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Blackhawks Vs Predators: Projected Lineup, How To Watch, & More Ahead Of Game 70

The Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators are at the United Center on Sunday afternoon for a day game within the Central Division. The Blackhawks are trying to finish the season strong, while the Predators are trying to make a late-season push for the playoffs. 

Chicago is coming off a horrendous loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Friday night. Nashville is coming into the second leg of a back-to-back, as they defeated the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday. 

Scouting Nashville 

The Nashville Predators are on a three-game winning streak, and that has pushed them above the playoff line entering Sunday. Nobody saw that coming, even a month ago, let alone multiple months ago. 

Stamkos - O'Reilly - Evangelista 

Forsberg - Wood  - Marchessault

Jost - Haula - L'Heureux

Schafer - Svechkov - Wiesblatt 

Skjei - Josi

Hague - Perbix

Barron - Ufko

Annunen

Murray

Steven Stamkos, Ryan O’Reilly, Jonathan Marchessault, and Filip Forsberg lead things up front for Nashville. They were sellers at the deadline, but they kept these guys, and they are being rewarded for it late in the season. 

On defense, the bottom two pairs follow the lead of the top pair, comprised of Brady Skjei and Roman Josi. Nashville has been one of the best NHL teams at pumping out impactful defensemen, and this year is no different with their newfound depth.

Juuse Saros is injured, so their options in goal against the Blackhawks are Justus Annunen and Matt Murray. Annunen defeated the Golden Knights on Saturday, but they could go right back to him on Sunday. Andrew Brunette has a decision to make, but it won’t be revealed until closer to game time. 

Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago

The Blackhawks are not expected to have Sacha Boisvert or Anton Frondell available for Sunday’s game. They are both expected to make their NHL debut on the East Coast later next week. 

Greene-Bedard-Burakovsky  

Bertuzzi-Nazar-Teravainen  

Slaggert-Donato-Mikheyev  

Lardis-Toninato-Lafferty  

Vlasic-Levshunov

Kaiser-Rinzel

Del Mastro-Grzelcyk

Knight

The Chicago Blackhawks are going to be without Andrew Mangiapane and Louis Crevier again on Sunday. They are expected to return to the lineup on the upcoming road trip. 

Going with a traditional lineup was forced on Jeff Blashill in the loss to Colorado, as he used the 11/7 strategy in St. Paul on Thursday. Having Dominic Toninato, Sam Lafferty, and Ethan Del Mastro in the lineup on Sunday will be necessary again. 

Arvid Soderblom played for Spencer Knight on Sunday, the second half of a back-to-back. Against the Predators, expect Knight to get the nod once again. 

How To Watch

The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game, it can be found on CHSN locally. Nationally, it is available to stream on ESPN+. The puck will drop shortly after 2:00 PM CT. 

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Roy Rests Sorokin After Six Goals Against, Prioritizing Islanders’ Must-Win vs. Blue Jackets

MONTREAL -- At the 11:20 mark of the third period after allowing his sixth goal of the night, New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin left the ice. 

The No. 1 netminder had made 26 saves, but in a game that was not going to end in the Islanders' favor, head coach Patrick Roy made the move to give Sorokin a breather as he'll be back in between the pipes for the second leg of the club's back-to-back, a pivotal Sunday night showdown against the third-place Columbus Blue Jackets. 

"[I pulled him] because he's playing tomorrow," Roy said postgame. "It's as simple as that. We have to regroup for tomorrow, and Ilya will be in front of the net. These are two big games for us, and tomorrow is a big one as well. They're all big games, actually, but that's the main reason why we did that, to rest [Sorokin].

Sorokin has yet to play both legs of a back-to-back this season. 

Puck drop between the Islanders and the Blue Jackets comes your way at 7 PM ET live from UBS Arena and can be watched on MSGSN. 

The Islanders are one point back of the Detroit Red Wings for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 12 games to go. 

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Lightning bring 3-game win streak into matchup against the Flames

Tampa Bay Lightning (43-21-4, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Calgary Flames (28-34-7, in the Pacific Division)

Calgary, Alberta; Sunday, 8 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Lightning -180, Flames +149; over/under is 6.5

BOTTOM LINE: The Tampa Bay Lightning will try to keep a three-game win streak intact when they take on the Calgary Flames.

Calgary has an 18-12-4 record at home and a 28-34-7 record overall. The Flames have given up 211 goals while scoring 170 for a -41 scoring differential.

