Five Storylines for the AnaheimDucks First Round Series vs the Edmonton Oilers

The 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are underway, and for the first time in eight years, the Anaheim Ducks are one of the final 16 teams. They qualified with 92 points in the standings, good enough for third place in the Pacific Division, dubbed the “pillow fight division” by a member of the Ducks’ first-round opponents.

The Ducks’ first-round opponent for their first playoff series since 2018 will be the back-to-back Western Conference Champion Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers finished second in the Pacific, earning themselves home ice advantage in the opening round.

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With the Ducks representing a team with a young core and on the rise, and the Oilers representing a perennial Cup favorite whose tolerance for losing has completely evaporated, storylines are plentiful entering Monday’s game one matchup. Let’s get into some on the Ducks’ side of the red line:

Joel Quenneville Returns to the Postseason

The Ducks hired Quenneville on May 8, 2025, nearly four years since he’d last been behind an NHL bench as the head coach of the Florida Panthers. After due diligence, Ducks’ general manager Pat Verbeek made the decision to hire Quenneville ahead of the 2025-26 season, with a mandate from himself and ownership to make the playoffs as soon as the upcoming season.

The Ducks succeeded in their seemingly lofty goal, and Quenneville will return to coach an NHL playoff game for the first time since the 2020-21 season. In his 26 seasons as a head coach in the NHL, Quenneville’s teams have qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs 22 times and won three Stanley Cups.

In the past, Quenneville has pulled the right strings at the right times to optimize his roster’s impact in each playoff series. He’s identified matchups to exploit, implemented game plans, and made proper adjustments through a grueling seven-game series.

The NHL landscape, skill level, and on-ice product/style have changed considerably since Quennville was winning Stanley Cups in the early-to-mid 2010’s with the Chicago Blackhawks and even since he last coached a playoff game. Will he be able to replicate what he accomplished in the past with an up-and-coming Ducks roster, as he had so many times in the past?

Backing into the Playoffs

On March 26, the Ducks seemingly had the Pacific Division all but wrapped up. With 86 points through 72 games, they had a five-point lead on the second-place Oilers, were primed to capture their first division title since 2017, and were destined for a first-round series against the Utah Mammoth.

Since that date, through the final ten games of the regular season, the Ducks went 2-6-2, were outscored 41-30, lost home ice advantage, and have to now play a significantly tougher opponent. They continued to face difficulties with poor starts, untimely poor puck or position decisions, and defending the tight areas of the defensive zone, areas that had plagued them for the majority of the first 72 games of the season as well. A difference down the stretch was also that their goaltending, which had kept them in games to that point, fell to mere human levels and was unable to continue bailing them out.

When the games mattered the most, in the regular season, they couldn’t meet the moment, perhaps leaving most analysts discouraged in their chances going into this series. On the encouraging end of the spectrum, though their special teams cratered, their last ten games was one of their best (or their best) stretches of the season at 5v5, as they accounted for 56.3% of the expected goals. Will they extract the positive while discarding the negative aspects of the last ten games when the pressure elevates even further?

Playoff Terry

Ahead of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, Troy Terry sat fifth among active NHL players in games played without a playoff appearance (488), behind Mario Ferraro (490), Tage Thompson (529), Rasmus Dahlin (586), and Rasmus Ristolainen (820).

That streak is now over for Terry (along with three of the four players ahead of him). The monkey is off his back, and he’ll have the privilege of playing hockey in the playoffs. He had been the franchise’s most consistent player through the entirety of the rebuild, having now played for five different head coaches, and is the only roster player remaining from when the Ducks last made the playoffs in 2018.

Can Terry take his game to another level and shepherd the Ducks’ current and upcoming crop of young players toward realizing their full potential in their present and future playoff runs?

Feet Wet or Make Noise

Had anyone said on Oct. 9, 2025, that, in six months, the Anaheim Ducks were going to finish with 92 points, qualify for the playoffs, and end their eight-year postseason drought, anyone who follows the team and the team themselves would have been more than satisfied with that outcome for the 2025-26 season.

There’s a sense around various national media outlets that the Ducks don’t stand much of a chance in this series and should simply be happy to have made “the dance” and gain some valuable experience, getting their feet wet in these high-intensity games.

Those aspects are true. However, for the younger players, their inexperience could make them most dangerous, riding emotion while not fully grasping the pressure of playoff hockey, and for the aging veterans, they do understand the gravity of their situation and how it could represent the last or one of the last “kicks at the can.”

Can the Ducks capitalize on their blend of youthful naivete and veteran familiarity enough to upset a contender with two of the best centers in the world, both in their primes?

An Allegory for the Passage of Time

Time is a flat circle. Teams’ trajectories rise and fall like a roller coaster, and much like in fashion, things in the NHL tend to come full circle. The Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks last met in the playoffs in the second round of the 2017 playoffs. That series will be remembered, from the Ducks’ perspective, for the “Comeback on Katella” in game five and the series that put an end to their four-game losing streak in game sevens.

That series now represents the last series win for the Ducks, as their contending window would violently shut after the 2016-17 season. From Edmonton’s perspective, that series represented the very first playoff loss for a 20-year-old Connor McDavid, 21-year-old Leon Draisaitl, 21-year-old Darnell Nurse, and 23-year-old Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, as they were coming off their first taste of playoff success in the series preceding, which advanced them to the second round.

Now, nine years later, McDavid is 29, Draisaitl is 30, Nurse is 30, and Nugent-Hopkins is 32. The Ducks, who have a completely different roster without any leftovers from that series, are the team with the young core on the rise. Led by Beckett Sennecke (20), Leo Carlsson (21), Cutter Gauthier (22), and Jackson LaCombe (25), this series will hopefully represent a similar sustainable window of contention.

Can this Ducks roster do what those Oilers couldn’t, and take down a Goliath, or, like on many occasions, will history repeat itself?

Game one of this series will commence on Monday, April 20, at 7 PM PST, in Edmonton.

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April 19, 2026

Brotherhood Playoff News & Links

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 18: Luke Kennard #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots over the defense of Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets during the first half of Game One of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 18, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In Saturday’s Brotherhood Playoff Action, Tyrese Proctor’s Cleveland Cavaliers beat Toronto, featuring RJ Barrett and Brandon Ingram, 126-113. Denver, with Tyus Jones, knocked off the Timberwolves, 116-105. The Hawks, coached by Quin Snyder and featuring Jalen Johnson, took down New York, 113-102. The Los Angeles Lakers, coached by JJ Redick and starring Luke Kennard, grounded the Rockets, 107-98.

Barrett scored 24 points, while Ingram had 17 for the Raptors, while Proctor got a DNP (did not play).

Tyus Jones also got a DNP for Denver.

