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No. 18 Virginia intent on starting fast in encounter vs. Pitt

NCAA Basketball: Virginia at Boston CollegeJan 31, 2026; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Virginia Cavaliers center Ugonna Onyenso (33) hangs from the rim after dunking the ball against the Boston College Eagles during the second half at Conte Forum. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Coming off its fifth straight road win, No. 18 Virginia looks to start a new streak at home Tuesday night against Pitt in Atlantic Coast Conference action in Charlottesville, Va.

The Cavaliers (18-3, 7-2 ACC) had their 11-game home win streak snapped in an 85-80 loss against then-No. 22 North Carolina in their most recent contest at John Paul Jones Arena on Jan. 24.

Virginia bounced back last week with wins at Notre Dame and Boston College. They fended off the Fighting Irish 100-97 in double overtime last Tuesday and edged the Eagles 73-66 on Saturday to improve to 6-1 in road games.

“It’s hard to complain, winning that many games on the road,” said head coach Ryan Odom, whose Cavaliers are tied for third in the ACC. “It’s not easy to win on the road. It doesn’t matter what league you’re in. It’s difficult.”

Virginia trailed at halftime in both wins last week. Down 32-27 at the break against Boston College, the Cavaliers took the lead for good at 55-52 on Jacari White’s 3-pointer with about 10 minutes remaining.

“To come away this week with two wins on the road is really, really difficult, and I’m proud of the execution down the stretch,” Odom said.

Thijs De Ridder, a freshman from Belgium who turned 23 on Saturday, matched his season scoring average exactly with 17 points against the Eagles. Malik Thomas averages 13.0 points per game and Chance Mallory (10.5) and Sam Lewis (10.2) also are scoring in double figures.

Virginia averages 84.0 points per game in its first season under Odom, compared to 64.8 last season under interim coach Ron Sanchez and 62.9 in Tony Bennett’s final season in 2023-24.

Pitt (9-13, 2-7) dropped to 0-2 against Top 25 teams this season with Saturday’s 63-52 loss at then-No. 22 Clemson. The Panthers have lost four of their last five games overall and are 1-5 on the road this season.

Pitt’s streak of three straight winning seasons is in serious jeopardy at the midway point of the conference campaign. Three of the Panthers’ next four games are against ranked opponents, starting with the trip to Virginia.

The Panthers’ loss on Saturday was their 15th in a row against Clemson. The Tigers built a 33-16 lead by halftime and completed the season sweep after winning 73-68 in Pittsburgh on Jan. 3.

“We played Clemson close (the first time),” head coach Jeff Capel said Saturday, per the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “We played them well. That’s another one where if we can close around the basket and make some free throws, maybe the outcome is a little bit different.”

Roman Siulepa and Damarco Minor led Pitt with 12 points apiece against Clemson. Leading scorer Brandin Cummings (12.5 points per game) came off the bench and was held to just two points.

Cameron Corhen (12.2), Barry Dunning Jr. (11.9) and Siulepa (10.0) also are scoring in double figures this season, with Minor adding 9.5 points and a team-high 3.5 assists.

–Field Level Media

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Amen Thompson's tip-in at buzzer lifts Rockets over Heat

NBA: Miami Heat at Houston RocketsMar 21, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) catches a pass against Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) in the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

Amen Thompson tipped in a Kevin Durant missed jumper at the buzzer, and the Houston Rockets escaped with a wild 123-122 victory over the visiting Miami Heat on Saturday night.

Durant had passed Michael Jordan’s career 32,292 points for fifth on the scoring list with a corner 3-pointer at the 3:35 mark of the fourth quarter. The Heat (38-33) moved ahead on a goaltending call against Jabari Smith Jr. when he attempted to block Simone Fontecchio’s layup after the Rockets committed a turnover on an inbounds pass by Tari Eason.

Thompson saved the Rockets (43-27) with his career-best 18th rebound, redirecting the Durant miss just before the buzzer sounded. Thompson finished with 24 points and was one of three Rockets to record double-doubles along with Reed Sheppard (23 points, 14 assists) and Alperen Sengun (19 points, 12 rebounds). Durant finished with 27 points to lead the Rockets and has 32,294 for his career.

Bam Adebayo paired 32 points with a career-high-tying 21 rebounds to pace the Heat. Tyler Herro scored 25 points but shot 0-for-5 in the fourth quarter. Fontecchio had 21 points and five 3-pointers. Pelle Larsson tallied 19 points, while Davion Mitchell had 15 points and nine assists.

Fontecchio drilled a 3 that gave the Heat an 83-80 lead at the 7:11 mark of the third quarter, the seventh lead change by that point in the period. Miami extended that margin, boosted by two Myron Gardner 3s late in the third, and the Heat extended to an 11-point cushion in the fourth.

But Smith nailed back-to-back 3s to spark the Houston comeback in the final period, and when Thompson scored on a transition dunk, the Rockets led 103-102. Sheppard made a floater with 12.7 seconds left for a 121-118 lead, only for Miami to reclaim the lead before Thompson won it.

The Heat answered the Rockets’ 8-0 start to the game with a 23-3 run that yielded a 12-point cushion. Houston responded quickly, boosted by three Sheppard 3-pointers, and when Smith made two free throws with 45 seconds left in the first quarter, Houston reclaimed a 30-29 lead.

