LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 10, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With the Western Conference a tight-knit race yet again this season, this series will look at the standings and games to watch across the league as the Lakers look to secure home court and move up the standings.
The Nuggets are one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now. They’ve won seven straight and are now just a game behind the Lakers for the third seed in the West. The Rockets are also playing some good basketball, having won four straight games, keeping this race to the playoffs as tight as ever.
Here’s a look at the current playoff standings in the middle of the conference: 3. Lakers — 50-27, 11 GB 4. Nuggets — 49-28, 12 GB 5. Rockets — 47-29, 13.5 GB 6. Wolves — 46-30, 14.5 GB
Let’s take a look at the big games to watch around the league for the next couple of days and who Lakers fans should be rooting for.
Friday
Jazz at Rockets — The Jazz have lost seven straight, and their focus is on making it eight after playing the Rockets. No need for Lakers fans to even check the score of this game.
Wolves at Sixers — With Philadelphia also fighting for a playoff position, they are incentivized to win. So, expect the Sixers to test the Wolves in this one.
Saturday
Spurs at Nuggets — This game could really impact the Lakers standings-wise. Denver has been on a roll, but the Spurs have been even better, winning 11 straight games. If San Antonio can take down the Nuggets, it would give LA some breathing room in the standings with just a handful of games left.
Even if the Spurs lose to the Nuggets and the Lakers drop their next game, LA would remain in the three spot due to the tiebreaker.
However, with a few games left, and Denver caught up, things would begin to look very dicey entering the final week.
Sunday
Rockets at Warriors — With Steph Curry set to return against the Rockets, the Warriors have a good chance of beating Houston. So, while it might not be the Lakers fans’ favorite team, rooting for Golden State is in their best interest on Sunday.
Hornets at Wolves — The Hornets have been one of the funnest surprises of the season. They have rookie phenom Kon Knueppel, and LaMelo Ball remains one of the NBA’s most dynamic players. Minnesota might be favored in this game, but make no mistake: Charlotte can win this one.
Monday
Blazers at Nuggets — Portland is trying to remain the eight seed in the West, so expect them to bring the appropriate level of competitiveness against Denver.
However, given how good the Nuggets have been as of late, it’s hard to imagine it making much of a difference.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - FEBRUARY 22: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles the ball against Dominick Barlow #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers in the second quarter at Target Center on February 22, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Minnesota Timberwolves at Philadelphia 76ers Date: April 3rd, 2026 Time: 6:00 PM CDT Location: Xfinity Mobile Arena Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network – North Radio Coverage: KFAN FM, Wolves App, iHeart Radio
A week ago, the Timberwolves were coming off the kind of delirious, season-saving, are-you-kidding-me comeback against Houston that makes you start doing the dangerous thing again: believing.
And then Detroit happened.
It was yet another one of those Sunday matinee corpse performances where the Wolves look like they just met in the layup line and are personally offended to be asked to play basketball. After getting their doors blown off at home to the tune of a 22-point defeat, one would hope that the Wolves would show up motivated and return the favor. To their credit, Minnesota put up a much better fight. For long stretches last night in Detroit, they were right there. They traded blows. They competed. They matched physicality. They hung in the fight against the best team in the Eastern Conference despite getting an unexpected curveball when Anthony Edwards, after returning for just one game from his knee issue, was ruled out with an illness.
To be fair, Detroit was missing its own star in Cade Cunningham, so this wasn’t exactly Wolves JV versus the 1996 Bulls. This was a supporting-cast showdown, and Minnesota simply came up short. The game eventuall swung on one of those brutally familiar stretches that define entire seasons in the NBA. The Wolves had a four-point lead in the fourth quarter, and then in what felt like about 90 seconds, Detroit ripped off an 11-0 run, flipping that lead into a seven-point deficit. That was the game. Minnesota fought after that. The motor was there. The effort to close the gap was real. But once they gave away control, they never truly got it back.
And that is what makes this one sting.
Losing in Detroit, on its own, is not shameful. The Pistons are legitimately good. They are tough. They rebound. They defend. But the standings do not care about context, and the standings definitely do not care about Minnesota’s moral almosts. The Wolves are now firmly back in the sixth seed, a full game behind Houston, with the Denver chase for the four seed and home court advantage starting to feel a little like that scene in every action movie where the hero sees the helicopter lifting off just as he reaches the roof.
It is still there. Technically. But not if the Wolves keep dropping games. Realistically, the Wolves need a 6-0 table run the rest of the way for home court to even be a realistic possibility.
Which is why Friday night in Philadelphia is not just “the second night of a back-to-back.” It is not just another road game before the post-season. It is one of those quietly enormous games that become even larger because of the one before it. If Minnesota had held serve in Detroit, this would have felt like an opportunity. Now it feels closer to a requirement. Drop this one too, and suddenly you are not talking about climbing anymore. You are talking about the sixth seed hardening around you.
That is where the Wolves are now. There is no mystery to the situation. The runway is short. The Western Conference is still a knife fight. The Rockets are catchable, yes, and the Wolves do still have that second-to-last-game showdown with Houston that could flip everything. But only if they do not keep bleeding ground in the games along the way. That is the key now. Do not lose the ground you still have. Stay close enough for the final push to matter.
And that starts in Philadelphia.
This is the part of the season where you find out whether a team has another gear or whether it has just been revving in neutral and making a lot of noise. The Wolves are going to have to find that gear now, because if they want to finish any higher than sixth, if they want to improve on last year’s standing, if they want home court to be something more than a distant daydream, then this is one of those games they absolutely have to gut out.
And with that, here are the keys to the game.
1. Find the Shot Again
Last night, Minnesota shot 31 percent from three, and even that number was wearing makeup. Mike Conley rolled back the clock and knocked down four threes. Otherwise, the Wolves’ perimeter attack was a horror show. Donte DiVincenzo, Ayo Dosunmu, and Bones Highland went a combined 3-for-20 from deep. That is not a slump. That is a coordinated system failure.
