.com. “I’ve got three years left on my contract. He doesn’t. He has one year and then he’s a free agent. I get the thought of it.”
Pirates starter Paul Skenes watches workouts during a spring training practice on Feb. 14, 2026, in Bradenton, Fla. AP
In Skenes, Team USA will have arguably the best right-hander in baseball, who led MLB in ERA (1.97) and FIP (2.36) with an NL-best 0.948 WHIP last season.
The Americans also will have, on a star-studded roster, retired Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw, who announced he’ll make an appearance in what will likely be his final chapter as a pitcher.
There will also be a New York contingent on the staff, with Mets starters Clay Holmes and Nolan McLean and Yankees reliever David Bednar all on the roster.
Team USA has exhibitions against the Giants and Rockies next week before kicking off pool play against Brazil on March 6 at Daikin Park in Houston.
CLEVELAND — Brick by brick, the Knicks were dismantled by the Cavs.
An atrocious shooting night ended Tuesday with a 109-94 loss for the Knicks, who folded easily to their fellow Finals contender and left Rocket Arena tied for third in the East.
The third quarter was the breaking point. Or better yet, the bricking point. It was horrendous.
The Knicks managed just 11 points in those 12 nasty minutes, shooting a combined (shield your eyes, children) 3-for-24 overall, 1-for-12 from beyond the arc and 4-for-8 from the foul line.
It was their lowest-scoring quarter of the season and looked the part.
“No matter what we did, we either turned the ball over or we had a tough shot,” coach Mike Brown said after arriving late to his postgame news conference. “So we made some play calls tonight. But we didn’t generate anything from the calls that we made.”
So they entered the fourth quarter down 18 and couldn’t recover, not against a stout Cavaliers defense and without the help of competent shooting. Brown finally waved the white flag with 2:42 remaining, emptying his bench and sending the starters on a walk of shame.
Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson, Landry Shamet and OG Anunoby combined to miss 42 of their 61 attempts. Bridges was aggressively misfiring at 6-for-17 on the evening. Brunson was worse at 6-for-19.
Cleveland guard Donovan Mitchell reacts after dunking in the first half of the Knicks’ 109-94 blowout road loss to the Cavaliers on Feb. 24, 2026. AP
Karl-Anthony Towns was perfect but only took five shots, with four of those in the first quarter. It furthered KAT’s head-scratching trend of alternating strong performances with disappearing acts. Anunoby (five points, 2-for-9 from the field) has struggled since returning from a toe injury.
Brown’s attempt to give an opportunity to Jeremy Sochan was also a miscalculation, with the newcomer appearing utterly lost in his two first-half minutes. Mohamed Diawara got the call in the second half and also tossed up bricks.
Karl-Anthony Towns drives to the basket during the Knicks’ loss to the Cavaliers on Feb. 24, 2026 in Cleveland. NBAE via Getty Images
“We just didn’t play well enough,” Hart said. “We didn’t execute offensively.”
It was an all-around dud. The Cavs responded with a balanced but not especially potent attack. They shot just 42.5 percent as a team, but it didn’t matter against the Brickerbockers. Mitchell Robinson, who has owned the Cavs frontcourt since the 2023 playoffs, was the lone positive for the Knicks with 15 rebounds, including eight offensive.
The Knicks (36-22) are now even with the Cavs (36-22) and two games behind the No. 2 Celtics, who beat the Suns on Tuesday night.
But the Cavs are surging. They revamped at the trade deadline, acquiring James Harden for the talented but habitually unavailable Darius Garland. They also brought in bench pieces Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis.
It’s all been positive for Cleveland, which has won 13 of 15 after Tuesday’s blowout. Kenny Atkinson just missed out on guiding Harden in Brooklyn before he was unceremoniously dumped by GM Sean Marks and owner Joe Tsai. Now he’s excited for the chance in Cleveland.
“His composure, calmness,” Atkinson said of Harden, who scored 20 points Tuesday. “He’s just got a command of the game. That settles everybody down. It’s huge. He knows where the ball’s got to go. He knows the end-of-game stuff. Sharp, sharp player.”
Jalen Brunson drives past Sam Merrill (5) during the first half of the Knicks’ loss to the Cavaliers in Cleveland. Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
The Knicks understood the difficulties of defending Harden and Donovan Mitchell, perhaps the best offensive backcourt in the NBA.
But defending wasn’t the problem Tuesday for the Knicks. It was the bricklaying.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 12: Welinton Herrera #59 of the Colorado Rockies throws during his first bullpen of spring training at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 12, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Kyle Cooper/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images)
Okay, Purple Row Night Owls, here’s a question for you.
The Rockies have been working for the last few years to build their pitching depth, and we are beginning to see the results.
So in 2026, which Colorado Rockies pitching prospect will make a name for himself?
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 24: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts after scoring during the second quarter of an NBA game against the Golden State Warriors at Smoothie King Center on February 24, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New Orleans Pelicans stepped in front of their home crowd at 17-42, a team so bad they make late-stage tank commanders nervous. And the Golden State Warriors, because this is who they are a lotta nights without their firepower, made it close down the stretch but ultimately faltered.
