CJ Huntley, Suns Sign Two-Way Deal
CJ Huntley and the Phoenix Suns have agreed to a Two-Way contract. Huntley will fill the open spot vacated by Jamaree Bouyea after he converted from a Two-Way to a standard NBA deal.
Huntley has appeared in 38 G League games this season, averaging 14.5 points and 7.6 rebounds in 26.1 minutes.
Huntley, who is represented by Duncan Lloyd, went undrafted in 2025 out of Appalachian State.
Indiana's Curt Cignetti cashes in on title run with 8-year extension worth $13.2 million per year
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti is cashing in on his first national championship run — even more than initially expected.
Athletic department officials announced Monday that the two-time national coach of the year has signed a memorandum of understanding on an eight-year contract extension, paying him an annual average of $13.2 million — or an increase of about $1.6 million per year from what school officials said Cignetti would earn when he first agreed to the extension in October.
School officials released the document Cignetti signed Feb. 4.
He joins Georgia coach Kirby Smart and LSU coach Lane Kiffin as the only active Football Bowl Subdivision coaches to receive paychecks of $13 million or more. The payouts could be even higher if Cignetti earns bonuses for winning Big Ten or national coach of the year honors in addition to playoff appearances and conference titles. The 64-year-old Cignetti already has said he hopes to retire at Indiana.
The new deal calls for a base salary of $500,000 per year through the 2033 season and a $1 million retention bonus on Nov. 30 of each year, starting this fall. The remaining portion of the $105.6 million will be collected from outside, promotional and marketing income.
Cignetti initially agreed to an eight-year extension worth $92.8 million — an annual average of $11.6 million — but university officials agreed to modify the deal as the Hoosiers remained undefeated and pursued the first football national championship in school history.
It’s the third time Cignetti has received a raise since he took over the losingest program in FBS history in November 2024. All he’s done since arriving is produce the two best seasons in school history while becoming one of college football’s fan favorites for his quick quips and unique facial expressions. Players have embraced him, too, telling many of their favorite Cignetti tales.
Just ask tight end Riley Nowakowski, who recounted his favorite Cignetti story during the recent NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.
“I think (Alberto Mendoza) was in the game, and he pulled like four runs in a row,” Nowakowski said, referring to last season’s victory over Illinois. “He kept pulling it, kept pulling it, kept pulling it, and then after the fourth time, it was a terrible read. So in the middle of the game, (Cignetti) tells our coach, ‘Get (Alberto) over here.’ Bert’s like, ‘What, it’s the middle of a game, what are you doing?’ And (Cignetti) goes, ‘We’re not paying you to run the ball, hand the ball off, right? We’re up like 70 points, but he’s pissed off, yelling at Bert, and (Cignetti) just turned back at me and gave me one of his little smiles, and he was just like, ’You like that now?'”
Cignetti wasted no time delivering on his promise to win after leading James Madison to the most successful transition from the Football Championship Subdivision to the FBS.
The son of Hall of Fame coach Frank Cignetti and a former Alabama assistant led Indiana to a school record 11 wins and its first College Football Playoff appearance in his first season with the Hoosiers.
Last season, he outdid that mark by producing the first 16-0 mark in major college football since the 1890s. The Hoosiers also won their first outright Big Ten crown since 1945, beat Miami on its home field to claim the national title and shed the label of having the most all-time losses in FBS history.
Mendoza’s older brother, Fernando, also became the first Indiana player to win the Heisman Trophy and is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in April’s NFL draft.
The reward: A record nine players, including Mendoza and Nowakowski, attended the recent combine in Indianapolis while Cignetti got another pay raise and school officials continued to invest heavily in keeping the coach’s staff together.
Offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan and defensive coordinator Bryant Haines each agreed to three-year contract extensions worth about $3 million per year in December, making them two of the highest-paid assistants in the FBS. Haines won this year’s Broyles Award, which goes to the nation’s top assistant coach.
Indiana will begin next season with the longest winning streak (16) and longest home winning streak (15) in the FBS. Cignetti has never lost a home game with the Hoosiers, who open defense of their league and national titles at home against North Texas on Sept. 5.
