Five years ago, the Chicago Cubs stole Pete Crow-Armstrong away from the Mets in a three-player trade that, most notably, sent Javier Báez to New York for two months before free agency. The deal was part of Chicago’s deadline sell-off that saw 2016 World Series champions Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant traded away in addition to Báez. A difficult time on the North Side, it was.
Now the Cubs are making sure Crow-Armstrong is part of their long-term future. The Cubs and Crow-Armstrong have agreed to a six-year, $115 million extension, according to ESPN. The deal runs from 2027-32 and doesn’t include any option years. Crow-Armstrong was previously scheduled to hit free agency after the 2030 season.
Here are the largest contracts given to players five years away from free agency:
Jackson Merrill: 9 years and $135 million (signed April 2025)
Pete Crow-Armstrong: 6 years and $115 million (signed March 2026)
Jacob Wilson: 7 years and $70 million (signed January 2026)
Ke’Bryan Hayes: 8 years and $70 million (signed April 2022)
Lawrence Butler: 7 years and $65.5 million (signed March 2025)
Ezequiel Tovar: 7 years and $63.5 million (signed March 2024)
Crow-Armstrong, 24 on Wednesday, played his first full MLB season in 2025 and joined Sammy Sosa as the only 30-30 players in Cubs history while playing Gold Glove-winning defense in center field. He slashed .247/.287/.481 with 31 homers and 35 steals, and ranked fourth among all players with 21 outs above average defensively. It added up to a 5.4 WAR season and MVP votes.
Now that he’s made the leap from exciting prospect to All-Star, the Cubs locked up Crow-Armstrong and made him the centerpiece of their roster moving forward. How did he get here? What does he have to do to get better? And what’s next for the Cubs? Let’s dig into all that now.
Advertisement
How PCA unlocked his power
The Gold Glove defense and stolen bases were expected. The power is what took Crow-Armstrong from good role player and No. 9 hitter to legitimate star. He’d never hit more than 20 home runs in a season in the minors before clubbing 31 in the majors last year. He showed off that power with a two-homer game in the World Baseball Classic earlier this month:
To get into his power, Crow-Armstrong adjusted his setup at the plate last season, specifically widening his feet and getting a little deeper into the box. His feet were 28.1 inches apart in 2024, per Statcast. In 2025, it was 33.7 inches, putting him in the top 25% of the league. That helped him move his intercept point (i.e. where the bat makes contact with the ball) up two inches, or about 33%.
OK, great, so what does that mean? In English, Crow-Armstrong is now catching the ball further out in front of the plate, to use an old baseball adage. That has allowed him to pull the ball in the air more — his pulled fly ball rate went from 19.3% in 2024 (a tick higher than the 16.7% league average) all the way up to 30.2% in 2025. Here are the 2025 pulled fly ball rate leaders:
That’s a pretty good list of names there. I know pulling the ball has a bit of a stigma because of the (now banned) infield shift, but it’s the best way to hit for power. Last year, balls pulled in the air produced a .612 batting average and 1.329 slugging percentage. Crow-Armstrong began pulling the ball in the air at an elite rate last season and the home runs followed.
Gold Glove defense in center field would have gotten Crow-Armstrong paid no matter what, but without last year’s power spike, his earning potential would have been capped. Defense pays only so much. Crow-Armstrong tweaked his setup at the plate, connected with the ball a split second sooner, and became a 31-homer player. That’s what earned him this contract extension.
Advertisement
What he needs to do next
The power is there, the stolen bases are there, and the defense is there. The next hurdle for Crow-Armstrong is fine-tuning his plate discipline and being more selective. The man likes to swing, so much so that it’s a detriment. Last season, he swung at 41.4% of pitches out of the zone, the fifth-highest rate in baseball and well above the 28.0% league average.
Crow-Armstrong’s 2025 was a tale of two seasons. He hit .265/.302/.544 in the first half and only .216/.262/.372 in the second half. It’s easy to think that, well, pitchers figured him out, and fed him pitches out of the zone and got him to chase. That’s not really what happened, though. Crow-Armstrong had a lower chase rate in the second half (37.6%) than he did in the first half (43.7%).
