Sports
Thunder hope to emerge from tough stretch, battle Pelicans
Jan 25, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) reacts after a play against the Toronto Raptors during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images Even though the Oklahoma City Thunder are facing some challenges, with two starters out and several other rotational players injured, Mark Daigneault views it as a positive.
“There’s a lot of headwinds in the NBA — scheduling, injuries, refereeing, shot variance, and everybody deals with it at different times to various degrees,” Daigneault said heading into Tuesday night’s home matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans. “It just becomes about your ability to see those things as a challenge and attack them and if you do that then you’ll emerge from that mentally tougher and more connected as a team.”
The Thunder come into the game having dropped back-to-back games and three of their last five.
All-Star Jalen Williams, who missed the first 19 games of the season after undergoing wrist surgery in the offseason, has missed the last four games with a hamstring strain, while Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) hasn’t played since Dec. 28.
Alex Caruso (thigh) has missed the last three games, while Ajay Mitchell (hip) has missed the last two.
One of the bright spots in Oklahoma City’s short-handed lineup recently has been Luguentz Dort’s offensive play. Though Dort has remained at the center of the Thunder’s defensive gameplan, he’s struggled to be efficient offensively.
He seems to be turning a corner, though. In his last four games, Dort is shooting 48.6% from the field and 46.2% from beyond the arc. That includes a 1-for-9 overall shooting night in Friday’s loss to Indiana, where he missed all five 3-pointers he tried.
In Sunday’s two-point home loss to the Raptors, Dort was 6 of 10 overall and 4 of 8 from deep for a season-high 19 points.
“He’s done a really nice job,” Daigneault said. “Continues to be an impactful defender. … Glad he’s caught a rhythm with his shooting the last couple of weeks as well. Obviously we’re going to need it.”
While Oklahoma City is riding out a rough stretch, even as it maintains a lead in the Western Conference, the Pelicans — last in the conference — come into Tuesday’s game having won back-to-back games, including Sunday’s 104-95 victory in San Antonio.
New Orleans reserve center Yves Missi tied a season high with 14 rebounds in the win over the Spurs and made several key buckets down the stretch.
With the Thunder limited inside without Hartenstein, Missi could once again play a significant role Tuesday.
“He anchors our defense. He comes in and turns us,” Pelicans interim coach James Borrego said. “… I love his confidence right now, his energy, his spirit. He’s driving a lot of what we’re trying to do right now.”
The Pelicans lead the league in points in the paint, scoring 58.2 per game, while Oklahoma City is allowing an NBA-low 40.4 points per game in the paint. New Orleans’ Zion Williamson is second in the league with 16.1 points per game in the paint.
The Thunder have won 12 consecutive matchups with the Pelicans, including a four-game playoff sweep in 2024.
Oklahoma City’s last six wins in the series — including two this season — have come by an average of more than 21 points per game.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Acaden Lewis, Villanova thriving ahead of Marquette matchup
Feb 7, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Acaden Lewis (55) dribbles against the Georgetown Hoyas during the first half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images In his first season at Villanova, head coach Kevin Willard has been lucky to have another Wildcats newcomer running his offense.
Freshman point guard Acaden Lewis aims to lead Villanova to its fourth straight win Tuesday when the Wildcats host Marquette in Big East action.
While playing all 23 games for the Wildcats (18-5, 9-3 Big East), Lewis leads them in assists (5.3) and steals (2.0) while contributing 12.4 points per game. He made two clutch 3-pointers and finished with 26 points on 11-of-15 shooting in Saturday’s 80-73 road victory over Georgetown.
“I have the utmost confidence in him,” said Willard. “He is progressing just the way you want a freshman to progress. He’s been great at getting everyone involved. Tonight, we needed him to score and he did that.”
Tyler Perkins chipped in with 15 points while Duke Brennan added 13 points and 13 rebounds for the Wildcats, who remain on track to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022.
Meanwhile, Marquette (9-15, 4-9) is looking for its fourth win in six games following a stretch in which the team lost nine of its previous 10 contests.
The Golden Eagles topped Butler on Saturday, posting a 70-55 home victory as Chase Ross scored 19 points and Adrien Stevens pitched in with 18. Stevens and Ross combined to make 10 3-pointers for Marquette, which shot an impressive 45.2% from beyond the arc (14 of 31).
“It’s a testament to all of our guys, particularly our guards,” Golden Eagles coach Shaka Smart said. “Creating pretty high-quality outside shots.”
Villanova has won two straight meetings with Marquette after losing the previous eight matchups.
In the first encounter this season, the Wildcats posted a 76-73 victory in Milwaukee on Jan. 10. Lewis led the way with 20 points and eight assists, helping to overcome Nigel James Jr.’s 31 points for the Golden Eagles.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Why the New England Patriots Can Get Back to the Super Bowl After Ugly Loss
The New England Patriots were overmatched in Super Bowl LX, losing to the Seattle Seahawks 29-13 on Sunday night in Santa Clara, Calif.
