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Alexis Manyoma, Rafael Navarro rally Rapids to 4-1 victory over Galaxy

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (AP) — Alexis Manyoma netted the go-ahead score in the second half and Rafael Navarro added a pair of insurance goals, all after Los Angeles was forced to play a man down, helping the Colorado Rapids pull away for a 4-1 victory over the Galaxy on Saturday night.

João Klauss scored for the fourth time in his first three matches with the Galaxy to tie it 1-1 in the 56th minute. But Gabriel Pec was tagged with a second yellow card four minutes later and forced to exit.

Manyoma made his fifth career appearance and second this season when he subbed into the match in the 68th minute and scored his first career goal in the 76th to give Colorado a 2-1 lead. Navarro provided insurance with an unassisted goal in the 85th minute before taking a pass from Wayne Frederick and scoring again four minutes later for the final margin. Frederick's assist was his first in his 13th career appearance.

Navarro's first two goals of the campaign give him 30 in 78 career appearances with the Rapids.

Nico Hansen totaled four saves in his first start for Colorado (2-1-0) this season after starting 10 times as a rookie last season.

Novak Micovic saved two shots in his third start of the season for the Galaxy (1-1-1) after getting the nod 20 times as a rookie last season.

Darren Yapi, who scored in the 23rd minute to give the Rapids a 1-0 lead, picked up an assist along with Ted Ku-DiPietro on Manyoma's go-ahead score.

The Galaxy lead the all-time series 41-34-13, but fall to 14-23-7 in Colorado.

Up next

Los Angeles: Hosts Sporting Kansas City on Saturday.

Colorado: At New York City FC on Saturday.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer

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Anaheim Ducks 2026 Trade Deadline Review

The 2026 NHL Trade Deadline has come and gone. Several significant prices were paid to acquire players league-wide, and other prices weren’t met, leaving many players rumored to be on the move to stay put with their current teams. What was rumored to be a “buyer’s market” quickly became a “seller’s market,” and now the NHL landscape is more solidified for the stretch run of the regular season, with playoffs on the ever-nearing horizon.

The Anaheim Ducks have been one of the busiest “sellers” since Pat Verbeek took over as general manager just before the 2022 trade deadline. They’ve stocked up on high-end young talent via the draft and trades, added some seasoned veterans, hired the second-winningest coach in franchise history, and are now on the precipice of their first playoff appearance since 2018, which would end the NHL’s third-longest such streak.

Takeaways from the Ducks 6-5 Shootout Win over the Canadiens

Ducks GM Pat Verbeek on 2026 Trade Deadline Moves

The Ducks made two trades in the 24 hours before Friday’s noon PST deadline, so here are reviews of those deals:

The Anaheim Ducks acquire defenseman John Carlson from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a conditional 2026 first-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick

Derek Lee-The Hockey News
Derek Lee-The Hockey News

Ducks Acquire John Carlson from Capitals

Embracing the “buyer” label, Verbeek actively attempted to put his team into the “contender” category when he pulled off perhaps the deadline’s biggest blockbuster trade. Carlson is in the final year of his eight-year contract, which carries an AAV of $8 million. No contract extension talks have been had or will be had during the season. Carlson is a pure rental.

The conditions on the pick rely solely on the Ducks making the 2026 playoffs. If they make the playoffs, they’ll transfer their 2026 first-round pick to the Caps. If they don’t qualify, they’ll have the option to send their 2026 or 2027 first-round pick.

Carlson (36), in his 17th NHL season, has scored 46 points (10-36=46) in 55 games and leaves the Capitals franchise as their defensive leader in all categories for defensemen and a Stanley Cup champion in 2018.

This is an interesting move for the Ducks from two angles. 1) Trading a first-round pick isn’t a move non-cup-contending teams make in exchange for rental players. 2) Carlson doesn’t fit the expected archetype for a defenseman the Ducks would have been looking to add at this year’s deadline.

The Cost

“I think when you have an opportunity to better your team, I think that’s your responsibility and your duty to do that,” Verbeek told the media following the deadline. “I think we have enough draft picks. We have enough prospects coming. Is it worth it to give up a conditional first-rounder? In my opinion, yes, it is. And so to get the quality of a player with John Carlson, then it made sense not only to us, but to our organization. So that’s how I viewed it.”

The Ducks are projected to make the playoffs for the first time in eight years, since 2018. They’ve stockpiled talented current young players and prospects at every position during their extended playoff absence, and the potential path to the Western Conference Final is the easiest (on paper) in the Pacific Division, widely regarded as the weakest division in the NHL.

Does adding a 36-year-old defenseman for 20 games line up with the assumed “contending window” for the Ducks? If the Ducks win one or two playoff rounds this spring, then the window is open now.

If the fit is undeniable and Carlson is a big part of whatever run the Ducks make during their projected playoff appearance, Verbeek has stated he hopes to re-sign Carlson following the season.

“It’s worth it to give this group experience, give them a chance to make the playoffs, and to do well in the playoffs,” Verbeek said. “That’s kind of how I looked at it, with the hope that we’ll be able to re-sign him when this season’s over.”

Parting with a first and third round pick for a player who plays 20 regular season games and a potentially short playoff run can understandably give some pause. However, if that player re-signs with the club on a reasonable contract extension, the deal becomes a lot easier to swallow and could even be received more glowingly.

The Fit

The other area of intrigue with Carlson’s addition to the Ducks’ roster is his fit along the blueline. Looking at the left side of their defense corps, it’s full of dynamic and offensively gifted young players: Jackson LaCombe, Pavel Mintyukov, and Olen Zellweger.

If one had speculated an add to the blueline for Anaheim at the 2026 deadline, one would likely have assumed they’d have added a traditional “shutdown/stay-at-home” defender. Frequent names on trade lists fitting that archetype were players like Colton Parayko, Tyler Myers, Brandon Carlo, etc.

However, Verbeek zigged when a zag was expected. Carlson has been one of the most consistent and productive offensive-oriented defensemen in the NHL for nearly the last two decades.

The Ducks are one of the poorest defensive teams in the NHL in 2025-26 and have gotten where they are off the backs of their high-octane offense and spectacular starting goaltender, Lukas Dostal. So in a surprising and refreshing move, Verbeek seemingly leaned into his team’s strength and acquired an offensive play-driving puck-mover from the backend in Carlson.

