Matthew Schaefer’s march toward history keeps on rolling.
Schaefer scored his 23rd goal of the season Thursday to tie Brian Leetch’s single-season record for a rookie defenseman, giving the Islanders a 3-2 lead they never relinquished in an eventual 5-3 win over the Maple Leafs.
“You don’t really think about that stuff much, but when it gets brought up, it’s crazy to think [about],” Schaefer said. “It’s definitely an honor to see some of those guys and what they’ve done. I don’t really worry about that. We just gotta worry about the games and winning games.”
Matthew Schaefer (48) skates with the puck away from Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Easton Cowan (53) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Elmont, N.Y. on Thursday, April 9, 2026. Heather Khalifa for NY Post
Schaefer had been on something of a scoring drought, with his last goal back on March 21, though he did have seven assists in the seven games since then.
The UBS Arena crowd chanted Schaefer’s name for a few minutes straight after his goal Thursday, and the scoreboard acknowledged that he’d tied Leetch’s record.
Schaefer waved to the crowd and smiled despite himself.
“How can you not smile when you have the best fans in the league chanting your name?” Schaefer said. “It’s a team game and they’re always behind us every step of the way.”
Islanders players celebrate a goal by defenseman Matthew Schaefer (48), left, during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Elmont, N.Y. on Thursday, April 9, 2026. Heather Khalifa for NY Post
Mathew Barzal firmly denied a report that the Islanders had grown tired of hearing Patrick Roy talk about his Stanley Cup titles in the run-up to Roy’s firing on Saturday.
“That couldn’t be more untrue,” Barzal said before the Islanders faced Toronto on Thursday. “If anything, I loved hearing the stories, and us as a group loved hearing stories about the teams he [played on] that won the Cup. Especially his [1986] team in Montreal, he’d always bring up how they were an underdog all year. That kind of stuff fueled us.
“So that report, it’s completely ridiculous.”
Insider Frank Seravalli said on his “Frankly Hockey” podcast that he’d heard the sentiment from Islanders players.
“There’s so much talk about his Stanley Cups and the Stanley Cups he won,” Seravalli said Wednesday. “Players are really tired about hearing that. It’s a great relic to hang onto, and it’s a nice flex to have on your résumé, but you haven’t won as a coach. And you’re not a goaltender anymore, even though you’re in the Hall of Fame. You’re just a head coach and you have to be able to park that. Players told me they were tired of hearing that from Patrick Roy.”
Tony DeAngelo returned from a lower-body injury that had kept him out six games, skating 20:33 and recording two assists.
“It was a good game to come back for,” DeAngelo said.
Isaiah George came out of the lineup as a healthy scratch to accommodate DeAngelo, with the defense pairs resetting to the same configuration that had been constant prior to the injury.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 5: John Konchar #55 of the Utah Jazz looks to drive the ball during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on April 5, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Utah Jazz season is nearing an incredibly important lottery, and Jazz fans will be watching the lottery balls closely. But whether the Jazz jump in the lottery or not, the Jazz have had some rookies and prospects make an impact during the current rebuild. Utah can’t likely keep all of them, and so that’s what inspires the latest Utah Jazz Reacts Survey. If you had to choose one of these prospects below, who would you pick? These four have been among the most prominent prospects to play during the rebuild, and I wanted to see who you think is the most important to keep on the Jazz?
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Jazz fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche have once again positioned themselves atop the NHL hierarchy, securing the Presidents’ Trophy with a composed and clinical 3–1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Thursday night at Ball Arena.
In a performance that reflected both depth and star power, Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas each had a goal and two assists. For MacKinnon, it was his 52nd goal of the season, which marked a new career-high. Gabriel Landeskog also added a tally of his own. Mackenzie Blackwood bounced back with a great performance tonight with 28 saves on 29 shots.
The result not only capped off another elite regular season in Denver but formally clinched home-ice advantage throughout the upcoming Stanley Cup Playoffs, which are tentatively set to begin April 18.
This marks the fourth time in franchise history that Colorado has captured the Presidents’ Trophy, further cementing its status as one of the league’s premier organizations across multiple eras. Their first came in 1996–97, a season that followed their inaugural Stanley Cup triumph, though it ultimately ended in a Western Conference Final exit.
The most iconic instance arrived in 2000–01, when the Avalanche converted regular-season dominance into a championship run, highlighted by Ray Bourque lifting the Stanley Cup in his final NHL game—an enduring image in hockey history.
More recently, Colorado claimed the award in 2020–21, only to fall short of expectations in the second round against a Vegas Golden Knights squad coached by Pete DeBoer.
This year’s group, however, appears more complete—blending experience, health, and high-end talent at a level that suggests unfinished business. The Presidents’ Trophy may symbolize regular-season excellence, but for a team with championship aspirations, it is merely a prelude.
