Grapefruit Juice: Mets 6, Yankees 4

TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 22: Justin Hagenman #47 of the New York Mets pitches during the second inning of a spring training game against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 22, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark Taylor/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The ball was flying at George M. Steinbrenner with the Mets blasting four home runs to defeat the Yankees 6-4 in the spring version of the Subway Series. On the other side of the ball the team’s pitching mostly held up well especially considering they faced quite a few Yankee starters for a few at bats in the beginning of the game.

  • Justin Hagenman got the start and gave up a solo home run to José Caballero. His final line was 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, and 3 K.
  • DH Jared Young got the scoring started in the second with a solo home run off Luis Gil.
  • The team got production out of their catchers. Both Luis Torrens and Hayden Senger hit solo home runs
  • Carson Benge went 0-for-3 in his spring debut
  • JT Schwartz hit a three-run home run in the eighth to provide a cushion.
  • The Mets pitching held the Yankees off the board until the bottom of the eighth when Brian Metoyer gave up a three-run home run to Kenedy Corona.
  • The Yankees got the tying runs on in the ninth but Carlos Guzman nailed down the save.

Next up the Mets will face the Blue Jays at 1:07 pm ET in sunny Dunedin, Florida.

Mark Vientos embraces spring training at first base as Mets' 2026 depth chart reshuffles

The Mets enter the 2026 MLB season with a new depth chart at first base after Pete Alonso's departure, and Mark Vientos is among the players involved.

Vientos batted second and started at first in Sunday's spring training game at the Yankees' George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., and played five innings.

"Pretty good," he said of his progress at first base. "Felt good to get my feet wet for the first game. Got a play at the end of the game, which was nice. But felt good. Felt good to be out there again."

The defensive play came to end the fifth inning when Amed Rosario grounded out to Vientos, whom the Mets replaced in the batting order in the sixth inning with left fielder Nick Morabito while JT Schwartz took first base.

"I think it's just getting everyday reps over there," Vientos said. "I think, more and more you get reps, I'll for sure feel a lot more comfortable. I played first base before in the past, and it's the same thing (as third base). Only thing is you've got to cover the bag, you've got to be a little bit more aware. But I feel comfortable over there."

Vientos primarily plays third base but has a background at the position in addition to his time designated hitting.

"For sure, footwork -- I think it's just getting familiar with the bag, throws," he said. "The bag is a lot bigger, so I've got more leeway to move around, switch foot, footing and, yeah -- like I said, I'm feeling comfortable out there. ... We're covering all the things we need to get better with."

The 27-year-old is open to playing "wherever" the Mets need him.

"Wherever they want me to play, wherever I get the opportunity -- whether it's third, first, DH -- wherever it is that they want me to do, I'm fine with it," Vientos said.

"I just want to help the team win and do my best job for it."

Vientos slashed .233/.289/.413 with 17 home runs and 61 RBI in 121 games in 2025. The production was a step back from his breakout 2024 when he slashed .266/.322/.516 with 27 home runs and 71 RBI in 111 games.

"I think it's just sticking to the routine, sticking to what works, not getting away from it," said Vientos, who posted an 0-for-3 afternoon at the plate Sunday. "My routine is a very simple one, but I'd say that, last year, I started switching things up. I wasn't trusting it, and I didn't have anything that was consistent.

"If my routine is inconsistent, how are my results on the field going to be consistent? So, that's all I'm focused on when it comes to offensive side is my routine and sticking to it."

Winners and Losers: Cavs at Thunder – Disastrous opening dooms Cleveland’s winning streak

CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 20: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers prepares to shoot a free throw during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on February 20, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers might have lost this game in the first six minutes. Let’s talk about it.

LOSER – The First Quarter

The Cavs had 10 turnovers in the first six minutes of the game. Oklahoma City had 17 points off turnovers during that run on their way to a 20+ point lead. That’s a catastrophic opening that will result in a loss 99% of the time.

So what went wrong?

Cleveland entered this game with the wrong approach. They treated this like a regular-season matinee rather than the potential NBA Finals preview that the OKC Thunder were prepared for. The Cavaliers were blitzed from the jump as a result.

Hesitation is a death sentence against this Thunder defense. They pounce on the first sign of indecision. That’s what led to 10 turnovers in the opening quarter as the Cavs frantically searched for their footing. It wasn’t until the offense became more purposeful and decisive that the turnovers finally subsided.

The Cavs eventually fought back into this game and made it a good one. But the opening six minutes are what ultimately cost them.

WINNER – Sam Merrill

A handful of Cavs players stepped up to make this competitive after the first quarter. None was more impactful than Sam Merrill.

Merill jump-started this offense and got them back into gear with his three-point shooting. He nailed consecutive deep balls to cut into the deficit early in the first half. As the game went on, Cleveland continued to rely on Merrill’s outside shooting to bail them out.

It’s not always easy for a player like Merrill to get free against a team such as OKC. They defend off-ball actions better than anyone in the league. That’s why it’s so impressive that Merrill was able to find openings and release the ball before this scrambly Thunder defense could catch up.

Merrill finished with 20 points on 6-10 three-point shooting.

LOSER – Screen Navigation

Turnovers were a problem in the first quarter. That was addressed as Clevleand’s offense settled into the game.

One thing that wasn’t solved, however, was their screen navigation.

I’ll give credit to the Thunder. Isaiah Hartenstein sets some of the widest screens in the association. He was crushing Cleveland’s backcourt all game long. Combine that with an efficient shooting night from the Thunder backcourt, and this was too much to overcome.

Donovan Mitchell and James Harden both got hung up on numerous screens that led to three-point jumpers. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley were also torched for playing below the level of the screen. We understand why those bigs would be in drop coverage, but the opponent shooting 21-41 (51%) from deep should probably warrant an adjustment.

WINNER – Schroder and Ellis

Let’s hand out one more pair of winners to a bench squad that’s made a difference.

Schroder and Ellis are giving this second unit new life. They’re able to enter the game and initiate a new style that, at worst, changes the dynamic of a game, and at best, swings things back into Cleveland’s favor.

