Atlanta Hawks (31-31, ninth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (26-34, 11th in the Eastern Conference)
Milwaukee; Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Atlanta is looking to extend its four-game win streak with a victory against Milwaukee.
The Bucks are 19-22 in conference games. Milwaukee gives up 115.6 points and has been outscored by 4.3 points per game.
The Hawks have gone 17-21 against Eastern Conference opponents. Atlanta is second in the Eastern Conference with 18.4 fast break points per game led by Jalen Johnson averaging 4.1.
The Bucks score 111.3 points per game, 6.1 fewer points than the 117.4 the Hawks allow. The Hawks average 14.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.1 fewer makes per game than the Bucks give up.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Bucks won 112-110 in the last matchup on Jan. 19.
TOP PERFORMERS: Ryan Rollins is averaging 16.8 points, 5.4 assists and 1.5 steals for the Bucks. Kevin Porter Jr. is averaging 18.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, seven assists and 2.1 steals over the past 10 games.
Johnson is scoring 22.7 points per game with 10.6 rebounds and 7.9 assists for the Hawks. CJ McCollum is averaging 18.6 points and 2.9 rebounds while shooting 42.2% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Bucks: 5-5, averaging 108.0 points, 41.8 rebounds, 23.1 assists, 7.1 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.7 points per game.
Hawks: 6-4, averaging 117.2 points, 48.8 rebounds, 28.9 assists, 9.3 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.7 points.
INJURIES: Bucks: Taurean Prince: out (neck).
Hawks: None listed.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Indiana Pacers (15-46, 15th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (29-31, ninth in the Western Conference)
Inglewood, California; Wednesday, 10:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Indiana aims to stop its six-game losing streak with a victory against Los Angeles.
The Clippers have gone 15-13 at home. Los Angeles is last in the Western Conference recording 23.5 assists per game led by Kawhi Leonard averaging 3.7.
The Pacers are 5-24 on the road. Indiana is 7-31 against opponents with a winning record.
The Clippers are shooting 47.9% from the field this season, 0.9 percentage points lower than the 48.8% the Pacers allow to opponents. The Pacers average 111.4 points per game, 0.7 fewer than the 112.1 the Clippers give up.
TOP PERFORMERS: Kris Dunn is averaging 8.1 points, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals for the Clippers. Leonard is averaging 26.0 points over the last 10 games.
Pascal Siakam is scoring 23.9 points per game with 6.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists for the Pacers. Jarace Walker is averaging 14.5 points and 7.4 rebounds while shooting 42.5% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Clippers: 6-4, averaging 111.4 points, 41.4 rebounds, 23.0 assists, 9.4 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 48.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.3 points per game.
Pacers: 2-8, averaging 113.7 points, 40.0 rebounds, 28.6 assists, 7.9 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 124.1 points.
INJURIES: Clippers: Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), John Collins: day to day (arm).
Pacers: Pascal Siakam: day to day (wrist), Aaron Nesmith: day to day (ankle), Johnny Furphy: out for season (knee), Ivica Zubac: out (ankle), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles), Andrew Nembhard: day to day (back).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Dockside site will transform club’s finances, but fans are frustrated with kick-off times and results at venue so far
David Moyes has numerous theories on why Everton do not yet feel completely at home at Hill Dickinson Stadium, beyond the fact that change is inevitably strange after 133 years at Goodison Park. Wins would be instrumental, but his team have managed only five in 16 matches. Supporters connecting to the magnificent venue through a new matchday routine would help too, but for many that is proving nigh on impossible.
One season-ticket holder, who lives in the south of England, said on social media recently that they expect to miss seven or eight home games this season owing to the curse of the modern fixture schedule. The club are aware that this is not an isolated case. The problem is not new nor confined to Everton, who of course reap the benefits of every game that is switched for live television purposes and, let’s be frank, have not held as much appeal for broadcasters in recent years as they do this season. But in their inaugural campaign at a new home, Everton’s schedule has proved to be peculiar and, in turn, detrimental to fans adapting to new surroundings.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 2: Nate Williams #19 of the Golden State Warriors boxes out during the game against the LA Clippers on March 2, 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 Golden State Warriors fell apart in the second half on Monday night against the LA Clippers. After a very impressive first half, the extremely shorthanded Dubs saw their double-digit lead evaporate, and eventually turn into a double-digit deficit, finally culminating in a 114-101 home loss to a Clippers team they’re trying to stave off in the standings.