Final score: 113-109 Pelicans. Here’s the crime scene: the Warriors got outscored 31-19 in the first quarter and spent the next three quarters playing catch-up basketball against a team vying for a high draft pick in the lottery . Golden State won the second quarter, won the third, won the fourth but alas, still lost the game. Missing their stars Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Kristaps Porzingis doesn’t seem to be like a good enough reason to lose this game considering they just knocked off the Nuggets Sunday with similar injury woes.
They almost did bail themselves out, which marks the resilience this team has possessed all season with or without their stars.
Pelicans escape with a 113-109 win over the Warriors in a game that wasn't exactly the prettiest. But Dejounte Murray finishes with 13 points and 3 assists in his return. Zion Williamson had 26 points and 6 rebounds.
De’Anthony Melton was the best player on the floor for the Dubs, dropping 28 points on 8-of-21 shooting while going 9-of-11 from the free throw line, keeping Golden State’s pulse going when it had no business still beating. Moses Moody added 24 on 7-of-13 with a +13 that screamed “this man is figuring it out”. Brandin Podziemski hauled down 15 rebounds — 5 offensive — looking like the second coming of Westbrook. And Draymond Green orchestrated 6 assists with his usual controlled chaos. These guys fought. Credit where it’s due.
But the team shot 11-of-45 from three, which cost them on a night when their feisty opponents only made 10 threes of their own. If the Dubs knock down their usual clip beyond the arc tonight they probably pull away pretty easily.
On the other hand the Pelicans forced enough turnovers (all 20 of them) to the tune of being gifted 18 points off of Golden State’s mistakes. That’s how you get a lottery team jump started in their home arena.
Zion Williamson scored 26 on 11-of-21 shooting while the Warriors defense wrestled against his physicality Saddiq Bey added 18. Jordan Poole, playing against his former team with something to prove, dropped 12-6-3 off the bench. Of course he did.
Any given night in the nba. Warriors beat the nuggets the other night, and turn around and lose to the pelicans tonight. These are NBA players at the end of the day, yall gotta start realizing that.#Nba
The Warriors lose in New Orleans tonight. Doomed by 31-19 first quarter. They're 11-17 on the road. Three games back of the Suns for the #7 seed, two up on the Blazers for the #8 spot.
They play in Memphis tomorrow night. De'Anthony Melton (28 pts tonight) expected to rest.
This is a team that’s 30-28, scratching for playoff positioning, as they await the return of at least a couple of their best players. One broken quarter against one of the league’s worst teams decided everything tonight. Tough.
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Konnor Griffin, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ latest can’t-miss prospect, didn’t miss against the Boston Red Sox and newcomer Ranger Suarez on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old shortstop, considered the top prospect in baseball, hit a pair of homers in Pittsburgh’s 16-7 Grapefruit League win over the Red Sox.
Griffin took a pitch from Suarez, who signed a five-year, $130-million deal with Boston in January after two standout seasons in Philadelphia, over the left-field wall for a two-run homer in the second inning. Griffin did it again two innings later, turning on a two-strike pitch from Seth Martinez and sending it 440 feet.
“Got some good swings off, so kind of smoked them,” Griffin told reporters afterward.
The 6-foot-4 Griffin, who sprinted through the lower levels of Pittsburgh’s farm system last season, began the day searching for his first hit of the spring and ended it with four RBIs and a pair of swings that offered a flash of his potential.
Griffin acknowledged that having success against two proven major league pitchers — Suarez was an All-Star in 2024 and Martinez has appeared in over 100 games over the last five seasons — was “special” but added he was trying to stay in the moment and not get caught up in who he was facing.
“I stepped in the box and I was ready to compete,” he said. “I wasn’t worrying about who was on the mound. I was just worrying about what his stuff was and how I could have the best approach.”
Griffin has tried to keep his head down while the buzz around him has built, just as reigning National League Cy Young winner Paul Skenes did during his first spring training with the Pirates two years ago. Skenes began the 2024 season in the minors before making his big league debut in May.
There’s a chance Griffin might not have to wait that long. The left side of the Pirates’ infield is a question mark. Jared Triolo is an excellent defender who can play either third or short and Nick Gonzales is also in the mix. Neither, however, has the potential at the plate that Griffin offers.
“He’s definitely going to hit,” Pirates pitcher Carmen Mzlodzinski told reporters. “There’s not a whole lot of swings you see like that, especially from a teenager. The best way to say it is his swing stays in the zone forever.”
Suarez, who allowed two runs on three hits with a pair of strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings, tipped his cap to the young player who was all of 12 when Suarez made his major league debut with the Phillies in 2018.
“When you’re the top prospect in the game, people expect that from you,” Suarez said through an interpreter. “He did that today, and I wasn’t surprised.”
Suarez said he felt good about his performance overall as he begins to ramp up his workload ahead of the World Baseball Classic, where he will pitch for his native Venezuela.
