Category: Sport

  • Winter Olympics 2026: Curling kicks off Milan Cortina Games, with Sweden and Canada forcing early wins

    The 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics are officially underway. Play started Wednesday, with curling mixed doubles kicking off the Games.

    Eight countries took the ice during round-robin play, including two medal winners from the 2022 Olympics in Beijing. Silver medalists Norway took on Great Britain, while Sweden, which took home the mixed doubles bronze in 2022, faced off against South Korea. The two other matches featured Canada vs. the Czech Republic, and Estonia vs. Switzerland.

    Advertisement

    Sweden looked motivated in its first match at the 2026 Olympics on Wednesday. The 2022 bronze medalists turned in a dominant performance, beating South Korea 10-3 in just six ends. Following the sixth end, Seonyeong Kim and Yeongseok Jeong offered a handshake to Sweden, which was accepted. That was, perhaps, a surprising outcome considering how the match started. South Korea picked up points in both the first and third end, jumping out to a 3-2 lead before Sweden got rolling.

    Team Canada also forced an early handshake during its win over the Czech Republic on Wednesday. With Canada up 10-5 after the seventh end, the Czech Republic opted to go for the handshake.

    Canada got off to a tremendous start in the match, taking a point in the first end and then four points in the second end to go up 5-0. The Czech Republic managed three points in the third end, but couldn’t keep up the pace with Canada from there.

    Advertisement

    The 2022 silver medalists, meanwhile, picked up a loss in their first match. Norway kept it close with Great Britain early, with both teams sitting at four points through five ends. But a strong sixth end by Great Britain, in which the team scored three points, proved to be the difference. Norway tried to battle back, picking up two points in the seventh end, but Great Britain was able to put things away in the eighth end, winning 8-6.

    The final match may have been the most exciting of the day. With Switzerland leading the entire match, Estonia needed a miraculous four points in the final end to tie things up. Somehow, it got the job done. After a four-point eighth end, Estonia forced an extra end. But the team couldn’t hold that momentum, eventually falling to Switzerland 9-7.

    Olympic curling rules, explained

    If you didn’t grow up in Canada — where curling is most popular — you might be unfamiliar with the rules of the sport.

    Advertisement

    The basic gist of it involves players trying to guide granite stones across ice toward a target area known as a “house.” Teams take turns trying to land their stones on the house, with the goal being to get them as close to the bull’s-eye as possible. The team closest to the bull’s-eye gets a point for every stone it gets closer than its opponent’s closest stone. After 10 “ends,” which you can think of as an inning in baseball, the team with the higher score wins. Each team gets eight stones per end, so it’s possible, though unlikely for a team to go 8-0 in an end. That’s called a snowman, and is the equivalent of an immaculate inning in baseball.

    There are some slight deviations from those rules during mixed doubles. Mixed doubles has only eight ends, not 10. And teams throw five stones per end.

    The round-robin portion of mixed doubles curling will take place Wednesday through Monday. The four teams with the best records at that point will advance to the semi-final round. Those games will also be played Monday.

    Advertisement

    From there, the mixed doubles bronze and gold-medal games will take place Tuesday.

    Once the mixed doubles event is complete, men’s and women’s curling will start up, with the men beginning their round-robin stage Wednesday, Feb. 11 and the women taking the ice Thursday, Feb. 12.

  • What time is Super Bowl LX this Sunday? Patriots vs. Seahawks kickoff time, TV channel and more

    It’s the New England Patriots vs. the Seattle Seahawks for Super Bowl LX this Sunday, with kickoff scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Between the Big Game and the start of the 2026 Winter Olympics, it’ll be a busy weekend for sports — especially if you’re a Peacock subscriber. A record 127 million viewers watched last year’s game, and with Bad Bunny headlining the Super Bowl Halftime Show this year, the ratings are likely only going up from there.

    The 2026 Super Bowl will be broadcast on NBC and will stream live on Peacock. Here’s what you need to know to tune in to Super Bowl LX when it airs on Feb. 8.

