Sports
Pelle Larsson sparks shorthanded Heat with Hawks in town
Feb 1, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson (9) splits the defense of Chicago Bulls forward Isaac Okoro (35) and center Nikola Vucevic (9) during the second half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images After posting at least 20 points in two consecutive games, Swedish-born guard Pelle Larsson has become a surprising standout for the Miami Heat.
Larsson aims to extend his streak on Tuesday night when Miami hosts the Atlanta Hawks.
Larsson averages just 10.3 points for the year, which ranks seventh on the team. However, Larsson has capitalized on extra minutes recently as the Heat have been playing without 2026 All-Star Norman Powell (personal reasons), 2025 All-Star Tyler Herro (toe injury) and 2022 first-round pick Nikola Jovic (hip).
Additionally, starting point guard Davion Mitchell missed six games with a shoulder injury before returning for Sunday’s 134-91 victory over Chicago.
Larsson, a Stockholm native whose father played for the Swedish National Team, has made a habit of filling any role necessary. He was a starter for three of his four college seasons, but earned the Pac-12’s 2022 Sixth Man of the Year honor for Arizona in his lone year as a backup.
In 2024, Larsson was Houston’s second-round pick, but the Heat traded for him on draft night. He started only eight games as a rookie, averaging 4.6 points. This season, he has started 30 games and his production has more than doubled.
But production doesn’t just mean scoring.
Larsson draws charges, makes the extra pass and helps Miami win.
“Pelle makes the right play,” Heat captain Bam Adebayo said. “He does the little things.
“Sometimes he scores 20 points. Sometimes he scores two. But he makes an impact either way.”
Overall, the Heat have won four of their past six games and haven’t dropped consecutive games since Jan. 6-11.
They are in seventh place in the Eastern Conference with a 27-24 record, three games ahead of 10th-place Atlanta.
The Hawks also have won four of their last six, but they enter Tuesday with a two-game losing streak.
Hawks coach Quin Snyder continues to make tweaks in the wake of last month’s blockbuster trade that sent Atlanta’s all-time assists and 3-point leader Trae Young to Washington.
The team now revolves around forward Jalen Johnson, who recorded his eighth triple-double of the season in Saturday’s 129-124 loss to Indiana.
Johnson had 33 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. For the season, he averages 23.1 points, 10.5 rebounds and 8.0 assists.
The Hawks’ losing streak has coincided with the absence of starting center Onyeka Okongwu, who has missed two games and remains day-to-day after getting hit in the face and suffering a dental fracture on Jan. 28 against Boston.
“Onyeka is the most selfless ball-mover on our team,” Snyder said. “When our guys get him the ball, they know they will get it back.
“He will make a play for someone else. He sets the example, but we need everyone to play with the same mindset.”
Miami ranks second in the league in scoring average (120.0 ppg) while Atlanta shares ninth (117.2 ppg).
Nickell Alexander-Walker serves as Atlanta’s second-leading scorer (20.3 ppg). CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert — acquired in the Young trade — are being used as reserves. They are combining for 27.6 points in 47.1 minutes per game.
Snyder simply wants his team to play unselfish basketball.
“When we play well, we are getting in the lane, and we’re kicking the ball out, and we’re running and spacing,” Snyder said. “It’s something we believe in. It’s not a lack of buy-in. It just requires execution.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Amen Thompson's tip-in at buzzer lifts Rockets over Heat
Mar 21, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) catches a pass against Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) in the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images Amen Thompson tipped in a Kevin Durant missed jumper at the buzzer, and the Houston Rockets escaped with a wild 123-122 victory over the visiting Miami Heat on Saturday night.
Durant had passed Michael Jordan’s career 32,292 points for fifth on the scoring list with a corner 3-pointer at the 3:35 mark of the fourth quarter. The Heat (38-33) moved ahead on a goaltending call against Jabari Smith Jr. when he attempted to block Simone Fontecchio’s layup after the Rockets committed a turnover on an inbounds pass by Tari Eason.
Thompson saved the Rockets (43-27) with his career-best 18th rebound, redirecting the Durant miss just before the buzzer sounded. Thompson finished with 24 points and was one of three Rockets to record double-doubles along with Reed Sheppard (23 points, 14 assists) and Alperen Sengun (19 points, 12 rebounds). Durant finished with 27 points to lead the Rockets and has 32,294 for his career.
Bam Adebayo paired 32 points with a career-high-tying 21 rebounds to pace the Heat. Tyler Herro scored 25 points but shot 0-for-5 in the fourth quarter. Fontecchio had 21 points and five 3-pointers. Pelle Larsson tallied 19 points, while Davion Mitchell had 15 points and nine assists.
Fontecchio drilled a 3 that gave the Heat an 83-80 lead at the 7:11 mark of the third quarter, the seventh lead change by that point in the period. Miami extended that margin, boosted by two Myron Gardner 3s late in the third, and the Heat extended to an 11-point cushion in the fourth.
But Smith nailed back-to-back 3s to spark the Houston comeback in the final period, and when Thompson scored on a transition dunk, the Rockets led 103-102. Sheppard made a floater with 12.7 seconds left for a 121-118 lead, only for Miami to reclaim the lead before Thompson won it.