Carlson’s offensive output shouldn’t dismiss his defensive impact, however. Even at age 36, Carlson, before the trade, played in all situations for the Caps, including ranking second among Washington blueliners in shorthanded TOI/G (2:28) and power play TOI/G (2:33).

Though his defensive metrics haven’t been spectacular, he’s a quality skater, cerebral positionally, and fundamentally sound. It’s possible that switching from the Caps’ man-coverage in the defensive zone to the Ducks’ pressure-zone coverage system could benefit Carlson, as he won’t be exerting as much energy in his end during elongated sequences and should give a boost to the Ducks’ exit numbers.

In theory, the Ducks’ system could enhance what he does well and allow him to translate that ability to the defensive side of the puck.

The Anaheim Ducks acquire a 2027 seventh-round pick from the Calgary Flames in exchange for forward Ryan Strome

Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

Ducks Trade Ryan Strome to Flames

Strome was one of two signings Verbeek made on his first day of unrestricted free agency in his first summer as an NHL general manager in July 2022, with Frank Vatrano representing the other. Strome was signed to a five-year contract that carried a $5 million AAV and had no trade protection attached.

Strome was an eerily consistent producer for Anaheim, scoring 41 points in each of his first three seasons with the Ducks. He was projected to start the 2025-26 season in the middle-six for new coach, Joel Quenneville, but missed the first 16 games of the season with an oblique injury. He was replaced in the lineup by Beckett Sennecke, who grabbed hold of that spot and refused to relinquish it, as he currently leads all rookies in scoring.

Strome struggled to carve out a role for himself outside the top six and even served as a healthy scratch for 12 games this season. He’d been a positive locker room presence for the Ducks during three of their leanest years in franchise history, and he’s too skilled to be continuously kept out of the lineup.

Moving him to Calgary, even though his value was at its lowest, will allow him to play meaningful minutes again for the remainder of this season and next. Calgary will absorb Strome’s full cap hit, clearing $5 million off Anaheim’s books for the summer of 2026, where they’re expected to sign star RFAs Cutter Gauthier and Leo Carlsson to sizable contract extensions, as well as RFAs Olen Zellweger, Pavel Mintyukov, and Ian Moore. In addition, if Verbeek plans on re-signing any number of pending UFAs like Jacob Trouba, John Carlson, or Radko Gudas, he’ll need all the cap space he can get.

The Ducks are in a transitional period in their franchise’s history, on the cusp of returning to the playoffs and now even looking to make a deeper run than anticipated. Though the roster remains imperfect, and they’re playing a firewagon brand of hockey, Verbeek has made a statement to his roster and to the league that the Ducks view themselves as true contenders.

Ducks Sign Ryan Poehling to Four-Year Extension

Takeaways from the Ducks 5-1 Win over the Islanders

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'Find A Way To Write Our Own Story': After Quiet Deadline, It's Time To See What These Penguins Are Made Of

Looking ahead to the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, many were anticipating some bigger moves ahead of the 3:00 p.m. ET cutoff on Mar. 6.

Well, as it turns out, there wasn't much activity at all - not from the league, and not from the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The lone move that Penguins' general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas made on deadline day was to acquire forward Elmer Soderblom from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick. Soderblom, 24, is a massive physical presence at 6-foot-8, 252 pounds, his forechecking, speed for his size, and two-way game were all attributes that drew the Penguins to him.

However, given the Penguins' current predicament - they are still without Sidney Crosby, who is week-to-week with a lower-body injury but skated with the team Friday, and Evgeni Malkin, who was suspended five games by the Department of Player Safety - there are many who wanted to see the team shoot a bit bigger in the trade market (size aside, of course).

The Penguins are stretched thin at the center position, they have the toughest strength of schedule remaining in the NHL, they're missing their top-two points producers, and they're barely hanging on to second place in the Metropolitan Division with two teams chasing closely behind them.

Nevertheless, Dubas chose to stay the course. And he believes in the group that they have.

Evgeni Malkin Suspended Five Games By NHL's Department Of Player SafetyEvgeni Malkin Suspended Five Games By NHL's Department Of Player SafetyEvgeni Malkin has been suspended for five games for slashing Rasmus Dahlin.

"Obviously, the mix has worked quite well," Dubas said. "They've got some chemistry. Dan [Muse] has done a great job coaching them. The staff has done a great job. We just have to deal with some absences this year for various different reasons, and continue to stay with it. 

"Find a way to write our own story, regardless of what everyone else expects it to be."

Dubas's actions - or inactions - at the deadline didn't simply speak to the market he was dealing with. Yes, he did say prices were sky-high, and teams weren't willing to meet asking prices. Yes, he did say that teams' respective positions in terms of playoff contention - including his own - played a factor in choosing not to buy big. Yes, at the end of the day, he didn't do much at all. 

But a big part of the equation was the fact that he already added to this team - and that they've already responded to those additions. Through trade, he added Stuart Skinner, Egor Chinakhov, and Brett Kulak - then Sam Girard - all of whom are upgrades over the players who would be in those positions otherwise based on the roster the team began the season with. 

Penguins Sign Goaltender To Entry-Level ContractPenguins Sign Goaltender To Entry-Level ContractThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> are pretty well-known at this point for the goaltending depth they possess in their system. Netminders like Sergei Murashov, Joel Blomqvist, and 2025 draftee Gabriel D'Aigle have received a fair amount of attention.&nbsp;

Since the Chinakhov trade, the Penguins are 14-5-4, and they've been playing better systemic hockey. They've been getting contributions from up and down the lineup, and even Crosby went pointless in four out of his last six games before the Olympic break while his team went 4-1-1. 

And Dubas points to those contributions from everyone - as well as his team's ability to respond well to adversity and respond after bad games - as defining qualities of this particular group of players. 

"I think the contributions from some of the younger guys throughout, but then, whether it's been Chinkahov, Brazeau, Mantha, the rise of the Lizotte line... I think that's led us to have success and give the team the chance to see it all the way through" Dubas said. "I think, especially since we've come back from Christmas, it's not just been the wins, but the way that the team has gone about winning that shows that, when we're at our best, it's a very good team."

He added: "For me, the greatest thing about the team the whole year has been the way that we've weathered times that haven't been great. The way that the team responds when things don't go well... the team always finds a way to respond, even with guys out of the lineup."

