MIAMI (AP) — Sandy Alcantara never stopped believing in himself.
Not when Tommy John surgery robbed him of the 2024 season. Not when 2025 ended in a disappointing 11-12 record, and a 5.36 ERA.
Instead, he “always kept the faith.”
Alcantara threw the first complete game of the MLB season in a 93-pitch shutout on Wednesday, leading the Miami Marlins to a 10-0 domination of the Chicago White Sox.
It was Alcantara’s second career shutout with fewer than 100 pitches, known as a “Maddux” in honor of Hall of Famer Greg Maddux.
Alcantara also threw his 13th career complete game and fifth shutout.
“Many negative things happened last year but that didn’t hold me back trying to be better,” Alcantara said. “This year, I am going to give my best every time, win more games and be more aggressive in counts. Today, as a club, we did a tremendous job.”
The White Sox did not have a hitter reach second as Alcantara (2-0) scattered three singles, hit a batter and struck out seven. After a dominant outing against Colorado in the season-opener, the 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner extended his scoreless streak to 15 innings.
Alcantara used six pitches to shut down the White Sox. Although his changeup and four-seam fastball were mostly used in his outing, Alcantara also utilized his slider, sweeper, sinker and cutter to carve through the Chicago lineup.
“Everything was working. Everything was good today,” Alcantara said. “I think I did a great job, trying to not miss much.”
Alcantara’s battery mate Liam Hicks continued his torrid offensive start as he homered, had two singles and drove in four runs to give him a major league-leading 12 RBIs.
“It was fun,” Hicks said of catching Alcantara’s gem. “He had a lot of pitches working. When you’re back there and he’s rolling like that, it’s cool to see. It makes your job catching easy.”
As Alcantara accumulated quick outs, the decision became easier for manager Clayton McCullough to allow his ace to pitch the ninth. With Alcantara needing only three pitches to retire the White Sox in the eighth, it became an easy call.
“I gave him a thumbs up and he gave me a thumbs up,” McCullough said.
He called the outing remarkable.
“It’s hard to do that today, to go nine innings with how you view workload," McCullough said. "Hitters are good. He was so efficient and guys played great behind him.”
There were 29 complete games thrown last season, and pitchers threw just 13 shutouts, the lowest in a non-shortened season since 1873.
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State's Tom Izzo said he considered coaching the Phoenix Suns after discussing the possibility last year with one of his former players, Mat Ishbia, who owns the NBA team.
“We talked seriously about it,” Izzo said Wednesday on “The Dan Patrick Show," during a virtual interview from his office on campus.
The 71-year-old Hall of Fame coach chose to lead the Spartans for a 31st season and extended his record of reaching 28 consecutive NCAA Tournaments. They were eliminated by Connecticut in the Sweet 16.
Izzo has turned down multiple opportunities to coach in the NBA, including with Cleveland and Atlanta. Izzo said last week that Huskies coach Dan Hurley asked him for advice after the Los Angeles Lakers offered him a $70 million, six-year contract in 2024.
Ishiba, a walk-on guard on Izzo's national championship team in 2000, hired former Michigan State video coordinator Jordan Ott to coach the Suns this season. Ishiba also hired a former Spartans assistant, Brian Gregory, to be the team's general manager and gave former teammate Mateen Cleaves a job in player development.
Phoenix is in a position to make the playoffs with Ott on the bench after it was 10 games under .500 under coach Mike Budenholzer in his only season with the franchise.
There’s no joking around on “April Fools” when the San Antonio Spurs come to the Bay Area tonight to battle the Golden State Warriors... or what’s left of them.
My Spurs vs. Warriors predictions like Wemby to wipe the glass clean tonight against a thin Dubs frontcourt.
Find out more in my NBA picks for Wednesday, April 1.
Spurs vs Warriors prediction
Spurs vs Warriors best bet: Victor Wembanyama Over 11.5 rebounds (-120)
The Golden State Warriors limp to the finish line with injuries up and down the roster.
With those forwards primarily playing above the foul line, they aren’t contending for offensive rebounds, letting Wemby scoop up a surplus of misses from a Golden State offense that finished March ranked 23rd in effective field goal rate.
The Warriors weren’t a great rebounding team even before injuries thinned out the herd, sitting 20th in rebound rate overall while allowing 11.5 offensive rebounds per outing.
Wembanyama grabbed nine, 12, and 15 boards in his three matchups with the Dubs, tallying nine offensive rebounds in those games.
The San Antonio Spurs’ 7-footer averaged a dozen rebounds throughout March on 17.3 rebounding chances across 15 games and closed the month with 16, 15, 15, and 15 boards in his last four outings.
