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Top 25 roundup: JT Toppin leads No. 16 Texas Tech past No. 1 Arizona

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NCAA Basketball: Texas Tech at ArizonaFeb 14, 2026; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders forward JT Toppin (15) dribbles and dunks the ball during the first half of the game against the Arizona Wildcats at McKale Memorial Center. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images

JT Toppin had 31 points, eight of them in overtime, and pulled down 13 rebounds to lead No. 16 Texas Tech to a 78-75 win over No. 1 Arizona on Saturday at Tucson, Ariz.

Toppin recorded his 16th double-double of the season for the Red Raiders (19-6, 9-3 Big 12), who have won three straight. Arizona (23-2, 10-2) has lost consecutive games after starting the season unbeaten through its first 23 games.

Christian Anderson, who played all 45 minutes, finished with 19 points, eight assists and six rebounds for Texas Tech.

Arizona had five players in double figures, led by 16 points from Tobe Awaka and Brayden Burries. Ivan Kharchenkov finished with 13 points, Jaden Bradley had 11 and Motiejus Krivas scored 10 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. .

No. 2 Michigan 86, UCLA 56

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Yaxel Lendeborg had 17 points and eight rebounds as the Wolverines ran away in the second half to earn a Big Ten win over the Bruins in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Michigan (24-1, 14-1), which led 40-38 at halftime, maintained a two-and-a-half-game lead in the conference standings and is expected to be the top-ranked team in the country for the first time since 2013 when the Associated Press poll is released Monday, following No. 1 Arizona’s 0-2 week. Morez Johnson Jr. posted 15 points to lead the way for Michigan, which never trailed while winning its 10th in a row.

Trent Perry scored 14 points while Donovan Dent and Tyler Bilodeau each added 10 points for UCLA (17-8, 9-5), which had won five of its last six. Senior guard Skyy Clark, who had been out since Jan. 3 with a hamstring injury, contributed eight points in 16 minutes off the bench.

No. 3 Houston 78, Kansas State 64

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Emanuel Sharp scored 23 points and the Cougars defense did the rest to help host Houston produce a win over the reeling Wildcats in a Big 12 clash.

The Cougars (23-2, 11-1 Big 12) relied on their defense to limit Kansas State to just five field goals in the first half and scored the final 13 points on the way to a 33-19 lead at halftime. Milos Uzan and Kingston Flemings added 12 points each for Houston, whose next three games are against teams ranked in the top 10 beginning with No. 5 Iowa State on the road on Monday. The Cougars shot 53.8% in the second half.

P.J. Haggerty led the Wildcats with 23 points while Johnson had 12 and Taj Manning scored 10. Kansas State (10-15, 1-11 Big 12) dropped its sixth game in a row.

No. 4 Duke 67, No. 20 Clemson 54

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Cameron Boozer posted a game-high 18 points and eight rebounds as the Blue Devils maintained first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference by defeating the Tigers in Durham, N.C., for the 22nd straight time.

Isaiah Evans scored 17 points and Cayden Boozer added 12 for Duke (23-2, 12-1 ACC), which hit 10 3-pointers for the first time since Jan. 10 against SMU. The Blue Devils held a 31-26 edge at halftime and led by as many as 22 in the second half.

Carter Welling paced Clemson (20-6, 10-3) with 12 points and RJ Godfrey added 10. The Tigers hit just 35.1% from the field, which included a 6-for-24 showing from 3-point range. Godfrey added eight rebounds and two blocks.

No. 5 Iowa State 74, No. 9 Kansas 56

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Milan Momcilovic scored a game-high 18 points and the Cyclones limited the Jayhawks to 37.2% percent shooting during a Big 12 clash in Ames, Iowa, that snapped Kansas’ eight-game winning streak.

Joshua Jefferson, Tamin Lipsey, Jamarion Batemon and Blake Buchanan added 11 points apiece for Iowa State (22-3, 9-3 Big 12), which moved into a third-place tie with Kansas (19-6, 9-3). Jefferson and Lipsey each added four assists while Buchanan grabbed six rebounds.

Melvin Council Jr. paced Kansas with 15 points, four assists and two steals. Flory Bidunga had 11 points and 13 rebounds, but prized freshman Darryn Peterson was limited to a season-low 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting in 24 minutes.

