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Former Mavericks majority owner Mark Cuban chimed in on the controversial Luka Doncic deal for the first time and left little doubt he sides with legions of miffed Dallas fans.
"If the Mavs are going to trade Luka, that's one thing," Cuban said in an interview with WFAA, the ABC affiliate in Dallas. "Just get a better deal. No disrespect to Anthony Davis, but I still firmly believe if we had gotten four unprotected No. 1s and Anthony Davis and Max Christie, this would be a different conversation."
Cuban retained 27.7% of the team after selling the majority stake in 2024, but he said his involvement with the Mavericks is no longer a factor in any team decisions. He wouldn't say whether he would've traded Doncic.
"I'm not going there. It doesn't matter," he said.
Cuban was at the front of the decision-making line in 2018 when the Mavericks acquired Doncic on draft night in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks, who dealt Doncic for the Mavs' first-rounder, Trae Young.
Doncic was traded by general manager Nico Harrison to the Lakers last month in one of the more stunning transactions in league history, with shock waves still reverberating in Texas. With Doncic gone and Davis hurt in his debut with the team, the Mavericks played point guard Kyrie Irving a league-high number of minutes for a 30-day stretch before he suffered a season-ending ACL tear.
Irving turns 33 later this month.
In return for Doncic, Dallas acquired Davis, Christie and a 2029 first-round pick from the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 1. For comparison, the cost for the Phoenix Suns to acquire Kevin Durant two years before the Doncic deal: Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and four unprotected future first-round picks and a pick swap in 2028. Phoenix also received T.J. Warren.
The Lakers also received forwards Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris.
Davis might not play another game this season. If so, he totaled 31 minutes in a Dallas uniform in 2025.
Dallas cited the team's "culture" as part of the reason for trading Doncic, while also expressing concern over the organization's ability to re-sign him as a free agent. The conundrum was familiar for Cuban, who likened the scenario to deciding to move on from popular point guard Steve Nash.
"I went through this before with when Steve Nash left and then won two MVPs. The good news is that we went to the Finals and won a championship," Cuban said. "So I've been through something -- but there wasn't social media back then, so it wasn't quite the same. You're going to make mistakes. I think the biggest challenge the Mavs have right now is there's nobody who's really outgoing to communicate."
Dallas is 10th in the Western Conference standings.
Information from Field Level Media was used in this report.
SACRAMENTO -- The San Antonio Spurs boarded the team flight Thursday bound for Sacramento and were pleasantly surprised to see teammate Victor Wembanyama on board.
Ruled out for the season in February due to deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder, Wembanyama accompanied the team on its trip to Sacramento to support new teammate De'Aaron Fox, who returns to Sacramento to face the Kings on Friday for the first time since they traded him to the Spurs as part of a transaction involving three teams, multiple players and draft picks.
"What [Wembanyama is] going through is definitely tough," Fox said at Friday's shootaround. "For us, we just want him to be healthy. We want him to be healthy enough to be able to get on a plane to be able to support us as a team. That's what he wants to do anyway."
Team doctors deemed it safe for Wembanyama to fly, a team official said, due to the specific type of blood-thinning medication he is taking to treat the blood clot in his right shoulder. The official said that Wembanyama isn't expected to make every trip, as some important steps in his treatment plan could take place during times the Spurs are on the road.
"Some of the stuff that has already been discussed [regarding Wembanyama's treatment], we'll probably keep it in-house for now," San Antonio acting head coach Mitch Johnson said. "Everything is as we said initially. No long-term effects on his health and basketball activities."
Fiddling with his phone, Wembanyama sat on the bench while his teammates conducted their shootaround at the Golden 1 Center.
The team announced Wembanyama's condition after the 21-year-old returned to San Antonio on the heels of the NBA All-Star Game in San Francisco. Before returning home, Wembanyama had taken a brief trip to Wyoming to unwind, according to a source.
The Spurs remain optimistic Wembanyama will make a full recovery by the start of next season.
At this point, though, Wembanyama is under strict orders from the team to not even touch a basketball.