It helps that the Spurs' defense is tightening the screws down the stretch, holding foes to under 44% from the floor during their nine-game winning streak.
That drum-tight defense is producing a spike in rebounding chances, with that metric jumping to 85.6 (the third-most in that span) from 77.3 since the All-Star break.
Player projections call for Wemby to dominate the window again, with forecasts between 12.6 and 14.2 rebounds tonight.
Spurs vs Warriors same-game parlay
The Dubs are running out of answers on offense, and while they’ve put up some points against bottom-tier defenses, San Antonio shuts Golden State down from outside and allows nothing easy in the paint.
Devin Vassell runs hot and cold. He finished with only six points last time out, following efforts of 16 and 19 points. Projections peg the Spurs' small forward for as many as 13.5 points tonight.
Spurs vs Warriors SGP
Under 226.5
Victor Wembanyama Over 11.5 rebounds
Devin Vassell Over 12.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Lights go down in the city
If defense wins championships, then the Spurs are on the right path. This is one of the Association's most stingy teams, with Wemby cleaning the glass and sending shots back against a smaller Warriors lineup.
Wemby has cleared this block line in five of his last 10 games, totaling 33 swats over that span. With Wemby doing what he wants all game, the Spurs will cover with relative ease.
Spurs vs Warriors SGP
Spurs -14
Under 226.5
Victor Wembanyama Over 11.5 rebounds
Victor Wembanyama Over 3.5 blocks
Spurs vs Warriors odds
Spread: Spurs -14 | Warriors +14
Moneyline: Spurs -950 | Warriors +650
Over/Under: Over 226.5 | Under 226.5
Spurs vs Warriors betting trend to know
San Antonio is 7-10 Over/Under when set as a point spread favorite of -10 or higher. Find more NBA betting trends for Spurs vs. Warriors.
How to watch Spurs vs Warriors
Location
Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Date
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Spurs vs Warriors latest injuries
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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Rookie Justin Crawford had an RBI single in the 10th inning after the Philadelphia Phillies rallied from a four-run deficit for a 6-5 victory over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday.
The Nationals led 5-1 in the seventh. J.T. Realmuto and Bryce Harper hit solo home runs to get the Phillies within 5-3. Edmundo Sosa hit a two-run single with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth to tie the game.
With runners on the corners in the bottom of the 10th, Crawford singled to right off Cole Henry (0-1). It was the third hit for Crawford, a first-round amateur draft pick in 2022 who made his major league debut on opening day.
Sosa ended the top of the 10th with a leaping catch of a CJ Abrams line drive, doubling the automatic runner off second base for winning pitcher Jhoan Duran (1-1).
Washington starter Cade Cavalli went six innings, allowing one run, five hits and two walks and striking out three.
Abrams hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning. Daylen Lile, Brady House and Joey Wiemer each had two hits. Wiemer, who entered leading the majors with a .615 average, scored twice.
Cristopher Sánchez pitched 5 1/3 innings for the Phillies, allowing one run, four hits and four walks and striking out seven.
The Phillies took a lead in the first inning when Trea Turner scored on Kyle Schwarber’s double.
The Nationals scored in the second on an infield single and two walks. With the bases loaded, Sánchez struck out Drew Millas on a pitch in the dirt, and Realmuto threw to first base trying to pick off Jacob Young, allowing Wiemer to score. Millas hit an RBI single in the sixth.
The homers were the first of the season for Realmuto and Harper.
Up next
Both teams are off Thursday. The Nationals prepare for their home opener against the World Series champion Dodgers on Friday. Their starting pitcher is to be announced.
The Phillies begin a road trip in Colorado. Aaron Nola (0-0, 5.40 ERA) will take the mound against former teammate Michael Lorenzen (0-0, 6.23) for the Rockies.
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Christian Yelich hit a go-ahead, two-run single in a six-run eighth inning and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 8-2 on Wednesday.
Garrett Mitchell added a two-run double during the decisive rally, Blake Perkins drove in a run with a groundout and David Hamilton capped the inning with an RBI single as Milwaukee (5-1) broke open a 2-2 game.
Brice Turang tied it earlier with a two-run homer in the third after the Rays took the lead on Yandy Díaz’s two-run shot in the top half of the inning.
Milwaukee starter Jacob Misiorowski (1-0) struck out seven and allowed four hits and two runs in six innings. The right-hander walked two before handing the game to the bullpen. Grant Anderson, Aaron Ashby and DL Hall combined for three scoreless innings, with Hall striking out three in the ninth.
Tampa Bay (2-4) starter Drew Rasmussen allowed one run and two hits while striking out eight in five innings.
