Showing posts with label Sport. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sport. Show all posts
Lakers blow out Kings for much-needed refresher

Back-to-backs in the NBA can be tricky.

NY Post Sports LeBron James dunks a basketball during a game between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers.

With fatigue an even more significant factor than usual, it isn't always clear the type of energy or focus a team will come with when playing on consecutive days.

But the Lakers established early on in their 128-104 win over the Kings on Sunday night that they weren't taking the league-worst Kings lightly.

Marcus Smart made one of his signature hustle plays early, diving for a loose ball multiple times on a possession that ended with an Austin Reaves alley-oop to LeBron James to loud cheers from the crowd at Crypto.com Arena to give the Lakers an early 10-2 lead.

"Smart's defense just totally ignited us at different points in the game," coach JJ Redick said. "He ended up with five steals, but he was diving on the floor for loose balls. He's starting transition plays for us. He was another igniter for us."

LeBron James dunks against the Sacramento Kings. NBAE via Getty Images

It wasn't always smooth sailing.

And the Lakers weren't always in control.

But they once again took care of business a little over 24 hours after being the Warriors in San Francisco.

Luka Doncic led the way with 28 points, nine assists and five rebounds. LeBron James finished with 24 points and five assists.

Deandre Ayton made all six of his field goal attempts finishing with 12 points.

Luka Dončić hits a jumper while being defended by Nique Clifford of the Kings. AP

Smart finished with five steals to go with nine points and three assists.

What it means

The Lakers bounced back from their three-game losing streak with back-to-back blowout victories after beating the short-handed Warriors by 28 on Saturday night.

Yes, both were games the Lakers should've won.

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But in the tight race among Nos. 3-7 in the Western Conference standings, winning is all that matters at this point of the season.

The Lakers improved to 36-24, including 23-7 against teams below .500.

Turning point

When Doncic hit a fadeaway 3-point to put the Lakers up 89-65 late in the third quarter after losing control of the ball.

"It was on purpose," Doncic quipped. "I tripped on purpose and it was, how do you say, the And-1 Mixtape, that's what they said on the bench. So, I did it on purpose."

The Kings were feisty in the second quarter, which they won 31-28, and to start the third.

But when Doncic knocked that shot down, it was clear Sunday night was going to go in the Lakers' favor.

MVP: Luka Doncic

When the Lakers needed a spark, their best player provided it.

"Luka did great job of getting us going," Redick said.

Doncic scored or assisted on 16 points for the Lakers during the 21-9 run they went on after the Kings cut their lead to 70-60.

Luka Doncic drives to the basket against the Sacramento Kings. NBAE via Getty Images

And Doncic was directly involved in the Lakers scoring on a few of those plays he didn't score or record an assist, like when Marcus Smart made a corner 3-pointer that Austin Reaves assisted him on to put the Lakers up 74-60 after the Kings trapped Doncic in the pick and roll.

Key stat of game: 18

That was the number of 3s the Lakers made, one night after making a season-high-tying 19 in the win over the Warriors.

Doncic led the team with four, while James, Smart and Luke Kennard each made three apiece.

Up next

The Lakers will face another one of the league's worst teams on Tuesday when they host the Pelicans.

The Pelicans, who are 19-43 on the season, had their four-game winning streak ended by the Clippers on Sunday at Intuit Dome.

Lakers blow out Kings for much-needed refresher

Back-to-backs in the NBA can be tricky. With fatigue an even more significant factor than usual, it isn't ...
Igor Shesterkin's shootout success for Rangers reaching elite levels

After three Penguins failed to score on Igor Shesterkin during the shootout in theRangers victory Saturday, the star Russian netminder's .738 save percentage in the skills competition is the best in franchise history.

NY Post Sports Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Anthony Mantha (39) makes a shot on goal attempt against New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) during a shootout.

Access the Rangers beat like never before

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-timetexting withMollie Walkerabout the inside buzz on the Rangers.

Stopping 62 of the 84 shootout attempts he's faced in his seven-year NHL career, Shesterkin is No. 5 in the league since making his debut during the 2019-20 season.

He trails only Juuse Saros (.806), Elvis Merzlikins (.747), Jordan Binnington (.705) and Jake Oettinger (.739).

"It's comforting, I'm not gonna lie," head coach Mike Sullivan said of having Shesterkin in net for a shootout. "I think he's the best goalie in the game. Just this compete level. He's an elite player, and so it's comforting to have him between the pipes, whether it be in the shootout or anytime, for that matter. He has the ability to change the outcome of a game."

Saturday was Shesterkin's second game back in goal after a 13-game absence due to a lower-body injury.

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Igor Shesterkin makes a save during the Rangers' shootout win Feb. 28. Imagn Images

He has stopped 52 of 57 shots since returning to the crease, bringing his season save percentage to .913.

These are also Shesterkin's first days around the Rangerswithout Artemi Panarin, who has been his teammate in New York since his first recall in January 2020.

"He's one of the best players in the league," Shesterkin said of his compatriot. "Of course, it's pretty tough for us to lose a player of that caliber. I hope he enjoys the trade. We wish him all the best."

Asked how much Shesterkin is going to play over these final 23 games, Sullivan insinuated it would be decided in collaboration with the 30-year-old.

"We'll talk with Shesky, and we'll manage it together," the veteran coach said. "But, obviously, he feels really good right now. He feels strong. He worked hard in the return-to-play process that he went through. But as far as what his workload looks like moving forward, I don't know that I can give you a definitive answer yet. He's going to play, I can tell you that."

The 76.9 faceoff win percentage the Rangers posted in Saturday's win was the club's highest in a game since the NHL began tracking draws in 1997-98.

It is tied for the 10th highest single-game percentage in the league, as well as the highest since the Oilers posted a 79.6 percent mark in March 2024.

The Rangers were off Sunday before facing the Blue Jackets on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.

