Man City vs Real Madrid LIVE: Latest updates from Champions League RO16 second leg

 Manchester City will attempt to overturn a 3-0 deficit in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie against Real Madrid, and you can follow the updates live on ESPN.

Madrid captain Federico Valverde flayed City in the first leg with a sumptuous hat trick at the Bernabéu to leave Pep Guardiola's side on the brink of an early exit.

City weren't able to bounce back from the drubbing on the weekend, drawing to lowly West Ham United to further slip up in the Premier League title race. Meanwhile, Madrid thrashed Elche 4-1 on Saturday and enter the second leg riding high on confidence.

Madrid have knocked City out in each of their last two meetings. Will they make it a hat trick tonight or will City mount a miracle?

Un obús de Molina salva el duelo de entreguerras europeas del Atlético

 Madrid parecía Birmingham. Panza de burro, viento y alguna que otra gota. No pudo haber día más perfecto para recordar en el Metropolitano a los Peaky Blinders. Y lo cierto es que en el césped hubo una guerra de bandas. Una lucha por cada palmo de territorio. Lo que pasa es que cuando planeas una estrategia de guerra de trincheras y te derriban con un obús. Poco hay que hacer. [Narración y estadísticas, 1-

Lo cierto es que resulta complicado construir con un muro de currantes sin un arquitecto. Faltaban la gorra y los tirantes a la línea de seis con la que el Getafe no ha perdido en seis de sus últimos siete duelos. Djené, la punta de lanza de ese sexteto, puede destruir pero la creatividad no está entre sus virtudes. Si te encuentras con un gol tempranero, no un gol, sino un golazo: un zambombazo de Molina desde fuera del área, necesitas nombres diferentes.

Porque se las prometían felices los de amarillo ante un Atlético que vive entre batallas. Partidos cada tres días durante todo 2026 y ninguno fácil. Las rotaciones están dando aire al equipo, pero otros años la plantilla rojiblanca no tenía tanto arsenal en el banquillo. Son los suplentes que más goles marcan en la liga después del Barcelona. De hecho salió Vargas, primera titularidad del mexicano, y dejó detallitos como una buena conducción y una gran capacidad para encontrar el pase fácil. No es poco.

Anthony Edwards scores 42 as Timberwolves escape Warriors before Thunder clash

 SAN FRANCISCO — This wasn’t supposed to be a meaningful test for these mysterious Minnesota Timberwolves.

Heck, this Friday night affair against an emaciated Golden State squad without Steph Curry (knee), Jimmy Butler (season-ending ACL tear) and Draymond Green (late scratch with back issues) didn’t even qualify as a pop quiz for this split-personality team that returned to its inconsistent ways of late. Jekyll or Hyde should have been able to do this deed — with ease.

Yet, there they were midway through the fourth quarter, with the lead that was once as large as 25 points down to eight, inviting danger into this week that was already dicey enough as it was. As if the one-sided losses to Orlando (119-92), the Lakers (120-106) and the Clippers (153-128) weren’t bad enough — this coming after an impressive stretch in which they’d won eight of nine games — this confounding choice to play with their food against the B-Team Warriors meant that Anthony Edwards would need to stay on the floor until the end.

With Middle East in flames, Texan bunker maker sees business boom

 Since the war in the Middle East began nearly two weeks ago, the phone at Ron Hubbard's bomb shelter company in Texas hasn't stopped ringing.

Foreign and US clients are rushing to buy his bunkers, seeking refuge in case of air raids, nuclear fallout or apocalypse.

With the United States and Israel pounding Iran, and Tehran retaliating with strikes across the region, Hubbard has seen demand for his product soar, mostly from Gulf nation clients in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

"You can imagine how many people are thinking 'I wish I had a bomb shelter,'" Hubbard, 63, told AFP in the office of his company, Atlas Survival Shelters. "The respect and the demand for the product is really at an all-time high right now like I've never seen it before."

But with Iranian missiles hitting US targets in the Middle East and violence on the rise domestically, Americans are also worried. One recent morning, a client from Florida called Hubbard to inquire about a bomb shelter for 10 people.

- How It Works 

A basic backyard bunker housing four people underground for up to a week while shielding them from bomb blasts and radiation costs around $25,000.

Virginia tops NC State to earn spot in ACC Tournament semifinals

CHARLOTTE — After two regular-season losses to Virginia, NC State coach Will Wade was looking for a much better effort against the Cavaliers on Thursday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament.

His Wolfpack definitely delivered a better game.

 But it still wasn’t enough to upset the second-seeded Cavaliers, who held off NC State 81-74 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte. Virginia advances to play the winner of Louisville-Miami in Friday’s semifinals.

Trailing 78-74 in the final 25 seconds, Virginia’s Ugonna Onyenso blocked a lay-up attempt by Ven-Allen Lubin, and Matt Able missed a putback attempt. Virginia had nine blocked shots, eight by Onyenso, contributing to NC State’s poor shooting performance.

NC State shot a season-best 60.8% from the field in Wednesday’s victory against Pittsburgh, but Virginia held the ‘Pack to 32.3% shooting.

Paul McNeil led NC State with a game-high 26 points, including six made 3-pointers. Lubin had 14 points and 10 rebounds for NC State (20-13), which awaits its NCAA Tournament fate.

The game was tight through the first half and into the second. NC State’s last lead came at 40-39 with 17:42 left in the second half, but Virginia used a 9-0 spurt later in the half to take control.

