SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 13: Tomoyuki Sugano #11 of the Colorado Rockies delivers a pitch during a spring training bullpen at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 13, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Kyle Cooper/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images)
Tonight, the Colorado Rockies welcomed the San Francisco Giants to Salt River Fields. In a high-scoring game, the Rockies lost, 14-11. For more game information, click here.
Let’s start with postgame comments from manager Warren Schaeffer:
Starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano also spoke with the media following the game:
And here are some game highlights for your viewing pleasure, especially since there were neither television nor radio feeds to follow.
The Vancouver Canucks picked up their 39th loss of the season as they fell 6-2 to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Vancouver received goals from two of their Swedish forwards as Liam Öhgren and Linus Karlsson found the back of the net. As for Kevin Lankinen, he stopped 24 of the 30 shots he faced in the loss.
Thursday night was a good example of how far away the Canucks currently are from some of the league's best. The Lightning controlled the game all night and demonstrated why they are a favourite in the Eastern Conference. While it was only a one-goal game after the first, it was no surprise that Tampa Bay skated away with a victory.
"A team that we inspire to be, said Jake DeBrusk post-game when asked about the Lightning. "They play together always. I remember playing against them, even playing playoffs against them, but obviously got some different guys now. But yeah, they play as a group. And, you know, they have the results for a reason. And you know, like I said, that's something that we need to get to."
One of Vancouver's main issues in this game was protecting the front of the net. Tampa generated plenty of traffic in front of Lankinen, resulting in three goals scored from just outside the crease. Post-game, Head Coach Adam Foote spoke about the defensive issues that plagued his team on Thursday.
"Yeah. I mean, if he gets there, you can't be double-screen," said Foote. "We talked about that every day. And sometimes you lose your positioning, or where you are. I mean, you know, the one screen, the guy gets there, it could be from out of the corner. We talked about extending coverage. We didn't extend. They move the puck, you get beat to the net. So it's a fly-by screen, so things like that. It's just they take advantage of that. That's what NHL players do. They take advantage of little things like that. And, you know, we've got to learn from that quickly and hold our ground. And you know, these mistakes have to stop. You know, I call it extended coverage. One, two, three, you're not getting easy ice. We called the timeout because it looked like we kind of got a little bit rattled. I think the one where Kucherov called the reverse, and we got hemmed in our end instead of moving it forward. You don't want to bring it back against a savvy team like that, a veteran team. But also with Kucherov on the ice, you want to make sure you're playing North."
Mar 19, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen (32) reacts as Tampa Bay Lightning forward Anthony Cirelli (71) celebrates his goal in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
In the end, Thursday's loss goes into the learn and move category. The only real takeaway was that the Canucks have a long way to go before they are competitive again. Thursday was also a reminder of how good Nikita Kucherov is, as his three-point night puts him at 114 points on the season.
Stats and Facts:
- Brock Boeser ties Tony Tanti for ninth all-time in franchise history for points
- Jake DeBrusk led the team with five shots on goal
- Filip Hronek led all players in ice time at 23:55
- Aatu Räty led all players in hits with six
Scoring Summary:
1st Period:
17:37- TBL: Jake Guentzel (30) from Charle-Edouard D'Astous and Ryan McDonagh
2nd Period:
00:49- TBL: Darren Raddysh (18) from Nikita Kucherov and Anthony Cirelli 4:16- TBL: Yanni Gourde (9) from Darren Raddysh and Pontus Holmberg 5:31- TBL: Nikita Kucherov (38) from Erik Cernak and Anthony Cirelli 12:06- VAN: Liam Öhgren (7) from Brock Boeser and Marco Rossi
3rd Period:
7:04- VAN: Linus Karlsson (13) from Marco Rossi 7:35- TBL: Anthony Cirelli (17) from Brandon Hagel and Erik Cernak
Up Next:
The Canucks continue their homestand on Saturday when the St. Louis Blues visit Rogers Arena. These two teams have already played twice this year, with each picking up a road win. Game time is scheduled for 4:00 pm PT.
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After ending their five-game road trip 3-1-1, the Los Angeles Kings (28-24-16) returned home tonight to host the Philadelphia Flyers (33-23-12), but their loss today once again showed why they can't be trusted at Crypto.com Arena.
The Kings are now 10-15-8 at home this season with their loss today to the Flyers, and even though they had a good road trip, losing against a shorthanded team that was playing a back-to-back tonight is not a good sign.
Los Angeles had a great first period, once again showing good defense early on, holding Philly to three shots, and scoring the first goal to lead 1-0 after 20 minutes. The Flyers looked like a team playing on a back-to-back early, barely generating anything while the Kings dominated possession, but they picked up steam as the game progressed.
But the second period, which has been a struggle for Los Angeles all season, continued tonight, giving up three goals in the period, only the fourth time in 12 games that the Flyers have scored more than two goals in regulation time since coming out of the Olympic break.
The sloppy play, which allowed too many rush chances and led to errors, cost the Kings tonight against a shorthanded team.
A very winnable game for the Kings after a bad second period, they came back and forced overtime, but couldn't win the shootout, resulting in a heartbreaking loss in their return home.