Tampa Bay has a 43-21-4 record overall and a 23-9-4 record in road games. The Lightning are first in NHL play with 343 total penalties (averaging five per game).

The matchup Sunday is the second meeting between these teams this season. The Lightning won 5-1 in the last meeting.

TOP PERFORMERS: Mikael Backlund has scored 15 goals with 23 assists for the Flames. Olli Maatta has five assists over the past 10 games.

Nikita Kucherov has 40 goals and 78 assists for the Lightning. Jake Guentzel has scored five goals and added four assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Flames: 4-6-0, averaging 2.4 goals, 3.7 assists, 3.7 penalties and 7.9 penalty minutes while giving up 3.5 goals per game.

Lightning: 5-5-0, averaging 3.9 goals, 6.5 assists, 5.2 penalties and 15.3 penalty minutes while giving up 3.1 goals per game.

INJURIES: Flames: Samuel Honzek: out (upper body), Jonathan Huberdeau: out for season (hip), Jake Bean: out (undisclosed), Yan Kuznetsov: day to day (upper-body), Connor Zary: day to day (upper body).

Lightning: Max Crozier: out (abdomen), Dominic James: out (leg), Declan Carlile: out (undisclosed), Victor Hedman: day to day (illness).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Nashville brings 3-game win streak into matchup against Chicago

Nashville Predators (32-28-9, in the Central Division) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (26-31-12, in the Central Division)

Chicago; Sunday, 3 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Blackhawks -110, Predators -110; over/under is 6

BOTTOM LINE: The Nashville Predators seek to keep a three-game win streak alive when they take on the Chicago Blackhawks.

Chicago is 11-7-5 against the Central Division and 26-31-12 overall. The Blackhawks have a 9-11-6 record in games their opponents commit fewer penalties.

Nashville is 10-9-4 against the Central Division and 32-28-9 overall. The Predators have a 26-6-3 record when scoring at least three goals.

Sunday's game is the fourth time these teams square off this season. The Predators won 4-2 in the last matchup.

TOP PERFORMERS: Tyler Bertuzzi has 28 goals and 21 assists for the Blackhawks. Frank Nazar has four goals and six assists over the past 10 games.

Ryan O'Reilly has 24 goals and 40 assists for the Predators. Matthew Wood has scored five goals with one assist over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Blackhawks: 4-3-3, averaging 2.4 goals, 4.1 assists, 3.9 penalties and 8.8 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game.

Predators: 5-4-1, averaging three goals, 4.8 assists, 3.6 penalties and 7.8 penalty minutes while giving up 2.4 goals per game.

INJURIES: Blackhawks: Shea Weber: out for season (ankle), Louis Crevier: day to day (undisclosed), Andrew Mangiapane: day to day (undisclosed), Oliver Moore: out (lower body), Sacha Boisvert: day to day (not injury related ).

Predators: Juuse Saros: out (upper body), Adam Wilsby: day to day (lower-body).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Golden Knights take losing streak into game against the Stars

Vegas Golden Knights (31-25-14, in the Pacific Division) vs. Dallas Stars (43-15-11, in the Central Division)

Dallas; Sunday, 7 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Stars -148, Golden Knights +124; over/under is 6

BOTTOM LINE: The Vegas Golden Knights, on a three-game losing streak, take on the Dallas Stars.

Dallas is 43-15-11 overall and 22-8-4 at home. The Stars are eighth in league play with 233 total goals (averaging 3.4 per game).

Vegas has a 15-13-7 record in road games and a 31-25-14 record overall. The Golden Knights have a +seven scoring differential, with 220 total goals scored and 213 given up.

Sunday's game is the third time these teams square off this season. The Stars won 2-1 in the last meeting.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jason Robertson has 38 goals and 44 assists for the Stars. Wyatt Johnston has five goals and six assists over the past 10 games.

Mitchell Marner has 19 goals and 50 assists for the Golden Knights. Pavel Dorofeyev has six goals and four assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Stars: 7-1-2, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.5 assists, 4.2 penalties and nine penalty minutes while giving up 2.2 goals per game.

Golden Knights: 3-7-0, averaging 2.2 goals, 3.7 assists, 4.2 penalties and 10.3 penalty minutes while giving up 2.5 goals per game.

INJURIES: Stars: Mikko Rantanen: out (lower-body), Radek Faksa: out (upper-body), Roope Hintz: out (lower body), Tyler Seguin: out for season (acl).