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Seattle Mariners right-hander George Kirby has inflammation in his throwing shoulder and likely will open the season on the injured list.
"I would not anticipate that he's ready for the first 10 days, two weeks of the season," Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said Friday.
Hollander emphasized that an MRI revealed no structural damage to the shoulder.
Although Hollander said Kirby has been throwing the ball well with a velocity that met expectations, the right-hander hadn't felt he was bouncing back from each outing particularly well. That led to the MRI.
Hollander said the Mariners plan to shut Kirby down to get the inflammation out. He will be reassessed in a week.
"We want to make sure we're doing the right thing for the big picture of the whole season as opposed to worrying about Opening Day," Hollander said.
Kirby, 27, started 33 games last season to tie for the major league lead. He went 14-11 with a 3.53 ERA with 179 strikeouts and 23 walks in 181 innings.
He made the AL All-Star team in 2023, when he made 31 starts and went 13-10 with a 3.35 ERA.
Preview as Ireland take on Six Nations title rivals France
Ireland make four changes, with captain Caelan Doris returning to the back row after missing the Wales game with a knee injury. Suspended Garry Ringrose is replaced by Bundee Aki in the centres, while Jamie Osborne takes injured Mack Hansen's place on the wing with Hugo Keenan coming in at full-back.
Finlay Bealham returns at tight-head prop with Thomas Clarkson dropping to the bench.
Bealham, Doris and Jack Conan are set to win their 50th Test caps, with the latter appearing from the bench.
Ireland: 15-Keenan; 14-Osborne, 13-Henshaw, 12-Aki, 11-Lowe; 10-S Prendergast, 9-Gibson-Park; 1-Porter, 2-Sheehan, 3-Bealham, 4-J McCarthy, 5- Beirne, 6-O'Mahony, 7-Van der Flier, 8-Doris (capt).
Replacements: 16-Herring, 17-Healy, 18- Clarkson, 19-Ryan, 20-Conan, 21-Baird, 22-Murray, 23-Crowley.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. The first Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, round of the post-Jared Mees era saw preseason Mission AFT SuperTwins title favorite Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) do what many expected.
Daniels claimed victory under the lights of the Flat Track at Daytona Intl Speedway in Thursdays season-opening Royal Enfield Short Track at Daytona I.
How it was achieved, however, came as a genuine surprise.
It was anything but a day of domination for Daniels, despite the fact that hed won three of the previous four Main Events at the venue. If anything, the Estenson Racing ace was relatively quiet throughout practice and qualifying, starting the Main Event from Row 2 after failing to qualify for the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge.
Instead, the star of the show for all but the final minute of the Main Event was Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R), who appeared on the verge of guiding the Harley-Davidson XG750R to its maiden premier-class victory.
New to the bike but reunited with crew chief Dave Zanotti and mechanic Michelle Disalvo at Rick Ware Racing, Bauman was smooth and in control on a very tricky track. He put his name atop the charts during practice, qualifying, and the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, before storming off into the lead at the start of the Main.
Daniels showed renewed signs of life as soon as the race that mattered most got underway, diving under front-row qualifiers Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanpheres BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke), Henry Wiles (No. 911 J&M Logging/Ray Cs Harley-Davidson Kawasaki Ninja 650), and Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) in rapid succession to move into second.
However, even with clear air in front of him, Daniels didnt appear to have the measure of Bauman, who stretched the gap out to over a second deep into the contest.
That all changed as the two encountered lapped traffic, which allowed the Yamaha pilot to erase the distance and then execute a pass for the lead with just 35 seconds remaining on the clock.
A rare bobble on Baumans part then provided Daniels with the breathing space he needed to make it four wins in his last five tries in Daytona Beach.
The victory also marked Daniels first win since before the training accident that ended his title chances a season ago.
He said, I hate that everybody has to hear my sob story again, I broke my leg leading the championship (last year). I mean, it sucked. It sucked so bad. It sucked so bad for me, but even more for the team. Its one of those things when youre lying at home, and you wonder if youll ever be able to do it again. Even though I was on the podium those last three races, you still wonder.
