Connect with us

Sports

Paolo Banchero, Magic stay hot, cool off rival Heat

NBA: Orlando Magic at Miami HeatMar 14, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) passes the ball as he drives to the basket as Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware (7) defends during the first half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Paolo Banchero posted 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as the visiting Orlando Magic defeated the Miami Heat for the fifth straight time 121-117 on Saturday night.

Orlando led by as many as 22 but needed two Wendell Carter Jr. free throws with 11 seconds left to help put Miami away. Banchero added two free throws with 7.8 seconds left.

Desmond Bane added 21 points for the Magic, who have won seven straight. Carter scored 15, Jalen Suggs added 14 and Jamal Cain chipped in 12 as the Magic swept the season series 5-0.

Miami, which had its seven-game win streak snapped, was led by Bam Adebayo, who had 20 points, seven rebounds, four steals and two blocks. Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 22 points, seven assists and three steals. Fellow reserve Norman Powell had 20 points and Pelle Larsson scored 13 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter.

Miami got two of its top three scorers back as Tyler Herro (quadriceps) and Powell (groin) returned after missing a combined nine games, seven by Powell. Herro had just 10 points on 4-for-14 shooting from the field.

The Heat remain without fourth-leading scorer Andrew Wiggins, who has missed five straight games due to a toe injury.

Orlando won without two of its top four scorers: Franz Wagner (ankle) and Anthony Black (back).

The Magic jumped out to a 14-6 lead and continued to play well, taking a 41-27 lead at the end of the first quarter. Orlando shot 69.6% from the field in the quarter compared to 38.1% for Miami.

In the second quarter, Orlando shot 52.2% overall and 4 of 9 on 3-point attempts and went into halftime with a 71-55 lead. Miami made 44.0% in the second quarter, including 2 of 10 from deep.

The Magic survived a slump in third, shooting just 38.1% overall, including 1 of 6 on 3-pointers. Despite the struggles, Orlando entered the fourth leading 98-83.

In the fourth, Miami cut its deficit to 117-111 with 1:07 left on a Jaquez three-point play. After a Magic miss, Larsson made two free throws with 43.2 seconds left.

On Orlando’s next possession, Tristan da Silva dribbled the ball between his legs and out of bounds.

However, Larsson was called for a turnover failing to inbound the ball within five seconds.

Suggs missed two free throws, allowing Miami to cut the margin to 117-115 on a pair of Jaquez foul shots with 18.5 ticks remaining. But the Magic held on for the win.

–Field Level Media

source

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

F1 officially cancels Bahrain, Saudi Arabia GPs due to Iran war

Formula One: Miami Grand Prix - PreviewMay 1, 2025; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Fans pose for a picture in front of the F1 logo in the team village ahead of the F1 Miami Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Formula 1 officially canceled races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia scheduled for April because of safety concerns from the ongoing war in the Middle East.

The Bahrain Grand Prix was scheduled for April 12, while the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix was set for April 19.

“While several alternatives were considered, it was ultimately decided that no substitutions will be made in April,” F1 said in a statement released Saturday.

Iran is accused of launching drone and missile attacks on both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in response to the Israel- and U.S.-led war on Iran.

Just a month ago, teams were conducting testing at the Bahrain International Circuit.

The races are not likely to be rescheduled at a later date, given the full F1 calendar, ESPN reported.

The decision to cancel the two races leaves F1 with a 22-race schedule and a five-week gap between the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29 and the Miami Grand Prix on May 3.

The Chinese Grand Prix is scheduled for Sunday.

–Field Level Media

source

Continue Reading

Sports

Celtics dominate 2nd quarter, extend Wizards' skid to 11

NBA: Washington Wizards at Boston CelticsMar 14, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) controls the ball against Washington Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly (0) during the first half at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

Neemias Queta scored a game-high 24 points and had 10 rebounds to help the Boston Celtics end a two-game losing streak by beating the visiting Washington Wizards 111-100 on Saturday night.

Boston received 20 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists from Jayson Tatum, and a 16-point performance from Jaylen Brown. Derrick White scored 15 and Luka Garza added 15 off the bench.

Boston outrebounded Washington 55-38. The Celtics grabbed 19 offensive rebounds.

The loss stretched Washington’s losing streak to 11. The Wizards have lost nine in a row on the road.

Tristan Vukcevic made 6 of 7 3-point attempts and led the Wizards with 22 points. Fellow reserve Jamir Watkins added 15 points and six rebounds and Bilal Coulibaly finished with 12 points. Trae Young scored 11 and had six assists.

Alex Sarr was 1 of 9 from the field and was held to four points.

Boston led by nine in the opening quarter, but Washington went in front 27-26 on a Watkins 3-pointer with 1:05 left. Boston led 29-27 after 12 minutes. Queta scored 13 points in the quarter.

The Celtics scored 19 of the first 21 points in the second quarter and had a 48-29 advantage with 4:58 remaining in the first half. Boston outscored Washington 35-14 in the second and led 64-41 at halftime.

Queta made 10 of 12 shots from the field in the first half, when he led all scorers with 22 points.

Boston pushed its lead to 83-53 on a Brown basket with 5:34 left in the third, but the Wizards used a 15-5 run late in the quarter to trim their deficit to 20. Boston carried a 93-72 lead into the fourth.

The Wizards trailed by 12 following a Vukcevic 3-pointer with 4:21 to play, but failed to get closer than 11 the rest of the way.

–Field Level Media

source

Continue Reading

Sports

Nashville blanks Columbus, sits lone atop Eastern table

MLS: Nashville SC at Columbus CrewMar 14, 2026; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Nashville SC forward Woobens Pacius (17) kicks the ball as Columbus Crew midfielder Malte Andre Gomes (20) defends during the first half at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

Hany Mukhtar scored in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time Saturday night and visiting Nashville SC stayed unbeaten with a 1-0 win over the Columbus Crew.

The match appeared destined for a scoreless draw without much in the way of true high-danger chances until Mukhtar received expert service from Cristian Espinosa. After taking a pass in the box from Andy Najar, Espinosa spun defender Rudy Camacho around twice and then fed Mukhtar near the goal mouth, where he poked the ball past Patrick Schulte.

The goal enabled Nashville (3-0-1, 10 points) to claim the top spot in the Eastern table despite Columbus (0-2-2, 2 points) controlling the ball most of the night. The Crew possessed the ball for 55.3% of the fixture and made 171 more passes than their visitors.

But they couldn’t convert that into goals and remained winless through four matches under first-year coach Henrik Rydstrom. Meanwhile, Nashville goalie Brian Schwake (two saves) recorded his second clean sheet — both on the road.

Prior to Mukhtar’s marker, neither team generated a scoring opportunity of better than 9%. Each finished the match with eight shots, while Nashville had a 4-2 advantage in shots on frame.

Nashville came into the match boasting a top 10 offense and defense, scoring seven times in its first three fixtures while conceding just twice. Meanwhile, Columbus found its defensive shape last week but couldn’t find the back of the net in a scoreless draw with Chicago.

This one trended more toward that match and less towards the wide-open affairs the Crew played in the first two matches. Neither team generated a chance with a goal expectancy of even 10% in a scoreless first 45 minutes.

Columbus came the closest to scoring in the third minute of stoppage time but Max Arfsten’s long-range try from outside the box struck the crossbar and bounced away.

Jack Maher logged Nashville’s only first-half shot on net in the 39th minute on a header but Schulte (three saves) was able to parry it away.

–Field Level Media

source

Continue Reading