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Starting 5: Bam Adebayo drops 83, etches his name in NBA lore
The second-highest scoring game in NBA history belongs to Bam Adebayo.

Eighty-three points.

One performance that will live forever.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

Inside 83: How Bam put his name between Wilt and Kobe with one of the greatest scoring nights ever

Wild West Wins: Lakers, Spurs, Rockets capitalize as busy West race reshuffles

East Streaks & Heat: Hawks win 7th straight, Pistons rebound, Payne & Buzelis pop off

Roundup: Rising Suns one game out from 6th, Hornets & Kings pull off late wins

Tonight On ESPN: Clicking Magic test mettle against Cavs, Rockets & Nuggets duel in key clash

BUT FIRST … ⏰

Wednesday brings six matchups, highlighted by an ESPN doubleheader as the Cavs visit the Magic (7:30 ET), before the Nuggets host the Rockets (10 ET).

Bam Breaks The Internet: Adebayo’s 83-point masterpiece has the hoops world buzzing. See what some of the game’s biggest stars were saying on social in real time:
- LeBron James: BAM BAM BAM 💥🔥🔥🔥
- Dwyane Wade: 83 for CAP 🫡 🤯
- Donovan Mitchell: YEAHHH @Bam1of1 ‼️‼️‼️
- Jalen Brunson: Bro what
- Dirk Nowitzki: 83?????
- Vince Carter: That was dope watching @Bam1of1 shoot his way into history…. Congrats young fella….🔥🔥🔥
1. BAM ADEBAYO MAKES HISTORY: 83 POINTS, ONE ALL-TIME ERUPTION

Wilt. Bam. Kobe.

On March 2, 1962, Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a game. It’s a record that’s stood untouched ever since – the pinnacle of single-game scoring.

For decades, only one player came remotely close to Wilt’s mark: Kobe Bryant, whose 81-point eruption in 2006 stood alone as the modern benchmark.

For 20 years, those two performances lived in a world of their own.

Until last night, when Bam Adebayo etched his name between the two legends.

Heat 150, Wizards 129: Adebayo dropped 31 in the 1st quarter. By halftime, he had 43 – topping his previous single-game career-high (41).

He wasn’t close to done, netting 19 in the 3rd for a franchise-best 62. And with 81 in reach, Bam’s bucket barrage reached record heights, finishing with 83 points (20-43 FG, 36-43 FT, 7 3s) for the 2nd-highest scoring game in NBA history – and Miami’s sixth straight win. | Recap
- “This was an absolutely surreal night,” said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. “We’ve been a part of a lot of big moments in this arena …
- “This one – it just happened. Moments happen. I’m grateful we were able to be a part of it and witness it.”
The explosion started immediately.

Bam scored the game’s first basket 17 seconds in, then drilled a 3 to make it 5-0. Neither shot touched the rim, as the 3-time All-Star was about to touch a whole new dimension.
- Opening Eruption: Adebayo drilled four more 3s in the opening frame to finish with 31 – the 2nd-highest-scoring 1st quarter since play-by-play data was first tracked in 1997-98
- Career Night: After an early 2nd-quarter breather, he turned up before the half, closing with 12 points in 7 minutes, capped by a late and-one for a new career-best
Miami led 76-62 at the break. Adebayo had 43, and his outburst was about to become unforgettable.
- Relentless Charge: Bam opened the second half with a dunk. Then he buried a 3, followed by 7 points in 54 seconds. Suddenly, he had 55
- Record Heat: Five free throws later, he was at 60 – steal, outlet, tomahawk. Make that 62, surpassing LeBron James’ single-game franchise record (61)
It was a career night for Bam. It was a record night for Miami. It was a season-high for the league. And we were only through three quarters.
- Still Climbing: Adebayo opened the 4th with two free throws and a triple. A minute later, he converted another and-one
- With 9:05 Left, He Had 70: And the chase had shifted to something entirely different
- “In the entire 4th quarter, I felt like a fan,” said Spoelstra. “Once it just kept on going, we knew we possibly could be part of something really special.”
Special, indeed.

With Miami in the bonus, Adebayo couldn’t be contained. Face guards weren’t enough off-ball. Double-teams weren’t enough on-ball. And the paint became his playground.
- Eyeing 80: After powering his way to four more free throws, Adebayo muscled into position for an entry pass inside: Catch, bucket and the foul. He had 77 with 3:26 left
It was real. Only Wilt and Kobe had ever climbed this high – and Bryant’s record was within reach.
- Chasing Kobe: Bam cashed two more free throws to hit 79. Now, Washington was triple-teaming him end-to-end. It didn’t matter. He fought his way for the next inbound, drove up the floor and earned another trip to the line
- Tying Kobe: Shot, splash, 80. Shot, splash, 81
Bam Adebayo stood alongside Kobe Bryant in the single-game scoring record books. And he wasn’t done.

With 1:19 left, Miami used a quick outlet off a Washington bucket to get the ball back to Adebayo. The arena was on its feet. Phones were out. And Bam was headed straight to the rack.

The Wizards had no choice but to foul the 6-foot-9 wrecking ball barreling through the lane. The whistle blew, and Adebayo headed back to the line for history.