Their scrappy style lends itself to generating chaos. The Thunder had a taste of their own medicine when this duo was on the floor. Their defensive activity made life more difficult for OKC. And, they each bring their own value on offense.

The Cavs have leaned on Schroder to operate in the pick-and-roll when Mitchell or Harden aren’t on the floor. He isn’t as elite as the starting gaurds but he’s more than capable of running this two-man action.

As for Ellis, he shot just 1-4 from deep, but cut into the lane for a handful of easy buckets. He’s a better shooter than this on most nights and should mesh well with whatever lineups the Cavs put him in moving forward.

Highlights: Victor Wembanyama’s 28-point double double leads Spurs over Kings

Feb 21, 2026; Austin, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) goes up for a shot in the first half against the Sacramento Kings at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images

Coming off a blowout victory against the Phoenix Suns, the Spurs took on the Sacramento Kings for the second I-35 Series game at the Moody Center in Austin, TX. The Spurs started hot with an 11-0 run. However, the Kings crawled back to within four points by the end of the first quarter. Despite the Spurs’ hot scoring, the Kings were able to keep pace and trailed 73-65 at halftime and even took the lead in the third. Little by little, the Spurs rebuilt the lead to 11 after three. An early run in the fourth put the game away, and the Spurs won 139-122.

Victor Wembanyama led the way with a double-double: 28 points (11-20 FG) and 15 rebounds to go along with six assists, four blocks, and a steal. After a solid outing against the Suns, Wemby turned it up against the Kings. There seemed to be some extra motivation because his childhood friend/teammate, Maxime Raynaud, matched up against him from the start. Nonetheless, Wemby dominated on both ends with multiple dunks and blocks. The All-Star starter will look to continue his MVP campaign against All-Star Jalen Duren on Monday (assuming he ends up playing 65 games).

NOT IN HIS HOUSE! Wemby swats Russell Westbrook’s shot out of the air, and it kickstarts a fast break that results in a bucket for De’Aaron Fox!

FOX TO THE ALIEN! D-Fox finds a cutting Wemby on the lob, and he finishes over DeMar DeRozan!

Wemby dime! Wemby leads the fastbreak and finds a wide-open Carter Bryant, who knocks down the transition three!

EXCUSE ME? Wemby pulls off a between-the-legs Smitty move on Raynaud, and he finishes with a two-handed slam!

WITH THE LEFT! Vic drives into the paint and finishes with the left hand past Precious Achiuwa!

DUNK CONTEST 2027 PARTICIPANT? Vic drives past Raynaud and finishes with a clockwise jam!

Here’s another angle!

Another lob, another Wemby slam! This time, Devin Vassell takes the handoff from Vic, and he fakes his jumpshot into a pass for a wide-open Vic slam!

Stephon Castle dropped 18 points (6-9 FG, 6-8 FT), eight rebounds, three assists, and a block. Since returning from the All-Star break, Steph has shot 70% from the field. His resilience in slashing has also rewarded him with more free throws. Ever since he carried the offensive load for his squad in the Rising Stars Challenge, his shot has slightly improved. The reigning Rookie of the Year will look to continue his hot shooting against a stingy Detroit team and MVP candidate Cade Cunningham.

Here he comes to save the day! After the missed Wemby three, Steph flies in for the putback finish!

De’Aaron Fox dropped 18 points (7-11 FG), five assists, two rebounds, and a steal. After the hot start, D-Fox struggled to take care of the ball as he turned it over four times in the first quarter. Nonetheless, he was still a +8. After the turnover struggles, D-Fox started driving and finding his shot. Anytime he runs a pick-and-roll, the defense most of the time gives him too much space to operate for an open floater or midrange. His P&R with Wemby is deadly, as it gives him even more space to operate. The 2-time All-Star will look to continue to provide the much-needed scoring punch for this young team as the schedule gets tougher.

Another look at the fastbreak kickstarted by Wemby’s huge block: D-Fox plays tough defense on Westbrook and runs the floor for a wide-open layup thanks to Julian Champagnie’s bounce pass from the corner!

PICKPOCKET MASTER! D-Fox picks Keegan Murray’s pocket and finishes on the other end with a wide-open jam!

Keldon Johnson dropped 18 points (6-12 FG, 3-4 3PT, 3-4 FT) and a rebound in 21 minutes off the bench. Even though he was loud and demonstrative, KJ’s 18 was a sneaky 18. While most of the attention was on Wemby, Fox, and Castle, KJ battled early shooting struggles and started splashing home open threes. His willingness to drive into the paint when the team needs him to create offense usually results in a tough bucket. The Sixth Man of the Year candidate will look to continue the silver and black’s spark plug energy off the bench.

Corner Specialist! Keldon knocks down the open three from the corner in front of the Kings’ bench!

Dylan Harper dropped 12 points (5-9 FG), five rebounds, and five assists in 23 minutes off the bench. After showing out in the Rising Stars Challenge with Steph, Dyl continues to showcase his talent as a combo guard. On most teams picking in the lottery, Dyl would be a ROTY candidate and leading the offense. However, his role off the bench has provided much-needed guard play when D-Fox and Steph are on the bench. Instead of leading a lottery/play-in team, he is an important piece to the puzzle for this contending Spurs team.

Cut and slam! After feeding Wemby in the post, Dyl goes to set a slip screen and cuts to the basket to receive a rewarding Wemby pass for the open jam!

Don’t sleep on his hops! Dyl drives in from the corner and finishes with a ferocious slam! The dunk was so astonishing that even Vic couldn’t help but look amazed!

Julian Champagnie dropped eight points, four rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Julian has started games and has come off the bench this season, but for now, it seems that he will start for the rest of the season alongside Devin Vassell at the forward positions. They both have played three positions this season (SG, SF, PF), and both are versatile enough to guard at either position. However, it is worth noting that Julian is taller and a better rebounder. Watch him intercept the pass from Westbrook and sprint to the cup for a poster fastbreak slam over Murray!

Another angle on the slam!