Maybe it is unfair to ask for great shooting on the second night of a back-to-back after a high-energy game in Detroit. Too bad. The Wolves need it anyway. This team is not wired to survive offensively when its best floor-spacers are launching bricks into low orbit. They do not need to shoot 45 percent from three like they did against Dallas, but they absolutely have to get back into a healthy rhythm from deep. Mid-30s should be the goal.
When the Wolves are missing those clean catch-and-shoot looks, everything else tightens. The offense gets sticky. The spacing shrinks. The decision-making gets slower. Suddenly every drive feels like rush hour traffic. They cannot afford that again.
2. Reclaim the Paint
Detroit did not just beat the Wolves. It physically imposed itself on them, especially around the basket. Jalen Duren, for the second time in three games, gave Minnesota’s front line all kinds of problems. He rebounded. He finished. He made Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid work in ways that kept the Wolves from ever feeling comfortable. The Pistons out-rebounded Minnesota and repeatedly turned the paint into Detroit property.
Now the Wolves go into Philadelphia, where Joel Embiid is back and waiting. That should terrify Minnesota just enough to bring out its best.
Gobert, Randle, and Reid cannot afford another game where they get pushed around or outworked in the interior. It is not just about stopping Embiid from getting his numbers. It is about not letting the Sixers own the glass, not giving them second and third chances, and not allowing the Wolves’ biggest structural advantage to become a neutral factor. Gobert has to be massive here. He needs to vacuum up rebounds, contest everything, and create easy offense with putbacks and lobs. The Wolves’ frontcourt has to set the tone in this game, because if they lose the paint battle and the rebounding battle, then they are asking their guards to win a game from the outside on tired legs, and that is not a winning formula.
3. Bring the Perimeter Defense
The last time these teams met, Tyrese Maxey more or less treated Minnesota’s perimeter defense like it was a series of optional suggestions. He got downhill. He got comfortable. He got whatever he wanted. The Wolves’ guards offered about as much resistance as a loose shower curtain, and the whole thing quickly turned into one of those patented Wolves matinee nightmares where the opponent looks faster, sharper, and much more aware that there is a basketball game going on.
That cannot happen again.
This is one of those matchups where the point-of-attack defense matters almost more than anything else. Maxey cannot be allowed to just pick a lane and go. The Wolves have to be deliberate here. Strong on-ball pressure. Better contain. Smarter help. Crisp closeouts. If Maxey is getting loose and putting Gobert in constant scramble mode, then Minnesota is in trouble.
The perimeter defenders have to act like they take this personally. Otherwise, it is going to be one of those nights where the Sixers’ guards are in the paint every trip, the rotations are late, and the score starts sliding in the wrong direction before the Wolves even realize what happened.
4. Maintain the Physicality and Intensity
One encouraging thing from Detroit was that Minnesota did not get punked emotionally. They matched the Pistons’ physicality. They played with edge. They fought. That matters, because now the Wolves have to carry that same tone into a road game, on no rest, with the standings tightening around their throat.
This is one of those nights where the game can get away from you not because the other team is that much better, but because you are just half a step slower, just a little more tired, just a little less sharp. That is where the physicality matters. That is where the intensity matters. That is where all the little effort plays like boxing out, chasing loose balls, sprinting back, setting hard screens, and cutting with force start to decide things.
The Wolves are going to need real hunger here, because if this becomes a mental game of exhaustion then Philadelphia will bury them. They need to play like a team that understands the stakes and refuses to let fatigue become an excuse.
5. Anthony Edwards Needs to Put the Cape Back On
If Anthony Edwards plays, this has to be his game.
Simple as that.
The last time Minnesota went into Philadelphia, Edwards had one of those classic Ant moments where the game was hanging there, wobbling, looking for someone to claim it, and he just slammed the door with a dagger three. He had the Dallas game to work himself back into rhythm after the knee issue. Then he lost Thursday to illness, which means if he is available, he will also be the freshest major piece on Minnesota’s roster. That matters on the second night of a back-to-back.
Randle has stepped up admirably while Edwards has been out. He has absorbed the primary scoring burden, created offense, and done a lot of the heavy lifting. But against a Philly team that has been playing better, against Maxey and Embiid, on the road, in a game this important, it feels like the Wolves need an apex-player night. Not just a 28-point night. A full, commanding, gravity-bending, “I am the best player in this building” kind of night.
If Ant is out there, Minnesota needs him to put the cape back on.
This Is the Part Where You Either Climb or Get Comfortable
Heading into this back-to-back, we knew the Wolves could not afford to lose both games. That was true before Detroit. It is even more true now. There are too few games left and too much at stake to keep burning opportunities. Yes, Houston is only a game ahead. Yes, the Wolves still have that huge second-to-last-game meeting with the Rockets that could flip the tiebreaker and the standings in one shot. But if Minnesota keeps dropping games like this one along the way, then that Houston battle becomes less of a showdown and more of an afterthought.
That is why this one matters so much.
It is not just the second night of a back-to-back. It is not just a road game in Philly. It is a gut-check. It is a pressure test. It is one of those nights where you find out if the Wolves actually want more than the sixth seed or if they are going to keep hovering there like a team waiting for the season to happen to them instead of taking hold of it themselves.
No one said this was going to be easy. That ship sailed months ago, probably sometime during one of those weird winter losses where they let a bad team hang around and then spent the postgame talking about energy and execution. This is the position they put themselves in. No room. No cushion. No clean escape route.
So now it is time to dig.
If they want the four seed, if they want to catch Houston, if they want to avoid finishing at the bottom rung and muttering about what could have been, then this is one of those nights they simply have to find a way.
And if Anthony Edwards is out there, under the lights, in a game where the standings are quietly screaming in the background, then the Wolves need him to be exactly what he has so often been in these spots.
