NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 17: An exterior view of Yankee Stadium before the game between the New York Yankees and the Kansas City Royals on April 17, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I can always appreciate when someone picks themselves off the schneid and comes up big in a timely moment. It’s how Aaron Boone himself hit that walk-off homer against the 2003 Red Sox after doing basically nothing all postseason. I also think about how lefty relievers Graeme Lloyd and Damaso Marte had poor reputations among the Yankees fanbase prior to the 1996 and 2009 postseasons respectively; now, they’ll always get a nice hand in the Bronx. Going back even further, Don Larsen was awful against the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 2 of the 1956 World Series and didn’t expect Casey Stengel to ask him to start another game. But the Ol’ Perfesser gave him Game 5 and the rest is history.
In short: Hell yeah, Ryan McMahon. A game-winning home run in April against a team that is a confirmed long shot for October is not at the level of what all those other guys did. But you have to start somewhere! And his teammates’ reactions were very wholesome.
Today on the site, John will pay tribute to a fallen rival, as we salute the late Garret Anderson, a Yankee Killer who is gone too soon. Later, Matt will be on the Rivalry Roundup, Kento will celebrate the 67th birthday of the unlikely Dennis Rasmussen, and Sam will take the opportunity of recent extension news for young players around MLB to ponder pros and cons of a possible long-term deal for a particular Yankee.
Today’s Matchup
New York Yankees vs. Kansas City Royals
Time: 1:35 p.m. EST
Video: YES Network, Royals.TV
Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Questions/Prompts:
1. Would you stick to the plan and have McMahon back on the bench today? Or would you start him even with the lefty Noah Cameron on the bump for KC?
2. Do you have any thoughts on the Padres being on the verge of reportedly selling for a record $3.9 billion?
There isn’t a player on the Detroit Red Wings who has been with the organization longer, or borne more of its setbacks, than team captain Dylan Larkin, the lone remaining player from the club’s last Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance in 2016.
Despite setting a career high with 34 goals this season, Dylan Larkin suffered an injury at a critical point. Although he eventually gutted it out and played through it, he was unable to carry his team over the finish line.
The Red Wings now hold the unfortunate distinction of owning the NHL’s longest active postseason drought, after the Buffalo Sabres, who hadn’t qualified since 2011, finally ended theirs.
"It's been hard, not great. I think it's been a very difficult end to the season," Larkin said on Friday morning. "Never a fun time when you miss the playoffs, but especially in this fashion, and kind of being here again. So today is not a pleasant day around the rink, that's for sure."
During Detroit’s stretch run in March, they often found themselves trailing by multiple goals against opponents they were directly competing with in the standings.
Head coach Todd McLellan repeatedly called for a higher level of compete from his players, while questions also arose about “outside noise” potentially creeping into the locker room.
“I mean, that's a fair question, and I think, like I said, part of the tightness was kind of dipping your toe into a game, and when you're anxious for a game, there are tendencies as a player to go out there and see what it's going to be like,” Larkin said about Detroit's slow starts down the stretch. “Is it going to be a hard night or an easy night? Again, I don't think that was the story every night."
As the team captain, a position he's held since the beginning of the 2021-22 campaign, Larkin accepted responsibility for not, as he put it, driving the play more.
"But especially at home, down the stretch, you have to know going into a game that you're going to go out there, and part of that is on me as captain of the team, a forward that plays a driving game," he said.
“I should probably have been out there more, driving the play early in the games to set the tone early for our team, and that's a mindset that would go through the entire lineup.”
As a Metro Detroit native who grew up watching the Red Wings’ glory years, Larkin understands the weight of the moment better than others. He carries the burden of the captaincy once held by franchise legends such as Steve Yzerman, Nicklas Lidstrom, and Henrik Zetterberg.
Larkin signed an eight-year extension in 2023 to remain with the Red Wings and is committed to seeing the process through.
"I wanted to be here, and I want to be here to help this team in any way I can to win the Stanley Cup," he said.
"We need to get the Detroit Red Wings back in the playoffs," he concluded. "Not just me."
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Mar 1, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics center Nikola Vucevic (4) defends Philadelphia 76ers forward Trendon Watford (12) during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images | Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images
Of the last 20 games of Boston’s regular season, 13 featured a starting lineup of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Sam Hauser and Neemias Queta.
Despite Tatum’s late entry into the lineup, that 5-man combo is third in total minutes together this year, sporting a +7 net scoring advantage (per 100 possessions). It’s a lineup that figures to transition over into Boston’s first round series with the Philadelphia 76ers, which tips off Sunday afternoon and is the fourth postseason meeting between the two in the Jays era.
We have a good read on who’s starting these games, but figuring out the overall rotation is a different story. All season, we’ve seen experimentation that’s led to a good problem: the Celtics have an abnormal amount of playoff-caliber talent waiting in the wings.
In last year’s 11 postseason games, the Celtics had nine players average more than 10 minutes. The year prior, the title run featured the same: nine players. It was one player less in the 2022-23 postseason, with Grant Williams having the lowest of the eight rotation guys with 17.7 minutes per game.
With the margin of error so thin, there’s no time to waste when it comes to playoff minutes. If struggles extend beyond a game, the hook is coming, and the chance to check back in may not be there waiting for you.