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Celtics vs Bucks Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game
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Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to make his return to the Milwaukee Bucks lineup when they host the Boston Celtics tonight.
But just how much will the two-time MVP play, and will it matter against a Boston team playing great basketball?
My Celtics vs. Bucks predictions and NBA picks will be fading the Greek Freak in his return to action in this East Conference clash set to tipoff at 7:30 pm ET at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Monday, March 2.
Celtics vs Bucks best bet: Celtics -2 (-110)
Giannis Antetokounmpo returns for the Milwaukee Bucks after missing more than five weeks, and his impact on the NBA odds was immediate, moving tonight’s line against the Boston Celtics from +7.5 to +4.
Then it was announced Jaylen Brown would be out, and the line dipped to Boston -2.
However, Milwaukee was struggling with Giannis, ranking 24th in net rating before his latest injury.
Boston is 10-3 ATS over the last 13 games and only trails OKC in net rating. All this line move does is make me want to bet the next-man-up Celtics even more.
Jaylen Brown is getting a lot of the credit for the season the Celtics are having, and rightly so, but let’s not overlook Derrick White’s impact.
White is putting up 17.1 points, 5.7 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game. His point total for this game without Brown is 20.5, a number he’s topped twice in his last four games, and now faces a Milwaukee team that ranks 23rd in defensive rating.
The Bucks also struggle on the boards, owning the fourth-worst rebounding rate. Celtics big man Nikola Vucevic has thrived in his role, averaging 8.6 rebounds coming off the bench, and likely gets the start tonight.
Giannis has a solid night on the scoresheet, but as has been the case much of the season, it won’t be enough to get the win.
The Bucks have only covered the 1H Spread in 12 of their last 40 games at home for -20.15 Units and a -44% ROI.. Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Bucks.
| Location | Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI |
| Date | Monday, March 2, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | NBA TV |
Not intended for use in MA.
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Hornets hot drop with JoeWo + Giannis is back, McCain resurgence, Cam Johnson in the gulag, Diawara reality check + Draft Class with Ben Pfeifer
It’s a jam-packed Kevin O’Connor Show! KOC is joined by COD streamer JoeWo and Ben Pfeifer from Swish Theory to chat about all things NBA.
First, KOC offers five observations from the NBA weekend before talking with JoeWo about the Charlotte Hornets’ roaring success. Then, Ben Pfeifer joins to discuss Aday Mara, Jayden Quaintance and other overlooked NBA Draft prospects.
(0:30) 5 takeaways from the NBA weekend
(14:58) Giannis to return to Bucks lineup tonight
(18:09) JoeWo talks Hornets
(45:21) JoeWo talks Call of Duty
(59:00) Draft Class with Ben Pfeifer
🖥️ Watch this full episode on the Yahoo Sports NBA YouTube channel
Check out all episodes of The Kevin O’Connor Show and the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv
Cavs at Nets open gamethread
The Cleveland Cavaliers will look to break their two-game skid as they head to New York to take on the Brooklyn Nets.
I’ll be in the comments throughout the game sharing my thoughts. Feel free to join in on the conversation and let your voice be heard in the comments below.
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Go Cavs!
Rutgers slips past Maryland 69-65 after 20-point lead disappears
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Tariq Francis scored 19 points and Rutgers, which once led by 20 points in the first half, defeated Maryland 69-65 on Sunday to sweep the season series between the teams.
Rutgers won 68-57 at home against Maryland in the other meeting this season.
Trailing by 19 at halftime, Maryland stormed back early in the second half. Elijah Saunders and Andre Mills hit 3-pointers and the Terrapins added five three throws in a 13-0 run that got them within 45-41 six minutes into the second half.
Maryland took the lead once at 48-47 and the score was tied at 54 with a little under five minutes remaining. Rutgers quickly went back ahead 60-54 and led the rest of the way. The Terrapins were within two points twice in the final half-minute but both times Rutgers delivered at the free-throw line to preserve the win.
Darren Buchanan Jr. scored 14 points and Jamichael Davis had 12 for Rutgers (12-17, 5-13 Big Ten).
