The Carolina Hurricanes travel west to take on the Vancouver Canucks tonight.
Kevin Lankinen will see plenty of action inside Rogers Arena, and my Hurricanes vs. Canucks predictions are counting on the Vancouver netminder staying busy between the pipes.
Find out more in my NHL picks for Wednesday, March 4.
Hurricanes vs Canucks prediction
Hurricanes vs Canucks best bet: Kevin Lankinen Over 27.5 saves (-120)
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen has been lit up to the tune of an .800 save percentage and 5.20 GAA across his past seven appearances, so we’re landing a fair total for his saves total tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes are second in the league in shots per game (32.1) and pace the NHL in Corsi For percentage at five-on-five, so Carolina is positioned to pepper Lankinen with rubber.
Additionally, Vancouver has allowed an average of 30.9 shots over its past eight games and just traded away top-four defenseman Tyler Myers.
Hurricanes vs Canucks same-game parlay
In addition to the Hurricanes dominating possession at the 5-on-5, they’ve also allowed the seventh-fewest goals per game (2.8).
Turning to the final leg of this same-game parlay, Canucks winger Connor Garland has recorded 2+ shots in six of his past nine games, including racking up a team-high 40 attempts.
Carolina has hit the Under in seven of its last nine road games (+4.95 Units / 50% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Hurricanes vs. Canucks.
How to watch Hurricanes vs Canucks
Location
Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC
Date
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Puck drop
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN-SO, SNP
Hurricanes vs Canucks latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Florida Panthers have placed defenseman Tobias Bjornfot and goaltender Louis Domingue on NHL waivers.
Bjornfot has been up with the Panthers since Jan. 4, skating in 11 games, recording two goals and three points, while averaging 11:33 of ice time. Bjornfot has performed well in the NHL this season, but with the return of Dmitry Kulikov and the expected return of Seth Jones in the short term, roster and salary cap space will need to open up.
If Bjornfot clears waivers, he’ll return to the Charlotte Checkers in the AHL, where he was named an All-Star, although he did not attend the All-Star event as he was with the Panthers in the NHL at the time.
As for Domingue, he’s been signed to an AHL deal since November, but after the Panthers inked him to a two-way deal, he’ll need to clear waivers to be able to rejoin the Checkers.
He’s only played seven games with the Checkers, recording an .831 save percentage and a 3.20 goals-against average.
Domingue is less of a threat to be claimed off waivers than Bjornfot is. At 24 years old, Bjornfot has 145 games of NHL experience, which could entice teams to add him as potential depth as we near the post-season.
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TEMPE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 21: Josue de Paula #95 of the Los Angeles Dodgers walks before the spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium on February 21, 2026 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers take a break from Cactus League action to host Team Mexico on Wednesday. It’s one of 15 games across Arizona and Florida on Wednesday with a World Baseball Classic team tuning up by playing a major league team.
Tyler Glasnow takes the ball first for the Dodgers against Mexico. Emmet Sheehan is also slated to pitch. Josue De Paula has played nearly every day this spring, but today is his first start.
Following yesterday’s break from Cactus League action to play an exhibition against Team Brazil, the Athletics return to traditional spring training action this afternoon against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Left-hander Jeffrey Springs will be making the start for the A’s today. He is looking for an improved performance this afternoon after giving up for runs in nearly two innings in his spring debut last Friday. Last year, Springs was reliable and available, finishing the season with a 4.11 ERA compiled over 30 starts. Entering his second season with this team, the A’s need him to continue taking the ball every fifth day and pitching to the best of his capabilities in order for the team to reach its lofty goals.
The A’s lineup this afternoon shakes out like this:
The starting nine the A’s are jotting out today is full of regulars. In fact, the team’s lineup card they submit to the umpires on Opening Day in Toronto may look the exact same, at least the first seven batters. The final two batters, minor leaguers Henry Bolte and Junior Perez, are getting the start due to players still recovering from injury (Lawrence Butler) and with their World Baseball Classic (WBC) teams (Denzel Clarke and Carlos Cortes). After a slow start, Bolte has been playing better the past few days, showing off his all-around skillset that makes him the team’s top outfield prospect.
Diamondbacks right-handed pitcher Brandon Pfaadt will be making his 2026 spring training debut. He will likely not pitch more than an inning or two. Here is how Arizona lines up behind him:
The Diamondbacks lineup is largely devoid of regulars, aside from the team’s starting catcher, Gabriel Moreno, who will be their designated hitter this afternoon. This is because Arizona has had multiple starters leave camp to join their respective countries for the WBC. As a result, there is no excuse for Springs to not perform better in his second spring outing as he continues preparing for the start of the regular season.Can the A’s make it three wins in three days? Let’s go A’s!
Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn could be one of the most underappreciated players in the NBA.
