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  • Tonight’s NBA All-Star game has Tyrese Maxey, a new format, and a new TV channel

    Tonight’s NBA All-Star game has Tyrese Maxey, a new format, and a new TV channel

    Give the NBA credit. At least they’re trying.

    For the fourth-straight season, the NBA All-Star Game will have a new format when players take the court Sunday night. This year it’s U.S. players versus the world, a debut perfectly timed with the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

    Like the Olympics, tonight’s All-Star Game will air on NBC, with tipoff at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles expected around 5 p.m. Philly time. The early start time will give NBC plenty to time to air its prime-time Olympics coverage at 8 p.m.

    It’s the first time NBC has aired the All-Star game since 2002, moving over from TNT as part of the league’s 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal that began this season.

    Sixers’ star Tyrese Maxey, fresh off being the first Sixers player to compete in the 3-Point Contest since Kyle Korver in 2005, will make his first-ever All-Star Game start Sunday. He’s the first Sixers guard selected to start an All-Star Game since Hall of Famer Allen Iverson in 2010, and it took an unlikely series of events for Maxey to land in Philly in 2020.

    One notable omission tonight is seven-time All-Star Joel Embiid. Despite a turnaround season, the 2023 MVP didn’t make the cut for this year’s All-Star roster. But at least he’ll have extra time to rest his sore right knee, which forced him out of two consecutive games heading into All-Star weekend.

    “He might not be going to the All-Star Game this weekend, but he’s playing at an All-Star level,” wrote columnist Marcus Hayes.

    Sixers rookie phenom VJ Edgecombe also isn’t playing tonight, but put on a show during the league’s Rising Stars competition Friday night. Edgecombe. who was named the evening’s MVP, won both tournament games for Vince Carter’s team, at one point racking up 10 straight points and sinking a game winner in the two-game mini tournament.

    “I just wanted to go out there and show everyone that I can hoop — regardless of stage,” Edgecombe said.

    Here’s everything you need to know to watch or stream this year’s NBA All-Star game:

    What time does the NBA All-Star Game start?

    The Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., the home of the 2026 NBA All-Star Game.

    The 2026 NBA All-Star Game is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, and will air live on NBC from the Intuit Dome, home of the Los Angeles Clippers.

    The All-Star Game will stream live on Peacock, NBC’s subscription streaming platform. It can also be streamed on all the digital services offering NBC, including Hulu With Live TV, DirecTV Stream, Sling TV, or YouTube TV.

    In and around Philadelphia, you can also stream NBC10 for free with a digital antenna, though signal strength will vary by your location.

    Calling his first-ever All-Star Game is 29-year-old Noah Eagle, already one of NBC’s top announcers and the son of veteran play-by-play announcer Ian Eagle. He’ll be joined on the broadcast by former NBA stars turned broadcasters Carmelo Anthony and Reggie Miller.

    Zora Stephenson and Ashley ShahAhmadi will report courtside.

    The new NBA All-Star Game format, explained

    This year’s All-Star Game would more accurately be described as an All-Star tournament.

    Three different squads — USA Stars, USA Stripes, and World — will face off in a round robin series. Each team will play at least two 12-minute games, and the best two will face off in a finale at 7:10 p.m.

    “One of the things that didn’t happen last year, there was not enough basketball in the All-Star Weekend because of the format,” Sam Flood, NBC’s Sports’ president of production, said in a conference call earlier this week. “This game and this All-Star Sunday will have a full 48 minutes. If we’re lucky, we might get some overtime as well, so fun times await.”

    Here’s the full schedule. If all three teams end up tied 1-1, the tiebreaker will be decided by point differential:

    • Game 1: Stars vs. World, 5 p.m.
    • Game 2: Stripes vs. Game 1 winner, 5:55 p.m.
    • Game 3: Stripes vs. Game 1 loser, 6:25 p.m.
    • Game 4: Championship, 7:10 p.m.

    How many people actually watch the NBA All-Star Game?

    Despite lackluster effort and nonexistent defense, million of fans tune in each year to watch the NBA’s top stars face off. But the audience has steadily declined in recent years, much like everything else on TV.

    Last year’s All-Star game, which aired on TNT, averaged 4.72 million viewers. That’s down from 7.614 million viewers from a decade ago, mirroring a trend across all television as more people turn to streaming services.

    Expect a bump in the ratings this year, thanks to the return to broadcast television. Over 13 million viewers tuned in the last time the All-Star game air on NBC, way back in 2002 in Philadelphia. Doubtful we’ll hit that mark this time around, but anything north of 6 million viewers would be welcome news for the league.

    The decline also isn’t exclusive to the NBA. All-Star games across different leagues have lost their allure as well-paid players don’t have much incentive to play hard and cross-conference play is the norm.

    Even the all-powerful NFL has struggled to bring fans back to the Pro Bowl, which a decade ago regularly averaged over 10 million viewers. 2026’s version of the reimagined flag football contest drew just 2 million fans on ESPN, second-lowest in the game’s history behind 2021’s tape-delayed COVID game (1.9 million).

