LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 27, 2026: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Edwin Díaz (3) leaves the bullpen to pitch the ninth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium on March 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES — Edwin Díaz has been one of the best closers in baseball for several years, and he has perhaps the most distinctive entrance in the sport.
When ‘Narco,’ the song long used by Díaz when he comes into games, played on Friday night at Dodger Stadium, in his first appearance with the Dodgers, the All-Star right-hander was accompanied by a live trumpet player playing along with the song.
“I heard a trumpet sound before I was coming out and said, ‘No way, they got a live trumpet,’” Díaz said after the game, after he worked around a one-out walk with a two-strikeout scoreless ninth inning to preserve the Dodgers’ 5-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“That was great,” manager Dave Roberts said of the trumpet-infused entrance for Díaz. “I was hoping to get him in there, and it worked out, and he performed.”
The trumpet player on Friday night at Dodger Stadium was Tatiana Tate, a musician based in Los Angeles. It’s unclear how often the Dodgers will have a live trumpet player accompanying Díaz’s entrances, but most likely it will be only occasional.
Four seasons ago, the Dodgers saw firsthand how electric the live music could be for one of Díaz’s entrances. Timmy Trumpet, co-writer and performer of ‘Narco,’ played live trumpet at Citi Field in 2022 in a New York Mets win over the Dodgers.
“It was fun, I enjoyed it, and I know the fans enjoyed it too,” Díaz said Friday night after his Dodgers debut.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 25: Julian Reese #15 of the Washington Wizards handles the ball during the game against the Utah Jazz on March 25, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Thank you for your responses to this week’s SB Nation NBA Reacts survey. Here are the results.
In our Washington Wizards survey, we asked you whether you believed the team would ultimately clinch an NBA record 29 game losing streak. If that were happen, that streak would have stretched into next season where Washington would have an 0-2 start. Only 22 percent of our respondents believed that the Wizards would sink that low.
Now, thankfully, the question is moot now. That’s because the Wizards won last Wednesday against the Utah Jazz.
In our national survey, respondents were asked which NBA team should move to the Eastern Conference if the NBA expands. Thirty seven percent each selected the Memphis Grizzlies and the Minnesota Timberwolves as the teams most likely to go to the Eastern Conference. The NBA is likely going to expand to Seattle and Las Vegas which would both be Western Conference teams. In a 32 team NBA, that would require one Western team to be placed in the Eastern Conference.
The Chicago Blackhawks have lost two straight games by a combined score of 11-2. They are 4-4-2 in their last 10, but the way they’ve been outplayed in these last two games has the team as a whole feeling down.
It’s a young group that must find a way to get out of the rut before the season ends. They have one more game on their East Coast swing before returning home to Chicago.
The one bright spot on this dark cloud has been Nick Lardis. He is not one of the first-round picks that had everyone excited in recent years, but his rise has been nothing short of sensational.
After turning heads with 71 goals in the OHL last season, he came to the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs and continued to fill the net. That earned him a call-up when Connor Bedard injured his shoulder, but he was sent back down once the forward group returned to full health.
After the Olympics, Lardis was called up again, but stashed on the fourth line for a while. He wasn’t producing in that role, as expected.
In the middle of their game against the Colorado Avalanche last Friday, Jeff Blashill randomly decided to bring him up to the second line with Tyler Bertuzzi and Frank Nazar. That has turned out to be one of Blashill’s top lineup decisions of the season.
Lardis didn’t score against Colorado late in that game, but he has scored in three of the last four, all on the new-look second line. His natural ability to score works well with two offensive-minded players like Nazar and Bertuzzi.
"He's been really good," Bertuzzi said of Lardis. "He battles hard. For a smaller guy, he's physical. He gets in on the forecheck, and he can score goals. I've been enjoying playing with him."
The wonder was whether Lardis' major junior/minor-league scoring ability would translate to the NHL, and it seems it has. That’s a major positive for the Blackhawks when they go to evaluate their team during the off-season.
Lardis has 8 goals in 32 NHL games played, which is a 20-goal pace over an 82-game slate. That would be an incredible total for a rookie once selected in the third round. With more development to his game, plus time with better players, the tools are there for him to reach next-level goal-scoring heights.
Having a great shot is the key to Nick Lardis’ goal-scoring, but he is proving he will add to his totals each year by being a smart player. His goal against the Rangers was an example of him getting to a goal-scoring area to take advantage of the work being done by his linemates.
With Connor Bedard, Anton Frondell, Frank Nazar, and Oliver Moore, amongst others, ready to drive the bus in the coming years, Lardis is proving that he can be any one of their linemates who can score in bunches because of their playmaking.
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The Chicago Bulls and Memphis Grizzlies meet for the second time this season when the two teams collide at FedExForum.
Two fast-paced and defensively shy teams go head-to-head, and my Bulls vs. Grizzlies predictions expect the scoreboard to light up in Bluff City.
Here are my best free NBA picks for this cross-conference matchup on Saturday, March 28.