The opening period was a quiet one until the final minute, when, off a Flyers turnover, Alex Laferriere found Quinton Byfield, who created space to score for Los Angeles, giving them a 1-0 lead to end the first.
Once again, LA outshot its opponent in the first period 6-3, played with great energy, defense, and forechecking, and looked poised to win after two days of rest.
However, the second period was something else. Both teams traded goals within the first 40 seconds of the period. Philadelphia got things started just 23 seconds into the second, tying the game 1-1 after converting on the slot with traffic in the middle.
The Kings, however, countered the Flyers. 21 seconds later, Anze Kopitar buried the rebound after Brandt Clarke missed the shot. Kopitar converted and gave the Kings back their lead.
The Flyers didn't go away, though, once again putting pressure on the Kings. Philly tied the score after a scramble in the crease. Darcy Kuemper attempted to cover it but failed.
The replays showed that it was a loose puck, and LA decided not to challenge the call and played on.
The Flyers pulled ahead a few minutes later to take their first lead of the night after Travis Sanheim scored from the center point through traffic. Kuemper was without his stick on the play, allowing Sanheim to pull the Flyers ahead with a shot.
Los Angeles had trouble protecting the puck in the second period and made too many errors, giving the Flyers rush chances to convert. Despite it being an even shooting period, with both teams taking 11 shots, Philly was the much better team.
LA made a push in the final period, and it was Breadman, Artemi Panarin, who scored the first power-play goal for the Kings at the 9:32 mark to keep the Kings alive.
It was a quiet third period for the Flyers. Los Angeles did a good job bringing back the energy they were playing with earlier in the game, and outshot the Flyers 6-4, allowing zero goals.
Los Angeles forced overtime, where neither team could get a shot up. Despite LA controlling the puck for much of the possession, they struggled to generate offense, forcing a shootout.
In the shootout, the Kings would lose both rounds, while the Flyers converted both times, defeating LA to split the season series 1-1.
Key Notes
Despite the Kings getting a point tonight, it's a heartbreaking loss because the Edmonton Oilers, Seattle Kraken, and San Jose Sharks all lost tonight, which would've created more separation for the Kings in the standings. But now they have a small lead over the Sharks, Seattle, and Nashville for the final playoff spot.
Overall, this was a very inconsistent game for the Kings. They played a great first period, an ugly second period, and came back in the third, but couldn't close out the game when it mattered most.
Artemi Panarin finished with one goal, one assist, and two points, scoring that clutch goal in the third period to force overtime. Anze Kopitar got a standing ovation from the home crowd after his historic achivement a few nights ago on the road, finishing with one goal tonight.
The Kings will continue their two-game home stand on Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres at 1:00 PM PT.
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SEATTLE, WA - JUNE 12: DJ Peterson, 12th round draft pick of the Seattle Mariners, looks on during batting practice prior to the game against the Houston Astros at Safeco Field on June 12, 2013 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What a silly, precisely Spring Training baseball game. In celebration of the Mariners’ six-run seventh inning, we’re going to play six degrees of Kevin Bacon but with a Mariners twist (duh). I bandied about six degrees of Jerry Dipoto (yawn), six degrees of Jack Zduriencik (grim and boring) and six degrees of Alex Mayer (compelling, but not enough publicly available information). Ultimately, I settled on six degrees of Diego Seguí, because that seemed challenging but also a nice tie-in to the Mariners 50th celebration this season (the only player to have played for both the Mariners and the Pilots). A few additional parameters for my own sanity:
The connections must be through individual players, not just teams or geographic entities.
The connections can be statistical though, not just teammates.
When possible, try not to take the easy road.
Not every Mariner who played in tonight’s game needs to be included.
Randy Dobnak: First MLB strikeout was Roberto Pérez in 2019; Pérez didn’t allow a passed ball in 118 games at catcher – only three catchers played more games without a passed ball: Bill Dickey, Johnny Bench and Al Todd; Johnny Bench helped lead the Cincinnati Reds to the 1975 World Series title thanks, in part, to securing a crucial Game 5 win, wherein Bench scored on a Dave Concepción sacrifice fly given up by Diego Seguí.
Randy Arozarena: Was traded from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Tampa Bay Rays alongside José Martínez; Martínez was the 2016 Serie del Caribe MVP; the Dominican League hosted the tournament that year and dedicated it to Hall of Famer Juan Marichal, who threw out the first pitch; Marichal was teammates on the 1974 Red Sox with Diego Seguí.
Mitch Garver: Played for the University of New Mexico alongside D.J. Peterson, where the two shared Mountain West Conference Player of the Year honors in 2012; when Peterson was hit in the face by a pitch while playing for the Clinton LumberKings in 2013, Alvin Davis, then a roving minor league instructor for the Mariners, accompanied him to the hospital; Davis, of course, was the 1984 Rookie of the Year, where he played alongside such luminaries as Larry Milbourne; Milbourne, whom the Mariners traded for twice, despite him being objectively quite bad at baseball, played on the 1977 Mariners with Diego Seguí.
