Mark Scheifele has long been synonymous with the Winnipeg Jets franchise, and on Thursday night he added another milestone to his already historic career.
In a matchup against the Colorado Avalanche, Scheifele skated in his 951st career game with the Jets, surpassing Thomas Steen for the most games played in franchise history.
Drafted seventh overall at the 2011 NHL Draft, Scheifele has been a cornerstone of the Jets lineup ever since. Through 951 games, the Kitchener, Ontario native has recorded 368 goals and 522 assists for a total of 890 points, along with a plus-80 rating that reflects his consistent impact at both ends of the ice.
A two-time NHL All-Star, Scheifele has established himself as one of the leagueâs most reliable offensive players. He has recorded at least 49 points in all but one of his 13 full NHL seasons and has surpassed the 60-point mark in 11 consecutive years. He has also produced eight seasons with a point-per-game average above 1.00, further solidifying his status as an elite forward.
While not known primarily for physical play, Scheifele has contributed in other areas as well. He ranks 13th in franchise history with 699 hits and sits 11th in blocked shots with 567, demonstrating a willingness to compete beyond the scoresheet.
Scheifele has consistently expressed pride in representing the city of Winnipeg, and with his contract running through 2031, he remains committed to bringing a Stanley Cup to the organization and its fans.
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PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 23: Head coach Jordi Fernandez of the Brooklyn Nets looks on during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on March 23, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Itâs âmust loseâ stretch for the Nets. They want to get the best odds in May 10 lottery, maybe even secure that last envelope Mark Tatum, the NBAâs deputy commissioner, opens that night. At the moment, they are so close to success, sitting alone in second, one game behind the Indiana Pacers.
BUTâŠ
Per various draftniks, the Nets have the easiest schedule the rest of the way and many of those games are with competitors in the race to the bottom. Moreover, six of the nine are at home. A win in such a tight race could change the lottery order on a spring night in Chicago.
Starting Friday night with the Lakers, the Nets will have four games with teams likely to be in the post-season: Los Angeles, the Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors and the Charlotte Hornets.
On the flip side of the ledger are five games with teams whose fate is close to theirs: two games with the Milwaukee Bucks (with or without Giannis Antetokounmpo) as well as games with the other three teams Brooklyn is currently competing with: the Indiana Pacers, still ith the best odds; the Washington Wizards; currently with third best, and the Utah Jazz whoâve dropped down to fifth. Making things even more interesting is the fact that the Jazz have the hardest schedule of the rest of the way.
As C.J. Holmes of the Daily News wrote Thursday:
Five of the Netsâ last eight games will come against teams currently living in the same neighborhood of the standings, Sacramento, Washington and Indiana, plus two matchups with the Milwaukee Bucks. Those games matter because theyâre direct swings in the race for the bottom.
In a normal season, the phrase âmust-winâ would hover over a stretch like that. For Brooklyn, itâs the opposite. The Nets have spent the year searching for progress, but the finish line is now defined by draft lottery placement. With the Pacers only a game ahead, the Nets can realistically chase the leagueâs worst record if they simply stay on their current trajectory.
The Nets at this point are arguably the worst team in the league: They have lost nine straight. They have shut down Egor Demin (plantar fascia), DayâRon Sharpe (hand), and have functionally done the same with Michael Porter Jr. (hamstring). They wonât re-evaluate MPJ till the last few games of the season. Noah Clowney (wrist) and Danny Wolf (ankle) situation remain uncertain. Even 10-day Grant Nelson (knee) had to sit after his 10-day. They have called up the reserves from Long Island in their three two-ways and a 10-day but no wins have materialized.
As Holmes notes, the Nets have gotten some positives vibes from Ben Saraf, Josh Minott and Ziaire Williams, ages 19, 23 and 24, but theyâre not going to carry teams to many wins. Many fans on other record tweeting or saying they donât want to win another game..
