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Bohm and Marsh humble, Harper introspective after Phillies win

Bohm and Marsh humble, Harper introspective after Phillies win originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The only Phillie who needed a productive night more than Alec Bohm on Tuesday was the hitter behind him, his lockermate and best friend on the team, Brandon Marsh.

Bohm entered the night riding a 5-for-45 slump. Marsh was hitless in his last 26 at-bats. Bohm was dropped from fourth to eighth in the Phillies’ lineup last week, and Marsh was benched on Monday night against a right-handed pitcher because manager Rob Thomson felt the centerfielder needed a night to clear his head.

Both were instrumental in Tuesday’s win over the Giants, driving in a run apiece in a game that was decided by two. Marsh drove in the Phillies’ second run with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second, and Bohm overcame an earlier failure with one out and runners on the corners to hit the go-ahead RBI single in a 6-4 win.

“That’s the game right there,” Bohm said of rebounding two innings after grounding into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play. “You think, ‘Oh, there goes my chance.’ You can either let that go one way and ruin the rest of the day or just keep playing the game and the game gives you another opportunity.”

Bohm and Marsh were introspective in the Phillies’ clubhouse postgame.

“It’s a very humbling game and I’m feeling very humble right now,” Bohm said.

“The game’s very tough. It’ll knock you down and bring you back up when you least expect it,” Marsh added.

Bryce Harper was even more philosophical.

“I just want them to enjoy the game,” he said of Bohm and Marsh. “Life can be a lot harder, life can be a lot tougher, we get to play this beautiful game every day. I was standing in the on-deck circle in the third inning thinking about it — it’s a great game we get to play. Obviously, you’re going to go through ups and downs in life and in the season and it’s a hard thing to do. But at the end of the day, we’re all healthy, we’re all strong.

“Just go out there and enjoy it because it’ll go quick and you’ll start thinking to yourself why did I take it so serious and it’s gone now.”

Bohm and Marsh have taken their slumps seriously because they care. They care that they’ve been unable to produce or help the Phillies win for most of April. They’re not the primary reasons why the Phillies lost five of seven before Tuesday but were pieces of it.

“Me and Brandon, if we’re playing up to three-quarters of what we’re capable of and we’re hitting eighth and ninth, we have a really good lineup because we’re not eight- and nine-hitters. It’s just that simple,” Bohm said. “I think lately, we’ve kind of just been outs. That’s why we’re so frustrated about it, because we know we’re way better than we’ve been. I think when this thing all comes together, you’re gonna see a pretty deep lineup.”

It was uncertain whether or not Marsh would be in Tuesday’s lineup. Thomson on Monday sounded like he wanted to give the centerfielder multiple days to reset. But Marsh had a good day of work on Monday in the cage. The Phillies faced another righty on Tuesday in Justin Verlander and knew they’d see a lefty Wednesday in Robbie Ray, so Marsh got the nod over Johan Rojas.

“It just felt like I was me again, just feel like dancing into the box,” Marsh said. “Just smooth and in rhythm. Yesterday was a good day, today was a good day, just got to keep going.

“We’re scuffling a little bit, Bohmer and I, but we’ll be just fine. A lot of other guys are carrying the weight of this team right now which is great, but when the tide turns me and Bohmer are gonna be there.”

They’ve been there in past. Marsh hit .276 with an OPS well over .800 vs. right-handed pitching in 2023 and 2024. Bohm has hit .277 the last two years, driving in 97 runs each time. It’s been a wretched start to 2025 but it’s also barely even mid-April.

The win over the Giants was a step in the right direction for Bohm, for Marsh and for a Phillies offense that was 3-for-44 with runners in scoring position from Thursday through the sixth inning Tuesday night.

“We’re all in this together,” Bohm said. “Everybody knows that over the course of 162 games, we’re all gonna have our moments, we’re all gonna have our struggles. It’s a rollercoaster. It feels good to have 26 guys behind me and the rest of the staff and the whole stadium.

“… Whether it’s tomorrow or a week from now or a month from now, I’m gonna be a different player for sure. Just having faith in that, knowing that, trusting everything I’ve done.”

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Yankees’ Aaron Judge is made aware of stupid, fake Juan Soto controversy

Aaron Judge, glancing up at the approaching horde of reporters on Tuesday afternoon, did not know at first what we wanted. He wondered aloud if he had missed something.

Yes, in fact, he had.

Judge had missed it when a former teammate,Juan Soto,answered a fair question with honesty and intelligence. He had then missed it when the least rational corners of New York sports fandom became loud online and on the radio, acting as if Soto had no right to be human.

