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Deadspin | Thunder’s Luguentz Dort, Pelicans’ Jeremiah Fears fined

Deadspin | Thunder’s Luguentz Dort, Pelicans’ Jeremiah Fears fined

Jan 27, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center/forward Chet Holmgren (7) pulls Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) away from a scuffle with New Orleans Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears (0) during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

The NBA fined Thunder guard Luguentz Dort and Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears $25,000 each on Thursday after an on-court altercation.

The incident occurred at the conclusion of Oklahoma City’s 104-95 home victory against New Orleans on Tuesday night.

Dort wrapped up Fears after the Pelicans rookie had secured a game-ending rebound. After time expired, Dort shoved Fears in the chest and both players subsequently grabbed each other’s jerseys “in an aggressive manner,” according to a league news release.

Dort, 26, had 12 points and eight rebounds in the game and is averaging 8.8 points and 3.9 boards in 38 games (all starts) this season, his seventh with the Thunder.

Fears, 19, finished Tuesday’s loss with seven points and three steals. The 2025 first-round pick (seventh overall) is averaging 13.6 points and 3.7 rebounds in 49 games (44 starts).

–Field Level Media

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Phoenix Suns ended Golden State Warriors’ season and Orlando Magic thrashed Charlotte Hornets as the NBA playoffs’ final teams were decided Friday.

Jalen Green put in a dazzling performance with 36 points, including eight triples, to secure the Western Conference No. 8 seed for Phoenix with a 111-96 win over Stephen Curry’s Warriors.

The Suns got off to a bright start with a 33-15 lead in the first quarter, before the Warriors cut the deficit to five points at half-time.

But the Suns still managed to keep the wasteful Warriors at arms’ length, successfully limiting veteran superstar Curry to just 17 points.

With barely a minute left, Jordan Goodwin intercepted a pass intended for Curry, and scored a transition bucket, before adding a three on the Suns’ next possession to secure the win.

Victory set up a first-round playoff clash for the Suns against Oklahoma City Thunder, the defending NBA champion.

“Happy as hell. We came out fire, we knew this was a do-or-die game,” said Green, who added six rebounds and four assists.

For the injury-plagued and ageing Warriors, who won the NBA title in 2022, it was a disappointing end to a third consecutive season in the play-in tournament, crashing out before the playoffs as they did in 2024.

In fiery late scenes, two Warriors players — Draymond Green and Devin Booker — were ejected from the court, with Green continuing to taunt the home Suns’ fans as he departed.

Magic outmuscle Hornets

The Magic beat the Hornets 121-90 to keep their season alive and set up a daunting first-round playoff series against the Eastern Conference top-seeded Detroit Pistons.

Paolo Banchero top-scored with 25 points in the Magic’s last chance to qualify for the post-season via the play-in tournament, having failed at their first attempt against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.

A physical, tough Magic outfit outmuscled the youthful Hornets from the tip-off of the win-or-go-home game in front of a sell-out 19,000 home crowd at the Magic’s Kia Canter.

Banchero bulldozed Hornets’ defence, scoring 12 in the first quarter alone.

Having never trailed by more than a single point, the Magic soon stretched comfortably clear, establishing a giant 35-point lead shortly before half-time.

Recovering from a sluggish start, LaMelo Bell — the hero of the Hornets’ first play-in game against Miami on Tuesday —exploded after the break.

He poured in 21 points in the third quarter alone as he tried to single-handedly extend the Hornets’ season.

But the Magic’s lead never dipped below 20 points, as they eased to a win against a the Hornets who had finished the regular season in strong form.

Victory ensured the Magic have reached the playoffs for the third straight season, while the Hornets’ decade-long wait goes on.

The NBA playoffs begin Saturday.