He's not only Los Angeles’ top perimeter defender, but the veteran guard has upped his offensive efforts over the past month, averaging almost 10 points per game in the Clippers' last 10 outings.
Los Angeles is a sizable home favorite against the Indiana Pacers tonight, and my Pacers vs. Clippers predictions and NBA picks like Dunn to keep contributing on both ends of the floor.
Pacers vs Clippers prediction
Pacers vs Clippers best bet: Kris Dunn Over 7.5 points (-105)
As mentioned, Kris Dunn has been doing more on the offensive side since early February.
He’s scored 8+ points in seven of the L.A. Clippers' past 10 games, including 16 points in the recent win over Golden State.
Dunn, who went 7-for-10 in just 26 minutes Monday, faces an Indiana Pacers team riding out a lost season. Indiana has dropped six straight showings and sits 27th in defensive rating over its last 10 outings.
Wednesday’s game will have a quicker tempo, with Indiana involved, and Dunn’s player projections range from 7.9 to 8.8 points.
Pacers vs Clippers same-game parlay
The Clippers are fighting to stay in the conversation for the play-in tournament while the Pacers are in full “tank mode”, sliding into L.A. on a six-game losing skid. Indiana is 1-9 SU and 4-6 ATS in non-conference road games.
Dunn is averaging almost 10 points over the last 10 games. His projections flirt with nine points versus a Pacers team trying to tank for a Top 3 pick.
Andrew Nembhard is seeing his playing time tick down with Indiana giving up on the season, and the guard is nursing a sore back. His projections are as low as 12.4 points tonight.
Pacers vs Clippers SGP
Clippers -12.5
Kris Dunn Over 7.5 points
Andrew Nembhard Under 15.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Best Supporting Actors
In La La Land, you need a strong supporting cast. With the Clippers running away from the Pacers, I like L.A. to spread the love around to Dunn, Brook Lopez, and Kobe Sanders — all of whom are projected to top their scoring totals tonight.
Pacers vs Clippers SGP
Clippers -12.5
Kris Dunn Over 7.5 points
Brook Lopez Over 9.5 points
Kobe Sanders Over 6.5 points
Pacers vs Clippers odds
Spread: Pacers +12.5 | Clippers -12.5
Moneyline: Pacers +500 | Clippers -700
Over/Under: Over 227 | Under 227
Pacers vs Clippers betting trend to know
The Pacers have only covered twice in the past 11 games since February 3. Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. Clippers.
How to watch Pacers vs Clippers
Location
Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
Date
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Tip-off
10:30 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN-Indiana, FDSN-SoCal
Pacers vs Clippers latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 25: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Houston Rockets on December 25, 2025 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. 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 Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Once again, the Western Conference playoff race is looking to be a tight one, and the Lakers are right in the thick of it.
Entering the final weeks of the season, little separates seeds three through seven, meaning nearly anything is on the table for the Lakers. By the start of the playoffs, they could be looking at home court advantage or staring at another play-in game.
The difference in their spot in the standings could be the smallest of tiebreakers.
Here is how seeding is decided in the event that two teams have an identical record at the end of the regular season, via NBA.com
TIEBREAKER BASIS FOR TWO-WAY TIES:
(-) Tie breaker not needed (better overall winning percentage)
(1) Head-to-head won-lost percentage
(2) Division leader wins tie from team not leading a division
(3) Division won-lost percentage for teams in the same division
(4) Conference won-lost percentage
(5) W-L Percentage vs. Playoff eligible teams, own conference
(6) W-L Percentage vs. Playoff eligible teams, other conference
(7) Net Points, all games
With head-to-head being the first decider, let’s take a look at the tiebreaker situation between the Lakers and all teams they are currently competing with for a playoff spot.
Houston Rockets
The Lakers lost to the Rockets on Christmas Day, the only matchup between the two teams. However, LA heads to Houston for a pair of games in mid-March, their final two games of the season against Houston. The Lakers will need to win both contests to own the tiebreaker.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Since the Lakers have won all three games against the Wolves, they have swept the season series and hold the tiebreaker. The Lakers were dominated by the Wolves in the postseason last year, but this season, they took care of business against their Western Conference opponent.
Denver Nuggets
Under Lakers head coach JJ Redick, the Lakers have had success against the Nuggets. Last year, they split the season series 2-2, and this season, they’ve beaten Denver the only time they’ve played.
The Lakers have two games left against the Nuggets, so they need one more victory to gain the advantage over their Western Conference foe.
Phoenix Suns
With only one game remaining between the two, the Suns already own the tiebreaker over the Lakers as they’ve won three of the four contests.
The Lakers and Suns play an extra game this season after meeting during the NBA Cup knockouts rounds following losses for both sides in the quarterfinals.
Golden State Warriors
Considering that the Lakers are six games ahead of the Warriors and that Golden State is currently playing without Steph Curry, it’s very unlikely these teams will have the same record when it’s all said and done.