Bulls vs Grizzlies prediction
Bulls vs Grizzlies best bet: Over 245 (-110)
Fast-paced game? Check. Lackluster defense? Check. Young teams constantly rotating players with monitored minutes? Check, check, and check.
Tonight’s matchup between the Chicago Bulls and Memphis Grizzlies is going to be full of points, and I’m hammering the Over.
The Bulls have hit the Over in 21 of 35 road games, including a 7-4 mark to the Over as the road favorite. The Grizzlies are 18-17 to the Over at home. Chicago has hit the Over in three straight games, and Memphis has done so in two of its last three.
Over the last 10 games, the Bulls have allowed the third-most points per game at 128.1, while the Grizzlies have surrendered the fourth-most at 126.4. In that span, Chicago’s 120.7 defensive rating ranks 24th, and Memphis’ 125.1 defensive rating ranks 28th.
Chicago sports the fastest pace across the last 10 games at 104.8, while Memphis isn’t far behind in ninth with a 101.1 pace.
Injuries have decimated both teams, and both are playing the second legs of back-to-back sets, but fatigue isn’t something I’m worried about. Memphis players rarely sniff 30 minutes these days, and the roster is one of the youngest in the Association.
Chicago is going deep down the bench, so the available players should all have relatively fresh legs.
Bulls vs Grizzlies same-game parlay
The Grizzlies are just 9-12 ATS as the home underdog, but the Bulls are 1-10 ATS as the road favorite. This should be a competitive game, and the home team can keep it close.
Josh Giddey has dished 12+ dimes in six of his last nine games and three of his last four. He handed out 13 assists in his first matchup with the Grizzlies, who have allowed the sixth-most assists per game across their last 10.
Bulls vs Grizzlies SGP
Over 245
Grizzlies +3.5
Josh Giddey Over 11.5 assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: Giddey-Up!
Giddey has five triple-doubles across his last 12 outings, including one against the Grizzlies. He’s doing it all for Chicago right now, and another triple-double is within reach in this favorable spot.
Matas Buzelis has averaged 21.8 points and 7.1 boards across his last 10 games with one double-double to his credit. Over the last 10 games, Memphis has allowed the most rebounds at a whopping 51.1.
GG Jackson is averaging 22.5 points and rebounds in 12 March games. That number is up to 24.7 across his last three games, and he’s hit the Over twice in that span. Jackson leads the Grizzlies in points and is second in minutes over his last three.
Bulls vs Grizzlies SGP
Josh Giddey triple-double
Matas Buzelis double-double
GG Jackson Over 23.5 points+rebounds
Bulls vs Grizzlies odds
Spread: Bulls -3.5 (-110) | Grizzlies +3.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Bulls -170 | Grizzlies +145
Over/Under: Over 245 | Under 245
Bulls vs Grizzlies betting trend to know
The Chicago Bulls are 1-10 ATS as the road favorite. Find more NBA betting trends for Bulls vs. Grizzlies.
How to watch Bulls vs Grizzlies
Location
FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Date
Saturday, March 28, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
CHSN, FDSN SE-MEM
Bulls vs Grizzlies latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 17: Jeferson Quero #76 of the Milwaukee Brewers takes batting practice prior to Game Four of the National League Championship Series presented by loanDepot between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Friday, October 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
We are just one game into the regular season, but we’ve already seen the Brewers make one surprise IL placement and promotion with Jackson Chourio and Blake Perkins on Opening Day. Now it appears we’ll have another surprise move just ahead of the second game of the year.
There was no immediate word on whose roster spot Quero would be taking, but given the position, it’s likely that either William Contreras or Gary Sánchez are dealing with an injury and will be placed on the IL. The Brewers have not yet confirmed the transaction.
The 23-year-old Quero will be making his MLB debut. Quero has been beset by injuries the last few years. He injured his throwing shoulder in his first game at Triple-A in 2024 and that required season-ending surgery. His return in 2025 from that shoulder surgery was delayed by a hamstring issue. Quero’s elite throwing arm was weakened by the shoulder surgery but appeared to be back on track as a big league-caliber arm this spring. Pat Murphy confirmed pop times in the 1.9-second range.
Quero is a career .275/.353/.452 hitter in the minor leagues and has quite a bit of pop. He slugged 16 home runs in 2023 in the pitcher-friendly Southern League. He’s routinely been viewed as a prospect with everyday potential and All-Star upside behind the plate. The bar for success for catchers is pretty low, but Quero has a well-rounded offensive game and approach at the plate.
Last season in Triple-A Nashville, Quero hit .271/.361/.478 with 17 doubles, 11 homers, and 32 walks to 40 strikeouts across 69 games.
The Brewers allowed Danny Jansen to walk in free agency this offseason and it seemed for most of the winter the Brewers might just simply allow Quero to backup Contreras this year. The late signing of Sánchez to a major league deal changed that calculus to allow Quero some more development time in Triple-A and more regular at-bats. Instead, after just one game, Quero is going to get his ABs in the major leagues.