Tyson Gross scored the lone goal for the Flames and it was a big one as it was his first career NHL goal. Dustin Wolf made 38 stops.
First Period
Colorado wasted no time generating quality scoring chances. Brett Kulak orchestrated a deflection in front of the net, forcing Wolf into a quick reaction save.
Gabe Landeskog narrowly missed putting one on the board, coming within inches of a goal, while Brock Nelson hammered a shot off the far right post.
Nathan MacKinnon set the tone early with his aggressive play. After losing the puck to Calgary’s Yegor Sharangovich, MacKinnon immediately hustled back, crushing Sharangovich against the boards on the backcheck.
The Avalanche earned their first power play with 1:23 left in the period when John Beecher was penalized for hooking. The game to this point was a fast-paced, back-and-forth battle—quite the contrast to the teams’ previous meeting. Colorado edged Calgary in shots, 11-9.
The Avalanche capitalized on the man advantage with just 1:16 left in the first. MacKinnon threaded a pass to Landeskog, who ripped a one-timer into a wide-open net by the far right post to give Colorado a 1-0 lead.
Colorado carried that momentum and the lead into the intermission, aiming to secure the President’s Trophy with a victory.
Second Period
MacKinnon was penalized at 4:33 for slashing Zach Whitecloud while simultaneously colliding with Artturi Lehkonen in the process. Both players were okay. However, the penalty kill only lasted 13 seconds as Parker Kelly and Jack Drury each had quality opportunities at punching in a shorthanded goal. However, Matt Coronato slashed Drury to create some 4-on-4 action.
Necas potted his 38th goal of the season with just over five minutes to go in the period when he took a pass from MacKinnon, closed in on Wolf, and deked him out of his pants before snapping a top shelf wrister to give the Avalanche a 2-0 lead.
The Colorado Avalanche are one period away from claiming the Presidents Trophy for the fourth time in franchise history.#goavsgo@thehockeynews#flames
And at the end of 40 minutes, the Avalanche were just one period away from claiming the Presidents Trophy.
Third Period
Tyson Gross scored for the Flames with 2:52 left in regulation. About a minute later, Gross, who signed an entry-level deal with the Flames on March 12, found the net again. However, the goal was overturned on an offside challenge.
MacKinnon finished it off with an empty-net goal with 55 seconds left to complete the 3-1 win.
MONTREAL (AP) — Cole Caufield is the first Montreal Canadiens player to score 50 goals in a season in more than three decades.
Caufield scored his 50th against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night to hit the mark last reached by Stephane Richer in 1990, 35 seasons ago.
"Whenever he has a chance to shoot it, there’s a high chance it’s going in," captain Nick Suzuki said last week. “He’s just playing the right way, doing the right things and he’s getting rewarded for it.”
The 25-year-old from Wisconsin is the seventh player in franchise history to score 50 goals. Guy LaFleur did it six times, Richer twice and Maurice Richard, Steve Shutt, Bernie Geoffrion and Pierre Larouche once each.
Caufield is right there with Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon in the NHL goal-scoring race for the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy. His 86 points in his first 77 games were already 16 clear of his previous career high, and his play is helping Montreal cruise into the playoffs.
“We’re focused on our team game and winning games, and I think individual stuff comes with that,” Caufield said, echoing a refrain from coach Martin St Louis, a Hall of Fame player. “But doing the right things, you get more chances and opportunities.”
The Colorado Avalanche extended their Frostbite winning streak with a 3–2 win in their latest NHL 26 simulation.
Goals from Gabe Landeskog, Josh Manson, and Martin Nečas powered Colorado, while Mackenzie Blackwood turned aside 22 shots. Adam Klapka and Matt Coronato scored for Calgary.
To reiterate, this was not real. A video of the actual simulation is here.
First Period
Valeri Nichushkin stayed red hot early, skating end-to-end before circling the net and finding Manson for a one-timer from the top of the right circle to open the scoring at 3:54.
Connor Zary drove much of Calgary’s offense in the opening frame, generating multiple chances, but Blackwood held firm with a series of strong saves. He denied Zary with a blocker stop midway through the period, then flashed the glove moments later on a chance from John Beecher.
The Flames eventually broke through. After an offensive-zone faceoff win, Yegor Sharangovich tied up Brock Nelson, allowing Klapka to jump on a loose puck from the right wing. He fired a backhand on goal and buried his own rebound to tie the game.
After one period, the score was 1–1, with Calgary holding a 12–10 edge in shots.
Second Period
Colorado came out flying in the second, firing three quick shots to start the frame, but Calgary’s defense and goaltending held up.
The Avalanche took a hit at 2:57 when Sam Malinski blocked a shot and was forced to leave the game with an apparent injury, later ruled out for the remainder.
