MILAN (AP) — US defeats Slovakia 6-2 in men's hockey to set up Olympic gold medal matchup with Canada.
Wizards vs. Pacers discussion
The Washington Wizards play the Indiana Pacers at 7 p.m. tonight at Capital One Arena. Watch the game on Monumental Sports Network.
Yankees Mailbag: Stanton’s longevity and bullpen targets
Good afternoon everyone, it’s time to dive back into the mailbag and answer some of your questions. Remember to send in your questions for our weekly call by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.
ReadingYankee asks:I am starting to worry about the production of Stanton. He is aging and proved less effective in the postseason last year, although it would be foolish to expect his 2024 production again. He has another year or two, and he has not been trusted in the outfield more than a game or two in the last couple seasons. At what point do the Yankees pull the plug on an oft-injured, DH-only type player? And when that happens, what will be their plan for the DH spot?
Much like the offense at large, I’m willing to give some grace to Giancarlo Stanton’s performance in the postseason because of the heater he was on in the regular season, especially given the strong performances he’s shown in nearly every other October run. The team isn’t going to cut bait on one of the veterans of this clubhouse while he still has some juice left in his bat, and his absences aren’t that big of a hit because they free up space for the rest of the team to cycle through quasi-rest days as a DH. Between getting their superstar Aaron Judge some half-days, flexing Ben Rice’s spot in the lineup around, and working in playing time for Jasson Domínguez should he be on the major league roster, there’s plenty of options to fill the gap.
The concern going forward, however, is just how much mileage is actually left on those legs. Stanton’s been a notorious slow-returner from his injuries (which makes the run he put on in 2025 even more incredible), so if he has a season where he’s a frequent flier on the IL instead of going through one big injury, that could spell disaster for his productivity. There’s also the concern that Stanton’s good year was a product of how little he actually had to play, and while there’s a running assumption that he’s going to miss time in every season going forward the goal is to still field the best team possible — if Stanton is gassed from the rigors of a 162-game season by the end of it all, he may not find himself penciled in when the chips are down.
jmack1775 asks:Why did we get Goldy to platoon with Rice when Rice should be an everyday player and learn to be at least passable against lefties? And if the plan is for Rice to catch a significant amount of games and Goldy to fill in at 1b, isn’t Rice’s value diminished at catcher?
Paul Goldschmidt’s place on the team this year is more of a mentor figure for Rice to learn the position, as the Yankees likely see him as their everyday first baseman of the future. He’ll get the lion’s share of starts at the position, and then for the games where Goldschmidt takes over against lefties that frees Rice up to see time behind the plate and still get in the lineup for the experience (and hopefully, improvement). It shouldn’t be a significant amount of games where Rice is catching, since J.C. Escarra is still the backup catcher and Rice will be going in as the defined starter at first as opposed to bouncing around looking for playing time. Was it the ideal fit? No, and the Yankees outright acknowledged this when Aaron Boone discussed the signing, but there are ways that it can work out quite well for New York.
Shoducky asks:What would it take to pry Mason Miller away from the Friars? Would a package of Dominguez and Gil do it?
Trade packages are generally a tricky thing to speculate on considering the strengths of one system aren’t going to be the same as another, and organizations have internal scouting on prospects that differ from the outside publications — that being said, the Padres traded the No. 3 prospect in baseball at the time to acquire Miller as the headliner of a four-player package at last year’s deadline. The Yankees don’t have a prospect anywhere close to that ranking on any board, and even considering that the cost would be lowered with one less year of control on Miller’s contract it’d be a tough pitch for the Padres to listen in on. New York has also shied away from the flashier bullpen additions as of late, both in terms of free agent deals and in trades, with their deal for David Bednar being an exception that still only cost the team their eighth-best prospect. If they wanted to change direction on that they certainly could, but that’s likely a discussion for the summer when there’s a clearer field of targets to acquire.