The closer. The tone-setter. The guy who makes all the “if only” talk disappear for one night.
Because the runway is short now, and the Wolves have officially reached the point of the season where every game is either a step up the ladder or a door slammed shut.
With the 2026 NBA Draft Combine just more than a month away — and the NBA Draft itself 82 days away — it's getting down to crunch time for the Dallas Mavericks to have a new, fully empowered head of basketball operations. Someone to replace the fired Nico Harrison.
Internal candidates Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley — Dallas' co-interim general managers since Nico Harrison's firing in November — are under consideration to get the job. But the Mavericks, league sources said, also have ambitions of going big-game hunting.
At the top of the target list is Bob Myers, the architect of the Stephen Curry era Warriors dynasty, reports Clark. While money talks, it's going to be tough to lure Myers out of his current job as president of sports for Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, which is run by Josh Harris and has majority ownership of the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils and Premier League's Crystal Palace F.C, as well as connections to the NFL's Washington Commanders. When Myers stepped down from the Warriors, he said he was looking for a new challenge, something that went beyond basketball, and now he has it. Also, Myers is a California guy — born in the Bay Area and went to college at UCLA — and getting him to pack up and move to Texas makes this even a longer shot.
Among the names on Dumont's wish list, per league sources: Oklahoma City executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti, Minnesota president of basketball operations Tim Connelly and Boston president Brad Stevens. Cleveland top exec Koby Altman's name is also in the mix, a source said.
Presti is highly unlikely to leave Oklahoma City, and the same holds for Stevens in Boston. Connelly did leave Denver for more money and a larger role in Minnesota, but would he do it again to go to Dallas? Both reports say there is no plan to move Jason Kidd up from coaching the team to the front office.
The smart money is on one of Riccardi or Finley getting the job, but at least Dallas is taking a couple of home run swings first.
Entering the final week of the NBA regular season, the playoff picture is largely set.
In the Western Conference, five teams have already clinched postseason berths, with the Timberwolves on the verge of securing the final automatic spot. The Suns, Trail Blazers, Clippers and Warriors are positioned for the play-in tournament.
In the Eastern Conference, the top 10 teams are guaranteed, at least, a play-in spot. The Hawks, 76ers, Raptors, Hornets, Magic and Heat remain mathematically alive for a top-six seed and an automatic playoff berth — a race that will be worth monitoring over the final week.
Though seeding matters, more important is how these teams project once the postseason begins.
Stars ultimately determine a team’s ceiling, but playoff outcomes are often decided on the margins. Whether it’s knocking down shots, creating secondary offense or making an impact on the defensive end of the floor, the contributions of role players can change the trajectory of a team’s season. Iconic moments like Ray Allen’s 3-pointer in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals are sometimes the difference between a championship or a premature playoff exit.
Using NBA StatsHub, we can identify the role players whose impact may be undervalued heading into the postseason.
Gary Payton II, Golden State Warriors
Stephen Curry will reportedly return to action Sunday against the Rockets, which is the most important news for Golden State as they prepare for the play-in tournament. However, even if Curry returns – it’s unlikely that he will immediately perform like an MVP candidate, considering the severity of his knee injury and the fact that he hasn’t played since Jan. 30.
Contributions from elsewhere on the roster will be necessary if Golden State hopes to pull off an upset in the play-in tournament. Gary Payton II could be one key ingredient.
During the past month, Payton is averaging 13.7 points and 5.8 rebounds in 23.1 minutes for the Warriors. He’s been extremely efficient, shooting 66.7% from the floor. He has a +10.9% Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation during that span, indicating that he’s been making a number of tough shots, too.
Factor in that Payton has been an asset on the defensive end of the floor and it’s not difficult to see his value.
Rui Hachimura, Los Angeles Lakers
Luka Dončić, LeBron James and Austin Reaves are the obvious big pieces for the Lakers, but players like Rui Hachimura could be the difference between an early exit or a deeper playoff run in Los Angeles.
In the last 30 days, Hachimura has been one of the team’s most efficient scorers, with a 10.9% Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation. His ability to finish around the rim and knock down perimeter shots helps with spacing around the team’s primary playmakers.
The Lakers have also been 1.4 points better per 100 possessions defensively with Hachimura on the floor since the All-Star break.
Justin Edwards, Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are 23-13 SU with Joel Embiid on the floor this year, compared to a 19-21 SU record without him. The team has intentionally monitored Embiid’s workload during the regular season in an effort to have him healthy at the most important time of the year.
One benefit of such an approach is that Philadelphia has been able to see who else is able to be a solid contributor for them in big moments. Justin Edwards’ development could end up being a difference maker this spring for the 76ers.
Since the beginning of April, he’s averaging 12.0 points per game on 54.3% shooting. His 10.3% Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation is among the best in the NBA for players averaging fewer than 30 minutes per game. Edwards has also been one of the team’s better defenders since the All-Star break.
Duncan Robinson, Detroit Pistons
Duncan Robinson doesn’t offer the defensive value that other names on this list provide to their teams, but he is an elite asset on the offensive end of the floor. Since the All-Star break, Detroit’s offensive rating is 11.1 points better with him on the court.
In the last month, Robinson is averaging 11.5 points on 51.5% shooting – even more impressive when considering that more than half of his shot attempts come from beyond-the-arc. Robinson has a 10.1% Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation during that span.
The Takeaway
Stars get all the credit for postseason success, and their failures are often held against them. However, the difference between advancing and going home often relies on much more than simply how well the best player on the team performs.
Players like Gary Payton II, Rui Hachimura, Justin Edwards and Duncan Robinson don’t win end-of-season accolades, nor are they the focal point of morning talk shows. Nevertheless, their teams appreciate their contributions and their ability to convert difficult shots, provide efficient secondary offense, and contribute in high-leverage moments makes them critical pieces in a playoff setting.