Virginia starting center Johann Grunloh, a 7-foot freshman, picked up two fouls in the first four minutes of the first half and another in the first 24 seconds of the second half. He finished with four points in 10 minutes. 

But Onyenso, another 7-footer, controlled the paint with eight points and six rebounds to go along with his eight blocks in 30 minutes.

Miami (Ohio) dealt 1st loss of season by UMass in MAC tourney

 

CLEVELAND -- No. 20 Miami (Ohio) suffered its first defeat with a shocking 87-83 loss to UMass in its first game of the Mid-American Conference tournament Thursday, spoiling the last perfect record in Division I men's basketball.

Daniel Hankins-Sanford made a tiebreaking layup with 29 seconds remaining, and the Minutemen escaped with a victory in a quarterfinal game that had 12 lead changes and 10 ties.

The RedHawks (31-1) were the fifth men's Division I program this century to go undefeated during the regular season. Now, it's the second to get tripped up in its conference tournament. St. Joseph's lost to Xavier in the 2004 Atlantic 10 quarterfinals but was still a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Miami was the first squad since Gonzaga in 2020-21 to not have a loss going into a conference tournament.

Jim Boeheim defended Adrian Autry as "a good coach," saying his dismissal from Syracuse was a result of poor performance by the Orange's best players and lack of NIL funding for the program.

Syracuse fired Autry on Wednesday, ending the former Orange player's three-year tenure as Boeheim's coaching successor. The Orange went 15-17 this season and failed to reach the NCAA tournament under Autry.

Jo Malone sued for using her own name in collaboration with Zara

 British perfumier Jo Malone is being sued by Estée Lauder Companies for using her name in a collaboration with High Street retailer Zara.

The US cosmetics giant bought Malone's eponymous perfume brand, Jo Malone London, including the rights to her name, in 1999.

Though the Zara collaboration was with Malone's new brand Jo Loves, Estée Lauder Companies took issue with the use of Malone's name on the packaging, which read: "A creation by Jo Malone CBE, founder of Jo Loves".

The group is suing Jo Malone herself, Jo Loves and Zara's UK arm for trademark infringement and breach of contract.Jo Malone for a response. Zara UK declined to comment.

The Zara and Jo Loves collaboration started in 2019.

Malone has previously said she regretted selling the rights to use her own name for commercial purposes.

Under the terms of the 1999 deal, Malone had agreed not to use the "Jo Malone" name for commercial uses, including marketing fragrances.

As first reported by the FT, Estée Lauder Companies is also taking legal action regarding passing off, which is when customers are misled into thinking a product is from another company.

Jo Malone's fragrance business was founded in the early 1990s, and became popular for unique fragrances using British nature and blossoms as inspiration for its ingredients. The brand expanded to include scented candles and bath products.

A spokesperson for Estée Lauder Companies said when Malone sold the brand, "she agreed to clear contractual terms that included refraining from using the Jo Malone name in certain commercial contexts, including the marketing of fragrances.

PGA Tour shares Collin Morikawa’s ‘worst thing in the world’ reaction to Players withdrawal

The Players Championship got an early start Thursday at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

A loaded field that includes world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and No. 2 Rory McIlroy promises an exciting weekend at a tournament often referred to as golf’s unofficial “fifth major.” Scheffler and McIlroy have combined to win four of the past six titles at The Players.

 But with Scheffler struggling lately and McIlroy battling a sore back, world No. 4 Collin Morikawa entered the tournament as one of the favorites. A Golf Channel article placed him as the No. 2 favorite behind Si Woo Kim.

Unfortunately, Morikawa’s bid for a first Players title ended before it really got underway. The two-time major champion withdrew with a back injury of his own after completing just one hole.

The PGA Tour’s official X account shared Morikawa’s reaction. “Trust me, I would play if I could,” he said. “It’s just the worst thing in the world.

Real Madrid in awe of one of 'best on planet' Federico Valverde

 Trent Alexander-Arnold called Federico Valverde "the most underrated footballer on the planet" and coach Álvaro Arbeloa called him "a benchmark" after the midfielder's hat trick in Real Madrid's 3-0 win over Manchester City on Wednesday.

Valverde's 22-minute hat trick at the Bernabéu was enough to give Madrid the advantage going into next week's round-of-16 second leg in Manchester, though Vinícius Júnior had a second-half penalty saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The Uruguay international is the first midfielder to score a hat trick for Madrid in the Champions League, doubling his career tally in the competition in the process.

"I think he's the most underrated footballer on the planet and has been for years," teammate Alexander-Arnold told CBS. "Even when I wasn't here, I admired his game so much. There's no flaw in it, there's nothing he can't do.

"The energy and what he brings to the team is absolutely immense. He never moans, he pushes himself to the limit, game in game out. It's an incredible trait to have. Whether people agree or not, he's definitely in the top tier of midfielders on the planet and has been for years."

Arbeloa has restored Valverde to the midfield, after he had been played at right back by predecessor Xabi Alonso.

Federico Valverde hat-trick leads Real Madrid past Manchester City in Champions League: Live updates and reaction

 Real Madrid hat-trick hero Federico Valverde spoke to Movistar+ on Spanish TV after the match and called it the best game of his career.

💬 “Yes, for sure. Above all in goals. I really enjoy scoring goals, it’s a long time since I’ve had a game like this. So I’m really happy, but above all for the result for the team. It’s an incredible feeling.