The Brewers’ eighth-inning surge opened after Joey Ortiz reached on a fielding error by shortstop Carson Williams. Turang’s sacrifice bunt was mishandled at first base, putting runners on first and second. William Contreras then singled to load the bases.
Yelich followed with a ground-ball single to right field that scored Ortiz and Turang for a 4-2 lead. Mitchell’s double to right brought home two more runs before Perkins’ RBI groundout and Hamilton’s single extended the lead to 8-2. Milwaukee went 5 for 9 with runners in scoring position.
Griffin Jax (0-2) took the loss after allowing five runs in the eighth inning.
Umpire C.B. Bucknor left the game in the second inning after being struck in the mask by a foul ball off Nick Fortes’ bat on a 100.2 mph fastball from Misiorowski.
Up next
Chad Patrick (0-0, 2.08 ERA) will make his second start of the season against the Kansas City Royals on Friday, while Joe Boyle (0-0, 3.00 ERA) takes the mound for Tampa Bay on Friday against the Minnesota Twins.
In three days, the Michigan men’s basketball team will continue its push for a national championship with a matchup against fellow No. 1 seed Arizona in the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
The Wolverines’ departure to Indianapolis came with a scare, though.
Michigan point guard Elliot Cadeau was evaluated by team medical personnel for a possible allergic reaction to something he ate as the team prepared to leave Ann Arbor for Indianapolis on Wednesday, April 1, a team spokesman told the Detroit Free Press, a part of the USA TODAY Network.
Cadeau was determined to be “fine” by doctors, though out of an abundance of caution, he was continuing to receive medical supervision and would not be leaving for the Final Four until later in the day Wednesday.
Video taken from outside of Michigan’s practice facility during the celebratory send-off showed a covered body being carried away on a gurney and loaded into an ambulance.
NEW... a member of the Michigan Wolverines basketball team needed medical attention as the team prepared to depart for the Final Four this afternoon from Ann Arbor. Sources say an allergic reaction. Player, said to be fine, expected to join the team later. VIDEO: Jon Hewett pic.twitter.com/uF3h1h1Mf0
In his first season with the program since transferring over from North Carolina, Cadeau has been the primary distributor on one of the best teams in the country. The 6-foot-1 junior is averaging a team-high 5.8 assists per game and is Michigan’s fourth-leading scorer, at 10.2 points per game. He has had 33 assists in his team’s four NCAA tournament wins, the second-highest total of any player in the event.
Heading into their meeting with Arizona in the Final Four, the Wolverines have pieced together one of the best seasons in the program’s proud history, going 35-3 under second-year head coach Dusty May. The 35 victories are a program single-season record.
EVANS, Ga. (AP) — Arkansas junior Maria Jose Marin birdied her final two holes Wednesday for a 7-under 65 to share the lead with 17-year-old Soomin Oh of South Korea in an opening round of great weather and low scoring at Champions Retreat in the Augusta National Women's Amateur.
Asterisk Talley, the 17-year-old Californian who was runner-up in the ANWA a year ago, holed a greenside bunker shot for eagle on the par-5 18th hole as she made the turn and shot 66.
The conditions were ideal, and most of the 72-player field seized on the opportunity. Eight players were at 67 or lower, and 31 players broke par.
Marin, the 19-year-old Colombian who won the NCAA title last year, finished on the back and poured in an 8-foot birdie putt to get off to a much better start than a year ago, when she failed to make the 36-hole cut.
The second round Thursday is at Champions Retreat, and the top 30 and ties advance to the final round Saturday at Augusta National. All 72 players get to play at the home of the Masters on Friday.
“I feel like last year ... it was a lot of learning,” Marin said. “There was a lot of tears, and of course this tournament means a lot to me. Not making the cut, it hurt a lot. But I learned that I’ve got to stay with my two feet on the ground, that I have to be really patient with my game, that if things are not going my way, I don’t have to push it, that I just have to wait for golf to do its thing.”
Oh, the runner-up in the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific earlier this year, also played bogey-free. She was on the front edge of the green on the par-5 ninth, facing a 70-foot eagle chance to take the lead. She did well to lag it 4 feet beyond the cup and holed that to share the lead.
Andrea Revuelta and Vanessa Borovilos joined Talley at 66. The group at 67 included Meja Örtengren and Amelie Zalsman, the 17-year-old Floridian who earlier this year won the prestigious South Atlantic Women's Amateur.
Revuelta and Örtengren are among all five players from Stanford in the field, four of whom broke par. The exception was U.S. Women's Amateur champion Megha Ganne, who was stunned by two double bogeys in her opening four holes and crashed to a 77.
