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Canadiens: One Last Chance For Revenge

After losing to the New York Islanders in overtime on Thursday night, the Montreal Canadiens will get one last chance for revenge against the Washington Capitals this season. Spencer Carbery’s men eliminated the Habs last spring and beat them twice already this season: 8-4 in the first duel in November with Jakub Dobes in net and 3-2 in January with Samuel Montembeault in net.

The Caps were in action at home on Friday night, beating the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2, and will therefore be playing the second game of a back-to-back against the Habs. Washington is currently on the outside looking in of the playoff picture, sitting in ninth place of the Eastern Conference with 69 points, two points behind the Boston Bruins. However, Boston has three games in hand because the Caps have already played 61 games, leaving them with very little room for error. They’re on a three-game winning streak and have a 7-2-1 record in their last 10 games.

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As for the Canadiens, they were overtaken in the standings by both the Detroit Red Wings and the Buffalo Sabres in the last two days. Both teams have 74 points, one point ahead of the Habs, but the Sainte-Flanelle has a game in hand. With Thursday night’s loss, Montreal has a 6-2-2 record in its last 10 games and needs to start winning in regulation in a hurry. Every point given to the opponents in a tight playoff race matters.

Since Montembeault got the start on Thursday, and Martin St-Louis has already said that both goaltenders would get a game this week, Dobes will be in the net tonight. The Czech netminder has a 1-1-0 record against the visitors with a 3.71 goals-against average and a .857 save percentage. As for Montembeault, he’s 2-3-1 with a 3.63 GAA and a .891 SV.

Meanwhile, Charlie Lindgren will get the start against his former team since Logan Thompson was in the net on Friday. Lindgren has a 4-1-0 record against the Canadiens with a 2.83 GAA and a .889 SV. As for Thompson, he’s 2-0-1 against the Habs with a 2.58 GAA and a .900 SV.

Up front, it will be interesting to see whether St-Louis sticks with the same lineup or if Zachary Bolduc returns. Nick Suzuki is Montreal’s most productive forward against the Caps with 20 points in just 17 games, followed by Brendan Gallagher with 16 points in 32 games and Mike Matheson with 15 points in 29 games. It’s also worth noting that Cole Caufield has 14 points in just 13 games against Washington. As for Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson, they’ve been on fire since they were put on the same pairing. Hutson has a five-game point streak with six points over that span, while Dobson has a six-game point streak with nine points, including three goals.

The Canadiens will need to keep a close eye on Alexander Ovechkin, who is the Caps’ top point producer against the Tricolore with 74 points in 62 games. The Great Eight has not found the back of the net in his last seven games, and a meeting with Montreal might be just what the doctor ordered for the sharpshooter who has four points in two duels so far this season.

John Carlsson is Washington’s second most productive skater with 28 points in 46 games, followed by Pierre-Luc Dubois, who has 23 points in 27 games. The Quebecer has five points in three games since returning from an abdominal surgery that sidelined him for four months. Surprisingly, fourth-liner Ethan Frank has seven points in three duels with the Habs, including six points in the two games played so far this season.

The game is set for 7:00 PM, and you can catch it on TVAS, CITY, SNE, and MNMT. Jake Brenk and Cody Beach, a former St. Louis Blues draft pick who never made the NHL as a player, are set to officiate, while Devin Berg and Travis Toomey will be the linemen.

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

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Yankees Birthday of the Day: Bill Holland

The New York Black Yankees baseball team belonged to the Negro National League, one of several Negro leagues which were established during the era of racial segregation in the United States. Button with metal pin back. The front of the button has a white background with a blue line drawing of a baseball with shading at the bottom and two crossed baseball bats at the top. There is blue text at the center that reads "N.Y. BLACK YANKEES." Artist Unknown. (Photo by Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images) | Heritage Images via Getty Images

Throughout our “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series, we’ve taken the opportunity to celebrate and remember scores of Yankees from throughout the generations, from Hall of Famers to journeymen, from those born in the 1800s through to members of the team’s last championship squad. Today, we’ll be taking a slight detour to shed some light on a New York baseball icon who never got the chance to don the pinstripes due to the color of his skin.

Elvis William “Bill” Holland
Born: February 28, 1901 (Alexandria, IN)
Died: December 3, 1973 (New York, NY)
New York Black Yankees Tenure: 1932-1941

Bill Holland began his pro career in 1918 at the age of 17, pitching for the Richmond Giants in Indiana. Little is known about the right-hander’s performance in these early days before the founding of the first Black Major League, but he was already gaining a reputation as a durable fireballer, reportedly once pitching 20 innings in less than 24 hours. When the Negro National League formed in 1920, Holland took his talents from Warner Jewell’s ABCs of Indianapolis to Detroit and immediately established himself as one of the league’s top pitchers on the Stars.

Although Negro League statistics are famously difficult to track in a standardized way due to the number of exhibitions and games against not-quite-pro-caliber operations, Holland posted a 3.08 ERA between 1920-22 in confirmed Negro National League games (a stretch that also included a brief stint with Negro League founder Rube Foster’s Chicago American Giants). The man nicknamed “Devil” punched out 351 in 578.1 innings — a mark that put him among the top of the league. His 1.077 WHIP in 1922 led the majors.