Despite letting the Kings come back in the second, the Spurs kept their hot shooting pace and opened the floodgates in the fourth. For the first time, the Spurs won both of their I-35 games. Also, they have now won 40 games before losing 20, which usually means they are a true contender (91% of the time, championship teams have won 40 games before losing 20). Only the Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit Pistons have met that mark this season, and they are both leading their respective conferences. As mentioned earlier, Detroit awaits the Spurs’ arrival on Monday.

Finally, here are the full game highlights.

The Spurs face a tough test on the road against the Detroit Pistons this Monday at 6:00 P.M. (CST) on Peacock/NBCSN.

Luis Torrens hits one of Mets' four home runs in spring training win over Yankees

The Mets defeated the Yankees by a score of 6-4 in Grapefruit League action on Sunday.

Here are the key takeaways...

-- The Mets have said that top prospect Carson Benge is going to get a legitimate shot to win the starting right field job, and they backed that up by having Benge lead off and play right on Sunday.

In his first at-bat against Luis Gil, Benge was sawed off and hit a jam-shot pop-up to shortstop. In his second AB, Benge hit a grounder to first and nearly ran it out for a hit, but was out by half a step or so. 

Benge's toughest at-bat came in the top of the fifth, facing veteran lefty Tim Hill. After falling behind 0-2, Benge laid off a ball and fouled another pitch off before grounding into a 6-3 double play. He was replaced defensively in the bottom of the fifth inning.

-- The first Mets home run of 2026 spring training came off the bat of Jared Young in the second inning, when he clobbered a high fastball for a solo homer.

Young played in 23 games for the Mets last season and hit four home runs. He’ll likely start the season in Triple-A, but could be a left-handed hitting option off the bench.

-- The Mets flashed some more pop in the top of the fourth, when Luis Torrens lifted a solo home run to right-center. Barring anything unexpected, Torrens will be the Mets' backup catcher behind Francisco Alvarez come Opening Day.

Not to be outdone, fellow catcher Hayden Senger joined the power party in the top of the sixth, hitting a solo shot to right-center. Senger has major league experience and could be in the mix for the backup catching job.

-- And for good measure, and for further proof that the wind was blowing out to right, JT Schwartz lifted one up into the jet stream in the top of the eighth, and it carried well out of the ballpark for a three-run shot.

-- Righty Justin Hagenman started for the Mets, going 2.1 innings while allowing one earned run on two hits. He walked three and struck out three, and figures to be in the mix if the Mets need a spot start during the season.

YANKEES

-- Gil went 2.2 innings for the Yankees, throwing 48 pitches. He allowed a pair of hits, including the solo homer, but he struck out four and didn't walk a batter. His fastball sat around 96 MPH, and 33 of his 48 pitches were strikes.

-- Shortstop is an area of focus for the Yankees, considering Anthony Volpe will miss the beginning of the season and is no sure bet to start once he returns, and Jose Caballero made an impact on Sunday, smacking a solo home run on a hanging Hagenman breaking ball in the third inning. Caballero will likely be the Opening Day starter at short for the Yanks.

-- Coming off a two-homer game in his spring debut, Aaron Judge went 0-1 with a groundout to third, but he did reach base twice via walks. Cody Bellinger had a pair of base hits, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. reached base twice with a single and a walk.

-- Outfielder Kenedy Corona drew the Yankees closer with a three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning. Corona spent the entire 2025 season in Triple-A in the Houston Astros system before the Yankees signed him to a minor league deal.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets visit the Toronto Blue Jays for a 1:07 p.m. start time on Monday afternoon, while the Yankees visit the Pittsburgh Pirates for a 1:05 p.m. start time.

Mavericks vs Pacers Preview and Injury Update: Sunday afternoon basketball

DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 29: Head coach Rick Carlisle of the Indiana Pacers watches action during a game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on October 29, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Dallas Mavericks (19-36) visit the Indiana Pacers (15-42) for a very strangely timed Sunday afternoon game. Dallas is in the midst of a double-digit losing streak, having not won a game in over a month. The Pacers just out tanked the Washington Wizards twice in a row. This is going to be a monumentally bad game!

  • WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Indiana Pacers
  • WHAT: Road trippin’, still
  • WHERE: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
  • WHEN: 4:00 pm CST
  • HOW: KFAA Channel 29, MavsTV streaming, NBA League Pass

There are TWENTY TWO players on the injury report for this game between both teams. Cooper Flagg headlines the guys out for the Mavericks. Moussa Cisse and Ryan Nembhard are doubtful, largely due to how many games they have left of their eligibility. Daniel Gafford and Max Christie are still questionable. Miles Kelly and Caleb Martin are expected to play. Most of the Pacers roster is questionable with Zubac, Nesmith, Johnny Furphy, and Haliburton definatively out.

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With both Cooper Flagg out again, this becomes a nearly impossible watch. But both of these teams at least play at a fast pace, so watching them might be fun if youre a true sicko. I’d expect the Mavericks to come out on top of this one. They have too many useful players compared to the Pacers. But Dallas is on a massive losing streak, so it’s POSSIBLE they lose. We’ll see. I don’t have high expectations and won’t be watching this one that closely.

Be sure to chime in with your predictions in the comments!

Consider joining Josh and me on Pod Maverick live after the game on YouTube, we should start LATE. Thanks so much for spending time with us here at Mavs Moneyball. Let’s go Mavs!

Rhys Hoskins is not a Phillie. Why not and what does it mean?

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 01: Rhys Hoskins #17 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a home run in the fifth inning of Game 3 of the 2022 World Series between the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, November 1, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Rhys Hoskins is now a Guardian, agreeing to a deal with Cleveland on Sunday morning. His lengthy stay in free agency and non-guaranteed deal indicate that he wasn’t in high demand. However, there was at least one team that showed some interest in him, according to this report from Devan Kaney:

That certainly got Phillies fans talking. Reactions to this generally fell into one of three categories:

  1. Heck yeah! We loved that guy and the Phillies haven’t been the same since he left! Bring him back!
  2. The Phillies need right-handed power to protect Bryce Harper in the lineup! Bring him back!
  3. Um…where would he play?

I understand the first reaction as nostalgia can be a hell of a drug. Now that we’ve had a few years of separation (and playoff failures), it seems people are remembering Hoskins more fondly than they actually thought of him while he was here. For most fans, the home run binges and the bat spike against the Braves are the lasting memories of his time in Philadelphia.

