The NBA is a fickle league. It wasn’t so long ago that it seemed as though the sky was falling for the New York Knicks. In a three-week stretch between New Year’s Eve and an embarrassing home loss to the lowly Mavericks on Jan. 19, the Knicks went 2-9 with the 28th-ranked defense in the NBA. There were a few scattered injuries in there — Josh Hart missed seven of those games, Mitchell Robinson missed three — but it was a mostly self-inflicted funk. After a strong start to the season that culminated in an NBA Cup-clinching victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Las Vegas, the Knicks fell into old habits, got sloppy defensively, and nearly triggered a panic.
They’ve been the NBA’s best defense since. By a mile, in fact. The 3.3 points per 100 possession gap between them and the No. 2 Spurs in that window is bigger than the gap between the Spurs and No. 9 Rockets. Sunday gave the Knicks a shot at yet another marquee win over the Spurs, who, this time, entered their matchup with New York riding an 11-game winning streak. New York delivered its best defensive performance of the season en route to a 114-89 win.
The Knicks allowed just 89 points against a Spurs team with its entire roster available. It was the first time the Spurs were held below 90 points all season, and it made plenty of sense as you watched it. Few teams have both a high-end wing and a high-end big to throw at Victor Wembanyama, but between OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson, the Knicks could present him two completely different sets of problems. Jose Alvarado can exhaust opposing guards on the ball so Mikal Bridges can force turnovers off of it. Between their energetic guards, long wings and giant rebounders, the Knicks have always had the tools to at least defend adequately. Over the past six weeks or so, though, they’ve started putting it all together.
There was some shooting variance baked into this performance, of course. San Antonio made just nine of its 34 3-point attempts, and the Knicks have benefitted from great 3-point luck throughout this defensive renaissance, as opponents have made a league-low 32.6% of their 3-pointers during this 14-4 stretch. But virtually every element of New York’s defense was on point just as it has been for the past six weeks or so.
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The Knicks gave up just 38 points in the paint in Sunday’s win. Only Boston has allowed fewer than New York in this stretch. They forced 22 turnovers on a Spurs team with the fifth-lowest turnover rate in the NBA. Sure enough, the Knicks are generating an extra turnover or so per game since their turnaround. The Knicks forced the seventh-fewest mid-range shot attempts in the NBA over the season’s first three months. They’ve forced the third most ever since, and they forced the Spurs into plenty on Sunday. Meanwhile, they’ve drastically cut down on the number of 3-pointers they allow, as they gave up the fifth-most in the league through our Jan. 19 cutoff while getting back to league average ever since. They’re even fouling less.
There haven’t been drastic roster or health changes in this window. Getting Jose Alvarado helped, of course, but they haven’t had Deuce McBride, who’s not expected back until around the beginning of the playoffs. The growth here has been internal, a team executing its vision and playing aggressive, connected basketball.
“We had five guys on a string,” head coach Mike Brown told reporters after Sunday’s victory.
That’s been a problem for the Knicks for some time. The locker room was reportedly frustrated last season over some of the freelancing Karl-Anthony Towns is known for when things are going poorly. When the Knicks last played the Spurs, Brown even criticized the team for not sustaining defensive effort across the full game. On Sunday, they were ferocious.
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The Knicks probably aren’t going to be the best defense in the NBA when the postseason arrives. The shooting numbers will flatten out, if nothing else. The defensive limitations of building a team around a too-small point guard (Jalen Brunson) and an inconsistent center (Towns) have been talked to death. But the goal here doesn’t need to be dominance. The Knicks have the NBA’s third-ranked offense. That’s where they’re built to win.
The defense just needs to do its part, and it’s more than done so over the past month and change. No offense is good enough to make up for the way the Knicks defended in early January. But when they’re locked in and executing, they have the size, the depth and the know-how to compete with the best teams in the NBA.
Turki Alalshikh has promised to explore a potential mega fight for David Benavidez, who must first take care of business against Gilberto Ramirez on May 2.
The pair will collide for Ramirez’s WBO and WBA cruiserweight titles, headlining a Premier Boxing Champions pay-per-view card at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas.
For Benavidez, this represents an opportunity to become a three-division world champion, with the 29-year-old having already claimed notable victories at super-middle and light-heavyweight.
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His legacy at 168lbs, however, was slightly diminished by an elusive showdown with Canelo Alvarez, who he chased for the best part of 18 months while holding the WBC ‘interim’ title.