Johnson got 23 points and 7 rebounds in Atlanta’s loss to the Knicks.

And while the Lakers are without the injured Luka Doncic, Kennard filled in well, hitting for 27 points on 9-13/5-5 from the floor, along with 4 rebounds and three assists.

That was Kennard’s career playoff high, incidentally.

On Sunday, Jayson Tatum and Boston take on Philadelphia, Jared McCain and OKC play Phoenix, with Grayson Allen, Mark Williams, and Khaman Maluach, while Orlando, featuring Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter, rumble with Trajan Langdon’s Detroit Pistons.

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April 19, 2026

What history tells us about the Suns chances against the Thunder

1984 was the first season the NBA implemented the 16-team playoff system, divided by the Eastern and Western Conferences. Since 1984, there have only been six 8-seeds to upset a 1-seed in the playoffs.

The first team to ever do it was the 1994 Denver Nuggets, who defeated the Seattle SuperSonics 3–2 after coming back from down 2-0. The next team to do it was the 1999 New York Knicks in a lockout-shortened season against the Miami Heat in a 3-2 series win. That Knicks team went on to make the NBA Finals. Then in 2007, the ‘We Believe Warriors’ defeated the Dallas Mavericks and MVP winner Dirk Nowitzki 4-2. A few years later, the Memphis Grizzlies upset the Spurs 4-2 in 2011, and the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the 1-seed Chicago Bulls 4-2, who lost their MVP, Derrick Rose, in game one of that series. And the last team to do it? The 2023 Miami Heat, who defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 4-1 with Giannis Antetokounmpo in and out of the lineup that series. That Heat team also made the NBA Finals.

So what’s been the magic recipe historically?

For the 76ers and Bulls, it was injury luck. The Grizzlies and Warriors played a style of basketball that their counterparts could not match up against. The Grizzlies completely out-physicaled the Spurs, and the Warriors’ small-ball exposed a major flaw in the Mavericks’ unathletic roster. The Knicks and Nuggets got to play a five-game series, and both had exceptional defenses that stifled the Heat and Supersonics.

Historically, 8-seeds are 6-of-84 in opportunities against 1-seeds. So that gives the Suns a 7.1% chance to beat the Thunder, which is right on the money with how oddsmakers view this series. The Suns are right around +1300 to win the series. By no means is this article saying that the Suns will win the series, but rather the historical context of what kind of company they can be in if they do, and just how much of a shock it would be if they did. Plus, if you want to look on the bright side, if the Suns do beat the Thunder, they have a 33% chance at making the Finals!

So what has to go right for Phoenix to earn a series win over Oklahoma City?

Injury luck, obviously. In two weeks from now, if Phoenix has done the impossible and is moving on to the second round, it will more than likely be due to Oklahoma City having poor injury luck. Phoenix also needs the inverse; Grayson Allen and Mark Williams must play in order for them to win. There’s not a whole lot more to break down than that, and this Oklahoma City team is so talented it might take more than one injury for Phoenix to have a chance.

Now lets go to the basketball scenarios, which are way more fun to write about. 3-point shooting and taking care of the ball are the two keys for the Suns to have a shot against the Thunder. The Thunder are elite defensively with an unending roster of elite defenders perfectly suited to guarding Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and the rest of the Suns roster. The Suns have to limit their turnovers while the Thunder turn it over like hotcakes. The Suns also need to take and make more threes than the Thunder. Winning the possession battle and 3-point battle has been the Suns’ recipe for success all season, and they will need to do it four times in four wins if they want to get a series win over the Thunder. The Suns have to shoot as many threes as possible, hope that they get a high number of makes, and if not, rebound those long misses and take some more triples.

The other ingredient to a historic series upset is generational performances or clutch play-making from the superstar player or players. Jimmy Butler reached extraordinary levels in the Heat’s recent 4-1 series win against the Bucks by making incredible shots in improbable comebacks. Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol dominated the Spurs’ frontline inside in the Grizzlies series win over the Spurs, and Dikembe Mutombo blocked the Supersonics in the final seconds, capped off by his iconic celebration.

The Suns will need elite shotmaking from Booker, Green, and Brooks, plus plenty of defensive heroism from everyone on the roster. Slowing down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be the Suns’ top priority, and he is the game’s best closer. It will be a challenge to match him bucket for bucket in the final minutes of games, but it is something the Suns will have to do.

So how does this team get it done?

The Suns have to win in six games or fewer, even if there are injuries. Playing the Thunder in Oklahoma City in a game seven is a daunting task. If the Suns win this series, it is because they won one of the first two games on the road, then hold the Thunder at bay to win in six games. Right now, just winning one game in the series would feel like an accomplishment for the Suns. Even the most optimistic Suns fans cannot consciously believe that this team will win this series. But as long as the 15 players in the locker room and the coaching staff believe they have a chance to win, I will be watching every minute.

If the Suns are going to win this series, here is the path it takes to get there:

Game 1 – Suns win in the final seconds of a close game.

Game 2 – Suns lose, and honestly, the more the Thunder lay it on, the better.

Game 3 – Suns get ridiculously hot from behind the line and win a game no one saw coming

Game 4 – Suns mount a furious fourth-quarter comeback and steal a win in an ugly rock fight game that ends in the high 80’s

Suns fall short, and Gilgeous-Alexander has his 40-point explosion

Game 5 – Suns fall short and Gilgeous-Alexander has his 40-point explosion

Game 6 – Suns win a game where Booker, Green, and Brooks score 80+ points, and a Suns role player hits a game-winning 3-point shot

The science behind this scenario is that every single team since the Warriors in 2007 has won game 1 of the series (except Philadelphia because of the Rose injury), and in the six series combined, the 8-seeds are a combined 14-1 at home. To upset a 1-seed, the path is clear: win the first game, and then win at home.

The Suns do have a few things going their way

They have nothing to lose, and the Thunder have all the pressure on them to win. The Suns are -1 in point differential this season against the Thunder with Booker in the lineup and are 1-1 in those games. The Suns are 2-3 against the Thunder in five games, which is as familiar as you can get with one team in the regular season. Even with all those reasons to be positive, the Suns have 7% chance to win this series, but with every run the Suns make, every loose ball they collect, every offensive rebound they grab, that number can grow and grow until it becomes a series.

Someone has to become the lucky number seven team to upset a 1-seed, so why not this Phoenix Suns team?

April 19, 2026

Porter Martone Makes Flyers History In Game 1 Win vs. Penguins

The Philadelphia Flyers picked up a hard-fought 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 1 of the first round. With this, the Flyers now have a 1-0 lead in the series, which is certainly good news for the Metropolitan Division club.