Tools like NBA StatsHub can help us identify the role players who have the ability to outperform expectation when it matters most.
NEW YORK — Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodón thinks his tight right hamstring is only a minor setback in his return from elbow surgery last October.
Rodón felt the tightness after throwing 50 pitches of batting practice Sunday at the team’s complex in Tampa, Florida. Rodón got hurt while running and New York called off a planned minor league injury rehabilitation outing at Double-A Somerset.
“Just a little bump in the road,” the 33-year-old left-hander said before the Yankees’ home opener against Miami on Friday.
Rodón hopes to throw about 50 pitches Saturday in a controlled environment, such as batting practice.
“It’s just a matter of when he can run and cover and field his position and things like that,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “So he’s able to keep his arm going through this. It’s minor enough that that’s the case.”
Rodón is recovering from surgery on Oct. 15 to remove loose bodies in his left elbow and shave a bone spur.
Boone said shortstop Anthony Volpe started taking at-bats off pitching and could start a rehab assignment in mid-April.
A TWO-FER: The Cubs allowed exactly two runs in each of their last three games, all at home against the Angels. Since 1901, they have had 49 two-run streaks that reached three games, but only one that continued through a fourth game. From Aug. 23-26, 2006, the Cubs lost at home to the Phillies, 2-1; beat them, 11-2; then lost at St. Louis, 2-0 and 2-1, the final game on a ninth-inning, two-out walk-off single. The Cubs had a pair of two-run streaks of three games in 2022, winning two of three in both, and two more such streaks in 2023, going 3-0 in both. The 2022 streaks ended in a win by 4-3 and a loss by 8-5; the 2023 streaks, in a win by 10-1 and a loss by 10-1. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
STEALING BAGS: The Cubs are tied for third in MLB with seven steals. No Cub has been thrown out stealing yet this year.
WALKING THE WALK: The Cubs rank tied for fifth (with the Braves) in MLB with 30 walks. Two of the teams ahead of them (Astros, Angels) have played one more game than the Cubs.
THE NICO FILES: Nico Hoerner enters Friday’s action leading the NL with four doubles (tied with Brice Turang and Matt Olson) and leading MLB with four steals.
Cade Horton picked up where he left off in 2025 with his first 2026 start, a solid outing against the Nationals last Saturday.
Last year against the Guardians, July 3, 2025 at Wrigley Field, Horton threw seven shutout innings, allowing five singles with five strikeouts.
Another one just like that, please.
Joey Cantillo was Horton’s opponent in that game last year. He didn’t give the Cubs any runs, but was lifted after 3.1 innings and 68 pitches. That game was Cantillo’s first MLB start.
In his first start this year, last Saturday at Seattle, he allowed two runs in 3.2 innings, throwing 91 pitches. He walked three. Perhaps the Cubs can be patient like that and get him out of the game early.
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The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 1: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on April 1, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Nationals 6-5. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The numbers, they are ugly.
Trea Turner: 5-for-26, .192 AVG, one extra-base hit
Kyle Schwarber: 4-for-22, .182 AVG, 2 HRs and 1 double
Bryce Harper: 3-for-25, .120 AVG, -0.4 fWAR (199th out of 202 MLB players)
Alec Bohm: 2-for-21, .095 AVG, 1 HR
J.T. Realmuto: 3-for-15, .200 AVG, 1 HR
Yep, it’s fair to say that, one week into the 2026 season, the “run-it-back gang” is misfiring on all cylinders.
It has been frustrating to watch. As a team, the Phils are batting .220 with a .314 on-base percentage and a .360 slugging percentage. Those numbers are… not great. Turner’s swing is currently a disaster, Harper’s bat speed looks like a 40-year-old’s, Schwarber has hit a couple tank shots but little else, Bohm’s Opening Day homer is his lone bright spot, and Realmuto’s solo homer on Wednesday is his only contribution, six games in.
But would you believe the team’s .220 average is 19th in MLB? Would you believe their .314 OBP is 13th? And that their .360 SLG is 18th? Ordinarily, numbers that low would be in the bottom-five of baseball.
So no, those are not good numbers, and certainly expectations for this group of established stars should be much, much higher. But in our ongoing effort to zoom out and make you aware of what is happening around the rest of Major League Baseball, Phils fans should know what I hope will be a comforting fact.
You’re not alone.
Some of baseball’s best players and, best teams, are also struggling.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are hitting .237 as a team. The Yankees and Cubs are hitting .227. The Tigers are at .215. The Red Sox are hitting .208. The Mariners are batting .205. The Padres? A .202 average. And while their pitching staff was expected to be pathetic, the Oakland A’s vaunted offense has the worst average in baseball, at .177.
Check out these numbers from some of baseball’s biggest stars (AVG/OBP/SLG):
Mookie Betts (Dodgers): .136/.240/.318
Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers): .167/.423/.167
Kyle Tucker (Dodgers): .174/.240/.217
Will Smith (Dodgers): .200/.200/.500
Freddie Freeman (Dodgers): .208/.240/.375
Teoscar Hernandez (Dodgers): .238/.238/.238
Ronald Acuna Jr. (Braves): .167/.323/.208
Bo Bichette (Mets): .129/.159/.161
Marcus Simien (Mets): .130/.250/.174
Francisco Lindor (Mets): .130/.394/.304
Xander Bogaerts (Padres): .167/.200/.208
Fernando Tatis Jr. (Padres): .238/.360/.286
Jackson Merrill (Padres): .217/.280/.391
Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals): .273/.292/.273
Aaron Judge (Yankees): .125/.160/.375
Jazz Chisolm Jr. (Yankees): .174/.208/.174
Julio Rodriguez (Mariners): .077/.200/.077
Cal Raleigh (Mariners): .160/.250/.200
James Wood (Nationals): .111/.200/.296
Ketel Marte (Diamondbacks): .154/.267/.269
George Springer (Blue Jays): .154/.241/.423
Jarren Duran (Red Sox): .167/.348/.167
Roman Anthony (Red Sox): .227/.320/.364
Brent Rooker (A’s): .167/.167/.167
Byron Buxton (Twins): .174/.200/.304
The American League MVP (Judge) and runner-up (Raleigh) are in there. So is the NL MVP (Ohtani) and runner-up (Schwarber). That list of ugly slash lines belongs to All Stars and MVP candidates, all of whom have struggled mightily in the first week of the season.
