Sports
Coaching ties, tired legs in focus as Pistons open semis vs. Cavs
Jan 4, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives to the basket against Detroit Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart (28) during the second half at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images J.B. Bickerstaff spent four-plus years building Cleveland into a contender. Now he gets to try to dismantle it.
Just two days after surviving a Game 7, the top-seeded Detroit Pistons open the Eastern Conference semifinals Tuesday night at home against the fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, the franchise that fired Bickerstaff two years ago.
The Cavaliers have won the last three playoff series between the teams and carry a 12-game postseason winning streak against Detroit. But with both sides coming off Game 7s, this one may come down to which team recovers fastest.
Detroit advanced with a 116-94 win over Orlando on Sunday, fueled by 32 points and 12 assists from Cade Cunningham and 30 points from Tobias Harris.
“I know a lot of people would’ve liked it to just be easier, but I think it was great for our guys; to go through what they went through, to understand what it looks like and where they have to be in order to get it done,” said Bickerstaff, who received a contract extension on Monday. “We understand that now, and we (will) take that with us to the second round.”
Cleveland also needed seven games to defeat Toronto. The Cavs beat the Raptors 114-102 Sunday behind 22 points and 19 rebounds from Jarrett Allen and 22 points from Donovan Mitchell.
Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson, who replaced Bickerstaff in May 2024, expects a similar grind.
“I think a lot of similarities. Physicality, right?” Atkinson said when asked what he expects. “We’re going to have to be mentally and physically tough to beat this team.
“They’ve had a great year. They’re the favorites. We go in there as underdogs, which is a challenge. I think it’s going to be a similar series (to the Toronto matchup), being able to handle their pressure, their rebounding, their force, their physicality.”
The Pistons were among the league’s best at protecting the paint during the regular season, limiting both attempts at the rim and efficiency once opponents got there. That carried into the first round, where they forced Orlando into difficult half-court possessions, including a 19-point second half in Game 6.
That approach could create problems for the Cavaliers, especially Mitchell. Toronto had success crowding driving lanes and turning him into a perimeter scorer, and the Cavaliers’ offense stalled at times as a result.
Detroit doesn’t have a single defender like Toronto’s Scottie Barnes, but makes up for it with collective physicality. If the Pistons can replicate that formula, Cleveland could again find itself grinding on offense.
“They’ve been phenomenal,” said Mitchell, who averaged 23.1 points per game against the Raptors. “(Bickerstaff has) done a phenomenal job over there. They’ve been phenomenal all year. They’re tough, right? They’re physical. They’ve got Cade, who’s the head of the snake.
“It’s going to be a tall task. … We got to go out there and find a way to get one on the road.”
On the other end, Detroit faces its own questions. The Pistons have leaned heavily on Cunningham all season, and that dependence showed in the first round when their half-court offense stalled.
Cunningham delivered in three elimination games by averaging 36.3 points per game, but sustaining that level against Cleveland’s defense is another challenge. The Cavaliers have multiple options to throw at him, including Dean Wade, who has handled tough assignments throughout the postseason.
If Cleveland can limit Cunningham’s impact as both a scorer and facilitator, the pressure shifts to Detroit’s supporting cast, which has been productive but inconsistent as secondary creators.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Paul Allen estate reaches deal to sell Seahawks
Feb 6, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; The Seattle Seahawks logo is projected on the Ferry Building. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images The Seattle Seahawks are set to change hands after the franchise announced Saturday that it has reached an agreement to sell the team to a new ownership group.
The group is led by the Khosla family and includes Vinod Khosla, the venture capitalist and Sun Microsystems co-founder who previously held a minority stake in the San Francisco 49ers.
The Paul Allen estate, which inherited the NFL team after Allen’s death in 2018, has been working to find new owners. Allen’s will stipulated that the team be sold, and assets be distributed to various charities.
“We are honored to be entrusted as the next stewards of the Seattle Seahawks,” Vinod Khosla said in a statement. “We look forward to building on the winning legacy Paul Allen created and to earning the trust of the Seahawks organization and fans everywhere.”
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, though the Tacoma News Tribune reported it to be for an NFL record $9.61 billion. That would be the second-highest deal in North American sports history, behind the $10 billion the Los Angeles Lakers sold for in 2025.