“You dream about nights like this. I thank my teammates who gave me the confidence to be in good spirits. Thanks to the coach, the fans, who are always supporting me, even though it has been a difficult season.

“The coach always asks me to join the attack. Today we had more players who hold the ball in midfield, so I could attack a lot more. And my teammates gave me incredible passes

His positional error led to the only goal of the FA Cup final last season as Manchester City lost 1-0 against Crystal Palace.

And though the 20-year-old is a fine prospect, he did not get close enough to Valverde for the first two goals, and to Vinicius Junior in the build-up to the penalty either.

Another Tottenham agent of chaos

 

If any single moment sums up Igor Tudor’s thus far short but ignominious reign as Tottenham’s interim head coach, it was the sight of the Croatian pointing to his temples as he urged his players to maintain their composure against Atlético Madrid in Madrid on Tuesday. Composure? What composure? Spurs were 3-0 down after 17 minutes and the players in question were watching their goalkeeper trudge disconsolately from the pitch after suffering the public humiliation of being replaced for being rubbish. Studiously ignored by his manager, the crestfallen 22-year-old was followed down the tunnel by a trio of more senior players eager to console their mate. Only Tudor knows why João Palhinha, Conor Gallagher and Dom Solanke weren’t making themselves useful out on the pitch but his decision to leave all three seasoned professionals on the bench for a Bigger Cup tie that always had the potential to become the stuff of nightmares is just one of many inexplicable calls the Croatian has made since replacing Thomas Frank.

Billed far and wide across the media as “a fire-fighter” upon his arrival, Tudor has proved quite the opposite, taking no time at all to torch his own reputation as a coach and leader, along with whatever sort of positive relationship he might have fostered with Tottenham’s players and fans. Rather than extinguish the bin-fire that is Spurs’ season, this agent of chaos has doused it with gallons of petrol, masterminding four defeats in a row while reducing an already maligned rabble of highly paid professionals to the status of international laughing stock. And while that’s all well and good for neutrals who enjoy a spot of rubbernecking, his ice-cold treatment of Antonin Kinsky seemed a step too far. Whether it was those baffled by Tudor’s decision to throw an inexperienced goalkeeper into the Wanda bearpit for his first start since

The Lakers turn a big liability into an asset, using strong defense to beat Minnesota

 With six wins in their last seven games, the Lakers leap-frogged the Minnesota Timberwolves in the standings Tuesday after a convincing 120-106 win over the two-time Western Conference finalists.

The Lakers (40-25) own the valuable head-to-head tiebreaker against Minnesota (40-25) that could decide home-court advantage in the tight playoff race. The third- to seventh-place Western Conference teams are within 2.5 games in the standings, with the Lakers trailing third-place Houston (40-24) by just half a game.

Luka Doncic’s 31-point, 11-rebound and 11-assist triple-double stole the show Tuesday. Austin Reaves’ 29 second-half points turned a highly anticipated nationally televised game into a blowout. But the quiet force behind the Lakers’ recent surge is the team’s defensive improvement.

The Lakers were 23rd in defensive rating before the All-Star break, giving up 116.6 points per 100 possessions. They’ve jumped to 12th during the past 15 games with a defensive rating of 112.3.

Patrick Beverley Comes To Jaylen Brown's Defense Following Ejection

 

Former NBA guard Patrick Beverley came to the aid of Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown following Brown's ejection during Tuesday's loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

The incident occurred midway through the second quarter when Brown received two quick technical fouls for arguing a no-call on what he believed was a foul during a turnover. Crew chief Tyler Ford explained postgame that officials saw no illegal contact in live play, leading to the ejection after Brown's continued protests.

Beverely reposted Brown and asserted that the league doesn't want to see JB win MVP.

The exchange fueled discussions about Brown's MVP candidacy, especially with the Celtics holding a strong 43-22 record in the Eastern Conference.

Analysts have noted Brown's career-best performance this season as a key factor, though some like Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey have dismissed the MVP hype as overblown, citing Brown's rankings in advanced metrics.

Italy stuns Team USA in WBC. Here’s how the Americans can still reach quarterfinals

 The most celebrated  roster in baseball history is going to need some help to advance out of pool play in the World Baseball Classic.

A stunning 8-6 loss to Team Italy at Daikin Park in Houston on Tuesday night left the Americans facing a potential tiebreaker to move on in the tournament. The pitching staff faltered, and the offense stalled early with many of its top hitters on the bench. Rather than bully its way into the quarterfinals, Team USA (3-1) is going to have to watch the scoreboard and hope for a blowout Wednesday.

Team Italy is now 3-0 in Pool B and faces Team Mexico (2-1) in the finale at 7 p.m. (ET) Wednesday. Here are the two scenarios at play:

If Italy wins, it will be the top seed out of Pool B, and Team USA will advance as the second-place finisher.

If Mexico beats Italy, all three teams will finish 3-1 with room for only two to advance to the quarterfinals. The first tiebreaker is head-to-head record, but that won’t matter (each team will be 1-1 head-to-head). According to the WBC website, the second tiebreaker is: “the lowest quotient of fewest runs allowed divided by the number of defensive outs recorded in the games in that round between the teams tied.” Basically, the fewest runs per out in head-to-head games.