    NBA All-Star game rosters

    USA Stars

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

    USA Stripes

    • Jaylen Brown, guard, Boston Celtics
    • Jalen Brunson, guard, New York Knicks
    • Kevin Durant, frontcourt, Houston Rockets
    • De’Aaron Fox, guard, San Antonio Spurs (injury replacement for Giannis Antetokounmpo)
    • Brandon Ingram, frontcourt, Toronto Raptors (injury replacement for Steph Curry)
    • LeBron James, frontcourt, Los Angeles Lakers
    • Kawhi Leonard, frontcourt, Los Angeles Clippers
    • Donovan Mitchell, guard, Cleveland Cavaliers
    World
    • Deni Avdija, frontcourt, Portland Trail Blazers
    • Luka Dončić, frontcourt, Los Angeles Lakers
    • Nikola Jokić, frontcourt, Denver Nuggets
    • Jamal Murray, guard, Denver Nuggets
    • Norman Powell, guard, Miami Heat
    • Alperen Senguin, frontcourt, Houston Rockets (injury replacement for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander)
    • Pascal Siakam, frontcourt, Indiana Pacers
    • Karl-Anthony Towns, frontcourt, New York Knicks
    • Victor Wembanyama, frontcourt, San Antonio Spurs

    Sixers NBA standings

    Despite two consecutive losses against the Portland Trail Blazers and New York Knicks, the Sixers entered the All-Star break in sixth-place in the Eastern Conference and solidly in a playoff spot one season removed from missing the postseason entirely.

    Now the key is holding onto that spot with 28 games remaining, Embiid still dealing with a sore knee, and the front office appearing to punt on improving the team at the trade deadline.

    Eastern Conference standings

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    Upcoming Sixers TV schedule

    • Hawks at Sixers: Thursday, Feb. 19, 7 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia, 97.5 The Fanatic)
    • Sixers at Pelicans: Saturday, Feb. 21, 7 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia, 97.5 The Fanatic)
    • Sixers at Timberwolves: Sunday, Feb. 22, 7 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia, 97.5 The Fanatic)
    • Sixers at Pacers: Tuesday, Feb. 24, 7 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia, 97.5 The Fanatic)
    • Heat at Sixers: Thursday, Feb. 26, 7 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia, 97.5 The Fanatic)
    • Sixers at Celtics: Sunday, March 1, 6 p.m. (NBC Sports Philadelphia, 97.5 The Fanatic)
    • Spurs at Sixers: Tuesday, March 3, 8 p.m. (NBC, 97.5 The Fanatic)
  • Penn’s good fortune continues with victory over Ivy foe Cornell, extending winning streak to four

    Penn’s good fortune continues with victory over Ivy foe Cornell, extending winning streak to four

    Fran McCaffery’s Penn team has not lost this month.

    Behind a second-half surge, the Quakers extended their winning streak to four with an 82-76 victory over Cornell at the Palestra on Saturday evening.

    The Quakers win is a boon to the team’s hopes of qualifying for the four-team Ivy League tournament. Penn (13-10, 6-4 Ivy) now holds sole possession of third place and the head-to-head tiebreaker over Cornell (12-11, 5-5).

    TJ Power and Jay Jones led the Quakers with 17 points each. Five Quakers scored in double figures.

    Jake Fiegen led Cornell with 17 points, while Philadelphia native Jacob Beccles added 10 points. The Constitution High alum is the first Public League player to play for an Ivy League school since 1980.

    Career nights for newcomers

    Jones and Lucas Lueth both set new career highs in scoring to help seal the win. Jones, a freshman guard, reached double-figure scoring for the first time in his Penn career. He was instrumental in the game’s closing minutes as Cornell extended the game with fouls. Jones shot 9-of-11 from the line, with seven of those makes coming in the final two minutes.

    “The coaching staff has done a great job, and they give me a bunch of confidence,” Jones said. “[If] you look, you’ll see me look at the coaching staff after I shoot my first [free throw] all the time. I’ve got a lot of trust in them.”

    Lueth went on a 6-0 run by himself in the second half to build the Quakers’ lead from three points to nine with 9 minutes, 35 seconds remaining.

    The sophomore forward, who transferred to Penn from Kirkwood Community College in Iowa, finished with 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting.

    “They’re new to our program,” McCaffery said. “They’re new to our system. But they’re both really smart. They both prioritize winning. They do the things that are necessary for the team to win.”

    Penn’s bench outscored Cornell’s reserves, 30-16. Jones and Lueth combined for 19 points in the second half as the Quakers pulled away.

    “They earned the opportunity to play at crunch time tonight in a very meaningful game,” McCaffery said. ”So, as a coach, you’re proud of that character.”

    Defense clamps down

    Penn had a poor shooting night, hitting 42.6% of its shots from the field and shooting 3-of-20 from three-point range. But the Quakers were able to lean on their defense to contain Cornell. Penn held Cornell to its third-lowest point total of the season. The Big Red shot 47.6% from the field against Penn’s defense and were 6-of-23 from distance.

    Penn guard AJ Levine drives to the basket against Cornell guard Jake Fiegen (left) and guard Cooper Noard during the second half on Saturday.

    Cornell also struggled from the free throw line, making 10-of-21 shots. Penn converted 16 Cornell turnovers into 23 points while allowing nine giveaways of its own.

    “All throughout practice we were talking about heating them up,” Lueth said. “So that’s what we did.”

    Method to the Ivy madness

    After a 76-67 win over Columbia at the Palestra on Friday, the Quakers picked up two Ivy victories in as many days. Penn gained some distance on the rest of the pack in its bid for a league tournament berth. Dartmouth and Princeton, who are tied for fifth place in the Ivy standings, both lost on Saturday. Their losses give Penn a two-game cushion over the Ivy tournament cut line.

    The Quakers are one game behind Harvard for second and two games behind first-place Yale. Penn will travel to face the Bulldogs for its next game on Saturday (2 p.m., ESPN+).