And then I show up here at Daytona a place that I love and do well at usually and I was just on the struggle bus all day long. No matter what changes we made, I just could not get comfortable. But my team this win is because of the team. They just kept working and kept working. When I went out there for that warm-up lap, I knew I had something for them. But how impressive was Briar? The dude gets on a different bike that has never won, and he was the toughest competition. Hes going to be tough all year.
Third place went to 40-year-old Wiles, who was brandishing the unfamiliar No. 911 instead of his usual No. 17, which was unavailable to him due to not competing last season. The time away didnt steal any of his speed or aggression, a fact he proved convincingly while overcoming Fisher in an intense mid-race scrap for the final podium position.
Fisher held on for a strong fourth-place debut on the KTM, while Robinson made it two XGs in the top five.
Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction/OTBR Yamaha MT-07), who finished as the runner-up in last years opener, came home sixth.
Not that any of them needed it, but three-time AFT Singles presented by KICKER king Kody Kopp (No. 1 Bob Lanphere/KTM/Fastrack Racing KTM 450 SX-F) provided the class current crop of championship hopefuls a reminder of exactly whose No. 1 plate they were chasing.
While Kopp is committed to proving himself a national-caliber road racer this season, his talents on dirt remain elite. With an open weekend in his preseason pavement prep, Kopp pulled together a last-minute effort to participate in the Progressive AFT opener and didnt miss a beat.
A less-than-ideal start allowed Kopp to underline that message as he worked his way past the up-and-coming Tarren Santero (No. 75 Mission Roof Systems Honda CRF450R), 24 title rival Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), and finally 19 class champ Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Certified Racing KTM 450 SX-F) on his way to the front.
Once there, Kopp set sail en route to his fourth career triumph in Daytona. However, his eventual trip to the top step of the podium was momentarily delayed due to a late-race red flag.
That stoppage could be traced all the way back to a disastrous start saw title hopeful Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R) left standing still at the green light with his arms waving while the rest of the grid powered by. His subsequent charge up through the field eventually saw him clash with Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), leaving both riders on the ground.
Kopp survived the staggered restart without suffering any unwanted drama, while Drane managed to steal second from Gauthier in the shuffle.
After the race, Kopp said, It feels awesome. I just cant stay away from it. Im transitioning to roadracing, and its a big step. Its challenging, and Im really excited about the challenge. But I couldnt stay away. I live 15 minutes away from here now, and Bob Lanphere wanted to put this thing together, and we got it done. Huge thanks to Bob, and Kenny (Roberts) and Arney (Wick) from my roadrace program for giving me the go ahead to do this.
Fourth was taken by the returning Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), who edged young Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannums HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F) and Santero for the position.
Emma Gottsch (No. 5 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited) opened the Main Event program with a victorious performance in her Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. debut. She was flanked on the podium by Taia Little (No. 11 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited) and Mallory McGill (No. 58 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited).
NHL Power Rankings: Jets stay in the top spot, plus each team's playoff chances
With the 2024-25 NHL trade season wrapping up at 3 p.m. ET on Friday, hockey fans next turn their collective attention to the playoff races.
Which teams are shoo-ins, who remains in a battle and who is looking ahead to the draft lottery? In addition to an updated set of Power Rankings, this week's list also includes playoff chance projections courtesy of Stathletes.
How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors sends in a 1-32 poll based on the games through Wednesday, which generates our master list.
Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to the previous edition, published Feb. 28. Points percentages are through Thursday's games.
1. Winnipeg Jets
Previous ranking: 1
Points percentage: 71.43%
Playoff chances: 99.9%. Although they dropped off of their record-setting pace from the early part of the season, the Jets continue to soar over most competition. Is this the year that Connor Hellebuyck leads them on a long playoff run to silence his critics?
Next seven days: @ NJ (March 7), @ CAR (March 9), vs. NYR (March 11)
2. Washington Capitals
Previous ranking: 2
Points percentage: 70.97%
Playoff chances: 99.9%. Alex Ovechkin's chase of Wayne Gretzky's goal-scoring record continues to received a lot of the attention. Meanwhile, the Caps just keep piling up victories en route to what could be the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference bracket.
