Deadspin | Heat, Hawks clash with major playoff implications Feb 20, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) shoots over Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell (45) in the third quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images The Miami Heat are guaranteed a fourth straight year in the play-in round, but — with one game left in the regular season — there’s still something for Miami to chase. On Sunday night, the Heat (42-39) will host the Atlanta Hawks (46-35). If Miami beats Atlanta and Charlotte loses at the New York Knicks, the Heat will have home-court advantage against the Hornets in a do-or-die play-in game next week. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said he would’ve preferred to have made the playoff round outright, but … “We’re there (in the play-in),” he said. “We still have an opportunity to get home court (against Charlotte). We want to maximize that opportunity.” On Friday, the Heat broke a two-game losing streak with a 140-117 win at Washington. The Heat are just 4-10 over their past 14 games but are 7-1 in games in which they make at least 20 3-pointers. Indeed, Miami shot 20 of 37 from deep on Friday, and the Heat did that despite playing without several key players who are injured: Tyler Herro (right foot), Norman Powell (groin), Davion Mitchell (right shoulder), Dru Smith (right foot), and Nikola Jovic (left ankle). Their status for the game vs. the Hawks is uncertain, but the Heat have solid depth, as they showed on Friday with Simone Fontecchio and Pelle Larsson scoring 24 points each, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. adding 23. Bam Adebayo contributed 20 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. Fontecchio, who has played 70 games this season, got just his ninth start of the campaign on Friday, and he earned praise from Spoelstra. “He has always kept himself ready,” Spoelstra said. “He’s done a lot of things that have made me take notice. He’s one of our better rebounders. He gives us positional size, and he’s ignitable as a shooter. If he sees a couple go down, it can be an avalanche from there.” Meanwhile, the Hawks have clinched their first playoff berth since 2023. Atlanta, the Southeast Division champion, will be seeded either fifth or sixth. The team’s first-round opponent will be either the Cavaliers if Atlanta holds on to the fifth seed, or the Knicks if the Hawks slip to sixth. Atlanta, which has not won a playoff series since 2021, is led by Jalen Johnson, a first-time All-Star this season. He tops the Hawks in scoring (22.5 points per game), rebounds (10.3 per game), and assists (7.9). Johnson had 18 points, nine rebounds, and two assists in just 25 minutes in Atlanta’s 124-102 playoff-clinching win over visiting Cleveland on Friday. Dyson Daniels, CJ McCollum, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are three more Hawks players to watch. Daniels had his second career triple-double on Friday with 13 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. For the season, he averages 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.9 assists and a team-high 2.0 steals. Alexander-Walker is second on the Hawks in scoring (20.8 ppg), and McCollum is third (18.7). McCollum scored a game-high 29 points on Friday. “These guys believed we could do this,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said when asked about making the playoffs. “This year is about building a foundation. That, regardless of what happens going forward, is a win. We’re excited.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Heat #Hawks #clash #major #playoff #implications