Let’s take a quick look at some grades for the players. As always, grades are based on my expectations for each player, with a “B” grade representing the average performance for that player.
Note: True-shooting percentage (TS) is a scoring efficiency metric that accounts for threes and free throws. Entering Monday’s games, league-average TS was 57.9%.
Like most of the Warriors, Green played fairly well in the first half and not so well in the second half. He brought good energy, and his defense on Kawhi Leonard was solid. But he was a non-factor scoring the ball, and his nice passing when largely negated by his poor passing.
Grade: C Post-game bonus: Led the team in assists, worst plus/minus on the team.
Horford’s 17 points were his second-highest total in a Dubs jersey, and his third time in the last four games scoring in double figures. With Trayce Jackson-Davis traded and Kristaps Porziņģis having only suited up once for the Warriors, I really don’t know what they’d do without Horford.
It wasn’t a flawless game by any stretch of the imagination, but he played well on both ends of the court. He was at the center of a brilliant defensive first half.
Not much to say about this one. Melton has been awesome for the last two months, but he was not awesome in this game. Not even remotely close to awesome. He just couldn’t buy a bucket, and couldn’t penetrate LA’s defense enough to set him teammates up, either.
Moody had a very strong defensive game, and a pretty poor offensive game. I still want to see him rebounding more, and being more aggressive with the ball in his hands. But he has greatly improved at sliding into the passing lane on the perimeter to increase both the quantity and quality of his three-point shots. But in all, the Warriors just needed quite a bit more.
Podz was nothing short of brilliant in the first half, when he fueled the team’s offense. He had 20 points in the opening act, and was the primary facilitator as the Dubs scored 56 points, while also playing strong defense.
It came crashing down in the second half, though, when he got shut down. He was held to two points in the back half of the game, and really couldn’t get anything going on offense for his teammates. A tale of two halves.
Steve Kerr inserted Leons into the lineup late in the third quarter when everything was going horribly for Golden State. It was an attempt to throw something at the wall, and while it didn’t stick, you can hardly blame Leons for that. He mostly ended up playing in garbage time.
If anyone was wondering whether Santos was playing hard for a contract and would ease up once he got paid, well … we have our answer, and it’s “no.” You wouldn’t know that Santos had just inked a three-year, $15 million contract by his effort level.
The Clippers got the best of him on many possessions, and made it very hard for him to score. But he made a strong impact in defense, and an even stronger impact on the glass.
Grade: B Post-game bonus: Led the team in rebounds.
Headband Post! Now that’s a look I wasn’t expecting. It didn’t turn him into a deadeye shooter, but he did play well in his limited stint. Sure, he air-balled a three, but he also played pretty decent defense.
Grade: B+ Post-game bonus: Best plus/minus on the team.
Well hello there, Nate Williams! After making his Warriors debut on Saturday, Williams played a critical role on Monday, and was one of the team’s best players, despite it being just the 49th game of his career. He was Golden State’s best shooter, and most aggressive offensive option. I certainly did not see that coming, but it was awesome.
A little bit of a hot-and-cold game for Spencer. He struggled to create separation and clean looks, so he wasn’t much of a factor scoring. But he quarterbacked the offense well, and dished out five assists while turning the ball over just once. His defense wasn’t good, but it was fine.
Grade: B
Monday’s inactives: Jimmy Butler III, LJ Cryer, Seth Curry, Steph Curry, Gary Payton II, Kristaps Porziņģis, Will Richard
The Vancouver Canucks lost for the 35th time this season as they fell 6-1 on Monday to the Dallas Stars. Evander Kane scored the only goal while Nikita Tolopilo stopped 31 of the 37 shots he faced. With the defeat, Vancouver has now lost six games in a row and have just two win in their last 22 games.
