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Ozzie Guillen fights back tears after finding out White Sox are retiring his number

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Ozzie Guillén, World Series winning manager with the Chicago White Sox, lifts the World Series trophy during a ceremony commemorating the 2005 Chicago White Sox team at Rate Field on July 12, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. , Image 2 shows Ozzie Guillen
Ozzie Guillen

Ozzie Guillen couldn’t believe it.

As he was on the Chicago Sports Network during the broadcast of a White Sox’s 5-4 win over the Blue Jays on Friday in Chicago’s home opener, Guillen was joined by Scott Podsednik.

Podsednik, best known for his All-Star and World Series title season of 2005 with the Guillen-managed White Sox, opened an envelope on-air, suggesting he didn’t know what it was.

Ozzie Guillén, World Series winning manager with the Chicago White Sox, lifts the World Series trophy during a ceremony commemorating the 2005 Chicago White Sox team at Rate Field on July 12, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Getty Images

Guillen, who was eagerly looking over Podsednik’s shoulder for an attempt at a clearer view of the letter, was then shocked to learn of what it contained.

“The Chicago White Sox announce today,” Podsednik began before he paused and appeared to look over in Guillen’s direction.

Podsednik’s voice continued, as it now echoed throughout Rate Field, “That 2005 World Series winning manager Ozzie Guillen will be honored on Saturday, Aug. 8.”

Guillen interjected, “Another bobblehead?” with a chuckle.

Podsednik continued, “With a special ceremony retiring his No. 13 uniform.”

Guillen immediately began to feel the emotions, which coincided with the crowd unleashing a round of cheers and applause for the former manager, who is now 62.

“Where’s my wife?” Guillen asked, overcome with emotion, as she immediately entered the set, and the two embraced.

Guillen, a native of the 2026 World Baseball Classic Champion Venezuela, remains a very popular name in Chicago years after his tenure.

He managed the White Sox from 2004 to 2011, winning Manager of the Year and leading the team to their first World Series in 88 years in 2005.

Then Chicago White Sox General Manager and Executive Vice-President Kenny Williams and manager Ozzie Guillén, who is draped in the flag of Venezuela, celebrate during the team’s 2005 World Series victory parade in Chicago. Getty Images

With the White Sox, Guillen went 678-617 with one title and two playoff trips; the run also included four seasons of at least 88 wins.

Guillen later managed the Marlins for one season in 2012.

As a player, the former shortstop was a three-time All-Star with the White Sox in 1988, 1990 and 1991.

He also won a Gold Glove in 1990 and was the American League Rookie of the Year in 1985.

Guillen played for the Sox from 1985 to 1997, and enjoyed stints with the Orioles, Braves and Rays, retiring after the 2000 season.

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Grant Holmes flirts with no-hitter as Braves defeat Diamondbacks, 2-0

Apr 3, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Grant Holmes (66) pitches during the third inning of the game against the Atlanta Braves at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images | Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images

In a game dominated by the two starting pitchers, it was Ozzie Albies and Matt Olson who stepped to the plate with the score 0-0 in the ninth inning and answered the bell to give the Braves their third consecutive win and improve their record on the young season to 6-2.

The Braves have now recorded three shutouts in the first week of the season.

Albies stood in against veteran reliever Paul Sewald and hammered a ball down the right field line to give the Braves a 1-0 lead. Chase Field erupted with a big contingent of Braves fans in attendance.

Olson followed with a solo blast of his own three pitches later, a no-doubter to center field to go back-to-back and make it 2-0. Olson has absolutely mashed throughout his career in Chase Field, and it appears the desert has gotten his season on track in a hurry.

Grant Holmes was superb over six innings, flirting with a no-hitter until Ketel Marte finally broke the seal with a single in the bottom of the sixth. That was the lone hit Holmes would surrender in addition to three walks. He struck out four and generated 14 whiffs on 85 pitches.

In relief of Holmes, the trio of Dylan Lee, Robert Suarez and Raisel Iglesias brought the win home. The Braves pitching staff through the first week of the season has been, to put it mildly, stellar.

A night after scoring 17 runs, the Braves were pretty helpless against veteran lefty Eduardo Rodriguez. They had a scoring opportunity in the first and sixth innings with two runners on, but they were unable to capitalize and support Holmes’ efforts.

The four-game tilt continues tomorrow night with Bryce Elder set to face old friend Michael Soroka, who pitched really well in his season debut against the Tigers earlier in the week. It’ll be a 7:15 p.m. ET first pitch on FOX.

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Mets believe Sean Manaea’s extended relief outing was ‘positive step’

Sean Manaea #59 of the New York Mets pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the fifth inning at Oracle Park on April 02, 2026 in San Francisco.
Sean Manaea of the New York Mets pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the fifth inning at Oracle Park on April 2, 2026 in San Francisco.

SAN FRANCISCO — Sean Manaea could take a glimmer of satisfaction from his latest outing. 