It was after a successful 1922 season that the 22-year-old made his way out east to New York, where he’d make his baseball home for the next two decades. On July 5, 1930, Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert loaned Yankee Stadium for the day to the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and its president, A. Philip Randolph, a union leader and civil rights activist who organized a doubleheader between the New York Lincoln Giants and the Baltimore Black Sox as a fundraiser for the Brotherhood. In Game 1, New York’s manager — future Hall of Famer John Henry “Pop” Lloyd — gave the ball to a 29-year-old Bill Holland, reportedly making him the first Black pitcher to ever take the mound at the House that Ruth Built. Holland threw a complete game in a 13-4 victory.

The following year, the veteran signed on with the Harlem Stars, who played some of their home games at the Stadium. They rebranded for the 1932 season as the New York Black Yankees, tying themselves in name to what had quickly become the American League’s premier franchise. The club continued to play in the Bronx and also later across the river at Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, NJ (recently restored).

Holland would remain with the Black Yankees for the rest of his career, continuing to pitch until the age of 40 in 1941 and being named a starter of the second 1939 East-West All-Star Game, which was held at Yankee Stadium. The official record has him as second in club history in most major pitching counting stats, including starts, wins, innings pitched, and strikeouts. When my colleague Matt looked back at the best players in Black Yankees history in 2021, he had Holland ranked second, behind only teammate and two-way threat Barney Brown.

But these statistics cannot tell Bill Holland’s story. The legendary Cool Papa Bell ranked him alongside Hall of famers Satchel Paige, Smokey Joe Williams, and Bullet Joe Rogan as among the four best pitchers to play in the Negro Leagues. A 1952 poll organized by the Pittsburgh Courier, an African-American newspaper, named Holland to its All-Time Third Team of Black ballplayers, also among the ranks of Hall of Famers.

Perhaps due to a lack of a narrative around his success, or perhaps due to the fact that the Black Yankees were mostly among the worst teams in the league during his time there, Holland has not received the same momentum towards enshrinement as some of his peers. He reportedly died on December 3, 1973, though there is no obituary on file with major New York periodicals for this man who had been an icon among Black New Yorkers for nearly 20 years.

Here at Pinstripe Alley, on what would be Bill Holland’s 125th birthday, we remember a man who left a quiet, proud legacy as a pioneer of Black baseball in New York.

See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

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Dillon Dingler returns but Troy Melton is shutdown with elbow inflammation

Detroit Tigers pitcher Troy Melton throws at live batting practice during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

From the start of Detroit Tigers described Dillon Dingler as close to returning to full action after an arthroscopic procedure to clean up his right elbow. Still, the status of their starting catcher remaining uncertain was a little bit disconcerting, though Dingler was notably present catching bullpens on the backfields over the past two weeks. As it turned out, the Tigers estimates on his return were accurate, as the 27-year-old catcher made his first start of the spring in Friday’s drubbing of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Dingler’s arm wasn’t really tested, but since he’s back on the field healthy after a throwing program to build his arm strength up, we’ll assume that isn’t an issue. More to the point was getting him going in time to get enough plate appearances to be ready for Opening Day. That got off to a good start as Dingler struck out in his first at-bat but then smoked a double to plate Spencer Torkelson with the Tigers first run of the game. After that they were off to the races, winning 16-8.

That was the positive injury news on Friday. The unfortunate news was that right-hander Troy Melton has been shut down with inflammation in his right elbow, making his eventual status for Opening Day pretty questionable. Melton hadn’t appeared in a game yet, but neither have Framber Valdez or Justin Verlander as of yet. The latter two have no reported issues and have the experience not to be any rush in February. Presumably we’ll see them take the mound this weekend or next week at the latest.

Troy Melton gets shutdown

While Troy Melton was currently on the outside of the starting rotation looking in, he was a big factor in picking up a crumbling pitching staff last summer, and went on to pitch well in his first postseason. As starting depth, and probably headed to the bullpen to begin the year, Melton is still a weapon for the club in either role, with the added benefit of having some comfort factor doing either job. This isn’t really much of a setback for the team yet, unless they really need rotation help a month from now as the season begins.

It’s easy to leap to worst case scenario conclusions, but inflammation in the elbow is pretty common, particularly as pitchers are ramping up to a full workload early in camp. The inflammation itself should resolve fairly soon. The issue of course is that inflammation in the tight, narrow passage through the joint where the humerus and ulna bones connect, makes it very difficult to get clear imaging of structures inside and around the elbow. So, for now there’s nothing to do but let it subside until they can properly examine him via MRI.

The irritation and inflammation could be minor and fairly routine, allowing him to start throwing again, or it could be caused by bone chips, spurs, or a rough spot in the passage through the joint that the UCL stretches against. Those would require comparetively minor procedures that might only set Melton back a month or so, depending on when they get an answer. It could also be a tear in the UCL, or even a tendon issue, that would potentially cost him the season.

Right now, Melton has a case of Schrodinger’s elbow. When the inflammation subsides and they can get the imaging done properly, the Tigers might have a relatively healthy pitcher who doesn’t even need a procedure, or they might have a Tommy John case. We’ll just have to wait and see.