Porter Martone played a role in the Flyers' win, as he scored a big insurance goal at the 17:23 mark of the third period that gave Philadelphia a 3-1 lead over the Penguins. It was a nice goal from the Flyers' top prospect, too, as he showed great patience with the puck before beating Penguins goalie Stuart Skinner top shelf with an excellent wrist shot.

With this goal, Martone also made Flyers history.

According to NHL Public Relations, Martone is now the youngest Flyers player in their franchise history to score in his playoff debut (19 years, 174 days old). Simon Gagne previously had the record, as he scored in his postseason debut in 2000 at 20 years and 44 days old.

This stat just shows how much of an impact Martone is immediately making for the Flyers. The young winger is making it clear that he is not only ready for the NHL but can already be a big offensive contributor in the process.

Porter Martone became the youngest @NHLFlyers player to score in his postseason debut, besting the previous benchmark established by Simon Gagne (20 years, 44 days) during Game 1 of 2000 Conference Quarterfinals. #StanleyCup #NHLStats: https://t.co/TrirK9vhfP pic.twitter.com/AzMVGoLDLU
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) April 19, 2026

Martone will now be looking to continue to shine with the Flyers as the postseason rolls on. In nine regular-season games for the Flyers to finish off the campaign, he had four goals and 10 points.

April 19, 2026

Rona Hits Big With Its New Canadiens Based Ad Campain

Over the years, hardware store RONA has been a major advertising partner of the Montreal Canadiens, and it's stepped up its advertising in Quebec in recent years. The ad campaign “Mike Chez Rona” has been so successful that no one in the province can hear the Knacks’ song My Sharona without hearing the jingle in their head, and on March 26, a Mike Chez RONA bobblehead was even given as a promotional item at the Bell Center in

With the Canadiens making the playoffs for a second year in a row, RONA has decided to bring back its advertising campaign, “RONA on touche du bois” (RONA we touch wood). Last year, they brought a big stack of wood (which they sell, of course) and had fans touch it to bring luck to the Canadiens; this time around, though, they stepped up their game.

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This year, they’ve obtained Patrice Brisebois’ stick from the 1993 playoffs, and starting Friday, for the first home game of the series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, they’ll be in the vicinity of the Bell Centre to allow as many fans as possible to touch the bois glorieux, the glorious wood.

Appearing on TVA’s morning news show Salut Bonjour, a RONA representative explained that they’d be going around to surprise fan gatherings and allow them to touch Brisebois’ stick to bring luck to the team.

Given just how superstitious hockey fans are, that’s a campaign that’s sure to get people talking about RONA. That’s just one example of the craziness that takes over Montreal when the Canadiens are in the playoffs. Last week, former NHLer turned radio host Georges Laraque organized an event in which he had fans climb the stairs of the St-Joseph Oratory on their knees to bring good luck to the Habs. Back in 1993, when the Habs won their last Stanley Cup, coach Jacques Demers had made a pilgrimage to the Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre Basilica during the series against the Quebec Nordiques, and the Habs had won their next two games against the Nordiques; the rest is history.

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April 19, 2026

Sixers begin playoffs in Boston with Sunday matinee

Boston, MA - March 1: Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe steals the ball from Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown in the third quarter. The Celtics played the 76ers at TD Garden on March 1, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images

After a roller coaster regular season, the Philadelphia 76ers handled business in the Play-In Tournament against Orlando, earning the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference and a first-round matchup against the rival Boston Celtics. In Game 1 this afternoon in Boston, the Celtics are 13-point favorites to take a 1-0 lead in the series, and are huge minus-900 favorites to advance to the second round. If those lopsided odds have you down as a Sixers fan, can I remind you of another big upset that started in Boston? It was a little thing called the American Revolution.

Unfortunately, the Sixers are without their George Washington in this clash between original colonial powers. Philadelphia only has one player listed on the injury report, but it’s a big one, with Joel Embiid out due to his post appendectomy surgery recovery. (Yes, Johni Broome is available to save the day.) There’s no realistic belief that Joel will be back soon to impact the series, but maybe Boston also has some injuries the Sixers could take advantage of today?

Injury Report for tomorrow vs. PHI:

No injuries to report
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 18, 2026

I guess not. Jayson Tatum has been back over a month now following Achilles surgery and appears to be fully ramped up. The All-NBA talent looking like himself is a big reason why the Celtics are now significant favorites to advance out of the East to the NBA Finals. Of course, that’s still a couple months away and the Sixers will hope to be more than a minor speed bump along the Celtics’ path.

The Sixers’ chances of making this a competitive series will start with their backcourt. We know Tyrese Maxey can shine on the biggest stage after seeing him average nearly 30 points per game in the series against New York two years ago. The year prior in the seven-game series loss to Boston was more of a mixed bag. Maxey scored 30 points in the Game 5 win to go up 3-2, but also had three games scoring 14 points or less. Of course, Tyrese has improved a ton over the past three seasons and his dropping 40 points in the regular season opener against Boston is more indicative of what we’re likely to see from him.

Philadelphia’s biggest X factor is rookie VJ Edgecombe, who didn’t look the least bit phased by the moment during the Play-In, recording 19 points and 11 rebounds and puffing his chest out at Jalen Suggs. Edgecombe found success against Boston this season, notably scoring 14 points in his first ever NBA quarter while facing the Celtics, a league record. His ability to create splash plays defensively and get out in transition will be vital for a Sixers’ offense that projects to struggle in the half court against Boston.

Aside from the whole having a deeper roster thing, the big advantage for Boston will be on the glass. The Sixers were a terrible defensive rebounding team this season and the Celtics were one of the better squads at creating second-chance opportunities. Andre Drummond played well against Orlando and had one or two solid performances this year against Boston. If he could channel 2020 Andre (only now with three-point shooting!), that would go a long way towards helping the Sixers stay within arms-length of Boston to pull off an upset.

If we’re going to do some straw grasping, it has been nine days since Boston’s regulars saw the court at all. Maybe there’s a bit of an adjustment period back to the intensity of live game action. The early afternoon start time could also play a factor. NBA players are largely very routine-oriented and have shifted their schedules to peak at nighttime. Today they’re playing at 1:00 pm Eastern when some of them might normally be taking naps. Obviously, it wouldn’t favor the Sixers more than the Celtics, but maybe things get wonky and that can only benefit the underdog.

The club who the Sixers share a building with was able to pull off a Game 1 win on the road yesterday. Time for the Sixers to get gritty and see if they can’t make Boston sweat here to start this first-round series.

Game Details

When: Sunday, April 19, 1:00 PM ET
Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA
Watch: ABC
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers

April 19, 2026

The DBB Pistons Playoff Preview

DETROIT, MI - MARCH 13: Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff of the Detroit Pistons talks in the huddle before the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 13, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The NBA Playoffs are upon us, which means it’s time to diagnose the Detroit Pistons as they look to make a run to the NBA Finals. The crew at DBB looked at the first-round matchup, the difference makers and the likelihood of that championship run.

