By Aidin Ebrahimi, SuperWest Sports
Sports
Liverpool, the curse of the seven right-backs, and what is says about their season
Trent Alexander-Arnold had always looked irreplaceable. The remarkable passing range and pinpoint crossing that made him unique meant no successor would ever be a duplicate. But if Jeremie Frimpong has proved Anfield’s answer to the Real Madrid Alexander-Arnold, it has been in an unwanted respect. Frimpong’s injury-interrupted time at Liverpool mirrors Alexander-Arnold’s stop-start beginning to life at the Bernabeu.
The Netherlands international is poised to return against West Ham on Saturday. A man who barely missed a game for Bayer Leverkusen has had three hamstring injuries in England. Proof the physicality of the league can be tough to adjust to, Arne Slot has often said.
And for the first time in a month, Liverpool will be able to call upon a right-back who actually is a right-back; apart, anyway, from Calvin Ramsay, granted one start in the Carabao Cup, one minute in the FA Cup and neither in the Premier League.
This has been the season of seven right-backs for Liverpool and, of the seven, Ramsay has played least. It could have been eight, had they got their way at the end of the winter window, when they tried to sign Lutsharel Geertruida on loan. The Dutchman has something in common with Alexander-Arnold having each played right-back for Slot in a title-winning campaign; one for Feyenoord, the other for Liverpool.
Of the Liverpool septet – at times, more makeshift than magnificent seven – one is a centre-back by trade, in Joe Gomez, and three are midfielders, in Wataru Endo, Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai. It has felt Liverpool’s cursed position: Conor Bradley missed the start of the season and will miss the rest of it, after undergoing knee surgery. Endo will sit out much of the rest of it with a foot problem which he incurred playing right-back; and probably only doing so because Szoboszlai was suspended following a sending off operating there. Gomez’s appearances have been rationed for fear he would get injured again. He, too, has had three spells on the sidelines this season.
There is a case – though the evidence is limited by his bit-part role – that Gomez is Liverpool’s best defensive right-back; they have three clean sheets in the six games he has started there. Frimpong may be the best attacking one: indeed, he was initially not trusted to operate in the back four by Slot, who sometimes instead selected him as a winger, but he brought dynamism around the turn of the year.
Bradley may be the best all-round right-back. Szoboszlai, indisputably, is the best all-round footballer, with his issues perhaps occurring due to an unfamiliarity with the position. The other problem is that he can be a first-choice in multiple positions at the same time: Slot started to turn the tide after Liverpool’s awful start at Nottingham Forest on Sunday by moving Szoboszlai into midfield and swapping Jones to right-back.
It probably wasn’t a scenario Slot envisaged last summer. Replacing Alexander-Arnold has come with more difficulties than expected. “Only because of the reason you said,” replied Slot, referencing injuries. He is happy with the two specialists, the homegrown and the purchased.
“We believe, I truly believe, in these two as quality players,” he added. “They are young and need time to develop. Jeremie is a bit older but comes from a different league so he always needed time to adapt. Conor is a young player who only played 30 games in the Premier League before the start of this season but we all saw his potential and still see his potential so if both of them would have been fit, I think we would have had and still have two great replacements for Trent.”
At Anfield, Alexander-Arnold was one of the world’s best, in his inimitable way. Slot feels the Northern Irishman and the Dutchman have the ability to be in that bracket.
“Trent ended at a level at this club – he probably didn’t start at that level – that is so high, they are not easy shoes to fill,” Slot continued. “But we believe and I still believe in the fact that these two can grow to a similar level; different qualities but to a similar level that Trent was when he left. the biggest thing is that both of them haven’t been available and that has been the biggest struggle to replace Trent.”
The struggle, in part, has been the constant instability, or the fact it keeps taking Szoboszlai out of the midfield. Liverpool lack a regular right-back but they have had some outstanding displays there: most recently Jones against Brighton in the FA Cup, perhaps most memorably Bradley’s annual tour de force against Real Madrid.
Szoboszlai was superb away at Newcastle, at home to Arsenal and, despite his eventual dismissal, against Manchester City. He may be more relieved than most to see Frimpong fit again. In November, Slot said he didn’t expect that in February or March Szoboszlai would play every game as a winger or a full-back. On the last day of the month, Liverpool finally have a right-back available again. For now, anyway.
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We’re now done with the wild and exciting 2026 NBA trade deadline and are getting closer and closer to the playoffs.
And there were some pretty significant trade moves.
The Warriors finally traded Jonathan Kuminga for Kristaps Porziņģis. Anthony Davis was shockingly traded for the second year in a row.
He will now be a part of an exciting duo with Trae Young, which looks set to take off next year, and Chris Paul was finally traded and announced his retirement.
