Sports
Three Eastern Conference Trade Deadline Winners to Watch
Feb 24, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) brings the ball up court during the second half against the New York Knicks at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images When the Pacers made an improbable run to the NBA Finals last spring, a clutch-shooting guard, do-everything forward and plucky reserve led the way.
Thanks to the Bucks and Grizzlies, there were no Tyrese Haliburtons or Pascal Siakams available at the trade deadline earlier this month. But that didn’t stop Eastern longshots from taking a stab at cheaper versions – and even a T.J. McConnell type – in their hopes of duplicating the Pacers’ success.
The extremely early results have been encouraging.
While, for the most part, the title favorites stood pat, here are three clubs that at least put themselves on the postseason map with a trade-deadline addition, and now can be identified as Teams to Avoid in the Eastern playoffs.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers were the biggest disappointment in the first half of the NBA season. For those who wagered that last year’s regular-season champs would duplicate their 60-win success … well, at 37-22 with 23 games remaining, you can prepare to make those tickets a sacrifice to the spring’s last fire.
And those vacation-home investments in the Cavaliers to win the NBA title. You can …
Whoa, now hold on there.
No one expected the addition of James Harden earlier this month to rejuvenate the future superstar, but few have been more consistent than the league’s boringest player in his first seven games out of the California sunshine.
The best part about Harden’s play on LeBron’s old court is that he’s accepted the role of Haliburton – a guy willing to sacrifice shots (until a big one is needed) while being a glue piece. He’s had seven or more assists six times already, complementing games of 10 rebounds, three steals and three blocks.
When the Cavaliers won for the sixth time in Harden’s short honeymoon on Tuesday, they sent a message to the Knicks: We were better than you last season, and now that we’ve caught you in the standings, rest assured we’re better than you this year, too.
Who knew Harden still had secret powers beneath the beard?
Atlanta Hawks
Feb 24, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga (0) controls the ball against the Washington Wizards during the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images The Hawks were labeled a winner at the trade deadline more so for what they dumped (Kristaps Porzingis) than what they hauled (Jonathan Kuminga).
As much as they came to despise Kuminga, three games into the Porzingis era, Warriors fans would have to agree.
The Hawks certainly didn’t respond well immediately to the deal, losing to the Hornets twice among three straight defeats in the immediate aftermath of the deadline. But that was to be expected from a team still acclimating to the earlier exporting of former franchise posterboy Trae Young.
They also played six straight games without Kuminga, who debuted with a bullet on Tuesday, demonstrating his personal highlight reel from days past wasn’t some AI-created cartoon.
Like in his teen-age days with the Warriors, Kuminga was the best player on the court – OK, the Wizards were the opponent – in his Atlanta curtain-raiser, dunking from short range and splashing from deep in a 27-point, 24-minute tribute to Dominique Wilkins.
The Siakam-type performance demonstrated the Hawks now have the star power in tandem with Jalen Johnson to take good outside shooting, perimeter defense, size and depth to the next level.
Their rise is bad news for other likely play-in teams in the East, and then to one of the favorites who might have seen this movie before – like when they were jolted by the underdog Pacers last season.
Charlotte Hornets
Feb 22, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) takes a shot over Washington Wizards guard Jaden Hardy (8) during the second half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images Who would have thought T.J. McConnell would become one of the most feared bench players in the Eastern playoffs last season?
The Hornets were watching on TV, but clearly they noticed. Because they went out at the trade deadline and made a similar under-the-radar addition in Coby White.
White is actually more like Kuminga than McConnell, but it’s his game-changing role in short spurts that potentially gives him the type of impact the Pacers got from their gnat last spring.
In an Eastern bracket dominated by defensive-minded clubs, the Hornets appear prepared to demonstrate that good offense beats good defense. Don Nelson will be proud.
Coincidentally, White, like Kuminga, debuted for his new team Tuesday and couldn’t have been more electrifying. With a pair of 3-pointers, 10 points, three rebounds, four assists and a steal in just 16 minutes, he showed his former team – the Bulls – and his former home fans just how much better off he is in ACC country.
Despite a pitch count, the Hornets were 20 points better than the Bulls when White was on the court. It helped produce a second straight win as Charlotte chases Atlanta toward the top of the play-in quartet, with the distinct possibility both will make the playoffs.
Harden, Kuminga and White. Three guys unwanted three weeks ago.
Now three guys nobody wants to have to deal with.
Sports
Tyler Reddick starts bid for 3rd straight NASCAR Cup win with pole run
Feb 22, 2026; Hampton, Georgia, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Tyler Reddick rounds the track at EchoPark Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mady Mertens-Imagn Images AUSTIN, Texas — One of the few things that wasn’t startling about Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series qualifying session at Circuit of the Americas was Tyler Reddick’s run for the pole position.
