ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 10: Nickeil Alexander-Walker #7 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts after a three-point score during the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at State Farm Arena on March 10, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Nets won two straight and then lost by 38 to the Pistons in a revenge game. It all checks out during this long, strange season. Egor Demin, Michael Porter Jr, Nolan Traore, and Day’ron Sharpe are all out. This comes after the news that Sharpe would be out for the remainder of the season. t
The trio of two-way players are available. We’ll see if/how they’ll surprise us tonight.
🏀 KEY INFO
Who: Brooklyn Nets (17-48) at Atlanta Hawks (34-31) When: 7:30 PM ET Watch: YES Network
✍️ Game Preview
This is also a night for Noah Clowney to do a bit more. Clowney has had plenty of bright spots this season and now that we’re moving in to the middle of March, this represents a chance for him to do a bit more on offense. Games like this will help him figure out what parts of his game can get better as he fights to be a starter next season. – Brian Fleurantin | Read more
💬 DISCUSSION
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PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 9: Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons boxes out during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on November 9, 2025 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons will be facing an undermanned, undersized edition of the Philadelphia 76ers tonight at Little Caesars Arena. The Sixers injury situation is gruesome. Not only are Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and Kelly Oubre out, but they are without the following big men — Joel Embiid, Adem Bona, Andre Drummond, and Johni Broome. “Who do they have left to play center,” you might be asking yourself. Well, I’m asking myself that, too, and I’m not really sure what the answer is. The only player they have taller than 6-foot-8 is Dominick Barlow, who has that beaten by one inch. Trendon Watford and Jabari Walker are their only other pseudo big men available, and they also have to manage 48 minutes at power forward somehow. Jalen Duren, who grew up in Pennsylvania and played high school ball in Philly, come on down. Paul Reed, who was waived by the Sixers and claimed by the Pistons a couple of years ago, it’s your time to shine. Let’s not let this winnable game slip away.
Game Vitals
When: 7 p.m. ET Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan Watch: Prime Video Odds: Pistons -14.5
Projected Lineups
Detroit Pistons (46-18)
Cade Cunningham, Marcus Sasser, Duncan Robinson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren
The Brooklyn Nets have shut down Day’Ron Sharpe, their 24-year-old back-up center, after he was diagnosed with a tear of his left thumb ligament, the team announced shortly before Thursday’s game with the Atlanta Hawks.
Brooklyn Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe has been diagnosed with an ulnar collateral ligament tear in his left thumb. Sharpe, who will require surgery to repair the ligament, will miss the remainder of the season. Further updates will be provided following the procedure.
The Nets did not initially state how Sharpe had injured his thumb or when but later Jordi Fernandez said the thumb had been bothering Sharpe all season and believed the injury may have occurred vs. the Grizzlies Monday. Indeed, Sharpe has been wearing a brace on his left thumb recently. Sharpe has become one of the NBA’s top back-ups and recently became the top offensive rebounder by percentage in NBA history (200 games or more.)
He’s the second Nets player in the last two days to get shut down. It was announced Wednesday that Egor Dëmin, who has been dealing with plantar fasciitis in his left heel since his pre-draft workouts a year ago, will also sit for Brooklyn’s final 16 games.
The decision also leaves the Nets short, literally and figuratively, at the 5 with only one natural center, Nic Claxton, although 6’11” Danny Wolf, more of a forward, is likely to fill in Thursday night. On Monday, the Nets did not renew 7-footer Grant Nelson’s 10-day contract; though Nelson profiles as somewhat of a tweener long-term, he certainly would give Brooklyn more size up front.
At the moment, Brooklyn is a half-game out of third place in the lottery standings and two games out of the worst record in the NBA. The decision to shut down two rotation players — particularly Sharpe — could certainly affect their ping-pong ball fortunes going forward.
To this point in the season, Sharpe has appeared in 62 games for Brooklyn, the most of any Net. The team is also nearly seven points per 100 possessions better with Sharpe on the floor, also a team-best. This continues a three-year long trend with the bruising back-up big; since the beginning of the 2023-24 season, the Nets have a nearly even -0.09 net rating with Sharpe on the floor in 2,990 minutes, and a sad -8.54 net rating in the 8,062 minutes he has been sitting on the bench, per PBP Stats
As we’ve noted, on/off data isn’t the be-all end-all, there’s some wonky 3-point numbers involved, and Sharpe is no perfect center. Still, the UNC product has made a name for himself as one of the most effective reserves in the league. This season, he even made a high percentage of his shots around the rim — previously a wart in his profile. Is he aided by playing low-minute totals, often against other bench units? Perhaps. Still, his production this season was undeniable…
Players averaging 16+ points, 12+ rebounds, and 4+ assists per 36 minutes on 55% shooting or better this season:
Officially, Day’Ron Sharpe averaged 8.7/6.7/2.3 on 63.8% true shooting this season, playing 19 minutes a night. All of those numbers represent a career-high.
