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How Warriors' NBA playoff seeding impacted by Timberwolves' win over Grizzlies

How Warriors' NBA playoff seeding impacted by Timberwolves' win over Grizzlies originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors got the help they needed Thursday night.

Golden State moved back into the Western Conference’s No. 6 seed after the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Memphis Grizzlies, 141-125, at FedExForum.

The Warriors (47-33), coming off a brutal 114-111 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night, entered Thursday half a game behind the Grizzlies and half a game ahead of the Timberwolves.

Minnesota’s win over Memphis, fueled by Anthony Edwards’ game-high 44 points, means all three teams have 47-33 records. That’s good news for Golden State, which holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over both teams.

The Warriors desperately want to avoid participating in the Western Conference play-in tournament for a third time in the event’s brief history. Golden State is 0-3 in play-in games, having lost to the Los Angeles Lakers and Grizzlies in 2021 and the Sacramento Kings last year.

So, entering the final two regular-season games, here’s how the Western Conference standings look:

  1. Oklahoma City — 66-14 — Clinched No. 1 seed
  2. Houston Rockets — 52-28 — Clinched No. 2 seed
  3. Los Angeles Lakers — 49-31 — Clinched playoff spot
  4. Denver Nuggets — 48-32
  5. Los Angeles Clippers — 48-32
  6. Golden State Warriors — 47-33
    **
  7. Memphis Grizzlies — 47-33
  8. Minnesota Timberwolves — 47-33
  9. Sacramento Kings — 39-41 — Clinched play-in berth
  10. Dallas Mavericks — 38-42 — Clinched play-in berth

If the Warriors take care of business in their final two regular-season games against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night and the Clippers on Sunday afternoon, they will secure the No. 6 seed.

Should Golden State win both remaining games and get some help, they could move up to the No. 4 seed or No. 5 seed.

But one stumble against the Blazers or Clippers likely means the Warriors are headed for a play-in game Tuesday night.

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Suarez pitches 3 scoreless innings in first rehab start

Suarez pitches 3 scoreless innings in first rehab start originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

ATLANTA — A night after Taijuan Walker took his second turn in the Phillies’ rotation, Ranger Suarez began a rehab assignment with Single A Clearwater.

Suarez threw 33 pitches (24 strikes) over three scoreless innings, allowed one hit and struck out four. His first two fastballs of the night were 92.6 and 92.5 mph and he sat mostly 90-92, right in line with his career norms.

Suarez suffered a back injury early in spring training and was limited to just five innings in Grapefruit League games with four more on the back-fields at Carpenter Complex. The Phillies have been careful with him because he’s had a history of back injuries, but it’s a promising sign that the velocity is already where it should be.

Suarez will likely need at least two more rehab starts, perhaps three. He basically needs a full spring training. It helps that Walker has pitched 10⅔ scoreless innings in his place. All Walker needs to do during this stretch is keep the Phillies in games and he’s done that and more.

The Phillies’ eyes will remain on the Threshers Friday night when top prospect Andrew Painter pitches in a minor-league game for the first time since September 2022. Painter is expected to throw two innings and/or 35 pitches. He will start once a week and likely stick to the 35-pitch range for a little while not just because the Phillies want to play it safe with him but also because they want to preserve as many innings as possible for him to help them in the majors in the second half.

While it’s been 2½ years since Painter last pitched in the minors, he did throw 15⅔ innings in the Arizona Fall League, where he excelled, threw in the upper-90s, missed a ton of bats and took home a Pitcher of the Year award.

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Warriors' Steve Kerr explains trolling Buddy Hield in viral Steph Curry moment

Warriors' Steve Kerr explains trolling Buddy Hield in viral Steph Curry moment originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors coach Steve Kerr always has a sense of humor, even as the pressure to make the NBA playoffs mounts.

During the Warriors’ blowout win over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday at PHX Arena, TNT’s social media accounts shared a tongue-in-cheek exchange between him, Steph Curry and Buddy Hield on Golden State’s bench.

“I was just having fun,” Kerr told 95.7 The Game’s Mark T. Willard and Dan Dibley on Thursday. “Buddy is the greatest guy of all time. This guy brings so much joy and laughter to our locker room every single day, and so he’s a guy who can laugh at himself.

“He missed Steph. Steph was wide open in transition for a corner three. Buddy launched one and during the next time out, I just wanted to have some fun with him and just remind him that when you’re playing with Steph Curry, it’s kind of a good idea to throw him the ball if he’s open.”

Kerr trolling Hield came after the first-year Warriors guard shot a 3-pointer instead of passing to a wide-open Curry in the corner.

Hield missed the first 3-point attempt, but the ball found its way back to him on the rebound and he made his second try.