Evgeni Malkin Suspended Five Games By NHL's Department Of Player SafetyEvgeni Malkin Suspended Five Games By NHL's Department Of Player SafetyEvgeni Malkin has been suspended for five games for slashing Rasmus Dahlin.

Without both Crosby and Malkin, there are some players, in particular, who are going to have to step up even more. That includes Rickard Rakell, who is already being asked to man the center position, which he hasn't played regularly since his teens and early-20s. That also includes Erik Karlsson, who will be relied upon to drive more offense from the blue line. And it especially includes 18-year-old rookie Ben Kindel, who has already impressed with his 200-foot play and will probably need to hike up the production. 

But that's just what these Penguins have done. They've stepped up when things have gotten hard. They've responded after tough losses. They've fought tooth and nail for every point they've gotten this season. 

And that's not only a testament to the talent that populates the roster, it also speaks to the chemistry of the team and the locker room.

Mar 7, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Ben Kindel (81) skates with the puck in overtime against the Philadelphia Flyers at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Mar 7, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Ben Kindel (81) skates with the puck in overtime against the Philadelphia Flyers at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

"I think the mentality is very much, 'We're gonna make the most of what we have,'" Dubas said. "And I think Dan has led that, but the players have been right there with him every step of the way, and it's a huge credit to them for being able to stick with that throughout the year.

"That said, we have our biggest challenges ahead, and it will be the ultimate test of that. But I think that's also the most exciting part of being here and being in this position is we have a great opportunity now, and we have to make the most of it and find a way."

Dubas believes in his team as-is, and his team has a belief in themselves. Now, it's time for them to show everyone exactly what they're made of down the stretch run of what has been a magical season so far. 

'You Know That Things Are Happening': Penguins' Players Talk Deadline Day, Belief In Group'You Know That Things Are Happening': Penguins' Players Talk Deadline Day, Belief In GroupWell, the biggest day of the NHL's regular season has finally arrived.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!    

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Postgame notes on a Colorado Rockies 6-4 win over the Dodgers

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 23: Brenton Doyle #9 of the Colorado Rockies runs during the spring training game against the Chicago White Sox at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 23, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images) | Getty Images

This evening in the Colorado Rockies first night game of 2026, they headed home with a 6-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

For game highlights, click here.

Postgame video of manager Warren Schaeffer was not available, but here’s starting pitcher Zach Agnos:

Sean Sullivan commented on his performance:

And here’s Brenton Doyle on being back in the lineup:

Please enjoy another Doyle defensive gem:

View Link

And this very smooth play by Jake McCarthy:

View Link

Tomorrow, the Rockies will welcome the Cleveland Guardians to Salt River Fields at 2:10 pm. (Don’t forget the time change.)

See you then.

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

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Reynolds scores 21, winner to take Minnesota 67-66 past Northwestern

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Langston Reynolds scored 21 points and scored the game-winning basket to lead Minnesota 67-66 past Northwestern in the final regular season game of the season for both Big Ten teams on Saturday.

Reynolds was 9 of 13 from the floor and scored the final four points over the last 26 seconds. He turned a three-point Golden Gophers (15-16, 8-12 Big Ten) deficit into a win with a layup with 11 seconds left, and scored 17 in the second half.

Cade Tyson had 15 points, while Isaac Asuma added 14 points and eight rebounds. Bobby Durkin scored 12, made 4 of 8 from behind the arc and had two steals.

The Golden Gophers had a 39-29 lead at the half after opening the game with an 18-2 run fueled by nine points from Asuma.

Nick Martinelli, the nation's sixth-leading scorer (22.7 per game), had 23 points on 9-of-18 shooting and nine rebounds for the Wildcats (13-18, 5-15). Jake West added 14 points and hit 4 of 7 behind the arc, and Tre Singleton scored 10 to go with six rebounds and four assists.

Up next

Northwestern will be the No. 15 seed in the Big Ten tournament and face No. 18 seed Penn State on Tuesday in the opening round.

Minnesota will enter as the No. 11 seed and face No. 14 seed Rutgers in the second round Wednesday. ___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

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Thunder grind past Warriors for a fifth straight win, 104-97 behind Gilgeous-Alexander

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 27 points, and the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Golden State Warriors 104-97 on Saturday night for their fifth straight win.

Gilgeous-Alexander made just 6 of 15 field goals, but he made 14 of 15 free throws to maintain his usual production. He has scored at least 20 points in 125 consecutive games. He can tie Wilt Chamberlain’s record of 126 straight games with at least 20 points Monday at home against Denver.

Oklahoma City is 5-0 since Gilgeous-Alexander returned from an abdominal strain. The defending champion Thunder have the league’s best record and became the first team in the league to win 50 games this season.

Isaiah Joe added 18 points and Jaylin Williams had nine points and 14 rebounds for Oklahoma City.

Gui Santos had 22 points and 11 rebounds, Brandin Podziemski scored 17 points and Draymond Green added 16 for the Warriors, who were held to 40.9% shooting.

MAGIC 119, TIMBERWOLVES 92

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Desmond Bane scored 30 points, Paolo Banchero added 25 points and 15 rebounds, and Orlando won its third straight game by beating Minnesota.

Jalen Suggs added 14 points and Tristan da Silva had 11 points for the Magic, who moved atop the Southeast Division.

Anthony Edwards scored 34 points, including 13 of 14 from the free-throw line, but Minnesota had it’s five-game winning streak snapped.

Julius Randle scored 14 points and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds for the Timberwolves, Naz Reid added 13 points off the bench, and Rudy Gobert added 12 points.

Minnesota shot just 35.7% in scoring its second-fewest points of the season. Starters Donte DiVincenzo and Jaden McDaniels were a combined 0 for 15.

NETS 107, PISTONS 105

DETROIT (AP) — Ziaire Williams made two 3-pointers in the final three minutes and Brooklyn ended a 10-game losing streak by rallying to beat Detroit.

Brooklyn trailed by 23 points in the third quarter and were still down by double figures with 5:29 left, but outscored Detroit 18-6 down the stretch.

Michael Porter Jr. had 30 points and 13 rebounds for the Nets, while Williams finished with 23 points.

Tobias Harris had 18 points and 10 rebounds for Detroit and Jalen Duren had 17 points and 14 rebounds. The Pistons, who have lost three straight for the first time this season, were missing Cade Cunningham (quadriceps) and Ausar Thompson (ankle).