    Advertisement

    How to watch Super Bowl LX

    Image for the mini product module
    Image for the mini product module

    Date: Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026

    Time: 6:30 p.m. ET

    TV channel: NBC, Telemundo

    Streaming: Peacock, DirecTV, NFL+ and more

    What time is the 2026 Super Bowl on?

    The 2026 Super Bowl kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT on Feb. 8, 2026. Green Day will be performing a pre-game special starting at 6 p.m. ET.

    2026 Super Bowl game channel

    Super Bowl LX will air on NBC. A Spanish-language broadcast is available on Telemundo.

    Who are the 2026 Super Bowl teams?

    The AFC champions, the New England Patriots, will play the NFC champions, the Seattle Seahawks, at Super Bowl LX.

    Where is the 2026 Super Bowl being played?

    The 2026 Super Bowl will be held at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., home of the San Francisco 49ers.

    Advertisement

    How to watch the 2026 Super Bowl without cable

    You can stream NBC and Telemundo on platforms like DirecTV and Hulu + Live TV, both of which are among Engadget’s choices for best streaming services for live TV. (Note that Fubo and NBC are currently in the midst of a contract dispute and NBC channels are not available on the platform.) The game will also stream on Peacock and NFL+, though with an NFL+ subscription, you’re limited to watching on mobile devices.

    Image for the small product module
    Parks and Recreation and The Office, every Bravo show and much more.

    For $17 monthly you can upgrade to an ad-free subscription which includes live access to your local NBC affiliate (not just during designated sports and events) and the ability to download select titles to watch offline.

    Image for the small product module
    Image for the mini product module

    Who is performing at the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show?

    Bad Bunny is headlining the 2026 Super Bowl halftime performance, which should begin after the second quarter, likely between 8-8:30 p.m. ET. Green Day will perform a pre-game show starting at 6 p.m. ET. If you’re tuning in before the game, singer Charlie Puth will perform the National Anthem, Brandi Carlile is scheduled to sing “America The Beautiful” and Grammy winner Coco Jones will perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

    Advertisement

    Where to buy tickets to the 2026 Super Bowl

    Tickets to the 2026 Super Bowl are available on third-party resale platforms like StubHub and Gametime.

    Find tickets on Stubhub

    Find tickets on Gametime

    More ways to watch Super Bowl LX

    Image for the mini product module
    Image for the mini product module
    Image for the mini product module
  • 76ers reportedly trading guard Jared McCain to Thunder for bundle of picks, including Rockets’ 2026 first-rounder

    The Philadelphia 76ers are trading second-year guard Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for a 2026 Houston Rockets first-round pick, as well as three second-round picks, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

    The Sixers, who have won five games in a row and are currently sixth in the Eastern Conference standings with a 29-21 record, are receiving a 2027 second-round pick — the most favorable of picks via the Thunder, Rockets, Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat — and two 2028 second-round picks — one from the Milwaukee Bucks and one from the Thunder — per Charania.

    The news arrived Wednesday, the same day Charania reported that Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the defending NBA champions’ leading scorer and the league’s reigning MVP, will be out through at least the All-Star break because of an abdominal strain he suffered Tuesday night during a 128-92 win over the Orlando Magic.

    Advertisement

    The Sixers selected McCain out of Duke with the 16th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and he showed glimpses of stardom early last season, but the 21-year-old’s struggled with injuries since.

    In fact, after averaging 15.3 points, 2.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds in his first 23 games with the franchise, he missed the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign with a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee.

    Then, this past September, McCain sustained a UCL tear in his right thumb during a workout a day before the team’s media day.

    McCain made his season debut on Nov. 4, however, he didn’t make a field goal until his fifth game back in the rotation on Nov. 19.

    Advertisement

    He’s averaged just 6.6 points and 1.7 assists in 16.8 minutes across 37 games in 2025-26. While McCain is shooting 37.8% from 3, his field-goal percentage has dropped from 46% last season to 38.5% this season.