But Kerr still preferred that Hield pass the ball to Curry, the NBA’s all-time leader in 3-pointers.

“Come here,” Kerr said during a timeout Tuesday. “Buddy. That’s Steph Curry. Steph, Buddy Hield. I want you guys to meet each other. Say hello to Steph. He’s the greatest shooter in the history of the world. He’s wide open.”

“He came open late,” Hield said.

“I love you, Buddy,” Kerr responded. “I love you.”

Curry eclipsed 4,000 career 3-pointers earlier this season, currently at 4,049 entering the final two regular-season games.

But Hield is no slouch from behind the arc, as he currently has 2,121 3-pointers.

Still, when Curry is open, his teammates know they must pass him the ball.

Kerr, amazingly, in Game No. 79, had to offer a friendly reminder to Hield.

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The Wraparound: How Much Pressure Do The Canucks Have To Build Around Quinn Hughes?

Quinn Hughes (Anne-Marie Sorvin-Imagn Images)

Welcome to The Wraparound, where we discuss the NHL and hockey in rapid-fire segments.

How Much Pressure Do The Canucks Have To Build Around Quinn Hughes? by The WraparoundHow Much Pressure Do The Canucks Have To Build Around Quinn Hughes? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan and Michael Augello discussed in this episode:

0:00: How much of an edge would Gabriel Landeskog give the Colorado Avalanche if he returns for the playoffs?

3:31: What’s been the biggest reason the Ottawa Senators were able to finally clinch a playoff spot?

5:49: Should Jackson LaCombe be getting more praise for his performance with the Anaheim Ducks this season?

9:09: What to make of Isaac Howard’s decision to return to Michigan State next season

12:20: Could Ivan Demidov be an impactful addition for the Montreal Canadiens in their pursuit of the playoffs?

14:03: Will Matthew Knies be the Toronto Maple Leafs’ X-factor in the playoffs?

17:30: Is there pressure on Patrik Allvin to build a winning group around Quinn Hughes?

20:45: Which NHL player with the worst plus/minus rating has been the most surprising?

24:17: Breaking down notable Bill Masterton nominees

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

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Former Predators Forward Done For The Season

Tommy Novak (© Steve Roberts-Imagn Images)

Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan has announced that former Nashville Predators forward Tommy Novak will be out for the rest of the season. 

Novak, 27, was traded by the Predators to the Penguins back on March 5 of this year. Before the move, the St. Paul, Minnesota native had 13 goals, 22 points, and a minus-5 rating in 52 games with the Predators this campaign. 

Since the trade, Novak has only played two games for the Penguins, with his last appearance on March 9 against the Minnesota Wild. The former Nashville forward has been sidelined with a lower-body injury since. 

Novak was selected by the Predators with the 85th overall pick of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. In 201 games over four seasons with Nashville, he had 49 goals, 68 assists, and 117 points. 

Recent Predators News 

Nashville Predators Sign Goalie To Multi-Year ExtensionNashville Predators Sign Goalie To Multi-Year ExtensionThe Nashville Predators have announced that they have signed goaltender Matt Murray to a two-year, two-way contract extension. At the NHL level, he will carry a $775,000 cap hit. Nashville Predators Send 2 Players Down To AHLNashville Predators Send 2 Players Down To AHLThe Nashville Predators have announced that forward Kieffer Bellows and defenseman Spencer Stastney have been re-assigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals. 
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The Rangers Are Just Running Out The Clock Before The Inevitable Occurs

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

While the New York Rangers still have four games, but the inevitable is already crystal clear and they are just running out the clock. 

With their loss on Wednesday night against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Montreal Canadiens now just need to get one point in their next four games to officially eliminate the Rangers from playoff contention. 

The Rangers’ nightmare of a season that has been filled with trades, drama, dysfunction, and heartless play is finally about to end. 

There will be some major turnover whether it’s a change in management, coaching or drastic trades and free agent signings to drastically shake up the roster.

We are officially about to witness some meaningless games for the Rangers and let's see how they handle it. 

If we can take any lessons from the atmosphere in the locker room after Wednesday night’s loss, it appears as if the Blueshirts no longer have any hope and are frustrated beyond belief. 

This next batch of games feels like the calm before the storm. A whirlwind of change is coming and it will likely come very quickly upon the season’s end. 

That being said, pay close attention to the way the Rangers conduct themselves over the last four games of the regular season.

We’ll see by their body language on the ice, compete level, and quotes after games to see where they are at mentally and how fed up they are with the whole year.

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Ruff On The Verge Of Joining The “900 Club”

Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff has 899 career wins with Buffalo, Dallas and New Jersey over his 25-year NHL career. 