Golden Knights: William Karlsson: out (lower body), Carter Hart: out (leg), Jonas Rondbjerg: out (lower body).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Kucherov takes the NHL points lead from McDavid in the Lightning's 5-2 victory over the Oilers

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Nikita Kucherov had two goals and two assists to take the NHL scoring lead from Edmonton star Connor McDavid in the Tampa Bay Lightning's 5-2 victory over the Oilers on Saturday night.

Kucherov scored his 39th and 40th goals and had his 77th and 78th assists to push his season points total to 118. McDavid had his 38th goal to get to 116. Kucherov has 12 points in his last three games and 22 in his last eight.

Anthony Cirelli also scored twice, Jake Guentzel added a goal and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 25 saves for Tampa Bay. Second in the Atlantic Division, the Lightning have won three in a row and four of five.

Josh Samanski also scored for Edmonton, and Connor Ingram stopped 22 shots. Second in the Pacific, the Oilers have lost two in a row.

The Lightning took a 3-1 lead with three minutes left in the second period. Kucherov emerged from the penalty box at the end of the first half of an Edmonton five-on-three advantage. and J.J. Moser sprung him on a breakaway for his first career short-handed goal.

McDavid is just shy of three milestones. He's a goal away from 400, an assist from 800 and two points short of 1,200.

Up next

Lightning: At Calgary on Sunday night.

Oilers: At Utah on Tuesday night.

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

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Nebraska, Vanderbilt reacts to Tyler Tanner's halfcourt heave: 'I thought it was in'

Vanderbilt star Tyler Tanner nearly became a March Madness legend against Nebraska on Saturday, March 21, but his potential game-winning halfcourt heave just barely missed and nearly broke the Cornhuskers' hearts.

Nebraska, already having won its first-ever NCAA Tournament game in the first round this season, advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history after its 74-72 win over the No. 5 seed Commodores in Oklahoma City. Tanner's shot was so shocking in the moment that Nebraska's players on the floor took a few moments to even process the shot missed.

"My heart sank as that ball went in the hoop and went out," Sam Hoiberg said after the game. "I think it took me half-a-second to register that it didn't go in, and then I just screamed in elation. I thought it was in."

REQUIRED READING: Nebraska advances to first Sweet 16 in program history, survives Tyler Tanner heave

Braden Frager added: "I had a perfect shot on it from the bench, and I just froze for two seconds. I thought it went in and I didn't know how to react. Everybody started celebrating and I was like, 'yeah, he actually missed it.'"

Tanner, a first-team All-SEC selection this season, ended the game with 27 points, four assists and four steals in front of a heavy pro-Nebraska crowd that traveled over six hours for the Cornhuskers' first-weekend games. When the shot bounced out of the hoop, his Vanderbilt teammates and coaches fell to the court in shock.

Frager's go-ahead driving layup with 2.2 seconds remaining ultimately led to Nebraska's historic win amid its best season in program history. The true freshman scored a team-high 15 points off the bench, tied with leading scorer Pryce Sandfort.

Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg said immediately after the game on the TNT broadcast that he couldn't believe the final shot. Drenched in liquid after the Cornhuskers' postgame celebration in the locker room, he reflected on the shot again.

"That kid is an unbelievable player," he said of Tanner. "When that thing was up in the air I was like, 'Oh, that's going in.' Hit every part of the rim, thankfully bounced out and looking forward to next week."

Tanner, of course, was broken up by the miss after the game.

"It hurts pretty bad," he said.

Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington added: "We were in an inch away from being in the Sweet 16. It's going to take a while for us to get over."

For Tanner, the shot results in the end of his breakout sophomore season that saw him turn into one of the most dynamic guards in the country. He had a minor role of the bench for Vanderbilt last season, averaging 5.7 points per game before increasing his average to 19.7 per contest in 2025-26.

It could be the end of his college career, as he's projected to go No. 28 overall in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft to the Minnesota Timberwolves, according to USA TODAY Sports' latest mock draft. It'd be an end similar to that of Gordon Hayward, whose near-halfcourt make against Duke in the 2010 national championship still lives in college basketball lore.

Nebraska is just happy its unprecedented run is continuing into the second weekend.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nebraska reacts to Tyler Tanner's halfcourt heave: 'I thought it was in'

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Kevin Durant passes Michael Jordan on NBA's all-time career scoring list

Kevin Durant continues to move up the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

Durant scored 27 points in the Houston Rockets' 123-122 win against the Miami Heat on Saturday, March 21.

