Sports
NBA roundup: Thunder tie franchise mark with 14th straight win
Jan 3, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylin Williams (6) and guard Aaron Wiggins (21) celebrate after scoring against the New York Knicks during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images Aaron Wiggins scored a season-high 19 points — 15 in the fourth quarter — as the host Oklahoma City Thunder stretched their winning streak to 14 games with a 117-107 win over the New York Knicks on Friday.
The streak ties the longest for the Thunder franchise, including its time as the Seattle Supersonics. The Knicks had a nine-game win string ended.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 points to lead the Thunder, but Wiggins took over in the fourth as Oklahoma City outscored New York 37-19. Wiggins hit first 3-pointers in the quarter.
Isaiah Hartenstein had 14 rebounds and seven assists in his first game against the Knicks after leaving New York to sign with Oklahoma City in the offseason. He scored just four points, but he hit a floater in the final minute to all but seal the victory.
Pelicans 132, Wizards 120
CJ McCollum tied a career-high with 50 points and host New Orleans ended an 11-game losing streak by defeating Washington.
McCollum made 18 of 27 field-goal attempts, including 10 3-pointers on 16 attempts, as the Pelicans won for just the second time in 22 games. Trey Murphy III added 17 points among six Pelicans who scored in double figures.
Jordan Poole scored 26 points and Alexandre Sarr had 19 to pace the Wizards.
Lakers 119, Hawks 102
LeBron James scored 30 points and Anthony Davis returned from a one-game absence to collect 18 points and 19 rebounds as Los Angeles downed visiting Atlanta.
James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, passed Michael Jordan for most 30-point games in NBA history at 563. In addition, James appeared in his 1,523rd career game, moving him past Dirk Nowitzki for fourth in league history.
Austin Reaves scored 20 points as the Lakers improved to 7-2 since Dec. 15. Trae Young had 33 points and nine assists for the Hawks, who dropped their second game in a row.
Kings 138, Grizzlies 133
Malik Monk hit three key fourth-quarter 3-pointers to stall a Memphis rally as part of a 31-point night, DeMar DeRozan chipped in with 29 points and Sacramento outlasted the visiting Grizzlies.
De’Aaron Fox scored 23 points and Domantas Sabonis had 17 points, 10 rebounds and six assists for the Kings, who won their third game in a row. Sacramento is 3-1 since replacing Mike Brown with interim coach Doug Christie.
Rookie Jaylen Wells poured in a season-best 30 points while Jaren Jackson Jr. put up 28 and Desmond Bane had 22 for the Grizzlies, who fell to 2-2 on a five-game trip.
Spurs 113, Nuggets 110
Victor Wembanyama amassed 35 points, 18 rebounds and four assists, and his steal in the final seconds helped San Antonio edge host Denver.
Devin Vassell scored 18 points and had a dunk in the final seconds to seal San Antonio’s win. Keldon Johnson added 16 points.
San Antonio led 111-110 with 17 seconds left, and Nikola Jokic had the ball near the top. Wembanyama, who had eight turnovers, stole Jokic’s pass and fed Vassell for the dunk. Jokic finished with 41 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists.
Celtics 109, Rockets 86
Derrick White and Jayson Tatum combined for 43 points and visiting Boston rode a brilliant offensive first half to a win over short-handed Houston.
White scored 23 points and drilled six 3-pointers while Tatum scored 10 of his 20 points down the stretch of the first half to help the Celtics — who played without Jaylen Brown (shoulder) — cruise to victory. Boston made 19 of 39 3-point attempts.
Houston could not keep pace while falling to 1-3 on its five-game homestand. Jalen Green put up 27 for the Rockets, who were without Amen Thompson (suspension), Tari Eason (leg), and Jabari Smith Jr., who broke his left (non-shooting) hand during shootaround earlier Friday.
Cavaliers 134, Mavericks 122
Evan Mobley collected 34 points and 10 rebounds as visiting Cleveland beat Dallas for its ninth win in a row.
Caris LeVert scored 17 points off the bench while Darius Garland recorded 16 points and nine assists for the Cavaliers, whose streak consists of all double-digit decisions.
Quentin Grimes scored 26 points for the short-handed Mavericks, who have lost four straight games. Dallas was missing Kyrie Irving (illness), Luka Doncic (calf) and Naji Marshall (suspension).
Magic 106, Raptors 97
Rookie Tristan da Silva scored a career-best 25 points and was 5-for-7 on 3-point attempts as Orlando won in Toronto.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 15 points for the Magic, who made 19 3-pointers and split a two-game road trip. Goga Bitadze had 11 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists.
Jakob Poeltl scored 25 points for the Raptors, who have lost 12 of their last 13 games. Scottie Barnes added 20 points and nine rebounds.
Pistons 98, Hornets 94
Tobias Harris had 24 points with 10 rebounds and Detroit sent visiting Charlotte to its ninth straight loss.
Cade Cunningham supplied 18 points for Detroit, which has won five of its last six games. Detroit was playing its first game since starting guard Jaden Ivey suffered a fractured left fibula against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.
Miles Bridges led Charlotte with 20 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Mark Williams had 18 points and nine rebounds for the Hornets, who have lost 17 of their last 18 games.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Eagles assistant GM Alec Halaby steps down
Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; The Philadelphia Eagles logo is projected on the video board during the NFL Draft at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Philadelphia Eagles assistant general manager Alec Halaby stepped down from his post on Tuesday.