HAWKS 125, 76ERS 116

ATLANTA (AP) — Jalen Johnson had 35 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists and Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 24 points as Atlanta beat Philadelphia for its season-best sixth straight victory.

Atlanta, which had two five-game runs during the season, has won seven of its last eight games and moved two games over .500 at 33-31.

CJ McCollum scored 13 of his 17 points in the first half and added seven assists, Dyson Daniels finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, and Onyeka Okongwu had 10 points as the Hawks overcame a seven-point halftime deficit.

Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 31 points before injuring his right hand in a collision with teammate Adem Bona with 16 seconds remaining in the game. Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse had no update on the extent of Maxey’s injury after the game and said the All-Star guard would have X-rays on his hand.

Quentin Grimes scored 26 points, Kelly Oubre Jr. added 24 and Trendon Watford 10 as Philly had its four-game winning streak halted. Jabari Walker, who was coming off consecutive 20-point games for the first time in his four-year NBA career, finished with nine points.

BUCKS 113, JAZZ 99

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 27 points, nine rebounds and eight assists as Milwaukee snapped a four-game skid by beating Utah.

Antetokounmpo did all that while playing just 27 minutes as the Bucks continue to monitor the two-time MVP’s workload in his return from injury. Milwaukee was playing for the third time since Antetokounmpo came back from a right calf strain that caused him to miss 15 straight games.

Utah has lost eight of its last nine games. The Jazz had ended a seven-game skid Thursday by winning 122-112 at Washington.

The Jazz were missing leading scorer Lauri Markkanen because of impingement in his right hip and Isaiah Collier due to personal reasons. Multiple other Utah players already have been ruled out for the season.

Milwaukee’s Kevin Porter Jr. missed a second straight game with swelling in his right knee. Before the game, Bucks coach Doc Rivers had no update on when Porter might return to the lineup.

CLIPPERS 123, GRIZZLIES 120

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Kawhi Leonard had 28 points, Darius Garland scored 11 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and Los Angeles held on for a victory over Memphis.

Bennedict Mathurin finished 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Derrick Jones Jr. added 16 points as the Clippers won for the fourth time in five games despite hitting only four 3-pointers, a season low. Los Angeles was 4 for 17 from distance.

Ty Jerome led Memphis with 23 points and seven assists. Taylor Hendricks scored 18 and Cedric Coward 15 as Memphis lost its third straight.

The game was close throughout, and the Grizzlies held a 118-117 lead with about two minutes left. Leonard and Jordan Miller each made a pair of free throws to give Los Angeles a 121-118 edge. Mathurin’s two free throws with 4.4 second left sealed the win as Jerome’s closing 3-point try for Memphis was off the mark.

The Clippers, who were 15 games under .500 earlier this season, now sit at 31-32. The are in ninth place in the Western Conference, and in the running for a postseason bid.

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Undermanned Warriors nearly shock Thunder in Porzingis’ return

The Warriors almost did it again. Almost.

After a severely undermanned Golden State squad eked out an unexpected win over the Rockets to begin its road trip, the Warriors nearly pulled off an even bigger upset against the best team in the Western Conference and presumed title favorites.

Golden State got Kristaps Porzingis back from a six-game absence but still only suited up 10 players and still took the Thunder to the wire Saturday night in a 104-97 loss.

Shai Gilgous-Alexander sank a step-back 3 with 44 seconds left for the last of his game-high 27 points and forced a turnover on the other end of the floor to seal the game. 

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – MARCH 7: Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors passes the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 7, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NBAE via Getty Images

The Warriors never held a lead but were as close as two points with less than a minute to play, trailing 99-97 before Gilgous-Alexander’s game-sealing 3. They missed their final six shots of the game.

Porzingis played 23 minutes off the bench and scored nine points in his first action since his Warriors debut on Feb. 19 — only the second game he has played dating back to the first week of January.

What it means

The Warriors earned a nice win against the Rockets. They returned to reality against the Thunder, who became the first team in the NBA to reach 50 wins.

Turning point

With the state of the Warriors’ roster, it should have been the moment they entered the building. 

But the score was tied at 77 more than halfway through the third quarter after Malevy Leons, one of three active two-way players, drained a 3-pointer with 4:14 left that capped a 19-4 run. 

The typically sound Thunder turned the ball over five times in the first six minutes of the third quarter. They coughed it up nine times the rest of the night.

The run came to an end in appropriate fashion for the Thunder — with Gilgous-Alexander getting to the foul line on consecutive possessions. The free-throw artist collected 14 of his points at the line. He baited Nate Williams, another two-wayer, both times.

The Warriors kept it close until the very end but never were able to pull ahead.

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – MARCH 7: Gui Santos #15 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 7, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NBAE via Getty Images

MVP: SGA

The reigning NBA MVP is probably on his way to a repeat win, so it would be silly to select anybody else after he led the box score in scoring and seemed to get a bucket — or free throws — at the moments the Thunder needed it most.

Draymond Green, tasked with guarding him, turned in one of his strongest offensive performances of the season with 16 points on four 3-pointers.

Gui Santos also scored a career-high 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in 38 minutes.

But the Warriors just didn’t have enough firepower to overcome a quintessential performance from Gilgous-Alexander, who is now one game away from Wilt Chamberlain’s NBA record after scoring 20 or more points for the 125th consecutive contest. 

Stat of the game: 15 offensive rebounds

The Warriors kept it close with the defending champions despite missing their two best players and a sizable chunk of their supporting cast. How?

By owning the offensive glass.

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – MARCH 7: Nate Williams #19 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 7, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NBAE via Getty Images

The Warriors cleaned up their misses for a 16-7 edge in second-chance points. They grabbed 15 offensive rebounds, compared to the Thunder’s seven.

Gary Payton II grabbed seven offensive boards by himself with a game-best 12 total.

The Thunder hadn’t converted a single second-chance basket until Andrew Wiggins tipped in a miss from Lu Dort with 4:30 left in the third quarter. It was Oklahoma City’s second offensive rebound of the possession, matching its total to that point in the game.

As for what prevented the Warriors from pulling off the upset?

Look to the foul line, and don’t complain about the whistle.

The Warriors missed key free throws down the stretch and shot 61.1% from the foul line. Oklahoma City only had a six-shot edge in attempts but converted 23 of its 24 free throws, while the Warriors missed seven of their 18 attempts.