Igor Shesterkin’s shootout success for Rangers reaching elite levels

After three Penguins failed to score on Igor Shesterkin during the shootout in theRangers victory Saturday, the star Russ...
More Than 100 Reported Killed in Strike on Girls' School in Iran

This picture obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency shows the site of a strike on a girls' school in Minab, in Iran's southern Hormozgan province, on February 28, 2026. The United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, with Israel's public broadcaster reporting that supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been targeted, as the Islamic republic retaliated with barrages of missiles at Gulf states and Israel. Credit - Ali Najafi—ISNA/AFP Getty Images

Time

A strike on a girls' elementary school in the opening salvo of theU.S.-Israeli attack on Iranon Saturday killed more than 100 children, according to Iranian officials and teachers inside the country.

The strike hit the school in Minab, a city in the Hormozgan province of southern Iran, on Saturday morning, the start of the school week inIran, when children were in class.

Shiva Amelirad, a Canada-based representative of the Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers' Trade Associations, a network of teachers' unions in Iran, told TIME that at least 108 children had been killed in the attack, according to information she had received from sources in Minab.

Read More:Did Trump Have the Legal Authority to Strike Iran? An Expert Explains

"Due to the limited capacity of the hospital morgue, refrigerated vehicles have reportedly been used to store the bodies of the victims," she said.

TIME has not been able to independently confirm the casualty figures.

Amelirad said a decision was made to close the school when U.S.-Israeli airstrikes began, "but the time between the announcement of the school's closure and the moment of the explosion was very short, and many families had not yet arrived to pick up their children."

She said that in some cases, multiple children from the same family were killed in the explosion, and that some teachers were killed in the attack.

The U.N. education agency, UNESCO, said in response to the attack that it was "deeply alarmed" by the impact of strikes on educational institutions.

"Initial reports indicate that an attack on a girls' primary school in Minab, southern Iran, has resulted in the deaths of over 100 individuals, including numerous students. The killing of pupils in a place dedicated to learning constitutes a grave violation of the protection afforded to schools under international humanitarian law," the agencysaidin a post on X.

A precise death toll from the strike has been difficult to ascertain, as the number has risen steadily since the incident.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Dr. Esmaeil Baghaei told MSNOW on Sunday that the death toll from the strike was "150 innocent school girls. Some of them are still under the rubble."

The city's prosecutor said the number of people killed in the strike was 165, according to the state-run IRNA news agency on Sunday.

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Hossein Kermanpour, a spokesperson for Iran's health ministry, said Saturday that mostly "young martyrs" were killed at the school. In a post on XSunday, he said the toll from "a single missile strike" had risen to 180.

Videoand photographs of the building in the aftermath of the strike, posted to Telegram, show dozens of people gathered around a partially collapsed building, with black smoke billowing from its windows. The bottom half of the building's exterior is painted blue, with pink flowers and green leaves. Painted beside them is a young boy, reading. Other videos show rescue workers sorting through the rubble and piles of dirty backpacks.

When asked by TIME to comment on the strike, the Department of Defense pointed to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)'s X pages.

Neither account has commented directly on the school strike.

Pentagon spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins said in a statement that the agency "was aware of reports concerning civilian harm resulting from ongoing military operations. We take these reports seriously and are looking into them. The protection of civilians is of utmost importance, and we will continue to take all precautions available to minimize the risk of unintended harm."

The Israeli military said it was not aware of strikes in the area, according to the Associated Press.

According to Amelirad, based on reports from locals in Minab, the school had previously been used as a military facility but was later converted into a school attended by children from a mixture of military and civilian families attracted by lower tuition.

According toFactNameh, an Iran-focused fact-checking site based in Toronto, the school ison the grounds of a basethat is used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, or IRGC. A video verified by the New YorkTimeson Saturday showed a strike hitting that IRGC base.

The strike prompted an angry reaction from some of President Donald Trump's own supporters on Saturday.

"I did not campaign for this. I did not donate money for this. I did not vote for this, in elections or Congress," former Rep. Marjory Taylor Greene, from Georgia,wrote on X Saturdayin response to a video of the aftermath of the strike on the school. "This is not what we thought MAGA was supposed to be."

Nobel prize winner and humanitarian Malala Yousafzai, known for her campaign for girls' education in Pakistan,decried the strikesand the schoolchildren's deaths on social media.

"They were girls who went to school to learn, with hopes and dreams for their future. Today, their lives were brutally cut short," she wrote. "The killing of civilians, especially children, is unconscionable, and I condemn it unequivocally."

—Additional reporting byFatemeh Jamalpour

Contact usatletters@time.com.

More Than 100 Reported Killed in Strike on Girls’ School in Iran

This picture obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency shows the site of a strike on a girls' school in Minab, in Ira...
First look at Big East women's basketball tournament bracket, schedule

The 2026Big East women's basketballtournament bracket is set.

USA TODAY Sports

Eleven teams will vie for the conference title beginning Friday, March 6, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Last year, theConnecticut Huskieswon their 22nd Big East tournament championship. UConn will look to defend its title as the No. 1 seed again this season. The Huskies are led by seniorAzzi Fuddand sophomoreSarah Strong.

The defending national champion Huskies (30-0, 19-0 Big East)are on a 47-game winning streakdating back to last season. They have won 67 consecutive games in the Big East.

Here's the first look at the 2026 tournament bracket:

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2026 Big East women's basketball tournament bracket

When is the Big East women's basketball tournament?

The 2026 Big East women's basketball tournament begins Friday, March 6 and runs through Monday, March 9, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Play begins at 11 a.m. ET for the first round on Friday and noon for the quarterfinals on Saturday.

The semifinals begin at 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. The Big East tournament championship game is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Monday, March 9.

What TV channel is the Big East women's basketball tournament on?

All games can be streamed Peacock.

Big 12 women's basketball tournament schedule

All games at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.All times Eastern.

Friday, March 6

  • Game 1 | No. 8 Georgetown vs. No. 9 Butler | 11 a.m.