In this regular season, Boston had 16 players average minutes in double figures. Three of those guys are no longer Celtics and another (Dalano Banton) had a four-game sample size, but when you take a step back, you see that the Celtics, really, have 12 players on this roster that are capable of leaving a positive impact in a postseason series, however big or small that impact ultimately is.
I guess it’s fortunate that we don’t have to make the decision of who gets those bench opportunities or who rides the pine, but let’s assume each of their primary bench players had that opportunity. What would they do with it? What role or objective allows them to impact the game the greatest against the 76ers? Let’s take a crack at it, and find out.
For the sake of time and grounded rotational possibilities, we’ll leave the deep bench guys (Amari Williams, Max Shulga, John Tonje, Delano Banton) out of this exercise. If you have to resort to playing one of three second round rookies or a guy just signed to a contract right before the end of the season, chances are the season’s probably going down sooner rather than later.
Payton Pritchard
A glorified starter and a shoe-in for major usage, there’s not much mystery of the role Payton Pritchard will have against Philly, and beyond.
Since his move back to the Sixth Man spot, Pritchard has averaged roughly the same amount of minutes, shot attempts, points per game and assists as his overall season averages, finishing with 17 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds in 29 games that began as the first player off the bench.
In four games against Philly, PP actually struggled in the scoring department. He was a combined 13-of-31 in the first two games in October, getting the last two looks in their close season-opening loss, and 2-of-13 in their last two games. From three, he shot just 12% for the series.
Not exactly numbers you’d expect from Pritchard, and strangely enough, this is a matchup that particularly favors his scoring style. The 76ers boast a middle of the road defense (16th in defensive rating) and lineups that often feature two traditional guards. All four of their most-used 5-man lineups feature both Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.
For Pritchard, that means opportunities in the mid-range.
At 42% in the mid-range and 56% in the non-restricted area this year, Pritchard has been one of the league’s finest shot-creators inside and around the free throw line, utilizing his powerful build to initiate contact in order to create space.
According to data from Basketball Index, he’s in the 100th percentile in mid-range openness rating, the 98th percentile in stable short mid-range field goal efficiency, and the 97th percentile in mid-range pull up shot-making efficiency.
Boston will be searching for plenty of 2-on-1 advantages to set up rotations and open looks from deep, but Pritchard could really use this series to pack a serious punch in the heart of Philadelphia’s defense.
Nikola Vučević
Vooch or the Garzilla? That is the question on everybody’s minds.
With Vučević sidelined mere moments after sharing the court with Jayson Tatum, his return has been the subject of scrutiny. Particularly in his first two games back in the lineup, Vooch just looked like a player out of sync with his new teammates. Understandable, considering he’s played just 16 games with the Celtics, but with limited time to find a groove before the playoffs, it’s impossible not to look at the constant energy and spark that Garza consistently provides.
This is probably the toughest decision Joe Mazzulla has to make rotation-wise, and with a likely Embiid-less Philly now locked in as the matchup, the answer could really go either way.
By route of Vučević, I believe it comes down to matchups. The smaller Adem Bona makes more sense for Garza, and the rebound-engulfing Andre Drummond makes more sense for Vooch.
With Drummond, Vooch can not only match up better on the defensive glass, but his passing and shooting from above the break would effectively pull Drummond out of the paint, or risk leaving open a shooter with an eye for finding cutters.
Perhaps it’s a worthwhile gamble with Vooch shooting 31% from three in his four games back. He also ended 5-of-9 in his last two games though. The Sixers would likely be willing to take that gamble, if at least for a game or two.
While Garza has made massive strides as a shooter, Vooch remains the closest thing Boston has to the pick-and-pop threat that breaks down zones and crushes soft switches. If he can find consistency in his outside game, it opens up a similar offensive wrinkle left behind by the departures of Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis.
A huge question will be how Boston can help, or even hide, Vooch when it comes to defending the pick-and-roll. Vooch plays one of the deepest drops in the league, and with someone like Maxey getting downhill, that doesn’t bode well for Boston. There’s a lot at play for the backup big minutes when Queta’s off the floor.
Ready or not, Vooch will more than likely get the first shot behind Queta, and flashes of his rebounding, pick-and-pop shooting, and ball movement will go a long way in cementing him as an every game contributor this postseason.
Luka Garza
While we’re on the topic of the backup big, Boston couldn’t have lucked out more with the signing of Luka Garza last summer. He’s been a consummate professional, an outstanding offensive rebounder and screener (98th percentile in offensive rebounding talent, 99th percentile in screening talent), and an efficient 3-point shooter (43%) on respectable volume.
I don’t think there’s any doubt that if Garza stepped foot on the floor in a playoff setting, he’d find a way to add extra possessions and open things up for others. Similar to Vooch, the problem lies in how he holds up defensively. While a fine mobile big that moves well in space, Garza does not scare drivers attacking the basket in the way someone like Queta, or even Tatum might. Mismatch hunting is all the rage in a Best-of-7 series, and like Vooch, I’d expect the Sixers to actively seek out Garza as much as possible.
With the Bona matchup, you’re pitting two mobile bigs against each other, but Garza has the leg up as a rebounder and as a scorer, with his 3-point shot legit enough to force Bona in space. If there’s anything we can take away from either Vooch or Garza, it’s that both have the ability to shoot away from the basket or open up sets with a handoff.