Deadspin | Heat, Hawks clash with major playoff implications
Deadspin | Heat, Hawks clash with major playoff implications Feb 20, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) shoots over Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell (45) in the third quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images The Miami Heat are guaranteed a fourth straight year in the play-in round, but — with one game left in the regular season — there’s still something for Miami to chase. On Sunday night, the Heat (42-39) will host the Atlanta Hawks (46-35). If Miami beats Atlanta and Charlotte loses at the New York Knicks, the Heat will have home-court advantage against the Hornets in a do-or-die play-in game next week. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said he would’ve preferred to have made the playoff round outright, but … “We’re there (in the play-in),” he said. “We still have an opportunity to get home court (against Charlotte). We want to maximize that opportunity.” On Friday, the Heat broke a two-game losing streak with a 140-117 win at Washington. The Heat are just 4-10 over their past 14 games but are 7-1 in games in which they make at least 20 3-pointers. Indeed, Miami shot 20 of 37 from deep on Friday, and the Heat did that despite playing without several key players who are injured: Tyler Herro (right foot), Norman Powell (groin), Davion Mitchell (right shoulder), Dru Smith (right foot), and Nikola Jovic (left ankle). Their status for the game vs. the Hawks is uncertain, but the Heat have solid depth, as they showed on Friday with Simone Fontecchio and Pelle Larsson scoring 24 points each, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. adding 23. Bam Adebayo contributed 20 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. Fontecchio, who has played 70 games this season, got just his ninth start of the campaign on Friday, and he earned praise from Spoelstra. “He has always kept himself ready,” Spoelstra said. “He’s done a lot of things that have made me take notice. He’s one of our better rebounders. He gives us positional size, and he’s ignitable as a shooter. If he sees a couple go down, it can be an avalanche from there.” Meanwhile, the Hawks have clinched their first playoff berth since 2023. Atlanta, the Southeast Division champion, will be seeded either fifth or sixth. The team’s first-round opponent will be either the Cavaliers if Atlanta holds on to the fifth seed, or the Knicks if the Hawks slip to sixth. Atlanta, which has not won a playoff series since 2021, is led by Jalen Johnson, a first-time All-Star this season. He tops the Hawks in scoring (22.5 points per game), rebounds (10.3 per game), and assists (7.9). Johnson had 18 points, nine rebounds, and two assists in just 25 minutes in Atlanta’s 124-102 playoff-clinching win over visiting Cleveland on Friday. Dyson Daniels, CJ McCollum, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are three more Hawks players to watch. Daniels had his second career triple-double on Friday with 13 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. For the season, he averages 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.9 assists and a team-high 2.0 steals. Alexander-Walker is second on the Hawks in scoring (20.8 ppg), and McCollum is third (18.7). McCollum scored a game-high 29 points on Friday. “These guys believed we could do this,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said when asked about making the playoffs. “This year is about building a foundation. That, regardless of what happens going forward, is a win. We’re excited.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Heat #Hawks #clash #major #playoff #implicationsFeb 20, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) shoots over Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell (45) in the third quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

The Miami Heat are guaranteed a fourth straight year in the play-in round, but — with one game left in the regular season — there’s still something for Miami to chase.

On Sunday night, the Heat (42-39) will host the Atlanta Hawks (46-35). If Miami beats Atlanta and Charlotte loses at the New York Knicks, the Heat will have home-court advantage against the Hornets in a do-or-die play-in game next week.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said he would’ve preferred to have made the playoff round outright, but …

“We’re there (in the play-in),” he said. “We still have an opportunity to get home court (against Charlotte). We want to maximize that opportunity.”

On Friday, the Heat broke a two-game losing streak with a 140-117 win at Washington. The Heat are just 4-10 over their past 14 games but are 7-1 in games in which they make at least 20 3-pointers.

Indeed, Miami shot 20 of 37 from deep on Friday, and the Heat did that despite playing without several key players who are injured: Tyler Herro (right foot), Norman Powell (groin), Davion Mitchell (right shoulder), Dru Smith (right foot), and Nikola Jovic (left ankle).

Their status for the game vs. the Hawks is uncertain, but the Heat have solid depth, as they showed on Friday with Simone Fontecchio and Pelle Larsson scoring 24 points each, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. adding 23. Bam Adebayo contributed 20 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.

Fontecchio, who has played 70 games this season, got just his ninth start of the campaign on Friday, and he earned praise from Spoelstra.


“He has always kept himself ready,” Spoelstra said. “He’s done a lot of things that have made me take notice. He’s one of our better rebounders. He gives us positional size, and he’s ignitable as a shooter. If he sees a couple go down, it can be an avalanche from there.”

Meanwhile, the Hawks have clinched their first playoff berth since 2023. Atlanta, the Southeast Division champion, will be seeded either fifth or sixth. The team’s first-round opponent will be either the Cavaliers if Atlanta holds on to the fifth seed, or the Knicks if the Hawks slip to sixth.

Atlanta, which has not won a playoff series since 2021, is led by Jalen Johnson, a first-time All-Star this season. He tops the Hawks in scoring (22.5 points per game), rebounds (10.3 per game), and assists (7.9).