After the sting subsides and the New England fan base has had time to lick its wounds, those fans will turn the page and begin thinking about next season. When they do, they’ll ponder the following question: Can the Patriots return to the Super Bowl next year?
Despite how things unfolded Sunday, the answer is an unequivocal “yes.”
New England’s level of success this season was unexpected — the Patriots were 4-13 in 2023 and 2024 — and it’s certainly reasonable to expect the team to take another step forward next year.
New England will lose some players to free agency, but none who you would call “core” contributors. Edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson, an unrestricted free agent, may be the best of the bunch.
What Vrabel said after Patriots loss
“Disappointed,” first-year New England head coach Mike Vrabel said following Sunday’s loss.
“I reminded them that we’re 307 days into what hopefully is a long, successful relationship and program. It’s OK to be disappointed and upset together. … Every year, somebody’s going to lose this game. We have to remember what it feels like and make sure it’s not repeatable.”
The quarterback/coach combo is in place with Drake Maye and Vrabel, and the defense has cornerstone pieces with cornerback Christian Gonzalez, 23, and tackle Milton Williams, 26, both of whom are in their prime.
Of course, to make another lengthy playoff run, Maye will have to perform like he did in the regular season — not the postseason. Maye was sacked 21 times and had four passes intercepted in four playoff games.
“You’re going to have times like this and it’s how you bounce back,” Maye said. “All those guys in the locker room are going to use this as fuel and I’d go to war with those guys any time, any day, anywhere. It’s motivation to get back here and not have this feeling and have what they’re feeling out there. … Can’t wait to get back and play in another one.”
Vrabel said the significant jump the Patriots made this season won’t be very valuable if the organization can’t find ways to improve the team in the offseason.
The New England fan base can also take solace in the fact that the team’s front office earned high marks in both free agency and the draft last season.
Sunday’s outcome certainly highlighted New England’s shortcomings and will undoubtedly influence what team management does to help the roster.
Even with a low draft position, the Patriots should be able to bolster their offensive line and add a much-needed playmaker to their offense. Those two areas are arguably where the team needs the most upgrading.
The schedule will be more difficult next season, but the Patriots play in the weaker of the two conferences. Two of the top teams in the AFC — Buffalo and Baltimore — will each have a first-year head coach next season, and the AFC East is certainly manageable. It always helps to play the New York Jets twice a year.
DraftKings lists New England at +1200 to reach next year’s Super Bowl, behind Seattle (+950), the Los Angeles Rams (+950), and Buffalo (+1000).
It shouldn’t surprise anybody if the Patriots get there.
Sports
David Coit takes over late as Maryland beats Minnesota
Feb 8, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Isaac Asuma (1) works around Maryland Terrapins guard George Turkson Jr. (11) during the first half at Williams Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images David Coit scored seven of his 29 points in the final 26 seconds as Maryland snapped a four-game losing streak, outlasting Minnesota 67-62 Sunday in Big Ten play at Minneapolis.
Andre Mills added 12 points and Darius Adams contributed 11 points as Maryland improved to 18-3 all-time against Minnesota.
Solomon Washington put up nine points and 10 rebounds for the Terrapins (9-14, 2-10 Big Ten), who had lost their previous four games by an average margin of 28 points.
After Cade Tyson hit two free throws with 53 seconds left to put Minnesota up 62-60, Coit scored the game’s final seven points.
The key play came with 26 seconds left when Coit drained a side-step 3-pointer to put the Terrapins up 63-62. Coit then added four free throws in the final 11 seconds.
“Coach got on me after the last game. He called me out. I was being selfish with my body language,” Coit said. “I had to respond.”
Coit made 9 of 13 shots from the floor, 4 of 7 from distance and hit all seven of his free throw attempts.
Isaac Asuma scored all 18 of his points from behind the arc to lead Minnesota (11-13, 4-9), which was coming off an upset of No. 10 Michigan State on Wednesday. The loss was the Golden Gophers’ eighth in their last nine games.
Tyson finished with 12 points and Langston Reynolds contributed 11 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Golden Gophers.
Midway through the first half, Mills made a 3-pointer which gave Maryland a 17-14 lead, before Asuma responded with consecutive triples to give Minnesota a lead that it held the rest of the period.
Two 3-pointers by Bobby Durkin pushed the Golden Gophers’ edge to 33-26. Coit answered with a 3-pointer and a driving three-point play to cut the deficit to 33-32 at the break.
Midway through the second half, two driving layups by Reynolds gave Minnesota the biggest lead of the second half, 53-47.
But Coit put the Terrapins on his back scoring 15 of his points in the final 8:41.
–Field Level Media
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