Sports
Season-long winning streak in reach for Knicks against Wizards
Feb 1, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet (44) controls the ball against Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent (7) during the second quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Landry Shamet has made six 3-pointers in a game on three occasions this season, including twice during the New York Knicks’ current six-game winning streak.
Shamet will look to find his range again as the Knicks bid to set a season-high winning streak on Tuesday night against the host Washington Wizards.
Shamet made three shots from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter to highlight his 23-point performance in 26 minutes off the bench on Sunday, helping New York to a 112-100 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
“I always say I have the easy job,” Shamet said. “I’m on the receiving end. It’s guys like (Jalen Brunson) getting blitzed and having to make the right decision. My job is to catch the ball and shoot the ball.”
Shamet is making an impressive 43.5% of his attempts from 3-point range this season. He is averaging 9.3 points in 24 games (six starts) during a season in which he missed 25 games due to a right shoulder sprain.
“It’s part of the journey,” Shamet said. “There are highs and lows in this thing. You can’t get caught up on either end of that spectrum. Just take care of your work every day, try to be a good teammate and the rest will take care of itself.”
OG Anunoby scored 25 points on Sunday, Josh Hart had 20 points and Brunson collected 12 points and a season-high 13 assists for the Knicks.
Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 11 points and 13 rebounds on Sunday, hours after he was named as an Eastern Conference reserve in the upcoming All-Star Game. He joins Brunson, on the All-Star team for the second year in a row, for the game at Inglewood, Calif. on Feb. 15.
Towns had 33 points and 13 rebounds in New York’s 119-102 win over Washington on Nov. 3. Brunson and Anunoby each had 16 points for the Knicks, who took advantage of 20 turnovers and held a 52-42 edge in points in the paint.
Alex Sarr scored 19 points in that game, and Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George and Corey Kispert each had 15 for Washington.
The Wizards answered a recent nine-game losing streak by winning three of their last four contests, including a 116-112 decision over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.
Rookie Will Riley posted season highs in points (18), made 3-pointers (four) and assists (six) to propel Washington.
“Our team was giving me the opportunity to drive, shoot and they were creating space for me to get into the gaps. I couldn’t do it without them,” Riley said in his postgame interview with Monumental Sports Network.
AJ Johnson added a season-high 17 points and Coulibaly and Marvin Bagley III each scored 15 for the Wizards, who enjoyed a 61-20 advantage in bench points.
“We brought a good mentality. It was great,” Riley said of the team’s attitude. “We just competed and it was an all-around fun game.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Oklahoma LB Owen Heinecke sues NCAA for '26 eligibility
Dec 19, 2025; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Owen Heinecke (38) against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the CFP National Playoff First Round at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke filed a lawsuit against the NCAA on Monday as he seeks an additional season of eligibility.
Heinecke, who participated in last month’s NFL Scouting Combine after his waiver request and appeal were denied by the NCAA, is seeking an injunction before the NFL draft begins on April 23.
An emergency hearing for the case has been scheduled for April 16 in Oklahoma’s Cleveland County Court.
“We’re not giving up,” Oklahoma general manager Jim Nagy said of Heinecke’s case earlier this month. “Owen is just a guy you want to fight for.”
Heinecke was ruled by the NCAA to be out of collegiate eligibility due to playing in three lacrosse games at Ohio State in 2021 before transferring to Oklahoma’s football program as a walk-on. He redshirted in 2022 before playing 39 games over the last three seasons.
He had just 11 total tackles from 2023-24 but broke out last season with 74 tackles (second on the team), 12 tackles for loss and three sacks, earning recognition on the All-SEC second team.
“OU fully supports Owen and his pursuit of a fair opportunity to continue playing the game he loves,” Oklahoma athletic director Roger Denny said in a statement. “We’ll stand firmly beside him as he works to do just that.”
Heinecke joins a growing list of college football players suing the NCAA for extra eligibility this offseason to mixed results.
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was granted a preliminary injunction to play in 2026 by a Mississippi state court last month, while Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar had his injunction denied. The NCAA has appealed Chambliss’ case.
Virginia quarterback Chandler Morris is also suing the NCAA in an attempt to be granted a seventh year of eligibility.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Louisville outlasts Alabama, advances to Sweet 16
Louisville Cardinals forward Elif Istanbulluoglu (11) gestures as the Cards get the ball on a turnover against Alabama during the 2026 NCAA Women’s March Madness Second Round basketball at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Kentucky. March 23, 2026. Elif Istanbulluoglu and Tajianna Roberts had 18 points apiece and third-seeded Louisville survived sixth-seeded Alabama for a 69-68 win to advance to the Sweet 16 from Regional 3 in Louisville on Monday.