Brock Rodden: Helped the 2023 Modesto Nuts, led by manager Zach Vincej, to the California League Championship; Vincej played just one game for the Seattle Mariners in 2018, when he went 2 for 4 at third base while Kyle Seager was on the paternity list for the birth of his third child; Seager made his big league debut for the Mariners in 2011, where he was coached by hitting coach Chris Chambliss; Chambliss, famously a Yankee, was scouted heavily – and drafted unsuccessfully twice over – by Cincinnati Reds scout Al Zarilla; Zarilla was in Tucson, Arizona in 1958 where he scouted and successfully convinced the Athletics to sign Diego Seguí.
Box Office Bonanza
The game was not televised (to my knowledge), but I understand some of you may be interested in the actual baseball game played tonight, not just my newest method of entertaining myself. Here are the key notes best I can discern:
Good job Garver, Arozarena and Rodden on having two hits apiece tonight! You won the baseball game, and also the honor of being featured in this weird recap.
Bad job Cal Raleigh for contributing 4 of the team’s 15 strikeouts (good thing it doesn’t matter, and that he also hit a very far double).
Okay job, pitchers! Dobnak got the start (and the bonus weird recap glory) and allowed four hits over 3.2 innings, with no walks and two Ks. Jason Ruffcorn and Reese Lumpkin (absolutely and for sure a real human person (can you tell I haven’t watched much Spring Training?)) turned in scoreless innings, and Dane Dunning gave up a double, threw a wild pitch and allowed the runner to score on a clunky groundout, but otherwise remained solid over three innings. They get only an “okay” from me, because though a six hit, four run, one walk, seven strikeouts game is objectively solid, it is also quite boring when none of it matters. Sorry.
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 19: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers is interviewed after the game against the Miami Heat on March 19, 2026 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Not all wins are created equal and Thursday’s was no ordinary victory for the Lakers.
There’s a level of seriousness that came with that performance that separates good teams from great teams. Everything about this performance screamed schedule loss.
The team had an emotional win in Houston just 24 hours earlier. They then flew from Texas to Florida and didn’t arrive at the hotel until after 5 a.m. That LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves all played was surprising enough.
But they did more than just show up. Even if it was against a Miami team that borders unserious in their own right, the Lakers had a lot stacked up against them and responded in a big way.
The Lakers are rolling, Luka is in a groove not seen by a Laker since Kobe Bryant and the wins are stacking up at a rapid rate now.
So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
Playing in this game was impressive enough for a 41-year-old. But then he broke his own record as the oldest player with a triple-double. Bringing this level of energy and efficiency and execution on the second night of a back-to-back in year 23 is the latest list of unparalleled accomplishments.
A lot of performances went under the radar in this one because of, well, Luka. Smart was a useful safety valve on a number of possessions, highlighted by him getting to the line nine times.
Bam Adebayo didn’t score 83 points on him, so it was an impressive defensive display. In reality, it was a fairly pedestrian showing from Ayton after a string of strong ones.
Speaking of pedestrian games, Reaves put up another one on Thursday. He’s been a bit too hot and cold of late. Having said that, it’s been three straight cold games now in the last four days.
Well, what else can you say? It’s the first 60-point game by a Laker since Kobe Bryant’s finale. After helping keep the Lakers afloat in the first half, a supercharged second half helped them race ahead.
He is in some kind of rhythm right now that is incredible to watch and brings back lots of memories of Kobe. Scoring 100 points inside of 24 hours rightfully brings those comparisons.
Grade: A+++
Luke Kennard
13 minutes, 2 rebounds, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3PT, -5
This is five games in a row now with Kennard being a relative non-factor offensively. In that span, he has four field goals.
Grade: D
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A nice LaRavia that also came on an efficient shooting performance tacked on, though it featured nearly fouling out, too.
Grade: B+
JJ Redick
After one quarter, I wondered if this game could use a boost from someone like Jarred Vanderbilt or Adou Thiero to add some energy. The Lakers didn’t end up needing it, but it was a surprise that Redick didn’t really expand his rotation. This road trip isn’t going to get any less exhausting, so introducing some more players feels like it has to happen at some point.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Nikita Kucherov and Anthony Cirelli each had a goal and two assists and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the NHL-worst Vancouver Canucks 6-2 on Thursday night.
Kucherov moved into sole possession of second place in the NHL scoring race with 114 points, one behind Edmonton’s Connor McDavid. Tampa Bay is second in the Atlantic Division, four points behind Buffalo.
Jake Guentzel, Darren Raddysh, Yanni Gourde and Brandon Hagel also scored for the Lightning, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 19 saves for his NHL-leading 32nd victory.
Liam Ohgren and Linus Karlsson scored for Vancouver, and Kevin Lankinen stopped 24 shots.
Guentzel opened the scoring late in the first period to become the third Lightning player to reach 30 goals this season, after Kucherov and Hagel.
After establishing position at the net front, Guentzel tipped a shot from the top of the zone by Charle-Edouard D’Astous over the glove of the screened Lankinen.
Less than a minute into the second, Raddysh made it 2-0 with a big one-timer. Gourde followed with a tip of Raddysh's shot at 4:16, and Kucherov deflected the puck off the leg off a Canucks defenseman and into the net for his 38th of the season at 5:31.
