Sep 24, 2023; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders mascot Tuddy takes the field against the Buffalo Bills at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
The Washington Commanders hired Minnesota Vikings defensive passing game coordinator Daronte Jones to be their next defensive coordinator last week, and based on how the NFL usually works, a handful of purple free agents could follow Jones to the nation’s capital: Eric Wilson, Ivan Pace Jr., and Fabian Moreau.
Washington’s interest looks plausible with Jones in town, so Vikings fans should be prepared for some Commanders’ signings.
Adding those free agents certainly isn’t a foregone conclusion, but add Wilson, Pace Jr., and Moreau as possible Commanders’ free-agent signees in 4.5 weeks.
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Washington Emeres as a Real FA Threat
Free agency is just around the corner, believe it or not.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson goes through pregame warmups at SoFi Stadium, framed ahead of kickoff on Oct 23, 2025, as Minnesota prepared to face the Chargers in Inglewood. The moment captures Wilson’s routine and readiness, highlighting his return to a familiar environment while reestablishing his role within the Vikings’ defensive rotation. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Eric Wilson (LB)
Wilson will turn 32 during the 2026 regular season, and based on his 2025 performance, he may simply reunite in Minnesota. But what if the age scares away the Vikings’ brass? Wilson would need a new NFL home. Jones running the show in Washington makes sense in that example.
Minnesota signed him as depth, a rotational linebacker slotted behind Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace Jr. He entered 2025 as a backup and special teamer, barely part of the defensive conversation.
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By December, Wilson was a bona fide starter. He turned into a true disruptor, collapsing offensive lines and appearing behind the line with startling consistency. He finished the season leading all off-ball linebackers in sacks and pressures, hovering near the top of the league in forced fumbles.
The impact reshaped how the defense felt when he wasn’t on the field. At 31, Wilson authored the best season of his career, even if it arrived later than expected.
Now, free agency brings the business side again. Wilson can sign with any NFL team when that process opens on March 9th, and league expectations point toward Minnesota prioritizing a return. Given the breakout and the age curve, a deal in the $5–7 million range makes sense.
If the Commanders pay more than the Vikings, it could be a no-brainer for Wilson.
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CBS Sports‘ David Harrison on Wilson as a Commanders’ free-agent target: “Fans of the team are going to flinch at the idea of the oldest team in the NFL last year adding a 32-year-old linebacker this offseason, but not only should Eric Wilson be a priority target, but he might also be the most important addition of the year if general manager Adam Peters can bring him in.”
“Coming to Washington, Wilson would become an immediate translator between Jones and his new roster of players, and could also play a pivotal role on the defense itself were he thrust into increased action like he was in Minnesota. Even if he is in his 30s.”
Ivan Pace Jr. (LB)
Pace Jr. had a rough year. Let’s just get that out in the open.
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He began the 2025 campaign as a starter, and within six weeks, Wilson snatched his job. As mentioned above, Wilson was too good to sit on the bench. Meanwhile, the timing was flat-out terrible for Pace Jr., as he’ll hit restricted free agency in March. He was supposed to spend all of 2025 as a starter and cash in big with the Vikings or a new team.
Now, Pace Jr. will basically start from scratch, hoping to prove he has the juice of an NFL starter. Missed tackles plagued his first six games, and Minnesota evidently soured on his snap count.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. reacts following a defensive sequence at SoFi Stadium during second-half action on Oct 24, 2024, as Minnesota battled the Rams in Inglewood. The image reflects Pace’s intensity and emotional presence, underscoring his growing influence within the defense during a tightly contested road matchup. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
In Washington, the off-ball linebackers aren’t young: Frankie Luvu (29) and Bobby Wagner (35), if Wagner re-signs. Pace Jr., on the other hand, won’t turn 26 until December.
Fabian Moreau (CB)
Minnesota entered the 2025 season with concerns about cornerback depth. Isaiah Rodgers, Byron Murphy Jr., and Jeff Okudah were the only viable starters, while Dwight McGlothern and rookie Zemaiah Vaughn remained on the practice squad. Depth appeared dangerously thin, leaving little room for error.
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A bit of panic set in when Okudah suffered multiple concussions. The Vikings promoted Fabian Moreau from the practice squad, opting for him over McGlothern, and quietly filled a void that could have crippled the secondary. The results then exceeded expectations. Moreau earned a 70.9 PFF grade and allowed a 47.4 passer rating on 19 targets, providing consistent production in a role that was overlooked and deprioritized during Minnesota’s 2025 offseason.
Washington cornerback Fabian Moreau stands on the field during pregame moments at Raymond James Stadium, captured on Aug 31, 2017, as Washington prepared for action in Tampa. The image offers an early-career snapshot of Moreau, highlighting his transition into NFL game settings before settling into a rotational defensive role. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Looking forward for the Vikings, Moreau would be a sensible CB3-CB4 option for 2026, assuming interim general manager Rob Brzezinski acquires a true CB1 through free agency or the draft. While he will turn 32 this offseason, his performance suggests he has another year or two left. In effect, he gave the Vikings what they had hoped to receive from Okudah. It worked out.