Next seven days: vs. DET (March 7), vs. SEA (March 9), @ ANA (March 11), @ LA (March 13)
3. Dallas Stars
Previous ranking: 3
Points percentage: 67.74%
Playoff chances: 99.9%. Whether Miro Heiskanen returns before the end of the regular season, Dallas appears to be a strong bet to qualify for the playoffs. But his presence once that tourney begins will greatly influence how far they get.
Next seven days: @ EDM (March 8), @ VAN (March 9)
4. Florida Panthers
Previous ranking: 6
Points percentage: 64.29%
Playoff chances: 99.9%. The Matthew Tkachuk injury surely affects what the Panthers can do for the rest of the regular season. But with a spot in the postseason tourney on the way to being locked up, Florida is just hoping he's back close to 100% by the night of Round 1, Game 1.
Next seven days: vs. BUF (March 8), @ BOS (March 11), @ TOR (March 13)
5. Vegas Golden Knights
Previous ranking: 5
Points percentage: 65.57%
Playoff chances: 99.9%. The Knights were already a shoo-in to qualify for the postseason, and now they'll get to experience playoff hockey with original Golden Misfit Reilly Smith again. Will he be the spark that gets them another Stanley Cup? Stathletes projects their Cup chances at 10.4%, fourth highest in the NHL.
Next seven days: vs. PIT (March 7), vs. LA (March 9), @ PIT (March 11), @ CBJ (March 13)
6. Toronto Maple Leafs
Previous ranking: 4
Points percentage: 63.71%
Playoff chances: 99.9%. Maple Leafs teams of the recent past were among the NHL's top regular-season teams, but many times did so by outscoring their defensive deficiencies. Not so this season, under new coach Craig Berube. Will their playoff fate be similarly different?
Next seven days: @ COL (March 8), @ UTAH (March 10), vs. FLA (March 13)
7. Tampa Bay Lightning
Previous ranking: 8
Points percentage: 62.90%
Playoff chances: 99.9%. The Lightning always seem to find a way to make additions at the trade deadline -- usually at the expense of early-round draft choices. Such was the case this week with the return of Yanni Gourde, who will aid in their quest to bring the Stanley Cup back to central Florida.
Next seven days: vs. BOS (March 8), @ CAR (March 11), @ PHI (March 13)
8. Carolina Hurricanes
Previous ranking: 11
Points percentage: 61.90%
Playoff chances: 99.9%. New year, same (general) results for the Canes; another playoff appearance is a highly likely outcome. Will they get back to the Cup Final for the first time in the Rod Brind'Amour coaching era? Stathletes lists those chances as 32.9%, and their Cup-winning chances as 18.5%, both of which are highest in the league.
Next seven days: vs. WPG (March 9), vs. TB (March 11)
9. Edmonton Oilers
Previous ranking: 7
Points percentage: 61.29%
Playoff chances: 99.6%. The Stanley Cup runner-up last season appear primed to make another long run this season: Stathletes projects the Oilers as having a 25.1% chance of making the Cup Final, and 13.2% chance of winning it all.
Next seven days: vs. DAL (March 8), @ BUF (March 10), @ NJ (March 13)
10. Minnesota Wild
Previous ranking: 10
Points percentage: 61.29%
Playoff chances: 95.6%. The Wild have faded a bit since they were one of the NHL's biggest surprises in the season's first half. Nevertheless, they remain firmly entrenched in playoff position -- and could do some damage if injured players such as Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek can return close to full health.
Next seven days: @ VAN (March 7), vs. PIT (March 9), vs. COL (March 11), vs. NYR (March 13)
11. Colorado Avalanche
Previous ranking: 13
Points percentage: 60.32%
Playoff chances: 99.3%. The Nathan MacKinnon-Cale Makar show rolls on, though the third part of that superstar group, Mikko Rantanen, was traded in January. It's hard to diminish this team's Cup chances, particularly with Mackenzie Blackwood finally rounding into the form in goal that some had envisioned for him as a prospect.