It WILL get hairy at the end. In the last week, the Nets will play five games:
April 5 â Washington Wizards at home;
April 7 â Milwaukee Bucks at home;
April 9 â Indiana Pacers at home;
April 10 â Milwaukee Bucks in Milwaukee;
April 12 â Toronto Raptors in Toronto.
Still note this: while the top three teams all have a 14% chance at the No. 1 and 52% chance at a top four pick, the team with the worst record will have a 48% chance at the fifth pick. Indeed, thatâs happened the last three lotteries and remember the team with the worst record hasnât won the top overall pick in the lottery since rules were changed back in 2019.
The jockeying may not even end with the lottery, either. One NBA decision-maker suggested that the wealth of picks Sean Marks & co. have accumulated could play a role by draft night: moving up if Brooklyn is disappointed in where they landed, as they were when they dropped from No. 6 to No. 8 last May.
âThe only reason you bank firsts like that is to be able to strike opportunistically,â he told ND. âNow this draft will cost them (if they try to move up) and they will have to find a dance partner but say they land at the dreaded 5 spot. They have enough draft capital to get the to the third pick.â
He did not suggest possible packages.
Bottom line for him: somehow get one of the top three consensus picks, all of whom he considers franchise-changers. The names remain the same for him: A.J. Dybantsa, Cam Boozer or Darryn Peterson. Beyond that, he said, the Nets will get a good player but nothing that will change their current timeline.
It is all total speculation, of course. So,whatâs the best way to handle the anxiety of these last nine games? Maybe one part praying for good luck, another part looking for players like Ziaire Williams and Ben Saraf to keep developing but the biggest part is rooting for the Brooklyn scouting staff to find the best player available no matter where they pick. After all, it isnât just about the lottery pick. Tankathon thinks they have second best group of picks at Nos. 3, 33 and 43, That has to be comforting.
Mar 16, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Golden State Warriors guard De'anthony Melton (8) advances the ball against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images | Brad Mills-Imagn Images
The Washington Wizards play the Golden State Warriors on Friday night. Letâs get to it.
Game info
When: Friday, Mar. 27 at 10 p.m. ET
Where: Chase Center, San Francisco
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network, League Pass
Injuries: For the Wizards, Leaky Black, Anthony Davis, Kyshawn George, DâAngelo Russell, Cam Whitmore and Trae Young are out. Tristan Vukcevic and Alex Sarr are day-to-day.
For the Warriors, Both Currys, Al Horford, Moses Moody and Jimmy Butler are out. Quinten Post and Malevy Leons are day-to-day.
What to watch for
The Wizards finally ended their long losing streak! Letâs hope they donât start another long one. The Warriors are on a two game winning streak, most recently against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday.
The Chennai Super Kings have signed Australian quick Spencer Johnson as a replacement player for Nathan Ellis, who has been ruled out of this yearâs Indian Premier League due to injury.
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) â Iran has banned its sports teams from traveling to countries it considers âhostile," Iranian state TV reported Thursday ahead of Tractor FC's scheduled soccer game in Saudi Arabia.
The ban announced by Iranâs Ministry of Sports in Tehran didn't mention the World Cup which starts June 11 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The ministry's statement singled out the Tractor game against Shabab Al Ahli of Dubai that was set to be played in Saudi Arabia. It's a playoff game in the Asian Champions League Elite.
âThe presence of national and club teams in countries that are considered hostile and are unable to ensure the security of Iranian athletes and team members is prohibited until further notice,â it said.
Tractor's playoff game in Saudi Arabia was the result of the Asian Football Confederation's draw Wednesday to determine the quarterfinal pairings, a day after announcing that the western zone playoffs that were postponed because of the war in the Middle East have been rescheduled for April 13-14 in Jeddah.
The Saudi city is also slated to host the tournament quarterfinals, semifinals and final from April 16-25, with organizers setting the dates and hoping for peace in the region.