Or — Moreau could follow Jones to Washington. Moreau spent his entire rookie contract in Washington, drafted in 2017 as a 3rd-Round pick by Jay Gruden’s Commanders.
India’s Jasprit Bumrah hugs teammate Sanju Samson (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has lavished praise on star pacer Jasprit Bumrah following his decisive spell in India’s thrilling semi-final victory over England cricket team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.Speaking on his YouTube channel, Pathan described Bumrah as a rare talent and said India should consider themselves fortunate to have a bowler of his calibre. The former pacer highlighted Bumrah’s complete skill set and his remarkable ability to deliver under pressure in the biggest moments.
India in T20 World Cup final: Small contributions which had HUGE impact
“I have spoken about Bumrah many times before and I will say it again. We are lucky that a bowler like Jasprit Bumrah plays for India. India has never had a bowler like him before. Perhaps the world has rarely seen a bowler like him. He has everything including yorkers, slower balls, outswing, inswing, and bouncers. He also knows very well how to bowl under pressure,” Pathan said on his YouTube channel.India had earlier piled up a massive 253/7 after being put in to bat, largely thanks to a blistering 42-ball 89 from Sanju Samson. However, England remained firmly in the chase for most of the innings, powered by a superb century from Jacob Bethell.With England still eyeing the target late in the innings, Bumrah produced a decisive moment in the 18th over. At the start of the over, England required 45 runs from the final three overs, but Bumrah conceded just six runs while delivering four pinpoint yorkers. The pressure was then amplified by Hardik Pandya, who bowled an excellent penultimate over that cost just nine runs and also accounted for Sam Curran. England eventually finished on 246/7, falling seven runs short of India’s total.Earlier in the innings, Bumrah had also delivered a tight 16th over, giving away just eight runs and further tightening India’s grip during the closing stages.Pathan felt Bumrah’s effort deserved the Player of the Match award, particularly because he bowled the toughest overs on a batting-friendly surface where runs flowed freely.“According to me, Jasprit Bumrah should have been the Player of the Match. If you watched the game, you would have noticed that every other bowler had an economy rate of around 10. Some were even above 10 or close to 15. On such a flat pitch, 500 runs were scored. The one who performs the difficult job in such conditions is the real Player of the Match. The kind of work Jasprit Bumrah does, he bowls the tough overs,” he said.Pathan also highlighted Bumrah’s tactical awareness, pointing to how the pacer outthought Harry Brook with clever variation rather than pace.“Once again, when he came to bowl, the first batter he faced was Harry Brook. He did not try to bowl fast because he has a brilliant cricketing mind. He trapped Harry Brook with a slower ball right away. Bumrah could have bowled a yorker or a bouncer on the first delivery and played on his ego thinking, ‘I am Jasprit Bumrah.’ But he does not do that. He understands the pitch, the conditions, and he reads the batter very well. He knew Harry Brook likes pace. So instead of giving him pace, he trapped him with a slower delivery, which eventually led to Axar Patel taking the catch.”India’s innings was built around Samson’s explosive knock of 89 off 42 balls, which included eight fours and seven sixes. Valuable contributions also came from Shivam Dube (43 off 25), Ishan Kishan (39 off 18), Pandya (27 off 12) and Tilak Varma (21 off seven) as India posted a formidable 253/7 in their 20 overs.England were once struggling at 95/4 before Bethell’s aggressive 105 off 48 balls, along with a 77-run stand with Will Jacks (35 off 20), brought them back into the contest. A brief four-ball blitz worth 19 runs from Jofra Archer nearly turned the match in England’s favour, but India managed to hold their nerve in the closing moments.With the win, India secured a place in the tournament final, where they will face New Zealand national cricket team at the Narendra Modi Stadium on March 8 as they aim to capture another major ICC title.
Here is an up-to-date list of all NFL Players from Susan Miller Dorsey High School in Los Angeles, California.
The list includes only those players who have played in a regular-season NFL game. Consequently, players taken in the upcoming draft will not be included until they have seen the field.
The League does not officially recognize players who appeared only in preseason exhibition games.
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Susan Miller Dorsey is a prep football powerhouse, ranked as the No. 2 pro football player-producing high school in the state.
California has produced a total of 3,331 NFL players from 793 schools, with 264 pros currently active
See where all the other schools in the Golden State rank here, with links to their respective players.
Iran Women sing Anthem after opening Match Silence
After standing in silence during their opening match against South Korea, the Iranian women’s national team sang their national anthem before kick-off against Australia at the Asian Cup.
The team did not explain the gesture publicly, though it was widely interpreted as either mourning or a quiet response to the tensions in the Middle East.