Trailing by four, Alabama’s Karly Weathers scored with 9.4 seconds left and Louisville’s Imari Berry made both free throws before Weathers hit another 3 to make it 69-68 with four seconds on the clock. But after Reyna Scott missed two fouls shots, Alabama didn’t have time to advance the ball for the potential game-winner.
Istanbulluoglu got the second of two free throws to go down with 2:52 to play and Louisville (29-7) corralled Essence Cody’s missed layup a minute later to send Mackenly Randolph to the line. She made a pair to extend the lead to 65-61, then Roberts’ steal of a Cody pass led to a Louisville timeout.
Scott’s clutch running floater from the left elbow to beat the shot clock and add to Alabama’s deficit with one minute to go gave Louisville breathing room.
Weathers had 11 of her 13 points in the fourth quarter. She canned a pair of 3s to put the Crimson Tide (24-11) in front 59-57 as part of an 11-4 run earlier in the quarter. Istanbulluoglu answered with a 3 off of an offensive rebound and Louisville snuck back in front by one as the clock ticked under the 5-minute mark.
Alabama’s Diana Collins made 4 of 5 from 3-point range and the Crimson Tide shot 46.2% (12 of 26) from 3 but only 45.6% overall (26 of 57).
Ace Austin led Alabama with 17 points. She hit her fifth 3 to keep Alabama in striking distance, 52-49, with 1:22 left in the third.
Istanbulluoglu, who also had 11 rebounds, drilled a long 3 and Roberts hit another on the next possession midway through the third quarter to put Louisville up 50-46. It was Louisville’s largest lead of the game at that point since 13-6 in the first.
Louisville survived woeful 7-of-26 shooting from long range with 14 offensive rebounds and 24 points in the pant. Alabama was outrebounded 41-24.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Arizona, Michigan vault to NCAA Tournament title favorites
Mar 22, 2026; San Diego, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Brayden Burries (5) celebrates after defeating the Utah State Aggies during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images A No. 1 seed has been eliminated while a No. 11 seed reached the Sweet 16, but the overall dearth of upsets through the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament has left sportsbooks sweating.
“It was a chalky opening weekend in the NCAA Tournament with favorites winning 22 straight games from Thursday to Saturday,” BetMGM senior trader Michael Ranftle said. “The sportsbook will be looking for a few upsets in the Sweet 16.”
No. 1 overall seed Duke survived a first-round upset bid from Siena and remains the strongest favorite to reach the Final Four at -110. Part of that is due to the fact that the Blue Devils will face the third-highest remaining seed in No. 5 St. John’s on Friday.
However, Duke has slipped to the third-shortest odds to win the national title, moving from the -300 pre-tournament favorite to -425 on Monday. The Blue Devils are now behind Michigan (+300) and Arizona (+325) at BetMGM.
The Wolverines have been dominant in blowing through No. 9 Howard and No. 9 St. Louis in the Midwest region by an average of 22 points. Michigan will face No. 4 Alabama in the Sweet 16 on Friday. Arizona blew out Long Island to open its West region action before handling a much tougher test against No. 9 Utah State on Sunday night. The Wildcats will also face a fourth seed in Arkansas on Thursday.
DraftKings is currently offering Arizona as the slight title favorite at +330 ahead of Michigan at +340 and Duke at +370. The Wildcats have also been backed by the most total national champion bets (10.7%) and money (18.1%) at BetMGM.
A notable good result for sportsbooks was the elimination of Miami (Ohio), which had been BetMGM’s biggest liability. In general, upsets leave books exposed.
“On the futures book, St. John’s and Arkansas are the biggest remaining liabilities to cut down the nets, while all the 1-seeds are positive outcomes,” Ranftle said.
The book reported that it has received a $100,000 wager on Purdue to reach the Final Four that would pay $600,000. The No. 2 seed in the West, the Boilermakers will play No. 11 Texas on Thursday before a potential Elite Eight showdown against Arizona or Arkansas. Purdue has also moved from +1400 before the tournament to win the national title to +1200 by Monday.
The upset of the reigning national champion Gators left No. 2 Houston as the top remaining seed in the South. If the Cougars can get by No. 3 Illinois on Thursday they would face the winner of No. 4 Indiana against No. 9 Iowa — the second-highest remaining seed.
Houston’s title odds have shortened from +900 to +700 since the tournament began. BetMGM has taken a $50,000 bet at +900 on Houston to win the title that would pay $450,000. That has contributed to the Cougars being backed by 9.3% of all money wagered on the national champion.
Houston has moved from +1200 to +700 at DraftKings since the tournament began. Iowa has seen the biggest movement, shifting from +30000 to +12000 to win the title, while Texas has moved from +40000 to +30000.
–Field Level Media
Oklahoma LB Owen Heinecke sues NCAA for '26 eligibility
Louisville outlasts Alabama, advances to Sweet 16