With the entire basketball world watching, Adebayo stepped to the stripe with 82 and 83 waiting on the other side.
- He drilled the first to pass Kobe
- He drilled the second to cement Bam
Eighty-three points, the second-most in a single NBA game.

Curtain Call: With “M-V-P!” chants raining down and a new number between 81 and 100, Spoelstra called a timeout.

Bam’s night was finished – but his performance was everlasting.
- “You will remember this game for the rest of your lives,” Heat play-by-play announcer Eric Reid told the audience
For Adebayo, it already felt timeless.
- “I wish I could relive it twice,” he said. “This is a special moment. It’s Wilt, me, then Kobe, which sounds crazy.”
2. BIG WEST WINS: LAKERS, SPURS & ROCKETS WIN AMID WILD PLAYOFF PUSH

With LeBron James (hip/foot) missing a second straight game, it was up to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves to move the Lakers up the standings against Anthony Edwards’ Wolves.

Lakers 120, Wolves 106: Luka (11 reb, 11 ast) recorded his 54th career 30+ point triple-double, putting up a matching 31-point scoring effort with Reaves (7 reb, 8 ast), as L.A. overcame a 16-point 1st quarter and never trailed after halftime to sweep Minnesota 3-0 this season. | Recap
- Two-Man Game: After Joker passed him just last night, Luka’s 54th 30+ point triple-double pulls him back even for the 2nd-most all-time
- Edwards and Julius Randle scored 14 apiece for the Wolves, who drop from 3rd to 5th place with the Rockets’ win and the Lakers’ tiebreaker
After an emotional return weekend, Jayson Tatum led the surging C’s into Texas. But it was Victor Wembanyama’s squad that picked up its fifth straight win.

Spurs 125, Celtics 116: Wemby (39 pts, 11 reb) was one point off matching his season-high, pouring in 24 2nd-half points and sinking a career-high eight 3s to push San Antonio past Derrick White (34 pts, 7 ast), Tatum (24 pts) and Boston. | Recap
- Alien Territory: Wemby became the second youngest player in NBA history to collect 35+ pts, 10+ reb and 8+ 3s in a game, behind only Jason Kidd
- After no double-digit 1st-half leads and a tie at halftime, San Antonio took over the 2nd half, never trailing by more than a bucket in just three lead changes
Houston flexed its balance of scoring depth and defense to put itself back in 3rd place.

Rockets 113, Raptors 99: Kevin Durant scored 22 of his 29 points in the 1st half, while Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. added 23 apiece to help Houston stay ahead the entire 2nd half, shooting past RJ Barrett (25 pts, 6 reb) and Toronto. | Recap
- “We can go to the moon,” KD said postgame of Houston’s potential. “When we got three guys scoring over 20 points and guarding up that way, it’s tough to stop us.”
3. IN THE EAST: HAWKS WIN AGAIN, PISTONS REBOUND, PAYNE & BUZELIS SHINE

Atlanta is ensuring its name stays in the Playoff conversation, extending its season-best win streak to seven games.

Hawks 124, Mavericks 112: Following Dallas’ 2-0 opening lead, it was all Atlanta, with Nickeil Alexander-Walker (29 pts, 5 3s) and Jalen Johnson (27 pts, 7 reb, 8 ast) leading all five Hawks starters in double figures over Klay Thompson (21 pts, 5 3s) and the Mavs. | Recap
- A Milestone: Johnson totaled his 23rd game of 25/5/5 this season, the most ever by a Hawks player in a single season, passing Cliff Hagan (1961-62)
East-leading Detroit turned to its All-Star duo to get its first win since March 1.

Pistons 138, Nets 100: Jalen Duren’s 26 points in 3 quarters led the way, fed by six of Cade Cunningham’s (21 pts) 15 assists as Detroit never trailed, handling Michael Porter Jr. (19 pts) and Brooklyn to snap a season-long four-game losing streak. | Recap

With news breaking before tip that Tyrese Maxey would be out at least three weeks (finger), Philly gave a total team response.

Sixers 139, Grizzlies 129: Cam Payne (career-high 32 pts, 10 ast) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (30 pts, 12 reb) led six Sixers in double figures, as Philly exploded for a 41-point 4th quarter to turn the tables on Ty Jerome (26 pts, 8 ast) and Memphis. | Recap
- Philly’s Finish: Down 14 in the 2nd half and as many as eight in the 4th, Philly went on a 25-5 run in the final frame to earn the win and snap its two-game slide
- Payne Perfect: Payne scored 13 in the 4th and set a career-high in 3s as he went 8-for-8 from deep
Bulls 130, Warriors 124 (OT): Matas Buzelis went off for a career-high 41 points on 16-of-28 shooting and 5 3s, capped by a clutch lead-extending triple with 2:20 left in OT to lift Chicago over Kristaps Porziņģis (17 pts) and Golden State, which remains without Steph Curry (knee). | Recap
- Buzelis Balling: Buzelis scored 17 in the 4th quarter and OT. In Year 2, he’s nearly doubled his scoring from his rookie season (8.6 ppg), averaging 15.8 ppg
- Chipping In: Josh Giddey added a monster triple-double (21 pts, 13 reb, 15 ast), while Jalen Smith hit the game-tying free throws with 1 second left to force OT
4. ROUNDUP: SUNS STAY HOT, HORNETS & KINGS WIN LATE

Suns 129, Bucks 114: Devin Booker (27 pts, 7 ast) and Jalen Green (25 pts, 5 ast) combined for 52, while Royce O’Neale hit seven 3s for 21 more as the Suns pulled past Giannis Antetokounmpo (22 pts, 9 reb) and the Bucks. | Recap
- Suns Rising: Phoenix is 5-1 in its last six, moving just one game back of 6th-place Denver for the final Playoff spot
Hornets 103, Blazers 101: Down as many as 19, LaMelo Ball’s (14 pts) triple early in the 4th gave Charlotte its first lead since the 1st quarter. Less than a minute later, they grabbed the lead for good.