But we’ve heard enough about those guys. How are the league’s former players from schools in the West doing?
As always, I’m back with my monthly SuperWest report, covering the top veterans, rookies, and everyone else in between.
Here are my selections and summaries for February.
LA’s Big Moves
James Harden (Cleveland Cavaliers, Arizona State)
The Los Angeles Clippers had a nightmare 6-21 start to the 2025-26 season.
And their unusually disrespectful treatment of the retiring franchise legend Chris Paul turned them into one of the NBA’s biggest laughingstocks.
However, they went on a huge run and were near a .500 record before deciding to make moves for their future at the trade deadline.
They traded away James Harden to the Cavaliers for Darius Garland and a second-round pick, while also trading Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown to the Pacers for Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks, and a second-round pick.
Considering the Clippers had pretty much no draft capital before these moves (thanks to the Paul George and James Harden trades), they did a solid job acquiring some assets while still staying competitive as a play-in team.
Meanwhile, the Cavs have gone all-in and feel like adding Harden can help them make it out of the East. “The Beard” is playing some of the most efficient basketball of his career right now.
In his first seven games as a Cavalier, he has gone 6-1 while putting up 18.9 points and 8.0 assists per game with a true shooting percentage of 65.9, by far the highest mark of his career since his final season in Oklahoma City as a 22-year-old.
Harden is only taking 12.4 shots per game, which is once again lower than any of his seasons since his 2011-12 season in OKC.
His three-point efficiency has skyrocketed, as he’s currently shooting 48.8% from deep in Cleveland, up 12.5% from his career average.
Unfortunately, he did pick up a right thumb injury, which won’t keep him out for long due to Harden being left-handed, though it’s still something to look out for.
With Donovan Mitchell as the team’s undisputed top option, Harden won’t have to carry a massive offensive load anymore, which can help him play efficient basketball and fight his playoff demons as he searches for his first championship.
Harden’s role in Cleveland is that of a floor general, and he has already helped his teammates reach a new level.
“Bringing James on has given us a renewed confidence,” said Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson. “I felt like we were kind of missing that edge, that belief. I feel like we’re regaining that. A lot of it has to do with who we added in the trade.”
Bennedict Mathurin (Los Angeles Clippers, Arizona)
Darius Garland still hasn’t made his debut for the Clippers, but he hopes to make a similar impact as Bennedict Mathurin when he does.
Mathurin started the year off as the Pacers’ “tank commander”, but that role quickly faded away as the team began to wonder about his long-term fit once Tyrese Haliburton returns in 2026-27.
A thumb injury that caused him to miss 11 games didn’t help either, and the Pacers eventually decided to move on from Mathurin instead of discussing a contract extension in the offseason.
The talented scorer has found new life in LA, as he has put up 28.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in his last three games while shooting 48.1% from the field.
While they’re no longer contenders, with Mathurin, Garland, and the ageless wonder that is Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers will still be competitive and can cause serious problems for contenders in the postseason.
Rookie Report
Egor Dёmin (Brooklyn Nets, BYU)
After a very successful stretch of play in January, Egor Dёmin capped the month off with a then-career high performance against the Utah Jazz.
He scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while making six of his 12 three-pointers. That was his 34th consecutive game with a three-pointer, which set a rookie record.
“There’s a reason why we drafted him,” Nets HC Jordi Fernández said. “We believed that [his] shooting was NBA shooting and he’s proven it from the beginning.”
Dёmin’s record-breaking streak ended in the following game, as he went 0-4 from deep against the first-seeded Pistons.
However, he bounced back quickly, as he set a new career-high with a 26-point performance against the Magic just two days later.
With Cam Thomas’ departure, the Nets have handed the keys to their franchise to Dёmin, and everyone in the organization is intrigued by his potential.
“You see the confidence growing on him,” Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe said. “Who knows what Egor can be in the next couple of years?”
Lawson Lovering (Memphis Grizzlies, Colorado/Utah)
It’s always nice to see someone finally achieve their lifelong dream.
Lawson Lovering, a 7’0 center who played college basketball for the Colorado Buffaloes and the Utah Utes, went undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft, but that didn’t stop him from chasing his dream of playing in the NBA.
Lovering played for the Grizzlies in the Summer League and was signed to their G-League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle. After a few months with the Hustle, Lovering was finally called up by the injury-riddled Grizzlies.
On February 11, Lovering became just the second player from Wyoming to play in an NBA game since the NBA-ABA merger.
In their next game, Lovering was named a starter and put up a double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing 11 rebounds to help the Grizzlies beat the Jazz.
Lovering has returned to the Hustle since then, but it’s not far-fetched to assume he’ll get more NBA opportunities this season.
