Sports
Thunder, Timberwolves set for back-to-back showdowns
Jan 26, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) celebrates with guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during a break in the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images The Oklahoma City Thunder will look to maintain their red-hot streak when they tip off against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night in Minneapolis.
Oklahoma City has won eight of its last nine games, including a 130-107 victory against the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City on Friday. Next is a home-and-home series between the Thunder and Timberwolves, with the teams both flying south after Sunday’s game for a rematch Monday in Oklahoma City.
Thunder forward Jalen Williams said he and his teammates have found a rhythm on the court.
“(We’re) just growing into a more mature team, understanding what it takes to win before we actually even play the game,” Williams said. “A lot of it too was everybody was healthy, so there was a lot of preseason kind of energy going around where we’re just running around, having fun.
“We’re just growing up.”
Minnesota also has played better during the past month, but the Timberwolves have hit a recent snag with three losses in their last four games. They are coming off a 121-115 road loss against the Houston Rockets on Friday.
The Timberwolves’ last two losses have come by eight points combined. Four of their past six losses are by two points.
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch wants to see his players perform better in close and late situations. He will be looking for his team to hold up under pressure against the Thunder.
“Our issue is we’ve got to win close games,” Finch said. “I don’t know who we are in clutch games. We’ve got to be better.
“Our shot selection, decision-making in clutch games has got to improve on the offensive end. Defensively, we’ve got to rebound, and we’ve got to not foul.”
Anthony Edwards leads the Timberwolves with 27.6 points per game. He is shooting 43.9 percent overall and 41.1 percent from 3-point range.
Second-leading scorer Julius Randle (18.9 ppg) is out with a groin injury, which leaves Naz Reid (14.6) and Jaden McDaniels (11.6) to round out the team’s top scorers.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Thunder in scoring (32.2 ppg) and assists (6.1). Williams is second with 20.9 ppg and Chet Holmgren ranks third at 15.1 points in 14 games (he returned four games ago after missing nearly three months with a fractured hip.
Holmgren’s return has allowed Thunder coach Mark Daigneault to use a “two-big” lineup that pairs the 7-foot-1 Holmgren with 7-footer Isaiah Hartenstein. For much of the season, the Thunder have relied on a smaller lineup with only one big man on the court.
“Defensively, it’s going to take care of itself,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of the two-big lineup. “But offensively, we have to be pretty strategic and specific in our attacks. …
“Usually, if it’s four guards and one big, it’s a little bit faster out there. Having two bigs is naturally going to be a little bit slower and just a little bit less space. But thankfully, Chet can shoot. Being more intentional in our attacks is going to be big for us.”
This is the third of four games between the teams during the regular season.
The Thunder won the first matchup 113-105 on their home court Dec. 31. Minnesota won the next game 116-101 on its home court Feb. 13.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Marlins' Class A pitcher fails drug test, suspended 80 games
Sep 11, 2020; Miami, Florida, USA; A general view of a illuminated Miami Marlins logo in center field after the Miami Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies split a double header at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images Miami Marlins minor league pitcher Eiver Mosquera has received an 80-game suspension for testing positive for Boldenone, a performance-enhancing substance.
This season with Class-A Jupiter and the rookie-level Florida Complex League Marlins in 12 games (nine starts), the 19-year-old was 3-3 with a 4.50 ERA, 30 strikeouts and 16 walks in 38 innings.
Mosquera joined the organization in 2024 as a $150,000 international signing out of Venezuela.
–Field Level Media
Sports
NYCFC focusing on Fire, not player's demand, fan reaction
Sep 20, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York City FC midfielder a(7) brings the ball up the pitch against Charlotte FC during the second half at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Their leading goal scorer wants out of town and their goalkeeper is public enemy No. 1 after a costly gaffe during the World Cup played a key role in the United States losing to Belgium in the round of 16.
But New York City FC is still relying on Nicolas Fernandez Mercau and Matt Freese for big contributions Saturday night when the Chicago Fire invade Yankee Stadium.
Fernandez Mercau scored his 11th goal on a penalty kick Wednesday night during a 2-1 win at Columbus that got NYCFC (6-6-4, 22 points) to .500. It came one day after reports that the club rejected an $18 million offer for his services, leading to his demand that the team transfer him.
“You see a player that is performing for and with his team with a lot of energy,” head coach Pascal Jansen said of Fernandez Mercau. “That’s what he’s supposed to do.”
Freese, whose whiffed clearing attempt led to a third goal for Belgium in a 4-1 win on July 6, was booed on every touch Wednesday. Despite the jeers, he made three saves in the team’s first fixture after the World Cup break.
Meanwhile, Chicago (8-5-2, 26 points) sits third in the East table despite a 3-2 loss Wednesday night at Inter Miami. The result snapped the Fire’s three-match winning streak.
Chicago opted not to stand pat during the summer transfer window, adding Robert Lewandowski from Barcelona on a two-year deal. The 37-year-old Lewandowski, the captain of Poland’s national team, started at Miami and played 63 minutes.
“After just two days with my new team, I didn’t expect everything to work perfectly in my first game,” Lewandowski said.
Lewandowski’s signing led to the departure of star striker Hugo Cuypers. The Fire sold him to LIGA MX’s Monterrey for a reported $7.5 million after he scored 40 goals in 75 league matches over the past 2 1/2 seasons. Cuypers scored 13 goals in 11 matches this season, tying Dallas’ Petar Musa for the league lead.
NYCFC is 3-0-2 in its last five matches against Chicago.
–Field Level Media
Sports
CF Montreal acquire Brayan Ceballos from Revs for up to $850K GAM
Mar 15, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Revolution forward Luca Langoni (41) congratulates defender Brayan Ceballos (3) after he scored his second goal during the first half against the FC Cincinnati at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images The New England Revolution traded defender Brayan Ceballos to CF Montreal on Friday in exchange for up to $850,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM).
The payments were divided into $500,000 in 2026 GAM, $250,000 in 2027 GAM and up to $100,000 in conditional GAM. The Revs also retained a percentage of Ceballos’ sell-on rights should he be transferred again.
“Brayan is a reliable and versatile defender who can play effectively in a variety of systems, making him an important addition to our roster,” Luca Saputo, Montreal’s managing director for recruitment and sporting methodology, said in a statement. “His strengths will complement those already present in our defensive unit. We are confident that he will contribute to our collective objectives as well as the team’s development.”
Ceballos, 25, came to the Revolution from Brazil’s Fortaleza EC in January 2025. He had three goals in 38 career games (37 starts) for the Revs, with two of those goals coming in one game this season, March 15 against Cincinnati.
“We are grateful to Brayan for all his contributions during his time in New England. We wish him all the best in Montreal,” Revolution general manager Chris Tierney said in a statement. “As we look to continue improving the first team, generating this significant amount of allocation money will allow us to continue investing in the roster in the future.”
–Field Level Media
Kevin Feige Confirms What We All Already Knew About The MCU Reboot
Raunchy, R-Rated 90s Crime Comedy Proves Why Hiding A Body Should Be Left To The Pros