Brandon Miller (23 pts, 9 reb) led the way past Deni Avdija (22 pts, 7 ast in return) and the Blazers, as the Hornets got their seventh win in their last nine games. | Recap

Kings 114, Pacers 109: Devin Carter dropped 22 of his career-high 24 points in the 4th, including 13 straight, to rally the Kings from a 20-point 2nd-half deficit, edging Aaron Nesmith (29 pts) and the Pacers for a second straight win. | Recap

5. TONIGHT ON ESPN: CAVS AT MAGIC, ROCKETS AT NUGGETS

Orlando had lost six of its last eight as the All-Star break neared, dropping it from 5th to 8th in the East.

Then, something clicked. The Magic won three of their next four entering All-Star Weekend. Since returning from the break, they’ve won seven of their last 10 – including four straight.

Tonight (7:30 ET, ESPN), sitting a game back of 5th, Orlando hosts 4th-place Cleveland in a pivotal East duel.
- His Kingdom: Averaging 22.2 ppg on the season, Paolo Banchero has turned up post-All-Star break, tallying 26.2 ppg on 50.8% shooting
- Standing Tall: Orlando also boasts an NBA-best 105.6 DefRtg since Feb. 5
The Test: Cleveland has had recent success when facing Orlando. The Cavs have won 10 of the two sides’ last 13 regular-season meetings and eliminated the Magic in the first round of the 2024 Playoffs.
- X-Factor: In their two matchups this season, Donovan Mitchell has been dominant, delivering 40.5 ppg while shooting 43.8% from 3
- The Harden Effect: With James Harden in the lineup, the Cavs are 8-2, moving a half-game back of the Knicks for 3rd in the East
The postseason sprint remains neck-and-neck in the West. Both the Rockets and the Nuggets are in the thick of it, and go toe-to-toe later tonight (10 ET, ESPN).

Aaron Gordon returned to action Friday following a 17-game absence. That represents a major upgrade for Denver, writes The Athletic’s Sam Amick:

For all of Nikola Jokić’s greatness and Jamal Murray’s splendor, history tells us that this group can’t typically reach true title-contending status unless Aaron Gordon is on the floor. | Read more

Three more games tip off on League Pass, including another marquee West duel as the 5th-place Wolves visit the 8th-place – and climbing – Clippers (10:30 ET).
- Raptors at Pelicans (8 ET)
- Knicks at Jazz (9 ET)
- Hornets at Kings (10 ET)
March 11, 2026
NBA Fantasy: Power Rankings as we navigate Week 21

The Hawks’ Jalen Johnson jumped back into the fantasy power rankings following dominant performances last week.

Another late-season week is in the books, and the top five once again is constituted by some of the most reliable fantasy stalwarts of the campaign. The top two slots are a fitting example, filled by a pair of stars in Luka Dončić and Nikola Jokić. They have camped out near or at the top of the mountain for large swaths of the season, while the remaining trio is also populated by highly familiar names.

The following players averaged the most fantasy points per game last week (one-game minimum):

#1. Luka Dončić, Lakers

Last Week: 63.7 FP/G Season Rank: 2 (63.1 FP/G)

Luka earned his top spot with quite the busy week, as his stellar efforts helped lead the Lakers to a 3-1 tally over the scoring period. Dončić supplied two double-doubles along the way while averaging 33.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.3 steals per contest overall. His most prolific offensive performance came at the expense of the reeling Pacers in the third game of the week, as he erupted for 44 points on 14-for-25 shooting from the floor – including 7-for-14 from downtown – while also generating a 90% success rate on his 10 free-throw attempts. Luka logged double-digit visits to the charity stripe in each contest as well, which helped propel his cumulative scoring production to an elite level.

#2. Nikola Jokić, Nuggets

Last Week: 61.4 FP/G Season Rank: 1 (68.5 FP/G)

Jokić never strays far from the top end of the weekly fantasy leaderboard, and he did it again in Week 20 with the help of a double-double, triple-double and his sixth-highest scoring tally of the season during Denver’s 2-1 week. The big man kicked off the period with a relatively modest performance by his lofty standards, a 22-point, 12-rebound double-double against the Jazz. That proved to be a mere warmup, as Jokić then roared back with 28 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds in a big 120-113 win over the Lakers on Thursday before lighting the Knicks up for 38 points on 14-for-21 shooting a mere 24 hours later, despite connecting on just one of his seven tries from deep.