During this time, Canelo had made a sizable impression as the undisputed super-middleweight champion, but was widely accused of ducking his then-mandatory challenger, Benavidez, while defending his titles against lesser opposition.
Should the Mexican emerge victorious, then Benavidez would seemingly still be eager to face him, even after moving all the way up to 200lbs.
In a video recently posted by Pedigree Boxing, the WBC light-heavyweight champion reminded Alalshikh of a previous conversation regarding his desire to face Canelo.
“Remember you told me you were going to give me Canelo?”
In response, the boxing powerbroker admitted that such a fight seems unlikely, but nonetheless promised to speak with the man himself.
“Let me tell you something: there is something we can do and there is something we cannot do. Of course I want to see this fight, but maybe when [Canelo’s] 40 [years old].
“We will talk with him.”
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While the Canelo dream has not quite deserted him, Benavidez must ultimately remain focused on his cruiserweight title challenge against Ramirez.
The jump-out might have been low-key, but Chris Waller was pleased with Wodeton beating Newmarket Handicap foes around Flemington.
Stablemates Wodeton and Angel Capital, both set for Saturday’s Group 1 1200m feature at Flemington, went through their paces Friday morning, Wodeton holding a slim advantage at the finish line.
Trials victories are rare for Waller, though he sees this as a vital psychological edge for Wodeton in pursuit of a career-defining Group 1 score.
“I don’t like winning jump-outs, but he needs a bit of confidence.,” Waller said.
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“He’s just been running into a couple that are better in races that haven’t been run to suit, but it was a good confidence booster.
“He’s a colt bred to be a stallion, but he’s run second, narrowly, in the Golden Slipper and ran second in the Golden Rose and he just needs to tick that Group 1 box.
“Down the straight also opens up options of going overseas if you manage to win the Newmarket.”
Wodeton, by deceased sire Wootton Bassett, stands as a prospective heir if Group 1 glory comes his way.
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Waller expects the colt to transition to stud post-season.
“He’s a son of Wootton Bassett and we’ve lost him unfortunately and it’s important he steps up and that’s the challenge,” Waller said.
“Heading overseas is part of that challenge, especially if he’s going to be retired at the end of his three-year-old year.
“We all love winning races in Australia, but if you can do that and then head over to Ascot, it makes the big difference.”
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Angel Capital also hunts his initial Group 1 success.
Positioned last and tightly held, Angel Capital differed markedly from Wodeton’s effort.
“We just wanted him to get a good look at the track, have a nice easy time and keep him well contained,” Waller said.
“His first-up run in Sydney was very good and he’s come through it well and hopefully the straight 1200 metres will really suit him.
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“Being a Group 1 race, it will tick the box that needs to be ticked.
“Everyone knows he has the ability, but he’s got to win that Group 1 race, and it also opens up so many options if he’s performing well up the straight.”
For their next outing, Waller favors the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) on March 21 at Caulfield.
“Angel Capital loves Caulfield,” Waller said.
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“It’s a two-week break, so it would be there or we could get them back up to Sydney for the T J Smith Stakes, but we have a leaning towards the William Reid.”
Discover great options among betting sites offering racing odds for the Newmarket Handicap.
Shane Lowry admitted he was “extremely disappointed” after missing out on victory in front of his four-year-old daughter as he surrendered a three-shot lead down the stretch at the Cognizant Classic in Florida.
Lowry looked on course for a commanding victory at Palm Beach Gardens on Sunday, only to hit his tee shots into water on the 16th and 17th holes to record costly back-to-back double bogeys.
That allowed Colombia’s Nico Echavarria to close out a two-stroke victory on 17 under, with Lowry slipping back into a three-way tie for second on 15 under.
“I’m obviously extremely disappointed,” Lowry said in a post-round interview. “I had the tournament in my hands and I threw it away, what more can I say?
“I played unbelievable all day and then one bad shot on 16 and it completely threw me for the last three holes. It’s never happened to me before.
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“I said to Darren (Reynolds, his caddie) ‘how do I feel like this now when I went through what I did last September at Bethpage (at the Ryder Cup) and I got through it fine?’, and it was weird out there, I just couldn’t feel the club face on the last three holes after my tee shot on 16, it was strange.
“It’s very disappointing, this is going to be hard to take.”
