Sports
Spurs dominate second half to storm back, top Rockets
Jan 28, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) celebrates with forward Keldon Johnson (3) after Johnson scores a basket during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Victor Wembanyama posted his 21st double-double, Keldon Johnson scored 17 points off the bench, and the visiting San Antonio Spurs rallied from a 16-point deficit to defeat the Houston Rockets 111-99 on Wednesday.
Wembanyama paired 28 points with 16 rebounds and added five blocked shots to fuel the comeback. The Spurs bludgeoned the Rockets in the third quarter before pulling away in the fourth with a stifling defensive performance that marked a total departure from the first half.
The Rockets led 86-84 entering the final period before missing their first 12 shots. Wembanyama scored the first seven points of the fourth and his layup later with 8:08 left to play gave the Spurs a 95-86 lead. The Rockets’ first field goal came at the 5:49 mark, a Tari Eason 3-pointer that cut the deficit to 97-90.
Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox combined for 34 points for the Spurs while rookie Dylan Harper (16 points) joined Johnson in double figures off the bench. The Spurs scored 72 points in the paint, with Harper and Johnson routinely leaving defenders flat-footed on forays to the rim.
Amen Thompson paced the Rockets with 25 points while Kevin Durant added 24. Alperen Sengun posted 18 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for Houston, which rallied from a 16-point deficit to beat the Spurs last week.
Harper gave the Spurs their first lead at 79-78 with 2:15 left in the third quarter on a driving layup. The Spurs forced six turnovers and scored 16 points in the paint in the period.
Durant and Sengun fueled a blistering start for the Rockets, who seized a double-digit lead in the first quarter by virtue of an unselfish approach and superb shot-making. Durant and Sengun combined for 20 points on 9-for-11 shooting in the opening period, and Houston led 36-26 entering the second. The Rockets recorded 11 assists on their 15 field goals in the first quarter.
The Spurs rallied to within 42-39 in the second, with Wembanyama capping an 11-2 run with a transition alley-oop. But Houston fashioned an immediate response, and when Reed Sheppard followed a Jabari Smith Jr. 3-pointer with a pair of baskets, the Rockets’ 17-4 blitz rebuilt their lead to 59-43.
Wembanyama added another dunk and a free throw, and, when Fox delivered a runner, the Spurs cut the deficit in half and trailed 62-54 at the break. They also set the tone for the second half.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Martin Kaymer (elbow) WDs from LIV Adelaide
Jun 8, 2025; Gainesville, Virginia, USA; Martin Kaymer of team Cleeks Golf Club watches a putt on the fourth hole during the final round of the LIV Golf Virginia golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Cleeks Golf Club captain and two-time major winner Martin Kaymer withdrew from LIV Golf Adelaide on Wednesday due to an elbow injury.
The 41-year-old German is the latest LIV Golf captain to bow out of the event, joining six-time major champion Phil Mickelson (family matter) and Englishman Lee Westwood (wrist).
“I won’t be playing in Adelaide this week due to a minor injury on my left elbow,” Kaymer said in a statement. “Sitting out is never an easy call, especially for an event as special as LIV Golf Adelaide.
“The positive is that recovery is going very well and I’m feeling strong. This is just a short pause with the focus firmly on the long season ahead, and I look forward to returning to competition in Hong Kong.”
LIV Golf reserve John Catlin will step in for Kaymer, who won the 2010 PGA Championship and 2014 U.S. Open.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Astros closer Josh Hader (biceps) uncertain for Opening Day
Sep 3, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros relief pitcher Josh Hader looks on from the dugout before the game against the New York Yankees at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Houston Astros closer Josh Hader’s availability for Opening Day is in doubt because the left-hander is dealing with biceps soreness, manager Joe Espada told reporters Wednesday.
Hader, a six-time All-Star, resumed his throwing program at the team’s first workout with pitchers and catchers Wednesday. Espada revealed Hader had been shut down from throwing for more than a week earlier this winter after imaging on his left arm showed biceps inflammation.
Neither Espada nor Astros general manager Dana Brown could say if the injury would keep Hader off the Opening Day roster.
“I don’t know really the timeline on it,” Brown said Wednesday. “The good thing is he was ramping it up and was on his fourth (bullpen session). The first three were seamless. The good thing is he feels good right now, he’s been feeling good for a few days and he’s going to throw today.”
The injury is not believes to be related to the left shoulder capsule strain that caused Hader to miss Houston’s final 46 games last season, the first time he had been on the IL in nine seasons for anything but an illness. Hader told reporters at a charity event in December he felt “back to normal” from the shoulder capsule injury.
Hader was 6-2 with a 2.05 ERA over 48 appearances with the Astros last season and was 28-for-29 in save opportunities.
The 31-year-old has 227 saves over nine big-league seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers (2017-22), San Diego Padres (2022-23) and Astros (2024-25). He is 34-31 with a 2.64 ERA in 468 career relief appearances.