#3. Victor Wembanyama, Spurs

Last Week: 60.0 FP/G Season Rank: 8 (52.8 FP/G)

Wemby has consistently carved out a spot in the upper fantasy echelon during his very successful third season, and the standout center overcame a slow start to his four-game Week 20 to put together three consecutive signature efforts. The 76ers managed to hold Wembanyama to only 10 points in a modest 24-minute span on the court during San Antonio’s 131-91 rout on Wednesday, although he did record a whopping nine combined steals + blocks. However, the 2023 first overall pick came back with a vengeance in a marquee victory over the Pistons on Thursday, posting a 38-point, 16-rebound double-double that included another five stuffs. Wemby then stepped up big again during the second half of the period as San Antonio completed a four-game sweep of its Week 20 schedule, averaging 28.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 4.0 blocks and 1.5 steals across 26.0 minutes in victories against the Clippers and Rockets.

#4. Jalen Johnson, Hawks

Last Week: 57.0 FP/G Season Rank: 6 (54.6 FP/G)

Johnson continued to carry the Hawks’ fortunes on his shoulders in Week 20, extending his career-best season with averages of 27.5 points, 8.0 assists, 7.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals across 36.5 minutes per game in a pair of victories over the Bucks and 76ers. Johnson is getting more help these days thanks to the likes of Nickeil Alexander-Walker, CJ McCollum and Onyeka Okongwu, but as his average of 18.0 field-goal attempts per contest in the two games corroborates, the star forward remains the heart and soul of Atlanta’s attack as the Hawks march toward a Play-In Tournament spot.

#5. Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers

Last Week: 56.0 FP/G Season Rank: 10 (50.4 FP/G)

Mitchell played just a single game in Week 20 due to his groin injury, which resolved just in time for him to take the floor for a Sunday matinee showdown against the Celtics. While Boston handled Cleveland, 109-98, in a game that arguably wasn’t even as close as the score indicates, Mitchell stood out with 30 points, seven rebounds, five assists, two blocks and one steal across 33 minutes. His 9-for-18 success rate from the floor and 9-for-11 tally from the line supported the notion there was virtually no rust from the four-game layoff, meaning Mitchell should be all systems go moving forward as Cleveland looks to solidify postseason positioning.

This week’s preview

The following players are top fantasy point producers and play at least two games next week with fewer than two matchups against top-10 defenses:

Cade Cunningham, DET (57.4 FP/G) – @BKN, PHI, MEM, @TOR

Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL (53.5 FP/G) – PHO, @MIA, @ATL, IND

Donovan Mitchell, CLE (50.4 FP/G) – PHI, @ORL, @DAL, DAL

Kawhi Leonard, LAC (49.2 FP/G) – NY, MIN, CHI, SAC

Michael Porter Jr., BKN (41.9 FP/G) – MEM, DET @ATL, @PHI

March 11, 2026
FIFA World Cup: US war on Iran, Mexico violence, visa bans, Iraq qualifier

The 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup kicks off in three months, but what was set to be one of the most straightforward editions to organise in the tournament’s history appears to be growing more complicated by the day.

The Israeli-United States war on Iran has created massive uncertainty across the globe, and FIFA’s showpiece event is already feeling the ramifications along with policy and political issues that were already rumbling in the Americas.

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Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at the five issues the competition – cohosted by the US, Mexico and Canada – must resolve before the first match on June 11 between Mexico and South Africa.

Will Iran participate at FIFA World Cup 2026 in US?

Iran’s sports minister said on Wednesday that the country cannot ⁠⁠participate in the FIFA World ⁠Cup after the ⁠US killed its supreme leader.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was assassinated on the first day of the US-Israel war, and all of its national football team’s World Cup group games are to be played in US cities.

The US and Israeli attacks began on February 28. So far, 1,255 people have been killed in Iran and more than 12,000 wounded.

Iran has hit back with strikes on Israel, US military bases in neighbouring Middle East states and infrastructure in the region.

“Considering that this corrupt ⁠regime [the US] has ⁠assassinated our leader, under no circumstances ⁠can we ⁠participate in ⁠the World Cup,” Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali told ‌state television.

The US flag flies near a football stadium at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, where the Iranian national team is scheduled to practise for the World Cup [Rebecca Noble/Reuters]

Is the US willing to host Iran at World Cup in time of war?

US President Donald Trump would “welcome” Iran’s participation in the World Cup, according to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

Before Iran’s announcement, Infantino took to Instagram on Wednesday to state that despite the war in the Middle East, Trump had reiterated his stance on Iran’s involvement during a meeting between the pair to discuss the upcoming tournament.

As the draw stands, the US and ‌Iran could come head-to-head at the tournament if they both ‌finish second in their respective groups. A July 3 elimination match in Dallas would be the outcome.

Meanwhile, if the US themselves refused to host the Iranian team, then FIFA could remove them as a World Cup host – a fate the Indonesia already befell.

As hosts of the men’s Under-20 World Cup three years ago, Indonesia refused to welcome Israel. FIFA dropped the tournament host just weeks before the scheduled first game and moved that competition to Argentina.

What is the latest on Iraq’s qualifications playoff match?

Iraq are facing major logistical issues as a result of the war before their March 31 qualifier for the World Cup.