Iran striker Sara Didar became emotional when speaking before the game, saying the team’s thoughts remain with family members back home amid the ongoing conflict in the region.
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Despite the shift in pre-match gestures, the result on the pitch proved equally difficult for Iran. Australia secured a 4–0 victory on the Gold Coast.
Head coach Marziyeh Jafari said the team is trying to remain focused on the competition despite the situation unfolding in their home country.
Iran arrived in Australia before the recent military strikes and has avoided public comment on the conflict. The team is scheduled to play all its group matches on the Gold Coast.
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After two defeats in Group A, Iran now faces a crucial final group match against the Philippines. The team will need a victory to keep hopes alive of reaching the quarterfinals and maintaining a pathway toward qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 in Brazil.
Bob Harlan, the former Green Bay Packers president and CEO who served the franchise in various capacities since 1971, died Thursday following an illness, according to the Packers. He was 89.
Harlan, who was elected as president and CEO in 1989, oversaw a revival of the most historic franchise in the NFL. The Packers registered 13 straight seasons of .500 or better from 1992-2004, and captured a Lombardi Trophy in 1997 by defeating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI, 35-21.
“The Packers family was saddened to learn of the passing of Bob Harlan,” Packers president and CEO Ed Policy said in a statement. “Bob was a visionary leader whose impact on the franchise was transformational. From his inspired hiring of Ron Wolf to turn around the club’s on-field fortunes to his tireless work to redevelop Lambeau Field, Bob restored the Packers to competitive excellence during his tenure and helped ensure our unique and treasured flagship NFL franchise was on sound footing for sustained generational success.
“We send our deepest sympathies to his wife, Madeline, and the entire Harlan family.”
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Harlan’s hiring of general manager Ron Wolf in 1991 was critical, as he also hired Mike Holmgren as head coach, traded for quarterback Brett Favre, and signed the legendary Reggie White in free agency. Green Bay immediately snapped a streak of two losing seasons, made the playoffs for the first time in a decade in 1993, and appeared in the NFC Championship game the very next year. Following that loss to the Dallas Cowboys, the Packers went 13-3 in 1996 and won the Super Bowl.
“Bob Harlan’s leadership of the Green Bay Packers was outstanding,” Favre said of Harlan in a statement. “Hiring Ron Wolf and supporting the trade that brought me to Green Bay changed my career. The organization believed in me and gave me the opportunity.
“He was so supportive of me during the challenges I faced in my career. Challenges my family faced, too. He was always there offering his support. He was a great and kind man.
“I appreciated the way he represented the Packers and connected so well with Packers fans. I also truly enjoyed his sense of humor and cherished the moments we shared over the years.
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“I know winning the Super Bowl and bringing the Lombardi Trophy back to Green Bay was a proud moment for him, what the team accomplished. It was incredible to be a part of the resurgence of this great franchise and Bob set the tone with his leadership.”
When Wolf stepped down in 2001, the Packers gave coach Mike Sherman managerial duties for four seasons before bringing former director of player personnel Ted Thompson back to Green Bay. Thompson’s first selection came at No. 24 overall in the 2005 NFL Draft, a pick he used on a quarterback by the name of Aaron Rodgers. Green Bay would go on to win its fourth Super Bowl (XLV) in 2011, making Harlan the only executive in NFL history to hire two different general managers that won Super Bowls with entirely different rosters, per ESPN.
Harlan did a lot more than just field a successful football team. Back in 2000, he helped produce and fought for a $295 million redevelopment plan of Lambeau Field. His successor, Mark Murphy, said Harlan was the “Most responsible for Lambeau Field becoming the most iconic stadium in the NFL.”
Harlan was elected to the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.
The battle for the fifth seed in the Western Conference is on when the Los Angeles Lakers face the Denver Nuggets in NBA action on Thursday. Los Angeles is coming off a 110-101 win at home against New Orleans on Tuesday, while Denver won a 128-125 decision at Utah on Monday. The Lakers (37-24), who have won three in a row, are 19-12 on the road this season. The Nuggets (34-24), who have dropped two of three games, are 16-12 on their home floor. The Lakers come into this pivotal matchup healthy. The Nuggets have ruled out Aaron Gordon (hamstring), Peyton Watson (hamstring) and Spencer Jones (shoulder). Cameron Johnson (ankle) is listed as questionable.
Tipoff from Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., is set for 10 p.m. ET. With a little over five weeks left in the regular season, the Lakers are a half-game behind the Nuggets in the standings and just 1 1/2 games out of the third seed. The Lakers are 5-0 ATS in their last five road games against the Nuggets. The Nuggets are 4.5-point favorites in the latest Lakers vs. Nuggets odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 240.5. Before making any Nuggets vs. Lakers picks, check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past eight-plus seasons. The model entered Week 20 on a sizzling 41-18 roll on top-rated NBA spread picks dating back to last season. Anyone following its NBA betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.