Less remembered are the deep, prolonged slumps that he endured every season. That bat spike, as well as his performance against the Padres have made people think of him as a good playoff performer, but part of the reason, he was so emotional was because he had been 1-20 in the playoffs up to that point. Later in those same playoffs, he recorded a .394 OPS in the World Series. And for what it’s worth, he was 0-9 in the playoffs with the Brewers in 2024.

As for the belief that Hoskins would have provided Bryce Harper with right-handed protection in the lineup, I have to disagree. Hoskins’ two-year stint with the Brewers didn’t set the world on fire. In 2024, while coming off a missed season due to a knee injury, Hoskins had a .722 OPS with 26 home runs. Those aren’t bad numbers, but they’re also not great ones, especially for a right-handed first baseman who is a negative in the field. He was having a better season in 2025 (.748 OPS) before missing most of the second half with a thumb injury. He returned before the end of the season, but the Brewers didn’t include him on their playoff roster.

Based on recent history, there’s no reason to think Hoskins will be a great player in 2026, and based on the terms of his new contract, that is the consensus opinion throughout MLB. That said, if you want a right-handed hitter who provides 25+ home run power, Hoskins can probably give you that over a full season.

But – and this is probably the main reason why Hoskins is not a Phillie – Hoskins likely wouldn’t have provided that power for the Phillies because there was no place to play him.

Hoskins is limited to first base and designated hitter, and the Phillies already have All-Stars at those positions. Please don’t suggest he play left field. Hoskins was a disaster playing there in 2018, and I suspect that eight years and one major knee injury later, he’s not going to be any better.

I saw suggestions that Hoskins be used in a platoon-type role where he would play first base against left-handed pitching with Bryce Harper going to left field in place of Brandon Marsh. But I’ll believe that Harper is willing to play the outfield when I see it. We’ve heard whispers about it, but I don’t think there have been any official quotes. This plan would also weaken the Phillies defensively at both first base and left field, although Otto Kemp – presumed to be the right-handed half of a platoon with Brandon Marsh in left – is certainly not a plus on defense either.

Hoskins also doesn’t have drastic platoon splits over his career, and he actually had a higher OPS against right-handed pitching in 2025 (.756 vs. .731). While I’m sure he’d do better than Marsh against lefties (a low bar to be sure), if you’re going to use a player in a platoon, you’d want him to crush opposite hand pitching.

There was talk about using him as a bench bat, and I agree that it would be nice to have a legit power threat off the bench. But I doubt that Hoskins was even interested in that.

Besides, if the point was to protect Harper in the lineup, I’m not sure what good a bench bat would have done. So, even if they had signed Rhys Hoskins, we still would have likely had Alec Bohm as the Opening Day cleanup hitter. (Cue the grumbling from the fans.)

I think part of the discontent with that arrangement is that people are still holding on to outdated ideas as to what a “cleanup” hitter actually is. Not so long ago, Alec Bohm would have been batting second or third with Kyle Schwarber – a stereotypical power hitter – batting fourth. But these days, teams tend to put their best hitters as high up in the lineup as they can, and the modern two-hole hitter is generally a bigger power threat than the man in the four-hole. (The venerable Schmenkman can provide more information.)

The most important takeaway from this Hoskins report is that the team’s team president and franchise player are still very much not on the same page. Harper clearly believes the team isn’t good enough as is and seems to be putting some of the blame for his “nonelite” season on his supporting cast. Dombrowski’s attitude seems to be: “We’re paying these players as if they’re stars, so they need to play like stars when it counts.”

They’ve both got a point – although I know that far more Phillies fans share Harper’s opinion – but unless one of them does something to solve the problem, it is likely to continue, and the relationship between Harper and Dombrowski is unlikely to improve.

Cavs comeback falls short to hot-shooting Thunder

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - FEBRUARY 22: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on February 22, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by William Purnell/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers erased an early 23-point first-quarter deficit, but they weren’t able to complete the comeback. The shorthanded Oklahoma City Thunder, fueled by incredible outside shooting, were able to hand the Cavs their first loss in February. Cleveland fell 121-113.

The Cavaliers dug themselves their early hole due to their inability to protect the ball. They turned it over 10 times in the first quarter, leading to 17 points going the other way. That helped juice an Oklahoma City offense that was forced to play without its two best scorers in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams.

Cleveland’s cramped starting lineup led to this. Head coach Kenny Atkinson went with James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen to open things up. I like that group in most matchups, but this wasn’t one.

The combination of Oklahoma City’s perimeter defenders and the lack of ball handlers outside of Harden and Mitchell led to these issues. There weren’t outlets for the guards, and the offense struggled. This group was outscored by 14 in the five minutes they played.

Things got worse from there as the deficit ballooned to 23 late in the first quarter before the Cavs started their comeback.

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Cleveland consistently rallied back over the next two-and-a-half quarters. They cut the deficit to a respectable 15 after one, brought it to single digits at the end of the second, and gained their first lead of the game midway through the third.

Unfortunately for the Cavs, that was the only lead they would take. The Thunder recaptured their advantage heading into the fourth quarter and were able to keep the Cavs mostly at arm’s length down the stretch.

Oklahoma City’s outside shooting was a weapon all game, and saved them in the fourth quarter. They simply couldn’t miss as they hit their third-highest percentage of threes in a game this season. Even though the Cavs got close multiple times, they couldn’t make the big stop when they needed to.

The Thunder ended the game going 21-41 (51.2%) from three while the Cavs went just 13-39 (33.3%). In the end, it’s a make-or-miss league.

Sam Merrill’s shooting was the only thing keeping the Cavs in the game for stretches. He was red hot from deep as he went 6-10 from beyond the arc en route to a 20-point game.

Mitchell provided 20 points on 9-19 shooting to go along with five assists and two steals.

Harden continued his streak of having seven or more assists. He finished with nine to go along with scoring 20 points on 8-14 shooting. He did, however, turn the ball over five times.

Allen wasn’t able to keep his strong play going. The Cavs weren’t able to get him involved early as he took just one shot attempt in the first quarter. This led to a somewhat unimpactful game as he provided 11 points and 13 rebounds in the loss.