No. 6 UConn 79, Georgetown 75

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Solo Ball scored 20 points as the Huskies stayed atop the Big East standings by holding on for a victory over the Hoyas in Storrs, Conn.

UConn (24-2, 14-1 Big East) won its second straight game following an 81-72 loss to then-No. 22 St. John’s on Feb. 6. Ball scored 16 in the first half after tallying 24 Wednesday at Butler. Alex Karaban added 13 of his 18 points in the second half, becoming the all-time winningest player in school history with his 116th career win.

KJ Lewis led all scorers with 24 points, including a 4-point play with 24 seconds left to get the Hoyas (13-12, 5-9) within 77-74. Vince Iwuchukwu added 16 and Kayvaun Mulready contributed 15, but Georgetown lost its 12th straight game in the series.

No. 7 Nebraska 68, Northwestern 49

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Pryce Sandfort swished six 3-pointers on the way to scoring 29 points as the Cornhuskers defeated the Wildcats in Lincoln, Neb.

Nebraska (22-3, 11-3 Big Ten) surpassed last season’s win total despite matching a season-high with 18 turnovers, two fewer than slumping Northwestern (10-16, 2-13). Sam Hoiberg recorded 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists while Cale Jacobsen added 10 points. Rienk Mast grabbed nine boards to help Nebraska to a 40-24 edge on the glass.

The Wildcats tied their season-long losing streak with a fifth straight defeat. Nick Martinelli scored 11 points to pace the Wildcats, who held a 39-38 lead with 12:32 to go before the Huskers went on an 11-2 run to take control.

No. 11 North Carolina 79, Pitt 65

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Jarin Stevenson and Seth Trimble scored 19 points apiece to help the short-handed Tar Heels hand the Panthers their fifth straight loss in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Zayden High had 15 points and seven rebounds for North Carolina (20-5, 8-4 ACC), which played without its two leading scorers in Caleb Wilson (19.8 points per game) and Henri Veesaar (16.4 ppg), who both missed the game with injuries. Luka Bogavac added 15 points for the Tar Heels, who won their sixth game in seven tries.

Cameron Corhen led Pittsburgh (9-17, 2-11) with 23 points, six rebounds and six assists. Roman Siulepa scored 14 points and Barry Dunning Jr. contributed 10.

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No. 13 Purdue 78, Iowa 57

Four players scored in double figures and the Boilermakers clamped down on the Hawkeyes in a win in Iowa City.

C.J. Cox led the balanced Boilermakers (21-4, 11-3 Big Ten) with 14 points, connecting on four of their 12 made 3-pointers. Reserve Gicarri Harris also scored 14, while Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn each added 12 points in Purdue’s fourth straight win. Braden Smith dished out 12 assists to give him 980 for his career. Smith is 97 assists away from passing Bobby Hurley for the all-time NCAA record.

Bennett Stirtz scored a game-high 19 points for the Hawkeyes (18-7, 8-6), who fell to 0-5 against ranked opponents this season. Stirtz made 7 of 12 field goals but the rest of his teammates hit just 13 of 41.

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No. 14 Florida 92, No. 25 Kentucky 83

Urban Klavzar netted 19 points off the bench and sparked a second-half run as the Gators led wire-to-wire to knock off the Wildcats in Gainesville, Fla.

Klavzar, who was 5 of 11 from distance, scored eight points in a span of 4:06 to turn an eight-point game into a 14-point lead and help the Gators win their fifth straight game and 10th in their last 11. The Gators (19-6, 10-2 SEC) led by 15 in the first half.

Kentucky’s Denzel Aberdeen notched 19 points and four assists, while Collin Chandler had 18 points, three rebounds and three steals. Otega Oweh had 13 points and five boards and Malachi Moreno totaled 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Wildcats (17-8, 8-4).

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No. 15 Virginia 70, Ohio State 66

Malik Thomas had 13 points and six rebounds as the Cavaliers extended their winning streak to six games with a nonconference victory over the Buckeyes at the inaugural Nashville (Tenn.) Hoops Showdown.

Virginia (22-3) got 12 points apiece from Chance Mallory and Sam Lewis. Ugonna Onyenso added eight points, 10 rebounds and four blocks. The Cavaliers held a 40-26 rebounding edge.