Johnson had 18 points, nine rebounds, and two assists in just 25 minutes in Atlanta’s 124-102 playoff-clinching win over visiting Cleveland on Friday.

Dyson Daniels, CJ McCollum, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are three more Hawks players to watch.

Daniels had his second career triple-double on Friday with 13 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. For the season, he averages 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.9 assists and a team-high 2.0 steals.

Alexander-Walker is second on the Hawks in scoring (20.8 ppg), and McCollum is third (18.7). McCollum scored a game-high 29 points on Friday.

“These guys believed we could do this,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said when asked about making the playoffs. “This year is about building a foundation. That, regardless of what happens going forward, is a win. We’re excited.”

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Heat #Hawks #clash #major #playoff #implications

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Feb 20, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) shoots over Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell (45) in the third quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

The Miami Heat are guaranteed a fourth straight year in the play-in round, but — with one game left in the regular season — there’s still something for Miami to chase.

On Sunday night, the Heat (42-39) will host the Atlanta Hawks (46-35). If Miami beats Atlanta and Charlotte loses at the New York Knicks, the Heat will have home-court advantage against the Hornets in a do-or-die play-in game next week.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said he would’ve preferred to have made the playoff round outright, but …

“We’re there (in the play-in),” he said. “We still have an opportunity to get home court (against Charlotte). We want to maximize that opportunity.”

On Friday, the Heat broke a two-game losing streak with a 140-117 win at Washington. The Heat are just 4-10 over their past 14 games but are 7-1 in games in which they make at least 20 3-pointers.

Indeed, Miami shot 20 of 37 from deep on Friday, and the Heat did that despite playing without several key players who are injured: Tyler Herro (right foot), Norman Powell (groin), Davion Mitchell (right shoulder), Dru Smith (right foot), and Nikola Jovic (left ankle).

Their status for the game vs. the Hawks is uncertain, but the Heat have solid depth, as they showed on Friday with Simone Fontecchio and Pelle Larsson scoring 24 points each, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. adding 23. Bam Adebayo contributed 20 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.

Fontecchio, who has played 70 games this season, got just his ninth start of the campaign on Friday, and he earned praise from Spoelstra.

“He has always kept himself ready,” Spoelstra said. “He’s done a lot of things that have made me take notice. He’s one of our better rebounders. He gives us positional size, and he’s ignitable as a shooter. If he sees a couple go down, it can be an avalanche from there.”

Meanwhile, the Hawks have clinched their first playoff berth since 2023. Atlanta, the Southeast Division champion, will be seeded either fifth or sixth. The team’s first-round opponent will be either the Cavaliers if Atlanta holds on to the fifth seed, or the Knicks if the Hawks slip to sixth.

Atlanta, which has not won a playoff series since 2021, is led by Jalen Johnson, a first-time All-Star this season. He tops the Hawks in scoring (22.5 points per game), rebounds (10.3 per game), and assists (7.9).

Johnson had 18 points, nine rebounds, and two assists in just 25 minutes in Atlanta’s 124-102 playoff-clinching win over visiting Cleveland on Friday.

Dyson Daniels, CJ McCollum, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are three more Hawks players to watch.

Daniels had his second career triple-double on Friday with 13 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. For the season, he averages 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.9 assists and a team-high 2.0 steals.

Alexander-Walker is second on the Hawks in scoring (20.8 ppg), and McCollum is third (18.7). McCollum scored a game-high 29 points on Friday.

“These guys believed we could do this,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said when asked about making the playoffs. “This year is about building a foundation. That, regardless of what happens going forward, is a win. We’re excited.”