Mobley ended the game with 15 points with just two rebounds. Dennis Schroder supplied 11-bench points.

The Thunder were led by 22 points from Isaiah Joe and 20 from Cason Wallace. Chet Holmgren had 17 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks in the win.

Even though the Cavs lost this game, this was nothing to be too discouraged by. The Thunder were missing two of their best offensive players, but you would sign up to be without them every night if it guaranteed you’d make more than half of your 41 three-point attempts.

This type of offensive performance was so far out of character for this version of the Thunder. Coming into today, lineups without SGA, Williams, and Alex Caruso had registered an abysmal 106.1 offensive rating(4th percentile).

You have to tip your cap to the Thunder on a game like this. They executed at an extraordinarily high level and were the better team today. However, there’s no reason to come away from this one thinking the Cavs aren’t on their same level.

The loss snapped what was a seven-game winning streak. Cleveland has still won 12 of their last 14 games.

The Cavs will be back in action Tuesday as they host the New York Knicks. Tip-off is at 7:30 PM.

Analyzing the Rhys Hoskins Add for the Guardians

Jun 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Rhys Hoskins (12) looks on during the game against the Colorado Rockies at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

The Guardians added a right-handed bat, finally, bringing Rhys Hoskins in on a minor-league deal today.

First, the reasons the team is bringing Hoskins in:

  • The price is right. The team doesn’t have to guarantee Hoskins a roster spot while also only owing him $1.5M if he makes the team.
  • Hoskins is 33 years old, which is not young but not old for a baseball player. This is not a 39 year-old Carlos Santana signing.
  • Even in a bit of a down year for him compared to his career 121 wRC+, Hoskins still put up a 109 wRC+ last season, which would have been third-best among Guardians’ players who got 300 or more plate appearances in 2025. He also has a 137 wRC+ against left-handed pitching for his career. Some have noted that his wRC+ against southpaws is only 109 in 2024-2025, but it’s generally wiser to look at his career numbers when there is a large enough sample size. I’d expect that Hoskins, if healthy, will be capable of putting up something closer to his career 137 wRC+ against LHP than the 109 of the past couple years.
  • Hoskins had his best year defensively since 2019 in 2025, putting up 2 Defensive Runs Saved and 1 Out Above Average at first base. This is a solid indicator of a player not willing to rest on past achievements, but willing to work to continue to contribute as his career wanes.
  • Hoskins had his lowest chase-rate in six years in 2025 (19.9% out-of-zone swing rate) and the highest hard-hit rate of his career (46.4%). These are decent indications that he still has potential to be the 120 wRC+ hitter he has been for his career for another season if healthy and given the opportunity.
  • Most importantly, the addition of Hoskins provides needed depth in several areas. First of all, if neither David Fry nor Juan Brito are looking at their best, either or both can be optioned to Columbus. CJ Kayfus, now, can provide much needed depth in left and right field, given the potential for either (or both) of Chase DeLauter or George Valera to be affected or limited by injury concerns. I realize that some folks are concerned that Kayfus and Valera, especially, may not get the opportunities they deserve, but, it’s important to remember that good teams, playoff-contending teams, need the depth to make sure they do not have to rely on every young player to succeed, every injured player to be healthy, and every long-shot cause to pay off.

I think the player this addition affects most is likely Johnathan Rodriguez. Hoskins is very likely a better DH option than Rodriguez will be, and I think the Guardians are likely correct in that assessment. Hoskins also gives the useful aspect of being an average defender at first (vs. Rodriguez being a terrible defender everywhere). This move also probably makes Nolan Jones more of a depth piece than a relied upon starter, which is good news.

I expect that as long as Hoskins is healthy, he will make the Opening Day Roster, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we start to see David Fry become an option in right field, despite Vogt’s earlier indications that he wouldn’t be. The collection of hitters for Opening Day seems likely, at the moment, to be:

C – Bo, Hedges, Fry
1B – Manzardo and Hoskins
2B – Arias or Brito
3B – Jose
SS – Rocchio
LF – Kayfus or Valera (or Kwan, if centerfield doesn’t pan out)
CF – Kwan (or Jones or DeLauter if Kwan is in left)
RF – DeLauter (or Valera or Kayfus if Kwan is in left)
Utility Infielder: Daniel Schneemann (or Gabriel Arias if Brito makes the team)
Utility Outfielder: Stuart Fairchild or Angel Martinez

The good news is that Fry, Kayfus, Rodriguez, Schneemann, and Valera all have options and can be useful depth in Columbus as need be. Nolan Jones, also, can probably be designated for assignment and passed through to Columbus if he doesn’t make the roster (though I suspect he would probably be traded, instead). This is important for a team that wants to have the piece necessary to survive the grind of a 162-game season while maintaining a consistent level of offense.

Finally, Hoskins had a wRC+ of over 130 last season before he injured his thumb a couple months into the season. Seems a reasonable chance that healthy thumb Hoskins can be that kind of threat again. Choosing the Guardians as his minor-league deal option means Hoskins thinks he has a good shot to make the roster here.

I feel much better about the Guardians’ offseason. I’d like to see Randal Grichuk also brought into camp to add to the competition for right-handed outfielders, but this is enough to call off the worst of the dogs in terms of Guardians’ offseason inactivity for me. Last second heave by Chris Antonetti with the game clock expiring – and it’s good!

Game Preview: Suns limp into battle with the Blazers

PORTLAND, OREGON - FEBRUARY 03: Grayson Allen #8 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against Jerami Grant #9 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half at Moda Center on February 03, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Who: Phoenix Suns (33-24) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (27-30)

When: 6:00pm Arizona Time

Where: Mortgage Matchup Center— Phoenix, Arizona

Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports, Suns+

Listen: KMVP 98.7



The Phoenix Suns are right back at it Sunday night, less than 24 hours after a double overtime grind against Orlando that somehow delivered one of the season’s defining moments. For multiple reasons. It took real work to get there, but Jalen Green’s game-winning three-pointer cut through the noise and sent everyone home smiling. That glow faded fast once the news hit. Dillon Brooks broke his hand in that game, and there is no clear timetable yet for when he will be back.