Published on Apr 18, 2026

#NBA #Steph #Curry #fails #fire #Warriors #lose #Sun #Magic #routs #Hornets">NBA: Steph Curry fails to fire as Warriors lose to Sun; Magic routs Hornets  Phoenix Suns ended Golden State Warriors’ season and Orlando Magic thrashed Charlotte Hornets as the NBA playoffs’ final teams were decided Friday.Jalen Green put in a dazzling performance with 36 points, including eight triples, to secure the Western Conference No. 8 seed for Phoenix with a 111-96 win over Stephen Curry’s Warriors.The Suns got off to a bright start with a 33-15 lead in the first quarter, before the Warriors cut the deficit to five points at half-time.But the Suns still managed to keep the wasteful Warriors at arms’ length, successfully limiting veteran superstar Curry to just 17 points.With barely a minute left, Jordan Goodwin intercepted a pass intended for Curry, and scored a transition bucket, before adding a three on the Suns’ next possession to secure the win.Victory set up a first-round playoff clash for the Suns against Oklahoma City Thunder, the defending NBA champion.“Happy as hell. We came out fire, we knew this was a do-or-die game,” said Green, who added six rebounds and four assists.For the injury-plagued and ageing Warriors, who won the NBA title in 2022, it was a disappointing end to a third consecutive season in the play-in tournament, crashing out before the playoffs as they did in 2024.In fiery late scenes, two Warriors players — Draymond Green and Devin Booker — were ejected from the court, with Green continuing to taunt the home Suns’ fans as he departed.Magic outmuscle HornetsThe Magic beat the Hornets 121-90 to keep their season alive and set up a daunting first-round playoff series against the Eastern Conference top-seeded Detroit Pistons.Paolo Banchero top-scored with 25 points in the Magic’s last chance to qualify for the post-season via the play-in tournament, having failed at their first attempt against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.A physical, tough Magic outfit outmuscled the youthful Hornets from the tip-off of the win-or-go-home game in front of a sell-out 19,000 home crowd at the Magic’s Kia Canter.Banchero bulldozed Hornets’ defence, scoring 12 in the first quarter alone.Having never trailed by more than a single point, the Magic soon stretched comfortably clear, establishing a giant 35-point lead shortly before half-time.Recovering from a sluggish start, LaMelo Bell — the hero of the Hornets’ first play-in game against Miami on Tuesday —exploded after the break.He poured in 21 points in the third quarter alone as he tried to single-handedly extend the Hornets’ season.But the Magic’s lead never dipped below 20 points, as they eased to a win against a the Hornets who had finished the regular season in strong form.Victory ensured the Magic have reached the playoffs for the third straight season, while the Hornets’ decade-long wait goes on.The NBA playoffs begin Saturday.Published on Apr 18, 2026  #NBA #Steph #Curry #fails #fire #Warriors #lose #Sun #Magic #routs #Hornets

Deadspin | Nolan Arenado, Michael Soroka carry D-backs over Jays  Apr 17, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fourth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images   Nolan Arenado homered for the third time in four games and drove in two, Michael Soroka won his fourth game and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 in Phoenix on Friday.  Arenado had two hits, and his two-out RBI single for a 5-2 lead capped a two-run seventh inning kept alive on first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s two-out fielding error.  Soroka (4-0) gave up two runs and five hits in a season-long seven innings, with five strikeouts and no walks. He has more wins this season than in the previous five years combined, when he missed extended time with Achilles tendon, arm and shoulder injuries.  Ketel Marte had two hits and scored twice and Corbin Carroll and Jose Fernandez had run-scoring singles for the Diamondbacks, who have won nine of 12.  The D-Backs have won 12 games since March 30. NL West rival San Diego had won 12 in that span entering Friday.  Myles Straw had two hits, including his first homer, and Guerrero had an RBI single for the Blue Jays, who have lost five of six and 11 of 14.  Guerrero singled in a run in the eighth inning to make it 5-3 before Tim Tawa doubled in an insurance run in the Arizona half.    Paul Sewald pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for this seventh save.  Arizona second baseman Ildemaro Vargas singled to extend his season-opening hitting streak to 13 games, the longest such streak in franchise history. He has a 16-game hitting streak dating to last September.  Eric Lauer (1-3) gave up three runs and five hits in three innings, with four strikeouts and one walk. He entered in the second inning after Braydon Fisher pitched a scoreless first.   Straw and Jesus Sanchez singled to put runners on the corners with one out in the fourth before Lenyn Sosa’s sacrifice bunt drove in Straw for a 1-0 lead.  Arenado’s 382-foot homer tied it with two outs in the fourth. Carroll and Fernandez had RBI singles off Lauer in the fifth for a 3-1 lead.   Straw’s homer in the sixth cut the Blue Jays’ deficit to 3-2. Straw entered the game in the bottom of the third to replace center fielder Daulton Varsho, who was removed with left knee discomfort.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Nolan #Arenado #Michael #Soroka #carry #Dbacks #JaysApr 17, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fourth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Nolan Arenado homered for the third time in four games and drove in two, Michael Soroka won his fourth game and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 in Phoenix on Friday.