The winner of Iraq’s intercontinental playoff against either Suriname or Bolivia will advance to the 2026 edition, but Iraqi airspace is closed until April 1 due to the war, and the squad is predominantly made up of players from the domestic league.

With the squad struggling to fully gather for the match, the head coach of the national team, Graham Arnold, asked FIFA on Monday to delay his team’s qualifier.

The match is due to be played in Monterrey, Mexico, and the host country issued some visas to Iraq’s players at their embassy in Qatar on March 8.

In a further complication, Mexico does not have an embassy in Iraq for the remaining players.

Mexico has issued an assurance to Iraq that it will “provide all necessary assistance in documenting the members of the Iraqi national team”.

Mexico violence raises questions over it hosting World Cup games

While the US and the rest of the world face complications related to the war on Iran, Mexico is facing its own internal issues.

A wave of violence was triggered in the country on February 23 after the killing of a drug lord who led one of the most powerful Mexican criminal organisations.

Gunmen torched cars and blocked highways in more than half a dozen states in the immediate aftermath of news of his killing.

The first match of the World Cup is being staged in Mexico City with a second on the same day in Guadalajara, which was rocked by last month’s violence.

Mexican officials thereafter sought to assure FIFA authorities and potential travellers that the tournament would be safe.

On Friday, President Claudia Sheinbaum said Mexico would deploy as many as 100,000 members of its security forces during the competition, assuring football fans that there was “no risk” in coming to the country.

Former Brazilian football player Jose Roberto Gama de Oliveira shakes hands with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum during the FIFA World Cup trophy tour [Reuters]

What are the FIFA World Cup 2026 ticketing issues?

As with numerous global events in sport and entertainment, the availability and pricing of World Cup tickets for standard seats is a sore point for the general public.

Nearly 2 million tickets were sold in the first two sales phases for the 2026 edition, and demand was so intense that tickets were oversubscribed more than 30 ‌times.

The most expensive tickets for the opening game are being advertised at almost $900 while for the final, that figure is more than $8,000

Tickets in general cost at least $200 for matches involving leading nations. The cheapest tickets for the final cost $2,000 and the best seats $8,680.

Then there is FIFA’s official resale site, where one category three seat for the final in New Jersey on July 19 was being advertised for an eye-watering $143,750, more than 41 times its original face value of $3,450.

March 11, 2026
Brera Stock Plunges Amid Growing Solana Pivot as ‘Solmate’ Firm Dumps Soccer Teams
In brief

Shares of Brera Holdings (SLMT) have dumped more than 19% on Wednesday.

The firm announced its intentions to shift focus to a UAE-centered Solana infrastructure firm late Tuesday.

One of its largest institutional shareholders, Ark Invest, began offloading small portions of its holdings on Monday.
Shares of publicly traded Solana treasury firm Brera Holdings (SLMT), also known as Solmate, have plunged more than 19% so far Wednesday following a late Tuesday announcement that the company is shifting its strategic focus to being an Abu Dhabi-centered Solana infrastructure company.

The proposed shift, approved by the firm’s board of directors, will center its interests on “digital infrastructure” like institutional-grade staking and validating, while “aligning its legal structure with a core blockchain mission,” according to the announcement.

“This transformation is the culmination of Brera’s strategic shift toward infrastructure opportunities we see in Abu Dhabi,” said Solmate CEO Marco Santori in a statement. “By focusing our capital and corporate identity on Solana, we are positioning ourselves to be a central player in the region’s rapidly expanding digital economy.”

As part of its repositioning, the firm will be dumping legacy business assets Brera Tchumene and Brera IIch, two soccer clubs participating in leagues in Mozambique and Mongolia, respectively.

Capital “liberated” from those clubs, which it identified as “underperforming soccer teams,” will be utilized to implement its Solana strategy in the UAE. However, the firm will maintain its flagship soccer team, Juve Stabi, which plays in the second tier of professional soccer leagues in Italy.

Brera also intends to conduct a reverse 10-for-1 stock split with an effective date expected sometime after April 7, the day of a scheduled shareholder meeting seeking approval for its new initiative.

Shares in the firm were recently changing hands around $0.89, down over 19% on the day after dipping as low as $0.84. SLMT shares have dropped almost 35% in the last week of trading. During that time, one of its most notable shareholders—Cathie Wood’s investment firm, Ark Invest—began offloading shares of Brera for the first time.

Wood’s firm had been accumulating shares in the Solana company since December, creating a multi-million-dollar position in Brera, including a purchase as recent as last week. It also participated in the firm’s private investment in a public equity (PIPE), netting around 11.5% of the firm’s shares, according to a Brera announcement from the time.

However, Ark started trimming its position on Monday, selling around $76,000 worth of SLMT shares. On Tuesday, it trimmed nearly $54,000 worth of the stock as well, but it still maintains a nearly $10 million position in the firm, according to data from Cathie’s Ark.

Brera announced its intentions to shift to a Solana treasury strategy in September, raising $300 million via its PIPE. The firm also purchased $50 million in discounted Solana tokens directly from the Solana Foundation.

Daily Debrief Newsletter

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March 11, 2026
Mastercard Recruits Binance, Ripple and PayPal for Crypto Partner Program
In brief

Mastercard launched a Crypto Partner Program with 85+ companies including Binance, Ripple, Circle, and PayPal to advance practical digital asset use cases.