While Vooch would be better equipped to be surrounded by cutters and screen-navigators like Derrick White, Hugo Gonzalez and Jordan Walsh to make use of his hub playmaking and drop coverage defensive style, I like the idea of Garza working with the stars, particularly Tatum. With JT, Boston’s better equipped to defend the paint, while giving him and Brown that patented flair screen, floor-switching ability that Queta and Garza have both thrived in thanks to their elite screen-setting.
Different contexts create different reasons to go with either big man off the bench. With Philly, there’s a good chance both will see an opportunity.
Jordan Walsh
I wrote about it back in November, and I’m sure you’ll see more of it this weekend, but to be succinct: Jordan Walsh has the makings of a Maxey stopper.
Walsh probably would have found a role in the rotation even with Orlando “winning” the 7-seed (hey, Walsh has locked up Paolo Banchero too!) but this matchup between All-Star and breakout role player feels destined.
To be clear, Walsh can do more for this team than stay glued to their best scorer. He’d get minutes because he’s a good shooter despite a fluctuating role (38%, 1.8 attempts per game), and a fantastic rebounder and putback threat.
But for this series in particular, having someone off the bench that held Philly’s top scorer to 1-of-10 shooting between two games and 7:10 matchup minutes is a luxury I fully expect Mazzulla to utilize. Walsh has the length to disrupt around screens and the recovery speed to stay in front, while being a menacing contest threat thanks to his 7’3” wingspan.
There’s a clear path to significant minutes for Walsh, and a lot of it has to do with making life hell for Philly’s best scorer.
Baylor Scheierman
After a 3-minute appearance in the Halloween victory over the 76ers, Baylor Scheierman didn’t play Philly again until their very last meeting, one that started with a thumbs up and ended in a Celtics victory.
Scheierman has firmly cemented himself as a key rotation player this year, turning the corner after some tough shooting in the Summer League and preseason to end Year 2 with splits of 45/40/90.
What’s keeping Scheierman on the floor is more than his shooting though. He’s been a true jack of all trades, defending and rebounding at a high level while adding a connective tissue to the offense thanks to his ability to create off the dribble and open up the drive-and-kick game.
As far as the ideal lineups featuring Scheierman, it’s likely the one we’re most familiar with.
Among all 5-man lineup combos featuring Scheierman, the one that more than doubles every other combination in minutes on the floor includes White, Brown, Hauser and Queta. That lineup, which started seven games, was a +10.8 in scoring, featuring a balanced attack of top-option JB surrounded by three shooting options, two of which like to create off the dribble, and a rim-running big.
For the non-Tatum minutes, this appears to be one of the better options to maintain a balanced offense. Adding in a wrinkle like Pritchard for White would also be an option that maintains scoring balance and ample ball movement (that lineup with Pritchard in for White played just 34 minutes together, but was a +40.3 in that time).
Because Scheierman can do so many things well, it makes him a one-size-fits-all type of rotation piece that can work in a variety of different settings.
Hugo González
With their wing depth as strong as it is, a path to minutes appears murky for the sensational Spaniard, but Hugo Gonzalez wouldn’t need all that much time to make a difference.
Similar to Scheierman and Walsh, Hugo’s ability to contribute as a rebounder, cutter and defender makes him the rare 20-year-old that’s built for the bigger moments. Compound that with respectable 3-point shooting and you’d feel confident that, if left open, he can at least threaten to punish the Sixers for the lack of respect.
I think the ideal scenario for Hugo to see time is in the moments where the momentum needs to shift.
Offense bogged down by contested misses and turnovers? Defense struggling to stop the pick-and-roll? Momentum timeouts aren’t stopping the bleeding?
May I suggest the controlled chaos that is Hugo Gonzalez?
Even if for just a few minutes, I think Gonzalez injects the right level of high-effort defense to rally around and throw out there for short spurts. That way, Philly doesn’t get as much of an opportunity to dare the rookie to beat them as a shooter in the same way you’d see if he played a more substantial game-to-game role.
There’s going to be a time very soon where Hugo will be very high on the playoff pecking order, but that time shouldn’t have to be today. Although if we’re being honest, he’s much closer than I think anyone could have expected on draft day.
Ron Harper Jr.
While it’s unlikely Ron Harper Jr. sees the floor this postseason, I’d honestly feel confident in his abilities if he did.
And a lot of that has to do with his first impression: a debut start focused heavily on defending Kevin Durant. RHJ showcased his strength as a defender, his instincts as a rebounder, and his catch-and-shoot ability (I feel like I’ve been saying that with every wing, but it remains true all the same).
If there were to be an opportunity for Harper, I’d consider it a look focused on the 3&D mold of his game. The threes would largely come off the catch, adding additional spacing while guys like Brown or Tatum ignite the drive-and-kick, while the D would be spent on another tough assignment: Paul George.
Is that a gamble? Or too much for Harper in his first playoff appearance? Possibly. But then again, wasn’t that also the case with KD in his debut?
It’s not like we’re dealing with the Paul George of old, though he’s certainly had a quietly solid season as he transitions into life as an overpaid, high-end role player.
If that’s the path to opportunity, I don’t think we’d be hearing any complaints from Ron.
