Jayson Tatum recorded a double-double on his return from a torn Achilles as the Boston Celtics secured a commanding 120-100 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday.
The five-time All-Star contributed 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in his first NBA appearance in 298 days.
It marked a significant milestone for the 26-year-old forward, who had been sidelined since undergoing surgery to repair a ruptured tendon 10 months ago.
Despite acknowledging he still has a “long way to go” regarding his fitness, Tatum described the comeback as a positive move forward.
Overcoming early anxiety
The return did not begin smoothly for the Celtics talisman, who missed his first six attempts from the field.
Early nerves were evident when he missed a dunk in the second quarter after creating a clear path to the rim.
Tatum admitted feeling anxious and struggling to adjust to the speed of the game after nearly 43 weeks on the sidelines.
“It’s been a long time coming just to get to this point. Nights and days I dreamed about this moment and anticipation, the crowd.”
He noted that the pace of the game initially felt overwhelming.
“I just kind of felt like I was a step off or moving too fast. But the game started to slow down as I just kind of relaxed a little bit.”
Immediate impact on return
A put-back dunk late in the second quarter settled the forward, sparking a run where he converted six of his next 10 shots.
His presence proved decisive for Joe Mazzulla’s side, with the hosts outscoring Dallas by 20 points during his 27 minutes on the court.
Boston dominated the second half, outscoring the Mavericks 62-47 to seal a comfortable win at TD Garden.
Teammate Jaylen Brown praised Tatum’s willingness to return to action ahead of the typical 12-month rehabilitation window.
“I commend him being able to put himself on the line a little bit to come back and be a part of something bigger. I think that is his mentality.”
Managing the recovery process
Tatum expressed relief at simply being able to compete again after the lengthy layoff.
“I really was just kind of grateful. I had a real sense of gratitude of just being back on the floor, playing basketball.”
While the victory marked a successful step in his rehabilitation, the Celtics have not confirmed if the forward will feature in Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
This was his first competitive outing since Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals last season.
The Baltimore Ravens have agreed a deal to acquire defensive end Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for two future first-round draft picks.
Las Vegas will receive first-round selections in 2026 and 2027 as part of the agreement.
Reports in the United States confirmed the deal was finalised on Friday night.
Statement intent from Baltimore
Crosby has established himself as one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers during his tenure in Nevada.
The five-time Pro Bowl selection adds elite disruptive capability to the Ravens’ defensive front.
Securing the defensive end represents a significant ‘all-in’ move by the AFC North franchise as they chase a Super Bowl title.
Rebuild mode for Las Vegas
For the Raiders, trading their franchise cornerstone signals a clear shift towards a long-term rebuilding strategy.
The acquisition of significant draft capital provides the organisation with flexibility to overhaul their roster in coming seasons.
The Colorado Avalanche have strengthened their status as Stanley Cup favourites by re-signing Nazem Kadri during a chaotic final day of the 2026 NHL trade deadline.
After a week of relative quiet, the window closed with a flurry of late activity across the league.
Teams completed 20 trades involving 33 players before the timer expired on Friday.
While some franchises stood still, the Avalanche acted aggressively to secure their postseason ambitions.
Avalanche assemble formidable centre depth
Colorado appear to be the day’s clear winners in terms of roster enhancement.
The franchise secured a reunion with Kadri, a key component of their 2022 championship triumph.
This move complements the earlier acquisition of Nicolas Roy, adding significant strength down the middle.
With Nathan MacKinnon already leading the line, the Denver-based outfit now boasts perhaps the most dangerous group of centres in the NHL.
Kadri and Brock Nelson are expected to split duties across the second and third lines.
This depth allows Roy to anchor the fourth unit, placing the team in a strong position to chase a fourth Stanley Cup.
Should they fall short, the club remains protected as all four forwards are under contract for the 2026-27 campaign.
Foligno brothers reunited in Minnesota
The Minnesota Wild provided the day’s most sentimental narrative by acquiring Nick Foligno.
Chicago sent their captain to the Wild in exchange for future considerations.
The trade unites the veteran forward with his brother, Marcus Foligno, for the remainder of the season.
It allows the former Blackhawks leader to join a squad with legitimate championship aspirations.
Nick Foligno spoke of the unique opportunity to chase silverware alongside his sibling, describing it as a moment their late mother would have cherished.
Player power dictates market movement
A defining trend of the window was the significant influence of trade protection clauses.
Details of potential deals frequently leaked to the media before players had agreed to waive their no-movement rights.
Negotiations involving Colton Parayko and Tyler Myers were among those played out in the public eye.
While most players eventually facilitated the moves, the deadline highlighted the growing leverage athletes hold over roster construction.
Bayern Munich beat Monchengladbach 4-1 to go 14 points clear at top
Bayern Munich have extended their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to 14 points after thrashing Borussia Monchengladbach 4-1 for their fifth consecutive victory.
The result ensures the Bavarian giants continue their relentless march towards another league title.
It was a dominant display that secured a fifth straight win for the league leaders in Germany.
Relentless run of form
Borussia Monchengladbach were unable to contain the hosts’ attacking fluidity throughout the contest.
This victory puts substantial daylight between the table-toppers and the chasing pack in the division.
The result underlines the sheer consistency of the Munich outfit as they look to secure the Bundesliga shield once again.
Championship within reach
While the visitors attempted to gain a foothold, the gap in quality eventually told with a convincing scoreline.
Moving 14 points clear represents a significant step towards securing the championship with games to spare.
The Colorado Avalanche have re-acquired forward Nazem Kadri from the Calgary Flames in a major deal completed minutes before the NHL trade deadline.
Colorado sent a package including a conditional 2028 first-round pick and forward Victor Olofsson to the Flames to secure the return of their former player.
The deal sees the 35-year-old return to Denver, where he played a pivotal role in the franchise’s 2022 Stanley Cup triumph.
Trade details and salary retention
In addition to Olofsson and the future first-rounder, Calgary receive a conditional 2027 second-round pick and center prospect Max Curran.
The Flames will retain 20% of the veteran’s $7m (£5.3m) salary cap hit for the remaining three years of his contract.
Colorado also receive a 2027 fourth-round selection as part of the exchange.
The move signals a clear intent from the Avalanche, who currently sit first overall in the league standings with 91 points.
Cup winner returns to contenders
Kadri has recorded 12 goals and 41 points in 61 games during the current campaign.
The center left Colorado as a free agent following their championship success in 2022, signing a lucrative long-term deal in Alberta.
He remained durable despite the Flames’ slide into a rebuild, appearing in all 82 games for three consecutive seasons.
Last year, the experienced forward registered a career-high 35 goals.
Avalanche go all-in for title
Colorado have aggressively targeted depth down the middle to support superstars Nathan MacKinnon and Brock Nelson.
The acquisition follows the arrival of Nicolas Roy from the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday, which also cost the franchise a first-round pick.
With Kadri expected to slot in as a third-line center, the Avalanche have solidified their roster for a deep postseason run.
Calgary, meanwhile, have secured a significant return of assets to aid their future reconstruction.
Hungarian tennis player Panna Udvardy has revealed she received “disturbing” threats, including a picture of a gun, warning her family would be harmed unless she lost a match.
The world number 95 said the messages arrived via WhatsApp on her personal phone on Thursday night from an unknown number.
Along with images of her family members, the sender claimed to know where her relatives lived and what cars they drove.
Police protection deployed
Following the threats, the Hungarian consulate in Turkey dispatched three police officers to protect the 27-year-old during her WTA 125 quarter-final in Antalya.
Security measures were also implemented at the homes of her parents and grandmother to ensure their safety.
Udvardy eventually lost the match 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 to Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina on Friday.
“The person told me that if I didn’t lose my match today, they would harm members of my family,” Udvardy wrote on Instagram.
“They even sent photos of my family members and a picture of a gun. It was honestly very scary to receive something like this.”
Wider concerns for player safety
The incident comes just days after Italian player Lucrezia Stefanini reported receiving similar threats prior to a qualifying match for Indian Wells.
It is understood the WTA is aware of several players being targeted and is investigating how private contact details have been obtained.
The Budapest-born player confirmed she has filed a formal police report regarding the extortion attempt.
“Even as athletes or public figures, it’s not acceptable to receive threats against our families, especially not on our private phone numbers,” Udvardy added.
“We should not normalise abuse like this in sport. No player should have to deal with something like this.”
Pep Guardiola has admitted Manchester City are “not a complete team” following their draw with Nottingham Forest but insists they remain in the Premier League title race.
The defending champions suffered a significant setback in their pursuit of Arsenal after being held to a 2-2 draw in midweek.
That result leaves the Etihad club trailing the league leaders by seven points.