This stupid fake controversy started on Monday afternoon when veteran Mets reporter Mike Puma of the New York Post quoted Soto about no longer hitting in front of Judge.

“It’s definitely different,” Soto told Puma. “I had the best hitter in baseball hitting behind me. I was getting more attacked and more pitches in the strike zone, less intentional walks and things like that. I was pitched differently last year.”

No problem with Puma’s question or execution. Unfortunately for Soto, those words spent the better part of a day bouncing around online and ultimately landed in the Yankees clubhouse.

“I’m not really going to go back and forth with this,” Judge said as he prepared to face the Kansas City Royals. “He’s got probably one of the best hitters in the game behind him right now in what [Pete] Alonso is doing. It has been fun to watch. He’s hitting close to .400. He’s driving the ball all over the field, driving guys in. So they’re gonna be good.”

Judge then referenced his own slow start last season and said that Soto’s production during that stretch showed that he didn’t need Judge. The captain batted .207 in March and April of 2024, while Soto batted .325.

“You can look at what I did last April as an example of how he just needs to keep being himself and he’ll be good,” Judge said.

Soto’s words banged around Yankeeland a bit on Tuesday. Other folks with the team recalled Soto as extremely well-liked and felt it a shame that a loud segment of the public discourse couldn’t handle the complexity of several facts:

1) Soto’s time with the Yankees was deeply meaningful to him; 2) he made a difficult decision to sign elsewhere; 3) it takes people time to fully adjust to new circumstances; 4) he is fitting in nicely with the Mets and is already popular with his new team.

This does not have to be binary. Soto can treasure his time with Judge and the Yankees and commit with his whole heart to this new chapter in Queens. Any fan who does not accept this dehumanizes Soto by expecting him not to feel.

Soto critics also forget that he personally lobbied owner Steve Cohen to sign Alonso as lineup protection for him. This meant a great deal to the Polar Bear and informed how he feels about his new teammate.

Around the Yankees, people who care about Soto note that he is playing a much different role for the Mets than he did here. After the Yanks traded for Soto, Judge told him privately that he didn’t have to be the guy, that the roster was loaded with talent and that Juan just had to be Juan. The pair rode that perfect balance all the way to the World Series.

The Mets then made Soto the richest athlete in the history of North American professional sports, shining a brighter spotlight in his face and perhaps placing a $765 million target on his back.

Soto is a big boy, and scrutiny is part of his job. But money can’t change a person’s basic character. Soto is a brilliant baseball player and fun teammate. He is fortunate to have Francisco Lindor just as he was fortunate to have Judge; those two are more interested than he is in vocal leadership. Today in the Yankees clubhouse, Soto’s adjustment to the expectation of being “the guy” in a personality sense was viewed as more relevant than his ability to perform in a lineup without Judge.

Fortunately, the Mets have a strong support system. In addition to Lindor in the clubhouse, Carlos Beltran is a member of the front office; he knows a thing or two about being dehumanized during his early days as a high-profile Met. Owner Alex Cohen is authentically interested in fostering an atmosphere that makes Citi Field feel like a home and the Mets like a family.

Good things are coming for Soto and the Mets. It’s just a shame that New York had to run the young man through the wringer today for the sin of offering a thoughtful answer.

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What we learned as Warriors outlast Grizzlies to reach NBA playoffs

What we learned as Warriors outlast Grizzlies to reach NBA playoffs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

SAN FRANCISCO – Jumping on the backs of Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler, the Warriors are headed to the NBA playoffs as the Western Conference’s No. 7 seed to face the Houston Rockets.

Once ahead by 20 points, the Warriors were outscored by nine points in the third quarter and lost their lead early in the fourth. But behind a Curry flurry in the final few minutes, the Warriors broke their NBA play-in tournament losing streak and took down the Memphis Grizzlies in epic fashion Tuesday night at Chase Center, 121-116.

Curry’s clutch gene was on full display, scoring 15 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter. He splashed two threes in the final two minutes, and also made four free throws in the final five seconds left to close out the win. Curry was just 9 of 22 from the field, but went 6 of 13 on threes, 13 of 13 on free throws, and also had eight rebounds, four assists and a steal.

This was yet another night showcasing how Butler completely changed the Warriors’ season. Butler scored a season-high 38 points on 12-of-20 shooting. The do-it-all veteran was a man on a mission, also providing seven rebounds, six assists and three steals to go with a season-high 18 free-throw attempts and 12 makes.

Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ play-in win over the Grizzlies.

Play-In Jimmy 

When Butler found himself in the play-in tournament as a member of the Miami Heat last season, he scored 19 points and added four rebounds, five assists and five steals, but sustained a sprained right MCL that kept him out for the remainder of the postseason. While the Warriors didn’t have any play-in tournament success coming into the night, Butler sure did. 