Parker Kelly was assessed a cross-checking penalty, giving Calgary its first power play, but Colorado’s penalty kill stood tall.
Blackwood delivered one of his best saves of the night shortly after, robbing Ryan Strome with a spectacular split save and blocker stop.
Despite Colorado outshooting Calgary 10–3 in the period, the game remained tied 1–1 heading into the third.
Third Period
Calgary grabbed the lead just 1:14 into the third when Coronato capitalized on a broken play. He held the puck patiently before beating Blackwood top shelf to make it 2–1.
Colorado responded after Yan Kuznetsov was sent to the box for holding. On the ensuing power play, Nečas finished off a setup from Nathan MacKinnon, who won a race to the boards and slipped a quick pass into the slot for the tying goal.
The Avalanche controlled much of the play down the stretch but struggled to break through—until the final moments.
With just 35 seconds remaining, Landeskog scored on the backhand to give Colorado a 3–2 lead, sealing the win.
P.S.
Sam Malinski's character model on NHL 26 looks nothing like Sam Malinski at all.
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 27: Keaton Wagler #23 of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks on during a game against the Michigan Wolverines at State Farm Center on February 27, 2026 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Of course, Utah is throwing every good luck charm they have into acquiring a top 3 selection in this year’s draft. AJ Dybantsa would be a match made in heaven. Darryn Peterson has the best fit. Cameron Boozer follows in Papa Carlos’ footsteps. Utah is also perfectly fine standing pat at 4, if it means not converting their pick to the Galactic Presti-pire. Caleb Wilson could have risen into the top 3 if he had been able to participate in the March Madness Tournament.
But what if Utah drops into the unorthodox spot where they — inevitably — drop down one or two tiers and out of the superstar conversation?
Be wary, Darius Acuff Jr. and Kingston Flemings lurk in these parts. It’s a tricky part to be in, considering Utah is not in dire need for another point guard after Keyonte George’s breakout, and Isaiah Collier headlining as the lead backup guard. Of course, the Jazz could look to prioritize fit here and select one of Nate Ament or Brayden Burries.
I introduce Keaton Wagler to the corporate office. All things considered, Wagler would be the ’best fit’ guard in the pool with a 6’6” frame who plays the brain of a veteran and the range of a flamethrower. This feels like the missing piece of Danny Ainge’s art gallery.
NBA Draft Profile: Keaton Wagler
Bio: 6 ft, 6 in | 185 lbs | 19 yrs old | Illinois University
2025-26 regular season stats: 17.9 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 4.2 APG STL, 44.5% FG, 39.7% 3PT
Accolades: Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year, Second-Team All-American, Big Ten Freshman of the Year, NCAA Tournament South Region Most Outstanding Player
NBA Comparison: D’Angelo Russell, more polished Jeremy Lamb
Mastery
Wagler is arguably the most polished pick-and-roll operator in this class. His 12.4% turnover rate is elite for a high-usage freshman. He manipulates defenders with bendy, herky-jerky movements, often putting his opponent in a blender just by changing his face.
He isn’t a stopper on the defensive end yet, but his 1.7 BLK% and 1.3 STL% show active hands and high-level positioning. At 6’6”, he’s not a target that teams can easily hunt. A solid creator, Wagler doesn’t turn the ball over often and can create shots for his teammates as a decent level.
His primary calling card is a flamethrower of a jump shot; he’s a dynamic threat who can knock cow. triples off screens or deep pull-ups from well beyond the NBA line. He’s the kind of high-IQ player who always seems to make the right pass, acting like the glue that keeps an offense from getting stagnant. His shot diet is extremely healthy — no trips to the doctor’s office for you, sir.
Another positive sign for his offensive resume is his solid 81% rate at the charity stripe. Players who both generate and convert free throws tend to translate well as NBA scorers, applying the right amount of pressure on defenses.
Illinois uses him to crash boards, and responds with solid rebounding numbers for a guard. He’s a grab-and-go rebounder who immediately initiates transition, which would fit perfectly in the third-fastest pace team in the league. That speaks to his competitiveness and willingness to impact the game beyond scoring.
Margin
His biggest flaw is his lack of athleticism, which really shows on defense. Wagler struggles to slip screens and once beaten, fails to recover and consistently has to play behind his opponents. He’s underwhelming defensively, considering his 7’0” wingspan.
Currently, his finishes rely on angles and timing rather than elevation. It works for him fine at the collegiate level, but it won’t slide against NBA-level rim protectors. Some of those attempts will likely get stuffed if he doesn’t adjust his approach. Defenders at higher levels will quickly recognize his tendency to attack with his left hand, and start shading him in that direction. Wagler needs to depend on countering his flaws or equal comfort attacking right, because opponents will have a much easier assignment to contain him.