He continued: “The hardest thing about today is that I’ve never won in front of my four-year-old.
“She was there waiting for me and I only wanted it for her today, I didn’t care about anything else, I wanted so bad to see her little ginger head running out on the 18th green would have been the most special thing in the world.
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“I thought I had it, I thought I was going to win.”
It was yet more heartbreak for Lowry at the event having led until the latter, rain-hit stages in 2022 and also failing to convert a final-day advantage into victory two years ago.
This time he began the day with confidence as he built on his overnight share of the lead.
He birdied the fifth and then chipped in for another birdie at the ninth before really charging his round with an eagle at the 10th.
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A superb approach left him with a five-foot putt for another birdie at the 12th and he holed out from 20 feet on 13 to move to 19 under par and three shots in front.
After steady pars on 14 and 15, he looked to be cruising but then everything began to unravel as he found the water from the 16th tee and could only manage a six. He found another lake on the 17th and, with Echavarria taking advantage to birdie and reach 17 under, his challenge was done.
Lowry also went into a bunker on the last and could only scramble a par, leaving him to sign for a two-under-par 69 and wonder what might have been.
Echavarria, by contrast, recorded a blemish-free 66 featuring five birdies.
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Americans Taylor Moore and Austin Smotherman finished alongside Lowry.
Brooks Koepka finished in a tie for ninth on 10 under after a final-round 65, his best showing since returning to the PGA Tour from LIV Golf.
Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Dominiq Ponder died this weekend, the team’s head coach Deion Sanders confirmed on Sunday with a social media post.
“God please comfort the Ponder family, friends and loved ones,” Sanders wrote on social media. “Dom was one of my favorites! He was Loved, Respected & a Born Leader. Let’s pray for all that knew him & had the opportunity to be in his presence. Lord you’re receiving a good 1. Comfort us Lord Comfort us.”
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders watches his team warm up before an NCAA college football game against TCU Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas.(Tony Gutierrez/AP Photo)
Ponder, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound signal caller, joined the Buffaloes and “Coach Prime’s” program in 2024 after spending time at Bethune-Cookman before making his way to Boulder.
Last season, Ponder played just two games for the Buffaloes while serving in his backup role. He recorded two rush attempts and one pass attempt.
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The Opa Locka, Fla., native also received tribute from a fellow quarterback with the Buffaloes, Colton Allen.
Bethune-Cookman QB Dominiq Ponder takes a snap during the Wildcats’ spring game Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Daytona Stadium.(IMAGN)
“Dom, you were a blessing to so many people,” Allen wrote on Instagram. “You had a presence about you that just made everything better. You brought so much joy to me and everyone around you. I’m grateful for every lift, every practice, every rep, every conversation we got to share. I’ll carry those with me for the rest of my life.”
Ponder was going to be a part of Colorado’s spring practices, which are set to begin on Monday. It’s unknown if Sanders will postpone the start due to Ponder’s passing.
Ponder also received a tribute from the University of Central Florida.
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Colorado head coach Deion Sanders watches his players warm up before an NCAA college football game against Utah, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Salt Lake City.(Tyler Tate/AP Photo)
Mikel Arteta admitted his “heart almost stopped” as Arsenal rode out a nerve-jangling end against 10-man Chelsea to record a 2-1 win and pass another major examination of their Premier League title credentials.
William Saliba opened the scoring from a corner midway through the first half at the Emirates Stadium only for Piero Hincapie to put through his own net.
Jurrien Timber restored Arsenal’s advantage in the second half, again from a corner, and Chelsea’s Pedro Neto was dismissed just four minutes later.
Arsenal might have been expected to cruise to the three points, but David Raya had to produce a brilliant diving save from Alejandro Garnacho’s curling effort, and Liam Delap also had a goal chalked off for offside – both in added time – as the Gunners took a significant stride to capturing their first title in 22 years.
And Arteta admitted: “The save that he (Raya) made in the last action, from what ended up being an unbelievable shot, I got the right angle and my heart almost stopped. But David’s hand was there to bring it back to life.
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“I try to stay calm, but obviously, we weren’t getting the dominance and the sequences of play that we wanted and would expect against 10 men.
“You have to navigate through that, and it’s a big part of the game. Everybody’s suffering because the margins are so small.”
Timber’s crucial 66th-minute winner – a day after rivals Manchester City claimed a 2-1 win at Leeds – marked Arsenal’s 16th goal from a corner this season to equal a record shared by Oldham and West Brom for a single Premier League campaign with nine games still to go.