The second-half slump was the product of a mechanical issue, not a chase issue. He was getting too wide with his stance and too long with his stride, assistant hitting coach John Mallee told The Athletic last month. “He was accelerating in his stride, covering too much ground, which kind of made him a little long, and he was mis-hitting balls,” Mallee said.
Getting the swing right is a constant battle not unique to Crow-Armstrong. Every hitter goes through it. For him to get to the next level, though, Crow-Armstrong has to rein in that chase at least a little bit. It is really, really hard to be a productive hitter with a 40% chase rate. That much chase is something pitchers can exploit, leading to a lot of swings and misses and weak contact.
Advertisement
Realistically, Crow-Armstrong will never be a plate discipline savant with a near-20% chase rate like Cubs teammates Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki. A realistic goal is pulling that chase rate down into the 35% range. That’s where productive hitters like Bo Bichette, Bryce Harper, and Julio Rodríguez reside. You can chase 35% of the time and be a perennial All-Star. At 40%, it’s much harder.
The goal is not drawing more walks (though the Cubs would certainly take them). Walks are a byproduct of plate discipline, not the goal. The point of plate discipline is swinging at better pitches and giving yourself the best chance to do damage. That’s what’s left for Crow-Armstrong to master. If he controls the zone better, it just might turn him into the game’s best center fielder.
More extensions ahead for Cubs?
The Cubs have a history of extending their best players. Crow-Armstrong joins Happ and Nico Hoerner as players who broke into the big leagues with the Cubs and signed extensions that delayed free agency. I would guess right-hander Cade Horton is next on the team’s extension to-do list. Possibly first baseman Michael Busch and closer Daniel Palencia as well.
The upcoming offseason is an important one for the Cubbies because they have a lot — A LOT — of core players coming up on free agency. The list includes Happ, Hoerner, Suzuki, Shota Imanaga, and Jameson Taillon. My guess, and I emphasize this is only a guess, is that Hoerner is the top priority among that group because his elite contact/elite defense/elite makeup skill set is so valuable.
Advertisement
Convincing a young player like Crow-Armstrong to take guaranteed millions years before free agency is one thing. Convincing a player who’s already made some money in his career to pass up free agency when he’s just a few months short of reaching the open market is another. I’m sure the Cubs will try to extend Hoerner and Suzuki at least. Whether they get it done is another matter.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz approaches the line of scrimmage during first-half action against the Cincinnati Bengals at U.S. Bank Stadium, Sep 21, 2025, in Minneapolis. Wentz surveys the defense and prepares to adjust the play as Minnesota operates its offense early in the contest. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
When Carson Wentz re-signed with the Minnesota Vikings last week, some onlookers just couldn’t stomach that he may be on deck for a QB3 job. A few days later, it seems precisely that assignment awaits.
Minnesota appears to have a larger contingency plan in mind for Wentz this season.
A couple of different sources hinted this week that Wentz, indeed, will be the backup to the backup, and it’s not hard to comprehend.
Advertisement
Wentz Will Factor into Minnesota’s QB3 Insurance Strategy
A tweaked role for Wentz is ahead.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz goes through pregame drills with focused intensity as fans fill U.S. Bank Stadium ahead of a key NFC matchup, with added intrigue surrounding his former team, Oct 19, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Wentz’s preparation stood out during warmups before facing a strong Eagles defense. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
Schefter: Wentz as a QB3 in Minnesota Isn’t Weird
Schefter stopped by The Pat McAfee Show on Monday and dropped the Wentz tidbit: “Maybe there’s something to the Wentz signing that would dictate or influence J.J. McCarthy’s future, but I don’t view it that way. You can never have enough quarterbacks, that’s how I view it.”
The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis added in a separate article, “Wentz, 33, had multiple opportunities with perhaps clearer paths to playing time. Why, then, would he choose Minnesota? It was not because he got any impression that the Vikings would be moving on from McCarthy, one league source said. Instead, Wentz came back because of his faith in O’Connell, quarterbacks coach Josh McCown and the team’s core players.”