Currently, LA is ahead 2-1 in the season series, but they need to win the final matchup they have against the Warriors on Apr. 9 or else they’ll be even in head-to-head matchups on the year.
Even if LA loses this upcoming game, the Warriors would have to have a better record in the Pacific Division, since that’s the next tiebreaker. Currently, Golden State is 6-6 in the division and the Lakers are 8-7. The aforementioned extra game against the Suns could be a determining factor in this tiebreaker.
Overall, the Lakers are in a good position in most tiebreaking situations. They have the advantage over the Wolves and can still win the tiebreakers over the Warriors, Nuggets and Rockets.
In short, they still control their own destiny. This late into the season, that’s exactly where teams want to be.
The Milwaukee Bucks brought back Giannis Antetokounmpo, but it is fair to wonder to what end. The Atlanta Hawks are four games ahead in the standings for the final Play-In spot in the Eastern Conference, and that should become five games tonight.
My Hawks vs. Bucks predictions and NBA picks will not put faith in Atlanta, but they will also not put faith in Giannis aside from crashing the glass on Wednesday, March 4.
Hawks vs Bucks prediction
Hawks vs Bucks best bet: Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 10.5 rebounds (+110)
Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to the court on Monday, his first action since late January. The Milwaukee Bucks’ cornerstone struggled from the field, going 7-of-18 for 19 points, but he was still an asset.
Antetokounmpo’s 11 rebounds showed he’s still impacting the game despite being out of rhythm. That rhythm might take time to return, but those misses create more chances for him to crash the boards against the Atlanta Hawks.
Hawks vs Bucks same-game parlay
Antetokounmpo’s rhythm will struggle as long as he is on a minutes restriction, playing just 25 in his return.
Milwaukee’s three-game losing streak will also plague some of his play, as the Bucks have little incentive to win or stress their superstar.
Hawks vs Bucks SGP
Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 10.5 rebounds
Giannis Antetokounmpo Under 25.5 points
Hawks moneyline
Our "from downtown" SGP: Broken Bucks
Milwaukee has not cracked 100 points in its last three games, a trend that underscores that this roster is more broken than Antetokounmpo deserves.
Hawks vs Bucks SGP
Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 10.5 rebounds
Giannis Antetokounmpo Under 25.5 points
Hawks moneyline
Under 232.5
Hawks vs Bucks odds
Spread: Hawks +1 (-110) | Bucks -1 (-110)
Moneyline: Hawks -105 | Bucks -115
Over/Under: Over 232.5 (-110) | Under 232.5 (-110)
Hawks vs Bucks betting trend to know
Milwaukee is 0-3 against the spread in its last three games, falling short of bookmakers’ expectations by at least 20 points in each of those games. Find more NBA betting trends for Hawks vs. Bucks.
How to watch Hawks vs Bucks
Location
Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Tip-off
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Hawks vs Bucks latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Ahead of Friday's NHL trade deadline, the market is flush with right-shot defenseman, which works for and against the Philadelphia Flyers. If they want to add, though, now might be a good time.
With Western Conference contenders like Edmonton and Dallas adding the likes of Tyler Myers and Connor Murphy, respectively, the Flyers are rapidly losing trade destinations for veteran Rasmus Ristolainen.
Still, Buffalo, Detroit, and Boston remain as legitimate, but overall less likely, trade partners for Ristolainen and the Flyers.
And should the Flyers end up dealing Ristolainen like everyone expects them to, they can quickly pivot up the turnpike and replace him with a younger, exciting, and more talented option.
On Wednesday, NHL insider Pierre LeBrun reported that the New Jersey Devils are fielding calls on 2022 No. 2 overall pick Simon Nemec as they work through their defensive logjam and attempt to find some long-term roster clarity.
"New Jersey happy to keep him, but if there's a deal that upgrades their forwards in a real way, they're going to listen," LeBrun said of Nemec.
The Flyers, of course, are flush with middle-six options that would help their Metropolitan Division rivals out at the cost of a future top-four defenseman.
Names like Bobby Brink, and Owen Tippett, especially, make the most sense for the Devils, as do Tyson Foerster and Noah Cates.
The Devils badly need center depth and complementary pieces for Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier, and Tippett, Cates, and Foerster should all be enough to begin moving the needle for Nemec.
As we know, the Flyers are eventually going to need to move out bodies on their flanks to make room for their youngsters.
Porter Martone is virtually earmarked for an NHL role next season, and Denver Barkey has been earning his keep as an injury replacement for Foerster. Nikita Grebenkin could always take on a larger role, and players like Alex Bump and Shane Vansaghi will eventually make their ways into the lineup, too.
We'd also be unwise to rule out forwards Jack Berglund and Jett Luchanko for NHL roster spots next season.
It's not overly common for two rivals to make a deal of this magnitude, but this would work out very well for both sides.