–Field Level Media

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Deadspin | Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper power Phillies past D-backs <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28707691.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28707691.jpg" alt="MLB: Arizona Diamondbacks at Philadelphia Phillies" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 11, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies infielder Bryce Harper (3) hits a home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the third inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper hit back-to-back home runs to highlight the Philadelphia Phillies’ 4-3 victory over the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday afternoon.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Taijuan Walker (1-2) bounced back after a rough first inning to get the Phillies through five frames. He gave up two runs – both in the first – on four hits and two walks, striking out six to help Philadelphia snap a three-game slide.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>Adrian Del Castillo had three hits and Ketel Marte homered for Arizona, which had won five of its previous six games. Diamondbacks starter Brandon Pfaadt (0-1) gave up four runs – three earned – and five hits over six innings, walking three and striking out six.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>Arizona got off to a great start, as Marte hit Walker’s third pitch of the game over the wall in right-center field for a 1-0 lead.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>Corbin Carroll followed with a walk and advanced on a groundout. The next hitter was Del Castillo, who delivered an RBI single to make it 2-0.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>Philadelphia went down quietly against Pfaadt in the first and second innings before an error by shortstop Geraldo Perdomo led to a four-run rally in the third.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-7"> <p>After Alec Bohm reached on Perdomo’s miscue, Justin Crawford singled and Trea Turner struck out. Pfaadt then tried to get a 1-0 changeup past Schwarber, who launched it into the seats in right field to put the hosts ahead.</p> </section> <section id="section-8"> <p>Two pitches later, Harper sent a fastball into the Phillies’ bullpen in right-center, making it 4-2.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>Schwarber’s fourth home run and Harper’s third of the season proved to be enough support for Walker, who induced a double play to get through the fifth.</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>Tim Mayza, Orion Kerkering and Jose Alvarado combined to get through the sixth and seventh innings.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>Brad Keller ran into some two-out trouble in the eighth, as he allowed a walk and two hits – including Jose Fernandez’s single that sliced Arizona’s deficit to 4-3. However, Keller struck out Nolan Arenado with the tying run on third base to end the inning.</p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>Jhoan Duran had no issues in the ninth, retiring the side in order for his fifth save.</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section></div> #Deadspin #Kyle #Schwarber #Bryce #Harper #power #Phillies #Dbacks

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Deadspin | High scorer Liv McGill transferring from Florida to Oklahoma State Florida guard Liv McGill (23) shoots past Mississippi forward Christeen Iwuala (12) during the first half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Steven C. O’Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, February 26, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun] Former Florida guard Liv McGill, one of the most highly-touted players in the women’s college basketball transfer portal, committed to Oklahoma State on Tuesday. McGill put up 22.5 points, 6.3 assists, 6.1 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game in 31 starts for the Gators in her sophomore season. She played an SEC-best 37.2 minutes per game, also averaging 5.3 turnovers. McGill was a first-team All-SEC selection. In 68 career games (all starts) over two seasons, she has put up 19.2 points, 5.7 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game. CBS Sports rated McGill the No. 2 overall player in the portal, behind only Iowa State star Audi Crooks. ESPN rated McGill No. 4. “Liv is arguably the most exciting player to watch in all of college basketball,” Oklahoma State coach Jacie Hoyt said in a statement. “She has elite quickness and an unbelievable finishing package around the rim. Liv can score at all three levels, but she is so much more. She has great court vision and can deliver a pass on a dime. Her speed and athleticism allow her to jump passing lanes on the other end of the floor. “… She is a leader and I believe she has the talent and heart to take our program to heights it has not reached before.” Oklahoma State went 24-10 last season and lost to eventual champion UCLA in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32. Florida, 18-15 a year ago, did not make the NCAA Tournament in McGill’s two seasons. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #High #scorer #Liv #McGill #transferring #Florida #Oklahoma #StateFlorida guard Liv McGill (23) shoots past Mississippi forward Christeen Iwuala (12) during the first half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Steven C. O’Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, February 26, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Former Florida guard Liv McGill, one of the most highly-touted players in the women’s college basketball transfer portal, committed to Oklahoma State on Tuesday.

McGill put up 22.5 points, 6.3 assists, 6.1 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game in 31 starts for the Gators in her sophomore season. She played an SEC-best 37.2 minutes per game, also averaging 5.3 turnovers.

McGill was a first-team All-SEC selection. In 68 career games (all starts) over two seasons, she has put up 19.2 points, 5.7 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game.


