Sports
NHL players adapt to business-not-as-usual in Milan
Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics – Ice Hockey – Men’s – United States of America Training – Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, Milan, Italy – February 08, 2026. Auston Matthews of United States and teammates during training MILAN, Italy — National Hockey League stars are adapting to different rinks, rules and routines at the Milan Cortina Games, where rivals-turned-team mates will compete for gold beginning on Wednesday after the NHL’s 12-year absence from the Olympics.
The tournament is a dream come true for players who had to wait to compete in the Games after the NHL opted out in 2018 and 2022 – even as it obliterates the tightly choreographed daily routine for many of the league’s multimillion-dollar stars.
“In the NHL there’s routine,” said Finland’s Sebastian Aho, a prolific scorer for the Carolina Hurricanes.
“You skate in the morning at the same time, you play most of the time (at the) same time, you know every rink, you know all the players. I’m not saying it’s easy at all, but at least it’s familiar.”
SCARCE TIME TO ADAPT
The NHL began its Olympic break on Friday, less than a week before the men’s tournament was set to kick off on Wednesday.
That leaves scarce time for players to adapt to new team mates and Olympic playing surfaces that are shorter than a typical NHL rink, as well as the International Ice Hockey Federation’s slightly gentler approach to the game.
“The rules are a little different here. Obviously it’s important that you don’t take penalties or sit in the box,” said forward Sam Bennett, who was a late addition to the Canadian roster.
Fighting, a staple in the bone-crunching world of the NHL, has long been strictly prohibited in IIHF competition and players are going into the Games aware of the constraints they face in Milan.
“Everyone’s cognizant of it and thinking about it but also at the same time you still want to play with that same edge,” said American Brock Nelson, a center for the Colorado Avalanche.
COACHES SEEK PRE-TOURNEY CALM
The return of NHL stars to the Olympics for the first time since 2014 has proven one of the big stories of these Games, with reporters swarming practices – when allowed.
A few teams at the built-from-scratch Santagiulia Arena complex closed some of their practices to reporters in the days leading up to the tournament, including favorites Canada on Monday.
“It was only done because the rink’s too small,” Canada coach Jon Cooper told the dozens of reporters who were packed shoulder-to-shoulder inside the smaller practice facility adjacent to the main arena for a post-practice media availability.
“It’s just distractions and people, there’s just issues to have so many people here,” he said of the practice rink.
Sweden head coach Sam Hallam said the option to close a practice offered a small measure of serenity inside the Olympic cauldron.
“Sometimes it’s just nice to have that calmness,” Hallam told reporters on Tuesday, a day before his team kicks off its Olympic campaign against hosts Italy.
“It’s no mysteries, we’re not going to invent something new out there. But just keeping it a bit calm is nice.”
–Reuters, special to Field Level Media
Sports
Cavs, unbeaten with James Harden in action, clash with Wizards
Feb 9, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) during the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Trade-deadline acquisition James Harden came through in the clutch during his first two games with the Cavaliers, rallying Cleveland to road victories over the Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets.
“The Beard” and the red-hot Cavaliers will look to continue their winning ways on Wednesday when they host the Washington Wizards. Cleveland has won four straight games, nine of its past 10 and is 11-2 since Jan. 14.
Harden buried the tying 3-pointer with 32 seconds left on Monday in Denver, and he finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in Cleveland’s 119-117 triumph over the Nuggets. Donovan Mitchell made a pair of free throws with 0.9 ticks left to provide the margin of victory.
Mitchell had 32 points and 10 assists while Jarrett Allen continued his surge with 22 points and 13 rebounds as the Cavaliers wrapped up a 4-1 trip against Western Conference foes.
“We’re just hooping on vibes,” said Mitchell, who attended the Super Bowl with his fiancee, singer Coco Jones, who performed in the pregame on Sunday at Santa Clara, Calif. “That’s a testament to who we have on the team right now. We just figured it out.”
The starting backcourt of Harden and Mitchell combined for 58 points and 12 assists in its debut Saturday, a 132-126 Cavaliers win over the Kings. Allen made 11 of 12 shots and had 29 points and 10 rebounds in that contest, helping Cleveland score 75 points in the second half.
Mitchell said it only took one half of one game to develop chemistry with Harden, who was traded by the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for fellow point guard Darius Garland on Feb. 4.
“No practices, a couple of film sessions, that’s the way it’s supposed to happen,” Harden said. “We find a way to just get it done.
“Donovan could go out there and literally average 35 points per game, but his willingness to pass and be unselfish is a testament to him as a basketball player.”
The Cavaliers have moved into fourth place in the East, while Washington is mired in 14th following a 132-101 loss to the visiting Miami Heat on Sunday. The Wizards have dropped 13 of their past 17 games, including the past two in a row.
Second-year center Alex Sarr had 12 points, 12 rebounds and five assists after missing one game with an ankle injury, but Washington only dressed 10 players.