He passed Michael Jordan (32,293 points) for fifth place on the list.

Durant is now one of two active players on the list, joining LeBron James. He trails LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone and Kobe Bryant. James is No. 1 on the list with 43,241.

He needs 1,351 points to pass Bryant for fourth on the list.

NBA's top 10 all-time leading point scorers

  1. LeBron James - 43,241
  2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 38,387
  3. Karl Malone - 36,928
  4. Kobe Bryant - 33,643
  5. Kevin Durant - 32,293
  6. Michael Jordan - 32,292
  7. Dirk Nowitzki - 31,560
  8. Wilt Chamberlain - 31,419
  9. James Harden - 29,160
  10. Shaquille O'Neal - 28,596

The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports' newsletter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kevin Durant passes Michael Jordan for fifth on NBA's scoring list

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Cubs prospects power past Padres in Spring Breakout Game, 7-5

SURPRISE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 23: Ariel Armas #89 of the Chicago Cubs at bat during the seventh inning of a Spring Training game against the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium on February 23, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Spring Breakout game may be the most fun game of Spring Training and the Cubs prospects hit four solo home runs to beat the Padres prospects, 7-5 at Sloan Park.

Will Sanders started for the Cubs and he was impressive, throwing his fastball at an average 95 miles per hour, which is about 2.5 mph harder than he threw it last year. Yes, it’s expected that pitchers throw harder in early in the season and when they know they’ll be on a low pitch count, but he was still hitting 94.8 in his third and final inning.

The Cubs broke out to an early 1-0 lead when DH Owen Ayers golfed a low fastball 419 feet to dead center. [VIDEO]

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Ayers was the big Cubs story of the Arizona Fall League last year, so he’s definitely one to keep an eye on this year.

But the Padres tied the game up in the top of with a solo home run by Kale Fountain off of Sanders. But that’s about all Sanders would give up. He would leave after throwing three innings and allowing just the one run on two hits. He struck out three and walked no one.

The Cubs would go back up in the top of the fourth. First baseman Cole Mathis doubled with one out, went to third on a ground out to second and scored on an infield single by pinch hitter Carter Trice.

Brooks Caple replaced Sanders to start the fourth inning and he pitched around a leadoff single and an error in that inning. But in the fifth, he got rocked by a three-run home run by top Padres prospect Ethan Salas. [VIDEO]

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Caple finished with having allowed three runs on three hits and two walks over two innings. He struck out four.

The Cubs re-took the lead with a four-run sixth inning. First, last year’s fifth-round pick Kade Snell clobbered one 449 feet to dead center to make it 4-3 Padres. [VIDEO]

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That’s Cubs prospect James Triantos going “Wow, that’s really far” on the call. Triantos went 1 for 3 in the game.

Two batters later, catcher Ariel Armas tied it up with a 398-foot home run. [VIDEO] As Triantos said, “Oh my gosh!”

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The Cubs would plate two more runs later in the sixth. Trice, who stayed in the game, singled after Arias. Next, last year’s second-round pick Kane Kepley doubled to put runners on second and third. Two wild pitches would score both Trice and Kepley.

Both teams had just one more run in them after that. Trice hit the Cub’s fourth solo home run in the eighth inning. [VIDEO]

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The Padres scored once in the top of the ninth off of reliever Luis Martinez-Gomez, who gave up a leadoff double. The runner then went to third on a flyout to right field and scored on a sacrifice fly. Martinez-Gomez got the save after giving up one run on one hit over one inning. He did not walk or strike anyone out, but he did hit one batter.

Yenrri Rojas threw two innings of relief and got the win. Rojas gave up no runs on two hits. He struck out two and walked one. Last year’s fourth-round pick, Kaleb Wing, pitched the eighth inning. He issued a two-out walk, but no other baserunners. Wing struck out one.

Trice didn’t even start this game, but he ended up as the big bat, going 3 for 3 with the home run.

Mathis was 2 for 3 with a double.

Kepley played the entire game in center field and went 2 for 4 with a double, a walk and a stolen base.

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LAFC's Hugo Lloris posts record 5th straight shutout to begin season in scoreless draw with Austin

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Hugo Lloris finished with two saves for Los Angeles FC in a record fifth straight shutout to begin a season, and Brad Stuver stopped the only shot he faced for Austin FC in a scoreless draw on Saturday night.

