Sports
Rockets vow to let defense keep fueling offense vs. Kings
Feb 5, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka on the sideline against the Charlotte Hornets during the second quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images While the Houston Rockets remain entrenched as a top-10 team in both offensive and defensive ratings, there have been moments this season where effectiveness on one end of the court impacts the other.
The Rockets struck a better balance in their 125-105 win over the Utah Jazz on Monday, before they complete a two-game homestand Wednesday against the Sacramento Kings.
Houston shot a robust 57% while limiting the Jazz to 36.7% shooting, including 8 of 44 from behind the arc. The Rockets established an offensive groove in the early stages, and that bolstered a defensive effort that at times has wavered when shooting is wayward.
“Whether it’s poor shooting or poor scoring for certain guys and the team in general, it seems to bleed over into our defense, and we can’t have that,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “We need to maintain what we do there and let that fuel us on the other end.”
The Rockets’ defense led the turnaround from a sluggish start to the second quarter. After Utah shaved a 16-point deficit to 40-35, the Rockets reestablished control by running with abandon. Houston posted 14 fast-break points and had 26 points in the paint in the period, a performance that runs counter to a team that ranks 21st in fast-break points and 28th in the NBA in pace.
Jabari Smith Jr.’s 31 points (12-of-17 shooting), three blocks and three steals led the charge.
“We guarded extremely well in the first half, and that creates our own turnovers,” Udoka said. “It’s always good for us when we can do that. The kick-aheads were great; we showed three examples at halftime of the ball moving side to side, changing sides, and guys getting out running.
“We love that pace and love the aggressiveness and guys hunting shots, either 3s or getting to the basket. That was due to really good defense.”
The short-handed Kings snapped a franchise-worst 16-game losing skid with their 123-114 road win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday.
Sacramento previously announced that Zach LaVine (finger), Domantas Sabonis (back) and De’Andre Hunter (eye) were shelved for the remainder of the season, yet found the gumption to record its first victory since capping a four-game winning streak against the Washington Wizards on Jan. 16.
The Kings, mired in the Western Conference cellar, have three games remaining on their five-game road trip. The triumph against the Grizzlies provided a boost to their collective spirits.
“The next one is Houston, and we’re going to go there and compete at a high level,” Kings coach Doug Christie said. “First and foremost, the competition level has to be high. You meet the game with physicality, and then you share the ball.
“Two things that travel in the NBA are defense and rebounding. Shots may or may not fall. It’s a different gym. The lights are different, the rims are different. But the two things that you can control are defense and rebounding, so it needs to get on that plane and go to Houston with us.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braden Frager helps No. 12 Nebraska put away Maryland
Feb 21, 2026; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Fred Hoiberg reacts to a call during the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images Braden Frager delivered 21 points and eight rebounds as No. 12 Nebraska spurted late for a 74-61 Big Ten victory over Maryland on Wednesday in Lincoln, Neb.
Pryce Sandfort added 16 points and eight rebounds as the Cornhuskers (24-4, 13-4) won their second straight and matched their program-high in conference wins, set in the 2017-18 season.
Sam Hoiberg contributed 12 points and seven rebounds and Rienk Mast scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half as Nebraska snapped a three-game losing streak against Maryland.
The Cornhuskers struggled through the game’s first 28 minutes and trailed 48-45 before going on an 18-3 spree, fueled by three baskets in the paint from Mast and 3-pointers from Sandfort and Frager.
The burst, capped by two Hoiberg free throws, put Nebraska in command 63-51 with 4:44 left.
With the win, the Cornhuskers advanced their effort to finish in the top four in the conference and gain a triple bye in the Big Ten tournament. Nebraska now is tied with Illinois for second-place in the league.
Andre Mills scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half to pace Maryland (11-17, 4-13), which is in danger of finishing in the bottom four in the conference, which would require them to play a first-round game in the Big Ten tournament.
Elijah Saunders scored all 15 of his points from beyond the arc and Solomon Washington put up 13 points and seven rebounds.
Nebraska struggled in the opening minutes, missing six shots and committing three turnovers before Frager hit two free throws to get the Cornhuskers on the board with 14:17 left.
Maryland failed to take advantage, however, as it missed 10 of its first 12 shots.
Late in the half, Sandfort and Hoiberg scored four points each as Nebraska went on a 10-3 burst to take its biggest lead of the first half, 31-24.
Early in the second half, the Terrapins went on a 7-0 burst to pull even at 39-39. A jumper by Mills gave Maryland a 48-45 lead with 12:07 left.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Acaden Lewis leads the charge to help Villanova surge past Butler
Feb 25, 2026; Villanova, Pennsylvania, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Acaden Lewis (55) drives for a shot against Butler Bulldogs forward Efeosa Oliogu-Elabor (4) during the first half at William B. Finneran Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Acaden Lewis recorded 20 points and Devin Askew scored all 16 of his points in the second half as Villanova topped visiting Butler 82-73 on Wednesday.