Bruce Thornton carried Ohio State (16-9) with 28 points. Amare Bynum had 15 points and six rebounds, while Christoph Tilly added 11 points. Virginia shot 23 more free throws (32-9) and outscored the Buckeyes 22-6 from the line.

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No. 17 St. John’s 79, Providence 69

In a Big East clash marred by a second-half brawl that led to six ejections, Dylan Darling scored 18 of his season-high 23 points in the second half to lead the Red Storm (20-5, 13-1) over the host Friars (11-15, 4-11).

With Providence clinging to a 40-39 edge with 14:25 to play, the Friars’ Duncan Powell clotheslined former Providence standout Bryce Hopkins as he went up for a breakaway layup. As Hopkins got up off the floor and stood up to Powell, players and coaches flew off both benches to try to restore order.

After a video review, Providence’s Powell and Jaylin Sellers were ejected along with Dillon Mitchell, Kelvin Odih, Ruben Prey and Lefteris Liotopoulos for St. John’s – the latter three for leaving the Red Storm’s bench.

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Zuby Ejiofor scored 14 points for St. John’s while Oziyah Sellers added 11 points and Hopkins had nine points and nine rebounds. Stefan Vaaks notched 20 points, Ryan Mela scored 14 and Jaylin Sellers added 13 for Providence, which has lost six of its last eight.

No. 19 Vanderbilt 82, Texas A&M 69

Tyler Nickel, AK Okereke and Devin McGlockton combined for 65 points to lead the Commodores over the Aggies in Nashville, Tenn.

Nickel scored 25 points, while Okereke added 23. McGlockton posted 17 points and eight rebounds. Nickel’s long-range shooting (five 3-pointers) and a season-high scoring total from Okereke allowed Vanderbilt (21-4, 8-4 Southeastern Conference) to win for the fifth time in six games.

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Texas A&M (17-8, 7-5), which lost its fourth straight game, got 20 points from Marcus Hill. No other Aggie scored in double figures. Zach Clemence finished with nine points, Ali Dibba added nine points and eight rebounds, and Rashaun Agee collected eight points and 11 rebounds.

No. 21 Arkansas 88, Auburn 75

Freshman Darius Acuff Jr. tied a career high with 31 points and made a career-best seven 3-pointers as the Razorbacks ran away from the short-handed Tigers in Fayetteville, Ark.

Billy Richmond III scored a career-high 25 points for Arkansas. He was 12-of-15 from the field with four assists, three steals and two blocked shots for the Razorbacks (19-6, 9-3 Southeastern Conference), who moved into second place behind No. 14 Florida (19-6, 10-2).

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Tahaad Pettiford had 29 points and seven assists and KeShawn Murphy scored a career-high 22 points and added 12 rebounds for the Tigers (14-11, 5-7), who have lost four in a row after a four-game winning streak. Auburn played without leading scorer Keyshawn Hall (20.7 points per game), who has been benched indefinitely for disciplinary reasons, according to coach Steven Pearl.

No. 22 BYU 90, Colorado 86 (OT)

Robert Wright III set a new career high with 39 points to lead the Cougars to an overtime win against the Buffaloes in Provo, Utah.

Wright made 12 of 16 field goal attempts and all four 3-point attempts to lead short-handed BYU (19-6, 7-5 Big 12). AJ Dybantsa had a double-double with 20 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists. Second-leading scorer Richie Saunders went down 45 seconds into the game, left the court with an apparent leg injury and did not return. BYU coach Kevin Young had no postgame update on Saunders.

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Isaiah Johnson led Colorado (14-12, 4-9) with 27 points. Barrington Hargress contributed 20 points and Bangot Dak added 15 points and seven rebounds for the Buffaloes, who have lost two straight games.

No. 24 Louisville 82, Baylor 71

Mikel Brown Jr. scored 29 points to lead the Cardinals past the Bears in a nonconference showdown in Fort Worth, Texas.

The freshman guard followed up his 45-point performance in Monday’s win over NC State by notching his seventh 20-point game of the season. He made 8 of 14 shots, including 4 of 5 from beyond the 3-point arc. He also dished out six assists and posted a season-high five steals as he helped the Cardinals (19-6) dig out of a first-half hole.