The Iranian ministry added that the soccer federation and clubs âwill be responsible for notifying the Asian Football Confederation of this matter in order to relocate the games.â
Iran's stance on the World Cup
The Iranian ambassador in Mexico City has said the country was negotiating with FIFA to move Iranâs three group-stage matches from the United States to Mexico after U.S. President Donald Trump discouraged the team from attending the 48-nation tournament, citing safety concerns.
Last week, however, FIFA President Gianni Infantino further dampened Iranâs attempts to move its World Cup matches, saying global soccerâs governing body wants the tournament âto go ahead as scheduled.â
Iranian government and soccer officials have said they do not want to boycott the World Cup but that it is not possible for the national team to come to the U.S. because of military attacks on the country by Israel and U.S. since Feb. 28.
FORT MYERS, FL - FEBRUARY 22: Spencer Miles #62 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on Sunday, February 22, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Kathryn Skeean/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Much has been made this preseason about Daniel Susac winning the backup catcher role for the San Francisco Giants. Susac, a northern California native whose older brother, Andrew, won a World Series as Buster Poseyâs backup, entered camp as the presumptive favorite due to his Rule 5 status. As a Rule 5 selection, Susac needs to stay on the active roster for the entirety of the year, and cannot be optioned. If the Giants wish to move him off the active roster for any reason other than an injury, heâll be returned to the Athletics system.
Susac did, indeed, win the job, beating out veteran Eric Haase and contact-maven prospect JesĂșs RodrĂguez. Heâll be the backup catcher for the foreseeable future, and the Giants will surely hope that he can hang onto the role all year, and stay in the system.
But while Susac got the bulk of the attention, he wasnât the only Rule 5 pick whose fate impacts the Giants. You might remember that San Francisco lost a pair of right-handed pitchers in the Major League portion of the December draft, Spencer Miles and Ryan Watson.
And both of those players made their respective teamsâ Opening Day rosters, meaning they wonât be returned to the Giants ⊠not yet, at least.
With respect to Watson, Miles is the notable name of the pair, and was taken by the defending American League champion Toronto Blue Jays. A fourth-round pick in 2022 out of Missouri, talent has never been an issue for Miles ⊠but health has. He pitched 7.1 innings in â22 after getting drafted, but missed the entirety of the 2023 season. He pitched 7.1 more innings in 2024 â all at the Complex League â but lost all of 2025. As such, the 25-year old has just 14.2 innings of professional baseball to his name, and none above Low-A. But a fantastic showing in the Arizona Fall League â with mesmerizing metrics to back it up â earned him a look from the Blue Jays.
He ran with it in the spring, striking out 11 batters in 9.2 innings, with a 3.72 ERA. It came down to the wire, but he made the Opening Day roster, and now will become the rare player to appear in the Majors before playing in AAA, AA, or even High-A.
But thatâs only the first step. There were warning flags in Milesâ performance: he walked five batters, hit another, and ceded a pair of home runs. And heâs joining a Blue Jays roster that has four pitchers on the 15-Day Injured List, plus another on the 60-Day IL. Making the roster was one thing; sticking on it will be another one entirely.
As for Watson, he was taken by the Athletics and traded to the Boston Red Sox. The 28-year old has had a long career as he prepares for his Major League debut: he was drafted out of high school in the 39th round in 2016 by the Los Angeles Dodgers, but didnât sign. He chose instead to play at Auburn, and went undrafted in the pandemic-shortened 2020 draft, but signed with the Baltimore Orioles. They traded him to the Giants for cash considerations in late 2024.
Watson didnât pitch particularly well for the Red Sox this spring, with a 5.56 ERA, a 4.62 FIP, and just seven strikeouts in 11.1 innings. But he impressed his new coaching staff, and gets the excitement of joining a Major League roster.