It is true that, for the Phillies, the issues with the offense have existed longer than just one week. They stretch back to last season, and the season before, and the season before that, specifically in the postseason. Despite an outstanding offensive season last year, the perception of this group is an underachieving collection of players who shrink when it matters most.
And hey, that might all prove itself to be true once again this October. But with just one week of big league baseball under our belts, this is most definitely not a time when things matter most. In fact, things couldn’t matter less at this point in the six-month-long season.
I get it. Watching a bad offense flail despite numerous opportunities with runners on base is maddening, and it has the affect of making the team look uninterested and/or lethargic. A .229 average with runners in scoring position is awful, ranking 22nd in baseball. That has to improve.
I’m not going to sit here and tell you not to be worried about the Phillies’ offense. It’s ugly right now. They should be better.
But in our efforts to zoom out every once in a while and take in what the rest of the baseball world is up to, understand that two-thirds of fans around the league are saying the same thing about their struggling superstars with a single week of the season under their belts.
On my latest Hittin’ Season podcast, I broke down the Phils’ comeback win against the Nationals on Sunday and the production of the two rookies who saved the series. Also, check out my conversation with Rob Friedman, the man behind @PitchingNinja, talk about the explosion of pitching in his new book, “Unhittable.”
Milwaukee Brewers celebrate after their win against the Chicago White Sox in the Opening Day game on Thursday March 26, 2026 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. | Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Brewers play in the smallest metropolitan market in baseball, and yet have developed a sustainable model of success that is the envy of other teams. They have reached the playoffs in seven of the last eight years, and haven’t had a losing season since 2016.
This year, the Brewers are off to a great start, having outscored opponents 45-17 to begin the year, by far the best run differential in baseball. But one of those series was beating up on the White Sox, and they won their series against the Rays by scoring six runs in the bottom of the eighth in the rubber match.
Milwaukee Brewers (5-1) vs. Kansas City Royals (3-3) at Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Christian Yelich is a career .274/.400/.597 hitter with six home runs in 18 games against the Royals. Brice Turang, who was Bobby Witt Jr.’s teammate on Team USA at the World Baseball Classic, is hitting .409 with four doubles in six games to start the year. Catcher Gary Sánchez is 4-for-8 with two home runs this season. Jake Bauers made just 17 plate appearances against lefties last year. Garrett Mitchell missed most of last year with an oblique strain and shoulder injury after a promising rookies season in 2024, when he hit .255/.342/.469 in 69 games.
Sal Frelick had a 13.5 percent strikeout rate last year, 15th-lowest among qualified hitters. Joey Ortiz had the third-worst wRC+ last year among qualified hitters, but was +13 in Outs Above Average at shortstop. The Brewers are without star outfielder Jackson Chourio and first baseman Andrew Vaughn both out with hand injuries.
*-All numbers from 2025
The Brewers have long been known as a pitching factory, and had the second-best ERA in baseball last year at 3.59. Chad Patrick bounced around before the Brewers acquired him in 2023, and he proved to be a versatile starter for them, earning some Rookie of the Year votes last year. He gave up just a solo home run as the only run in 4.1 innings of work in his season debut against the White Sox. He relies heavily on a cutter and sinker, yet had a high flyball rate last year of 44 percent.
Brandon Sproat was a top 100 prospect in the Mets organization before he was traded to the Brewers in the Freddy Peralta deal. He was teammates with Jac Caglianone at Florida for a year, before becoming a second-round pick. He had a 4.24 ERA in 26 games in Triple-A last year, and throws a hard sinker at 96 mph, along with a cutter, sweeper, curve, and change up.
Kyle Harrison was a former top 100 prospect with the Giants, and was traded to the Red Sox last summer in the Rafael Devers trade before the Brewers acquired him this offseason. A southpaw, Harrison has struggled to retire lefties in his career – they’re batting .269/.333/.473 against him. He gave up just one run – a solo home run – in five innings of work in his season debut, with eight strikeouts.
Michael Wacha was scratched from Friday’s start due to illness and Luinder Avila will be called up to make his first MLB start. Avila made 13 relief appearances with the Royals late last year and is the #9 ranked prospect in the farm system by MLB Pipeline. The game Friday night will air exclusively on Apple TV as part of their Friday Night Baseball package.
*-All numbers from 2025
*-All numbers from 2025
Trevor Megill had a career-high 30 saves in just 50 games last year, the 19th 30-save season in Brewers history. Abner Uribe’s 98.8 mph fastball is one of the fastest in baseball. Aaron Ashby had a 62.5 percent groundball rate last year, fourth-highest in baseball. Right behind him was Angel Zerpa, who the Brewers acquired from the Royals last winter in a trade for Isaac Collins and Nick Mears.
The Brewers got off to an awful start last year – they were pounded by the Yankees – then they went out and won 97 games and reached the National League Championship Series. They are a well-coached, well-prepared team that gets every ounce of talent from their roster. The Royals will have to scratch out runs when they can, as this should be a low-scoring series from two teams that can develop pitching.
The Milwaukee Bucks’ season hasn’t gone exactly as planned, and the road ahead doesn’t get any easier when the Boston Celtics visit Fiserv Forum tonight.
Sam Hauser went off for 23 points and five triples in Wednesday’s win over the Miami Heat, and my Celtics vs. Bucks predictions expect him to build on that performance and hit the Over on a modest scoring line.