    Although McCain made at least four 3s in three of four games in late January and started February by making 2-of-2 attempts from long range in a road win versus the Los Angeles Clippers, he was stuck in a crowded Sixers backcourt that features two-time All-Star Tyrese Maxey and standout rookie VJ Edgecombe.

    Edgecombe is among the top first-year players this season. McCain enjoyed that kind of success at the beginning of last season.

    When Maxey was out for a stretch back then, McCain took over at point. In that six-game span, McCain averaged 25.2 points, 4 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game while shooting 44.1% from deep. In the process, he turned in 27-, 29- and 34-point performances.

    Advertisement

    Even after Maxey returned to the lineup, McCain still registered another 30 piece. That outing against the Brooklyn Nets gave McCain seven straight 20-plus-point games and, more importantly, the NBA record for most 3-pointers made in the first five starts of a career (26), the Sixers’ record for most 3-pointers made through the first 15 games of a career (37), as well as the NBA rookie record for most consecutive games with at least three 3-pointers (8).

    McCain became the early favorite for NBA Rookie of the Year before his knee injury.

    As Charania pointed out, the Sixers giving up McCain results in not only assets but also the flexibility to re-sign wing Quentin Grimes, whom Philadelphia inked to a one-year qualifying offer before the season.

    Additionally, the move puts the Sixers under the luxury tax, according to The Athletic, setting the stage for them to convert two-way player Dom Barlow, a fourth-year forward who is averaging 8.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.

  • Super Bowl 2026: Jaxon Smith-Njigba is everywhere all at once. Can Patriots, Christian Gonzalez slow him down?

    Jaxon Smith-Njigba paints over defensive pictures. The grass is his canvas, and his route-running his brush.

    The Seattle Seahawks wide receiver doubles as an artist in that way. A master of deception, Smith-Njigba conceals his routes until it’s time to strike. He pairs releases so as not to tip his hand to what he’s running, and he frequently starts them with twitchy yet somehow smooth moves that create separation before you can say his three-letter nickname.

    Advertisement

    “JSN” is a double-move salesman, maybe the best in the NFL, and he’s thrived as a three-level threat in Klint Kubiak’s Seahawks offense.

    The same player who rewrote the Rose Bowl record book with 347 receiving yards as an Ohio State standout in Pasadena four years ago is back in California, this time in Santa Clara, where he and the NFC champion Seahawks will play the AFC champion New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX on Sunday.

    Smith-Njigba became quarterback Sam Darnold’s right-hand man, leading the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards this season while operating out of a run-first Seattle offense that complements one of the league’s most imposing defenses in recent memory.

    Advertisement

    Out of 19 total games this season, including the playoffs, Smith-Njigba has recorded at least 70 receiving yards in 17 of them. In the other two outings, the Seahawks outscored their opponents by a combined 67-6.

    The Patriots’ best bet to slow down Smith-Njigba is third-year cornerback Christian Gonzalez, a fellow 2023 first-rounder. The Oregon product has honed a craft that puts him in the upper echelon of players at his position. JSN even called him “elite” on Tuesday at Super Bowl media availability.

    Gonzalez has great closing speed and underrated physicality. Plus, he has the numbers to back it up. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound corner hasn’t allowed more than 67 receiving yards in a game this season, counting the playoffs, and he’s conceded just one touchdown catch all season, per Pro Football Focus.

    Advertisement

    “It’s going to be a fun matchup,” Smith-Njigba said. ”Great player.”

    When the Seahawks and Patriots met in 2024, JSN and Gonzalez didn’t match up

    These teams squared off in 2024. It was Week 2. Smith-Njigba had already embarked on what would be his first 1,000-yard receiving season, and Gonzalez would ultimately earn second-team All-Pro honors.

    According to PFF, all 16 of the times Smith-Njigba was targeted that day, he was covered by other defenders. Namely Patriots nickel Marcus Jones had the burden of tracking down a shifty Smith-Njigba, who lined up 80.9% of his pass snaps that game in the slot, per PFF.