His ball-handling is servicable, but he needs to work on tightening his handle, especially when pressured by defenders or navigating crowded areas of the floor. Working on that would help him become a more consistent creator and allow him to operate more comfortably in pick-and-roll situations.
Wagler is ‘Crafty’ with a capital C, but he isn’t ‘Fast’ with a capital F. He lacks a lightning-quick first step, meaning he has to work twice as hard to create separation. If he can’t get defenders off-balance with his hesitations and pump fakes, he may struggle to create his own shot consistently at the pro level.
Mandate
When I project Wagler at the NBA level, I see a player who has a clear scoring foundation but still needs to round out the rest of his game — similar to how Keyonte had to rebuild his offensive character after his first couple of years in the league. The shooting alone gives him value, but he won’t be a primary offensive initiator as of now.
The Jazz could be comfortable fitting him into a secondary creator or complementary scoring role, where he can space the floor, attack closeouts, and make simple reads within the offense. If he imrpvoes his handle and becomes more balanced attacking the basket, there’s a realistic pathway for him to develop into a reliable NBA rotation guard.
Lineups with Keyonte George, providing downhill aggression, and Wagler, providing surgical distribution and spacing, would give Utah some of the tallest and most versatile young backcourts in the league. If the Jazz want to double down on their positionless length identity, Wagler is the connective tissue.
But in the meantime, we’re all hoping the Jazz front office goes palooza in reaction to Utah receiving their first franchise #1 pick.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 09: Jack Flaherty #9 of the Detroit Tigers pitches during the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Thursday, April 9, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Andrew Ritter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Looking to salvage one game of their best of four in Minnesota, the Tigers got a good start from Jack Flaherty and they wasted it. In the process, an outfield collision late in the game sent Parker Meadows to the hospital, though early signs are that he’ll be okay though likely to miss some time, and the Tigers slumped to 4-9 on the young season.
Well, if you had the Tigers, Mariners, Blue Jays, and Red Sox on your bingo card as the American League bottom feeders, you did better than most. The Tigers will finally come home for an extended stay at Comerica Park this weekend and through most of next week, with a chance to get right against the Miami Marlins and Kansas City Royals.
While the offense has drawn most of the criticism early on, it’s really been the pitching that the Tigers expect to lean on that has been the problem. That wasn’t so on Thursday. Colt Keith led off the game with a walk against young Twins starter Mick Abel, and Gleyber Torres lined a single to right field to set the table for the middle of the order. Riley Greene whiffed on a first pitch fastball and then took two called strikes, the final one earned on a Victor Caratini challenge. Kerry Carpenter followed him down on strikes, and Spencer Torkelson hammered a ball to left that James Outman ran down to turn the Tigers away.
Jack Flaherty got into trouble in the bottom half with a one-out walk to Trevor Larnach and a Josh Bell single, but Javier Báez made a great snag on a Matt Wallner hotshot up the middle, stepped on second, and while his throw was errant, Torkelson picked him up by tagging out Wallner to end the inning.
Once again, the Tigers got themselves into good scoring position as Zack McKinstry walked and Javier Báez dumped a single into center field. Parker Meadows and Jake Rogers struck out, and Colt Keith grounded out to end the inning and send steam coming out of most of our ears.
It’s not your fault though, Colt.
Flaherty worked through the second with the help of a strikeout of Royce Lewis and Jake Rogers cutting down Kody Clemens trying to steal second.
The Tigers got another runner on base in the third on a one-out double from Riley Greene. You know what comes next. Carpenter lifted a fly ball out to left, and Torkelson hit another ball hard, this time to Buxton in center field.
It just went on like this for a while. Báez doubled to center with one out in the fourth, and they stranded him too. Flaherty gave up a solo shot to Josh Bell to open the bottom of the fourth, but he rallied from there to put together a nice 5.2 inning outing with just one run allowed. He just didn’t get much help other than some early defensive work as noted. He departed in the sixth after allowing singles to Bell and Wallner, and then getting Caratini to fly out. Tyler Holton took over and Kody Clemens drilled a ball to center that Meadows hauled in to turn the Twins away.
Garrett Acton took over from Abel in the top of the seventh. He clipped Rogers with a pitch with one out, and Keith singled back through the box as Rogers hooved it to third. A Torres sacrifice fly got the run in to tie the game 1-1, but the big hit did not arrive as Greene sliced a drive down the left field line, where Outman made a nice sliding catch heading into the close wall in the corner.
Holton got into a little trouble in the seventh and you could feel this thing teetering, but he punched out Larnach to preserve the tie. Rather than taking some momentum from that, the Tigers were set down in order by Acton.