Ohgren scored for Vancouver with 7:54 remaining in the second, putting in a low shot,
In the third, Karlsson batted the puck over Valisevskiy. Twenty-two seconds later, Cirelli restored the Lightning’s three-goal edge, then Hagel capped the scoring with his 32nd.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 19: Ace Bailey #19 and Blake Hinson #2 of the Utah Jazz talk during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 19, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With most of their rotation players out, the Utah Jazz likely expected to drop one to a Bucks team that played the roster meant to convince Giannis Antetokounmpo to stay in Milwaukee. Utah ended up beating the Bucks 128-96. Probably not the best thing for the Bucks to prove to Giannis that he can win there.
The best player on the floor was Ace Bailey, who scored a career high 33 points with 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Bailey is turning into a real weapon for the Jazz, who are doing everything they can to add one more top-8 pick in the upcoming draft. Bailey continues to get better and better every night showing more and more to his game. Not only is Bailey’s shooting getting more and more efficient, but he’s also showing great defensive chops with 3 steals and 1 block in this game. Not only that, his 4 assists are a sign of a burgeoning ability to playmake for others. Utah has a chance to win the lottery again after this season, but they appear to have a young star already from last year.
Ace Bailey wasn’t the only player to shine, Cody Williams is also improving night after night. He’s improving in all aspects of his game, especially with his scoring. Williams had 23 points in the first half and looked completely comfortable all night, scoring on the hapless Bucks. Williams was a fantastic 10/15 from the field and 1/2 from three, but also dished out 5 assists. Night after night, it’s getting clearer and clearer that Williams is becoming a core part of the future and a player that Utah was right to draft at #10.
Kyle Filipowski continues to show he can be a positive contributor, although he’s got to find a way to improve on defense. It may not be something he can ever do, but it’s the one thing that is going to keep him from being a consistent rotation player.
Finally, there has to be a huge shoutout to the Utah Jazz front office for finding some nice players from the G-League. Blake Hinson, who is on a two-way contract, has been a lights-out shooter for the Jazz, and tonight was no different. Hinson shot a blistering 4/7 from three, and it looks like something he should be able to replicate in the years to come. Andersson Garcia has had a nice defensive presence for the Jazz since joining. Tonight, he played all 48 minutes and played with high energy all game. I’m not sure that Garcia will be on the Jazz next season, but he’s proven he’s a player worth looking at and bringing into their development system. He could be a potential fit down the road.
It’s not a good night for the Jazz in terms of tanking for the lottery, it likely puts the 4-spot out of reach, but it was a night where you got to see the future of the Jazz in Ace Bailey and Cody Williams, and that future is looking bright.
Mar 19, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Vj Edgecombe (77) celebrates with center Andre Drummond (1) during the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images | Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer season standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 22 Joel Embiid – 9 VJ Edgecombe – 9 Paul George – 6 Justin Edwards – 4 Kelly Oubre Jr. – 4 Quentin Grimes – 3 Jared McCain :’( – 3 Dominick Barlow – 2 Andre Drummond – 2 MarJon Beauchamp – 2 Adem Bona – 1 Cam Payne – 1 Jabari Walker – 1 Trendon Watford – 1 15th roster spot – 1
The Sixers took care of business in Sacramento, defeating the Kings 139-118 and bouncing back from Wednesday’s blowout in Denver.
The Sixers treated fans who stayed up to watch with an extremely strong offensive performance, including a couple of career nights against the lottery-chasing Kings.
One of the toughest choices for Bell Ringer this season, so have at it.
Edwards opened the game on fire, making three from deep, a post fadeaway and a tough layup to bring him to 13 points with just four minutes elapsed in the first quarter. Then he started diming up teammates, specifically VJ Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes. He tallied four assists in the first half.
His fifth three, occurring in the fourth quarter, gave him his career high in points with 26. He added his sixth three later in the frame to give him a career high in makes from deep, and knocked his seventh down after lulling the defender to sleep. The Philly native notches his first career 30-point night.
Edgecombe was the driving force for the Sixers’ offense once Edwards cooled off, scoring from everywhere on the floor. He started with a couple threes in the first following a nice floater to begin scoring. He got his teammates involved and got repaid with a nasty alley-oop finish in transition in the second quarter. He also showed off his improvement in the midrange with a pair of mirrored pull-up midrange shots over a good contest.
He finished a fastbreak dunk after a Dominick Barlow block to help fight off the ghosts of third-quarters past. He snake finished through the defense for an easy two in close midway through the third. He made a beautiful spin fade after drawing help. He spent the rest of the quarter penetrating the defense at will.
He added another layup at the onset of the fourth, then hit two threes and a layup to give him a new career high with 38 points. His 11 assists provided him his fifth double-double of his career.
He is now the fourth Sixers rookie to notch 30 points and 10 assists, joining Allen Iverson, Ben Simmons and Jared McCain
Grimes was the Sixers leading scorer at halftime thanks to strong drives and savvy finishes at the rim. It was not like the Kings deployed the stingiest rim protection, but Grimes did not settle for poor shots when better ones were available. Only two of his eight makes came from outside the paint in the first half and he did not hit his first three until just before halftime.
