Sports
Paolo Banchero, Magic stay hot, cool off rival Heat
Mar 14, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) passes the ball as he drives to the basket as Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware (7) defends during the first half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images Paolo Banchero posted 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as the visiting Orlando Magic defeated the Miami Heat for the fifth straight time 121-117 on Saturday night.
Orlando led by as many as 22 but needed two Wendell Carter Jr. free throws with 11 seconds left to help put Miami away. Banchero added two free throws with 7.8 seconds left.
Desmond Bane added 21 points for the Magic, who have won seven straight. Carter scored 15, Jalen Suggs added 14 and Jamal Cain chipped in 12 as the Magic swept the season series 5-0.
Miami, which had its seven-game win streak snapped, was led by Bam Adebayo, who had 20 points, seven rebounds, four steals and two blocks. Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 22 points, seven assists and three steals. Fellow reserve Norman Powell had 20 points and Pelle Larsson scored 13 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter.
Miami got two of its top three scorers back as Tyler Herro (quadriceps) and Powell (groin) returned after missing a combined nine games, seven by Powell. Herro had just 10 points on 4-for-14 shooting from the field.
The Heat remain without fourth-leading scorer Andrew Wiggins, who has missed five straight games due to a toe injury.
Orlando won without two of its top four scorers: Franz Wagner (ankle) and Anthony Black (back).
The Magic jumped out to a 14-6 lead and continued to play well, taking a 41-27 lead at the end of the first quarter. Orlando shot 69.6% from the field in the quarter compared to 38.1% for Miami.
In the second quarter, Orlando shot 52.2% overall and 4 of 9 on 3-point attempts and went into halftime with a 71-55 lead. Miami made 44.0% in the second quarter, including 2 of 10 from deep.
The Magic survived a slump in third, shooting just 38.1% overall, including 1 of 6 on 3-pointers. Despite the struggles, Orlando entered the fourth leading 98-83.
In the fourth, Miami cut its deficit to 117-111 with 1:07 left on a Jaquez three-point play. After a Magic miss, Larsson made two free throws with 43.2 seconds left.
On Orlando’s next possession, Tristan da Silva dribbled the ball between his legs and out of bounds.
However, Larsson was called for a turnover failing to inbound the ball within five seconds.
Suggs missed two free throws, allowing Miami to cut the margin to 117-115 on a pair of Jaquez foul shots with 18.5 ticks remaining. But the Magic held on for the win.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Italy stays hot, dispenses Puerto Rico to advance to WBC semifinal
Mar 14, 2026; Houston, TX, United States; Italy catcher JJ D’Orazio (28) and pitcher Greg Weissert (57) celebrate on the mound after the game against Puerto Rico during a quarterfinal game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Italy chased Puerto Rico starter Seth Lugo with four runs in the first inning en route to an 8-6 World Baseball Classic quarterfinal victory on Saturday afternoon in Houston.
The Italian team remained undefeated and advanced to Tuesday’s semifinal against the winner of Saturday’s quarterfinal between Venezuela and Japan.
JJ D’Orazio drove in three runs and Andrew Fischer knocked in two for Italy, which erased an 1-0 deficit with four runs in the first and then pushed its lead to 8-2 with a four-run fourth. Dylan Delucia threw four scoreless innings in middle relief while Greg Weissert got the final five outs to earn his third save of the tournament.
Puerto Rico’s Willi Castro led off the game with a home run off Italy starter Sam Aldegheri (1-0), but Lugo (1-1) retired just one batter in the bottom of the first. He was pulled after allowing four runs, three hits and two walks.
Christian Vazquez poked a two-run single with one out in the eighth to cap a four-run inning and pull Puerto Rico within 8-6, but Weissert retired five of six batters with the tying run at the plate.
–Field Level Media
Sports
F1 officially cancels Bahrain, Saudi Arabia GPs due to Iran war
May 1, 2025; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Fans pose for a picture in front of the F1 logo in the team village ahead of the F1 Miami Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images Formula 1 officially canceled races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia scheduled for April because of safety concerns from the ongoing war in the Middle East.
The Bahrain Grand Prix was scheduled for April 12, while the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix was set for April 19.
“While several alternatives were considered, it was ultimately decided that no substitutions will be made in April,” F1 said in a statement released Saturday.
Iran is accused of launching drone and missile attacks on both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in response to the Israel- and U.S.-led war on Iran.
Just a month ago, teams were conducting testing at the Bahrain International Circuit.
The races are not likely to be rescheduled at a later date, given the full F1 calendar, ESPN reported.
The decision to cancel the two races leaves F1 with a 22-race schedule and a five-week gap between the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29 and the Miami Grand Prix on May 3.
The Chinese Grand Prix is scheduled for Sunday.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Celtics dominate 2nd quarter, extend Wizards' skid to 11
Mar 14, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) controls the ball against Washington Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly (0) during the first half at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images Neemias Queta scored a game-high 24 points and had 10 rebounds to help the Boston Celtics end a two-game losing streak by beating the visiting Washington Wizards 111-100 on Saturday night.
Boston received 20 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists from Jayson Tatum, and a 16-point performance from Jaylen Brown. Derrick White scored 15 and Luka Garza added 15 off the bench.
Boston outrebounded Washington 55-38. The Celtics grabbed 19 offensive rebounds.
The loss stretched Washington’s losing streak to 11. The Wizards have lost nine in a row on the road.
Tristan Vukcevic made 6 of 7 3-point attempts and led the Wizards with 22 points. Fellow reserve Jamir Watkins added 15 points and six rebounds and Bilal Coulibaly finished with 12 points. Trae Young scored 11 and had six assists.
Alex Sarr was 1 of 9 from the field and was held to four points.
Boston led by nine in the opening quarter, but Washington went in front 27-26 on a Watkins 3-pointer with 1:05 left. Boston led 29-27 after 12 minutes. Queta scored 13 points in the quarter.
The Celtics scored 19 of the first 21 points in the second quarter and had a 48-29 advantage with 4:58 remaining in the first half. Boston outscored Washington 35-14 in the second and led 64-41 at halftime.
Queta made 10 of 12 shots from the field in the first half, when he led all scorers with 22 points.
Boston pushed its lead to 83-53 on a Brown basket with 5:34 left in the third, but the Wizards used a 15-5 run late in the quarter to trim their deficit to 20. Boston carried a 93-72 lead into the fourth.
The Wizards trailed by 12 following a Vukcevic 3-pointer with 4:21 to play, but failed to get closer than 11 the rest of the way.
–Field Level Media
Italy stays hot, dispenses Puerto Rico to advance to WBC semifinal
F1 officially cancels Bahrain, Saudi Arabia GPs due to Iran war
