Sports
Wizards, Kings set to battle, coming off blowout losses
Jan 16, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine (8) drives against Washington Wizards guard Jamir Watkins (5) during the fourth quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images Washington coach Brian Keefe is in no doubt as to where the Wizards need to improve when they host the struggling Sacramento Kings on Sunday.
After winning the first two legs of a five-game homestand, Washington came back to earth with a thud on Friday, trounced 142-111 by the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Wizards were outgunned 41-27 in the opening quarter, 36-21 in the second for a 77-48 halftime deficit, and trailed 97-59 midway through the third period.
“Start better” was Keefe’s two-word solution. “We only lost the second half by two. They obviously came out and made some tough shots, but we didn’t have our (style) what we’ve been doing a lot lately — with the force and physicality to make people miss shots.”
Washington did demonstrate some belated fight in the second half, primarily thanks to its bench, spearheaded by guard Malaki Branham, who had 17 points, including 4-of-6 shooting from 3-point range.
“Great credit to the crew that came into the second half,” Keefe said. “Anthony Gill, Malaki, (Will) Riley, Jamir (Watkins) were with that group, (and) a mixture of some other guys with that. But those guys came in and gave us a good spark, good fight. But too little, too late.”
Gill admits the young Wizards got ahead of themselves after beating the Milwaukee Bucks 24 hours earlier.
“I think the biggest thing we can learn is to stay neutral,” he said. “Last night (Thursday against Milwaukee) we had, in our minds, a big win. We celebrated and we thought we were on top for a little bit. We were quickly humbled (Friday, by the Lakers). We didn’t come out the way that we should have. They jumped on us from the start, and we could never get it back.”
There are plenty of opportunities for Washington’s reserves such as Gill to play meaningful minutes given the team’s lengthy injury list.
Tre Johnson (ankle) and Khris Middleton (knee) didn’t play against Los Angeles. Johnson will sit out against the Kings while Middleton is available.
Tristan Vukcevic (hamstring) will be sidelined again but Marvin Bagley III (back) has been cleared. Trae Young (knee, quadriceps) will be re-evaluated following the mid-February All-Star break, according to ESPN.
The Kings are in a deeper hole, owning the worst record in the NBA. They have lost eight straight games — including the last five of a disastrous eastern road swing — after going down to the Boston Celtics 112-93.
That loss mirrored the Wizards’ effort against the Lakers, also the second fixture of a back-to-back set.
The Kings were outscored 40-25 in the first period, 32-21 in the second, and fell behind 85-54 in the third, before finishing strongly.
“For us, it doesn’t matter where we’re at — we have to play to our standard and figure out a way to win — road, whatever,” Sacramento coach Doug Christie said. “It goes without saying, anytime we lace them up, we want to win. Being in ballgames and figuring out how to finish them, especially the last two, come to mind.”
Russell Westbrook (foot) didn’t play in Boston, or in Philadelphia against the 76ers the night before, while Domantas Sabonis was rested against the Celtics. Both are listed as day-to-day.
Christie’s bigger concern, as he seeks to manufacture an end to the Kings’ skid, is avoiding coughing up needless turnovers.
“We’ve been in some ballgames on the road,” he said. “I would say more than anything, one of the things you have to do on the road is you have to take care of the basketball. Ball security is huge.”
Sacramento just defeated the Wizards 128-115 on Jan. 16.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tyler Reddick starts bid for 3rd straight NASCAR Cup win with pole run
Feb 22, 2026; Hampton, Georgia, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Tyler Reddick rounds the track at EchoPark Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mady Mertens-Imagn Images AUSTIN, Texas — One of the few things that wasn’t startling about Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series qualifying session at Circuit of the Americas was Tyler Reddick’s run for the pole position.
Negotiating the 2.4-mile road course in 97.760 seconds (88.380 mph) in the second qualifying group, Reddick claimed his third Busch Light Pole Award in six attempts at the track. He will lead the field to green in Sunday’s DuraMAX Grand Prix Powered by Reladyne (3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Of course, there’s more at stake for Reddick than simply a victory at COTA. In winning at EchoPark Speedway near Atlanta last Sunday, the driver of the No. 45 Toyota became the sixth Cup competitor to start a season with two consecutive wins. No driver has ever won three straight to open a season.
The 23XI Racing driver acknowledged that the pole position, the 12th of his career, is a positive first step toward that goal.