After leading the Nets to a comeback win against the Detroit Pistons on Saturday, Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff was full of praise for Sharpe: “He’s got great size, he plays extremely hard, he’s physical on the interior, he doesn’t back down … The thing that stands out when you watch the tape is just the effort that he puts forth. And when you mix that effort with his size and skill, he can create problems for you on both ends.”
As for Brooklyn’s head coach, Jordi Fernández spoke about the injury before the Nets took on the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday evening, saying, “I’m very happy with what I’ve seen from Day’Ron, the hard work he’s put in and how much better he’s gotten.”
Fernández also added that he “believed” the injury occurred on Monday night against the Memphis Grizzlies, but that the thumb had been “bothering” Day’Ron previously.
Now, Day’Ron Sharpe can look ahead to the summer, where the Brooklyn Nets have a team option for the second year of the two-year, $12.5 million contract they signed him to last summer. The team could, of course, choose to decline that option and hope to sign Sharpe to a long-term deal. Either way, #29 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft has progressed quite nicely since arriving in Brooklyn, though his fifth season in the NBA has come to a premature end.
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 12: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder look on during the game on March 12, 2025 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Boston Celtics (43-21) at Oklahoma City Thunder (51-15) Thursday, March 12, 2026 9:30 PM ET Game #66, Road Game #35 TV: Prime Video Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, WWLS/WKY, Sirius XM Paycom Center
The Celtics complete their 3 game road trip with a stop in Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder. The Celtics won the first game in Cleveland on Sunday and then lost to the Spurs on Tuesday night. The Thunder haven’t played since Monday. This is the first of 2 meetings between these 2 teams this season. They will meet for the final time in Boston on March 25. The Celtics are 47-59 against the Thunder overall all time and they are 22-30 in games played in Oklahoma City.
The Thunder won the Championship last season and in the off season, they did very little to change their team. They made no trades and brought in no new players. They lost Dillon Jones who went to the Wizards. They did re-sign Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Jaylin Williams and Ajay Mitchell. At the trade deadline, They traded picks to Philadelphia for Jared McCain and they traded Ousmane Dieng to Charlotte for Mason Plumlee, who they waived.
The Celtics are 2nd in the East, 3.5 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are 2 games ahead of 3rd place New York , 3.5 games ahead of 4th place Cleveland, 6.5 games ahead of 5th place Orlando and 6th place Miami and 7 games ahead of 7th place Toronto. The Celtics are 15-8 against Western Conference opponents. They are 22-12 on the road and 7-3 in their last 10 games. They are coming off a loss in their last game. (The Knicks, Cavs, and Raptors are playing as I write this so that may change.)
The Thunder are 1st in the West, 2.5 games ahead of 2nd place San Antonio, 10 games ahead of 3rd place Houston, 10.5 games ahead of the 4th place Lakers and 5th place Minnesota, 11.5 games ahead of 6th place Denver and 12.5 games ahead of 7th place Phoenix. They are 15-6 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 27-6 at home and 9-1 in their last 10 games. They have won their last 5 games.
After this game at Oklahoma City the Celtics will head home where they will host Washington, Phoenix and Golden State. Next, it is one game at Memphis before a 3 game home stand against Minnesota, Oklahoma City and Atlanta. Then it’s back on the road for a 4 game trip through Charlotte, Atlanta, Miami and Milwaukee. They will then play two games at home against Toronto and Charlotte before one game on the road at New York. They will finish the season with 2 games at home against New Orleans and Orlando.
The Celtics may be shorthanded in this game with 4 players listed on the injury report at this time. The good news is that Payton Pritchard has been upgraded to available. Jayson Tatum is out for injury management after playing the last 3 games they may want to monitor his workload. Derrick White is listed as questionable due to a right knee contusion. Nikola Vucevic is out due to surgery on his injured finger. I have no idea who will start if both Tatum and White are out. I made a wild guess it will be Sheierman and Harper, Jr.
