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Precious Achiuwa's career night lifts Kings past Mavs

NBA: Sacramento Kings at Dallas MavericksFeb 26, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Precious Achiuwa (9) drives to the basket past Dallas Mavericks guard Tyus Jones (1) during the second half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Precious Achiuwa posted a career-high 29 points to lead the Sacramento Kings to a 130-121 win over the host Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.

Achiuwa shot 13 of 19 from the field, including 3 of 3 from 3-point range, and had 12 rebounds.

Maxime Raynaud scored 22 points and Daeqwon Plowden added 19 off the bench.

Naji Marshall racked up a season-best 36 points to go with 10 boards for Dallas, which fell short of a third successive victory.

Khris Middleton contributed 17 and Brandon Williams had 16 as the Mavericks, who at one stage trailed by 18, were left to rue a ragged 21-of-34 clip from the foul line and a lopsided 18-5 turnover count.

Williams’ three-point play with 1:56 left trimmed the Kings’ lead to 123-121, but it would be the home side’s last score.

Achiuwa replied with a putback, which brought up his new personal-best haul, then Plowden buried a 3 to make it 128-121.

Achiuwa blocked Marshall’s drive before Nique Clifford converted a layup in the final stages.

Achiuwa had 14 points and seven boards in the opening frame to set a fast early tempo for Sacramento.

Marshall had 13 points on perfect 5-of-5 shooting, but the Kings remained in control.

They went on separate 11-1 and 12-2 runs to lead decisively after one, 42-28, after having no turnovers for the quarter and owning a 6-1 advantage on the offensive glass.

Sacramento’s cushion swelled to 56-38 before Marshall spearheaded a Dallas rally to reduce the difference to 68-56 at halftime.

Marshall had 23 first-half points while Achiuwa’s total at the main interval was 21.

The Mavericks got hot and got stops early in the third quarter, using an 11-0 spree to slash the margin to 72-69.

The Kings called a timeout and went on an 11-2 burst of their own and led 89-73 before Dallas reduced it to 100-88 with one quarter to play.

Marshall spearheaded a 12-0, two-minute surge to open the fourth as the Mavs clawed back to within 110-105.

–Field Level Media

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Corey Kispert, CJ McCollum carry Hawks past their ex-team, Wizards

NBA: Washington Wizards at Atlanta HawksFeb 26, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum (3) dribbles against Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington (7) during the first half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Corey Kispert and CJ McCollum took it to their old team on Thursday, combining for 58 points to help the Atlanta Hawks roll to a 126-96 win over the visiting Washington Wizards.

The duo, obtained in the trade that sent Trae Young to the Wizards last month, sparked Atlanta to its second wire-to-wire victory over Washington in the past three days and its third win in a row overall. The Wizards have lost three straight.

Kispert had career highs with 33 points and 11 field goals, including six 3-pointers. McCollum scored 25 points, shooting 9-for-19. They each scored 22 points in the first half.

Atlanta also got 17 points and nine rebounds from Jonathan Kuminga, 13 points, 11 assists and five steals from Dyson Daniels, and 10 points and 11 rebounds from Onyeka Okongwu.

The Hawks were playing without a pair of starters. Jalen Johnson, the team’s leading scorer, was out with a left hip flexor injury, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, the team’s No. 2 scorer, was sidelined due to a left ankle sprain. Both injuries occurred in the Tuesday game against Washington and are not expected to be long-term issues.

Washington was led by Tre Johnson, Will Riley, Justin Hardy and Justin Champagnie with 14 points each.

The Wizards were without leading scorer Alex Sarr, who missed his sixth game with a right hamstring strain, and second-leading scorer Kyshawn George, out because of a left knee contusion.

The Hawks scored the first nine points of the game and soon built a 12-point lead. The Wizards managed to close the gap to 20-18, but Atlanta led 37-26 after one quarter.

McCollum and Kispert each had a pair of treys in the second quarter, when Atlanta outscored Washington 39-30 and took a 76-56 lead into the break. The Hawks ended the second period on a 9-2 run.

Washington got as close as 12 with 3:22 left in the third quarter on a layup from Anthony Gill, only to have the Hawks outscore them 10-4 and take a 98-80 lead in the final quarter.

Atlanta won the season series 3-1.

