Sports
No. 16 Texas Tech expects another battle to wire with Colorado
Feb 2, 2026; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders forward JT Toppin (15) reacts to a call in the second half of the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images In a league where no game is a layup, No. 16 Texas Tech can’t afford a letdown to maintain any hope of staying in the hunt for a top-four finish in the Big 12 Conference.
That fact, plus the memory of last month’s meeting in Colorado, provides plenty of motivation as the Red Raiders get back to work Wednesday night against the Buffaloes in Lubbock, Texas.
Texas Tech (17-6, 7-3 Big 12) takes on a Colorado team that has won two of its last three games following a six-game losing streak.
Colorado’s nosedive began with a 73-71 loss Jan. 10 at home to Texas Tech. The Buffs (14-10, 4-7) roared back from a 24-point second-half deficit, but Barrington Hargress’ game-winning 3-point attempt at the buzzer was off the mark.
“We’re focused on what Colorado has done to get better since we played them because they almost came back and got us on a day when we played well most of the game,” Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland said. “They’ve played really well offensively and have a lot of different players who can make you pay if you’re not locked in defensively.”
Texas Tech avoided a three-game losing streak for the first time since the 2023-24 season with a 70-63 win Sunday at West Virginia.
The Red Raiders got back to the things that have been strengths all season: shooting the ball well from beyond the arc and defending the Mountaineers well most of the day.
Sparked by Donovan Atwell’s hot hand, Texas Tech knocked down 8 of 11 3-point attempts in the first half on the way to connecting on 13 of 24 — the 18th time this season the Red Raiders made double-digit threes. The accuracy was just as vital, though: Texas Tech hit at a 54.2% clip from deep after going 12 of 40 vs. Kansas and 11 of 29 against UCF.
That contrast figures to be important in the rematch with Colorado. The Red Raiders are among the Big 12 leaders in 3-point shooting — they rank second at 39.1% with more makes (264) and attempts (675) than any other team — while the Buffs are last in 3-point defense at 36.9%.
Colorado nabbed a 78-70 victory Saturday against Arizona State with some of the same ingredients that helped the Buffs get off to 8-0 and 12-3 starts this season. They took care of the ball, with only 10 turnovers, and were strong on the backboards with a 40-26 edge on the glass.
“We did some good things because we had a really good practice the day before,” said longtime Buffs coach Tad Boyle. “These are the dog days of February for college basketball players. Guys get tired of practicing, but what young guys have to understand is that practice does matter and we play better and are a different team when we practice well.”
The Buffs will need to hone in on the Red Raiders’ top two scorers, J.T. Toppin and Christian Anderson. Toppin provides 21.8 points (third in the Big 12) and a conference-best 10.5 rebounds per game while Anderson, who was full strength at West Virginia after missing the Kansas loss with an illness, averages 19.3 points and a Big-12 best 7.7 assists.
Texas Tech’s defensive focus will be on freshman Isaiah Johnson, who leads Colorado with 16.3 points per game. He struggled through a 3-for-11 shooting night against the Red Raiders in the first meeting, but he keyed the Buffs’ 44-30 second-half surge by scoring all of his 21 points after halftime — buoyed by a 13-for-13 effort from the free-throw line.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Mets' Francisco Lindor to have surgery on hamate bone
Sep 28, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) throws to first base to retire Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez (not pictured) during the second inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images New York Mets All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor will have surgery Wednesday for a stress reaction in his left hamate bone, manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters.
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said Tuesday that Lindor had been feeling soreness in his left hand and wrist area over the previous couple of days and would be seeing a specialist on Wednesday.
Stearns said Tuesday that if surgery was warranted, the recovery time was estimated at six weeks and that it was not expected to delay Lindor’s availability for the regular season. The Mets open the season at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 26.
“If we get to the point where we get closer to Opening Day and there are questions about Francisco, then we’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” Stearns said. “But, at this point, we’re optimistic that regardless of what Francisco needs, he’s going to be ready for Opening Day.”