That same success followed him to the Bay Area, too. 

It was as if Butler saw every inch of the 7-foot-4 Zach Edey and made it his personal mission to show the rookie what big games are all about. Edey dared Butler to shoot behind the 3-point line, and he drained both his treys in the first quarter. He went at him, too. Butler in the first quarter alone had 10 points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal.

Butler was the leading scorer in the first half with 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting. His only miscues were missing three free throws. His first 30-point game with the Warriors came in the last game of the regular season. Through three quarters Tuesday, Butler was up to 34 points on 11-of-18 shooting. Whether it’s the play-in tournament or the playoffs, the Warriors know Butler also will be ready for the big stage. 

Winning The Battles 

In the final regular-season game, the Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers needed five more minutes of basketball to decide which team would advance straight to the playoffs or need at least one play-in tournament game before moving on. After their loss, the Warriors didn’t point to huge performances from Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, as well as Ivica Zubac. The game was decided by the small details. 

Always at a size disadvantage, the Warriors weren’t just crushed on the glass but they were late to loose balls. That’s an aspect of the game Golden State typically thrives in. So does Memphis. 

Both teams averaged 5.4 loose balls per game during the regular season, ranking second in the NBA. The Warriors grabbed a grand total of 440 loose balls, and the Grizzlies grabbed 441. 

While the Warriors were outrebounded 50-39 on Tuesday, Golden State swiped nine more steals than Memphis – 13-4. The Warriors also had three blocks, and the much bigger Grizzlies only had one. Each team had 11 fastbreak points, and the Grizzlies scored 48 points in the paint compared to the Warriors’ 42.

The activity and effort by the Warriors can’t be questioned.

The Other Guys

The stars always were going to garner the headlines and spotlight, and likely determine the outcome. But neither team could rely on one, two or even five players. The Warriors’ bench ranked third in points per game in the regular season, and the Grizzlies were second. To earn a trip to Houston, Golden State’s reserves were downright better. 

What first made the night flip in the Warriors’ favor was Gary Payton II and Quinten Post entering the game. Payton and Post accounted for the Warriors’ first eight points upon coming off the bench. Payton’s quickness proved to be an asset offensively and defensively, and Post, a 25-year-old rookie, wasn’t afraid of the bright lights. 

Post made three first-half 3-pointers and was a game-high plus-16 through the first two quarters. In one sequence, he defended an Edey dunk attempt and then nailed a three at the other end to the delight of Dub Nation. 

Warriors coach Steve Kerr went with a nine-man rotation Sunday in the regular-season finale. On Tuesday, he turned to 10 players, adding Gui Santos to the mix. Almost immediately, Santos grabbed an offensive rebound, got the crowd fired up and converted a three-point play. 

The Warriors wound up with 30 points off the bench, seven more than the Grizzlies’ 23. However, the Warriors will need much better shooting performances out of Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski moving forward. As Curry and Butler scored a combined 75 points, Moody (nine) and Podziemski (three) had 12, and were 2 of 9 from deep.

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Celtics vs. Magic first-round playoff preview, odds and prediction

Celtics vs. Magic first-round playoff preview, odds and prediction originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

For the first time in 15 years, the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic will meet in the NBA playoffs.

The previous postseason matchup was the 2010 Eastern Conference Finals, when the Celtics’ “Big Three” of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen defeated Dwight Howard’s Magic in six games to advance to the NBA Finals.

Now the Celtics and Magic are meeting in the first round. The C’s are the defending champions, and the Magic are a young team hoping to secure their first signature playoff triumph as a group.

The Celtics earned the No. 2 seed with a 61-21 record, while the Magic secured the No. 7 seed with a 41-41 record and a win over the Atlanta Hawks in the No. 7 vs. No. 8 play-in tournament matchup on Tuesday night.

These teams played three times in the regular season, and the Magic won twice. However, Jayson Tatum didn’t play for the Celtics in their two losses, and one of those defeats happened last week when Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White all were sidelined.

In the only head-to-head matchup that Boston did have its full starting lineup, the C’s won by 26 points.

Four of the Celtics’ last five first-round series were won in a sweep or just five games. Do the Magic have any chance of making this a long series?

Check out our full Celtics-Magic preview below:

Series schedule

  • Game 1: Sunday, April 20 (TBD)
  • Game 2: TBD
  • Game 3: TBD
  • Game 4: TBD
  • Game 5: TBD*
  • Game 6: TBD*
  • Game 7: TBD*

*If necessary

Regular season head-to-head

Dec. 23 at Orlando: Magic 108, Celtics 104

Jan. 17 at Boston: Celtics 121, Magic 94

April 9 at Orlando: Magic 96, Celtics 76

Celtics vs. Magic stats comparison

Here’s a breakdown of Boston and Orlando’s season stats and NBA rankings from the 2024-25 season. The Magic boast the NBA’s No. 1 scoring defense but rank near the bottom of the league in several offensive categories.

