Sports
Bucks vow to match Magic's physicality in rematch
Feb 9, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. (7) goes to the basket during the second half against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images The Milwaukee Bucks will be seeking to exact immediate revenge on Wednesday when they face the Magic in Orlando for the second time in three days.
The Magic’s 118-99 victory on Monday was their third straight, while also ending Milwaukee’s own winning streak at three.
Preparation and motivation won’t be issues for the Bucks, as far as coach Doc Rivers is concerned.
“It’s easy — you’re playing the same team,” Rivers said. “I love these in some ways; in some ways I don’t. I do like that the second game is spirited, more competitive. Guys bump into each other during the game, then they see each other in (two) days.”
With one eye on the bench-clearing brawl that marred the Detroit Pistons’ win over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday, Rivers wanted to see more scrap from his team on the same night.
“I wish we had gotten into a fight (Monday),” he said, partly in jest. “Not literally a fight. I just thought they (Magic) were the more physical team.”
Orlando trampled Milwaukee 67-45 after halftime, including a particularly one-sided 36-20 third quarter.
The Magic ratcheted up their defensive hostility during those 12 minutes, scoring 10 of their points off five Bucks turnovers.
“They were very physical,” said Kevin Porter Jr., who scored 28 points. “We’ve got to match their physicality. First quarter I felt like we were bumping a little bit, but as the game went on, they continued to bump and we kind of let off. It turned into fouls for them.
“The more aggressive team usually gets those calls. We’ve just got to match their physicality next game.”
Porter is promising a tougher, more ready Milwaukee outfit for the return bout, even if the Bucks remain without their marquee superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf).
“We’re going to be way more prepared come Wednesday,” he said. “We don’t want to lose to any team twice, so we need that one Wednesday.”
Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley likes the way his team’s defense is progressing, but stopped short of comparing it to the gold-embossed levels of the NFL’s newly crowned Super Bowl champions.
“It’s getting there,” he said. “It’s definitely getting there. It’s not necessarily the ‘Dark Side’ like the Seattle Seahawks’ defense, but we’re getting there.”
Mosley’s 172nd victory at the helm saw him move into third place for most victories by a coach in Magic history, surpassing Rivers (171).
Mosley trails only Brian Hill (267) and Stan Van Gundy (259).
Anthony Black posted 26 points against Milwaukee, Desmond Bane added 25 and the Wagner brothers — Franz and Moritz — combined for 28 off the bench.
“I feel good — I feel as I should at this point,” said wing Franz Wagner, who paired 14 points with five assists inside 17 minutes in his return from a nine-game absence with a left ankle sprain.
“Still working my way back, and obviously got to find a rhythm out there. But pleased with how I played and hopefully helped with the win.”
Orlando is chasing its third consecutive success against the Bucks, after Milwaukee had taken 19 of the previous 21 encounters.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Mets' Francisco Lindor to have surgery on hamate bone
Sep 28, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) throws to first base to retire Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez (not pictured) during the second inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images New York Mets All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor will have surgery Wednesday for a stress reaction in his left hamate bone, manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters.
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said Tuesday that Lindor had been feeling soreness in his left hand and wrist area over the previous couple of days and would be seeing a specialist on Wednesday.
Stearns said Tuesday that if surgery was warranted, the recovery time was estimated at six weeks and that it was not expected to delay Lindor’s availability for the regular season. The Mets open the season at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 26.
“If we get to the point where we get closer to Opening Day and there are questions about Francisco, then we’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” Stearns said. “But, at this point, we’re optimistic that regardless of what Francisco needs, he’s going to be ready for Opening Day.”
Lindor, 32, has experienced soreness in the same area at times for a couple of years, Stearns said.
“He’s usually able to grind through it, and he’s done it,” Stearns said. “I don’t know when he first felt it, but I think it just persisted to the point where he felt like he should say something about it. Once we examined it a little bit more yesterday, our medical staff determined that he should see a specialist.”
Lindor has not been on the injured list since 2021 and has played in at least 152 games in the four seasons since, missing several games late in 2024 but staying off the injured list.
While Lindor is out, the Mets will have Christian Arroyo, Vidal Brujan, Jackson Cluff and Ronny Mauricio as options to play at shortstop. Bo Bichette signed a three-year deal with the Mets this offseason with the intention of switching from shortstop to third base, but he also could see time as Lindor’s replacement in spring training.
Lindor was selected to the All-Star Game for the fifth time in his career last season and first as a Met in 2025. He batted .267 with 31 home runs, 86 RBIs, a .346 on-base percentage, a .466 slugging percentage, a National League-leading 644 at-bats and major league-topping 732 plate appearances in 160 games.
He has a career batting average of .273 with 279 homers and 856 RBIs in 1,535 regular-season games with Cleveland (2015-20) and New York (2021-present). He was an All-Star in 2016-19 with Cleveland.
Lindor also is batting .263 with eight homers and 21 RBIs in 41 playoff games.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Knicks F OG Anunoby (toe) out vs. 76ers
Feb 3, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) reacts after making a three point basket in front of Washington Wizards forward Kyshawn George (18) during the first quarter at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby will sit out his fourth consecutive game Wednesday when he misses his team’s contest versus the host Philadelphia 76ers.
Anunoby, 28, is sidelined by a toenail avulsion on his right foot, per NBA injury report.
He is averaging 16.6 points and 5.5 rebounds in 41 games (all starts) this season.
Center Mitchell Robinson is available to return to action after missing Tuesday’s 137-134 overtime loss to the Indiana Pacers due to an ankle injury and rest.
Robinson, 27, is averaging 4.8 points and 8.9 rebounds in 38 games (14 starts) this season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rams OT Rob Havenstein retires after 11 seasons
November 9, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Rob Havenstein (79) after the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Rob Havenstein announced his retirement from the NFL after 11 seasons on Tuesday.
Havenstein, who won Super Bowl LVI with the Rams in the 2021 season, started all 148 regular-season games and 13 playoff games he has played since 2015 — the last season the franchise was in St. Louis.
“What a ride it’s been!” Havenstein, 33, posted on Instagram. “I can look back on my career and smile knowing I have given everything I had and more to the game I love. In saying that, I am officially retiring from the NFL.”
He thanked his wife, parents, teammates, coaches, the team’s fans and the Rams organization.
“I have had the time of my life with the Los Angeles Rams (formerly known as the St. Louis Rams) and can’t thank the whole organization enough for giving me a shot back in 2015,” he wrote. “Although some in the organization weren’t totally convinced.”
Havenstein played in only seven regular-season games this season (seven starts) as he dealt with knee and ankle bursitis. He was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 19 and the Rams designated him to return to practice on Jan. 22 ahead of the NFC Championship game at Seattle on Jan. 25, but he didn’t play and the Seahawks won 31-27.
A member of the 2015 NFL All-Rookie Team, Havenstein was a foundational part of the offensive line at right tackle. He played on 100% of the offensive snaps in games he played across the 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2025 seasons, and at least 90% in the others.
The Rams also reached the league championship game in the 2018 season, falling to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII, 13-3. Los Angeles beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 three years later.
“As this chapter ends, I couldn’t be more grateful, hopeful, and excited to see what comes next!” Havenstein said.
–Field Level Media
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