Then, in the bottom of the eighth, Will Vest took over. Bell greeted him with a drive up the left center field gap. Greene hauled it in but he and Meadows had a communication breakdown and Meadows kept coming, ultimately looking like they banged heads as they passed. Greene had it all the way and made the catch, coming through unscathed. Meadows was shaken up pretty badly and visibly bleeding a little from his mouth. The real damage came when he hit his head on the turf tumbling to the ground after contact by the look of it. He remained motionless though responsive for a long time before they finally got him up and on the cart to come off the field. It was pretty scary and the Tigers players were shook.
Báez took over in center field, while Kevin McGonigle, who had his first full off day to this point, took over at shortstop. We’ll have to wait for word on a potential concussion, but it certainly looked likely that Meadows will need a little time on the injured list.
Vest walked Wallner and Caratini singled to left. Vest settled down and punched out Clemens, but Vest was also sitting 93-94 mph with his fastball, which didn’t feel great. Lewis pulled a slow chopper to third for an infield hit, and Brooks Lee followed with a two-run single through the right side. 3-1 Twins. Lawd. Brant Hurter took over to get the final out.
Báez and McGonigle flew out to Buxton in center and Dillon Dingler struck out to end it.
Time to come home and re-group, Tigers. It’s been a bizarre start to the year so far. Only three teams in the American League have scored more runs as of this writing, and obviously the season just got underway, but the pitching has been wildly inconsistent, and they haven’t gotten it done at all in big moments in games so far.
The Vancouver Canucks will be missing Evander Kane when they begin their three-game California road trip on Thursday. After morning skate, Head Coach Adam Foote confirmed that Kane did not make the trip and said, "He's going through some stuff. He's been fighting through it. Along with that, and us wanting to go with some young guys."
While Foote has mentioned a few times that Kane has been dealing with an injury, no specifics have been released. This includes what the injury is and when exactly Kane suffered it. Kane has missed three of the last four games for Vancouver and has skated in 71 of the team's 77 games this year.
With Kane out for the road trip, the question now is whether or not he will play again this season. The Canucks have only five games left, with the final regular-season game scheduled for April 16. Kane is an unrestricted free agent this season and ranks sixth on Vancouver's roster with 31 points.
The Canucks kick off their California road trip on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. Thursday is a must-win game for the Kings, as they look to secure a spot in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 pm PT.
Mar 21, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks left wing Evander Kane (91) skates with the puck during the third period against the St. Louis Blues at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Simon Fearn-Imagn Images
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 08: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns is introduced before the NBA game against the Dallas Mavericks at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 08, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With their win over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night, the Phoenix Suns grabbed hold of something that feels official when you say it out loud. The seventh seed. Because yeah, they “secured” it. In theory. In the clean, sanitized version the league office pushes out. In reality, all they did was earn the right to host a high-stakes coin flip inside the NBA Play-In Tournament, which lives somewhere between competition and content inventory.
You can feel the fingerprints of Adam Silver all over it. Rolled out in 2021, polished up, packaged nice, and sold as opportunity, drama, and meaningful basketball. And maybe it is, if you squint hard enough and ignore the part where an 82-game grind now funnels into a night where one bad shooting stretch, one tweaked ankle, one whistle that feels a little off, and everything you built starts to wobble.
This year it comes with a new corporate tag hanging off it, courtesy of SoFi, because of course it does. Every inch of this thing is monetized, every moment stretched and dressed up so it can be sold, replayed, clipped, sponsored, and pushed. It is less about rewarding a season and more about creating another product to slide into the league’s portfolio, something shiny that executives can point to while counting the revenue streams stacking up behind it.
And look, I understand the machine. This is how it works. Take something pure, run it through the grinder, and present it back to us like it is an upgrade. Tell us it is good for the game. Tell us it adds excitement. Tell us it gives more teams a chance. Meanwhile, the teams that actually handled their business for six months are now staring at a scenario where one weird night can rewrite everything. That is where the frustration lives. You fight through the season, the travel, the injuries, the weird Tuesday nights in February that nobody remembers, all to land in a spot that used to mean something concrete. Now it means you get to host a game that decides whether your work holds weight or gets tossed into the same pile as everyone else who hovered around mediocrity.
So yeah, the Suns won. They put themselves in position. There is value in that, there always is. But this thing they are walking into — this shiny, sponsor-stamped, chaos-driven mini-tournament — is not a reward. It is a gamble dressed up like progress. And everyone is supposed to clap for it.
Rant over, I guess. Classify me as no fun, but I’m simply not a fan of possibly losing out on a postseason opportunity to a team that finished under .500. Handle your business is the answer, I know. Like most Adam Silver-based pointless tournaments, I can’t find myself excited for their sheer existence. Everything is a damn tournament now in the NBA. I wonder if each morning at the NBA’s corporate offices there is a tournament for who gets to take a shit in the bathroom first. Why? “Because it’s fun.” I just hope the guy who made the poor decision to slam some Taco Bell last night after one too many margs wins that tournament, for all of their sakes.
