Le Journal

Unlike last year, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell will not be a 2026 NBA All-Star starter in Los Angeles. The league announced the starting fives for both the Eastern Conference and Western Conference on Monday afternoon, with the six-timer and two-time starter as a notable omission. Focused on facing the Oklahoma City Thunder at Rocket Arena, Mitchell preferred not to find out the news before the matchup. “I didn’t know what had happened, but you can assume ’cause no one said anything,” Mitchell said postgame following the Cavs’ blowout loss on Monday. “Typically, they’d say something during the game, so once [I didn’t hear that], I was like, ‘Alright, it is what it is.’ To be honest, I kind of expected that. The guys that were named, their record is better than ours, so naturally, you reward that.” The East announced three first-time starters, as Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, and Cade Cunningham joined Jalen Brunson and Giannis Antetokounmpo to represent the conference. “I want to be a starter for sure,” Mitchell said. “But understand that, at the end of the day, [if] we win games, everybody gets rewarded. We haven’t won games necessarily at the rate we would like to, and that’s what comes first. Everything else comes with that.” The West welcomes Victor Wembanyama to the first-timers club, alongside veterans in Steph Curry, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, and Nikola Jokic. Mitchell started in the All-Star Game in two of the previous three seasons, but will ultimately come off the bench in this year’s game. He’s having an unbelievable campaign individually, averaging 29.0 points, 5.7 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 34 minutes per game. It’s been the most efficient shooting season of his career, knocking down 48.5% of his field goals and 38.4% of his three-point attempts. And though the 24-20 Cavs haven’t quite been their best in the first half of the 82-game marathon, Mitchell has only uplifted his teammates and stepped up his game when they’ve needed it the most. The post Why Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell ‘expected’ NBA All-Star starter snub appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The state of Indiana has to be buzzing after Indiana football broke through with the natty, taking a 27-21 win over Miami in the CFP national championship game on MLK Day. Fernando Mendoza, the potential first overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, took his team to the promised land, and Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, who acts as an incredible quarterback in his own right, could not have been more thrilled to see the hometown team reach the apex of college football. After Indiana sealed the victory with a field goal with a little over a minute left, doing just enough to keep Miami at bay after a late Malachi Toney touchdown made the Hoosiers sweat, the Pacers star published a heartfelt message as he continued to embrace the state of Indiana as his own (he hails from Oshkosh, Wisconsin). “A state has never deserved something more. Congrats @IndianaFootball ,” Haliburton wrote on his official account on X (formerly Twitter). Haliburton knows more than nearly everybody just how much sporting success means to the people of Indiana. The Pacers received bonkers support in their run to the NBA Finals in 2025, and Indiana football’s breakthrough has to be very cathartic for a fanbase that’s come so close yet so far in terms of winning a championship. Can Pacers follow in Indiana football’s footsteps? Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images The Hoosiers have undergone such a quick turnaround under Curt Cignetti, posting two consecutive seasons of incredible football that saw them qualify for the CFP. In 2024, they lost in the first round of the CFP, but this year, they broke through with an undefeated season and the natty to cap everything off. As for the Pacers, they might be the league’s sleeping giant. Most of the core of their 2025 NBA Finals roster is injured, including Haliburton, and a few roster tweaks here and there, along with a high lottery pick in 2026, should put them well in shape for a major bounce-back season during the 2026-27 campaign. The post Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton delivers touching message after Indiana football’s National Championship win appeared first on ClutchPoints.