Arenado had two hits, and his two-out RBI single for a 5-2 lead capped a two-run seventh inning kept alive on first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s two-out fielding error.

Soroka (4-0) gave up two runs and five hits in a season-long seven innings, with five strikeouts and no walks. He has more wins this season than in the previous five years combined, when he missed extended time with Achilles tendon, arm and shoulder injuries.

Ketel Marte had two hits and scored twice and Corbin Carroll and Jose Fernandez had run-scoring singles for the Diamondbacks, who have won nine of 12.

The D-Backs have won 12 games since March 30. NL West rival San Diego had won 12 in that span entering Friday.

Myles Straw had two hits, including his first homer, and Guerrero had an RBI single for the Blue Jays, who have lost five of six and 11 of 14.


Guerrero singled in a run in the eighth inning to make it 5-3 before Tim Tawa doubled in an insurance run in the Arizona half.

Paul Sewald pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for this seventh save.

Arizona second baseman Ildemaro Vargas singled to extend his season-opening hitting streak to 13 games, the longest such streak in franchise history. He has a 16-game hitting streak dating to last September.

Eric Lauer (1-3) gave up three runs and five hits in three innings, with four strikeouts and one walk. He entered in the second inning after Braydon Fisher pitched a scoreless first.

Straw and Jesus Sanchez singled to put runners on the corners with one out in the fourth before Lenyn Sosa’s sacrifice bunt drove in Straw for a 1-0 lead.

Arenado’s 382-foot homer tied it with two outs in the fourth. Carroll and Fernandez had RBI singles off Lauer in the fifth for a 3-1 lead.

Straw’s homer in the sixth cut the Blue Jays’ deficit to 3-2. Straw entered the game in the bottom of the third to replace center fielder Daulton Varsho, who was removed with left knee discomfort.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Nolan #Arenado #Michael #Soroka #carry #Dbacks #Jays">Deadspin | Nolan Arenado, Michael Soroka carry D-backs over Jays  Apr 17, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fourth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images   Nolan Arenado homered for the third time in four games and drove in two, Michael Soroka won his fourth game and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 in Phoenix on Friday.  Arenado had two hits, and his two-out RBI single for a 5-2 lead capped a two-run seventh inning kept alive on first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s two-out fielding error.  Soroka (4-0) gave up two runs and five hits in a season-long seven innings, with five strikeouts and no walks. He has more wins this season than in the previous five years combined, when he missed extended time with Achilles tendon, arm and shoulder injuries.  Ketel Marte had two hits and scored twice and Corbin Carroll and Jose Fernandez had run-scoring singles for the Diamondbacks, who have won nine of 12.  The D-Backs have won 12 games since March 30. NL West rival San Diego had won 12 in that span entering Friday.  Myles Straw had two hits, including his first homer, and Guerrero had an RBI single for the Blue Jays, who have lost five of six and 11 of 14.  Guerrero singled in a run in the eighth inning to make it 5-3 before Tim Tawa doubled in an insurance run in the Arizona half.    Paul Sewald pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for this seventh save.  Arizona second baseman Ildemaro Vargas singled to extend his season-opening hitting streak to 13 games, the longest such streak in franchise history. He has a 16-game hitting streak dating to last September.  Eric Lauer (1-3) gave up three runs and five hits in three innings, with four strikeouts and one walk. He entered in the second inning after Braydon Fisher pitched a scoreless first.   Straw and Jesus Sanchez singled to put runners on the corners with one out in the fourth before Lenyn Sosa’s sacrifice bunt drove in Straw for a 1-0 lead.  Arenado’s 382-foot homer tied it with two outs in the fourth. Carroll and Fernandez had RBI singles off Lauer in the fifth for a 3-1 lead.   Straw’s homer in the sixth cut the Blue Jays’ deficit to 3-2. Straw entered the game in the bottom of the third to replace center fielder Daulton Varsho, who was removed with left knee discomfort.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Nolan #Arenado #Michael #Soroka #carry #Dbacks #Jays

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