Tippett should be the Devils' first choice, even if there is some extra work to be done in regards to the salary cap afterwards. Then, a top-six role immediately opens up for Martone out of college.
The Flyers' defense would then boast both Nemec and Jamie Drysdale with Oliver Bonk, Spencer Gill, and Carter Amico still on the way. Presumably, one of those players would be swapped with a left-shot option to balance things out.
Nemec, 22, has 21 points in 47 games this season and has taken a real step forward at both ends of the ice.
Provided Travis Sanheim moves back to the left side for the Flyers, Nemec immediately becomes their No. 1 right-shot defenseman.
If the two sides can get a beneficial deal done, the opportunities to get the rebuild going again would be nearly endless for the Flyers.
PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 02: Gary Gill Hill #17 of Team Great Britain poses for a photo during the Team Great Britain photo day at American Family Fields of Phoenix on Monday, March 2, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Previous Winner
Gary Gill Hill, RHP 21 | 6’2” | 160 A+ | 3.82 ERA, 4.37 FIP, 136.2 IP (25 GS), 18.8% K, 5.3% BB
A groundballer, Gill Hill was a feather in the cap for the Rays scouting department when snagged in the sixth round in 2022. He raised his armslot in 2024 to great success, but got off to a rocky start in 2025, which muddies the water on his statline. On the whole, GGH has the body and the look to be a major league starter, particularly thanks to a plus fastball in the upper 90’s and plus control, but needs to find a longterm solution for opposite handed hitting as he climbs the ladder. Accordingly, he projects as a reliever until his arsenal finds a plus third pitch.
Rank
Player
Position
Votes
Total
Percentage
Last Season
1
Carson Williams
SS
14
25
56%
1
2
Brody Hopkins
RHP
19
25
76%
8
3
Jacob Melton
OF
14
28
50%
N/A
4
Theo Gillen
OF
14
26
54%
13
5
Ty Johnson
RHP
12
25
48%
15
6
Daniel Pierce
SS
13
23
57%
N/A
7
Jadher Areinamo
INF
15
28
54%
N/A
8
TJ Nichols
RHP
13
28
46%
N/R
9
Michael Forret
RHP
8
33
24%
N/A
10
Santiago Suarez
RHP
11
30
37%
16
11
Anderson Brito
RHP
7
28
25%
N/A
12
Xavier Isaac
1B
9
28
32%
3
13
Caden Bodine
C
10
25
40%
N/A
14
Brendan Summerhill
OF
11
27
41%
N/A
15
Slater de Brun
OF
10
25
40%
N/A
16
Nathan Flewelling
C
8
26
31%
N/R
17
Trevor Harrison
RHP
9
26
35%
10
18
Jose Urbina
RHP
13
26
50%
25
19
Tre’ Morgan
1B/LF
15
25
60%
4
20
Jackson Baumeister
RHP
12
27
44%
12
21
Aidan Smith
OF
17
29
59%
6
22
Homer Bush Jr.
OF
10
25
40%
21
23
Dom Keegan
C
10
28
36%
9
24
Gary Gill Hill
RHP
8
25
32%
11
The vote was well divided now that Keegan is off the board, eight other players got votes but none more than four, but we landed on Great Britain’s Gary Gill Hill. We add Taitn Gray next. Some suggestions for Testers: Mac Horvath, Joe Rock, Maykel Coret, Alex Cook, Warel Solano, Tatem Levins, Dean Moss, or Jonathan Russell.
Candidates
Fabricio Blanco, SS 17 | S/R | 5’11” | 161
A bat-first middle infielder, the Venezuelan is an elite prospect within the context of the international signing process, with some believing he’s the best Rays signee this off-season, despite gathering only a $1 million bonus. He can barrel up from both sides of the plate, but may settle into a right handed swing in the long term, with quick hands. He has the ability and instincts to stick at short, with a high-IQ approach and gritty demeanor.
Cooper Flemming, SS 19 | L/R | 6’3” | 190
One of the best high school bats in the 2025 draft, Flemming surprisingly fell into the Rays laps in the second round. He has a too-quiet swing that lacks the load necessary to hit for power, but he’s historically compensated for that with a high contact rate that would have rated him as first round material if his defense projected to stick. The Rays were able to convince him to forgo an education at Vanderbilt by going above slot ($2.3m, Comp-A money).
Taitn Gray, 1B/OF/C 18 | S/R | 6’4” | 220
The Rays 86th overall pick in 2025, Gray fell to the third round due to some concern about whether he will stick at catcher, but that buries the lead. Still just 17 at the time of the draft, Gray showed up to the Rays organization and proved his rumored power was real, running exit velocities up to 115 mph from both sides of the plate, although the left handed swing is sweeter. He has plus athleticism, which elevated his bat speed, foot speed, and fluidity — despite his size. It will be interesting to see where the Rays deploy him on defense, but it’s a great bat to dream on.