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The Celtics will win the series if…

They continue to hit a high percentage of 3-point shots.

The Magic ranked No. 1 in defensive rating and have a lot of size and length on that end of the floor. However, their opponents shot 36.5 percent from 3-point range in the regular season, which ranked 23rd in the league.

It’s hard to envision a scenario where the Celtics lose the series if they shoot 36.5 percent or better from 3-point range, especially when the Magic have struggled offensively all season.

In fact, the C’s shot 36.5 percent or better from beyond the arc in 43 games this season and won 37 of them.

In the one game that Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown both played against the Magic this season, the C’s shot 45.9 percent (17-for-37) from 3-point range in a 26-point victory.

Boston set many 3-point records this season, including the most 3-pointers made and attempted by a team in a single season. Orlando has to guard the 3-point line at an elite level or it will have no chance to pull off the upset.

Jayson TatumEric Canha-Imagn Images
Jayson Tatum led the Celtics in total points, assists, rebounds and steals this season.

The Magic will win the series if…

They improve in the clutch.

The Magic were not a good team in the clutch this season. The league defines clutch situations as the last five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime and the score within five points.

In those situations, the Magic ranked 28th in points per game, 24th in field goal percentage and 30th in 3-point percentage. The Magic are a young, inexperienced team. The Celtics are the opposite — their players know what it’s like to compete in high-pressure playoff moments.

If the Magic want a chance to win the series, they’ll probably have to win a few close games. They haven’t shown an ability to win those nailbiters at this stage of their development.

Odds

The Celtics are huge favorites to beat the Magic.

  • Celtics to win the series: -6000
  • Magic to win the series: +1600

Prediction

Celtics in four.

Boston has too much firepower and experience for the young Magic. Injuries and poor 3-point shooting are the only factors that could push this series to six or seven games.

The Celtics have been waiting for the playoffs all season. These players are eager to prove they are still the best team in the league and capable of repeating as champs. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Celtics make quick work of the Magic and send a message that the road to the Larry O’Brien Trophy still runs through Boston.

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Senators Drop Off An NHL Top Ten List They Wanted No Part Of

The 2024–25 season will be remembered in these parts as the year the Ottawa Senators finally returned to the playoffs. By doing so, the Senators are about to remove themselves from an NHL Top 10 List they wanted no part of.

Apr 13, 2025: The Ottawa Senators celebrate a goal scored by center Tim Stutzle (18) in overtime against the Philadelphia Flyers (Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images).

Heading into this season, the Senators had missed seven straight playoffs, the third-longest playoff drought among active NHL teams. At the moment, they are the only team in the top 10 in this category that's guaranteed to drop off this list, having clinched the first wild card spot in the East. 

The winner of Wild Card 2 in the East, Montreal or Columbus, is the only other team that can join the Sens in being stricken from the record.

Updated Top 10 NHL playoff droughts (with exception of Columbus and Montreal)

The Buffalo Sabres are not only the active leaders—now at 14 straight seasons without a playoff appearance—but they also continue to build on the NHL's all-time record in this ugly category.

The Detroit Red Wings used to bill themselves as "Hockeytown" during their glory years. That feels like a long time ago now, especially with the Wings about to mark the ninth anniversary of their last playoff berth. 

The Anaheim Ducks have taken the bronze medal position, bumping the Senators off the podium. As it did for the Sens, the Ducks hope their hunt ends at 7. 

Ottawa's return to the playoffs will be a baptism by fire for many of their young players—especially since it looks like their first-round opponent will be the Toronto Maple Leafs. The hype for the first playoff Battle of Ontario in 21 years will be off the charts, though much of it will be powered early on by fan and media-driven nostalgia. Most of the players on both sides were babies or little kids when this playoff battle last occurred.

But it won't be long before old beefs are replaced by new ones.

That matchup could officially become reality as early as Tuesday night. Unless Toronto loses in regulation in Buffalo and Tampa Bay wins versus Florida, the first-round Battle of Ontario will be locked in.

As for Columbus and Montreal potentially joining Ottawa in excusing themselves from the playoff futility table, the Blue Jackets are making a remarkable late-season push. If they win in regulation in Philadelphia on Tuesday night, they would be able to grab the final Eastern playoff spot with a regulation win over the New York Islanders on Thursday—and a Canadiens regulation loss to Carolina on Wednesday.