Here are my best free NBA picks for this Eastern Conference showdown on Friday, April 3.
Celtics vs Bucks prediction
Celtics vs Bucks best bet: Sam Hauser Over 7.5 points (-125)
Sam Hauser has taken on an expanded role in 2025-26, averaging career highs in minutes (24.7), points (9.1) and triples (2.5). He finished with 23 points in Wednesday’s win over the Miami Heat, as he knocked down 5-of-7 triples. I’m not simply chasing Hauser’s hot night, as he’s scored 7+ points in five straight contests.
On the season, Hauser has been far more productive as a scorer on the road than at home, averaging 7.9 points at TD Garden and 10.2 at all other locations. He’s recorded 8+ points in 40 of 73 games overall, including 23 of 38 on the road. Hauser has four more games with exactly seven points - all on the road.
Over the last 10 games, the Milwaukee Bucks have allowed the 10th-most points (121), second-best three-point percentage (40.6) and third-most three-pointers (15.7). Milwaukee’s 123.2 defensive rating is 25th.
Over his last five games, Hauser has knocked down 2.6 triples on 48.1% shooting from beyond the arc, and he’s got an advantageous matchup to stay hot from deep against Milwaukee’s poor perimeter defense. The Boston Celtics could cruise to a comfortable victory, allowing Hauser to see more run in the second half and get more opportunities to let it fly.
Celtics vs Bucks same-game parlay
On the season, the Celtics sport the slowest pace, and the Bucks sport the eighth-slowest.
Boston ranks top-10 in a number of key defensive categories, including points allowed and defensive rating, while the shorthanded Bucks will have trouble scoring without Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Porter Jr. and Bobby Portis.
Boston ranks in the top-12 in offensive, defensive and net ratings over their last seven road games, and Milwaukee ranks in the bottom-six in all three categories across their last seven at home.
The Celtics have won their last two games against the Bucks by 27 and 28 points, and tonight’s final matchup of the season should be a blowout in favor of the healthier and deeper visiting team.
Celtics vs Bucks SGP
Sam Hauser Over 7.5 points
Under 217
Celtics -17.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Celtics Soar
Over his last six games, Neemias Queta has averaged 11.2 points and 9.3 rebounds, including a 15/10 average in three road games. Queta has recorded at least 10 points and nine rebounds in two of his last three away from Boston.
Derrick White has failed to reach 16 points in seven straight contests, but he can get back on track with a favorable matchup tonight. He’s scored 16+ in 38 of 72 contests. White is dishing a career-best 5.5 assists per game, and he’s reached 5+ helpers in 25 of 35 road contests.
Celtics vs Bucks SGP
Sam Hauser Over 7.5 points
Neemias Queta Over 9.5 points
Neemias Queta Over 8.5 rebounds
Derrick White Over 15.5 points
Derrick White Over 4.5 assists
Celtics vs Bucks odds
Spread: Boston -17.5 (-110) | Milwaukee +17.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Boston -2200 | Milwaukee +1100
Over/Under: Over 217 (-110) | Under 217 (-110)
Celtics vs Bucks betting trend to know
The Boston Celtics have hit the Game Total Under in 35 of their last 50 games (+18.50 Units / 34% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Bucks.
How to watch Celtics vs Bucks
Location
Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Friday, April 3, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBCSB, FDSN-WI
Celtics vs Bucks latest injuries
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Mar 25, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins (13) salutes a fan during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
In this week’s Tuesday Tracker and SB Nation Reacts poll, we asked you about which Bucks should be untouchable in offseason trade talks, beginning with Ryan Rollins. We also took your opinion on whether or not we’ll see Giannis or Kevin Porter Jr. again this season. Here are the highlights:
Somewhat surprisingly, just 57% of fans polled believe Rollins should be untouchable this offseason. I’d be curious to know what type of trade the 43% who are willing to deal him have in mind.
91% think Myles Turner shouldn’t be off-limits, but with up to three years and $83.6m remaining on his deal, that contract might not be so tradeable yet.
Among other Bucks, Ousmane Dieng (23%) and KPJ (14%) were the most popular individual trade candidates, while 24% believe everyone should be on the table. Dieng will be a restricted free agent this summer, while Porter has a player option, so trading either wouldn’t be straightforward, and it may need to be a sign-and-trade for their acquiring team(s).
Just 22% of respondents think Giannis will play again this season, which is about 10% more than those who think Porter will see any more playing time as he deals with right knee synovitis.
Thanks again for voting! Check back on Tuesday for another slate of questions.
Check out FanDuel, the official sportsbook of SB Nation.
CHICAGO, IL - JULY 27: General view of the Southside sign as the downtown skyline is visible before an MLB game between the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox on July 27, 2025 at Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Jays start their first road trip with an afternoon game in Chicago. And we can see our old friend, Seranthony Dominguez. By we, I mean you. I’m in Maizuru, Japan today, if all goes the way it is supposed to.
I very much enjoyed Chicago when I was there a few years ago. I won’t be going back for a while yet, but I’d like to go back one day. I liked Buddy Guy’s Blues Club. Great music. Buddy is 89 years old now, so I doubt I’ll see him play the next time I’m there.
Also took a book ride on the river. And had deep dish pizza. I do kind of agree with John Stewart that it really isn’t pizza, but I liked it. We also wandered around the White Sox ballpark, looking for a pub. I understand, now, that it wasn’t a great idea, but did find one. It was packed and noisy, but people were very friendly.