    “We stay pretty consistent in our approach,” McCaffery said. “We don’t look at, ‘OK, we have to win two this weekend.’ We focus on the next game. We did some things well when we played Yale, some things we didn’t do well. So you work on that, you try to get better, and you prepare to win that game.”

    After Yale, Penn’s remaining schedule will include games against Dartmouth and Harvard at the Palestra and a season finale contest at Brown. The Ivy League tournament will begin March 14 at Cornell.

  • Mikaela Shiffrin and Erin Jackson headline Sunday’s Olympic TV schedule

    Mikaela Shiffrin and Erin Jackson headline Sunday’s Olympic TV schedule

    We like to think that big-time athletes are superhuman, and in a lot of ways they are.

    They’re still humans, though, capable of feeling emotions and pressure just like the rest of us.

    It happened to Ilia Malinin in figure skating on Friday. He said point-blank after his falls on the ice that “the pressure of the Olympics really gets you.” And it happened to another American, skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin, in the team event last Tuesday.

    “I didn’t find a comfort level that allows me to produce full speed,” she said after an unusually slow slalom run that left her team off the medal stand.

    But both of those moments were just single points in each athlete’s career — and in these Olympics, too. Malinin helped the U.S. win gold in the team event, and on Sunday Shiffrin gets a second shot in the giant slalom.

    Unfortunately for TV viewers here, the event is early in the morning Philadelphia time. (Alpine skiing events are always held during the day wherever they are.) The first run is at 4 a.m. on USA Network, and the second is at 7:30 a.m. on NBC.

    But as with all the events at these Olympics, you can catch a replay on Peacock whenever you want afterward. There will also be highlights on NBC’s prime time show.

    Elsewhere on Sunday, American speedskater Erin Jackson goes for her second straight gold medal in the women’s 500 meters. You might remember that the Florida native was the U.S. flag bearer in the opening ceremony.

    There might also be a moment of Olympic history on Sunday. Norway’s Johannes Høsflot Klæbo can break the record for the most Winter Games golds won by an individual, in cross-country skiing’s 4×7.5km relay. It’s live at 6 a.m. on USA, and the last bit will be simulcast on NBC when the network comes on air at 7.

    Erin Jackson was a flag bearer for the U.S. at the opening ceremony in Milan.

    NBC will have coverage from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., then it will head to the NBA All-Star Game. The prime time show will start after that.

    How to watch the Olympics on TV and stream online

    NBC’s TV coverage will have live events from noon to 5 p.m. Philadelphia time on weekdays and starting in the mornings on the weekends. There’s a six-hour time difference between Italy and here. The traditional prime-time coverage will have highlights of the day and storytelling features.

    As far as the TV channels, the Olympics are airing on NBC, USA, CNBC, and NBCSN. Spanish coverage can be found on Telemundo and Universo.

    NBCSN is carrying the Gold Zone whip-around show that was so popular during the Summer Olympics in 2024, with hosts including Scott Hanson of NFL RedZone. It used to be just on Peacock, NBC’s online streaming service, but now is on TV, too.

    Norway’s Johannes Høsflot Klæbo can set an Olympic record for the most gold medals won by an individual on Sunday.

    Every event is available to stream live on NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app. You’ll have to log in with your pay-TV provider, whether cable, satellite, or streaming platforms including YouTube TV, FuboTV, and Sling TV.

    On Peacock, the events are on the platform’s premium subscription tier, which starts at $10.99 per month or $109.99 per year.

    Here is the full event schedule for the entire Olympics, and here are live scores and results.

    Sunday’s Olympic TV schedule

    NBC

    7 a.m.: Cross-country skiing – Men’s 4×7.5km relay

    7:30 a.m.: Alpine skiing – Women’s giant slalom final run (LIVE)

    8:30 a.m.: Snowboarding – Mixed team snowboard cross final

    8:45 a.m.: Biathlon – Women’s 10km pursuit

    9:30 a.m.: Bobsled – Women’s monobob first run (tape-delayed)

    10 a.m.: Speedskating – Men’s team pursuit qualifying

    10:30 a.m.: Bobsled – Women’s monobob second run (delayed)

    11 a.m.: Speedskating – Women’s 500m

    11:45 a.m.: Biathlon – Men’s 12.5km pursuit (delayed)

    12:30 p.m.: Freestyle skiing – Men’s dual moguls final (delayed)

    1:15 p.m.: Skeleton – Mixed team final

    1:40 p.m.: Freestyle skiing – Men’s big air qualifying

    3 p.m.: Figure skating – Pairs’ short program

    8 p.m.: Prime time highlights including speedskating, alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, and figure skating

    11:35 p.m: Late night highlights including snowboarding, skeleton, and freestyle skiing.

    USA Network

    4 a.m.: Alpine skiing – Women’s giant slalom first run

    4:40 a.m.: Freestyle skiing – Men’s dual moguls final

    6 a.m.: Cross-country skiing – Men’s 4×7.5km relay

    10:40 a.m.-1 p.m.: Ice hockey – Canada vs. France men

    1:45 p.m.: Figure skating – Pairs’ short program

    3:10 p.m.: Ice hockey – United States vs. Germany men

    CNBC

    6:10 a.m.: Ice hockey – Switzerland vs. Czechia men

    8:30 a.m.: Curling – United States vs. China women

    1:10 p.m.: Ice hockey – Denmark vs. Latvia

  • Union host top soccer academies from Europe and North America at their ‘world-class facility’ in inaugural tournament

    Union host top soccer academies from Europe and North America at their ‘world-class facility’ in inaugural tournament

    The Union had the opportunity to show off the club’s new WSFS Bank Sportsplex facility to teams from a wide range of nations last week, as it hosted the inaugural “Snow Bowl,” a tournament showcasing some of the world’s best youth academies.

