February 2026

There were 1,487 posts published in February 2026 (this is page 96 of 149).

In search of consistency, Ime Udoka calls on Rockets to set a standard

HOUSTON — Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines consistency as the agreement or harmony of parts or features with one another, or with a whole.

For Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, that word has been part of his message to his team all season.

With two back-to-back games against the Los Angeles Clippers before the NBA’s annual All-Star break, Udoka is hoping that his team will end the first half of the 2025-26 season on a good note.

“It is always the message for us,” Udoka said after Monday’s practice, regarding his team playing with a consistent style. “It starts with a consistent effort and attention to detail, and for us it has been up and down for us in that area.”

With a 32-19 record, the Rockets are currently seeded No. 4 in the Western Conference. But their play since the start of 2026 has been more erratic, as evidenced by a 12-9 record over the past 21 games. At the moment, that’s a cause for concern as Houston tries to stay afloat in a very competitive conference.

The Rockets have had multiple three-game winning streaks over the past two months. They’ve enjoyed statement wins against the likes of the Detroit Pistons, who have the best record in the Eastern Conference, and the Southwest Division-leading San Antonio Spurs.

But they also suffered a terrible three-game losing streak against the Portland Trail Blazers (twice) and the Sacramento Kings, who own the NBA’s worst record (12-43). Last week, Houston lost at home to the Boston Celtics, who were without their dynamic duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. 

“When we play quality teams, we are locked in,” Udoka said. “You see the pace, the movement, and the attention to detail. I think the respect overall is higher, and we need to do that with everybody. We need to hold ourselves to a certain standard. Searching for consistency is the key throughout the whole season.”  

One player who has heard Udoka’s message loud and clear is fourth-year player Jabari Smith Jr. After an early January shooting slump, Smith has rebounded over the past six games, averaging 17.5 points (44.1% on 3-pointers), 6.8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game. He has taken advantage of the attention paid to forward Kevin Durant and center Alperen Sengun, who face frequent double teams on offense.

“If they want to double, you have to flash to be available (for) a pass, rather than sitting weakside and expecting them to make an extravagant skip pass,” said Smith. “They encourage me to flash to the ball and make myself available when they do draw two.”

Smith, who was drafted at No. 3 overall in the first round of the 2022 NBA draft, echoed the message from his head coach about the team searching for more consistency after the All-Star break.

“I think it is going take us buying in every day, buy in every game,” Smith said. “Through fatigue and through whatever everyone has going on. Just buy in and try winning every game. That is the main thing. We know what it takes to win, and we know what we have to do win, it is just about us doing it every night.”

More: Rockets coach Ime Udoka sees Alperen Sengun as perennial NBA All-Star

This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: In search of consistency, Ime Udoka calls on Rockets to set a standard

Arizona Cardinals are a team to watch for free agent QB Malik Willis

The Arizona Cardinals have some questions to answer about their quarterback position, and free agency might be an answer. While the future of both Kyler Murray and Jacoby Brissett with the team is uncertain at best, the Cardinals are a team to watch in the pursuit of one young soon-to-be free agent quarterback.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Cardinals and Miami Dolphins are two teams to watch.

The Cardinals are reportedly seeking trade partners to deal quarterback Kyler Murray, who missed the final 12 games of last season with a foot injury.

Willis has clear connections to the Cardinals. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans while Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort worked in their front office. Willis played the last two seasons for Green Bay Packers, whose head coach, Matt LaFleur, is new Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur’s older brother. New Cardinals offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was on Green Bay’s staff last season.

Willis is intriguing but risky. He started trhee games over the last two seasons for the Packers and went 2-1. He threw six touchdown passes without an interception and also rushed for another three scores.

However, he has only started six games in four NFL seasons. It reminds people of quarterbacks like Kevin Kolb and Matt Flynn, two backups who didn’t turn out to be anything when given starting opportunities with other teams (Kolb coming to the Cardinals in 2011 and lasting only two injury-riddled seasons).

But resetting the quarterback room might be what LaFleur wants. The organization seems to want Murray gone. LaFleur probably realizes he can’t win with Jacoby Brissett.

It would be at least worth trying with Willis for at least a year, giving fans something different.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals are a team to watch for free agent QB Malik Willis

AHSAA announces Oakwood Adventist allowed to compete in postseason due to court injunction

Less than a week after the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) deemed Oakwood Adventist Academy (Ala.) ineligible for the Class 1A postseason, the association had to reverse course on Tuesday.