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Baylor (13-12) used a 16-2 run in a less than five-minute span to take a 32-25 lead with 3:37 left in the first half after a Michael Rataj jumper. However, that was the Bears’ last bucket in the first half as they missed their last six shots. That enabled a Brown trey with 16 seconds left before halftime to tie the game at 34-all.

–Field Level Media

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New Zealand vs South Africa 1st T20I LIVE Score Updates

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NZ vs SA 1st T20I LIVE Cricket Scorecard Updates© AFP and Getty




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New Zealand vs South Africa 1st T20I LIVE Updates: New Zealand take on South Africa in the first T20I of a five-match series in Mount Maunganui on Sunday. This is the first meeting between the two sides since the Black Caps outclassed the Proteas in the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final 11 days earlier. However, New Zealand’s heroes from that match – the likes of Finn Allen, Tim Seifert and Rachin Ravindra – have been rested for the series. Mitchell Santner is leading them for the first three games of the series. South Africa too have rested several stars like regular captain Aiden Markram, David Miller and Kagiso Rabada. Keshav Maharaj is captaining the side. (Live Scorecard)

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Hassan Abdallah Confident as Warri Wolves Prepare for Crucial Away Clash Against Bayelsa United

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Technical Adviser of Warri Wolves FC, Hassan Abdallah, has expressed strong optimism ahead of his side’s crucial NPFL26 Matchweek 30 encounter against Bayelsa United in Yenagoa.

The Seasiders will travel to the Samson Siasia Stadium on Sunday for what promises to be a fiercely contested derby, with both teams eager to secure valuable points in the ongoing league campaign.

Speaking during preparations for the encounter, Coach Abdallah assured his players and supporters that the team is well prepared for the challenge ahead. According to him, the level of preparation and the intensity of recent training sessions have positioned the squad for a positive result.

  • Edidiong Ezekiel during his home now for Enyimba FCEdidiong Ezekiel during his home now for Enyimba FC

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The gaffer noted that the players have undergone rigorous training in the days leading up to the fixture and are mentally ready for the task.

“We have worked very hard in training and the players understand what is expected of them. With the level of preparation we have put in, we are hopeful of getting a positive outcome on Sunday,” Abdallah said.

The former national youth coach also recalled the first leg meeting between the two sides earlier in the season. In that encounter, played on October 26, 2025 at the Southern Delta University Stadium in Ozoro, Warri Wolves scored an impressive 2-0 victory over Bayelsa United.

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On that day, forward Igbunu Evwierhurhoma was the hero for the Seasiders, scoring a brace in the 16th minute and deep into stoppage time to seal all three points for Warri Wolves.

Abdallah stated that his team is determined to replicate a similar performance when both sides meet again in Yenagoa. Drawing confidence from the team’s recent improvement and their impressive display against Enyimba FC, the coach maintained that the squad is well positioned to compete strongly.

The Warri Wolves boss further revealed that a few adjustments have been made to the squad that defeated Bayelsa United in the first leg. However, he stressed that the team remains psychologically prepared and highly motivated to face their neighbours on Sunday.

While acknowledging that the clash will be a tough and fiercely contested battle, Abdallah remains optimistic that the Seasiders can emerge victorious at the Samson Siasia Stadium.

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With confidence high within the camp, Warri Wolves will be hoping to secure another important result on the road as they continue their push in the NPFL26 campaign.

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Can Jadon Sancho play against Manchester United for Aston Villa?

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Aston Villa travel to Old Trafford on Sunday, putting Jadon Sancho on a collision course with parent club Manchester United

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How Manchester United should line-up vs Aston Villa

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Manchester United return to Premier League action this afternoon when Aston Villa travel to Old Trafford

Manchester United welcome Aston Villa to Old Trafford this afternoon as they look to cement their place in the top four. The Reds last played 11 days ago but only Mason Mount is back with the squad after suffering a knock at the start of February.

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Lisandro Martinez’s recovery from a calf injury is taking longer to heal than expected. Matthijs de Ligt and Patrick Dorgu remain long-term absentees with back and hamstring issues respectively. Noussair Mazraoui was injured in the defeat to Newcastle but trained this week with his teammates at Carrington.

Here are the United teams our writers think Michael Carrick should select against Villa.

