NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 22: Jaden Hardy #8 and Leaky Black #14 of the Washington Wizards high five during the game against the New York Knicks on March 22, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards lost to the New York Knicks on Sunday night, 145-113. It’s their 16th straight loss, tying a franchise record that they have done numerous times.
Washington didn’t have a bad night offensively, but they let the Knicks shoot even better combine that with a rebounding differential that made the Wizards look silly, well, yeah, it’s no surprise that the Wizards got their butts handed to them tonight, like most of the last month.
Jaden Hardy led the Wizards with 25 points. Karl Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 26 points, playing just under 26 minutes overall.
The Wizards are off until Wednesday when they continue their long road trip to Salt Lake City. They’ll play the Utah Jazz. Tip off is at 9 p.m. ET. See you then. Hopefully we won’t see the Wizards make franchise history, but I’m not holding my breath.
Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg remains confident the BBL is well positioned to expand internationally despite an offer to New Zealand for inclusion in the T20 league from 2028 being rejected on Monday.
The Hawkeyes did it in stunning fashion: down two points with eight seconds left, Bennett Stirtz drove down the court and found a wide open Alvaro Folgueiras for a go-ahead 3-pointer with four seconds left. Florida was unable to respond with its last chance.
"This is really special for the dreamers, and there is no better dreamer than us," Folgueiras said on the broadcast after the win.
The defending champions entered the Sunday, March 22, game fresh off their massive blowout victory of No. 16 seed Prairie View A&M in the first round, scoring a tournament high 114 points in the win. Two days later, the Gators looked nothing like the team that earned a top seed in the NCAA bracket.
Iowa started strong, turning the game into a physical battle that had a few heated moments in its favor. The Hawkeyes jumped out to a 10-point lead midway through the first half, and Florida was forced to play catch-up the majority of the final 20 minutes, trailing by as much as 12 points in the second half.
Florida took the lead with five minutes left and held it as the momentum shifted toward the top seed playing in its home state. But Iowa didn’t fold, leading to the shocking last-second bucket.
Iowa is the first No. 9 seed to make the Sweet 16 since Florida Atlantic in in 2023, and became the ninth No. 9 seed to take down the top seed since seeding began in 1979 − the first since Florida State in 2018. Florida joins Kansas in 1998 as the only teams in NCAA Tournament history to win a game by at least 50 points and lose the following contest.
With the loss, it ensures Connecticut will remain the last back-to-back champion, accomplished in 2023 and 2024. While the Huskies’ wins were recent, it follows a trend of defending title winners struggling to defend their titles the following season.
Eight of the past nine national champions have failed to make the Sweet 16 one year after winning it all. The loss also ensures there will not be an all-No. 1 seed Final Four after all the top teams in the bracket made it last season.
Iowa coach Ben McCollum continues to impress in his first season in Iowa City. In the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three seasons, this will be Iowa’s first Sweet 16 appearance this century, last making the round in 1999. Awaiting the Hawkeyes in the round is a familiar foe in Nebraska, as the Big Ten rivals will meet Thursday, March 26, in Houston.
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Victor Olatunji scored in the 85th minute and Sergi Solans also scored a goal Sunday for Real Salt Lake in a 2-2 tie with San Diego FC.
Olatunji tapped in a cross played from the right side to the back post to cap the scoring.
Rafael Cabral had three saves for Real Salt Lake (3-1-1).
Juan Manuel Sanabria played an arcing ball to the center of the area and Solans went up high for a header that slipped inside the right post to open the scoring in the 17th minute.
Marcus Ingvartsen tied it a 1-1 in the 27th minute when he poked in a loose ball from point-blank range for his fourth goal of the season.
Anders Dreyer, on the counter-attack, took a pass from Amahl Pellegrino and took a couple touches before he chipped a shot over Cabral, who had charged off his line, into a wide-open net to give RSL a 2-1 lead in the 56th minute.
Dreyer, who was second in MLS with 38 goal contributions (19 goals, 19 assists) in 2025, has three goals and three assists this season.
Christopher McVey was shown his second yellow card in the 89th minute and San Diego (3-0-2) played a man down the rest of the way.
Seven of RSL's nine first-half shots came in stoppage time.