In 2024, Quero played opening day for Nashville and was done for the year. In 2026, Quero played opening day for Nashville and is getting the call to Milwaukee.
Luka Doncic — in the midst of a March where he is averaging 37.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game — is about to get a mandated one-game suspension after picking up his 16th technical foul of the season.
Unless the technical is rescinded by the league — which happened with Doncic's last one but is highly unlikely in this case — he will serve his suspension and sit out Monday when the Lakers face the Washington Wizards.
Doncic picked up his 16th technical after a third-quarter exchange with Brooklyn's Ziaire Williams, and the pair was assessed a double-technical.
The sequence that led to the double technicals for Luka Doncic and Ziaire Williams.
If Luka's technical foul (his 16th of the season), isn't rescinded like last time, by league rule he'll have to serve a one-game suspension Monday vs. Washington. https://t.co/Qjj7EOZcTBpic.twitter.com/esYjyebu9B
"[Williams] was yelling in my face — three times," Doncic said about the altercation, via the Associated Press. "I just wanted to get out of there. It's a double tech, of course. What can I say? I didn't even talk. I just wanted to get out of there. And they said I pushed, my push was 'exaggerated,' which [it] was obviously not. And I don't know what else to tell you."
The NBA mandates a one-game suspension for any player who reaches 16 technicals in a season. Coach JJ Redick said the Lakers would appeal this technical, but from the video this seems unlikely to be overturned (as the last technical Doncic got was).
Doncic's play of late has him making an MVP push, with a crowded group at the top including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokic. Missing a game against a tanking Wizards team, where Doncic could have put up big numbers, does not help that cause.
Lakers guard Bronny James dunks the ball during a win over the Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Wednesday. (Andy Lyons / Getty Images)
You used to root for Bronny James to come into games ironically. Or because you just wanted to see history.
But now I bet you want to see Bronny come into the game to hoop.
Lakers guard Bronny James blocks a shot by Spurs forward Kelly Olynyk at Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 10. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
For the second consecutive game Friday, Lakers coach JJ Redick called the second-year guard’s number for important minutes.
Not to complete garbage time chores. Not as a gimmick to please the King. But because he needed a ball-handler he could trust after the regular rotation got wonky in the second quarter of the Lakers’ 116-99 victory over the Brooklyn Nets at Crypto.com Arena.
For the second consecutive game, Bronny helped buoy the Lakers. In four minutes, he had a deflection and drained a three-pointer that not only keyed a much-needed 9-0 Lakers run but also was the first father-to-son assisted basket in NBA history, coming on a pass from LeBron.
His former teammate sees in Bronny what his current teammates do: A hard worker who needs only to nurture his confidence to be able to contribute in the NBA.
“He’ll be great,” Williams said. “Especially starting off on the defensive end. He can guard one through four, pick up full [court,] have good ball pressure. On the offensive end, he’s a gamer. He can make shots, he can drive the ball. He can get his teammates open. The biggest thing with him is just keeping that confidence.
“When he’s confident and he’s in flow state, in rhythm, he’s a great, great player. … He’s just gotta keep working.”
Bronny’s been working in the G League the last two seasons, bouncing between the big leagues and the developmental circuit, where last season his averages were solid — including 21.9 points, per game — but nowhere near as efficient as they’ve been this season. In 13 games, he’s averaging 14.8 points on 54.7% shooting, including 41.7% from three-point range.
Lakers forward LeBron James greets his son, guard Bronny James, on the court during a game against the Clippers at Crypto.com Arena on Nov. 25. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
“He’s always been able to shoot the ball. He shot the ball at a high level pretty much throughout his years of playing ball. So I just think there’s the confidence in the rhythm and just getting the strength back and his wind and everything. Everything is just coming back.”
That’s carried over to the big club; Bronny is shooting 41.9% from three-point range in those instances when Redick has called on him — as he also did in a 137-130 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.
In that victory, Bronny had four points, two steals and a block in 13 minutes. Redick credited the 21-year-old with settling the team with a pull-up jumper with 3:55 to go in the game, which was the second this season LeBron and Bronny played together.
The first time it happened, in the season opener in 2024, the prevailing thought was that it wouldn’t happen again for a long time — and if it did, something had probably gone very wrong for the Lakers that game.
But that’s not the case. No, because Bronny has made a convincing case as an NBA player.
“I’ve been wanting to play basketball my whole life,” Bronny said. “It’s a dream come true. I’m so privileged to be able to play basketball for a job and I love every single second of it. My teammates embrace it. I’m best friends with all my teammates and my coaches. I’m just happy to be here.”
He’s become an effective plug-and-play piece — and not on a tanking Nets team that regularly runs out G League-caliber players, but on a playoff-bound Lakers team that has won 14 of its last 16 games.
The No. 55 draft pick in 2024, Bronny has surpassed Dalton Knecht, the 17th pick in that same draft, in the Lakers’ pecking order.