Playing for a Winner
Nikola Vučević (Boston Celtics, USC)
Nikola Vučević has quietly carved out a nice career for himself. He passed the 17,250-point mark this year, which now means he’s officially a top-100 scorer in NBA history.
He will surpass $200 million in career earnings this season, has made two All-Star teams, and is third on the Magic’s all-time scoring list.
However, Vučević has never played for a true contender, as he has never won a playoff series that he actually played in (he did not play in Philadelphia’s infamous upset series victory over Chicago in 2012).
That could all change this year, as his new team, the Boston Celtics, are currently on a roll in a relatively weak Eastern Conference.
Vučević hasn’t been asked to do much in Boston, averaging just 24.0 minutes per night while the team has gone 5-2 in the seven games since his arrival.
Top Veterans
Dillon Brooks (Phoenix Suns, Oregon)
Dillon Brooks broke his hand in the Suns’ double overtime win over the Magic on February 21 and 
could miss time until April, which is a shame since he was playing some of the best basketball of his life.
In the 10 games before his injury, Brooks averaged 25.0 points per contest while shooting 46.0% from the field. This stretch included a career night against the Pistons, as he scored 40 points to help the Suns to an upset win.
The Suns have been one of the biggest surprises of this season, but they need Brooks to return as soon as possible if they want to stay alive in the West’s playoff race.
Jrue Holiday (Portland Trail Blazers, UCLA)
Irue Holiday is aging like a fine wine. The former all-star is one of my favorite players of all time, 
and he’s currently helping a young Trail Blazers squad fight for a playoff spot.
Some feared that his game would drop off following a 27-game absence due to a calf injury, but the 35-year-old is still putting up great numbers.
Over his last eight games, Holiday has averaged 19.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game while shooting 51.4% from the floor and 44.9% from deep.
His true shooting percentage of 64.8 ranks third amongst all players with at least 100 shots during that span, which has helped the Blazers to a 5-3 record.
Aidin Ebrahimi covers the NBA for SuperWest Sports.
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Day 3 of the Free Fire Max India Cup (FFMIC) 2026 Spring Group Stage Week 1 will take place on February 28, with teams from Group C set to face off in six matches. Those from Groups A and B have already finished all six of their matches over the past two days.
Week 1 of the Group Stage features 48 teams, divided into four groups of 12 each. The top nine from each group will advance to Week 2, while the remaining squads will be eliminated from the competition.
The top 38 teams from the FFC Mode and four squads from the City Qualifiers earned their spots in the Group Stage. An additional six received direct entry based on their performances in the previous edition of the tournament.
Participating teams on Day 3 of FFMIC 2026 Spring Group Stage Week 1
Here are the teams playing on Day 3 of FFMIC 2026 Spring Group Stage Week 1:
- Gods Reign Pros
- Team Hind
- EC Esports
- Mjxownlegacy
- Reganverse
- R2V X Singh Gaming
- NG Silver Eagle
- NXT Esports
- RNX Esports
- Zutsu Esports
- K9 Esports
- Meta Ninza
Gods Reign acquired the NG Pros roster ahead of FFMIC 2026. The squad, which finished third in the previous edition of the tournament, boasts experienced players such as Badal, Manu, Anubhav, Struggle, and Cropse.
Team Hind has also impressed with outstanding performances in the past. A strong run in FFMIC 2025 earned the team a direct spot in the Group Stage.
K9 Esports is a new entrant in Free Fire Max esports. The team delivered excellent performances in the FFC Mode, earning a place in the Group Stage.
Meta Ninza emerged victorious in the Ahmedabad City Qualifier on February 8, claiming the only spot available for the Group Stage via the event.
How to watch
Teams from Group C will compete in six matches across six maps. Fans can watch all the action live on the official YouTube channel of Free Fire Max India Esports from 5:30 pm onwards.
Check out the latest Free Fire MAX redeem codes here.
Edited by Rachel Syiemlieh
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Former women’s soccer player Megan Rapinoe weighed in on the debate over Eileen Gu’s decision to represent China despite growing up in the U.S.
Gu, an American-born athlete competing for Team China in freeskiing, became one of the most controversial topics of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics while becoming the most accomplished women’s freeskier in history.
Controversy erupted after The Wall Street Journal reported that Gu and another American-born athlete who now competes for China, were paid a combined $6.6 million by the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau in 2025.
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Megan Rapinoe warms up before the NWSL championship semifinal game against the San Diego Wave FC at Snapdragon Stadium Nov. 5, 2023. (Ray Acevedo/USA Today Sports)
Gu is the highest-paid Winter Olympics athlete in the world, making an estimated $23 million in 2025 alone due to partnerships with Chinese companies, including the Bank of China and western companies.
Rapinoe considers Gu’s choice to compete for China an “excellent business decision.”