    Clubs from across Europe and North America were represented in the tournament, which included divisions for under-15, under-16, and under-18 teams. The tournament drew 10 major soccer clubs, including England’s Manchester United and Newcastle United, and Germany’s Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Mönchengladbach.

    Jon Scheer, the Union’s director of academy and professional development, said the Union’s ability to draw in European clubs of this caliber speaks to the club’s global reputation. .

    “To get Manchester United, PSV, Dortmund, some of the best European clubs, to come, I think it says something about the brand of the Philadelphia Union now,” Scheer said. “Certainly our facility was a big reason why they agreed to come, but also because of the level of competition that we brought in.”

    The Union boasted two teams in the Feb. 14 final of the inaugural Snow Bowl tournament, showcasing some of the top youth academies from around the world at the WSFS Sportsplex.

    The Union also invited the Netherlands’ PSV Eindhoven, Mexico’s Monterrey, Denmark’s Lyngby, Portugal’s Benfica, and Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire academies.

    “We really wanted to target clubs that we felt would bring over academy-level talent that would really push ourselves,” Scheer said. “And they would, in turn, benefit from the opportunity for their players.”

    The Generation Adidas Cup, which started as MLS’s top academy tournament in 2007 and expanded to include clubs from outside MLS in 2014, served as a common meeting place for many of the academies that attended this year’s Snow Bowl in Chester.

    The Union’s U-17 team won the GA Cup in 2023 and 2024. PSV, Monterrey, and Manchester United have also competed in the tournament, hosted in the spring at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

    “Through things like Aspire Conference and through our relationship with U.S. Soccer and success at the GA Cup level and success at the MLS level, I think that’s starting to make our reputation a bit stronger globally,” Scheer said.

    While the Union’s reputation convinced teams to come, the WSFS Bank Sportsplex made hosting the tournament a possibility. Teams competed on the indoor turf field at the facility, which the club opened last July.

    Scheer said the visiting clubs were surprised by the quality of the facility.

    “When they came over here, they said this is truly a world-class facility,” Scheer said. “There’s nothing like this in Europe, from what they’ve talked about.”

    Aloys Wijnker, the academy head at PSV Eindhoven, was particularly impressed with the Union’s campus. Wijnker, who worked for U.S. Soccer from 2016-18 before returning to his native Netherlands, remembered when the club’s first team, second team, and academy were spread apart. Now, the Union host all of their operations on the waterfront in Chester.

    The Union’s under-16 and under-18 academy teams advanced to the finals of the inaugural Snow Bowl tournament.

    “This is amazing,” Wijnker said. “We heard about the dome, but then you see, oh, what kind of dome is it? This is a real building with all the facilities inside, with the gym. I [haven’t seen] everything so far, but it’s impressive.”

    For the Union, hosting the Snow Bowl not only allows academy players to play against high-level talent from Europe and North America, but it also allows the Union’s academy staff to compare notes on development with their counterparts from around the world.

    “We have such a growth mindset and a passion for learning,” Scheer said. “We want to get better. We think we do a good job but we know we can get better. And if we can take one piece of information here or there, selfishly, by interacting with some of the best clubs in the world, we’re certainly going to be able to do that.”

    Wijnker, who served as director of the U.S. Soccer Boys’ Development Academy for three years, said he was impressed with the Union’s focus on developing first-team players from their academy.

    “I think they are on top in the U.S., top three with the academy,” Wijnker said. “They do a big investment with money, but also with resources, with the energy they put in. Also the whole philosophy in the club, not buying expensive players, they’ve really invested in the youth. If you ask me the question, I think that this is what every club should do.”

    Bradley Carnell sees progress from the Union’s newcomers as they settle in at the end of preseason

    The club hopes to make the Snow Bowl an annual tradition. This year’s tournament was sponsored by The SWAG, a no-cost youth soccer organization philanthropically funded by members of the Union’s ownership group, and YSC Academy, the club’s school.

    “We want to do a really good job this year, and hopefully have others, in addition to SWAG and YSC Academy, help sponsor the event,” Scheer said. “I do think it’ll be one of the best developmental opportunities our academy kids could have with the competition they’re facing.”

    The Union’s U-15, U-16 and U-18 teams were unbeaten in the group stage of the tournament, picking up wins over Newcastle’s U-15 squad, Borussia Mönchengladbach’s U-16 team and Benfica’s U-18 team.

    “We are probably further along, not only at the Union, but in our country, than we think we are sometimes, in terms of development and the game of football,” Scheer said. “[Other clubs] are not only commenting on our facility, but they’re commenting on some of the quality of our individual players, our success at the team level. Ultimately, that’s what it’s about.”

    Follow the Inquirer’s complete coverage of Union soccer right here!
  • Tyrese Maxey eager to ‘try again’ after first All-Star three-point contest

    Tyrese Maxey eager to ‘try again’ after first All-Star three-point contest

    INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Minutes after he left the Intuit Dome court Saturday afternoon, Tyrese Maxey rattled off everything he would do differently in the All-Star three-point contest.

    The 76ers’ guard would start on the opposite corner, so he could take his “money ball” rack balls from his right side. He also would squeeze in at least one practice run, which he could not manage this past week between the Sixers’ return home from a five-game Western Conference road trip and another cross-country flight to Los Angeles.