Cavs vs. Hornets open gamethread
The Cleveland Cavaliers are coming off an impressive win against the Brooklyn Nets. We’ll see if they can keep that going as they take on a surging Charlotte Hornets squad.
I’ll be in the comments throughout the game sharing my thoughts. Come talk with me and the rest of your fellow Cavs fans there.
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Amiri scores again but Mainz draws with Hamburg
MAINZ, Germany (AP) — Nadiem Amiri scored his seventh goal in seven games for Mainz while a deflected second half goal from Hamburg's Fabio Vieira ensured they drew 1-1 in the Bundesliga on Friday.
Mainz was looking to get back to winning ways after a 4-0 defeat by Borussia Dortmund last week . It took the lead through Amiri’s crisp volley three minutes before halftime.
However, 19 minutes into the second period Vieira’s free kick took a nick off the Mainz wall, giving goalkeeper Daniel Batz no chance.
The point helped Mainz climb one place to 13th.
Hamburg was unbeaten in six games and sat in ninth.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Twins ace Pablo Lopez undergoing Tommy John surgery, out for 2026 season
Pablo Lopez will miss the 2026 season.
The Twins right-hander is set to undergo Tommy John Surgery next week after it was discovered that he had a torn ulnar collateral ligament earlier this week.
Lopez, who turns 30 next month, had felt something in his elbow during a bullpen session on Monday.
The injury also takes Lopez out of the World Baseball Classic, during which he was set to take the mound for Venezuela.
The typical recovery timeline for Tommy John is roughly 12-to-18 months, meaning Lopez could be back on a big league mound by early next season.
It’s the second time in Lopez’s professional career that he will undergo Tommy John, having previously done the surgery in 2014 while he was in the Mariners’ organization.
Lopez has been Minnesota’s starter in each of their last three Opening Days since being traded over by the Marlins before the 2023 season.
In three seasons with the Twins, Lopez has posted a 3.68 ERA across 78 starts.
During his debut season with the team in 2023, Lopez had the best season of his career, making his first and only All-Star team and finishing 7th in the AL Cy Young voting with a 3.66 ERA across 194 innings.
Last season, Lopez dominated with a 2.74 ERA, although he was limited to just 14 starts with a shoulder and forearm strain.
After finishing 70-92 last season, Twins management cleaned house this offseason.
Shortly after the regular season’s end, Minnesota fired manager Rocco Baldelli after seven seasons at the helm, later replacing him with Derek Shelton.
Late last month, with spring training just weeks away, the Twins and president of baseball and business operations Derek Falvey “mutually” agreed to split ways.
The team announced general manager Jeremy Zoll would continue “leading” the baseball department after Falvey’s departure.
Greenwood misses a penalty as Marseille loses to Brest
BREST, France (AP) — Habib Beye’s reign as Marseille coach got off to a losing start as Ligue 1's top goal-scorer Mason Greenwood missed a penalty in Brest’s 2-0 win on Friday.
Beye replaced Roberto De Zerbi last week after a miserable run that saw Marseille exit the Champions League and lose to archrival Paris Saint-Germain 5-0.
But the former Newcastle and Aston Villa defender could not stop the rot that threatens Marseille's hopes of a European spot next year.
Two first-half headers from Ludovic Ajorque put Brest in the driving seat and he could have had a third had a fierce shot not rattled the bar.
Marseille came into the match more in the second half but Greenwood missed a golden chance to pull it back into the game seven minutes from time.
He was brought down by Daouda Guindo but his spot kick was well saved by Brest goalkeeper Gregoire Coudertt.
The result left Marseille winless in four Ligue 1 games and in fourth place, five points behind Lyon, which has a game in hand against Strasbourg on Sunday.
Brest climbed one place to 11th.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Judge denies Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar's injunction bid to remain eligible
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar’s bid for an injunction that would have enabled him to continue playing for the Volunteers this fall was denied on Friday by a Knox County Chancery Court judge.