    Advertisement

    Smith-Njigba caught a season-high 12 passes for 117 yards during a 23-20 overtime win in Foxborough. He was one of two 100-yard receivers for the Seahawks in Gillette Stadium that afternoon. The other was DK Metcalf, whom Gonzalez was tasked with guarding. Gonzalez was targeted seven times in that matchup with Metcalf, yet he gave up only 27 receiving yards across four receptions, per PFF. The bulk of Metcalf’s production, including a touchdown, came against different Patriots.

    This past offseason, the Seahawks traded Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers and hired Kubiak as their new offensive coordinator. Smith-Njigba began his migration to the outside, where Gonzalez lines up for the lion’s share of his defensive snaps.

    Because Seattle moves JSN everywhere, don’t expect to see the showdown every play

    Smith-Njigba has seen his role and his route tree steadily expand over his first three seasons in the NFL under three different coordinators. His potential has now seemingly been unlocked since Kubiak took over the offense this season.

    Kubiak has given Smith-Njigba plenty of opportunities on the perimeter, both at the X and Z positions. This season, per PFF, he lined up 76.8% of his pass snaps out wide, a drastic increase from the two seasons prior when he spent the majority of his time in the slot.

    Advertisement

    Smith-Njigba has set up shop everywhere in Year 3: inside, outside and even in the backfield, from which he ran 10 routes during the regular season and five more in two playoff games, according to Next Gen Stats. His 84 receiving yards were the most recorded by wide receivers in that alignment from Weeks 1-18, per NGS. In the NFC championship, Smith-Njigba ran a pair of routes out of the backfield, one of which resulted in his 14-yard touchdown catch before halftime in a 31-27 win that saw him finish with 10 receptions for 153 yards.

    Smith-Njigba started that scoring play as an outside receiver before motioning pre-snap into the backfield, and against the Patriots on Sunday, that kind of pre-snap motion could temporarily remove Smith-Njigba from Gonzalez’s shadow, especially if he burrows into the backfield again.

    There could be some popcorn-worthy moments between the two stars on the outside. After leading the NFL in slot receiving yards last season, Smith-Njigba was first in the league in receiving yards from a wide alignment this season. He’s the only receiver in the NGS era (2016-on) to rank first in both categories.

    This time around, he was also tops among wide receivers in receptions of 20-plus air yards (13) and out-breaking route receiving yards (416), and he was a close second when it came to in-breaking route receiving yards (828), per NGS.

    Advertisement

    Defenses know where the ball’s going when Darnold drops back to pass. Smith-Njigba piled up more than double the targets of every other Seahawks receiver during the regular season. And, yet, the versatile playmaker still consistently wins. Granted, he benefited from Kubiak’s schematic genius that reportedly landed the Shanahan tree OC a head-coaching job with the Las Vegas Raiders, but Smith-Njigba wouldn’t be as dominant without the fluidity of his savvy footwork or the strength and timing of his hands.

    Now we get to see if Gonzalez and the Patriots’ defense can limit JSN. The answer to that question could play a big role in who wins Super Bowl LX.

  • Bulls reportedly trade Coby White and Mike Conley Jr. to Hornets for Collin Sexton, draft picks

    Coby White is done in Chicago.

    The Bulls dealt both White and Mike Conley Jr. to the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday afternoon, one day ahead of the trade deadline, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. In exchange, the Hornets are sending Collin Sexton and three second-round draft picks to Chicago.

    Advertisement

    The Bulls are also receiving Ousmane Dieng in the deal. Dieng was a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, but he was dealt to the Hornets earlier on Wednesday in exchange for Mason Plumlee, according to The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer. The Bulls will receive the least-favorable second-round pick between the Hornets and the Denver Nuggets in 2029, and then two second-round picks in 2031, according to longtime NBA reporter Zach Lowe.