After 10,000 simulations of Lakers vs. Nuggets, SportsLine’s model is going Under on the total (240.5). The banged-up Nuggets will be missing three players while the Lakers are at full strength. The total has gone Under in four of the Lakers’ last six games when playing as the underdog.
Both teams have all the motivation tonight, the fifth seed in the Western Conference is on the line, with the fourth seed in sight. The total has also gone under in four of the Nuggets’ last five games at home. The model projects 239 combined points as the Under hits well over 50% of the time.
Former IndyCar driver Danica Patrick didn’t feature on Sky Sports F1’s broadcast team list for the 2026 season, leading to reports of her parting ways with the broadcaster. As the 43-year-old took to Instagram and broke the silence on her departure from Sky Sports, F1 commentator David Croft reacted to it.
After concluding her motorsport career in 2018 with the Daytona 500 and Indy 500 being her last races in NASCAR and IndyCar, respectively, Patrick joined NBC’s Indy 500 broadcast team. Just a couple of years later, she got her F1 broadcast gig with Sky Sports F1’s team for the 2021 US GP.
Since then, Danica Patrick featured on Sky’s F1 team for multiple races, but mostly for the races in America, i.e., the US GP, Las Vegas GP, and Miami GP. The 43-year-old is a well-recognized figure in the US, becoming the first female to win an IndyCar race and leading laps at the Daytona 500.
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Ahead of the 2026 season, Sky Sports F1 released the list of their team, and Patrick’s name was off it. The former IndyCar driver took to Instagram and confirmed that she parted ways with the broadcaster as it was time for her to “move on.”
Danica Patrick uploaded images from her first F1 gig with Sky Sports at the 2021 US GP, with a caption that read,
“From my first @skysportsf1 race in Austin to my last 5 years later… I had such a blast! The sky team was so much fun (thank you all), I saw so many amazing new race tracks and cities, and got to be part of a huge boom in F1!”
“I called after the last race in 2025 and said it was time for me to move on and I was so grateful for the opportunity and experience I was given! ….and now due to my deep exposure to F1, I will be glued to my tv for the season starting this weekend, like every other fan,” she added
David Croft, better known as Crofty, who’s been serving as the lead commentator for Sky Sports’ F1 broadcast since 2012, reacted to Danica Patrick’s post about parting ways with the British media group as he liked the post.
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Image credits: Instagram/@danicapatrick
Danica Patrick’s professional career timeline: IndyCar, NASCAR, broadcasting gigs, and now politics
Danica Patrick raced in the Formula Ford championship, where she met Bobby Rahal, who was then a Team Principal at Jaguar F1. Once she returned to the US, Rahal gave Danica her big IndyCar break for Rahal Letterman Racing (now Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing).
F1 Grand Prix of United States – Practice & Sprint Qualifying – Source: Getty
After only a couple of years racing for Bobby Rahal, she made the move to Michael Andretti’s team, where she raced for the next five seasons, and won her only IndyCar race, i.e., the 2008 Indy Japan 300.
She joined NASCAR in 2012 and primarily raced for Stewart-Haas Racing, taking the pole position at the 2013 Daytona 500. However, her stint in NASCAR wasn’t as successful as her IndyCar stint, and she retired at the end of the 2018 season.
Danica Patrick then took up broadcasting gigs, featuring on NBC’s Indy 500 broadcast, Sky Sports F1’s broadcast team, and most recently FOX’s broadcast team for the 109th running of the Indy 500.
The 43-year-old also supported Donald Trump during the 2024 US Presidential elections and even spoke on behalf of the President. She became a speaker at Turning Point USA and supports Trump via posts on her social media accounts.
Danica Patrick also has a podcast named “Pretty Intense” as well as a Napa Valley vineyard named Somnium.
PHOENIX — Collin Sexton scored 30 points and the Chicago Bulls held off the Phoenix Suns 105-103 on Thursday night for their second victory in three games following an 11-game losing streak.
Down 12 with under six minutes left, Phoenix pulled to 104-103 on Devin Booker’s 3-pointer with 23 seconds left.
Jalen Green had a chance to give the Suns’ their first lead, but missed a running layup, with Phoenix’s Amir Coffey fouling Nick Richards with 4.1 seconds to go. Richards made the first free throw and missed the second, with a scramble for the rebound running out the clock.
Tre Jones added 21 points and Guerschon Yabusele had 16 for Chicago in the opener of a five-game trip. The Bulls were without Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey after they injured ankles in a home loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday night.
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Booker led Phoenix with 27 points in his second game after missing four because of a right hip injury. Grayson Allen added 21 points. Green had 12 points on 5-of-20 shooting. He was 1 of 8 from 3-point range.
SAN ANTONIO — Victor Wembanyama had 38 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks and San Antonio never trailed in completing a sweep of Detroit.