Ottawa’s last playoff appearance was in 2017, a Game 7 double overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference Final. After coming that close to winning it all, no one would ever have dreamed their return to the postseason would take this long.

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'I Am No Longer Able To Play Hockey': Sharks' Logan Couture Steps Away

Logan Couture (Ezra Shaw/Pool Photo via Imagn Images)

After 16 seasons and 933 games in the NHL, San Jose Sharks captain Logan Couture announced on Wednesday that he’s stepping away from professional hockey.

“My career of playing hockey has come to an end – I’m not physically able to play anymore,” Couture said at a Sharkspress conference. “I loved and cherished every single moment I got to play in this league.”

The 36-year-old revealed he’s been dealing with symptoms from Osteitis Pubis over the past two seasons. Osteitis Pubis is joint inflammation between both pelvic bones, which causes pain in the lower abdominal and hip and groin area.

Couture will remain under contract with the Sharks through the 2026-27 season. He signed an eight-year deal that became active in 2019, earning $8 million per season. 

Couture said he had an idea that he was coming to the end of his career after his last game against the Anaheim Ducks on Jan. 31, 2024. 

“I was in a ton of pain,” he said. “I guess it’s been in my mind that there was a chance that could’ve been it, since that game.”

Couture reminisced on all the great hockey memories throughout his NHL career and his time with the Sharks. He recalled the experience of his first NHL game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Oct. 25, 2009. 

“I could’ve (retired) after that one game and been happy,” he said.

He highlighted all the deep playoff runs that San Jose had throughout the 2010s. In its heyday, San Jose had several deep playoff campaigns, despite being unable to get its hands on the Stanley Cup.

Between 2010 and 2019, the Sharks advanced to the Western Conference finals four times. On one of those occasions, they made it to the Stanley Cup final in 2016 but lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.

After discussing the glory days of his career, Couture began to thank those who helped him get to where he is today. 

“This will be the tough part,” he said.

The Guelph, Ont. native went on to thank all the members of the Sharks organization, his teammates along the way, agents and more. 

He also expressed his gratitude to his family and became visibly emotional talking about his parents. 

“You guys sacrificed so much for me to live my dream,” Couture said. “I love you guys, and I know I’ll do that for my kids.”

After his words, Sharks GM Mike Grier took over the mic, and following that was a video of special messages from old teammates, coaches and more.

All the messages had one thing in common: they all commended and remembered how much of a clutch performer he was in the playoffs. 

“I always admired you from afar,” Grier said while facing Couture at the podium.

He received a video message from Doug Wilson, Todd McLellan, Pete DeBoer, Dan Boyle, Rob Blake, Brent Burns, Joe Pavelski and Tomas Hertl. 

At the end of the press conference, Couture hinted at potentially taking a management position later on. 

“I do see a future, but not anytime too soon.”

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'We are here': Tyronn Lue knew the Clippers could exceed expectations

Los Angeles, CA - April 05: Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard tal;ks with coach Tyronn Lue.
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, talking with coach Tyronn Lue, is again healthy and playing well heading into the playoffs. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Tyronn Lue glided into the Clippers’ postgame interview room on Sunday afternoon and clapped and clapped and clapped and clapped and clapped again. He beamed as his head bobbed up and down.

His Clippers squad had just qualified for the Western Conference playoffs, doing so in the last regular-season game with a win over the Golden State Warriors, who were also seeking a playoff berth while playing at home in the Chase Center.

The Clippers had defied the preseason odds of being a playoff participant. Lue refused during the season to let his group think otherwise and now they will face the Denver Nuggets in the first round starting Saturday at Ball Arena.

“They counted me out. They counted us out,” Lue said. “I know they did. I know it. But we are here.”

In that moment, there was a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction from Lue and the Clippers because they had exceeded expectations and finished in the fifth spot in the NBA's competitive Western Conference.

At best, the Clippers were viewed by the critics when the season started as a possible play-in team and even then likely fighting for a nine or 10 spot.

Read more:How do the Clippers match up against the Nuggets entering their playoff series?

They were not going to have Kawhi Leonard to start the season because he was recovering from a right knee injury that eventually led the former All-Star forward to miss the first 34 games.

They were not going to have former All-Star forward Paul George anymore because he took the money from the 76ers and bolted to Philadelphia.

They were the Clippers' best players, and with Leonard injured and George gone, many were skeptical about this team.

But the Clippers finished tied with the Lakers and Nuggets at 50-32, a record few could have predicted.

“I think our group has been playing with a chip on its shoulders all year because of that,” Lue said. “We just found ways to win. We just found ways to win. No matter whose night it was, we just kind of featured that guy, played hard defensively and competed and we played together. … Being counted out and staying the course and playing with that chip on your shoulder all year long.”