According to a statement by AHSAA executive director Heath Harmon, the association will allow Oakwood Adventist Academy to participate in the state’s Class 1A boys basketball tournament to obey a court injunction. Oakwood Adventist had been previously eliminated from the Class 1A state playoffs due to exceeding the 30-game rule for the regular season. The Mustangs had made an appeal to the AHSAA’s Central Board of Control, which was denied.

“The Montgomery County Circuit Court has entered a TRO that Oakwood Adventist Academy be allowed to participate in the Area 16 Basketball Tournament. The AHSAA will abide by the Court’s Order,” Harmon said in the official statement on allowing Oakwood Adventist Academy to participate in the postseason.

Oakwood Adventist Academy, which is has a overall record of 15-16, had broken the 30-game maximum limit a basketball team can play during the regular season. The Mustangs played their 31st game of the season in a 65-43 loss to Whitesburg Christian Academy.

If Oakwood Adventist Academy didn’t play the Feb. 3rd matchup against Whitesburg Christian academy, they would’ve remained an eligible participant for the AHSAA postseason. The Mustangs without the injunction would have been watching from afar as the program is one of the favorites to win a Class 1A state championship this winter.

Last season, the Mustangs finished the 2024-25 season with a record of 25-9 and reached the Class 1A state semifinals.

How to Follow Alabama High School Boys Basketball

For Alabama high school boys basketball fans looking to keep up with scores around the Yellowhammer State, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the state, ensuring you never miss a moment of the high school boys basketball action throughout the season. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school boys basketball excitement across the state of Alabama.

Nets’ Egor Demin (rest) available Wednesday vs. Pacers

The Brooklyn Nets are playing better basketball as of late as they are taking care of business against some of the weaker opponents on their schedule heading into the All-Star Break. Brooklyn has been in an extended rut since the calendar turned to January, but the good news is that they should be able to finish strong with one of the more important players back in the lineup.

The Nets announced on Tuesday that rookie guard Egor Demin is off of the injury report for Wednesday’s game against the Indiana Pacers, giving Brooklyn their starting shooting guard back in the rotation. Demin had missed Monday’s 123-115 win over the Chicago Bulls due to rest, but head coach Jordi Fernandez said prior to the game that Demin’s rest wasn’t related to any kind of injury.

Demin, 19, is having a solid rookie season as he’s averaging 10.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 40.7% from the field and 39.5% from three-point land. With Demin back in the lineup, rookie forward Danny Wolf will most likely head back to the bench given what Fernandez’s starting lineup has been like with forward Michael Porter Jr. out of the rotation.

Speaking of Porter, he is ruled out for Wednesday’s game against the Pacers as he continues to deal with his right knee tendinitis that caused him to miss Monday’s win over Chicago. Prior to Monday’s win over the Bulls, Fernandez said that Porter is considered “day-to-day” with his current injury, but it seems like that the team wants to give him more time recover so that he can ready to go coming out of the All-Star Break.

Lastly, Brooklyn announced that forward Noah Clowney is listed as probable for Wednesday’s against Indiana due to a left ankle sprain, which is better news than him being listed as questionable, for example. Clowney had one of his best games in recent memory against the Bulls as he dropped 22 points and six rebounds so the hope is that he’ll be able to go against a Pacers team that has struggled to win games this season as well.

This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets’ Egor Demin (rest) available Wednesday vs. Pacers

Dylan Lee wins arbitration case over Braves

ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 23: Dylan Lee #52 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the eighth inning during the game against the Washington Nationals at Truist Park on September 23, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Atlanta Braves reliever Dylan Lee has reportedly won his arbitration case over the team according to a report by MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. Per the report, Lee will make $2.2 million for the 2026 season. The club had filed at $2 million. Lee was the Braves’ only arbitration eligible player this offseason to go to a trial.

Lee has established himself as a key part of the Braves bullpen over his five seasons with the club. He appeared in a career-high 74 games in 2025 while posting a 3.29 ERA and a 4.00 FIP. He struck out 76 hitters and issued just 14 walks in 68.1 innings. Left-handed hitters hit just .200 against him in the 2025 season. He’s appeared in 198 games and has a 2.98 ERA over the last five seasons combined.