De’Aaron Fox had 29 points, and Stephon Castle added 11 points and 12 assists in San Antonio’s first game at home after a nearly a month-long trip.
Cade Cunningham had 26 points and Isaiah Stewart added 18 points in Detroit’s second straight loss. The Pistons, who closed their trip 1-2, remained atop the Eastern Conference at 45-16.
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A potential NBA Finals matchup resulted in another double-digit victory for the red-hot Spurs.
San Antonio has won 13 of 14 games, including a 114-103 victory over the Pistons on Feb. 23 in Detroit, and remain second in the West at 45-17.
The Spurs rolled to a 10-2 lead in their first game in San Antonio since Feb. 7. The lead expanded to 17 points in the opening quarter as the Spurs shot 54% on 3-pointers.
Detroit lost Ausur Thompson two minutes into the game when he sprained his right ankle.
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San Antonio was 13 for 37 on 3-pointers in shooting 35%.
WASHINGTON — Ace Bailey crashed Trae Young’s Washington debut, scoring 21 of his career-high 32 points in the first half to lift Utah to a victory.
Young, who was traded from Atlanta to Washington in January, had 12 points and six assists while playing just 19 minutes. He’d been sidelined by knee and quadriceps injuries and was on a minutes restriction.
Juju Reese had 18 points and 20 rebounds for the Wizards, who have lost seven straight. Utah snapped a seven-game skid of its own.
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Bailey, who was taken by the Jazz with the fifth pick in last year’s draft — one spot ahead of where Washington picked — made seven 3-pointers while surpassing his previous high of 25 points.
Although Young’s appearance in the starting lineup was welcomed by the home crowd, the Wizards trailed by 14 after one quarter. Washington’s Tre Johnson missed a breakaway dunk in the second, and although Young provided his share of highlights — including a pass between the legs of a defender to set up Anthony Gill’s layup in the third — Washington couldn’t come all the way back.
MIAMI — Tyler Herro scored 25 points, Bam Adebayo added 21 and Miami beat Brooklyn, sending the Nets to their 10th consecutive loss.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 18 for the Heat (34-29), who have won six of eight and moved five games over .500 for the first time since the first week of December. Pelle Larsson and Kel’el Ware each had 16 points for Miami — with Ware adding 11 rebounds and seven blocked shots.
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The Heat also improved to 15-5 on March 5 — or “305 Day,” as it is called in Miami, a nod to the city’s primary area code. No active NBA franchise has a better record on that date.
Michael Porter Jr. scored 27 points for Brooklyn, which also lost at Miami on Tuesday. Noah Clowney scored 17, Nic Claxton had 16 and Ziaire Williams finished with 15 for the Nets. Brooklyn briefly led in the third quarter, but gave up 66 points in the second half.
Miami had a 54-34 edge in bench scoring and shot 53%.
ORLANDO, Fla. — Wendell Carter Jr. made a go-ahead dunk with 1.4 seconds left, and Orlando beat Dallas to spoil Cooper Flagg’s return from injury.
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Flagg’s three-point play with 37.3 seconds left gave Dallas a four-point lead, but Orlando scored the last five points. Jalen Suggs hit a 3-pointer with 32.2 seconds left, and after Flagg missed a jumper, Suggs fed Carter in the paint for the decisive slam.
Tristan da Silva led the Magic with 19 points. Suggs finished with 17 points and seven assists, Paolo Banchero had 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Carter scored 15.
Flagg scored 18 points on 7-of-22 shooting in 26 minutes. The top pick in the NBA draft and the league’s highest-scoring rookie, he had missed the previous eight games with a sprained left foot.
Klay Thompson scored 24 points for the Mavericks, coming off the bench to make seven 3-pointers. Khris Middleton scored 10 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter, but the Mavericks lost for the 15th time in 17 games.
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WARRIORS 115, ROCKETS 113, OT
HOUSTON — Brandon Podziemski had 26 points, De’Anthony Melton added 23 and short-handed Golden State outlasted Houston in overtime.
The Warriors were up three with about 30 seconds left in overtime when Kevin Durant was fouled on a 3-point attempt and made the first two before a miss. Golden State got the rebound and Melton made a tip-in layup with 5.3 seconds left to push the lead to 115-112.
Durant made 1 of 2 free throws after and a foul by the Rockets allowed Golden State to hold on for the win.
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Al Horford added 17 points for the Warriors as Stephen Curry sat out for a 12th consecutive game with a knee injury. The Warriors have said that he’s expected to be re-evaluated around Tuesday.
Reed Sheppard led Houston with 30 points, including six 3-pointers, and Durant added 23.
It was tied with less than three minutes left in overtime before Podziemski made a 3-pointer followed by a driving layup to give Golden State a 111-106 lead about a minute later.