Aguilar was arguing that he should be allowed a fourth year of playing Divisional I football rather than having the years he spent in junior college count against his eligibility. Chancellor Christopher D. Heagerty instead dissolved the temporary restraining order he had granted in the case on Feb. 4 and denied Aguilar’s request for an injunction.
Aguilar played at Diablo Valley (California) Community College from 2021-22 before transferring to Appalachian State, where he spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Aguilar then transferred to Tennessee and completed 67.3% of his passes for 3,565 yards with 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this past season.
He also redshirted at City College of San Francisco in 2019 before the 2020 season was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Although Aguilar has been invited to next week’s NFL draft scouting combine, he had filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in an attempt to return to Tennessee to play one more season.
Heagerty said the factors Tennessee courts consider before deciding to grant a temporary injunction are the threat to irreparable harm to the plaintiff if an injunction isn’t granted, the balance between this harm and any injury that granting the injunction would inflict on the defendant, the probability the plaintiff would succeed on the case’s merits and the public interest.
Heagerty noted that Aguilar’s lawyers pointed out the quarterback could lose $2 million to $3 million in name, image and likeness opportunities by not playing. But the judge also pointed out that granting an injunction “could cause sweeping implications and cause significant ambiguity and uncertainty regarding the eligibility rules of the NCAA.”
While Aguilar’s lawyers said an injunction would apply only to their client, Heagerty believed granting an injunction “could impact much broader issues and have a much more far-reaching effect than the plaintiff suggests.”
Heagerty also said the evidence before the court at this time indicated Aguilar “has a low likelihood to succeed on the merits of his claim.”
“The NCAA is thankful for the judge’s decision today, which demonstrates the court’s consideration of eligibility standards and protecting access to the collegiate experience for current and future student-athletes," the NCAA said in a statement. "We will continue to defend the NCAA’s eligibility rules against attempts to circumvent foundational policies and hinder fair competition to all student-athletes. The NCAA is making changes to deliver more benefits to student-athletes and will continue to work with Congress to provide stability for all college athletes.”
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Nets vs Thunder Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game
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The All-Star break wasn’t long enough for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Ajay Mitchell all start the second half on the injured list.
Although OKC is a massive 18-point favorite on Friday, February 20, there’s plenty of value in the Brooklyn Nets keeping it close in the first half.
My Nets vs. Thunder predictions and NBA picks break down why there are too many points for OKC to cover with so many key players sidelined tonight.
Nets vs Thunder prediction
Nets vs Thunder best bet: Nets +10.5 first half (-110)
The Oklahoma City Thunder are just 2-3 SU and 2-2-1 ATS in the five games without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, dropping to 18th in net rating over that span.
Missing the reigning MVP is one thing, but with Jalen Williams also out, this is a different challenge.
Make no mistake, the Brooklyn Nets aren’t a strong team, but given who’s out for OKC, it could take a quarter or two for them to get going.
There are just too many points here, so I’ll take the Nets to keep it close in the first half.
Nets vs Thunder same-game parlay
Nets forward Danny Wolf has eclipsed 1.5 threes in each of his last four games and grabbed more than 5.5 rebounds in six of his last seven.
Nets vs Thunder SGP
- Nets +10.5 1H
- Danny Wolf Over 1.5 threes
- Danny Wolf Over 5.5 rebounds
Nets vs Thunder odds
- Spread: Nets +18 (-110) | Thunder -18 (-110)
- Moneyline: Nets +900 | Thunder -1600
- Over/Under: Over 212.5 (-110) | Under 212.5 (-110)
Nets vs Thunder betting trend to know
Oklahoma City has only hit the 1H moneyline in seven of its last 14 home games (-27.50 Units / -42% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Nets vs. Thunder.
How to watch Nets vs Thunder
| Location | Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK |
| Date | Friday, February 20, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | YES, FDSN Oklahoma |
Nets vs Thunder latest injuries
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Berardi at the double as Sassuolo deepen Verona's relegation woes
SASSUOLO, Italy (AP) — Sassuolo scored twice in the five minutes before halftime to pave the way to a 3-0 victory that deepened Verona's already considerable relegation woes in Serie A on Friday.