Team USA recorded 54 outs and allowed 11 runs against Italy and Mexico (.2037 runs

Bam Adebayo scores 83 points in a game: By the numbers

 

Miami Heat big man Bam Adebayo on Tuesday night put up the second-highest-scoring game in NBA history, passing Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, who famously scored 81 on Jan. 22, 2006, against the Toronto Raptors. Adebayo's epic performance still trails Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game, however.

Adebayo's full stat line in the Heat's 150-129 win over the Washington Wizards: 83 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals, two blocks. He hit seven 3-pointers on 22 attempts and scored 43 points in the first half -- which topped his previous full-game career high of 41.

Adebayo set records for most free throws made (36) and attempted (43) in an NBA game, and the Heat franchise records for most points in a quarter (31), half (43) and game (83). His record-setting night came 12 years and one week after LeBron James set the previous Heat record with 61 points against the then-Charlotte Bobcats.

Prior to Tuesday night's game, Adebayo's career high was 41 points. The total from his two highest-scoring games (41 and 38) was less than the 83 he scored against the Wizards.

• There have been 11 games this season in which a team failed to score at least 83 points, most recently last week when Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks lost to the Boston Celtics 108-81.

• Adebayo is the 11th different player in NBA history to score at least 70 points in a game. The other 10: Chamberlain (six times), Bryant, Luka Doncic, David Thompson, Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, David Robinson, Elgin Baylor, Joel Embiid and Devin Booker.

Familiar tale for Slot after Lemina gives Galatasaray edge over Liverpool

 ­second best for the first ­three-quarters of the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

Nobody who saw their second‑half collapse away against Juventus in the playoff round could be confident that Galatasaray are a team ­capable of squeezing the life out of the ­second leg. There is a nervousness about them at the back, a persistent sense of misfortune about to strike, but going forward they are breezy, quick and fun. Their only regret will be that, having taken an early lead through the former Wolves midfielder Mario Lemina, they did not add a second goal to give them more to defend at Anfield.

Victor Osimhen reacts in delight after scoring for Galatasaray against Liverpool

Victor Osimhen fires Galatasaray to victory on hellish night for Liverpool

Arne Slot had acknowledged that his side struggles to create chances from open play, but this really was an indictment of long-throw Britain, set‑plays seeming their only route to goal – although it should be a ­matter of concern to all English sides just how often the Spanish referee saw an offence amid what Premier League viewers have come to regard as the routine buffeting of a crowded six‑yard box.

The night Newcastle and Faustino Asprilla beat Barcelona: ‘I swear I’ve never heard noise like that’

 Tuesday night’s match at St James’ Park is a fixture that instantly transports those of a certain generation back to September 1997 and the night Faustino Asprilla rose as high as the decibel count to register a Newcastle hat-trick that sent visitors Barcelona home, bemused and defeated.

It was Newcastle’s first game in the Champions League proper, and the anticipation was tangible. “It is arguably the biggest-ever football night in the city,” began one Tyneside newspaper preview.

It was always going to be memorable. Asprilla scoring in the 22nd, 31st and 48th minutes to put Newcastle three goals up — they eventually won 3-2 — made it unforgettable. St James’ Park’s capacity was 36,600 then, 16,000 less than it is today, but the noise the crowd generated made the attendance seem twice that. When referee Pierluigi Collina, whose mere presence was a sign of the evening’s status at continental level, blew the final whistle, all bar the Catalan contingent left the stadium drained as well as elated.

“I was made for nights like this,” Asprilla recalled a few years ago, and few have sought to debate the maverick Colombian’s judgement.

2026 World Baseball Classic: Aaron Judge homers as USA beats Mexico

 Welcome to Pinstripe Alley’s coverage of the 2026 World Baseball Classic! We previewed Pool A, Pool B, Pool C, and Pool D in the linked articles. Since the first several days of the WBC feature a bevy of games, we’ll be recapping them in batches. Enjoy!

Pool B: USA (3-0) 5, Mexico (2-1) 3

While the United States jumped out to a big lead with Aaron Judge homering again, Mexico kept the game close, and USA faced their toughest test of the WBC slate thus so far.

After Paul Skenes and Manny Barreda each started the game with a couple zeroes, the US broke things open in the third. Shortly after a cannon of a throw from Judge caught a runner trying to advance to third, No. 99 got the party started with a two-run homer, his second of the tournament. Roman Anthony would go deep later in the inning, as the US put up a five spot to take control of the game. Meanwhile, Skenes ended up striking out seven, allowing just one hit in his four innings of work.

Following Skenes’ departure, things got a little close for comfort. Matthew Boyd came on for the fifth and allowed two runs, including a Jarren Duran home run. In the eighth, Durran homered off Boyd again, and Griffin Jax had to eventually come in to induce an inning-ending double play after Mexico put the tying run on.

In the ninth, Mexico again had a chance when Joey Meneses led off the inning with a single. Garrett Whitlock got the next three outs to seal the win, but it was a hairy one. Team USA hasn’t nailed down Pool B just yet, but they can secure the win by beating Italy today. The second spot should come from the winner of Mexico vs. Italy tomorrow.

World Baseball Classic news, live updates: Mexico faces U.S.; South Korea, Dominican Republic, Venezuela reach quarterfinals

 The 2026 World Baseball Classic gets one of its marquee games on Monday when the United States takes on rival Mexico. Both teams are 2-0 in Pool B.