BRONX, NY - APRIL 13: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees and Giancarlo Stanton #27 in the dugout during the game against the Los Angeles Angels on April 13, 2025 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
MLB.com | Sarah Langs: While it was overshadowed by Mike Trout’s homer spree, Judge and Stanton both homered in Thursday’s 11-4 loss against the Angels, marking the 61st time that they homered in the same game as teammates. With that, they are now tied for sixth place on the all-time list, sharing a spot with the Braves’ Joneses (Andruw and Chipper) and Harmon Killebrew and Bob Allison for the Twins and Senators. Depending on how well Judge and Stanton time their homers, they have a good shot at moving into fifth place by the end of this year, surpassing the Cubs duo of Billy Williams and Ron Santo (64 games). Unsurprisingly, the names get even more impressive at the top of the list; the all-time leading duo is Henry Aaron and Eddie Mathews of the Braves with 76, followed by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig with 75. Let’s see how high our beefy boys can rise through the ranks.
SNY | Phillip Martinez: Ryan McMahon’s struggles have been no secret, as the third baseman entered play yesterday hitting .119/.260/.119 with a 25 wRC+ and zero extra-base hits. Manager Aaron Boone elected to sit McMahon in favor of Amed Rosario for Friday night’s series opener against the Royals, even though there was a righty on the mound and McMahon’s a lefty. Boone told reporters that McMahon’s working on some batting tweaks behind the scenes and since they are likely facing four lefties during this series and the next one, there’s a good chance that McMahon might stay out of the lineup for a little bit. Now, this was all said before his surprising game-winning homer on Friday night—one that he said was preceded by “about a hundred” extra swings once he knew he wasn’t starting—after entering as a defensive replacement. But it’s still likely safe to say that Rosario will get a modest chunk of starts.
New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: Last year, NJ.com reported on the near-nonstop noise at Yankee Stadium, which has frustrated fans but is apparenty in accordance with the Yankees and their players’ wishes. Phillips provided a follow-up on that piece, and the Yankees themselves remain insistent that they like it, desiring a Madison Square Garden NBA-esque feel. The Yankees apparently don’t hear it as loudly down on the field; it all seems like it could be resolved at some point with some repositioning of the many speakers in the stadium. In the meantime, folks of all ages let Phillips know of their irritation — even the younger fans who this is ostensibly directed toward. There is a fine line between an authentically loud stadium full of fan noise and an artificially loud stadium full of sound bites.
MLB.com | Max Ralph: As with Gerrit Cole, Anthony Volpe has also recently started his rehab assignment in Double-A Somerset, and Thursday marked an important step for him as he picked up his first hit of the year. All in all, he was 1-for-3 with a groundout and a strikeout at the plate, and in the field, he handled his only chance cleanly—a pop fly to short—before being substituted in the sixth. According to Brian Cashman, the plan is to have Volpe amass 55 or so plate appearances in the minors before he rejoins the big league squad. Volpe played with a partially torn labrum for most of 2025, which was the likely culprit of a down year on both sides of the ball. We know he can pick it when healthy. Can he hit? The jury’s still out on that one.
The Athletic | Brendan Kuty ($): Speaking of possible reinforcements for the left side of the infield, George Lombard Jr. is having quite the start to his 2026 campaign. In 11 games so far with Double-A Somerset, he’s slashing .400/.471/.667 with two homers and six doubles. His glove was never the issue—Double-A manager James Cooper saw him as a major league-caliber defender already last year—so it’s more than encouraging that the bat has looked this good, even though (again) it’s only 11 games. Interestingly, Lombard Jr. has made three starts at third base so far, despite being primarily deployed as a shortstop over his minor league career. With McMahon struggling—Friday night notwithstanding—could the Yankees be eyeing an aggressive call-up for Lombard Jr. in the coming months? I think that would be pretty unlikely, but if he continues to torch minor-league pitching like he has, all bets are off.
Utah Mammoth (43-33-6, in the Central Division) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (39-26-17, in the Pacific Division)
Paradise, Nevada; Sunday, 10 p.m. EDT
LINE: Golden Knights -153, Mammoth +127; over/under is 6
NHL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Golden Knights host series opener
BOTTOM LINE: The Vegas Golden Knights host the Utah Mammoth to open the Western Conference first round. The teams meet Thursday for the fourth time this season. The Mammoth went 2-1 against the Golden Knights during the regular season. In their last regular season meeting on March 19, the Mammoth won 4-0.
Vegas has a 39-26-17 record overall and a 20-12-9 record in home games. The Golden Knights have allowed 242 goals while scoring 264 for a +22 scoring differential.
Utah has a 43-33-6 record overall and a 21-17-3 record on the road. The Mammoth are 10th in league play serving 9.5 penalty minutes per game.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jack Eichel has 27 goals and 63 assists for the Golden Knights. Mark Stone has seven goals and four assists over the past 10 games.
Clayton Keller has 26 goals and 62 assists for the Mammoth. Logan Cooley has scored seven goals and added six assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Golden Knights: 7-0-3, averaging four goals, 6.4 assists, 3.2 penalties and seven penalty minutes while giving up 2.3 goals per game.
Mammoth: 6-4-0, averaging 4.3 goals, 7.5 assists, four penalties and 11.3 penalty minutes while giving up 3.4 goals per game.
INJURIES: Golden Knights: William Karlsson: out (lower body).