All of that being said, it is time for a quick history lesson on the seven seed. Because if you are going to live in this space, you might as well understand the room you are standing in.
Start here. In the first five seasons of the NBA Play-In Tournament, the seventh seed has always made the playoffs. Every single time. That is a 100% advancement rate into the first round. Their overall mark hosting the first Play-In game sits at 8-of-10 for teams slotted in that spot. The only stumbles came in 2023, when the Hawks beat the Heat, and in 2024, when the Pelicans dropped their opener to the Lakers. The Heat then advanced after downing the Bulls, and the Pelicans recovered to beat the Sacramento Kings.
That is the landscape sitting in front of the Phoenix Suns. The path is there. The numbers say it is there, and the door has opened every time for teams in this position. And still, you can feel that little voice creeping in, the one that says “do not be the one that breaks the pattern”. Because the scenario is simple. Lose twice, both games at home, and the season ends. You sit there as the seven seed in name, and nowhere to be found in the postseason. That possibility exists. It is real and it lingers whether you want to acknowledge it or not.
History also reminds you that this spot is not a dead end. It can be a runway. In 2023, those same Los Angeles Lakers came through the Play-In, handled the Memphis Grizzlies in six games, then took out the Golden State Warriors in six more before running into the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals. That Nuggets group lost four games total on their way to a title; two of those came against a Suns team powered by Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.
Zoom out and bring it back to franchise history. The Suns have lived the seven-seed life twice. In 1996, they went 41-41, earned seven the old-fashioned way, and ran into the San Antonio Spurs in the First Round. A 3-to-1 series loss that ended things quickly. The following season they landed at seven again at 40-42, this time facing the Seattle SuperSonics, and pushed it to five games before falling 3-to-2.
So this is the space. A spot that has produced opportunity, a spot that has carried risk, a spot that asks you to handle your business for 48 minutes and then do it again if needed. The numbers lean your way. The history gives you a blueprint. Now you have to go live it.
The opponent is still floating out there. The Clippers and the Trail Blazers are battling for the right to walk into this thing as the eight seed, and as it stands now, the numbers lean heavily one way. According to Basketball Reference’s playoff probabilities, the Clippers sit at a 77.6% chance to land that spot, while Portland lingers at 22.4%. One more meeting between them is still on the schedule.
We should have clarity soon. Tuesday, April 14, the Phoenix Suns will host at the Mortgage Matchup Center, and the stakes are clean and simple: win and move on to face the San Antonio Spurs.
Protect home court. Handle Tuesday. Close the door before anything weird has a chance to creep in, before the tension builds, before the fan base starts pacing and fills the arena with anxiety. Because no one around here needs that kind of energy.
Then again, this is Arizona sports. You already know how this story likes to behave.
Mar 31, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; General view as members of the Calgary Flames against the Colorado Avalanche face off in the third period at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
The Calgary Flames would more than likely prefer to forget what happened the last time they met the Colorado Avalanche.
The 9-2 final score painted the picture of a blowout loss, but a closer look reveals that the Avalanche scored five goals in the first five minutes of the game, so just calling it a blowout kind of comes up short.
Well, the theme of the regular season has been the revenge game, and Calgary has a chance to follow the rule and steal one from Colorado at Ball Arena.
Can they pull off the upset, or will the Avalanche once again be too much for the team from Cowtown?
Colorado Avalanche: 51-16-10
The Opponent: Calgary Flames (32-36-9)
Time: 7:00 p.m. MT
Watch: Altitude, Altitude+, ESPN+
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio, 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche have won the West and Central Division while still seeking the Presidents’ Trophy, but will their home-ice struggles come back to bite them yet again?
Colorado is 3-1-6 at home since returning from the Olympic break, which is kind of ironic, considering the Avalanche’s reward for regular-season success is home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.
The Avalanche will be without Nazem Kadri, who left during the second period of Colorado’s victory over St. Louis. Just when they finally got to ice their full arsenal of forward talent.
#Avs coach Jared Bednar didn't have an official update on Nazem Kadri, but did say it could be a pain tolerance situation as to whether or not he'll play in the next game or if he needs to sit.
Bednar made sure to note they still need one more win to clinch home ice completely.
The Flames did test the Dallas Stars their last time out but fell 4-3 in OT. This does display a capability to steal one, and after what we saw from Colorado on home ice against Vancouver on April Fools Day, anything is possible.