The Buffalo Sabres have five games remaining this season, and begin their final road trip of the campaign against the Blue Jackets in Columbus on Thursday. The game marks an opportunity for the Sabres to get back to .500 for the first time since the start of their 13-game winless skid in late November, and also a chance for the club to reach a notable career achievement for head coach Lindy Ruff.

The club’s recent win streak has brought the 65-year-old bench boss to the precipice of the 900-career victory mark, and a win over Columbus would make Ruff only the fifth head coach in NHL history, joining former Sabres head coach Scotty Bowman (1,244 wins), Joel Quenneville (969), Paul Maurice (914) and Barry Trotz (914). Ruff compiled 328 wins during four seasons with the Dallas Stars and another 281 victories in almost four years in New Jersey, but more than two-thirds of his victories (606) have been with the Sabres over 16 seasons.

"That's a small milestone," Sabres winger Alex Tuch said jokingly after the win over Carolina on Tuesday. "That's pretty cool. He's been at it while and has had a lot of success in this league, so to be able to help him achieve that goal means the world to our group, so hopefully we get that next game."

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Ruff ranks fifth all-time in total wins (regular season and playoffs) with 970 and could join Bowman and Quenneville as the only coaches in NHL history with 1000 or more total wins sometime next season, but he is not focused on personal milestones, but in keeping the Sabres on a positive track to finish out the season.

"I could care less about 900, seriously," Ruff said. "There's only one thing: we want to win hockey games. That's all we want: consistently win games. It's not about me.....That is really the whole focus."

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

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New NHL 25 Roster Update, Ryan Leonard, Gabriel Perreault, Jimmy Snuggerud, And Oliver Moore Added

EA SPORTS NHL 25 - https://x.com/EASPORTSNHL/status/1910388424768471104

A new roster update is live in NHL 25 with new rookies being added to the game. 

New York Rangers forward Gabriel Perreault, Washing Capitals forward Ryan Leonard, St. Louis Blues forward Jimmy Snuggerud, Chicago Blackhawks forward Oliver Moore and Blackhawks defenseman Sam Rinzel all received new playable characters in-game.

Leonard received medium elite potential, while the other three were given medium top 6 potential. Rinzel is a medium top 4 defenseman.

Montreal Canadiens prospects Jacob Fowler and Ivan Demidov should be added once they appear in their first professional games in North America. 

All players were assigned to their respective teams and are playable in play now, franchise mode, shootout mode, and all other offline modes. 

All four new rookie forwards are pictured below

EA SPORTS NHL 25EA SPORTS NHL 25EA SPORTS NHL 25EA SPORTS NHL 25

Check out HUT Corner Stones Event Week 2, April Fools' content release and Team of the Season Week 1. 

For more NHL 25 news make sure you bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site or follow our Google News Feed. For gaming discussion check out our forum.     

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Timberwolves vs. Grizzlies Predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for April 10

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Memphis Grizzlies Preview
 
The Minnesota Timberwolves (46-33) and Memphis Grizzlies (47-32) are all set to square off from FedExForum in Memphis.

At worst, the Timberwolves and the Grizzlies will be in a play-in position.

The Timberwolves can reach as high as the No. 4 seed and as low as the No.8 seed. The seeding possibilities for the Grizzlies are similar. They can be as the No. 8 seed, and as high as the No. 3 seed.

 The Timberwolves are currently 23-17 on the road with a point differential of 5, while the Grizzlies have a 3-7 record in their last ten games at home. 

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Timberwolves vs. Grizzlies live today

  • Date: Thursday, April 10, 2025
  • Time: 9:30PM EST
  • Site: FedExForum
  • City: Memphis, TN
  • Network/Streaming:

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Timberwolves vs. Grizzlies

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Odds: Timberwolves (-106), Grizzlies (-114)
  • Spread:  Grizzlies -1
  • Over/Under: 233 points

That gives the Timberwolves an implied team point total of 116.24, and the Grizzlies 116.77.
 
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Thursday's Timberwolves vs. Grizzlies game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) is leaning towards Anthony Edwards over 28.5 points…

Thomas: “Edwards is up against a team that struggles against shooting gaurds defensively. They are in the bottom third. This game should be a high scoring one, with multiple chances for Edwards.”

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Timberwolves & Grizzlies game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Memphis Grizzlies on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Memphis Grizzlies at -1.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under on the Game Total of 233.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Timberwolves vs. Grizzlies on Thursday

  • The Grizzlies have lost 15 of their last 18 games as a home underdog
  • The Over is 4-1 in the Timberwolves' last 5 matchups against Western Conference teams
  • The Timberwolves have covered the Spread on their last 3 road trips to the Grizzlies
  • The Timberwolves have won 7 of their last 8 road games, while the Grizzlies have lost 4 in 5 at home

 
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
 
Bet the Edge is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. 
 