First cuts from spring camp

The Tigers also announced their first round of cuts from spring camp. All four are pitchers rehabbing from minor injuries, so it’s no surprise they were transferred to minor league camp. Relievers Phil Bickford, Dugan Darnell, and Tyler Owens, along with veteran minor league starter Troy Watson, were all reassigned. Watson is returning from right elbow arthroscopy, while Bickford is rehabbing a right triceps strain. Darnell and Owens are both rehabbing after hip procedures.

None of the group was ever likely to break camp with the major league club.

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Kyle Anderson’s Top 5 Plays with the Timberwolves

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 9: Kyle Anderson #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts after a play in the fourth quarter of the game against the Washington Wizards at Target Center on April 9, 2024 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. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

On Thursday, it was reported that Kyle Anderson will be reuniting with the Minnesota Timberwolves following a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies.

Anderson signed a two-year contract with the Timberwolves during the 2022 offseason and ended up being one of the best free agent signings in the franchise’s history. He played an outsized role throughout the team’s playoff push in the 2022-23 season, as well as during the franchise’s first trip to the Western Conference Finals in 20 years in the 2024 Playoffs.

Let’s take a trip down memory lane and look at some of the most memorable moments of Slo-Mo’s previous stint in Minnesota.

#5: The Punch Heard Round the World

This one probably fits better in the dishonourable mention category.

In the final game of the 2022-23 regular season, the Wolves found themselves locked into the Play-In Tournament, leaving a matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans that would determine their seed and matchup. With a win, Minnesota would be the 8-seed and would need just one more win to clinch a playoff spot. A loss would have dropped them to ninth, meaning a date with the upstart Oklahoma City Thunder to save their season.

It had already been a difficult season to that point. The Wolves came into the game 41-40, underachieving some lofty goals following the trade for Rudy Gobert in the offseason. With Wolves down 12 in the second quarter, emotions finally boiled over when Gobert punched Anderson during a timeout.

Despite the fight and losing Jaden McDaniels earlier in the game when he punched a wall and ended his season, the Wolves turned the game around and won 113-108 in one of the weirdest games in Timberwolves history. Anderson finished the game with eight points, nine rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and a steal.

With Gobert suspended for the team’s first Play-In Game, the Wolves went on to lose to the Los Angeles Lakers in overtime before defeating the Thunder to secure the franchise’s second straight playoff appearance, in which they lost to the one seed and eventual champion Denver Nuggets in five games.

#4: A Spin Move Past DiVicenzo and the Knicks

After the disappointing 2022-23 season, the Wolves decided not to make any major roster changes heading into the next season, believing in the twin towers pair of Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns that had struggled the season prior.

That decision proved to be the correct one as, after a 1-2 start to the season, the Wolves went 12-3 in November, setting the franchise record for wins in a calendar month. The winning streak took the Wolves from a bit of a laughing stock to a powerhouse in the Western Conference and stands as one of the best months in the history of the Timberwolves.

Anderson had one of his classic Slo-Mo moves during the Wolves’ tenth win of the season, hitting Donte DiVincenzo and the New York Knicks with a pretty spin move for a layup.

#3: Season-High Against His Former Team

Before joining the Timberwolves in the summer of 2022, Anderson spent four seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies, making the playoffs twice, including a six-game defeat of the Timberwolves in the 2022 Playoffs.

The next season with Anderson on the Wolves, Slo-Mo, against his former team, put together his highest scoring performance in a Timberwolves uniform, putting up 23 points on 9-16 shooting, including 4-7 from beyond the arc over 27 minutes while starting in place of Towns, who was injured.

The late-January win put the Wolves’ record at 26-25, putting them over .500 for the first time in over two months.

#2: Game-Winning Steal Against Golden State

It’s difficult to overstate Anderson’s importance to the Wolves making the Playoffs in the 2022-23 season. Slo-Mo provided phenomenal playing, defense, and leadership the entire season, often serving Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch’s safety valve off the bench when the game wasn’t going Minnesota’s way.

Anderson’s most clutch play of the season came in late March against the Golden State Warriors. With the Wolves down by one and only a four-second differential, Minnesota likely needed to foul to prolong the game. Anderson had other ideas as he deflected and stole a pass from Draymond Green before finding Towns for the go-ahead 3-pointer.

It was Towns’s just second game back after a 53-game absence. The previous game, KAT also had the go-ahead points as he knocked down two late free throws to put the Wolves up one over the Atlanta Hawks, leading to his famous “This is what movies is made of” quote.

#1 Navigating Traffic in the West Finals

The 2024 Western Conference Finals did not go as planned for the Timberwolves. Despite having home-court over the fifth-seeded Dallas Mavericks, the Wolves fell behind 3-0 in the series, eventually losing to the Mavs in five games.

In the Wolves’ lone win of the series in Game 4, Slo-Mo had a gigantic impact on the game. With the Wolves up two late in the game, Anderson motioned to Towns to stand in the left corner. When Edwards drove to the paint, Slo-Mo called for Towns to get the ball and screened off Kyrie Irving to give the Wolves a five-point lead.

The play is a perfect example of what Anderson brought throughout his time in Minnesota. His leadership both on and off the court became invaluable for a Wolves team learning on the fly about how to be a championship contender in the NBA, and he had countless plays like this one, where he took the young players under his wing and put the Wolves in a position to win games.