The Dallas Mavericks (25-55) head back to the Lone Star state Friday night to face off against their division rivals, the San Antonio Spurs (61-19). It’s the last road game of the last road trip of the season, and it’s one that might have some real sway as far as the offseason goes. At the time of writing, Dallas finds themselves in a dead heat with the Memphis Grizzlies for the sixth best lottery odds, and only one game behind the New Orleans Pelicans. The outcome of these last couple matchups may make the difference between a Mikel Brown Jr. and an AJ Dybantsa.
The Spurs enter Friday evening without much of a concern. They’ve won four of their last five, 13 of their last 15, and they’ve mathematically locked themselves into the two-seed – most likely setting them up for a easy first-round matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers or the Phoenix Suns. Victor Wembanyama did recently suffer a left rib contusion against the Philadelphia 76ers, causing him to miss the last couple outings; however, it’s expected that he’ll suit up either against Dallas Friday night or the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, clearing the way for his first career postseason appearance.
The Mavericks, meanwhile, are about as far afield as you can get from meaningful postseason basketball. They put up a pretty decent showing against the Luka Dončić-less, Austin Reaves-less Los Angeles Lakers last Sunday, but then collapsed back to the norm against the Clippers Tuesday night and the Suns on Wednesday. There’s a subtle poetry to the fact that Dallas’ last two losses are San Antonio’s two most likely first-round matchups – almost like the basketball gods are reminding us just how far this team is from contending.
Here are three storylines to follow as the Mavericks play their last road game of the season against the San Antonio Spurs.
Mavericks role players making their case
Now that we’re arriving at the end of the regular season, it’s time to start making some decisions regarding the future of this roster. Dallas’ role players certainly know this – and they’re making their last-ditch attempts to leave an impression on the front office. C-teamer John Poulakidas has been an interesting watch in this depleted Mavericks squad, most notably putting up 23 against the Suns on Wednesday. Moussa Cissé and Marvin Bagley III also continue to make their case, with the latter of the two scoring a combined 41 over the last two outings.
On the flip side, things have looked rougher for Khris Middleton recently, and AJ Johnson’s first real outing wasn’t especially inspiring. As pointed out by Mavs Moneyball’s Joe Friedman, Johnson went a brutal 1-11 from the field against the Suns, with many of those possessions stalling out what little offensive flow the Mavericks could generate. Whether Johnson is a part of Dallas’ future remains to be seen; as far as the 2025-2026 season goes, he and the others only have a couple more in-game opportunities to show what they’ve got.
Young superstars leading the way
If there’s one thing that Dallas and San Antonio has in common right now, it’s that they’ve pushed all their chips in on their young superstars. For the Mavericks, this hasn’t quite paid dividends yet. Cooper Flagg has been absolutely transcendent, yes, filling just about every role imaginable while also posting some mind-boggling scoring figures (51 against the Orlando Magic and 45 against the Lakers, most recently). But his efforts haven’t quite translated to wins this season – most likely, this will require some very intentional work over the next couple years to fill roster gaps and develop a team that effectively complements his skillset.
San Antonio, on the other hand, is actively bearing the fruit of this exact kind of hard work. At the beginning of the season, I wrote that Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs hadn’t yet developed into the offensive powerhouse everyone was expecting. Well, I stand corrected. At the time of writing, San Antonio holds an 119.4 offensive rating for the 2025-2026 regular season, as well as a 111.1 defensive rating to boot. They’re one of the best teams in the league at both ends of the floor, due in large part to the contributions of early-career players like Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, and Julian Champagnie. And, of course, Victor Wembanyama is leading the way, averaging around 25/11/3 and gluing the entire Spurs system together.
Dallas’ struggles down I-35
Just like the good ol’ days! It’s not much of a shock that Dallas has a bad record against the Spurs this season, given that the Mavericks have been more or less rebuilding from the ground up after the Anthony Davis trade. But it is worth noting how pronounced the disparity is. As of right now, Dallas has played San Antonio three times in the 2025-26 NBA regular season. San Antonio has taken the victory all three times, with final scores of 125-92, 135-123, and 138-125. In other words, Dallas hasn’t even gotten close – and there’s probably not much hope of changing that going into Friday night.
Maybe some day, we’ll see a return to the Mavericks-Spurs rivalry of old, with Cooper Flagg leading Dallas to a postseason victory on the way to a Finals run. For now, though, those dreams are a long way off, and we still have a lottery to think about in the meantime.
The road ahead
After Friday night’s game, Dallas returns home for the final game of the season, facing off against a very shorthanded Chicago Bulls.
How to watch
The San Antonio Spurs host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, April 10 at 7:00 PM CT. The game will be streamed live on MavsTV, and will also be broadcast on KFAA. As usual, fans can also tune in at 97.1FM KEGL (English) or at 99.1FM KFZO (Español).