Amen Thompson made the first of two free throws before rebounding the miss on the second. Durant hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 1. Horford made a basket for Golden State to make it 113-110.
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TIMBERWOLVES 115, RAPTORS 107
MINNEAPOLIS — Anthony Edwards scored 22 points, including an impressive two-handed slam over RJ Barrett, and Minnesota beat Toronto for its fifth straight victory.
In the third quarter, Edwards used a crossover dribble to get free in the lane, elevated well above the rim and slammed it home, flexing and yelling at Barrett afterward. Barrett gave Edwards a little bump as they ran back up the court.
Coming off a 41-point performance in Minnesota’s 117-110 win over Memphis on Tuesday night, Edwards had an efficient night, shooting 8 of 12 from the field and 5 of 8 from 3-point range.
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With Houston falling to Golden State in overtime, the Timberwolves (40-23) moved one game ahead of the Rockets for third place in the Western Conference.
Rudy Gobert had 18 points and 12 rebounds, Julius Randle scored 17 and Donte DiVincenzo had 16 points for the Wolves.
Barrett led the Raptors with 25 points and Immanuel Quickley added 18. Toronto has lost four of five but remains fifth in the East.
DENVER — LeBron James broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record for career field goals in Los Angeles’ loss to Denver, with the Nuggets getting 28 points each from All-Stars Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic.
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James injured his left elbow on a layup that pulled Los Angeles to 110-106 with four minutes to go and left the game. He returned with 2:05 left and the Lakers trailing by a point. The Lakers, however, never were able to take the lead as the Nuggets finished off a crucial wire-to-wire win.
James finished with 16 points to go with Luca Doncic’s 27.
Jokic had his 23rd triple-double of the season with 28 points, 12 rebounds and 13 assists to offset nine turnovers and help the Nuggets (39-24) stay a step ahead of the streaking Lakers (37-25) in the logjammed Western Conference.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Zion Williamson had 23 points on 10-for-14 shooting, Trey Murphy III added 21 points and New Orelans beat NBA-worst Sacramento.
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Saddiq Bey shot 6 for 11 (3 for 5 from 3-point range) and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line for 20 points for the Pelicans, who had lost two in a row after a four-game win streak.
Williamson added nine rebounds and five assists.
Precious Achiuwa had 29 points and 12 rebounds and Russell Westbrook had 19 points and 10 assists for the Kings, who fell to 14-50 overall and lost their ninth in a row at home. They have lost three in a row and are 2-4 following a franchise-worst 16-game losing streak.
The Pelicans entered halftime up 67-61. The Pelicans took a 14-point lead in the third quarter thanks to a 15-0 scoring run.
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The Pelicans made 12 3-pointers compared to the Kings eight.
With 20 games remaining and three quarters of the marathon NBA season behind them, we can pretty conclusively conclude the Toronto Raptors are… kind of okay!
Heading into Thursday night’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Raptors could proudly point to their seventh-ranked defence as a clear indication of the pride, competitiveness and connectedness they play with most nights.
They also arrived in Minnesota tied for the seventh-most road wins and the fourth-best road winning percentage, which are normally a reliable sign of team quality. The teams with better road winning percentages than the Raptors were Oklahoma City, San Antonio and Detroit — the teams with the three best overall records in the league — so that tracks.
Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram were deserving all-stars, and Barnes should be in the mix for first-team all-defence.
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But it’s becoming more and more clear that it’s not good enough. And neither are the Raptors.
The horse is dead at this point.
As fun and welcome and refreshing as this Raptors season has been compared to the last three seasons before — the frustrating, underachieving 41-41 year in 2022-23, 25 wins in 2023-23 as the rebuild began, the 30 wins last season as the Raptors tried to tank rather unsuccessfully (though there are worse consolation prizes than Collin Murray-Boyles at No. 9) — it’s looking more and more like Toronto could be simply taking the long way around to the same destination.
The middle of NBA nowhere.
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With just under four minutes left against the Timberwolves, Darko Rajakovic emptied his bench, pulling his starters. It was an unusual move for the feisty Serbian head coach, given his team was down by 16. The Raptors’ odds of mounting a comeback weren’t great, but they weren’t zero. Hey, the Raptors gave up a 16-2 run to the New York Knicks in the final five minutes on Tuesday night, didn’t they?
But perhaps Rajakovic has seen this movie enough that he knew how it was going to end, so why bother having Scottie Barnes sprain an ankle or Brandon Ingram buckle a knee trying to beat a good team when the Raptors have shown over and over again they don’t have the horses for it?
The final result was a 115-107 loss to Minnesota.
It dropped the Raptors’ overall record to 35-27 and their record against the NBA’s top 10 teams to dispiriting 4-17, with just one of those wins coming since Nov. 24th.
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It’s hard to pinpoint one thing that continues going wrong, other than the Raptors are one of the worst fourth-quarter offences in the NBA (26th, ahead of another overachiever, and tanking Brooklyn and Sacramento).