Advertisement
Both men essentially stated that the Vikings did not re-sign Wentz as part of a McCarthy replacement plan, as many on social media suggested last week.
Burned by Meager QB Depth Last Year
At this time last year, the Vikings had two quarterbacks on their roster: McCarthy — and Brett Rypien, who is mostly showcased as a practice squader.
Then, the NFL draft arrived, and former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah swung a trade for Sam Howell, a young quarterback from the Seattle Seahawks, who had a year’s worth of starting experience with the Washington Commanders. Howell arrived at training camp and in the preseason, struggling mightily, and was later traded to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Advertisement
Minnesota then signed Wentz as a late-summer fix, and he started five games in 2025.
Because the plan to formulate depth behind McCarthy was so paltry last offseason, Minnesota has swung for the fences this go-round. It’s not weird to have Wentz as the QB3; the Vikings learned their lesson.
The Stats from Wentz in 2025
While Wentz’s stats — a 65.1% completion rate for 1,216 yards, six touchdowns, and five interceptions — don’t scream dominance, he undeniably brought a cleaner and more consistent presence to the 2025 offense. He kept Minnesota on schedule more effectively than McCarthy, drive after drive, and that steadiness proved valuable.
Advertisement
The team’s scoring output reflects this improvement. With Wentz at quarterback, the Vikings surpassed 20 points in four of his five starts, including a 38-point rout of the Bengals. McCarthy, in contrast, only reached that mark four times in ten starts, with far more erratic performances.
Advanced metrics further support this assessment. Among 40 quarterbacks with at least 200 dropbacks, Wentz ranked 25th in EPA per play, while McCarthy lagged behind at 37th. This difference often manifests on extended drives, where patience, timing, and Wentz’s consistent completions are crucial for maintaining momentum.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz (11) scans the field and prepares to throw during second-quarter action in an international matchup, showcasing poise under pressure as the offense searched for rhythm, Oct 5, 2025, in Tottenham, United Kingdom. The Vikings battled the Browns in front of a global audience at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
Wentz prioritized quicker decisions and shorter throws, enabling the offense to function even when the offensive line struggled. McCarthy, with his greater potential for big plays and penchant for downfield throws, offered flashier highlights. However, his ball placement and consistency weren’t on par with Wentz, who provided the Vikings with a more dependable presence under center.
Perhaps a Summer Competition with McCarthy for QB2
Some even speculated that Wentz could be back in Minnesota to compete with Murray, as former Vikings linebacker Ben Leber led that charge on social media last week. While that take is rather outlandish, Wentz may do battle with McCarthy for the QB2 job. McCarthy faced virtually no training camp competition last year, and usually in sports, that’s a healthy practice.
Advertisement
The aforementioned Lewis also noted, “This spring, the Vikings were determined to prevent a repeat — at all costs. This is why they were linked to as many quarterbacks as they were before free agency, and why they brought in Wentz after already signing Murray.”
“Wentz’s addition is not a referendum on 23-year-old J.J. McCarthy’s future, according to team sources, but it is an exclamation point on the team’s plan.”
Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz (11) participates in pregame warmups while preparing for a divisional contest, moving through drills with measured focus ahead of kickoff, Nov 14, 2022, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Wentz returned to Lincoln Financial Field to face the Eagles, drawing attention before the NFC East showdown. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports.
Minnesota may rectify its ways in the summer of 2026, forcing McCarthy to earn the QB2 job if he can’t oust Murray from the QB1 hold.
But remember: Wentz as the QB3, on a $3 million deal, isn’t some big conspiracy or coup against McCarthy. It’s just how the Vikings have responded this offseason to the scarce QB depth chart last year, which ruined their season when the dust settled.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has taken a backseat in favor of Austin Reaves being the team’s second option. It has worked out well for the Lakers, as he’s thrived in his role as the third go-to guy. On Tuesday’s episode of his show with former NBA star Steve Nash, “Mind the Game,” James recalled what it was like seeing Reaves play for the first time.
