Sports
NBA roundup: Rockets' Kevin Durant becomes 5th on all-time scoring list
Mar 21, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) reacts after making a three point basket against Miami Heat forward Simone Fontecchio (0)(not pictured) in the second half at Toyota Center. Durant scored 27 points in the game passing Michael Jordan for fifth all time in points in the NBA. 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 passed Michael Jordan’s career 32,292 points for fifth on the NBA’s 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 finished with 24 points and a career-high 18 rebounds. He 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 missed all five of his fourth-quarter shots. Fontecchio had 21 points and five 3-pointers.
Lakers 105, Magic 104
Luke Kennard drilled a go-ahead 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds remaining to lift Los Angeles to a victory over host Orlando.
Trailing by two with 2.6 seconds left, Marcus Smart inbounded a pass to a wide-open Kennard, who clinched the team’s ninth straight win. Los Angeles was led by Luka Doncic’s 33 points and eight assists, while Austin Reaves had 26 points. LeBron James scored 12 and passed Robert Parish for most regular-season games played in NBA history with 1,612.
Orlando was paced by Paolo Banchero’s 16 points and Jalen Suggs’ 14. Wendell Carter Jr. and Jevon Carter added 13 apiece for the Magic, who lost their fourth straight.
Clippers 138, Mavericks 131 (OT)
Darius Garland scored 41 points with 11 assists and Kawhi Leonard added 34 points as visiting Los Angeles ended a four-game losing streak with an overtime victory over Dallas.
Derrick Jones Jr. scored 15 points, including two 3-pointers in overtime, as the Clippers shot 56.7% from the floor and went 21-of-42 from 3-point range to salvage the final game of a three-game road trip.
Naji Marshall scored 28 points and Cooper Flagg added 18 points with 10 rebounds and four blocked shots for the Mavericks, who lost their 11th consecutive home game.
Hornets 124, Grizzlies 101
LaMelo Ball’s 29 points led to another big offensive output for Charlotte in its victory against visiting Memphis.
Brandon Miller poured in 22 points for the Hornets, who have won five of their last six. Charlotte also received contributions from Miles Bridges with 13 points and Coby White, who paired 12 points and eight rebounds with seven assists in 19 minutes off the bench.
GG Jackson led Memphis with 19 points, while Javon Small provided 17 points and a team-high seven rebounds, Taylor Hendricks had 14 points and Walter Clayton Jr. notched 11 points. The Grizzlies have lost 10 of their last 11 games.
Thunder 132, Wizards 111
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points as Oklahoma City beat host Washington to stretch its winning streak to 11 and the Wizards’ skid to 15.
The Thunder’s Chet Holmgren added 18 points and 10 rebounds and Jared McCain scored 18 off the bench. Isaiah Hartenstein had nine points, a career-high-tying 20 rebounds and 10 assists, just missing out on his second career triple-double.
Bilal Coulibaly led six Washington players in double figures with 21 points while Bub Carrington added 19.
Cavaliers 111, Pelicans 106
Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points, James Harden went for 20 points, 10 assists and six rebounds, and Cleveland used a fourth-quarter rally to snap New Orleans’ seven-game home winning streak.
Cleveland came back from down as many as 15 points, going on runs of 16-2 and 10-0 in the final period to pull ahead. Sam Merrill scored 15 points and Evan Mobley went for 18 points and eight rebounds.
Zion Williamson shot 10-of-14 from the floor to lead New Orleans with 25 points. Saddiq Bey shot 4-of-8 from 3-point range on the way to 19 points, and Murray posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 assists.
Hawks 126, Warriors 110
Dyson Daniels matched his career high with 28 points to help Atlanta beat Golden State and extend its home-court winning streak to 10 games.
Daniels was 12-for-17 from the field with seven rebounds, six assists and four steals to help the Hawks bounce back from their 11-game winning streak being snapped Friday vs. Houston. CJ McCollum scored 23 points, and Zaccharie Risacher and Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 17 each. Mouhamed Gueye, who started in place of leading scorer Jalen Johnson (left shoulder inflammation), recorded 16 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.
The Warriors were led by De’Anthony Melton with 20 points, Nate Williams with 19 points and Pat Spencer with 18. They are 1-4 on their six-game road trip, which concludes on Monday at Dallas.