    The Bulls made the move ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline after fortifying their backcourt in two other trades. The Bulls previously traded wing Kevin Huerter in a deal that returned Jaden Ivey from the Detroit Pistons and Conley from the Minnesota Timberwolves. They also acquired Anfernee Simons in the trade that sent center Nikola Vučević to the Boston Celtics.

    Advertisement

    The moves left the Bulls with an imbalanced roster and a glut in the backcourt featuring Josh Giddey, Tre Jones and Ayo Dosunmu in addition to White, Ivey and Simons. The moves ultimately made White expendable, and the Bulls have moved on from their starting guard who’s been a fixture in their backcourt since they selected him as a lottery pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

    White developed into a scoring leader for the Bulls in his last three seasons with averages of 19.1, 20.5 and 18.5 points per game. He’s a career 36.8% shooter from the 3-point line and has averaged 4.9 assists per game since becoming a full-time starter in 2023-24.

    Injuries have limited White to 29 games this season. He’s averaged 18.6 points and 4.7 assists while committing a career-high three turnovers per game when he’s available.

    Advertisement

    Conley, who never suited up for the Bulls, has averaged 4.4 points and 2.9 assists per game this season largely off the bench for Minnesota. It’s unclear if the Hornets will keep Conley. Though if he is bought out, he could return to Minnesota on a minimum deal since he has now been traded twice. Conley is in the final year of a two-year, $20.7 million contract and will be a free agent this summer.

    The Bulls ultimately decided it was time for a change in the backcourt with White playing on an expiring contract. Barring an extension, White is slated to become a free agent in the offseason.

  • After Mavericks trade Anthony Davis, here’s what they ultimately got in return for Luka Doncic

    A little over a year later, people are still talking about the shocking trade that sent Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, who shipped Anthony Davis and a 2029 first-round pick to the Dallas Mavericks in return.

    Just over a year later, the Mavericks parted with the centerpiece of their return for Luka, trading Davis, Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum to the Washington Wizards for Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, two future first-round picks and three second-rounders.

    Advertisement

    So, in total, this is what the Mavericks received for Dončić (and Maxi Kleber, Markieff Morris, Hardy, Russell and Exum):

    2026 Thunder first-round pick
    2029 Lakers first-round pick
    2030 Warriors protected first-round pick
    2026 Suns second-round pick
    2027 Bulls second-round pick
    2029 Rockets second-round pick
    Max Christie
    Khris Middleton
    AJ Johnson
    Malaki Branham
    Marvin Bagley III

    It’s also worth mentioning that after trading Dončić, the Mavericks missed the playoffs and ended up winning the lottery for the NBA Draft, where they took No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg. That, however, was not the intention of Dallas’ former general manager, Nico Harrison, when he made the trade.

    To compare the Mavericks’ return for Dončić with other trades in recent years, the San Antonio Spurs received three first-round picks and a first-round pick swap (in addition to Danilo Gallinari) from the Atlanta Hawks for Dejounte Murray. The Utah Jazz received four first-rounders, a pick swap and a handful of players (most notably Walker Kessler) from the Minnesota Timberwolves in return for Rudy Gobert.

    Advertisement

    Davis’ short stay in Dallas ended after he appeared in just 29 games. His latest setback occurred after he injured his hand on Jan. 8 against the Utah Jazz. Although hand surgery is not required, as initially reported, Davis has still missed extended time with the injury. Davis was put on the trade block shortly after the injury.

    Despite Davis’ injury history, he remained effective when he was on the court. This season, he averaged 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks on 50.6% from the field. The 32-year-old will now pair his skills with point guard Trae Young, whom the Wizards also acquired ahead of the deadline.

    Young has yet to make his debut as a Wizard and is expected to be out through the All-Star break because of a right knee sprain and a bruised quadriceps. The 13-36 Wizards have missed the playoffs the past four seasons.

    While Davis is on his second team since the trade, Dončić is flourishing with the Lakers. He averages an NBA-leading 33.4 points and is second in assists with 8.7, while adding 7.9 rebounds per game. The Lakers are 30-19 this season.