Brailer Guerrero, OF 20 | L/R | 6’1” | 215 A | 249.338/.399 (119 wRC+) 222 PA, 6 HR, 9 SB, 11.3% BB, 29.3% K AFL | 2 H, 0 HR, 2 SB, 3 BB, 16 K, 29 PA
Good news: the $3.7 million 2023 signee made the leap out of the complex league in his final teenage season. Bad News: He was injured yet again, with hamstring and knee injuries limiting him to 51 games for Charleston. The Rays tried to make up for lost time with an aggressive assignment to the AFL that resulted in only two hits in 29 plate appearances. He makes loud contact from a quick, quiet swing which he pre-loads by reaching back for even more power. He appears to make early decisions to swing, leading to a bit extra whiffs against anything off-speed, but that could easily clear up with some consistent playing time.
Victor Mesa Jr., OF 24 | L/L | 5’11” | 195 AAA (MIA) | .301/.368/.510 (136 wRC+) 171 PA, 7 HR, 4 SB, 9.9% BB, 16.4% K MLB (MIA) | 6 H (1 HR), 5 BB, 5 K (81 wRC+) 38 PA
This Cuban power bat already made his major league debut with Miami last year after bouncing back from a spring hamstring injury, and was dealt to the Rays in February. He profiles as a fourth outfielder but has an option remaining, so the organization may send him down for regular playing time and one last chance for something more in development. If not, he’s a center field capable on defense, which goes a long way for a platoon bat. In the running for the nicest guy in baseball.
Acquired in the Shane Baz trade, Overn was once a top draft prospect after committing to baseball over football at USC, but surprisingly struggled as a draft-eligible sophomore. That didn’t stop Baltimore from taking him in the third round (97th overall) in 2024. Now a professional, Overn overhauled his swing in the first half of 2025, and earned an early promotion to Double-A for his efforts, where he didn’t look overmatched. His biggest threat is his speed, which raises his floor and gives him an easy projection to a major league bench thanks to plus defensive instincts (BA gave 70’s to his run and field tools). His offensive profile is buoyed by his ability to work the count, but evaluators would like to see him punish fastballs more often for him to be considered a regular.
The Rays 58th overall pick in 2024, Pitre has risen on draft boards through a strong performance in the Cape Cod league in 2023, but the power was a real question mark on his profile. Now given a chance to develop as a professional, he wouldn’t be the first to add muscle. His run and hit tools are plus, with a well coiled swing and solid contact in and out of zone. He’s too old to return to High-A and it be viewed as positive. His power stroke will be the key to his success in 2026.
Adrian Santana, SS 20 | S/R | 5’11” | 155 A+ | .263/.324/.326 (94 wRC+) 409 PA, 2 HR, 47 SB, 8.6% BB, 12.0% K
Once a top-ten or so prospect in 2024, Santana fell off our site’s 2025 list after failing to clear as an honorable mention. Why? The switch-hitting slick fielding short stop was the Rays 31st overall pick in 2023 but has delivered sub-100 wRC+ each stop of his career, although that got closer than ever last season, his third as a professional and his third as a teenager in the Rays system. Could expectations be too high on his bat? He has plus athleticism, is learning to wheelhouse, and has “acrobatic” defense at the hardest position in the game, with 98 swiped bags over the last two seasons. What happens if he survives the test of Double-A breaking balls?
Taylor entered 2025 as a top-100 prospect after demolishing High-A (154 wRC+), and left 2025 as an afterthought on prospect lists, although he was selected as an Arizona Fall League “Fall Star” in between, where he worked to keep his chase rate low and his hard hit rate high. The juice must have been worth the squeeze, as the Rays have elected to invite Taylor to major league Spring Training this year.
Victor Valdez, SS 17 | R/R | 6’1” | 186
A pretty swing with a low whiff rate earned Valdez a big payday this winter — $3.5 million — with as good of a power projection as you can reasonably ask for from a a teenage bat, having been given a 25+ home run projection by Baseball America, who also praise his plus foot speed, bat speed, and control of the zone. Reports say he has ever improving lateral movements on defense, with smooth actions and a strong arm. If it all clicks, it’s a middle-of-the-order bat on the left side of the infield. At signing, the Rays gave him a comp to Francisco Lindor. It will be interesting to see if his first professional season can solidify the five tool profile.
Nikola Jokic is considered by many to be the best player in the NBA today. He's even earned some top-ten all-time chatter in recent years. So, when Jokic's Denver Nuggets face the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, defensive specialist Lu Dort's job is simple: make Jokic's life a living hell for 48 minutes.
On Friday, Feb. 27, Dort tried to do just that, but went overboard, hip-checking Jokic as he was coming up the court.