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Bucks vs. Knicks Player Grades: Rollins and Porter cool off in blowout loss

Feb 27, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; New York Knicks center/forward Karl-Anthony Towns (32) shoots against Milwaukee Bucks guard AJ Green (20), left, and Milwaukee Bucks center/forward Myles Turner (3) in the second half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

The Milwaukee Bucks couldn’t notch their third three-game winning streak of the month, losing to the New York Knicks 127-98. New York shot a staggering 21/41 from the three-point line, while the Bucks turned the ball over 16 times. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.

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Player Grades

Ryan Rollins

32 minutes, 13 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 turnovers, 5/9 FG, -30

Rollins had some decent moments during the first half, but the second half was a different story. He was held scoreless on 0/2 shooting and turned the ball over three times. 

Grade: D+

Kevin Porter Jr.

27 minutes, 11 points, 10 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 turnovers, 4/12 FG, -16

One of the quieter double-doubles you’ll see all season. The Knicks’ defense did a great job of making KPJ a pass-first player. He made the right reads in those spots, but couldn’t get it going f0or himself. 

Grade: C-

AJ Green

30 minutes, 7 points, 2 rebounds, 2/6 3P, -17

The Knicks have always been a bad matchup for Green since he became a regular rotation player. He’s averaging 6.8 PPG in 10 career games against the Knicks, the fifth-fewest against Eastern Conference opponents, and last night was no different; the size of their wings seems to neutralize his ability to get good shots off. 

Grade: D

Kyle Kuzma

27 minutes, 17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 6/11 FG, 4/7 3P, -16

Kuzma continues to feel it from three-point range. While Doc wasn’t happy with all of his attempts, at least they’re going in right now. Kuzma did a solid job of guarding Brunson once the switch was made, helping to limit him to two points in the second half on 1/4 shooting. 

Grade: B

Myles Turner

25 minutes, 19 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 4/7 3P, -20

It’s a shame Turner’s bounce-back game was wasted on a blowout like this. He did a great job limiting Karl-Anthony Towns’ offense when Doc opted to throw Kuzma (who was originally guarding Towns) on Brunson. Hopefully, these types of games will be more common for Turner down the stretch. 

Grade: B

Bobby Portis

17 minutes, 14 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, 5/8 FG, 2/3 3P, 2/3 FT, -10

Portis provided consistent offense off the bench. It was an efficient game for BP on offense, but there were a few defensive lapses when he fell asleep and allowed a shooter to get wide open. 

Grade: B-

Cam Thomas

17 minutes, 7 points, 2 rebounds, 2/9 FG, 3/3 FT, -17

After an incredible start to his Bucks tenure, now we’re seeing the bad side of Thomas’ game. He forced several bad shots, and combined with the fact that he’s a non-factor on defense, it’s hard to keep him on the floor.

Grade: D

Jericho Sims

23 minutes, 2 points, 4 rebounds, 1/1 FG, -21

In a game where the Bucks needed another big game from Sims on the glass, he failed to deliver. Jericho really struggled against the taller Knicks bigs of Towns and Robinson. 

Grade: D-

Ousmane Dieng

12 minutes, 0 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 0/2 FG, -11

The usage of Dieng has been very confusing (more on that later). Despite that, Dieng failed to put points on the board and got beaten a few times on defense. He has to at least stand up as a defensive player for the Bucks as his offence develops. The two looks he did get were low percentage looks, taking a contested three over Diawara and a long step-back three that rimmed out. 

Grade: D

Doc Rivers

The usage of Dieng has to be investigated. Doc talks about how much they like him, yet against a team with a lot of big wings, he played four minutes and 27 seconds in the first half. That, combined with leaving Thomas out there too long, didn’t help matters. I do give him credit for switching Kuzma onto Brunson, but the game was so out of hand at that point, did it really matter? 

Grade: D+

Garbage Time: Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Gary Harris, Gary Trent Jr., Andre Jackson Jr., Pete Nance

Inactive: Alex Antetokounmpo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Taurean Prince, Cormac Ryan

Bonus Bucks Bits

  • A quick Giannis update: Doc said that he’s been progressing through individual work and live four-on-four play with no setbacks. He didn’t provide any indication of how close the two-time MVP is to returning.
  • As I mentioned at the beginning of the rapid recap, Doc called out the Bucks’ need to take care of the ball. They didn’t do that, turning the ball over 16 times and allowing the Knicks to score 19 points off of those. It’s the 22nd time this season they’ve turned it over 16+ times. Their record in such games falls to 8-14. 
  • It was easily one of the best shooting nights for the Knicks, hitting 51.2% from three-point range; that was the third-highest percentage they’ve posted this season. Yet for Doc, the issues the Bucks had on defense were that they didn’t match the Knicks’ physicality: 

“Some of the guys on their team we gave shots to, we’re fine with that, (but) we should’ve still went out and guarded it. I just thought they got everything they wanted, forget the threes for a second. Whenever they wanted to drive, they drove the ball. When they wanted to shoot, they shot the ball. I just didn’t think we met their physicality and their intensity. It’s a good lesson for them, you knew how this game was going to play, and we just didn’t meet the moment.” 

  • It was another good shooting performance from Kuz from beyond the arc. Over his last three games, he’s shooting an even 50% (12/24). 