  • Game 2 | No. 7 Providence vs. No. 10 DePaul | 1:30 p.m.

  • Game 3 | No. 6 St. John's vs. No. 11 Xavier | 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 7

  • Game 4 | Game 1 winner vs. No. 1 UConn | Noon

  • Game 5 | No. 4 Marquette vs. No. 5 Creighton | 2:30 p.m.

  • Game 6 | Game 2 winner vs. No. 2 Villanova | 7 p.m.

  • Game 7 | Game 3 winner vs No. 3 Seton Hall | 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 8

  • Game 8 | Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner | 2:30 p.m.

  • Game 9 | Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 winner | 5 p.m.

Monday, March 9

  • Championship | Game 8 Winner vs Game 9 Winner | 7 p.m.

Women's college basketball conference tournament dates, schedule

  • Horizon: March 2-10 (Indianapolis)

  • Sun Belt: March 3-9 (Pensacola, Florida)

  • ASUN: March 3-9 (Jacksonville, Florida)

  • OVC: March 4-7 (Evansville, Indiana)

  • ACC: March 4-8 (Duluth, Georgia)

  • A-10: March 4-8 (Henrico, Virginia)

  • Big South: March 4-8 (Johnson City, Tennessee)

  • Big Ten: March 4-8 (Indianapolis)

  • Big 12: March 4-8 (Kansas City)

  • SEC: March 4-8 (Greenville, SC)

  • Summit: March 4-8 (Sioux Falls, South Dakota)

  • MAAC: March 5-9 (Atlantic City, New Jersey)

  • SoCon: March 5-9 (Asheville, North Carolina)

  • WCC: March 5-10 (Las Vegas)

  • America East: March 9-13 (on campus)

  • Big East: March 6-9 (Uncasville, Connecticut)

  • Mountain West: March 7-10 (Las Vegas)

  • Big Sky: March 7-11 (Boise)

  • Patriot: March 7-15 (on campus)

  • Southland: March 9-12 (Lake Charles, Lousiana)

  • SWAC: March 9-14 (Atlanta)

  • NEC: March 9-15 (on campus)

  • American: March 10-14 (Birmingham, Alabama)

  • CUSA: March 10-14 (Huntsville, Alabama)

  • Big West: March 11-14 (Henderson, NV)

  • MAC: March 11-14 (Cleveland)

  • MEAC: March 11-14 (Norfolk, Virginia)

  • WAC: March 11-14 (Las Vegas)

  • CAA: March 11-15 (Washington, D.C.)

  • MVC: March 12-15 (Coralville, Iowa)

  • Ivy: March 13-15 (Ithaca, New York)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:First look at Big East women's basketball tournament bracket, schedule

First look at Big East women's basketball tournament bracket, schedule

The 2026Big East women's basketballtournament bracket is set. Eleven teams will vie for the conference tit...
Ohio State upsets No. 8 Purdue to bolster NCAA tourney hopes

John Mobley Jr. had 21 points to lead four Ohio State players in double digits as the Buckeyes upset No. 8 Purdue 82-74 in Columbus on Sunday.

Field Level Media

Bruce Thornton had 20 points, Amare Bynum 14 and Devin Royal 12 for the Buckeyes, who had lost two straight.

Ohio State (18-11, 10-8 Big Ten) was ahead 67-51 before the Boilermakers pulled to within 69-63 but Bynum drilled a 3-pointer and Royal had a tip-in to make it 74-63 with 1:40 to play. Purdue got no closer than seven.

Braden Smith led Purdue (22-7, 12-6) with 20 points and Trey Kaufman-Renn had 17 of his 19 points in the second half before fouling out with 19 seconds left.

The Buckeyes were desperate for a signature win to boost their chances for an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament with time running out. They improved to 2-7 against ranked foes and 2-10 vs. Quad 1 teams.

Ohio State also moved into an eighth-place tie in the conference with Iowa for the last double-bye into the Big Ten tourney with two games left.

Meanwhile, Purdue missed a chance to tie Illinois for fourth, which earns a triple-bye.

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Smith had seven assists and moved past Long Island University Brooklyn's Jason Brickman (1,007 from 2010-14) for fourth on the NCAA all-time list. Next up is 1,030 for North Carolina's Ed Cota (1996-2000).

The Buckeyes overcame an early seven-point deficit to take a 36-31 halftime lead with Mobley scoring 11 and Bynum 10. Thornton, Ohio State's scoring leader (20.0), bounced back from a poor outing in the 74-57 loss to Iowa on Wednesday when he was scoreless the first 27 minutes.

He was 3 of 4 from the floor and had seven points in the first 20 minutes.

Smith scored 11 in the first half for Purdue, which made 1 of 2 foul shots while the Buckeyes were 8 of 11.

The Boilermakers led 16-9 before the Buckeyes tied it at 19 then took the lead on a jumper by Mobley at the 7:39 mark and didn't trail the rest of the way.

Ohio State center Christoph Tilly returned after missing a game because of an ankle injury. He had seven points and five rebounds.

--Field Level Media

Ohio State upsets No. 8 Purdue to bolster NCAA tourney hopes

John Mobley Jr. had 21 points to lead four Ohio State players in double digits as the Buckeyes upset No. 8 Purdue 82-7...
War widens to include Iranian-backed militias as Israeli and American planes pound Iran

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran and Iranian-backed militias fired missiles at Israel and Arab states, apparently hitting the U.S. Embassy compound in Kuwait, whileIsrael and the United States pounded targets in Iranas the war expanded on Monday with statements of defiance and increasing casualties.

Associated Press Iraqi Shiites hold pictures of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed by a U.S. airstrike in Tehran, during a symbolic funeral, in Najaf, Iraq, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil) This image provided by U.S. Central Command shows a Navy sailor observing flight operations aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72)) in support of Operation Epic Fury, on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (U.S. Navy via AP) A man takes pictures of the damage in an apartment building after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, Beirut's southern suburb, Lebanon, Monday, March 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) In this photo taken with a slow shutter speed, a Middle East Airlines plane flies over Beirut as smoke rises from Israeli airstrikes on Dahiyeh in Beirut's southern suburbs, early Monday, March 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) This image provided by U.S. Central Command shows a F/A-18F Super Hornet preparing to make an arrested landing on the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72)) in support of Operation Epic Fury, on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (U.S. Navy via AP)

APTOPIX Iraq Iran US Israel

Fire and smoke rose from inside the embassy compound in Kuwait City and an alarm wailed after the Iranian attack, which came not long after the U.S. issued a warning to Americans there to take cover and for others to stay away. There were no immediate reports on damage or casualties.

Meantime, as the American and Israeli airstrikes continued, top Iranian security official Ali Larijani vowed on X that "we will not negotiate with the United States."

In Iraq, a pro-Iranian militia claimed responsibility for a drone attack targeting U.S. troops at the Baghdad airport, the day after it said it fired at a U.S. base in the city of Irbil in the north, and Cyprus said a drone attack targeted a British base on the Mediterranean island nation.

Israel and the U.S. bombed Iranian missile sites and targeted its navy, claiming to have destroyed its headquarters and multiple warships.

Hezbollah fires on Israel, prompting massive response

As the attacks on Iran continued, Hezbollah said it fired missiles from Lebanon into Israel early Monday in response to the killing ofIranian Supreme Leader Ali Khameneiand "repeated Israeli aggressions." There were no reports of injuries or damage, and Israel said that it had intercepted one projectile while several fell in open areas.

Israel retaliated with strikes on Lebanon, killing at least 31 people and wounding 149 others, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. About two thirds of the dead were in the country's south.

Lebanon's government said it was holding an emergency meeting after Hezbollah's attack on Israel triggered the Israeli airstrikes.

Iran has been firing missiles at Israel and Arab states in a counteroffensive since the joint America-Israeli attack Saturday that killedKhameneiand many top Iranian officials.

Casualties rise as attacks spread across the region

Gulf Arab states have warned that they could retaliate against Iran after strikes that hit key sites and killed at least five civilians, and U.S. PresidentDonald Trumppromised Washington would "avenge" the deaths of three American troops who were killed in Kuwait, while predicting more casualties.

"Sadly, there will likely be more before it ends," Trump said. "That's the way it is."

Trump has urged Iranians to "take over" their government and, while he has also signaled he would be open to dialogue with new leadership there following the death of Khamenei, suggested Sunday there was no end in sight to the military operations.

"Combat operations continue at this time in full-force, and they will continue until all of our objectives are achieved," he said in a video message. "We have very strong objectives," he added, without elaborating.

The U.S. military saidB-2 stealth bombersstruck Iran's ballistic missile facilities with 2,000-pound bombs. Trump said on social media that nine Iranian warships had been sunk and that the Iranian navy's headquarters had been "largely destroyed."

Others have mostly stayed out of the war and pressed for diplomacy. But in an indication that the conflict could draw in other nations, Britain, France and Germany said Sunday they were ready to work with the U.S. to help stop Iran's attacks.

Early Monday, Cyprus said an uncrewed drone "caused limited damage" when it hit a British air base on the southern coast. Further details were not immediately available, but it came after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the U.K. would help the U.S. in the war against Iran.

The weekend attacks were the second time in eight months that the U.S. and Israel had combined against Iran, in a startling show of military might for an American president elected on an "America First" platform andpledged to keep outof "forever wars."

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In the 12-day war last June, Israeli and American strikesgreatly weakenedIran's air defenses, military leadership and nuclear program. But the killing of Khamenei, who ruled Iran for more than three decades, creates a leadership vacuum, increasing the risk of regional instability.

Iranian proxies join the fray

Hezbollah's launch of missiles at Israel was the first time in more than a year that the militant group has claimed an attack.

Iran's proxies were a chief concern for American and Israeli officials before they suspended negotiations with Iran last week and moved ahead with strikes on Iran.

Israel said the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group had "joined the campaign" alongside Iran as it retaliated with strikes on Beirut, Lebanon's capital.

Associated Press journalists in Beirut were jolted awake by a series of loud explosions that shook buildings and caused windows to shatter. Warplanes could be heard flying low overhead.

"The strikes continue," said Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo, head of Israel's Northern Command. "Their intensity will increase."

The Iraqi Shiite militia Saraya Awliya al-Dam claimed a drone attack Monday targeting U.S. troops at the airport in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, further widening the retaliation over the killing of Khamenei. It had claimed a drone attack on Sunday against a U.S. air base in Irbil, in Iraq's north.

The group is one of a number of Shiite militias operating in Iraq. The U.S. and Iraq did not immediately comment on the claims.

In the Persian Gulf, Iran's retaliatory strikes pushed the conflict into cities that have long marketed themselves as regional safe havens. Three people were reported killed in the United Arab Emirates and one each in Kuwait and Bahrain.

In the United Arab Emirates, authorities said most Iranian missiles and drones were intercepted. But some either got through or fell as debris, causing the deaths and significant damage. Bahrain and Kuwait said Iranian strikes in both countries hit civilian targets outside the U.S. bases where Iran had pledged to retaliate.

With hundreds already dead, WHO calls for protection of civilians

In Iran, more than 200 people have been killed since the start of the strikes, according to officials.

Tehran's streets are largely deserted as people have been sheltering during airstrikes, witnesses told The Associated Press, speaking anonymously for fear of retribution.The paramilitary Basij, which has played a central role in crushing protests, set up checkpoints across the city, they said.

In Israel, rescue services have confirmed several locations have been hit by Iranian missiles, includingJerusalemand a synagogue in Beit Shemesh, where nine people were killed and 28 wounded, bringing the overall death toll in the country to 11.

The World Health Organization called Monday for sparing civilians and healthcare facilities in the Middle East amid the escalating conflict.

"The protection of civilians and health care must be absolute," Hanan Balkhy, regional dietitian at WHO wrote on social media. "All parties must … ensure medical facilities remain protected."

Rising reported from Bangkok and Magdy from Cairo. Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut contributed to this report.

War widens to include Iranian-backed militias as Israeli and American planes pound Iran

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran and Iranian-backed militias fired missiles at Israel and Arab states, apparently ...
The Latest: Iranian-backed militias join fight as war on Iran widens

Iran fired missiles at Israel and Arab states Monday and the war expanded to include militias Tehran backs in the Middle East with an attack by Hezbollah on Israel, which struck back against the group in Lebanon and with the United States pounded targets in Iran.

Associated Press A black plume of smoke rises from a warehouse at the industrial area of Sharjah City in the United Arab Emirates following reports of Iranian strikes in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri) People watch from a rooftop as a plume of smoke rises after a strike in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) This image provided by U.S. Central Command shows a F/A-18E Super Hornet makes an arrested landing on the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) after a mission in support of Operation Epic Fury, on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (U.S. Navy via AP) Smoke rises up after a strike in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) In this satellite image provided by Vantor, damaged buildings are seen in the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's official residence in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (Satellite image ©2026 Vantor via AP)

APTOPIX Emirates Iran US Israel

As the American and Israeli airstrikes kept hitting the country, top Iranian security official Ali Larijani said on X: "We will not negotiate with the United States."

Trump, who a day earlier had encouraged Iranians to "take over" their government, signaled Sunday that he was open to dialogue with Iran's new leadership.

Meanwhile, Iran's foreign minister suggested earlier that military units were acting independently from any central government control after being pressed about attacks on Gulf Arab nations that have served as intermediaries for Tehran in the past.

More than 200 people have been killed since the start of the strikes thatkilledIran's Supreme LeaderAyatollah Ali Khameneiand other senior leaders, Iranian leaders have said.

Here is the latest:

Where the US Embassy in Kuwait is located

Like some other U.S. embassies in the Middle East, the outpost in Kuwait is a large, walled compound consisting of multiple buildings and recreational facilities.

It is located near other embassies and residential areas to the south of central Kuwait City.

The ruling emir's Bayan Palace is not far away.

In December 1983, a truck packed with explosives heavily damaged parts of the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait when it drove through a gate and detonated.

The bombing was part of a series of attacks later blamed on Iranian-backed militant groups.

Fire and smoke rise from inside US Embassy compound in Kuwait

Fire and smoke rose from inside the U.S. Embassy compound in Kuwait after an Iranian attack on the small Mideast nation on Monday.

Video obtained by The Associated Press showed the smoke with an alarm wailing.

The United States had earlier issued an urgent warning to Americans there to take cover and remain indoors.

It said: "Do not come to the Embassy," without elaborating.

Qatar Airways flights remain suspended

Qatar Airways said its flights remain suspended, with its next update planned for Tuesday morning.

Iran state media shows footage of damage at Tehran hospital

Iranian state media published footage showing damage at the Gandhi Hospital in Tehran.

Several loud explosions heard in Irbil, the capital of northern Iraq's Kurdish region

Associated Press journalists heard several loud explosions Monday morning in Irbil, the capital city of Iraq's semiautonomous region of Kurdistan.

WHO calls for protection of civilians and health care facilities

The World Health Organization called for the sparing of civilians and health care facilities in the Middle East amid a regional conflict triggered by Israeli-US strikes on Iran over the weekend.

"The protection of civilians and health care must be absolute," Hanan Balkhy, regional dietitian at WHO wrote on social media.

"All parties must … ensure medical facilities remain protected."

Lebanese government holds emergency meeting

Lebanon's government is holding an emergency meeting after Hezbollah's attack on Israel triggered Israeli airstrikes in different parts of the country.

The meeting started Monday morning and is being attended by the army chief, Gen. Rudolph Haikal.

The state-run National News Agency reported that the Cabinet will discuss the volatile situation and the measures it plans to take.

Smoke seen over Kuwaiti neighborhood home to the US Embassy

A witness said he saw smoke over a Kuwait neighborhood home to the U.S. Embassy as Americans had been urged to stay away.

Ayman Moawad, an Egyptian worker living near the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait, told The Associated Press that he saw smoke over the area.

However, he didn't know if it was specifically the embassy hit in an ongoing Iranian attack targeting the small Mideast nation.

The U.S. earlier issued an urgent warning to Americans there to take cover and remain indoors.

It said: "Do not come to the Embassy," without elaborating.

Strike hits Iranian state TV, witnesses say

Strikes across Iran continued into Monday, with one apparently taking Iranian state television off air.

Witnesses said an attack in northern Tehran's Niavaran neighborhood struck one of the transmitters used for Iranian state TV.

Since then, its satellite signals have dropped.

State media had said hospitals and residential areas had been hit in strikes by the Americans and Israelis.

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Iran has not offered any details on its materiel losses.

UAE closes stock exchanges

The United Arab Emirates is shutting the country's main stock exchanges for the start of the trading week as the regional war intensifies.

The country's Capital Market Authority said the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and Dubai Financial Market would be closed Monday and Tuesday.

It says it will closely monitor the regional situation and take any further steps as necessary.

Another market, the Nasdaq Dubai, also said it was halting trading both days.

Dubai is the Gulf's main business hub, though the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi is also an important regional financial center and home to some of the world's biggest sovereign wealth funds.

The benchmark index for the Saudi Exchange, the region's largest stock market, fell 2.2% on Sunday.

US issues urgent warning to Americans in Kuwait

As Kuwait faced an ongoing attack, the U.S. issued an urgent warning to Americans there to take cover and remain indoors.

It said: "Do not come to the Embassy," without elaborating.

Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon kill at least 31 people

Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon after Hezbollah attacked it have killed at least 31 people, Lebanon's Health Ministry said Monday.

The Hezbollah attack and the Israeli retaliatory strikes expand the ongoing war gripping the Mideast after the U.S. and Israel launched an airstrike campaign targeting Iran.

The Health Ministry said that the strikes also wounded 149 people.

It said about two-thirds of those killed were in southern Lebanon.

Cyprus president says drone caused 'minor material damage'

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides said a Shaheed-type drone caused "minor material damage" to military installations inside the U.K.'s RAF Akrotiri air base on the island's southern coast.

Christodoulides said in a brief national address that the drone struck just past midnight Monday.

He said all relevant authorities have been put on alert and that he has called a meeting of the country's national security council to take stock of the situation.

He added that he's in contact with other European leaders.

"I want to be clear: our homeland is not participating in any way, nor is its intention to take part in any military operation," Christodoulides said in his address.

He said Cyprus remains focused on the humanitarian role that it plays in the region and that it seeks to be "part of the solution and not the problem," adding that his primary concern remains the safety and security of the country and its people.

Airstrikes reported in Iran

Overnight, airstrikes were reported across Iran.

Elsewhere, explosions were heard in Dubai on Monday.

In Bahrain, the Interior Ministry said sirens sounded across the country as it urged residents to "head to the nearest safe place."

And in Kuwait, authorities said debris fell on its Ahmadi oil refinery, slightly injuring two workers there.

The state-run KUNA news agency said earlier that Kuwait's forces had thwarted a drone attack early Monday.

Top Iranian security official says Iran 'will not negotiate' with US

A top Iranian security official on Monday said: "We will not negotiate with the United States."

Ali Larijani made the statement on X, responding to a report from Qatar's Al Jazeera news network.

The comment comes as an American and Israeli airstrike campaign continues to target Iran.

Iran and its militia allies have expanded their attacks over the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Pentagon to brief media on Iran strikes

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are planning to hold a press conference Monday morning about the military operation against Iran.

The Pentagon announced the 8 a.m. EST media briefing on social media Sunday night.

On Tuesday, Hegseth and Caine will join U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe in briefing the full membership of Congress on the strikes, the White House said.

Rubio also was slated to brief Hill leadership Monday.

Hezbollah attacks on Israel 'expose our country to risks,' Lebanon's president says

In a statement Monday, President Joseph Aoun said Hezbollah's rocket launches from Lebanon "target all the efforts and endeavors exerted by the Lebanese state to keep Lebanon away from the dangerous military confrontations taking place in the region."

He added that while Israeli strikes on Lebanon are condemned, "persisting in using Lebanon once again as a platform for proxy wars in which we have no involvement will expose our country to risks once more."

The Latest: Iranian-backed militias join fight as war on Iran widens

Iran fired missiles at Israel and Arab states Monday and the war expanded to include militias Tehran backs in the Middle ...
Gauthier scores 2 goals and Ducks edge Flames 3-2 in shootout for 8th straight home win

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Cutter Gauthier scored twice in regulation, Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish both converted in the shootout, and the Anaheim Ducks beat the Calgary Flames 3-2 on Sunday.

Associated Press Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson, above scores past Calgary Flames goaltender Devin Cooley during a shootout in an NHL hockey game Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) Anaheim Ducks left wing Cutter Gauthier celebrates his goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri tries to shoot as Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal (1) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) Anaheim Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville walks onto the ice to be honored for his 1,000th career coaching victory before an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) Calgary Flames center Yegor Sharangovich, center, celebrates his goal with teammates center Mikael Backlund (11) and defenseman Kevin Bahl, right, during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Flames Ducks Hockey

Lukas Dostal made 32 saves and denied Matvei Gridin on the final shot of the tiebreaker to seal Anaheim's eighth straight win at home. The Ducks improved to 14-3 in games that have gone to overtime.

McTavish slid the puck through Devin Cooley's legs for the shootout winner. Joel Farabee and Yegor Sharangovich scored for the Flames in regulation, and Cooley stopped 34 shots.

Gauthier tied it 2-all with 9:19 left in the third period when he rifled a shot from the right circle past Cooley's left skate for his team-leading 28th goal. Beckett Sennecke and Jackson LaCombe assisted.

Calgary forward Morgan Frost took an interference penalty with 24.6 seconds remaining in overtime, but the Ducks were unable to score with a brief 4-on-3 advantage.

Anaheim tied it at 1 with 8:46 left in the second on a trick shot of sorts by Gauthier, who corralled his own rebound behind the Calgary net and flicked a shot off the back of Cooley's left shoulder. The puck popped into the air, came down, caromed off Cooley's back and in.

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But the Flames went ahead with 3:50 to go in the period when Sharangovich took a pass from Kevin Bahl and snapped a shot from the top of the left circle over Dostal's blocker for a power-play goal.

Calgary took a 1-0 lead at 9:41 of the first on Farabee's backhand tip-in from the front of the crease. Ryan Lomberg assisted with a precision pass from the top of the left circle.

Anaheim coach Joel Quenneville, who last week joined Scotty Bowman as the only NHL coaches to win 1,000 games, was honored during a pregame ceremony.

Up next

Ducks: Host the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night.

Flames: Host the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night.

AP NHL:https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Gauthier scores 2 goals and Ducks edge Flames 3-2 in shootout for 8th straight home win

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Cutter Gauthier scored twice in regulation, Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish both converted in the ...
Rev. Jesse Jackson returns home to South Carolina to lie in state

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — After a long career of fighting for civil rights, the Rev.Jesse Jackson Sr.is visiting his home for one last time tolie in stateat the South Carolina capitol on Monday.

Associated Press FILE - Jesse Jackson is joined by his daughter, Santita, and son Jonathan, far right, and unidentified youngster at the Los Angeles Hilton Hotel, June 8, 1988 after falling in defeat to Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis in the California Democratic primary. (AP Photo/John Duricka, File) The casket of the Rev. Jesse Jackson arrives for public visitation at Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters in Chicago, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Obit Jesse Jackson

The final full honors from the state where he was born is a far cry from his childhood in segregated Greenville, where in 1960 he couldn't go inside the local library's much better funded whites-only branch to check out a book he needed.

Jackson led seven Black high school students into that segregated branch, where they sat down and read books and magazines until they were arrested. The branches closed, then quietly reopened for all.

With that action, Jackson launched his career — and crusade — fighting for equality for all. He would catch theattention of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.and join the voting rights march King led from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.

Jacksondied Feb. 17at age 84 after battling arare neurological disorderthat affected his mobility and ability to speak in his later years.

The South Carolina services are part oftwo weeks of events. It began with Jackson's bodylying in reposeand the public invited last week to his Rainbow PUSH Coalition's Chicago headquarters.

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After South Carolina, Jackson will be returned to Chicago for a large celebration of life gathering at a megachurch and the final homegoing services at the headquarters of Rainbow PUSH. Plans for a service in Washington, D.C., to honor him have been postponed until a later date.

Nationally, Jackson advocated for the poor and underrepresented for voting rights, job opportunities, education and health care. He scored diplomatic victories with world leaders.

Trough his Rainbow PUSH Coalition, he channeled cries for Black pride and self-determination into corporate boardrooms, pressuring executives to make America a more open and equitable society. He stepped forward as the Civil Rights Movement's torchbearer after King's assassination, and would run for theDemocratic presidential nominationin 1984 and 1988.

Jackson continued to be active in his home state, pushing in 2003 for Greenville County to honor King by matching the federal holiday in his honor and in 2015 by advocating for removing the Confederate flag from South Carolina Statehouse grounds after nine Black worshipers were killed in a racist shooting at a Charleston church.

Jackson is just the second Black man to lie in state at the South Carolina capitol. State Sen. Clementa Pinckneywas honoredin 2015 after he was shot and killed in the Charleston church shooting.

Associated Press writer Sophia Tareen in Chicago contributed to this report.

Rev. Jesse Jackson returns home to South Carolina to lie in state

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — After a long career of fighting for civil rights, the Rev.Jesse Jackson Sr.is visiting his home for...
Blow after blow to the power of Iran and its proxy militias set the stage for US-Israel attacks

As Israel unleashed a sweeping military response to the brutal Oct. 7, 2023, assault by Hamas, it aimedpunch after punch at the power of Iran, the militant group's longtime sponsor, and its other proxies and allies in the region.

Associated Press A Hezbollah supporter holds up a portrait of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a gathering in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, March 1, 2026. The Arabic words on the portrait read: Hezbollah supporters gather to mourn the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the southern Suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) Hezbollah supporters shout slogans as they gather to mourn the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the southern Suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Lebanon Iran US Israel

The result has been a rapid and systematic degradation of Iran's clout across the Middle East over the past 2½ years, a seismic change that led directly tothis weekend's devastating attacks on Iranby the United States and Israel.

"Certainly the Oct. 7 events were a turning point in this long conflict between Iran and Israel," said Mehrzad Boroujerdi, an expert on Iranian politics at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. "I think it provided Israel with the argument or justification to deliver a strong blow."

The most devastating hit so far came this weekend when PresidentDonald Trumpand Israeli leaders launched a wave of attacks on Iran,killing Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khameneiand inflicting widespread destruction. But the war, while still in its early stages, is part of a much longer continuum of events that have severely weakened Iran, Hezbollah and other proxy militias, and upended political balance in the region.

"It's a very bloody, a very violent but transformative moment that the Middle East is going through," said Renad Mansour, a senior research fellow focused on the Middle East at Chatham House, a British think tank. "We don't know where this will end up."

The war in Gaza was the wellspring

The damage to Iran's power radiated fromthe war in Gaza, where Israeli forces followed Hamas after militants killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages during the Oct. 7 attacks. Israel has since killed more than 72,000 Palestinians in Gaza, nearly half of them women and children, according to the Health Ministry, which is under Gaza's Hamas government and which does not distinguish between militants and civilians.

The conflict quickly expanded, though, to include other groups in the Iran-sponsored Axis of Resistance.

In Lebanon, the powerful militant group Hezbollah had long been considered Iran's first line of defense in case of a war with Israel. It was believed to have some 150,000 rockets and missiles, and the group's former leader,Hassan Nasrallahonce boasted of having100,000 fighters.

After Oct. 7, the group launched rockets across the border to Israel, seeking to aid its ally Hamas. That drew Israeli airstrikes and shelling and the exchanges escalated into full-scale war in the fall of 2024.

Israel inflicted heavy damage on Hezbollah, killing Nasrallah and other top leaders and destroying much of the militant group's arsenal, before a U.S.-negotiated ceasefire nominally halted that conflict last November. Israel continues to occupy parts of southern Lebanon and to carry outnear-daily airstrikes.

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Hezbollah was further weakened when rebels overthrew the regime of key ally Syrian PresidentBashar Assad, cutting off a major supply route for Iranian weapons.

Yemen'sHouthi rebels, also sponsored by Iran, joined the expanding conflict, firing rockets at vessels in the Red Sea and targeting Israel. U.S. warships and the Israeli military returned fire.

Israel left the status quo behind

As the conflict expanded, leaders of Iran and its proxies failed to recognize that Israel had abandoned the long-tense status quo and was trying to engineer a fundamental shift, Mansour said.

The toll on Iran escalated last June when Israel launched a surprise offensive aimed at decimating Tehran'srapidly advancing nuclear programwhile Iran and the U.S. were in negotiations for a nuclear deal. The 12-day war that followed saw bombing attacks of Iran's energy industry and Defense Ministry headquarters.

Iran's weakened proxy groups largely stayed on the sidelines as their sponsor came under direct attack last year. So far in the new war, they've done much the same.

"It's very much about survival" for Hezbollah and the other Iran-backed groups, Mansour said. He noted that over time the Axis had become less driven by top-down orders from Iran, and the groups have become more autonomous. "And survival to them is based on calculations that aren't necessarily about Iran's survival."