Verona was without a win in 11 league games and in last place, equal on points with Pisa.
Both clubs were nine points from safety, and Pisa faces a crunch match on Monday against Fiorentina, the team six points above them both in the third relegation spot.
Andrea Pinamonti got Sassuolo’s opener with a deflected strike then four minutes later Domenico Berardi added a second. Although the Verona goalkeeper stopped his penalty kick, Berardi was quickest to the follow up and buried the rebound.
Berardi completed the scoring 17 minutes into the second half when he finished off a rapid counterattack.
Completing Verona’s misery, Al Musrati was sent off for a second bookable offense five minutes from time.
The result extended Sassuolo's recent good run; it has taken 12 points from its last 15. It jumped two places to eighth.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Yankees prospect Elmer Rodríguez pitches three scoreless in spring opener loss to Orioles
The Yankees’ first Grapefruit League game is in the books. For those hoping for some offense, that was always going to be a tough ask for a lineup that had just four major leaguers, especially when they’ve all been subbed out by the middle of the sixth. Jazz Chisholm Jr. singled in the first, but they managed just two more singles in the final 8.1 innings of the game, Orioles pitchers tallying 13 strikeouts on the afternoon. By far, the bright spot of the game was the performance of top pitching prospect Elmer Rodríguez, who pitched three scoreless innings after earning the start in the spring training opener. Pete Alonso crushed a two-run bomb in the sixth to account for all of the scoring in this game as the Yankees drop the spring opener to the Orioles, 2-0.
The Orioles had their ace Trevor Rogers on the mound coming off 18 impressive starts in 2025 when he posted a 1.81 ERA. His velocity was already at mid-season form, but that didn’t prevent Chisholm from logging the first hit in all of spring training, the second baseman dumping a two-out single to right on a 1-1 slider at the bottom of the zone.
In the bottom half, we got our first look at the Yankees’ top overall pitching prospect, Elmer Rodríguez. The 22-year-old righty was named Baseball America’s Yankees Minor League Player of the Year in 2025 after posting a 2.58 ERA across Double-A and Triple-A and the second-most strikeouts in the minors (176). He looked impressively sharp in his first taste of pitching against major league hitters, getting Gunnar Henderson and Pete Alonso to roll over a pair of soft grounders before striking out the Orioles’ top overall prospect Samual Basallo on an elevated heater, Rodríguez’s sinker touching as high as 97 in the first.
Rodríguez had his first brush with traffic on the bases in the second and passed that test as well. Baltimore had runners on the corners following a Tyler O’Neill leadoff single and Adley Rutschman one-out single, but Rodríguez worked himself out of the jam by getting Heston Kjerstad to bounce into the inning-ending double play on a perfectly located 1-2 changeup on the corner low and away. We also got our first ABS challenge earlier in the frame, Rodríguez having a strike two call confirmed after Colton Cowser challenged.
Rogers departed after two innings, replaced by reliever Keegan Akin, while Rodríguez was allowed to pitch the third. The Orioles started to barrel up the baseball the second time the top of the order faced Rodríguez, Henderson lining a two-out single to center and Alonso clubbing what looked like a sure-thing RBI double into the gap in left center, but non-roster invitee and former minor league Gold Glove winner Kenedy Corona made a fabulous diving catch to save a run and end the inning for the first web gem of spring.
Despite the harder hit balls to end his outing, Rodríguez was nothing short of impressive in his spring debut. His sinker had decent velocity, averaging 94, while the changeup and slider look like his go-to weapons to induce whiffs. Overall, he posted a very good 29-percent called-strike-plus-whiff rate and an even better 70-percent groundball rate. Most notably, Rodríguez exhibited sharp command of four different pitches, able to find the edges of the zone with the sinker, cutter, changeup, and slider. He departed after three scoreless innings having allowed three hits and no walks with one strikeout on 42 total pitches.