“Excellent business decision on her part, I just have to say it,” Rapinoe said on her podcast with co-host and spouse Sue Bird. “No shame in that game.”
Rapinoe and Bird went on to comment on a viral interaction between Gu and a reporter who asked the skier if she considered her two silver Olympic medals lost opportunities at winning gold. Gu suggested the reporter’s question came from a ridiculous perspective after laughing at him.
“That might be the best answer I’ve ever heard to a question like that,” Bird said. “Perfect response.
Silver medalist Eileen Gu of China poses for photos after the award ceremony for the freestyle skiing women’s freeski big air event at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Livigno, Italy, Feb. 16, 2026. (Wang Peng/Xinhua via Getty Images)
“I love what she said. … She done bopped that man, so hard.”
Rapinoe and Bird agreed Gu’s approach is “a great way to be raised.”
Gu has become a target for global criticism this Olympics for her decision to represent China while remaining silent on the country’s alleged human rights abuses.
In an interview with Time magazine, Gu was asked her thoughts on China’s alleged persecution of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslim minorities in Xinjiang.
“I haven’t done the research. I don’t think it’s my business. I’m not going to make big claims on my social media,” Gu answered.
“I’m just more of a skeptic when it comes to data in general. … So, it’s not like I can read an article and be like, ‘Oh, well, this must be the truth.’ I need to have a ton of evidence. I need to maybe go to the place, maybe talk to 10 primary source people who are in a location and have experienced life there.
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Eileen Gu of China reacts after her first jump in the women’s freestyle skiing big air qualification during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Livigno Snow Park Feb. 14, 2026. (Joe Camporeale/Imagn Images)
“Then I need to go see images. I need to listen to recordings. I need to think about how history affects it. Then I need to read books on how politics affects it. This is a lifelong search. It’s irresponsible to ask me to be the mouthpiece for any agenda.”
Rapinoe and Bird are self-proclaimed champions for equality and social justice. They did not mention Gu’s silence on China’s human rights abuses during Thursday’s podcast episode.
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The 2026 NFL Combine is in full swing, and the Minnesota Vikings’ rumor mill has not hit the pause button. In about one week, free agents will begin signing with new teams, meaning no rest for rumors.
Three separate storylines are converging: cap decisions, interior D-line reshuffling, and a familiar coaching name resurfacing.
This week’s batch examines a trade, a possible new interior defensive lineman, and Mike Zimmer popping back up out of retirement.
The Cap Crunch Fueling Hargrave, Franklin-Myers, and Zimmer Chatter
The Purple Rumor Mill for February 28th.
Rumor: The Vikings are looking to trade DT Javon Hargrave.
Minnesota has its first tangible trade rumor of the offseason.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz tweeted Tuesday, “Sources: The Vikings have had trade talks with teams regarding 2x Pro Bowl DT Javon Hargrave. Hargrave started 15 games last year and had 3.5 sacks in his first season with Minnesota.”
NFL writer Logan Ulrich weighed in, too: “A trade would be a preferable outcome for Minnesota if they can find a partner, as $3 million of his salary this upcoming year is guaranteed. Hargrave was still productive as a contributor, just not as much as the Vikings hoped.”
“Hargrave was scheduled to make base salaries of $19.9 million and $21.65 million in the final two years of that deal when San Francisco reworked his contract. The team later released him with a post-June 1 designation ahead of the 2025 season.”
The 33-year-old has been mentioned as a cut or trade candidate for weeks. It looks like one of those outcomes is inevitable.
Rumor: Minnesota could target DT John Franklin-Myers in free agency.
Replying to fans’ queries from a mailbag segment, The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis named Franklin-Myers this week as a Vikings free-agent candidate.
He set the stage for Vikings free agency: “The next phase in answering the question is mostly a conversation of positional priorities. Quarterback takes precedence. Because safeties and centers play essential communication roles, veterans could be the answer at these positions, too. Running back and defensive line would likely be next in line.”
“So, it’s worth looking at potential signings through that prism. Take on a boatload of cap space at quarterback, and the Vikings would need some savvy signings elsewhere. Pay minimally at QB, and the Vikings could try to go big on a defensive lineman, like Denver Broncos defensive tackle John Franklin-Myers (whom The Athletic’s Daniel Popper projected could make around $54 million over three seasons).”
Minnesota also might require free-agent help in the defensive secondary, so the Franklin-Myers raised some eyebrows.
Lewis added, “As difficult as it may be to see, there is a path for the Vikings to extend money into the future and invest aggressively over the next two years. This would make for a flurry of activity over the next few weeks.”
Here’s Franklin-Myers’s resume from Pro Football Focus:
2018: 65.1
2019: DNP
2020: 71.5
2021: 80.3
2022: 82.6
2023: 70.4
2024: 78.3
2025: 61.9
In theory, Franklin-Myers could replace the aforementioned Hargrave.