  • Thunder-76ers trade grades: Who won the Jared McCain deal?

    The Philadelphia 76ers were motivated to get under the luxury tax barrier, and decided to act on that motivation by trading away Jared McCain, their prized rookie from last season, to the defending champions from Oklahoma City.

    McCain was acquired for the price of a 2026 first-round selection via Houston, and three second-round selections.

    Advertisement

    It’s a deal in which both teams get what they want, so let’s get into some grades immediately.

    Oklahoma City: A+

    The name of the game in Oklahoma City is championships. Plural. McCain, a strong shooter, will aid them in their floor spacing, an element they’ve occasionally struggled with.

    Relinquishing four picks for McCain may seem expensive, but given that he helps solve a major need and gets them closer to another title, it’s a small price to pay.

    Plus, McCain had a lot of success as a rookie last year, averaging over 15 points and finding himself in the Rookie of the Year conversation before he got injured.

    Advertisement

    Philadelphia: B-

    I’m giving the Sixers a solid grade because they achieved what they hoped to achieve in getting under the tax, but do note it’s a pity grade.

    Trading away young, cheap pieces, when you have that much money tied up in Joel Embiid and Paul George is just not a position they want to be in, so this is all about the finances, which is both boring and discouraging.

    So, sure, Philly, congrats on avoiding the tax bill, I guess.

  • Chris Paul traded to Raptors in 3-team deal, finalizing bizarre divorce from Clippers

    Chris Paul was supposed to spend his final season with the Los Angeles Clippers. One messy divorce later, he’s on his way to a new team.

    The Clippers have reportedly traded the future Hall of Famer to the Toronto Raptors ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The multi-team deal will result in Ochai Agbaji, cash and a future second-round draft pick heading to the Brooklyn Nets. The Clippers will then receive the rights to Vana Marinkovic to complete the three-team deal.

    Advertisement

    It’s unclear if Paul will actually play for the Raptors, however. The team is not requiring him to report, and could still discuss trades involving him ahead of the deadline. He may end up being waived, too, which would result in him being able to sign elsewhere for the rest of the season.

    The news follows his shocking dismissal from the team in early December. Paul last played in a Dec. 1 loss to the Miami Heat; he recorded eight points and three assists over 15 minutes. Despite the Clippers’ statement that the team was “parting ways” with Paul and that he would “no longer be with the team,” Paul was never officially released.

    At 40 years old, Paul had been exclusively coming off the bench for the Clippers and was averaging 2.9 points and 3.3 assists in 14.3 minutes per game, all easily career lows. Still, it was a massive surprise when the team announced on Dec. 3 that it was sending him home during a road trip amid a rough 5-16 start.

    It was later reported that Paul and head coach Tyronn Lue had been clashing over leadership of the team to the point that they were allegedly not speaking to each other for weeks. Former Clipper Lou Williams went as far as painting the scene as Paul “just holding guys accountable,” making for an easy narrative against a team that is seemingly always the butt of some kind of joke.

    Advertisement

    The addition of Paul was intended to give the Clippers some veteran depth and provide the man himself a final act on a team where he enjoyed some of his most successful seasons during a six-season run from 2010-17, with plans to retire after 2025-26. Instead, it just made more of a mess as the team stumbled out of the gate.

    [Get more Clippers news: Los Angeles team feed]

    The situation was hardly a good look for anyone, but the end was abrupt to the point that it allegedly took Clippers stars Kawhi Leonard and James Harden by surprise. And now Paul has fully moved on, rather than sinking into early retirement.

    Advertisement

    Wherever he ends up, Paul brings an all-time résumé to his new team with 12 All-Star nods, nine All-Defense selections and the second-most assists in NBA history. He’s well past his prime, last appearing in the playoffs three seasons and three teams ago, but it’s hard to imagine he won’t be at least a little motivated to show he has something in the tank now.