Up Next

The Bucks will kick off March on the road with a Sunday matinee against the free-falling Chicago Bulls. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Central at the United Center. You can catch the game on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin. 

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Is Reed Sheppard the next Steph Curry?

In some NBA circles, Reed Sheppard has a nickname.

Rule of thumb: If Basketball Reference won’t print it, neither will The Dream Shake. Hmmm. How about Triple Espresso Curry? Why not I Ran Into A Jerk From High School, He Seemed Really Excited To See Me Even Though We Were Never Friends Curry?

To quote the ever-poignant Pusha T (which in itself is a hint), if you know, you know. The more significant point, of course, is that Sheppard has garnered comparisons to Curry.

Are they legitimate?

Rockets’ Reed Sheppard can be a historic shooter

Warning: This attempt at statistical comparison is riddled with flaws.

Firstly, it’d have been better to compare Curry’s sophomore stats. Unfortunately, NBA.com’s tracking data doesn’t go back that far. The furthest back we could get was 2013-14. By then, Curry was a fringe MVP candidate, even if not the direct descendant of Khrysos that Rockets fans have grown to loathe.

Secondly, the league has changed dramatically in the last decade-and-change. Curry is the best shooter of all time, but it’s fair to say that the NBA did not know how to defend him when his style of play was beginning to crystallize. Ironically, the Rockets were instrumental in introducing some coverages that kind of, sort of mitigated his impact for stretches. It’s fair to assume Sheppard is seeing those coverages more regularly.

Lastly, Steph Curry is the best shooter of all time. It stands to reason that he’s unlikely to be number two by the time Sheppard retires. This is the highest bar.

So, the fact that Sheppard comes close to meeting it is very encouraging.

On catch-and-shoot threes, Curry shot 45.8% on 2.6 attempts per game in 2013-14. Sheppard is hitting 40.7% of his 4.4 threes per game. On pull-up threes, Curry hit 40.3% of his 4.4 attempts, while Sheppard is hitting 38.1% of his 2.0 per game.

On face value, perhaps that’s not as comparable as you’d like. The pull-up shooting is the secret sauce. That’s the skill that allowed Curry to warp the geometry of the basketball court. It’s what separates him from the Klay Thompsons and Ray Allens of the world.

Two counterpoints. First, 38.1% is a very strong percentage on pull-up triples. For context, Anthony Edwards is hitting 34.0% of his 6.0 attempts per game. There’s a simple conclusion here: Sheppard should shoot more pull-up threes. He’s got considerable breathing room for his accuracy to decline and remain one of the most effective pull-up three-point shooters in the NBA. As of now, he shoots a higher percentage than anyone in the top-10 in volume besides Ty Jerome and – you guessed it – Steph Curry.

Second, Sheppard doesn’t have to be a Curry facsimile to be one of the most impactful shooters in the NBA. Let it be said that Curry never played with a big man with Alperen Sengun’s combination of interior gravity and passing acumen. Given the potential synergy there, Sheppard’s catch-and-shoot chops could mean more for the Rockets than Curry’s meant for the Warriors.

Once again, volume is a variable. This is a neat stat that shows how much the league has changed. In 2013-14, Curry shot 8.1 threes per 75 possessions. That ranked third in the league behind Miro Telotovic (a beautiful blast from the past, what a fun player) and Gerald Green* (you’re a Rockets fan, so you know what that’s about).

*Green is the only celebrity I ever played against in NBA 2K. Random Rec. The dude played exactly like his NBA self. Finished 4/10 from three, 4/10 from the field. Pretty sure he missed 5 straight before hitting three impossible triples in a row. Surreal.

Sheppard shoots 9.7 threes per 75 possessions. That’s 12th in the league. Regardless of shot type, he needs to shoot more three-pointers. That’s true on a per-possession basis, but it’s more broadly true in general, which is a roundabout way of saying Ime Udoka needs to give him more minutes.

Could that unlock his inner Curry-ness?

Rockets’ Reed Sheppard can be a star

For Udoka to play Sheppard more, Sheppard needs to improve on defense.

He’s been doing that lately. Sheppard is gambling less. All of the hand-wringing about his efforts on that end may have been no more than a reaction to watching a rookie/sophomore on a contending NBA team.

He won’t be Curry. Nobody will. That’s fine. If Sheppard can be, say, 80% of a Steph Curry offensively plus elite defensive playmaking (even if exploitable in certain matchups), that feels like a borderline franchise player. If he can hit 90%, that’s a certified franchise stud.

If you disagree, you might be on drugs.

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Penguins vs Rangers Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today’s NHL Game

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Adam Fox is one of the best offensive defensemen in the sport. Despite the down year for New York, he is once again producing at a 70+ point pace over a full schedule.

My Penguins vs. Rangers predictions see Fox playing a key role offensively in this Metro Division battle.

Let’s take a closer look at my NHL picks for Saturday, February 28.

Penguins vs Rangers prediction

Penguins vs Rangers best bet: Adam Fox Over 0.5 points (-115)

Injuries and the New York Rangers’ underwhelming play have obscured the fact Adam Fox has produced 28 points through 31 games.

Fox started slow but has hit the scoresheet in 10 of his last 15, including against high-end opponents like Tampa (x2), Carolina, and Colorado.