Lu Dort was ejected after appearing to trip Nikola Jokic on this play.
Tempers flared. A fight broke out. And Dort was ejected.
Following Tuesday's win over the Chicago Bulls though, Dort was asked about the scuffle, to which he is now saying he crossed a line.
Dort said, "That’s a physical game and there’s limits to it. And I went over the limit." He continued, "That was an unnecessary move by me, something I shouldn’t have done."
What else did Dort say?
While Dort did admit he went too far, he also noted that any game between the Thunder and Nuggets turns into a physical affair.
"Every time we play against each other, it’s always a battle," he said. "It was a physical game throughout the whole game."
Dort continued, noting that his job of guarding the opposing team's best player every night can be taxing. "It’s not easy. Obviously, I play hard. I’m a physical player. It’s what I do for my team, and sometimes people think it’s too much, but it’s always [within] the rules of the game."
When asked if Dort considered himself a dirty player, Dort said no.
"I don’t think I’m dirty," he said. "I can’t control media. Media always wants to have some type of attention or anything. They want that buzz. I can’t control that. I’ve been doing well with this organization for years now. I’m happy with how I play and what I do with my teammates. I go out there, compete every night. So I’m gonna keep doing what I do on the court."
Is Dort considered a dirty player?
Throughout his seven years in the NBA, Dort's ejection on Friday was just the fourth of his career. He has nine technical fouls and six flagrant fouls to his name as well.
Those are actually small figures compared to some of the more notable enforcers around the league, like Draymond Green. However, Dort's reputation is that of someone willing to get physical, and although many of his tactics have not resulted in ejections, many players around the league believe he has earned the "dirty" moniker.
"I am quite confident we were selling high. Obviously, time will tell."
That was Philadelphia president Daryl Morey's quote after a deadline trade that sent second-year guard Jared McCain to Oklahoma City for the 2026 Houston Rockets first-round pick, as well as three second-round picks. Except it may not take that much time to think this is a big win for Oklahoma City — McCain scored 20 points off the bench to lead the Thunder to a win over the Bulls on Tuesday night, the third 20+ point game he's had for the team.
Since the trade, McCain has looked a lot like the guy we saw for the first 23 games last season, when he was the best rookie in the NBA. In 11 games with Oklahoma City, McCain is averaging 12.5 points per game, shooting 43.1% from beyond the arc, and flashing some playmaking skills. He is fitting right in — even getting Jaylin Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein to be part of his dancing TikTok posts.
All of this has led to a couple of questions: Why did the 76ers trade him in the first place? And why couldn't coach Nick Nurse get more out of him this season in Philadelphia?
The answer to the first question is easy: Money. Trading McCain ($4.2 million this season) got the 76ers below the luxury tax, and then waiving veteran guard Eric Gordon allowed the 76ers to convert the two-way contracts of Dominick Barlow and Jabari Parker to standard deals without entering the tax. This was Morey being good to owner Josh Harris and his crew — it's fair not to want to pay the luxury tax for a 33-28, sixth-seed team that is not a title contender (unless a ridiculous number of things break their way).
The other part of this is that when Morey talked about selling high, his implication was that there was not a lot of runway for McCain on a team with a glut of guards, including All-Star Tyrese Maxey, as well as VJ Edgecombe at the top of the pecking order. Nick Nurse struggled to find rotations he liked with McCain, Maxey, Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes, and to be fair, that's a lot of small guards who are not elite defenders. Also, Maxey and Edgecombe are going to get most of the run and shots, and when Joel Embiid and Paul George are healthy, that's a lot of mouths to feed.
Except, Oklahoma City is a team with a glut of guards and it has found a way to make McCain a valuable part of its rotation. As noted by Kevin O'Connor at Yahoo Sports, McCain is working off a lot more dribble handoffs (more than double early this season in Philadelphia), which is helping him find space.
McCain is simply playing with a lot more freedom and looks good doing it — the kind of play and shot creation the 76ers lacked (outside of Maxey) in Tuesday's blowout loss to the Spurs. Depth matters in the NBA — just look at the Thunder — and no team can have enough shot creation. While there is some logic to the 76ers trading McCain away, he's making it look like they will regret that deal.
Bjornfot, 24, is available to be taken if any team puts in a claim within the next 24 hours. If not, he'll be assigned to the AHL's Charlotte Checkers, Florida's American League affiliate.
Therefore, the Kings could potentially bring back the blueliner, after losing him on waivers in 2023-24 to the Vegas Golden Knights. He was claimed again off waivers later that 2023-24 season by the Panthers.
After being selected 22nd overall in the first round of the 2019 draft, Bjornfot played parts of five seasons with the Kings. Across those years, he featured in 117 games for Los Angeles, scoring one goal and 15 points from the back end.
The best year of his NHL career was with the Kings in 2021-22. Bjornfot made 70 appearances and put up eight assists for eight points, all of which are career-highs.