The Rockets led 55-48 late in the second quarter before Mitchell nailed two 3s that helped Miami shave the deficit to 64-63 at the half.

–Field Level Media

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Bruins surge in third, down Red Wings in race for playoff berth

NHL: Boston Bruins at Detroit Red WingsMar 21, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Viktor Arvidsson (71) handles the puck against Detroit Red Wings defenseman Albert Johansson (20) during the first period at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images

The visiting Boston Bruins scored twice in a 3:20 span in the third period to turn around a one-goal deficit en route to a 4-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings in a crucial matchup between Atlantic Division rivals on Saturday night.

Nikita Zadorov scored the eventual game-winner with 10:18 remaining to lift Boston (39-23-8, 86 points), which improved to 3-0-2 in its last five.

David Pastrnak and Elias Lindholm each registered a goal and an assist, Marat Khusnutdinov also scored, Morgan Geekie had three assists and Charlie McAvoy two.

Jeremy Swayman backstopped the victory, making 41 saves.

Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat lit the lamp and John Gibson made 23 saves for Detroit (38-24-8, 84 points), which had been on a 2-0-1 run.

The teams entered Saturday’s game in a tie for the two Eastern Conference wild-card playoff positions, while the Montreal Canadiens held the No. 3 slot in the division by virtue of a better points percentage.

Lindholm netted the game-tying goal for 2-2 at 6:22 of the third period. After Mason Lohrei kept the puck in at the blue line, Geekie fired a cross-ice pass to Lindholm to slot home five-hole on Gibson from the bottom of the left circle.

Aided by another Geekie pass, Zadorov’s winner followed on an off-angle wrister coming down the left wing.

Gibson kick-saved Lukas Reichel’s penalty shot with 6:08 left in regulation to give Detroit some life, but Swayman stood tall in the final minutes and Khusnutdinov scored an empty-netter with 1:52 to go to preserve the win.

Detroit was held without a shot for more than 12 minutes to begin the game, but finished at 10-10 advantage following a scoreless first period. J.T. Compher narrowly missed making it a 1-0 lead before intermission, as his rebound bid slid past Swayman just after the final tenth of a second expired off the clock before intermission.

The hosts officially drew first blood 3:35 into the middle frame. Raymond cashed in on another man-up sequence, burying a one-time goal from the bottom of the left circle off Andrew Copp’s cross-ice feed.

Pastrnak responded with a game-tying, power-play goal at 5:07. The star winger blasted a one-timer from the left side after receiving McAvoy’s feed from the top of the formation.

DeBrincat put the Wings back in front at 4:06 of the second, slipping down to the top of the left circle to slot a high wrister past Swayman.

–Field Level Media

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FC Dallas outlast Houston with late winner in Texas tussle

MLS: Houston Dynamo FC at FC DallasMar 21, 2026; Frisco, Texas, USA; Houston Dynamo forward Ezequiel Ponce (10) attempts a bicycle kick as FC Dallas midfielder Ramiro (17) defends during the first half at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Logan Farrington scored twice in the opening 14 minutes, Petar Musa scored a late winner in the 86th minute in a rare appearance off the bench, and FC Dallas earned a 4-3 victory over the 10-man Houston Dynamo on Saturday night in Frisco, Texas.

Musa also helped create the second-half equalizer — an own goal off Houston’s Duane Holmes — after his halftime entrance for Dallas (2-1-2, 8 points), which earned its first win since its season opener on Feb. 21.

Guilherme scored his fourth goal and assisted tallies from Erik Sviatchenko and Lawrence Ennali for Houston (2-2-0, 6 points) in its first road match of the season.

But Sviatchenko was dismissed in the 68th minute for his second booking, becoming the fourth Dynamo player to receive his marching orders this season.

After scoring five times in Dallas’ first four matches, Musa was not listed on the league’s availability report for the weekend yet began the night unexpectedly outside the starting lineup.

And while it worked out well early, by halftime Dallas manager Eric Quill found his side trailing 3-2 and summoned his Croatian striker.

He immediately provided an impact, helping Dallas pull level in the 54th minute.

Herman Johansson took down a bouncing ball on the right flank, then played the ball up the side for Musa to run onto. Musa dribbled into the box and then tried to drag a cross toward the penalty spot, one that caromed off Holmes and over the line.

The goal was originally ruled offside, but was overturned following a video review.

Just under a half-hour later, Musa showed up again on the same right side, this time to finish off Joaquine Valiente’s tantalizing inswinging service at the back post with a one-touch volley after outmuscling his defender.

Guilherme helped turn Houston’s two-goal deficit into a one-goal advantage in the space of four minutes.

In the 29th minute, he intercepted Dallas goalkeeper Michael Collodi’s wayward pass and turned it into a simple finish before the goalkeeper could recover.

In the 31st, his outswinging corner found Sviatchenko at the back post for a clear header Collodi had little chance of saving.

He capped off the remarkable individual stretch in the 33rd when he found Ennali running in behind around the edge of the Dallas back line with a perfect throughball.

–Field Level Media

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