Mammoth: Barrett Hayton: out (upper-body), Sean Durzi: day to day (upper-body), Jack McBain: out (lower-body), Dylan Guenther: day to day (undisclosed).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Los Angeles Kings (35-27-20, in the Pacific Division) vs. Colorado Avalanche (55-16-11, in the Central Division)
Denver; Sunday, 3 p.m. EDT
LINE: Avalanche -264, Kings +214; over/under is 5.5
NHL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Avalanche host series opener
BOTTOM LINE: The Colorado Avalanche host the Los Angeles Kings to begin the Western Conference first round. The teams meet Monday for the fourth time this season. The Avalanche went 3-0 against the Kings during the regular season. In their last regular season meeting on March 2, the Avalanche won 4-2.
Colorado is 55-16-11 overall and 26-9-6 in home games. The Avalanche have an 18-2-6 record when scoring a power-play goal.
Los Angeles has a 35-27-20 record overall and a 20-10-11 record on the road. The Kings are 26-4-11 in games they score at least three goals.
TOP PERFORMERS: Martin Necas has 38 goals and 61 assists for the Avalanche. Nathan MacKinnon has five goals and five assists over the last 10 games.
Artemi Panarin has 28 goals and 56 assists for the Kings. Adrian Kempe has scored 10 goals with three assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Avalanche: 7-2-1, averaging 3.3 goals, 5.7 assists, 2.8 penalties and 5.6 penalty minutes while giving up 1.9 goals per game.
Kings: 6-2-2, averaging 3.1 goals, 4.5 assists, 3.1 penalties and 7.1 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game.
INJURIES: Avalanche: Nazem Kadri: day to day (finger), Josh Manson: day to day (upper body).
Kings: Kevin Fiala: out for season (leg), Alex Turcotte: day to day (undisclosed), Jeff Malott: day to day (undisclosed), Andrei Kuzmenko: day to day (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Philadelphia Flyers (43-27-12, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (41-25-16, in the Metropolitan Division)
Pittsburgh; Saturday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Penguins -147, Flyers +123; over/under is 6
NHL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Penguins host series opener
BOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Penguins host the Philadelphia Flyers in game one of the Eastern Conference first round. The teams meet Saturday for the fifth time this season. The teams tied the regular season series 2-2. In their last regular season meeting on March 7, the Flyers won 4-3 in a shootout.
Pittsburgh has a 41-25-16 record overall and a 13-4-9 record in Metropolitan Division play. The Penguins have a 41-8-9 record when scoring three or more goals.
Philadelphia is 43-27-12 overall with a 12-9-5 record against the Metropolitan Division. The Flyers rank ninth in league play serving 9.6 penalty minutes per game.
TOP PERFORMERS: Sidney Crosby has scored 29 goals with 45 assists for the Penguins. Erik Karlsson has three goals and six assists over the past 10 games.
Trevor Zegras has 26 goals and 41 assists for the Flyers. Matvei Michkov has four goals and eight assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Penguins: 5-5-0, averaging 4.6 goals, 7.7 assists, 3.3 penalties and 7.8 penalty minutes while giving up 3.4 goals per game.
Flyers: 7-3-0, averaging 3.5 goals, 5.5 assists, 3.2 penalties and 6.4 penalty minutes while giving up 2.4 goals per game.
INJURIES: Penguins: Filip Hallander: out (leg), Caleb Jones: out for season (shoulder).
Flyers: Rodrigo Abols: out (ankle), Nikita Grebenkin: out (upper body).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Boston Bruins (45-27-10, in the Atlantic Division) vs. Buffalo Sabres (50-23-9, in the Atlantic Division)
Buffalo, New York; Sunday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: Sabres -158, Bruins +133; over/under is 6
NHL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Sabres host series opener
BOTTOM LINE: The Buffalo Sabres host the Boston Bruins to start the Eastern Conference first round. The teams meet Wednesday for the fifth time this season. The Bruins went 3-1 against the Sabres during the regular season. In their last regular season matchup on March 25, the Bruins won 4-3 in overtime. Mark Kastelic led the Bruins with two goals.
Buffalo has a 16-6-4 record in Atlantic Division games and a 50-23-9 record overall. The Sabres rank fifth in league play with 283 total goals (averaging 3.4 per game).
Boston is 11-12-3 against the Atlantic Division and 45-27-10 overall. The Bruins serve 11.9 penalty minutes per game to rank second in the league.
TOP PERFORMERS: Josh Doan has scored 26 goals with 26 assists for the Sabres. Alex Tuch has four goals and three assists over the last 10 games.
Morgan Geekie has 39 goals and 29 assists for the Bruins. Pavel Zacha has six goals and five assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Sabres: 6-3-1, averaging 3.3 goals, 5.6 assists, 4.5 penalties and 11.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.
Bruins: 5-3-2, averaging 3.1 goals, 5.5 assists, 3.1 penalties and 7.1 penalty minutes while giving up 2.5 goals per game.
INJURIES: Sabres: Jiri Kulich: out for season (ear), Sam Carrick: out (arm), Alex Lyon: day to day (lower body), Justin Danforth: day to day (lower body), Noah Ostlund: day to day (upper-body).