Up next

Golden State finishes its three-game road trip Monday night with a date with the Jazz in Salt Lake City. The Warriors will play their third game in four days the following night, the beginning of a stretch of 10 in a 15-day span — just two in San Francisco.

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Surridge scores 2 goal — his 2nd multi-goal game this season — as Nashville beats Minnesota 3-1

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Sam Surridge scored two goals — his second multi-goal game this season — and Cristian Espinoza added a goal and an assist to help Nashville SC beat Minnesota United 3-1 on Saturday night.

Surridge has scored 17 home goals — the most in MLS — since the start of last season.

Surridge re-directed a shot by Patrick Yazbek into the net to open the scoring in the 26th minute and his rising shot from the right corner of the 6-yard box in the 47th made it 3-1.

Hany Mukhtar’s shot from just outside the penalty area was parried by diving goalkeeper Drake Callender, but Espinoza was there for the tap-in putback to give Nashville (2-0-1) a 2-0 lead in the 33rd.

Nectarios Triantis scored for Minnesota (1-1-1) in the 35th minute.

Callender finished with three saves.

Nashville's Brian Schwake stopped two shots.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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Sakamoto helps McKendree win team title at inaugural NCAA women's wrestling championship

CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Yu Sakamoto beat Riley Rayome of North Central (IL) 4-3 to win the 117-pound crown and clinch the team title for McKendree on Saturday night at the inaugural NCAA women's wrestling championships.

After a wild scramble in the final seconds, a challenge by North Central and a review, Sakamoto's win gave McKendree a 167-166 lead over Iowa — which finished with three individual champions and a runner-up, but had no remaining competitors with two matches remaining. The Bearcats finished with 171 points and third-place North Central had 123.5.

Grand Valley State’s Katerina Lange, the No. 1 seed, beat second-seeded Claire DiCugno of North Central 4-1 to claim the 138-pound title and become the first women’s wrestling national champion.

North Central’s Bella Mir won at 145 pounds, beating No. 1 seed and former teammate Reese Larramendy of Iowa in the first round to avenge her only regular-season loss. The second-seeded Mir — an Iowa transfer and the daughter of former UFC heavyweight champion, Frank Mir — reversed a takedown attempt, immediately rolled and pinned Larramendy with 34 seconds left.

Iowa's Valarie Solorio, the No. 2 seed, beat fourth-seeded Rayana Sahagun of Grand Valley State by technical fall in the second round to win the 103-pound title. Sahagun beat No. 1 seed Heather Crull on criteria (7-7) in the semifinals.

Lehigh’s Audrey Jimenez pinned Sage Mortimer of Grand Valley State just 1:19 into the first round to claim the crown at 110 pounds.

Quincy's Xochitl Mota-Pettis won at 124 pounds, beating Shelby Moore of McKendree by technical fall (10-0) in the second round.

Cameron Guerin of McKendree beat Alexis Janlak of Aurora on criteria (5-5) to win the championship at 131 pounds in the final match of the night.

Iowa's Kennedy Blades, the No. 1 seed, pinned third-seeded Tiffani Baublitz of East Stroudsburg in 1:19 to claim the 160-pound crown.

Iowa's Kylie Welker outscored Destiny Rodriguez of McKendree 11-0 in the first round to win the 180-pound title by technical fall.

McKendree's Tristan Kelly beat Sabrina Nauss of Grand Valley State by technical fall (11-0) in the second round to secure the national championship at 207 pounds.

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Utah Jazz vs Milwaukee Bucks: Recap and final score

MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 7: Ace Bailey #19 of the Utah Jazz dribbles the ball during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 7, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images

The Utah Jazz didn’t have enough to take out the Milwaukee Bucks, who now have Giannis Antetokounmpo back. With Giannis, the Bucks were able to consistently build leads against the Jazz, but would lose those leads in the minutes that Giannis was off the court. It’s a successful end for the Bucks, who win 113-99 and are clawing their way to a potential play-in game.

The Jazz, who are currently 5th in the lottery standings, are inching towards the end of the season as they will very likely keep their pick. They just have to keep their focus as they make sure to stay as close to the top spot in the lottery as they possibly can.

It’s not just losing that is the focus of this team, though. Utah is getting invaluable development time for players that wouldn’t get it otherwise. Cody Williams had the first double-double of his career tonight with 13 points and 11 rebounds. That freedom to develop is giving him a chance to grow in ways he never would if the Jazz were not focused on development. Williams will need to improve his shooting but this season has shown how he can be a contributing player, especially on the defensive end.

Ace Bailey is also receiving much needed development minutes and it’s paying dividends. His percentages weren’t good tonight but he’s also learning to contribute in ways other than just scoring. Bailey had three assists tonight on a random Saturday night in the NBA. In college, Bailey had four total games with three assists. He’s doing things now with regularity that were not happening before. For the season, Bailey is averaging 1.7 assists in 26 minutes per game. In college, Bailey averaged 1.3 in 33 minutes per game. It’s an uptick worth watching and shows that Bailey is playing a more winning style of basketball. The eye test is especially good with Bailey. He looks like a player that is figuring out how to do more and more each night and the freedom to experiment and work on his weaknesses will make him that much better next season.

Finally, we got to see Keyonte Geoge today and it was a tough shooting night, something that seemed to be a recurring theme for everyone on the team. That said, George got to the line all night and took 13 free throws. That ability to get to the line is elite and makes up for when he has bad shooting games like this one. The Jazz have to shoot the ball better next season, and that will likely be the thing that changes lineups the most, but they are figuring out how to do all the other things that help you win games. That experience will pay off in a big way next season when the Jazz become a winning team in the league.

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Tennessee State beats Morehead State 93-67, wins first OVC Tournament title since '94

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Antoine Lorick III scored 18 points, and top-seeded Tennessee State beat No. 2 seed Morehead State 93-67 on Saturday night for the Tigers' first win in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship game since 1994.

Travis Harper II made five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points for Tennessee State (23-9), which shot 16 of 26 from long range. Dante Harris and Carlous Williams added 16 points apiece. Aaron Nkrumah chipped in with 14 points and six assists. Harris grabbed 11 of the Tigers' 44 rebounds.

George Marshall scored 17 points and shot 4 of 9 from beyond the arc to lead Morehead State (20-13). Anouar Mellouk and Davion Cunningham added 12 points each.

The Tigers scored a Division-I program-record 55 points in the first half for a 21-point lead. Harris scored 16 points and shot 4 of 7 from deep. Harper added 15 points on five 3s. Marshall scored 12 first-half points for Morehead State.