The transaction must still be approved by the NFL, which should be put to a vote in the coming months.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jude Bellingham stars as England beat Norway to reach semis
July 11, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, U.S.; England’s Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring their second goal. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Jude Bellingham deposited the go-ahead goal in the third minute of extra time and England hung on for a 2-1 victory over Norway in a World Cup quarterfinal classic on Saturday in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Bellingham scored both goals for the Three Lions to dig them out of a 1-0 hole while tying teammate Harry Kane with six in this tournament. Anthony Gordon had an assist and Jordan Pickford made three saves for England.
England, 60 years removed from their only World Cup title, secured just their fourth semifinal berth in history and their second in the past three tournaments. They’ll face Argentina or Switzerland on Wednesday in Atlanta.
After missed chances during the second half, England took the lead early in extra time. Substitute Morgan Rogers fired a shot from outside the box that Orjan Nyland failed to catch, the ball deflecting into the goalmouth. Bellingham darted in and beat his man to the ball for the easy putback.
Andreas Schjelderup scored in the 36th minute and Nyland made six saves for the Vikings, who were playing in their first World Cup quarterfinal game.
Norway subbed out Erling Haaland halfway into extra time. That decision ended his record 14-match streak of competitive international appearances with a goal.
England controlled play for the first half-hour. They won a pair of free kicks just outside the box but could turn neither into a real threat.
Norway’s opening goal was preceded by a nice look for Haaland, whose close-range header went straight to Pickford. England attempted to advance it up the pitch, but Kane was dispossessed from behind and the Vikings returned to their attack. Schjelderup, from the left side of the box, unleashed a left-footed rocket that banged in off the far post.
Kane stayed on the ground seeking a foul, but no foul was issued and the goal was upheld after VAR review.
But England’s attack was rewarded on Bellingham’s equalizer two minutes into stoppage time. Gordon hit the centering pass as Bellingham was afforded too much space amid the Norway defense. He dribbled in and as he fell down struck a left-footed shot across Nyland’s body.
With momentum recovered, England thought they added a second on the final play of the half on Kane’s chip shot, but he was immediately ruled offside.
It was Norway’s turn to believe they’d taken a 2-1 lead in the 55th when Torbjorn Heggem deposited a rebound at the end of a crazy corner-kick sequence. The VAR took it off the board as Haaland pushed Elliot Anderson to the ground before the corner kick was played.
–Field Level Media
Sports
A'ja Wilson powers Aces to franchise-record 48-point win over Mercury
Jul 11, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) reacts after scoring against the Phoenix Mercury during the first quarter of a WNBA basketball game at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images A’ja Wilson recorded 21 points and 15 rebounds and the Las Vegas Aces notched the largest margin of victory in franchise history by steamrolling the visiting Phoenix Mercury 106-58 on Saturday.
Backup Justine Pissott scored 19 points in the final quarter on 7-of-8 shooting, including 5 of 6 from 3-point range, for the Aces (17-6). Pissott was making her WNBA debut after signing with Las Vegas on Tuesday.
Chelsea Gray registered 15 points and 12 assists and reserve Cheyenne Parker-Tyus added 15 points and seven rebounds for Las Vegas. NaLyssa Smith chipped in 14 points for the Aces, who held a 47-29 rebounding advantage.
The 48-point margin of victory topped a 42-point win by the then-San Antonio Silver Stars, who drubbed the Mercury 89-47 in 2012. The franchise moved to Las Vegas ahead of the 2018 season.
Monique Akoa Makani scored 13 points and Lexi Held had 11 off the bench for Phoenix (8-16), which lost its third straight game.
The Aces shot 50.6% from the field, including 14 of 35 from 3-point range, while winning their second straight game.
Phoenix connected on 34.8% of its shots and was just 7 of 31 from behind the arc.
Earlier this season, the Mercury routed the Aces 99-66 in Las Vegas.
This time, the Aces controlled the game from the outset by scoring the first nine points and 16 of the initial 18.
Gray ended the first quarter with back-to-back 3-pointers, giving the Aces a 29-9 lead.
The lead reached 30 on Jewell Loyd’s 3-pointer that pushed the score to 48-18 with 3:04 remaining in the first half.
Las Vegas later led by 37 before settling for a 57-22 halftime advantage. Wilson had 16 points and 11 rebounds in the half.
A turnaround basket by Smith gave Las Vegas a 70-29 edge with 4:42 left in the third quarter.
The margin was 45 late in the period before the Aces took a 79-36 lead into the final stanza.
Pissott scored all the points during an 8-0 Las Vegas run as the lead grew to a game-high 54 with 6:48 remaining.
–Field Level Media
Paul Allen estate reaches deal to sell Seahawks
Jude Bellingham stars as England beat Norway to reach semis