In that very campaign, he averaged 16:46 of ice time per game and had a minus-12 plus-minus rating.
Tobias Bjornfot (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
Since that 2021-22 season, he hasn't featured in more than 14 regular-season affairs. This year, Bjornfot has played 11 games for the Panthers, registering two goals and three points while averaging 11:33 of ice time, and has a plus-four rating.
For most of the past two years, Bjornfot has spent most of the time in the minors. In the past two seasons, the six-foot defenseman has played 72 games for the Checkers. That includes 22 appearances this season and putting up one goal and seven points, along with a plus-six rating.
He also had an exceptional Calder Cup playoff campaign last season for Charlotte. Bjornfot scored two goals and seven points in 14 post-season appearances, helping his team advance to the final. The Abbotsford Canucks got in their way and were Calder Cup champions.
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WILMINGTON, DE - OCTOBER 20: Jared McCain #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers talks to Daryl Morey during an open practice on October 20, 2024 at Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington, Delaware. 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 2024 NBAE (Photo byJesse D. Garrabranty/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The vibes for the Philadelphia 76ers are at a low point for the season. The team has lost six of their last nine games, Paul George is about halfway through a league drug policy-related suspension, and Joel Embiid is currently missing time with an oblique injury. Losses to Boston and San Antonio this week looked like blowouts going in and played out accordingly. Philadelphia is less than one full game clear in the standings of the Play-In tournament.
At least the team’s 2024 first-round pick is flourishing, rounding into form after dealing with a couple of injuries coming into the season. Jared McCain has three 20-point games across his last seven appearances, shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 43.1 percent from three since Feb. 6. Of course, that was the date the Sixers traded McCain to Oklahoma City for Houston’s 2026 first-round pick and a few second-rounders. And as much as some people want those covering the team to stop bringing him up and focus on those players still here in Philadelphia, the McCain trade is hanging over everything going wrong with the Sixers right now.
First, the Sixers lost a rotation player and didn’t add one of even a similar caliber. So their ‘glut of guards’ right now is really just Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe getting run into the ground, plus Quentin Grimes. We saw when Grimes missed time recently with an illness, and might again with Edgecombe being ruled out after the fall he took Tuesday night, that everything completely crumbles if any of those guys are unavailable.
McCain leaving has also shined a light on coaching issues with Nick Nurse at the helm. McCain wasn’t given much runway this season in Philadelphia, and we all assumed it was mostly due to struggles coming back from the injuries. Except now, Jared immediately slotted into the rotation for the defending champions, a team with much more guard and wing depth than the Sixers by the way, and is being used in a bunch of creative actions by head coach Mark Daigneault to great effect. Why weren’t sets incorporated in Philly that played to McCain’s strengths, particularly for a team searching for scoring punch off the bench? With how dramatic the shift in his production has ramped up, the “Sixers really screwed the pooch with the McCain trade” narrative has exploded from a local push to a national media blitz with recent articles from Kevin O’Connor, Jake Fischer and Tom Ziller.
Finally, the chemistry for the team has just been completely off since the trade deadline, something that was actually really good during the first half of the season. It’s something that even during his more-lauded days, Daryl Morey would be criticized for: overlooking the human element. Even supposing his calculation of Jared McCain’s trade value was correct (and it’s looking like it very, very much was not), what message does shipping him out and not doing anything else to backfill that rotation spot at the deadline send to the rest of the team? You have your major building block for the future, Tyrese Maxey, talking about how difficult the trade deadline was, and then how he misses Jared.
Tyrese Maxey was asked about the energy and morale of the Sixers since their five-game road trip out west. They’ve lost 6 of 9.
Tyrese says the trade deadline was difficult, but they moved on. Also, he said if they dwell on it, that will get them nowhere. @KYWNewsradiopic.twitter.com/Y4Rjw8shrN
Tyrese Maxey: “I ain’t going to lie and say I don’t miss Jared [McCain]. But I’m happy for him. I’m happy for him. I watch him in OKC and hope he does well every single night, except for when he plays us.”
Maxey is being diplomatic, but it’s not hard to connect the dots that he’s bothered by how management kind of gave up on this season last month. And I think we all know how Joel Embiid feels about things after he publicly implored the front office not to duck the tax prior to the deadline. O’Connor reported that the Sixers made some calls around Kawhi Leonard, but you can’t fracture a team’s chemistry to the degree trading McCain did on a pipe dream. You need to have Plans B, C, and D in place.
So the Jared McCain trade hurt the Sixers’ chances this season and hurt the organization’s standing in the minds of their star players. Early returns look like the ‘sell high’ was anything but, and signs are pointing to a potential coaching change being needed. McCain once looked to be part of the bridge to the next era of Sixers basketball, but now, his departure looks like the death knell of the previous era.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jordan Speiser, Nastja Claessens and Taryn Sides led 12th-seeded Kansas State to a program-tying and Big 12 Tournament-record 17 3-pointers and the Wildcats beat 13th-seeded Cincinnati 91-66 in a first-round game on Wednesday.