After a balanced first period, the Stars took over and completely controlled play through the final 40 minutes. The Canucks registred just seven shots in the second, finishing with 14 on the net. For comparisson, Dallas recorded more shots in both the second and the third periods, as they finished with 15 and 16 in those periods.
Vancouver's lack of really anything in the final 40 minutes was concerning, especially considering that the Stars were missing both Roope Hintz and Mikko Rantanen. While the Canucks were not favoured in this game, some form of effort was at least expected, especially in front of the home crowd. Unfortunatly, it was another in a long line of nights this season where Vancouver just could not find any form of momentum.
The only positive to come out of this game was the play of Tolopilo. While the rookie goaltender did allow six goals, he came up with some massive saves in this one. In the end, if not for the play of Tolopilo, this game could have turned into an even bigger blowout.
"Ultimately, I mean, I thought we had a decent start, said Marcus Pettersson post-game. "Power play was clicking in the first and gave us some life. And then, you know, they started coming after us in the second. I thought we started, stolen pucks a little bit everywhere, and not helping each other get get out of our zone, and that allowed them to kind of get back at us. And then, I mean, we left Tolo out to dry today."
Mar 2, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tom Willander (5) checks Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn (14) in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
While tanking is the goal at this point of the season, the fans at Rogers Arena deserve to at least see a better effort on a nightly basis. The Canucks esentially gave up after te first period, which once again led to fans exiting early and empty seats scatter around the arena when the final horn blew. Something needs to change in Vancouver, and quickly as the effort this team has put forth, especially since returning from the Olympic break has made games virtually unwatchable.
Stats and Facts:
- Canucks record a season-low with 14 shots on net
- Marcus Pettersson led all players in ice time at 23:43
- Defenceman Elias Pettersson led the team with three hits
- Vancouver has just two wins in 21 games since the calander flipped to 2026
Scoring Summary:
1st Period:
7:57- VAN: Evander Kane (11) from Jake DeBrusk and Marcus Pettersson 17:40- DAL: Adam Erne (4) from Colin Blackwell and Lian Bichsel
2nd Period:
8:31- DAL: Lian Bichsel (2) from Ilya Lyubushkin and Sam Steel 9:41- DAL: Jason Robertson (34) from Matt Duchene and Miro Heiskanen (PPG)
3rd Period:
1:32- DAL: Matt Duchene (12) from Sam Steel and Miro Heiskanen 5:40- DAL: Colin Blackwell (3) 15:39- DAL: Lian Bichsel (3) from Mavrik Bourque (13), Jason Robertson
Up Next:
The Canucks wrap up their mini two-game homestand on Wednesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Wednesday will also be the final game before the 2026 trade deadline. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT from Rogers Arena.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
FORMER CUBS ON THE ITALY ROSTER: Jon Berti and Miles Mastrobuoni. Alex Maestri, a former Cubs prospect who was actually born in Italy, is one of two pitching coaches for the team (Dave Righetti is the other one).
CUBS 40-MAN PLAYERS ON WBC ROSTERS: Alex Bregman, Matthew Boyd, Pete Crow-Armstrong (USA); Javier Assad (Mexico); Miguel Amaya (Panama); Daniel Palencia (Venezuela); Seiya Suzuki (Japan); Jameson Taillon (Canada).
OTHER WBC EXHIBITIONS: There are 14 other exhibition games today between WBC teams and MLB squads. Here’s the complete schedule.
Here are today’s particulars.
Cubs lineup:
Italy lineup:
Cade Horton will start for the Cubs. Other Cubs pitchers scheduled today: zzzz
some other guy will start for Italy. Other Italy pitchers scheduled today: zzzz.
As we have done in the past, we’ll have a first pitch thread at five minutes to game time and one overflow thread, 90 minutes after game time. For today, that will be 2 p.m. CT and 3:30 p.m. CT.
These threads will not post individually onto the front page; instead, you can find links to them in the box marked ”Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page. There will also be a StoryStream on the front page with all the game thread links, as well as the recap after the game is over. The pitcher photos and regular-season stats will return on Opening Day.
The Vancouver Canucks appear to be facing more injury issues, as the team announced mid-game that defenceman Pierre-Olivier Joseph would not return in a 6-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. Joseph finished the game with 10:36 minutes played.
Canucks Head Coach Adam Foote noted post-game that Joseph left due to an upper-body injury and that he would be getting X-rays. As of writing, there is no update on the severity of the injury or how long the defenceman could be out for.
In 23 games played with Vancouver this season, Joseph has a goal and four assists. While he has not been a consistent part of the Canucks' lineup, with Vancouver eyeing a potential Tyler Myers trade, Joseph has regularly skated with rookie Zeev Buium through the past three games.
With Joseph out, Vancouver will likely look to their organizational youth to round out their D-core. Buium, Elias Pettersson, and Tom Willander have already gotten their fair share of minutes as young defencemen in the organization. If Myers does not remain with the team, this could mean a player like Abbotsford Canucks defenceman Victor Mancini could be called-up.
Vancouver's final game before the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline is on Wednesday, when they'll take on the Carolina Hurricanes on home-ice. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT.
Dec 30, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph (7) handles the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Lian Bichsel scored twice and the Dallas Stars beat the Vancouver Canucks 6-1 on Monday night.
Colin Blackwell, Jason Robertson and Matt Duchene each had a goal and an assist for the Stars (37-14-9), who extended their winning streak to a franchise-record nine games.
Adam Erne added a goal for Dallas and Miro Heiskanen and Sam Steel had two assists apiece. Jake Oettinger made 13 saves.
The Canucks opened the scoring midway through the first period when Jake DeBrusk drove into the offensive zone, put a shot off Oettinger’s right pad and Evander Kane deflected the rebound in from the side of the net for his 11th goal of the season.
Nikita Tolopilo stopped 31 of the 37 shots he faced in Vancouver’s net as the Canucks lost a sixth straight game (0-4-2).
The Canucks took an early lead with Kane’s goal 7:57 into the first period, but their offense stuttered in the second when Vancouver managed just four shots on goal.
Dallas took the lead 8:31 into the second when Ilya Lyubushkin sliced a pass to Bichsel, who blasted a wrist shot up and over Tolopilo’s shoulder from the slot to make it 2-1.
Heiskanen extended his point streak to six games with nine assists during the stretch.
The Canucks have not scored a power-play goal since Jan. 27, going 0 for 13 in their last seven games.
Up next
Stars: At the Calgary Flames on Tuesday.
Canucks: Host the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday.
SAN FRANCISCO — Plagued by slow starts, this time, the Warriors couldn’t finish.
After coach Steve Kerr called out the Warriors’ effort while falling behind early in their last game against the Lakers, they responded by jumping out to a 17-point first half lead against the Clippers.
It all fell apart after halftime in a 114-101 loss.
“The second half got away from us — all of us,” Kerr said. “It wasn’t one thing or one player. We struggled to score and they picked up their defensive intensity.”
Al Horford of the Golden State Warriors dribbles the ball during the game against the LA Clippers on March 2, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images
Kris Dunn drained a corner 3 on the first possession of the fourth quarter to give the Clippers their first lead since early in the first period and scored nine of his 16 points after halftime.
Matched up almost exclusively against Draymond Green, Kawhi Leonard’s 37-game streak of scoring 20 or more looked to be in serious jeopardy — until he exploded for 15 in the second half to finish with 23. Benedict Mathurin added 15 after halftime to finish with 17, and Darius Garland contributed 12 off the bench in his Clippers debut.
“They were great in the second half,” Kerr said.
Golden State was locked in from the get-go on defense, turning six turnovers into nine points and holding the Clippers to 7-of-24 from the field while jumping out to a 31-19 lead after one.
“Our defense was excellent,” Kerr said. “We were flying around, getting some good shots. And we didn’t foul. … They were really good defensively in that second half. We just couldn’t get anything to go.”
Brandin Podziemski poured in 20 points in the first half but added only two points to that total after halftime. Al Horford finished with 17 — a team-best 11 in the second half — but Golden State couldn’t pick up the slack.
The Warriors committed 10 turnovers that led to 17 points and shot 15-of-45 (33.3%) from the field as they watched a 56-42 halftime lead turn into a double-digit defeat.
Darius Garland of the LA Clippers dribbles the ball during the game against the Golden State Warriors on March 2, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images
What it means
There are now just 1.5 games separating the Warriors and the Clippers in the Western Conference playoff picture. LA is currently in ninth place and if Ty Lue’s squad can overtake Golden State, it would send the Warriors to the No. 9-10 play-in matchup.
The teams meet once more, on the final day of the regular season.
Turning point
When Green checked out with 4:37 left in the third quarter.
The Warriors managed to sustain their halftime advantage for most of the third quarter, but the tables turned when their best defender went to the bench.
“Draymond’s effort and energy defensively set the tone for the whole first half,” Kerr said. “He was all over the place, flying around. We really were able to contain Kawhi in the first half because of Draymond.”
Leonard had only 12 points on eight shot attempts at the time. He proceeded to pour in another 11 on 4-of-6 shooting as the Clippers outscored the Warriors 53-30 from then on.
The Warriors still held a 71-61 lead at the time Green checked out. By the time the fourth quarter began, Golden State’s advantage had been cut to 79-77.
The Warriors never reclaimed a lead after Dunn sank the 3 to start the fourth.
“He can’t play the whole game,” Kerr said of Green, who logged 31 minutes. “But that was the key stretch.”
MVP: Nate Williams
Who? The newcomer to the Warriors — signed to a two-way contract on Feb. 17 — scored a career-high points in 22 minutes in only his second game with Golden State.
The 6-foot-5 shooting guard who attended nearby Prolific Prep (Napa) also occasionally switched onto Leonard, even forcing a steal and a loose-ball foul that sent him to the foul line.
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard looks to pass the ball while being defended by Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green on Monday, March 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) AP
Stat of the game: -18
Kerr strategically staggered Green’s minutes to match up with the Clippers’ top option, and it mostly worked — for the first half. Green faceguarded Leonard all game, and Golden State was a plus-seven in his minutes before halftime — minus-2 for Leonard.
Just like the scoreboard, that flipped in the second half.
Green finished the game minus-18, while Leonard was plus-16.
Up next
The Warriors hit the road for three games, beginning Thursday at the Rockets. It will be difficult to win without Curry at Houston, or against the Thunder on Saturday, but they end the trip with a gettable game against the Jazz in Utah.
In addition to Curry, whose earliest return is March 13, it hasn’t been determined whether Kristaps Porzingis will make the trip after missing his fifth straight game with an illness Kerr described as “a little mysterious.”
On Monday, the Braves were able to earn another Spring Training victory over the Detroit Tigers. It was a game where the starting pitching depth of the Braves was on full display, as Bryce Elder, Joey Wentz, and Owen Murphy all threw multiple innings. While it is likely unwise to expect big things from any of these three arms this season, they are a part of the “next man up” group for the Braves if injury again impacts the rotation. Each had a solid effort today, a trend that will hopefully continue.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 02: Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors is guarded by Yanic Konan Niederhauser #14 of the LA Clippers during the first half at Chase Center on March 02, 2026 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors lost to the Los Angeles Clippers 114-101 on Monday night, dropping to 31-30 on the season. The shorthanded Dubs are now only 1.5 games ahead of the Clippers in the standings, putting them in serious jeopardy of falling from 8th to 9th in the Western Conference standings. While both the 8th and 9th seeds slot into the Play-In Tournament, the path to the postseason is much easier for the 8th than 9th seed, needing to win only one game instead of two.
The odds seemed stacked against the Warriors heading into the game, facing a Clippers team with Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland while missing Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, Kristaps Porzgingis, Will Richard, Gary Payton II, and Seth Curry. However, Golden State seemed to be in position to overcome that in the first half.
Warriors jumped out to a comfortable double-digit lead in the first quarter and controlled the game for the entire first half, building a 17-point lead at one point. Brandin Podziemski exploded for 20 points and Golden State’s coaching staff deployed a defensive strategy that leaned on Draymond Green to shut down Kawhi Leonard. The Warriors successfully forced the ball out of Leonard’s hands and the Clippers offense seemed lost.
However, the game played out differently in the third quarter. The Clippers’ halftime adjustments helped activate Leonard. Meanwhile Podziemski cooled off and the Warriors offense faltered. Golden State did take advantage of a favorable whistle, to avoid a complete offensive collapse. Still, the Clippers had cut their deficit to 79-77.
With the Clippers no longer in the penalty at the start of the fourth quarter, the wheels came off for the Warriors. Kris Dunn put the Dubs behind on the first possession of the quarter with a corner three and Los Angeles was ahead 95-86 with 6:50 left in regulation. Golden State would never pull within five points again.
Podziemski led the Warriors with 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists, but did the vast majority of his damage in the first half. Al Horford added 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. The remaining starters (De’Anthony Melton, Moses Moody, and Green) all struggled offensively, combining to score 21 points on 8-for-31 shooting from the field. Off the bench, two-way wing Nate Williams was the only Warrior who reached double figures, recording 18 points in 21 minutes of action.
The Warriors will now head on a difficult five-game road trip that will likely push them below .500. They will have one day off before they return to the court in Houston against the Rockets on Wednesday.
Giannis Antetokounmpo attempts a shot during the Bucks' March 2 game.
Giannis Antetokounmpo addressed the nearly six full weeks it took for him to return from a right calf strain Monday night after the Bucks lost to the Celtics, 108-81.
The Bucks star finished the game with 19 points, 11 rebounds and two assists in his first game since Jan. 23 against the Nuggets.
Antetokounmpo told reporters after the game that he’d been used to returning to the court sooner than anticipated in the past, but he understands now that age is catching up to him a bit.
“I’m 31 years old, just gotta be able to be more smarter moving forward because things that I was able to do in the past, maybe I’m not able to do now,” he said. “And I’ve just gotta be more methodical with my rehab, the way I take care of my body, the way that I play, but yeah, that’s pretty much it. Moving forward, I just gotta be smarter.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo attempts a shot during the Bucks’ March 2 game. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The calf issue has been a recurring one this season and has forced him to miss 29 games.
He’s averaged 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game in the 30 contests he’s played in.
Antetokounmpo played 25 minutes Monday night in the loss and said he felt “a little bit rusty.”
“But obviously something new in my career being out for such a long time and not just one time, multiple times into a season,” he continued. “Definitely disrupt my rhythm, but at the end of the day, I just try to take it day-by-day, game-by-game, I’m happy that I’m back. I’m just happy that I’m on the court. It doesn’t matter if I play 18 minutes, 20 minutes, 22, whatever, I’m just happy that I’m out there.
“I’m just in a mindset where I try not to take anything for granted. Obviously, did not play well tonight, but at the end of the day, I’m just happy that I’m out there being able to help my teammates in any way that I can and just do what I love, which is play basketball.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo tries to attempt a shot during the Bucks’ March 2 game. Imagn Images
The game was Antetokounmpo’s first contest since the NBA trade deadline, when all eyes had been on the Bucks and their superstar as the two sides explored their options going forward.
Rumors swirled about Antetokounmpo potentially wanting out of Milwaukee, though he has denied that was the case.
The Bucks have continued to push to make the playoffs and are 3 ½ games back of the Hornets for the last play-in spot in the Eastern Conference.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Prophet Johnson and Arman Madi posted double-doubles to propel Sacramento State to an 83-65 victory over Idaho State on Monday night to close out the Big Sky Conference regular season.
Johnson finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Madi scored 13, grabbed 11 rebounds and added seven assists for the Hornets (10-20, 6-12). Mark Lavrenov had 19 points and Jahni Summers scored 12.
Louis Bond totaled 15 points and five rebounds off the bench to lead the Bengals (12-19, 5-13). Connor Hollenbeck scored 12.
Sac State took a 46-29 advantage into halftime and was never threatened after the break.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Jaylin Henderson finished with 20 points and 10 assists and Portland State beat Weber State 84-60 on Monday night to clinch the Big Sky Conference regular-season title.
Henderson added seven rebounds and four assists to his double-double for the Vikings (19-10, 13-5), who finished a game in front of second-place Montana State. Portland State won the conference for the first time since 2008 to earn the top seed in the Big Sky tournament.
Terri Miller Jr. filled up the stat sheet for Portland State with 18 points, six assists, five rebounds, three steals and three blocks. Keyon Kensie Jr. scored 13 and Tre-Vaughn Minott pitched in with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Tijan Saine Jr. had 16 points and four assists to lead the Wildcats (16-15, 10-8), who trailed 43-26 at halftime and never recovered. Nigel Burris and Viljami Vartiainen both scored 11.
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 28: George Lombard Jr. of the New York Yankees poses for a photo during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 28, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MLB.com | Jim Callis: MLB Pipeline has released its list of the Yankees’ top 30 prospects for 2026 and George Lombard Jr. retains his spot as their No. 1 prospect. The shortstop drafted 26th overall in the 2023 MLB Draft reached Double-A as a 20 year old in 2025 and has impressed this spring, going 2-for-8 with five walks and five RBI in five games of Grapefruit League play. He is not expected to graduate to the majors in 2026 as he continues to adjust to professional pitching, though GM Brian Cashman called his defense “MLB-ready.”
MLB.com | Maria Guardado: Ahead of Team USA’s opening game of the World Baseball Classic against Brazil on Friday, team captain Aaron Judge addressed his teammates in a clubhouse speech. He had not planned to make a speech until reigning Cy Young winners Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes reached out over the winter and suggested that he prepare some words for when the team convened ahead of the tournament. Judge’s speech focused on sacrificing for each other over the next couple of weeks, the team also taking inspiration from the performances of the athletes of Team USA in the recently completed Winter Olympics. Judge called being named team captain an honor, though made sure to distinguish that being “captain of the Yankees is No. 1 still in [his] heart.”
Fox News | Scott Thompson: Last week, the Yankees announced that they would be retiring the No. 52 worn by first ballot Hall of Famer CC Sabathia, also announcing a ceremony to dedicate a plaque in Monument Park in September. Sabathia reflected on the honor, calling it “more of a shock than going into the Hall of Fame.” He mentioned the Yankees greats that he would be joining, how he never thought he would be mentioned alongside the likes of Whitey Ford and Ron Guidry when he first joined the team in 2008. He ended by hailing the fans as the part that meant the most to him during his Yankees tenure and the accountability to which they hold every player.
The Athletic | Ken Rosenthal ($): Max Fried has worked his way to becoming one of the best starting pitchers in MLB, and he chronicles the journey of developing the killer mentality that got him to this point. Early in his career, he had to shake the label of being ‘soft’ when mistakes or missed execution would fluster him for the rest of his start. He hit a career rock bottom as a 22 year old when he went 2-11 with a 5.92 ERA at Double-A in 2017 and even wondered whether he would last in the sport or would have to start making plans to go to college. But then the Braves unexpectedly called him up to the majors in the second half of 2017, and Fried pitched to a 3.81 ERA in nine appearances, a moment which Fried called the turning point in his career. Fried said the rude awakening of those struggles in the minors forced him to take ownership of his life and career.
FanGraphs | Jay Jaffe: The Yankees had been searching for a right-handed bat to provide additional depth in the outfield all offseason, and now that they have signed Randal Grichuk to a minor league deal with an invitation to camp, Jaffe analyzes what the former Yankee killer could bring to their lineup. Grichuk’s presence gives the Yankees options with how they want to handle Jasson Domínguez, who Brian Cashman conceded would be “in his best interest to be getting everyday reps,” after he struggled batting against lefties and defensively in left field. Grichuk traditionally mashes lefties, with a career 118 WRC+, though 2025 was the first year he was actually worse against lefties than righties. All the same, he could serve as the short side of a platoon with Trent Grisham — much better against righties than lefties — with Grisham in center and Bellinger in left with a righty on the mound and Bellinger in center and Grichuk in left against southpaws.