Reaves signed with the Lakers ahead of the 2021-22 season after going undrafted. According to James, he watched some of the basketball highlights from when the NBA star was in college. The four-time champion said that the former Wichita State guard moved differently.
Thanks for the submission!
Advertisement
“After we signed him, I went back and watched a lot of his Wichita State highlights and games and then a lot of his Oklahoma highlights and games as well,” James said.
Advertisement
•
“The first thing I noticed, it’s kind of funny. We always talk about this. He didn’t play like a white boy. It was very different. His wiggle was very different.”
While James was just sharing his thoughts about his teammate at that time, fans had a wild reaction to it. Here are some of what the fans said about what the Lakers star said.
“Lebron being racist again. Jokic plays like a ‘White boy’ and he’s been kicking your ass for damn near a decade now,” a fan said.
@NBA__Courtside Lebron being racist again. Jokic plays like a “White boy” and he’s been kicking your ass for damn near a decade now.
Advertisement
“Jeez. Just imagine this was reversed and it was a white dude being interviewed. ‘He didn’t play like a black dude’, annnnnd cancelled. Great job on the racism,” another fan commented.
“LeBron James is a racist and hates white people….” one fan said.
Other fans came to defend James, however.
“This kinda talk is acceptable in sports but not music, just interesting seeing the difference lol,” someone commented.
@NBA__Courtside This kinda talk is acceptable in sports but not music, just interesting seeing the difference lol
“I swear! I said this off jump street on Austin reaves! That boy was nice! I was glad he fell to us out of the draft,” one fan commented.
LeBron James Could Return to the Lakers in One Condition
After the 2025-26 season, LeBron James will be a free agent. He has the freedom to join any team and play his 24th NBA season. However, his age is a significant factor in determining the type of deal he will receive over the summer. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne said that there’s a chance for the Lakers to re-sign him if he takes a pay cut.
Shelburne said that it also applies to other teams that are interested in signing him.
Advertisement
“The sense I have is that this idea of playing for $50M anywhere is probably gone, but if (LeBron) is willing to play for less, and if that fits with what (the Lakers) are trying to do, I think that door is open,” Shelburne said on ESPN’s “NBA Today.”
LeBron James’ injuries this season could have played a part. Additionally, he’ll turn 42 next season, and no one knows how long he’ll continue to play well.
Promising filly Ohope Wins echoes the prowess of her sire Ocean Park, living up to the adage about the apple staying close to the tree.
The New Zealand Oaks champion gears up for her first Australian race in the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill this Saturday, representing her seventh appearance in a preparation launched in November.
James McDonald, her jockey, revealed initial apprehension regarding the long campaign when Ohope Wins entered Chris Waller’s Sydney stable, though the three-year-old swiftly erased those concerns.
“That was probably one question mark I had on her,” McDonald said.
Advertisement
“But she’s got such a brilliant attitude. Her father was Ocean Park, and he was as tough as they come, and this filly feels exactly the same.
“She’s got a great appetite for work and just loves it.
“Her program would be just eat, sleep and work. She is very rigid like that and very measured in how she does everything. She is just a beautiful filly.”
With three triumphs from six outings, Ohope Wins remains in her maiden preparation, rested after her February 21 victory in the New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Ellerslie.
Advertisement
McDonald was impressed by her finishing efforts in a recent trial, seeing similarities with Orchestral, the 2024 Vinery Stud Stakes winner who preceded it with success in that year’s New Zealand Derby (2400m).
“She was a good filly, Orchestral, and this one feels just as good,” McDonald said.
“It will take a good filly to beat her.”
Nine runners are entered for the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m), Ohope Wins securing the outermost barrier.
Advertisement
The race acts as a key precursor to the ATC Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 11, with Ohope Wins emerging as the decisive early frontrunner.