Miles and Watson will be worth paying attention to in the coming days, weeks, and months. Should the Blue Jays or Red Sox decide they donât want to keep them, theyâll be placed on waivers. Any team that claims the relievers will have to abide by the same Rule 5 restrictions. If they clear waivers, theyâll be returned to the Giants for a small fee, and theyâll head back to the Minor Leagues, without taking a spot on the 40-man roster.
The Giants were heavily involved in the Rule 5 draft this year, as Miles, Watson, and Susac represent three of the just 13 players who were taken. As for the other 10 (all pitchers), six made the Opening Day roster for their new teams, while three were returned to their original organization. One, RJ Petit of the Colorado Rockies, will open the year on the Injured List.
Nico Hoerner #2 of the Chicago Cubs high fives teammates in the dugout after scoring a run during the first inning of the spring training game against the New York Yankees at Sloan Park on March 23, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona.
The Cubs have secured their second baseman for the long haul.
Exact details, including the total salary of the contract, are still unknown.
Nico Hoerner high fives teammates in the dugout after scoring a run during the first inning of the Cubsâ blowout spring training game win over the Yankees at Sloan Park on March 23, 2026 in Mesa, Ariz. Getty Images
The deal comes as Hoerner, who turns 29 in May, was previously expected to enter free agency following this season.
A large part of Chicagoâs lineup is now locked up long-term, with shortstop Dansby Swanson under contract until 2029, third baseman Alex Bregman not hitting free agency until 2030 and corner infielder Michael Busch under team control through the 2029 season.
âI love our chances right now, I love that weâre in a place where we have a lot of people that are very consistent and a lot of people that have high upside,â Hoerner told reporters before their 10-4 opening-day loss to the Nationals, according to the Chicago Tribune. âWhen you combine that with experience, itâs a special thing, and I think our group is in a really strong place.â
Michael Busch is congratulated by Nico Hoerner after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of the Cubsâ blowout spring training win over the Yankees at Sloan Park on March 23, 2026 in Mesa, Ariz. Getty Images
Hoerner is coming off a career year with the Cubs, posting a slash line of .297/.345/.394 with 29 doubles and a 6.2 WAR, as he earned his second Gold Glove award.
Even with his impressive numbers last season, Cubs skipper Craig Counsell said he believes Horner can do even better.
âNico can grow, I think Nico can be better, and I really am optimistic heâs going to be better,â Counsell said Thursday. âNico still has the ability to drive the ball a little more, and thatâs in a good place and really ready to show up.
âBut I want Nico to be himself, and heâs going to be himself and just go take his at-bat and do good things, in the mold of how he does it.â
But for many who arrived at Chavez Ravine with tickets to Los Angelesâ season-opener against the Diamondbacks on Thursday, the first order of business was not to secure a good spot to see Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman or Mookie Betts.
âI tried to go online,â Martinez said, âbut it was all sold within five minutes, two minutes. I was only able to get one shirt out of the about 12 things they dropped. So, thatâs why weâre in line.â
Martinez said he was specifically eyeing the Clayton Kershaw tee that the brand put out, even if it meant he and his pal had to stand for around 45 minutes to get their hands on it.
âMy buddyâs already getting on me, like, âHey letâs go. Letâs go have some fun. Letâs go talk to people,'â Martinez said. âBut Iâm like, âLook, letâs just do this. All right?ââ
More merchandise options. CA PostClayton Kershaw shirts. CA PostCollectible pins on Opening Day. CA Post
Other fans told The Post they were patiently waiting for the opportunity to buy collector pins and Hello Kitty-branded items.
For those lucky enough to move in and out of the stores, getting to seats still didnât appear to be priority.
Food and drink stands seemed to be the next stop for many, with hundreds antsy to get their hands on some of the new Opening Day offerings â which included bone marrow tacos, watermelon habanero margaritas and the $24.99 âLoco Moco Bowl.â
The game eventually got underway around 5:30 p.m. following fireworks, a flyover and a loud rendition of the national anthem.