Such is life in the NBA. Such is life and sports. Such is life.

You flip the page, you circle the next date, and you lock in on what is right in front of you. That next task shows up wearing Portland across its chest.

The Trail Blazers sit six games back of the Suns in the standings, parked comfortably in the 10th seed, with a little breathing room over Memphis down in 11th. On paper, that is a game Phoenix usually handles. In reality, with bodies piling up on the injury report and legs still feeling sore Saturday night, nothing comes free here.

This is another one that has to be earned. If the Suns want to walk away with it, they either need to shoot the ball better, move the ball better, or preferably do both. Because neither showed up against Orlando.

Probable Starters

Injury Report

Suns

  • Jalen Green — QUESTIONABLE (Right Knee Injury Managemen)
  • Grayson Allen — QUESTIONABLE (Right Ankle Sprain)
  • Devin Booker — OUT (Right Hip Strain)
  • Dillon Brooks — OUT (Left Hand)
  • Jordan Goodwin — OUT (Left Calf Strain)
  • Haywood Highsmith — OUT ( Right Knee Injury)
  • Cole Anthony — OUT (Not With Team)

Trail Blazers

  • Deni Avdija — QUESTIONABLE (Low Back, Injury Management)
  • Damion Lillard — OUT (Left Achilles Tendon)
  • Shaedon Sharpe — OUT (Left Calf Strain)

What to Watch For

First up? Who the heck is going to play?! That injury report is tough to look at.

Expect a heavy dose of threes in this one. Portland sits 28th in three-point percentage at 34.1%, but they launch them anyway, second most attempts in the league at 42.5 per game. We have seen this movie before. Last time these two played, the Suns fell into an early hole due to a mix of shaky perimeter defense and Portland catching fire. That turned into a dangerous cocktail that had the Suns down by as many as 19 points.

Phoenix eventually clawed back and escaped with a 130–125 win on February 3, but that start cannot repeat itself.

Portland also presents a size problem, one that pokes directly at a Suns soft spot. They are sixth in the league at 45.9 rebounds per game and third in offensive rebounding rate at 35.4%. That translates to league-best second-chance points at 18.3 per night. Donovan Clingan sets the tone there, leading the NBA with 4.7 offensive rebounds a game. He has to be accounted for, every possession.

And yeah, but this feels like a spot where giving rookie Khaman Maluach a look could help. Purely for size. A body. Someone to box out and absorb contact. I do not know if this is full experimentation season yet, but against Portland, I would not hate seeing it.

Key to a Suns Win

Shoot better.

I know that sounds like the most basic form of analysis imaginable, but sometimes the simple truth is still the truth. In February, the Phoenix Suns are shooting 34.2% from three, which sits 23rd in the NBA. At the same time, they are fifth in three-point rate, with 47.3% of their shots coming from deep. The volume is there. The accuracy is not. That gap has to close if Phoenix wants to beat Portland.

That task gets harder when Devin Booker is out, and it gets harder again without Dillon Brooks. Brooks may not always be efficient, but he has still made the fourth-most threes on the team this season. Those shots do not disappear. Someone has to absorb them. That responsibility now falls on Collin Gillespie, Royce O’Neale, Grayson Allen, and Ryan Dunn. They need to lock in and convert the clean looks they are getting.

Pair that with protecting the glass. Second-chance points are killers, especially for a team already dealing with injuries and heavy legs. Extra possessions drain you fast. Phoenix cannot afford to hand those out.

Prediction Time

Expect the unexpected. The Suns are wounded right now, no way around it, but there is still plenty of fight in this group. We saw it against Orlando. That was a game they probably lost nine times out of ten, and somehow they dragged it across the finish line anyway.

Now it is Sunday, and Portland is standing in front of them. This feels like one of those nights where things get weird, where effort and timing matter more than polish. The kind of night where a role player steps into the light and keeps everything from tilting the wrong way.

Call it a hunch, call it basketball intuition, call it “there’s no one else to score”, but it feels like a Royce O’Neale night. The Suns are going to need one.

Suns 118, Trail Blazers 115

Boston Celtics (36-19) at Los Angeles Lakers (34-21) Game #56 2/22/26

BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 5: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks to pass the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on December 5, 2025 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Boston Celtics (36-19) at Los Angeles Lakers (34-21)
Sunday, February 22, 2026
6:30 PM ET
TV: NBC/Peacock, NBCSB, Telemundo
Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, ESPN LA 710, Sirius XM
Regular Season Game #56 Road Game #29
Crypto.com Arena

The Celtics visit the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2nd and final meeting this season. The Celtics win the first meeting in Boston 125-105 on December 5. The Celtics were at full strength for that game while the Lakers were without LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Marcus Smart. These two teams tied the series last season with each team winning on their home court. The Celtics are 168-135 overall, all time, against the Lakers. They are 55-78 in games played at the Lakers.

The Lakers basically kept their core together for this season. They did make a couple of changes however. They brought in DeAndre Ayton to shore up their center spot. They also signed Marcus Smart to help their defense. They signed Jake LaRavia as a free agent also. At the trade deadline, the Lakers traded Gabe Vincent to Atlanta for Luke Kennard to give them a sharpshooter off the bench.

The Celtics are 2nd in the East, 5.5 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are 1 game ahead of 3rd place Cleveland, 1.5 games ahead of 4th place New York, 3 games ahead of 5th place Toronto, 6 games ahead of 6th place Philadelphia and 6.5 games ahead of 7th place Orlando. The Celtics are 12-6 against Western Conference opponents. They are 18-10 on the road and 8-2 in their last 10 games. They have won their last 2 games.

The Lakers are 5th in the West, 8 games behind first place OKC, 5 games behind 2nd place San Antonio, 1 game behind 3rd place Denver, half a game behind 4th place Houston and tied with 6th place Minnesota. They are 2.5 game ahead of 7th place Phoenix. They are 11-7 against Eastern Conference opponents and 16-10 at home. They are 6-4 in their last 10 games. They have won their last 2 games.

