April 7, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
If any college basketball recruit in the transfer portal is considering the Gonzaga Bulldogs, take a look at the amount of professional talent on basketball’s biggest stage right now. Six Zags who were trained and prepared for the next level within the walls of the McCarthey Athletic Center are now gearing up for the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Drew Timme isn’t available for the playoff roster as he’s under a two-way contract, splitting his time with the G League’s South Bay Lakers during the 2025-26 season.
As for the reigning NBA champion, Holmgren is coming off an NBA All-Star appearance for the first time in his young career. Most importantly, the 7-1, 23-year-old freak has been healthy and active defensively with that 7-6 wingspan of his.
Through 69 starts, Holmgren averaged 17.1 points on a shooting split of 55.7 percent from the field, 36.2 percent on three-pointers, and 79.2 percent at the charity stripe. His 8.9 rebounds per game rank tied for No. 11 in the NBA, while his 1.9 blocks per game are tied for No. 2.
The 2026 NBA Finals officially start on June 23 on ESPN/ABC.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
He was active. He was everywhere. He helped space the court for Steph Curry’s scoring flurries. He was in the trenches alongside Draymond Green on defense.
A few days before the Warriors were eliminated Friday from the play-in tournament, Porzingis had 20 points (8-for-12 shooting from the field, 3-for-6 from beyond the arc), five rebounds, five assists, one steal and two blocked shots in an elimination game against the Clippers on Wednesday,
Kristaps Porzingis had an up-and-down season, but he still might fit in the Warriors’ plans. NBAE via Getty Images
He was everything the Warriors hoped he’d be when they acquired him from Atlanta for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield ahead of the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline.
But that version of him came in spurts this season.
Porzingis only played in 15 of a possible 31 games with the Warriors because of health issues at least partially related to POTS. He hardly shared the court with Curry, who missed 27 straight games because of runner’s knee.
The 7-foot-2 center will become an unrestricted free agent this summer. The Warriors hope to re-sign him, though he’d have to take a significant salary cut from the two-year, $60 million extension he signed in Boston in 2023.
How does he feel about returning to Golden State?
“That’s a good question,” Porzingis told The California Post in an exclusive interview. “I do love my time here, honestly. Not one bad thing I can say about the organization, the team, the teammates. I really love it here, I really do.
“As I said before, I haven’t had a good year. If I had a good year, I think I’d have a more clear picture of what I want to do. Because I’ve had an up-and-down year like this, this is an offseason in my career that I think I’m just going to take a step back, look at the whole picture and then see what’s the best direction for me.”
The Warriors’ Kristaps Porzingis is an All-Star-caliber player when he is at his best. AP
Things didn’t go as planned for the Warriors this season, either.
After losing Jimmy Butler to an ACL tear in January, Golden State went all in on trying to pursue Giannis Antetokounmpo ahead of the trade deadline. When it became clear that the Bucks weren’t going to part with their superstar, the Warriors pivoted to Porzingis to try to salvage their season.
When Porzingis is at his best, he’s an All-Star-caliber player who can dominate on both ends of the court with his silky shot and rim protection. But an elongated illness has prevented him from consistently playing to his potential.
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Porzingis began struggling with illness in his final season with the Celtics in 2024-25. It sapped him of his energy. It depleted his wind. It prevented him from being the dominant player who had averaged 20 points, seven rebounds and nearly two blocks per game as he helped lead the Celtics to a championship in 2024.
Since then, Porzingis has had to play around his symptoms. He’ll stack a few good games and then be sidelined for a cluster of contests. Rinse and repeat. The constant starting and stopping is an enormous challenge considering the paramount importance of rhythm in basketball.
“It’s been a little bit of the story of my career,” Porzingis told The Post. “A lot of my career, I felt like this is bothering me or that. I’m not able to play at 100%. But honestly, as a basketball player, you rarely do. There’s always something for everybody.
“But I’ve definitely had this feeling a lot of times. How do I get into a good rhythm because I’ve been out? Because of that, I’m pretty good at jumping right back in and getting into a decent rhythm right away. And also, just staying mentally in the game. Once I get the opportunity to play again, I’m ready to go. I’ve gotten so good at it that it’s very natural for me to just jump back in and be in a rhythm.”
It’s a skill he had to hone.
Porzingis only played 17 games for the Hawks this season before being traded to Golden State. Last season, he only played 42 games for the Celtics.
Porzingis began struggling with illness in his final season with the Celtics in 2024-25. It sapped him of his energy. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
During his introductory news conference with the Warriors on Feb. 7, Porzingis was optimistic he’d be able to remain on the floor. “I’m confident that I will,” he said at the time. But he played in about half of the team’s contests, averaging 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 blocks in a career-low 23.7 minutes per game.
Still, the Warriors liked what they saw.
“Kristaps was fantastic,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Friday after the Warriors lost their second play-in game to the Suns, 111-96, as Porzingis struggled with ankle soreness. “He changed our team. The dynamic of having that floor spacing and shot-blocking.”
Porzingis knows he’s capable of so much more.
“Honestly, I’m still working my way back into being in great, great shape,” he said.
Kristaps Porzingis helped lead the Celtics to an NBA championship in 2024.