Yes, the left-hander created traffic in his relief appearance Thursday night, but there was an uptick in his velocity. The final result — one earned run allowed over 3 ²/₃ innings — was respectable, despite the four hits and two walks he allowed. 

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“I was just throwing free and easy and just throwing with confidence,” Manaea said. 

The appearance in a low-leverage spot — the Mets trailed by four runs when he entered and ultimately lost 7-2 to the Giants — allowed Manaea an opportunity to stay stretched out as the sixth starter in what has been a five-man rotation to begin the season. 

Manaea averaged 89.9 mph with his four-seam fastball — still down from last season but up from spring training and his 1 ¹/₃-inning relief appearance against the Pirates last Sunday.

The lone run Manaea allowed Thursday was on a four-seamer that Rafael Devers smashed for a homer. 

“I thought it was a positive step,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “[Manaea] was aggressive and his fastball had life, swings and misses, and for him to finish that game and save the bullpen is huge. There were a lot of good signs.” 

The Mets used plenty of relievers in the first week, with three games that went extra innings. Manaea could help ensure Mendoza wouldn’t need to summon another arm. 

Sean Manaea of the New York Mets pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the fifth inning at Oracle Park on April 2, 2026 in San Francisco. Getty Images

“This is a family; this is a team,” Manaea said. “Everyone has got work to do, and I am really glad that I was able to help out.” 

Manaea’s next step is unclear, but he’s unlikely to be available for the remainder of this series after throwing 74 pitches. The Mets have a day off Monday and then have games scheduled the following nine days, so it’s possible Manaea would be inserted into the rotation as a sixth starter as soon as the next homestand. 

Nolan McLean took the mound on Friday, and the Mets have Clay Holmes and Kodai Senga aligned for the final two games in the series. Freddy Peralta and David Peterson are the other members of the five-man rotation. 

“We’ve got five extremely talented starters, and my role right now is to help this team in the capacity that I am doing,” Manaea said. 

The early results have been positive from the rotation, Peterson’s latest start notwithstanding — the lefty was knocked out in the fifth inning on Thursday after allowing six runs, five of which were earned. That got the ball to Manaea with the chance for an extended outing. He had thrown only 29 pitches in his appearance on Sunday. 

New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea throws during the seventh inning on Thursday night. AP

Last season was disastrous for Manaea, who strained an oblique in spring training and didn’t appear in a game for the Mets until July. But he struggled upon his return and pitched to a 5.64 ERA in 15 appearances.

The Mets re-signed Manaea before last season to a three-year contract worth $75 million. 

Manaea had thrived the previous season and emerged as a de facto ace for a team that reached the NL Championship Series, crediting a drop in arm angle against left-handed hitters for much of his success.

But Manaea indicated he may have dropped his arm slot too low last year in trying to replicate that success. 

“I think the arm slot getting too low was a byproduct of the rest of my body,” Manaea said. “If I am more upright the arm slot doesn’t matter.” 

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Stats Rundown: 3 numbers to know from the Mavericks 138-127 loss to the Orlando Magic

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 3: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball during the game against the Orlando Magic on April 3, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Dallas Mavericks played the Orlando Magic on Friday night, losing 138-127. Dallas kept things close for most of the first half, but fell behind big in the third quarter and couldn’t recover from there despite a big game from Cooper Flagg.

51: Cooper Flagg’s point total

Flagg was in peak form Friday night, making a push for Rookie of the Year while still playing within both himself and the team’s flow. Flagg is aware there is precious little time left to make his case for ROY, and may have caught wind of ESPN’s straw poll that currently has him as runner up. He put on a highly efficient show against Orlando, going 19-for-30 from the floor including 6-for-9 from deep. He scored from everywhere – dunks that ended with him hanging from the rim like Spider-Man, a variety of midrange jumpers, and a few from beyond the arc including a nice step-back. According to Statsmuse, Flagg joins Michael Jordan as the only rookies with multiple 45-point games since the NBA-ABA merger. He is also the youngest player (and first teenager) to ever have a 50-point game!

71: First half points given up by the Mavs

Offense was not lacking for either team, but if you believed Dallas took a lead into halftime with their 58 points, no one would blame you. Instead, they trailed by 13 points. They allowed Orlando to shoot just north of 57% from both beyond the arc and overall in the first half. Things didn’t improve much from there, as the Magic carried nearly those same absurdly inflated percentages throughout the rest of the game as well.

14:The number of three-pointers made by each team

The Mavericks are not the most prolific or effective three-point shooting team, so it was nice to see Klay Thompson and Max Christie get hot in the early going. Cooper Flagg joined them and the trio combined to make 13 from beyond the arc (Naji Marshall made one as well). Matching the other teams’ makes from deep is an accomplishment for the Mavs, however it took Dallas 16 more attempts than Orlando to make those 14 treys.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

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Knicks embrace change of pace as they get off to needed fast start against Bulls

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Guard Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks makes a jumping pass over forward Patrick Williams #44 of the Chicago Bulls during the first half at Madison Square Garden, Friday April 3rd, 2026, in New York, NY

When asked about the Knicks’ recent slow starts before Friday’s matchup with the Bulls, Josh Hart was candid.