Spurs 134, Pacers 119
Rookie Dylan Harper poured in a career-high-tying 24 points in his first career start and Keldon Johnson also hit for 24 points as host San Antonio rolled to a win over hapless Indiana.
The Spurs remain on a torrid pace as they won their fifth straight game and for the 21st time in their past 23 contests. Victor Wembanyama finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, six assists and five blocked shots in 26 minutes of court time.
Meanwhile, Indiana dropped its 16th consecutive outing. Andrew Nembhard led all scorers with 25 points while Jarace Walker tallied 21. Pascal Siakam scored 14 in his first game back after missing six contests with a sprained right knee.
76ers 126, Jazz 116
Quentin Grimes scored 25 points and VJ Edgecombe added 22 points and 13 rebounds to lead Philadelphia past Utah at Salt Lake City.
Trendon Watford added 20 points off the bench for the 76ers, who won for the fourth time in the last five games. Cameron Payne added 16 points and seven assists off the bench and Adem Bona also scored 16 points for Philadelphia, which played without star Joel Embiid (oblique) for the 12th straight contest.
Ace Bailey had 25 points and seven rebounds and Kennedy Chandler scored a career-best 19 points off the bench for the Jazz, who sewed up their third straight 50-loss campaign. Cody Williams and Elijah Harkless scored 15 points apiece and Bez Mbeng had a career-best 13 points for Utah, which has lost five of its last six.
Bucks 108, Suns 105
Ryan Rollins had 26 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists as visiting Milwaukee handed Phoenix its fifth straight loss.
Kyle Kuzma scored 20 points before exiting in the third quarter with right Achilles tightness for Milwaukee. Gary Trent Jr. and Ousmane Dieng scored 11 points apiece for the Bucks, who ended a two-game skid.
Jalen Green led Phoenix with 24 points, while Collin Gillespie added 18 and Devin Booker had 14 points on 4-of-17 shooting.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Kansas coach Bill Self will take time to evaluate future
Mar 19, 2026; San Diego, CA, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self speaks at a press conference ahead of the first round of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images Bill Self was noncommittal about his future as Kansas coach after the Jayhawks’ season-ending loss in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, saying he plans to meet with his family to discuss what comes next.
“I haven’t really gone through much on the court,” Self said after No. 4 seed Kansas fell to No. 5 seed St. John’s on a buzzer-beater in the second round. “I’ve gone through some stuff off the court. So I’ll get back and get with family and visit and see what’s going on.
“I love what I do. I need to be able to do it where I’m feeling good and healthy to do it fairly well. I’ll get back home, and it will all be discussed.”
Self’s comments indicate his decision will be made based more on his own health than the turbulent season his team just completed, which was marked throughout by instability around freshman phenom Darryn Peterson’s availability. Peterson, one of the frontrunners to be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft this June, missed 11 games with multiple ailments, including quad and hamstring injuries, an issue that became a near-constant point of discussion.
Self’s own health issues first cropped up in 2023, when he was hospitalized with chest tightness and had two stents inserted to treat blocked arteries in his heart, causing him to miss the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments. He had another two stents inserted in July 2025.
In mid-January, he was taken to Lawrence Memorial Hospital after he felt unwell and ultimately received IV fluids and did not travel with the team for a game at Colorado.
“I don’t know about completely,” Self said Sunday about his health, “but I’m feeling — I feel as good as I’ve felt in a long time. I’m not making any statements whatsoever.
“When you get to be doing it as long as I’ve done it, I look at it in five-year increments. Now I’m probably looking at it in more two-year increments, so to speak. So I try to focus on this season and try to get us to a second weekend, which we failed at. So I’ll go back now and break it down and see where that leads.”
Self, 63, has won two national championships (2008, 2022) and taken Kansas to four Final Fours since being hired in 2003, compiling a remarkable 648-167 (.795) record. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.
–Field Level Media
Sports
World No. 3 Iga Swiatek splits with coach after just 18 months
Jul 12, 2025; Wimbledon, United Kingdom; Iga Swiatek of Poland poses with the trophy after winning the women’s final match against Amanda Anisimova of the United States on day 13 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images World No. 3 Iga Swiatek has parted ways with coach Wim Fissette following last week’s abrupt second-round exit at the Miami Open.