1. The Pistons will kick off the playoffs against the Orlando Magic on Sunday. What is your read on the series + who wins and in how many games?

Sean Corp: The Orlando Magic seem like a team at its breaking point, and the Detroit Pistons defense loves to break teams. They are also one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA, and hot 3-point shooting is how a lot of teams stick around. Feels like a physical, short series. Pistons in 5.

Laz Jackson: Pistons in six. It should be Pistons in five, but there will be at least one game thats a smidge TOO rock fight-y and the Magic win at home, plus the “normal” playoff loss.

Brady Fredericksen: Orlando is the biggest disappointment in the NBA, yet they’re still fighting. Franz looks lost, and Paolo (sans the Charlotte game) has been more bad than god. The Magic are a poor man’s Pistons, and I can’t see them beating Detroit at its own game. Pistons win this in 5 games.

Justin Lambregtse: The Magic are a mess, but they at least have playoff experience and have played the Pistons well the last couple years. I think the Pistons beat them in 6 games.

Wes Davenport: The Magic are solid and will present some challenges for Detroit. However, in playoff basketball, defense and star power win the day. It’s nearly impossible to argue the Pistons are lacking for either compared to Orlando. Pistons in 5.

Robbie Bettelon: Pistons in 5. I’m ready for Round 2 already.

Brennan Sims: Orlando, one of the teams the Pistons have smoke with. Detroit would have handled Charlotte, and the’ll handle the Magic.

Max Sturm: I see the Pistons handling Orlando. The Magic are essentially a poor man’s version of Detroit. They’re finally healthy after being banged up all year, and at their best they are long, skilled, and can shut the water off on defense. Pistons in 6.

Austen Flores: Orlando is finally healthy, but Detroit is well-equipped to neutralize what they do best. The regular season games were close, but Orlando’s offensive inconsistency — too much drive-and-kick and stagnant possessions — shows up. Expect tight games, but Detroit pulls them out. Pistons in five.

2. Who are the 1-2 most important players for the Pistons to make a legitimate run?

Sean Corp: The boring answer is Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren. They power the offense, and help define the defense. The swing answer might be Ausar Thompson. The ability to maximize his defense (be keeping him on the floor) and limit foul trouble is key.

Laz Jackson: Ausar. Can he neutralize Desmond Bane / Donovan Mitchell entirely and make offenses less efficient? What poor soul will he backcut to death in the half court? Even in a slowed down playoff environment, can he generate deflections, blocks, steals that turn into the easy offense the Pistons feast on? I think so. Caris LeVert. Quietly, VERY quietly, he has been less disruptive to good offense. He WILL get minutes, but can they be productive ones? Will we have a Caris LeVert Game, one that steals the Pistons a series? It’s on the table.

Brady Fredericksen: Daniss Jenkins and Jalen Duren stand out. Jenkins found a second wind, and if he can create, score and play under control in his minutes, the Pistons will be in good shape. Duren has leveled up. Now, it’s time to prove that the shot creation and defense is real against locked-in defenses. I think he’s ready.

Justin Lambregtse: Duren and Jenkins. I have faith in Cade’s ability to play in the playoffs and Ausar’s defense is going to be important, but getting offensive contributions from both Duren and Jenkins to help out Cade/hold down the fort when he is out is going to be very important for a long playoff run.

Wes Davenport: Cade is the soft ball. But I’ll go the rest of that core four group as well — Duren (for his scoring ability), Ausar and Stew (for their defensive ability). Famous last words, I know, but I’m not all that worried about the floor spacing.

Robbie Bettelon: Duren and Ausar. If they can still coexist in playoff basketball, the East is in trouble.

Brennan Sims: Cade Cunningham’s jump shot could swing a series either way. Duncan Robinson has to remain an elite shooter — channel that 2023 Finals run energy.

Max Sturm: Jenkins comes to mind here. It’s easy to forget that Dennis Shroder was essentially the team’s second best player against the Knicks during last year’s playoffs. Jenkins has the ability to play a similar role this spring. Ausar Thompson is the other. Can he stay on the floor offensively during crunch time? Can he stay out of foul trouble? Can he make his free throws consistently? If those answers are yes, then the Pistons will have a tremendous advantage on the defensive end at all times.

Austen Flores: Jenkins and Robinson, with Tobias Harris just missing the cut. Jenkins has been a revelation and now steps into a major playoff role after not playing in last year’s Knicks series — he’ll need to match the impact Dennis Schröder had. Robinson’s playoff experience is valuable despite his ups and downs, and Detroit’s success often hinges on his shooting. JB Bickerstaff should prioritize getting him clean looks early.

3. How far do you see the Pistons’ run going? What is their ceiling and what is going to make or break them in their chase for the Finals?

Sean Corp: The Pistons keep surprising against the best competition. I only NEED a first round series win. I am confident they can get to the Conference Finals. And from there, they dictate their own fate, and the date of their off-season priorities as they look to be NBA Finals winners (soon).

Laz Jackson: The Detroit Pistons ceiling is an NBA Finals appearance, full stop. What makes or breaks them will be health (in both directions) and turnovers.

Brady Fredericksen: I’ve got the Pistons falling in the ECF. I think they can beat the Knicks there, but I have concerns about how they match up against the Celtics with Jayson Tatum back. The offense has been a lot better, but a cold spell late in a big game in Boston could be the end of the line.

Justin Lambregtse: I’d love to say they make the Finals, but I don’t think that’s in the cards this year. I look at the OKC Thunder who were a 2nd round team a couple years ago before breaking through and going all the way and winning. The Pistons are still young and not playoff tested a ton, so I could see them going down in the 2nd round after a hard-fought series. It does depend on their 2nd round matchup, though.

Wes Davenport: I see this team as a lock for the conference semis. Anything beyond that is gravy to me. That said, I would predict they make the ECF. They’ll go as far as Cade and Duren will take them offensively.

Robbie Bettelon: I don’t fear any team outside of Boston. So, if they meet the Celtics in the ECF, I’d take Boston.

Brennan Sims: They could make the Finals. Hard to see them beating OKC, San Antonio, or Denver. Who steps up after the All-Stars offensively + how does the offense fare in general?

Max Sturm: Their ceiling is the Finals, though I don’t see them beating either of the West favorites. A fully healthy Boston will likely be the favorite to come out of the East, and the Cavs pose a sneaky tough potential matchup in round two. Can someone be a consistent secondary scorer? Jenkins, Caris Levert, Kevin Huerter all have shown flashes of being that guy. Beyond that, health is a major factor, as maintaining their defense.