Bruins: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Manchester City v Arsenal is a rare late-season title decider and comes with a set of surprising plotlines
OK, so it was all building to this, then. The slow‑burn plotlines. The room‑temperature action sequences. The winter afternoons on the sofa watching men wrestle unhappily, staring out of the window as the frigid wind tousles the clouds, wondering about the death of all things, and also why referees not only have to speak now but speak in the same awkward Yorkshire bingo‑caller voice.
All of this. It’s all actually fine. Because it turns out this was just delayed resolution, cinematic build, the sporting equivalent of a really long closeup of a man in a wide-brimmed Mexican hat narrowing his eyes and chewing a cigar. And now we get the payoff. The Etihad on Sunday afternoon. The clink of spurs. The tick of the clocktower. Townsfolk huddled at the saloon-bar shutters. Get ready for an old-school shootout.
The three-time Olympic champion is brilliant, charismatic, relatable, basically the best British athlete of all-time. But he’s also a victim of the decline of minority sports
The Austrian philosopher and novelist Robert Musil once wrote a lengthy meditation on human capacity based around seeing the phrase “a racehorse of genius” in a newspaper sports section. Musil was disturbed by this idea. His basic question was: can a horse really be a genius?
If we are to ascribe the label of genius to a horse, based on its ability to run fast and successfully eat oats, where does this leave the unmapped capacities of the actual human genius? What is consciousness? What is a human? Should the question in fact be: will there ever be a human of sufficient genius they are able to actually perceive the genius of a horse?
"I don't know what's going to happen next but I love you guys to death, and I thank you. I appreciate you."
That was a mic's up Warriors coach Steve Kerr, talking to Stephen Curry and Draymond Green just before the end of the Warriors’ season, at the hands of the Phoenix Suns in the play-in. With the end of the season, Kerr's contract to coach the Warriors has come to an end. The sides did not agree to an extension before the season, and while there is no animosity, there also is no certainty about what is next.
Kerr was asked about his future postgame, and he said he wanted to step back for a while, first.
"The plan is to take a little time, I don't know, take a week or two, and eventually sit down and talk with Joe [Lacob, the co-owner] and Mike [Dunleavy, head of basketball operations]. We've always had a great partnership and collaboration, and just see where they are, and I'll tell them where I am, and we'll talk about what's next for the Warriors, what the plan is this offseason, and we will come to a collaborative decision on what's next.
"I don't know what's going to happen. I still love coaching, but I get it. These jobs all have an expiration date. There's a run that happens, and when the run ends, sometimes it's time for new blood and new ideas and all that. And if that's the case, then I will be just nothing but grateful for the most amazing opportunity any person could have to coach this franchise front of our fans in the bay, and to coach Steph Curry and coach Dray and the whole group.
"So it might still go on. It may not, I don't know, at this point, but we all need to step away a little bit, and then reconvene."
Kerr was clear about one thing: He's not jumping to another team.
"I'm definitely not going and coaching somewhere else next year in the NBA," Kerr said.
He also said, "I don't want to walk away from Steph." There has been some speculation around the league that he and the Warriors would part ways — or he would be bumped up to a front office role and not be on the bench — but nobody really knows.
And while Friday night kind of felt like the end of an era for Kerr and these Warriors, things may feel different in a week or two when Kerr sits down with Lacbob and Dunleavy. For now, he just wants a little time away.
PHOENIX (AP) — Jalen Green was several feet behind the 3-point line as the shot clock wound down and didn’t have many options, so the Phoenix guard simply squared up and let if fly.
In most cases, the third-quarter heave wouldn’t have been a high-percentage shot.
On Friday night, pretty much everyone knew it was going in.
“It felt good all night,” Green said.
The 24-year-old Green scored 36 points to lead Phoenix to a 111-96 victory over the Golden State Warriors in the NBA’s play-in tournament. The Suns earned the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs and they’ll face the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in a road game Sunday in Game 1 of the first round.
Green shot 14 of 20 from the field against the Warriors, including 8 of 14 from 3-point range. The eight 3-pointers tied his career high.
“I thought he was incredibly efficient offensively,” Suns coach Jordan Ott said. “It’s really hard to stay in front of him.”
It was a big moment for Green, who endured plenty of frustration during an injury-filled year that limited him to just 32 games in the regular season. Green and Dillon Brooks came to the Suns from the Rockets as part of the package that sent 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant to Houston.
Jalen Green, who scored a game-high 36 points, celebrates after slamming home a dunk during the first half of the Suns’ 111-96 win over the Warriors on April 17, 2026 in an NBA play-in game in Phoenix. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Green missed the first half of the season with a hamstring injury and then finally returned, sometimes struggling to adjust to his new role playing with Booker and Brooks. He averaged just 17.8 points, the lowest total since his rookie season.
But the trio appears to be jelling at the right time. Booker had the assist on four of Green’s 3-pointers on Friday.
“I’m very comfortable playing with Book,” Green said. “You kind of how to pick your poison, how you’re going to guard it.”
Stephen Curry, who was held to 17 points, reacts during the Warriors’ loss to the Suns in an NBA play-in game on April 18, 2026. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The game was a little vindication for Green after he struggled against the Warriors in last year’s playoffs when he was with the Rockets. He averaged just 13.3 points in the seven-game series, shooting 37% from the field.
Green was so good on Friday that Booker — a five-time All-Star — was more of a facilitator, finishing with 20 points and eight assists.
“He stepped up to the test,” Booker said. “The last playoffs might have stuck with him a little bit, so he’s prepared himself for these moments and capitalized on them.”