Inside the Clippers' locker room after the win in San Francisco, Leonard and All-Star guard James Harden were two of the last players to leave the shower. The team’s two stars and leaders stood side-by-side talking, smiling and looking at their teammates knowingly.

On one side of the locker room, center Ivica Zubac and guard Bogdan Bogdanovic sat next to each other watching the Masters golf tournament on TV while drinking a beer.

On another side, guard Norman Powell and defensive ace Kris Dunn talked about the Clippers reaching this point and what it took.

Clippers guard Norman Powell, right, steals the ball from Grizzlies guard Luke Kennard as he drives down the lane.
Norman Powell, stealing the ball from Grizzlies guard Luke Kennard, was the Clippers' second-leading scorer with a career-high average of 21.8 points a game this season. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

But of them all, Leonard had come the farthest.

He played in just 37 games and just one set of back-to-back games. But as the season progressed, Leonard got stronger and stronger.

It all culminated over the weekend, when Leonard played 42 minutes against the Kings in Sacramento on Friday night and then a season-high 47 minutes against the Warriors on Sunday. He tied his season high in points with 33 against the Warriors.

His knee injury no longer is a subject.

“I’m happy that I have a great organization behind me to allow me to get healthy and know exactly what I need to do,” Leonard said. “Them letting me reach out to outside sources and combining them together and collaborating. Like I said, it’s not over yet. We still got a playoff series to try to win and just want to keep going from there. Like I said, have a good playoffs and a healthy offseason and just keep going.”

Even Lue missed games because of back pain, but the Clippers went 4-1 during his absence, the coaching staff led by assistant coach Brian Shaw keeping the train moving.

The Clippers saw Harden shine by averaging 22.8 points and 8.7 assists, the latter statistic fifth best in the NBA.

Powell averaged a career-best 21.8 points per game while Zubac averaged career highs in points (16.8), rebounds (12.6) and assists (2.7).

So the Clippers have found solace in proving their doubters wrong.

“We’re human. We know what’s being said about us, what’s being put out there,” Powell said. “TLue, he’s been through it, the ups and downs. People not wanting him here. People upset with what he was doing. Not being able to have a full healthy roster the previous seasons and not having big aspirations of winning a championship.

"Especially this year, nobody had us having 50 wins, being top five right now going to the playoffs. So, to knock that off and have people kind of backtrack and figure out what this team is all about now, it’s a lot of fun. We’re super-competitive. It’s happening. Fifty wins is big-time.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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2025 NFL Draft: Running back prospect giving Tyrone Tracy Jr. vibes could be a steal (in fantasy and reality)

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

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In a recent episode of the Yahoo Fantasy Forecast, Matt Harmon and ESPN's Jordan Reid discussed the potential of SMU running back Brashard Smith and how he could end being the "ultimate weapon," tossing out a comparison that is sure to have fantasy football players excited.

Both Smith and Tracy share a unique journey and skill set. Just like Tracy, Smith made a significant position shift that showcased his versatility. Initially a wide receiver at Miami, Smith transitioned to running back in his first year at SMU. This change was reminiscent of Tracy’s own journey from receiver to running back, a move that paid dividends in their collegiate careers — and for those who rostered Tracy during his rookie NFL season.

What makes Smith stand out is his ability to adapt and excel in his new position. According to Reid, Smith looked "completely natural" as a running back. His proficiency in the backfield was complemented by his experience and skill as a receiver, which allows him to be employed in dynamic offensive schemes. This blend of attributes aligns almost perfectly with the playing style that made Tracy such a compelling prospect. From Week 5 through the end of the season, Tracy had seven double-digit fantasy scoring performances, including a high of 22 points in Week 8.

Smith's athletic prowess was further underscored by his standout performance at the combine, where he clocked in remarkable speed, running the 40 in 4.39 seconds. This elite speed, coupled with his versatility, makes him a potent asset. Just as Tracy was an under-the-radar pick, selected in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Smith also carries the potential to be a Day 3 steal.

In a draft class noted for its depth at the running back position, Smith might not get the same hype but his dual-threat capability is sure to be attractive to teams looking to add a multifaceted backfield presence. With the right fit, Smith could very well follow in Tracy’s footsteps, proving that late-round prospects can be difference-makers in fantasy and reality.

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Warriors vs. Rockets first-round NBA playoff series set after Golden State's win

Warriors vs. Rockets first-round NBA playoff series set after Golden State's win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors exorcised their NBA play-in demons, and now they are headed to Houston for a first-round playoff series with the Rockets.