Lloris and LAFC (4-0-1) began the season with four shutout victories, just one of four teams in league history to accomplish the feat. His scoreless stretch of 450 minutes is the longest in league history to begin a season.

Lloris nearly surrendered his first goal of the season in the 63rd minute, but a Myrto Uzuni netter off a corner kick by Facundo Torres was disallowed after Ilie Sánchez was charged with a foul following a video review — and that led to a yellow card on Uzuni.

Neither keeper faced a shot on goal in a scoreless first half.

Austin (1-2-2) swept LAFC last year during the regular season but couldn't get past the Western Conference stalwarts in the playoffs. Both of the club's losses this season have come on the road.

LAFC eliminated Alajuelense on Tuesday to advance to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. The club is 7-0-2 so far through all competitions.

LAFC began the day tied with the Vancouver Whitecaps for first place in the hotly-contested West.

Up next

Los Angeles: Hosts Orlando City on April 4.

Austin: Visits Inter Miami on April 4.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer

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March Madness schedule: NCAA Tournament Round 2 games today, TV times, bracket update

Saturday got off to a slow start, but boy did it finish with a bang.

No. 11 seed Texas upset No. 3 Gonzaga, while Nebraska and Vanderbilt slugged it out in a 4-5 classic showdown in OKC.

And we can't forget about No. 12 High Point giving every underdog hope in its late night clash with No. 4 Arkansas in Portland before falling shot.

March Madness scores, highlights: An upset, near-misses alter Sweet 16 bracket

March Madness conference records: Big Ten leads at 11-2; How are SEC, Big 12 doing?

Can Sunday match it? Here's a look at the remaining second round schedule. Which eight teams will round out the Sweet 16?

March Madness games today: NCAA Tournament Round 2 schedule Sunday

Sunday, March 22

All times Eastern

  • 12:10 p.m.: No. 2 Purdue vs No. 7 Florida, CBS
  • 2:45 p.m.: No. 2 Iowa State vs No. 7 Kentucky, CBS
  • 5:15 p.m.: No. 4 Kansas vs No. 5 St. John's, CBS
  • 6:10 p.m.: No. 3 Virginia vs No. 6 Tennessee, TNT
  • 7:10 p.m.: No. 1 Florida vs No. 9 Iowa, TBS
  • 8:45 p.m.: No. 2 UConn vs No. 7 UCLA, TNT
  • 9:45 p.m.: No. 4 Alabama vs No. 5 Texas Tech, TBS

Who is in Sweet 16? March Madness Sweet 16 locations

  • MIDWEST: No. 1 Michigan will play No. 4 Alabama/No. 5 Texas Tech winner (in Chicago)
  • EAST: No. 1 Duke will play No. 4 Kansas/No. 5 St. John's winner (in Washington D.C).
  • EAST: No. 3 Michigan State will play No. 2 UConn/No. 7 UCLA winner (in Washington D.C.)
  • SOUTH: No. 2 Houston will play No. 3 Illinois/No. 11 VCU winner (in Houston)
  • WEST: No. 11 Texas will play No. 2 Purdue/No. 7 Miami (Fla.) winner
  • WEST: No. 4 Arkansas will play No. 1 Arizona/No. 9 Utah State winner

March Madness Round 2 scores yesterday

All times Eastern

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness games today Round 2 schedule, how to watch, bracket update

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Luka Doncic says vulgar comment from Orlando player led to his 16th technical

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) goes up to shoot between Orlando Magic.
Lakers star Luka Doncic shoots between Orlando's Tristan da Silva, left, and Wendell Carter Jr. during the first half Saturday. (Phelan M. Ebenhack / Associated Press)

Luka Doncic picked up his 16th technical foul of the season in Saturday’s dramatic 105-104 win over the Orlando Magic, putting the Lakers superstar in line for a one-game suspension as the Lakers take their nine-game winning streak to Detroit on Monday.

Doncic and Magic forward Goga Bitadze were jawing back and forth in the third quarter when Doncic was at the free-throw line. Doncic missed his first free-throw attempt and paused before taking his second, speaking with an official while wagging his finger in the direction of Bitadze.

Doncic said Bitadze told him in Serbian “he’d f— my whole family,” which prompted him to react.

Read more:Luke Kennard sinks last-second three-pointer as Lakers win ninth straight game

“Obviously, I let my team down getting that last tech,” said Doncic, who is hopeful the NBA will rescind the technical. “But honestly, I wasn't trying to. … This is a basketball court. At some point, I just can't stand it. I gotta stand up for myself. But I know I gotta do better. My teammates, I know they have my back, so I let them down today.”