“It helps the chances, certainly,” said Reddick, whose series-best average finish of 4.6 at COTA includes a victory in 2023. “I think starting up front is huge.”
Michael McDowell led the first qualifying group of 19 drivers with a lap at 88.031 mph but fell to sixth soon after the second group took to the track. Ultimately, Ross Chastain posted the second-fastest lap at 88.256 mph (97.897 seconds) and will start on the front row beside Reddick.
The shocker was not that Chastain, the 2022 COTA winner, fashioned an excellent lap. What was surprising was that his two Trackhouse Racing teammates, Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch — both vaunted road course racers — failed to crack the top 10 in qualifying.
Van Gisbergen was 13th fastest on his third lap. Zilisch could do no better than 25th. Van Gisbergen is seeking his sixth straight road course victory in the Cup Series, a mark that would tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon for most consecutive road course wins.
Chase Briscoe (88.242 mph) will start third, followed by Ryan Blaney (88.179 mph) and Chase Elliott (88.161 mph). Elliott leads active drivers with seven road course victories.
Behind McDowell in sixth, AJ Allmendinger qualified seventh, followed by defending race winner Christopher Bell, Ty Gibbs and William Byron.
“We’ll see how it gets going,” Reddick said. “Certainly, Ross, Shane, Ryan Blaney-there’s a number of good drivers who were really strong in practice today. We’ll try to understand what that all looks like and make our best decisions on the car and everything.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Warriors F Gui Santos signs multi-year extension
Feb 25, 2026; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos (15) passes the ball as Memphis Grizzlies guard Javon Small (10) defends during the third quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos signed a multi-year contract extension on Saturday.
Specific terms were not disclosed by the Warriors. However, ESPN reported it was a three-year, $15 million contract extension with a player option in 2028-29. Santos was in line to become a restricted free agent prior to this extension.
Santos, 23, is posting career-best averages in points (6.6), rebounds (3.2) and assists (1.7) in 48 games (13 starts) this season.
He is contributing 4.9 points, 3.0 boards and 1.4 assists in 127 career games (15 starts) since being selected by the Warriors in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Isaiah Evans, No. 1 Duke overwhelm No. 11 Virginia
Feb 28, 2026; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Isaiah Evans (3) grabs a pass as he moves around a pick center Patrick Ngongba II (21) as Virginia Cavaliers guard Sam Lewis (5) defends during the first half at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-Imagn Images Isaiah Evans used a hot start on the way to 19 points and top-ranked Duke’s defense contained No. 11 Virginia for much of Saturday afternoon’s showdown in a 77-51 victory at Durham, N.C.
The Blue Devils, with two games remaining, secured at least a share of the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season championship and locked up the top seed for the upcoming ACC tournament.
Cameron Boozer racked up most of his 18 points on free throws for Duke (27-2, 15-1 ACC), which built its lead to 28 points in the second half. Boozer also had a team-high nine rebounds, while Patrick Ngongba II added 11 points.
Thijs De Ridder had 16 points for Virginia (25-4, 13-3), which was bidding to pull even atop the ACC standings. Instead, the Cavaliers’ nine-game winning streak was halted as they were held to a season-low point total.
Virginia went 29.1% from the field, including 7-for-35 on 3s, so the Cavaliers’ 12-for-13 shooting at the foul line couldn’t save them. Virginia collected nine offensive rebounds despite its volume of missed shots.
Evans shot 5-for-9 on 3-pointers and was 7-for-11 overall from the floor, accounting for nearly half of Duke’s 12 baskets from 3-point range.
Boozer had 11 first-half points on 11-for-12 free-throw shooting, but didn’t make a field goal until a 3-pointer early in the second half. He ended up 3-for-9 from the field in 33 minutes in Duke’s second-to-last home game of the season.
Aside from De Ridder, Virginia’s starters shot a combined 4-for-22 from the field.
An 11-0 run in the second half stretched Duke’s advantage to 70-43.
Duke built an 18-9 lead across the first 11 minutes, with Evans providing 14 of those points. The Blue Devils carried a 41-26 lead into halftime.
Virginia shot 4-for-17 on first-half 3s, while going 4-for-8 on 2-point range attempts.
By game’s end, Boozer attempted 12 of Duke’s 14 free throws.
–Field Level Media
Tyler Reddick starts bid for 3rd straight NASCAR Cup win with pole run
Warriors F Gui Santos signs multi-year extension