Jake Bird was the first reliever out of the bullpen for the Yankees, and he maneuvered around an O’Neill one-out single by inducing the inning-ending double play from Cowser. Austin Wells unsuccessfully challenged a pair of called balls that weren’t particularly close in the fourth and fifth innings, meaning the Yankees were out of challenges for the rest of the game. New York subbed out all their starters shortly thereafter, but not before Alonso provided the only offense of the contest, a booming two-run blast to left off a hanging first-pitch curveball from career minor-leaguer Bradley Hanner.
The Yankees offense went hitless for a six-inning stretch, their two other singles coming from substitutes Jackson Castillo in the seventh and Jonathan Ornelas in the ninth. Outside of Hanner in the sixth, you have to admire the job done by the Yankees pitchers, Rodríguez, Bird, Kervin Castro, Carson Coleman, and Dylan Coleman combining to toss seven scoreless frames. I also reckon there will be more excitement on offense as more lineup regulars are worked into spring games.
The Yankees return to Tampa to host the Tigers in the spring home opener at George M. Streinbrenner Field. Aaron Judge is penciled in to right field, while Rodríguez’s fellow top pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange draws the start against Keider Montero. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 pm ET with the broadcast moving to YES.
Boston Celtics Daily Links 2/20/26
HeraldJaylen Brown rips Beverly Hills’ ‘bull—-‘ apology: ‘I’m extremely offended’
Jaylen Brown’s triple-double leads Celtics past Warriors in All-Star return
Jaylen Brown receives apology from Beverly Hills, says ‘damage is already done’
How Celtics met roster minimum, avoided luxury tax with latest signings
GlobeAl Horford says his decision to leave Celtics was ‘deeper than just the basketball’
Brown helps Celtics thump Curry-less Warriors 121-110
Kendrick Perkins has Celtics as ‘dark horse’ to win title in 2026 — under 1 condition
Beverly Hills admits mistakes around Jaylen Brown’s canceled All-Star event, but sides still at odds
Celtics GreenComments from the Other Side – Warriors 2/19/26
CelticsBlog10 takeaways from Boston dissecting Warriors pressure
Celtics’ newest signing opens up on return to Boston
Parquet Plays : Celtics Best Sets/Actions vs Golden State
What is your favorite “Beat LA” moment? (daily topic)
Celtics .com Keys to the Game: Celtics 121, Warriors 110
NBC Sports BostonJaylen Brown’s all-around impact with Celtics is reaching new heights
Celtics-Warriors recap: Jaylen notches triple-double in lopsided win
NESNNBA Moves Another Upcoming Celtics Game To Primetime Stage
Celtics Analyst Reveals Biggest Surprise Player Of Boston’s Season
Derrick White Piling Up Assists During Strong Recent Stretch For Celtics
Stephen A. Smith’s Recent Take On Knicks Has Celtics Fans Smiling
Payton Pritchard Praises Nikola Vucevic After Celtics-Warriors
Steve Kerr Praises ‘Incredible’ Celtics Performance In Win Over Warriors
Blake Griffin, Fellow NBA Veterans Name Celtics As East Team With Fewest Questions
Joe Mazzulla Makes Bold Hall Of Fame Claim About Former Celtics Star
Jaylen Brown Delivers Triple-Double Masterclass Amid Celtics’ Surge
Payton Pritchard Passes Ray Allen On Impressive Celtics All-Time List
Ex-Celtics Star Praises Jayson Tatum’s ‘Impressive’ Injury Recovery
Former Celtics Star Explains Team’s Stunning Success This Season
Jaylen Brown Gives Savage Quote About Crushing Former Celtics Teammates
Celtics Rout Former Teammates In Easy Win Over Depleted Warriors
Mass Live Al Horford on Jayson Tatum rehab progress: ‘I’m very proud’
Kristaps Porzingis makes blunt admission about Celtics after Warriors rout
Jaylen Brown is the Celtics ‘Name to Know’ Player of the Game in Thursday’s win over Warriors
Steve Kerr shares eye-opening opinion of Celtics after Warriors rout
Celtics react to facing Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford after Warriors win
Al Horford gives cryptic reason for Celtics departure in free agency
4 takeaways as Celtics beat Warriors after holding off unexpected rally
CelticsWireJaylen Brown gets apology from Beverley Hills for Celtics star popup shutdown
Kristaps Porzingis reflects on time with Celtics
Boston Celtics jersey history No. 88 – Neemias Queta (2023-25)
Celtics alum Rajon Rondo is one of the greatest teammates of all time
How real was ‘Playoff’ Rajon Rondo for the Celtics?