Next seven days: vs. TOR (March 8), vs. CHI (March 10), @ MIN (March 11)
12. Los Angeles Kings
Previous ranking: 9
Points percentage: 59.17%
Playoff chances: 84.4%. Will this be the year that the Kings finally make it out of the second round again? It would probably help to avoid the Oilers (who've beaten them three straight times) in Round 1. Unfortunately, that is exactly how the standings look at the moment.
Next seven days: vs. STL (March 8), @ VGK (March 9), vs. NYI (March 11), vs. WSH (March 13)
13. New Jersey Devils
Previous ranking: 12
Points percentage: 57.14%
Playoff chances: 91.5%. The injury to Jack Hughes -- whose return is slated for next season's training camp -- dings the Devils' chances of going far in the playoffs. But they remain much more likely than not to qualify for the field, and it's anyone's game once the tourney begins.
Next seven days: vs. WPG (March 7), @ PHI (March 9), vs. CBJ (March 11), vs. EDM (March 13)
14. Columbus Blue Jackets
Previous ranking: 16
Points percentage: 54.24%
Playoff chances: 31.0%. Easily the NHL's best story this season, the Blue Jackets remain squarely in the mix for a playoff spot as March continues. Can they catch the Devils -- and hold off all of the teams chasing them?
Next seven days: @ NYR (March 9), @ NJ (March 11), vs. VGK (March 13)
15. Calgary Flames
Previous ranking: 15
Points percentage: 54.03%
Playoff chances: 31.6%. What rebuild? During the course of last trade season and the offseason, the Flames said goodbye to Jacob Markstrom, Noah Hanifin, Elias Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov, Tyler Toffoli and Chris Tanev. And yet, they remain right in the mix of the Western Conference wild-card race.
Next seven days: vs. MTL (March 8), vs. VAN (March 12)
16. New York Rangers
Previous ranking: 19
Points percentage: 54.03%
Playoff chances: 24.7%. This Blueshirts' campaign has been a roller coaster, from one of the top preseason picks to win it all to dropping precipitously in the standings to now being right in the battle for a wild-card spot. Do they have more spring magic in store?
Next seven days: @ OTT (March 8), vs. CBJ (March 9), @ WPG (March 11), @ MIN (March 13)
17. Ottawa Senators
Previous ranking: 17
Points percentage: 54.92%
Playoff chances: 80.6%. Of the three "Atlantic Rising" teams, the Senators appear to have a slight upper hand for now, with the Red Wings a point behind and the Sabres destined for another draft lottery.
Next seven days: vs. NYR (March 8), vs. DET (March 10), @ PHI (March 11), vs. BOS (March 13)
18. Detroit Red Wings
Previous ranking: 14
Points percentage: 53.23%
Playoff chances: 13.7%. The Wings' season pivoted when Derek Lalonde was fired and replaced by Todd McLellan behind the bench. Detroit fans are hoping that it didn't pivot again in the opposite direction when the club lost two games in a row to their fellow Eastern wild-card contending Blue Jackets.
Next seven days: @ WSH (March 7), @ OTT (March 10), vs. BUF (March 12)
19. Vancouver Canucks
Previous ranking: 18
Points percentage: 54.92%
Playoff chances: 27.3%. The reigning Pacific Division champs have had a rough season, including injuries to key players and interpersonal disputes that ultimately led to the trade of J.T. Miller in January.
Next seven days: vs. MIN (March 7), vs. DAL (March 9), vs. MTL (March 11), @ CGY (March 12)
20. Montreal Canadiens
Previous ranking: 23
Points percentage: 53.23%
Playoff chances: 18.9%. Expectations were low for the Habs to make any sort of significant postseason run in 2024-25, and yet they remain in the Eastern chaos, just a hot streak away from snatching one of the wild cards.
Next seven days: @ CGY (March 8), @ VAN (March 11), @ SEA (March 12)
21. St. Louis Blues
Previous ranking: 22
Points percentage: 52.38%
Playoff chances: 37.3%. Though they're out of a playoff spot for now, the Blues certainly have a path to getting back in position -- though the Colton Parayko injury certainly doesn't help.
