Sports
Thunder go wire-to-wire to fend off Nuggets
Feb 1, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) controls the ball against Denver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther (3) as guard Kenrich Williams (34) defends against forward Spencer Jones (21) in the second quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images Shai Gilgeous-Alexander collected 34 points and a season-high 13 assists, Cason Wallace scored a career-high 27 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the host Denver Nuggets 121-111 on Sunday night.
Gilgeous-Alexander has now scored 20 or more points in 120 straight games and got the better of Nikola Jokic in a matchup of the last two NBA MVPs.
Wallace made a career-high seven 3-pointers, Chet Holmgren finished with 14 points and three blocks, and Aaron Wiggins also scored 14 points for Oklahoma City, which never trailed.
It was the first of four games between the Northwest Division teams and the first time they’ve met since the Thunder beat Denver in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals in May.
Peyton Watson had 29 points and Jokic scored 16 points in his second game back from a left knee injury for the Nuggets. Jonas Valanciunas scored 13 points and Jamal Murray had 12 points and 12 assists hours after he was named as a first-time All-Star as a reserve for the All-Star Game on Feb. 15.
Oklahoma City led by 14 midway through the second quarter but had just one field goal over the next 5:49, and Denver cut the deficit to four late in the period. Wallace’s 3-pointer with 4.9 seconds left sent the Thunder to the locker room with a 62-55 halftime lead.
The Thunder’s advantage grew to 72-60 on another 3-pointer from Wallace and Denver responded with an 11-2 run to get within three. Oklahoma City hit four straight from deep to go ahead 89-74.
After a Nuggets layup, Gilgeous-Alexander converted a three-point play to make it 92-76 and took a 16-point lead into the fourth quarter.
The Thunder 8-for-13 from behind the 3-point arc in the third quarter, four of them from Wallace, and they maintained a double-digit lead throughout the fourth quarter.
Watson’s driving layup got Denver within 113-100 but Gilgeous-Alexander hit a step-back 18-footer and fed Wallace for a fast-break dunk, giving Oklahoma City a 120-103 lead with 3:11 left.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Mets' Francisco Lindor to have surgery on hamate bone
Sep 28, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) throws to first base to retire Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez (not pictured) during the second inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images New York Mets All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor will have surgery Wednesday for a stress reaction in his left hamate bone, manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters.
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said Tuesday that Lindor had been feeling soreness in his left hand and wrist area over the previous couple of days and would be seeing a specialist on Wednesday.
Stearns said Tuesday that if surgery was warranted, the recovery time was estimated at six weeks and that it was not expected to delay Lindor’s availability for the regular season. The Mets open the season at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 26.
“If we get to the point where we get closer to Opening Day and there are questions about Francisco, then we’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” Stearns said. “But, at this point, we’re optimistic that regardless of what Francisco needs, he’s going to be ready for Opening Day.”
Lindor, 32, has experienced soreness in the same area at times for a couple of years, Stearns said.
“He’s usually able to grind through it, and he’s done it,” Stearns said. “I don’t know when he first felt it, but I think it just persisted to the point where he felt like he should say something about it. Once we examined it a little bit more yesterday, our medical staff determined that he should see a specialist.”
Lindor has not been on the injured list since 2021 and has played in at least 152 games in the four seasons since, missing several games late in 2024 but staying off the injured list.
While Lindor is out, the Mets will have Christian Arroyo, Vidal Brujan, Jackson Cluff and Ronny Mauricio as options to play at shortstop. Bo Bichette signed a three-year deal with the Mets this offseason with the intention of switching from shortstop to third base, but he also could see time as Lindor’s replacement in spring training.
Lindor was selected to the All-Star Game for the fifth time in his career last season and first as a Met in 2025. He batted .267 with 31 home runs, 86 RBIs, a .346 on-base percentage, a .466 slugging percentage, a National League-leading 644 at-bats and major league-topping 732 plate appearances in 160 games.
He has a career batting average of .273 with 279 homers and 856 RBIs in 1,535 regular-season games with Cleveland (2015-20) and New York (2021-present). He was an All-Star in 2016-19 with Cleveland.
Lindor also is batting .263 with eight homers and 21 RBIs in 41 playoff games.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Knicks F OG Anunoby (toe) out vs. 76ers
Feb 3, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) reacts after making a three point basket in front of Washington Wizards forward Kyshawn George (18) during the first quarter at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby will sit out his fourth consecutive game Wednesday when he misses his team’s contest versus the host Philadelphia 76ers.
Anunoby, 28, is sidelined by a toenail avulsion on his right foot, per NBA injury report.
He is averaging 16.6 points and 5.5 rebounds in 41 games (all starts) this season.
Center Mitchell Robinson is available to return to action after missing Tuesday’s 137-134 overtime loss to the Indiana Pacers due to an ankle injury and rest.
Robinson, 27, is averaging 4.8 points and 8.9 rebounds in 38 games (14 starts) this season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rams OT Rob Havenstein retires after 11 seasons
November 9, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Rob Havenstein (79) after the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Rob Havenstein announced his retirement from the NFL after 11 seasons on Tuesday.
Havenstein, who won Super Bowl LVI with the Rams in the 2021 season, started all 148 regular-season games and 13 playoff games he has played since 2015 — the last season the franchise was in St. Louis.
“What a ride it’s been!” Havenstein, 33, posted on Instagram. “I can look back on my career and smile knowing I have given everything I had and more to the game I love. In saying that, I am officially retiring from the NFL.”
He thanked his wife, parents, teammates, coaches, the team’s fans and the Rams organization.
“I have had the time of my life with the Los Angeles Rams (formerly known as the St. Louis Rams) and can’t thank the whole organization enough for giving me a shot back in 2015,” he wrote. “Although some in the organization weren’t totally convinced.”
Havenstein played in only seven regular-season games this season (seven starts) as he dealt with knee and ankle bursitis. He was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 19 and the Rams designated him to return to practice on Jan. 22 ahead of the NFC Championship game at Seattle on Jan. 25, but he didn’t play and the Seahawks won 31-27.
A member of the 2015 NFL All-Rookie Team, Havenstein was a foundational part of the offensive line at right tackle. He played on 100% of the offensive snaps in games he played across the 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2025 seasons, and at least 90% in the others.
The Rams also reached the league championship game in the 2018 season, falling to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII, 13-3. Los Angeles beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 three years later.
“As this chapter ends, I couldn’t be more grateful, hopeful, and excited to see what comes next!” Havenstein said.
–Field Level Media