Fans in the stands all appeared giddy to see the Dodgers start their quest for a third-straight title â especially those who had full bellies and some new merch at their side.
Dodgers executive Stan Kasten, Uniqlo chairman Tadashi Yanai, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and team owner Mark Walter. (Beth Harris / Associated Press)
On their way into the clubhouse Thursday, Dodgers players were greeted by the World Series championship trophies they won in 2024 and 2025. In center field, Dodgers fans were greeted by oversize replicas of those trophies, the better for taking a selfie.
On social media, the Dodgers unveiled their opening day hype video. These were the first words: âWhatâs wrong with being the bad guy?â At Dodger Stadium, the three-peat hype video was a movie trailer with this tagline: âGreat sequels build legendary trilogies.â
To the rest of that country, all that winning and all that spending makes the Dodgers the bad guys. For more than a year, the owners of other major league teams have telegraphed their desire to restrain all that spending, preferably through a salary cap.
How does the owner of the Dodgers feel?
Does baseball truly have a problem?
Sit down, Dodgers fans. You might expect the owner of the Colorado Rockies to say that revenue disparity among teams is so great that competitive balance has been destroyed, and he did.
You might not expect Dodgers owner Mark Walter to say this:
âHereâs what the problem is: Money helps us win. We canât win all the time. Weâve got to have some parity,â Walter told me.
âSo weâve got to come up with something that will give us some parity.â
Donât take this the wrong way: Walter will always want to win. But the owners, Walter included, are increasingly united in the belief that revenue disparity is the primary explanation why a small-market team has not won the World Series in 11 years.
The Dodgers are making more money from Uniqlo in naming rights this season than some teams are making from local television rights and the Dodgers also are making 10 times as much on their SportsNet LA deal.
The Dodgers generated an estimated $850 million in revenue last season, according to Forbes. Their opening day opponent, the Arizona Diamondbacks, generated an estimated $324 million.
If Walter were to support the pursuit of a salary cap, the owners could be unanimously in favor. For now, negotiations with the playersâ union have not started, and owners have not considered the language of whatever bargaining proposal they might make, so there is nothing for Walter to approve or reject.
âWeâll have to see what it is,â Walter said.
The playersâ union does not dispute the revenue disparity. The union believes the owners should solve that issue among themselves, by sharing more revenue and adding incentives for lower-revenue teams that win. The union also believes âcompetitive balanceâ is a fig leaf for âcost control that increases owner profits.â
In the NFL, which has a salary cap, either the Kansas City Chiefs or the New England Patriots has played in the AFC championship in each of the last 15 years.
The last two World Series, in which the Dodgers beat the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays, juiced television ratings across the country and around the world. The World Baseball Classic dominated headlines and social media content at what is usually a sleepy time for baseball.
All of that momentum would be at risk if owners shut down the sport in âsalary cap or bustâ collective bargaining, crossing their fingers that players would surrender as soon as they started missing paychecks next spring.
It is against that backdrop that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts encouraged fans to appreciate this season opener. With potential armageddon looming in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, who knows when the next season might actually open?
âI understand that,â Roberts said Thursday, âin the sense of, this is where the CBA is at, as far as the expiration. And I do agree: Enjoy it, because nothing is guaranteed. Itâs going to be a great year and I hope everyone pours their spirits and their joy into this season, because itâs going to be a great one. Weâll just figure out where it goes after that.â
And, if it goes haywire after that, the Dodgers inevitably will be blamed.
âThat,â Roberts said with a laugh, âseems like itâs always been the case recently.â
What would Walter tell Dodgers fans concerned that what might be in the best interest of baseball might not be in the best interest of the Dodgers?
âI donât want to hurt us,â Walter said. âWeâll be fine.â
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MARCH 23: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on March 23, 2026 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. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images
UPDATE: Beating the tanking Nets just got easier for the Lakers. Luka DonÄiÄ and Rui Hachimura were originally listed as questionable to play, but have now been upgraded to available.