It's par for the course with Fox, who has nine points over his past nine against Top-10 teams in goals allowed. That bodes well for his chances against the Pittsburgh Penguins (seventh-most goals against)

He also QBs the No. 1 power play, and New York is 3-for-7 on the man advantage against Pittsburgh this season.

Penguins vs Rangers same-game parlay

Fox has a strong shooting history against the Penguins, generating multiple shots in seven of the last nine head-to-head meetings.

Fox has averaged 5.1 attempts over his past 10 home games, taking 4+ in nine of them. He has 2+ shots on target in 69% of games this season when attempting four shots or more.

J.T. Miller is skating on the top line and shares the ice with Fox on the No. 1 power play unit, making him a strong correlation play.

Penguins vs Rangers SGP

  • Adam Fox Over 0.5 points
  • Adam Fox 1.5 shots on goal
  • J.T. Miller Over 0.5 points

Penguins vs Rangers odds

  • Moneyline: Pittsburgh -115 | New York -105
  • Puck line: Pittsburgh -1.5 (+215) | New York +1.5 (-270)
  • Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-130) | Under 5.5 (+110)

Penguins vs Rangers trend

Adam Fox has points in seven of his past 10 games against Pittsburgh. Find more NHL betting trends for Penguins vs. Rangers.

How to watch Penguins vs Rangers

LocationMadison Square Garden, New York, NY
DateSaturday, February 28, 2026
Puck drop12:30 p.m. ET
TVABC

Penguins vs Rangers latest injuries

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New Zealand reaches T20 World Cup semifinals after Pakistan beats Sri Lanka by only 5 runs

PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka (AP) — New Zealand backed into the Twenty20 World Cup semifinals when Pakistan could only narrowly beat Sri Lanka in a gripping match on Saturday.

Pakistan had to restrict Sri Lanka's chase to 147 to advance from the Super Eights at New Zealand's expense.

It looked achievable when Pakistan reduced Sri Lanka to 101-5 in the 12th over. But its hopes were foiled when Pavan Rathnayake and captain Dasun Shanaka led Sri Lanka to 148 in the 16th over.

But then Pakistan found itself in danger of failing to defend its highest ever T20 World Cup total, 212.

Shanaka began the last over against Shaheen Shah Afridi by slamming 4-6-6-6. Sri Lanka could pull off a heist with six runs needed off the last two balls.

But Shanaka missed trying to scoop the fifth ball and left the sixth, a yorker, thinking it was wide. It was not.

Pakistan won by five runs and bowed out of the tournament on net run rate, -0.123 to New Zealand's 1.390.

“When I lost the toss it was always going to be challenging because of the dew,” Pakistan captain Salman Agha said. “It was a good pitch. Restricting (Sri Lanka) to 148 was going to be challenging — we tried.”

Tournament co-host Sri Lanka was already out of semifinals contention but finished its fourth straight defeat to applause from its home crowd after going down swinging.

“Sometimes as players we feel the pressure,” Shanaka said. I wanted to say sorry to all the fans because we fell down. It was a close game, I could've finished it. Well bowled to Shaheen."

England, New Zealand and South Africa have nailed semifinal spots. Defending champion India — the only Asian team left — and the West Indies meet for the last spot on Sunday in Kolkata. With Pakistan knocked out, co-host India will host both semifinals next week and the final on March 8.

Farhan breaks Kohli record

Pakistan was made to bat first and openers Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman combined for 176 runs, the highest ever partnership in men's T20 World Cup history. They eclipsed the 175 by New Zealanders Tim Seifert and Finn Allen on Feb. 10.

Farhan's blistering 100 off 60 balls also blew away Virat Kohli’s single tournament runs record of 319 in 2014. Farhan passed Kohli when he reached 40. He has 383 after two centuries and two half-centuries.

“The ton didn't work for the team, that's why I'm sad,” Farhan said. “I have been feeling well, that brings confidence. I knew I could hit whatever was in my arc.”

Zaman was promoted to opener for the first time in the tournament and the left-hander slammed 84 off 42 balls as Pakistan posted 212-8.

Sri Lanka could have broken their stand in the 11th over but didn’t go for a television referral when replays suggested Zaman edged behind on 46 and the partnership at 107-0.

Their stand of 176 finished in the 16th over when Zaman played onto his stumps. Sri Lanka fought back with eight wickets in the final 26 balls for 36 runs.

Farhan, dropped on 76, fell in the final over after htting five sixes and nine fours.

“We didn't bat well in the tournament,” Agha said. “It was only Sahibzada Farhan who batted exceptionally well. Our batting was always a concern, especially the middle order. It’s been an issue for a few years now.”

Fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka grabbed 3-33 and Shanaka took 2-42.

Sri Lanka's top order was rattled by Abrar Ahmed (3-23), one of three changes by Pakistan. But with the ball getting wet because of dew it became difficult for the bowlers to hit the right lengths.

Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq struggled with his grip and returned 0-43, ending his streak of consecutive T20 innings with a wicket at 26, two shy of the record.

Rathnayake anchored Sri Lanka with 58 off 37 and Shanaka almost achieved the miracle at the death. Shanaka smashed eight sixes and two fours in his unbeaten 76 off 31 balls.

___

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

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Best NBA Player Props Today for February 28: LeBron Finds Passing Lanes vs Dubs

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There are five games on tap this Saturday night in the Association, and all eyes should be on Lakers vs. Warriors.