The Thunder may also be shorthanded for this game. Isaiah Hartenstein will miss a third straight game due to a bruised left calf. Jalen Williams is listed as out due to a strained right hamstring. Thomas Sorber is out for the season with a torn ACL. Brandon Carlson has been ruled out for a seventh straight game due to a back strain. Once again, I really don’t know who will start for the Thunder but took a guess at it.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Baylor Scheierman vs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Celtics Reserves Payton Pritchard Hugo Gonzalez Luka Garza Amare Williams Jordan Walsh 2-Way Players Ron Harper, Jr Max Shulga John Tonje Injuries/Out Nikola Vucevic (finger) out Payton Pritchard (neck) available Jayson Tatum (injury management) out Derrick White (knee) questionable
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Thunder Reserves Branden Carlson Alex Caruso Isaiah Joe Jared McCain AJay Mitchell Aaron Wiggins Kenrich Williams
2 Way Players Brooks Barnhizer Branden Carlson Payton Sandfort Injuries/Out Branden Carlson (back) out Thomas Sorber (ACL) out Nikola Topic (G-League) out Jalen Williams (hamstring) out
Head Coach Mark Daigneault
Key Matchups Baylor Scheierman vs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He is shooting 55.1% from the field and 38.3% from beyond the arc. Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning MVP and is one of the leaders to win it once again this season. He is the key to the Thunder’s winning ways. In order to slow the Thunder, the Celtics must slow down SGA. I’m just guessing that Scheierman will start at the point but White may play and it’s possible that Joe will go with someone else to start here.
Neemias Queta vs Chet Holmgren Holmgren is averaging 17.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.9 blocks per game. He is shooting 55.2% from the field and 35.6% from beyond the arc. Holmgren is a threat to grab rebounds and block shots near the basket and the Celtics need to try to keep him out of the paint. He can also hit threes and so the Celtics need to stay with him on the perimeter as well.
Keys to the Game Defense – Defense is always the biggest key to winning. This is going to be a tough matchup for the Celtics as the Thunder are first in the league with a defensive rating of 106.2 while the Celtics are 5th with a defensive rating of 111.8. The Celtics need to tighten up their defense and make playing defense a priority especially against this Thunder team that plays lock down defense. It will be even harder for the Celtics on defense if both Derrick White and Jayson Tatum are out.
Rebound – Rebounding is also a key to winning. The Celtics need to rebound on the defensive end to keep the Thunder from getting second chance points and they need to rebound on the offensive end to give themselves extra possessions. The Thunder are 15th with 43.8 rebounds per game while the Celtics are 5th with 46.3 rebounds per game. Much of rebounding is desire and effort and the Celtics as a team have to put in the extra effort to grab rebounds.
Take Care of the Ball – The Celtics need to keep their focus and not turn the ball over. The Thunder are 1st in the league with 22.1 points off turnovers per game. They are also 4th with 9.7 steals per game. The Celtics have to move the ball because they are a much better team when they move the ball and don’t over dribble. But they must focus and make careful passes and not get sloppy. They also have to be aware when dribbling the ball so as not to allow the Thunder to get steals. The Thunder will make them pay if they get sloppy and turn the ball over.
Be Focused and Ready for a Tough Game – The Thunder are a very good team and they play exceptional defense. The Celtics have to be ready to go to the basket if they struggle from three. They also have to be ready to shoot from midrange if both the paint and the perimeter are defended tightly. The Celtics must stay focused on playing hard for 48 minutes and on playing tough defense and on playing the right way. They can’t afford to let the Thunder play harder than them.
X-Factors On the Road – The Celtics are playing in their 3rd straight road game. The Thunder have the advantage of being at home in front of their fans and they have great fans. The Celtics need to overcome the distractions of travel and playing on the road in front of hostile fans. This is also the final game of a road trip and those are among the toughest games to win as the team is road weary and sometimes focus isn’t where it should be because of it.