In the first WBC game on Monday, South Korea beat Australia 7-2 to reach the quarterfinals from Pool C. That gave South Korea a 2-2 record in pool play, identical to Australia and Chinese Taipei — but South Korea’s seventh run against the Aussies swung the run-quotient tiebreaker in its favor. Also in Pool C, Shohei Ohtani and Japan secured a berth in the quarterfinals with a 4-3 victory over Australia on Sunday.

UFC White House card revealed, Topuria-Gaethje headline event

 The biggest event in MMA history has been confirmed by Dana White as the UFC White House card named the six major fights for June 2026.

UFC 326 took place Saturday night and featured several impressive bouts at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. However, the hype begins to set in for UFC fans after White revealed the star-studded card for June’s event in Washington D.C.

White announced the six-fight bout list for the UFC White House event, including a headliner match between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje. The two UFC stars will battle for the world lightweight championship.

Daylight saving time hit you like a brick? Here’s how to cope better

 When it comes to health, daylight saving time, frankly, sucks. It’s not just that we lose an hour of sleep (which is, in itself, harmful), it’s that every day spent in daylight saving time takes a toll on our body, says Emily Manoogian, a senior staff scientist at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, who studies the body’s biological clocks.

The whole time we’re on daylight saving time, we’re misaligning our environment with our bodies,” Manoogian says. “It’s not the one-hour shift that makes everyone feel bad. It’s this chronic disruption that makes us worse versions of ourselves.”

Experts—including Manoogian—typically recommend trying to shift your daily schedule before the clocks change to align with daylight saving time, perhaps by eating a half hour earlier or going to bed 15 minutes before your usual time. But that’s just not possible for some, and others might forget about the

FA Cup Fifth Round: Reaction as Arsenal survive scare to edge past Mansfield

 Listen to updates on this page

FT: Mansfield Town 1-2 Arsenal - Evans cancels out Madueke opener, but Eze restores lead

Dowman and Salmon, aged 16, start for Gunners

Wrexham v Chelsea Kick-off: 17:45 GMT

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Celtics' Tatum starts rough, finds groove in 15-point return

 BOSTON -- Celtics star Jayson Tatum described his return to the court Friday night as a step in his recovery from a torn right Achilles after playing in his first NBA game in 298 days.

"I still got a long way to go," said Tatum, who scored 15 points in 27 minutes in a 120-100 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. "But this was a really good step."

Tatum made his season debut in Boston's starting lineup more than 10 months after having surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon, which usually takes nine to 12 months to rehabilitate.

But his first game got off to a clunky start.

Tatum took his first shot on Boston's second possession, missing a 16-foot pull-up jumper

Judge, U.S. start World Baseball Classic with rout of Brazil

Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer and Brice Turang had three hits and four RBIs to lead the United States to a 15-5 win over Brazil in its World Baseball Classic opener Friday night.

There was one out and one on in the first when Judge, the first player to commit to the team last April, connected off Bo Takahashi at Houston's Daikin Park.

Lucas Ramirez -- with his father, 12-time All-Star Manny Ramirez, in attendance -- homered twice for Brazil. He cut the lead to 2-1 with his leadoff homer, and his solo shot in the eighth got Brazil within 8-5.

At 20 years, 49 days, he became the youngest player in WBC history with a multihomer game.

Marcus Smart Reveals DeAndre Ayton’s Mental State After Facing Backlash Over Efforts

 When the Los Angeles Lakers acquired former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton during the summer, the expectations were quite high. The 27-year-old big man was expected to bring stability at the center positions, which the Purple & Gold lacked even during the Anthony Davis era. However, that’s not been the case thus far this season.

While Ayton has shown flashes of his true potential, most of the time, he’s lacked effort and avoided the “dirty work” of rebounding and protecting the rim. Not to mention his struggles with injuries. All of this has led fans to question his role on the team and his long-term future in Southern California. This conversation especially resurfaced after he exited the Lakers’ 120-113 loss against Denver after just four minutes.

However, as it turns out Deandre Ayton is aware of the backlash he’s facing, as his teammate Marcus Smart revealed his mental state following Thursday’s loss.

“He’s down,” Smart told the reporters. “It sucked for him not to be out there in the game. He tried to go, and it just didn’t feel right for him, and it sucks. We definitely could have used him. I know as of lately, he’s been getting a lot of backlash for his effort and his play. He understands it. I know it might not seem like it, but he does, and he wants to do good, and he wants to help this team, and I think that’s what’s more frustrating for him, because he’s trying.”

2026 Winter Paralympics opening ceremony. How to watch

 

The 2026 Winter Paralympics officially begins Friday, March 6, with more than 600 athletes gathering for the opening ceremony to honor their sports and countries.

From March 6-15, Italy will host the 2026 Winter Paralympics with 665 athletes competing for gold.

At 1:30 p.m. on Friday, March 6, the 2026 Winter Paralympics Opening Ceremony will be broadcast live on cable TV and streaming platforms.

The title/theme for the opening ceremony is, "Life in Motion," according to the Olympics March 6 release.

"It is a tribute to life as change and transformation, inspired by the language of art and its unique ability to interpret the ever-evolving contemporary reality," per the Olympics. "​​An approach that redefines how we understand disability by fostering a new harmony between individuals and their environment."

Bears reportedly trading DJ Moore to Bills; Stefon Diggs to be released by Patriots

now with less than a week to go before the start of the legal tampering period (set for Monday, March 9 at 12 p.m. ET), the news cycle is heating up.