Via the Lakers: Luka DonÄiÄ (left hamstring soreness) and Rui Hachimura (right calf injury management) have been upgraded to available for tonightâs game vs. Brooklyn.
Luka will now get one game closer to the 65-game threshold he must reach to be eligible for the end-of-season awards. Hachimura has missed the last two Lakers games due to this right calf injury, so itâs good news for LA that heâs ready to go.
With their best player and a key rotation piece available, the Lakers should have no problem winning on Friday and maintaining their lead over the other teams in the West fighting for the No. 3 seed.
Original story follows.
Getting back in LA was easy for the Lakers, but returning healthy has proven difficult. As they prepare to take on the Nets, the injury report is once again full of names.
Luka DonÄiÄ is now questionable to play due to left hamstring soreness. Rui Hachimura is also listed as questionable, and both Marcus Smart and Adou Theiro are out.
Luka DonÄiÄ is now listed as questionable to play against the Nets with left hamstring soreness. Rui Hachimura is also questionable and Marcus Smart and Adou Thiero remain out. pic.twitter.com/eKaRSIbcnq
The only bright side to this report is that Deandre Ayton is no longer listed. The center missed LAâs most recent game against Indiana due to back soreness.
Luka missing would be the biggest blow for the Lakers. DonÄiÄ is having an MVP-level season and needs to play in just four more games to qualify for end-of-season awards.
If heâs out against Brooklyn on Friday, heâll have to wait until Monday, when LA plays Washington, to participate in his 62nd game of the year.
Hachimura has missed the past two games with this right calf injury. Lakers head coach JJ Redick said he was day-to-day, so hopefully he can return this weekend.
Calf injuries can be tricky, so caution is needed to prevent them from becoming a bigger issue.
Similar to Hachimura, Smart has also missed the last two Lakers games. Although since heâs already been ruled out against Brooklyn, itâll be three and counting for the teamâs starting guard.
Redick also stated Smart was day-to-day, so weâll see if thereâs a more detailed update this weekend on his injury and his return.
This late into the season, every injury is a big deal.
The Lakers are playing some of their best basketball, but they can only keep it up if their full rotation is available.
Even if DonÄiÄ and Hachimura are out for this game, the Lakers should beat the Nets. They are a tanking team and are only playing for NBA Draft Lottery odds at this point.
The best-case scenario for LA is that they get the win in their first game back from their road trip, and everyone who is out gets the rest they need so they can begin next week fully intact.
On the call for Audacy Mets Radio was none other than Howie Rose, who is calling his final Opening Day after he announced just days before the season that it would be his last in the broadcasting booth.
Benge, facing Pirates reliever Justin Lawrence, clobbered a first-pitch sweeper, sending it over the right-center field wall on a 105.3 mph line drive.
Rose was on the play-by-play duties in the bottom of the frame and had the call. He didnât miss a beat.
Carson Benge rounds the bases after belting a solo homer during the sixth inning of the Metsâ 11-7 win over the Pirates on Opening Day at Citi Field on March 26, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POSTCarson Benge (right) celebrates with Francisco Alvarez after he scores on his solo homer during the Metsâ Opening Day win over the Pirates. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
âFirst pitch, Benge hits it in the air to right field, fairly deep, [Ryan] OâHearn back, at the wall and itâs gone!â Rose said. âHe hit it off the canopy in the right field bullpen. Carson Benge makes his first major league hit a home run. Congratulations to Carson Benge as he gets an enthusiastic pat on the back from third base coach Tim Leiper, an aggressive fist bump from Francisco Alvarez and theyâre waiting to congratulate the kid in the dugout.
âCarson Benge, his first major league knock and homer, and the Mets take a 10-5 lead.â
Howie Rose addresses the fans before the game when the New York Mets played the Pittsburgh Pirates Thursday, March 26, 2026 at Citi Field in Queens, NY. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Benge, the top Mets position player prospect, finished the day by reaching base three times â drawing two walks â and scoring two runs. He also stole his first big league base in the eighth inning.