Officiating – Officiating is always an x-factor. How the refs call the game has a big influence on how the teams play. Will they let them play or call every little bit of contact? Will they call it evenly or will they favor one team or the other. It all effects the outcome of the game and the Celtics need to play the right way and not allow the officiating to take them out of their game. They can’t let bad calls and no calls take away their focus.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 13: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns passes over Ben Sheppard #26 and Aaron Nesmith #23 of the Indiana Pacers during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on November 13, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Pacers 133-98. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s the second game of the Suns’ six-game road trip, and the Pacers are the most winnable game. The Suns cannot lose this game.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 3: Jevon Carter #2 of the Orlando Magic defends as Sharife Cooper #13 of the Washington Wizards controls the ball in the third quarter at the Kia Center on March 3, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. 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 Peter Joneleit/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards play the Orlando Magic at 7 p.m. ET. Watch on Monumental Sports Network. Chat on this posts as we root for Washington to victory! Yes, I wrote that with a straight face!
(Hopefully, no one drops 83+ points on the Wizards this time.)
New York Yankees pitcher Will Warren (98) pitches during the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium.
LAKELAND, Fla. — Though Jasson Domínguez knew before he even went to bed Wednesday night that he’d be going up against Justin Verlander on Thursday at Joker Marchant Stadium, Will Warren was blissfully unaware until after he arrived to the ballpark and saw the future Hall of Famer getting ready for his Grapefruit League start.
“I didn’t realize he was pitching today until I went to warm up,’’ Warren said. “He was doing his own thing and I just said, ‘I’m gonna move over. He’s done it a lot longer than I have.’ ”
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Warren looked good in his outing, lasting six full innings as he tries to follow up on a season in which he made 33 starts — only Giants ace Logan Webb made more.
The move to the third base side of the rubber is paying dividends, with Warren saying it “opened up a lot.”
“My pitches seem sharper,’’ the right-hander said. “I’m not falling behind as much, and that gives me confidence I can get anyone out.”
Max Fried is slated to start the March 25 season opener in San Francisco, and Aaron Boone said after Thursday’s 4-3 win over the Tigers that he “had an idea” of how the rest of the rotation would look to start the season, but declined to elaborate.
But he’s been impressed with Warren’s swing-and-miss stuff and efficiency. Warren’s next step is to avoid the occasional disastrous outing that plagued him a year ago.
“To me, he looks another year along in his development,’’ Boone said.
New York Yankees pitcher Will Warren (98) pitches during the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on March 12, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Boone has few questions about the top relievers in the bullpen, but with less than two weeks remaining until the start of the regular season, he and his staff are still looking for answers about the final two spots.
A pair of candidates, Cade Winquest and Angel Chivilli, were acquired in the offseason and pitched Thursday.
Winquest, a Rule 5 acquisition from St. Louis, tossed a scoreless inning, and Chivilli, picked up in a trade with Colorado, allowed a run in his lone inning of work.
New York Yankees pitcher Cade Winquest pitching in February. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“He’s had some good and some struggles,’’ Boone said of Chivilli.
Chivilli’s changeup and slider have stood out, but as Boone has noted about several bullpen arms this spring, “It’s about commanding the strike zone. He’s got weapons to get you out. He’s had ups and downs.”
The Yankees remain confident Lombard’s bat will come around, especially as the 20-year-old fills out.
For the spring, Lombard is 5-for-27 with three extra-base hits, six walks and a dozen strikeouts.
And as was the case with Spencer Jones, who also is no longer with the major league team, Lombard will continue to get playing time with the big league roster.
Ivica Zubac hasn't taken the court since Feb. 2 due to a left ankle sprain, and while he was out he was traded from the LA Clippers to the Indiana Pacers. Thursday night, he will make his debut for his new team.
This season with the Clippers, Zubac averaged 14.4 points and 11 rebounds per game, shooting 61.3% from the floor. He will also provide a defensive presence in the paint that Indiana has lacked all season. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Zubac would eventually play this season, this may have been a little quicker than his expected return but he is back.
While Zubac is back, the Pacers don't want him to start helping them win games quite yet. As part of the trade, Indiana's first-round pick this June goes to the Clippers, however, the pick is top-four protected. At 15-50, Indiana has the league's worst record, but with lottery odds, that makes just a 52% chance Indy gets to keep the pick. Indiana, Brooklyn, Sacramento and Washington are in a tight "race" to the bottom — they are all within two games of each other in the standings — and if the Pacers fall to the fourth-worst record, then they end up on the wrong side of those coin flip odds.
The Pacers traded a first-round pick for Zubac looking ahead to next season. That's when Zubac will be setting picks for a healthy Tyrese Haliburton (out for the season with a torn Achilles), as well as Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard — and maybe a young star they draft this June.
When the St. Louis Blues traded Justin Faulk to the Detroit Red Wings, they received a package that included a 2026 first-round pick.
