Sports
Stars align as healthier Thunder, Celtics match up
Mar 23, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) passes the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the third quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images The Oklahoma City Thunder will be seeking their 13th consecutive victory when they visit the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night.
Oklahoma City, the defending NBA champion, had a franchise-record 16-game winning streak earlier this season and currently has the best record in the league (57-15).
“We don’t really focus on the winning streak, we focus on the possessions,” Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said following Monday night’s 123-103 road victory over Philadelphia.
“We don’t even focus on the game, we focus on the possessions and trying to build the right habits and win the little battles that exist inside a possession and let them stack up throughout a game,” the coach continued. “Sometimes you look up and you win the game, sometimes you look up and you’re up 20 and sometimes you look up and you have a winning streak.
“We try to stay very present and just continue to sharpen our blade, improve our stuff and compete. Wherever that lands us, it lands us.”
The Celtics-Thunder matchup will feature two of the NBA’s top scorers. Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.5 points per contest, which ranks second in the league. He has scored at least 20 points in 64 straight road games after he broke Wilt Chamberlain’s NBA record of 58 from 1961-63.
Boston’s Jaylen Brown is averaging 28.5 points per game, which is fifth in NBA scoring.
The Celtics (47-24) had their four-game winning streak end with Sunday night’s 102-92 home loss to Minnesota. Boston’s Jayson Tatum had 16 points and 11 rebounds in the setback but shot 6 of 16 from the field.
Tatum is shooting 38.8% from the field, including 29.3% from 3-point territory, in eight games since he returned from surgery to repair a ruptured right Achilles tendon in May.
“I wouldn’t say normal slump, because it’s the first time I went through something like this,” Tatum said. “I mean, it’s just been a long time. It was a long time before I could shoot a basketball, before I could walk. So just trying to knock the rust off game by game. I find great spurts and moments from game to game and, you know, just trying to put more of them together.”
Tatum, a six-time All-Star and first-team All-NBA the past four seasons, is averaging 19.1 points and 8.9 rebounds this abbreviated season.
“Just taking it day by day,” Tatum said. “I have probably the worst injury you can have. Came back in 10 months and getting better. Better feel each game. I wanted to be perfect and first-team All-NBA Jayson, but it’s going to take time. I didn’t rush the rehab process, so I can’t rush this. It’s all gonna work out.”
Guard Jalen Williams returned to the Oklahoma City lineup for Monday’s game against Philadelphia and scored 18 points with six assists and four rebounds in 20 minutes in the win. A right hamstring strain had kept him out of game action since Feb. 11, a span of 16 games.
The hamstring strain plus offseason wrist surgery has limited Williams to 27 games this season.
“I think if I was on a different team I’d be more frustrated, but I’m around good energy,” Williams said. “So I think that’s been one of the things that keeps me going.”
Wednesday’s game will be the second meeting between the teams this season. Oklahoma City came away with a 104-102 home victory on March 12 when Chet Holmgren made two free throws with 0.9 seconds to play. In that game, Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points to break Chamberlain’s record with his 127th consecutive game overall with at least 20 points. The streak is now up to 132 games.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rays RHP Ryan Pepiot (hip) to begin season on IL
Sep 23, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Ryan Pepiot (44) throws during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images Tampa Bay Rays starter Ryan Pepiot will begin the season on the injured list with right hip inflammation, manager Kevin Cash confirmed Tuesday.
The 28-year-old right-hander had been scheduled to start Tuesday’s spring finale against the Atlanta Braves. Pepiot made three starts in spring training, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits in 10 innings while striking out seven and issuing nine walks.
Pepiot will receive an injection to alleviate discomfort in his hip and is not expected to miss a significant amount of time, per MLB.com.
Pepiot was 11-12 with a 3.86 ERA in 31 starts last season for the Rays. He is 24-21 with a 3.54 ERA in 74 career games (67 starts) with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2022-23) and Rays. He has struck out 389 batters and walked 141 in 376 innings.
Tampa Bay visits the St. Louis Cardinals for Opening Day on Thursday.