CBS Sports rated McGill the No. 2 overall player in the portal, behind only Iowa State star Audi Crooks. ESPN rated McGill No. 4.

“Liv is arguably the most exciting player to watch in all of college basketball,” Oklahoma State coach Jacie Hoyt said in a statement. “She has elite quickness and an unbelievable finishing package around the rim. Liv can score at all three levels, but she is so much more. She has great court vision and can deliver a pass on a dime. Her speed and athleticism allow her to jump passing lanes on the other end of the floor.

“… She is a leader and I believe she has the talent and heart to take our program to heights it has not reached before.”

Oklahoma State went 24-10 last season and lost to eventual champion UCLA in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32. Florida, 18-15 a year ago, did not make the NCAA Tournament in McGill’s two seasons.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #High #scorer #Liv #McGill #transferring #Florida #Oklahoma #State">Deadspin | High scorer Liv McGill transferring from Florida to Oklahoma State Florida guard Liv McGill (23) shoots past Mississippi forward Christeen Iwuala (12) during the first half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Steven C. O’Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, February 26, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun] Former Florida guard Liv McGill, one of the most highly-touted players in the women’s college basketball transfer portal, committed to Oklahoma State on Tuesday. McGill put up 22.5 points, 6.3 assists, 6.1 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game in 31 starts for the Gators in her sophomore season. She played an SEC-best 37.2 minutes per game, also averaging 5.3 turnovers. McGill was a first-team All-SEC selection. In 68 career games (all starts) over two seasons, she has put up 19.2 points, 5.7 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game. CBS Sports rated McGill the No. 2 overall player in the portal, behind only Iowa State star Audi Crooks. ESPN rated McGill No. 4. “Liv is arguably the most exciting player to watch in all of college basketball,” Oklahoma State coach Jacie Hoyt said in a statement. “She has elite quickness and an unbelievable finishing package around the rim. Liv can score at all three levels, but she is so much more. She has great court vision and can deliver a pass on a dime. Her speed and athleticism allow her to jump passing lanes on the other end of the floor. “… She is a leader and I believe she has the talent and heart to take our program to heights it has not reached before.” Oklahoma State went 24-10 last season and lost to eventual champion UCLA in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32. Florida, 18-15 a year ago, did not make the NCAA Tournament in McGill’s two seasons. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #High #scorer #Liv #McGill #transferring #Florida #Oklahoma #State

Declan Rice left Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta with another injury worry on the eve of its Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Sporting Lisbon after missing the club’s open training session Tuesday.

Rice withdrew from England’s recent international against Japan but returned for Arsenal’s match against Sporting in Lisbon last week. He was also the stand-in captain for the table-topping Gunners’ shock defeat by Bournemouth in the Premier League last weekend.

ALSO READ: UEFA rejects Barcelona handball complaint ahead of Champions League second leg quarterfinal against Atletico Madrid

But the 27-year-old midfielder was not involved at Arsenal’s London Colney training ground on Tuesday, with Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori, also missing the session.

Saka has been sidelined from Arsenal’s last three matches, while captain Odegaard, in and out of the team through injury this season, was not fit enough for Arsenal’s loss against Bournemouth last weekend.

Timber, one of Arsenal’s best players this season, last featured in a 2-0 win against Everton a month ago.

Arsenal heads into Wednesday’s fixture at the Emirates with a slender 1-0 lead from last week’s opening leg against Sporting secured by Kai Havertz’s late goal.

It will be aiming to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat against Bournemouth which allowed Manchester City to cut its advantage at the top of the table to six points. Arsenal travels to the Etihad to face Pep Guardiola’s side on Sunday.