Mills had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Saunders had 11 and 14 for Maryland, which had a 50-26 advantage on the boards but had 19 turnovers to six for Rutgers. Solomon Washington had 15 points and four blocks and David Coit scored 10 for the Terps (11-18, 4-14).
Maryland made only 1 of 14 3-pointers and had 14 turnovers in the first half. Rutgers had a 14-0 advantage in points after turnovers, helping the Scarlet Knights take a 39-20 halftime lead. In one eight-minute stretch the Scarlet Knights outscored the Terrapins 18-4.
The Scarlet Knights gained their second road win of the conference season.
Maryland: at Wisconsin on Wednesday.
Rutgers: at No. 13 Michigan State on Thursday.
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Mavericks Sign Tyler Smith To Two-Way Contract; Waive Miles Kelly
The Dallas Mavericks signed forward Tyler Smith to a two-way contract. To create the roster spot for Smith, the Mavericks waived Miles Kelly. Dallas also completed the signing of John Poulakidas to fill out their two-way openings.
Smith was previously with the Milwaukee Bucks and Houston Rockets this season. Around those NBA stints, the 6-foot-9 forward played in 27 G League games with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and Capital City Go-Go. Smith has averaged 14.3 points and 5.0 rebounds in the G League so far this season.
Lakers’ win caps Zhuri and LeBron James’ father-daughter road trip
LeBron James’ latest achievement in his 23-year career? A successful father-daughter road trip.
Lukaku’s last-gasp goal ends Napoli’s winless run at Hellas Verona
MILAN (AP) — Romelu Lukaku’s first goal of the season with the last kick of the match ended Napoli’s winless run on Saturday.
Lukaku, who had played just 41 minutes this campaign following a serious preseason thigh injury, pounced in the sixth minute of stoppage time to help Napoli win at bottom club Hellas Verona 2-1.
The 32-year-old Lukaku appeared to tear up when the final whistle blew seconds later. His last goal was on May 23.
It was Napoli’s first win in four matches in all competitions. The defending Serie A champion remained third in the league table but inched to within 11 points of leader Inter Milan, which was hosting lowly Genoa later.
Verona remained nine points from safety.
Napoli got off to a great start as Rasmus Højlund’s looping header from 12 meters gave it the lead after less than two minutes.
However, Højlund was also involved in the equalizer in the 65th. He attempted to clear a Verona corner but it came out to Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro, whose shot was deflected in by Højlund. The goal was credited to Akpa Akpro as the initial shot was on target.
Verona almost won it in stoppage time but Kieron Bowie couldn’t keep his attempt on target after Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret flapped aimlessly at a cross.
And instead it was Napoli which snatched the win. A corner was played short and eventually crossed in by Giovane for fellow substitute Lukaku to sweep in first time from close range.
Earlier, Como came from behind to win at relegation-threatened Lecce 3-1.
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Reed, Dilione late heroics send Penn State to surprise win over Iowa 71-69
Josh Reed scored a career-high 25 points, shooting 9 of 12, and Penn State rallied to beat Iowa 71-69 on Saturday, ending the Nittany Lions’ three-game losing streak.
Freddie Dilione V scored 15 points, and Ivan Juric scored 11 for the Nittany Lions (12-17, 3-15 Big Ten). Penn State finished 64% shooting (25-for-39), including 60% (9-for-15) from 3-point range.
Cooper Koch scored 18 points, shooting 6 for 9, and Bennett Stirtz added 16 for Iowa (20-9, 10-8).
Knotted at 69, Dilione was fouled on a drive to the hoop with 1.5 seconds left and promptly made two free throws for the go-ahead foul shots. Iowa failed to get off a shot after a timeout while facing the full length of the floor.
Stirtz’s layup with eight seconds remaining tied the game at 69. The basket was the first points for Iowa since a Cam Manyawu dunk with 4:30 remaining left put the Hawkeyes up 67-62.
Reed countered with his 6-0 run, making four foul shots, and Melih Tunca made a free throw for a 69-67 Penn State lead.
Iowa, which now has lost two of its last three games, led 38-34 at halftime.
Iowa: Hosts third-ranked Michigan on Thursday.
Penn State: Hosts Ohio State on Wednesday.
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