Feb 14, 2026; Los Angeles, CA, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks at press conference during the NBA All Star game at the Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Jacob Douglas: There is a surplus in NBA talent right now, but there is a lack of competent front offices and organizations that can capitalize on that talent. The league’s tanking problem makes it a tough time to support expansion. Do we really want to add two more teams that are getting blown out by 30-40 points in March while sitting their starters? That said, I hope that Seattle gets their team back in some capacity. The city has a rich basketball culture and needs a pro team to match it.
Bill Huan: It’s absolutely a good decision. Every team in the league has multiple guys who can drop 40+ on any given night, assuming they’re actually fielding their best lineup. The bigger issue is tanking, and having more teams might mean that more front offices will deem it necessary to tank, but that shouldn’t stop the league from expanding. The quantity and quality of talent have never been higher, and it makes sense to showcase that skill in more places to grow the game. My only concern is the NBA prioritizing Vegas as a potential destination. The city isn’t the party hub it once was, and there are already countless pro sports teams there already. Wouldn’t it make more sense to give Vancouver another chance, so that they could create an instant rivalry with Seattle while growing the game in a country that’s producing more NBA talent than ever before? Or how about Mexico City, where there’s already a G League team in place? There’s enough interest in basketball in the States — if Adam Silver wants to maximize growth, he needs to consider America’s neighbors.
Devon Birdsong: I’m of the opinion that expansion is always the right choice when a league has the right mixture of appeal and finances, and I think the NBA is going to be hard-pressed to find a better time to do so. Growing up around and writing about the only “Big Four” professional sports team in the area has given me a lot of perspective regarding what that might mean for a city without multiple teams, so I’d prefer to see the second team go somewhere other than Vegas. As it is, there seems to be some conversation about the Grizzlies potentially moving to Nashville, and I’d really feel for Memphis fans if that came to pass. Expansion might forestall that. As for dilution of talent, that seems like a thin excuse not to. There are only 450 players on permanent rosters as is, and with two-ways, that approaches 500+, so I think it’s safe to say that there’s room for 30 more players out of that surplus without much issue. The bigger issue, in my view, is tanking. It doesn’t matter what the talent balance is if you have too many teams losing on purpose.
Jeje Gomez: The talent is there. The problem is how it’s spread around. There are no real superteams, and the draconian apron rules should lead to more player movement eventually, as some teams go back to prioritizing free agency when others simply can’t retain all their stars, an issue the Spurs might experience as their young players become more expensive. The problem is that, as long as rookie contracts and restricted free agency are in place, the best way to acquire cheap talent will be through the draft, which might lead to more teams tanking, which subsequently will give the illusion of dilution, even if there are more good players now than ever. An example of that are the Wizards, who traded for two All-Stars but don’t seem all that interested in playing them. The biggest battle the league will have to win when it comes to expansion is a battle of perception, since a lot of fans already think there are too many games and bad teams.
If Seattle and Las Vegas get the two expansion teams as reported, two Western Conference teams will have to move to the East. Which teams should go to the weaker conference?
Douglas: Minnesota, Memphis, and New Orleans could all easily be moved to the East. Minnesota would easily slot into the Central division with Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, Indiana, and Cleveland. Memphis could make sense in that conference, or in the Southeast with Charlotte, Atlanta, Miami, Washington, and Atlanta. New Orleans could go to the Southeast, but given their proximity to the Texas teams in the Southwest division, I’d keep them in the West.
Huan: I agree with Jacob here: it should be Minnesota and Memphis given their proximity, and New Orleans can stay in the West since they’re already close to the Texas teams. Having young stars in Ant and whoever Memphis gets in the lottery this year will also be important to give the East more players to feature and market, and hopefully even out the talent across the two conferences some more.
Birdsong: Geographically speaking, Minnesota is an obvious choice. I would also include Oklahoma City. Not as much because it makes sense as because I hate them. And also, I would like to avoid playing them on the Western side of the playoff bracket. Actually, if you were asking me to do this out of pure spite, I would also include either the Rockets or the Lakers alongside the Thunder. Maybe the Clippers as a third choice to atone for their multitude of sins. Much more satisfying if you ask me. I’d be the most beloved NBA commissioner in San Antonio history.
Gomez: Minnesota and Memphis feel like the best answers, not only because of proximity but because moving the Pelicans to the East could create a future problem if the franchise moves. New Orleans can probably support a good NBA team and should get a chance to prove that, but they have struggled to consistently create one so far, and they seem like the type of franchise that could be relocated if the league eventually tries to go to Mexico or Canada. To avoid a new reshuffling in the future, keeping the Pelicans in the West might be the smart move, even though they would probably love to go to the weaker conference.