It’s something the team’s dealt with for multiple years, and he couldn’t pinpoint why.

“We’ve been getting off to slow starts for two years now,” Hart said. “If I had the answers, we would be better.”

In their past four games before Friday, the Knicks had varying first-quarter results, trailing early in losses to Charlotte, Oklahoma City and Houston before a 48-point frame kick-started a win over Memphis.

Guard Josh Hart of the New York Knicks makes a jumping pass over forward Patrick Williams #44 of the Chicago Bulls during the first half at Madison Square Garden on April 3, 2026, in New York, NY. Jason Szenes for the New York Post

But on Friday against the Bulls, the Knicks looked like a completely different animal. They jumped up 20-1 and held Chicago without a basket until seven minutes in. That led to a 78-41 halftime advantage, putting the game away early.

The Knicks eventually prevailed 136-96, maintaining their position as the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference with four regular-season games remaining.

“Tonight we started the right way, and when we do, we might jump on somebody,” Knicks head coach Mike Brown said postgame. “It’s about making our opponents feel us executing our defense the right way every possession, not giving up any easy baskets in transition and finishing it with the defense rebound.”

Before the game, Brown credited the Knicks’ recent sluggish starts to poor defense. With the playoffs on the horizon, his team had to start on the right foot.

“A lot of it has been our defense,” Brown said. “In the first quarter, we’re 19th [in the league] right now, and fourth quarter, we’re first by a mile. So for us to bring that same sense of urgency to start the games defensively, it’s going to be big for us.”

Against Charlotte, the Knicks were down 24-14 early and eventually trailed by 21. Versus the Thunder, they started down seven. In Houston, those struggles were glaring when they faced an early 22-5 deficit.

But across their past two games — albeit against subpar opponents — the Knicks have improved.

Guard Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks drives down court as forward Isaac Okoro of the Chicago Bulls defends during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Jason Szenes for the New York Post

The Knicks led the Grizzlies by 17 after one half. Hart credited the offensive success to aggressive ball movement. Friday, that stretched to a whopping 37-point halftime lead.

“Tonight, we just came out with a different energy,” Miles McBride said. “The first five really set a tone, and the bench follows.”

Early on, the Knicks had success wanted inside, accruing 40 first-half points in the paint. Usually known for his rebounding, Mitchell Robinson dropped 15 of his 17 points in the opening half — his most in a game since mid-December.

Defensively, they lived up to Brown’s wishes, too. Chicago had one point and zero made buckets until about five minutes left in the first quarter and shot 35 percent at halftime.

The blistering start helped New York easily close out the win. For a team looking like it was headed south, it was a welcome sign as the postseason looms.

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Rockets cruise to their 5th consecutive win, beat Jazz 140-106

Apr 3, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) congratulates Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) after a play against the Utah Jazz during the third quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images | Erik Williams-Imagn Images

Entering the final stretch of the 2025-2026 season, there was never a question whether the Rockets should win against a young, inexperienced, and oft injured Utah Jazz. The question was, can the Rockets get up big and be able to rest their key players in the 4th quarter, rather than let yet another inferior team hang around and threaten to steal a game the Rockets should win? Thankfully for the hometown faithful, the answer to that question is yes.

After knotting the game up at 11 in the first quarter, the Rockets would go on a 23-11 run and never look back. The Rockets flexed their muscle over the Jazz shooting 55.4 percent for the game, including 46.9 percent from the three-point line. With 30 assists and just 10 turnovers the Rockets were able to avoid a let down late in the game.

Six players scored in double-figures with Kevin Durant leading the way with 25 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Alperen Sengun scored 19 points, also shooting 8-of-12 from the field. Amen Thompson chipped in with 21 points, 8 rebounds and Reed Sheppard had another quality game at starting point guard with 12 points, 7 assists and shooting 4-of-8 from the arc. Jabari Smith and Tari Eason scored 18 points and 16 points respectively.

Now that the Rockets have clinched a playoff spot in the Western Conference, the bar is obviously set higher than winning what was really a meaningless game to the Jazz, who organizationally had more incentive to lose than win. However a five-game win streak with just five games left on the schedule is nothing to shake a stick at. The Rockets can’t really afford to try and play the matchup game headed into the postseason. They need to win as many games as possible and be playing their best brand of basketball of the season if they hope to make any type of deep run. Other than perhaps health, that will be the most important thing moving forward.

The Rockets get to experience a playoff atmosphere in San Francisco as their next game will be against the Warriors with Stephen Curry returning to the lineup hoping to help his team clinch a play-in spot. The game starts at 9:00 PM CST and as always we will have all the coverage yo need right here on TDS.