The Heat answered the Rockets’ 8-0 start to the game with a 23-3 run that yielded a 12-point cushion. Houston responded quickly, boosted by three Sheppard 3-pointers, and when Smith made two free throws with 45 seconds left in the first quarter, Houston reclaimed a 30-29 lead.
The Rockets led 55-48 late in the second quarter before Mitchell nailed two 3s that helped Miami shave the deficit to 64-63 at the half.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Bruins surge in third, down Red Wings in race for playoff berth
Mar 21, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Viktor Arvidsson (71) handles the puck against Detroit Red Wings defenseman Albert Johansson (20) during the first period at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images The visiting Boston Bruins scored twice in a 3:20 span in the third period to turn around a one-goal deficit en route to a 4-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings in a crucial matchup between Atlantic Division rivals on Saturday night.
Nikita Zadorov scored the eventual game-winner with 10:18 remaining to lift Boston (39-23-8, 86 points), which improved to 3-0-2 in its last five.
David Pastrnak and Elias Lindholm each registered a goal and an assist, Marat Khusnutdinov also scored, Morgan Geekie had three assists and Charlie McAvoy two.
Jeremy Swayman backstopped the victory, making 41 saves.
Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat lit the lamp and John Gibson made 23 saves for Detroit (38-24-8, 84 points), which had been on a 2-0-1 run.
The teams entered Saturday’s game in a tie for the two Eastern Conference wild-card playoff positions, while the Montreal Canadiens held the No. 3 slot in the division by virtue of a better points percentage.
Lindholm netted the game-tying goal for 2-2 at 6:22 of the third period. After Mason Lohrei kept the puck in at the blue line, Geekie fired a cross-ice pass to Lindholm to slot home five-hole on Gibson from the bottom of the left circle.
Aided by another Geekie pass, Zadorov’s winner followed on an off-angle wrister coming down the left wing.
Gibson kick-saved Lukas Reichel’s penalty shot with 6:08 left in regulation to give Detroit some life, but Swayman stood tall in the final minutes and Khusnutdinov scored an empty-netter with 1:52 to go to preserve the win.
Detroit was held without a shot for more than 12 minutes to begin the game, but finished at 10-10 advantage following a scoreless first period. J.T. Compher narrowly missed making it a 1-0 lead before intermission, as his rebound bid slid past Swayman just after the final tenth of a second expired off the clock before intermission.
The hosts officially drew first blood 3:35 into the middle frame. Raymond cashed in on another man-up sequence, burying a one-time goal from the bottom of the left circle off Andrew Copp’s cross-ice feed.
Pastrnak responded with a game-tying, power-play goal at 5:07. The star winger blasted a one-timer from the left side after receiving McAvoy’s feed from the top of the formation.
DeBrincat put the Wings back in front at 4:06 of the second, slipping down to the top of the left circle to slot a high wrister past Swayman.
–Field Level Media
Sports
FC Dallas outlast Houston with late winner in Texas tussle
Mar 21, 2026; Frisco, Texas, USA; Houston Dynamo forward Ezequiel Ponce (10) attempts a bicycle kick as FC Dallas midfielder Ramiro (17) defends during the first half at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Logan Farrington scored twice in the opening 14 minutes, Petar Musa scored a late winner in the 86th minute in a rare appearance off the bench, and FC Dallas earned a 4-3 victory over the 10-man Houston Dynamo on Saturday night in Frisco, Texas.
Musa also helped create the second-half equalizer — an own goal off Houston’s Duane Holmes — after his halftime entrance for Dallas (2-1-2, 8 points), which earned its first win since its season opener on Feb. 21.
Guilherme scored his fourth goal and assisted tallies from Erik Sviatchenko and Lawrence Ennali for Houston (2-2-0, 6 points) in its first road match of the season.
But Sviatchenko was dismissed in the 68th minute for his second booking, becoming the fourth Dynamo player to receive his marching orders this season.
After scoring five times in Dallas’ first four matches, Musa was not listed on the league’s availability report for the weekend yet began the night unexpectedly outside the starting lineup.
And while it worked out well early, by halftime Dallas manager Eric Quill found his side trailing 3-2 and summoned his Croatian striker.
He immediately provided an impact, helping Dallas pull level in the 54th minute.
Herman Johansson took down a bouncing ball on the right flank, then played the ball up the side for Musa to run onto. Musa dribbled into the box and then tried to drag a cross toward the penalty spot, one that caromed off Holmes and over the line.
The goal was originally ruled offside, but was overturned following a video review.
Just under a half-hour later, Musa showed up again on the same right side, this time to finish off Joaquine Valiente’s tantalizing inswinging service at the back post with a one-touch volley after outmuscling his defender.
Guilherme helped turn Houston’s two-goal deficit into a one-goal advantage in the space of four minutes.
In the 29th minute, he intercepted Dallas goalkeeper Michael Collodi’s wayward pass and turned it into a simple finish before the goalkeeper could recover.
In the 31st, his outswinging corner found Sviatchenko at the back post for a clear header Collodi had little chance of saving.
He capped off the remarkable individual stretch in the 33rd when he found Ennali running in behind around the edge of the Dallas back line with a perfect throughball.
–Field Level Media
Amen Thompson's tip-in at buzzer lifts Rockets over Heat
Bruins surge in third, down Red Wings in race for playoff berth