–Field Level Media
Sports
The Biggest Question Facing Every 2026 MLB Contender
Oct 29, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage (39) pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth inning during game five of the 2025 MLB World Series at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images With major league teams reporting to Spring Training this week, it’s a good time to ask the biggest questions for postseason contenders in 2026.
Toronto Blue Jays
Can Trey Yesavage be that effective again over the entire season?
Yesavage famously shot up the Jays’ minor-league system in 2025, ascending from Class A to the World Series. He had an 11-strikeout and a 12-strikeout performance in the postseason, but he’s still just nine appearances into his major league career.
Toronto has significant question marks across the rest of the pitching staff, but many of them can be papered over if Yesavage delivers a great first full season.
New York Yankees
Will ace Gerrit Cole regain his Cy Young form?
They have one of the deeper starting rotations in the league — one that can override questions about their position players and bullpen.
But the only way they’ll win the World Series for the first time in 17 years is if Cole is pitching like an ace in October at age 35, coming off Tommy John surgery.
Boston Red Sox
Will the offense score enough runs to make this a playoff team?
The front office had a tough offseason, letting go of Alex Bregman and adding more starting pitching when bolstering the lineup seemed prudent.
They will have Roman Anthony for a full season, and Willson Contreras will help. But they’ll also need Trevor Story to repeat his renaissance season and several other hitters to perform at higher percentiles than they did in ’25.
Baltimore Orioles
Did they add enough pitching?
Sep 27, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) celebrates his solo home run against the Miami Marlins in the third inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward can slug, but the O’s had deeper needs on the pitching staff, particularly in the rotation.
They flirted with free-agent left-hander Framber Valdéz but bowed out of the bidding. They did make an intriguing trade for right-hander Shane Baz, though he’s still a reclamation project.
Otherwise, the Orioles are rolling with the starters they had at the end of ’25. It’s all too risky.
Seattle Mariners
Are they still a hitter or two short?
They added Brendan Donovan to play third base (or possibly second), which is fine — but still leaves something to be desired for an offense that finished 10th in runs scored.
The M’s should make the playoffs again if the starting pitchers repeat their ’25 performance, but they won’t make the World Series without better batting.
Detroit Tigers
Was not addressing the lineup an offseason mistake?
They waited out Valdéz and old pal Justin Verlander before making late moves to improve the rotation.
But everyone remembers Detroit’s infuriating inability to score runs in the postseason.
They essentially have the same lineup again.
Chicago Cubs
Who is the real Pete Crow-Armstrong?
Aug 28, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) reacts after striking out during the fourth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images A fantastic breakout season faded late when he hit .216/.262/.372 in the second half, followed by 12 strikeouts in 29 postseason plate appearances.
What if Crow-Armstrong’s fade is a harbinger of bigger struggles?
Los Angeles Dodgers
Can Shohei Ohtani win NL MVP and Cy Young in the same season?
Being the best hitter and pitcher in the league simultaneously is about the only thing Ohtani hasn’t accomplished yet.
He’s far enough removed from Tommy John surgery that he won’t be restricted in his innings.
This may be his best chance to do it.
New York Mets
Even with so many new faces, did they change enough of them?
They have at least five new hitters in the lineup: Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien, Luis Robert and rookie Carson Benge.
Freddy Peralta joins the starting rotation, and Devin Williams plus Luke Weaver headline a revamped bullpen.
But with Alonso gone and Francisco Lindor now dealing with a hamate injury, the Mets don’t feel like locks to make the playoffs coming off 83 wins.
Milwaukee Brewers
How much better can Jackson Chourio get?
They proved they can make the postseason with a deep roster of solid players.
But to become true World Series contenders — assuming that’s ownership’s goal — someone like Chourio needs to make the leap from good to great.
He may have the best chance on the roster to become a postseason difference-maker, along with right-hander Jacob Misiorowski.
Philadelphia Phillies
Will they hit enough after the top of the order?
Jul 30, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) at bat during a game against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images Team president Dave Dombrowski irritated Bryce Harper by implying he was diminished as a hitter — and it wasn’t Harper’s best season.
But he was still one of the three best bats in the lineup, along with Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner.
The real issue was the rest of the lineup, and aside from adding Adolis García, it wasn’t significantly addressed.
San Diego Padres
Are they about to tear up the roster?
Manny Machado’s salary is set to spike, and Fernando Tatís Jr.’s production hasn’t fully rebounded since his PED suspension in ’22.
That’s a lot of resources tied to two players on a roster that may have already peaked.
They’ve also struggled to find managerial stability, and it’s the final season of A.J. Preller’s contract.
Cincinnati Reds
Can Suárez hit 60 home runs playing 81 games in Cincy?
He finished with 49 in ’25 and now returns to one of the most homer-friendly parks in baseball.
Cleveland Guardians
Why does anybody pitch to José Ramírez?
A couple of young hitters appear to be developing, but no one else in the lineup is particularly menacing.
Ramírez produces at an elite level — nearly unprotected — and still finds ways to do damage.
Martin Kaymer (elbow) WDs from LIV Adelaide
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