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Cooper Flagg points tonight: Rookie becomes NBA's youngest 50-point scorer

Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg isn't ready to be ruled out of the Rookie of the Year race just yet.

The race between Flagg and his former Duke teammate, Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets, has been close.

But Flagg sent a message Friday night, becoming the first teenager to score at least 50 points in an NBA regular-season game.

Despite the strong individual performance, the Mavericks suffered a 138-127 loss to the Orlando Magic.

Flagg surpassed his career high of 49 points, which he set against the Hornets on Jan. 29.

He becomes just the 10th rookie in NBA history to score 50-plus points, and the third since the NBA/ABA merger (1976-77), according to the Mavericks.

Flagg's performance followed up on what was a memorable night for Knueppel on Thursday.

Here’s how Flagg’s performance went on Friday night:

Cooper Flagg stats vs. Magic

  • Points: 51
  • FG: 19-for-30
  • 3PT: 6-for-9
  • FT: 7-for-7
  • Rebounds: 6
  • Assists: 3
  • Steals: 3
  • Blocks: 1
  • Turnovers: 1
  • Fouls: 3
  • Minutes played: 34

Cooper Flagg highlights vs. Magic

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cooper Flagg points tonight, Magic vs Mavericks stats

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The 76ers beat the Timberwolves 115-103 as Joel Embiid returns to the lineup

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Paul George scored 23 points, Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr. each had 21 and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 115-103 on Friday night.

Joel Embiid had 19 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists in his return to the lineup to help the 76ers remain sixth in the Eastern Conference with five games to play.

Julius Randle and Bones Hyland each had 21 points for the Timberwolves. Anthony Edwards struggled to eight points. Edwards was back in action after sitting out Thursday night in a 113-108 loss at Detroit due to illness. He missed 12 of 15 shots overall, including all seven 3-point tries.

Embiid, who didn’t play Wednesday night in a 153-131 victory at Washington due to illness, scored 13 points in the third period when the 76ers outscored Minnesota 42-24. The 76ers trailed 70-68 with 2:50 remaining in the period before scoring 15 of the final 16 points of the quarter to enter the fourth ahead 83-71. Maxey had six points during the stretch, and Quentin Grimes finished the spurt with back-to-back fast-break layups.

George’s 3-pointer with 6 1/2 minutes to play put Philadelphia ahead by a game-high 17 points. But Minnesota got as close as within six points in the final 1 1/2 minutes before Oubre put it away with consecutive 3-pointers.

HORNETS 129, PACERS 108

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Brandon Miller scored 22 points, Kon Knueppel added 20 and Charlotte beat Indiana for its eighth victory in 10 games.

Miles Bridges scored 19 points and LaMelo Ball had 18 points and nine assists to help the Hornets improve to 42-26. Charlotte was 24 of 49 from 3-point range.

Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 30 points. The Pacers (18-59) had won two in a row.

The Hornets entered the night in eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings — 1 1/2 games behind Philadelphia and Toronto.

They left no doubt about this one.

Behind a flurry of early 3-pointers — including three in the first quarter from reserve Sion James — the Hornets raced to a 31-11 lead. Charlotte shot 14 of 27 from 3-point range in the first half to take a 69-50 lead.

Knueppel, who set the franchise record for 3s in a season Thursday night against Phoenix, finished 3 of 7 from beyond the arc and also showed versatility in his game with a coast-to-coast layup.

HAWKS 141, NETS 107

NEW YORK (AP) — CJ McCollum had 25 points and seven assists and surging Atlanta routed Brooklyn for its fourth straight victory and 18th in 20 games.

Fifth in the Eastern Conference at 45-33, the Hawks remained 1 1/2 games ahead of sixth-place Philadelphia and moved within 3 1/2 games of fourth-place Cleveland. Atlanta and Cleveland will play a home-and-set next week.

McCollum was 8 of 12 from the field, hitting 4 of 7 3-pointers.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 21 points, and Jalen Johnson had 18 points and 11 rebounds. Onyeka Okongwu scored 15 points.

Nic Claxton led Brooklyn with 16 points, and Malachi Smith had 15. The Nets lost their second straight to fall to 18-59.

Atlanta scored the first 10 points and led 35-17 with 1:28 left in the first quarter. It was 71-55 at the half, with McCollum scoring 16 points and Johnson 13. McCollum was 4 of 5 from the field in the half, hitting three 3-pointers without a miss.

KNICKS 136, BULLS 96

NEW YORK (AP) — OG Anunoby scored 31 points, Mitchell Robinson had 17 points and 11 rebounds, and New York routed Chicago in a game they led by 47 points.

Anunoby was 9 for 15 from the field, including 7 for 10 from 3-point range, and Robinson made each of his seven shots starting in place of All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns, who did not play because of a right elbow impingement.