    Maxey’s 17 points were not enough to move on to the final, which the Portland Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard eventually won with a score of 29.

    ‘It was all God’s plan’” How Tyrese Maxey became a beloved star in Philadelphia

    He joked that the fact that he “didn’t even get 20” points will haunt him for the next year. Still, competing in All-Star Saturday’s showcase event was gratifying for Maxey, who has transformed from a player whose three-point shooting was knocked coming out of college to one of the NBA’s most lethal from beyond the arc.

    “I just wanted to see what it was going to be like my first time,” Maxey said. “I’ll definitely come back and try to win it, for sure.”

    Maxey entered the All-Star break shooting 37.9% on 8.8 three-point attempts per game, which is tied for seventh in the NBA. He is proud of the variety of ways he now can get to that shot, by creating off the dribble or shaking free to catch and fire.

    Yet Maxey was not always this feared from deep range. He shot 29.2% from three during his one season at Kentucky, leading to numerous questions from NBA front offices during the pre-draft process. Maxey’s father, Tyrone, recently recalled to The Inquirer a workout when Tyrese made 33 consecutive three-pointers and the unnamed NBA team “still passed on him.”

    “Most [general managers] were like, ‘Man, you play the game with a joy, but you can’t shoot,’” Maxey said. “I’m like, ‘I can shoot.’”

    Tyrese Maxey shoots during the three-point contest at the NBA All-Star Weekend festivities on Saturday.

    The Sixers’ front office, meanwhile, believed in Maxey’s form and “secondary indicators” of NBA shooting success, president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said in 2021. Former coach Doc Rivers often shared publicly that he was regularly bamboozled that Maxey was accurate inside the Sixers’ practice facility, but made only 30.1% of his 1.7 attempts as a rookie.

    However, confidence instilled by the coaching staff encouraged Maxey to launch more. The next two seasons, his percentages catapulted above 40%, while increasing that volume, as his overall offensive responsibilities blossomed.

    Sixers rookie VJ Edgecombe wins Rising Stars MVP, adding another accomplishment in his terrific season

    His percentage dipped to 33.7% during the Sixers’ disastrous 2024-25, primarily due to an injured little finger that prematurely ended his season. His efficiency is back to normal this season, with the freedom from Sixers coach Nick Nurse to take even deeper shots — particularly while in transition.

    This season, Tyrese Maxey has been unafraid to let loose on his three-ball.

    When asked to partake in the All-Star three-point competition as a first-time All-Star two years ago, Maxey turned it down because he was “nervous” and wanted to soak in the full weekend of festivities. This year, it was a no-brainer.

    He said he felt some jitters while being introduced at center court, then anxious while waiting for the five competitors’ trip around the arc before his.

    “I wanted to shoot, man,” Maxey said, before a performance he described as “a little cold.”

    Once eliminated, Maxey watched as Lillard and the Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker put on a show in a scorching 29-27 final. An NBC television camera caught Maxey, hands on his head and mouth agape, as Booker’s potential tying final corner shot bounced off the rim.

    Then Maxey praised Lillard, whom he noticed shooting deep three-pointers while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon when the Sixers visited Portland last week.

    “That was amazing,” Maxey said. “ … He’s a legend in our league. Still hooping. Still playing the right way. Love seeing him out there.”

    Plenty still awaits this weekend for Maxey, who will start for the U.S. “Stars” team in Sunday’s All-Star game (5 p.m., NBC10, Peacock).

    But he is already eager for the 2027 three-point contest.

    “That was really fun,” he said. “I can’t wait to try that again.”

    Follow the Inquirer’s complete coverage of Sixers basketball right here!
  • Villanova wins fifth straight in conference play following a convincing road rout of Creighton

    Villanova wins fifth straight in conference play following a convincing road rout of Creighton

    A double-double performance from Duke Brennan and Villanova now has 20 wins this season.

    The senior forward finished with a team-high 21 points and added 12 rebounds to lead the Wildcats in an 80-69 road defeat of Creighton in Omaha, Neb., on Saturday.

    Brennan collected his 11th double-double of the season, and is now second all-time in program history behind Michael Bradley’s 14 during the 2000-01 season. Villanova (20-5, 11-3 Big East) never trailed, avenging a January loss to the Bluejays (13-12, 7-7).

    “Duke’s been great,” said Villanova head coach Kevin Willard. “You can’t talk enough about Duke. I mean, [he’s] just taking his time, having some big finishes and again the guards [are] finding him.”

    It also marks a five-game win streak for Villanova, which earned its first 20 wins in the first 25 games for the first time since the 2018-19 season.

    Tyler Perkins scored 17 points, marking his ninth consecutive game with double-digits. Perkins also hauled in 11 rebounds in what was his second double-double of the season.

    Perkins is now averaging 17.9 points per game over his last nine games. He is averaging a team-high 13.5 points per contest this season, averaging 44% from the field and 37% on three-pointers.

    Big 5 roundup: Why Kevin Willard doesn’t mind a Villanova shot clock violation, predicting award winners, and more

    “I think [Perkins] had six points off offensive rebounds, big tip backs,” Willard said. “There was one late in the second half that was monstrous as [Creighton was] making a run. They cut [it] to seven, pushed it back up to nine, which was unbelievable. I think he’s starting to really settle into who he is as a player and he keeps getting better.”

    First-half defense smothers Creighton

    Villanova was able to hold Creighton’s offense to 10 points through the first 13 minutes of the game. The Bluejays’ starting lineup had just five points, and Austin Swartz had five points off the bench.