Expansion is not coming for a while, but if it were to happen this offseason, which eight players should the Spurs protect?
Douglas: This will probably change in a few years, but the score to keep around is Wembanyama, Castle, Harper, Fox, Vassell, Johnson, Bryant, and Champagnie. No offense to Kornet, who has been incredible this season, but we’ve seen quality big men picked up on cheaper deals by other teams in the last few seasons. I have confidence that San Antonio could find another quality big man if Kornet were to be drafted to Seattle or Vegas.
Huan: Off the top of my head, it should be Wemby, Harper, Castle, Fox, Champagnie, Vassell, Johnson, and Bryant. Devon brought up the idea of leaving Fox unprotected, which will likely gain some traction, but I’d still avoid that. Yes, his contract isn’t the greatest, but we’ve seen star-level players get traded time and time again in recent years, even with questionable contracts. We can’t risk letting a talent like Fox go for free, and by the time the expansion teams come in, he’ll already be on the second-last year of his current deal. Even factoring a decline and the contract potentially becoming negative value, opposing teams are always willing to make deals with soon-to-be-expiring money.
Birdsong: Based on the roster right now, I’d say Wemby, Castle, Harper, Vassell, Keldon, Kornet, Bryant, and Champagnie. My reason for not protecting Fox is largely strategic due to his contract. Expansion teams may be leery of taking on a max contract so early in their existence, and if not, it saves the Spurs having to figure out what to do with that contract if Fox begins to decline (and no, he is not currently). Of course, a lot of this depends on how the postseason goes. If the Spurs bring Larry home, I 100% stand by my order. If not…I may have to make changes to it.
Gomez: Since we are talking about the upcoming season for this exercise, I’d go with Wembanyama, Fox, Castle, Harper, Vassell, Bryant, Johnson, and Champagnie. Kornet is in a great contract, but so is Champagnie, and he’s younger and plays a position that has more scarcity. Not protecting Fox and daring the expansion teams to take on his contract could be smart, but if they call the Spurs’ bluff, San Antonio would be losing a key player. If we are talking years down the line, the list would change and Fox would likely not be protected, but for now, he’s too important.
During the 2022 New Year’s Ashes Test at the SCG, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison walked into the Fox Cricket broadcast studio ahead of a brief cameo in the commentary box.
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic is clear to play Monday night at Detroit after the NBA rescinded his 16th technical foul of the season.
Doncic and Magic center Goga Bitadze each received a technical foul with 1:19 left in the third quarter of Los Angeles' 105-104 win at Orlando on Saturday night. The players exchanged words while Doncic was at the free-throw line, and appeared to continue the conversation on the way down the court.
The NBA announced on Sunday that the technical on each player had been rescinded. A 16th technical foul triggers a one-game suspension.
The Lakers have won nine in a row going into the matchup with the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons. Doncic is averaging 40 points, 8.4 rebounds and 7.4 assists during the streak.
No perfect NCAA Tournament brackets remained among the millions of entries in the ESPN bracket challenge and in the contests tracked on the NCAA's official website.
The day started with two perfect brackets left in the ESPN contest and four on the NCAA's site, which tracks the ESPN challenge along with six contests run by other outlets. ESPN had 26.5 million entries, and 36 million were tracked by the NCAA.
The number of perfect brackets in the women's tournament dropped to 279 in the ESPN contest and less than 400 on the NCAA website after higher seeds won the first six games Sunday.
The odds of going 63-0 in a bracket contest are somewhere between one in 9.2 quintillion (for totally random guesses) or one in 120 billion (semi-educated ones).
MENLO PARK, Calif. (AP) — Hyo Joo Kim held off Nelly Korda on Sunday at Sharon Heights to complete a wire-to-wire victory in the Fortinet Founders Cup.
Her opening five-stroke advantage gone after 10 holes, Kim regained the lead on the next hole and ended up with a one-shot margin after a closing bogey.
“I don’t think I was necessarily shaken up or my emotions were all over the place,” Kim said through a translator. “I was just trying to keep my focus on my shots and what I was doing.”
Kim shot a 1-over 73 for a 16-under 272 total. The 30-year-old South Korean player also won the 2015 event in Phoenix. She has eight LPGA Tour titles to go along with 14 KLPGA Tour victories.
Korda closed with a 69. The American won the season opener in Florida, then skipped the Asia swing.