This is Ganne's sixth time playing the ANWA, which already has become as prestigious as any amateur event in women's golf, mainly because of where the final round is played.
Talley first rose to some level of national prominence in 2024 when she reached the championship match of three USGA events, including the U.S. Women's Amateur and U.S. Girls Junior. Talley is coming off a tie for 29th last week in the Ford Championship on the LPGA.
Her bunker shot for eagle sent her out at 31.
“I was honestly just trying to barely get it on the green and let it roll out all the way to the flag,” Talley said. “I knew it was going to be pretty fast. I was honestly just trying to get it within 10 feet, and it ended up going in, so it was pretty cool.”
She had to settle for eight pars and a birdie on the front to finish one off the lead, though comfortable to make sure she has a tee time at Augusta National on Saturday.
“I wasn’t making many mistakes, but I wasn’t doing anything amazing on the back nine,” Talley said. “I think it was just pretty much just hitting fairways and greens and not getting very close to the hole at all times.”
After a double-digit loss to the Atlanta Hawks, the Boston Celtics will look to take out their anger on the Miami Heat at the Kaseya Center.
My Celtics vs Heat predictions expect them to do just that.
Here are my free NBA picks for this Eastern Conference matchup on Wednesday, April 1.
Celtics vs Heat prediction
Celtics vs Heat best bet: Celtics -4.5 (-110)
The Boston Celtics' top trio of Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Derrick White have shared the court just six times over the last 10 games. The team is 5-1 straight up when all three play together, and the C’s won each of those games by five points or more.
Boston has traveled well this season, going 24-14 ATS on the road and 14-8 ATS as the road favorite. The Celtics have owned the head-to-head matchup with the Miami Heat, winning six and covering in five of the last seven regular-season contests.
Boston’s love of the three-point shot will be beneficial tonight against Miami’s lackluster perimeter defense. Boston has made and attempted the third-most three-pointers and ranks ninth in 3-point percentage this season.
Over the last 10 games, the Heat have surrendered the 10th-most made three-pointers and the sixth-highest three-point percentage.
Boston loves to shoot the three-ball, but volume has been King for the C’s, as the team ranks fifth in field goal attempts but just 20th in field goal percentage. Over the last 10, Miami has given up the fifth-most points and the eighth-highest field goal percentage.
The Celtics have dealt with multiple key injuries in recent matchups, but the team is expected to be mostly healthy tonight in a primetime matchup with the Miami Heat. The talent in the starting five, quality depth, and advantage in the long-range shooting department give Boston the edge in South Beach.
Celtics vs Heat same-game parlay
Boston’s top-ranked defense should be able to limit Miami’s formidable offensive attack, and the Celtics’ slow pace will limit the Heat’s possessions, meaning fewer opportunities for the home team to score. Boston has hit the Under in 26 of 38 games on the road this season.
Jaylen Brown has soared as Boston’s leader this season, averaging a career-best 40.9 PRA, including 41.9 on the road. He’s reached the Over on this combo line in six straight and seven of his last eight, and he’s reached 40+ PRA in 22 of 31 road contests
Celtics vs Heat SGP
Celtics -4.5
Under 229.5
Jaylen Brown Over 39.5 P/R/A
Our "from downtown" SGP: From deep
Tatum has nailed multiple triples in all 11 games played this season, reaching 3+ five times, including two of his last three.
White has hit three or more treys in 37 of 71 games, and he’s reached that mark in two of three tilts with the Heat. He’s averaging 2.7 three-pointers per game.
Payton Pritchard is canning 2.6 shots from beyond the arc per game, and he’s gone for 3+ in 35 of 73 games overall. He knocked down four triples in his last matchup with Miami.
Hauser is averaging a career-best 2.5 three-pointers on a career-worst 38.2% shooting from long distance. He’ll gain an advantage against an exploitable Heat perimeter defense, and he’s hit three or more three’s in each of his last two against Miami.
Celtics vs Heat SGP
Jayson Tatum Over 2.5 threes
Derrick White Over 2.5 threes
Payton Pritchard Over 2.5 threes
Sam Hauser Over 2.5 threes
Celtics vs Heat odds
Spread: Celtics -5 | Heat +5
Moneyline: Celtics -210 | Heat +175
Over/Under: Over 228.5 | Under 228.5
Celtics vs Heat betting trend to know
The Boston Celtics have hit the Game Total Under in 36 of their last 50 games (+20.60 Units / 37% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Heat.