In the euphoric hours following the Indiana Hoosiers’ stunning national championship triumph, one of Indiana’s most recognizable sports icons captured the moment perfectly. Caitlin Clark took to social media with a message that instantly turned heads. She demanded Hollywood treatment for head coach Curt Cignetti after Indiana’s title win over the Miami Hurricanes. “What a story @IndianaFootball give coach cig his movie now!!” Clark posted, echoing the disbelief and pride felt across the state after one of the most improbable seasons in college football history. Indiana’s championship run felt cinematic long before Clark’s endorsement. The Hoosiers completed a flawless 16-0 season, capping a rapid two-year transformation that saw the program rise from Big Ten afterthought to the sport’s summit. In the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday, Indiana defeated Miami 27-21 behind a disciplined, physical performance that mirrored Cignetti’s uncompromising philosophy. A fast start, opportunistic defense, and timely special teams plays allowed the Hoosiers to control the game’s rhythm. That’s even as Miami mounted multiple second-half rallies. Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza authored the defining moment. He converted a fearless fourth-down keeper into a fourth-quarter touchdown that swung momentum for good. Indiana’s defense then closed the door late, sealing the first national championship in program history and completing a season that will be referenced for generations. Clark’s call for a “Cignetti movie” may have been playful. However, it rang true. From a bold “I win” introduction to a perfect season and a national title, Indiana’s story now feels bigger than football. It’s exactly the kind of script Hollywood can’t ignore. The post Caitlin Clark demands Indiana football’s Curt Cignetti movie after National Championship win appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The loudest roar at Amerant Bank Arena on Monday night didn’t come during a goal or a save. It came the moment Matthew Tkachuk stepped onto the ice for his first shift of the season. After months away recovering from surgery, the Florida Panthers winger returned to game action and instantly brought the edge that defines his game. Despite the layoff, it was clear early that Tkachuk hadn’t lost his competitive instincts. Just over a minute into the game, he was involved physically, and midway through the first period, he got into a scuffle with San Jose Sharks defenseman Vincent Desharnais. Just the 1st period into his return and Matthew Tkachuk got into it with Vincent Desharnais pic.twitter.com/uFUlAiVzKG — Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) January 19, 2026 Later in the period, Desharnais delivered a heavy hit on Tkachuk, the kind of contact that only comes in real game action. After the game, Tkachuk reflected on how it felt to be back in meaningful minutes. “I will say, it was such a relief and nice to be out there,” Tkachuk said, via NHL.com. “The first period was weird, just a little strange. Nothing mimics a game. The second felt better, third felt back to normal.” Tkachuk hadn’t played since Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, when Florida secured its second straight championship. While he never publicly addressed it at the time, the Cup-clinching night marked the beginning of a long recovery. He underwent surgery to repair a torn adductor muscle and a sports hernia, keeping him sidelined through the opening stretch of the season. On the stat sheet, Tkachuk logged just under 21 minutes, recorded three shots on goal, and showed no hesitation engaging physically. Still, his return was spoiled on the scoreboard. San Jose scored three times in the second period, powering a 4-1 win behind 35 saves from Alex Nedeljkovic. While Florida didn’t get the result it wanted, Tkachuk’s presence alone changed the tone of the game. His immediate involvement, including the early confrontation, underscored his readiness to compete at full intensity. As the Panthers push forward in their title defense, Tkachuk’s return adds a familiar edge. With more games to shake off rust and major international competition looming, Florida will be counting on their emotional leader to build momentum quickly. The post Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk immediately gets into a fight in return from injury appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is surely on cloud nine right now after they defeated Miami, 27-21, in a nail-biting finish on Monday to capture the first national championship in program history. Numerous athletes tuned in to the game on Monday, including Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark. She even got excited for Mendoza after famous rapper Lil Uzi Vert showed up at Hard Rock Stadium. “If Indiana wins, I hope he performs in the locker room after the game for Fernando,” wrote Clark on X. If Indiana wins I hope he performs in the locker room after the game for Fernando https://t.co/P2Q9endYpU — Caitlin Clark (@CaitlinClark22) January 20, 2026 The 22-year-old Mendoza invited Lil Uzi Vert, his favorite rapper, to attend the national championship game if the Hoosiers made it. The 30-year-old artist, known for “Just Wanna Rock” and ” XO Tour Llif3,” accepted the invitation and stayed true to his word. He even sported Mendoza’s jersey. Lil Uzi Vert might have been Mendoza’s lucky charm, as the Heisman Trophy winner scored on a 12-yard run in the fourth quarter to seal Miami’s doom. He went 16-of-27 for 186 yards. The Hoosiers completed their undefeated season in the best way possible, lifting the shiny reward that has eluded them for decades. Having his favorite rapper witness it was a bonus for Mendoza, who did not expect Lil Uzi Vert to show up. “If I see him there, it would be fantastic. I love his music. I’m really just trying to focus on the game. I owe it to my teammates and my coaches. This is a very important game for them. Although seeing Lil Uzi Vert there would be fantastic and a big plus for everybody. I know he’s a very busy man,” said Mendoza in the lead-up to the contest, as quoted by Sports Illustrated’s Christopher Walsh. As of writing, it remains unclear if Clark’s wish came true. The post Caitlin Clark has 1 wish for Fernando Mendoza in Indiana-Miami championship game appeared first on ClutchPoints.