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff: 
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) 
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) 
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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How many Tommy Edmans would the Dodgers want if they could clone Tommy Edman?

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

During a lively discussion in the latest episode of "Baseball Bar-B-Cast," Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman ventured into a very fun and totally hypothetical exploration of cloning the versatile Tommy Edman and fitting multiple of him into the Dodgers' roster.

Through two weeks of the 2025 regular season, one of the biggest reasons of concern for the Dodgers is their defense, which has been subpar at almost every position. As Mintz put it, "I think they only have one above-average, very good defender in the field at any time. And it's just where Tommy Edman is, right?"

This led to the delightful hypothetical: If the Dodgers could clone Edman, who can play shortstop, second base and outfield at a high level, just how many Edmans would L.A. want?

"You obviously don't want 26 because then he's going to pitch. You obviously don't want 13 because you'd rather have Shohei Ohtani," Mintz stated. "How many guys on this roster would you be like, 'Thanks for the memories, but I'm going to take Tommy Edman No. 7?'"

According to the hosts, the Dodgers would still need Austin Barnes or another backup catcher, and they're not displacing any of their stars. But they could have Edman cover second base, center field and most of the bench, replacing Kiké Hernández, Andy Pages, Miguel Rojas, Chris Taylor and Hunter Feduccia. The hosts debated Michael Conforto but decided the Dodgers would probably keep their offseason addition.

Including the actual Tommy Edman, that adds up to six Edmans on the Dodgers' hypothetical roster.

As Shusterman said, "I think the line's around 5.5 or 6.5 Tommy Edmans that you would want, even on this team."

Taking it one step further raises the question of just how many Tommy Edmans would other MLB teams want?

"The White Sox would take all Tommy Edmans but the catchers," Mintz said.

All hypotheticals aside, through 14 games, Edman is tied for the Dodgers' lead in home runs with five.

To listen to the full episode and more, tune in to "Baseball-Bar-B-Cast" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

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Report: Boeser Unlikely To Return To The Canucks In 2025-26

Apr 2, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser (6) during pre game warm up against the Seattle Kraken at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Simon Fearn-Imagn Images

After a decade with the organization, it looks like Brock Boeser will not be re-signing with the Vancouver Canucks. In an article posted by Iain MacIntyre of "Sportsnet", Boeser admitted that it is unlikely that he will return to the Canucks for the 2025-26 season. The unrestricted free agent was drafted by Vancouver 23rd overall in 2015 and has spent his entire NHL career with the organization. 

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In MacIntyre's article, Boeser was quoted as saying, "Honestly, it's unlikely at this point," he told us. "It sucks, it's unfortunate. I'm just trying to play good hockey, and then I'll worry about everything after that. We all know it's been a roller coaster of a year. There's been a lot of different things."

Boeser also revealed he hasn't spoken to his agent, Ben Hankinson, in a while, and was quoted as saying, "Yeah, I'm refusing to talk to Hank right now," he said. "I feel like I'm playing a lot better hockey recently, and I don't want to get distracted. That's one of the things I've learned: when there's distractions, I don't play my best hockey. The mental aspect of the game is so important. This year, there's been a lot of distractions."

While Boeser has struggled at times this season, he does lead the team with 25 goals and is one point shy of hitting 50 points for the third straight season. Over his 550 games with the organization, Boeser ranks eighth all-time in goals with 204, while his 433 points rank 12th. Boeser has also delievered for the Canucks in the playoffs, posting 11 goals and 23 points in 29 games.

Boeser will go down as one of the organization's top fan favourites. Since the article was posted, the fan base has expressed disappointment, as many hoped he would play his entire career in Vancouver. There are also many asking why the Canucks did not trade him at the deadline, as it would have netted Vancouver some assets.

Canucks fans will get three more opportunities to cheer on Boeser at Rogers Arena. Vancouver takes on the Minnesota Wild on March 12, the San Jose Sharks on March 14 and the Vegas Golden Knights on March 16. All three games should feature plenty of #6 jerseys in the crowd as fans cheer on one of the franchise's most dynamic goal-scorers for the last time.

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

The Hockey News
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Betting was up in men’s NCAA Tournament and during women’s basketball season

In a men's NCAA Tournament in which upsets were unusual and a women's field sans Caitlin Clark, betting nevertheless was up on both sides this year at BetMGM Sportsbook and Caesars Sportsbook. Plenty of fans put their money on the Gators, who were second to Duke at BetMGM in terms of money bet and number of tickets. “Duke losing was key, as 30 of the 50 largest futures wagers on the champion were on Duke,” BetMGM trading manager Seamus Magee said.