Bodycam footage of Tiger Woods’s arrest for DUI shows the golfer looking surprised when he was handcuffed by police officers at the scene of a vehicle crash last week and telling a deputy he had spoken to 'the president' on the phone after the incident. Woods told officers he was looking down at his phone and changing the radio station before the incident, in which his Land Rover clipped a truck and rolled on to its side. Woods pleaded not guilty to DUI and demanded a jury trial. In the bodycam footage he denies drinking any alcohol that day but admitted he had taken 'a few medications'. Woods took a breath test after the crash, which showed no signs he had drunk alcohol, but police said he refused a urine test. He was released on bail eight hours after his arrest. His case is due back in court on 5 May for a hearing
The Arizona coach announced on Friday, April 3 he has signed a new deal to stay with the Wildcats, spurning North Carolina after he was reportedly the leading the candidate for the Tar Heels' open coaching job.
"I'm happy to announce I'm staying at Arizona. We've been able to get some things done the past couple days," Lloyd said.
ESPN reported Lloyd signed a five-year deal that will start next season with an annual average of $7.5 million, with significant bonuses and additional commitment to the staff salary pool. The announcement comes one day before Arizona plays in the Final Four.
Lloyd had been the big target for North Carolina after it fired Hubert Davis following its first round exit in the NCAA Tournament. One of the premier programs in the country, the hiring process is expected to have major ramifications on the sport with the university reportedly seeking high-profile targets.
"Tommy Lloyd is the best coach in college basketball, and we have a strong conviction in the future of Arizona Basketball under his leadership," Arizona athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois said in a statement announcing the contract extension. "Our program's success this season – winning championships, competing on the sport's biggest stage and excelling academically – is a testament to the standard that he and his staff have established. He has recruited and developed student-athletes of character who make a positive impact on our team, our campus and our community. Tommy has strengthened our foundation while honoring the tradition that makes Arizona Basketball one of the premier programs in the country, and we are thrilled that he will continue to lead this program at the highest level for years to come."
LLoyd, a former longtime Gonzaga assistant, has shined since taking over Arizona in 2021, with a 148-35 record that includes three conference regular season and tournament championships. This season has arguably been his best yet, winning the Big 12 titles en route to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and clinching the program's first Final Four since 2001.
What fueled the speculation over Lloyd possibly leaving Arizona was the coach had been noncommittal over his interest in the job, repeatedly saying during the tournament he was focused on the rest of the season and not about his future. There was a report basketball icon and former North Carolina star Michael Jordan reached out to Lloyd to get him to Chapel Hill, but he said that never happened.
He said he idolized Michael Jordan and North Carolina is a great job, so he was honored to be considered for the role.
"The young kid for me, the college basketball junkie watching those games at home, never would have thought something like that could have happened to somebody like me," Lloyd added. "North Carolina is a first class organization, and I appreciate them for the way they've handled this."
With the deal done, he said Arizona leadership showed a "real commitment to our program" as he tries to win the second national championship in program history, first winning it in 1997.
"Arizona basketball, you guys know what it means to me. And when I say it's a special place that always comes from the bottom of my heart," Lloyd said. "I'm proud to be in Arizona Wildcat."
Just under two weeks until the playoff fates of every NHL club have been decided. The same can also be applied to your fantasy hockey team, if you've been fortunate enough to make it this far.
You're almost there. Stay positive. And keep it going by considering some of the following players.
(Rostered rates as of Apr. 3)
Forwards
Artturi Lehkonen, COL (Yahoo: 50%): Lehkonen returned from an 11-game absence last Thursday and eventually slotted back onto his usual even-strength line alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas. He's been relegated to the Avs' second power play, but has still posted three points and five shots over the four outings with all of the latter players during the last two. As long as Lehkonen remains within the top six, he's bound to keep producing.
Mikael Granlund, ANH (Yahoo: 41%): Any active forward who's in the upper-half of the depth chart on a strong offense and lead PP represents a solid fantasy addition for most formats. That goes for Granlund, who also happens to qualify in Yahoo at all three positions. His coverage has recently skyrocketed thanks to a string of four contests in which he potted seven goals, including four PPGs. Granlund's stock is also boosted from averaging just under 20 minutes the last couple of weeks to go with 17 shots and 55 faceoff wins.
Lawson Crouse, UTA (Yahoo: 18%): Crouse isn't generally associated with being a scorer, though he's been known to go on a run every now and again. He's currently on one of those, having racked up four goals and two assists in addition to 17 shots, 25 hits and 22 PIM through the last eight matchups. This stretch also coincides with Crouse skating beside Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz at five-on-five. Even if he drops off that trio, there's still enough cross-category output for him to fit on any roster.
Alexander Wennberg, SJ (Yahoo: 10%): Wennberg is only eight points away from matching a career-high. And if we go by recent production and placement, there's decent odds he does it. After all, Wennberg has reeled off four goals, three helpers and seven shots across five appearances with four of those points coming while up a man on a unit featuring Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. He's also top-25 in the league for average forward ice time (20:31). Based on all those indicators and with the Sharks trying to claim a postseason berth, Wennberg shouldn't be available in nine of every 10 Yahoo leagues.
Jack Quinn, BUF (Yahoo: 10%): Even though Quinn's minutes are similar to recent years, he's already blown way past his previous scoring peak. He registered his first NHL hat-trick on March 10 and then moved up to Buffalo's lead power play where he's managed four PPPs in the last five games in addition to 19 shots and eight hits. That type of overall involvement needs to be on more fantasy lineups.
Matthew Coronato, CGY (Yahoo: 7%): The Flames' fire sale wasn't as drastic as some predicted. The remaining talent looks to be thriving, with Coronato no exception. He has three goals, six assists, three PPPs and 22 shots on 16:33 a night from nine outings. With Coronato a key part of Calgary's future, he'll be provided as many opportunities as he can handle. Pick him up as a solid complementary scorer — just prepare for the inevitable plus-minus hit.
Porter Martone, PHI (Yahoo: 6%): Martone signed a pro contract soon after Michigan State was eliminated in the Frozen Four regionals and made his Philly debut on Tuesday as he logged 16:54 — 3:17 of that on the backup PP — and fired five pucks on net. He then collected his first NHL point — an assist — Thursday where he skated more than 18 minutes. It'll be favorable for the Flyers to have a player who racked up 50 points through 35 contests against NCAA opposition, especially with the team in a playoff race. Even as a teenager, Martone's offensive skills can only help the organization and your fantasy squad.