Ott said Green’s elite athleticism will be invaluable against Oklahoma City because of his ability to generate shots when it doesn’t look like there is one. Green’s 36 points came three nights after he scored 35 against the Trail Blazers in the first play-in game, which ended in a 114-110 loss.
“Both of these nights, he had it going offensively,” Ott said. “Those guys in playoff games, where the physicality ups, the court shrinks, the ability to give the ball to one guy and him create a shot is super helpful. We’re finding those pockets.”
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) is seen after his NBA play-in tournament game against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., Friday, April 17, 2026. The Suns defeated the Warriors 111-96. (Photo by Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
Well, the season is over. After teasing us with a throwback performance for the ages on Wednesday, the Golden State Warriors completely and utterly ran out of fuel on Friday, losing to the Phoenix Suns 111-96 in a game that was a constant uphill battle.
And with that, the offseason begins. But not before we get to one final bit of in-season content: the last player grades of the year.
As always, grades are based on my expectations of each player, with a “B” grade representing the average performance for that player. If my grades seem overly lenient, well … that’s probably because they are. Grading the elimination game in a season feels a bit like handing out a grade for a boring requirement course to a senior that’s graduating in three days. Grading harshly is kind of missing the point. So we’ll be a little nice to everyone, because why dwell on the parts that need improvement when there’s no season left to improve?
Note: True-shooting percentage (TS) is a scoring efficiency metric that accounts for threes and free throws. League-average TS this season was 58.1%.
Santos looked pretty overmatched in this game. There were a lot of poor decisions, and times where he was either doing too much or doing too little. I said this in Wednesday’s grades, but it’s easy to forget just how inexperienced he still is. This is all part of the learning process, and the mental fortitude he has to maintain his energy levels even when making mistakes is admirable. This was a great season for him, it just ended on a low note.
Green provided the biggest highlight of the game for the Warriors. Unfortunately, it’s a sign of how the game went, that the highlight came during a dead ball situation, with outcome already decided.
After Green left the game in the final minutes as Steve Kerr waived the white flag, he started jawing with Devin Booker from the bench. Somewhere, Klay Thompson was surely smiling. After the teams started tussling a little bit, Scott Foster — the butt of many an NBA joke — tried to calm the waters by ejecting both Green and Booker. Ever the entertainer, Green mocked Foster by doing an over-the-top reenactment of Foster’s ejection, before walking off the court smiling, egging the crowd on.
Porziņģis was listed as questionable up until the game started, and it was immediately clear that if it were a regular season game, he wouldn’t have been playing. He simply was not healthy, but he toughed it out to give the team some minutes.
It was a gutsy performance, and it featured a few highlight plays on offense. But he just didn’t have it, and all you can do is tip your cap that he left it on the floor.
Grade: A for toughness Post-game bonus: Worst plus/minus on the team.
It was fitting that Podziemski, who finished the season having played all 84 games, ended the year by leading the team in minutes in the elimination game. It was just that season for him.
Podz started slow, but ended the game as one of the only bright spots on the floor for the Warriors. No one else could get anything going on offense, yet he continued to get buckets. He fought all night, and led both teams in rebounding. Tough until the very end. The Warriors needed some people to step up, and Podziemski did (he also should have had 25 points and only three turnovers, but got called for an erroneous traveling violation on a layup).
Grade: A Post-game bonus: Led the team in points and rebounds.
Curry went over his minutes restriction on Wednesday, and carried the team. And he paid for it on Friday.
Credit the Suns for a great defensive plan and strong defensive execution. But this one was first and foremost about Curry running out of gas, as the Warriors ran out of gas. It was so clear that Steph wasn’t healthy in this game. He wasn’t moving as quickly or confidently as usual, and he abandoned so much of the off-ball movement that makes him so dangerous. He even was limping on a few possessions.
Again: credit to the Suns. Not trying to take anything away from them. But that wasn’t the Curry we know and love. That was a Curry who played through being 50% to give his team a chance to win.
Payton had some tremendous passes in this game, and helped right the ship on a few occasions. He also had a lot of fouls. It was nothing special, but a pretty solid game for him.
As was the case so many times over the past few months, Curry wasn’t healthy and the Warriors needed a lot from Melton to make up for it. And he provided it. Melton kept the Warriors afloat with a monster game off the bench, scoring all over the court, directing the offense, and fighting like hell on defense and the glass. He gave everything he had to give, and the Warriors sure will miss him if he’s playing elsewhere next season.
Horford couldn’t quite find the magic that he harnessed on Wednesday. But his, too, was a gutsy performance, as he played 26 minutes due to Porziņģis’ ailment. If Horford were being honest, I’m guessing he’d say that he’s not fully healthy, either. It was just that season. But he gave it everything he had, despite the circumstances. If he’s one-and-done with the Warriors, then we’ll always have Wednesday. But don’t be surprised if he’s back next year.
A great season comes to a close with just a glimpse of garbage time for Spencer. He proved he’s an NBA player this year, and that’s exciting.
Post-game bonus: Tied for the best plus/minus on the team.
Charles Bassey/Will Richard/Seth Curry
1 minute, 0 points, +2
Just a touch of garbage time with no stats for this trio.
Post-game bonus: Tied for the best plus/minus on the team.