Halaby has spent 17 years in the organization, holding numerous roles before accepting the assistant general manager position in 2022. He played a role in the Eagles winning a pair of Super Bowl titles in 2018 and 2025.
“I am deeply grateful to the Eagles organization, especially (Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie) and (general manager Howie Roseman) for giving me a chance to work in the game I love,” Halaby said in a statement. “Jeffrey’s stewardship has created a first-class organization. Howie has been a mentor to me from Day One, for which I am greatly appreciative.
“It has been a rare privilege to contribute to building championship teams for the city of Philadelphia. The experience has been enriched by a set of special relationships with front office colleagues, coaches, and players. Football has been a core part of my life for as long as I can remember; that won’t change. Nevertheless, after 17 years in Philadelphia, I’ve decided to step away to start a new professional chapter. It has been a wonderful journey. Go Birds.”
The specific nature of Halaby’s “new professional chapter” was not immediately known.
“Alec has been a huge part of our success, and a close friend,” Roseman said. “Although I’m sad to see him leave the organization, I am excited to see what he does next. Whatever direction he decides to go, I have no doubt that he is going to have great success. On behalf of the entire organization, I wish him the absolute best.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
After managerial change, Phillies look to alter fortunes vs. Giants
Apr 8, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Adolis García (53) walks off the field after lining out to San Francisco Giants left fielder Harrison Bader (9) in the to pot the eighth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Justine Willard-Imagn Images The Philadelphia Phillies made news on Tuesday morning, hours before opening a three-game series against the visiting San Francisco Giants.
The Phillies fired manager Rob Thomson and named bench coach Don Mattingly as their interim skipper through the 2026 season.
USA Today reported Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora, fired Friday, was offered the job and declined, opting to spend time with his family.
The floundering Phillies (9-19) have lost 11 of their last 12 games and are tied with the New York Mets (9-19) for the worst record in the majors. Both were expected to compete for the National League East title this season.
The Phillies’ run differential (-54) is by far the worst in the sport, landing Thomson on the hot seat.
“Well, that’s natural, right?” Thomson said of his job security prior to Tuesday’s news. “It’s normal. And I’ve never worried about that in my entire career. … I don’t have time to think about it.”
The Phillies snapped a 10-game losing streak Saturday with an 8-5 extra-inning victory over the Atlanta Braves. But the momentum didn’t last long, as they fell behind early in Sunday’s 6-2 series-finale loss.
Aaron Nola allowed three runs in the first inning and three more in the second, and the Phillies’ bats managed only one hit (a single) in six innings against Chris Sale.
“It’s not like the record is going to change overnight,” said designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, whose two-run homer in the eighth accounted for the Phillies’ offense on the day. “It’s going to be a continuous grind, and we’re ready for that. We know that there’s a long road ahead.”
The Phillies’ attempted path to recovery will begin Tuesday with Jesus Luzardo (1-3, 6.91 ERA) on the mound. The left-hander has labored through the first month of the season, although he was able to limit the damage in his most recent outing.
Despite allowing five hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings against the Chicago Cubs last Tuesday, Luzardo gave up just one run in an eventual 7-4 defeat. Still, he expects more of himself after signing a five-year, $135 million contract extension in the offseason.
“It’s very frustrating,” Luzardo said. “As a whole, we don’t feel like we’re doing the job that we need to do. … I think there’s been times that a lot of us think that we can pick up the slack, me included.”
Luzardo, who is 2-1 with a 5.23 ERA in six career starts against San Francisco, will be facing a team that has turned things around following a slow start of its own.
The Giants have won seven of their last 10 games after beginning the season 6-12. They have won three series in a row — against the Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins.
In Sunday’s 6-3 triumph over Miami, San Francisco’s Casey Schmitt hit a go-ahead home run for the second straight game.
“That’s what we’re here for: to drive in runs and be productive,” said Giants third baseman Matt Chapman, who walked and scored in the decisive seventh inning. “But we are a team, and Casey’s hot right now.”
Landen Roupp allowed just two hits and three runs over 7 2/3 innings — a performance that Tyler Mahle (1-3, 5.26) would love to copy in Tuesday’s contest.
Mahle is coming off a sparkling effort in last Wednesday’s 3-0 win over the Dodgers, as he gave up just three hits and two walks over seven innings.
In four lifetime starts against Philadelphia, Mahle is 1-1 with a 2.41 ERA. He held the Phillies to three hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings April 8 in San Francisco, helping the Giants take two of three in that series.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Dash sign USL Super League MVP Emina Ekic
Aug 20, 2022; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Racing Louisville FC forward Emina Ekic (13) takes a shot against the OL Reign in the Women’s Cup championship match at Lynn Family Stadium. Mandatory Credit: EM Dash-Imagn Images The Houston Dash signed USL Super League Player of the Year Emina Ekic through the 2027 NWSL season.
The deal announced Tuesday with the 26-year-old midfielder includes a mutual option for 2028.
Ekic joins the Dash on a transfer from Lexington SC of the USL Super League.
She was named that league’s inaugural Player of the Year with the Spokane Zephyr in 2024-25 after tallying 10 goals and six assists.
The No. 5 overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft, Ekic began her professional career with Racing Louisville with 38 appearances from 2021-23.
–Field Level Media
Eagles assistant GM Alec Halaby steps down
After managerial change, Phillies look to alter fortunes vs. Giants