The latest bombshell dropped on Thursday, with the news that the Bears are reportedly trading star wide receiver D.J. Moore to the Bills.  Buffalo is sending a mid-round draft pick in return to Chicago. In Ben Johnson's first year as head coach of the franchise, Moore had career lows in catches and receiving yards despite playing in all 17 games.

Earlier this week, the Houston Texans made some moves, having reportedly acquired veteran running back David Montgomery from the Detroit Lions in exchange for offensive lineman Juice Scruggs and a fourth- and sixth-round pick. The team also reportedly agreed to trade starting right tackle Tytus Howard to the Cleveland Browns, who subsequently agreed to terms on a three-year, $63 million extension.

The Chiefs made a splash play on Wednesday, reportedly trading All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for the 29th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, as well as a fifth and sixth and 2027 third-round pick.

The week leading up to the official start of free agency on March 12 will also be a busy time for the release of NFL veterans, as each team makes moves to become compliant with the salary cap, which is officially set at $301.2 million per club.

What to know about Markwayne Mullin, Trump's new Homeland Security pick

 Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) is poised to be the next Homeland Security Secretary, replacing Kristi Noem, President Trump announced Thursday.

Why it matters: Mullin is a staunchly MAGA firebrand and will likely be in lockstep with Trump's immigration agenda.

What they're saying: "Markwayne will work tirelessly to Keep our Border Secure, Stop Migrant Crime, Murderers, and other Criminals from illegally entering our Country, End the Scourge of Illegal Drugs and, MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN," Trump said on Truth Social.

Mullin, who will need Senate confirmation, had previously hinted at being open to an administration position.

Catch up quick: Trump was reportedly unhappy with Noem, who became the face of his nationwide immigration crackdown.

Noem came under fire in Congress this week with both Democrats and Republicans slamming her handling of the administration's immigration intiatives.

Trump said Noem will serve as special envoy to a new "Shield of the Americas" initiative for security in the Western hemisphere.

What's Mullin's background?

Mullin is the second member of the Cherokee Nation to serve in the Senate, per his office's website.

He's a rancher and business owner who spent ten years in the House of Representatives before becoming a senator in 2023.

Mullin serves on Senate Armed Services, Appropriations, Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Indian Affairs Committees.

'Not good enough' - Lammens

 

Defender Noussair Mazraoui looked particularly uncomfortable as he hobbled to the team bus after getting caught in a tackle and picking up an injury that forced him off before the end at St James' Park.

At least United chief Michael Carrick has 11 days before his side face Aston Villa at Old Trafford to try and get some of his injured players fit.

But goalkeeper Senne Lammens summed it up when he spoke to host broadcaster TNT after the game.

"Nowhere near good enough," said the Belgium international.

"It was a collective off day."

Holmgren and Gilgeous-Alexander help Thunder edge the Knicks 103-100

 NEW YORK -- — Chet Holmgren had 28 points and eight rebounds, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 26 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder edged the New York Knicks 103-100 on Wednesday night.

Holmgren tied a career high with six 3-pointers and Lu Dort added 16 points for the Thunder, who recovered after the Knicks took the lead with a 40-point third quarter, going back ahead early in the fourth and nursing a small advantage the rest of the way.

Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby missed tying 3-point attempts on the final possession as Oklahoma City won its fourth straight and snapped New York's three-game winning streak.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 17 points and 17 rebounds for the Knicks. Brunson had 16 points and a season-high 15 assists, but shot just 5 for 18. Anunoby also had 16 points.

The first meeting of the season between the NBA champions and a Knicks team that fell two wins short of facing them in the NBA Finals had a high level of intensity. The Knicks thought referees missed what should have been Gilgeous-Alexander’s third foul in the first quarter after he crashed into Brunson, with an irate Mike Brown getting his first technical as Knicks coach.

Oklahoma City led 63-48 with 8:45 left in the third before the Knicks tied it with a 24-9 surge that Brunson capped when his 3-pointer got a friendly bounce in. Mikal Bridges' 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds to go gave New York an 80-77 lead.

Holmgren had 14 points in the first quarter, making four 3-pointers and going 5 for 7 overall — with the 7-foot-1 forward's two misses on jump shots that were blocked.

Oklahoma City led 44-31 but didn't score again for the next five minutes to let New York back into it. Holmgren ended the drought with two 3s in the final 46 seconds and it was 50-40 at halftime.

Barcelona llegó al segundo con Raphinha y se ilusiona con la remontada ante Atlético Madrid

 

En la presente campaña el Barça sigue vivo en las tres competencias que disputa (Liga, Copa del Rey y Champions), además de que volvió a ganarle la Supercopa de España al Real Madrid, que no es poca cosa.

Sin embargo, en varios partidos el equipo ha perdido las formas, algunos de sus futbolistas atraviesan una baja de juego preocupante y los rivales ya se aprendieron una de las armas de Flick para defender: tirar la línea para dejar en fuera de juego a los atacantes.

Una de las pocas cosas que se le pueden reprochar al alemán es que no ha sido capaz de mejorar los añejos problemas en la zaga azulgrana y la fragilidad que exhibe ante prácticamente todos los rivales.

Ahora, achicar la cancha como sistema y no como recursos implica un desgaste físico brutal: en cada ofensiva del oponente en turno los defensas del Barça —y las ayudas de mediocampistas y delanteros— corren a

Read more... 