–Field Level Media

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Islanders tie game late, send Canadiens to OT loss

NHL: New York Islanders at Montreal CanadiensFeb 26, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (48) celebrates with right wing Simon Holmstrom (10) his second goal of the game against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored the game-winner at 1:46 of overtime as the visiting New York Islanders rallied for a 4-3 victory against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.

Pageau carried the puck up the left side for a partial breakaway and cut to the front of the net before slipping a backhand under Samuel Montembeault’s pads.

Matthew Schaefer scored twice for the Islanders, who have won three in a row. Ilya Sorokin made 21 saves.

Noah Dobson scored twice against his former team and Samuel Montembeault made 22 saves for the Canadiens, who have lost two of three (1-0-2) but extended their point streak to six (4-0-2).

Cole Caufield put Montreal ahead 3-2 at 9:11 of the third period. Juraj Slafkovsky’s shot from the right circle deflected off Ivan Demidov’s skate on the doorstep and trickled through Sorokin’s pads to the other side, where Caufield easily tapped it in.

With Sorokin pulled for the extra attacker, Anders Lee tied it 3-3. Bo Horvat fired a shot from the top of the slot that deflected off Lee in front and went over Montembeault’s left arm at 18:19.

Dobson gave the Canadiens a 1-0 lead at 12:11 of the first period. The defenseman, who was traded to Montreal in the offseason for forward Emil Heineman, carried the puck to the left circle before snapping it glove side past Sorokin.

Dobson made it 2-0 on the power play at 10:06 of the second period. He took a feed from Alexandre Texier at the middle of the blue line and beat a screened Sorokin with a slap shot blocker side.

Schaefer scored twice in less than a minute late in the second to pull the Islanders even.

The rookie defenseman cut it to 2-1 on a 5-on-3 with a snap shot from the top of the slot at 17:56. Schaefer then tied it 2-2 at 18:51, beating a screened Montembeault inside the near post from the top of the right circle.

Schaefer’s second tally was his 18th of the season, moving the 2025 No. 1 overall pick past Hall of Famer Phil Housley for most by an 18-year-old defenseman in NHL history.

–Field Level Media

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Julian Champagnie enjoys homecoming as Spurs' streak hits 11

NBA: San Antonio Spurs at Brooklyn NetsFeb 26, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) is fouled by Brooklyn Nets forward Noah Clowney (21) as he drives to the basket during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Julian Champagnie scored 26 points in a successful homecoming and the San Antonio Spurs extended their longest winning streak since the 2015-16 season to 11 with a 126-110 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night in New York.

A Brooklyn native who played at nearby Bishop Loughlin High School and at St. John’s in Queens, Champagnie made 6 of 9 3s and 10 of 14 shots overall after the Spurs arrived in the area from Toronto at about 4 a.m. Eastern time.

In front of many San Antonio fans, Champagnie led seven Spurs players in double figures to help the club keep its longest winning streak since a 13-game run Dec. 26, 2015-Jan. 22, 2016, going.

Champagnie’s big night helped offset a second straight quiet showing from Victor Wembanyama, who was held to 12 points and had eight rebounds.

Stephon Castle added 13 of his 18 in the opening quarter when he sank seven of his career high-tying 10 free throws. Devin Vassell added 14 and De’Aaron Fox contributed 10 of his 14 in the third.

Keldon Johnson contributed 13 and rookie Dylan Harper chipped in 12 and seven assists as San Antonio’s reserves totaled 42 points.

The Spurs shot 49%, hit 17 3s, handed out 36 assists and collected 13 steals en route to their fifth straight win over the Nets.

Michael Porter Jr. scored 17 of his 25 in the third when the Nets made a comeback attempt before taking their sixth straight loss. Day’Ron Sharpe contributed 14 points and 11 rebounds off the bench and rookie Danny Wolf also scored 14.

Rookie Nolan Traore chipped in 13 and Nic Claxton finished with 12 points before fouling out early in the fourth.

The Nets shot 46% and made 38% from 3-point range but never led and trailed by as many as 26.

The Spurs made 13 of 14 free throws for a 36-22 lead through the opening quarter. Champagnie hit 3s on consecutive possessions to give the Spurs a 48-26 lead 2:20 into the second quarter and San Antonio held a 71-56 at halftime.

Porter scored 11 points early in the third and the Nets cut the lead to 75-69 on his 3 with 8:19 left in the quarter. The Spurs gradually pulled away again and held a 104-84 lead into the fourth.

San Antonio took a 26-point lead early in the fourth and pulled its starters a few minutes later.

–Field Level Media

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