Austen Flores: The ECF. The second round could take a toll, especially against a tough Cavs team that matches up well with Detroit and added another dimension with Harden. That goes at least six. A potential Boston matchup is intriguing — they’d have a chip on their shoulder — but with Tatum back, it may be a step too far.

Most likely top seed to lose early in the East?

Sean Corp: Cleveland Cavaliers

Laz Jackson: New York Knicks

Brady Fredericksen: New York Knicks

Robbie Bettelon: New York Knicks

Brennan Sims: New York Knicks

Max Sturm: New York Knicks

Austen Flores: New York Knicks

Most likely underdog to win a series in the East?

Sean Corp: Atlanta Hawks

Laz Jackson: Atlanta Hawks

Brady Fredericksen: Atlanta Hawks

Robbie Bettelon: Toronto Raptors

Brennan Sims: Toronto Raptors

Max Sturm: Philadelphia 76ers

Austen Flores: Atlanta Hawks

Who wins the East

Sean Corp: Boston Celtics

Laz Jackson: Detroit Pistons

Brady Fredericksen: Boston Celtics

Robbie Bettelon: Boston Celtics

Brennan Sims: Boston Celtics

Max Sturm: Detroit Pistons

Austen Flores: Boston Celtics

Most likely top seed to lose early in the West?

Sean Corp: Los Angeles Lakers

Laz Jackson: San Antonio Spurs

Brady Fredericksen: Denver Nuggets

Robbie Bettelon: Denver Nuggets

Brennan Sims: Denver Nuggets

Max Sturm: Los Angeles Lakers

Austen Flores: Los Angeles Lakers

Most likely underdog to win a series in the West?

Sean Corp: Minnesota Timberwolves

Laz Jackson: Houston Rockets

Brady Fredericksen: Minnesota Timberwolves

Robbie Bettelon: Minnesota Timberwolves

Brennan Sims: Minnesota Timberwolves

Max Sturm: Minnesota Timberwolves

Austen Flores: Houston Rockets

Who wins the West?

Sean Corp: San Antonio Spurs

Laz Jackson: Oklahoma City Thunder

Brady Fredericksen: Oklahoma City Thunder

Robbie Bettelon: San Antonio Spurs

Brennan Sims: Oklahoma City Thunder

Max Sturm: Oklahoma City Thunder

Austen Flores: Oklahoma City Thunder

Who wins the NBA title?

Sean Corp: Boston Celtics

Laz Jackson: Oklahoma City Thunder

Brady Fredericksen: Oklahoma City Thunder

Robbie Bettelon: San Antonio Spurs

Brennan Sims: Oklahoma City Thunder

Max Sturm: Oklahoma City Thunder

Austen Flores: Oklahoma City Thunder

—

As always, let us know what you think in the comments!

April 19, 2026

Open Thread: San Antonio is in full Spurs playoff mode

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - DECEMBER 27: The Coyote of the San Antonio Spurs performs during the game against the Utah Jazz at Frost Bank Center on December 27, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Ever since the Spurs punched their ticket into the postseason, the city has been hosting a bevy of events. From pop -up shops last week through today’s HemisFair pep rally, there are ongoing activations to feed your Spurs fanaticism.

Per a Spurs press release:

Game 1 Pep Rally at Hemisfair
Tower Park, 801 Cesar Chavez Boulevard
The Spurs will host a pep rally to tip off the first round at the Red McCombs Community Court at Hemisfair, presented by H-E-B and Ledger. Starting at 10 a.m. Sunday before Game 1, the pep rally will include free Taco Palenque coffee and tacos for the first 200 fans, free car flags presented by H-E-B, music and more.

Official Watch Parties
The Rock at La Cantera, 1 Spurs Way
The Spurs will host official watch parties, presented by Michelob ULTRA, at The Rock at La Cantera for all away games, free and open to the public. The parties will feature appearances from Coyote and Hype Squad, photobooths, and Spurs Playoff giveaways including T-shirts designed by artists from all Spurs markets – San Antonio, Austin, Mexico and France, and car flags presented by H-E-B. All home Playoff games will also be streamed at The Rock.

Pop-Up Fan Shop
333 W. Commerce Street
The Spurs will open a pop-up shop downtown for the duration of the Playoffs selling team gear and Playoff merchandise. The grand opening will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 14 at 5 p.m. with a DJ, music, trivia, photo ops and free Taco Palenque for the first 200 customers. The shop will be open at CENTRO San Antonio’s “La Zona” property daily from 12 to 8 p.m. and will have interactive photo ops and fan experiences exclusive to the store.

Exclusive In-Arena T-Shirts
Frost Bank Center
Fans at all first-round home games will receive a free T-shirt on their seat, featuring a unique design for each game. They will highlight San Antonio and Spurs culture, with several designed by local artists. Game 1’s T-shirt is presented by Ledger and designed by local artist Shek Vega and Game 2’s T-shirt is presented by H-E-B. Fans are encouraged to wear the T-shirt to be part of the collective arena experience.

Partner Giveaways
San Antonio
Partners will be showing their support for the team with a range of fan giveaways throughout the Playoffs. Every day during Playoffs, Take 5 will offer a 25% discount on an oil change for any customer wearing Spurs merch. Ledger will give away free fanbangos at all home games.

City Takeover
San Antonio, Austin and Paris
The Spurs will brand the city Spurs Fiesta colors by painting the team logo and playoff tags across town. Logos will appear from The Rock to the Impact Center to partner business locations to the streets of Paris. Fans are encouraged to enter to win a free team playoff flag and pick up free car flags at the first pep rally and watch parties at The Rock, while supplies last, to join in repping Spurs spirit at their homes and businesses. Spurs murals will also be on display at the San Antonio pop-up retail store location and Wanderlust Wine Co. in Austin.

Spurs Spot It Challenge
San Antonio & Austin
Beginning Friday, April 17, fans who visit five locations in San Antonio or Austin with the official Spurs Playoff logo painted onsite will earn 10 points as part of the recently launched “Spurs Rewards” program. Fans must download the Official Spurs App presented by Frost and sign up for Spurs Rewards to participate. See Spurs.com/Playoffs for a list of locations.

There are additional activations being added, so be sure to check here and follow the Spurs on social media. There will be free coffee and Taco Palenque is kicking in free breakfast tacos after Spurs playoff win.

So many ways to celebrate as the Silver & Black’s Race for Seis.

Go Spurs Go.