“Obviously, something like 17 stings, so it is what it is,” Korda said. “It’s golf. It’s a quick turnaround. There is next week. So, just going to take all the positives.”
Korda matched Kim with a bogey on No. 2, then birdied six of the next eight to tie for the lead. Kim pulled back ahead with a birdie on the par-4 11th, traded bogeys with Korda on the par-4 12th and took a two-stroke lead with a birdie on the par-4 14th.
Kim gave back the stroke with a bogey on the par-4 16th, then hit a flop from deep rough to 2 1/2 feet to save par after hitting long on the par-3 17th. Korda three-putted for bogey on 17, missing a 3-footer, to send Kim to 18 with the two-shot advantage that she ended up needing.
“I think just in the back nine my two par saves were probably the things I’m proudest about today," Kim said. "Just because my shots weren’t playing as well.”
Kim won for the first time in a year since the Ford Championship in Phoenix, the event that begins Thursday at Whirlwind Golf Club.
She started fast at challenging Sharon Heights, holing out for eagle on the eighth hole Thursday in a 63 that gave her a two-shot lead. She pushed the advantage to four Friday with a 70.
“I enjoyed every single day, but this course was pretty tough,” Kim
Korda parred the final hole.
“I wish I could have hit that drive into the fairway and given myself a better opportunity to press a little bit more,” Korda said. “But that’s just golf. Those are sports. Sometimes it’s on your side and sometimes it’s not.”
Sei Young Kim (67) and Jin Hee Im (69) tied for third at 11 under.
Top-ranked Jeeno Thitikul tied for 14th at 8 under after a 73.
The tournament began as a tribute to the 13 founders of the LPGA. It began in Arizona in 2011 and last year was played in Florida.
SURPRISE, AZ - OCTOBER 24: A general view of Goodyear Ballpark during the game between the Peoria Javelinas and the Surprise Saguaros at Surprise Stadium on Thursday, October 24, 2024 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Roster moves
The Arizona Diamondbacks made the following roster moves and have 33 players in camp.
Optioned to Triple-A Reno:
LHP Philip Abner
Reassigned to Minor League camp:
C Aramis Garcia
INF Jacob Amaya
The first of these is a bit of a surprise. Only yesterday, I was noting how Abner seemed to have the inside track for left-handers job, after the recent meltdowns of Brandyn Garcia. Now, it seems either it’s Garcia’s job, or the Diamondbacks will be going without a left-handed option out of the pen.
Lineup Update:
CF – Barrosa 2B – Vargas C – Moreno 1B – Smith LF – Waldschmidt DH – McLaughlin 3B – Soler RF – Ortiz SS – Clark SP – Curtiss
The finale of the Cactus League today, with the remaining games tomorrow and Tuesday being on the hallowed (artificial) turf of Chase Field. John Curtiss gets the start, to be followed by LHP Brandyn Garcia, RHP Juan Morillo, RHP Taylor Rashi, RHP Shawn Dubin and, uh, according to the D-backs team notes anyway, RHP John Curtiss again. I presume the Curtiss start is to avoid a divisional rival getting experience late in spring against a recognized starting pitcher. This game was originally going to be broadcast on Arizona Sports, but the team notes make no mention of this. The change in start time from an afternoon game may have screwed things up there.
Feb 26, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow against the Chicago White Sox during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Tyler Glasnow makes his final start before the regular season as the Dodgers visit the Angels.
NEW YORK — Florida Panthers forward A.J. Greer has been suspended three games for shoving Calgary Flames forward Connor Zary into the boards from behind.
The NHL announced the punishment on Sunday.
The play occurred 11:11 into the third period of Florida’s 4-1 loss at Calgary on Friday night. The 29-year-old Greer was assessed a major penalty for interference and a game misconduct.
Greer has a career-high 13 goals and 24 points in 68 games this season. He will miss games against Seattle, Minnesota and the New York Islanders, and he forfeits $13,281.24 in salary that goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 22: DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Sacramento Kings is guarded by Terance Mann #14 of the Brooklyn Nets in the second quarter at Golden 1 Center on March 22, 2026 in Sacramento, California. 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 Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today is one of the biggest days of the season for the Brooklyn Nets for the lamest of reasons. As the regular season inches closer to its conclusion, all moves made in the “tank race” fall under increased magnification. With Brooklyn facing the Sacramento Kings, who sat just a half game behind Brooklyn entering tonight’s contest, the benefits of a loss and drawbacks of a win loomed larger than anything.