Since Israel and the U.S. launched a barrage of strikes on Iran Saturday, Tehran's allies and proxies in the region have had a minimal role in the response.

Hezbollah appeared to change that early Monday, even though the group has been under great pressure by Lebanese officials not to enter the fray in defense of Iran out of fear of another damaging war in Lebanon.

Hezbollah issued statements condemning the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran and mourning the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Then it hinted it might get involved. Early Monday, it did, firing missiles across the border. Israel promptly retaliated with strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut. It was the first time in more than a year that Hezbollah has claimed a strike against Israel.

Hezbollah said in a statement that the strikes were carried out in retaliation for the killing of Khamenei and for "repeated Israeli aggressions."

How might other proxy groups react?

How other proxy groups could react to Khamenei's death remains to be seen. Charles Lister, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, said Israel's actions since 2023 may give such groups pause."Previous bouts of conflict since Oct. 7 appear to have underlined the existential risk associated with making yourself a target," Lister said in an email responding to questions from The Associated Press.In Iraq, a coalition of Iran-backed militias calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has claimed several drone strikes targeting U.S. bases in Irbil, the capital of the semiautonomous Kurdish region in the country's north. The extent of damage caused by the attacks is not clear. But the Kurdish region has seen widespread power outages after a key gas field that supplies much of the region's electricity stopped operations, citing security concerns.Two officials with different Iran-backed militias in Iraq told the AP that a meeting took place two months ago between Iranian officials and allied Iraqi militias to make plans for a response in case Iran was attacked, including distributing tasks among the Iraqi armed groups.The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly. One of the officials said it was decided that the response would target U.S. forces and interests in Iraq's semiautonomous northern Kurdish region and in neighboring Jordan.There's often a misconception that Iran issues orders to its proxy militant groups and they all fall in line, Boroujerdi said. But independent decisions the groups have made so far to stay clear of the conflict are a sign of the overall weakening of Iran's network."The dominoes started to fall with the October 7 events," Boroujerdi said. "Just take note of everything that has changed since then in terms of the balance of power."___Associated Press writer Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad contributed to this report.

How other proxy groups could react to Khamenei's death remains to be seen. Charles Lister, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, said Israel's actions since 2023 may give such groups pause.

"Previous bouts of conflict since Oct. 7 appear to have underlined the existential risk associated with making yourself a target," Lister said in an email responding to questions from The Associated Press.

In Iraq, a coalition of Iran-backed militias calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has claimed several drone strikes targeting U.S. bases in Irbil, the capital of the semiautonomous Kurdish region in the country's north. The extent of damage caused by the attacks is not clear. But the Kurdish region has seen widespread power outages after a key gas field that supplies much of the region's electricity stopped operations, citing security concerns.

Two officials with different Iran-backed militias in Iraq told the AP that a meeting took place two months ago between Iranian officials and allied Iraqi militias to make plans for a response in case Iran was attacked, including distributing tasks among the Iraqi armed groups.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly. One of the officials said it was decided that the response would target U.S. forces and interests in Iraq's semiautonomous northern Kurdish region and in neighboring Jordan.

There's often a misconception that Iran issues orders to its proxy militant groups and they all fall in line, Boroujerdi said. But independent decisions the groups have made so far to stay clear of the conflict are a sign of the overall weakening of Iran's network.

"The dominoes started to fall with the October 7 events," Boroujerdi said. "Just take note of everything that has changed since then in terms of the balance of power."

Associated Press writer Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad contributed to this report.

Blow after blow to the power of Iran and its proxy militias set the stage for US-Israel attacks

As Israel unleashed a sweeping military response to the brutal Oct. 7, 2023, assault by Hamas, it aimedpunch after punch ...
Chad Baker-Mazara out at USC in final week of season as Trojans try to snap losing skid, make NCAA tournament push

Chad Baker-Mazara's time with USC is over.

Yahoo Sports LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 31: USC Trojans head coach Eric Musselman reacts after a play as USC Trojans guard Chad Baker-Mazara (4) looks on during the college basketball game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the USC Trojans on January 31, 2026 at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Trojans announced Sunday afternoon that Baker-Mazara was no longer with the program, marking a stunning development for the team as it enters the final stretch of the regular season and the Big Ten tournament.

According toThe Los Angeles Times' Ryan Kartje, there wasn't one specific incident but "an accumulation of issues" that led to his dismissal. Further specifics on his departure are not yet known.

Baker-Mazara, 26, transferred into USC this season. The former Auburn star has averaged 18.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game this season with the Trojans, all of which have been career highs. He's USC's leading scorer and was the Maui Invitational MVP in November.

Baker-Mazara played just 19 minutes in the team's 82-67 loss to No. 12 Nebraska on Saturday. He went down with an apparent leg injury early in the second half after blocking a shot and did not return.

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Can USC make the NCAA tournament without Baker-Mazara?

Baker-Mazara's departure is coming at an awful time for the Trojans and head coach Eric Musselman.

USC has just two games left in the regular season, first at Washington on Wednesday and then at home against UCLA on Saturday. Both of those are games the Trojans will have to win if they want any shot at making it into the NCAA tournament.

Saturday's loss to Nebraska marked the Trojans' fifth straight. They've not beaten a ranked opponent all season and sit at just 18-11. They have significant work to do in order to make it to the tournament, a place the program hasn't been since 2023.

But it isn't out of the question. If the Trojans can end the regular season on a two-game win streak and then make a decent run in the Big Ten tournament in Chicago, an at-large bid certainly isn't out of the question.

But now, without Baker-Mazara around, pulling off that feat is going to be much more difficult for the Trojans.

Chad Baker-Mazara out at USC in final week of season as Trojans try to snap losing skid, make NCAA tournament push

Chad Baker-Mazara's time with USC is over. The Trojans announced Sunday afternoon that Baker-Mazara was no...

 

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