Golden State held off the Memphis Grizzlies 121-116 in a thriller on Tuesday at Chase Center, advancing out of the Western Conference play-in tournament.

Game 1 between the Warriors and Rockets will occur at 6:30 p.m. PT on Sunday at Toyota Center.

Here’s the full schedule for the Warriors-Rockets series:

Jimmy Butler led the way with 38 points for the Warriors, who won their first play-in game in the event’s brief six-year history.

Steph Curry finished with 37 points, while Gary Payton II finished with 12 and Moses Moody scored nine. Draymond Green had four points, 10 assists and six rebounds.

Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, who sprained his right ankle midway through the third quarter and returned early in the fourth quarter, scored 22 points, while forward Desmond Bane led Memphis with 30 points.

The Warriors won’t be intimidated by the No. 2-seeded Rockets, as Golden State won three of the five regular-season matchups.

But in the last contest on April 6 in San Francisco, the Rockets assigned second-year guard Amen Thompson to guard Curry, which worked. Golden State’s star was held to 1-of-10 shooting and finished with three points in a 106-96 loss to Houston.

The Warriors and Rockets have a recent history of playoff battles, but those heated series feel like a lifetime ago.

This version of the Rockets is young, feisty and full of potential.

But Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler are determined to win an NBA title this year, and their journey toward that goal begins Sunday in Houston.

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2025 NBA Playoffs preview: Players to watch, including Luka Doncic, can Jalen Williams step up for Thunder?

The NBA playoffs are when legacies are forged. For better or worse.

Every year, the spotlight falls on a handful of players who are asked to step up when their team needs them most. It can be role players or superstars, but eventually the spotlight falls on them and how they perform in the bright lights ends up defining them, maybe their careers, and certainly their team's playoff run.

Here are players to watch in these playoffs.

Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — the soon-to-be MVP — will get his. SGA is on the short list of players who are too good to be stopped. However, at some point this postseason, a quality opponent is going to start throwing double-teams and blitzes at SGA the second he touches the ball, essentially daring anyone else on the roster to beat them.

Enter Jalen Williams. Dallas used this strategy in the second round last year, and in the final three games of that series Williams scored 14, 12, and 12 points. While he did average 5.7 assists a night across those three games, the bottom line is he was not good enough. Williams has shown he can take on more of the offense this season, but he — and Chet Holmgren, who could be listed alongside Williams here — have had some rough moments during the regular season when defenses loaded up on them.

OKC is close. SGA is ready. The Thunder's elite defense and lock-down defenders, such as Lu Dort, will make themselves felt in the playoffs. Are Williams and Holmgren ready for that next step?

Karl-Anthony Towns

Towns took a step forward and was impressive last season during the Timberwolves' run to the Western Conference Finals: 19.1 points and nine rebounds a game, shooting 36.1% on 3-pointers. He also played solid defense next to Rudy Gobert.

Can he continue that this season with the Knicks?

What happens when the opposing team defends KAT with a wing and has their center guarding Josh Hart or another player they don't fear from the arc? Can Towns make them pay for that switch? Can KAT be good enough as a defensive rim protector to keep the Knicks in games? How do he and Jalen Brunson respond when they become the pick-and-roll targets of the other team?

Towns has a bigger role in New York than he had in Minnesota, and he's going to have to live up to that responsibility.

Jayson Tatum

This is all about legacy for Tatum. He has stepped up and been the clear best player on the Celtics this season, and will have to be that again through the playoffs — something he is up for.

If Tatum can lead the Celtics to break the NBA's back-to-back title drought (it's been six years since the Durant-era Warriors went back-to-back, and they are the only team since 2014). Hang another banner, win Finals MVP, and Tatum's legacy is locked down as an all-time great Celtic.

Luka Doncic

Doncic led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals last year, but that was not good enough in Dallas and he was traded to Los Angeles… where he will be in even a brighter spotlight. Throughout the playoffs, he will rightfully be talked about as the franchise's future, but it will get interesting when teams target his weaknesses.

The Lakers' offense — with Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves — is not in question. Los Angeles will put up points. However, as a series drags on, Doncic (and Reaves) will become targets of the other team, dragged into pick-and-rolls and left on an island to defend. The Lakers could cover that in the regular season, but it gets harder to do as it gets deeper in the playoffs when teams are more focused and detail-oriented in how they want to attack. There is no Dereck Lively II or Daniel Gafford to clean things up behind Doncic now, and he will get tested.

Everything is just bigger and more dramatic with the Lakers, Doncic is about to find himself in the middle of that, especially if the Lakers lose in the second round (or earlier).

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Watch his body language. A lot of other teams will be.