Lindor, 32, has experienced soreness in the same area at times for a couple of years, Stearns said.
“He’s usually able to grind through it, and he’s done it,” Stearns said. “I don’t know when he first felt it, but I think it just persisted to the point where he felt like he should say something about it. Once we examined it a little bit more yesterday, our medical staff determined that he should see a specialist.”
Lindor has not been on the injured list since 2021 and has played in at least 152 games in the four seasons since, missing several games late in 2024 but staying off the injured list.
While Lindor is out, the Mets will have Christian Arroyo, Vidal Brujan, Jackson Cluff and Ronny Mauricio as options to play at shortstop. Bo Bichette signed a three-year deal with the Mets this offseason with the intention of switching from shortstop to third base, but he also could see time as Lindor’s replacement in spring training.
Lindor was selected to the All-Star Game for the fifth time in his career last season and first as a Met in 2025. He batted .267 with 31 home runs, 86 RBIs, a .346 on-base percentage, a .466 slugging percentage, a National League-leading 644 at-bats and major league-topping 732 plate appearances in 160 games.
He has a career batting average of .273 with 279 homers and 856 RBIs in 1,535 regular-season games with Cleveland (2015-20) and New York (2021-present). He was an All-Star in 2016-19 with Cleveland.
Lindor also is batting .263 with eight homers and 21 RBIs in 41 playoff games.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Knicks F OG Anunoby (toe) out vs. 76ers
Feb 3, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) reacts after making a three point basket in front of Washington Wizards forward Kyshawn George (18) during the first quarter at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby will sit out his fourth consecutive game Wednesday when he misses his team’s contest versus the host Philadelphia 76ers.
Anunoby, 28, is sidelined by a toenail avulsion on his right foot, per NBA injury report.
He is averaging 16.6 points and 5.5 rebounds in 41 games (all starts) this season.
Center Mitchell Robinson is available to return to action after missing Tuesday’s 137-134 overtime loss to the Indiana Pacers due to an ankle injury and rest.
Robinson, 27, is averaging 4.8 points and 8.9 rebounds in 38 games (14 starts) this season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rams OT Rob Havenstein retires after 11 seasons
November 9, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Rob Havenstein (79) after the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Rob Havenstein announced his retirement from the NFL after 11 seasons on Tuesday.
Havenstein, who won Super Bowl LVI with the Rams in the 2021 season, started all 148 regular-season games and 13 playoff games he has played since 2015 — the last season the franchise was in St. Louis.
“What a ride it’s been!” Havenstein, 33, posted on Instagram. “I can look back on my career and smile knowing I have given everything I had and more to the game I love. In saying that, I am officially retiring from the NFL.”
He thanked his wife, parents, teammates, coaches, the team’s fans and the Rams organization.
“I have had the time of my life with the Los Angeles Rams (formerly known as the St. Louis Rams) and can’t thank the whole organization enough for giving me a shot back in 2015,” he wrote. “Although some in the organization weren’t totally convinced.”
Havenstein played in only seven regular-season games this season (seven starts) as he dealt with knee and ankle bursitis. He was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 19 and the Rams designated him to return to practice on Jan. 22 ahead of the NFC Championship game at Seattle on Jan. 25, but he didn’t play and the Seahawks won 31-27.
A member of the 2015 NFL All-Rookie Team, Havenstein was a foundational part of the offensive line at right tackle. He played on 100% of the offensive snaps in games he played across the 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2025 seasons, and at least 90% in the others.
The Rams also reached the league championship game in the 2018 season, falling to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII, 13-3. Los Angeles beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 three years later.
“As this chapter ends, I couldn’t be more grateful, hopeful, and excited to see what comes next!” Havenstein said.
–Field Level Media
The Most Disturbing CSI Episode Is Pure Nightmare Fuel
Elon Musk suggests spate of xAI exits have been push, not pull