Celtics history: Stephon Marbury born; Joe Johnson traded to Suns
Robert Parish wants us to give Celtics alum Cedric Maxwell more credit
Just how bad was the Rick Pitino era of the Celtics?
Celtics survive a terrible fourth quarter to outlast the Warriors
Celtics hold off late rally to down Warriors in first game since ASG
Sussing out the Celtics in the East order at the stretch run
The AthleticMatchup with Al Horford, Kristaps Porziņģis puts focus on Celtics’ changes
City of Beverly Hills apologizes to Jaylen Brown for ‘inaccurate’ statement
The Bounce: Can the Thunder still dominate? And 15 more questions for stretch run
Boston Sports Journal Jaylen Brown speaks up after refusing Beverly Hills PD’s apology over event shutdown
BSJ Game Report: Celtics 121, Warriors 110 – Boston holds off late Golden State surge
How the Celtics’ end-of-season cap gymnastics will work
Hardwood Houdini Don’t look now but Jaylen Brown has a real chance to win the MVP award
Celtics win Ringer podcast’s best remaining games draft for this NBA season
Celtics quickly learning newest superpower and it might be over for the NBA
Al Horford’s cryptic pregame message creates nothing but confusion for Celtics fans
Zach Lowe admits to being dead wrong about the Celtics
Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford pinpoint what matters most about Celtics’ season
Celtics send strong message to start the second half of their season
Brian Windhorst makes surprise declaration on Celtics’ Nikola Vucevic trade
Chowder and ChampionsNeemias Queta Will Be Celtics’ X-Factor After the All-Star Break
Celtics Need More from Star During Playoff Push
CLNS Media/YouTubeGarden Report: Celtics vs Warriors Postgame Show on CLNS Media – Celtics DOMINATE Warriors
Celtics beat Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis — and the Warriors | You Got Boston
Kristaps Porzingis Didn’t Expect Celtics to be THIS GOOD | Warriors Post Game
Al Horford: Was WEIRD Playing vs Celtics | Warriors Post Game
Payton Pritchard FULL Postgame Interview | Celtics vs Warriors
Jaylen Brown Says RIPS Beverly Hills “Half-Assed” Apology; Says He Was TARGETED
Joe Mazzulla FULL Postgame Interview | Celtics vs Warriors
Dalano Banton Reacts to RETURN to Celtics | Pregame Interview
SI ,comJaylen Brown Calls Beverly Hills Saga ‘Bull—-,’ Won’t Accept ‘Halfa—ed’ Apology
Jaylen Brown’s Triple Double Fuels 121-110 win: 3 Reasons They Won and Player Grades
Al Horford’s Departure From Boston ‘Deeper Than Just the Basketball,’ But He’s Open to Return
Beyond NBA/YouTubeHugo Gonzalez Really Had Joe Mazzulla CRACKING UP
AudacyWhy Celtics’ win over Warriors highlights Jaylen Brown’s growth
BETJaylen Brown Considers Lawsuit Over Beverly Hills Event Shutdown
Heavy Celtics Tipped to Land ‘Big Time Talent’ to Boost Backcourt
Celtics Get Another Great Sign For Jayson Tatum Return
Barstool Sports The Celtics Returned From The All Star Break And Immediately Gave The Warriors The Belt To Kick Off Their Big West Coast Trip
Fadeaway World Al Horford Reveals He Left The Celtics For Reasons ‘Deeper Than Just Basketball’
TalkBasketPayton Pritchard: “Fun facing ex-teammates, keep foot on the pedal”
Joe Mazzulla on Celtics’ resilience in win over Warriors
SB Nation Jayson Tatum’s injury decision will be the right choice for the Celtics
Essentially Sports Steve Kerr Evaluates Celtics’ Season Without Jayson Tatum After Warriors Loss
The Sports HubCeltics return from break with 11-point road win over Warriors
Badger WireFormer Wisconsin basketball star inks 10-day deal with Boston Celtics
Golden State of Mind Jaylen Brown’s triple-double sinks Curry-free Warriors
Warriors vs. Celtics player grades: Kristaps Porziņģis debuts
ESPNJaylen Brown considering legal action against Beverly Hills
The Daily Campus The Big Apple: Who are the contenders in the Eastern Conference?