He’s become a player who can be counted on, and he’s especially valuable to a team that happens to badly need youth and athleticism, as the Lakers do.
You want to talk twists? How about whatever happens with LeBron — when, or if, he retires — the Lakers should seriously consider keeping Bronny in the fold. Seriously.
The NHL's 15-game schedule on Saturday, March 28, could see a lot of movement in the playoff standings throughout the day.
The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Ottawa Senators at 1 p.m. ET and the New York Islanders are also in action at that time. If the Lightning win, they'd move in front of the Buffalo Sabres for the Atlantic Division lead based on points percentage because they have played fewer games.
If the Senators win and the Islanders lose, Ottawa would move into the second wild-card position. If the Islanders win, they'd temporarily move from the second wild-card spot into second place in the Metropolitan Division, passing the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets.
But all that could change later in the day. The Sabres could reclaim the Atlantic Division lead if they end their three-game losing streak. Buffalo would also move into the top seed in the Eastern Conference if it gains one more point than the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. The Penguins and Blue Jackets have games later in the day.
Another team to watch is the Detroit Red Wings, who host the Philadelphia Flyers at 8 p.m. on ABC. If the Senators and Islanders lose early, the Red Wings would take over the second wild-card spot with a victory. The Flyers open the day five points out of a playoff spot and are desperate for a win.
In the West, the Pacific Division-leading Anaheim Ducks visit the second-place Edmonton Oilers at 3:30 p.m. The Ducks would bump their division lead to seven points with a regulation win or the Oilers could cut their deficit to three points.
Also, the Nashville Predators host the Montreal Canadiens at 7 and the Los Angeles Kings visit the Utah Mammoth at 9. The Kings would move into the second wild-card spot with a victory and a Predators regulation loss.
Here's what to know about the NHL standings, tiebreaker procedures and playoff bracket for the 2025-26 season:
Who's in the 2026 NHL playoffs?
Eastern Conference: None
Western Conference: Colorado, Dallas
NHL games today (Saturday, March 28)
All times p.m. and Eastern
Ottawa at Tampa Bay, 1
Florida at N.Y. Islanders, 1
Anaheim at Edmonton, 3:30
Minnesota at Boston, 5, NHL Network
Dallas at Pittsburgh, 5
New Jersey at Carolina, 5
San Jose at Columbus, 5
Seattle at Buffalo, 5:30
Toronto at St. Louis, 7
Montreal at Nashville, 7
Winnipeg at Colorado, 7
Philadelphia at Detroit, 8, ABC
Utah at Los Angeles, 9
Vancouver at Calgary, 10
Washington at Vegas, 10:30
NHL Eastern Conference standings 2025-26
As of March 27. x-clinched playoff spot. z-eliminated
Metropolitan Division
Carolina Hurricanes (96)
Pittsburgh Penguins (88)
Columbus Blue Jackets (87)
Atlantic Division
Buffalo Sabres (96)
Tampa Bay Lightning (94)
Montreal Canadiens (90)
Wild card
Boston Bruins (88)
New York Islanders (87)
Sitting out of playoff position: Ottawa Senators (86), Detroit Red Wings (86), Philadelphia Flyers (82), Washington Capitals (81), New Jersey Devils (76), Toronto Maple Leafs (75), Florida Panthers (73), z-New York Rangers (67)
NHL Western Conference standings 2025-26
As of March 27. x-clinched playoff spot. z-eliminated
Central Division
x-Colorado Avalanche (106)
x-Dallas Stars (97)
Minnesota Wild (94)
Pacific Division
Anaheim Ducks (86)
Edmonton Oilers (81)
Vegas Golden Knights (78)
Wild card
Utah Mammoth (80)
Nashville Predators (77)
Sitting out of playoff position: Los Angeles Kings (76), Seattle Kraken (74), Winnipeg Jets (72), San Jose Sharks (71), St. Louis Blues (71), Calgary Flames (68), Chicago Blackhawks (67), z-Vancouver Canucks (50)
NHL Eastern Conference playoff bracket
Here is how the Eastern Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on March 27.
Carolina (M1) vs. N.Y. Islanders (WC2)
Pittsburgh (M2) vs. Columbus (M3)
Buffalo (A1) vs. Boston (WC1)
Tampa Bay (A2) vs. Montreal (A3)
The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second in the second round. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: M - Metropolitan Division. A - Atlantic Division. WC - wild card
NHL Western Conference playoff bracket
Here is how the Western Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended on March 27.
Colorado (C1) vs. Nashville (WC2)
Dallas (C2) vs. Minnesota (C3)
Anaheim (P1) vs. Utah (WC1)
Edmonton (P2) vs. Vegas (P3)
The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second in the second round. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: C - Central Division P - Pacific Division. WC - wild cardld play the winner of the fourth. Key: C - Central Division P - Pacific Division. WC - wild card
NHL tiebreakers: What is the first tiebreaker in NHL standings?