The Celtics are playing in the 2nd game of a 4 game Western road trip. They beat Golden State 121-110 on Thursday and will play Phoenix, and Denver back to back on Tuesday and Wednesday to close out the trip. They will then return home for games against Brooklyn and Philadelphia before a game at Milwaukee. Then they are back home for games against Charlotte and Dallas before a tough 3 game road trip through Cleveland, San Antonio, and Oklahoma City. Then they host Washington, Phoenix and Golden State.

The Lakers are playing in the 7th game of an 8 game home stand. They are 4-2 so far on the home stand and will close it out with a game against Orlando. They will then play at Phoenix and Golden State before returning home to play Sacramento and New Orleans. Then it’s one game at Denver before a 5 game home stand where they will host Indiana, New York, Minnesota, Chicago and Denver.

Both teams are healthy other than Jayson Tatum for the Celtics, who remains out as he rehabs from the torn Achilles. The Lakers have no one on their injury report. I’m assuming that the Celtics will once again start White, Scheierman, Brown, Hauser and Queta. I’m thinking that the Lakers will stick with the starters they used on Friday in their win over the Clippers, which is Doncic, Reaves, LeBron, Smart and Jordan. Although they only used this starting lineup once due to injuries, they consider it their strongest starting lineup.

Probable Starting Matchups
PG: Derrick White vs Luka Doncic

Derrick White | NBAE via Getty Images
Luka Doncic | NBAE via Getty Images

SG: Baylor Scheierman vs Austin Reaves

Baylor Scheierman | Getty Images
Austin Reaves | MediaNews Group via Getty Images

SF: Jaylen Brown vs LeBron James

Jaylen Brown | Getty Images
LeBron James | NBAE via Getty Images

PF: Sam Hauser vs Marcus Smart

Sam Hauser
Sam Hauser | Getty Images
Marcus Smart | NBAE via Getty Images

C: Neemias Queta vs Deandre Ayton

Neemias Queta | Getty Images
Deandre Ayton | MediaNews Group via Getty Images

Celtics Reserves
Payton Pritchard
Hugo Gonzalez
Luka Garza
Amare Williams
Nikola Vucevic
Jordan Walsh
Delano Banton (10-day)
John Tonje (10-day)

2-Way Players
Ron Harper, Jr
Max Shulga

Injuries/Out
Jayson Tatum (Achilles) out

Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla

Lakers Reserves
Kobe Bufkin
Rui Hachimura
Jaxson Hayes
Bronny James
Luke Kennard
Maxi Kleber
Dalton Knecht
Jake LaRavia
Adou Thiero
Jarred Vanderbilt

2-Way Players

Chris Manon
Nick Smith, Jr
Drew Timme

Injuries/Out
None listed

Head Coach

JJ Redick

Key Matchups
Derrick White vs Luka Doncic

Doncic is averaging 33.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.6 assists per game while shooting 47.3% from the fiield He is coming off a game where he finished with 38 points, 6 rebounds, 11 assists and 1 block. He missed the December game against the Celtics. The Celtics have to slow Doncic down and guard him both on the perimeter and in the paint along with anticipating his passes.

Baylor Scheierman vs Austin Reaves
Reaves is averaging 25.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game.  He is shooting 51.1% from the field and 37.4% from beyond the arc.  In the December meeting between these two teams, Reeves finished with 36 points, 3 rebound, and 8 assists while shooting 50% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc.  He is coming off a game where he finished with 29 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. 

Honorable Mention
Jaylen Brown vs LeBron James
LeBron is averaging 21.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 7.2 assists while shooting 49.9% from the field and 30.6% from beyond the arc.  In his last game on Friday, he finished with 13 points, 3 rebounds, 11 assists and 1 steal.  He didn’t play in the first game between these two teams.   He may be old, but he is still dangerous and a very good passer. 

Keys to the Game
Defense – I can’t say it enough that defense is the most important key to winning.  The Celtics are 8th in the league with a defensive rating of 112.6. The Lakers are 24th with a defensive rating of 116.5.  The Celtics have played good defense for the most part in recent games but they still are not consistent on that end for 48 minutes each game   They must stay committed to playing tough, lock down defense, especially against a Lakers team with some very good offensive weapons.  The Celtics must especially defend in the paint as the Lakers are 9th in the league with 51.9 points in the paint per game.

Rebound –  Rebounding takes effort and energy and the Celtics will need both to out-rebound the Lakers.  The Celtics need to crash the boards and keep the Lakers from getting second chance points and fast breaks.  The Celtics  are averaging 45.6 rebounds per game (8th) while the Lakers are averaging 40.9 rebounds per game (24th).   The Celtics must put out extra energy and effort to beat the Lakers to rebounds. 

Move the Ball Carefully – The Celtics need to move the ball in order to find the best shot on each possession. When the ball sticks and players try to do too much, the Celtics struggle. They are at their best when they pass the ball and keep it moving.  The Celtics had 31 assists in their win over the Warriors.  The Celtics are 28-4 when they have at least 25 assists.  But they have to make careful passes and not get sloppy because the Lakers average 17.8 points off turnovers.

Be Aggressive – The Celtics must be the more aggressive team. They have to be aggressive in going to the basket, in diving for loose balls, and on defense.  They have to aggressively crash the boards.  They have to be the team that plays harder and that wants it more.  In most of their losses, they have allowed their opponents to play harder and be more aggressive.  They absolutely can’t let the Lakers play harder than them if they want to have a chance to win.

X-Factors
On the Road
– The Celtics are playing in the second game of a 4 game road trip.  They need to fight through the distractions of playing on the road and on the other coast in a different time zone and keep their focus on playing the right way.    They need to put all those distractions of playing in a strange arena and in front of hostile fans and staying in hotels and away from family aside and put all their focus on playing the game. 

Pride – “Beat LA” is one of the most iconic chants in sports.  This is a storied rivalry and no matter the circumstances, the Celtics always want to beat the Lakers and vice versa.   The Celtics have to focus on the game and on playing aggressive basketball.  It’s a matter of pride and the Celtics need to get the job done and “Beat LA”.  On the other hand, LeBron always has a chip on his shoulder against the Celtics and LeBron and his teammates are going to give extra effort to beat one of their biggest rivals. 