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April 19, 2026

Game 1 Preview: Bruins and Sabres begin their first round series

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - MARCH 25: Fraser Minten #93 of the Boston Bruins battles for position against Alex Tuch #89 of the Buffalo Sabres during an NHL game on March 25, 2026 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

Just the facts

When: Tonight, 7:30 PM
Where: KeyBank Center – Buffalo, NY
How to follow: NESN, ESPN, 98.5 The Sports Hub
Opposing perspective:Die by the Blade

Know your enemy

Tage Thompson: 40G-41A-81PTS; Rasmus Dahlin: 19G-55A-74PTS; Alex Tuch: 33G-33A-66PTS
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: 22-9-3, 2.52 GAA, .910 save percentage

*Stats listed above are from the regular season

Game notes

After what feels like a few weeks of waiting, the Bruins and Sabres will begin their first round series tonight in Buffalo. Compared to how long Sabres fans have been waiting for this day, however, three or four days will seem like the blink of an eye.
This will be the first playoff game in Buffalo since April 24, 2011, a 5-4 OT loss to the Flyers in Game 6 of their first round series.
With Alex Lyon still recovering from a late-season injury, the Bruins will see Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in net for Buffalo tonight and likely for the majority of the series, unless he struggles. Lyon has returned to practice, so he could be a late-series option for Buffalo, if needed.
The Bruins don’t appear to have any fresh injury concerns ahead of Game 1. Pavel Zacha and Casey Mittelstadt will be available after each of their partners had babies earlier this week.
All signs point to James Hagens being in the lineup for Game 1, as others competing for his spot made up the fifth line at practice earlier this week. He looked fine in his NHL tune-up, but it’ll be interesting to see how he fares in playoff hockey (though you could say something similar about several of the Bruins young players).
Jeremy Swayman will be the Bruins starter in net. While the playoffs are a different animal, Swayman is 8-1-1 in ten career games against Buffalo.
Aside from Hagens’s status, which seems relatively set, one place where Marco Sturm will have decisions to make is on the blue line. Mason Lohrei has been up and down all season, while Jordan Harris and Henri Jokiharju had some good minutes in the last few games of the regular season.
As this is an ESPN game and there might be some pomp and circumstance (understandably) from the home team, I wouldn’t be surprised if this game starts a bit after 7:30, so…plan accordingly.

See ya tonight!

April 19, 2026

Phillies news: Taijuan Walker, Zack Wheeler, Kyle Stowers

Apr 18, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Felix Reyes (29) celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run in his first major league at bat during the second inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Calling up Felix Reyes was an idea that someone in the front office had in order to give the offense a spark. “Moribund” is an adjective that isn’t used enough, but it’s accurate in describing what the Phillies’ offense has been of late. Reyes hitting a home run on the first strike he saw was impressive, but it being against Chris Sale and to the opposite field was super impressive.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

Taijuan Walker tried changing his routine again before Friday’s start. It didn’t work and now, his roster spot looks tenuous ($).
Maybe the key to helping this offense get going is to use the speed that resides at the top and bottom of their order ($).
It looks like Zack Wheeler is ready to make his return after today’s rehab start.

MLB news:

Kyle Stowers will make his season debut today as he comes off of the injured list from a bad hamstring strain.
Jordan Walker’s resurgence this season has been one of the bigger storylines. The team needed something more than patience as they watched him learn.
The Padres are going to be sold for around $4 billion shortly. What does that say about the impending labor negotiations ($)?

April 19, 2026

Game 22 Preview: Tiger look to take series lead over Red Sox on Sunday

The Detroit Tigers evened up their four-game series against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Saturday with a 4-1 win behind an ace performance by Tarik Skubal and his 10 strikeouts.

The victory brought AJ Hinch’s squad back above the .500 mark and within a half game of the American Central Division lead, behind the 12-10 Cleveland Guardians; they are also tied with the Minnesota Twins at 11-10. Not that the standings mean too much early in the season, but it always feels good to be trending toward the top.

On Sunday, the two teams will play Game 3 in a faceoff between a pair of big-name southpaws. Detroit has Framber Valdez on the mound, having given the Tigers many quality innings so far this season, up against Garrett Crochet, who has not been quite as good as his talent level would suggest.

Take a look at how they match up below.

Detroit Tigers (11-10) vs. Boston Red Sox (8-12)

Time (ET): 4:35 p.m.
Place: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
SB Nation Site:Over the Monster
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network

Game 22: LHP Framber Valdez (1-1, 3.75 ERA) vs. LHP Garrett Crochet (2-2, 7.58 ERA)

Player	G	IP	K%	BB%	GB%	FIP	fWAR
Valdez	4	24.0	12.5	6.7	56.6	3.07	0.6
Crotchet	4	19.0	23.9	7.6	41.4	4.63	0.1

Valdez

CROCHET

April 19, 2026

Royals vs Yankees Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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The New York Yankees look for a series sweep when they host the Kansas City Royals this afternoon.

New York starter Ryan Weathers has thrown better than his numbers suggest, and my Royals vs. Yankees predictions anticipate a comfortable win for the Bronx Bombers.

Find out more in my MLB picks for Sunday, April 19.

Who will win Royals vs Yankees today: Yankees -1.5 (+165)

Ryan Weathers doesn’t need to be perfect today — he just needs to be better than Cole Ragans, and that bar isn’t especially high.

Ragans walks nearly 15% of the batters he faces, and the Kansas City Royals bullpen has been leaking runs, posting a 6.08 ERA with 1.55 home runs allowed per nine innings.

The New York Yankees’ lineup is deep enough to capitalize. Ben Rice and Aaron Judge are barreling the ball at elite rates, while Trent Grisham works counts as well as anyone in the lineup.

The moneyline price is solid, but the run line is where the real value lies.

COVERS INTEL: The Royals’ bullpen ranks bottom five in MLB with a 4.67 xFIP and a ninth-worst 4.25 SIERA.

Royals vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (+100)

Ragans has command issues and is prone to the long ball. When he exits early, the Kansas City bullpen has been a disaster, and this Yankee lineup is beefy, having already scored 17 runs in this series.

The Yankees will feast, but Bobby Witt Jr. and Maikel Garcia are no pushovers either, both posting xwOBAs above .350 against a mediocre Yankees bullpen.

Runs are coming from both sides, poor weather be damned. Back the Over.

Phil Naessens' 2026 Transparency Record

ML/RL bets: 2-3, -0.85 units
Over/Under bets: 3-1, +1.94 units

Royals vs Yankees odds

Moneyline: Royals +122 | Yankees -127
Run line: Royals +1.5 (-200) | Yankees -1.5 (+165)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+100) | Under 8.5 (-120)

Royals vs Yankees trend

New York has covered the run line in four of its last five meetings with the Royals. Find more MLB betting trends for Royals vs. Yankees.

How to watch Royals vs Yankees and game info

Location	Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Date	Sunday, April 19, 2026
First pitch	1:35 p.m. ET
TV	Royals.TV, YES
Royals starting pitcher	Cole Ragans (0-3, 3.78 ERA)
Yankees starting pitcher	Ryan Weathers (0-2, 4.29 ERA)

Royals vs Yankees latest injuries

Royals vs Yankees weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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April 19, 2026

MLB Predictions and Moneyline Picks for Sunday, April 19

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Sunday’s 15-game slate offers some intriguing value spots that the markets may not have fully priced in.