TSU entered having won a program-best 15 conference games. The Tigers won back-to-back tournament titles in 1993 and 1994.

The teams split the regular-season series, each winning at home. Tennessee State won the first meeting 105-100 in overtime. Morehead State won the second 94-86.

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Cameron Boozer scores 26 as No. 1 Duke beats No. 17 North Carolina 76-61

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Cameron Boozer had 26 points, 15 rebounds and five assists to help No. 1 Duke beat No. 17 North Carolina 76-61 on Saturday night in a rivalry rematch.

Maliq Brown added 15 points as Duke led by a single possession early after halftime before taking over with 16 unanswered points in what ballooned to a 24-2 surge.

The Blue Devils (29-2, 17-1) completed a second straight one-loss run through ACC regular-season play, this one coming a month after losing at North Carolina on Seth Trimble’s last-second 3-pointer. Duke has won eight straight, including a neutral-court victory over then-No. 1 Michigan and a romp against No. 13 Virginia.

The loss capped a rough 24 hours for the Tar Heels (24-7, 12-6). They appeared on the verge of getting star Caleb Wilson back from a fractured left hand just in time for March Madness — and maybe this game — only for him to suffer a season-ending broken right thumb during a non-contact drill Thursday.

The freshman was on the bench with his right thumb wrapped in a black brace as North Carolina fell to 5-2 without him.

Derek Dixon had 17 points for North Carolina, which trailed just 47-44 on Trimble’s drive with 16:45 left before Duke made its decisive push. The Tar Heels went six minutes without a point and managed one basket over more than 10 minutes as Duke blew the game open.

MARQUETTE 68, NO. 4 UCONN 62

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Nigel James Jr. scored 19 points and UConn coach Dan Hurley was ejected in the final second as Marquette hung on for a victory that prevented the Huskies from claiming a share of the Big East regular-season title.

UConn (27-4, 17-3) trailed 64-62 when the Huskies’ Silas Demary Jr. drove to the basket while being defended by Ben Gold. Demary’s shot hit the glass and the rim before the ball bounced off a couple of players and hit the floor.

Marquette’s Chase Ross won the battle for the loose ball and got fouled with one second left. Hurley argued the lack of a foul call and was whistled for two technical fouls before heading to the locker room while shaking his head.

Ross then made four of six free throws to account for the final margin.

NO. 5 FLORIDA 84, KENTUCKY 77

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Thomas Haugh had 20 points and nine rebounds as Florida beat Kentucky to end the regular season with an 11-game winning streak.

Boogie Fland added 16 points and six assists for the Gators (25-6, 16-2 Southeastern Conference), the No. 1 seed in next week’s SEC Tournament at Nashville, Tennessee. The defending national champions completed a regular-season sweep of the Wildcats (19-12, 10-8).

Alex Condon scored 14 points for Florida. Rueben Chinyelu had 13 points and eight rebounds, and Xaivian Lee finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Otega Oweh led Kentucky with 28 points, 17 in the first half. Oweh was honored before the game along with follow senior Denzel Aberdeen and walk-ons Zack Tow and Walker Horn.

Aberdeen scored 15 points, and Mouhamed Dioubate added 10 off the bench for Kentucky.

NO. 6 IOWA STATE 86, ARIZONA STATE 65

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Joshua Jefferson, Tamin Lipsey and Milan Momcilovic had 16 points apiece, and Iowa State scored 24 straight points to break open a victory over Arizona State.

The Sun Devils led 45-41 when the game turned early in the second half. Momcilovic and Jefferson hit consecutive 3s to start the decisive run. Jefferson riled the Hilton Coliseum crowd when he blocked Anthony Johnson’s layup attempt and sped down the court to take Nate Heise’s long pass for a dunk.

Arizona State missed 11 shots and committed five turnovers before Massamba Diop made a free throw for his team’s first points in almost nine minutes. Arizona State’s field-goal drought lasting nearly 11 minutes ended on Andrija Grbovic’s 3-pointer with 6:21 to play. At that point, the Cyclones led by 19.

The 24-0 run was the biggest in coach TJ Otzelberger’s five years and the Cyclones’ 39th double-digit run this season, most in the nation.

Iowa State (25-6, 12-6 Big 12) outscored ASU 49-24 in the second half, the Sun Devils’ fewest points after half since they managed just 21 in a loss to the Cyclones last season.

Diop led the Sun Devils (16-15, 7-11) with 12 points but committed seven of their season-high 23 turnovers.

NO. 7 HOUSTON 82, OKLAHOMA STATE 75

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Reserve Chase McCarty scored 14 of his 20 points in the second half and Houston rallied for a win over Oklahoma State.

Kingston Flemings added 13 points, five rebounds and nine assists for Houston (26-5 overall, 14-4 Big 12 Conference), which clinched the No. 2 seed in the Big 12 Tournament and a spot in the quarterfinals on Thursday in Kansas City.

The Cougars trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half, but McCarty, a redshirt freshman, made 7 of 10 field goal, including 6 of 9 from beyond the arc to fuel the comeback.

Anthony Roy scored 18 points, Kanye Clary added 14 and Jaylen Curry had 13 for Oklahoma State (18-13, 6-12). Roy (four), Clary (four) and Curry (two) combined for all 10 of the Cowboys’ 3-point baskets.

NO. 13 VIRGINIA 76, VIRGINIA TECH 72

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Ugo Onyenso and Malik Thomas each had 16 points, Sam Lewis scored 15 and Virginia held off Virginia Tech for a win.

The Cavaliers (27-4, 15-3) had already clinched the No. 2 seed in next week’s Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina, and are all but assured of a spot in the NCAA Tournament field. The Hokies (19-12, 8-10) entered squarely on the NCAA bubble and in seek of an AP Top 25 win to enhance their resume.

Ben Hammond led the Hokies with 21 points and five assists. He missed a pair of free throws with 2:09 to play trailing by four points.

Virginia went 15 for 17 at the free-throw line.

NO. 14 KANSAS 104, KANSAS STATE 85

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Freshman star Darryn Peterson scored 27 points in his likely Allen Fieldhouse finale, Tre White and Melvin Council Jr. had memorable senior send-offs of their own, and Kansas routed Kansas State.