The NBA automatically suspends any player who receives 16 technical fouls during a season. Doncic has reached the threshold two other times, but the NBA rescinded the 16th technical each time, allowing him to avoid suspension.

Bitadze, who is Georgian and played several professional seasons in Serbia, refuted Doncic’s account of the interaction, saying he first heard inappropriate comments from Doncic and only repeated what he heard Doncic say first.

“I'm a fan of his game and don't want to look like it was directed to his family, or anything,” Bitadze said in a phone interview with ESPN and the Orlando Sentinel. “It was just in the heat of the moment. I heard what he said and I felt like I had to respond the same way. So, from my side, if he feels like I said something too much or crossed the line, I apologize as a man. I can take [accountability], but I didn't say anything but what he said. What he came out and said, I don't think that's the truth. I know that's not the truth.”

Crew chief Marc Davis said in a pool report that both players were “assessed technical fouls for their continual taunting of one another.”

“They were both warned to cease their comments directed towards one another between the two free throws,” Davis said. “After the free throw and as the ball entered the frontcourt, they were both correctly assessed technical fouls for their unsportsmanlike comments directed towards one another.”

Officials played a pivotal role in the game that came down to a winning three-pointer from the Lakers’ Luke Kennard with 0.6 seconds remaining. The Lakers trailed by two when LeBron James forced a turnover from Jalen Suggs on an in-bounds pass with 4.7 seconds left. The close play went through several minutes of hawkeye replay on the videoboard that zoomed in on James’ leg and Suggs fingertips. Officials called it Lakers ball in real time. The Magic crowd — announced at 19,597 as the second-largest in Magic history, trailing only last year’s game against the Lakers that drew one more person — was confident that referees would overturn it.

But Davis said in a pool report “there was not clear and conclusive evidence to overturn the on-court ruling.”

Read more:Luka Doncic's 60-point game thrusts Lakers star into middle of MVP debate

Players from both teams were pleading for foul calls most of the game. The Magic and Lakers are first and third in the NBA in free-throw attempts, but the Lakers attempted only nine in the first half. The Lakers finished 19 of 29 from the free-throw line while the Magic were 21 for 23.

“[Officials] didn't have a real good control of that basketball game,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said.

Doncic picked up his 15th technical foul of the season against Denver on March 5, putting him on alert for a possible suspension. It was the last time that the Lakers lost before their current nine-game winning streak, which is the franchise’s longest since the 2019-20 season that culminated with their 17th NBA championship.

Doncic has averaged 40 points per game and has shot 40.3% from three-point range during the scorching run. The Lakers climbed from sixth place in the West to third place.

Doncic hit daring fadeaway three-pointers, threw sky-high lobs to teammates and nailed a dramatic winning shot against the Nuggets at home to add cinematic highlights to his budding most valuable player case. On defense, he had five steals against Miami and four more against the Magic.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Braves News: Didier Fuentes makes roster, Spring Breakout, more

Didier Fuentes has indeed made the Braves’ Opening Day roster and that is an exciting development for Braves fans, as the 20 year old has looked phenomenal this spring. There have been shades of vintage Spencer Strider from Fuentes this spring, but he may still need that third pitch to be able to consistently be effective multiple times through major league batting lineups. There is hope that his splitter can be that effective third pitch, but that fastball-slider combo with his command could be quite deadly. It will be interesting to see if he can earn his retention on the major league roster beyond the period when a six-man rotation is needed, though an injury or two could easily pave the way for that. Either way, Fuentes will be one of the most exciting players to track early this season in Atlanta.

Braves News

The Braves more or less finalized the back end of their pitching staff and position-player crew, as Jeff Passan later confirmed Didier Fuentes’ presence on the Opening Day roster.

The Braves’ Spring Breakout squad had a strong showing in a 8-3 win against the Yankees prospects, as John Gil homered and the pitching staff showed out well.

Chris Sale and Austin Riley performed well in Saturday’s big league spring training game.

MLB News

Mets’ Freddy Peralta is reportedly unlikely to agree to an extension before Opening Day.

Pirates’ top prospect Konnor Griffin has been reassigned to minor league camp and will not begin the season on the Opening Day roster.

Phillies’ top prospect Justin Crawford has made their Opening Day roster.