We’ve got several starting pitchers due for regression against lineups that underlying metrics suggest are primed to break out, while some seemingly weaker starters are actually performing better than the surface numbers indicate.

Find out more in my MLB picks for April 19.

MLB moneyline picks for April 19

Matchup	Pick
DET vs BOS	+117
KC vs NYY	-150
SF vs WSH	-122
TB vs PIT	+117
BAL vs CLE	-122
MIL vs MIA	-104
CIN vs MIN	+104
STL vs HOU	+122
NYM vs CHC	-113
LAD vs COL	+261
CWS vs ATH	-156
SD vs LAA	-104
$Rangers$ TEX vs SEA	$Rangers$ +117
TOR vs AZ	+113
ATL vs PHI	-107

Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of 4-19.

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Expert MLB moneyline picks for April 19

Tigers vs Red Sox: Tigers (+117)

Tigers win probability: 46%

Framber Valdez is one of the best arms in this game. Boston sits at 8-11, and being favored at -122 is a market mistake.

Tigers plus money offers strong value.

Royals vs Yankees: Yankees (-150)

Yankees win probability: 60%

This matchup features shaky starting pitching, and I expect a slugfest.

That being the case, the Yankees have better hitters, while Kansas City has been brutal on the road.

Giants vs Nationals: Giants (-122)

Giants win probability: 55%

Miles Mikolas has been highly inefficient.

Robbie Ray has been good thus far, and we’ll eat the juice and roll with Ray and the Giants to hammer Mikolas today.

Rays vs Pirates: Rays (+117)

Rays win probability: 46%

Shane McClanahan is coming off his best start of the season, while Mitch Keller is coming off his worst.

The Rays' sticks have been solid and are worth backing at plus-money.

Orioles vs Guardians: Guardians (-122)

Guardians win probability: 55%

Joey Cantillo is the real deal, while Trevor Rogers boasts a .404 xFIP.

Cantillo is a fireballer, and the Orioles’ top-10 strikeout rate should get overwhelmed by the young lefty and the Guardians’ bats.

Brewers vs Marlins: Brewers (-104)

Brewers win probability: 51%

We have two fireballers on the hill this afternoon, along with a low total.

Jacob Misiorowski has been prone to the long ball, but I’m backing the Brewers' bats against Eury Perez and his command issues.

Reds vs Twins: Reds (+104)

Reds win probability: 48%

Believe it or not, Cincinnati has been more effective away from Great American Ballpark.

Bailey Ober has struggled to find any consistency, and Minny's bats won’t save him today.

Cardinals vs Astros: Cardinals (+122)

Cardinals win probability: 45%

Mike Burrows has struggled mightily to begin the season.

The Cardinals can score runs, and Matthew Liberatore will pitch decently enough to give the Cardinals' bats a chance to pull off the road upset.

Mets vs Cubs: Cubs (-113)

Cubs win probability: 53%

David Peterson and the Mets have both been brutal this season.

I’ll back the home team and its surging offense as short home favorites.

Dodgers vs Rockies: Rockies (+261)

Rockies win probability: 28%

We have two starters prone to the long ball, and two lineups full of sticks to capitalize on it.

The Rockies have a plus .500 mark at home, and there is no way I am backing Roki Sasaki at Coors.

Hold your nose and take Colorado.

White Sox vs Athletics: Athletics (-156)

Athletics win probability: 61%

Jeffrey Springs has been dynamite for the Athletics, while Noah Schultz is a rookie coming off a tough start.

The A’s are a more consistent offense with a better bullpen. Back Springs and the Athletics bats today.

Padres vs Angels: Angels (-104)

Angels win probability: 51%

Mike Trout seems to have found his stroke, and the Angels are scoring runs in bunches.

Michael King’s underlying metrics suggest he could get lit up today, while Reid Detmers numbers are solid.

Rangers vs Mariners: Rangers (+117)

Rangers win probability: 46%

Mackenzie Gore’s numbers are better than they already suggest, and the Mariners' offense will give Bryan Woo little support.

Texas has been heating up on offense, and I’ll take the Rangers at good value.

Blue Jays vs Diamondbacks: Blue Jays (+113)

Blue Jays win probability: 46%

Although Toronto’s offense is riding the struggle bus, Ryne Nelson surrenders nearly two bombs per nine.

Let’s bet on the Jays' offense turning things around this afternoon.

Braves vs Phillies: Phillies (-107)

Blue Jays win probability: 52%

Andrew Painter and his 2.20 xERA look solid, whereas Clay Holmes’ xERA is two points higher than his ERA.

The Phillies' bullpen is also elite, so I’ll back Painter and the bullpen to get the job done tonight.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

April 19, 2026

Orioles news: The yo-yo offense continues

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 18: Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (2) celebrates after hitting a home run during the eighth inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Guardians on April 18, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Hello, friends.

In yesterday’s edition of the Bird Droppings, Tyler Young began by saying, “The Orioles offense is having a weird weekend in Cleveland.” They’re still doing it. They lost on Saturday to add another weird game to the pile, one in which they had only four hits all game (actually out-hitting the Guardians) but also struck out 16 times, with Pete Alonso and Colton Cowser each collecting the ol’ golden sombrero. It wasn’t great. Check out Andrea’s recap of the game for more of the not-so-lovely totals.

This was a game that was winnable, if not for the total lack of offense beyond each of Leody Taveras and Gunnar Henderson hitting a solo homer. Dean Kremer turned in the minimum quality start, six innings with three earned runs allowed, with all of the damage coming on one swing. Annoying to get beaten by the #9 hitter getting a three-run homer. Still, if the offense was performing according to expectations, that’s good enough to win. They just… aren’t.

If you’re inclined to make allowances for the Orioles this weekend, it is worth noting that yesterday’s Guardians starter, Gavin Williams, was pretty darn good a year ago and so far this year has been on an even greater form for recording strikeouts. He brought a 2.38 ERA into yesterday’s game. It’s not like getting rocked by some random joker who came in with a 9 ERA. Still, it doesn’t feel good.

Although the Orioles are, at least, successfully mounting some comebacks to fight off this feeling somewhat, there are still a lot of games where it feels like not enough has changed since last year’s set of problems. It’s too early to say they haven’t fixed them. We are 13% of the way through the season. It’s just, it would feel better if it seemed like they had fixed some of them – especially if guys like Colton Cowser and Coby Mayo were looking capable at the plate instead of… whatever they are doing.