How to watch Celtics vs Heat
Location
Kaseya Center, Miami, FL
Date
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Celtics vs Heat latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - FEBRUARY 06: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against the Miami Heat during the second half at the TD Garden on February 06, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Boston Celtics (50-25) at Miami Heat (40-36) Wednesday, April 1, 2026 7:30 PM ET TV: ESPN, NBCSB, FDSN Sun Regular Season Game #76 Road Game #39 Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, WQAM 104.3, Sirius XM Kaseya Center
The Celtics continue their road trip with a stop in Miami to take on the Heat. This is the 4th, and final, game between them this season. The Celtics won 129-116 in Boston on December 19. They won 119-114 in Miami on January 15. And, they won 98-96 in Boston on February 6. The Celtics won the series 3-1 last season. They won the two games played in Miami and won one and lost one in Boston. The Celtics are 89-54 overall all time against the Heat and they are 43-30 in games played in Miami.
The Celtics are 2nd in the East, 4.5 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are 2.5 games ahead of 3rd place New York, 3.5 games ahead of 4th place Cleveland, 7.5 games ahead of 5th place Atlanta, 8 games ahead of 6th place Toronto, and 9 games ahead of 7th place Philadelphia. The Celtics are 31-15 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 24-14 on the road and 7-3 in their last 10 games. They are coming off a loss in their last game.
The Heat are 9th in the East, 15 games behind 1st place Detroit, 3 games behind 5th place Atlanta, 2.5 games behind 6th place Toronto, 1.5 games behind 7th place Philadelphia and half a game behind 8th place Orlando. They are tied with 10th place Charlotte. They are 24-22 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 24-14 at home and 3-7 in their last 10 games. They are coming off a win in their last game.
After completing a 3 game home stand, The Celtics are on the road for a 4 game trip that began with a win in Charlotte and a loss in Atlanta and will finish up in Milwaukee. They will then play two games at home against Toronto and Charlotte before one game on the road at New York. They will finish the season with 2 games at home against New Orleans and Orlando.
The Heat are playing in the 2nd game of a 3 game home stand. They beat Philadelphia on Monday and will complete the home stand on Saturday against Washington. They then play 2 games in a row in Toronto before a game at Washington. They will finish the season at home against Miami.
After missing Monday’s game against Atlanta, both Jayson Tatum and Neemias Queta are off the injury report. Nikola Vucevic remains out as he rehabs from surgery on his index finger. Ron Harper, Jr is questionable with an ankle sprain. For Miami, Norman Powell is out for the 3rd straight game due to an upper-respiratory illness. Andrew Wiggins is questionable with a toe injury. Terry Rozier is out after being arrested for a gambling scandal.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs Davion Mitchell
Derrick White | NBAE via Getty ImagesDavion Mitchell | Getty Images
SG: Jaylen Brown vs Tyler Herro
Jaylen Brown | NBAE via Getty ImagesTyler Herro | NBAE via Getty Images
SF: Sam Hauser vs Pelle Larsson
Sam Hauser | NBAE via Getty ImagesPelle Larsson | NBAE via Getty Images
Celtics Reserves Payton Pritchard Hugo Gonzalez Luka Garza Amare Williams Jordan Walsh Baylor Scheierman Max Shulga John Tonje Charles Bassey (10-Day)
2-Way Players Ron Harper, Jr Injuries/Out Nikola Vucevic (finger) out Ron Harper, Jr (ankle) questionable
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Miami Heat Reserves Kasparas Jakucionis Myron Gardner Jaime Jaquez, Jr Keshad Johnson Nikola Jovic Dru Smith Kel’el Ware Simone Fontecchio 2-Way Players Trevor Keels Vladislav Goldin Jahmir Young Injuries/Out Norman Powell (illness) out Terry Rozier III (not injury related) out Andrew Wiggins (toe) questionable
Head Coach Erik Spoelstra
Key Matchups Jaylen Brown vs Tyler Herro Herro is averaging 21.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists while shooting 48.6% from the field and 38.1% from beyond the arc. Herro is streaky but can put up points in a hurry. He played in just one of the 3 games between these teams this season. He finished with 22 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block and 3 steals while shooting 60% from the field and 57.1% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to be ready to defend him both in the interior and on the perimeter and need to do better than they did in that last game.
Neemias Queta vs Bam Adebayo Adebayo is averaging 20.1 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He is shooting 43.8% from the field and 34.6% from beyond the arc. In the first 2 games against the Celtics, he averaged 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists while shooting 43.8% from the field and 31.0% from beyond the arc. In 3 games against the Celtics this season, he averaged 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists while shooting 42.2% from the field and 35.7% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to keep him out of the paint and off the boards.