A LeBron James player prop tops my best NBA picks for Saturday, February 28.

Read below for all my favorite NBA player props.

Best NBA player props today

PlayerPickbet365
Hornets Kon KnueppelOver 20.5 points-110
Heat Tyler HerroOver 20.5 points-105
Lakers LeBron JamesOver 5.5 assists+115
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Prop #1: Kon Knueppel Over 20.5 points

-110 at bet365

Rookie Kon Knueppel has been sizzling of late, scoring at least 21 points in each of his last four games, with Charlotte winning three straight.

This run started with a monster 33-point outing in a loss to the Cavaliers. Knueppel followed that up with 28 against the Wizards, before ripping Indiana for 28 points on 10-for-17 shooting last game.

Portland isn’t exactly a defensive juggernaut, ranking 24th in scoring defense allowing 118.2 points per game.

  • Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: KUNP, FDSN SE-CHA

Prop #2: Tyler Herro Over 20.5 points

-105 at bet365

Miami’s leading scorer Norman Powell is out for this one as he deals with a groin strain, but the Heat should be in good hands with Tyler Herro.

Just four games back from a rib injury, Herro seems to be picking up his pace. He shot 9-for-18 in a loss to Philadelphia en route to 25 points when last seen.

Houston is one of the tougher defensive teams in the league, allowing just 109.1 points per game (third overall), but Herro should be ready to carry a big-time scoring load in this one.

  • Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Prime Video

Prop #3: LeBron James Over 5.5 assists

+115 at bet365

We’ll wrap with the NBA’s ageless wonder, LeBron James, who has a 5.5-assist line on Saturday against the Warriors. 

While that number might deter you, as he’s only topped that total once in his last six games, LeBron has been dealing against the Dubs.

LBJ has had 10 straight games against the Warriors with at least eight assists, and I like the plus odds he’s getting Saturday to just get to six.

  • Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: ABC

These props are available now at bet365, one of our best betting sites.

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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.

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Mets Morning News: “Freddy was pretty pumped”

Feb 27, 2026; Jupiter, Florida, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Meet the Mets

Freddy Peralta, who pitched three perfect innings in the Mets’ 14-3 Grapefruit League victory over the Cardinals yesterday, was named as the Opening Day starter for the Mets. “Everybody was aware and Freddy was pretty pumped,” Carlos Mendoza said.

Speaking of Peralta, he smiled and said, “No comment” when asked if he and the Mets have engaged in extension talks.

The one lowlight of yesterday’s game was that Devin Williams gave up a home run on the very first pitch he threw in a Mets uniform—a “cutter that didn’t cut much.” Williams isn’t worried about it though. “This being my first [outing], it was kind of just fill up the strike zone with everything,” he said, “and not really worry about results.”

On the bright side, MJ Melendez continued to make his case to make the Opening Day roster with a two-home run performance yesterday.

Tim Britton of The Athletic chatted with Mets’ director of hitting Jeff Albert last week at Clover Park about the specifics of his role, his evaluation of the Mets’ offensive performance last season, and his view of the lineup entering 2026. 

Robert Stock, who is currently with the Mets on a minor league deal, used AI to build a pitching analytics platform from scratch.

Daniel Murphy spoke to Mike Puma of the New York Post about whether the Dodgers are “evil,” upcoming CBA negotiations, the new look Mets, and more.

Around the National League East

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said they are “shooting for the regular build up” with Zack Wheeler, who is recovering from thoracic outlet syndrome.

Otto Kemp is doing both infield and outfield work every day at Phillies camp, trying to be prepared to be ready for whatever the team needs from him.

Theo DeRosa of MLB.com wrote about a potential return to ace form for Spencer Strider and what that would mean for the Braves this season.

Federal Baseball dives into three breakout prospects in the Nationals system.

Around Major League Baseball

Jayson Stark of The Athletic captured a lot of raw emotion as he asked Blue Jays players and leadership about life after Game 7.

Pirates prospect Konnor Griffin is trying to debut on Opening Day as a 19-year-old—something no one in baseball has done in nearly four decades.

Buster Olney of ESPN ranked baseball’s top ten at every position.

It was an easy decision for Trent Grisham to take the Yankees’ qualifying offer, writes David Lennon of Newsday.

Vuori CEO Joe Kudla and Drew Brees are among the bidders in the Padres’ sale process; they did not submit their own formal bit, as previously reported, but are looking to potentially join up with one of the other groups involved.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

Thomas Henderson and Brian Salvatore preview the seasons of two bullpen depth options for the Mets in 2026: Alex Carrillo and Matt Turner.

This Date in Mets History

Exactly six years after the Mets first acquired Dave Kingman from the San Francisco Giants, he returned to the Mets in a second stint via a trade with the Cubs for Steve Henderson that took place on this date in 1981.

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Are you looking forward to the WBC?

SAN DIEGO, CA - MARCH 18: Adam Jones #10 of Team USA catches a fly ball for the second out in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 6 of Pool F of the 2017 World Baseball Classic against Team Dominican Republic on Saturday, March 18, 2017 at Petco Park in San Diego, California. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/WBCI/MLB via Getty Images) | MLB via Getty Images

The World Baseball Classic begins this Thursday with opening tournaments in Houston, TX; Miami, FL; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Tokyo, Japan.