“You flush the experience and you focus on the next one,” Wizards point guard Bub Carrington said. “We couldn’t get rebounds, we missed a couple of shots and we turned the ball over. The game changed just like that.”
Carrington, who had 13 points and five assists against Miami, has provided consistent effort and performance. His averages of 10.2 points and 4.6 assists are virtually identical to last season, when he made the All-Rookie second team.
“He’s growing daily and we like how he’s playing,” Wizards coach Brian Keefe said. “He sets a good standard for us, bringing a level of intensity and joy for the game we love.”
Recent trade pickup Anthony Davis (finger) may or may not play for Washington this season, but former All-Star Trae Young (knee, quadriceps) is scheduled to be examined next week and could suit up for the initial time in late February.
The Wizards have had no success against Cleveland over the past four years, losing 14 straight — seven at home and seven on the road. They have given up 278 points in two games against the Cavaliers this season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tennessee focuses on inside offense ahead of Mississippi St. matchup
Feb 7, 2026; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Collin Chandler (5) passes the ball against Tennessee Volunteers forward Nate Ament (10) during the first half at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images The remedy is simple for the Tennessee men’s basketball team: start making more layups.
An abundance of missed shots at the rim cost the Volunteers a Southeastern Conference game Saturday at Kentucky, a contest that Tennessee led by 14 points at halftime. The 74-71 loss also cost them a spot in the Top 25 rankings.
When the Volunteers (16-7, 6-4 SEC) oppose Mississippi State (11-12, 3-7) on Wednesday night in Starkville, Miss., they will attempt to get back on track.
“These guys will bounce back,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said. “They have too much pride. They work too hard. Their work ethic is too good.
“We have not reached the ceiling with this team, and that’s a good thing right now.”
Tennessee’s shortcomings on finishing at the rim have been an issue throughout the season. The Volunteers’ inability to convert Saturday — Tennessee missed four of its seven layup attempts — led to Tennessee’s four-game winning streak ending.
Freshman sensation Nate Ament has been doing his part for the Volunteers. He scored 28 points in a victory over Ole Miss last week and poured in 29 against Kentucky.
In addition to missed layups, Ament lamented his team going just 17 of 25 (68%) at the free-throw line.
“We’ve got to make shots at the rim and free throws, and we’ve got to be mentally tougher,” he said.
Mississippi State will enter the game coming off an 88-68 loss to then-No. 21 Arkansas on Saturday. The Bulldogs allowed a 20-2 run early in the first half and never recovered. Mississippi State trailed by 16 after that sequence and never got closer than 13 points in the second half.
Against Tennessee, the Bulldogs will need to shore up some of their defensive deficiencies.
“Point-of-attack defense,” Mississippi State coach Chris Jans said, referring to where the team has struggled. “We are not doing a good enough job on a consistent basis with old-fashioned guarding the basketball.
“Too many times the offenses are getting the ball where they want to go. (Opponents) are getting us in rotation where this defense is not built to be in rotation. And we’re not providing the resistance needed to keep offenses from where they are trying to get.”
Josh Hubbard, the Bulldogs’ leading scorer at 20.6 points per game, led the team with 16 against the Razorbacks.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Birk Ruud grabs gold, American Alex Hall silver in men's slopestyle
Livigno, Italy – February 10, 2026. Gold medalist Birk Ruud of Norway celebrates on the podium after winning the Men’s Freeski Slopestyle with silver medalist Alex Hall of United States and bronze medalist Luca Harrington of New Zealand LIVIGNO, Italy — Freestyle skier Birk Ruud of Norway earned the gold medal in the men’s slopestyle event on Tuesday after an impeccable first run at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
Alex Hall, the gold medalist four years ago in Beijing, won silver under cloudy skies on the slopes in the mountain town of Livigno to extend Team USA’s remarkable run in the event over the years.
Luca Harrington of New Zealand claimed bronze as one of the youngest competitors at 21.
The slopestyle event features skiers who slide across rails and perform aerial tricks to impress the judges with difficulty and originality. The best score from each skier’s three runs determines the rankings.
Ruud’s superb first run put him at the top of the leaderboard from the start. Hall tried to catch him but fell backward after coming off a rail in his third run.
Final scores came in at 86.28 for Ruud, 85.75 for Hall and 85.15 for Harrington.
Ruud, 25, pumped his fists and hugged the other medalists as he took the podium. Hall, 27, clapped his hands and smiled.
Team USA have earned a slopestyle medal in every Olympics since the event was introduced to the schedule in 2014.
Jesper Tjader, the bronze medalist in Beijing, was in medal contention going into his third run of the day but crash-landed off a rail, sending one of his skies flying.
–Reuters, special to Field Level Media
Cavs, unbeaten with James Harden in action, clash with Wizards
Tennessee focuses on inside offense ahead of Mississippi St. matchup