Spotrac projects John Franklin-Myers’ next contract at roughly $7.9 million annually, a manageable figure. However, he’ll turn 30 in September, and with the Vikings’ recent emphasis on acquiring veteran defensive tackles, the front office might prioritize a younger prospect this time.
The upcoming draft presents several promising options. Caleb Banks (Florida), Kayden McDonald (Ohio State), and Peter Woods (Clemson) are among the top interior defensive line prospects expected to be available in April and offer long-term potential.
In 2025, the Vikings aggressively pursued defensive line talent, with Kwesi Adofo-Mensah adding Hargrave and Jonathan Allen to fortify the interior. While serviceable, their impact was ultimately underwhelming. Much of the focus then centered on Jalen Redmond, who emerged as a consistently reliable player, perhaps ranking second only to Justin Jefferson in overall impact on the 2025 team.
Rumor: Mike Zimmer may join the Denver Broncos’ coaching staff.
Zimmer retired around this time last year. Now, he’s contemplating a comeback.
NBC Sports’ Josh Alper reported Tuesday, “Sean Payton and Mike Zimmer were colleagues on the Cowboys’ coaching staff more than 20 years ago and they could work together again in Denver. Mike Klis of KUSA reports that the Broncos recently met with Zimmer about a senior coaching assistant position on Payton’s staff. There’s no imminent announcement of an agreement, but there is reportedly mutual interest in making something happen.”
“Zimmer was the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator when Payton was their assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach from 2003-2005. Payton moved on to become the Saints’ head coach in 2006 and Zimmer would become the Vikings’ head coach in 2014 after stints in Atlanta and Cincinnati.”
This would be cinema for Vikings fans: Zimmer teaming up with Payton, who remains hated in the Twin Cities. Public Enemy No. 1.
BBC Sport speaks to UFC fighters, including Britain’s Tom Aspinall, as they give their thoughts on the proposed UFC event at the White House on US President Donald Trump’s birthday.
DETROIT — Jalen Duren had 33 points and 16 rebounds and the Detroit Pistons outlasted the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers 122-119 on Friday night in a game that was delayed for 18 minutes in the third quarter because of a blaring horn.
During a timeout with Detroit up 65-64, a power surge caused the overhead scoreboard to malfunction, with the horn remaining on after signaling the teams to return to the floor. Eventually, the scoreboard was shut down to stop the horn and a manual airhorn was used when play resumed.
Cade Cunningham had 25 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for East-leading Detroit before fouling out.
Cleveland — which will host Detroit on Tuesday night — led by nine points with 2:44 left in regulation, and Cunningham fouled out with 1:56 to play, but the Pistons outscored the Cavaliers 16-7 to force overtime.
With Cleveland up 114-111 with 4.7 seconds left in regulation, Jaylon Tyson tried to intentionally foul Daniss Jenkins near halfcourt, but Jenkins was able to shoot and draw three free throws that he made.
In overtime, Cleveland’s Evan Mobley missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
BOSTON — Jaylen Brown had 28 points, nine assists and seven rebounds and Boston rolled past Brooklyn.
Nikola Vucevic finished with 28 points and 11 rebounds for his third double-double since joining the Celtics. Payton Pritchard added 22 points for Boston, which has won five of six since returning from the All-Star break.
The Celtics shot a season-high 66.7% from the field and connected on 22 3-pointers. They also got 77 points from their bench.
Michael Porter Jr. finished with 18 points for Brooklyn, which has lost seven straight games.
The Celtics took control in the third quarter, outscoring the Nets 43-26. Brooklyn managed only seven points over the final 6:23 of the period.
Boston shot 15 of 19 from the field with 12 assists in the pivotal quarter and connected 5 of 7 attempts from the 3-point line
Boston’s lead grew to as many as 41 points in the fourth.
MILWAUKEE — Jalen Brunson scored 27 points and OG Anunoby added 24 as New York routed Milwaukee.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 17 points and 13 rebounds, Landry Shamet added 15 points, Josh Hart finished with 12 and Mikal Bridges and Mohamed Diawara each had 10 for the Knicks, who shot 21 for 42 from 3-point distance.
Myles Turner had 18 of his 19 points in the first half, Kyle Kuzma scored 17, Bobby Portis 14 and Ryan Rollins 13 to pace the Bucks. Milwaukee had won eight of 10 coming in and was playing its fifth game in eight days, including four in a row at home. Kevin Porter Jr. chipped 11 points and 10 assists.
The Bucks entered the game as one of the hottest offensive team in the league, but it was the Knicks who controlled play early.