Wolves v Liverpool, Leeds v Sunderland, and more: Premier League

 Dewsbury-Hall avoids a booking for a studs-up challenge and Everton get a free kick soon after. O’Brien flicks a header across goal, but Dubravka punches smartly away.

Leeds win a free kick, which is belted into the Sunderland wall. A final chance from a long throw, with Aaronsen’s cross cut out – and the half-time whistle blows as Sunderland threaten to break.

From cold rainy nights in Stoke to proper cup-tie atmospheres … we’ve got football covered. Without a cliche in sight. 

the football stories that matter every day of the week with live match blogs, match reports, expert analysis and our unmissable Football Weekly podcasts.  

Importantly, we also dig into the ugly side of the beautiful game – issues such as sportswashing, abuse and corruption.

We don’t accept money from gambling companies so you won’t read our coverage while being hassled to make a bet on the result. 

But that does mean that we rely on readers like you to get behind our team. 

Dow drops more than 800 points as oil surges, bond yields climb in response to deepening Iran conflict: Live updates

 

U.S. equities tumbled on Tuesday, undoing a Monday equity comeback, as oil prices spiked again and traders worried that the U.S.-Iran war could drag on longer than anticipated.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average

 lost 828 points, or nearly 1.7%. The 30-stock index was down 1,277.93 points at its low of the session. The S&P 500

 

slipped 1.6%, while the Nasdaq Composite

 was down 1.7%. At their lows of the day, the S&P 500 had lost 2.5%, and the Nasdaq was down about 2.7%.

Each of the S&P 500 sectors were in the red on Tuesday, with all but energy down more than 1% on the day. Materials, industrials and consumer discretionary sectors saw the biggest losses on fears that higher oil prices and borrowing costs could weigh on the U.S. economy.

Kawhi Leonard scores 23 points and Clippers rally from 17-point deficit to beat Warriors 114-101

 

SAN FRANCISCO -- — Kawhi Leonard had 23 points, eight rebounds and four assists, and the Los Angeles Clippers erased a 17-point deficit to beat the short-handed Golden State Warriors 114-101 on Monday night.

Darius Garland scored 12 points in his Clippers debut, coming off the bench to play nearly 23 minutes in his first game since being acquired from Cleveland at the trade deadline last month in a deal that sent James Harden to the Cavaliers.

Garland had been nursing a toe injury, then he went down with 1:26 left in the second quarter after a collision with Moses Moody when they both went for a loose ball and Moody’s right shoulder appeared to get Garland in the face. Both players were shaken but stayed in th

Garland had been nursing a toe injury, then he went down with 1:26 left in the second quarter after a collision with Moses Moody when they both went for a loose ball and Moody’s right shoulder appeared to get Garland in the face. Both players were shaken but stayed in the game.

Garland’s 3-pointer with 3:09 left in the third pulled the Clippers within 75-68, then Kris Dunn had a steal and layup to make it a five-point game. Los Angeles was within 79-77 going into the final 12 minutes.

Dunn finished with 16 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the Clippers, who shot just 9 for 31 from 3-point range. Los Angeles used a 9-4 spurt to start the fourth quarter and go ahead 88-81.

Brandin Podziemski scored 22 points for the Warriors with Stephen Curry sidelined for an 11th straight game with a right knee injury, big man Kristaps Porzingis out for his fifth consecutive contest because of an illness coach Steve Kerr called “mysterious.” Rookie Will Richard was in a walking boot for his sprained right ankle he hurt in Saturday’s blowout home loss to the Lakers.

Real Madrid drop 2nd in a row, insist LaLiga race not over

Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa insisted that the LaLiga title race isn't over after his team's surprise 1-0 home defeat to Getafe left them four points behind leaders Barcelona.

Martín Satriano scored a spectacular first-half goal, and Madrid were unable to convert a number of chances, as Getafe won their first game at the Bernabéu in 18 years.
 A tense finale saw both sets of players clash on the touchline at the final whistle, while Madrid's Franco Mastantuono was sent off in the 95th minute for dissent.

"No, of course not," Arbeloa said in his post match news conference, when asked if the loss effectively ended Madrid's title aspirations. "There are 36 points left, and we have to fight for them. Nobody here will give up, this is Real Madrid. Four points is a gap we think we can bridge."

Madrid visit Celta Vigo on Friday, before hosting Manchester City in the Champions League round of 16 next week.

"We have great players, a great squad, and players who will recover and help us a lot," Arbeloa said. "We can do things better on the pitch. I understand the criticism after a defeat like this.

"We created chances to score. Can we play better? That's also true. I can't criticise the effort of the players. It's my job to improve the play of the team."

The referee's report said Mastantuono had been shown a red card for shouting "what a disgrace" twice at the official.

Las claves de la derrota del Real Madrid frente al Getafe

 

El Real Madrid desperdició una chance inmejorable de acercarse en la tabla de posiciones al Barcelona luego de la sorprendente derrota en el Bernabéu frente al Getafe. Si el Real Madrid ganaba, se ponía a un punto del Barça, pero la caída lo alejó a cuatro y firmó su segunda derrota en fila en LaLiga, tras caer en la pasada jornada ante el Osasuna.

El gol de la victoria lo hizo Satriano, un tanto que no olvidará en años por la calidad de la volea.