A few hundred miles away in the backdrop, Darryn Peterson’s collegiate career also came to an end, which also helped set the odd, enigmatic stage. Kansas loss to St. John’s at the buzzer means that of the top four prospects, only Cam Boozer of Duke remains. In addition to Peterson, A.J. Dybantsa of BYU lost earlier in March Madness and Caleb Wilson of North Carolina has been declared out with an injury.
At the end of the night, Brooklyn is now one and a half games ahead of the Kings and only two games behind the overall No. 1 held at the moment by the Indiana Pacers. In second, the Washington Wizards a half game ahead of the Nets.
Brooklyn started this one with Nolan Traoré, Drake Powell, and Danny Wolf for a fourth straight game. It was their first one, however, where Nic Claxton didn’t join them out there, as he sat for rest. Michael Porter Jr. (left hamstring strain) and Noah Clowney (right wrist sprain) joined him on the bench.
The advantages and disadvantages of going small were clear early on. Sacramento built up an early lead attacking the paint and dominating the glass in the first period 14-6. They ended up winning there 51-25 for the game. Brooklyn kept stride, stretching the floor and shooting 6-10 from deep in the first. Wolf, who led early with seven points on 3-5 shooting, nailed one, as did Traore.
However, it was the LIRR that brought Brooklyn to its first advantage tonight. The team’s G-Leaguers continued their impressive play up on the professional stage on the road this evening. Tyson Etienne and Malachi Smith each went 2-2 from deep in the first period. They helped fuel the 10-0 run in the heart of the opening frame that put Brooklyn in front.
“Yeah, they’ve done a great job,” Fernández said. “And once again, a lot of these guys, were giving them a look because they haven’t played enough, all their guys. As you guys know, we have young guys here that we need to see what we have, and I really like the competitiveness and how we fought all all the way through, second game in a row.”
But while small ball continued to bring the Nets positive returns, Brooklyn shrank beyond control in the second. A few minutes into it, Danny Wolf rolled his ankle after a finish inside. The Nets ruled him out for the game with a left ankle sprain a few minutes after they walked him back to the locker room.
Danny Wolf is hurt and needed some help going back to the locker room. Twisted his ankle on this finish. pic.twitter.com/dDTtqXRWYk
And while Wolf’s health going forward was and surely remains Brooklyn’s primary concern, in the immediate, his injury left the team with little-to-no resistance against Maxime Raynaud and Precious Achiuwa anytime they rolled to the basket. Those two combined for 16 points in the period while shooting 7-11 from the field. Maxime finished the game with 22 points on 10-13 shooting while Achiuwa had a 14-point and 15-rebound game.
Still, Brooklyn was able to protect its lead through halftime. After committing 15 turnovers agains the New York Knicks and 23 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, they had just one in the first half tonight. They finished with just seven for the game.
“Our 30 assists to only seven turnovers is very impressive,” Fernández said. “So, that’s definitely a step forward for us.”
E.J. Liddell started for Wolf to begin the third, and with him being just six-foot-six, the Kings wisely stuck with what had worked. They got more points inside if not on their first try, than their second, eventually finishing with a +18 advantage in second chance points.
Who they couldn’t hang with, however, was Ziaire Williams. He did it all for Brooklyn in a game where they looked for a lot of different things in inauspicious places, especially in the third. While battling on the glass, shooting, defending the perimeter, and even playmaking on a few occasions, he finished with 18 points, three assists, two rebounds, two steals, and a block.
The Nets maintained a slight edge for the majority of the third, which became a far slower period than either of its predecessors thanks to a handful of reviews and scuffling between Terance Mann and DeMar DeRozan. However, a handful of swing plays ended in Sacramento’s favor in the period’s final few seconds, which was enough to give them a three point advantage entering the fourth.
There, we got more fun, back-and-forth action anyone bargained had for in a game between lottery-bound teams. Sacramento’s defense, devoid of speed and physicality, looked to be tailor-made for a crafty guy with good footwork like Ben Saraf, who had an easy time probing inside. He finished with a career-high 22 points on 10-20 shooting, along with five assists and a steal.
“Probably one of his best games at finishing at the rim,” Fernández said of Saraf. “I like how aggressive he was, five assists to two turnovers.”
Doug McDermott also reminded you he’s still in the league, plays for the Sacramento Kings, and that a shooter’s touch never ages. He splashed two threes in the fourth’s first three minutes to help build a six point lead, their largest of the game. Patrick Baldwin Jr. also caught the defense napping twice with two threes made.
