Sports
De'Aaron Fox hits winner as Spurs edge Grizzlies
Mar 1, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) collects a rebound over Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (1) during the second quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images De’Aaron Fox capped a back-and-forth affair with a tiebreaking 20-footer with 2.1 seconds remaining Saturday night, allowing the visiting San Antonio Spurs to complete a 130-128 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Fox finished with 20 points, as did Devin Vassell, and Stephon Castle had a team-high 24 off the bench for the Spurs, who won for just the second time in six games since Victor Wembanyama was lost for the season with a shoulder injury.
Jaren Jackson Jr. had a game-high 42 points for the Grizzlies, who lost a second straight nail-biter and dropped into a tie for third place in the Western Conference standings.
Fighting an uphill battle after the Spurs exploded for 46 points in the second quarter, the Grizzlies finally drew even at 125-all on a short Jackson jumper with 49.8 seconds left.
Fox seemed to put San Antonio back in control with three free throws with 29.1 seconds to go but Jackson struck again, this time with a 3-pointer that produced a 128-128 tie with 23.4 seconds remaining.
That left San Antonio with one more possession and Fox made the most of it, stepping back for a jumper that produced the difference in the game.
Electing to sit Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Brandon Clarke and Vince Williams Jr. on the second night of a back-to-back, the Grizzlies watched San Antonio’s 46 second-quarter points create a 77-58 difference at the break. Jeremy Sochan had 11 of his 18 points in the quarter for the Spurs.
But the short-handed hosts appeared to catch their breath at halftime and roared back with a 38-point quarter of their own, closing within 99-96 at the end of the third and setting up the tight finish. Jackson had 18 points in the third period.
All four Spurs reserves who saw action scored in double figures, with Keldon Johnson chipping in with 15 points and Julian Champagnie 14 points to go with Castle’s and Sochan’s totals. Sochan also found time to complete a double-double with a game-high 11 rebounds.
Chris Paul added eight points and a team-high eight assists for the winners.
The Grizzlies’ Santi Aldama also posted a double-double with 15 points and 11 assists to go with eight rebounds, while Jaylen Wells had 18 points, Zach Edey 17 with a team-high nine rebounds, Luke Kennard scored 14 and Scotty Pippen Jr. added 12.
Edey, who made all seven of his shots, also had three blocks.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Two ex-Fordham players banned after betting probe
Mar 11, 2023; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Fordham Rams guard Will Richardson (1) looks to drive past Dayton Flyers guard Koby Brea (4) in the second half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Two former Fordham men’s basketball players received permanent bans from the NCAA on Tuesday after a lengthy gambling investigation.
The NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions found that Elijah Gray and Will Richardson participated in potential game manipulation for sports betting reasons.
According to the investigation, a $10,000 bet was placed on a February 2024 game involving Fordham in which the bettor wagered that the other team would win. NCAA enforcement staff identified three members of the roster with connections to the bettor, including Gray and Richardson.
Another member of the team told investigators he overheard Gray, Richardson and another student-athlete discussing the idea of throwing a game for money.
Gray admitted to agreeing to participate in the scheme in exchange for a payment of $10,000 to $15,000, but said he reconsidered and played with his normal effort and Fordham won the game. Richardson has denied involvement and he declined to cooperate with the investigation, which itself is an NCAA violation.
Gray, a 6-foot-8 forward, played two seasons at Fordham (2022-24) before transferring to Temple for the 2024-25 season. He transferred again to Wisconsin but was dismissed from the program last October amid the investigation. Gray averaged 5.7 points in 61 games (nine starts) for the Rams.
Richardson, a 6-foot-3 guard, played three seasons at Fordham (2022-25) before transferring to Albany, where he was dismissed from the program in December without appearing in a game. He averaged 7.9 points in 73 games (41 starts) for the Rams.
The bettors involved in the plot were indicted in January by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on wire fraud and bribery charges related to sports contests.
–Field Level Media
Sports
PWHL officially passes 1M attendance mark for first time
Nov 30, 2024; Toronto, ON, CANADA; Toronto Sceptres forward Jesse Compher (18) joins team mates and fans as they celebrate a goal scored by forward Hannah Miller (34) against the Boston Fleet in the third period at Coca-Cola Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images The Professional Women’s Hockey League surpassed one million fans in the regular season for the first time in its three-season history, the league announced Tuesday.
In all, 120 games were played, with slightly more than 1.1 million people filling the seats for an average of 9,304 per game.
That total is an increase of 28 percent over last season, including the playoffs, and 71% over the first season of 2023-24. The average total of fans in the stands was 5,448 per game in the first season, 7,230 in the second.
On April 17, the PWHL surpassed one million fans in a single season for the first time in league history, reaching the milestone in 109 regular season games, 30% fewer than the PWHL needed to reach its first million fans.
The attendance mark was helped by the addition of the expansion Seattle Torrent and Vancouver Goldeneyes, which The Athletic reported had the largest average attendance of all franchises at home this season. Seattle averaged 12,875 fans, with Vancouver bringing in 11,234 per game.
The league is expected to announce further expansion soon.
Before that, the league will hold the Walker Cup Playoffs beginning Thursday. The top-seeded Montreal Victoire and reigning champion Minnesota Frost will meet in one semifinal, with the Boston Fleet and Ottawa Charge in the other pairing. The winners of the two best-of-five series will play for the Walker Cup.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Celtics' Brad Stevens named NBA Executive of Year
Feb 28, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens before their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens was named the NBA Basketball Executive of the Year for the second time in three seasons on Tuesday.
Stevens’ Celtics finished with the second-best record (56-26) in the Eastern Conference in 2025-26 and secured a top-two playoff seed for the fifth time in his five seasons in his current role.
Boston accomplished that despite parting ways with Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday before the season and only having All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum for 16 games after he recovered from an Achilles injury.
Stevens, who also won the award in 2023-24, is the 12th executive to receive the honor multiple times since it was first presented in 1972-73.
Stevens, 49, received 11 first-place votes and 69 total points in voting by his fellow executives. Atlanta Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh was second with 41 points, one more than Detroit Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon.
Before joining Boston’s front office, Stevens served as the team’s head coach for eight seasons and tallied a 354-282 record. During his 13-year tenure with the franchise, the Celtics have made 12 playoff appearances.
The Celtics currently have a 3-1 lead in their first-round series with the Philadelphia 76ers. Game 5 is on Tuesday night in Boston.
–Field Level Media
Two ex-Fordham players banned after betting probe
PWHL officially passes 1M attendance mark for first time