NBA/YouTubeCELTICS at WARRIORS | FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS | February 19, 2026
Locked on CelticsJaylen Brown DOMINATES, Celtics SURVIVE Collapse | Al Horford’s Mysterious Boston Departure
WEEI/YouTube Are fans not having enough faith if Jayson Tatum comes back?
Nebraska coach Hoiberg says part of the reason he swiped at fan's phone is because of his pacemaker
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg said Friday there were circumstances surrounding his altercation with a court-storming Iowa fan that people viewing viral social media videos might not fully understand.
The videos showed Hoiberg making a swiping motion at a person pointing a camera toward him during the handshake line after his ninth-ranked Cornhuskers lost 57-52 to the Hawkeyes on Wednesday night. In doing so, Hoiberg accidentally struck a member of Iowa’s staff.
Hoiberg said he fully relies on a pacemaker. He said his reaction stemmed from awareness that close contact with cell phones can interfere with the heart device.
“I am 100% reliant on a pacemaker," Hoiberg said. "I’ll never forget a conversation with my doctor. A cell phone can put it off. If anything ever happens, I’m done. I will not survive if something ever happens to a pacemaker. I’m very cognizant of that, so when somebody rushes up on me with a cell phone, of course I’m going to react.”
Hoiberg said the probability of anything happening was unlikely, but the chance of him developing heart block in his first open heart surgery was also slim.
He recounted the situation and explained that while he doesn't have a problem with court storms, he's against putting players and coaches in danger.
“It was a heated moment,” Hoiberg said. “I was going through the handshake line congratulating Iowa coaches on a hard-fought win, and all of a sudden, out of nowhere, this kid rushes up on me, and I reacted to it. I think anybody in my position, after a game like that, would’ve reacted in a similar way.”
The seventh-year Nebraska coach said he apologized to the Iowa staff member whom he struck both in the moment and in the days following. The staff member was understanding and said he would've done the same, Hoiberg said.
Iowa released a statement apologizing for the lack of security.
“We apologize for this incident and will conduct a review of our procedures and security measures to determine what adjustments may be needed to further strengthen our protocols and help prevent similar incidents in the future," the statement reads.
Hoiberg said he appreciated Iowa's statement and that it's a learning opportunity.
Nebraska hosts Penn State on Saturday.
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LeBron James available vs. Clippers
UPDATE: Lakers fans can breathe a sigh of relief as LeBron James has been upgraded from questionable to available for the team’s game against the Clippers.
During his pregame media availability, Lakers head coach JJ Redick said that LeBron felt some soreness in his knee after Thursday’s practice and was a game-time decision.
With LeBron ready to go, the Lakers have a clean injury report, which has been a rarity this season. Now, Redick will have every option at his disposal and can find out just how good his team can be.
Original story follows.
Well, so much for the Lakers being fully healthy coming out of the All-Star break. On Thursday, LA had an empty injury report heading into their contest against the Clippers.