If two teams are tied in points at the end of the regular season, here are the tiebreakers:
Regulation wins
Regulation and overtime wins (ROW)
Total wins
Most points earned in head-to-head competition: If teams had an uneven number of meetings, the first game played in the city that has the extra game is excluded.
Goal differential
Total goals
When does the NHL regular season end?
The NHL regular season is scheduled to end on Thursday, April 16, with six games.
When do the NHL playoffs start?
The NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs are expected to begin on Saturday, April 18.
Here are a couple of fearless predictions: The New York Yankees will give up a run at some point this season. And the San Francisco Giants will score one.
When either will happen, we're not entirely sure.
The Giants opened the season getting shut out in back-to-back games for the first time, mustering a total of four hits.
The pitching matchup is in favor of some more scoring on Saturday, but my Yankees vs. Giants predictions and MLB picks have the Yankees winning again.
Yankees vs Giants predictions
Yankees vs Giants best bet: Yankees moneyline (-130)
Everything has come up good for the New York Yankees in the season's first two games. New York pitchers have struck out 19 in 18 shutout innings and allowed one extra-base hit.
Will Warren, Saturday's starter, has been solid for the Yankees but not on the level of their first two starters. He adjusted his delivery, resulting in a 1.42 ERA spring ERA.
The San Francisco Giants, meanwhile, are already showing signs of frustration. Losing pitcher Robbie Ray seemed to take issue with former college coach Tony Vitello's rah-rah clubhouse speeches after yesterday's game.
COVERS INTEL:The Giants are 0-7 with runners in scoring position through the first two games of this series with the Yankees.
Yankees vs Giants same-game parlay (SGP)
After two pitching masterpieces, we could be in store for a slugfest. Warren was two full runs worse on the road last year (5.52 ERA compared to 3.50 at home). His WHIP was .571 higher, and opponents had 157 more points of OPS against him in road games.
Giants starter Tyler Mahle, an offseason acquisition after a strong year with Texas, has a 5.13 career ERA in his new home park, allowing four home runs in five starts. So, the Yankees should also be able to put up plenty of runs.
Yankees vs Giants SGP
Yankees moneyline
Will Warren over 2.5 earned runs allowed
Over 8.5 total runs
Yankees vs Giants home run pick: Aaron Judge (+220)
Judge should probably always be the home run pick in a Yankee game, but he's been even better in his hometown park. Friday's blast was his fourth in five games in San Francisco, and his 1.455 OPS at Oracle Park is fifth highest in any stadium—and Coors Field is one of the four where he's hit better.
He's also a streaky home-run hitter. Over the last two seasons, 39 of his 111 home runs have come after he's already homered within the last day. He went deep on Friday.
2026 Transparency record
Best bets: 0-3, -3.0 units
SGPs: 0-3, -3.0 units
HR picks: 1-2, +1.25 units
Yankees vs Giants odds
Moneyline: New York -125 | San Francisco +113
Run line: New York -1.5 (+135) | San Francisco +1.5 (-155)
Over/Under: Over 8 (+100) | Under 8 (-120)
Yankees vs Giants trend
The New York Yankees have hit the Team Total Over in 18 of their last 23 away games. Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. Giants.
How to watch Yankees vs Giants and game info
Location
Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA
Date
Saturday, March 28, 2026
First pitch
7:15 p.m. ET
TV
FOX
Yankees starting pitcher
Will Warren (2025: 9-8, 4.44 ERA)
Giants starting pitcher
Tyler Mahle (6-4, 2.18 ERA)
Yankees vs Giants latest injuries
Yankees vs Giants weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
SNY's Joe DeMayo and Jim Duquette mentioned during the recent spring breakout game broadcast that the organization was going to be aggressive with the 18-year-old prospect in his stateside debut.
He now appears set to jump the Complex League and kick things off with St. Lucie on April 7.
Peña showcased some of his potential during the spring breakout loss to the Rays prospects, playing a few innings at shortstop and reaching twice with a walk and a 102 mph single to right.
The youngster was also spectacular as he opened his career in the DSL last year, overcoming a dreadful 0-for-26 start to finish with 24 extra base-hits and a .949 OPS over 55 games.
He also swiped 21 bases in 25 attempts and had as many walks as strikeouts (36).
As DeMayo recently noted in his Prospect Mailbag, it wouldn't shock anyone to see Peña on top 100 prospect lists and competing to be the No. 1 ranked prospect in the system by the end of the season.
While it’s another light slate for the NBA on Saturday, there are six games on tap, and that gives us plenty of excellent targets for our player props today.
Victor Wembanyama and Jalen Johnson get outstanding matchups today against the Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings, respectively, while I also like Kon Knueppel to continue his three-point barrage.
Let’s take a look at all three of these matchups as I break down my NBA picks for Saturday, March 28.
Victor Wembanyama continues to have the best offensive season of his young career. The San Antonio Spurs center is averaging 24.2 ppg on 50.5% shooting from the field. He’s also getting to the line more and shooting 81.8% from the charity stripe.