Bryce Lindsay contributed 19 points to help Villanova (22-6, 13-4 Big East) bounce back from a 10-point loss to No. 5 UConn over the weekend. The Wildcats, who still have not lost back-to-back games this season, also received 11 points and three steals from Tyler Perkins.
Michael Ajayi registered 17 points and nine rebounds, and Yohan Traore chipped in with 15 points for Butler (15-14, 6-12), which had won its previous two games. The Bulldogs have lost five straight matchups with the Wildcats, including both this season.
Butler trailed by 14 points at intermission before halving its deficit with a quick 7-0 run to begin the second half. Villanova rebuilt a double-digit advantage, but the Bulldogs eventually got within 55-54 with nine minutes left.
Shortly thereafter, the Wildcats used an 8-0 push to turn a 59-57 lead into a 10-point cushion. Askew accounted for all the offense during that surge with two 3-pointers, bookended around a driving layup.
Finley Bizjack’s layup with 2:27 left brought the visitors within 71-65. However, Askew drained a 3-pointer on the other end to halt the Bulldogs’ momentum.
Villanova led 27-24 late in the first half before closing the session on a 15-4 run over the final 3 1/2 minutes.
Lewis began the key push with a jumper before Perkins made one of his own. After a turnover by Butler, Lewis scored another bucket to make it 33-24.
Traore responded with a putback, but the Wildcats countered with six straight points — all by Lindsay. The sophomore guard converted a three-point play to give the hosts their first double-digit lead before knocking down a 3-pointer on the next trip to make it 39-26.
Perkins’ 3-pointer just before the halftime buzzer sent the Wildcats into the locker room with a 14-point cushion.
Lewis led all scorers with 14 points in the first half.
–Field Level Media
Sports
No. 6 UConn dismantles No. 15 St. John's in battle of Big East's best
Feb 25, 2026; Hartford, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies forward Tarris Reed Jr. (5) drives the ball to the basket against the St. John’s Red Storm in the first half at PeoplesBank Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images Tarris Reed Jr. totaled 20 points and 11 rebounds as No. 6 UConn used a pair of big runs in both halves and rolled to a dominating 72-40 win over 15th-ranked St. John’s Wednesday night Hartford, Conn. in a possible preview of the Big East tournament championship game.
After being listed as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA’s first bracket reveal over the weekend, UConn (26-3, 16-2 Big East) moved a game ahead of St. John’s for the conference lead.
The Huskies won their 27th straight in Hartford, led by as many as 36 in the second half and earned their largest margin of victory over St. John’s, eclipsing a 29-point win in Feb. 1998.
Reed made 9 of 14 shots and contributed a dunk to the 18-0 run in the first half along with a layup in the 16-0 run in the second half. He finished two shy of his season high and posted his seventh double-double this season.
Alex Karaban added 14 by hitting a 3-pointer and converting a dunk during the first half run and a pair of baskets in the second half outburst.
Solo Ball contributed a 3 during the second half and finished with 11. Braylon Mullins scored all nine of his points by hitting 3 3-pointers in the two runs.
Silas DeMary Jr contributed seven points, eight rebounds and five of UConn’s 20 assists.
St. John’s (22-6, 15-2) saw a 13-game winning streak stopped and had a 11-game Big East road winning streak halted. The Red Storm played their worst game under coach Rick Pitino and were held under 45 points for the first time since scoring 40 at Notre Dame on March 5, 2013.
The Red Storm missed their final 24 shots, shot 2-of-28 (7.1%) in the second half and 19.6% overall. It was their lowest field goal percentage in any game since 1938-1939.
Joson Sanon (10 points) was the lone double-figure scorer for the Red Storm, who also shot 5-of-20 from 3. Bryce Hopkins shot 3-of-14 while Zuby Ejiofor was held to six points, including the Red Storm’s last basket with 17:28 left in the second half.
UConn took a 31-11 lead on a 3 by Mullins with 6:37 lead and led 41-26 at halftime as St. John’s missed 16 straight shots at one point in the opening 20 minutes.
UConn continued dominating and officially put things away by scoring 16 straight points for a 61-31 lead on Ball’s corner 3 with 10:10 left. The lead reached 33 on two free throws by DeMary with 5:11 left and a few minutes later, UConn pulled its starters.
–Field Level Media
Braden Frager helps No. 12 Nebraska put away Maryland
Acaden Lewis leads the charge to help Villanova surge past Butler