New York jumped out to a 38-30 lead after one quarter fueled by 22 points from Brunson, the most by a New York player in any quarter this season. Brunson made 9 of 10 shots, including all three 3-pointers he attempted.
GRIZZLIES 124, MAVERICKS 105
DALLAS — Cam Spencer scored 25 points off the bench and Olivier-Maxence Prosper had 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead Memphis to a victory over Dallas.
Scotty Pippen Jr. added 15 points and Jaylen Wells and GG Jackson each had 12 to help Memphis snap a three-game skid.
The Grizzlies, who had lost seven of their previous eight, led the entire game and won despite being short-handed with star guard Ja Morant out for a 16th consecutive game with an injured left elbow, and Zach Edey (ankle) and Cedric Coward (knee) also sidelined.
Taj Gibson, signed by Memphis on Thursday to help deal with the absences, wasn’t active.
Brandon Williams scored 16 points and had eight rebounds to lead the Mavericks, who have lost seven straight at home. Daniel Gafford added 14 points, Dwight Powell had 13 points and 11 rebounds and Max Christie also scored 13 points.
Rookie Cooper Flagg missed his sixth straight game with a sprained foot.
OKLAHOMA CITY — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 36 points in his return after missing nine games with an abdominal strain and Oklahoma City defeated Denver in overtime in a testy matchup that featured multiple technical fouls and an ejection.
Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, didn’t play in overtime, but the Thunder still pulled through in the extra period.
Denver’s Nikola Jokic, who got into an altercation with Oklahoma City’s Lu Dort in the fourth quarter, had 23 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists. Dort was ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul.
Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, listed as questionable with an illness before the game, led the Nuggets with 39 points.
Gilgeous-Alexander started and drew loud applause when his name was announced in pregame introductions. His first basket came on a driving layup two minutes into the game.
The teams are very familiar with each other — the Thunder defeated the Nuggets 4-3 in the Western Conference semifinals last year. The Thunder won the first two meetings this season and they play twice more.
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Men’s college basketball conference tournaments 2026: Schedule, brackets, automatic-bid tracker
The first conference tournament bracket for the 2025-26 season is set. The Sun Belt Tournament begins Tuesday with a pair of first-round matchups between teams that will be looking to extend their seasons for another day.
Entering Friday, the final day of the regular season, seven different teams were mathematically alive for at least a share of the SBC championship. Troy captured the Sun Belt title after defeating UL Monroe to earn the No. 1 seed in next week’s tournament. Marshall earned the No. 2 seed and the bye into , and despite losing to Georgia Southern. There was a six-way tie (with 11-7 conference records) for second place in the conference standings.
Because of the Sun Belt’s tournament format which places the top two seeds in the conference’s semifinals, Troy and Marshall will need to win just one game next weekend (March 8) to advance to the Sun Belt Tournament championship game. The tournament gets started Tuesday in Pensacola, Florida, when No. 14 seed UL Monroe will face No. 11 seed Old Dominion before No. 13 seed Georgia State meets No. 12 seed Louisiana.
The Horizon League will get college basketball’s postseason underway on Monday with a first-round game between No. 10 seed Cleveland State and No. 11 seed IU Indianapolis.
While the Horizon League will be the first league to get its tournament underway, other leagues will be in action later in the week. Among the leagues that will have first-round games on Wednesday are the ASUN, Big South, Northeast, Ohio Valley and the Summit League and we are just days away from the rest of the conferences to get underway.
When conference tournament results roll in, we’ll be keeping track of them here as teams begin to claim automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament.