But while were often more inspired by the unsung heroes, infatuated by young prospects, and impressed by gritty G-League products, in the end, games are won by teams with the better players, and Sacramento had the two best in DeMar DeRozan and Malik Monk. They also made it clear when it mattered most.
Out of a timeout after the Nets had cut it to two with a little under three to go, DeRozan hit the same buttery mid-range fadeaway he’s been burying for years to re-extend the lead. The Next two times down, Monk added five points after a near-poster on Malachi Smith and his seventh three of the game.
Brooklyn answered, but it was a hair too little, too late. The Nets put together a 7-0 run in the final minute to make it a 120-121 game, capped off after Achiuwa committed a goal-tending violation on a Traoré drive. However, the Kings pressed all the right buttons to seal the deal. They moved the ball well, hit their free throws, and unlike Santa Clara, knew it wasn’t 2007 anymore, and that you should always foul when up three.
Final: Sacramento Kings 126, Brooklyn Nets 122
Injury Report
The Nets tagged Wolf with a left ankle sprain when ruling him out tonight. He tried to walk off the floor on his own power, then got some help from some teammates and trainers, then needed to stop for a bit even with the assistance before getting to the tunnel. Jordi Fernández was unable to provide an update postgame, so we’ll wait and watch.
Milestone Watch
Malachi Smith scored a career-high 18 points today against the Kings on 7-9 FG, 3-4 3PT and 1-1 FT with four assists and two steals. On a 10-day contract, he is the fifth Nets rookie to score at least 18 points in their fifth career game or sooner since Kenyon Martin in 2000.
Ben Saraf joines Danny Wolf, Jeremiah Martin (2020) and Terrence Williams (2010) as the only Nets rookies with 20+ PTS and 5+ AST off the bench since Kerry Kittles in 1997.
With his first points of the game against Sacramento, Danny Wolf (501 career points) joined Egor Dëmin (536) as the first Nets rookie duo to each score 500+ points in a season since Stephen Jackson and Kenyon Martin in 2000-01. They are the sixth Nets rookie tandem to ever do so.
Malachi Smith’s 10-day is expiring Monday. The Nets can extend him for another 10 days, let his contract simple expire or sign him to a standard deal. The deadline for signing two-ways was earlier this month so that option is not open.
Next Up
Brooklyn’s final road trip of the season continues on Monday with a trip to Rip City. The Trail Blazers beat the Nets handily less than a week ago. This will be the final part of Brooklyn’s last back-to-back sequence of the season. It tips off at 10:00 p.m. ET.
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a new six-year contract with opening day starter Cristopher Sánchez.
The deal announced Sunday for last season’s NL Cy Young Award runner-up begins in 2027 and will run through 2032 with a club option for 2033.
Terms were not immediately available.
Sánchez had been pitching under a $22.5 million, four-year contract that was through 2028.
He went 13-5 with a 2.50 ERA in 32 starts last season and struck out a career-high 212 batters. He’s 30-21 overall in four full big league seasons.
Originally signed by the Tampa Bay Rays as an amateur free agent in 2013, Sánchez was acquired in a trade by the Phillies on Nov. 20, 2019, for infielder Curtis Mead.
Mead played in just 41 games for the Chicago White Sox last season while Sánchez has blossomed into one of the best pitchers in baseball and helped key the Phillies’ run to consecutive NL East titles in 2024 and 2025.
The Phillies want to keep their postseason run going — four straight appearances headed into 2026 — and have locked up all veteran members of their staff to long-term deals.
Jesús Luzardo earlier this month finalized a $135 million, five-year contract that starts in 2027. Zack Wheeler has a $126 million deal through the 2027 and Aaron Nola a $172 million, seven-year agreement through 2030. Rookie Andrew Painter is under team control through 2031 and earned the fifth starter spot in the rotation.
NEW YORK (AP) — Florida Panthers forward A.J. Greer has been suspended three games for shoving Calgary Flames forward Connor Zary into the boards from behind.
The NHL announced the punishment on Sunday.
The play occurred 11:11 into the third period of Florida's 4-1 loss at Calgary on Friday night. The 29-year-old Greer was assessed a major penalty for interference and a game misconduct.
Greer has a career-high 13 goals and 24 points in 68 games this season. He will miss games against Seattle, Minnesota and the New York Islanders, and he forfeits $13,281.24 in salary that goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