This latest loss was over before the fourth quarter, though.
It was a game with several momentum shifts. The Raptors led Minnesota by 12 midway through the first quarter, and after Minnesota stormed back with a 24-8 run to lead 31-27 after 12 minutes, Toronto used an 18-4 run to go back up by eight midway through the second. It was a one-possession game halfway through the third quarter.
And the Raptors were playing to win. For the second game in a row, Rajakovic stuck with a playoff-like eight-man rotation, save for a three-minute first-half cameo from Jonathan Mogbo, who — with Collin Murray-Boyles out with his thumb injured — provided some minutes as a small-ball five.
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Any hopes of developing a deep rotation that Rajakovic trusts in key games seem to have vaporized, which is not a good sign for a relatively young team that believes it is still rebuilding.
In the second half, after a poor stint compounded an already poor outing from Jamal Shead (two points, one assist and three turnovers on 1-of-7 shooting had him at minus-19 in his 17 minutes), Rajakovic played without a point guard when starter Immanuel Quickley (18 points, seven assists on 6-of-10 shooting in 30 minutes) needed a breather rather than donate more minutes to Shead.
But trying hard can only take you so far in the NBA. Talent and team cohesion under pressure are tough to overcome, and the Timberwolves — like all the NBA’s better teams — have more of each than the Raptors do.
Anthony Edwards alone is an element the Raptors don’t have — an apex wing that can take over games at will. He scored 11 of his 22 points — and an epic dunk over Barrett — in the third quarter.
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That’s when the game turned. Minnesota mounted an 11-0 run in the space of just under three minutes, where a sloppy Raptors foul, a Timberwolves offensive rebound and a pair of regrettable turnovers by Shead yielded a pair of open threes and a pair of transition buckets for Minnesota that put them up by 16.
It stayed mostly in double figures after that, but even when the Raptors showed some signs of life with a pair of threes from Barrett in the fourth quarter that cut the Minnesota lead to 10 with 4:40 to play, the Raptors handed the momentum right back as first Dante DiVincenzo and then Edwards shook loose from the Raptors’ pick-and-roll coverage for open looks from deep in the space of 30 seconds.
That’s when Rajakovic waved the towel and emptied his bench.
And here’s the thing: for most of the season, the Raptors struggles against the NBA’s best didn’t hurt them. They have been able to dominate the league’s middle and lower classes enough that they’ve been in the hunt for homecourt advantage in the first-round of the playoffs all season. But that margin is slipping.
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The Raptors remain in fifth place in the East, but they are now just one game ahead of sixth-place Philadelphia and 1.5 games up on Orlando and Miami, which are in seventh and eighth place, respectively. Ninth-place Charlotte is 3.5 games behind Toronto, but the Hornets are 16-3 since Jan. 22 and have morphed into an offensive juggernaut that seems to keep rolling downhill.
For the Raptors, even standing still looks like it’s going to keep getting harder.
The Raptors should catch a breather against Dallas (21-41) at home on Sunday, though rookie sensation Cooper Flagg is back after an extended injury, so no guarantees.
If there is some good news, it’s that the Raptors only have four more games against teams that are among the NBA’s top 10. They have eight more against teams in the bottom 10. Chances are, their playoff hopes will hinge on holding their own against the eight games they have against teams that are in the mushy middle, just like them.
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1. The ninth man: I spoke with Jamison Battle about playing back in Minneapolis for just the second time in his professional career and the first time since Oct. 26 of last season, which was just Battle’s third career game, and he was excited about it. He was up on some of the changes that the new ownership group, which includes MLB Hall-of-Famer Alex Rodriguez, have made: installing theatre stall lighting at Targe Centre, like they have at Madison Square Garden in New York, for example, or bringing back the ‘Black Tree’ classic jerseys that the Kevin Garnett-era Timberwolves made famous in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
He said that his only goal in playing at home was to: “Just to stay present, be in the moment and don’t try to do too much because you’re playing at home and just play within the flow of the game.” But last season, Battle played 18 minutes for a Raptors team missing a pair of starters due to injuries. This time around? Even though Battle has seemingly moved in front of Gradey Dick in the rotation, playing ahead of him the past three games, the Raptors’ ninth rotation spot is seemingly a treadmill to nowhere. Battle didn’t touch the floor until the fourth quarter, when — with his team down 14 — Rajakovic played him for the first six minutes of the period. Battle had a couple of rebounds but didn’t get a field goal attempt up until he hit a floater when Rajakovic subbed him back in after he pulled his starters.