Next seven days: @ ANA (March 7), @ LA (March 8), @ PIT (March 13)
22. Utah Hockey Club
Previous ranking: 20
Points percentage: 52.42%
Playoff chances: 24.3%. With a fresh start in Salt Lake City, the UHC also committed to several key players via contract extensions this week. Will they make a run here to close out the season and bring playoff hockey to Utah too?
Next seven days: @ CHI (March 7), vs. TOR (March 10), vs. ANA (March 12)
23. New York Islanders
Previous ranking: 25
Points percentage: 51.64%
Playoff chances: 24.3%. Consistent success has eluded the Isles this season, despite a full offseason program for Patrick Roy and his coaching staff. Could there be bigger changes on the way this summer?
Next seven days: @ SJ (March 8), @ ANA (March 9), @ LA (March 11)
24. Boston Bruins
Previous ranking: 21
Points percentage: 50.00%
Playoff chances: 2.3%. Many had been forecasting a downturn for the B's in recent preseasons. Due to a variety of factors, 2024-25 appears to be the time when they will finally miss the playoffs. There are big decisions ahead this summer.
Next seven days: @ TB (March 8), vs. FLA (March 11), @ OTT (March 13)
25. Philadelphia Flyers
Previous ranking: 24
Points percentage: 49.21%
Playoff chances: 12.8%. The Flyers overachieved in 2023-24, remaining in the playoff mix well into April before ultimately dropping out of postseason position. It has been a different story this season, as they've never really entered the playoff picture, despite as encouraging season for future star Matvei Michkov.
Next seven days: vs. SEA (March 8), vs. NJ (March 9), vs. OTT (March 11), vs. TB (March 13)
26. Anaheim Ducks
Previous ranking: 26
Points percentage: 50.00%
Playoff chances: 0.5%. The Ducks have had their moments in 2024-25 but are not quite ready to mount a serious challenge for the postseason. Will an active offseason change their trajectory?
Next seven days: vs. STL (March 7), vs. NYI (March 9), vs. WSH (March 11), @ UTA (March 12)
27. Pittsburgh Penguins
Previous ranking: 28
Points percentage: 45.31%
Playoff chances: 0.3%. On occasion, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin & Co. make fans remember the good times for this franchise, but those occasions have been too infrequent this season, and a playoff berth is a remote possibility at best.
Next seven days: @ VGK (March 7), @ MIN (March 9), vs. VGK (March 11), vs. STL (March 13)
28. Seattle Kraken
Previous ranking: 29
Points percentage: 44.44%
Playoff chances: 0.1%. This will be the third time in four seasons of existence that the Kraken have missed the postseason. What will GM Ron Francis do with the bounty of picks (and cap space) he received during trade season?
Next seven days: @ PHI (March 8), @ WSH (March 9), vs. MTL (March 12)
29. Buffalo Sabres
Previous ranking: 27
Points percentage: 44.26%
Playoff chances: 0.1%. The longest postseason drought in North American pro sports will continue this spring, in stark contrast to the runaway success of the NFL's Buffalo Bills (who share an ownership group) and the NLL's Buffalo Bandits (who share the arena but pack in more fans than the Sabres).
Next seven days: @ FLA (March 8), vs. EDM (March 10), @ DET (March 12)
30. Nashville Predators
Previous ranking: 30
Points percentage: 42.74%
Playoff chances: 0.0%. After a surprising turnaround to qualify for the 2024 playoffs -- and then winning the offseason, by inking Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei -- this season has been wildly disappointing for Nashville.
Next seven days: vs. CHI (March 8), @ SJ (March 11)
31. Chicago Blackhawks
Previous ranking: 31
Points percentage: 37.10%
Playoff chances: 0.0%. This will be another spring of playoff-less hockey in Chicago. But are better days on the way? There's reason to believe that they are closer to contention than many think.
