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
Pistons' Isaiah Stewart banned 7 games, 3 others punished after brawl
Feb 9, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller (24) and forward Grant Williams (2) hold back Head Coach Charles Lee after his ejection during the second half against the Detroit Pistons at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images Detroit Pistons forward-center Isaiah Stewart was suspended seven games by the NBA on Wednesday for leaving the bench area, aggressively entering an on-court altercation and fighting.
Per the league, the length of Stewart’s suspensions is based, in part, on his repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts. He has now been suspended five times in his six seasons in the league.
The 24-year-old received a two-game ban for an on-court brawl versus the Minnesota Timberwolves last March, two months after his flagrant-2 versus the Indiana Pacers triggered an automatic one-game suspension. He also was banned three games for punching Phoenix Suns center Drew Eubanks hours before their game in February 2024, and Stewart received a two-game suspension in November 2021 after he had to be restrained following an altercation with Lakers star LeBron James.
Also, Charlotte Hornets forwards Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate received four-game bans for fighting and escalating the altercation, while Pistons All-Star center Jalen Duren was suspended two games for initiating the altercation and fighting.
All four players will begin serving their suspensions on Wednesday night, with the Pistons visiting the Toronto Raptors and the Hornets hosting the Atlanta Hawks.
The incident in question occurred midway through the third quarter on Monday night in Charlotte, resulting in four ejections and a lengthy delay.
Diabate committed a defensive foul on Duren in the lane, prompting the latter to turn and square up the former. When that scrap wound down, another broke out near midcourt as Bridges came off the bench to tangle with Stewart.
All four players were assessed technical fouls and ejected from the game.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Angel Reese returning to Unrivaled's Rose BC for remainder of season
Jan 17, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Angel Reese (5) of the Rose takes a moment against the Vinyl during a timeout in the first half of the Unrivaled women’s professional 3v3 basketball league at Wayfair Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images WNBA star Angel Reese is returning to Unrivaled for the stretch run of the 3-on-3 league’s second season.
Reese again will play for Rose BC, which won Unrivaled’s championship title in the Miami-based league’s inaugural season. She will play the final three games of the regular season, starting with Rose’s matchup against Hive BC on Feb 20.
The 23-year-old, who plays for the Chicago Sky of the WNBA, was Unrivaled’s rebounding leader (12.2 rebounds per game) and was named the Defensive Player of the Year.
She joins a Rose team that still includes multiple players from last season’s championship team, including reigning finals MVP Chelsea Gray, Kahleah Copper and Lexie Hull. Reese did not play in the semifinals or finals due to a hand injury.
The spot for Reese became available when Rose traded Azura Stevens to Hive as part of a four-team trade resulting from a season-ending injury to Breeze BC’s Aari McDonald (right leg).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Martin Kaymer (elbow) WDs from LIV Adelaide
Jun 8, 2025; Gainesville, Virginia, USA; Martin Kaymer of team Cleeks Golf Club watches a putt on the fourth hole during the final round of the LIV Golf Virginia golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Cleeks Golf Club captain and two-time major winner Martin Kaymer withdrew from LIV Golf Adelaide on Wednesday due to an elbow injury.
The 41-year-old German is the latest LIV Golf captain to bow out of the event, joining six-time major champion Phil Mickelson (family matter) and Englishman Lee Westwood (wrist).
“I won’t be playing in Adelaide this week due to a minor injury on my left elbow,” Kaymer said in a statement. “Sitting out is never an easy call, especially for an event as special as LIV Golf Adelaide.
“The positive is that recovery is going very well and I’m feeling strong. This is just a short pause with the focus firmly on the long season ahead, and I look forward to returning to competition in Hong Kong.”
LIV Golf reserve John Catlin will step in for Kaymer, who won the 2010 PGA Championship and 2014 U.S. Open.
–Field Level Media
Pistons' Isaiah Stewart banned 7 games, 3 others punished after brawl
Angel Reese returning to Unrivaled's Rose BC for remainder of season