Since its debut in 2006, the World Baseball Classic has offered many memorable moments. Most recently, in 2023, brought possibly the biggest. In the final game, Angels’ teammates Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout faced off in the ninth inning. Ohtani was pitching for Japan; Trout was batting for USA. Two of the biggest stars in baseball on the world baseball stage. What could be better? Ohtani struck Trout out to end the game and the WBC in favor of Japan. It was like a moment from a movie.

I have always loved the World Baseball Classic. And while Ohtani vs Trout might be the most iconic teammate moment of the WBC, it is not the only one. Orioles Adam Jones and Manny Machado had an exciting moment of their own in 2017. With Adam Jones manning center field for USA vs the Dominican Republic, his O’s teammate Manny Machado stepped to the plate. Manny hit a long fly ball to right-center that looked like a home run. But Jones wasn’t having that. He made an incredible catch at the wall to rob his teammate, an incredible moment for Orioles fans. Team USA won the game and went on to win the WBC.

My first lasting memory of the WBC came from the 2009 classic, when Brian Roberts was on base for David Wright’s walk-off single against Puerto Rico.

I look forward to the WBC every time it comes around. It’s such a fun showcase of players I might not normally see. And this year I am attending my first WBC games. Next Sunday, I’ll be in San Juan to watch a doubleheader of Cuba vs Colombia and Canada vs Panama.

So how about you? Are you looking forward to the WBC this year?

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Construct your ideal Opening Day Roster for the Guardians

MESA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: Gabriel Arias #13 of the Cleveland Guardians watches a pitch during a spring training game against the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park on February 27, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images

We have had a chance to see our Guardians for a week now… which of them should be on the major league team for opening day?

Make your argument for your preferred 2B and SS combo.

Figure out the ideal outfield alignment.

Decide which of the six pitchers make the rotation.

Put together another bullpen of doom.

Demote or keep David Fry, it’s up to you. Let us know in the comments below

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Guardians News and Notes: DeLauter Ok, Just DeLayed

GOODYEAR, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 23: Chase DeLauter #24 of the Cleveland Guardians gets ready in the batters box against the Arizona Diamondbacks during a spring training game at Goodyear Ballpark on February 23, 2026 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Numerous sources, including the Athletic’s Zack Meisel and Cleveland.com’s Terry Pluto, have reported that Chase DeLauter is fine, the team is taking precautions they wouldn’t during the season, and he will be back in games on Monday.

I am sure that makes you all feel better.

Brayan Rocchio, Kahlil Watson and Jonah Advincula had doubles yesterday. Watson has had a great camp so far. Gabriel Arias has looked as bad at the plate as ever. Hunter Gaddis looked dominant in relief. The Guardians play the White Sox on Cleveland Guardians TV today at 3:05PM.

The World Baseball Classic players have left the team for their various national teams, so no Travis Bazzana, Bo Naylor, Matt Festa, Stuart Fairchild and Logan Allen for a bit. Plus, some minor leaguers.

You can check myself and Nick Karavolos out on the latest Disgusting Baseball Podcast episode here.

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Which Red Sox player from the past would you put on the 2026 team?

(051808 Boston, MA)Boston Red Sox batter Dustin Pedroia (R) gets a high five from teammate Manny Ramirez after Pedroia scored on a solo home run in the third inning against the Milwaukee Brewers on May 18, 2008 at Fenway Park. Photo by Matthew Healey (Photo by Matthew Healey/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images

Craig Breslow brought in a lot of new talent this offseason, but he didn’t plug every hole on the Red Sox roster. So for our question of the day today, we’re bending space and time to ask you this: If you could take one player from Red Sox history and put him on the 2026 roster, who would you pick?

Considering that we spent the offseason wondering about the lineup’s lack of right-handed power and the hole at third base, someone like Kevin Youkilis immediately comes to mind. (Adrian Beltre would be even better, but it’s hard for me to think of him as a player from Red Sox history.) On the other side of the infield, having Dustin Pedroia to lock down second base while sliding Marcelo Mayer to third would certainly work.

But I’m going with this guy:

The Boston Red Sox should, as a matter of principle, always have one of the very best sluggers in the game anchoring the lineup. So let’s bring back the best Red Sox hitter of the last 50 years.

I’d make him the full-time DH, of course. And, as an added bonus, his presence would force Craig Breslow to finally make a trade to clear the outfield/DH logjam.

Who would you pick?

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Bournemouth 1-1 Sunderland: Premier League – as it happened

There were contentious refereeing and VAR decisions aplenty as Evanilson cancelled out Eliezer Mayenda’s opener at the Vitality

Andoni Iraola: “It’s a team that has played really well this season,” he said of today’s visitors. “Starting from the goalkeeper - he has been very, very good for them. He has a really long kick so it puts you under pressure really early. Every free-kick and every set-piece situation, they put a lot of pressure on you, they manage the situations very well.”

Regis Le Bris: “We are in a tough league – a young team with injuries, suspensions and different events,” said Sunderland’s head coach, upon being asked about his side’s run of three league defeats. “We expected that a bit earlier [in the season]. It is not the best period from a results perspective. We are learning a lot, and it is often in these tough phases that you are learning more.”

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