Next seven days: vs. UTA (March 7), @ NSH (March 8), @ COL (March 10), @ SJ (March 13)
32. San Jose Sharks
Previous ranking: 32
Points percentage: 33.59%
Playoff chances: 0.0%. The chances of a playoff berth left the station for this team a while back, but Sharks fans must be encouraged by the play of Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith, both of whom appear far ahead of their expected developmental curves.
Next seven days: vs. NYI (March 8), vs. NSH (March 11), CHI (March 13)
Brazil youth star after racist abuse: Hurts the soul
The Brazilian football federation (CBF) said they will file a complaint with South America's governing body CONMEBOL after Palmeiras under-20 player Luighi faced racial abuse while playing against Cerro Porteno U20s in Paraguay on Thursday.
Luighi complained to the referee shortly after cameras showed a man in the stands making monkey gestures towards the visiting players at the CONMEBOL Libertadores U20 match, which Palmeiras won 3-0.
The 18-year-old striker, who played for Brazil's U17 team at the 2023 age-group World Cup, was substituted soon after and was seen in tears at the bench.
"It hurts the soul. And it is the same pain that all black people have felt throughout history, because things evolve, but they are never 100% resolved," Luighi later wrote on Instagram.
"Today's episode leaves scars and needs to be seen for what it really is: A crime. Until when? That is the question I hope we won't have to ask at some point. For now, we keep fighting."
The CBF posted on X saying they had called in their legal department to make a representation to CONMEBOL demanding strict punishment for the offence.
"It is shocking to see scenes like these. Racism is a criminal offence and must be combated by everyone. I know how much pain Luighi has suffered. Enough of racists in football," CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues said in a statement.
Luighi was promoted to Palmeiras' first team in June 2024 and has made nine league appearances for the senior side, scoring once.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has described Saturday's clash with Southampton as the "first of three finals" his team will play in the coming week.
Liverpool will host Ivan Jurić 's side in the Premier League this weekend before welcoming Paris Saint-Germain to Anfield in the Champions League on Tuesday night, having beaten the French champions 1-0 in the first leg of their round-of-16 tie.
Slot's side will then travel to Wembley on March 16 where they will take on Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final. Liverpool are 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League while Southampton are bottom of the table after picking up just nine points from their 27 league games this term.
However, Slot has stressed the importance of both his players and the fans being at their very best on Saturday afternoon.
"My full focus is now on Southampton," he told a news conference on Friday. "It is the first of three finals to play in the upcoming week. For me, the Southampton game is by far the most important of the week, not only because it is the first one we play but because it is a very important game for us."
He added: "It is a week to look forward to for every Liverpool fan. We know the final is there and everyone is already talking to me about how the atmosphere will be on a Champions League night, but I truly hope our fans will be at their loudest tomorrow, not in the final or against PSG, but tomorrow.
"I have to convince my players we play three finals, and I hope that I influence our fans a bit as well, so they understand how important they are going to be tomorrow. I hope they don't come in five minutes before the kick-off.
"I hope the stadium is completely filled half an hour before kick-off and the players get their reward for their performance in Paris, for working so hard. The fans have great songs [for the players]. They are really creative, so let's hear them tomorrow."
Liverpool must wait to discover whether forward Cody Gakpo is fit to face Southampton after the Netherlands international missed Wednesday's clash at the Parc des Princes through injury.
"He didn't train yesterday so let's see if he can train today," Slot said. "It's a close call. It's not a long-term injury but he still had a bit of pain yesterday so let's see how he is today."
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has described Guglielmo Vicario as "one of the purest human beings I've ever come across" following an altercation with fans at full-time of Thursday's Europa League defeat at AZ Alkmaar.
Spurs were beaten 1-0 in their round-of-16, first leg clash due to a Lucas Bergvall own goal and Vicario, who made a string of fine saves during the game, appeared to gesture to the travelling supporters to show greater backing for their team.
That triggered an angry reaction from some fans and Vicario, 28, subsequently told reporters that "I can assume the disappointment [was] for the night because we didn't play our football."
