Sports
Confident USC takes on struggling Northwestern
Feb 1, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans players celebrate with fans in the student section after defeating the Michigan State Spartans at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images Southern California heads to Evanston, Ill., on Tuesday hoping to build on a Top 10 win when it faces the slumping Northwestern Wildcats.
USC (13-8, 5-5 Big Ten) arrives brimming with belief after a 70-64 home win on Saturday over then-No. 7 Michigan State. Desmond Claude finished with 19 points and six rebounds for the Trojans, improving his team-leading scoring average to 16.2 points per game.
“Our team is a confident team,” USC coach Eric Musselman said after his side dealt the Spartans their first Big Ten defeat. “You lose a hard-fought game against UCLA at home (82-76 on Jan. 27), how are you going to respond? And then how are you going to respond when you’ve got two road games coming back?”
The Trojans play consecutive road games this week, as they will stay in the Midwest to face No. 7 Purdue on Friday. While USC will aim to pick up its third Top 20 win in Big Ten play against the Boilermakers — adding to the Saturday victory and an 82-72 triumph at Illinois on Jan. 11 — the Trojans cannot afford to overlook Northwestern.
The Wildcats (12-10, 3-8) carry a three-game losing streak into the Tuesday game as they seek to salvage something from their three-game homestand. Northwestern fell to Rutgers (79-72 on Jan. 29) and then-No. 17 Wisconsin (75-69 on Saturday), games that followed an 83-74 loss at Illinois on Jan. 26. The skid coincides with Brooks Barnhizer’s foot injury that went from painful to season-ending.
Barnhizer, averaging 17.1 points and team highs of 8.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game, scored at least 20 points in three straight games after sustaining the injury Jan. 12 vs. Michigan State. However, after he labored through performances of three points at Illinois and 10 vs. Rutgers, Wildcats coach Chris Collins revealed through tears after the Saturday game that Barnhizer’s Northwestern career was over.
“Not only was he not moving well, but I could see it was mentally killing him,” Collins said. “He and I got together over the last couple days and had some real heart-to-hearts, and the decision was made to shut it down.”
That leaves 19.4-points-per-game scorer Nick Martinelli and 14.7-point producer Jalen Leach carrying the Northwestern offense.
For USC, Claude leads a contingent of four Trojans scoring at least 11 points per game, a group that also includes Chibuzo Agbo (11.7 ppg), Wesley Yates III (11.3 ppg) and Saint Thomas (11.0 ppg).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Shooting woes sink Magic as Pistons even up series in G2
Apr 22, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane (3) dribbles defended by Detroit Pistons guard Daniss Jenkins (24) in the first half during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Cade Cunningham scored 27 points and had 11 assists and Tobias Harris added 16 points and 11 rebounds on Wednesday night as the Detroit Pistons bounced back to even their Eastern Conference playoff series with a 98-83 victory over the visiting Orlando Magic.
Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson each had 11 points for the Pistons, who snapped an 11-game home playoff game losing streak, the longest in NBA history. Duncan Robinson and Isaiah Stewart also scored 10 apiece for Detroit, which last won a home playoff game in 2008.
Jalen Suggs scored 19 points and Paolo Banchero added 18 for the eighth-seeded Magic. Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane also had 12 points for Orlando which connected on only 26 of 80 field goal attempts, including just eight of 32 3-pointers.
Game 3 of the best-of-seven series is Saturday in Orlando.
After a defensive struggle in the first half for both teams, Detroit broke the game open in the third quarter, starting with a 30-3 run. The Pistons, who scored the first 11 points before Bane nailed a 3-pointer, outscored the Magic 38-16 in the quarter. Orlando hit only five shots, committed six turnovers and trailed by as much as 27 points.
The Pistons maintained a comfortable cushion through the final quarter, allowing the Magic to get no closer than 97-83 with less than a minute remaining.
The first quarter was a defensive battle with the Pistons holding on for a 25-21 lead. Detroit, which led by as much as seven points, held Orlando to 26.9 percent shooting from the field while the Magic forced eight Pistons turnovers and briefly went in front 21-20.
The two teams continued the defensive intensity in the second quarter which featured four ties and two lead changes. Detroit took an eight-point lead early in the quarter, but Orlando scored four of the last five points to tie the game at 46 at halftime.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Red Bulls' struggling defense clashes with woeful D.C. offense
Apr 4, 2026; Harrison, New Jersey, USA; Red Bull New York forward Emil Forsberg (10) tries to gain control of the ball against FC Cincinnati during the second half at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls are struggling at the opposite ends of the pitch.
Over their last four MLS matches, D.C. United have failed to score. Meanwhile, over the Red Bulls’ last four league games, they have surrendered 14 goals.
When the teams meet Wednesday night in Harrison, N.J., they will be seeking answers for their recent woes.
The lack of scoring punch is nothing new for D.C. United (2-4-2, 8 points). Last year, the club scored 30 goals, the fewest in MLS. D.C. also failed to score in four straight league matches from May 10-24, 2025.
It’s been a challenge for the Black and Red to remain positive. In addition to going 0-2-2 during their scoreless MLS run, they fell last week on penalty kicks to One Knoxville SC in a U.S. Open Cup match in which they put up three goals.
“I think we’ve shown we can create. I think it’s just about being very precise in some moments on both sides of the ball,” said D.C. goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who had four saves in a scoreless draw Saturday at the Philadelphia Union.
The offensive struggles of D.C. were evident as it took just six shots against Philadelphia, none of which were on frame. Coach Rene Weiler said he expects a similar challenge against New York (3-3-2, 11 points).
“You have to find ways to score goals,” Weiler said. “First of all, you have to accept the fight and the physical game because most of the teams on our side of the league are very physical.”
The Red Bulls look to rebound from a dispiriting 4-1 loss Saturday at CF Montreal in which their lone tally was an own goal.
Lowly CF Montreal has just two wins this season, both against the Red Bulls, who they have outscored 7-1.
Julian Hall (five goals, two assists) and Emil Forsberg (one goal, two assists) provide firepower for New York, which hopes to rediscover its defense against its longtime MLS rival.
“Games against D.C. United always carry extra weight,” Red Bulls manager Michael Bradley said. “We’re gonna step on the field at home on Wednesday night ready to give everything we have to respond in a really strong way.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braves put closer Raisel Iglesias on IL, Robert Suarez to close
Apr 15, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Raisel Iglesias (26) pitches against the Miami Marlins during the ninth inning at Truist Park. All players are wearing number 42 today in honor of Jackie Robinson. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images The Atlanta Braves placed closer Raisel Iglesias on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with discomfort in his right (throwing) shoulder.
Iglesias has said he’s felt the discomfort since sleeping on his shoulder wrong Friday night. But the Braves conducted an MRI that found no structural damage.
“There’s some inflammation there,” Braves manager Walt Weiss told reporters. “We feel like we’re getting out in front of this thing a little bit.”
Iglesias, 36, has amassed a 42-55 record, 258 saves and a 2.86 ERA in his 12 major league seasons, including four-plus years in Atlanta. He was off to a perfect start to the season, with five saves and no runs allowed over eight games (8 2/3 innings). He’s tossed 11 strikeouts to only one walk.
While Iglesias is sidelined, Robert Suarez will take over closing duties. Suarez led the National League with 40 saves while serving as the San Diego Padres’ closer last season; then he signed a three-year, $45 million deal to join the Braves and their bullpen.
The right-handed Suarez has gone 2-0 with one save and an 0.93 ERA for Atlanta in 10 appearances, used mostly as a setup man. He was an All-Star in 2024 and 2025 for the Padres.
–Field Level Media