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Tyrone Marshall

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Carrick isn’t flush with options at the moment, with two of his best central defenders still injured, and although Mount is back in training, this is going to be too soon for a start, and it’s hard to see how he gets in the side anyway.

I would stick with Mazraoui ahead of Diogo Dalot at right-back at the moment. That change was made at Newcastle and it feels like it’s worth seeing the Moroccan in a few games now in that position.

The midfield picks itself, but I would change things up in the front three. Amad has been bright off the bench and as a left-footer, I would try him on the left to try and stretch the pitch and offer some more width. Carrick believes he can play there and he could have a similar impact to Dorgu. Matheus Cunha can drop to the bench.

Jack Flintham

Mazraoui may have returned to training this week but I would be hesitant to start him ahead of Dalot. It could be safer not to risk the Morocco international considering his injury at Newcastle.

The midfield three have cemented their places in the team and should remain unchanged. Amad will be desperate to return to the starting line-up but I am unsure of his suitability on the left.

Dorgu would be a perfect addition on that side but his injury ruins that plan. As such, Cunha probably has to keep his place.

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Bangladesh vs Pakistan 3rd ODI LIVE Score: Pak Opt To Bowl In Series Decider As Rain Threat Looms Large

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Bangladesh vs Pakistan 3rd ODI LIVE Updates: Pakistan have won the toss and opted to bowl against Bangladesh in the third and final ODI in Dhaka on Sunday. The series is tied at 1-1 heading into the final ODI, meaning the winner of today’s match will clinch series victory. However, rain is on the cards later in the day. Pakistan, led by Shaheen Afridi, bounced back with a big victory in the second ODI after suffering a heavy defeat in the first game. 20-year-old all-rounder Maaz Sadaqat was the star of the show in their win. Mehidy Hasan Miraz-led Bangladesh made headlines after their controversial run out in the previous match, but will be relying on pacer Nahid Rana among others to fire them to a win again. (Live Scorecard)

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McMann scores twice in debut as Kraken thump Canucks

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McMann was playing his first game in a Kraken jersey after Seattle acquired him from the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of the NHL trade deadline on March 6.

His linemates also recorded three-point nights, with Matty Beniers recording a goal and two assists and Jordan Eberle contributing three helpers. 

Jared McCann and Jamie Oleksiak also scored for the Kraken (30-26-9), while Brandon Montour notched two assists and Philipp Grubauer stopped 32 of the 34 shots he faced. 

Evander Kane got the Canucks (20-38-8) midway through the first period and Marco Rossi doubled the team’s total with a goal 19:40 into the third. Nikita Tolopilo made 28 saves in the Vancouver net. 

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The result snapped a four-game losing skid for the Kraken, who moved within a single point of the Western Conference’s second wild-card playoff spot.

Canucks: Outshot the visitors 31-28 before taking back-to-back penalties late in the third but couldn’t get enough pucks past Grubauer. Kane came close on a power play midway through the final frame but his shot rang off the bottom of the crossbar. … Went 0-for-2 with the man advantage, recording a single shot on net.

Kraken: Quickly saw results from McMann trade. The 29-year-old forward buried his first of the night at the end of the first period and added his second early in the third. Seattle picked him up from the Leafs for a fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft and a conditional second-round selection in 2027. … Played in front of a friendly crowd that broke out into multiple “Let’s go Kraken!” chants across the game. 

McMann’s first goal of the night came on a power play 19:10 into the game when he beat Tolopilo with a sharp-angle shot to give Seattle a 2-1 lead. 

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Saturday marked just the third time since the Olympic break that the Kraken have scored more than two goals, a span of nine games. 

Kraken: Host the Florida Panthers on Sunday.

Canucks: Continue an eight-game homestand Tuesday against the Florida Panthers.

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Lakers vs. Nuggets: Why Luka Dončić’s game-winner could be season’s most important shot

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The Los Angeles Lakers‘ dramatic 127-125 overtime victory over the Denver Nuggets, which Luka Dončić ended with a game-winning step-back jumper in the final second of the extra frame, was one of the best games of the season. It may also end up being one of the most important. 

After jumping out to an early double-digit lead, the Lakers pushed their advantage to 17 in the second quarter and were cruising until the Nuggets embarked on a big comeback late in the third. Eventually, the Nuggets took the lead, which grew to eight late in the fourth. All of a sudden, it was the Lakers who needed a comeback. They completed one in miraculous fashion. 