Calum Ritchie, NYI (Yahoo: 1%): A couple of lower-body issues didn't keep Ritchie out for long, and he was obviously too good against minor-league competition while at the same time wasn't going to be rushed with the Isles. Ritchie, the main tangible piece from the Brock Nelson trade at the 2025 deadline, recorded his first point with his new organization during Game 11. Ritchie has steadily improved to where he's a regular on the lead man-advantage — albeit, one who only succeeds at a 17.0% rate — and has found the scoresheet in five straight. Low-risk, possibly high-reward. Take a chance.
Defensemen
Sam Malinski, COL (Yahoo: 28%): Cale Makar's upper-body injury probably won't be risked for the remainder of the regular season with the Avs close to clinching top spot overall. That's left Malinski to fill in as Colorado's lead right-sided defender and main power-play quarterback. He already was enjoying a career campaign before Makar's absence and is now at 37 points, with eight of those coming in the last five alongside 11 shots and eight blocks. Expect Malinski to keep piling on the offense.
Parker Wotherspoon, PIT (Yahoo: 10%): It's been a long — and mainly AHL-filled — career for Wotherspoon after he was drafted in 2015 and then wasn't getting a regular big-league look until 2023-24. The Pens saw enough promise from him last season with Boston to sign him for two years. Wotherspoon has repaid their trust by appearing in all 76 games while delivering three goals, 26 assists, 156 hits and 108 blocks. He's also been solid the last 11 contests with nine helpers, 22 hits and 11 blocks. Wotherspoon may not participate on the man-advantage yet is well-positioned at even-strength alongside Erik Karlsson.
Charle-Edouard D'Astous, TB (Yahoo: 6%): What started off as a great story has turned into a revelation, as D'Astous is taking the most of an enhanced role by continuing to contribute. Going back to March 14, he's notched nine points, 10 shots, 19 hits and 11 blocks. The ice time may not be plentiful, though D'Astous has done the most with it while carrying a secondary PP spot. As Victor Hedman isn't set to return anytime soon, D'Astous remains a worthy addition for anyone looking to boost their blueline scoring stats.
Jordan Spence, OTT (Yahoo: 6%): Ottawa's dwindling defense corps was brought up last week when discussing Carter Yakemchuk, who's since gotten hurt. Spence was expected to assume more responsibilities after arriving from LA in June, yet many healthy scratches came early on. There wasn't much in the way of power-play involvement before Jake Sanderson's injury, which only increased after Thomas Chabot went down. Spence is currently operating on the Sens' top PP and has totaled two goals, seven assists — two of those PPAs — and 19 shots from the last 10 matchups on 24:05 a night, including a whopping 30:48 (!!) on Wednesday.
Goaltenders
Jordan Binnington, STL (Yahoo: 48%): The Blues surprisingly are still in the playoff hunt, only five points out of a wild-card spot. Joel Hofer has been touted here twice this season. And before allowing five goals on Monday, he impressed across nine appearances by posting a 7-0-2 record alongside a 1.29 GAA and .955 save percentage. Despite previously struggling, Binnington has done well since returning from the Olympics with a 1.74/.925 line through seven outings. If St. Louis wants to maximize its chances of advancing, it will need to rely on both goalies, which means Binnington should earn enough starts the rest of the way.
Yaroslav Askarov, SJ (Yahoo: 34%): San Jose's also part of a congested Western Conference postseason picture of getting the club to the next stage for the first time since 2018-19. Askarov hasn't been the most consistent netminder overall and was recently hurt. Even though he gave up seven goals during his last two matchups, both ended up in wins with a few key saves that either protected a lead or spurred the Sharks to go ahead. Alex Nedeljkovic performed admirably while Askarov was out, though also conceded at least five goals three times from March 17 to 24. Might as well give Askarov a chance to keep his momentum going.
Illinois basketball coach Brad Underwood didn't lie when he said the Fighting Illini fan base was going to take over Indianapolis for the Final Four.
When Underwood and Illinois took the court at Lucas Oil Stadium for its practice on Friday, April 3, they were met by droves of Fighting Illini fans who made the short trip across state lines from Champaign.
"I know we're going to turn it out in Indy," Underwood said after returning to campus from the Elite Eight. "That's the story. We're going to turn Indy orange and blue. And kick everybody's ass there."
According to StubHub, Illinois buyers account for 1 in 3 Final Four tickets sold — more than double the next closest state, Indiana.
Illinois has won each of its four NCAA Tournament games by double digits so far, taking down No. 9 Iowa in the Elite Eight, 71-59, after upsetting No. 2 seed Houston, the national runner-up last season, 65-55, in a defensive clinic. The Illini also defeated No. 14 seed Penn and No. 11 VCU with ease in the first weekend.
It won't be easy against UConn, who upset top-seeded Duke in the Elite Eight. The Huskies defeated Illinois, 74-61, early in nonconference play, although both teams are wildly different at this point of the season, especially after the emergence of Keaton Wagler for the Illini and Tarris Reed Jr. for UConn.
For now, Underwood and Illinois are just soaking in the moment, especially with the expected pro-Illini crowd on April 4.
"It's awe-inspiring," he told CBS Sports' Tracy Wolfson on April 3. "I look out there and see all the orange and blue that came out and you dream about this as a kid. ... You grow up in the business, and you want to be here as a coach and you never know if your opportunity is going to come.
"To be honest, it's why I took the Illinois job. I had belief. I'm a big dreamer. I felt like all this was capable and we've been close, but we hadn't been here. And it's better in real life than my dreams."
Illinois fans take over Final Four
Here's a look at Illinois fans showing up en masse for the Fighting Illini's Final Four practice on April 3:
