Sports
Rockets star duo out to take down Spurs again
Jan 26, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) is congratulated by Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) after a made basket against the Memphis Grizzlies during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images The Houston Rockets on Monday presented the idealized version of what they desired from the pairing of Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun, a display they hope will be more the norm than an aberration.
Durant and Sengun each tallied 33 points in the Rockets’ 108-99 comeback victory over the visiting Memphis Grizzlies, the first of three home games for Houston this week, with the second coming on Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs.
Durant and Sengun were particularly lethal in the fourth quarter as Houston rallied from a 10-point, third-quarter deficit. Durant tallied nine points on 3-for-5 3-point shooting while Sengun ran roughshod over the Grizzlies with 12 points, five rebounds and four assists in the frame.
The Rockets have enjoyed varying levels of success exploiting the two-man game between Durant and Sengun. Against the Grizzlies, that dynamic pairing was essentially unstoppable.
“We’re learning each other,” Durant said. “And we’ll continue to learn each other as we both get better, (as) we both get more acclimated to the system. That process of figuring each other out is ongoing throughout the whole season.
“(Monday) is one of those nights you take a step in the right direction.”
When the Grizzlies shied away from double-teaming Sengun in the post, he eviscerated single coverage, especially when the Rockets executed the pick-and-roll, and Sengun had the advantage against a smaller defender. When the Grizzlies sent help, Sengun proved equally adept at feeding open teammates, with an open Durant the beneficiary from the perimeter.
“Because they don’t want to leave Kevin’s body, Alpi is able to get downhill a little bit,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “Kevin popped out and got those slip-out 3s and vice versa.
“It worked well together. Both draw a lot of attention. We didn’t really get other shots, but those two working together was really good at the end.”
After blowing a 16-point lead in a 111-106 loss to the Rockets on Jan. 20 and rebounding to beat the Utah Jazz on Jan. 22, the Spurs surrendered a 17-3 closing run to the New Orleans Pelicans in a 104-95 home loss on Sunday.
That inability to finish off opponents has become a moderate cause for concern for the Spurs, who remain the second seed in the Western Conference despite splitting their last eight games.
The core of the Spurs’ ascendant roster is flush with youth, so growing pains are to be expected. But a strong first half to this season elevated expectations, and the Spurs are seeking answers to resolve their current shortcomings.
“My take on that is we have a talented basketball team and that we might rely on it too much sometimes,” Spurs All-Star center Victor Wembanyama said. “We still do lots of mistakes, and we’ve been doing that. Not the willingness to do the same thing if it works over and over again, even though it’s repetitive.
“I know our talent bails us out often. There are some days you can’t make shots, so you have to be able to impact the game in every other area. There’s always going to be one of us that makes shots, but we need to do the hard things.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jannik Sinner wins Madrid, shatters record for consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles
Mar 29, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrates his victory over Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic in the final of the men’s singles at the Miami Open at the Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images Jannik Sinner became the first player to capture five straight ATP Masters 1000 titles when he breezed past Germany’s Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2 on Sunday in the Mutua Madrid Open final.
The 24-year-old Italian, who ranks No. 1 in the world, started his unprecedented streak in France by winning the Paris Masters on Nov. 2. He set the record there for losing the fewest number of games (29).
Sinner won the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells in March, where he became the first player not to lose a set in two consecutive ATP Masters 1000 events. He followed that by claiming the Miami Open, the Monte-Carlo Masters and now the Mutua Madrid Open. The last four victories have come in a nine-week span.
In Sunday’s win over the second-seeded Zverev, Sinner never faced a break point while converting all four of his break points against Zverev. Of his 29 first serves that landed, he won the point on 27 (93.1%). He averaged 130 miles per hour on his first serves compared to Zverev’s 124 mph.
Sinner needed just 25 minutes to complete the first set and 31 minutes to take the second set and wrap up his ninth consecutive win over Zverev. The German sensed the match might go this way.
“He’s world No. 1 and hasn’t lost a match since the beginning of February,” Zverev told reporters after capturing his semifinal match on Friday. “Right now he’s definitely the best player in the world. I have to play very, very good tennis to have a chance.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Raptors' Brandon Ingram downgraded to doubtful for Game 7
Apr 26, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) shoots the ball as Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) defends during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram was seen in a walking boot during the team’s shootaround on Sunday morning, several hours before Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against the host Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ingram initially was listed as questionable to play due to right heel inflammation. He was downgraded to doubtful when the NBA released its official injury report early in the afternoon.
An All-Star this season for the second time in his career, Ingram was limited to 11 minutes and scored one point in Toronto’s 125-120 setback to Cleveland in Game 5 on Wednesday. He did not play in Toronto’s 112-110 overtime victory in Game 6 on Friday.
During the regular season, the 28-year-old Ingram averaged a team-high 21.5 points over 77 games. He also averaged 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists and drilled 38.2% of his 3-point attempts.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Astros' Christian Walker batting cleanup one day after HBP to head
May 2, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (8) is helped off the field after being hit by a pitch during the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images Less than 24 hours after taking a fastball to the helmet, Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker was penciled into the starting lineup for the Astros’ series finale on Sunday at Boston.
Facing an 0-2 pitch from Red Sox rookie left-hander Tyler Samaniego, Walker was drilled over his left eye by a 93.3 mph fastball on Saturday that broke his helmet and sent the biggest piece flying 10 feet toward the backstop.
With the Astros leading 6-3 in the ninth, they took precautionary measures and removed Walker in favor of pinch runner Brandon Shewmake.
“I feel OK,” Walker told reporters afterward. “I think the helmet took most of it. And turning away from it hopefully made it more of a glancing blow than straight impact.”
Clearly Walker felt good enough to fill the cleanup spot for Sunday’s game against the Red Sox. Walker has appeared in every game this year for the Astros — starting all but one — and the 35-year-old has been producing some career numbers.
His .309 batting average, .386 on-base percentage and .577 slugging percentage all represent career bests. He has delivered eight homers and 26 RBIs through 34 games, which put him on pace for a career-high 38 homers and 124 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
Jannik Sinner wins Madrid, shatters record for consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles
Raptors' Brandon Ingram downgraded to doubtful for Game 7