While the first-round pick was the sought-after target, Dmitri Buchelnikov is quietly a potential great addition. The 22-year-old winger had an impressive 2024-25 season in the KHL, posting 15 goals and 54 points in 65 games.
This season hasn’t been as successful for Buchelnikov, scoring 13 goals and 23 points in 41 games, but the talent remains. He’ll have the opportunity to rebound, as he signed an extension to his contract in the KHL.
The former Red Wings second-round pick (52nd overall) in the 2022 NHL draft has signed a one-year contract with CSKA Moskva, meaning he’ll remain in Russia until May 31, 2027.
Standing 5-foot-10, 163 pounds, Buchelnikov isn’t the biggest player you’ll find, but his speed and skill more than make up for his lack of size.
The Red Wings thought very highly of Buchelnikov, and it’s no wonder why the Blues wanted him involved in the deal. There are concerns that he may not be interested in coming to the NHL, but signing just a one-year extension should give the Blues confidence that he will come to North America.
Although it is unfortunate for the Blues, there could have been opportunities for him to earn an NHL roster spot out of training camp, or at the very least start the season with the Springfield Thunderbirds and earn a call-up.
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CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 27: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers argues a call with referee Karl Lane #77 during the second quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 27, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
They were also on the wrong end of a few calls that helped determine the game.
First, Keon Ellis was called for a shooting foul that he didn’t commit. When he tried to tell the bench to review the play, he was called for a technical. The foul was overturned on review, but the technical wasn’t.
Needing to use the review there cost them in the final 20 seconds of a two-point game. The ball appeared to have gone out of bounds off an Orlando player. The Cavs couldn’t challenge because they won their two challenges earlier in the game and aren’t allowed a third. Then, Desmond Bane hit a game-sealing three after the inbound to secure the victory.
If the call had gone the other way, the Cavs would’ve had a chance to tie or win the game on their final possession. It’s also worth pointing out that the league’s Last Two Minute report said that the call on the floor was correct.
Not being able to review the call in the moment is something that Donovan Mitchell took issue with.
“I’m having a hard time with the rule of once you’ve had two challenges you can’t get any more, especially when you win both,” Mitchell said in a cleveland.com article by Chris Fedor. “I don’t know what the rule should be. If you’re winning challenges, especially on calls that are very obvious, I think it’s something that should be talked about.”
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Mitchell is right to feel this way, and he did clarify that it wasn’t the reason they lost. It’s deflating to feel like the outcome of a game is affected by something neither team can control.
At the same time, missed calls happen to every team in every game in every sport. And it will keep happening as long as sports are played. It’s just as much part of the game as missed shots, turnovers, or the basketball itself.
There’s the thought that if there were more replay reviews, we’d somehow make things more fair. And while the increased use of replay does help get more calls correct, sports will never be completely fair. The more you try to make it that way, the more you end up highlighting that it isn’t, and never will be.
There’s also the fact that there’s no amount of replays that would make things better. If you’re allowed two challenges, you’ll always think you should be allowed three. And so on.
Additionally, there are calls that can’t easily be reviewed. For example, the missed goaltending call in the Cavs game against the Oklahoma City Thunder proved to be monumental. Instead of two points for the Cavs, OKC ended up with a transition three.
How are you supposed to stop that from happening? Should they halt play any time there’s a close call? That isn’t exciting. Do you give the team that was goaltended against two points? That would help, but it’s still unfair that OKC got a three in transition? Do you rewind the game to the time and score when the goaltend happen? That would be pretty anticlimactic. Not every problem has a clean solution, so you will never completely fix everything.
Adding more replays hasn’t made the product better in any sport; it just leaves you more unsatisfied while also derailing any momentum the game had. You will never create a system where every judgment call is right. And you know what, it’s okay to accept that’s just part of the game.
Sports and life in general are unfair. There’s a certain amount of luck involved in winning, which includes the officiating. That wasn’t on the Cavs’ side on Wednesday, and they weren’t good enough to overcome it. We’ll all be happier if we just accept that this is just part of the sport.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 15: Caleb Ferguson #43 of the Seattle Mariners pitches during the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in game three of the American League Championship Series at T-Mobile Park on October 15, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Left-hander Caleb Ferguson was signed by the Cincinnati Reds this offseason to a 1-year contract that will pay him $4.5 million, the first move of several to help backfill a bullpen that had seen quite the exodus.
