Sports
Pistons, Nuggets celebrating 1st-time All-Stars ahead of clash
Jan 27, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) shoots the ball over Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) in the fourth quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images The Detroit Pistons made franchise history in their most recent victory. They’ll be content to just get another win when they host the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday.
Detroit opened a four-game homestand with a 130-77 thrashing of the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday. The 53-point margin was the largest in franchise history.
All 12 players that coach J.B. Bickerstaff utilized had at least two made baskets and one assist.
“That’s the best part about it,” he said. “You put yourself in a position where everybody gets to contribute. These guys put in so much work and time. (They) sacrifice so much for one another for the ultimate goal of being able to get out there and help. … Most pleased that we continue to play to our standard. That was the most impressive part.”
Center Jalen Duren, who was named an Eastern Conference All-Star reserve on Sunday, had 21 points and 10 rebounds. He found out in the first quarter that he had been chosen for his first All-Star appearance.
“It was tough because I’m trying to focus on the game. I didn’t really want to know until the end,” Duren said. “But it’s a blessing, man. It’s hard not to smile. It’s hard not to be happy. Just a testament to the work. I thank my teammates, my coaches and everybody who helped me get here. Couldn’t do it alone. Just happy.”
The Pistons were actually up just five points midway through the second quarter. The lead increased to 23 by halftime and continued to balloon.
“It’s growth for us,” Bickerstaff said. “There were games earlier even this season where we got a big lead and then we let our foot off the gas a little bit and fumbled the lead, had to figure out a way to win it in the fourth quarter. So, we talk about it all the time. We never expect to start the season as good as we expect to finish it. And for us, it’s always about taking those steps of continuing to improve.”
Denver lost to defending champion Oklahoma City on Sunday, 121-111. Nikola Jokic scored just 16 points and committed six turnovers in his second game back after missing the previous 16 with a knee injury.
Jamal Murray, who was named a Western Conference All-Star reserve for the first time in his career, was held to 12 points on 4-of-16 shooting.
“When I saw (the announcement), so many things went through my mind,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said of Murray’s All-Star selection. “Multiple 50-point games. Multiple 50-point games in the playoffs. Let’s see. Triple-double in the Finals. NBA champion. Most wins in the West over the last 10 years. He’s the point guard of that team. Fifty-five piece (in a game) last year. Seventeen assists (in a game) this year. NBA All-Star.
“In my mind, all those things make sense, except for the one that was missing. Maybe All-NBA, maybe he’ll be considered.”
The game on Tuesday begins a three-game road trip for the Nuggets. Detroit squeaked out a 109-107 win over the host Nuggets in the teams’ first meeting last Tuesday. Tobias Harris and Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 22 points apiece, while Murray scored a game-high 24.
–Field Level Media
Sports
DC United, Atlanta United struggle to find chances, play to 0-0 draw
Mar 21, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta United midfielder Miguel Almirón (10) steals the ball against D.C. United defender Silvan Hefti (5) during the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images Host Atlanta United and D.C. United ended their meeting on Saturday night the same way it started as the Eastern Conference foes played to a 0-0 draw.
Atlanta (1-3-1, 4 points) came into the night having picked up its first win of the season a week ago, a 3-1 victory against the Philadelphia Union to give Atlanta five goals over its previous two matches.
D.C. (2-2-1, 7 points), which snapped a two-match losing streak in its last outing, kept a clean sheet for the second time this season and for the first time since its season opener, a 1-0 win over the Union on Feb. 21.
Chances were at a premium for both sides as neither Atlanta’s Lucas Hoyos nor D.C.’s Sean Johnson had much to do in their respective goals. In fact, the best chance of the first half for either side was a Cooper Sanchez’s attempt just outside the box in the 13th minute that Johnson was able to deal with.
D.C., on its end, came close to the opening goal in the 61st minute after poor defending for Atlanta led to a flurry of activity in front of its own net. Hoyos, though, made a save on Jackson Hopkins’ attempt.
In the 83rd minute, Caden Clark had a chance to put D.C. in front, but his attempt struck the right post. Then, in the 87th minute, Brandon Servania’s long-range effort rang off the crossbar.
That was the final meaningful opportunity of the evening for both teams as they each walked off the pitch with a point apiece.
Atlanta held a 64.8% to 35.1% advantage in possession for the match and outshot D.C. 9-4. But it was held scoreless for the third time this season.
Hoyos ended the night with a single save en route to the first clean sheet of his MLS career. Johnson stopped both Atlanta shots he faced.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Charlotte FC set team record for goals, blow out Red Bulls
Mar 21, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Red Bulls New York goalkeeper Ethan Horvath (34) reacts after being scored on by Charlotte FC during the first half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cory Knowlton-Imagn Images Kerwin Vargas and Pep Biel scored in the opening 10 minutes of the second half as Charlotte FC set a team record for goals and pulled away for a 6-1 rout of the visiting New York Red Bulls on Saturday night.