To force overtime, Austin Reaves pulled off one of the best intentional missed free-throw routines you’re ever going to see. The Nuggets, up by three, fouled Reaves with 5.2 seconds to play. Reaves made the first free throw, then threw the second one off the front of the rim. The ball ricocheted out to him on the right wing, and he put in a floater to send things to overtime. 

“JJ told me to tell AR to miss right. So he missed left,” Dončić joked. “So it was a good play. That’s very hard to do.”

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There was sloppy play and several missed shots early in overtime, which ensured neither team could pull away. And after Nikola Jokić tied things up with 15 seconds to play, the Lakers had the ball with a chance to win. 

Dončić obliged with one of his patented step-back jumpers. The Nuggets tried to double him, but they didn’t get their angles right, which gave Dončić the space to drive left toward the baseline. Spencer Jones recovered and made a spirited contest, but it was in vain. Dončić caught nothing but net for arguably his signature moment with the Lakers thus far. 

“A lot of legends played here. They leave a lot behind with the Lakers,” Dončić said. “So obviously I did [envision this when I was traded here], obviously we’re still in the regular season, but that was a little bit of that feeling today for sure.” 

Dončić finished with 30 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists for his eighth triple-double of the season, helping the Lakers extend their winning streak to five games. They’ve won eight of their last nine games and climbed into third place in the Western Conference. 

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Lakers gain critical tiebreaker over Nuggets

Numerous Western Conference seeding battles appear likely to come down to the final days of the season. Entering Saturday, Nos. 2-6 seeds all had 41 wins and were separated by half a game. 

Here’s a look at the standings before the Lakers-Nuggets matchup:

And here’s a look at the standings after the Lakers’ win. 

3

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Lakers

42

25

10

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4

Rockets

41

25

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10.5

5

Timberwolves

41

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26

11

6

Nuggets

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41

27

11.5

The Lakers went from fourth to third and the Nuggets went from fifth to sixth, which shows how important each game is at this point in the crowded West. More importantly, though, the Lakers’ win gave them the season tiebreaker over the Nuggets (2-1, with no matchups between the teams remaining). 

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If the Lakers and Nuggets end up with identical records at the end of the season — a very real possibility — the Lakers would get the higher seed. That could be the difference between earning the No. 3 seed and staying out of the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder‘s side of the bracket. It could also be the difference between earning the No. 4 seed and earning homecourt advantage in the first round. 

Dončić’s shot is one of the highlights of the season, and it may prove to be far more important than just that. 

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World women’s curling takeaways: Canada’s experience looms large on Day 1

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A lot has changed since Kerri Einarson’s team wore the Maple Leaf while playing at the 2021 world women’s curling championship in Calgary.

Karlee Burgess is now Einarson’s lead instead of Briane Harris. And Canada has been back on top of the podium at the event for the last two seasons thanks to Rachel Homan and her teammates. 

But most importantly, this time in Calgary, there are fans to cheer Einarson and Team Canada on throughout the week. 

In 2021, while the event was hosted at the the WinSport Event Centre, nobody was allowed into the building to watch due to COVID-19.

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The tournament wasn’t great for Einarson. She just barely made the playoffs with a 7-6 record and was eliminated in the qualification game. It was just the eighth time in 42 years Canada didn’t earn a medal. Einarson wore the Maple Leaf again in 2022 and 2023, winning bronze in both events.

However, in 2026, it already feels like Einarson has a very good chance for a different outcome.

With the packed stands cheering Einarson on during the opening day at the 47th edition of the tournament, Canada was able to pick up commanding wins over Sweden and the USA.

Canada’s experience pays dividends  

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It’s hard to believe after watching Canada play on Saturday that Einarson and her teammates Val Sweeting, Shannon Birchard and Burgess didn’t play a legit game since the Scotties Tournament of Hearts final six weeks ago. 

Now, obviously they practised a lot and even played two-on-two against each other during that time, but that’s not what helped them adapt right away to the ice and the environment of the women’s worlds.

The experience factor, something Einarson will have an advantage over a lot of teams this week, loomed large

In both her games on Saturday, she faced rookie skips.