Taylor Rogers was jettisoned at the trade deadline last year due to poor performance, while each of Brent Suter, Reiver Sanmartin, and Joe La Sorsa headed elsewhere after the season. Southpaw relief for the bullpen was a primary need for Nick Krall and Co. heading into the winter, and signing Ferguson – the owner of a career 3.66 ERA and 10.0 K/9 across 7 seasons – was the first big domino to fall.
The problem now, though, is that it looks like Ferguson won’t be around on Opening Day to help the Reds at all. As MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon relayed today, Ferguson is dealing with an oblique injury, one that will sideline him for at least a couple of weeks and effectively rule him out for the first active Reds roster of the year.
That leaves Sam Moll and Brock Burke as lefty relievers who are almost assured to make the Opening Day roster. Just how creative the Reds get beyond those two is where it gets a little interesting.
With Hunter Greene now out for months following elbow surgery, there will be two starting rotation spots up for grabs over the coming weeks, too. Each of Chase Burns and Rhett Lowder appear to have the inside track for those, but Brandon Williamson – a fellow lefty – is very much still in the mix. Whether or not the Reds would choose to carry all three of those talented arms in order to a) make sure there’s another lefty on-staff and b) to potentially piggy-back those guys to save innings for later in the year remains to be seen, but it would certainly be one way of making sure the most talented arms in the organization are all at the highest level.
More likely, of course, is that the Reds will simply use that open bullpen spot on one of their arms who is already set as a reliever and keep one of that trio of starters stretched out at AAA Louisville. That means the likes of Zach Maxwell, Luis Mey, and the inconsistent Connor Phillips each got a boost to their Opening Day roster chances with this news. It would also, I would assume, put the recently acquired Kyle Nicolas in-line to be on the roster for Game 1, too.
SCOTTSDALE — With less than two weeks until Opening Day, the Giants are still trying to figure out which pitchers will emerge as their best relievers. One potential option is headed for tests on his elbow, potentially knocking him out of that race.
Right-hander Hayden Birdsong felt soreness in his right elbow during an outing on Tuesday and will get checked by team doctors, manager Tony Vitello confirmed after Thursday’s spring training game. The news first was reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.
Birdsong has had an up-and-down spring but showed promise on Tuesday, striking out one in a scoreless inning and hitting 99 mph. Vitello said he caught up with the young pitcher before Thursday’s game.
“(He’d) like to know what’s going on, so they’re looking into that,” Vitello said. “Obviously on a personal level you want what’s best for each one of these guys … he’s one that everyone has gotten close to because of his likability, coachability and his talent, but as of right now it’s out of my hands. I’m not a (medical) expert.”
The Giants likely will be extremely cautious with Birdsong no matter what tests say. He is still viewed as a big part of their future, and the hope is that he can figure out his command issues and turn back into a good option for the rotation. There also has been some thought this spring that Birdsong could excel in short sprints and help a bullpen that is the clear weak spot on the roster; he did that early last season and looked comfortable.
A few of the pitchers vying for bullpen spots pitched on Thursday, and another young right-hander was a standout. Keaton Winn hit 99 mph and showed off a nasty splitter. In five appearances this spring, Winn has struck out six and allowed just one run.
“It’s not been once, it’s not been twice, it’s been three times and maybe even a little more of he’s gone out there and thrown the ball well,” Vitello said. “The stuff has upticked, and then he’s throwing it in there with conviction. It’s a pretty good overall combination.”
Cutting Down
There are often multiple rounds of cuts by this point of the spring, but the new coaching staff wanted to get an extended look at unfamiliar young players, and the fact that so many veterans left for the WBC made it easy to find playing time. That’s about to change, though, and on Thursday the Giants reassigned four players to minor league camp: Right-handers Trent Harris and Will Bednar, outfielder Bo Davidson, and catcher Diego Cartaya.
Harris and Bednar should return to Triple-A Sacramento, and both could be options for the big league bullpen this season. Davidson is the organization’s top outfield prospect and will start the season in Double-A; he made a dozen spring appearances and was 3-for-14 at the plate.
Cartaya’s next step is more of a mystery. The 24-year-old was once one of the best prospects in the minors and has played for the Triple-A affiliates of both the Los Angeles Dodgers and Minnesota Twins. But the Giants could have Jesus Rodriguez, Eric Haase and Logan Porter as Triple-A catching depth, and it’s clear the staff feels Cartaya needs a lot more development. He had just five spring at-bats before getting reassigned.