Honorable Mention Jayson Tatum vs Andrew Wiggins Wiggins is averaging 15.6 points, 5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. He is shooting 47.5% from the field and 40.7% from beyond the arc. He didn’t play in the first game against the Celtics but in the other two games, he averaged 21 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists while shooting 57.7% from the field and 61.5% from beyond the arc. He is a good shooter and so the Celtics need to defend him well. He is questionable for this game and if he can’t play, then Simone Fontecchio may get the start here.
Keys to the Game Defense – Defense will always be the biggest key to winning every single game. The Celtics are 4th with a defensive rating of 111.5. The Heat are 9th with a defensive rating of 112.7. The Celtics need to defend the perimeter since the Heat attempt 37.7 threes a game and shoot threes at 35.7%. They also have to defend the paint as the Heat are 3rd with 54.5 points in the paint per game. The Celtics need to work harder than the Heat on defense and make that their priority.
Rebound – Along with defense, rebounding is always a key to winning. As Pat Riley once said “No rebounds, no rings.” The Celtics average 46.5 rebounds per game (4th) while the Heat average 46.6 rebounds per game (3rd). When the Celtics have more rebounds then their opponents, they are 38-11 when they have fewer rebounds, they are just 9-13. It takes effort and hustle to get rebounds and the Celtics need to give more effort than the Heat to grab rebounds if they want to win this game.
Effort and Focus for 48 Minutes– The Celtics have to play with extra effort overall for all 4 quarters. In most of their losses and even in some of their wins, they have allowed their opponents to play with more energy than them for periods of time during the game. They play well for stretches but let up and allow their opponents to surge ahead. The Heat are known for playing hard against all of their opponents. They have to stay focused for all 48 minutes and be ready for the heat to play harder in the second half and they need to match that effort and if the 3’s aren’t falling, get into the paint.
Move the Ball Carefully – The Celtics are best when they keep the ball moving and find the open man. They struggle when they try to do too much individually. The Celtics are 32-2 when they have 25 or more assists in a game. They have to move the ball an find the open man without a lot of hero ball. The Heat are 5th in the league with 20.1 points off turnovers per game so the Celtics have to make careful passes and be careful not to turn the ball over.
X-Factors On the Road – The Celtics are on the road for the 3rd game of a 4 game road trip. The Celtics need to stay focused on playing hard and as a team and not be distracted by the hostile crowd or the unfamiliar court or the fatigue that comes from travel. They lost their last game and need to stay focused to get back in the win column in spite of playing on the road.
Officiating – Officiating is always an x-factor in every game. Every crew officiates differently. Some call it tight, others let them play. The Celtics need to adjust to how the refs are calling the game and not allow bad calls or no calls to take away their focus from playing the game. The Celtics have to play so well all game that the officiating, no matter how bad, can’t influence the game.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The NCAA Division I Cabinet on Wednesday approved emergency legislation that will severely penalize coaches and schools that sign, add to the roster or allow athletic participation by an athlete in any sport who hasn't yet gone through the portal process.
Penalties include a suspension of the head coach for 50% of a season and a fine amounting to 20% of that sport’s budget.
The rule change, which was initially proposed by the Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee and has been adopted for all sports in Division I, is effective immediately and applies to all transfers on or after Feb. 25, 2026.
“I am grateful the DI Cabinet approved the FBS Oversight Committee’s recommendation to impose significant penalties on head coaches and programs who circumvent transfer rules, along with immediate accountability,” Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said. “This is a necessary step to address a critical roster management issue facing our sport and to protect the integrity of football’s transfer window.”
The “ghost transfers” issue has been on the NCAA's radar since former Wisconsin defensive back Xavier Lucas transferred to Miami without entering the portal in January 2025. Quarterback Jake Retzlaff withdrew from BYU and walked on at Tulane in July.
At the direction of the Division I Board of Directors, an Infractions Process Task Force is reviewing the infractions process and associated penalties for violations of NCAA rules. Among the topics the task force will discuss are enforcement of transfer rules and penalties associated with tampering violations. The task force is expected to provide recommendations for modernizing the infractions process later this year.
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 30: The sneakers worn by Jordan Walsh #27 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on March 30, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 02: Former Phoenix Suns player Amar'e Stoudemire smiles during a halftime ceremony retiring his jersey number in the Ring of Honor during the game between the Phoenix Suns and the Houston Rockets at Footprint Center on March 02, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Former Phoenix Suns star and Ring of Honor inductee Amar’e Stoudemire is being inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
He joins Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, and Doc Rivers in the Class of 2026.