He added a three early in the third quarter, and another one a few possessions later to keep trading buckets with the Kings amidst inconsistent defense to begin the second half.
Bona was pivotal in stopping the Kings from taking a larger lead after the Lowry-equipped bench lineup swiftly gave the Sixers lead up. He successfully thwarted multiple dunk attempts at the rim, and was a force on the boards, notching 10 rebounds by halftime.
LaMonte Wade Jr. got the party started early, launching a two-run shot to right in the first. | (John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
Game 1
The White Sox split their doubleheader on Thursday, and in Game 1, the Good Guys did just enough to walk away with a 4-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Despite a bit of an early wobble and a whole lot of frustration against a familiar face, they held on for the W.
Davis Martin’s outing started rough. The righthander got tagged in the first inning, giving up two runs on two hits and two walks before things threatened to spiral. Enter Jairo Iriarte, who came on with two outs to bail out Martin, though not without a little extra drama, issuing a walk before punching out Kristian Robinson to close the door on the inning.
Because Spring Training rules allow, Martin trotted back out for the second and looked much more like himself. He worked around a one-out walk and then cruised through the third and fourth innings with minimal fuss, allowing just one additional free pass. His final line: 4 2/3 innings, two hits, two runs, four walks, and three strikeouts. The outing lands squarely in the “not great, not terrible” bucket. Even if the command wasn’t exactly crisp, it was a good sign that he was able to regroup.
From there, the bullpen did its job and then some. Ryan Borucki kept things quiet in the sixth, Brandon Eisert danced around a couple of singles in the seventh, and Lucas Sims worked through traffic in the eighth without incident. Chase Plymell brought a little flair to the finish, striking out the side.
For the Friars, former South Side righty Michael Soroka looked like he had a personal vendetta. He absolutely carved through the Sox lineup, allowing just one hit and one walk over five dominant innings while racking up eight strikeouts. Whether it was revenge, motivation, or just one of those days, Chicago’s bats had no answers early. (I’m not saying Soroka read the game thread, but I’m also not not saying it.)
Eventually, though, the tide turned as the Good Guys finally broke through in the sixth against Brandyn Garcia. Andrew Benintendi got things started with a one-out double, and Colson Montgomery followed with a grounder that should’ve ended the threat, except that old friend Jacob Amaya had other ideas, misplaying it just enough to let Montgomery reach and Benintendi score.
Then came the avalanche-by-walk. Munetaka Murakami and Edgar Quero drew back-to-back free passes to load the bases and chase Garcia. With Ryan Thompson now on the mound and the count sitting at 2-2, Chase Meidroth delivered the big swing of the evening, ripping a line drive single to left that brought home Monty and Mune. Just like that, Chicago flipped a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead.
The Sox tacked on an insurance run in the eighth when Austin Hays hit a two-bagger, and then Meidroth doubled him home, and suddenly the margin felt a bit more comfortable at 4-2.
It certainly wasn’t the most aesthetically pleasing game early on, but the boys showed some resilience by surviving the early mess, breaking through late, and letting the bullpen lock it down.
Game 2
This one was fun, until it wasn’t. The White Sox jumped out early but couldn’t hold anything resembling momentum, eventually getting steamrolled 13-6 in a game that went from promising to unraveling to full-on tire fire.
Things actually started pretty great. Everson Pereira led the first off with a single, and after two quick outs, LaMonte Wade Jr. absolutely demolished a homer to right.
Derek Hill followed with a base hit, swiped second, and came around to score when Sam Antonacci lined a single. Just like that, Sox up 3-0 before the Padres even picked up a bat. You take that 10 times out of 10.
Then came the first “wait, what?” moment of the night.
Jonathan Cannon was originally slated to start, but instead, Adisyn Coffey took the ball with zero explanation on the broadcast. Coffey promptly gave the lead right back, getting tagged for three runs in the first, highlighted by a two-run shot from old friend Gavin Sheets. Sheets finished the night 3-for-5, because of course he did. Revenge game? Revenge game.
The Sox nudged back ahead in the second thanks to a little chaos. Ramón Laureano completely whiffed on what should’ve been a routine fly ball, gifting Pereira a double. Tristan Peters had walked to start the inning and moved to third, then Miguel Vargas brought him home with a sac fly. Sox back on top, 4-3.
For a brief moment, things stabilized. Tyler Schweitzer worked around a leadoff walk to Fernando Tatis Jr. in the third, striking out Jackson Merrill before Manny Machado bounced into a double play.
And then the fourth inning happened.
Ben Peoples came on and got absolutely ambushed: five singles, a walk, and an error from Derek Hill all piled up into a mess that turned a Sox lead into a 6-4 deficit in a hurry. Peoples recorded just one out before being pulled, and while Frankeli Arias managed to finish the frame, the damage was already done.
To their credit, the Sox didn’t fold immediately. In the fifth, Curtis Mead and Wade went back-to-back with two outs, each launching a solo shot to knot things up at 6-6. Tie game, new life, maybe something brewing.
Also happening in that same inning was the Padres broadcast somehow asking Manny Machado if playing in the World Baseball Classic gets “funner and funner,” which… sure. Spring Training for everyone, I guess.