Wemby isn’t taking it easy down the stretch, either. The Spurs have won seven in a row as they attempt to chase down the Oklahoma City Thunder for the top seed in the West, and they’ve won 12 straight with Wembanyama in the lineup – a stretch in which he’s averaged 26.1 ppg.
Wembanyama is in a great spot against the Milwaukee Bucks this afternoon, who have lost four of five and allowed 123.0 ppg during that span. Wemby should have no trouble getting Over his scoring total.
Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Prime Video
Prop #2: Kon Knueppel Over 3.5 threes made
-115 at bet365
Kon Knueppel has been perhaps the most surprising rookie in the NBA this season, averaging 19.1 ppg for the Charlotte Hornets after being picked fourth overall in last year’s draft. He’s already established himself as one of the league’s premier sharpshooters, hitting 3.5 shots from deep per game and making them at a 43.8% clip.
As Charlotte has worked its way up the Eastern Conference standings, Knueppel has continued to be a major contributor. The former Duke standout has hit at least four shots from deep in three of his last four games.
The Philadelphia 76ers haven’t been great at shutting down opponents at the three-point line, where teams are shooting 35.7% against them. Knueppel is in a prime position to take full advantage of that fact today.
Time: 6:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network Southeast, NBC Sports Philadelphia
Prop #3: Jalen Johnson Over 40.5 points + rebounds + assists
-105 at bet365
Jalen Johnson has been one of the Atlanta Hawks most versatile all-around threats in the NBA this year, averaging 22.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game. That works out to a combined PRA average of 41.3 per contest this season.
Those numbers haven’t slipped late in the year. Johnson is averaging 39.5 PRA in March and has two triple-doubles this month alone. He’s also hit tonight’s PRA total in four of his last six games.
The Sacramento Kings are one of the worst defensive teams in the league, giving up 121.2 ppg on the season and ranking 28th in defensive efficiency. Sacramento has lost four of its last five while playing out the string, and I like Johnson to put up big numbers against the Kings tonight.
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network Southeast, NBC Sports California
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SARASOTA, FL - MARCH 20: Jake Bennett of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium on Friday, March 20, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Vincent Mizzoni/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Boston Red Sox did not play baseball last night, or even yesterday afternoon. But, never fear! About 60 miles west, in New England’s second biggest city and home of the gravesite of the guy who invented the smiley face, several players with MLB service time and some with some more service time certain to come in 2026, played baseball. My fourth full year covering Minor Lines has arrived, and every year it’s cooler and cooler to see where the players in these box scores end up in their careers.
Last season was very results-oriented, as an exhaustive list of storylines propelled more attention on the farm in the last 12 to 24 months: the dawning of the careers of Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, and current Pirates outfielder Jhostnyxon Garcia; the unceremonious demotion of Kristian Campbell as well as the Triple-A club trying him all over the diamond; the trade of former Minor Lines subjects Kyle Teel and Chase Meidroth; and Connelly Early absolutely dealing. This year is certain to bring some more.
There are still plenty of questions: where exactly Campbell belongs as well as his attitude around it (a disposition our own Tim Crowley had the chance to ask the 23-year-old about); when exactly Payton Tolle will be called back up to Boston and in what capacity; the focus on organizational catchers to supplement Carlos Narvaez’s place on the team; what’s going to happen to former first-round pick Mikey Romero, and so much more. But in the mean time, the WooSox faced off against the Syracuse Mets to open their season, so, for the first time in six months… let’s get into it!
There’s a lot to like about the Red Sox’s number seven prospect, Jake Bennett, who got the nod on Opening Day for Worcester. The team dealt Luis Perales straight-up for him. While he may not be Roger “The Rocket” Clemens, who was on hand for the game and threw the first pitch to his catcher (and current Red Sox hitting adviser) Rich Gedman, Jake Bennett’s command, size, and fastball has the front office penciling him in for years to come. The 6’6”, 234 pound lefty has velocity in spades, nearly touching 100 with his fastball. He had that on full display against Syracuse, as, although he was capped at 60 pitches, 44 were strikes and he had five strikeouts. He did allow a run, but it was unearned as a result of his fielding error to start the fourth, after which he exited the game and Seth Martinez allowed a home run in what would become the fatal inning for the game.
Following that, the WooSox got caught trying to cut the deficit when Braiden Ward was caught trying to steal his second base of the inning, Hayden Senger cutting him off on third with a throw to old friend Christian Arroyo, which abruptly ended the fifth. Syracuse went up by one more run off of Noah Song, who allowed four hits in his five outs, and all the WooSox could muster was a sacrifice grounder by World Baseball Classic participant Tsung-Che Cheng to score Mickey Gasper. Too little too late. The WooSox would not get another runner in scoring position and would lose the game, 3-1.
