Sports
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander puts up 29 to lead Thunder past Pelicans
Jan 27, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) passes as New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones (2) defends during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points while leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 104-95 home win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday.
The Thunder snapped a two-game losing streak while halting the Pelicans’ two-game winning streak.
Chet Holmgren helped the Thunder create some separation in the third quarter, scoring 14 of his 20 points and pulling down seven of his 14 rebounds in the period.
Ten of Oklahoma City’s 31 third-quarter points came on second chances.
The Thunder had just two offensive rebounds in the first half but had 11 after the break, helping lead to 21 second-chance points in the last two quarters.
After being outrebounded by 11 in the first half, Oklahoma City won the second-half rebounding battle 30-20.
Holmgren also finished with five blocks and three assists.
The Thunder extended their lead to 17 early in the fourth quarter, but New Orleans responded with a 13-2 run to cut the deficit to six with less than six minutes remaining.
Jeremiah Fears, who starred at nearby Oklahoma last year as a freshman before making the leap to the NBA, helped fuel the Pelicans’ run, with four quick points to start the stretch, the second basket after his own steal.
Fears had another steal late in the run, leading to a Herbert Jones 3-pointer.
The rookie then drained another 3-pointer with just more than five minutes remaining to cut the deficit to five.
But New Orleans couldn’t get any closer.
The Thunder won despite shooting just 40.2% from the field, their fourth-lowest shooting performance of the season and their worst in a win.
The Pelicans sank just 34.3% from the field, their second lowest of the season.
Isaiah Joe added 17 points off the bench in the win, while Jaylin Williams pulled down 10 rebounds.
Zion Williamson had 21 points and 11 rebounds for New Orleans, going 8 of 11 from the floor. The rest of the Pelicans’ starters were just 14 of 59.
Gilgeous-Alexander had a rough start, missing his first five shots and not connecting from the field until early in the second quarter.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished just 8 of 22 from the field but hit 13 of 14 from the free-throw line.
–Field Level Media
Sports
76ers' Joel Embiid to home fans: 'Don't sell your tickets'
May 2, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) scores a three pointer against the Philadelphia 76ers with 25 seconds to go in game six of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images It’s just a little more than 100 miles from Madison Square Garden in New York to Xfinity Mobile Arena in South Philadelphia — a relatively short car ride or train trip for Knicks fans who wanted to see their team in action against the 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
But 76ers star Joel Embiid, who was the NBA’s Most Valuable Player and a first-team All-Pro selection in the 2022-23 season, wants no part of Knicks fans invading his team’s home arena.
In his postgame interview Saturday night after the Sixers stunned the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of their series to advance, he put 76ers fans on notice.
Don’t sell your playoff tickets — especially not to Knicks fans.
New Yorkers overtook the Philadelphia arena two years ago when the No. 2-seeded Knicks eliminated the No. 7 Sixers in the opening round of the postseason. It has been presumed that Knicks fans bought their tickets from 76ers fans.
“I just have a message for our fans,” Embiid said Saturday night. “Last time we played the Knicks, it felt like [Philadelphia] was Madison Square Garden East. We’re going to need the support.
“Don’t sell your tickets. This is bigger than you. We need you guys.”
Embiid offered a solution, if need be.
“Knicks fans travel — they buy tickets,” he said. “There’s going to be people who will sell the tickets because they need the money. Don’t do it, we need you guys. We need the support, and we need them to be extremely loud. If you need money, I’ve got you.”
The Eastern Conference semifinal between the teams begins Monday in New York, with Game 2 set for Wednesday. The series will move to Philadelphia on Friday for Game 3, followed by Game 4 on Saturday.
The Knicks defeated the Atlanta Hawks in six games to advance.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jannik Sinner wins Madrid, shatters record for consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles
Mar 29, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrates his victory over Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic in the final of the men’s singles at the Miami Open at the Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images Jannik Sinner became the first player to capture five straight ATP Masters 1000 titles when he breezed past Germany’s Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2 on Sunday in the Mutua Madrid Open final.
The 24-year-old Italian, who ranks No. 1 in the world, started his unprecedented streak in France by winning the Paris Masters on Nov. 2. He set the record there for losing the fewest number of games (29).
Sinner won the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells in March, where he became the first player not to lose a set in two consecutive ATP Masters 1000 events. He followed that by claiming the Miami Open, the Monte-Carlo Masters and now the Mutua Madrid Open. The last four victories have come in a nine-week span.
In Sunday’s win over the second-seeded Zverev, Sinner never faced a break point while converting all four of his break points against Zverev. Of his 29 first serves that landed, he won the point on 27 (93.1%). He averaged 130 miles per hour on his first serves compared to Zverev’s 124 mph.
Sinner needed just 25 minutes to complete the first set and 31 minutes to take the second set and wrap up his ninth consecutive win over Zverev. The German sensed the match might go this way.
“He’s world No. 1 and hasn’t lost a match since the beginning of February,” Zverev told reporters after capturing his semifinal match on Friday. “Right now he’s definitely the best player in the world. I have to play very, very good tennis to have a chance.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Raptors' Brandon Ingram downgraded to doubtful for Game 7
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) shoots the ball as Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) defends during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram was seen in a walking boot during the team’s shootaround on Sunday morning, several hours before Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against the host Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ingram initially was listed as questionable to play due to right heel inflammation. He was downgraded to doubtful when the NBA released its official injury report early in the afternoon.
An All-Star this season for the second time in his career, Ingram was limited to 11 minutes and scored one point in Toronto’s 125-120 setback to Cleveland in Game 5 on Wednesday. He did not play in Toronto’s 112-110 overtime victory in Game 6 on Friday.
During the regular season, the 28-year-old Ingram averaged a team-high 21.5 points over 77 games. He also averaged 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists and drilled 38.2% of his 3-point attempts.
–Field Level Media
76ers' Joel Embiid to home fans: 'Don't sell your tickets'
Jannik Sinner wins Madrid, shatters record for consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles
