Will George Lombard Jr. play a role for the Yankees in 2026?

Mar 4, 2026; Fort Myers, Florida, USA; New York Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. (96) rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park at Fenway South. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

There’s nothing like the early days of spring to get the imagination going. Pitchers show up with new pitches, hitters show up with improved swings and approaches, everyone is in the best shape of their lives, and hope springs, well, eternal.

Among those bright spring training traditions is letting one’s optimism run wild when it comes to prospects. Prospects are unproven, untested, but that they’re untested means we haven’t yet seen them fail, making it that much easier to dream. George Lombard Jr., the Yankees’ consensus top prospect, certainly gave us a reason to dream yesterday:

That’s a 20-year-old shortstop, facing perhaps the second- or third-best pitcher on the planet, taking a 97-mph fastball in a 1-2 count way out to left field. Lord knows we can’t jump to conclusions based on spring training, much less one swing in spring training, but if there was ever a swing to get excited about, it’s that one.

We won’t know what Lombard will ultimately become for many years, but after seeing him do that against Garrett Crochet, it’s not hard to ask: will he play a major role for the Yankees this year? The smart money probably says no. He’s still only 20, and he’s coming off a minor-league season that was fine more than anything, posting a .748 OPS across two levels, albeit while flashing big tools and playing largely against players much older than him. The Yankees also have José  Caballero, Ryan McMahon, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. lined up to start on the infield dirt, with Anthony Volpe likely to reclaim a starting job once he’s healthy.

Yet is it crazy to wonder if there’s any way Lombard could force himself into the conversation? Caballero and McMahon both project as average-ish players. If one of them played slightly below that standard, and Lombard was tearing up the high minors in the first half of the season, could he enter the picture? And then there’s the matter of Volpe, who was basically the worst regular starter in baseball for a good chunk of 2025. Better health could and should help him regress in a positive manner this year, but we’ve all grown weary of Volpe struggling for infuriatingly long periods. If he does it again, will the Yankees resist in challenging their top prospect, much as they did with Volpe himself three years ago?

Most 20-year-old prospects don’t end up playing a prominent roles for their big-league clubs. But we’re at spring training, and it’s time to dream big. Do you think Lombard will make an impact as soon as this year?


It’ll be another loaded day on the site today, starting off with Kevin’s recap of the official opener of the WBC, which took place late last night between Chinese Taipei and Australia. Josh will also finish off our preview coverage of the WBC with an overview of Pool D, while Jeff will continue our general 2026 MLB Preview with a look at the St. Louis Cardinals. Also, Michael brings us our latest player preview by analyzing Giancarlo Stanton, and Peter profiles Doug Bird as part of our Yankee Birthday series.

Today’s Matchup

New York Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins

Time: 1:05 p.m. EST

Video: YES, Gotham Sports App, Twins.tv

Venue: George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, FL

Emma Raducanu hopes to rediscover ‘natural’ style that has been ‘coached out of me’

  • British No 1 being aided by Mark Petchey at Indian Wells

  • ‘I am definitely going to tap into a few people’

Emma Raducanu says she is determined to wrest back control of her “natural” tennis style, with the British No 1 eager not to be bound by the diktats of a single coach.

“I want to come back to my natural way of playing. That takes time to relearn because that’s something that has been coached out of me a little bit,” Raducanu told BBC Sport. “I have had a lot of people telling me what to do, how to play, and it hasn’t necessarily fit. I don’t necessarily want to have one coach in the role because anyone I bring in is straight away going to be scrutinised – even if it’s a trial.

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‘I’ll never be that kind of manager’: Brighton’s Hürzeler hits out at Arteta and Arsenal – video

The Brighton manager, Fabian Hürzeler, accused Arsenal of playing by their own rules in a void left by weak Premier League refereeing after the Gunners' 1-0 win at the Amex Stadium on Wednesday.

Bukayo Saka’s early goal moved Arsenal seven points clear at the top of the table, with Manchester City drawing 2-2 at home against Nottingham Forest.

'I think there was only one team who tried to play football today,' said Hürzeler. 'If they win the Premier League, no one will ask how ... [But] I will never be that kind of manager who tries to win in that way.

'Of course, every team will manage and waste time but there has to be a limit, and the limit has to be set by the Premier League.'

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War-hit Qatar still plans to host Argentina-Spain game with Messi and Yamal for UEFA

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — UEFA still plans for Qatar to stage the Argentina vs. Spain game known as Finalissima this month even as the emirate is targeted by Iranian missiles in the widening Middle East war started by Israel and the United States.

“At present, there are no alternative venues being considered,” UEFA said on Thursday about the scheduled March 27 game in Doha between the reigning champions of South America and Europe in a likely matchup of Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal.

“A final decision is anticipated towards the end of next week,” said the European soccer body which organizes the game with South American counterpart CONMEBOL.

Argentina and Spain are due to play at Lusail Stadium that staged the epic 2022 World Cup final. Argentina won a penalty shootout against France after Messi scored twice and Kylian Mbappé got a hat track in a thrilling 3-3 draw.

Qatar has close relations with UEFA. Its top soccer official Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, the president of Qatar-owned Paris Saint-Germain, is a member of the UEFA executive committee.

“Discussions are ongoing with the local organizers who have made a huge effort to make the match a success,” UEFA said.

If Doha is too much of a security risk to host the game, it could be moved to Spain or elsewhere in Europe where nearly all the players in the two squads are based.

The first Finalissima was at Wembley Stadium in London in June 2022. Argentina and Messi beat Italy 3-0.

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

From silence to song: Iran team's anthem shift in Australia at soccer's Women's Asian Cup

GOLD COAST, Australia (AP) — The Iran women's soccer team sang and saluted as its national anthem played ahead of the Women's Asian Cup contest against Australia on Thursday, a contrast to the silence before its opening game.

The outcome was similar, though, with World Cup semifinalist Australia winning 4-0.

The silence during the anthem before Monday's 3-0 loss to South Korea was variously reported as an act of resistance or a show of mourning. The team didn’t clarify.

But in a news conference on the eve of the game against Australia, Iran striker Sara Didar choked back tears as she shared the concerns of players and management for their families and loved ones amid the war in the Middle East.

The 21-year-old Didar was on the bench when Thursday's match started in pouring rain on the Gold Coast, where Iran is scheduled to play all three of its Group A games.

The Iran squad and management have declined to comment on the military strikes or death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with head coach Marziyeh Jafari saying it was important for the women as professional players to focus on the tournament and try to qualify for next year's World Cup.

The Iranians arrived in Australia well before the strikes by Israel and the U.S. on Iran last Saturday.

The change in approach with the anthem between games in Australia seemed to mirror the Iranian men’s team at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The men didn’t sing the national anthem before their opening loss against England as turmoil overshadowed the start of their campaign. In their second game against Wales, the men sang along to the anthem and celebrated when they scored.

Iran was competing in that World Cup amid a violent crackdown on a major women’s protest movement that was spurred by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of the country’s morality police.

On Thursday, there were Iranian supporters in the crowd of about 22,000 people at Gold Coast Stadium.

After another heavy loss, the Iranians need a big win over the Philippines in their last group game next Monday to have any chance of progressing to the quarterfinals and maintaining any chance of securing a spot at the Women's World Cup next year in Brazil.

Clusters of protesters against Iran's regime gathered outside ahead of the game.

Nasrin Vaziri, an Iranian Australian and long-time Gold Coast resident, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp she was there because she wanted to support the players.

“I think they are brilliant because they haven’t had many chances to play,” Vaziri told the ABC. “They are real people, even under pressure. We are proud of them. As a woman, I’m proud of them."

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

Ryan Pulock misses Islanders’ loss to Ducks due to upper body injury

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Ryan Pulock makes a pass during the Islanders' 5-4 win over the Panthers at UBS Arena on March 1, 2026

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Ryan Pulock was a full go at Wednesday morning’s skate, only for Patrick Roy to announce shortly afterward that Pulock would not play against the Ducks later that evening.

While there is optimism that Pulock’s injury, officially designated as upper body, will be very much short-term — as in, playing Thursday against the Kings appears to be on the table — the defenseman evidently didn’t feel right during the morning skate.

“It was based on the morning skate,” Roy said. “Game-time decision, but he didn’t feel ready to play. We’ll wait for tomorrow.”

Pulock briefly left Sunday’s win over the Panthers with what appeared to be a shoulder injury, but quickly returned to the game.

Jonathan Drouin, who missed Sunday’s game, was back in the lineup Wednesday, with Anthony Duclair coming out as a healthy scratch.

As a result of Pulock’s absence, Adam Boqvist came back into the lineup, starting on the third pair with Carson Soucy as Scott Mayfield moved up to the top pair with Matthew Schaefer.

It was Boqvist’s first game since a 4-0 win over the Flyers on Jan. 26.

“You’re always going to feel [it] when one of your better guys is out,” Tony DeAngelo told The Post after the 5-1 loss in which Pulock’s absence was heavily felt. “Boqy played a real good game, filled in nicely. It’s always next man up, we can’t think too much of that.”

Ryan Pulock makes a pass during the Islanders’ 5-4 win over the Panthers at UBS Arena on March 1, 2026. ennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

The configuration the Islanders started with did not make it through the first period, as Schaefer and Mayfield — who started the year together — struggled to click. By the first intermission, all three pairs seemed to be rotating, which continued throughout.

The situation served to underscore Pulock’s importance to these Islanders, which has largely been underrated with Schaefer drawing so much attention.

Pulock’s 24 points already have surpassed his total from last year, and at 21:03 per night, he’s second only to Schaefer in time on ice.


Roy called Anaheim’s Leo Carlsson “a special player” after the Swedish center finished with an assist and was noticeable on nearly every shift alongside Cutter Gauthier, who scored twice for the Ducks.


David Rittich stopped 21 of 25 shots for the Islanders, while Ville Husso turned aside 42 shots for Anaheim.


Only two scouts were in attendance at Wednesday’s match just 48 hours before the deadline, and both were from the St. Louis Blues, as rumors connecting the Islanders to some of the Blues’ high-end assets such as Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas continued to swirl.

Los Angeles hosts New York in a non-conference matchup

New York Islanders (35-22-5, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Los Angeles Kings (24-22-14, in the Pacific Division)

Los Angeles; Thursday, 9:30 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Kings -146, Islanders +122; over/under is 5.5

BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Kings and the New York Islanders meet in a non-conference matchup.

Los Angeles has a 24-22-14 record overall and a 9-14-7 record on its home ice. The Kings have an 18-2-7 record in games they score at least three goals.

New York has a 35-22-5 record overall and an 18-12-3 record in road games. The Islanders have an 18-5-0 record in games decided by one goal.

The matchup Thursday is the first meeting this season between the two clubs.

TOP PERFORMERS: Artemi Panarin has 19 goals and 41 assists for the Kings. Adrian Kempe has five goals and six assists over the last 10 games.

Mathew Barzal has 17 goals and 38 assists for the Islanders. Matthew Schaefer has scored seven goals with three assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Kings: 3-6-1, averaging 2.1 goals, 3.4 assists, 3.9 penalties and 11 penalty minutes while giving up 3.3 goals per game.

Islanders: 7-3-0, averaging 3.3 goals, 5.2 assists, 2.9 penalties and 6.1 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game.

INJURIES: Kings: None listed.

Islanders: None listed.

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

Canadiens visit the Ducks after Newhook's 2-goal game

Montreal Canadiens (33-18-9, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Anaheim Ducks (34-24-3, in the Pacific Division)

Anaheim, California; Friday, 9 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: The Montreal Canadiens visit the Anaheim Ducks after Alexander Newhook's two-goal game against the San Jose Sharks in the Canadiens' 7-5 loss.

Anaheim is 34-24-3 overall and 21-9-1 at home. The Ducks have gone 15-7-2 when they commit fewer penalties than their opponent.

Montreal has a 33-18-9 record overall and a 16-7-7 record on the road. The Canadiens have a 30-7-8 record in games they score at least three goals.

Friday's game is the first time these teams meet this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Cutter Gauthier has 31 goals and 24 assists for the Ducks. Beckett Sennecke has five goals and eight assists over the past 10 games.

Cole Caufield has 35 goals and 25 assists for the Canadiens. Nicholas Suzuki has four goals and 10 assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Ducks: 7-3-0, averaging 3.5 goals, 6.1 assists, 2.7 penalties and 5.9 penalty minutes while giving up 3.1 goals per game.

Canadiens: 5-3-2, averaging 4.1 goals, 6.9 assists, 3.9 penalties and 8.1 penalty minutes while giving up 3.1 goals per game.

INJURIES: Ducks: None listed.

Canadiens: None listed.

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

Golden Knights host the Wild after overtime victory

Minnesota Wild (36-16-10, in the Central Division) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (29-19-14, in the Pacific Division)

Paradise, Nevada; Friday, 10 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Wild visit the Vegas Golden Knights after the Golden Knights defeated the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 in overtime.

Vegas is 29-19-14 overall and 14-8-7 in home games. The Golden Knights have a +13 scoring differential, with 204 total goals scored and 191 allowed.

Minnesota has an 18-9-3 record on the road and a 36-16-10 record overall. The Wild rank eighth in NHL play with 205 total goals (averaging 3.3 per game).

The teams match up Friday for the third time this season. The Wild won 5-2 in the previous meeting.

TOP PERFORMERS: Mark Stone has 21 goals and 38 assists for the Golden Knights. Ivan Barbashev has seven goals and two assists over the past 10 games.

Quinn Hughes has six goals and 55 assists for the Wild. Matthew Boldy has scored eight goals with 13 assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Golden Knights: 4-5-1, averaging 3.2 goals, 5.7 assists, three penalties and 6.9 penalty minutes while giving up 3.1 goals per game.

Wild: 7-2-1, averaging four goals, 6.8 assists, 3.5 penalties and 7.9 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game.

INJURIES: Golden Knights: None listed.

Wild: None listed.

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

Why the World Baseball Classic means so much to USA

Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani during World Baseball Classic warm-up games in 2026
Aaron Judge (left) and Shohei Ohtani (right) have been the Most Valuable Player in the American League and National League, respectively, in each of the past two seasons [Getty Images]

USA's ice hockey teams restored some national pride as both won gold at the Winter Olympics.

Now their men's baseball team aims to follow suit at this month's World Baseball Classic.

The sport may be known as 'America's Pastime' but the USA are not the reigning champions.

In fact, Japan have won three of the previous five editions, beating the US on their own turf in a thrilling finale in 2023.

But the US have named a star-studded roster and sought help from the nation's most decorated Olympian, with Great Britain among the teams standing in their way.

What is the WBC?

The World Baseball Classic was first staged in 2006 as an invitational event before replacing the Baseball World Cup - held for the 39th and final time in 2011 - as the sport's official world championship.

Each tournament has been held in multiple countries, with 16 teams competing in the first four editions before expanding to 20 for the fifth staging in 2023.

Japan won the first two tournaments before the Dominican Republic triumphed in 2013, followed by the USA in 2017.

Then came an epic ending three years ago, as two of Major League Baseball's best players went head-to-head in the final at-bat with the title of world champions on the line.

Japan's Shohei Ohtani faced his then Los Angeles Angels team-mate Mike Trout and struck out the US captain to clinch a 3-2 victory.

As in 2023, there are three host nations, with 20 teams having qualified. They are spread across four pools and will play a round-robin format, with the top two teams from each pool qualifying for the quarter-finals.

All Pool C games take place in Tokyo, Japan, including Thursday's opener between Chinese Taipei and Australia, while all Pool A games will be played in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Houston and Miami will host Pools B and D, respectively, and share the quarter-finals. Miami's LoanDepot Park will then stage the semi-finals and final from 15-17 March.

How USA are trying to channel Olympic spirit

Michael Phelps with Team USA before their World Baseball Classic exhibition game against the San Francisco Giants in 2026
Michael Phelps has spent time with Team USA this week [Getty Images]

In the early editions of the WBC, America's top players were reluctant to take part, preferring to focus on spring training or recovering from injury. Even now, some players are unable to play because of insurance issues.

But the perception of the tournament began to change in 2017. Watching the USA triumph convinced Trout to make himself available for 2023, and other MLB stars decided to take up one of the few opportunities they have to represent their country.

The unique circumstances of that 2023 finale also helped to build the WBC's prestige, and this year the tournament will boast the highest calibre of players it has ever had.

This will be the first WBC to feature the holders of MLB's four most prestigious awards - Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal.

Three-time Most Valuable Player Judge, 33, will make his Classic debut as captain of a US roster that includes Bryce Harper and Cal Raleigh.

Legendary swimmer Michael Phelps spoke to the team on Monday and the 23-time Olympic champion stepped into the dugout during Tuesday's exhibition game against the San Francisco Giants.

"He was intense, I thought it was an awesome speech," said Team USA manager Mark DeRosa.

"There's nothing better than winning gold for USA - it's pretty much what it centered around," added Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher. "We've got to keep that moving."

Which other stars will play?

Most of the other 30-man rosters feature mainly minor league players with a smattering of stars. Of the 600 players in total, about half are affiliated with MLB teams, with 190 currently on MLB rosters.

They include a record 78 players who have been named to an All-Star team, with 36 selected last year. The US have the most, but the Dominican Republic and Venezuela have at least 12 All Stars.

Juan Soto plays for the New York Mets on the most lucrative contract in world sport - worth a staggering $765m (£600m) - and he will lead the 2013 champions while Ronald Acuna Jr stars for Venezuela.

Czechia are the only team without an MLB-affiliated player but again have Ondrej Satoria, the electrician who struck out four-time MVP Ohtani in 2023.

Ohtani will not pitch as the two-way superstar continues his recovery from elbow surgery and the Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to release team-mate Yoshinobu Yamamoto because they "understand how important the WBC is to everyone in Japan".

The 27-year-old pitcher, who was series MVP as he and Ohtani helped the Dodgers win last year's World Series, added: "I'm in good shape, so I can play in the WBC and be ready for the Dodgers' opening game."

Nolan Arenado has switched allegiance from Team USA to Puerto Rico, who will feature pitcher Edwin Diaz, while Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran will play for Mexico, and Australia will be led by Travis Bazzana, the first overall pick of the 2024 MLB draft.

And with baseball returning to the Olympics, the two highest-ranked teams from the Americas will qualify for LA 2028, besides the hosts USA.

Who are the GB stars to watch?

Great Britain made their WBC debut in 2023, winning one of their four games to finish fourth in their pool and secure an automatic place in this year's edition.

Their current roster features 11 of those players while Jazz Chisholm Jr of the New York Yankees will represent Britain for the first time in 10 years.

The 28-year-old is the only All Star on the British roster after injury prevented the Bahamas-born infielder from taking part in 2023.

He will be co-captain with catcher Harry Ford, who was traded from the Seattle Mariners to the Washington Nationals in December and hit two home runs during GB's 2023 campaign.

They are two of 20 GB players currently affiliated with an MLB team, while eight have MLB experience.

GB are in Pool B so will be based in Houston and begin their campaign on Friday against Mexico before facing the USA, Italy and Brazil.

US pitcher Tarik Skubal is set to make his only start of the tournament against GB on Saturday, while GB's best chance of victory will come in their final pool game on Monday against Brazil, the lowest-ranked team in their group.

Football’s converging moral panics hold up a mirror to our fractured world | Jonathan Liew

From grappling at corners to VAR, the endless list of complaints reflects a wider sense of dislocation from ‘the product’

A terrible boredom stalks the land. Across the nation’s television studios and podcast armchairs, wearied men grizzle accursedly with forked tongues into branded microphones: entombed by a game they despise and yet are paid so generously to discuss. Out there in the wild digital beyond, the sickness festers still deeper. The game has gone, they type into a little white box. This is not the football I once loved, click send. The beautiful game is broken, pleads the Telegraph. They think it’s all over, and perhaps it always was.

Arne Slot is no longer enjoying himself, and presumably a good proportion of the Liverpool fans at Molineux on Tuesday night know exactly how he feels. John Terry is no longer enjoying himself. Yaya Touré is “disappointed”. Ruud Gullit is so disgusted he has decided to stop watching. Chris Sutton thinks Arsenal will be the ugliest winners in Premier League history. Mark Goldbridge is bored out of his mind, albeit nowhere near as bored as you would presumably need to be to watch a Mark Goldbridge livestream.

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QPR’s Jonathan Varane: ‘Football is a big part of my life, but it’s not everything’

Midfielder tapped into history while frustrated by injury but hopes to help a young side rediscover promising form

Jonathan Varane’s 2026 didn’t get off to the best start. Four days into the new year, the QPR midfielder sprained a knee during a 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday and was a frustrated spectator for more than a month.

Varane had been desperate to play his part, with QPR hoping to push for the playoffs, but the 24-year-old took the opportunity to indulge in two of his other passions: reading and history. That included a trip with his teammate Paul Nardi to the British Museum, where the ancient Egyptian artefacts proved of particular fascination.

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Game Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. Detroit Pistons

Feb 23, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) is defended by San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) in the second half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

It’s been 26 days since the Spurs last played in their home venue of the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, TX. Sure, they had a couple of “home” games in Austin to break up the annual Rodeo Road Trip a bit, but that still counts as travel and not sleeping in their own beds, so they’re part of the overall RRT record in my book, which spanned nine games, seven cities and three time zones that saw the Spurs go 8-1 overall.

If that record is triggering some nostalgia, you aren’t alone. Back in the the good ol’ days, the Stock Show and Rodeo coming to town was a good thing for the Spurs. The extended road trip always acted as bonding time and a successful launching point to get the team out of the January doldrums and into championship contention mode. In 13 of the first 14 years, beginning 2003, they had winning records (and the time they didn’t was when they 4-4 in 2010). However, the tide turned in 2018 when the team went 2-4, just trying to hold on while waiting to hear if Kawhi Leonard would return. While that group and the 2019 squad, who went 1-7, both ultimately turned things around in March and made the playoffs as the 7th seed, the RRT has gone from a defining point of the season to a lost cause ever since. Until now.

With the Spurs going undefeated in the month of February, including a huge win over tonight’s opponent, and sitting comfortably at second in the West, they look like the Spurs of yore. After an inconsistent January, they started clicking as the calendar turned to February, and they’ve been on a roll ever sense (outside of a bad showing in New York that, if their beatdown of the 76ers two nights later was any indication, was a one-off).

Now, after tying 2003 for their best RRT record ever, they head back home to welcomed six-game homestand, but it won’t be that easy. It starts tonight with the top team in the East, and the two “easiest” games will be a couple of play-in teams in the Clippers and Hornets that have been on the rise and are better than their record. It’s officially the home stretch of the season for the Spurs, and for the first time in seven years, there’s a purpose behind it beyond just proving a light at the end of the tunnel while waiting for the season to come to a merciful end.

San Antonio Spurs (44-17) vs. Detroit Pistons (45-15)

March 5, 2026 | 7:00 PM CT

Watch: FanDuel Sports | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs injuries: Harrison Barnes — out (ankle); Mason Plumlee — out (reconditioning)

Pistons injuries: none

What to watch for

The “return home” trap game

Given the pension the Spurs had for playing down to opponents not to long ago, combined with the return home from a long road trip always being a trap game, it’s probably a good thing that this game is against one of just two teams with a better record than them. The Spurs faced the Pistons a mere ten days ago, and the game was everything it was hyped up to be: physical, chippy, and a match-up of two defensive-minded teams with good but imperfect offenses. While it took some time to adjust, Victor Wembanyama eventually figured how to use his gravitational pull on Detroit’s defense to find his open teammates, and they paid him back in kind by hitting their shots.

On the other end, the Spurs’ defense and physicality gave the Pistons problems. They couldn’t finish around Wemby, and Stephon Castle did an amazing job on Cade Cummingham all night. The Spurs have the blue print to beat the Pistons, but perhaps their biggest challenge will be to stay out of their own heads. Don’t relax just because you’re back home, and don’t think you have this figured out. Cunningham will likely be out of revenge, plus there is one other player that wasn’t there in the first match-up to watch out for…

The return of Beef Stew

The Pistons did not have Isaiah Stewart last week because he was serving a 7-game suspension after leaving the bench and fighting Miles Bridges during a brawl with the Hornets before the All-Star break. He’s back now, and while he may seem like merely a backup center whose stats don’t jump off the page, Spurs fans can attest that stats don’t always tell the entire story. Affectionately called Beef Stew, Stewart is known for his confidence, physical play and willingness to muck it up — basically your classic Detroit Bad Boy — making him a fan favorite who hearkens back memories of underdog Ben Wallace.

Everyone knows that the best hope to beating the Spurs is to make Wemby as uncomfortable as possible. While the Pistons were able to do that to an extend in their first match-up, he still found other ways to contribute. If they again have trouble truly taking him out of the game, don’t be surprised if Stewart is put on Wemby and told to not just out-physical him, but get in his head. Wemby will need to be ready for whatever is thrown at him, and just like last time, his teammates need to be ready to respond if he can’t get it going on offense. As they have shown time and again lately, the best way to do that is hit shots.


You can follow along with game here on the Game Thread, as well as on our X profile (@poundingtherock).

Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards clash in what will technically be a basketball game

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 4: Keyonte George #3 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket against Quentin Grimes #5 of the Philadelphia 76ers in the first quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 4, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

This is the big one. The Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards.

Scroll all the way down the NBA standings, and you should be able to find these teams representing some of the very worst either conference has to offer. It’s an elderly goldfish vs a geriatric turtle. It’s coughing baby vs sneezing baby. It’s the fifth-worst Utah Jazz and fourth-worst Washington Wizards. The tagline for this blockbuster epic? Somebody’s got to win. That’s how basketball games work.

It’s professional sports’ worst-kept secret that these two teams have been gunning for lottery odds over Ws — they’ve been the usual suspects for the past few seasons, and this 2025-26 has been no exception.

Washington (16-45) has sidelined their newly acquired veteran stars, Trae Young and Anthony Davis, in an effort to lose today and win tomorrow (though Young struggles to remain sidelined at times). Though their strategy board reads only “TANK”, their new acquisitions arrived with a promise: lose today, win tomorrow.

Utah (18-44) is in a very similar trajectory since the trade deadline, though instead of banking on aging stars alongside their budding young core, the Jazz plug 27-year-old Jaren Jackson Jr. into their roster to pair with their youngsters and whatever you’d consider Lauri Markkanen to be. But with JJJ, Markkanen, and Kessler all out with injury, the Jazz are equally keen to burn the season in hopes of adding an excellent rookie to fortify what’s already forming into a frightening roster.

Lose today, win tomorrow. But again, somebody has got to win in the nation’s capital on Thursday. It’s inescapable.

The Jazz sit 1.5 games ahead of the Wizards in the current standings, but a Washington victory would cut the difference to just 0.5 games. Danny Ainge salivates. Austin Ainge continues to pretend that the Jazz don’t tank. The Inside Out HQ in Adam Silver’s brain has burned to ash in a fit of unbridled rage.

Utah and Washington are currently on a combined losing streak of 13 games, and just 4.5 and 3.0 games removed from the bottomless pit of Sacramento at the very bottom of the NBA ladder.

Keyonte George is officially back from his ankle injury and back to his old ways, dropping 30-plus in both of his two games back. If George plays, this contest leans to Utah on paper, as the Wizards have already announced the absence of Kyshawn George and leading scorer, rebounder, and defender, Alex Sarr. We’ll all watch with bated breath as the injury report will likely confirm that Keyonte George has contracted polio and will be absent for the next four weeks, as the NBA rushes its medical team to Key’s hotel room to confirm the reports.

Somebody has to win, gentlemen. Now shake hands and pretend to want it.

How to watch Utah vs Washington:

Date: Thursday, March 5, 2026
Time: 5:00 PM MT
Location: Capitol One Arena, Washington, D.C.
Channel: KJZZ, Jazz+


Calvin Barrett is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Tokyo, Japan. He has covered the NBA and College Sports since 2024.

Joe Musgrove takes mound for Padres, game ends in 2-2 tie

PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 4: Joe Musgrove #44 of the San Diego Padres pitches during a World Baseball Classic scrimmage against Great Britain at Peoria Stadium on March 4, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It probably was not the exact start Joe Musgrove had in mind for his return to the mound in the San Diego Padres’ 2-2 tie with Great Britain at the Peoria Sports Complex on Wednesday, but it was positive. He got one out in the first inning, allowed a run and was taken out with the bases loaded and one out. Reliever Johan Moreno came into the game and recorded back-to-back strikeouts of Trayce Thompson and Nick Ward to end the inning and leave the bases loaded.

Musgrove returned to the mound to start the second inning and recorded a strikeout and a flyout against the first two batters. He then allowed a single to Nate Eaton, who advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Musgrove then got Jazz Chisholm to pop out to end the inning, stranding Eaton in scoring position.

Musgrove returned to start the third inning and recorded a groundout before allowing a single to BJ Murray. Musgrove followed that with a strikeout of Matt Koperniak for the second out of the inning, which ended Musgrove’s day on the mound.

Musgrove threw a total of 60 pitches with 36 of those pitches going for strikes. His final stat line was two innings pitched with one run allowed on five hits with three strikeouts and a walk. Musgrove left the outing with his fastest pitching topping 95 mph and used an array of fastballs and off-speed pitches.

The most important part of the outing was that Musgrove walked off the mound healthy and officially kicked off his return to the MLB mound, which is expected to occur sometime during the season-opening series against the Detroit Tigers on March 26-28 at Petco Park.