All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson had 17 points and 10 assists to help the Knicks win their second consecutive game after dropping three in a row.

For New York (50-28), the blowout victory cemented its third consecutive season with at least 50 wins — a feat the club had not accomplished since the 1991-92 to 1993-94 campaigns. The Knicks lost the 1994 NBA Finals to Houston and were able to surpass the 50-win plateau the following season.

Collin Sexton had 19 points for the Bulls. They have lost their last six games and 10 of 12.

CELTICS 133, BUCKS 101

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jaylen Brown scored 26 points, Jayson Tatum added 23, and hot-shooting Boston capitalized on another fast start in a victory over short-handed Milwaukee.

Tatum was an assist shy of his second straight triple-double despite sitting out the entire fourth quarter of a game the Celtics never trailed. He had 11 rebounds and nine assists Friday after collecting 25 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists Wednesday in a 147-129 triumph over the Miami Heat.

In the Miami game, Boston scored 53 points in the opening period — its highest first-quarter point total in franchise history. The Celtics didn’t quite match that Friday, but they made eight of their first nine 3-point attempts and led 43-26 after the opening period.

That represented the most first-quarter points Milwaukee had allowed all season.

Boston remained 2 1/2 games ahead of the New York Knicks in the competition for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Celtics are four games behind the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons.

Neemias Queta had 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Celtics, who shot 56.2% overall and 17 of 37 from 3-point range. Derrick White scored 17, Payton Pritchard 16 and Sam Hauser 13.

Taurean Prince scored 18 points to lead Milwaukee. Pete Nance had 14 points and a career-high 10 rebounds.

ROCKETS 140, JAZZ 106

HOUSTON (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 25 points and Houston won its fifth straight game, beating Utah.

Durant shot 8 of 12 from the field and added five assists. It was the 45th time this season he’s scored 20 or more points while shooting 50% or better. That’s second among NBA players behind Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has done it 47 times.

Amen Thompson had 21 points and Alperen Sengun scored 19 for the Rockets (48-29), who clinched a playoff spot Thursday. They are a game behind Denver for fourth place in the Western Conference.

Cody Williams led the Jazz with 27 points and 11 rebounds, but they shot just 5 of 27 from behind the 3-point line.

Utah (21-57) has lost eight consecutive games and 12 of 13.

RAPTORS 128, GRIZZLIES 96

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — RJ Barrett scored 25 points, Brandon Ingram had 17 points and seven rebounds and Toronto built a first-half lead, extended it in the third and coasted to a victory over Memphis.

Rookie Collin Murray-Boyles, the ninth overall pick last summer, added 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting to help Toronto snap a two-game skid. Murray-Boyles had a career-high 20 points against Sacramento on Wednesday night.

Trying to avoid the Eastern Conference play-in tournament, Toronto remained seventh in the standings, through it has the same record as sixth-place Philadelphia.

GG Jackson led Memphis with 30 points, and Cedric Coward had 15. The Grizzlies lost for the eighth time in nine games. Jackson was 10 of 16 from the field.

A 13-4 run by Toronto to end the first half gave the Raptors a 59-41 lead at the break. The advantage would stretch to 31 near the five-minute mark of the third, and reach 33 in the fourth quarter.

MAGIC 138, MAVERICKS 127

DALLAS (AP) — Wendell Carter Jr. scored 28 points and Orlando beat Dallas, overcoming a 51-point showing from rookie No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg and handing the Mavericks their 14th consecutive loss at home.

Desmond Bane had 27 points as the Magic remained a half-game behind eighth-place Charlotte in the Eastern Conference. Orlando is safely in the play-in tournament with an outside shot at the top six and automatic entry into the East playoffs.

Coach Jason Kidd and Maji Marshall were ejected seconds apart early in the fourth quarter for the lottery-bound Mavericks, who are on their longest home losing streak at 25-year-old American Airlines Center. Dallas lost the first 19 games of the 1993-94 season at since-demolished Reunion Arena.

Flagg was caught up in the disagreement that led to Kidd’s ejection, drawing his own technical foul before Kidd went onto the court apparently to protest the same non-call that drew Flagg’s ire.

The 19-year-old responded with 24 points in the fourth quarter to become the youngest in NBA history with a 50-point game.

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Sixers Bell Ringer: Sixers tame Wolves to remain in sixth place

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 3: Donte DiVincenzo #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves guards Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the game on April 3, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer season standings:

Tyrese Maxey – 22.5
VJ Edgecombe – 12
Joel Embiid – 10.5
Paul George – 8
Justin Edwards – 4
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 4
Quentin Grimes – 3
Jared McCain :’( – 3
Dominick Barlow – 2
Andre Drummond – 2
MarJon Beauchamp – 2
Adem Bona – 1
Cam Payne – 1
Jabari Walker – 1
Trendon Watford – 1
15th roster spot – 1

On a night those near them in the Eastern Conference standings drew easier assignments, the Sixers overcame a low-scoring first half to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves, 115-103. For a change, it was Philadelphia laying the smackdown in the third quarter, outscoring the Wolves in the period, 42-24. That effort flipped a six-point halftime deficit and proved just enough to hold on for the victory. As a result, the Sixers maintained their spot in sixth place in the East, with Toronto and Charlotte both winning behind them. Things could change when Philadelphia is right back at it on Saturday night against Detroit, but let’s focus for now on Friday night’s Bell Ringer nominees.