He was excellent in flashes, such as when he had 30 points on 8-for-13 shooting, five rebounds, four assists, two steals and three blocks against the Wizards on March 16. But his illness and Curry’s injury prevented the team from developing any momentum as Golden State fell to 10th in the West without Butler.
Now, the Warriors have a lot of questions. Will Kerr return as head coach? WIll Curry sign a contract extension this offseason? Will Green or Butler be traded? Will they land a superstar this summer? Is this the end of the dynasty?
Amid that dizzying set of queries is another: What will Porzingis do?
At this moment, he’s clearly not sure.
But at least for one game, he was reminded of what he’s capable of doing and who the Warriors could be with him on the court.
On Wednesday, Porzingis shined alongside Curry’s 35 points and Green’s lockdown defense on Kawhi Leonard. The three of them were in sync. They were stars. The Warriors looked like champions for one night, a thrilling moment of joy for a team that suffered an endless series of blows this season.
For Porzingis, it was a huge relief.
He knows what he can do. And he made sure everyone else saw it, too.
“[Wednesday] honestly was a big step forward for me,” Porzingis told The Post. “To have a game like this, it means a lot. To pull it out of somewhere, and it was there. Definitely a big step in the right direction.”
A three-time NBA champion foresees a Knicks implosion after hearing “rumblings” of a fractured team.
Danny Green, the Long Island product and former Spurs forward, explained in an ESPN media conference call Friday why he has retracted his prediction of the Knicks winning the East.
“Simply because the fact that the Knicks this year, especially late in the season, they looked very up-and-down,” said Green, an ESPN analyst. “They looked like they were disconnected. The chemistry wasn’t there.
“There are rumblings about some guys don’t like Mike Brown or work with the coaches. There are rumblings that some guys are feeling they’re not getting touches or there’s over usage of Jalen Brunson. That seems to me like a team that could self-implode.”
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson reacts after hitting a 3-point shot during the second quarter in a game against the Toronto Raptors. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
Green, who was a teammate with OG Anunoby on the 2019 championship Raptors, now envisions the Knicks falling in the second round to the Celtics, though that would go against the results of last year’s playoffs. His reasoning is a difference in chemistry — the Celtics have it, Green said, and the Knicks don’t after replacing Tom Thibodeau with Brown.
“[The Knicks] have all the talent, they have all the tools, they have everything, and they were going to beat Boston [last year], regardless of whether Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles or not,” said Green — who won titles with the Spurs, Raptors and Lakers. “But just this year with the coaching change, they seem a little bit more disconnected at the wrong time of year.”
Green didn’t cite specifics, but there were instances during the season when Brown and Karl-Anthony Towns, in particular, didn’t seem to be operating on the same page. And though the Knicks offense ranked fourth in the NBA this season, four of the five starters — outside of Brunson — experienced declines in points and shot attempts per game.
That happened after reports in the summer of players upset about undefined roles under Thibodeau.
Charles Oakley, the former All-Star power forward who attended the previous Knicks-Hawks game a couple of weeks ago in Atlanta, also sees something is off with his former team.
Danny Green talks during the 2025 NBA Draft on June 25, 2025 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NBAE via Getty Images
“Last year, it was right there for the Knicks. It was dinner on the table and they went somewhere else like Popeyes,” Oakley said this week on ‘The Bottom Line Sports Show,’ hosted by Gerald Brown and Rick Mahorn. “They got the talent and they’re still fighting within themselves. They don’t really know their roles. And they really don’t really know — KAT and Brunson, that’s their team. OG, Bridges and Hart, use like the fork and knife.”
Still, the Knicks won two more games than last season and finished with 12 wins in their final 16 games. As the third seed Saturday, they hosted the No. 6 Hawks in Game 1 of the first round. If anything, the surprise this season wasn’t about the Knicks underwhelming — they finished around their projected win total — but rather the Celtics and Pistons busting through ceilings.
Green dismissed the Pistons and picked the Celtics over New York because of chemistry differences.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns looses the ball during the first quarter in a game against the Toronto Raptors at Madison Square Garden. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
“Originally at the beginning of the year, I had the Knicks,” he said. “The Knicks probably had the highest expectation, the most pressure on them. They made it to the Eastern Conference finals last year. Indiana dropped out with injuries. Boston had dropped down with injuries but came back, and they’ve been playing well even without Jayson Tatum for most of the year.
“Detroit is good. They’re just young and inexperienced. That’s why I couldn’t give the edge to Detroit. Boston and New York have to face each other in that second round at some point. The winner of that matchup is the one that’s going to get to the Finals. Right now, I’m giving the edge to Boston, even though the Knicks have played well against Boston.”
CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points, Max Strus had 24 off the bench and the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Toronto Raptors 126-113 on Saturday in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.
Donovan Mitchell (32p) scored at all three levels as the Cavs protected homecourt in Game 1
James Harden had 22 points and 10 assists while Evan Mobley had 17 and seven rebounds for fourth-seeded Cleveland, which hosts Game 2 on Monday night.
Mitchell has scored at least 30 points in an NBA-record nine straight series openers.
RJ Barrett scored 24 points and Scottie Barnes had 21 for the Raptors, who were playing in their first playoff game since 2022. Toronto was missing point guard Immanuel Quickley because of a mild right hamstring strain.
Jamal Shead started in place of Quickley and had 17 points, including five 3-pointers.