The trio
It was a touching moment, late in the game, when Green, Curry, and Kerr huddled in plain sight. With all their arms around each other, Kerr spoke words to each, then brought them in for a three-way hug, before exiting and letting the two Hall of Famers embrace.
Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Steve Kerr share a moment after their 14th season together ♥️ pic.twitter.com/ivu63E5VL2
The following days, weeks, and perhaps even months will result in a lot of speculation, rumors, reports, and opinions, as we have no idea what the future holds. Kerr said after the game that he’ll take “a week or two” to think about his future, but stressed that he still loves coaching. Green said he wants to continue his career with the Warriors. Curry stressed that he has a few more seasons left in him.
Hopefully we get a 13th year with this trio. But if not, it’s been an unforgettable journey.
Grade: A+
Friday’s inactives: Jimmy Butler III, Moses Moody, Quinten Post
Philadelphia 76ers (45-37, seventh in the Eastern Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (56-26, second in the Eastern Conference)
Boston; Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT
LINE: Celtics -12.5; over/under is 213.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Celtics host first series matchup
BOTTOM LINE: The Boston Celtics host the Philadelphia 76ers to start the Eastern Conference first round. Boston and Philadelphia tied the regular season series 2-2. The Celtics won the last regular season matchup 114-98 on Monday, March 2 led by 27 points from Jaylen Brown, while Tyrese Maxey scored 33 points for the 76ers.
The Celtics are 10-6 against the rest of their division. Boston leads the Eastern Conference in rebounding, averaging 46.4 boards. Nikola Vucevic leads the Celtics with 8.4 rebounds.
The 76ers are 9-7 against the rest of their division. Philadelphia ranks ninth in the NBA scoring 16.9 fast break points per game. VJ Edgecombe leads the 76ers averaging 8.0.
The Celtics average 114.9 points per game, 1.2 fewer points than the 116.1 the 76ers allow. The 76ers are shooting 46.2% from the field, 2.0% higher than the 44.2% the Celtics' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Brown is scoring 28.7 points per game with 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists for the Celtics. Payton Pritchard is averaging 18.3 points and 3.2 rebounds while shooting 53.1% over the last 10 games.
Quentin Grimes is shooting 45.0% and averaging 13.4 points for the 76ers. Paul George is averaging 3.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 8-2, averaging 119.6 points, 45.6 rebounds, 26.3 assists, 6.3 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.4 points per game.
76ers: 6-4, averaging 118.0 points, 45.3 rebounds, 24.3 assists, 8.6 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 47.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.8 points.
INJURIES: Celtics: Nikola Vucevic: day to day (finger), Sam Hauser: day to day (back), Hugo Gonzalez: day to day (foot), Payton Pritchard: day to day (foot), Jayson Tatum: day to day (injury management), Derrick White: day to day (knee), Neemias Queta: day to day (toe), Jaylen Brown: day to day (achilles).
76ers: Johni Broome: out (knee), Joel Embiid: out (abdomen).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
DENVER –– After seven years of waiting for his shot, Ryan Ward is on the verge of his first big-league opportunity.
The Dodgers are bringing Ward to Denver on Saturday and are expected to officially activate him later in this weekend’s series against the Colorado Rockies, sources confirmed, marking what will be a first career call-up to the majors for the 28-year-old outfielder.
While it wasn’t immediately clear what the corresponding roster move will be, the choreographed nature of Ward’s promotion –– he will be on the taxi squad Saturday, a source said –– could suggest a non-injury-related maneuver, such as another player going on the paternity list.
Dodgers outfielder Ryan Ward, who is getting his first MLB call-up at age 28, hits an RBI double during a spring training game against the A’s on March 8, 2025. Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Ward was originally an eighth-round draft pick in 2019 who has slowly climbed up the Dodgers’ farm system. Last year, he was the Pacific Coast League MVP with triple-A Oklahoma City, hitting .290 with 36 home runs and 122 RBIs.
This season, he was batting .324 in his first 18 triple-A games, adding four more home runs and 14 RBIs to a distinguished minor-league resume.
Despite those gaudy numbers, Ward has had to wait –– and wait, and wait –– for a chance at the MLB level.
He was added to the club’s 40-man roster at the end of last season, but did not make the big-league team after a poor spring training performance.
Still, over seven career seasons in the minors, the left-handed hitter has a .266 average, 154 home runs, 139 doubles and 520 RBIs.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts Getty Images
The Massachusetts native and Bryant University product has received rave reviews from Dodgers personnel about his growth in recent seasons, specifically with the way he has improved his plate discipline.
Since the start of last year, he has 95 walks against 141 strikeouts.
He is a corner outfielder by trade, but can also contribute at first base.
“The thing I like about Ryan is he’s performed,” manager Dave Roberts said this spring. “We’ve asked him to do certain things, whether it’s positional versatility or cutting back on the strikeouts, hit for a little more power. He’s done all that.”
Roberts said then he expected Ward to get an opportunity in the majors at some point this year.
“For him to not get a shot (yet), I’m sure he’s frustrated and understandably so,” Roberts said. “But the message for him is to keep putting up numbers and knock the door down and hopefully the opportunity comes for him.”
That’s exactly what Ward has done, ranking seventh in the PCL so far this season in OPS. And now, his long wait is almost up, with a promotion to the majors having finally arrived.