Partners will collaborate with Mastercard on products merging digital asset capabilities with traditional card rails.

The initiative builds on existing blockchain efforts to integrate on-chain innovation into everyday commerce.
Mastercard said Wednesday that it has launched the Crypto Partner Program, a global initiative uniting over 85 crypto-native companies, payment providers, and financial institutions.

The program reflects a growing recognition that digital assets are moving beyond speculation and into practical applications, it said—such as cross-border remittances, business-to-business transfers, and settlement—often integrated quietly into existing financial infrastructure.

The payments giant has tapped many of the largest companies in the crypto world, with an announcement video showcasing industry giants like crypto exchanges Binance, Crypto.com, Bybit, and Gemini, as well as XRP-linked payments firm Ripple, USDC stablecoin issuer Circle, and payments companies MoonPay and PayPal.

Other partners include the teams linked to the blockchain networks Solana, Avalanche, Aptos, and Polygon, along with firms like Anchorage Digital, Nexo, Paxos, and SoFi. Crypto analytics and intelligence firms like Elliptic and TRM Labs are also on the list.

“Through the program, participants will engage with Mastercard teams on the design and direction of future products and services, including solutions that aim to bring the speed and programmability that digital assets offer together with established card rails and global commerce flows,” an official blog post reads.

This initiative builds on Mastercard’s existing digital asset efforts, including its Start Path blockchain track, Engage platform, and Crypto Card program. Going forward, Mastercard said it aims to bridge on-chain innovation with its established global payments infrastructure, to ensure that emerging technologies integrate smoothly into everyday commerce.

Daily Debrief Newsletter

Start every day with the top news stories right now, plus original features, a podcast, videos and more.
March 11, 2026
Only Half of Americans Went to a Movie Theater in 2025, According to Study

With the Academy Awards approaching to celebrate the year’s best films, a new survey offered a reality check about moviegoing: Just over half of Americans say they set foot in a movie theater over the course of a year.

According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in the summer of 2025, 53% of U.S. adults said they had seen a movie in theaters in the prior 12 months. A small but notable 7% said they had never seen a movie in a theater at all.

The findings reflected a domestic box office still fighting to regain its footing since the COVID-19 pandemic, when ticket sales collapsed 81% in 2020 due to theater closures. In 2025, moviegoers in the U.S. and Canada bought 769.2 million tickets, less than half of the all-time peak of roughly 1.6 billion tickets sold in 2002, according to data from Nash Information Services.

Box office revenue peaked at an inflation-adjusted $16.4 billion in 2002, and annual ticket revenue held relatively steady through the 2000s and 2010s before falling to under $3 billion in 2020 when theaters closed for months. Last year, U.S. theaters sold just over $9 billion worth of tickets, per media analytics firm Comscore. The number represents a recovery, but nowhere near a full one, as ticket sales have been lagging around 20% below pre-pandemic levels.

The data also highlighted generational and economic divides in who was buying tickets. Two-thirds of adults ages 18 to 29 said they had attended a movie in theaters in the past year, in contrast to just 39% of those 65 and older. Income told a similar story, as upper-income Americans reported going to the movies at the highest rate, at 64%, compared with 57% of those in the middle-income bracket and 43% of lower-income adults.

Attendance also varied by race and ethnicity, with Hispanic adults the most likely to report going at 59%, followed by white adults at 53% and Black adults at 49%. Gender, by contrast, was not a significant factor — the survey found near parity, with 53% of men and 54% of women saying they had gone to a movie theater in the past year. Political affiliation showed a slightly wider but still modest gap, with Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents reporting attending at a higher rate of 58%, compared with 50% of Republicans and Republican-leaning respondents.

March 11, 2026
LISTEN: Oscars Rewind With Nicole Kidman as She Revisits Her 2003 Best Actress Win for ‘The Hours’

On today’s episode of “Daily Variety” podcast, in our Cover Story segment, Variety’s Matt Donnelly details his sit-down in Nashville with Nicole Kidman for Variety’s pre-Oscars issue, published today in print and online. Kidman revisits the whirlwind experience of her best actress Oscar win for “The Hours” in 2003.

More to come

Listen to Daily Variety on iHeartPodcasts, Apple Podcasts, Variety’s YouTube Podcast channel, Amazon Music, Spotify and other podcast platforms.

March 11, 2026
Daily Multivitamin May Slow Biological Aging in Older Adults
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Research has shown that taking a daily multivitamin may slow biological aging in older adults. Image Credit: Olga Pankova/Getty Images
A recent study has found that taking a daily multivitamin may slow biological aging.

The researchers note that multivitamins don’t necessarily add time to your life span, but may improve your overall health in the long-term.

Multivitamins are not a magic fix, but can be beneficial when combined with other healthy lifestyle habits.
People take multivitamins for various reasons. These supplements can have various health benefits, including increasing nutrient intake, improving health and preventing chronic conditions, and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

A recent study published in Nature Medicine has found that taking a daily multivitamin may slightly slow the aging process in older adults.

This study was funded in part by Haleon (formerly Pfizer Consumer Healthcare) and Mars Inc. These companies provided the multivitamins and cocoa extract, and two of the study’s authors received funding from both companies, neither of which contributed to research design.