Barrett's 3-pointer pulled the Raptors to within 45-41 before Cleveland broke it open with a 27-9 run over the last 1:11 of the second quarter and first seven minutes of the third.
Strus scored 11 points during the spurt and made all three of his 3-pointers as the Cavaliers went 10 of 16 from the floor, including 5 of 8 beyond the arc.
Cleveland's largest lead was 24 points (100-76) on Sam Merrill's 3-pointer 13 seconds into the fourth quarter.
Will Warren continues to impress early on this season, and on Saturday afternoon, the young right-hander delivered arguably his most impressive performance to this point.
It helps that the Yankees offense broke out and spotted him a seven-run advantage through four innings, but Warren still did his job, cruising his way through the Royals’ lineup.
“It’s always nice to go out there with a lead,” Warren said. “You’re not worried about giving up one or two runs -- gave up some leadoff hits, but was able to keep my composure knowing that the boys are banging out there.”
One of those leadoff hits came on the very first pitch, as Maikel Garcia lined a double to open the game, but Warren was able to bear down and retire the next three hitters easily.
The youngster continued cruising from there, pushing the stretch to nine consecutive batters set aside before allowing a leadoff single to Bobby Witt Jr. in the top of the fourth.
Witt was quickly erased, though, as Warren picked him off first.
“I could see him out of the corner of my eye, hopping off the base,” he said. “I had been talking with Ben [Rice] about some stuff and we executed and got him, so I was pretty pumped.”
Warren gave up another knock leading off the fifth, but responded by striking out the next three he faced and then breezing his way through a perfect sixth.
The lone blemish came in the seventh, as the 26-year-old gave up a single, then rookie slugger Carter Jensen jumped him for a two-run shot to right, breaking up the shutout.
Warren rolled a grounder, then finished his day matching his career-high with his 11th strikeout.
He allowed just the two runs on five hits over seven stellar frames.
“The four-seam was really playing well,” Aaron Boone said. “He got a lot of swing-and-miss, the changeup was good today too, I just think it was the overall mix -- it was good to see him take that lead and run with it, really good job.”
Warren pitched to a 2.49 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 31 strikeouts through his first five outings.
While Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón are still a few rehab outings away from making their returns, this hot start certainly bodes well for the youngster keeping his spot in the Yankees' rotation.
At least for one day, the Yankees spared themselves the drama.
After each of their previous five wins had come by taking the lead for good in their final at-bats, the Yankees jumped ahead early Saturday and kept piling on — against a lefty starter, to boot — while Will Warren turned on cruise control.
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Cody Bellinger crushed two of four Yankees home runs and drove in five while Warren dominated across seven innings as the Yankees breezed to a 13-4 win over the Royals on a sunny afternoon in The Bronx.
The Yankees (12-9) had not won a game like this since the home opener on April 3, having to grind for everything in between with nothing coming easy — including 11 of their 13 games in that stretch decided by two runs or fewer, the exceptions coming in blowout losses.
But they finally synced strong pitching and strong hitting on the same day, which made for a much-needed laugher — so much so that Aaron Judge, who had played every inning of every game, got the final three innings off — as they tried to finally break out of this early-season funk with their fourth win in the past six games.
New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) watches his two-run homer during the sixth inning on April 18, 2026 at Yankee Stadium. Robert Sabo for NY Post
“Obviously, these games are more ideal,” Bellinger said. “We’ve had a lot of close ones recently, had a crazy series against the Angels. Will did a great job of doing what he does and for us to get a few runs on the board, that was big for us.”
That they did it against a left-hander made it even more encouraging, after southpaws had given them trouble through the early going. Entering Saturday, the Yankees’ .535 OPS against lefties was the second-lowest mark in the majors, and they were 2-4 against lefty starters.
Royals lefty Noah Cameron offered little resistance, though, as the Yankees got to him for seven runs across four innings — keyed by a five-run third inning in which Amed Rosario, Bellinger and Ben Rice all went deep.
New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) is greeted by his teammates in the dugout after he scores on his two-run homer during the sixth inning. Robert Sabo for NY Post
That alone was more than enough run support for Warren, who tied a career high with 11 strikeouts while easily turning in his best start of the season. Getting ahead early and often, he scattered three hits through the first six innings before finally giving up a two-run homer to Carter Jensen in the seventh, the only damage the Royals (7-13) had against him all day.
“It’s nice to go out there with the lead,” Warren said. “You’re not worried about giving up one or two [runs].”
The Yankees have now hit 15 home runs over their last six games after hitting only 14 through their first 15 games, getting back to the kind of offense they are built for.
Bellinger, the left-handed hitter who crushed lefty pitching last season, took Cameron deep for a two-run shot to the second deck in the third inning before adding another two-run homer against righty Mitch Spencer in the sixth that made it 10-0.
“I was joking with him, he had one homer in two months since the start of spring and then two in an hour,” manager Aaron Boone said. “So it’s a funny game that way. But a lot of good swings from him and obviously up and down the lineup. And against a tough lefty, too, so good to see the bats break out like that.”
New York Yankees pitcher Will Warren (29) throws a pitch during the first inning. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Rice’s homer off Cameron marked the third straight game in which he has gone deep, his second left-on-left and seventh overall this season.