El Real Madrid dominó el partido, pero no contaba con un inspirado arquero David Soria, quien salvó al Getafe en varias ocasiones.

Vinícius Júnior, que venía liderando el ataque del Real Madrid en los últimos partidos debido a la baja de Kylian Mbappé, no pudo romper la sólida defensa del Getafe, que consiguió una victoria en el Bernabéu después de 18 años.

Y para colmo, Franco Mastantuono, quien ingresó de cambio, vio la roja directa por reclamarle al árbitro

A continuación repasamos las claves de la derrota del Madrid ante los azulones.

Luka and LeBron lead Lakers past Kings 128-104 to complete back-to-back weekend wins

 LOS ANGELES -- — Luka Doncic had 28 points and nine assists, LeBron James added 24 points and the Los Angeles Lakers finished a back-to-back set with a 128-104 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night.

Austin Reaves scored 12 points for the Lakers, who also won at Golden State on Saturday to end a three-game skid. After a week of unimpressive play following the All-Star break, Los Angeles snapped back into form on the weekend, beating its two Northern California rivals by a combined 52 points.

Doncic made four 3-pointers as the NBA's leading scorer played only the first three quarters, while James, Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard hit three 3s apiece. The Lakers made 17 of their first 33 3-point attempts while the starters were still playing, flirting with the franchise record for 3-point shooting percentage before finishing 18 of 39.

The 41-year-old James had a pair of rim-shaking dunks that he celebrated with zeal during a comfortable win for the Lakers, who never trailed again after Sacramento scored the game's opening basket.

Nique Clifford scored 26 points for the Kings in their fourth consecutive loss at the Lakers' downtown arena. Russell Westbrook had 14 points against his former team in his hometown.

Tyler Reddick wins first 3 races of season, making NASCAR history

 AUSTIN, Texas -- Tyler Reddick became the first driver in NASCAR Cup Series history to win the first three races of the season with a victory Sunday at the Circuit of Americas.

Driving a Toyota co-owned by Michael Jordan, Reddick won the season-opening Daytona 500 and a week later at Atlanta, then won from the pole in the first road course race of the year.

Reddick held off hard-charging Shane van Gisbergen, the Trackhouse driver and the series' dominate road driver, over the final 20 laps. Jordan, the basketball Hall of Famer, was with Reddick's 23XI pit crew exchanging high fives as Reddick crossed the finish line.

Van Gisbergen, who won five of six road course races in 2025, lost his bid for a record-tying sixth consecutive road win. The only road course race he didn't win last season was in Austin.

Reddick was just too good all weekend in pursuit of history. His 11th career victory was also his second at COTA, a track built for Formula 1, and the first time he's had multiple victories a track. He won at COTA in 2023.

It wasn't easy. Reddick had van Gisbergen on his bumper for several laps in the final stage, but was able to keep him behind. Van Gisbergen began to fall farther and father behind over the final six laps.

Rough day for rookie

Zilisch Trackhouse Cup Series rookie Connor Zilisch came into the weekend with the expectation that he might be the one to end van Gisbergen's dominance on road courses.

But Zilisch's weekend began with a surprisingly poor qualifying position of 25th and got worse Sunday when he got spun on the restart for stage two. Zilisch fought back into contention for the win in the final stage, but his race effectively ended when he was spun again in a restart out of a caution with 16 laps to go. He finished 14th.

Catherine shares first message entirely in Welsh for St David's Day

 Catherine, Princess of Wales, has for the first time delivered a video message entirely in Welsh to mark St David's Day.

Catherine said Wales was "very close to our hearts", while Prince William, also speaking in Welsh, praised the nation's "rich history and wonderful people" in a video published by Kensington Palace.

The royal couple paid a visit earlier this week to Powys, where they greeted cheering crowds holding bunches of daffodils, the national flower of Wales.

Wales celebrates its patron saint every year on 1 March. The Prince of Wales delivered his first message in Welsh on St David's Day last year.

"To everyone in Wales, a very happy St David's Day," William said in the video posted on Sunday, standing alongside Kate.

"Wales is very close to our hearts, and we look forward to every visit," Kate then says.

William goes on to remark: "It is a beautiful country, with a rich history and wonderful people."

Kate then finishes the message by saying: "Wishing you a day full of celebration with family and friends."

The video was recorded earlier this week on the Windsor estate.

Kate spoke about her passion for mothers' mental health during the couple's visit to mid Wales on a rainy Wednesday this week, where she met members of a perinatal service for women experiencing problems linked to early motherhood.

Premier League updates from the 4.30pm GMT kick-off

 

Mikel Arteta usually looks delighted when the whistle sounds for an Arsenal win. He’s not smiling right now. He puffs out his cheeks and exhales hard. He knows that was a hard-won victory, one in which his side didn’t play well, but ground out the three points they so desperately needed in the title race. Chelsea gave as good as they got in the second half, but an implosion midway through it cost them the match. Arsenal re-establish their five-point cushion at the top, having played a game more than Manchester City; Chelsea meanwhile slip behind in the race for Champions League qualification.

Arsenal make it over the line! It wasn’t pretty, and Chelsea ran them so close at the end, but things like that matter little at this stage of the season!

90 min +6: Pedro, his back to goal on the penalty spot, juggles the ball with his head before sending an overhead kick goalwards. Raya parries. Delap forces the ball into the bottom right. Goal! Goal? No goal! Pedro was a mile offside when the first ball was sent into the box!