Amar'e Stoudemire, Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne and Doc Rivers are among the members inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/6oPR2gBgtE
The five-time all-star arrived in Phoenix as the 9th overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft. He won Rookie of the Year and made an All-NBA First-Team in 2007, along with four All-NBA Second-Team nods in 2005, 2008, 2010, and 2011. He ranks seventh in points (11,035) and third in rebounds (4,613) in Suns franchise history.
Stoudemire helped shape an era in Phoenix as the dominant frontcourt presence in the team’s high-powered “7 Seconds or Less” offenses of the mid-2000s. His blend of power, speed, and explosiveness made him one of the league’s most dangerous interior scorers and a focal point of one of the NBA’s most entertaining teams.
I will always remember him for his fearlessness around the rim. He wanted to dunk on anyone in his general vicinity. He went shot-for-shot with prime Tim Duncan at his peak. Some of the best posters in Suns history have come from Amar’e.
Congratulations to STAT, it’s a well-deserved honor.
The SEC used to be the best conference in college sports, and it lorded its superiority over its peers. It’s not the best anymore. At least, it’s not the best in football or men’s basketball. The Big Ten stole the crown, and the SEC cannot hide from reality.
The Big Ten won the past three college football national championships, but the problem goes deeper than that. The SEC hasn't even reached the College Football Playoff national championship game since 2023 Georgia won it all.
Now, as insult to injury, the Big Ten sent two teams to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament, while the SEC sits at home.
Is the SEC still the best conference? Or, does the Big Ten rule?
Adams: The Big Ten wears the crown in football. That's a fact. You can’t argue trophies. You can’t argue the scoreboard, either.
Indiana 38, Alabama 3.
The SEC didn’t just lose its leg to stand on. Indiana devoured the leg.
Toppmeyer: Agreed, and the Big Ten’s claim of superiority is helped by the fact three teams produced the past three national championships. Michigan, Ohio State and now Indiana won titles since the last SEC crown. The Big Ten is no one-hit wonder.
What about the SEC’s depth?
Adams: That’s where the SEC’s problem worsens. For a while, even if the Big Ten was better at the top, the SEC was better in the middle. I’m not so sure about that anymore. The SEC looked pretty lousy in postseason games last season, illustrating the depth of the problem.
Toppmeyer: The Big Ten’s crème de la crème has been sweeter than the SEC’s for a few years. Now, it’s sweeter down ballot, too.
Iowa 34, Vanderbilt 27.
Illinois 30, Tennessee 28.
Those were postseason scorelines.
Texas saved some face for the SEC by beating Michigan, 41-27, in the Citrus Bowl, but, on the whole, the SEC’s claim of superior depth eroded.
The SEC used to flex unmatched muscle in the boardroom, too, but even that ability is gone. The conference tried to grow the playoff to 16 teams for the 2026 season and beyond, but the Big Ten erected a road block and stopped the SEC’s CFP expansion plans in their tracks.
So, the Big Ten is better at the top, as good in the middle, and it’s a thorn in the side of the SEC’s boardroom operations.
Where does that leave the SEC? Well, maybe it can still say its last-place team is better than the Big Ten’s last-place team.
How’s that for a new conference motto? Our last-place team would beat your last-place team.
On second thought, I’m not sure that’s true. Notre Dame played the worst teams from the SEC and Big Ten in consecutive weeks last fall. The Irish beat Purdue 56-30, then trounced Arkansas 56-13.
Back to the drawing board for the SEC.
OK, but how strong is the Big Ten’s claim of basketball superiority?
Adams: The Big Ten's basketball claim isn’t as entrenched. In 2025, the SEC delivered one of the best basketball performances by a conference ever, and Florida won the national title.
The Big Ten started to make its claim for the basketball throne around the time Iowa bounced the defending champion and No. 1-seeded Gators in the second round of this tournament. Then, Michigan waylaid the SEC's last-team-standing, Tennessee.
This year, the SEC qualified 10 teams to the Big Ten’s nine bids, but the Big Ten produced a better tournament record, four Elite Eight teams and now two teams in the Final Four. At least for this season, the Big Ten rules basketball.
Toppmeyer: The Big Ten’s claim of basketball superiority would be strengthened if either Michigan or Illinois wins the national championship. The conference’s tournament performance has been strong, much stronger than the SEC’s this year, but the SEC finished the job in 2025 thanks to Florida. The Big Ten still has not produced a basketball national champion since 2000 Michigan State. For the Big Ten to fully assert in its basketball status, it needs a champ.
Mar 30, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) looks on against the Miami Heat during the first quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Things are just different when it comes to sports in Philadelphia. The microscope players are under and the feedback they receive from this fervent fan base, through both good times and bad, is unparalleled. For a city that’s been relatively light on championships for the last century, goodwill is hard to come by.