    Villanova took a 25-10 lead over Creighton with seven minutes left in the first half. Creighton was 4-for-18 from the field at that point.

    Villanova also scored 12 points on eight first-half turnovers by the Bluejays.

    I think we started off really good and were just really solid,” Willard said. “I think at our place we got caught up on switches a couple times and they took advantage of it. I thought we were really solid and just guarded our man really well.”

    Creighton finished the first half with 27 points, and its starting lineup had just 13 combined points as the Bluejays shot 34.4% from the field and 27.3% from beyond the arc.

    Plenty of points in the paint

    Villanova’s offense dominated under the basket. It scored 48 of its 80 points inside the paint, 30 of them coming in the first half.

    The Wildcats shot 3-for-11 on three-pointers in the first half and finished the game 6-for-21. Villanova entered the game averaging 27.4 three-point attempts per game. Additionally, the Wildcats attempted 44 two-point field goals, entered the game averaging 31.6 per contest, which ranked 308th in the nation.

    Strong day from the bench

    Villanova had 25 points from its bench, with 13 coming from Devin Askew and 10 from Malachi Palmer, who shot a perfect 3-for-3 from the field and 2-for-2 from beyond the arc.

    Askew has averaged 9.8 points off the bench this season, but has had five double-digit performances through conference play.

    Palmer has recently begun to get more time on the court. He has scored double digits on the bench in three of his last four games, including a career-high 15 points against Seton Hall on Feb. 4.

    Up next

    Villanova stays on the road, traveling to Xavier (13-12, 5-9) on Tuesday (6:30 p.m., FS1). It will be the first time the two teams meet this season. Villanova leads the all-time series, 35-9.

    Follow the Inquirer’s complete coverage of Villanova athletics right here!
  • Temple’s comeback falls short vs. East Carolina for third straight loss

    Temple’s comeback falls short vs. East Carolina for third straight loss

    Temple overcame an 11-point first-half deficit in the first half against East Carolina. Then, the Owls faced another in the fourth quarter.

    Temple attempted a comeback at the Liacouras Center on Saturday, but every time it scored, the Pirates had a response. Temple cut its deficit to four in the final minutes, but East Carolina held the Owls off and handed them a 79-73 loss. It’s their third-straight loss, putting them in danger of missing the American Conference tournament.

    Temple (10-14, 4-8 American) is in ninth place in the conference standings and has six games remaining in the regular season. The top 10 teams qualify for the tournament.

    “It was a tough game,” coach Diane Richardson said. “We are trying to learn how to put four quarters, and [we’ve] got some things to work on. I look at the stat sheet, and we sat back for a bit, then we turned it on. So we’ve got to just be consistent.”

    Statistical leaders

    The Owls focused on attacking the paint early, and Saniyah Craig led the effort.

    The junior forward scored a game-high 20 points and added six rebounds. Sophomore guard Savannah Curry finished with a season-high 18 points on 6-for-8 shooting and a team-best eight rebounds. Temple struggled with turnovers and gave the ball away 24 times. Every Owl who played had at least one turnover.

    Kaylah Turner went from Temple’s top reserve to leading scorer in the American — and she isn’t satisfied

    “I was really just playing my game,” Craig said. “Playing slower because usually when I speed up, I throw the ball over the rim, so I was just playing slower and playing my game.”

    The Pirates (19-7, 11-2) were led by guard Kennedy Fauntleroy and forward Anzhané Hutton, who scored 19 points apiece.

    East Carolina’s Bobbi Smith (14) looks for a shot as Temple’s Saniyah Craig defends on Saturday at the Liacouras Center.

    Too much for a comeback

    Temple shot 69.2% from the field in the first quarter and 50% through 20 minutes, but couldn’t get out of its own way. Temple committed 17 turnovers in the first half, which East Carolina turned into 13 points. The Pirates built an 11-point led midway through the second quarter before Temple found its footing.

    The Owls ended the quarter on an 11-0 run, thanks to strong defense and free-throw shooting. A free throw by Tristen Taylor (10 points, seven assists) sent the game to halftime tied at 36, but Temple failed to carry that momentum into the second half as its offense went cold.

    The teams traded baskets for much of the third frame before the Pirates pushed their lead to 11 in the final minute. Temple spent the fourth quarter searching for a comeback and got within four points multiple times but could not come up with a clutch basket or defensive stop to get over the hump.

    “I need our bench to be more aggressive and give us more,” Richardson said. “Oftentimes, I try to give our starters a little rest, but our bench has really got to step up and fill those gaps so there is not much of a drop off. And that’s on me.”

    Costly turnover

    Temple guard Kaylah Turner (14 points) knocked down two free throws to cut East Carolina’s lead to 75-71 with 32 seconds remaining, then stole the ensuing inbounds pass to give Temple another chance to get within one possession.

    However, Turner moved a little too quickly and lost control of the ball. Pirates guard Jayla Hearp grabbed it, and the Owls were forced to foul. Temple did not get another opportunity as East Carolina made its free throws to secure the win.

    Up next

    The Owls will visit Charlotte (12-13, 6-6) on Tuesday(6:30 p.m., ESPN+).

  • Jesús Luzardo wants to be ‘as elite as possible’ in his ‘sink or swim’ year with the Phillies

    Jesús Luzardo wants to be ‘as elite as possible’ in his ‘sink or swim’ year with the Phillies

    CLEARWATER, Fla. — There’s a belt hanging in Jesús Luzardo’s locker at BayCare Ballpark embroidered with the words “SINK OR SWIM.”