The A’s had some bad injury lucky during their series finale in The Bronx on Thursday.
Star outfielder Brent Rooker left the A’s 1-0 win in the middle of his first at-bat during the opening frame with what the team is calling right flank discomfort.
Rooker, a two-time All-Star, fouled off an 0-1 pitch from the Yankees’ Ryan Weathers during the top of the first inning and immediately grabbed at his side.
He was then replaced at the plate by Lawrence Butler.
Rooker, 31, is a key piece in the A’s lineup, hitting 30-plus home runs in each of the last three seasons.
In 2024, Rooker enjoyed the best season of his career, hitting 39 long balls and driving in 112 runs en route to winning a Silver Slugger award.
He was off to a slow start this season before the injury, hitting .150/.250/.300 with a pair of dingers.
It wasn’t all bad news for the A’s on Thursday, though.
Brent Rooker of the Athletics at bat before exiting to the dugout with an apparent injury in the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on April 9, 2026 in New York City. Getty Images
The A’s took the series against the American League East-leading Yankees before they head to Queens to take on the Mets.
A’s starter Jeffrey Springs held the Bombers hitless into the seventh inning before Ben Rice spoiled the no-no with a one out single.
That would be their only hit of the contest.
A day earlier, the Yankees were held to zero runs from the second inning on during the A’s first win of the series.
The win moved the A’s to 5-7 and dropped the Yankees to 8-4.
Jan 22, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) drives against Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) during the fourth quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Houston Rockets vs Philadelphia 76ers
April 9, 2026
Location: Toyota Center – Houston, TX
TV: Space City Home Network,
Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790 / KLTN 102.9 (en español)
Online: Rockets App, SCHN+
Time: 7:00pm CST
Probable Starting Lineups
Rockets: Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun
76ers: VJ Edgecombe, Kelly Oubre Jr., Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, Andre Drummond
CHICAGO (AP) — Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield was scratched for Thursday night's game at Chicago because of an unspecified injury.
Chatfield took just two shifts in the third period of Tuesday night's 6-5 overtime victory over Boston. He has two goals and a career-high 15 assists in 71 games this season.
“You're always concerned when guys are missing,” coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “I hope it's not anything that's going to drag on, but put it this way, he's not 100 percent so he's not playing.”
The Hurricanes clinched the Metropolitan Division title with their win against the Bruins. They were on top of the Eastern Conference going into Thursday's action, two points ahead of the Buffalo Sabres.
Defenseman Jaccob Slavin and forwards Jordan Staal, Jordan Martinook, Seth Jarvis, Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov also were scratched for the matchup with the Blackhawks. The reasons for their absences were undisclosed.
“We got a couple guys (that) got nicked up the other night," Brind’Amour said before the lineup was announced.
Defenseman Charles Alexis Legault and forwards Skyler Brind’Amour, Bradly Nadeau and Josiah Slavin were active one day after they were recalled from Carolina's American Hockey League affiliate.
Skyler Brind’Amour is the coach's son, and Slavin is the younger brother of Jaccob Slavin. Skyler Brind’Amour scored a goal in two games with the Hurricanes last April, and Josiah Slavin had an assist in 15 games with the Blackhawks during the 2021-22 season in his only previous NHL action.
While the chairs don’t yet have an official, public price tag, a team source told The California Post on Thursday they will cost 78 percent of what the normal courtside row goes for.
LeBron James and the Lakers will start their 2026 playoff in less than two weeks. Getty Images
Typically, those tickets for playoff matchups run anywhere from $20,000 to $40,000 apiece, meaning the new spots will be somewhere in the area $15,000-$30,000 each.
The Lakers announced their latest revenue stream plans on Thursday morning, revealing the section for Los Angeles’ upcoming postseason matchups at Crypto.com Arena will be a second courtside row called “Courtside Reserve.”
The Lakers announced their latest revenue stream plans on Thursday morning, revealing the section for Los Angeles’ upcoming postseason matchups at Crypto.com Arena will be a second courtside row called “Courtside Reserve.” Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The team promised the chairs will come with “premium hospitality, including in-seat food and beverage service, VIP club access and a seamless, elevated experience from the moment guests enter the arena.”
Courtside fans celebrate after Luka Donic makes a 3 pointer during the second half against the Sacramento Kings. Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagesJay-Z and Blue Ivy Carter watch courtside. Getty Images
While no doubt pricey, the area has been coveted by Lakers fans for decades. Celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, Denzel Washington, Will Ferrell, Justin Bieber, Kevin Hart and, of course, Jack Nicholson have become mainstays in the spots.
The Lakers’ first playoff opponent is not yet known, and it’s unclear if Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves will be available for any of the games.
Nonetheless, fans with desires of seeing the Purple and Gold from just feet away better have some deep pockets.
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