Published on Apr 14, 2026

#UEFA #Champions #League #Rice #misses #training #add #Arsenal #injury #concerns #ahead #Sporting #clash">UEFA Champions League 2025-26: Rice misses training to add to Arsenal injury concerns ahead of Sporting clash Declan Rice left Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta with another injury worry on the eve of its Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Sporting Lisbon after missing the club’s open training session Tuesday.Rice withdrew from England’s recent international against Japan but returned for Arsenal’s match against Sporting in Lisbon last week. He was also the stand-in captain for the table-topping Gunners’ shock defeat by Bournemouth in the Premier League last weekend.ALSO READ: UEFA rejects Barcelona handball complaint ahead of Champions League second leg quarterfinal against Atletico MadridBut the 27-year-old midfielder was not involved at Arsenal’s London Colney training ground on Tuesday, with Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori, also missing the session.Saka has been sidelined from Arsenal’s last three matches, while captain Odegaard, in and out of the team through injury this season, was not fit enough for Arsenal’s loss against Bournemouth last weekend.Timber, one of Arsenal’s best players this season, last featured in a 2-0 win against Everton a month ago.Arsenal heads into Wednesday’s fixture at the Emirates with a slender 1-0 lead from last week’s opening leg against Sporting secured by Kai Havertz’s late goal.It will be aiming to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat against Bournemouth which allowed Manchester City to cut its advantage at the top of the table to six points. Arsenal travels to the Etihad to face Pep Guardiola’s side on Sunday.Published on Apr 14, 2026 #UEFA #Champions #League #Rice #misses #training #add #Arsenal #injury #concerns #ahead #Sporting #clash

UEFA rejects Barcelona handball complaint ahead of Champions League second leg quarterfinal against Atletico Madrid

But the 27-year-old midfielder was not involved at Arsenal’s London Colney training ground on Tuesday, with Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori, also missing the session.

Saka has been sidelined from Arsenal’s last three matches, while captain Odegaard, in and out of the team through injury this season, was not fit enough for Arsenal’s loss against Bournemouth last weekend.

Timber, one of Arsenal’s best players this season, last featured in a 2-0 win against Everton a month ago.

Arsenal heads into Wednesday’s fixture at the Emirates with a slender 1-0 lead from last week’s opening leg against Sporting secured by Kai Havertz’s late goal.

It will be aiming to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat against Bournemouth which allowed Manchester City to cut its advantage at the top of the table to six points. Arsenal travels to the Etihad to face Pep Guardiola’s side on Sunday.

Published on Apr 14, 2026

#UEFA #Champions #League #Rice #misses #training #add #Arsenal #injury #concerns #ahead #Sporting #clash">UEFA Champions League 2025-26: Rice misses training to add to Arsenal injury concerns ahead of Sporting clash

Declan Rice left Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta with another injury worry on the eve of its Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Sporting Lisbon after missing the club’s open training session Tuesday.

Rice withdrew from England’s recent international against Japan but returned for Arsenal’s match against Sporting in Lisbon last week. He was also the stand-in captain for the table-topping Gunners’ shock defeat by Bournemouth in the Premier League last weekend.

ALSO READ: UEFA rejects Barcelona handball complaint ahead of Champions League second leg quarterfinal against Atletico Madrid

But the 27-year-old midfielder was not involved at Arsenal’s London Colney training ground on Tuesday, with Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori, also missing the session.

Saka has been sidelined from Arsenal’s last three matches, while captain Odegaard, in and out of the team through injury this season, was not fit enough for Arsenal’s loss against Bournemouth last weekend.

Timber, one of Arsenal’s best players this season, last featured in a 2-0 win against Everton a month ago.

Arsenal heads into Wednesday’s fixture at the Emirates with a slender 1-0 lead from last week’s opening leg against Sporting secured by Kai Havertz’s late goal.

It will be aiming to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat against Bournemouth which allowed Manchester City to cut its advantage at the top of the table to six points. Arsenal travels to the Etihad to face Pep Guardiola’s side on Sunday.