Paul George: 23 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, 6 turnovers

PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 3: Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 3, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

For those arguing that the league should shorten the number of games in the regular season, they could point to how much better Paul George looks with 25 fewer contests on the schedule. Coming off his suspension, PG has been a new man, wreaking havoc on both ends of the court with a spring in his step. George almost singlehandedly kept the Sixers hanging around in the first half, scoring 15 points when no teammate had more than five. His stepback jumper off the dribble against Donte DiVincenzo was some vintage And 1 mixtape stuff. Highlighting his great defensive work, George picked Ayo Dosunmu’s pocket with around one minute left in the game to help seal the victory.

Kelly Oubre Jr.: 21 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 0 turnovers

PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 3: Kelly Oubre Jr. #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 3, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

For one night, Jhoan Duran was not the best closer in Philadelphia. With the Wolves threatening to make a game of it with two minutes remaining, Oubre took Julius Randle off the dribble from the top of the key and converted an and-one play. Less than a minute later, he sank a huge catch-and-shoot three from the corner to make it a three-possession game again. On the following possession, he sank the nail in the coffin three from the top of the arc. Overall, Oubre was 4-of-6 from behind the arc. It’s such a huge boost on nights when he’s hitting his outside shots given what he brings to the table in all the other aspects of the game.

Tyrese Maxey: 21 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 blocks, 3 turnovers

PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 3: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 3, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

It was a quieter night than most for Tyrese, but he still found a lot of ways to contribute to the victory. Maxey was the catalyst in the third-quarter turnaround, scoring 17 points and five assists in the period. Tyrese attacked from all levels, nailing a three from a couple feet behind the arc, knocking down a mid-range jumper, and getting into the paint for a few buckets. On one, he converted a lefty floater off the dribble that felt like a new tool on his belt. Maxey also made two great blocks to recover from behind on drives from Bones Hyland and Ayo Dosunmu in what was an efficient, two-way performance from the star guard.

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Maybe the Joke’s on Me: Re-Evaluating the Astros’ Rotation Early in 2026

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 03: Starting pitcher Cristian Javier #53 of the Houston Astros pitches against the Athletics during the bottom of the first inning at Sutter Health Park on April 03, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Maybe the joke’s on me.

Before the season even started, as baseball experts and national publications kept insisting that Lance McCullers Jr. would be part of the Houston Astros’ starting rotation, I wasn’t buying it. Not even a little. I questioned it constantly. I doubted it openly. And realistically, I believed there was no chance McCullers would not only make the rotation, but stay in it.

Truth be told, I was done with him.

At least three different times last season, I reached my breaking point. I even said on my radio show that I didn’t want to talk about McCullers again until he actually earned it—until he performed at a level worthy of the attention. His track record, paired with the endless cycle of injuries, setbacks, and uncertainty over the past few years, made it hard to believe anything else. It felt far more likely that 2026 would be his last season in an Astros uniform, if he even made it through the year.

And then came his first start.

To my surprise, it was nothing short of impressive.

Sure, there were a couple of hard-hit balls that just barely stayed foul, but at the end of the day, he did his job. He pitched effectively. He competed. And most importantly, he helped the Astros secure a win. It wasn’t just serviceable, it was encouraging.

At the same time, my confidence in another arm was trending in the opposite direction.

Coming into the season, I was far more bullish on Cristian Javier. I believed he was the one poised to return to form, the one the Astros could count on again. In my mind, Javier had a legitimate shot to work his way into the top three of the rotation by midseason.

Instead, we’ve seen the exact opposite.

Javier has looked nothing like the pitcher Astros fans remember. He’s committing the cardinal sins of starting pitching: issuing walks, hitting batters, and consistently putting runners on base to start innings. And as any pitcher knows, that’s a recipe for disaster.

Those runners? They’re scoring.

Despite a noticeable uptick in fastball velocity, Javier’s inability to locate his pitches has completely undermined his effectiveness. His command is off. His control is shaky. And his inability to consistently throw strikes has led to a spike in walks and a lack of trust on the mound. His “invisaball” has been located anywhere but near the zone.

Through two starts, he hasn’t looked like a reliable major league option, especially not for a team with the expectations the Astros carry into 2026. In fact, he’s looked more like a pitcher who belongs in Triple-A than one you can depend on every fifth day.

And that’s where things get interesting.