2025-26 conference tournaments
| Conference | Location | Dates | Championship (TV) / Champion |
|---|---|---|---|
| America East | Campus sites | March 7, 10, 14 | March 14, 11 a.m. ESPN2 |
| American | Birmingham, Ala. | March 11-15 | March 15, 3:15 p.m. ESPN |
| Atlantic 10 | Pittsburgh, Pa. | March 11-15 | March 15, 1 p.m. CBS |
| ACC | Charlotte, N.C. | March 10-14 | March 14, 8:30 p.m. ESPN |
| ASUN | Jacksonville, Fla. | March 4,6-8 | March 8, 2 p.m. ESPN2 |
| Big 12 | Kansas City, Mo. | March 10-14 | March 14, 6 p.m. ESPN |
| Big East | New York City | March 11-14 | March 14, 6:30 p.m. Fox |
| Big Sky | Boise, Idaho | March 7-11 | March 11, 11:30 p.m. ESPN2 |
| Big South | Johnson City, Tenn. | March 4, 6-8 | March 8, 12 p.m. ESPN2 |
| Big Ten | Chicago | March 10-15 | March 15, 3:30 p.m. CBS |
| Big West | Henderson, Nev. | March 11-14 | March 14, 10 p.m. ESPN2 |
| CAA | Washington, D.C. | March 6-10 | March 10, 7 p.m. CBS Sports Network |
| Conference USA | Huntsville, Ala. | March 10-14 | March 14, 8:30 p.m. CBS Sports Network |
| Horizon League | Indianapolis | March 2,4,8-10 | March 10, 7 p.m. ESPN |
| Ivy League | Ithaca, N.Y. | March 14-15 | March 15, 12 p.m. ESPN2 |
| MAAC | Atlantic City, N.J. | March 5-10 | March 10, 9 p.m. ESPN2 |
| MAC | Cleveland | March 12-14 | March 14, 8 p.m. ESPN2 |
| MEAC | Norfolk, Va. | March 11-14 | March 14, 1 p.m. ESPN2 |
| Missouri Valley | St. Louis | March 5-8 | March 8, 12 p.m. CBS |
| Mountain West | Las Vegas | March 11-14 | March 14, 6 p.m. CBS |
| Northeast | Campus sites | March 4,7,10 | March 10, 7 p.m. ESPN2 |
| Ohio Valley | Evansville, Ind. | March 4-7 | March 7, 8 p.m. ESPN2 |
| Patriot League | Higher seed hosts | March 3,5,8,11 | March 11, 7 p.m. CBS Sports Network |
| SEC | Nashville, Tenn. | March 11-15 | March 15, 1 p.m. ESPN |
| SoCon | Asheville, N.C. | March 6-9 | March 9, 7 p.m. ESPN |
| Southland | Lake Charles, La. | March 8-11 | March 11, 5 p.m. ESPN2 |
| SWAC | Atlanta | March 9-14 | March 14, 7:30 p.m. ESPNU |
| Summit League | Sioux Falls, S.D. | March 4-8 | March 8, 9 p.m. CBS Sports Network |
| Sun Belt | Pensacola, Fla. | March 3-9 | March 9, 6 p.m. ESPN2 |
| West Coast | Las Vegas | March 5-10 | March 10, 9 p.m. ESPN |
| WAC | Las Vegas | March 11-14 | March 14, 12 a.m. ESPN2 |
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Chris Kreider beat Connor Hellebuyck off a rebound at 4:47 of overtime to give the Anaheim Ducks a 5-4 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Friday night.
Beckett Sennecke kept the puck and shot on a two-on-one break, with Kreider backhanding the loose puck in at the side of the net.
After Leo Carlsson, Pavel Mintyukov and Ryan Poehling scored third-period goals to give Anaheim a 4-3 lead, Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor tied it with 1:22 left and Hellebuyck off for an extra attacker.
Hellebuyck made 35 saves in his first game since backstopping the United States to Olympic gold.
Jacob Trouba also scored for Anaheim, Sennecke had three assists and Lukas Dostal made 29 saves. The Ducks have won seven in a row at home and 11 of 13 overall.
Anaheim won two nights after returning from the break to beat Edmonton at home for coach Joel Quenneville’s 1,000th NHL victory. The Ducks have five games left on a nine-game homestand.
Winnipeg rookie defenseman Elias Salomonsson had his first NHL goal and Alex Iafallo and Gabriel Vilardi also scored. Well back in the race for a playoff spot, Winnipeg has a game left on three-game trip before an eight-game homestand.
Jets: At San Jose on Sunday.
Ducks: Host Calgary on Sunday.
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LaTroy Lewis’ time as a member of the Atlanta Falcons coaching staff lasted less than a month. The team dismissed him Friday after sexual assault allegations surfaced.
The allegations are tied to a December 2024 hotel incident during Lewis’ time with the Michigan football coaching staff. The Falcons released a statement Friday saying the organization was aware of the claims made against the team’s former assistant defensive line coach.
“We are aware of allegations regarding LaTroy Lewis,” the Falcons said. “We are in the process of gathering information and will have no further comment at this time.”
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LaTroy Lewis of the Tennessee Volunteers watches from the sideline during a game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium Nov. 29, 2014, in Nashville, Tenn. (Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
In a statement obtained by ESPN, Michigan spokesperson Paul Corliss called the allegations “deeply concerning.”
Attorney Fabiola A. Galguera said Lewis “intends to fiercely fight these false allegations with the support of his wife, family and my team.”
Fox News Digital was unable to reach Lewis for comment.
Lewis served as a graduate assistant at Michigan in 2022 and was promoted to assistant defensive line coach for the next two seasons.
“The Ann Arbor Police Department was just recently made aware of allegations regarding a sexual assault reported to have occurred on December 5, 2024. The suspect in this investigation is LaTroy Lewis,” Ann Arbor Police spokesperson Chris Page said in a statement sent to Fox News Digital.