With Pepiot on the IL, the Rays’ rotation to start the season will feature Drew Rasmussen, Joe Boyle, Steven Matz, Nick Martinez and Shane McClanahan.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cincinnati hires Utah State's Jerrod Calhoun as head coach
Mar 19, 2026; San Diego, CA, USA; Utah State Aggies head coach Jerrod Calhoun at press conference ahead of the first round of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Jerrod Calhoun has agreed to a six-year contract to return to his alma mater Cincinnati as head basketball coach, the university announced Tuesday.
The contract, pending board approval, will pay him $3.7 million in the first year with an annual raise of $100,000, per the school. Calhoun, who graduated from Cincinnati in 2004, is leaving Utah State, which will be owed nearly $3.9 million per his contract, ESPN reported.
The 44-year-old Ohio native leaves behind a Utah State program that he coached to an impressive 55-15 record over two seasons. The Aggies made the NCAA Tournament and held an AP Top 25 ranking for at least one week in each season under Calhoun.
No. 9 seed Utah State (29-7) defeated No. 8 Villanova in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday before falling to top seed Arizona 78-66 on Sunday.
Calhoun replaces Wes Miller, whom Cincinnati bought out after five years as its head coach with no trips to the NCAA Tournament. Miller was hired Monday as Charlotte’s new coach.
“It is a tremendous honor to have the opportunity to lead the Bearcats’ program — one that I know intimately as an alum and hold in the highest regard,” Calhoun said in a statement. “I am deeply grateful to (athletic director) John Cunningham and President Neville Pinto for their trust and confidence in me to elevate this program and guide our student-athletes as we pursue championships. Our goal is to build a program that consistently makes Bearcats fans proud, both on and off the court. Sarah, our children and I are excited to get to work at a place that means so much to our family.”
He served as a student assistant at Cincinnati under Bob Huggins in 2003-04. Calhoun worked under Huggins again on the staff at West Virginia (2007-12) before becoming a head coach for the first time. He has held the main job at Division II Fairmont State (2012-17), Youngstown State (2017-24) and Utah State.
Calhoun was the 2026 Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year after the team won the regular-season and tournament championships. Also the 2023 Horizon League Coach of the Year, Calhoun has nine 20-win seasons as a head coach and has been a conference champion in three different leagues on his way to a 297-159 career record, including 173-121 in Division I.
“Jerrod is a tireless worker, has an incredible passion and talent for developing not just players, but people, and has won at every stop along the way,” Cunningham said. “He’s one of the best offensive minds in college basketball and has the pedigree to take Cincinnati basketball to the next level in the Big 12 and nationally. I’m looking forward to welcoming his wife, Sarah, and children, Jordan, Kennedy, Kendall and Quinn to the Cincinnati family.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Brewers acquire RHP Jake Woodford from Rays
Feb 27, 2026; Port Charlotte, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Jake Woodford (41) throws a pitch during the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Charlotte Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images The Milwaukee Brewers acquired right-hander Jake Woodford from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for a minor league pitcher and cash on Tuesday.
Right-hander K.C. Hunt, 25, heads to the Rays after three seasons in the Brewers’ farm system.
Woodford, 29, was a non-roster invite to Tampa Bay’s spring training. He made four appearances (two starts) this spring and allowed one run on four hits in 7 1/3 innings, striking out five and walking two batters.
Woodford spent the 2025 season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, finishing 0-4 with a 6.44 ERA and three saves in 22 relief appearances.
He is 10-17 with a 5.10 ERA in 111 career games (25 starts) with the St. Louis Cardinals (2020-23), Chicago White Sox (2024), Pittsburgh Pirates (2024) and Diamondbacks.
Hunt went 7-9 with a 4.45 ERA in 121 1/3 innings with 43 walks and 122 strikeouts over 26 starts last season at Double-A Biloxi.
–Field Level Media
NYT Pips hints, answers for March 25, 2026
Rays RHP Ryan Pepiot (hip) to begin season on IL