Discover attractive racing betting markets ahead of Ohope Wins’s tilt at the Vinery Stud Stakes.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor gestures on the field following a game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium, Dec 21, 2025, in East Rutherford. Nailor reacts after the contest, showing energy as Minnesota wraps up a late-season road matchup. Mandatory Credit: Yannick Peterhans / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Jalen Nailor signed with the Las Vegas Raiders two weeks ago, but he expects big things from J.J. McCarthy, his former teammate, in the future.
Nailor’s praise for McCarthy adds context to Minnesota’s growing receiver question.
Nailor built instant rapport with McCarthy in 2025, and one could argue that he was McCarthy’s favorite target — even more so than Justin Jefferson, who is usually every Vikings quarterback’s favorite asset.
Advertisement
Nailor’s Exit Leaves McCarthy without a Familiar Target
Nailor bids farewell.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) goes through pregame practice routines, moving with focus as he prepares for kickoff at MetLife Stadium, Dec 21, 2025, in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA. McCarthy worked through drills and timing throws as Minnesota readied for a road matchup late in the regular season. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images.
Nailor on McCarthy
NFL show host Kay Adams spoke with Nailor last week, and she wasn’t afraid to pick his brain about McCarthy’s development.
Nailor said about McCarthy, “He can be the guy for sure. I just feel like it’s a matter of him just still getting those reps in games and building on what he did this past year. Just try to have a clean, healthy season. If he has a clean, healthy season, I think he’ll be fine. He has all the things.”
Advertisement
Nailor also said about a possible quarterback battle between newcomer Kyler Murray and McCarthy, “It’s going to be a battle. I can tell you that. It’s going to be a great QB battle. I don’t know who’s going to come out on top. I’m probably rocking with my guy J.J., but you never know.”
“It’s going to bring the best out of both of them. Just to have that chip on their shoulder, to go out there and perform like their lives depend on it.”
And a final note about his love for the Vikings: “It’s all love from me to the Vikings. I wish I could still be in the purple and gold, but at the end of the day, it’s business, and you’ve got to do what’s best for myself and the situation that plays its hand. So, it’s all love. I’m a Viking for life, for sure. Maybe I could come back one day.”
The Battle to Come?
Advertisement
As of now, McCarthy is considered the Vikings’ QB2 because — how can a team not start Kyler Murray, the man who averages about 4,000 passing yards, 600 rushing yards, and 30 touchdowns every 17 starts?
But Nailor seems to think McCarthy will have a puncher’s chance at winning the training camp competition, which the Vikings will probably insist is a thing by the time July rolls around. Murray was the first overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft; he has the tools to dethrone McCarthy in a battle. He’s not a failure or long shot whose career needs a total facelift. Murray just needs to stay healthy, distribute the ball, and enjoy the fruit of the Vikings’ second-ranked defense since Brian Flores rolled into town three years ago.
Nailor + McCarthy’s Chemistry
In his first 10 career starts, McCarthy heavily favored Nailor, their strong on-field connection a testament to this reliance. McCarthy’s most accurate passes often targeted Nailor, showcasing their well-developed timing.
Advertisement
This established trust is invaluable for a young quarterback transitioning to the league. With Nailor’s departure, the offense will need to adapt, and McCarthy will need to cultivate a similar rapport with another receiver.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor (83) warms up on the field, running routes and preparing for game action ahead of kickoff at Lambeau Field, Sep 29, 2024, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA. Nailor took part in pregame drills as Minnesota prepared to face the Packers in a key NFC North matchup. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images.
The Vikings must promote Tai Felton, a rookie from last year who barely played on offense, sign a free agent like DeAndre Hopkins, Stefon Diggs, Deebo Samuel, or Tyreek Hill, or spend another early draft pick on a wide receiver.
It’s the only way to fill the WR3 void.
New Pals in Las Vegas
The Raiders’ wide receiver corps is a significant weakness, arguably the worst in the league. With Nailor currently the projected top receiver, there’s little to suggest this group can be consistently productive. This lack of proven talent puts considerable pressure on a unit still defining its identity.