“He’s just continuing to solidify himself as one of the really outstanding hitters in the league,” Boone said. “We’re seeing that more and more, whatever hand you throw with.”
Rosario and J.C. Escarra both drove in three runs to help the cause, with Escarra doing so on a double and triple after coming into Saturday 1-for-15 with a single on the season.
The backup catcher got the third-inning rally started when his fly ball to the gap was dropped in a collision between right fielder Jac Caglianone and center fielder Kyle Isbel. He later put an exclamation point on his day with a two-run triple that made it 12-2 in the seventh.
“It’s just being ready — taking lots of swings every single day when no one’s watching,” Escarra said. “It’s great to catch Will and get some knocks in and ultimately help the team win.”
Apr 18, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; Kansas City Royals right fielder Jac Caglianone (14) dives but cannot catch a two run triple hit by New York Yankees catcher J.C. Escarra (not pictured) during the seventh inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The Royals will probably win another game this year, but you’d be forgiven if you doubted it.
Royals fans were hoping for a different result from the previous six games, and it was different, alright, just not the way they hoped. The Royals were blown out in New York. The Yankees hit four home runs – including two by Cody Bellinger, who was available as a free agent for much of the offseason. The Royals did get a home run from Carter Jensen in the seventh inning, which was nice, but only cut the deficit from 10-0 to 10-2 at that point.
If you want an inning that exemplifies the Royals’ struggles this year, the first had it for you. Maikel Garcia smacked a double down the left field line on the first pitch he saw. Unfortunately, Bobby Witt Jr. struck out swinging, Vinnie Pasquantino struck out looking (on a pitch he probably would have been best served to challenge, even if it was probably ultimately in the strike zone), and Jac Caglianone smashed a line drive at 111 MPH and a launch angle of 21 degrees to center, where it was run down by Bellinger. The ball had an expected batting average of .950, but it was just a long, loud out.
Then, when the broadcast came back from commercial break, we discovered that manager Matt Quatraro had been ejected, likely for arguing that Will Warren should have been called for a balk in the first inning. It was a curious time for the argument to occur, as at least one pitch had been thrown since the alleged balk and had nothing else changed, Caglianone’s flyout still would have ended the inning. As many fans, including your truly, would joke later: maybe Q just saw what was coming and decided he didn’t want to be in the dugout for it.
Things started off pretty good for Noah Cameron; he retired seven of the first eight he saw with a four-pitch walk to Aaron Judge. Then, with one out in the third inning, Caglianone and Kyle Isbel collided on what could have been a routine flyout, leading to a three-base error. Isbel, as the centerfielder, has priority on the play, but without having been on the field, I blame him for not being louder when calling for it. He’s the one who got the error because the ball initially landed in Jac’s glove before being jostled free by the collision. From there, things went off the rails.
Amed Rosario smashed a two-run home run, Aaron Judge took a second walk, and Cody Bellinger smashed his first home run of the day. Giancarlo Stanton hit a grounder for the second out, but Ben Rice hit a home run to make it 5-0 Yankees, and we all knew the game was basically over.
In the top of the fourth, Bobby Witt Jr. led off with a single but was picked off first base after a Vinnie Pasquantino popout and before Jac Caglianone could strike out looking. The Royals struck out 12 times on the day, 5 of those were looking. They didn’t advance a runner until Carter’s home run in the seventh, and not again until Carter’s walk in the ninth and Massey’s subsequent 2-RBI double. Isaac Collins returned to the lineup to collect a golden sombrero from the designated hitter slot. The Royals played some sloppy, sloppy baseball and look badly in need of a reset. The TV broadcast team had hoped the road trip would serve as one for the offense, but it seems to have only made things worse.
Two of Noah Cameron’s three worst starts are against the Yankees, his only two against them. Maybe Q should arrange the rotation such that Cameron never faces them again. Small hat tip to Mitch Spence, who pitched the final four innings of the game. He gave up six runs while striking out 3 and walking 5, but at least the rest of the bullpen got a day off to think about what they’d done this whole road trip.
Tomorrow, as always, is another day. It’s a day where the Royals will battle a left-handed starting pitcher, Ryan Weathers, so don’t get your hopes up too much. Cole Ragans will go for the Royals. If his stuff looks as bad as it didn’t against Detroit, don’t expect the team to be in it for very long. The game will be broadcast on Royals.TV at the same time as today’s contest, 12:35 central.
Apr 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) celebrates after hitting a three point basket against the Toronto Raptors during the first half of game one in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers defended their home floor in Game 1 of their first round series against the Toronto Raptors.
Let’s go over today’s winners, because there were no losers.
WINNER – Pace
Controlling the tempo was a point of emphasis for the Cavaliers entering this series. Toronto is one of the deadlier transition teams in the league, while Cleveland was just a middling transition defense throughout the regular season. Naturally, this was a cause for concern.
Cleveland kept the Raptors at bay in the first half. They only allowed one point in transition during the opening quarters by hustling back on defense and forcing the game into a half-court setting. The Cavs also benefitted from drawing a load of fouls, attempting 17 free throws in the first half, and making it harder for Toronto to push off rebounds.
“You tell a group that’s hungry to win, ‘this is what we need to do to win the game,’ and I think they lock in,” said Kenny Atkinson of his group after the game.