With Spencer Arrighetti closing in on a return and the Astros considering a six-man rotation, there are real decisions looming. We’ve seen this movie before. Last year, “mysterious” or conveniently timed injuries played a role in managing struggling arms, most notably with McCullers himself.

Could that scenario play out again, this time with Javier?

It’s not out of the question.

The good news for Houston Astros is that they have depth. Between options at the major league level and reinforcements in Sugar Land, Dana Brown and Joe Espada have flexibility. If Javier continues to struggle, there are viable replacements ready to step in and stabilize the rotation.

But before we go too far in either direction, before we anoint McCullers as “back” or write Javier off completely, it’s worth remembering something.

We’ve been here before.

Last season, after one strong outing against the Dodgers, McCullers had everyone believing he had turned the corner for good. It didn’t last. That memory alone is enough to pump the brakes on any sweeping conclusions based on a single start.

So where does that leave us?

For me, it means staying cautious.

McCullers deserves credit for what he showed, but I need to see more. A few more quality outings. Consistency. Durability. Proof that this isn’t just another flash before a setback.

As for Javier, the leash might be shorter than expected. The potential is still there because of his track record, but the results have to follow, and soon.

Because in a season where expectations are high, the Astros don’t have the luxury of waiting too long for anyone to figure it out.

So I’ll ask you:

Who do you trust more right now? And how do you see this rotation shaking out between now and the All-Star break?

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NBA investigating Bucks over handling of Giannis Antetokounmpo

The NBA is investigating the Milwaukee Bucks and their handling of its player participation policy as it relates to their best player.

The league is not only looking into possible policy violations, but also the inconsistent statements regarding the health of Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The league has already interviewed Antetokounmpo, members of the Bucks and the team’s doctors, a person with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.

The person spoke under the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly on the matter.

Antetokounmpo has not played since March 15, and the team has struggled during the absence of its star player.

The Bucks ruled Antetokounmpo out for the game against the Houston Rockets on April 2 with left knee hyperextension and a bone bruise. They were eliminated from playoff contention in late March, missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2015-16 season.

The lack of success this season only fueled more speculation about Antetokounmpo’s future with the team. Especially as he insists he wants to play.

Bucks co-owner and governor Wes Edens told ESPN that the team will likely pursue one of two outcomes regarding Antetokounmpo this offseason: either the team will sign the star to another extension, or he will be traded.

Antetokounmpo is eligible for a contract extension on Oct. 1.

Lorenzo Reyes contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA investigating Bucks over Giannis Antetokounmpo health

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Utah Jazz vs Houston Rockets recap and final score

HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 03: Ace Bailey #19 of the Utah Jazz shoots a free throw against the Houston Rockets during the second half at Toyota Center on April 03, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Utah Jazz and the Houston Rockets played in what was clearly an end-of-season game for two teams going in different directions this offseason. Houston won easily, 140-106. Houston is a talented but imperfect team that was able to out-talent the Jazz, who are playing a rotation of developmental players, rookies, and 10-day contract players. Utah is currently in the 5th spot of the lottery, hoping to potentially catch the Sacramento Kings and move into 4th. The Rockets are in the 5th spot in the Western Conference playoff picture, hoping to jump to 4th.

With both teams at almost exact opposites of the standings spectrum, it’s hard not to feel better about the future of the Jazz compared to the Rockets. Houston cashed their chips to bring on Kevin Durant and started the season hot, but have slowly been on a downward trajectory. Losing Steven Adams was a big loss, and they haven’t been right since a recent group chat story involving Kevin Durant during the All-Star break. The Jazz are having to rest every player and sign a group of 10-day contract players to make sure they keep their pick this season. With Jaren Jackson Jr. waiting to join an already interesting core of Keyonte George, Lauri Markkanen, Ace Bailey, and Walker Kessler, it’s hard not to think the Jazz could pass up the Rockets as soon as next season. And what if the Jazz win the lottery?

That said, this is a recap of what happened tonight. Utah lost by a lot, but were able to show some real improvement from some of their young core. Cody Williams scored 27 points on 10/16 shooting from the field, he was 7/10 from the free throw line with 11 rebounds. Oh, and he also dished out 4 assists. Quite the line from a player who was getting called a bust after an up-and-down rookie season. Now, it’s clear that Williams is a player who will be a part of the rotation in future seasons. How much is the question?

Ace Bailey continues to show the flashes of a bright future with his combination of shooting and now impressive drives to the rim. Bailey has been the opposite of his scouting report, where he was called a selfish chucker. Instead, he’s a player who looks for the pass, rebounds, and defends hard while also shooting the ball at a higher level than expected. Tonight, Bailey had 22 points with 6 rebounds, and it didn’t look particularly hard for him to get there.