It’s what makes the discourse around the Eagles, across the street from the Sixers down at the Sports Complex, so confusing. The Eagles have won two Super Bowls within a decade. They won a championship just 14 months ago with Jalen Hurts garnering Super Bowl MVP honors and Nick Sirianni rightfully receiving the iconic Gatorade shower when the game was out of reach.
Now? Well, those guys have been receiving nonstop heat since. A new story from ESPN’s Tim McManus and Jeremy Fowler regarding Hurts, featuring hard-hitting, legitimate reporting for sure, dropped on Wednesday morning. It showcases that, both within the walls of an organization and for fans across the region, winning doesn’t actually cure everything.
“Win it all and you’ll never pay for a drink in this town again.”
Uh, that went out the window pretty quickly in this city, huh? Portions of the fan base still lob a ton of criticism Hurts and Sirianni’s way.
That brings me to Joel Embiid, the Sixers’ MVP-winning center who is more known, both locally and in the greater basketball community, for his health woes and his inability to even rack up a Conference Finals appearance than for his historic scoring touch.
Embiid is one of the most talented players who’s ever picked up a basketball. Even still, his tumultuous injury history and lack of playoff success are the things that have defined him the most. While I’m not proclaiming it’s happening this spring and summer, but if, somehow, someway, Embiid could string together a healthy postseason and carry the Sixers to a championship and an ensuing parade down Broad Street, how much would it really change the way people talk about the big fella?
For anyone with the slightest clue in this world, it should change everything. It would be a triumph more than a decade in the making, a capstone for a player who’s battled injuries year after year. A ring paired with his scoring titles and accolades would make him one of the definitive athletes in Philadelphia history and give him an unassailable achievement, the thing that we’re all supposed to value the most. An Embiid-led Sixers title would also make the ever-controversial Process a smashing success, too.
For everyone else, however, I can’t imagine it would change much, as sad as that is to say.
I’m sure Sixers fans would be subject to social media posts about how it’s a “Mickey Mouse” championship or something outrageous along those lines. The narrative would shift about how Embiid has “only” won a single title compared to some of the all-time great big men that the NBA has seen. That’s before getting into how, in the time following a hypothetical Embiid championship victory, people would complain about the slightest things that go wrong right here in Philadelphia.
That’s the nature of sports in general and the great city of Philadelphia specifically. The Eagles are a clear-cut example of winning is only a temporary respite from criticism. If Embiid and the Sixers ever win it all one day, and I certainly have my doubts on that front, they would find that out the hard way as well.
Our NBA player prop projections are set for tonight’s Western Conference clash between the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors, with the model pinpointing several standout opportunities.
By analyzing the data and comparing it to current market lines, we’ve uncovered the bets with the highest value.
Wemby has also gone Under in 5 of his last 10 games at a 25.5-point line, reinforcing the potential for a more muted scoring output in this matchup.
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De'Aaron Fox Under 6.5 assists (+115)
Projection: 5.5 assists
De'Aaron Fox has gone Under 6.5 assists in 7 of his last 10 games, and this matchup against the Warriors sets up for that trend to continue.
Against the Warriors, pace is a key factor. Golden State's slower tempo reduces overall assist opportunities. Fewer trips up and down the floor make it harder for Fox to rack up counting stats in the playmaking department.
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Victor Wembanyama Over 11.5 rebounds (-120)
Projection: 12.4 rebounds
The Spurs rank fourth in the league in offensive rebounding over their last five road games, and Wemby has been the most consistent presence on the glass, going Over 11.5 rebounds in 7 of his last 10 outings.
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Warriors computer picks
Brandin Podziemski Under 17.5 points (-115)
Projection: 17.4 points
Given the Warriors’ pace of play, Brandin Podziemski could fall just short of clearing his points prop, especially after going Under in 4 of his last 10 games at a 17.5-point line.
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Draymond Green Over 5.5 rebounds (-110)
Projection: 6.8 rebounds
The Warriors have ranked as the third-best offensive rebounding team in the league over their last 15 games, and Draymond Green stands to benefit from those extra opportunities on the glass, having gone Over 5.5 rebounds in 4 of his last 10 games.
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Gui Santos Over 1.5 3-pointers (-190)
Projection: 2.4 3-pointers
The Spurs have operated at the ninth-fastest pace in the league over their last five games, which should create additional possessions for the Warriors and more chances for Gui Santos to connect from deep, especially after going Over 1.5 three-pointers in 5 of his last 10 games.
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How to watch Spurs vs Warriors tonight
Location
Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Date
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
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