This carried deep into the second half, where the Raptors remained stuck in the mud as Cleveland grew its lead. The Cavs kept the game slow and pummeled them 52-36 in the paint. Toronto finished with just 3 fastbreak points.
Closing the door on what should be Toronto’s biggest advantage in this series is a testament to Kenny Atkinson’s game plan and the players for bringing it to life. If they can continue to win on the margins, they’ll go on to win the series.
WINNER – Pick and Roll
One result of slowing the game down is that it forces you to dig deeper into your offensive bag. For the Cavs, a slower game set in the halfcourt meant the world was theirs. Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, especially, dominated in that regard.
We’ve seen Harden’s mastery in the pick-and-roll for more than a decade at this point. It turns out, he’s still going at running that action even in a classic ‘07 Cavs jersey. He worked the Raptors in pick-and-roll, coming up with an answer to any problem he was presented. Harden scored either with his step-back jumper or by getting into the lane with his floater. If the Raps blitzed the ball or overcommitted on his drives, he’d quickly zap the ball to a teammate.
That’s the Beard’s special.
“He’s firing darts to shooters,” said Atkinson. “I’d love to see the passes he threw to Max… he’s almost like a quarterback, super accurate, just kind of picking them apart with short passes and then he hits the long ones every once in a while.”
Mitchell, meanwhile, took more of an all-gas, no breaks approach. He put relentless pressure on the basket, slicing into the paint and taking advantage of the Raptors lack of rim protection. When he’s doing that and his three-point shot is falling? Good luck.
The Cavs’ backcourt combined for 54 points and 14 assists.
WINNER – Max Strus
The playoffs are where stars shine brightest. But make no mistake, this environment has always been ripe for big performances from role players, too.
Max Strus fits that bill.
Strus started the game by using his gravity to attack poor closeouts and get to the rim. It’s always good to see someone who was previously considered a three-point specialist then use that skill against the defense to find new opportunities. Strus darted to the basket for numerous layups in the first half, including a buzzer-beating layup to close the first quarter.
“He’s a dog,” said James Harden. “Whether he makes shots or misses shots, he’s more impactful to our team in ways that probably don’t show up in the stat sheet.”
From there, Strus was loose.
We saw more of what you’d expect from Strus as the game went on. A three-pointer in the first half got the ball rolling. That carried over into the second half, where he nailed three more. Strus ended the game 8-10 from the floor, scoring a playoff career-high 24 points and giving Cleveland a massive boost off the bench.
“When you look at how he works, he practices individually for the big moments,” said Atkinson after the game. “We needed his gravity today, I think it turned the game for us offensively, and that got us our separation.”
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 17: Brandon Nimmo #24 of the Texas Rangers looks on during the third inning Mariners at T-Mobile Park on April 17, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for April 18, 2026 against the Seattle Mariners: starting pitchers are Nathan Eovaldi for the Rangers and George Kirby for the Mariners.
The Rangers look to make it two in a row against the Mariners and three in a row overall. Josh Smith gets a day off.
The lineup:
Nimmo — RF
Seager — SS
Langford — LF
Burger — 1B
Pederson — DH
Jung — 3B
Carter — CF
Duran — 2B
Higashioka — C
6:15 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are +110 underdogs.
For Ron Harper Jr., the journey has been about patience, growth, and finding his role on a championship-caliber roster. After grinding his way into the league, Harper has carved out a role with the Celtics as a versatile wing—someone who can defend multiple positions, space the floor, and provide energy off the bench.
Boston enters the playoffs as one of the Eastern Conference’s premier contenders, built around elite two-way play and postseason experience. With Jayson Tatum back from injury, the Celtics clinched the second seed in the Eastern Conference and will look to return to their championship pedigree. While Harper isn’t the focal point, his value shows up in the margins—rotational minutes, defensive assignments, and timely shooting. On a team with championship aspirations, those details matter.
The Celtics’ playoff outlook is simple: they’re in it to contend for another title. Depth pieces like Harper often swing key moments in long series, and his ability to stay ready could be the difference in tight games. For Rutgers fans, seeing a former Scarlet Knight trusted in meaningful playoff minutes is a testament to both his development and the program he came from.
Dylan Harper’s Arrival in San Antonio
While Ron’s role is about contributing to a contender, Dylan Harper represents something different: the future.
The Spurs have been building toward this moment, and Harper’s stellar rookie season after being drafted second overall has been a major step in that process. As a young guard with size, poise, and playmaking instincts, he’s already shown flashes of becoming a cornerstone piece. His ability to control tempo, attack downhill, and create for others has added another layer to San Antonio’s evolving identity.
The Spurs are among the top teams in the West, only behind the Oklahoma City Thunder in the standings, and San Antonio beat OKC three times in the regular season. With an otherworldly athlete in Victor Wembanyama at center and a dangerous guard lineup including De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, Harper’s role becomes easier off the bench as a dynamic playmaker who can make a difference when the team needs it the most.
Playoff Outlooks For The Celtics and Spurs
Boston opens the postseason tomorrow at 1 PM as they host the Philadelphia 76ers, rekindling a familiar rivalry in the Atlantic Division. Should they advance, they will likely face the New York Knicks in the second round, a rematch of New York’s thrilling elimination of the Celtics in six games last year.