Today is a new day and a chance to start writing a different story. Not that it will be easy to do this. Another Guardians starter who’s been good so far this year awaits. This one is Joey Cantillo, a lefty with a 2.61 ERA through his first four starts. Are we going to get the whopper lineup with Johnathan Rodríguez as the cleanup hitter again all because it’s a lefty? The Orioles also have a lefty going on the mound in the form of Trevor Rogers. Last year’s ace wasn’t too good last time around. Hopefully it goes better. The finale is set to start at 1:40 Eastern. It’s going to be cold over there in Cleveland.

Orioles stuff you might have missed

Not a one-trick pony: Pete Alonso has been helping the Orioles with his glove, too (Steve on Baseball)
One might say the Alonso problem so far is that the glove has been his only trick. This also applies to some degree about Coby Mayo!

Rico Garcia’s hitless streak to open the season (Orioles.com)
People are noticing that Rico Garcia has been very, very good, which means his excellent streak is definitely going to end today.

The Orioles have 13 players on the IL. Here’s when they might return. (The Baltimore Sun)
The level of interest each of these 13 guys returning is different depending on the guy. I hope things work out that Adley Rutschman is back soon. After that, we’ll see.

Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries

In their 21st game last year, the Orioles were figuratively slaughtered on Easter against the Reds, getting pasted by a 24-2 margin. Every Oriole who pitched in the game, starting with Charlie Morton and ending with backup catcher Gary Sánchez, gave up at least three runs. They fell to 9-12 after this blowout loss.

There are a pair of former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2008-09 reliever George Sherrill, and 1997-99 pitcher Scott Kamieniecki. Today is Kamieniecki’s 62nd birthday, so an extra happy birthday to him.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: Declaration of Independence signer Roger Sherman (1721), Al Capone investigator Eliot Ness (1903), actress Ashley Judd (1968), and baseball Hall of Famer Joe Mauer (1983).

On this day in history…

In 1713, the reigning Holy Roman Emperor, Charles VI, who at that point had no living male children, issued the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713 to state that his titles, including the throne of Austria, could be inherited by a daughter. In spite of this, a seven-year conflict called the War of the Austrian Succession broke out after his death.

In 1775, colonial militias clashed with the British military in battles around Lexington and Concord in present day Massachusetts, the first substantial battles in what ultimately became a successful war for American independence.

In 1861, a mob of secessionists attacked army troops who were marching through Baltimore. 17 people were killed during this rioting, among them five soldiers. These were the first Union soldiers killed in some kind of hostile action of the Civil War.

In 1995, the federal office building in Oklahoma City was bombed. There were 168 people killed by this act of domestic terrorism, including 19 children who were six or younger.

And that’s the way it is in Birdland on April 19. Have a safe Sunday. Go O’s!

April 19, 2026

Luke Kennard provides a jolt of Luka magic, helping the Lakers beat the Rockets

Lakers guard Luke Kennard protects the basketball under pressure from Rockets guard Amen Thompson Saturday. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Luke-ah?

With star guard Luka Doncic back on the Lakers sideline but still out indefinitely, Luke Kennard did his best impression of the NBA’s leading scorer Saturday, catapulting the Lakers to a 107-98 win over the Houston Rockets to give the Lakers a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven first-round playoff series.

Kennard drained all five of his three-point attempts, including three in the fourth quarter. Threes while curling off screens or taking hand-offs from teammates are routine for the NBA’s leading three-point shooter. But Kennard may have surprised even himself when he drove against Houston’s Jabari Smith, U-turned, scampered back outside the three-point line and drained a three from the wing.

The Crypto.com Arena crowd that was buzzing from the opening tip to the final horn erupted. Kennard screamed.

LeBron and Luke hit BACK-TO-BACK threes from deep 🔥 pic.twitter.com/GQ0yiMzu7U
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 19, 2026

"My word is speechless, to be honest," center Deandre Ayton said of Kennard's performance. "Seeing him five-for-five in a playoff game as a Laker. Yeah, it hits different."

The Lakers sent Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round draft pick to Atlanta for Kennard in February. The midseason trade felt relatively marginal compared to league-wide blockbusters that shuffled James Harden, Darius Garland and Anthony Davis.

Kennard has now authored several headlining performances in the purple and gold. He drained a game-winning three-pointer against Orlando. He notched the first triple-double of his career.

Saturday’s season high eclipsed them all.

Lakers center Deandre Ayton celebrates with guard Luke Kennard after hit a three-pointer against the Rockets. — Lakers center Deandre Ayton, left, celebrates with guard Luke Kennard after hit a three-pointer against the Rockets during Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

“To do it especially at a place like this, playing for the Lakers on the biggest stage in basketball, it means a lot to me," Kennard said, "and what I've done and just credit to the work I've put in and how I prepared leading up to this."

Since Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) were injured on April 2, Kennard has had to adjust his role to include more ball handling. He typified the Lakers’ adaptability with 32 assists in the last five games of the regular season after averaging 1.7 assists per game since joining the team. But he lamented that he wasn’t shooting to his standard.

Compared to his league-best 47.8%, his 30.8% shooting from three during the past five games felt like a slump.

Each shot, whether a make or miss, still helped Kennard develop a rhythm entering the playoffs, he said. Now if he sees even a sliver of daylight, he’ll be ready to shoot. It’s exactly what the Lakers want to see.

“I just liked that he was aggressive shooting threes,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “I mean, he played a fantastic basketball game.”

Kennard, who also had three assists and four rebounds, was nine for 13 from the field as the Lakers, who shot 60.6% as a team, shot 60% or better in a playoff game for the first time since the first round of the 2009 playoffs. Led by Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, the Lakers won their first of back-to-back titles that year.

All five of the Lakers starters scored in double figures. LeBron James had 19 points and 13 assists, and Ayton had 19 points and 11 rebounds while helping keep two-time All-Star Alperen Sengun to 19 points on inefficient six-for-19 shooting. The Rockets, who were without Kevin Durant because of a minor knee injury, shot 37.6% from the floor.

“Everybody played a big role tonight and I feel that just speaks to what we've been the last few weeks with guys out,” Kennard said. “It's going to take everybody. We know that. We got to continue to elevate each other and push each other and continue to be a team.”

Doncic reunited with the team Saturday after he spent the past two weeks in Europe getting specialized treatment on his Grade 2 left hamstring strain. Dressed in a crisp white button up shirt and khaki pants, Doncic sat next to Reaves on the bench. They rose to their feet every time Kennard set up for a three. They handed out high fives at every time out.

The injuries to Doncic and Reaves turned the Lakers into the perceived sitting duck of the competitive Western Conference playoffs. Critics felt the team couldn’t survive one playoff round with the 41-year-old James as its sole offensive catalyst.

A welcoming cheer from Lakers fans during starting lineups serves as a reminder that James still has backup.

“Luuuuuke!”

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.