Officiating –  The officiating can always be an x-factor.  Every crew calls the game differently and the Celtics have to adapt to how the game is being called and not allow bad calls and no calls to take away their focus.   If you doubt that officiating is an x-factor, just think back to the last Finals between these two teams.  In game 7, the Celtics were up 6 going into the 4th quarter.  The refs had called the game evenly up until then.  But in the 4th quarter, the referees took over and it cost the Celtics that game.  The Lakers took 21 free throws in the 4th quarter alone while the Celtics took 6.  The Lakers took more free throws in the 4th quarter than they did in the first 3 quarters combined. (Yes, I am still a little bitter over that.)  Hopefully the refs call it fair in this game and let both teams play.

Change is good

Dec 5, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla looks on during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images | Winslow Townson-Imagn Images

The Lakers have a problem. It’s a LeBron James problem. Well, it’s also a Luka Doncic problem. Really, it’s an Austin Reaves problem, too.

When LA’s three best players are on the floor together, they’re a -8.8 net rating. They’ve played just eleven games together and sure, sport an 8-3 record, but at their core, it’s just not working.

Boston’s Big Three, on the other hand, have been humming along. Well, had been humming along. Before the NBA trade deadline, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard spearheaded the second-best offense in the league with an 8.1 net rating in 823 minutes together. But after the acquisition of Nikola Vucevic, the defending Sixth Man of the Year went back to the bench and now forms a lethal one-two punch with the second unit.

The sample size is obviously small, but the eye test speaks volumes to the second unit’s potential. In four games, Vucevic and Pritchard have led the second unit with a +12.7 net rating (115.8 offensive, 103.1 defensive) in 95 minutes together. The pairing has opened up the floor for swingmen like Hugo Gonzalez and Jordan Walsh.

It’s a dynamic that the team didn’t necessarily have with the ignitable Anfernee Simons and in a season that has been defined by doing the best what you have, Joe Mazzulla has made, well, incredible lemonade.

Removing Pritchard from the starting lineup probably doesn’t fit J.J. Redick’s definition of Mazzulla as a “basketball sicko,” but it does highlight Mazzulla’s commitment to doing whatever it takes to extract the most out of this roster. Pritchard was having easily the best season of his career after a patient six-year wait to be a starter in this league. And without even blinking, he’s been a soldier in Mazzulla’s army and done whatever’s been asked of him.

”I can start, I can come off the bench — it don’t matter,” he has said. “Just what the team needs: being killer in my role. That’s what it takes.”

You have to wonder if similar conversations have been had with the Lakers. As ESPN’s Chiney Ogwumike explains above, Doncic and Reaves are a +14.4 with LeBron on the bench and James is +7.7 with Doncic and Reaves off the floor. And together, they’re awful in everything the Celtics do great: defend, rebound off the offensive glass, and limit turnovers.

This isn’t to say that the Lakers aren’t a good team. They’ve weathered injuries all year and are still positioned to avoid the Play-In Tournament. To their credit, they’ve instituted some much needed change. Doncic did go on a summer diet and looks trimmer this season. Rob Pelinka finally traded the once expected sharpshooter Gabe Vicent for the current flavor-of-the-month Luke Kenard. They brought in the ultimate gamechanger in Marcus Smart and are currently revamping their front office with new ownership.

However, none of that has exactly translated on the floor and in Redick’s defense, he arguably has more on his plate than Mazzulla has. There’s Lebron and Reaves’ impending free agency. There’s catering to Luka, something Mavericks management just couldn’t stomach anymore. There’s the often disconnect between what Redick wants to see on the floor and how the players are performing followed by the fingerpointing in the press.

So, I wonder if things would be different in La La Land if it was Mazzulla-la-la at the helm.

Would Joe have already moved the greatest scorer of all time to the bench? Would Dalton Knecht have found his groove by now? Would Jaxson Hayes and Deandre Ayton be even on the team at this point?

Thankfully today and for the foreseeable future, Mazzulla is our basketball sicko, unafraid and undeterred to make changes, with only winning in mind.

And I hope that never changes.

Oluchi Okananwa leads the way with 26 points and No. 14 Maryland women rout Purdue 99-66

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Oluchi Okananwa scored 26 points, leading six in double figures, and No. 14 Maryland won its fifth straight game, defeating Purdue 99-66 on Sunday.

Addi Mack scored 14 points and Saylor Poffenbarger and Mir McLean added 11 each for Maryland (22-6, 10-6 Big Ten). Off the bench, Kyndal Walker scored a career-high 18 points and fellow freshman Rainey Welson added 11.

Kiki Smith scored 19 points and Nya Smith had 18 for Purdue (12-15, 4-12).

Okananwa scored 10 points in the first quarter and the Terrapins led 22-17 after one. Saylor Poffenbarger took over in the second quarter, scoring all of her 11 points, and the Terrapins led 51-32 at halftime.

A 15-5 run over the last five minutes of the third quarter gave Maryland a 77-48 lead heading to the fourth. The largest lead was 97-60 with about two minutes to go. Maryland freshman Marya Boiko, a backup forward from Belarus, blocked five shots, four in the fourth quarter.

Maryland had significant advantages in points after opponent turnovers (21-11), bench points (31-16) and second-chance points (20-11).

Maryland improved to 27-5 in February over the past three seasons.

Up next

Maryland: The regular season concludes with a home game against Northwestern on Wednesday followed by a visit to No. 6 Michigan on Saturday.

Purdue: at home against Oregon on Wednesday; at Northwestern on Sunday.

___

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Spring Training Game Thread: Guardians vs. A’s

Feb 21, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Cleveland Guardians right fielder Nolan Jones (22) is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a 3-run home run in the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Fields of Phoenix. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Today, the Guardians will play the Athletics

Cleveland will lineup as follows:

Schneemann 3B

Valera RF

Fry C

Manzardo DH

Fairchild CF

Jones LF

Velazquez 1B

Bazzana 2B

Genao SS

Messick P

It will be fun to get a glimpse at a potential infield of the future in Velazquez, Bazzana and Genao, as well as see what Fairchild looks like in center and Fry at catcher.