The study findings show that those who took a daily multivitamin reduced biological aging by up to 4 months.

“Although everyone ages over time, there may be simple ways to delay the aging process and help us live not only longer but also better,” said study author Sidong Li, MD, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher in the Division of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, told Healthline.

“In this study, we found that daily multivitamin-multimineral supplementation could be an accessible and low cost strategy that promotes healthier aging, particularly for people who are already biologically older,” Li told healthline.
The study analyzed 958 older adults ages 60 and older over 2 years. The participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups and took the following pills:
cocoa extract and a multivitamin

a multivitamin and a placebo

cocoa extract and a placebo

two placebos
The researchers found that those who took a daily multivitamin experienced a slowing of biological aging of about 4 months. This means that over the course of 24 months, these individuals aged about 20 months at the cellular level.

Researchers used five “epigenetic clocks” to estimate the biological aging of the participants.

When compared to the placebo group, the people who took multivitamins aged slightly slower, as shown by two of the five clocks.

The researchers also found that those who showed signs of accelerated biological aging at the beginning of the study appeared to see a greater benefit from the multivitamins.

“It’s important to keep the magnitude of the effect in perspective,” said Michelle Routhenstein, preventive cardiology dietitian at EntirelyNourished, who was not involved in the study.

“These are changes in biomarkers, not direct evidence of fewer heart attacks, cancers, or longer life span. So I would view the findings as encouraging but still preliminary,” Routhenstein told Healthline.

The researchers also found that the cocoa extract has no effect on any of the measures of biological aging.

The researchers note that this doesn’t mean that multivitamins can add to your life span. It does, however, mean that multivitamins may be beneficial for your future health trajectory. It also doesn’t mean you should definitely start taking multivitamins if you aren’t already.

“It was exciting to see that a multivitamin has benefits on the biological aging process in older adults. However, we should keep in mind that maintaining a healthy lifestyle remains fundamental to healthier, higher-quality aging,” said Li.

The decision to take supplements, like multivitamins, should be made by an individual and their healthcare professional.
There are many things to consider when selecting multivitamins.

One major thing is that multivitamins and supplements are not strictly regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This means that some multivitamins may contain higher or lower levels of nutrients than what is stated on the label.

Multivitamins may contain about 12 vitamins and 10 essential minerals.

Some multivitamins and supplements may contain ingredients that could interact with medications. This is why it is important to speak with your healthcare professional before taking any supplement.

“Supplements should complement, not replace, a nutrient-dense diet. Multivitamins are often most helpful for people with dietary gaps, restricted eating patterns, or increased nutrient needs,” said Routhenstein.

She also stated that people should “Choose a formulation that matches your age and health status and focuses on appropriate dosing.”

However, the guidelines also note that some older adults may need fewer calories, but still require equal or greater amounts of key nutrients.

This means you may need to focus on increasing your protein intake. Many older adults are also deficient in Vitamin B12, calcium, and vitamin D.

These individuals may need to discuss taking a multivitamin or other supplements with their healthcare professional, as they may not be able to get the required amounts from their diet.

“The biggest contributors to healthy aging are well established,” said Routhenstein.

She added that they include:

“These lifestyle factors have a far greater effect on long-term health than any single supplement,” Routhenstein said.
March 11, 2026
Wegovy May Have Higher Risk of ‘Eye Stroke,’ Vision Loss Than Ozempic
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Researchers believe that high doses of semaglutide may reduce blood flow to the optic nerve, which could lead to eye stroke. Maria Korneeva/Getty Images
A new study has found that the GLP-1 drug Wegovy is linked with a higher risk of “eye stroke,” especially in men.

Ischemic optic neuropathy (ION) is a rare but serious condition that can cause vision loss or even blindness.

Semaglutide drugs like Wegovy may pose a greater risk of ION than Ozempic due to higher doses used for weight loss.

Doctors say the risk is small, but there are steps you can take to reduce the risk even further.
A new study has raised concerns about a rare but serious eye condition linked to a popular class of used to treat obesity and diabetes, especially those containing semaglutide.

Ischemic optic neuropathy (ION), known colloquially as an “eye stroke,” can cause sudden vision loss and even blindness.

The study found that certain formulations of semaglutide, particularly Wegovy, the higher-dose version, may carry a higher risk of this vision-threatening side effect, especially in men.

The authors called for further research to better understand the safety of these drugs, which are widely prescribed for weight loss.
This database collects reports from patients, doctors, and drug manufacturers about side effects and complications experienced after taking medications.

The researchers focused on reports where a GLP-1 receptor agonist was suspected to be involved in cases of ischemic optic neuropathy.

Semaglutide comes in different forms, including Ozempic, a weekly injection used primarily for type 2 diabetes; Wegovy, a weekly injection for obesity at a higher dose; and Rybelsus, a daily pill for type 2 diabetes.

The study examined each formulation separately to see if the risk of vision problems differed. They also looked at tirzepatide, a newer drug that works on similar pathways but in a slightly different way, as well as common diabetes medications like metformin and insulin for comparison.

The team used statistical methods designed to detect whether a particular drug was reported more frequently with ischemic optic neuropathy than would be expected by chance.