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First, it was Sweden’s Isabella Wrana. After the Swedes jumped out to a 2-0 lead, the Canadians didn’t panic, but instead settled into the match and read what the ice was doing to really let the game come to them. 

By the sixth end, Einarson and her team were able to apply pressure to Wrana, forcing a steal of two that gave Canada a 5-3 lead. From there Canada played great, situational curling, understanding the scoreboard to earn the 7-5 victory.

At least for Sweden, Wrana didn’t look helpless on the big stage. 

That can’t be said in the second match for the U.S., unfortunately. 

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After the rookie squadron of Americans led by skip Delaney Strouse didn’t play in the first draw, their first game had to be against a home team feeling good about themselves. 

Einarson went to work and used her knowledge from the first game to make even better shots against the Americans. 

Her best came in the fourth end. Because the ice was similar to the first draw, Einarson was able to trust what she was seeing and made a nice soft-weight hit through a tight port to score three and take a 4-1 lead. Einarson went on to win 11-3.

Get ready to learn new names this week

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Sweden’s Wrana and the U.S.’s Strouse weren’t the only skips making their debuts on Saturday. For nearly half the field, this is their first world championship. 

There are six rookie skips in total. Scotland’s Fay Henderson, Norway’s Torild Bjornstad, Switzerland’s Xenia Schwaller and Australia’s Helen Williams, who is leading the country’s first-ever appearance at the women’s worlds, are the others.

All six lost their opening draw on Saturday, but Schwaller became the first rookie to win at the event with a 6-5 victory over China in the night draw.

For Wrana and Schwaller, playing against the other top teams in the world won’t be something new as they compete in the Grand Slam of Curling, but this stage will be different.

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In the other four cases, it will certainly be a big challenge, but it doesn’t mean they can’t pull off some crazy upsets. 

Canada’s next game will be against China on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. MT.

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Identity of mystery woman who took a selfie with Andrade on AEW Collision revealed

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Andrade El Idolo once again channeled his inner charm while interacting with a female fan at ringside on AEW Collision this week. The latter’s identity has now been revealed on social media.

Ever since he returned to action in All Elite Wrestling earlier this year, Andrade has been in the form of his life. With his sights set on the AEW Men’s World Title, he racked up a number of impressive singles victories, including wins against former champions Swerve Strickland and Kenny Omega. Last month at Grand Slam Australia, he faced Adam Page for a shot at MJF’s “Triple B” at Revolution 2026, but unfortunately came up short against The Hangman.

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El Idolo did end up on the pay-per-view card, however, as he answered Bandido’s challenge for a singles bout this Sunday. Ahead of that, on AEW Collision, the luchador battled Mascara Dorada one-on-one. Like he has been doing for a few weeks now, Andrade once again flirted and took a selfie with a female fan at ringside. The latter, a pro-wrestler named Simone Williams, has now taken to X/Twitter to share her photograph with the former WWE superstar.

“Collision looks wayyy hotter from this angle 😛 #[AllEliteWrestling]Collision,” said the caption.

Power Struggle Between Roman & Triple H? Check Here!

Williams is an Australian indie wrestler who started her career in 2018, and competes in promotions like Women of Wrestling, Santino Bros. Wrestling, Future Stars of Wrestling and more.

Match results for this week’s AEW Collision

Just a day ahead of Revolution 2026, All Elite Wrestling set up shop in the San Jose Civic arena in San Jose, CA for the March 14 edition of Saturday Night Collision. The episode presented six action-packed matches, the results of which have been listed out below:

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  • Kevin Knight defeated El Clon
  • Mark Davis defeated Komander
  • The Triangle of Madness (Thekla, Julia Hart and Skye Blue) defeated Karisma, Tatevik and Viva Van
  • The Demand (Ricochet and GOA) defeated The Bang Bang Gang (Juice Robinson, Austin Gunn and Ace Austin)
  • Lena Kross defeated Mina Shirakawa
  • Andrade El Idolo defeated Mascara Dorada
Match card for this week's Saturday Night Collision (Image via X @AEW)Match card for this week's Saturday Night Collision (Image via X @AEW)
Match card for this week’s Saturday Night Collision (Image via X @AEW)

It remains to be seen what Tony Khan and his team have planned for fans in LA at Revolution.