    It’s a motto of the Phillies 28-year-old left-hander, one that is also written on his glove. He adopted it after the 2023 season during his time with the Miami Marlins, and really leaned into it the following year after he suffered a season-ending back injury.

    For him, it embodies how it feels to be a pitcher, alone on the mound.

    “There’s really only one option. It’s either you make it, or you don’t,” Luzardo said. “It’s something I like to live by.”

    The motto remains a guiding light as Luzardo enters a pivotal season, his last one before reaching free agency.

    The Phillies’ rotation, an organizational strength for the past several years, has some question marks in 2026. The Phillies are optimistic about Zack Wheeler’s progress from thoracic surgery, but he is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day. Andrew Painter, a longtime friend of Luzardo’s, has the chance to earn a spot, but he has yet to throw a pitch in a major league game.

    After the free agency departure of fellow lefty Ranger Suárez, Luzardo joins Cristopher Sánchez as two anchors in the Phillies’ rotation to start the season.

    Coming off a career-high 183 ⅔ innings in 2025, Luzardo didn’t change much about his winter training. He prioritized rest and some lower-intensity workouts early in the offseason, but things were mostly business as usual.

    Phillies pitcher Jesus Luzardo says he’s out to perfect his changeup, one of five pitches he employs on the mound.

    “I feel now, just as good, or better than I did last year,” Luzardo said.

    But he did come to camp with a potential new trick up his sleeve. Last season, in his first spring with the Phillies, Luzardo began toying with a sweeper. It ultimately became one of his best weapons, and he threw it 31% of the time. The pitch had a 43.7% whiff rate, and opponents hit just .178 against it.

    This year, instead of adding another pitch to his mix of five, he is focusing on refining his changeup.

    J.T. Realmuto ‘never felt like a Plan B’ for Phillies while continuing fight to boost pay scale for catchers

    “Just kind of trying to fine-tune it, and see if I can maybe get a little more swing-and-miss, or just kind of give guys a different look,” Luzardo said. “… Not that my changeup last year was bad, but it was maybe not elite, and I want to be as elite as possible.”

    The process started about two months ago as a collaborative effort with pitching coach Caleb Cotham and the coaches Luzardo works with at home in South Florida. Luzardo’s changeup was his third-most used pitch in 2025, behind his four-seam and sweeper. He primarily threw it to right-handed batters, and hitters had a .224 batting average against it.

    “He’s always trying to find that edge and the stretch to ‘What’s next? What can I do to get a little better?’” Cotham said. “And I think it’s important. That’s why guys like him stay in pace with the league, because the league’s always getting better. Hitters are always getting better.”

    Phillies pitching coach, Caleb Cotham says Luzardo keeps pace with an ever-changing league because he’s “always trying to find ways to get better.”

    Luzardo said he “didn’t want to give much away” about the new-look pitch, but it does involve a change in grip. The idea is to make the changeup more consistent in how it flies.

    Cotham visited Luzardo once during the offseason, but they mostly communicated via texts and videos. Watching Luzardo in a bullpen session earlier this week, Cotham was impressed with the results.

    Follow the Inquirer’s complete coverage of Phillies baseball right here!

    “It’s as good as I’ve seen it,” Cotham said. “Hitters will be the true test.”

    Luzardo’s commitment to finding ways to reinvent himself as a pitcher reminds Cotham of Wheeler, who added a splitter in 2024 and a sweeper the year before.

    “You have to evolve. You have to keep seeing what you’re capable of,” Cotham said. “That’s the coolest part of being part of his journey, and being his coach, [is] being part of that collaborative process.”

    Rob Thomson has positive things to say about Rule 5 prospect Zach McCambley seen throwing here during spring training pitching workouts on Saturday.

    Extra bases

    Right-hander Zach McCambley, a Phillies Rule 5 pick in the December draft, threw a live batting practice session Saturday. “I like him,” Thomson said of the 26-year-old from the Marlins organization who has been a reliever the past three seasons after being drafted in the third round in 2020. “He can really spin his slider, what you call the sweeper. Really good pitch. There’s some depth there. He’s got a good fastball. It’s going to be mid-90s [mph]. Commands the baseball. It’s a good pickup.” … Catcher René Pinto has reported to camp after being delayed by visa issues in Venezuela.

  • Westtown girls’ and boys’ basketball teams secure a Friends Schools League title

    Westtown girls’ and boys’ basketball teams secure a Friends Schools League title

    After the Westtown boys’ basketball team claimed its first Friends Schools League title since 2022 with a 64-54 win over Academy of the New Church on Friday night, the girls’ team joined the medal ceremony at the center court.

    The Westtown girls had their own hardware to show off for a championship photo op. The Moose hung on for a 53-46 win over Friends’ Central hours earlier in the FSL’s championship doubleheader at La Salle’s Glaser Arena.

    It was the sixth consecutive FSL title for the Westtown girls and the first time the teams had shared the court as champions since 2022.

    “I think the girls and the boys teams have a great bond at Westtown,” said guard Rowan Phillips. “It was good to see us win a championship because [the girls] have been doing this for a minute. So we’re just trying to catch up to them.”

    The Westtown boys and girls basketball teams pose with their championship medals. Westtown won both FSL titles in the same year for the first time since 2022.

    Westtown girls outlast Friends’ Central

    While the final score was closer than the Westtown coaching staff would have liked, the Moose scraped by No. 2 seed Friends’ Central behind Jordyn Palmer’s 19 points.