Almost Back
Erik Miller will make his spring debut Friday after missing time with lower back tightness. Miller should have enough time to get built up by the March 25 opener, which is crucial for the Giants.
Miller is not only their top left-handed reliever, but also a candidate to pitch in the seventh or eighth regardless of matchups. He had a 1.50 ERA in 36 appearances last season before feeling elbow discomfort. He didn’t need surgery, but Friday’s appearance will still be his first against big league hitters since a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 2.
The Giants should also soon get Gregory Santos back in a Cactus League game. The hard-throwing right-hander was making a strong push for a roster spot before going on bereavement leave, and Vitello said the missed time won’t impact his standing in the bullpen competition.
Familiar Face
LaMonte Wade Jr. got a nice ovation before the game when his name was announced and again when he came up for the first time. The former Giants first baseman went 1-for-3 against his old team, continuing what has been a solid first spring for the Chicago White Sox.
Wade has a .828 OPS with one homer after signing a minor league deal with Chicago late in the offseason. He is viewed within their camp as a potential option for their bench.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Tom Dundon has sold a portion of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes to three new minority owners.
The team announced Thursday that Brett Jefferson, Marc Grandisson and retired hockey player Bobby Farnham had joined the ownership group.
“Brett, Marc and Bobby are accomplished business executives whose experiences and knowledge will help us continue to grow our team’s success and impact,” Dundon said. “Brett lives in the (area) and Marc will soon relocate to Raleigh, so their influence will be locally-based. As a former NHL player, Bobby is uniquely positioned to help our ownership group as we move forward.”
The Hurricanes did not disclose financial terms. Sportico reported last week that Dundon had agreed to sell 12.5% at a valuation of $2.66 billion for approximately $332.5 million.
Jefferson founded an asset management firm. Grandisson, now retired, worked as an executive in the insurance industry. Farnham, who's just 37 years old, played 67 NHL games before going into the private investment business.
The Hurricanes said they would be introduced prior to their home game against Pittsburgh on Wednesday.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: Daylen Lile #4 of the Washington Nationals slides into second base against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning of a spring training game at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 11, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Led by a dominant 3 shutout innings from recently named Opening Day starter Cade Cavalli, the Nats beat the Cardinals 3-1 yesterday to improve to 10-4 on the spring, 2nd second in all of baseball. Cavalli has had as good of a Spring Training as you could hope for, as he has now thrown 9 shutout innings over 3 starts, with just 1 hit allowed. His newly added sweeper is looking sharp as well, generating lots of weak contact from right-handed hitters so far.
Jake Irvin takes the mound tonight for the Nats, and he has looked impressive as well this month, throwing 5 scoreless innings and striking out 6 batters. The lineup behind him looks rather standard, with James Wood and Daylen Lile being the only starters sitting, and Robert Hassell III and Christian Franklin taking their places. One notable defensive positioning is Nasim Nunez getting the start at third base, an opportunity to hone his skills at another position on the dirt.
The Astros will counter with a lineup filled with starters, with Jose Altuve and Isaac Paredes being the most notable names missing from the starting 9. On the bump for the Astros is right-handed pitcher Mike Burrows, who was acquired from the Pirates in the winter and has thrown 8.2 scoreless innings to start his spring.
With the addition of Zack Littell, room in the Nationals’ rotation is tightening, and guys like Jake Irvin are on the chopping block, making every start critical for him to show he’s made real improvements from last season. I will be watching how he uses his pitch mix today and if he can maintain strong velocity throughout the outing. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 7: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the Orlando Magic on March 7, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Just a week ago, the Minnesota Timberwolves seemed to be heading in the exact right direction. They defeated the Toronto Raptors in one of their most complete performances of the season, securing their fifth straight victory and moving the Wolves into third place in the Western Conference for the first time since they were 1-0. The vibes were high.
Over the past three games, everything has completely flipped for the Wolves. They’ve decisively lost their last three games, all by double-digits or more. All areas of the game have fallen apart at one point or another during this stretch for the Timberwolves, which has made it impossible to focus on just one aspect.
It started Saturday afternoon at Target Center when the Timberwolves lost 119-92 to the Orlando Magic. The Wolves’ offense fell apart down the stretch of the first half as the Wolves went nearly five full minutes without a single point, allowing the Magic to go on a 16-0 run. After the game, Edwards either wasn’t sure or wasn’t willing to share what went wrong offensively.