Published on Apr 14, 2026

#UEFA #Champions #League #Rice #misses #training #add #Arsenal #injury #concerns #ahead #Sporting #clash
Deadspin | Hurricanes complete playoff prep against Islanders Apr 13, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield (5) in action against the Philadelphia Flyers in the third period at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images For most of the past several months, the regular-season finale between the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders looked as if it would be a potential playoff preview. However, while the Hurricanes will be in tune-up mode on Tuesday, the Islanders will be wondering where a previously successful season went wrong as they prepare for an uncertain spring and summer. The Hurricanes and Islanders will close out their regular-season schedules on Tuesday when Carolina faces New York in a battle of Metropolitan Division rivals in Elmont, N.Y. The Hurricanes will be completing a back-to-back road set after falling to the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 in the shootout Monday night. The Islanders were off Monday after their costly late-season skid continued Sunday, when they were eliminated from playoff contention with a 4-1 loss to the visiting Montreal Canadiens. The Islanders (43-33-5, 91 points) needed to win their final two games and have the Flyers lose their final two to have any chance of getting the third and final playoff berth from the division. However, getting eliminated on the ice served as a stark reminder of the scope of the collapse for the Islanders, who were in third place in the Metropolitan for most of the previous four months before going 4-9-0 since March 19. First-year general manager Mathieu Darche fired head coach Patrick Roy on April 5. The Islanders beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3 in Peter DeBoer’s debut on Thursday, but New York then fell 3-0 to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday before being blanked into the third period on Sunday. “I feel for them,” DeBoer said Sunday night. “They put in 81 games here and seven months. So that’s a lot of blood, sweat and work that went into that. And when the lights go out on a season, it’s never easy after you put in that kind of time.” The hard part may be coming for Darche and the Islanders, who found a franchise cornerstone in rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer (23 goals and 59 points). But New York has four defenseman 30 or older, and Darche needs to decide the fate of captain Anders Lee, who is 35 and headed for free agency. The short-term focus is much different for the Hurricanes (52-22-7, 111 points), who won the Metropolitan Division and clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference by collecting a point for the shootout loss on Monday. Carolina will oppose the second wild card — either the Boston Bruins or the Senators — in the first round of the postseason this weekend. “That’s a huge accomplishment,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “It says you had a real good year and you came to play every night. You can’t luck into that.” Carolina is in the playoffs for the eighth straight season, breaking the franchise record set by the then-Hartford Whalers from 1986 through 1992. But the Hurricanes have yet to appear in the Stanley Cup Final during their current run, They reached the Eastern Conference finals in 2019, losing to the Bruins, and fell in the East to the Florida Panthers in both 2023 and 2025. With the playoffs on the horizon, the Hurricanes scratched Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov and Seth Jarvis — their first-, second- and fourth-leading scorers — on Monday along with captain Jordan Staal and top defensemen Shayne Gostisbehere and Jaccob Slavin. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Hurricanes #complete #playoff #prep #IslandersApr 13, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield (5) in action against the Philadelphia Flyers in the third period at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

For most of the past several months, the regular-season finale between the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders looked as if it would be a potential playoff preview.

However, while the Hurricanes will be in tune-up mode on Tuesday, the Islanders will be wondering where a previously successful season went wrong as they prepare for an uncertain spring and summer.

The Hurricanes and Islanders will close out their regular-season schedules on Tuesday when Carolina faces New York in a battle of Metropolitan Division rivals in Elmont, N.Y.

The Hurricanes will be completing a back-to-back road set after falling to the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 in the shootout Monday night. The Islanders were off Monday after their costly late-season skid continued Sunday, when they were eliminated from playoff contention with a 4-1 loss to the visiting Montreal Canadiens.

The Islanders (43-33-5, 91 points) needed to win their final two games and have the Flyers lose their final two to have any chance of getting the third and final playoff berth from the division.

However, getting eliminated on the ice served as a stark reminder of the scope of the collapse for the Islanders, who were in third place in the Metropolitan for most of the previous four months before going 4-9-0 since March 19.

First-year general manager Mathieu Darche fired head coach Patrick Roy on April 5. The Islanders beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3 in Peter DeBoer’s debut on Thursday, but New York then fell 3-0 to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday before being blanked into the third period on Sunday.


“I feel for them,” DeBoer said Sunday night. “They put in 81 games here and seven months. So that’s a lot of blood, sweat and work that went into that. And when the lights go out on a season, it’s never easy after you put in that kind of time.”