Rose, who said last week that he âdid not arrive at this decision to retire easily,â got to use his signature âPut it in the books!â call in the top of the ninth when reliever Luis Garcia fanned Oneil Cruz for the gameâs final out.
ATLANTA (AP) â Texas junior Rex Maurer defended his title in the 400-yard individual medley at the NCAA swimming and diving championships, and the Longhorns held the team lead after Day 2 on Thursday.
Texas has 215.5 points, followed by Florida with 205 and Arizona State 133.5.
Josh Liendo won the 100 butterfly for Florida in a NCAA record time of 42.49, just passing Texas' Hubert Kos on the final stroke. Kos matched Liendo's record set in the prelims at 42.54. Arizona State's Ilya Kharun also broke the 43-second mark.
Virginia freshman Maximus Williamson won the 200 freestyle from lane eight in 1:30.03. In the prelims, Williamson tied his teammate David King for the final spot in the final and King ceded the spot.
California sophomore Yamato Okadome out-touched two Texas swimmers to win the 100-yard breaststroke in 49.90. Longhorns Campbell McKean and Nate Germonprez came in second and third, respectively.
SMU sophomore Luke Sitz claimed the one-meter diving title.
Day 3 of the four-day event continues on Friday with the 100 backstroke, 200 breaststroke, 500 freestyle, 50 freestyle, 400 medley relay and three-meter diving.
Cricket Australia has backflipped on its decision to deny a pundit entry to the Sheffield Shield final at Melbourneâs Junction Oval because he was wearing a âFree Imran Khanâ shirt.
Dodgers players were treated to plenty of surprises as they walked into the clubhouse for Opening Day on Thursday.
The World Series trophies from their 2024 and 2025 championships were on display outside the locker room doors. Gold-accented jerseys and caps were sitting in their stalls for their season opener against the Diamondbacks.
And, in a more unexpected twist, luxury Seiko watches were waiting for each of them, as well.
Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani gave each of his teammates a watch ahead of Opening Day. AP
According to Miguel Rojas, the watches were a teamwide gift from superstar Shohei Ohtani to all of his 2026 Dodgers teammates.
Each of them came with a message, too: âLetâs three-peat.â
âThat talks a lot about what kind of human he is, not just on the field but off the field,â Rojas said of Ohtani. âI know that watch, weâre going to keep it forever, and weâre always going to remember the best player in the world gave us a watch for Opening Day in 2026.â
The watches, of course, are only the first piece of jewelry the Dodgers are hoping to receive this year. Friday night, they will get their 2025 World Series rings. By seasonâs end, theyâll hope to earn another, as well, trying to become only the third three-peat champion in MLBâs expansion era.
Thatâs why Rojas appreciated Ohtaniâs message as much ââ or, almost, at least ââ as the watches themselves.
âI think thatâs the mentality of everybody in this clubhouse,â he said. âWe need to keep finding new [motivation] every single day, because itâs not going to be an easy road. We all know that weâre going to compete against the best in the world. They all want to come for what we have. And we are really responsible and accountable for what weâre going to be embracing this year.â
Now, theyâll have a flashy new timepiece to help them remember that, as well.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 19: Luke Kornet #7 and Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs high five during the game against the Phoenix Suns on March 19, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Spurs are on a seven-game win streak and seem to be peaking at the right time, just as the playoffs near. Theyâve looked like one of the best teams in the league for a while, but they have been playing like a true contender since the All-Star break and have fully separated themselves from the pack of teams below them in the West.
There are many reasons why the team seems to not only have a high ceiling but has looked more stable recently, from improved individual performances to pristine chemistry. One of the more underrated causes for the steadiness it has been displaying has been the optimization of some lineups. So letâs look at what has been working and why.