They also adjusted their analysis to account for differences in age and sex, helping to clarify whether certain groups might be more vulnerable. This approach allowed researchers to identify patterns in the data despite the rarity of the condition and the complex background of patients using these drugs.

Out of the tens of millions of reports examined, about 31,000 involved semaglutide.

The obesity drug Wegovy showed the strongest link to ischemic optic neuropathy, even though it had fewer overall reports than Ozempic, the diabetes formulation.

The higher dose of Wegovy likely plays a role, as it leads to greater systemic exposure and faster weight loss, which might affect blood flow to the optic nerve.

Males appeared to be at higher risk than females, with the data showing a notably stronger association in male patients taking Wegovy.

No cases were reported with the oral form of semaglutide (Rybelsus), which is absorbed more slowly and in smaller amounts, suggesting that the way the drug is delivered and its dose matter.

Tirzepatide, another drug in this class but with a different mechanism, showed no significant association with vision problems despite achieving even greater improvements in blood sugar and weight. This may be because tirzepatide acts on two receptors, potentially balancing out effects on blood flow and reducing the chance of ischemic injury to the optic nerve.

The study also found no increased risk with other commonly used diabetes medications like metformin and insulin. This specificity points toward a unique effect of semaglutide, especially at higher doses, rather than a general risk from improving blood sugar or losing weight.

Researchers believe that high dose semaglutide may reduce blood flow to the optic nerve through factors such as fluid loss, low blood pressure — especially at night — and shifts in the body’s vascular system. These changes could make the optic nerve more vulnerable to damage. However, the exact biological link remains to be confirmed in future studies.

Because the FDA’s database relies on voluntary reporting, the numbers do not reflect how often the problem actually occurs. Still, the clear pattern seen with Wegovy and the higher risk in men suggest that doctors should monitor patients carefully, especially those receiving the higher doses for obesity.

More detailed studies are needed to understand who is most at risk and how to prevent this serious complication.

Hector Perez, MD, a board certified bariatric surgeon at Renew Bariatrics and an advisor at BestSurgeons.com, who was not involved in the study, said that while the risk for ION is worth monitoring, the study is very small.

“Untreated obesity, diabetes, and vascular disease damage vision far more commonly than semaglutide does,” he told Healthline.

However, Perez noted that there are still several steps you can take to reduce your risk for this side effect.

He advised that you avoid extremely rapid early weight loss. “Gradual caloric reduction helps prevent sudden drops in blood pressure or perfusion,” he said.

Perez further stated the importance of staying well hydrated, explaining that when people’s appetites are suppressed, they often tend to reduce their fluid intake as well. However, this can worsen optic nerve perfusion, he said.

“Excessively low nocturnal BP is a known risk factor for optic nerve ischemia,” he cautioned.

Diala Alatassi, MD, an obesity medicine physician at TeleSlim Clinic, who was also not a part of the study, added that if you have multiple health conditions along with obesity, it’s wise to start low and titrate your dose up slowly.

She further noted that it’s best to consult with an experienced weight loss doctor rather than purchasing medications online and self-titrating.

Alatassi recommended staying up to date with your eye health. “Patients, especially diabetics, should get yearly eye exams to get a baseline prior to starting such medications,” she said.

Finally, Alatassi, stressed the importance of always following your doctor’s instructions.

“These are prescription medications,” she said. “Just like other medications, if used inappropriately, they can have unfortunate outcomes.”
March 11, 2026
TikTok will let you stream full songs in its app if you’re an Apple Music subscriber

TikTok will soon let you stream full songs in its app via a new integration with Apple Music. The company’s new Play Full Song feature makes it possible to link your Apple Music account toTikTok, and play any song that strikes your fancy directly in the app while you’re scrolling.

Starting a song is as simple as tapping a button in the Sound Details page or your For You page. Assuming you pay for Apple Music, TikTok will then open up a streamlined version of Apple’s music player, which you can use to listen to the song, save it for later or add it to a playlist.

TikTok says that Play Full Song is built using Apple’s MusicKit APIs, which let developers surface elements of the Apple Music streaming service in their apps. TikTok has previously offered integration with multiple music streaming services through a feature it calls Add to Music App, which made it possible to save songs you heard on TikTok to your streaming library. What’s particularly interesting about this new integration is that because it’s using Apple’s APIs, songs streamed with Play Full Song count as normal streams for the artists in Apple Music, so they don’t lose out on any money.

Alongside the new feature, TikTok and Apple are also introducing a way for fans to listen to music live with their favorite artists. TikTok’s Listening Party feature creates a live “shared environment” where people can listen to music and interact with artists directly, in what effectively sounds like an audio-only livestream. TikTok livestreams are a whole ecosystem in their own right, and Listening Party seems like a way to leverage some of the same technology for a more controlled, music promotion-focused end.

TikTok is already a popular tool for music discovery and launching the career of new artists, and the platform also briefly dabbled in offering a streaming service of its own in 2023. The company abandoned those plans in 2024, but under new owners, TikTok’s ambitions could ultimately be bigger than just offering nice integrations with existing streaming services.

TikTok says Play Full Song and Listening Party are rolling out worldwide “in the weeks ahead,” so if you don’t see either feature now, you may soon.

March 11, 2026