The 24-year-old tennis star announced the split on social media Monday, ending their partnership after an 18-month tenure highlighted by her sixth Grand Slam title at Wimbledon last July.
Swiatek, who was eliminated by Polish compatriot (and World No. 50) Magda Linette in Miami last Thursday, said the rest of her team will remain in place. The loss snapped her streak of 73 consecutive opening-match wins.
“Sometimes life and sport bring moments like this,” Swiatek posted on Instagram, translated from Polish. “Miami was challenging for me. I feel disappointment, bitterness and responsibility for my performance on the court of course. I’ve also learned a lot of important lessons and I think that’s very human.
“That being said, after many months of working together with my coach Wim Fissette, I’ve decided to take a different path. It was an intense time full of challenges and many important experiences. I’m grateful for his support, experience, and everything we achieved together — including one of my biggest dreams in sport.”
Swiatek worked with former coach Tomasz Wiktorowski for three years before hiring Fissette in October 2024.
Fissette, 46, of Belgium, previously coached Kim Clijsters, Angelique Kerber and Naomi Osaka to Grand slam titles. He also worked with Simona Halep and Sabine Lisicki.
“We both wanted and worked for more but shared important moments and lessons,” Fissette posted on Instagram. “Iga, I now wish you good luck and success in what’s next. I’m sure you will have it.”
Swiatek has won 25 career WTA Tour titles. In addition to Wimbledon in 2025, her major championships include the 2022 U.S. Open and four wins at the French Open (2020, 2022-24).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Union Prez: WNBA players nearly unanimous yes on CBA
Sep 9, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike (3) shoots the ball against the Golden State Valkyries during the first half at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images The WNBA labor dispute moved one step closer to a final resolution with players voting to ratify the new collective bargaining agreement with the league, according to the players’ union president on ESPN’s “First Take” on Monday.
Women’s National Basketball Players Association president Nneka Ogwumike said the results of the ratification vote were a near-unanimous yes with 90% of players taking part in the voting.
The CBA will now go back to the league for its approval.
The league, in partnership with the Players Association, officially announced on Friday that a seven-year CBA had been agreed upon.
The agreement will run through the 2032 season.
The revenue-sharing deal will increase the average salary to $583,000 this season and the maximum salary to $1.4 million, while providing over $1 billion in salaries and benefits over the contract.
“This Collective Bargaining Agreement represents a defining moment in the WNBA’s 30-year history and all of women’s professional sports,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said Friday in a news release. “Since its inception, the WNBA has been shaped by extraordinary athletes who believed in the league’s future. The agreement is a testament to that belief and to the tremendous progress we have achieved together.”
The salary increases represent a significant jump for WNBA players. Team salary caps will be $7 million this season — a huge leap from $1.5 million in 2025 — and will be adjusted annually based on teams and league revenue growth.
The deal projects the maximum salary to reach $2.4 million by 2032, and the average salary to surpass $1 million by then.
The minimum salary this season will range from $270,000 to $300,000, depending on service time. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft will earn approximately $500,000.
“We’ve always believed that as this league grows, the players who power it must grow with it, and we’re proud to see that belief shared,” Ogwumike, the league MVP in 2016, said Friday. “We love this game enough to push for what it can become, not just for ourselves, but for those who built this league and those who will carry it forward.
“This agreement reflects that shared commitment, with players owning their value and future alongside a league growing stronger because of it.”
The players have been without a collective bargaining agreement since they opted out of their existing agreement in October 2024, a year before its Oct. 31, 2025, expiration.
All players on the WNBA championship team will receive $60,000 — the payout was $22,908 in 2025 — and the runner-ups will receive $20,000 (up from $8,521). The WNBA Finals MVP will get a $30,000 bonus (up from $5,000).
The season MVP will receive a $60,000 bonus, the Defensive Player of the Year will get $30,000 and the Rookie of the Year will receive $15,000.
The All-Star Game MVP will receive $20,000.
The length of the regular season will increase to 50 games in 2027 and 2028 and 52 from 2029-32.
The WNBA Draft is slated for April 13 with training camps opening six days later.
–Field Level Media
Kansas coach Bill Self will take time to evaluate future
World No. 3 Iga Swiatek splits with coach after just 18 months