The new starting lineup is a juggernaut
With Harrison Barnes struggling, Mitch Johnson decided to start Julian Champagnie and have the veteran forward come off the bench. The results have been great. Since the change, the new starting lineup of DeâAaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Champagnie, and Victor Wembanyama has outscored opponents by over 21 points per 100 possessions, a ridiculous amount. For the season, that group sits with a 17.7-point net rating, one of the best among units that have played at least 100 minutes together.
The Spursâ previous starting lineup was also among the best, but not as effective as this new group. There are some weaknesses to this unit, particularly against opponents who have big forwards, but the shooting is a major plus, as San Antonio connects on 41.7 percent of its three-pointers with those five players on the floor. It remains to be seen whether rebounding will be an issue with this configuration against elite opponents, but the success it has had so far suggests Mitch Johnson was right to make the change, and the fact that he doesnât over-rely on any lineup allows him to adjust.
A scoop of French Vanilla is fine, but donât overdo it
One of the most intriguing aspects of the Luke Kornet signing in the offseason was the potential for him to not only back Victor Wembanyama up but also play next to the star center. Kornet had done it successfully with Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford in Boston and his ability to slot in with another big gave the Spurs the potential to play jumbo lineups. The duo even got a nickname: French Vanilla.
The reality hasnât been as exciting as the idea. The Spurs simply canât score enough with both centers on the floor, posting a sub-100 offensive rating. That main reason for the struggles wonât surprise anyone: lineups with both in them struggle to shoot, especially from distance, where they connect on just 26.4 percent on three-pointers. Wemby is not as reliable as the Boston bigs from long range, and adding a non-shooter like Kornet to groups that likely feature others hurts the spacing in general. The minutes for the combination are down in the post All-Start stretch, which isnât surprising.
Those lineups could still have a place against specific matchups, which is why itâs good that they havenât been scrapped completely. They are great defensively, allowing just 103.5 points per 100 possessions, and they dominate the offensive glass, with the Spurs recovering 41 percent of their misses. If some of those second-chance opportunities turn into points, the offense might improve. As a change of pace option rather than a go-to strategy, it could have a place in the offseason in short stints.
The Spurs are slowly figuring out the non-Wemby minutes
Like most teams, the Spurs have struggled to make units that donât feature their superstar work. Itâs not a huge issue when Wembanyama plays heavy minutes, as the Kornet-led lineups are just expected to keep pace for short stints instead of vastly outscoring opponents, but San Antonio canât afford to have combinations that are liabilities, and some of the lineups they were using were just that.
Before the All-Star break, the most used lineup featuring Kornet and at least two other bench players consisted of the big man, Dylan Harper, Keldon Johnson, Stephon Castle, and Julian Champagnie. It bled points, getting outscored by 17 points in just 32 minutes. Granted, no sweeping conclusions can be drawn with such a small sample size, but in general, units featuring Kornet, Castle, and Harper struggled. The offense simply wasnât good enough, largely because opponents could simply wall off the paint.
The apparent solution has been to have DeâAaron Fox or Devin Vassell share minutes with Kornet, Harper and Keldon Johnson, the three main bench rotation players. Post All-Star break, the most used Kornet plus at least two bench players unit has featured the two young guards, Keldon and Vassell, and has only been outscored by six points in 27 minutes. The second most used has Harrison Barnes and Fox along the bench trio, and has outscored opponents by two in 21 minutes. After that, thereâs a unit featuring both Harper and Carter Bryant that has been a mess, but wonât likely be used much in the postseason.
It canât be stressed enough how noisy the data of lineups that only share the floor for a few minutes a game can be, but good coaching staffs notice patterns and make small adjustments to try to win on the margins. Some teams are probably going to outscore the Spurs when Wembanyama isnât on the floor, so the goal is to find units that can hold the fort and phase out those that canât. It seems that Johnson is doing just that as the playoffs approach, which provides even more reason for optimism about a deep run.