The set-piece goals carried Arsenal to a second win in a week in which they were drawing at half-time.
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And Arteta added: “I reminded the players that we were in exactly the same position against Tottenham seven days ago in that dressing room.
“They said: ‘Look what happened in the second half! So we’re going to do it again, but we’re going to have to go through some difficult patches to earn the right to win the game’. And we certainly did that.”
Chelsea’s hopes were scuppered by Neto’s dismissal which marked their seventh red card in the league this season, their second in as many fixtures, and ninth across all competitions.
Neto talked his way into referee Darren England’s notebook as he protested against Timber’s goal before he scythed down Gabriel Martinelli four minutes later.
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And manager Liam Rosenior said: “It is disappointing for Pedro, but it’s not just him, as a group – me as a leader included – we have to take accountability for some of the decisions we are making in terms of our discipline.
“You can fine players (for red cards) but it is not about the punishment. It is about finding the reason why.
“I know our record is not great since the start of the season, and we have now had two in two games so there is something deep-lying that we need to get to the bottom of.
“We need to do something for sure. We need to speak to the coaching staff and the players because it is not acceptable. In the last two games we have caused our own issues, and if we don’t eradicate it, it is going to cost us.”
ANAHEIM — Gary Bettman is coming to Calgary on Monday for a site visit of Scotia Place.
Could an announcement that Calgary will host the 2028 World Cup of Hockey soon follow?
Deputy commissioner Bill Daly told Sportsnet he will join the commissioner for a sit-down with ownership, a tour of the arena’s construction site and an update on the building’s progress.
The timing is fascinating, given the fact Calgary is on the short list to host the next incarnation of best-on-best hockey, which fans are already anticipating given the triumphant return to the Olympics by NHLers.
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The NHL and NHLPA have whittled the list of 25 applicants down to just a few North American candidates to host four nations in round-robin play, followed by a playdown that would also be hosted on this side of the pond.
A European city will host the other four teams before they make the trans-Atlantic flight to start playing elimination games.
Daly revealed on Sunday the venue announcements are two weeks away.
He said there would be no need to announce the participants at that time, as there is still plenty of time to see how the situation in Ukraine unfolds before determining whether Russia and Belarus could be reinstated, or if Slovakia could be the eighth team.
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The other seven will be Canada, U.S., Sweden, Finland, Czechia, Switzerland and Germany.
Slated to open in the fall of 2027, the $1.2 billion event centre would be the perfect place to showcase a battle for international hockey supremacy slated for February 2028.
Imagine Matthew Tkachuk returning to Calgary wearing Team USA colours, alongside his brother, as Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby and Co. try to avenge the overtime loss in last month’s Olympic gold-medal game.
Dare to dream Calgary, as plenty of sources suggest the world-class pitch tabled by the Flames and city partners is going to be hard to beat.
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The plan goes well beyond hosting games, as Calgary is promising a festival‑style atmosphere built around concerts, fan events, and community celebrations.
Think of the energy that swept through the city during the Olympics, then add the modern production value of a league‑run event.
Imagine the economic impact, the global attention, the chance to christen Scotia Place with the biggest hockey event the city has seen since the Flames’ run to the 2004 Stanley Cup Final.
This is the kind of moment that defines a new arena’s legacy before the paint is even dry.
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32 Thoughts: The Podcast
Hockey fans already know the name, but this is not the blog. From Sportsnet, 32 Thoughts: The Podcast with NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas is a weekly deep dive into the biggest news and interviews from the hockey world.
In a city that came within a plebiscite of hosting the Olympic games we just watched, the legacy of volunteerism, support and spirit is all part of the appeal that would make it an event guaranteed to make the league proud.
In terms of pedigree, the city has proven conclusively how well it welcomes the world, with millions attending the Stampede every year.
Bettman has a long history of rewarding cities that get new venues built by awarding them flagship events like the draft or an all-star game.
Murray Edwards’ influence in league circles doesn’t hurt either, but what’s really pushing Calgary forward is the sheer scale of what’s being proposed: not just a tournament, but a two‑week celebration of the sport, wrapped around the debut of what will be the world’s newest, most modern hockey arena.