Advertisement
The current roster includes:
Jalen Nailor
Tre Tucker
Jack Bech
Dont’e Thornton
Shedrick Jackson
Justin Shorter
Brenden Rice
Phillips Dorsett II
This situation is further complicated by the potential selection of quarterback Fernando Mendoza from Indiana with the No. 1 pick. A rookie quarterback would desperately need reliable playmakers in such a challenging environment.
While Brock Bowers will be beneficial in the middle of the field, the Raiders’ most pressing need is a significant upgrade at wide receiver. It’s unclear if they’ll find that in the draft.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy drops back in the pocket, scanning coverage and setting his feet as protection forms during first-half action at U.S. Bank Stadium, Dec 7, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. McCarthy worked through progressions early in the game while directing Minnesota’s offense against Washington. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
So, all signs point to Nailor perhaps feasting in Sin City while his buddy either embarks on a quarterback battle or serves as the QB2 behind Murray.
Nailor averages 266 receiving yards per season, meaning the Raiders are betting on a tremendous breakout, as the speed demon has never tabulated over 450 yards in a single campaign. Maybe he’ll be Mendoza’s go-to pass-catcher like the McCarthy setup.
Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool can deliver Mohammed Salah a “perfect send off” and a Champions League winners’ medal but worries that English football may struggle to replace his star quality.
News of Salah’s exit at the end of the season broke out of the blue on Tuesday evening, signalling the end of an illustrious nine-year partnership between the Egyptian and the Anfield club.
With 255 goals in 435 appearances, the 33-year-old will depart as the club’s third highest goalscorer behind only Ian Rush and Roger Hunt.
Former Reds stalwart Carragher ranks him among the very best to have worn the shirt and tipped the possibility of a fairytale final chapter on the European stage.
“The timing of Tuesday’s announcement strikes me as both perfect and clever. Confirming his intentions now guarantees the kind of emotional, grand farewell that a player of his standing deserves,” Carragher wrote in the Daily Telegraph.
Advertisement
“While I will celebrate his career, I have no wish to be part of a grand Anfield farewell after the club’s final Premier League fixture in May. Every Liverpool fan has something far better and more dramatic in mind.
“Knowing Salah’s mindset and competitive spirit, he will be setting his sights on the greatest of all possible goodbyes a week later: inspiring his team to victory in the Champions League final in Budapest. Do not bet against the perfect send off.”
The former England defender also feels that Salah will leave a huge void well beyond Merseyside.
“Liverpool’s loss is English football’s loss. It means the Premier League will soon be deprived of another world-class, generational talent.
Advertisement
“Following Kevin De Bruyne’s exit from Manchester City just last season, Salah’s Anfield farewell brings down the curtain on another career in this country which has illuminated our stadiums. Until others step up to fill the huge void, we may risk suffering a ‘superstar famine’.”
Salah’s team-mate Andy Robertson, who signed for the club in the same transfer window in 2017, led the dressing room tributes.
Posting on Instagram, the Scotland international wrote: “Mohamed, thank you.
Advertisement
“Nine of the best years of our lives with amazing memories on and off the pitch. Watching you become the best at what you do and become one of the best to ever have worn the Liverpool shirt has been a joy to watch and be part of.
“Your mentality is second to none and a lot of people could take note. You have pushed yourself every single day and always demanded more from yourself and others. A pleasure sharing the pitch with you for so long but even more so being able to call you a friend.
“You deserve a send-off that reflects your status at LFC – the greatest. Second to none.”
The exact circumstances behind the decision have yet to be revealed, with the role of manager Arne Slot unclear, but former Liverpool player Stephen Warnock has suggested the Dutchman could find himself following Salah out of the club if results go badly in the coming weeks.
Advertisement
“Do they have a replacement now in the squad? No they don’t, absolutely not,” he told BBC Radio Five Live.
“Whether it’s Arne Slot or a new manager (who has to find one), we’ll have to wait and see. That’s another thing that’s up for debate.
“If Liverpool crash out of the Champions League to Paris St Germain in the next few weeks and they don’t win against Manchester City in the FA Cup, suddenly things look a lot bleaker.