An Atlanta Falcons helmet on the field before a game between the Falcons and the Carolina Panthers Dec. 8, 2019, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. (David John Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“The AAPD Detective Bureau launched an immediate investigation into the incident. This investigation remains active and ongoing.”
Karen Truszkowski, the attorney for the woman accusing Lewis of sexual assault, said her client filed an incident report with Ann Arbor police and requested a protective order against Lewis.
The woman and Lewis connected on a dating app in July 2024, and she claims his behavior became aggressive via text message and phone calls, according to Truszkowski. They met for the first time at an Ann Arbor hotel in December 2024, when she told police Lewis raped her, according to Truszkowski.
The Milford Police Department in Michigan responded the next month to a 911 call from the woman’s neighbors, who heard raised voices, according to Truszkowski. The attorney said her client and Lewis told the police that their argument was not physical.
Truszkowski said her client told Milford police that Lewis was an assistant defensive line coach at Michigan, saying she didn’t want to talk about it. She was hesitant to tell the police at the time that Lewis had physically abused her, according to Truszkowski.
FILE – This is a 2019 photo of LaTroy Lewis of the Tennessee Titans NFL football team. This image reflects the Tennessee Titans active roster as of May 23, 2019 when this image was taken. (AP Photo, file)
Fox News Digital submitted a request to the Ann Arbor Police to obtain the police report and protection order tied to the allegations against Lewis.
Lewis coached under former Michigan coaches Sherrone Moore and Jim Harbaugh. Moore was fired in December after allegedly having an inappropriate relationship with a staff member and being charged with three crimes, including felony home invasion and stalking.
The woman who accused Lewis reportedly shared details of the incident with Moore, according to her attorney. However, Truszkowski said Moore ultimately chose not to report Lewis and instead sent her client lewd, sexually explicit text messages.
Moore’s attorney denied the claims.
“Sherrone Moore did not fail to report misconduct, did not reward wrongdoing and did not harass anyone,” Moore’s lawyer, Ellen K. Michaels, said in a statement to ESPN. “These claims are false.”
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“As we have noted, the university launched an investigation of the circumstances and conduct leading to Sherrone Moore’s firing as well as a broader culture review of the athletic department,” Corliss said in a statement.
“We continue to urge anyone with relevant information to reach out to the law firm conducting the investigation.
Lewis played linebacker at Tennessee before signing with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2017 and appearing in the preseason. He later spent time with the Texans and Titans and coached at Toledo last season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown has been rumored to be on the trade block for the past few weeks. However, NFL insider Peter Schrager provided an update on his situation.
During an appearance on the “Pat McAfee” show on Friday, Schrager shut down these rumors involving the trade of Brown. He said that the Eagles are not looking to part ways with the wide receiver. However, he also expects GM Howie Roseman to keep his ears open for the offers they get for him.
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“At the trade deadline, Howie Roseman told everyone, ‘No, we’re not trading A.J. Brown.’” Schrager said. “And then, you got to this media availability. What he said was, of couse, I always listen. Like I said, A.J. Brown’s Twitter handle is always open. Howie Roseman is always listening.
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“But I will also add this, he is not on the block by any means. They are not proactively trading A.J. Brown. They are not shopping Brown. But he (Roseman) will always have his phone line open. The issue is for the Eagles, if they trade him before June 1st, it cost them $40 million dollars in dead cap money. They trade him after June 1st, it gets a lot less financially prohibitive.”
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The Tennessee Titans traded Brown to the Eagles back in 2022. He initially agreed to a four-year deal worth $100 million. In April 2024, they offered him a three-year extension worth $96 million.
Last season, the Super Bowl LIX champion recorded 1,003 yards on 78 receptions and seven touchdowns. However, Brown also made headlines because of a rumored rift in his relationship with quarterback Jalen Hurts. This triggered the rumor mill to churn about him potentiall parting ways with the Eagles.
NFL analyst discusses the reason why the Eagles are not trading A.J. Brown
On Friday, analyst Louis Riddick discussed a potential reason as to why the Eagles are not trading A.J. Brown. According to him, it is because other teams are not willing to offer them the trade value that they’re asking for.
“Look, they just need to. It just seems like they need to go their separate ways here,” Riddick said on ‘Get Up.’ “Look, there’s just too much smoke around this situation all the time. You have to make tough decision, this is one of those situations where I feel like that’s where it basically needs to go.
“I may be wrong, he maybe be on a football team in 2026, they may sau, ‘Look, we’re not going to get a fair value for this young man on the trade market, so we’re just going to keep him here regardless of how it looks from the outside.”
In seven seasons in the NFL, Brown has recorded 8,029 yards and 56 touchdowns receiving.
Edited by Priyam Hazarika
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