The hard part may be coming for Darche and the Islanders, who found a franchise cornerstone in rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer (23 goals and 59 points). But New York has four defenseman 30 or older, and Darche needs to decide the fate of captain Anders Lee, who is 35 and headed for free agency.

The short-term focus is much different for the Hurricanes (52-22-7, 111 points), who won the Metropolitan Division and clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference by collecting a point for the shootout loss on Monday.

Carolina will oppose the second wild card — either the Boston Bruins or the Senators — in the first round of the postseason this weekend.

“That’s a huge accomplishment,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “It says you had a real good year and you came to play every night. You can’t luck into that.”

Carolina is in the playoffs for the eighth straight season, breaking the franchise record set by the then-Hartford Whalers from 1986 through 1992. But the Hurricanes have yet to appear in the Stanley Cup Final during their current run, They reached the Eastern Conference finals in 2019, losing to the Bruins, and fell in the East to the Florida Panthers in both 2023 and 2025.

With the playoffs on the horizon, the Hurricanes scratched Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov and Seth Jarvis — their first-, second- and fourth-leading scorers — on Monday along with captain Jordan Staal and top defensemen Shayne Gostisbehere and Jaccob Slavin.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Hurricanes #complete #playoff #prep #Islanders">Deadspin | Hurricanes complete playoff prep against Islanders Apr 13, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield (5) in action against the Philadelphia Flyers in the third period at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images For most of the past several months, the regular-season finale between the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders looked as if it would be a potential playoff preview. However, while the Hurricanes will be in tune-up mode on Tuesday, the Islanders will be wondering where a previously successful season went wrong as they prepare for an uncertain spring and summer. The Hurricanes and Islanders will close out their regular-season schedules on Tuesday when Carolina faces New York in a battle of Metropolitan Division rivals in Elmont, N.Y. The Hurricanes will be completing a back-to-back road set after falling to the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 in the shootout Monday night. The Islanders were off Monday after their costly late-season skid continued Sunday, when they were eliminated from playoff contention with a 4-1 loss to the visiting Montreal Canadiens. The Islanders (43-33-5, 91 points) needed to win their final two games and have the Flyers lose their final two to have any chance of getting the third and final playoff berth from the division. However, getting eliminated on the ice served as a stark reminder of the scope of the collapse for the Islanders, who were in third place in the Metropolitan for most of the previous four months before going 4-9-0 since March 19. First-year general manager Mathieu Darche fired head coach Patrick Roy on April 5. The Islanders beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3 in Peter DeBoer’s debut on Thursday, but New York then fell 3-0 to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday before being blanked into the third period on Sunday. “I feel for them,” DeBoer said Sunday night. “They put in 81 games here and seven months. So that’s a lot of blood, sweat and work that went into that. And when the lights go out on a season, it’s never easy after you put in that kind of time.” The hard part may be coming for Darche and the Islanders, who found a franchise cornerstone in rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer (23 goals and 59 points). But New York has four defenseman 30 or older, and Darche needs to decide the fate of captain Anders Lee, who is 35 and headed for free agency. The short-term focus is much different for the Hurricanes (52-22-7, 111 points), who won the Metropolitan Division and clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference by collecting a point for the shootout loss on Monday. Carolina will oppose the second wild card — either the Boston Bruins or the Senators — in the first round of the postseason this weekend. “That’s a huge accomplishment,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “It says you had a real good year and you came to play every night. You can’t luck into that.” Carolina is in the playoffs for the eighth straight season, breaking the franchise record set by the then-Hartford Whalers from 1986 through 1992. But the Hurricanes have yet to appear in the Stanley Cup Final during their current run, They reached the Eastern Conference finals in 2019, losing to the Bruins, and fell in the East to the Florida Panthers in both 2023 and 2025. With the playoffs on the horizon, the Hurricanes scratched Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov and Seth Jarvis — their first-, second- and fourth-leading scorers — on Monday along with captain Jordan Staal and top defensemen Shayne Gostisbehere and Jaccob Slavin. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Hurricanes #complete #playoff #prep #Islanders

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