Brice Sensabaugh was solid again tonight with his 20 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds. It’s the 5 assists that are really encouraging. To start the season, Sensabaugh had a style of play that stopped the ball and hurt the flow of the offense. Now, Sensabaugh is looking more and more comfortable playing within the offense and not looking to shoot every time he has the ball. His shooting has also improved, and he’s scoring an impressive amount regardless of the opponent. That scoring is going to make him a valuable player the Jazz can call on in the future when they need scoring off the bench.

Finally, Kyle Filipowski is proving he’s an effective NBA rotation player. His scoring is legit against a wide variety of opponents. Tonight he was solid with 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists. He’s proving that he can be an effective weapon off the bench as a power forward. Utah will need him next season for depth, even though it may be difficult to find minutes for him. At times, they may use him as a “break-glass-in-case-of-emergency” center if they need a stretch five that can score, but that comes with real problems on defense. That said, Utah has a known commodity in Filipowski, who can score on good efficiency, and his contract makes that really valuable.

Utah now has just four games left and will be watching the standings really closely. There’s a reasonable chance they pass the Kings, but that will take the Kings making silly mistakes. On second thought, maybe that’s a real possibility.

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Nets drop back-to-back games after 141-107 loss to Hawks

NEW YORK (AP) — CJ McCollum had 25 points and seven assists and the surging Atlanta Hawks routed the Brooklyn Nets 141-107 on Friday night for their fourth straight victory and 18th in 20 games.

Fifth in the Eastern Conference at 45-33, the Hawks remained 1 1/2 games ahead of sixth-place Philadelphia and seventh-place Toronto and moved within 3 1/2 games of fourth-place Cleveland. Atlanta and Cleveland will play a home-and-set next week.

McCollum was 8 of 12 from the field, hitting 4 of 7 3-pointers.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 21 points, and Jalen Johnson had 18 points and 11 rebounds. Onyeka Okongwu scored 15 points.

Nic Claxton led Brooklyn with 16 points, and Malachi Smith had 15. The Nets lost their second straight to fall to 18-59.

Atlanta scored the first 10 points and led 35-17 with 1:28 left in the first quarter. It was 71-55 at the half, with McCollum scoring 16 points and Johnson 13. McCollum was 4 of 5 from the field in the half, hitting three 3-pointers without a miss.

Up next

Hawks: Host New York on Monday night.

Nets: Host Washington on Sunday.


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Patrick Roy shoulders blame for Islanders’ poor start in critical loss

Head coach Patrick Roy of the New York Islanders reacts during the first period against the Philadelphia Flyers at UBS Arena on April 03, 2026 in Elmont, New York.
Head coach Patrick Roy of the New York Islanders reacts during the first period against the Philadelphia Flyers at UBS Arena on April 03, 2026 in Elmont, New York.

Patrick Roy did not hide from responsibility after Friday’s 4-1 Islanders loss to Philadelphia that felt something like capitulation.

“I’ll take part of the blame for the first period,” Roy said. “I have a job to do to make sure our team is ready to play a strong game. So we’re together in this. We called a timeout and I felt like after that we started playing more our game.”

No small part of the game was lost in the first period, in which the Islanders went down 2-0 and did not record a shot through the first 13:15.

The head coach fell on the sword right as he is coming under more scrutiny, with his team in serious danger of blowing a playoff spot that seemed like a sure thing from December through March.

While Roy’s job has been considered safe all season — his relationship with general manager Mathieu Darche is believed to be quite good despite the two never having met before Darche was hired last spring — that would be in obvious danger of changing if the Islanders fail to make the playoffs.

Head coach Patrick Roy of the New York Islanders reacts during the first period against the Philadelphia Flyers at UBS Arena on April 3, 2026 in Elmont, New York. NHLI via Getty Images

So, too, would a number of other assumptions that have underpinned the season, such as the likelihood of captain Anders Lee re-signing as an unrestricted free agent.

Roy said he felt he could have said more to his team before the game to better prepare them.

“Sometimes you just make sure, you say a few words in the room after the meeting,” Roy said. “Tonight I thought the team was ready to play a strong game, and I could have done a better job approaching the guys, say a few things.

“That was an important game for us. They’re all important games — no kidding. I just feel like I could have done a better job, period.”

Simon Holmstrom returned from the upper-body injury that kept him out of Tuesday’s match in Buffalo, with Anthony Duclair coming out of the lineup as a healthy scratch.

Tony DeAngelo skated on his own Friday morning before the Islanders held an optional skate. Roy said it was not his first time on the ice since suffering a lower-body injury.

Roy said he did not expect DeAngelo to travel to Carolina for Saturday’s match.

The Islanders honored slain NYPD policeman Jonathan Diller during a TV timeout in the first period.

The killer, 36-year-old Guy Rivera, was convicted on lesser charges including aggravated manslaughter, attempted murder of Diller’s partner and weapons charges.

“We will always stand with his wife, Stephanie, their son Ryan and the entire Diller family. Detective Diller will be in our thoughts and hearts forever,” PA announcer Alex Anthony said.