The game drifted into a lull after that, with both teams trading quiet innings. The Sox had a golden opportunity in the eighth, loading the bases, but, in keeping with the theme, couldn’t cash in. Runners in scoring position remained an unsolved puzzle for the South Siders as they went 1-for-6 on the night.
Next up: the meltdown.
Eric Adler took the mound in the bottom of the eighth and immediately lost the plot. He walked the bases loaded, and then Jake Cronenworth cleared them with a double to blow the game open at 9-6. Adler exited without recording an out, and things somehow got worse. Luke Bell entered and gave up a ground-rule double, then Ty France put the exclamation point on the disaster with a two-run homer. Seven runs, just like that, and any hope of a comeback was long gone.
Then, the Sox went quietly in the ninth, and that was that.
A tale of two games in one day: one where the Sox bent but didn’t break, and one where they absolutely shattered. Spring training, baby.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Karel Vejmelka stopped all 28 shots he faced for Utah, while Vegas counterpart Adin Hill was chased after allowing three goals without making a save in the Mammoth's 4-0 victory over the Golden Knights on Thursday night.
Vejmelka had his second shutout of the season and eighth in five NHL seasons to help Utah move six points ahead of Los Angeles for the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The Mammoth built on a 6-3 home victory over Dallas on Monday night that snapped a four-game losing streak.
Third in the Pacific Division, the Golden Knights lost their second straight to finish a homestand 2-2. It fell apart quicky for Hill.
Clayton Keller scored from close range on Utah’s first two shots on goal and Jack McBain followed on the third. Barrett Hayton scored into an empty net with 48 seconds to go to cap the scoring.
Keller pushed his season goals total to 22. The U.S. Olympian took a feed from John Marino and knocked one in off Hill from the left side at 2:52, then got the puck on a rebound off the boards and put it in from the right side at 6:05.
McBain connected at 8:12 to end Hill’s night, taking Barrett Hayton’s pass on a break and scoring on a wrist shot from the high slot.
Akira Schmid took over in goal for Vegas, stopping all 14 shots he faced.
Lawson Crouse assisted on Keller’s second goal and fought Vegas’ Jeremy Lauzon in the second period.
Thursday night, Bam Adebayo and the Heat got to feel what it's like being on the other side against a red-hot player.
The Lakers' Luka Doncic — already the league's leading scorer — was getting M-V-P chants while on the road in Miami as he dropped 60 points on the Heat in one of the best outings of his career. "I think every player wants to hear it," Doncic said of the chants, via the Associated Press. "I got a lot of goosebumps, so it was pretty special."
Maybe the wildest thing about this is he did it on the second night of a back-to-back after the Lakers won in Houston on Wednesday. Doncic was 9-of-17 from 3-point range, 15-of-19 from the free throw line for the night.
The Lakers won 134-126, their eighth straight win, as they have jumped up to a solid third in the West.
This game was LeBron James' 1,611th regular-season game in his career, tying Hall of Famer and Celtics legend Robert Parish's all-time NBA record.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Rookie VJ Edgecombe scored a career high 38 points with 11 assists, Justin Edwards was 7 of 11 from 3-point range and finished with 32 points, and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Sacramento Kings 139-118 on Thursday night.
Quentin Grimes scored 27 points as the 76ers ended a five-game road losing streak and won for the fourth time in their last six games playing without their two biggest stars — Joel Embiid (strained right oblique) and Tyrese Maxey (finger).
Embiid has missed 11 straight games but coach Nick Nurse said he has been making progress.
Edwards shot 11 of 18 from the field overall and went 3 for 3 from the line.
Maxime Raynaud led the Kings with 30 points and Daeqwon Plowden had 20. Dylan Cardwell had 14 rebounds. For the Kings, it was their third loss in their last five games.
Philadelphia shot 50% from the field overall and 47% from 3-point range, compared to 38% from deep for Sacramento.
The 76ers took the lead for good with 3:08 remaining in the second quarter. The score was 71-62 at halftime, with Grimes scoring 20 points. The 76ers extended their lead to 114-91 during the fourth quarter, fueled by a 16-2 scoring run.
The Kings Malik Monk left the game with an injured right shoulder and did not return.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 19: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs talks to the media after the game against the Phoenix Suns on March 19, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For most of the night, it felt like the San Antonio Spurs were stuck in place — running hard, but going nowhere. The ball clanged off the rim more often than it swished through. Possessions grew tense, deliberate. Across the floor, the Phoenix Suns moved with the confidence of a team in control, building a lead that hovered, then stretched, then threatened to break the game open entirely.
By the middle of the fourth quarter, the Spurs were down double digits. The crowd inside the Frost Bank Center grew restless, a low murmur replacing the earlier buzz. It had the feel of a long night nearing its inevitable end.
But basketball games, especially strange, stubborn ones like this, don’t always follow the script.
It started with defense. A stop that forced Phoenix deeper into the shot clock. Then another. Suddenly, the Suns’ rhythm, which was so steady all night, began to wobble. The Spurs pushed the tempo, not recklessly, but urgently. De’Aaron Fox sliced into the lane with purpose, absorbing contact and finishing through it. Each drive felt like a spark, something to ignite a team that had been searching for life. Earlier, Collin Gillespie had kept San Antonio at bay, knocking down three after three, each one a small act of resistance to the Spurs’ attempt at getting back into the game.