Negotiating the 2.4-mile road course in 97.760 seconds (88.380 mph) in the second qualifying group, Reddick claimed his third Busch Light Pole Award in six attempts at the track. He will lead the field to green in Sunday’s DuraMAX Grand Prix Powered by Reladyne (3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Of course, there’s more at stake for Reddick than simply a victory at COTA. In winning at EchoPark Speedway near Atlanta last Sunday, the driver of the No. 45 Toyota became the sixth Cup competitor to start a season with two consecutive wins. No driver has ever won three straight to open a season.
The 23XI Racing driver acknowledged that the pole position, the 12th of his career, is a positive first step toward that goal.
“It helps the chances, certainly,” said Reddick, whose series-best average finish of 4.6 at COTA includes a victory in 2023. “I think starting up front is huge.”
Michael McDowell led the first qualifying group of 19 drivers with a lap at 88.031 mph but fell to sixth soon after the second group took to the track. Ultimately, Ross Chastain posted the second-fastest lap at 88.256 mph (97.897 seconds) and will start on the front row beside Reddick.
The shocker was not that Chastain, the 2022 COTA winner, fashioned an excellent lap. What was surprising was that his two Trackhouse Racing teammates, Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch — both vaunted road course racers — failed to crack the top 10 in qualifying.
Van Gisbergen was 13th fastest on his third lap. Zilisch could do no better than 25th. Van Gisbergen is seeking his sixth straight road course victory in the Cup Series, a mark that would tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon for most consecutive road course wins.
Chase Briscoe (88.242 mph) will start third, followed by Ryan Blaney (88.179 mph) and Chase Elliott (88.161 mph). Elliott leads active drivers with seven road course victories.
Behind McDowell in sixth, AJ Allmendinger qualified seventh, followed by defending race winner Christopher Bell, Ty Gibbs and William Byron.
“We’ll see how it gets going,” Reddick said. “Certainly, Ross, Shane, Ryan Blaney-there’s a number of good drivers who were really strong in practice today. We’ll try to understand what that all looks like and make our best decisions on the car and everything.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Warriors F Gui Santos signs multi-year extension
Feb 25, 2026; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos (15) passes the ball as Memphis Grizzlies guard Javon Small (10) defends during the third quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images Golden State Warriors forward Gui Santos signed a multi-year contract extension on Saturday.
Specific terms were not disclosed by the Warriors. However, ESPN reported it was a three-year, $15 million contract extension with a player option in 2028-29. Santos was in line to become a restricted free agent prior to this extension.
Santos, 23, is posting career-best averages in points (6.6), rebounds (3.2) and assists (1.7) in 48 games (13 starts) this season.
He is contributing 4.9 points, 3.0 boards and 1.4 assists in 127 career games (15 starts) since being selected by the Warriors in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Isaiah Evans, No. 1 Duke overwhelm No. 11 Virginia
Feb 28, 2026; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Isaiah Evans (3) grabs a pass as he moves around a pick center Patrick Ngongba II (21) as Virginia Cavaliers guard Sam Lewis (5) defends during the first half at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-Imagn Images Isaiah Evans used a hot start on the way to 19 points and top-ranked Duke’s defense contained No. 11 Virginia for much of Saturday afternoon’s showdown in a 77-51 victory at Durham, N.C.
The Blue Devils, with two games remaining, secured at least a share of the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season championship and locked up the top seed for the upcoming ACC tournament.
Cameron Boozer racked up most of his 18 points on free throws for Duke (27-2, 15-1 ACC), which built its lead to 28 points in the second half. Boozer also had a team-high nine rebounds, while Patrick Ngongba II added 11 points.
Thijs De Ridder had 16 points for Virginia (25-4, 13-3), which was bidding to pull even atop the ACC standings. Instead, the Cavaliers’ nine-game winning streak was halted as they were held to a season-low point total.
Virginia went 29.1% from the field, including 7-for-35 on 3s, so the Cavaliers’ 12-for-13 shooting at the foul line couldn’t save them. Virginia collected nine offensive rebounds despite its volume of missed shots.
Evans shot 5-for-9 on 3-pointers and was 7-for-11 overall from the floor, accounting for nearly half of Duke’s 12 baskets from 3-point range.
Boozer had 11 first-half points on 11-for-12 free-throw shooting, but didn’t make a field goal until a 3-pointer early in the second half. He ended up 3-for-9 from the field in 33 minutes in Duke’s second-to-last home game of the season.
Aside from De Ridder, Virginia’s starters shot a combined 4-for-22 from the field.
An 11-0 run in the second half stretched Duke’s advantage to 70-43.
Duke built an 18-9 lead across the first 11 minutes, with Evans providing 14 of those points. The Blue Devils carried a 41-26 lead into halftime.
Virginia shot 4-for-17 on first-half 3s, while going 4-for-8 on 2-point range attempts.
By game’s end, Boozer attempted 12 of Duke’s 14 free throws.
–Field Level Media
Tyler Reddick starts bid for 3rd straight NASCAR Cup win with pole run
Warriors F Gui Santos signs multi-year extension