The Braves originally signed Lee in April of 2021 after he was released by the Marlins. He is in his second year of arbitration and isn’t scheduled to become a free agent until after the 2028 season.

Dylan Lee wins arbitration case over Braves

ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 23: Dylan Lee #52 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the eighth inning during the game against the Washington Nationals at Truist Park on September 23, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Atlanta Braves reliever Dylan Lee has reportedly won his arbitration case over the team according to a report by MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. Per the report, Lee will make $2.2 million for the 2026 season. The club had filed at $2 million. Lee was the Braves’ only arbitration eligible player this offseason to go to a trial.

Lee has established himself as a key part of the Braves bullpen over his five seasons with the club. He appeared in a career-high 74 games in 2025 while posting a 3.29 ERA and a 4.00 FIP. He struck out 76 hitters and issued just 14 walks in 68.1 innings. Left-handed hitters hit just .200 against him in the 2025 season. He’s appeared in 198 games and has a 2.98 ERA over the last five seasons combined.

The Braves originally signed Lee in April of 2021 after he was released by the Marlins. He is in his second year of arbitration and isn’t scheduled to become a free agent until after the 2028 season.

Luis Arraez, a 3-time batting champion, finalizes $12 million, 1-year contract with Giants

SAN FRANCISCO — Three-time batting champion Luis Arraez and the San Francisco Giants finalized a $12 million, one-year contract on Tuesday.

A 28-year-old infielder, Arraez led the National League in hits the past two seasons and is expected to be San Francisco’s second baseman for new manager Tony Vitello.

Arraez, a left-handed hitter, batted .292 with eight home runs, 61 RBIs, 181 hits and 11 stolen bases for the San Diego Padres last year. The three-time All-Star spent his first five major league seasons with the Minnesota Twins before they traded him to the Miami Marlins in January 2023. San Diego acquired him in May 2024.

Right-hander Randy Rodríguez was placed on the 60-day injured list to open a roster spot.

Giants confirm that Luis Arráez is their second baseman

Jul 18, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; San Diego Padres first baseman Luis Arraez (4) tosses a fielded ground ball to first base against the Washington Nationals during the third inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

When the San Francisco Giants first made the mildly-surprising news to sign bat-to-ball maven Luis Arráez, there were questions about where he would play. Like most infielders, Arráez had played all over the dirt in the Minor Leagues, though he was viewed as a second baseman by the time he made the Majors. After a few years and some NSFW advanced metrics, Arráez was mostly moved to first base and designated hitter during his time with the San Diego Padres the last two years.

The Giants, of course, have first base handled for the foreseeable future with Rafael Devers, and hope to have designated hitter accounted for with Bryce Eldridge. Did the organization see things differently? Was Arráez there to play DH while Eldridge returned to Sacramento? Perhaps to play the Wilmer Flores/Dominic Smith role off the bench? Or was he supplanting Casey Schmitt at second base?

As soon as those questions were asked, reports were sent out that it was the latter: the Giants were hoping to sprinkle some of Ron Washington’s magic infield dust on Arráez’s glove (and arm, and cleats), and run him out as the near-everyday second baseman. But with the move not yet finalized and made official, neither Arráez nor the Giants could actually comment on that.

Now they can, and it’s clear as day: Arráez is the handsomely-compensated second baseman for your 2026 Giants.

Speaking in Giants gear for the first time on Tuesday at the start of Spring Training, the always-jovial Arráez confirmed the reports that he had rejected multi-year deals because the Giants, unlike the teams offering those longer contracts, promised to play him at second base.

The coaching staff and Buster Posey confirmed that Arráez is there to hold down the fort at second, and they certainly conveyed confidence in his ability to do so. According to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser, Washington — widely considered one of the best infield coaches in baseball history — called the three-time batting champ a “pro,” and said, “He just has to be educated about the correct way to play defense — it’s more than what goes on between the lines, it’s also what your thoughts are, your work ethic, your ability to listen, learn and apply. I believe Arráez can be a very good second baseman.”

Posey, as is his style, was a bit more calculated in his response, but NBC Sports Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic quotes the Giants president of baseball operations as telling reporters, “I think we’re all really optimistic about (Washington) getting Luis into a good spot defensively, and then the bat, I mean, he’s the best bat-to-ball guy in all of baseball … We felt comfortable that there was a solid foundation there for a guy that could play second base well.”