“It won’t just be Mohamed Salah they’re looking for a replacement for, it will be the manager.”
Mar 23, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) defends San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
The San Antonio Spurs are building momentum as the season winds down, a push that is putting pressure on Western Conference leader Oklahoma City.
San Antonio defeated the Miami Heat 136-111 on Monday for its sixth consecutive victory and 10th in 11 games. The Spurs (54-18) might be able to sneak a step closer to the Thunder on Wednesday as they visit the slumping, injury-riddled Memphis Grizzlies (24-47) while Oklahoma City (57-15) travels to face Boston.
The Spurs are an NBA-best 22-2 since Feb. 1 and clinched their first playoff berth since 2019 last Thursday. They are in second place in the Western Conference and just three games back of the defending champion Thunder, who have maintained a grip on first place behind a 12-game win streak.
The combination of the Spurs’ victory over Miami and Houston’s 132-124 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Monday allowed San Antonio to clinch the Southwest Division title.
For the Spurs, 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama has re-established the franchise and lifted it back into title contention. Wembanyama had 26 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks in 26 minutes at Miami for his fourth 26-15-5 game of the season. Only one other player — injured Memphis big man Zach Edey — has posted a 26-15-5 game this season. That came in November before ankle issues sidelined him for the year.
Advertisement
Wembanyama, 22, has had 11 games this season with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds. The third-year pro averages 24.3 points, 11.2 rebounds and a league-best 3.0 blocks per game.
“He is something that we haven’t seen,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “He affects as much of the game, in every single way, on the court on both ends with or without the ball and what the other team tries to do on both sides, in my very ignorant opinion, as much as any player I’ve ever seen. He is someone who touches every bit of our program.”
Memphis dropped a 146-107 decision to the Atlanta Hawks on Monday for its third straight loss and 11th in 12 games.
Advertisement
Without rotation players Cam Spencer (low back soreness), Javon Small (low back soreness) and rookie Cedric Coward (personal reasons), the Grizzlies were not competitive in the loss. They trailed by 10 at the end of the first quarter and 71-46 at halftime. The Hawks scored 45 points in the third and built a 116-75 advantage entering the final quarter.
Memphis got 26 points from GG Jackson along with 20 points and eight rebounds from Tyler Burton off the bench. Burton was signed to a second 10-day contract earlier this week, as was DeJon Jarreau, to assist the Grizzlies in piecing together a roster to close out their injury-plagued season.
But with star guard Ja Morant likely out the rest of the season with an elbow injury he sustained in late January — he has appeared in only 20 games this season — and with surgeries ending the seasons for Edey, Scotty Pippen Jr. (toe) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (finger), the Grizzlies’ final 11 games will be challenging.
Monday night might have been a blueprint. The undersized Grizzlies were outrebounded 44-34 by the Hawks and committed 21 turnovers, 10 more than Atlanta. The Hawks made 25 of 54 3-point attempts.
Advertisement
“We had too many turnovers and we couldn’t rebound against them,” Memphis coach Tuomas Iisalo said. “And on top of that, they capitalized in transition and shot the ball very well.”
Many in the sport believe Shakur Stevenson could retire undefeated, following in the footsteps of his friend Terence Crawford. Stevenson himself is certainly convinced that will be the case.
He now holds the WBO belt at 140lbs, and has options there, up and down. Though stripped of the WBC belt at lightweight, Stevenson has not ruled out a drop back down. There are intriguing defences or unifications for him to make where he is, and it’s likely he will ultimately move up to welterweight, though he has pumped the brakes on talk of doing that too soon.
Advertisement
With names like Gervonta Davis, Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia all in the mix, the debate now centres on not who can beat Stevenson, but who can even test him.
In his mind, nobody can – and he told Cigar Talk recently that his toughest fight has already happened.
“It ain’t going to happen [somebody having a close fight against me]. The most y’all ever going to get is Zepeda – that was y’all’s best hope and chance at getting resistance.
“His style, styles make fights. The style that would give me the most resistance would be the guy who throws a million punches a round, and doesn’t stop punching.”