But then, those efforts began to go around the rim and out. San Antonio continued to get stops and make shots. The deficit shrank. Ten became seven. Seven became four. The noise inside the arena swelled again — cautious at first, then rising with each possession. You could feel belief creeping back in, possession by possession.
Still, the Suns had their chances. Rasheer Fleming stepped to the line, the kind of moment a rookie lives for. But on this night, nothing came easy when the man at the line shoots 57 percent. He missed free throws left the door open, just enough for San Antonio to slip through.
One final possession. One final chance. Mitch Johnson called timeout to advance the ball and there was little doubt who would have the ball in his hands with the game on the line. The ball found Victor Wembanyama — as if it had been destined to all along when he was drafted just three years ago. It was only fitting that Wemby had the chance to return the Spurs to playoff glory.
“I’m happy for the city, the community, and organization,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said of clinching the team’s first playoff berth since 2019. “To be a part of that process is rewarding.”
There was a stillness in the moment. No rush, no panic. Just Wembanyama, rising above the defense, his long frame creating space where there seemed to be none. The shot — a soft, controlled pull-up — left his hands as the clock neared zero.
For a split second, everything held its breath. Then the net snapped as the ball went through.
“It’s very fun. We hadn’t had this type of situation in awhile. It was a test and we passed it,” Wembanyama said. “It was a meaningful game and close to the playoffs, this was a good test right now.”
With just over a second remaining, the Spurs had flipped the entire night on its head, stealing a 101-100 victory from a game that had seemed lost. Teammates swarmed Wembanyama. The arena erupted, the earlier tension replaced by a roar that shook the building.
He finished with 34 points and 12 rebounds, but numbers felt almost secondary. This was about presence. About timing. About the growing sense that when the game tightens and the lights get brighter, the Spurs have someone who can bend the moment to his will.
For this young Spurs team, this win felt like more than just another mark in the standings. It felt like a turning point for the present and their future, the kind you remember later, when close games stop slipping away and start becoming something else entirely.
“It feels good, it feels like a long time coming,” Keldon Johnson said of clinching the playoffs. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else or do it anywhere else but here…this is a special group that we have. And I am blessed to be a part of it.”
Game Notes
Phoenix is one team that’s been a thorn in the Spurs’ side all season, officially splitting the season series 2-2. But in all four games, the Suns have been a solid team against San Antonio. If this is the first round matchup, it’ll be juicy.
Stephon Castle’s perimeter defense was missed against Devin Booker, who scored 22 points on the night. However, even without Castle defending him, he only shot 8-for-21 for the game.
If this is the Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox we’re getting in the postseason, the Spurs will continue to surprise people. And they will go further than many are expecting.
The San Jose Sharks were back in action on Thursday night as they hosted the red-hot Buffalo Sabres in the two teams’ final meeting of the regular season. The Sabres had a dominant victory during their last meeting with the Sharks, winning 6-3. As a result, the Sharks were looking to avenge their previous performance.
The Sharks were buzzing early on, maintaining quite a bit of offensive pressure and limiting dangerous chances on the rush. Kiefer Sherwood nearly gave the Sharks an early lead five minutes into the game when his shot from the slot forced Buffalo’s goaltender, Alex Lyon, to stretch across the crease to make the save. The game started off very fast paced, going all the way to the first TV timeout before there was a stoppage of play.
Roughly nine minutes into the game, Alex Nedeljkovic got his first major test of the night when Jack Quinn and Jason Zucker each had a chance. Nedeljkovic denied Quinn’s shot, before Macklin Celebrini blocked Zucker’s follow-up chance.
Alex Wennberg took the Sharks’ first penalty of the night 11 minutes into the first period, when he high-sticked Tage Thompson. The Sharks killed off the penalty.
Macklin Celebrini got a breakaway chance with roughly six minutes remaining in the first, but was hauled down by the Buffalo defense. To the dismay of the SAP Center crowd, no penalty was called on the play.
A couple of minutes later though, the Sharks would get their first power play of the net when Zucker was called for high-sticking. Celebrini danced through the weakened defense to generate the Sharks’ best scoring opportunity of the power play, but Lyon was able to stonewall him, keeping the puck out of the net.
After 20 minutes, the game remained deadlocked at 0-0. When the second period started, the Sharks were without a key player, as Tyler Toffoli was ruled doubtful to return.
The Sharks got their second man advantage of the night when Owen Power took down Pavol Regenda in the corner, almost a quarter of the way through the middle frame. Nothing came of the man advantage, as the Sabres killed it off fairly easily.
Will Smith nearly gave the Sharks the lead around the halfway point of the game, as with 12 minutes remaining in the second period, he hit the crossbar. Sherwood had a solid scoring chance moments later, but was denied by Lyon.
Noah Ostlund gave the Sabres the lead with 10:55 remaining in the second, scoring off a rebound. The initial shot was taken by Josh Doan, the puck then hit the boards behind Nedeljkovic and bounced right to Ostlund. Sam Carrick added a second Sabres goal just 36 seconds later.