Speaking at Tottenham's training base on Friday, Postecoglou told a news conference: "Vic is very, very passionate about this football club. He is very passionate about what we are trying to do here.
"He wants to win, he wants everyone on board with that. If people think there is one bad or vindicative bone in Vicario's make-up, they don't know the man that I do. The guy is one of the purest human beings I've ever come across.
"Whatever he does he thinks is best for the team, best for the football club because he really cares."
Spurs face Bournemouth on Sunday before the return game against AZ on Thursday. Losing in the Europa League would mean another trophyless season for Tottenham, who currently sit 13th in the Premier League table.
Patterson repels Morris to give New South Wales vital lead
New South Wales 258 for 8 (Patterson 86, Morris 4-25) lead Western Australia 196 by 62 runs
After 13 wickets fell on the opening day, the match appeared to be moving at warp speed in echoes of last month's remarkable WA-South Australia clash at the WACA - the shortest outright result in Shield history.
NSW teetered at 26 for 4 in reply to WA's first innings of 196 before No. 3 Patterson, who was dropped twice, rescued the innings with unwavering powers of concentration to make 86 from 262 balls. He survived an onslaught late on the opening day before defying WA's strong attack until he finally fell to Morris in the final hour of play.
Patterson departed short of a deserved century, but continued his outstanding Shield season where he has now tallied 697 runs at 69.70. Patterson had an intriguing battle with Morris, who straddled sharp pace and control to good effect and finished with 4 for 25 from 18 overs.
Morris, playing a rare back-to-back Shield match, does have a restriction of around 30 overs per game coming off a stress fracture last winter as well as a quad strain late in the pre-season. "I think I'm going to be a little bit restricted [bowling for the rest of NSW's first innings], need to keep a few [overs] up the sleeve if we want to try and chase a result," Morris said after play.
Just 0.24 points separated second-placed NSW and WA before this round began with a victory for either team putting them in pole position to reach the final.
Resuming at 17 for 3, NSW were initially in a battle for survival on day two but WA were left to rue an early chance off Patterson when Sam Fanning dropped a tough catch at short leg.
Nighwatchman Liam Hatcher, the second used in the innings, succumbed quickly when he was late on a short delivery and miscued to quick Cameron Gannon, who dived forward to take a sharp return catch in his follow through.
Having claimed two wickets during a fiery spell late on the first evening, Morris bowled angrily after the earlier missed chance off his bowling. He consistently bowled around 140kph and bent his back to ensure the ball sizzled past the helmets.
Matthew Gilkes unwisely took his eyes off the ball on one particularly fierce short delivery from Morris and copped a blow to the grill. He was shaken but stuck it out and provided good support for Patterson, who dropped anchor and scored just eight runs off his first 50 deliveries.
After such a torrid time against pace bowling, his eyes lit up when offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli came into the attack and he swept superbly to finally get the WACA's legendary scoreboard ticking over.
But Patterson had more fortune on 27 when Fanning dropped another tough chance at short leg much to the despair of Rocchiccioli, who occasionally produced sharp bounce and turn.
Patterson and Gilkes batted cautiously after the resumption knowing that wickets fell in clumps at the same stage on the previous day. The surface appeared to be flattening and an increasingly confident Patterson started to trust driving as he reached his half-century off his 156th delivery with a lovely stroke through the covers.
The milestone - rare in recent times at the WACA - received strong applause from his team-mates in the terraces, notably Sam Konstas who earlier in the day's play had been mobbed by kids desperate for selfies.
WA looked out of answers until the 93-run partnership - lasting over 41 overs - was broken seemingly out of nowhere. Gilkes, who earlier had almost been run out, turned slowly on the second run and was short of his ground after a brilliant throw from Jayden Goodwin at fine leg was collected at the stumps by wicketkeeper Joel Curtis.
Philippe's run-a-ball 26 ended when the towering Gannon showcased his athleticism with his latest brilliant catch at gully. But WA's bid to wrap up the innings was thwarted by Edwards as NSW batted through the day's play against the odds.
Tristan Lavalette is a journalist based in Perth
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