Sports
Grizzlies pursue season sweep of skidding Spurs
Feb 3, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) handles the ball as San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) defends during the fourth quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images The Memphis Grizzlies will be looking to complete a season-series sweep of the San Antonio Spurs when the clubs meet for a fourth and final time Saturday night in Tennessee.
Continuing a trend they began in January 2021, the Grizzlies have dominated their Southwest Division rival this season, winning at home by 28 points and on the road by 14 and 19.
The Grizzlies have won 16 of the teams’ last 17 matchups.
As opposed to the first three meetings, San Antonio will play this time without Victor Wembanyama, who put up some strong numbers against the Grizzlies in defeat before he was diagnosed with a season-ending blood clot in his right shoulder on Feb. 20. The Spurs have gone 1-4 since then, losing their past four in a row.
Against Memphis this season, Wembanyama recorded three double-doubles while averaging 19.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 5.3 blocks.
The Grizzlies have gained the upper hand in the series due to superior depth. Ja Morant and Desmond Bane topped 20 points in both of their games against the Spurs. GG Jackson did it in his only meeting. Santi Aldama reached that level in two of his three. Jaren Jackson Jr. did so once, while putting up 19 on both other occasions, and Jaylen Wells also did it once.
Memphis likely will have to lean on multiple players once again as it will be enduring the second night of a back-to-back. The Grizzlies endured a double whammy Friday at home against the New York Knicks, exhausting themselves in a tight battle that they lost 114-113.
The Grizzlies were able to use 10 players for at least 12 minutes each, but they face the possibility that Bane won’t complete the back-to-back because of a sore left groin. He went 35 minutes against the Knicks and compiled 24 points and 12 rebounds.
Key reserve GG Jackson sat out the Friday game with an eye irritation, so he would be well rested should his vision be 20-20 on Saturday.
“He’s just dealing with some eye inflammation,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. “He had some imaging. We’ll see how things come up from the tests and how he feels.”
The Spurs, meanwhile, are wrapping up a four-game trip that so far hasn’t produced any wins. They were swept by a total of 24 points in back-to-back games by the New Orleans Pelicans before taking a 118-106 loss at Houston on Wednesday.
With two days off between games, the Spurs received a surprise visit from coach Gregg Popovich, who left the club in November after suffering what was labeled a mild stroke. Popovich, 76, told Spurs players he would not return to coaching this season, leaving that task to Mitch Johnson.
“Mitch Johnson and his staff have done a wonderful job, and the resolve and professionalism the players have shown, sticking together during a challenging season, has been outstanding,” Popovich said in a statement. “I will continue to focus on my health with the hope that I can return to coaching in the future.”
The Grizzlies will see Bismack Biyombo as a Spur for the first time. The 14-year veteran, who played 30 games with the Grizzlies last season, was signed to a rest-of-season contract this week after playing six games on 10-day deals.
Serving as San Antonio’s starting center, Biyombo had double-doubles in both games against the Pelicans at the start of the trip, but the Rockets limited him to four points and three rebounds.
–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
Sports
Orlando City want attack to catch up to defense vs. Charlotte
Mar 14, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando City midfielder Martin Ojeda (10) shoots on goal during the second half against the CF Montreal at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images Orlando City will be hoping for a much-needed attacking breakthrough on Wednesday night when they host a Charlotte FC side in search of a second consecutive away victory.
Orlando (1-6-1, 4 points) has been one of Major League Soccer’s most disappointing teams this season, costing former manager Oscar Pareja his job last month.
But there is some evidence that maybe the Lions have at least righted the ship defensively. After conceding 23 times in their first six games, interim manager Martin Perelman’s group has allowed only two goals in the last three fixtures across all competitions.
“I think we organize the team. It never is enough, always (important) to improve things,” Perelman said. “We are in that part. Last details. But yes, the structure is there. In the offensive side as well, we are working. Hopefully we can get the shape we want, that we are used to. Because in this club we have been scoring a lot for the last two years.”
So far, though, the attacking end remains pretty dire. After Martin Ojeda and Marco Pasalic combined for 28 MLS goals a season ago, they only have two apiece for a team with six goals total.
Pasalic also missed last week’s 1-0 home loss to Houston on Saturday night with a leg injury.
Charlotte (4-2-2, 14 points) makes the journey south following a 2-1 victory at New York City FC on Saturday, one that came despite holding a season-low 36% possession.
Defender Tim Ream exited that match at halftime and will miss roughly a week with an adductor strain, Charlotte manager Dean Smith said.
Idan Toklomati scored early in the second half and Kerwin Vargas added a goal late before NYCFC pulled one back in second-half stoppage time. And Charlotte created a similar number of chances to NYCFC despite having less of the ball.
Smith hopes the performance sets the tone for upcoming travels, with Charlotte to play its next three league games away after five of its first eight came at home.
“There’s not plenty of away games we’ve played so far, such is the fixture list,” Smith said. “We didn’t start on the road well, but we showed loads of characteristics that I liked on Saturday. And we need to continue to do that in the next three away games as well.”
–Field Level Media
Red Bulls' struggling defense clashes with woeful D.C. offense
Braves put closer Raisel Iglesias on IL, Robert Suarez to close