Otherwise, the Celtics will play another familiar foe in the Atlanta Hawks, with the two sides last facing each other in the playoffs in 2023. If Boston makes it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals, their most likely opponent would be an upstart in the Detroit Pistons, as Cade Cunningham’s team has won 60 games this season, including three victories over New York and the Celtics this season. However, the experience the C’s possess could be critical in a seven-game postseason series, which the young Pistons are lacking despite their talent.
San Antonio opens the playoffs against the Trail Blazers tomorrow at 9 PM at home as they look to make their deepest postseason run in quite some time. Should they advance, a second-round series against the winner of the Nuggets and Timberwolves is looming.
In a crowded Western Conference, the Thunder and Spurs have been a notch above everyone else, so a conference finals matchup between the sides would be the series that NBA fans would truly enjoy seeing, and the series could even serve as the de facto NBA Finals, much like the Warriors-Rockets series of the past.
The Bigger Picture
As the playoffs unfold, the spotlight in this area will naturally be on the Knicks, Sixers, and other local and national brands. But for the Rutgers faithful, there’s another storyline worth following: two Scarlet Knights, two different journeys, and one shared foundation—making their mark when the lights are brightest.
And in a league defined by legacy, the Harper name is only getting stronger.
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Both Luka Dončić (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) remain out for the Lakers after sustaining injuries in the same loss against Oklahoma City on April 2. Though it’s possible either could return at some point during the series, they have both been ruled out for tonight’s Game 1.
Durant is listed as a game-time decision for the Rockets tonight after appearing on the injury report with a right knee contusion.
Game 1 of the Hawks vs. Knicks playoff series tips off tonight (April 18) at 5:30 p.m. PT / 8:30 p.m. ET tonight, April 18.
How to watch Rockets vs. Lakers for free:
If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the Lakers game for free.
DIRECTV is our top pick for watching basketball live for free — its five-day free trial includes ABC (plus almost every other channel you’ll need for the NBA playoffs). When the trial is over, you’ll pay as low as $49.99/month and gain access to over 90 live channels.
TRY DIRECTV FOR FREE
Sling TV is another affordable way to stream NBA games; its Select plan includes ABC and starts at $19.99/month.
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
The Stanley Cup playoffs had barely begun when Staal and Tkachuk went at it, much to the delight of the crowd at the Lenovo Center. While Tkachuk threw some early punches during the brief bout, it was Staal who dragged Tkachuk to the ice.
Both players were assessed major penalties for fighting, leaving the teams without their respective captains to open the postseason just three seconds in.
LOS ANGELES - NOVEMBER 9: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots against Yao Ming #11 of the Houston Rockets at Staples Center on November 9, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers have had a history with many teams, including this year’s matchup in the Rockets.
One might not think the Lakers and Rockets have any history together, but there is one surprising link between the two franchises.
Pat Riley.
Drafted by the San Diego Rockets in the 1967 NBA draft as the seventh pick in the first round, Riley stayed with the team for the first three years of their existence. The Rockets would remain in San Diego for one more season before moving to Houston in the 1971-72 season.
Of note, in the Houston Rockets’ initial season, the head coach was Tex Winter, the architect of the triangle offense.
Riley would join the Los Angeles Lakers in 1970 and remained with the franchise until the start of the 1975-1976 season, when he was traded to the Phoenix Suns. He would retire as a player that season and then join the Lakers’ broadcast team in 1977 and the rest was history
Let’s have a look back at the history of these two franchises in the postseason
1981 First Round
In this matchup, Riley was the assistant coach for Paul Westhead. This was the early Showtime era with second-year Magic Johnson and an eleventh-year Kareem Abdul-Jabbar fresh off the NBA championship. On the Houston side, Del Harris was the head coach.
Game 1 was close as the starting 5 combined for 97 points. Magic led with 26 points, Norm Nixon had 22 and Cap had 21. Malone led all players with 38 points, 23 rebounds. 4 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks. The final score was 111-107 in favor of Houston.
Game 2 went better for the Lakers as they tied the series. The Lakers made a lineup change, starting Michael Cooper. Norm, Magic, Wilks, and Cap were happy with Cooper’s defensive focus joining the starting 5. Magic scored 15 points with 18 rebounds, 8 assists, and 4 steals. Kareem, Nixon, and Wilkes all had at least 20 points.
Game 3 was a nailbiter and a defensive clinic for both teams. It was a back-and-forth game with the Lakers running their Showtime transition offense and the Rockets utilizing their strength inside with Malone.
In the closing minutes, it was the Lakers’ defense that helped pick up a few extra possessions. Magic had a chance late to win the game, but after a fancy behind-the-back dribble to his left hand, his shot ended up being short. The Rockets won this series 2-1 and went on to face the Celtics in the NBA Finals.
1986 Western Conference Finals
Once again, the Rockets faced the champion Lakers. Houston was running the Twin Towers lineup of Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson. The Lakers had solidified their starting five with Magic, Byron Scott, James Worthy, Kurt Rambis and Kareem.
Game 1 would be one of Magic Johnson’s greatest games as he finished with 26 points, 7 rebounds, 18 assists and 3 steals.
Game 2 would be a bounce-back game for the Rockets with the play of Sampson and Olajuwon taking over. Both would have double-doubles, Sampson with 24 points and 16 rebounds and Hakeem with 22 points and 13 rebounds.