Biel made the pass that led to Idan Toklomati finishing off a header in the 14th minute and Charlotte (2-1-2, 8 points) survived New York attempting 10 shots and holding possession for a little over 60% for the first half.
After scoring four goals in its first four matches, Charlotte finished it off early in the second half by capitalizing on miscues by the Red Bulls.
Vargas scored from the center of the box after New York’s Omar Valencia overran the ball trying to intercept a pass from Djibril Diani. After securing possession, Vargas put a left-footed shot from the center of the box into the bottom left corner of the net.
In the 52nd, New York’s Gustav Berggren was shown the red card and kicked out for a foul on Toklomati, resulting in a free kick.
Biel took the kick and his left-footed shot from outside the box found a gap in New York’s eight-man wall and cruised into the bottom left corner.
Wilfried Zaha also scored in the 68th as Charlotte matched the team record of four goals they set five previous times. Archie Goodwin finished off the rout with a goal in the 77th and another in the third minute of stoppage time.
Julian Hall scored late for New York, which attempted 23 shots.
Goalie Kristijan Kahlina made seven saves. He solidified the blowout with consecutive saves on Mohammed Sofo and Valencia in a span of two minutes shortly after Charlotte took a three-goal lead.
New York (2-2-1, 7 points) tied a team record by allowing six goals for the fourth time and first instance since a 6-2 loss at Inter Miami on May 4, 2024. The Red Bulls have been outscored 9-1 in their two losses under first-year coach Michael Bradley.
New York goalie Ethan Horvath allowed six goals on 10 shots.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Luke Kennard's last-second shot beats Magic; Lakers' win streak at 9
Mar 21, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luke Kennard (10) reacts after hitting a game winning basket at the buzzer against the Orlando Magic in the fourth quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Luke Kennard drilled a go-ahead 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds remaining on Saturday to lift the Los Angeles Lakers to a 105-104 victory over the host Orlando Magic.
Trailing by two with 2.6 seconds left, Marcus Smart inbounded a pass to a wide-open Kennard, with the Lakers’ sharpshooter hitting his third 3-pointer of the game and clinching the team’s ninth straight win.
Los Angeles (46-25) was led by Luka Doncic’s 33 points and eight assists, while Austin Reaves had 26 points and Kennard had 13. LeBron James scored 12 points and passed Robert Parish for most games played in NBA history with 1,612.
Orlando (38-32) was paced by Paolo Banchero’s 16 points and Jalen Suggs’ 14. Wendell Carter Jr. and Jevon Carter added 13 apiece for the Magic, who lost their fourth straight.
Trailing by four in the third quarter, Los Angeles’ 12-0 run was capped with James’ layup to give the visitors a 78-70 edge.
From there, Orlando finished the third on a 17-4 run, holding the Lakers to just one made field goal across the final six minutes of the quarter.
After falling behind by seven to start the fourth, Los Angeles went on a 10-2 run — which included Reaves’ six points — to take a 92-91 advantage with 6:31 left.
James’ layup cut the Lakers’ deficit to a point at the 2:02 mark, before Banchero’s basket gave Orlando a 100-97 lead. Doncic and Carter then traded jumpers on the team’s subsequent possessions.
Banchero then hit two free throws to push the Magic’s lead to five with 50 seconds remaining.
After Reaves’ layup, the Lakers forced an Orlando miss on the other end. Reaves then missed a game-tying 3-pointer with 10 seconds left. Deandre Ayton got the offensive rebound and was fouled, splitting the free throws to leave the Lakers’ deficit at two.
Suggs then threw the ball away for an Orlando turnover with 4.1 seconds left, leading to Kennard’s game-winner.
After setting the new record, James’ fast-break dunk helped Los Angeles grab an early 6-0 lead.
Doncic’s fadeaway jumper gave the Lakers their first double-digit lead at 30-20. The margin grew to 14 on Reaves’ dunk, before Orlando finished the opening quarter on a 7-0 run to cut its deficit in half.
The run continued into the second quarter as the Magic answered Reaves’ floater with a 13-0 run, stamped with Tristan da Silva’s floater to put Orlando ahead by six.
After Suggs’ stepback trey, Reaves beat the first-half buzzer with a mid-range jumper, trimming the Lakers’ halftime deficit to 65-62.
–Field Level Media
DC United, Atlanta United struggle to find chances, play to 0-0 draw
Charlotte FC set team record for goals, blow out Red Bulls