The Sabres’ captain, Dahlin, joined the goal-scoring party to make it 3-0 just over a minute later.
As the second period neared its end, the Sharks caused a major net-front scramble. While it seemed like the Sharks couldn’t be denied, Lyon and the Buffalo defense found a way to shut the door.
The Sabres’ three goals in the second period came on just three shots, showing that the Sharks were suppressing shots fairly well, but the ones that they did give up were quality chances. Buffalo carried their three-goal lead into the second intermission.
On the Sabres’ first shot of the third period, Tage Thompson would score a five-hole goal to make it 4-0. As a result, the Sabres had scored a goal on four straight shots.
As time ticked away, the game started getting a bit more chippy. Around the halfway point of the period, Vincent Desharnais and Sam Carrick started going at each other, with Carrick eventually knocking off the giant Sharks defenseman's helmet.
Barclay Goodrow was called for slashing with 6:20 remaining in the game, giving the Sabres an opportunity to extend their lead even further. The Sharks penalty kill remained perfect though, killing off the penalty with little cause for concern.
Sam Carrick would score one final goal for the Sabres, making it 5-0 late in the third.
The Sabres would ultimately walk away victorious with a 5-0 victory over the Sharks. The Sharks will be back in action on Saturday, as they’ll host the Philadelphia Flyers in a matinee game with a 1 P.M. puck drop.
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 19: VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 19, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Don’t look now, but they’ve won three of their last four!
The Sixers blew out the Sacramento Kings 139-118 Thursday night.
They are 38-32, a big win given big losses by the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat earlier in the night.
Reaching 30 points for the first time since his NBA debut, VJ Edgecombe cruised past that to put up a career-high 38 points and 11 assists, shooting 16-of-27 from the floor. It’s the most a Sixer has put up as a rookie since Tyrese Maxey. Justin Edwards went for a career-high as well, finishing with 32 points going 11-of-18 from the floor and 7-of-11 from three.
Quentin Grimes dished out seven assists as well while putting up 27 points on 10-of-20 shooting. Maxime Raynauld led the Kings with 30.
Joel Embiid was originally listed as doubtful for this one and was eventually ruled out for his 11th straight game with an oblique strain. Tyrese Maxey (finger sprain), Paul George (suspension), Kelly Oubre Jr. (elbow strain) and Johni Broome (meniscus tear) remained out.
Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.
First Quarter
Neither team put the clamps on early, but no one took better advantage than Edwards, who made five of his first six shots of the night. He came out gunning from behind the arc, and was about the only player to meet the resistance at the rim on a drive but hit a nice spin move to get around it.
Of course Sacramento started just as well offensively. They made nine of their first 11 field goals just like the Sixers. Rather than just getting right to the basket their drives resulted in wide open dump-offs for both of their bigs.
Edgecombe and Grimes each helped the Sixers spread the ball around as the team went for 10 assists in the quarter. The flashiest assist though went to Edgecombe on a big alley oop in transition. He nailed a pull-up jumper to tie the team’s highest scoring quarter this year at 45 and give the Sixers a 12-point lead.
The mostly bench unit had a very rough go of it to kick off the second, giving up that lead entirely early in the quarter. The offense went ice cold while the zone they sat in as a result of a Cam Payne-Kyle Lowry backcourt got beat by three after three.
The offensive struggles became team wide, as their start from the field in the second got as bad as 1-of-15. They were frankly lucky the Kings weren’t able to punish them more in this stretch. Nearly every player on the court took place in a sequence like this.
An insanely fast-paced and collision-filled 20 seconds of action with nothing either team can show for it pic.twitter.com/wtOlbDyyn4
Edgecombe hitting a couple fadeaway jumpers by the block gave the Sixers some sense of stability. Grimes got under control with his drives, hitting a couple slick finishes before nailing a much-needed three off the catch. Adem Bona was able to complete one of those solo fast breaks for a dunk and a putback a few possessions later, helping the Sixers get back up nine at the break.
Third Quarter
Grimes and Edwards remaining consistent only buoyed the Sixers to start the half. Raynaud was an imposing force all night. Bona tried his best pushing him around but he needed every bit of strength to match the height disadvantage.
Even after throwing a very errant lob pass, it was shaking out as a very solid night for Edgecombe as the primary ball handler again. His go-to shots, especially the little fadeaway, routinely got the Sixers out of ruts.
Edgecombe had seven assists to this point as well, and perhaps his best read of the night hadn’t fallen on a skip pass to MarJon Beauchamp for a corner three attempt. A simple bounce pass from him was enough to hit Andre Drummond for his third three of the night as the Sixers lead jumped up to their largest of the night at 18.
Fourth Quarter
Edwards’ performance had understandably become overshadowed, but a couple of three-point plays got him quickly back on track. Not only did burying a three set his new career-high, but it set Edgecombe’s career-high in assists. For the starters at least, it was just one of those nights offensively.
This team was really in no position to nitpick — they needed an easy win no matter who the opponent. This was their first win by 11 points or more in nearly a month, back on Feb. 22 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