Game 3 is when Hakeem took over, scoring 40 points with 12 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks in 46 minutes of play. Kareem was going at Hakeem in a duel for the ages.
Hakeem would go on to win this game to push the Rockets up 2-1. He took over Game 4 as well to push the series nearly out of reach.
Game 5 was the Lakers’ last chance to come back in the series. Midway through the game, a fight led to Hakeem and Kupkak getting ejected. The game, though, would be remembered for an improbable game-winner from Sampson to eliminate the Lakers.
Once again, the Rockets would make the Finals where they would once again face the Celtics and lose in 6 games.
1990 Western Conference First Round
Lots of things happened since the 1986 series between the two. Sampson was not there and it would be a few more years before Hakeem got a championship team around him.
In Game 1, James Worthy took over the game and scored 34 points with 11 boards, 3 assists, 1 steal and 3 blocks to lead LA to a win. Game 2 was the Sleepy Floyd game as he scored 27 points as Houston won.
The last two games were not a contest. The Lakers took care of business to close out the first round.
1991 Western Conference First Round
This was the beginning of a new era for Lakers.
The Lakers had a balanced approach to Game 1 and everyone scored in double figures en route to a 94-92 Lakers win, the closest game in the series.
Game 1 was emblematic of how the series would go as the Lakers would win the series in a 3-0 sweep before eventually losing to Jordan’s Bulls in the Finals.
1996 Western Conference First Round
After retiring, Magic would eventually return with this being his final season. There would be quite the clash Magic and Nick Van Exel, negatively impacting the chemistry heading into the playoffs.
The Lakers would face the defending champion Rockets in the first round. Unfortunately, the Lakers were unable to beat the champions. Houston would win the series 3-1.
1999 Western Conference First Round
In the last year before Phil Jackson, the Lakers faced the Rockets in the first round. Del Harris would only last 12 games to start the season. Bill Bertka would go 1-0. Kurt Rambis would go 24-13 to finish out the regular season.
Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher and Shaquille O’Neal would be in their third year together. With the Bulls dynasty having concluded, the Rockets had morphed from the Hakeem- and Clyde Drexler-led teams to the Hakeem, Charles Barkley and Scottie Pippen Big 3.
In Game 1, the Lakers won on a pair of Kobe free throws in the final seconds. Game 2 saw Houston’s bench of Sam Mack, Brint Price, Othella Harrington carry the Rockets, but it wouldn’t be enough as the Lakers won handily, 110-98. In Houston, the Rockets came back to win Game 3 behind Pippen and Barkley, who each had at least 30 points.
Glen Rice would sit and Rick Fox would take his place in the starting 5 for Game 4, which would be all about the stars. Shaq would dominate Hakeem with 37 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks. Kobe would join Shaq with 24 points, 6 boards, 8 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks as the Lakers would go on to eventually win the series.
2004 Western Conference First Round
The Lakers were en route to the Finals with Shaq, Kobe, Gary Payton and Karl Malone — with Ime Udoka on the bench — while the Rockets were entering a new era with Yao Ming, Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley.
Throuout the series, it would be a different star showing out for each team. Game 1, it was Shaq with 20 points, 17 boards, 3 assists and 2 blocks. Game 2, it was Kobe with 36 points and Yao with 21
Game 3, it was more balanced for both teams with Shaq and Kobe leading the Lakers with 25 and 21, respectively. Game 4, it was Malone had 30 points. Game 5 was closed out by Kobe with 31 points.
2009 Western Conference Semi-Finals
Kobe and Pau were on the heels of a Finals appearance in the previous year versus the Celtics.
This is probably the closest series between the two franchises just because of how hard it was to score and the intense defense on both sides. Four of the seven games would have final scores below 100 points.
Game 1 set the tone with the defense. Kobe would be battling flu-like symptoms but managed to still score 32 points in a losing effort. Game 2 would go better for the Lakers as they scored above 100 points, resulting in a win. LA would score north of 100 three times in the series and won all three games.
Game 7 turned out to be the lowest-scoring game of the series, but LA still came away with the win.
2020 Western Conference Semi-Finals
The first of two Lebron James-Rockets series. In the bubble, this would be a clash of styles with the Rockets going micro-ball and speedy defense while the Lakers were huge inside.
In Game 1, it was JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard struggled as the Rockets won. Frank Vogel called for a change in Game 2, turning to Markieff Morris in a more prominent role as LA bounced back. By Game 4, Markieff would start, as the Lakers won the final four games to take the series in five.
Coaches tie the Rockets and Lakers together throughout their history, from Riley, Harris and Winter.
This year, will Houston have a problem or will the Lakers be in too deep for their own good?
All playoff history for A Dip in the Lake is from landofbasketball.com
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 18: Cody Bellinger #35 of the New York Yankees runs the bases after his sixth inning two-run home run against Mitch Spence #54 of the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium on April 18, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Their overall record is still fine, but the Yankees have struggled of late. Even a lot of their wins have required comebacks or them holding on for dear life over the final couple outs. That included Friday night’s series-opening win over the Royals.