2. The 15th man: Interestingly, the Raptors — I’m told — are exploring options to fill out the back end of their roster. One of the benefits of trading Ochai Agbaji and acquiring Trayce Jackson-Davis was that it opened up enough room under the luxury tax to add another player. Or at least they will after March 15, when enough days will have run off the NBA calendar that the Raptors will be able to sign someone to a minimum contract prorated over the rest of the season. My understanding is that their first preference is to sign a backcourt player with some NBA experience, although failing that, they could convert one of the players they have on two-way contracts — AJ Lawson, Alijah Martin or Chucky Hepburn — to a standard NBA deal.
3. But who?: That’s the question. I spoke about this on the pre-game show, and it’s pretty slim pickings, but a few names that make some sense include Lonzo Ball, who struggled with Cleveland this season after a nice comeback with Chicago last year following two years away due to knee issues that nearly cost him his career. I spoke with a couple of sources who indicated he’s healthy, but after shooting 42.3 per cent from three in 2021-22, before his injury troubles, he’s shot just 31.3 per cent since. He’s a disruptive defender and smart passer, and at six-foot-five, he has some size that the Raptors don’t have much of at guard right now.
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There’s also Cole Anthony — waived recently by Milwaukee and Phoenix — who could be available. He was a productive third guard for the Magic over the past few seasons and has some paint-punching abilities that could help the Raptors in some situations, as well as two years of playoff experience. I don’t know if Georges Niang — who has missed the entire season with a foot injury — would be healthy or fit enough in the time frame the Raptors are looking at, but adding a career 40 per cent three-point shooter might be nice. One player I know the Raptors have kept tabs on is Lester Quinones, a six-foot-five combo guard who played two seasons with Golden State and had brief stints last season with Philadelphia and New Orleans. The 25-year-old is averaging 22.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists and shooting 40.5 per cent from three for the Osceola Magic.
Russell Wilson and Sean Payton spent just one NFL season together, but tension lingered after a rocky year.
And it appears the tension that built up from that tumultuous stretch continues to linger.
Wilson’s interview on the “Bussin’ With the Boys” podcast, recorded before last month’s Super Bowl between Seattle and New England, recently resurfaced.
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In the interview, Wilson doubled down on his October comment labeling Payton “classless,” saying he felt slighted by his former coach’s remarks.
Head coach Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos talks to quarterback Russell Wilson on the sideline during an NFL preseason football game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium Aug. 11, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz.(Ryan Kang/Getty Images)
“[When] you’ve been on the same side or this and that, and I got the same amount of rings as you got, meaning Sean, right?” said Wilson, who won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks as Payton did coaching for the New Orleans Saints.
“I got a lot of respect for him as a play-caller, this and that, but to take a shot, I don’t like. I don’t think it’s necessary, you know, I mean, especially when I’m not even on your own team anymore. So, for me, there’s a point in time where you have to, I’ve realized, I’ve stayed quiet for so long. There’s a there’s a time and place where I’m not.
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“I know who I am as a competitor, as a warrior, as a champion, too, and, you know, I’ve beaten Sean, too. You know, like we’ve been on the same place and the same thing. And so, it’s not a matter of disrespect. Just don’t disrespect me.”
Sean Payton and Russell Wilson of the Denver Broncos during an a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Empower Field at Mile High Nov. 19, 2023, in Denver, Colo.(Ryan Kang/Getty Images)
After a rocky one-year stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024, Wilson joined the New York Giants last offseason. However, he was relegated to a backup role after just three games.
Rookie Jaxson Dart quickly showed promise once he had the chance to start, but his season was briefly derailed by injury. Jameis Winston — not Wilson — stepped in for Dart in a handful of games. Dart threw three touchdowns in a Week 7 matchup with the Broncos, nearly pulling off an upset in what was eventually a close loss.
After the game, Payton said Dart provided a “spark” to the Giants’ offense.
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“I was talking to [Giants owner] John Mara not too long ago, and I said, ‘We were hoping that that change would have happened long after our game,’” Payton said.
The New York Giants’ Russell Wilson attempts to escape a sack by Dallas Cowboys defensive end James Houston (53) in the first half of a game Sept. 14, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Payton also said the Broncos would have faced less of a challenge had Wilson been under center.
“Classless … but not surprised,” Wilson responded in a social media post. “Didn’t realize you’re still bounty hunting 15+ years later though the media.”
Despite last season’s struggles and chatter about his football future, Wilson does not appear ready to call it quits in 2026.
“I wanna play a few more years for sure,” he said. “I think, for me, I’ve always had the vision of getting to 40, at least. I think the game is different. Quarterbacks, we get hit. It’s not, you know, we get hit hard, but … there’s certain rules. I mean, back in the day when I started, bro, it was you just get [clobbered].
“I mean, so I feel like the game allows you to, you know, live a little longer, I guess. I feel healthy. I feel great. But I think, more than anything else is, do you love the game? Do you love studying? Do you love the passion for it all? Do you love the process? Do you love the practice? Do you love — everybody loves the winning part of it, but it’s process. There’s a journey that you got to be obsessed with. And that part I’m obsessed with.”