  • Lakers center Jaxson Hayes suspended one game by the NBA after shoving Wizards mascot G-Wiz before a game

    If you mess with an NBA mascot, you better be willing to deal with the consequences. Los Angeles Lakers big man Jaxson Hayes found that out the hard way Wednesday, as he was suspended for one game after shoving Washington Wizards mascot G-Wiz during pregame introductions when the two teams played in January.

    The incident occurred prior to the Lakers’ 142-111 win over the Wizards on Jan. 30. As a result, Hayes will be suspended — without pay — for one game, the NBA announced Wednesday.

    Hayes is expected to serve his suspension Thursday, when the Lakers will take on the Philadelphia 76ers at Crypto.com Arena.

    Advertisement

    Video of the incident appears to show Hayes shoving G-Wiz into one of the Wizards’ cheerleaders after G-Wiz ran across the court waving the team’s flag.

    It didn’t appear to be a planned shove, as G-Wiz’s feet left the ground after being blindsided by Hayes.

    Despite the way it looked, G-Wiz reportedly did not sustain any injuries due to the shove, per The Athletic.

    Hayes, 25, has mostly served in a reserve role with the Lakers this season. In 41 games, he’s averaging 6.4 points and 3.8 rebounds.

    Hayes, a former first-round pick by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2019 NBA Draft, was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans on draft night. He spent his first four years in the NBA with the Pelicans, where he averaged 7.5 points per game.

    Advertisement

    Following the 2022-23 NBA season, Hayes signed a two-year, $4.6 million deal with the Lakers. When that contract ended, Hayes opted to re-sign with the team on a one-year, $3.5 million deal.

    In his three seasons with the Lakers, Hayes has mostly been a backup, though he did start 35 of the 56 games he played with the Lakers during the 2024-25 season.

    Hayes will take part in the 2026 NBA Slam Dunk Contest on Feb. 14. Unless he plans to bury the hatchet with G-Wiz as part of an elaborate dunk, we’re guessing he’ll likely keep a wide berth when he sees the mascot during the All-Star break festivities.

  • Artemi Panarin signs 2-year, $22M extension with Kings after trade from Rangers

    ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 19: Artemi Panarin #10 of the New York Rangers skates before the game against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on January 19, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images)

    ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 19: Artemi Panarin #10 of the New York Rangers skates before the game against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on January 19, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images)

    (Ric Tapia via Getty Images)

    Ahead of Wednesday’s NHL Olympic roster freeze, the New York Rangers finally dealt forward Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a conditional 2026 third-round draft pick and prospect Liam Greentree.

    Advertisement

    Following the deal, Panarin and the Kings agreed to a two-year, $22 million extension, according to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan. The 34-year-old could have been an unrestricted free agent this summer and it had been reported that he sought to be moved to a team that would be interested in extending him.

    The Rangers are also retaining 50% of Panarin’s remaining salary for this season. The conditional third-round draft pick will turn into a 2026 second-rounder if the Kings win at least one playoff round. Should L.A. win two playoff rounds this spring, New York will also receive a 2028 fourth-round pick.

    After months of speculation about Panarin’s future in New York, once it became clear the two sides would be parting ways, Panarin was held out of the lineup, missing the Rangers’ past three games in a case of asset protection.

    Advertisement

    Panarin held a no-trade clause in his contract, giving him full control of his destination. A number of teams, including the Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes were interested, but Panarin reportedly only wanted to go to L.A.

    The Rangers, currently last in the Eastern Conference with 50 points, will be busy before the March 6 NHL trade deadline. General manager Chris Drury told fans in a letter in January that the team will “retool,” not “rebuild” as the franchise begins a “new strategic plan.”

    That same day Drury informed Panarin that the team would not be offering him an extension.

    Advertisement

    In the Western Conference, the Kings currently sit one point out of a wild-card spot and three points behind the Anaheim Ducks for third place in the Pacific Division. They have not won a playoff round since defeating the Rangers in the 2014 Stanley Cup Final and have four consecutive first-round exits at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers.

    Panarin and the Kings will visit the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on March 16.