On Saturday afternoon in the Bronx, the Yankees finally played a laugher. A hat trick of home runs in the third inning allowed the Yankees to open up a lead over the Royals, and they never let their foot off the gas after that. On the mound, Will Warren had a very nice day, striking out 11 Kansas City batters in his seven innings. Meanwhile, his offense kept things going, as they clubbed 11 hits and four homers in total.
That allowed the Yankees to have a pretty relaxed final couple innings, as they beat the Royals 13-4.
After a quiet first couple innings, the Yankees unleashed a barrage of homers in the third to take control. Things started out with a bit of good fortune, when a deep fly ball from J.C. Escarra ended up dropping in. That was thanks to an error on center field Kyle Isbel, but it was really a combination of Isbel and Jac Caglianone miscommunicating and colliding, causing Isbel to drop it. Just two pitches later, Amed Rosario hit a rocket out to left field to give the Yankees the lead.
After Aaron Judge drew a walk, Cody Bellinger then added a second two-run homer, taking one into the second deck in right field. Two batters after that, Ben Rice hit his third homer in as many games, as he completed the trio of third-inning dingers.
An inning later, Escarra and Bellinger were in on the action again as the Yankees tacked on. With José Caballero on base, Escarra ripped another ball to center, this one going for a RBI double, without any help. Shortly after that, Bellinger punched through a hit to score Escarra.
A couple innings after that, the Yankees got into double digits. In the sixth inning, Caballero set the table again when he led off with a single. He moved to second on an Escarra groundout and then scored when Rosario singled to pick up another RBI. Shortly after that, Bellinger went deep for the second time on the day, hitting a porch job for a second two-run shot.
Warren mostly cruised through the first six innings, but the Royals eventually got on the board in the seventh. With Caglianone on after a single, Carter Jensen homered off Warren to end the Yankees’ shutout.
However even then, the Yankees immediately answered right back. With two runners on, Escarra hit a fly ball to right. Caglianone’s attempt at a diving catch came up short, allowing both runners to score, with Escarra going to third with his first career triple.
Warren’s day ended after that, as the Yankees went to the bullpen for the eighth. His line looked even better before the seventh, but he still had a pretty good day. In his seven innings, he allowed two runs on five hits, while striking out 11 to tie his career-high.
Paul Blackburn replaced him for the eighth and had a quick and easy inning before the offense picked up one final run on a Randal Grichuk sacrifice fly. Blackburn came back out for the ninth and allowed a couple garbage time runs before sealing the deal.
The Yankees and Royals will wrap up their series in the Bronx tomorrow at 1:35 pm ET, with the Yankees trying for the series sweep. Ryan Weathers is expected to go for the Yankees, opposite Cole Ragans for Kansas City.
The Yankees cruised to their second win in a row, beating the Royals 13-4 on Saturday afternoon in the Bronx.
Here are some takeaways...
- Aaron Boone said pregame that Amed Rosario was in the lineup against a lefty over Ryan McMahon because he earned the opportunities. Rosario immediately made the decision pay off, smacking the first of three homers to open the scoring and a commanding advantage in the bottom of the second.
Rosario added an RBI single later in the game, bringing his OPS to .856 on the season.
- The other two homers came left-on-left and landed in the second deck. First, Cody Bellinger crushed a two-run shot, then Ben Rice cranked a 398-foot solo blast of his own, making it 5-0 Yanks. For Rice, it was his seventh homer of the season and his second against left-handed pitching.
Bellinger reached four times, homering twice, doubling, drawing a walk, and driving in five.
- New York tacked on again an inning later, as back-to-back extra base-hits from Jose Caballero and J.C. Escarra resulted in the sixth run of the game. Escarra has gotten off to a bit of a slow start with the bat, but he doubled home Caballero, was gifted a triple that was later ruled an error, and then drove in another with a legit triple in the seventh.
Escarra finished the day 2-for-4 with a pair of extra-base knocks and three RBI.
- Working with the big league for most of the game, Will Warren continued his strong start to the season. The righty found himself in immediate trouble, giving up a double on the first pitch he threw, but he danced around it with a pair of strikeouts and a flyout. Warren cruised from there, retiring the next six hitters before allowing a leadoff single in the fourth.
He quickly erased that baserunner, picking Bobby Witt Jr. off first to close another scoreless frame. The 26-year-old gave up another leadoff hit in the fifth, but then went on another run where he retired the next seven hitters in order before allowing a one-out knock in the top of the seventh.
Two batters later, rookie Carter Jensen broke up the shutout, lifting a two-run homer to right. Warren responded by setting down the next two batters easily, ending his day with just those two runs allowed on five hits and no walks while matching his career-high with 11 strikeouts.
The youngster is down to a 2.49 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 31 strikeouts through five starts.
- Paul Blackburn saved the Yankees' bullpen by eating the final two innings, but he gave up a pair of runs on a walk and two hits in the top of the ninth.
- It wasn't all pretty for New York, as Jazz Chisholm Jr's struggles continued. Boone said pregame that he thought the slumping infielder wasn't too far off the plate, but he went hitless in four at-bats with a pair of strikeouts in this one, bringing his average down to .149 on the season.
- Royals manager Matt Quatro was ejected in this one after arguing Warren balked when he appeared not to come set before a pickoff attempt at second base.
Game MVP: Cody Bellinger
New York's offense exploded in general, but Bellinger paced them with his five RBI.