Despite the gap, the City boss remains confident his side can recover their form as the season approaches its climax.
“Normally we react well,” said Guardiola. “We have the ability to forget quick.”
‘In the process of changes’
While the Spaniard remains optimistic about the immediate future, he conceded the squad is currently in a transitional phase.
“We are not a complete team to compete, that is the reality, we are in the process of many changes,” he explained.
“But if we can learn quicker, still nothing is lost, we can arrive in the last month with the chances.”
Guardiola also offered a strong hint regarding his long-term future at the club.
With speculation surrounding his tenure beyond his current contract, the 53-year-old suggested he is planning for the long haul.
“But I’m pretty sure next season will be better,” he added. “I don’t have doubts about that.”
Fixture congestion concerns
City’s immediate focus shifts to the FA Cup fifth-round tie against Newcastle United on Saturday.
The 20:00 GMT kick-off time has drawn a mixed reaction from the manager due to the proximity of their Champions League fixture against Real Madrid next Wednesday.
While the late start allows for extra recovery following the Nottingham Forest encounter, it significantly shortens preparation time for the trip to Spain.
“Recovery is massively important,” Guardiola stated. “Rest, sleep, food, training, we know how to handle it.”
“Of course when we arrive early at home it’s better than late for the recovery, but it is what it is.”
The Catalan coach noted that while other European leagues often reschedule matches to aid their teams in continental competition, he does not expect similar assistance in England.
He said: “For here in England it is more important what happens in the Carabao Cup than Champions League games for English teams. It’s happened since day one, so it’s no surprise.”
“I don’t ask for anything and if we to play at 8pm, we’re going to play at 8pm.”
“I don’t pay much attention to that. I’m not going to call [anyone]. I could do that but I gave up a long time ago.”
Former 100m world champion Fred Kerley has been banned for two years after a tribunal found he committed three anti-doping whereabouts failures.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) confirmed the sanction on Thursday, stating the American sprinter was found to be “negligent and, to a certain extent, reckless” regarding his obligations.
The 30-year-old’s period of ineligibility will run until 11 August 2027.
Kerley had been provisionally suspended by the AIU in August last year, causing him to miss the World Championships in Tokyo.
Tribunal findings and disqualification
The independent tribunal determined that Kerley recorded three whereabouts failures between 11 May and 6 December 2024.
Under the World Anti-Doping Code, athletes face a ban if they record three missed tests or filing failures within a rolling 12-month period.
Consequently, all competitive results achieved by the Tokyo 2020 silver medallist between 6 December 2024 and 12 August 2025 have been disqualified.
This retrospective action includes the forfeiture of any titles, ranking points, prize money, and prizes won during that timeframe.
The AIU noted that a Disciplinary and Appeals Tribunal did not need to consider a fourth alleged failure on 7 December, as the violation was already established by the previous three instances.
‘Technical issues’ defence
Kerley did not dispute the whereabouts failure recorded on 13 June.
However, the Paris 2024 bronze medallist contested the other instances, attributing a missed test on 11 May to technical issues with the United States Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) app.
He further blamed the Doping Control Officer (DCO) for the missed tests occurring on 6 and 7 December.
Despite these claims, the tribunal ruled against the sprinter, noting that given his experience in the testing pool since 2017, he “should have exercised more care”.
In addition to the ban, the 2022 world champion has been ordered to pay World Athletics £3,000 to cover legal fees and expenses.
Integrity of the sport
Brett Clothier, head of the AIU, emphasised that strict adherence to whereabouts rules is essential for catching sophisticated doping violations.
“Unfortunately, sophisticated doping substances may only be detectable within an athlete’s sample for a few days or even hours after administration.”
Brett Clothier, Head of the AIU
“Anti-doping organisations need to be able to test athletes without notice on the day and hour of our choosing, otherwise anti-doping programmes will not work, and dopers will easily avoid detection.”
Brett Clothier, Head of the AIU
Clothier added that the rules remain fundamental to the integrity of the sport and must be respected by all competitors.
Enhanced Games context
Kerley had previously generated significant attention by becoming the first track athlete and American male to sign up for the controversial Enhanced Games.
That event, which proposes to allow performance-enhancing drugs, has drawn criticism from World Athletics and the International Olympic Committee.
The Texas-born athlete last competed at the Grand Sprint Series in Norwalk, California, in July 2025.
This decision is subject to appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).