    “I don’t think there was a lot going well for us,” coach Fran Burbidge said. “But I thought we defended and made some really good things [happen] in the second half. … We kept battling.”

    The Phoenix held a 16-8 lead at the end of the first quarter, but the Moose outscored them, 19-6, in the second to take a five-point halftime lead.

    Friends’ Central whittled Westtown’s advantage to one in the fourth, but the Phoenix could not retake the lead.

    Westtown’s Jordyn Palmer — a basketball phenom and highly sought-after recruit — has untapped potential

    While Palmer’s performance did not match her 34-point output from last year’s title game, the 6-foot-2 forward took command in the final minutes.

    Palmer, a nationally ranked recruit in the class of 2027, scored four of the game’s final five points, including a layup to put the Moose up, 50-46, with less than a minute remaining.

    “I think it was at the three-minute mark, I talked with Jordan,” Burbidge said. “I said, ‘All right, things haven’t gone real well up to this point, but now’s your time. … You up for that?’ She said, ‘Yeah, I got it.’”

    Westtown’s Jordyn Palmer (right) lays up the basketball in the fourth quarter on Friday.

    Westtown’s Jada Lynch scored 12 and Atlee Vanesko, a senior guard who is the No. 74 prospect in ESPN’s rankings and is committed to Ohio State, added nine.

    Ryan Carter led Friends’ Central with 16 points, while Zya Small had 15. Like Palmer (No. 6), Carter (No. 12) and Small (No. 47) are in ESPN’s top 60 prospects for 2027.

    Westtown, which is ranked eighth nationally by Sports Illustrated, is the top seed in the PAISAA state tournament. The Moose will host the winner between Agnes Irwin and Episcopal Academy in the quarterfinals.

    Second-seeded Friends’ Central will play the winner of a first-round matchup between Germantown Academy and Penn Charter in the quarterfinals.

    Westtown boys beat Academy of the New Church

    Phillips’ 20-point performance led Westtown boys to be crowned FSL champions.

    The 6-6 sophomore guard transferred to Westtown after spending his freshman year at Archbishop Wood. The FSL title was the first high school championship of any kind for Phillips, who is a four-star prospect ranked 21st nationally in the class of 2028.

    “It feels great,” Phillips said. “It feels good to get one for the coaching staff and to see all the smiles on the guys’ faces for the first ’ship.”

    Marshall Bailey added 15 points for the Moose. Academy of the New Church’s Ryan Warren led all scorers with 22 points, but his outburst was not enough for the Lions to beat Westtown.

    Westtown School’s Rowan Phillips dunks in the fourth quarter past Academy of the New Church’s Antonio Lozada on Friday.

    Friday night’s title was far from the first for coach Seth Berger, who led Westtown to eight consecutive FSL titles from 2014 to 2022. But he noted that this season’s FSL championship was the first title for every player on his team and three of his assistant coaches.

    “I can’t tell you how ecstatic I am for them to experience what it is to be a Friends League champion,” Berger said. “This is such an incredibly tough league, and ANC is a fantastic, tough, and well-coached team. I’m super happy for everybody, and mostly for the first time champs.”

    Westtown is the top seed in the PAISAA state tournament and will host No. 16 seed Kiski School in the tournament’s opening round.

    Seventh-seeded Academy of the New Church will host No. 10 seed Penn Charter in the first round.

  • Source: Former Phillies OF Nick Castellanos agrees to deal with Padres

    Source: Former Phillies OF Nick Castellanos agrees to deal with Padres

    CLEARWATER, Fla. — Nick Castellanos has a new team.

    Two days after the Phillies released him with one year left on his contract, Castellanos agreed Saturday to join the Padres, a major league source confirmed.

    The Phillies will pay all but the major league minimum ($780,000) portion of his $20 million salary for 2026.

    The Phillies were intent on moving on from Castellanos after he clashed last season with manager Rob Thomson. In response to a report that was about to be published by The Athletic, Castellanos detailed a June 16 incident in which he brought a beer into the dugout in the eighth inning of a game in Miami after Thomson replaced him for defense. Castellanos was benched for the next game.

    A beer in the dugout, a benching, and a rift with his manager: Inside the final Phillies season for Nick Castellanos

    Castellanos, who ranked among the worst defenders in the sport, also lost his everyday role in right field in August and publicly criticized Thomson in September for “questionable” communication.

    “It was just a difficult situation,” Thomson said recently on Phillies Extra, The Inquirer’s baseball podcast. “The thing with Nick, the bottom line is, he wants to play every day. He wants to play every inning, every day, and you can’t fault him for that. I think I respect him a great deal, just for being that guy.”

    Castellanos played literally every day for most of his time with the Phillies after signing a five-year, $100 million contract in 2022. He started 236 consecutive games, including all 162 in 2024. It was the longest streak by a Phillies player since Pete Rose started 350 consecutive games from 1980 to 1983.

    Hayes: Selfish, insubordinate Nick Castellanos is released by Phillies then issues a wild manifesto on Instagram

    A two-time All-Star with 250 career homers, Castellanos batted .260 with 82 homers and a .732 OPS for the Phillies. His OPS+ of 100 indicated league-average production relative to all major league hitters.

    Castellanos reportedly will play first base for the first time in his career for the Padres, who also intend to use him as a designated hitter. He could see time in the outfield, although San Diego is well-stocked with Fernando Tatis Jr. and Ramón Laureano in right and left, respectively, with Jackson Merrill in center field.

    The Phillies play the Padres on May 25-27 in San Diego and June 2-4 at Citizens Bank Park.