The Wildcats will play fifth-seeded Texas Tech in Thursday's second round.
Speiser made six 3-pointers and Sides five in each scoring 20 points. Claessens also hit five 3s and scored 18 points. The Wildcats (16-16) were 17 of 32 from the arc. The Wildcats tied the school record of 17 3-pointers made against Columbia on Nov. 27. The previous tournament record of 14 had been reached three times. Gina Garcia had 10 assists.
Mya Perry made four 3-pointers and scored 23 points to lead the Bearcats (11-20). Destiny Thomas added 13 points and Caliyah DeVillasee 10.
Claessens scored 12 points and Sides 11 as Kansas State took a 49-20 lead at halftime with the Wildcats having made eight 3-pointers. Speiser went 3 of 4 from the arc and scored 11 points in the third quarter when the Wildcats made seven 3s and outscored the Bearcats 27-13. Kansas State led by as many as 29 in the final quarter.
A 3-pointer by Sides gave the Wildcats the lead for good with about five minutes left in the first quarter and began a 14-2 period-ending run.
Cincinnati had just 23 made field goals on 69 attempts (33%).
Few tournaments deliver baseball drama like the World Baseball Classic, and few are more fun to bet.
We’ll be updating this page every day throughout the 2026 WBC with our top baseball picks, best bets, odds breakdowns, and quick-hit analysis for every matchup, from the opening round to the championship game in Miami.
WBC best bets for Friday, March 13
Game
Pick
Trading Price
USA vs Canada
Canada +4.5
50¢ (+100)
Korea vs Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic -4.5
57¢ (-130)
USA vs Canada prediction
Whether it's not knowing tiebreaker rules, or the effort on the field, Team USA simply seems not to care as much as others.
They were up just 8-5 on Brazil heading to the ninth. They were losing to Great Britain in the fifth. And of course, they lost to Italy, thinking they had already advanced.
Logan Webb goes against Canada. He's good but isn’t a dominant pitcher, facing an underrated Canada lineup led by Owen Caissie. Canada counters with Mike Soroka, who’s capable of throwing good innings.
USA should win, but 4.5 runs is too many to lay with them.
Dominican Republic lefty Cristopher Sanchez only pitched 1 1/3 innings in his first start of the World Baseball Classic, and while he has the swing-and-miss stuff to pile up punchouts, I’m not anticipating him pitching deep enough into tonight’s game to record six or more strikeouts.
The Dominicans have a deep bullpen, and manager Albert Pujols hasn’t sent his starter out for more than five frames in the tournament.
Plus, the Koreans have averaged just nine strikeouts a game, and Sanchez’s 23.2 strikeout percentage in the bigs is a middling mark.
Think of the World Baseball Classic as baseball’s version of the FIFA World Cup, but with more flair, louder horns, and way more bat flips. This isn’t your standard MLB grind; it’s a high-stakes sprint where players swap their club jerseys for their national colors, playing for pure pride for countries like Japan, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and the USA.
If you’re used to the slow burn of the MLB regular season, the WBC is a serious shot of adrenaline. For sports bettors, that mix of elite All-Star talent and "win-or-go-home" desperation creates a beautiful kind of chaos.
Between the electric crowds and the elimination game urgency, you get a level of volatility and raw emotion you just don't see in a Tuesday night game in July. When every pitch feels like a Game 7, the betting value goes through the roof.
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4 ways WBC betting differs from MLB betting
The World Baseball Classic may feature plenty of MLB stars, but betting these games is nothing like betting a regular-season big league matchup. Here are four key ways they differ:
1. Pitcher usage: Starters often work on tighter pitch counts, shorter leashes and less predictable schedules, which means bullpens can take over much earlier than expected. That can flip the script on full-game sides and totals in a hurry, and it puts even more value on first five innings markets.
2. Roster makeup: MLB teams are built for six months. WBC teams are built to survive a short, high-pressure sprint. Some lineups are stacked with superstar talent but have real holes in the lower half. Others don’t have the same star power, but they’re deeper, cleaner defensively and more reliable on the mound. In this format, depth can be just as valuable as headline names.
3. Pool-play chaos: Pool-play games don’t always play out like standard baseball games because managers are managing to advance, not to conserve for tomorrow. Bullpen aggression, pinch-hit moves, defensive substitutions, and even run differential can all impact late-game strategy.
4. Variance is king: In MLB, the long season usually smooths everything out. In the WBC, one crooked inning, one elite reliever or one superstar swing can decide everything. That creates more upset potential, more momentum swings, and more value if you’re paying attention to matchup context instead of just brand-name players.
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