Words and intention, of course, can only go so far, as Posey seemed to admit when saying, “As far as the defense, it’s not going to be for a lack of effort and work on his part and (from) the coaching staff.” But that’s what the next six weeks are for: seeing how far Arráez can progress, and how much work Washington and the coaching staff con do with him.

With no place to put him if second base doesn’t work out, it’s safe to say the Giants wouldn’t have committed $12 million to the three-time All-Star if they weren’t confident in his ability to play second … or at least, to derive more offensive value than he loses with the glove while at that position. So it seems likely that he’ll get quite a long leash, even if he struggles in the early part of the season.

2026 NBA All-Star Game schedule: Time, how to watch, rosters and format

The 2026 NBA All-Star Game is nearly here.

The rosters have been set, and the game’s biggest stars will congregate in Los Angeles for the 75th edition of the NBA All-Star Game.

The league opted to use a “U.S. vs. World” format in a round-robin tournament that will feature three teams, one of which will be composed of international players.

The game, however, will be missing some key players because of injury, most notably last season’s Most Valuable Player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 NBA All-Star Game:

When is the 2026 NBA All-Star Game?

The game will take place Sunday, Feb. 15 at 5 p.m. ET.

Where is the 2026 NBA All-Star Game?

Los Angeles will serve as host of All-Star weekend and all of its events, including the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, the Slam Dunk Contest and the 3-Point Contest. Events will take place at the Intuit Dome, the home venue of the Los Angeles Clippers.

How to watch 2026 NBA All-Star Game

The game will be broadcast on NBC and will be available for streaming on Peacock. The first game in the round-robin tournament will tip off at 5 p.m. ET. This is the first time in 24 years that the event is broadcast on a network other than TNT.

Who is participating in the 2026 NBA All-Star Game?

Team Stars

  • Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors)
  • Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)
  • Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons)
  • Jalen Duren (Detroit Pistons)
  • Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)
  • Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder)
  • Jalen Johnson (Atlanta Hawks)
  • Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers)

Team Stripes

  • Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)
  • Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks)
  • Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)*
  • Kevin Durant (Houston Rockets)
  • Brandon Ingram (Toronto Raptors)
  • LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)
  • Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers)
  • Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers)
  • Norman Powell (Miami Heat)

Team World

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)*
  • Deni Avdija (Portland Trail Blazers)
  • Luka Dončić (Los Angeles Lakers)
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)*
  • Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets)
  • Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets)
  • Alperen Şengün (Houston Rockets)
  • Pascal Siakam (Indiana Pacers)
  • Karl-Anthony Towns (New York Knicks)
  • Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs)

*injured, will not play

2026 NBA All-Star Game format

The NBA is introducing an entirely new format in the All-Star Game: U.S. vs. The World.

Two teams of U.S. players and a team of international players will compete in a round-robin tournament in four 12-minute games, all to be held on the final day of All-Star Weekend — Sunday, Feb. 15 — the NBA announced Tuesday, Nov. 11.

All round-robin games will be played on Sunday, Feb. 15, and here’s how the tournament works:

Team A will play Team B in Game 1. 

The winning team from Game 1 will play Team C in Game 2.

The losing team from Game 1 will play Team C in Game 3.

After Game 3, the top two teams by record will play each other in the championship game. But, if all three teams have a 1-1 record after Game 3, the point differential in each team’s two round-robin games will serve as the tiebreaker.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA All-Star 2026 schedule: Dates, time and TV channel

Super Bowl averages 124.9M viewers in US, Bad Bunny’s halftime 128.2 million, both short of records

Sunday night’s Super Bowl and Bad Bunny fell short of setting records for most watched U.S. broadcast and halftime show.

Seattle’s 29-13 victory over New England averaged 124.9 million viewers on NBC, Peacock, Telemundo, NBC Sports Digital, and NFL+, according to Nielsen’s Big Data + Panel rating system.

That fell short of the 127.7 million U.S. viewers that tuned in for Philadelphia’s 40-22 victory over Kansas City last year on Fox.

Bad Bunny’s halftime show averaged 128.2 million viewers from 8:15-8:30 p.m. Eastern. That would make it the fourth-most watched halftime behind Kendrick Lamar (133.5 million, 2025), Michael Jackson (133.4 million, 1993) and Usher (129.3 million, 2024).

Full global viewership for the halftime show is expected to be available early next week.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl