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Knicks have crucial Mikal Bridges-Miles McBride decision to make ahead of must-win Game 4 vs. Hawks

ATLANTA - Mikal Bridges has been a Knick for two years. So he understands what’s going to be said/written about him over the next two days. 

“I’ve got to take it on the chin, handle it how I’m supposed to and be ready for the next one. You know, it’s going to suck. It is what it is. I’ve just got to be better to help my team out there.”

That was Bridges’ response to a question about how he can bounce back from a truly forgettable game on Thursday. 

The Knick wing missed all three of his shot attempts and had four turnovers in Game 3. New York was outscored by 26 in Bridges’ 20 minutes on the floor. Bridges was benched for nearly all of the second half as Mike Brown replaced him with Miles McBride. 

McBride delivered in all the ways Bridges fell short: he hit five threes, had two steals and helped stabilize the Knicks defense. It obviously wasn’t enough in the end. But McBride’s performance leaves Brown and the coaching staff with an interesting decision ahead of a must-win Game 4. 

Should Brown shake up his starting lineup and replace Bridges with McBride?

The Knicks got off to a terrible start on Thursday, falling behind by as many as 13 in the first quarter. So maybe Brown and his staff believe McBride can help them avoid another start. Maybe they think Bridges can get going off the bench. 

Whatever decision Brown comes to will be crucial. 

The Knicks can’t afford to get off to another slow start in Game 4. A loss on Saturday would put the Knicks on the brink of a disaster. 

As you know, this is a team that is supposed to reach the NBA Finals, not fall out in the first round. 

A loss to the Hawks would almost certainly lead to major changes – whether they be to the roster, coaching staff or front office. 

It would also lead to heavy criticism of the decisions to trade for Bridges and Towns and fire Tom Thibodeau. 

The Knicks gave up five first-round picks to acquire Bridges. Team president Leon Rose & Co. saw him as the perfect complement to their core. 

They certainly didn’t see him being a non-factor in a pivotal playoff game. 

But that’s what happened on Thursday. If you go back to the second half of Game 2, Bridges is 0-for-7 with four turnovers and a -37 net rating against the Hawks. 

He acknowledged that it was tough to be on the bench in the fourth quarter of a close game. 

“But I’ve just gotta be better so I can be out there,” Bridges said. 

In his news conference after Game 3, Brown said he believes Bridges will bounce back. 

“I’m not concerned. Mikal is a pro. He’s been there,” Brown said. “He’s played hundreds of basketball games, so he’ll be fine.”

Maybe Brown is right. But the more important question is whether Bridges will be in the starting lineup on Saturday. 

The answer to that may define the rest of this series – and the rest of this season – for the Knicks

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Don’t give up on Mike Burrows just yet

In an attempt to remake a starting rotation expected to lose a two-time All-Star, the Astros traded two prospects from a barren farm system to acquire Mike Burrows from the Pittsburgh Pirates last December. 

An 11th round pick by the Pirates in 2018, Burrows finally made his Major League debut in 2024 and put himself on the map by posting a 3.94 ERA with a 24.1 percent strikeout rate and a 7.7 percent walk rate, both better than league average. Burrows emerged as an above-average starting pitcher, and with five years of club control it’s the type of high-ceiling move smart clubs make.

So far, the trade has been a flop.

Burrows is 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA in his first five starts with the Astros. His walk rate has dipped slightly from last season, but his strikeout rate is down to 20.5 percent. He has finished the sixth inning just once and allowed three runs or more in all but one start. 

Burrows arrived in Houston regarded as having one of baseball’s best changeups. While it hasn’t been quite as effective this season, opponents are batting just .188 with a 37.1% whiff rate against it. His biggest problem has been his fastball getting crushed.

Lefties are 8 for 16 with three home runs against Burrows’ four-seam fastball, while righties are 8 for 20 with a homer against his two-seam. Burrows didn’t throw the two-seam often with the Pirates, so it’s not surprising he’s experiencing some early growing pains with it, but the four-seam needs to be better. Left-handed hitters batted .270 with two homers against it in 2025.

But there are reasons for optimism.

For 14 batters against the Cardinals on Sunday, Burrows looked like the pitcher the Astros thought they were getting. He retired all 14, seven via strikeouts, before Masyn Winn singled through the left side of the infield. The next four batters also reached, and Burrows couldn’t finish the fifth inning despite starting the game 14 up, 14 down.

“I don’t want to take away from how well he pitched those first four innings,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “I think the fifth doesn’t speak for how well he threw the ball. He had his stuff working.”

There are two main reasons the Astros should be confident that Burrows can make the first 14 batters from his last start more the norm than the final five.

There is always an adjustment after changing teams. Aside from the obvious change of leaving the only organization you’ve ever known, your new team is going to ask you to tweak certain aspects of your game. The Astros have been no different with Burrows. 

The Astros have overhauled Burrows’ pitch usage. His two-seam fastball, which has produced poor results, is now his primary pitch against right-handed hitters after being used less than 10 percent of the time last season. They’ve also lowered his arm slot from 48 degrees to 39.

Burrows has also been somewhat unlucky so far this season. His FIP is nearly two runs lower than his ERA, and his BABIP is almost 90 points higher than league average despite a lack of hard contact. Opponents have a 33.8 percent chase rate against him, more than six percentage points higher than a season ago.

Per Baseball Savant, no pitcher has been hurt more by his defense. Through Sunday’s start, the Astros are at -4 runs prevented with Burrows on the mound and -5 outs above average.

Burrows hasn’t lived up to the high expectations the Astros had for him when he was acquired last winter, but they didn’t make the trade for five starts. The Astros traded for Burrows because they thought he could help lead their rotation for the next five seasons, and there are still reasons to think that could still be the case.

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Atlanta takes 2-1 lead into game 4 against New York

New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Atlanta Hawks (46-36, sixth in the Eastern Conference)

Atlanta; Saturday, 6 p.m. EDT

LINE: Knicks -1.5; over/under is 214.5

EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Hawks lead series 2-1

BOTTOM LINE: The Atlanta Hawks host the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference first round with a 2-1 lead in the series. The Hawks won the last meeting 109-108 on Thursday, led by 24 points from Jalen Johnson. OG Anunoby led the Knicks with 29.

The Hawks have gone 27-25 against Eastern Conference teams. Atlanta has a 7-8 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Knicks are 35-17 in Eastern Conference play. New York ranks fifth in the NBA giving up only 110.1 points while holding opponents to 46.0% shooting.

The 118.5 points per game the Hawks score are 8.4 more points than the Knicks allow (110.1). The Knicks are shooting 47.8% from the field, 0.4% higher than the 47.4% the Hawks' opponents have shot this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Johnson is averaging 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists for the Hawks. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is averaging 18.9 points over the last 10 games.

Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds for the Knicks. Jalen Brunson is averaging 19.6 points and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 46.0% over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Hawks: 6-4, averaging 116.3 points, 44.1 rebounds, 26.1 assists, 8.7 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.2 points per game.

Knicks: 6-4, averaging 111.5 points, 43.5 rebounds, 25.8 assists, 8.3 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 48.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.0 points.

INJURIES: Hawks: Jock Landale: out (ankle).

Knicks: None listed.

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

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Orlando, Detroit square off with series tied 1-1

Detroit Pistons (60-22, first in the Eastern Conference) vs. Orlando Magic (45-37, eighth in the Eastern Conference)

Orlando, Florida; Saturday, 1 p.m. EDT

LINE: Pistons -2.5; over/under is 214.5

EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Series tied 1-1

BOTTOM LINE: The Orlando Magic host the Detroit Pistons in game three of the Eastern Conference first round with the series tied 1-1. The Pistons defeated the Magic 98-83 in the last meeting on Wednesday. Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 27 points, and Jalen Suggs led the Magic with 19.

The Magic are 26-26 in Eastern Conference games. Orlando has a 19-19 record in games decided by at least 10 points.

The Pistons are 39-13 against conference opponents. Detroit has a 10-6 record in games decided by less than 4 points.

The 115.7 points per game the Magic average are 6.1 more points than the Pistons give up (109.6). The Pistons average 11.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.1 fewer made shots on average than the 12.1 per game the Magic allow.

TOP PERFORMERS: Paolo Banchero is averaging 22.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists for the Magic. Desmond Bane is averaging 17.1 points over the last 10 games.

Cunningham is averaging 23.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 9.9 assists for the Pistons. Duncan Robinson is averaging 2.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 7-3, averaging 115.1 points, 45.0 rebounds, 27.4 assists, 10.2 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.8 points per game.

Pistons: 7-3, averaging 116.0 points, 44.7 rebounds, 30.0 assists, 10.0 steals and 7.2 blocks per game while shooting 49.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.1 points.

INJURIES: Magic: Jonathan Isaac: day to day (knee).

Pistons: None listed.

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

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Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder visit Phoenix with 2-0 series lead

Oklahoma City Thunder (64-18, first in the Western Conference) vs. Phoenix Suns (45-37, seventh in the Western Conference)

Phoenix; Saturday, 3:30 p.m. EDT

LINE: Thunder -9.5; over/under is 214.5

WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Thunder lead series 2-0

BOTTOM LINE: The Oklahoma City Thunder visit the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference first round with a 2-0 lead in the series. The Thunder won the last meeting 120-107 on Thursday, led by 37 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 30.

The Suns have gone 29-23 against Western Conference opponents. Phoenix has a 7-10 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Thunder are 41-11 in conference play. Oklahoma City leads the Western Conference giving up just 107.9 points per game while holding opponents to 43.7% shooting.

The Suns average 112.6 points per game, 4.7 more points than the 107.9 the Thunder allow. The Thunder score 7.9 more points per game (119.0) than the Suns allow their opponents to score (111.1).

TOP PERFORMERS: Collin Gillespie is averaging 12.7 points and 4.6 assists for the Suns. Devin Booker is averaging 23.5 points over the last 10 games.

Gilgeous-Alexander is scoring 31.1 points per game and averaging 4.3 rebounds for the Thunder. Isaiah Joe is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Suns: 4-6, averaging 108.5 points, 43.0 rebounds, 22.6 assists, 7.4 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.6 points per game.

Thunder: 8-2, averaging 121.0 points, 44.3 rebounds, 27.8 assists, 11.0 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 49.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.7 points.

INJURIES: Suns: Mark Williams: day to day (foot), Jordan Goodwin: day to day (calf).

Thunder: Jalen Williams: out (hamstring), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee).

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

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Randle and the Timberwolves host Denver with 2-1 series lead

Denver Nuggets (54-28, third in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33, sixth in the Western Conference)

Minneapolis; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EDT

LINE: Nuggets -1.5; over/under is 229.5

WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Timberwolves lead series 2-1

BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Timberwolves host the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference first round with a 2-1 lead in the series. The Timberwolves won the last meeting 113-96 on Friday, led by 25 points from Ayo Dosunmu. Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 27.

The Timberwolves are 9-7 in division matchups. Minnesota is seventh in the league with 118.0 points and is shooting 48.1% from the field.

The Nuggets are 11-5 against the rest of their division. Denver is seventh in the Western Conference with 44.0 rebounds per game led by Jokic averaging 12.9.

The Timberwolves average 118.0 points per game, 1.1 more points than the 116.9 the Nuggets allow. The Nuggets are shooting 49.6% from the field, 3.4% higher than the 46.2% the Timberwolves' opponents have shot this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Julius Randle is averaging 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and five assists for the Timberwolves. Dosunmu is averaging 13.7 points over the last 10 games.

Jamal Murray is averaging 25.4 points and 7.1 assists for the Nuggets. Jokic is averaging 22.8 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 5-5, averaging 116.8 points, 41.1 rebounds, 25.7 assists, 8.1 steals and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.0 points per game.

Nuggets: 8-2, averaging 123.6 points, 47.1 rebounds, 28.8 assists, 7.2 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 48.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.7 points.

INJURIES: Timberwolves: Terrence Shannon Jr.: out (illness), Jaylen Clark: out (illness).

Nuggets: Aaron Gordon: out (calf), Peyton Watson: out (hamstring).

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

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Watch Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert best Nikola Jokic on both ends of floor

Missing Aaron Gordon wasn’t the only issue the Denver Nuggets had in Game 3.

The Minnesota Timberwolves completely handled Denver, 113-96, Thursday, April 23, taking a 2-1 series lead over the No. 3-seeded Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs.

Throughout the game, offense was the issue, with three starters — Cameron Johnson, Spencer Jones and Christian Braun — combining to score just 14 points on 4-of-13 shooting.

It was a team effort, but Minnesota’s anchor down low, center Rudy Gobert, had a special night.

Gobert was a force on defense, especially on Nuggets All-Star and Most Valuable Player finalist Nikola Jokić. This has come on the heels of Gobert publicly expressing his displeasure that he was not named a finalist for the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award, which went to Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama.

Jokić did end up with 27 points, but it came on an inefficient 7-of-26 (26.9%) shooting night, including a 2-of-10 showing from 3-point range.

Gobert was a big part of that. It also means that Jokić has now gone 15-of-46 (32.6%) over his last two games against Gobert and the Timberwolves. By comparison, Jokić shot the ball at a 56.9% clip this season.

Here’s a look at some of the defensive and offensive highlights of Gobert getting the best of Jokić Thursday night:

Rudy Gobert highlights versus Nikola Jokić

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rudy Gobert bests Nikola Jokic as Timberwolves beat Nuggets in Game 3

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Carson Benge shows off pull-side pop, enjoys much-needed big night in Mets’ win over Twins

Carson Benge has had a bit of a rough start to his big league career. 

The young slugger put together a much-needed big night at the plate on Thursday, though, helping the Mets pick up their second straight win over the Twins. 

Benge opened his showing jumping on a first pitch Joe Ryan fastball up in the zone, ripping it 95 mph off the right-center fence for a one out double. 

He came around to score a few batters later on a sacrifice fly. 

The lefty did even more damage against Ryan his next time up, this time leading off the fourth by lifting a second-pitch splitter 388 feet over the right field fence.

This one left the bat at a whopping 105.7 mph. 

Benge struck out in his next plate appearance, then Tommy Pham pinch-hit for him when a lefty was brought in to the game with two on in the bottom of the eighth. 

Pham, of course, drew a walk and then Bo Bichette delivered his first big knock as a Met with a go-ahead bases-clearing double into the left-center gap. 

The 23-year-old finished 2-for-3, with the knocks being his second double and second homer of the season. 

“He was just getting the barrel though the hitting zone and hitting balls to the pull-side,” Carlos Mendoza said. “The first off the wall and then the homer, overall I think it’s just shorter and more direct to the ball.”

Benge is still hitting just .159 on the season, but it was encouraging to see him show off some of that pull-side pop. 

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Timberwolves take a 2-1 lead on the Nuggets with a dominant defensive effort in a 113-96 Game 3 win

MINNEAPOLIS — Jaden McDaniels and the Minnesota Timberwolves flexed even more of their defensive muscle against the flagging Denver Nuggets, seizing a 2-1 lead in the first-round NBA playoff series with a dominant 113-96 victory in Game 3 on Thursday night.

McDaniels had 20 points and 10 rebounds, Ayo Dosunmu added 25 points and nine assists off the bench, and Donte DiVincenzo had 15 points and four steals for the surging Timberwolves.

Rudy Gobert followed his inspired Game 2 effort against Nikola Jokic by stifling the three-time MVP again on an ugly 7-for-26 shooting night, and the Timberwolves established a postseason franchise record by allowing the Nuggets just 11 points in the tone-setting first quarter.

Jokic finished with a too-little-too-late 27 points and 15 rebounds for the Nuggets, who were missing Aaron Gordon to a calf injury and all of the energy he provides from his starting power forward spot. Jamal Murray had 16 points on just 5-for-17 shooting.

McDaniels, who flatly answered a question about Minnesota’s offensive strategy after Game 2 by labeling all of Denver’s players “bad defenders,” proved to be more prescient than reckless with his assessment. Rather than irking the Nuggets, he had himself and his teammates fired up as the series shifted to their home court.

The Wolves turned loose their primary wing players — McDaniels, DiVincenzo and Dosunmu — to repeatedly attack the basket as they raced around the Nuggets at every turn in the first half on the way to a 61-39 lead.

McDaniels added a 3-pointer and a one-handed slam in traffic down the stretch in one of his finest performances in the postseason for Minnesota.

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Jake Sanderson injury update: Senators D hurt on 'blatant' hit to head

The Ottawa Senators had to finish their Game 3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes without key defenseman Jake Sanderson after an illegal hit to the head.

Carolina's Taylor Hall received a two-minute penalty for Thursday's hit, which sent Sanderson's helmet flying. Sanderson, who also blocked a shot with his hand, played two more shifts before heading down the tunnel during a power play.

Senators coach Travis Green told reporters that the hit to the head was what caused the defenseman to leave the game.

"I just don't understand how there's not a five-minute major called on the hit to the head," he said. "It's a blatant hit to the head, the kind of hits you don't want to see.

"It's ridiculous there wasn't a review. They called a review on (Senators captain) Brady (Tkachuk) on a penalty that I don't even know what the penalty was, and they totally miss a review on (Hall)."

Sanderson, who won a gold medal with Team USA at the Olympics, was the Senators' top-scoring defenseman with 54 points in the regular season. He has two assists in the playoffs and played 43 minutes in Ottawa's double-overtime loss in Game 2.

The Senators lost 2-1 on Thursday and trail the best-of-seven series 3-0. They will try to stave off elimination at home on Saturday, April 25.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jake Sanderson injured on 'blatant' hit to head by Taylor Hall

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Senators Lose Game 3 (And Jake Sanderson), Now On Brink Of Being Swept By Carolina

For a second straight season, the Ottawa Senators have opened the Stanley Cup Playoffs with three straight losses. They fell 2–1 to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night, and now trail their first-round best-of-seven series three games to none.

Jackson Blake scored late in the second period to give Carolina a slim 2–1 advantage, but it somehow felt insurmountable on this night—much like a 5–1 game.

Blake scored just 1:23 after Drake Batherson had tied the game at one on a slick feed from Nick Cousins. That goal sent the Canadian Tire Centre crowd into a frenzy and should have given the Senators momentum heading into the second intermission.

But Blake’s goal absolutely sucked the life out of the building.

K’Andre Miller was left wide open at the left point and walked right in. Logan Stankoven drove hard to the net, knocking over Thomas Chabot, which left Blake all the time he needed to corral a cross-ice pass from Miller and bury it into the open net.

Stankoven had the other Canes' goal and now has three in as many games.

Taylor Hall helped set up both of Carolina’s goals, but his most damaging blow to the Senators was his direct headshot on defenceman Jake Sanderson. Sanderson tried to stay in the game but eventually left and did not return. Hall dropped a shoulder into Sanderson, making primary contact with the side of his head and creating the kind of rotational force that can often leads to more severe concussion symptoms.

In all likelihood, had Sanderson stayed down the way Jordan Martinook did later in the game after a collision with Brady Tkachuk, it might have led to a review and a major penalty for Hall. 

Senators head coach Travis Green said he’d be shocked if the league doesn’t take further action.

“I just don’t understand how there’s not a five-minute major called on the hit to the head,” Green said. “It’s a blatant hit to the head. It’s the kind of hit you don’t want to see. I think it’s ridiculous there wasn’t a review. They call a review on Brady on a penalty that… I don’t even know what the penalty was.”

In reality, even if Hall had been assessed a more severe penalty, the Senators’ power play likely wouldn’t have capitalized. In the second period, Ottawa had five power-play chances, including a 5-on-3 for 1:28, and came away with nothing.

While it’s tempting for Senators fans to rip the team apart right now, it should also be noted that the Hurricanes are playing a different level of hockey. The Senators entered these playoffs likely prepared for a team like the 2024–25 Toronto Maple Leafs, but the 2026 Carolina Hurricanes are a different animal, playing an elevated, frustrating style of postseason hockey that Ottawa just hasn’t been able to match, despite its best efforts.

The Senators will try to avoid a four-game sweep on Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News

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Barnes, Barrett each score 33 as Raptors beat Cavaliers 126-104 to cut series deficit to 2-1

TORONTO — Scottie Barnes set career playoff highs with 33 points and 11 assists, RJ Barrett added a career playoff-high 33 points and the Toronto Raptors beat Cleveland 126-104 on Thursday night, snapping a 12-game playoff losing streak against the Cavaliers.

Collin Murray-Boyles had 22 points, Jamison Battle scored all of his 14 points in the final quarter and Brandon Ingram added 12 as the Raptors cut Cleveland’s lead in the Eastern Conference first-round series to 2-1.

Game 4 is Sunday afternoon in Toronto.

“We knew we needed everybody for this win and you’ve seen some big performances from everybody,” Barnes said. “It just goes to show how resilient, how bad we wanted it. We went out there and tried to do whatever it took.”

Barnes had five rebounds and shot 11 for 17, making 3 of 5 from distance and going 8 for 10 at the line. He had three fouls at halftime but didn’t pick up another the rest of the way.

“He did everything for us tonight,” Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic said.

Murray-Boyles is the first Raptors rookie to score 20 or more in a playoff game.

“He’s not afraid of the moment,” Barrett said.

Up 83-81 after three quarters, Toronto pulled away by shooting 8 for 9 from 3–point range in the fourth, outscoring Cleveland 43-23. Battle went 4 for 4 from long range in the final period.

Barrett finished 6 for 8 from distance.

The Cavaliers matched the NBA postseason record for consecutive victories against a single opponent by winning Game 2 on Monday but couldn’t extend that run in Toronto.

James Harden scored 18 points while Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Max Strus all had 15.

Harden shot 5 for 13, going 3 for 10 from long range.

“They did a heck of a job,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said of Toronto’s defense on Harden. “They made him work.”

Mitchell shot 7 for 16 and went 1 for 7 from distance, while Mobley shot 4 for 13 and missed all four of his 3-point attempts.

Jaylon Tyson scored 13 points and Jarrett Allen had 12.

Toronto scored 23 points off 22 Cleveland turnovers.

Cleveland’s streak of playoff wins against Toronto began in the 2016 Eastern Conference finals, when the Cavaliers won the final three games. Cleveland swept Toronto in the second round in both 2017 and 2018.

Cleveland also has 12-game postseason winning streaks against Detroit and Atlanta. The Los Angeles Lakers won 12 consecutive playoff games against Seattle from 1980 through 1989.

Toronto guard Immanuel Quickley (right hamstring) remained out.

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Career night for McDevitt overshadowed by 5–4 loss to Arkansas

With windy conditions playing a noticeable role throughout the night, Mizzou fell to Arkansas, marking their eighth straight loss despite a strong outing from starting pitcher Josh McDevitt and an explosive start at the plate.

“We have to play better baseball,” head coach Kerrick Jackson said. “We can’t make some of the mistakes that we make, and then, more importantly, when they make mistakes, we have to be able to capitalize off of it. We don’t have to do anything over the top. We don’t have to be heroes. We just have to play good baseball.”

Tee Off at Taylor night featured a giveaway golf hat, and the Tigers came out hot early. 

Offense Struck Early

Jase Woita, batting leadoff for the second time this season, swung at a first-pitch strike and blasted a home run to left field. Kam Durnin followed with a hit-by-pitch, and freshman Blaize Ward continued his recent surge with a two-run shot to left, making it 3-0 Mizzou in just four pitches, and his third home run in five games. 

On the mound, McDevitt started strong, working through early trouble in the first inning with bases loaded by recording two strikeouts to limit the damage. He settled in from there, adding two more strikeouts in the second and throwing a clean 1-2-3 third inning.

Arkansas began to respond as the game progressed. After being held mostly quiet, TJ Pompey launched his tenth home run of the season to right field in the fifth, cutting the lead to 3-1. 

McDevitt continued to deal, tying his season-high in strikeouts during the fifth, before ultimately setting a new career high with 11 in the seventh inning. However, after he exited with two runners on, Trey Lawrence allowed a hit up the middle that tied the game 3-3.

Arkansas starter Hunter Dietz finished with eight strikeouts, allowing seven hits and three runs over seven innings.

Where it All Slipped Away

Momentum quickly shifted in the eighth when Zack Steward hit a two-run homer to right field, giving Arkansas a 5-3 lead, with the wind again playing a factor in balls traveling to the outfield.

Offensively, the Tigers cooled off after their fast start. Woita added a second hit, and Pierre Seals and Cameron Benson each contributed singles, but Mizzou struggled to string together runs late.

In the ninth, Ian Lohse delivered a scoreless inning to keep Mizzou within reach, which was the first time for him since February. 

Mateo Serna walked and later scored on a groundout by Donovan Jordon, who pinch hit for Keegan Knutson, cutting the deficit to 5-4. However, Tyler Macon who pinch hit for Isaiah Frost, struck out to end the game.

What’s Next

Mizzou will look to bounce back in their next matchup against Arkansas at 7 p.m. Friday, April 23, hoping to snap their losing streak.

“I still firmly believe that this team hasn’t synced up,” Woita said. “Our best baseball when the staff’s been on, the hitters have been off, vice versa, so I firmly believe that we can hang with anybody in the country when we’re playing our best baseball. I’m just excited for the chance to go out and do that again.”

With Brady Kehlenbrink taking the mound tomorrow, it will be a game worth watching. 

To follow along and read more about Mizzou Baseball, follow @Rock MNation,@SophBleedsLA and @Henry_C81, on twitter/x.

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McCollum ruins Knicks’ night again, leading the Hawks to a 109-108 victory and a 2-1 lead

ATLANTA — CJ McCollum hit a fadeaway jumper with 12.5 seconds left to ruin New York’s night again, leading the Atlanta Hawks to a 109-108 victory and a 2-1 lead over the Knicks in their first-round playoff series on Thursday night.

After starring in a Game 2 stunner at Madison Square Garden, McCollum got the ball with his team trailing by a point. He came through again from 15 feet, finishing with 23 points.

Hawks coach Quin Snyder called it “a great shot,” but stressed the effort of his entire team.

“They work, they share,” Snyder said. “That’s the thing about this group that I’ve enjoyed so much.”

The Hawks led nearly the entire game, building an 18-point lead in the first half. But New York rallied for a 108-105 edge on Jalen Brunson’s three-point play with 1:03 remaining.

After Jalen Johnson, who led the Hawks with 24 points, rolled in a shot, Josh Hart missed a 3-pointer for the Knicks. New York got the offensive rebound, but couldn’t get off a shot ahead of the 24-second clock.

“You couldn’t ask for anything better than that,” Knicks coach Mike Brown lamented. “Less than a minute to go in the game and a chance to go up by three.”

The Knicks failed to get off a shot at the end, either, as Brunson turned the ball over and the horn sounded.

Jonathan Kuminga had a huge night for the Hawks off the bench, finishing with 21 points.

OG Anunoby led the Knicks with 29 points, Brunson had 26 and Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in with 21. It wasn’t enough for New York.

Brown griped about the officiating, believing the refs missed some calls at the basket. But he stressed that his team must make better decisions going forward.

Game 4 is Saturday in Atlanta.

“They’re closing out hard,” Brown said of the Hawks. ”It’s a tough game for the officials to officiate, but I know we got fouled on a few of the tries that didn’t get called.”

McCollum picked up where he left off at Madison Square Garden, hitting a step-back jumper beyond the arc for Atlanta’s first points. He had 16 by the halftime break.

McCollum showed off more than his offensive skills. After Hart scooped up a loose ball and drove toward the hoop with only the Atlanta guard to beat, McCollum blocked the shot and sent the ball off Hart’s foot to give possession back to the Hawks.

The Hawks outscored the Knicks 27-12 over the final seven minutes of the opening quarter, turning the game in their favor with an 11-0 spurt and closing the period with three straight 3-pointers. The first was by little-used center Mouhamed Gueye, left wide open by the New York defense, followed by two straight from backup forward Kuminga to send the State Farm Arena crowd into a frenzy.

But, with the Hawks on the verge of blowing the game open late in the first half, New York closed the period on a 12-2 run. Atlanta went to the locker room with a 58-50 lead.