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There’s also a geopolitical wrinkle working in Calgary’s favour. With Donald Trump’s threats to move FIFA World Cup games out of cities with Democratic leadership, creating uncertainty around major events in the U.S., surely American bids for the World Cup of Hockey suddenly look less stable.
Boston already hosted the playoffs and final of the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Calgary, by contrast, offers stability, enthusiasm, and a proven volunteer base that made the 1988 Olympics one of the most memorable of all five-ring parties. The Saddledome last hosted a major league event in 2000, when the NHL Draft came to town.
A new arena changes everything.
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The league knows it. The city knows it. Bettman knows it.
Calgary’s bid checks every box: a new arena, a global‑event pedigree, a hockey‑mad market, and a plan that elevates the tournament beyond the ice.
If the league wants a showcase, Calgary is ready to deliver one.
Now we wait to see if Bettman and the NHLPA agree.
Alex Iwobi found the net as Fulham strengthened their bid for European football with a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at the Stadium of Light.
Fulham made a bright start and took the lead in the seventh minute through Harry Wilson. The Welsh winger later turned provider, setting up Iwobi for his side’s second goal just past the half-hour mark.
The Nigerian midfielder has now scored in back-to-back league matches for the Cottagers. The 29-year-old has recorded four goals and three assists in 22 Premier League appearances this season.
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His fellow Nigerians, Calvin Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze, also featured in the encounter. Bassey played the entire match, while Chukwueze came off the bench to replace Wilson with 18 minutes remaining.
Manchester United produced another strong display to defeat Crystal Palace 2-1 at Old Trafford, continuing their impressive run and boosting their hopes of UEFA Champions League qualification.
The visitors struck first in the opening half through Maxence Lacroix, putting Palace ahead and briefly silencing the home crowd. However, United responded with character and determination after the break.
Bruno Fernandes brought the Red Devils level from the penalty spot after Lacroix was sent off for pulling back Matheus Cunha inside the box. The dismissal gave United the advantage, and they made it count.
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The winning goal arrived when Fernandes delivered an inviting cross from the right flank. Benjamin Sesko rose highest in the area and powered a fine header beyond Dean Henderson to complete the comeback. The striker received a standing ovation when he was substituted late in the game.
The victory means United have now won six of their last seven matches under manager Michael Carrick. The team are unbeaten in the Premier League since Boxing Day and have climbed to third place in the table, behind Arsenal and Manchester City.
Sesko’s recent form has been a major boost for United. The Slovenia international has scored key goals in recent weeks, helping the club collect valuable points in the race for a top-four finish.
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Speaking after the match, Carrick praised his players’ resilience and belief. He highlighted the team’s strong second-half performance and their ability to recover from a slow start.
With 10 matches remaining this season, Manchester United are firmly on course to return to the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2023. Their current form suggests they will be serious contenders in the final stretch of the campaign.
Arsenal restored their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table after a hard-fought 2-1 win over 10-man Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners needed victory following Manchester City’s win over Leeds on Saturday, and they delivered with another strong performance from set-pieces.
Arsenal took the lead through William Saliba, who forced the ball home from a corner. It was their 15th league goal from a corner this season. Jurrien Timber later added the second, converting another delivery into the box to make it 16 goals from corners in this campaign.
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Chelsea found an equaliser just before half-time, also from a corner. A dangerous cross from Reece James caused problems in the Arsenal defence and Piero Hincapie turned the ball into his own net under pressure.
The visitors’ hopes of a comeback suffered a major blow in the second half when Pedro Neto was sent off. The winger received a second yellow card for a foul on Gabriel Martinelli only minutes after being booked for dissent. It was Chelsea’s seventh red card in the league this season.
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya made several important saves to protect his side’s lead, including a late stop to deny Alejandro Garnacho. At the other end, Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez endured a difficult afternoon and could have done better for Timber’s winning goal.
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Chelsea were also left frustrated after a corner appeared to strike Declan Rice’s arm inside the box, but no penalty was given.
Despite late pressure from the 10-man visitors, Arsenal held firm to secure all three points. The result keeps them five points clear of Manchester City in the title race, although they have played a game more.
Chelsea remain in the battle for Champions League qualification but are now three points behind fifth-placed Liverpool.
Arsenal’s dominance from corners continues to be a key factor in their success this season, with their set-piece strength proving decisive once again.
Rory McIlroy and Boston Common Golf look to capture a league-leading fourth win on Sunday against the Jupiter Link. Watch the action at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