Peterson, the potential No. 1 pick in this year’s NBA draft, was an efficient 10 of 15 from the field for the Jayhawks (22-9, 12-6 Big 12), who clinched a double-bye in next week’s conference tournament by winning on Senior Day for the 43rd consecutive year.

White, a transfer from Illinois, had 23 points and 11 rebounds to cap his lone regular season in Lawrence, while Council — who arrived from St. Bonaventure — nearly had a triple-double with 17 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists in his final game at the Phog.

WISCONSIN 97, NO. 15 PURDUE 93

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — John Blackwell made five 3-pointers and scored 25 points, Nick Boyd added 23 and Wisconsin set a school-record with 18 3-pointers in a road game Saturday in a win over Purdue.

The Badgers (22-9, 14-6 Big Ten) have won three straight overall and six of their last eight after going 18 for 34 from beyond the arc. That tied the second-highest single-game 3-point total in school history, and they also set a school record with 12 3s in the first half, despite playing without forward Nolan Winter, who has an injured left ankle.

Fletcher Loyer had 23 points and six 3-pointers, making his 282nd career 3 to break Carsen Edwards’ school record. Braden Smith had 20 points and nine assists, while Trey Kaufman-Renn added 17 points. Smith, Loyer and Kaufman-Renn all played their home finales.

It marked the first time in nearly 14,000 days and 135 games Purdue topped the 90-point mark and lost. The last time it happened was against Iowa State in Nov. 24, 1987.

Purdue started fast, using an early 13-0 run to take a 22-13 lead. But the Boilermakers couldn’t match the Badgers barrage of 3s that helped them take the lead and thwart every Purdue charge.

NO. 16 ALABAMA 96, AUBURN 84

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Labaron Philon and Aden Holloway each scored 21 points and Alabama beat Auburn in the regular-season finale for both teams.

Alabama (23-8, 13-5 Southeastern Conference) never trailed, making its first six shots — three by Philon, who scored his 1,000th career point in the game.

The Crimson Tide rebounded from a 98-88 loss at Georgia on Tuesday night. It opened the second half on a 17-8 run to extend its lead to a game-high 28 points.

Kevin Overton led Auburn (16-15, 7-11) with 24 points, and Tahaad Pettiford had 19. The Tigers have lost eight of 10.

NO. 20 ARKANSAS 88, MISSOURI 84, OT

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Arkansas beat Missouri in overtime on Saturday to make John Calipari the fifth Division I men’s basketball coach to win 900 games.

Meleek Thomas scored 28 and Trevon Brazile had 19 points and nine rebounds for Arkansas (23-8, 13-5 Southeastern Conference), which played without star freshman point guard Darius Acuff Jr. He missed the game with an undisclosed injury.

Acuff entered play leading the SEC in scoring and passing with 22 points and 6.2 assists per game.

Malique Ewin had 17 points and nine rebounds, and converted four straight free throws in the final 12 seconds of overtime to seal the game for the Razorbacks.

Brazile, who played his freshman season at Missouri, drained a 3-pointer with 22 seconds remaining in overtime to give the Razorbacks an 84-82 lead.

Mark Mitchell scored a career-best 32, and Shawn Phillips Jr. had 13 points and 10 rebounds for Missouri (20-11, 10-8), which has lost two straight heading into the conference tournament.

LOUISVILLE 92, NO. 22 MIAMI 89

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Ryan Conwell scored 18 of his 24 points in the first half, Adrian Wooley hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 18.4 seconds remaining and Louisville wasted a 12-point lead before hanging on to beat Miami.

J’Vonne Hadley scored 16 for the Cardinals, while Wooley and Isaac McKneely each scored 15. Louisville (22-9, 11-7 Atlantic Coast Conference) wrapped up the No. 6 seed in the conference tournament with the win — and could see the Hurricanes (24-7, 13-5) in the quarterfinals.

Tre Donaldson scored 25 points for Miami, which got 18 from Malik Reneau — 14 from the foul line. Tru Washington had 12 and Shelton Henderson finished with 11 for the Hurricanes.

NO. 24 VANDERBILT 86, NO. 23 TENNESSEE 82

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tyler Tanner scored 25 points to lead Vanderbilt past Tennessee.

The Commodores (24-7, 11-7 in Southeastern Conference) led by double digits most of the game. The Volunteers (21-10, 11-7) cut their deficit to five points at 69-64 with a 3-pointer by Amari Evans with 5:25 to play. Vandy’s Chandler Bing answered with a 3-pointer to end that threat.

Tennessee, which scored 60 points in the second half, closed within four points in the final minute, but got no closer.

AK Okereke scored 17 and Duke Miles had 13 for Vandy.

Evans led Tennessee with 24 points. J.P. Estrella had 20 points and 10 rebounds. Ja’Kobi Gillespie scored 17 points and Felix Okpara had 10 rebounds.

GEORGE MASON 86, NO. 25 SAINT LOUIS 57

FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — Jahari Long had 21 points and nine assists, and George Mason routed Saint Louis in the regular-season finale for both teams.

Kory Mincy added 15 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Patriots (23-8, 11-7 Atlantic 10), who defeated a ranked opponent for the first time since upending then-No. 16 Dayton on Feb. 21, 2024.

Dion Brown had 13 points for the Billikens (27-4, 15-3), who had already clinched the No. 1 seed in next week’s Atlantic 10 tournament. They shared the regular-season title with VCU, a team they defeated twice this season.

Senior center Robbie Avila, who entered averaging a team-high 13.0 points for Saint Louis, played only five scoreless minutes in the first half because of foul trouble. He finished with two points and one rebound in 12 minutes.

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Brown, Pack combine for 44 points, lead Oklahoma 88-85 past Texas in OT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Nijel Pack scored 23 points, Xzayvier Brown added 21 points, and Oklahoma beat Texas 88-85 in overtime in the final regular season game of the season for the two Southeastern Conference sides.

Pack was 7 of 14 from the field and 3 of 7 behind the arc. He scored nine points during a 14-2 second-half run that turned a tie game into a 12-point lead for the Sooners (17-14, 7-11) with fewer than seven minutes remaining. Brown was 8-of-18 shooting with four steals and led with 12 in the first half. Tae Davis added 14 points and nine rebounds.

The Longhorns (18-13, 9-9) held a 40-36 lead at halftime. They were led by Jordan Pope's 30 points on an inefficient 8-of-25 shooting but was 7 of 18 from behind the arc. Dailyn Swain added 18 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and three steals. Tramon Mark had 17 points. Matas Vokietaitis had 14 points and six rebounds.