But on Friday afternoon, the team added LeBron James to the list, placing him as questionable to play due to left knee soreness.
If LeBron misses this contest, it’ll be another game in which the team will play without one of its top three players.
Luka Dončić missed the last four games on the Lakers’ schedule due to a hamstring strain, and while Austin Reaves was back from his calf injury, he was still on a minutes restriction.
LA’s game against the Clippers is set to be the first time this calendar year that Reaves is going to play without a minutes restriction.
So, hearing that LeBron might be out when his two co-stars are finally fully healthy is frustrating for Lakers fans.
Until we hear more about the injury, it remains unclear what caused the soreness, how serious it is, and whether he could miss not only this Clippers contest but also upcoming matchups.
The last time LeBron played was on Sunday in the All-Star Game, representing Team Stripes. His importance to the team can’t be understated. James is still one of the best playmakers on the roster and is averaging 22 points, 5.8 assists and 7.1 rebounds per game.
Without him on the court, beating the Clippers gets that much harder. It also means the chemistry between him and Luka and Austin won’t be further developed on Friday.
There’s also still a possibility that LeBron plays in this matchup. However, being downgraded to questionable on the afternoon of a game isn’t a sign that things are heading in that direction.
If LeBron is out, then it’ll be the Luka and Austin show in LA, and they’ll have to hope that’s enough to beat their Western Conference rival.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
Russell Westbrook’s Wife Receives Message Wishing Death Upon Family From Sports Bettor
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The wife of NBA veteran Russell Westbrook received a message wishing death upon her and her family after the Sacramento Kings guard failed to cash an angry sports bettor’s player prop wager.
Nina Westbrook posted a screenshot of an email she received on Thursday night.
Key Takeaways
- Russell Westbrook failed to cash the bettor’s prop line of 10 points scored on Thursday.
- Nina Westbrook said that she is growing more concerned for athletes’ safety.
- The NBA is strongly linked to the gambling industry.
Westbrook and the Kings made their return to the court on Thursday against the Orlando Magic, ending their weeklong hiatus from the All-Star break. The 2016 MVP was held to five points on 2-8 (25%) shooting in an uncompetitive 131-94 loss.
The result prompted a violent written assault from “Joel Molina,” whose vitriol was captured in a screenshot posted to Nina Westbrook’s Instagram story late on Thursday evening.
The email contains vulgar language.
Nina Westbrook captioned the picture, “The negative effects of sports betting. Brings out the worst in ppl smh.”
Russell Westbrook’s wife shared this disturbing email she received titled “F**k you” pic.twitter.com/OTNPTOvaQp
— Hater Report (@HaterReport) February 20, 2026
Sports betting is not legal in California, where the Kings reside, and where they played the Magic on Thursday.
'Not an isolated incident'
Early on Friday morning, Nina Westbrook posted a follow-up addressing the email and its public response. She noted that it was not her family’s first time dealing with harassment from angry sports bettors.
“Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident,” she wrote. “It’s something my husband and I consider routine. With that said, I’m sharing this now because I’m growing increasingly concerned for athletes.
“Gambling is a highly addictive behavior, and people should understand the risks associated with it, especially before introducing it to their children. I don’t claim to have all the answers, but the threatening behavior directed toward athletes and their families after games has proven to be one of the early results of amped up sports betting.”
A growing number of amateur and professional athletes have documented their encounters with angry sports bettors. Cases have ranged from Olympic champions being stalked and verbally assaulted at their competitions to professional athletes being confronted in person over their performances.
The NCAA also found in a study last year that 36% of men’s basketball players reported experiencing social media abuse from sports bettors within the last year.
Despite the growing wariness, the NBA is still firmly entrenched in the gambling industry.
The NBA has primary sports betting sponsorships with DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM. Commissioner Adam Silver was also an early proponent of legalizing sports betting, writing in 2014 an op-ed titled “Legalize and Regulate Sports Betting.”
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