But this is an interesting team this year, as a whole. Mickey Gasper is back and in the organization in the infield, the depth pieces like Brendan Rodgers will be useful in becoming a backbone for the likes of Romero, and establishing and analyzing some more pitching depth from a team that claims to have a lot of it. We get the chance to see another guy the organization holds in high regard this afternoon as Tyler Uberstine gets the ball for Game 2. Have a happy Saturday!
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 27: Bilal Coulibaly #0 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket during the game against the Golden State Warriors on March 27, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The best things from the Wizards loss to the Golden State Warriors were these:
Another aggressive and effective offensive performance from Bilal Coulibaly. The Warriors could not effectively defend him. He attacked wings and guards with dribble drives. When Golden State put Kristaps Porzingis on him and dared him to shoot, he knocked down threes…and then attacked the closeouts. Coulibaly had a 36.4% usage rate and a 130 offensive rating.
Will Riley had a hyper-efficient offensive game (160 offensive rating on 22.0% usage) that included outfoxing Draymond Green a few times, who is one of the NBA’s best defenders ever.
Will Riley shoots the ball during the Wizards loss to the Golden State Warriors. Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
What most interested me in this game was the solid performance of Pat Spencer, who was scouted and signed by the former Wizards management team led by Tommy Sheppard. Spencer played well in the G-League and summer league, and my statistical analysis suggested he might be able to make an NBA rotation.
Aside: Maybe there’s something to this statistical analysis stuff?
Despite a paucity of talent, the Wizards inexplicably (at least to me) traded Spencer to Golden State for some G-League draft picks.
Spencer is getting an extended run in Golden State’s rotation (17.7 minutes per game in 58 appearances this season), and he’s been okay. Last night, he looked like a standard NBA backup guard — 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal with solid efficiency in 24 minutes.
Spencer’s backstory is the best part because of his non-standard path to the NBA. His first sport was lacrosse, and he was one of the sport’s best players, all-time. He eschewed professional lacrosse, opting instead to attempt a basketball career.
He used his season of graduate eligibility to play at Northwestern only to have the season disrupted by the COVID pandemic. He played a season for the Hamburg Towers before signing to play for the Capital City Go-Go and Washington’s summer league squad.
Since then, he’s bounced between Golden State’s NBA roster and G-League team. This season, he’s played well enough that the Warriors converted his two-day deal to a standard NBA contract.
He also inspired one of the best quotes from a coach ever. After Spencer scored 19 points in his first NBA start, Golden State head coach Steve Kerr explained the decision to start Spencer by saying, “His coach realized Pat is that m*****f***er.” (Spencer had said something similar about himself a few days earlier.)
Anyway, kudos to Spencer for being an all-time great in one sport, and then switching to another and becoming good enough to earn a role in the NBA — the world’s best basketball league. There aren’t many people who have proven to be a great in one sport and being among the 500-600 best on the planet in another.
From the Notebook
Alex Sarr kept trying to score on Porzingis, which did not go well. He shot 0-3 from inside the arc when Porzingis was defending, and 1-3 from three-point range. He also fouled out in just 23 minutes.
Anthony Gill played another strong game — an example of how players can be successful by playing within the flow of the game and taking what the defense gives. In this game, he pump-faked threes and attacked closeouts to get relatively easy shots. This is a progression from him — earlier in the season (and throughout his career), he’s pump faked but not converted the advantage into good shots. Last night, he did.
I’ve written recently about broadcasters asserting that Leaky Black was a strong defender in college. Perhaps that’s true. At the NBA level, he’s been a disastrous combination of low effort and weak when he’s on-ball, and inattentive and slow when off-ball. He routinely gets caught ball-watching when he should be paying attention to his man cutting past him (sometimes in front of him) or sticking to his man when he should be helping. Last night, NBA tracking indicates the Warriors scored 28 points on 19 field goal attempts and produced 5 assists when Black was defending.
I still think Riley carries the ball constantly, which irritates the hoops purist in me. But, as someone in the comments suggested, if the refs aren’t going to call it, the “carries” are a kind of super power. Last night, he burned Green with a…hmm, gotta call it something…elongated hesi dribble (?) to get a layup.
Jaden Hardy did Jaden Hardy things in the fourth quarter, which is to say, he hit 4-5 from three-point range…and basically nothing else. That instant offense is fun, though. He kinda reminds me of Jordan Crawford, which is not intended as criticism or praise. There is definitely an empty calories flavor to Hardy’s game, but empty calories can be fun.
It was good to see an Omer Yurtseven make an appearance because his name is fun to say.
Four Factors
Below are the four factors that decide wins and losses in basketball — shooting (efg), rebounding (offensive rebounds), ball handling (turnovers), fouling (free throws made).
The four factors are measured by:
eFG% (effective field goal percentage, which accounts for the three-point shot)
OREB% (offensive rebound percentage)
TOV% (turnover percentage — turnovers divided by possessions)
FTM/FGA (free throws made divided by field goal attempts)
FOUR FACTORS
WIZARDS
WARRIORS
LGAVG
eFG%
62.1%
62.9%
54.4%
OREB%
12.8%
21.4%
26.0%
TOV%
10.8%
11.8%
12.8%
FTM/FGA
0.084
0.282
0.207
PACE
102
99.3
ORTG
124
129
115.6
Stats & Metrics
PPA is my overall production metric, which credits players for things they do that help a team win (scoring, rebounding, playmaking, defending) and dings them for things that hurt (missed shots, turnovers, bad defense, fouls).
PPA is a per possession metric designed for larger data sets. In small sample sizes, the numbers can get weird. In PPA, 100 is average, higher is better and replacement level is 45. For a single game, replacement level isn’t much use, and I reiterate the caution about small samples sometimes producing weird results.
POSS is the number of possessions each player was on the floor in this game.
ORTG = offensive rating, which is points produced per individual possessions x 100. League average so far this season is listed in the Four Factors table above. Points produced is not the same as points scored. It includes the value of assists and offensive rebounds, as well as sharing credit when receiving an assist.
USG = offensive usage rate. Average is 20%. Median so far this season is 17.7%.
ORTG and USG are versions of stats created by former Wizards assistant coach Dean Oliver and modified by me. ORTG is an efficiency measure that accounts for the value of shooting, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers. USG includes shooting from the floor and free throw line, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers.
+PTS = “Plus Points” is a measure of the points gained or lost by each player based on their efficiency in this game compared to league average efficiency on the same number of possessions. A player with an offensive rating (points produced per possession x 100) of 100 who uses 20 possessions would produce 20 points. If the league average efficiency is 115, the league — on average — would produced 23.0 points in the same 20 possessions. So, the player in this hypothetical would have a +PTS score of -3.0.
Players are sorted by total production in the game.
Every time LeBron James steps on an NBA court he sets a new NBA record or hits a historical marker of some kind, but this one is going to be one he remembers.
With a second-quarter pass to Bronny James, LeBron and Bronny had the first father-to-son assist in NBA history.
With Marcus Smart out injured, JJ Redick has given Bronny a few regular rotation minutes against Indiana and Brooklyn this week. That means a few minutes playing alongside Dad.
"That's two games back-to-back playing meaningful minutes and him, also, making another play…" LeBron said postgame, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN. "Definitely a cool moment for us and also for our family."
LeBron finished with 14 points, eight assists and six rebounds in a game where the Lakers let the Nets hang around, then pulled away in the second half of the fourth quarter to win 116-99. That 3-pointer was Bronny's one bucket of the night.
Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 41 points, but also picked up his 16th technical of the season, which will earn him an automatic one-game suspension (unless it is rescinded, as his last technical was).
In the summer of 2023, the Los Angeles Kings traded then 24-year-old Sean Durzi to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for a second round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
It seemed odd at the time for the Kings to deal a defenseman who showed real promise in his first two seasons as a professional, but looking at the ripple effects the deal had on the organization, it's clear that both sides are happy with the outcome.
You may be surprised how the Sean Durzi trade tree has unfolded for the Kings.
In his first two seasons at the NHL level, Durzi proved he had what it takes to play with the big boys. During his two seasons in Los Angeles, the Mississauga native played 136 games, totalling 12 goals and 53 assists for 65 points. There was no surprise that a rebuilding team like Arizona showed great interest in acquiring him.
In June of 2023, the Kings and Coyotes agreed on a deal that would send Durzi to Arizona in exchange for a 2024 2nd round pick in 2024 that was previously owned by the Montreal Canadiens.
Durzi would only play one season in Arizona before the team relocated to Utah and became the Mammoth. His lone season as a Coyote turned out to be a career year for Durzi as he scored nine goals to go with 32 assists for 41 points in 76 games. His strong play led to him signing a respectable four-year contract extension worth $24 million, paying him $6 million per season.
After signing the new deal, the 2024-25 season didn't go Durzi's way as he would miss 52 games due to an injury he suffered that required surgery.
However, this season Durzi healthy and has provided some solid production for Utah as they push for the playoffs. In 52 games played, the 27-year-old has five goals and 19 assists for 24 points.
It's safe to assume that Utah views this deal as a success.
It would be completely fair to assume that the Kings used the second round pick on a prospect in the draft. However that was not the case, at all.
On June 27th, 2023, just three days after the Durzi trade, the Kings made a massive splash by trading for Pierre-Luc Dubois from the Winnipeg Jets. The Kings sent Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iaffalo, Rasmus Kupari, and you guessed it, the 2024 second rounder to the Jets. With the pick, the Jets selected defenceman Alfons Freij who has played just two AHL games.
You would think it would end at that, but no, after just one year with the Kings, Dubois was dealt to the Washington Capitals in exchange for goaltender Darcy Kuemper in a one-for-one trade.
It's crazy to look back and realize how each and every move an organization makes has an impact moving forward, no matter how minor it is. The Sean Durzi trade to Utah played a part in the Kings acquiring a Vezina candidate and Olympian in Darcy Kuemper.
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