The Sooners led by six with 36 seconds to go in regulation, but fouled Mark twice, including on a 3-point attempt that followed a turnover. Mark made all five free throws to make it a one-point game with 15 seconds left.

A pair of free throws from Davis put the Sooners up three. But Brown fouled Pope on a 3-point attempt, and Pope made all three free throws to tie the game and send it to overtime.

Pope had five in overtime and Mark three for the Longhorns, but Derrion Reid's five points for the Sooners, including a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left, put the game out of reach.

Texas lost four of their final five games to finish as the No. 10 seed in the SEC tournament.

Up next

Oklahoma will head to the SEC tournament as the 11 seed to face No. 14 seed South Carolina in the first round on Wednesday.

Texas faces No. 15 seed Mississippi on Wednesday. ___

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Final Score: Warriors lose to Thunder 104-97 in Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MARCH 7: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball in front of Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors during the first half at Paycom Center on March 7, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Golden State Warriors lost to the reigning defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder tonight on the road, 104-97. They also missed seven free throws, egads!

You can sit with that math however you want. But here’s what I refuse to let that number erase: a shorthanded Golden State team, without Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler, walked into the building that is currently the most dangerous home court in the Western Conference and made the best team in basketball sweat for 48 minutes.

That counts for something.

Gui Santos dropped a career-high 22 points and 11 rebounds on the best defensive roster in the conference. Draymond Green shot 6-of-10, hit four threes, and looked like a man who has been here before because he absolutely has. Brandin Podziemski ran the offense with 17 points and 6 assists against one turnover, the kind of quiet competence that championship rosters are built around. The Warriors outrebounded the Thunder 47-42. They generated 28 assists. They even won the turnover battle -3 against OKC’s pesky defense. The Dubs came back from double digits down in the third quarter and made it a genuine game when nobody outside the locker room expected them to.

The missed free throws hurt. Going 11-of-18 from the line against a Thunder team that went 23-of-24 from the charity stripe is the difference between a loss and a moment Dub Nation would have talked about for weeks. But I’ve watched this franchise long enough to know the difference between a team that is broken and a team that is building toward something through the fire. Tonight looked like the latter. The fight was real. The competitiveness was real. The youth on this roster absorbing a playoff-caliber environment against a 50-win team, without their stars, and still finding a way to make the fourth quarter interesting? That is something to build on.

Oklahoma City earned their 50th win. They are legitimate contenders to go back-to-back and tonight confirmed it again. But the Warriors made them work for every possession, and when Curry gets back, when this group remembers what full strength feels like, tonight will be one of those games they point to.

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Sixers Bell Ringer: Second-half woes and a late collision mar trip to Atlanta

ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 7: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on March 7, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer season standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 22
Joel Embiid – 9
VJ Edgecombe – 9
Paul George – 6
Jared McCain :’( – 3
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 3
Dominick Barlow – 2
Andre Drummond – 2
Jabari Walker – 1
MarJon Beauchamp – 1
Adem Bona – 1
Justin Edwards – 1
Quentin Grimes – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1

Well, the shorthanded Sixers put forth a much more spirited effort than recent blowout defeats to Boston and San Antonio, but the usual third quarter woes reared their ugly head, and Philadelphia moved down into Play-In Tournament territory with a 125-116 loss to Atlanta. With the win by the Hawks, they completed the season sweep of the Sixers, which could come into play as a tiebreaker later with the two clubs bunched together in the standings. More crucially, Tyrese Maxey suffered a collision in the closing seconds of the game, suffering what looked to be an injury to his shooting hand, with later reporting revealing something may have happened to his finger.

It goes without saying, but with Philadelphia already missing several starters due to injury and suspension, losing Maxey for any significant period of time would be a true cause to panic. We’ll cross that doomsday bridge if and when we come to it. For now, let’s focus on the positives from Saturday’s defeat with our Bell Ringer nominees.

Tyrese Maxey: 31 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, 5 turnovers

ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 7: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on March 7, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Early on, Maxey looked like a guy determined to put the team on his back Greg Jennings-style, scoring 15 points in the opening quarter and 22 overall in the first half. In addition to his usual self-creation off the dribble, the Sixers did a nice job working Tyrese off the ball, getting him a couple open looks from three and running him off screens to allow him to start running downhill towards the basket. Maxey made great reads with the ball in his hand, finding Kelly Oubre with an over-the-shoulder cross-court pass for a triple, and finding a rolling Adem Bona down the lane for a bucket. He also made some key defensive plays, showing active hands at the top of the zone to force a couple steals. Hopefully, all’s relatively well with the hand/finger, and we’ll be seeing Tyrese right back among the Bell Ringer options real soon.

Quentin Grimes: 26 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 4 turnovers

ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 7: Quentin Grimes #5 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on March 7, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

After slumping for a few games, Grimes had his second straight positive game on the offensive end, this time getting going from beyond the arc with a trio of triples. He also displayed an aggressive attacking mentality, finishing through contact around the rim on numerous occasions; his seven free-throw attempts marked his third-highest total on the season. Grimes got chippy with Onyeka Okongwu as the pair each got the better end of each other on some forays by Quentin to the cup. It was great to see some fire from Grimes and keep carving in there to great success. I really enjoyed their little tete-a-tetes in the painted area. With so many absences, the Sixers need contributions from everybody, and this was a really nice performance from Grimes.

Kelly Oubre Jr.: 24 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 5 turnovers

ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 7: Kelly Oubre Jr. #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers passes the ball during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on March 7, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Kelly Oubre returned from missing a couple games due to illness and certainly looked more rested than drained in stepping back on the court. It was a solid all-around performance from Oubre. He hit Adem Bona perfectly down the lane with a pass out of the pick-and-roll for a dunk (remember when four assists seemed like a pipe dream from Kelly?). He clean picked Jalen Johnson’s pocket on one play, leading to a run-out bucket for Maxey, and he worked hard on the offensive glass — three o-boards all led to second-chance points. At his heart, though, Kelly gets buckets, and he did so very efficiently Saturday, shooting 10-of-15 from the field, including 3-of-5 from three. In particular, I liked when he recognized his size advantage against the defender, and muscled his way into the lane to can some short jumpers. Great to have you back, Kelly; the team certainly needs you.