The terrible offense continued into the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday when the Wolves scored just 45 points on 18-45 shooting from the field and 4-22 from beyond the arc. Minnesota’s first-half defense kept them in the game, but eventually, the pairing of Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves broke through, combining for 62 points in the 14-point win over the Wolves.
Edwards had an especially poor game, going 2-15 from the field, including 1-10 from deep. Ant did get to the line ten times to boost his scoring total a bit, but with the Lakers’ defense playing heavy in the gaps to take away driving lanes and passing angles, Edwards was unable to generate consistent offense, over-relying on his step-back 3-pointer while over-dribbling the ball instead of making quick decisions with the ball.
Anthony Edwards had possibly his worst performance of the season last night against the Lakers where he had 14 points on 2-15 shooting, 1-10 from three, 9-10 from the line, 4 assists and 2 turnovers
The following night, the Timberwolves finally got their offense back on track when they didn’t turn the ball over as they scored 128 points and made nearly 60 percent of their shots. Their issues violently shifted to the other side of the court, though, as the Wolves gave up 153 points, which tied the Clippers’ franchise record for points in regulation.
It was an extraordinarily ugly performance across the roster for the Wolves. Kawhi Leonard scored 45 points on 15-20 shooting, including six 3-pointers, and nine free throws to go along with five assists. The Clippers as a team shot 63.4 percent from the floor and 51.4 percent from beyond the arc while scoring 35 or more points in each quarter.
The poor defense of both Edwards and Julius Randle stood out most. The two leaders of the team were missing rotations, often forgot to box out, were ball-watching on many possessions, and overall provided little resistance to the LA offense.
“I just gotta be better,” Edwards stated after the game, taking accountability for his performance. “Whoever I’m guarding. Trying to set the tone to start the game, I gotta be better. It’s just me, everything is about me.” Ant later said, “I gotta find a way to get us out of it, it’s all my fault.”
It’s a good sign that Edwards is recognizing that the problem and the potential solution both reside with him as the best player. The likelihood is that the Edwards and Timberwolves will turn it around because that has been their pattern for at least four seasons now. Every time their season feels on the brink of collapse, the Wolves have made fans, and those who cover them feel stupid for ever doubting them.
The issue is that the Wolves can’t just rely on what they’ve done in the past; they need to be better. Much better. While the last two seasons have undoubtedly been successful, as the Wolves made it to back-to-back Western Conference Finals, they also did not come close to winning either series, losing both series in five games.
Now 66 games into the season, the Wolves have shown little reason why they are a legitimate threat to win the championship. On the season, they are 11th in Offensive Rating, 12th in Defensive Rating, and 11th in Net Rating according to NBA.com. They are on pace for fewer than 50 wins and currently have a 5-9 record against the teams currently seeded one through six in the Western Conference.
Most notably, the Oklahoma City Thunder, who eliminated the Timberwolves in the West Finals a season ago, appear to be further ahead of the Wolves than at any time before. Despite being one of the most injured teams in the NBA, OKC leads Minnesota by 11 games in the standings. The Thunder seem primed to defend their title no matter who they face, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on track to win his second consecutive MVP award.
To a certain extent, it’s fair to believe the Wolves can “flip the switch” and perform at a higher level than they have in the regular season. Edwards specifically has shown the ability to turn up his level of play and intensity in the playoffs with his ability to wipe away any of the warts that had shown up throughout the year.
At a certain point, though, the numbers and level of performance in the regular season start to become damning. At no point during this regular season have the Wolves put together a weeks-long stretch indicative of a team that can win three or four straight rounds in the playoffs.
Edwards and the Wolves have just not played with the level of consistency indicative of a championship-caliber team. Maybe Oklahoma City is an unfair bar, given SGA is set to break Wilt Chamberlain’s record for consecutive 20-point games, but the Wolves’ play can’t vary so much that one night they score only 92 points and two games later they are giving up 153.
The Wolves’ season is still far from over. They currently sit just a half-game back of the three seed in the Western Conference, and everything is still left in front of them in terms of meeting preseason expectations. With just 16 games left on Minnesota’s schedule, though, this week’s stretch of awful basketball likely has to become a turning point that gets looked back on as when things began to change.
It has to be rock bottom. If it’s not, the roster and possibly beyond will look a whole lot different come next season.