Antetokounmpo played at an MVP-level this season, but despite that, the Bucks enter the playoffs on the road as the No. 5 seed, and they will be without Damian Lillard for at least the start of that series. If the Bucks fall to the Pacers in the first round (or, if they get to the second round and lose 4-1 to the Cavaliers), how frustrated does Antetokounmpo get? Ask for a trade frustrated?

That's why everyone is watching his body language.

Jamal Murray

Do the Denver Nuggets have enough around Nikola Jokic?

The answer to that question starts with Murray. He averaged 21.4 points, 6 assists and shot 39.3% from beyond the arc this season, and his stats are very close to two years ago when Denver won the title. Still, it feels like we only saw the peak Murray/Jokic two-man game in flashes this season, not regularly. If Denver is going to make a run in these playoffs — or even get past the Clippers in a tough first-round matchup — it starts with a healthy Murray playing near his peak.

Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., Christian Braun and others are in the same boat. Everyone is going to have to step up for Denver.

Trae Young

Can the Atlanta Hawks build a winner around Trae Young?

No player feels more at a crossroads this playoffs than Young. If the Hawks advance out of the play-in and he has a big series against Boston or Cleveland, Atlanta's front office may feel the answer is yes, Trae is part of the long-term answer with Jalen Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher and Dyson Daniels.

However, failing to get out of the play-in or getting thrashed in the first round may leave the Hawks considering a pivot. Young has two years and $95 million on his deal, and he might get shopped (how much of a market there is for him is another question). Young has been with the Hawks for seven seasons and has been to the playoffs three times. We have seen incredible highs (at the expense of the Knicks) and plenty of lows. What happens with his playoffs this year could determine where he is playing next year.

Evan Mobley

Mobley made a leap this season under coach Kenny Atkinson — he is in the mix for Defensive Player of the Year and is going to make an All-NBA team.

However, can he continue that in the playoffs? It's going to be interesting to see how the shot balance changes in Cleveland during the playoffs, Donovan Mitchell took a step back this year to let Mobley and Darius Garland step up, in the postseason expect Mitchell to take some of that load back — and he's more than proven he can handle it. However, if the Cavaliers are going to advance to the East Finals, and maybe the NBA Finals, it's because Mobley (and Garland) are ready for the biggest stage and ready to handle that spotlight.

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Carolina Hurricanes Recall Four Players From Chicago Wolves

Sep 29, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Domenick Fensore (89) controls the puck against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first period during preseason at Amalie Arena. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

The Carolina Hurricanes have recalled four players from the Chicago Wolves: Bradly Nadeau, Skyler Brind'Amour, Domenick Fensore and Riley Stillman.

Nadeau, 19, is the leading scorer on the Chicago Wolves and paces all rookies with 30 goals.

He's been a point-per-game player since returning from the World Junior Championships and he looks to be developing into a really promising talent.

Brind'Amour, 25, is the son of Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour, and looks to be in line to make his NHL debut.

He's played 121 AHL games over his career and this season has 16 goals and 23 points in 67 games.

Fensore, 23, has put in the work over the last few seasons from the NCAA to the ECHL and then the AHL and now it looks like he's going to be making his NHL debut too.

The 5-foot-9 blueliner has been a force on every side of the puck for the Wolves this year with nine goals and 32 points in 66 games.

Stillman, 27, has spent plenty of time with the Hurricanes this season, having been a consistent callup as the seventh defenseman, although he did get in for three NHL games this season.

The Hurricanes have just two games remaining on their regular season schedule — a back-to-back against the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators — and because these games pretty much don't matter for anything, the team is going to be resting players.

"Like every team at this time of the year, we've got guys who are nursing stuff and so, is it the right move to keep pushing them through it when they can play or is it, 'Hey, we've gotta be as healthy as can be,'" said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour on Tuesday. "That's the kind of decisions and I think we're leaning more on, 'Let's get our guys healthy.'"

One such player is Jordan Martinook, who sat out the team's Sunday evening game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"He could go, for sure, but it's just that he has this little issue," Brind'Amour said on Martinook. "Just time is on his side and we have it. We're just being real cautious."

With at least another forward and potentially two defensemen that could sit as well, we may have some fairly interesting lineups come tomorrow and Thursday.

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Aston Villa 3-2 Paris Saint-Germain (agg 4-5): Champions League quarter-final, second leg – as it happened

Villa fell just short of completing one of the great European comebacks with a rousing second-half display

1 min: McGinn loops a pass down the left for Rashford to chase. Hakimi shepherds the ball back to Donnarumma, who blooters clear. From the resulting throw, McGinn wins the first corner of the evening.

Villa kick off. They’re kicking towards the Holte End in this first half. It’s tipping down in Birmingham.

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