Despite being caught on the ropes on a couple of occasions, Stevenson still came away winning clearly on all three judges’ scorecards and, in his mind, bulletproof from any future challenge.
Auburn Tigers guard Kevin Overton (1) takes a jump shot as Auburn Tigers take on Seattle Redhawks during the second round of the National Invitation Tournament at Neville Arena in Auburn, Ala. on Sunday, March 22, 2026. Auburn Tigers lead Seattle Redhawks 42-31 at halftime.
Auburn is the last power-conference program standing in the NIT as it prepares to host Nevada in a quarterfinal game Wednesday night.
The No. 1 seed Tigers (19-16) fought off a hard charge by Seattle University Sunday night in a 91-85 victory.
The win kept coach Steven Pearl’s squad home for one final game, which will help set the semifinals on April 2 on Butler’s campus.
Kevin Overton scored 23 points, 16 in the second half, after Auburn led the visitors 42-31 at halftime.
Seattle held a 54-49 scoring edge in the second half, but the Tigers outrebounded the Redhawks 41-23 overall and made 24 free throws compared to the West Coast Conference squad’s seven.
Advertisement
Afterward, Pearl talked about his defense’s shortcomings but credited his group for putting up 91 against Seattle’s 29th-ranked scoring defense.
“Obviously, we aren’t a good defensive team,” Pearl said. “That’s something that we’ve got to improve in the offseason. We’ve just got to find ways of trying to limit teams from scoring more points. They made 16 3s. The problem is that their best shooter is the one that hit seven of them.
“Our recognition of personnel wasn’t great.”
Advertisement
Overton has averaged 22 points in the two NIT wins by sinking 11 of 22 3-point shots.
Keyshawn Hall (15 ppg), Elyjah Freeman (11.5) and Tahaad Pettiford (10) also have averaged double figures.
With the triumph, the Tigers extended the nation’s longest nonconference home winning streak to 66 games — a stretch that began Nov. 11, 2016.
Second-seeded Nevada (24-12), a 73-63 winner over Liberty in its second-round home finale, got a triple-double from Corey Camper Jr. (10 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists) as the Wolf Pack finished 17-2 at home.
Advertisement
Coach Steve Alford was pleased with the output of 6-foot-10 center Joel Armotrading, who missed 16 games in the middle of the season with a chest injury.
“I thought Joel was as good as he’s been,” Alford said after the senior produced 10 points (6-for-6 at the line), five rebounds and two blocks in 21 minutes. “We’re starting to see what it would’ve looked like if we’d have had Joel the whole year being healthy.”
Nevada features four scorers in double figures for the year: Camper (16.8 ppg), Elijah Price (12.6), Tayshawn Comer (11.3) and Vaughn Weems (10).
Tiger Woods’ return to competitive golf didn’t yield the team results he’d hoped for.
The 50-year-old looked healthy in his return to play, but the Los Angeles Golf Club beat Woods’ Jupiter Links GC 9-2 to complete a two-game sweep of the TGL Finals on Tuesday.
Woods missed a long putt on his first shot on the first hole before he just missed the green 279 yards away with a 3-wood off the deck on the par-5 second hole, leading to the opening point of the match for Jupiter.
“Welcome back, young man,” teammate Max Homa said to Woods as he exchanged fist pumps and hand claps with Homa and fellow teammate Tom Kim.
Advertisement
Woods also impressed on the par-4 sixth with a 279-yard drive down the centre of the fairway. But the 15-time major champion did look rusty at times, missing a three-and-a-half foot putt that put LAGC up 3-2.
Woods, who hasn’t played on the PGA Tour since The Open Championship in July 2024 but did play TGL in its inaugural season, was competing for the first time since he had a back surgery in October 2025.
It is unclear when or if the 15-time major winner will return to the PGA Tour. The Masters start April 9.
![Wxrdie - GET MONEY (ft. Thai VG) [prod. by Marlykid]](https://wordupnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/1774406097_hqdefault-80x80.jpg)
You must be logged in to post a comment Login