NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARCH 18: Sean Pedulla #00 of the Los Angeles Clippers drives to the basket during the second half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on March 18, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On the previous post, I tracked down as many former Rebels playing professional baseball as I could. I’ll admit, I did not scour every High A roster as the research became so tedious. Some of the former Rebs I have etched into memory where they are. Tim Elko and Jacob Gonzalez are together in the White Sox organization and Doug Nikhazy and Dylan DeLucia are both with the Cleveland Guardians affiliates.
What I noticed during that research was that Nikhazy was not officially on any roster. Come to find out, he had been designated for assignment (DFA’d). This simply means that the Guardians were removing Doug from their 40-man roster to make room for someone else. They then have seven days to trade, release or place him on irrevocable waivers.
Apparently, the Chicago White Sox play at Swayze North because Nikhazy will now be joining Elko, Gonzalez, Calvin Harris and Drew McDaniel in the White Sox organization. Great new for all of them is that the Sox aren’t loaded with talent and the door is open for any of them to make the team soon.
Moving on from baseball, two other former Rebels were recognized for postseason awards in another sport.
Congratulations to former Ole Miss basketball player Sean Pedulla on being awarded the NBA G League rookie of the year award! @PedullaSeanpic.twitter.com/FXm00hpodg
Yep. You read that right. Undrafted G-League rookie, Sean Pedulla won Rookie of the Year in the NBA G League. Just look at those numbers. His mentality and ability were both sorely missed by this year’s Rebel squad. He also made his NBA debut in some garbage minutes with the Clippers, making the most of it, knocking down two threes.
Remember Jamarion Sharp? Well people in the G League sure do. The tallest player in the league averaged just under four blocks per contest and his presence alone was enough to alter shots and force players to kick the ball out away from the basket. Sharp is likely destined to be a permanent G Leaguer or overseas guy, but this is an impressive trophy to put on the shelf at home.
PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 13: James Tibbs III #98 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a double during the second inning against the Seattle Mariners during a spring training game at Peoria Stadium on March 13, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Dodgers minor league outfielder James Tibbs III ran roughshod over the Pacific Coast League in his first nine games in Triple-A, and on Monday was named Pacific Coast League player of the week.
In six games against Las Vegas, Tibbs had 10 hits in 25 at-bats with five home runs, a double, four walks, nine runs scored, and five runs bated in (yes, all five home runs were solo shots), hitting .400/.483/1.040.
The highlight for Tibbs came Saturday night, when he hit three home runs, just the 14th such game for Oklahoma City in its current Bricktown Era, dating back to 1998.
JAMES TIBBS III GOES YARD FOR THE THIRD, YES THIRD TIME TONIGHT‼️
We’re not sure what he ate this morning but we're going to make sure he does it again tomorrow 😅 pic.twitter.com/zSvnkOvWoH
Adding in the opening weekend for Oklahoma City, Tibbs has been on fire for nine games now, hitting .474/.535/1.184 with a 336 wRC+, seven home runs, four doubles, a triple, five walks, 13 runs batted in, and 15 runs scored for the Oklahoma City Comets.
Tibbs so far this season already has three games with three extra-base hits, and another game with two extra-base hits. If you took away all of Tibbs’ singles, his extra-base hits alone (12 in all) would rank seventh in the minors in hits.
His seven home runs in nine games match his total in 36 games with Double-A Tulsa last season after the Dodgers acquired Tibbs and outfielder Zach Ehrhard from the Boston Red Sox at the trade deadline for pitcher Dustin May.
The 23-year-old Tibbs tops the entire minor leagues in runs scored (15), hits (18), extra-base hits (12), total bases (45), and is tied with veteran Patrick Wisdom — now with the Mariners in Triple-A Tacoma — with those seven home runs.
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 17: Wilmer Flores #4 of the New York Mets takes a throw at first base in an MLB baseball game against the Washington Nationals on April 17, 2018 at CitiField in the Queens borough of New York City. Nationals won 5-2. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Wilmer Flores | Getty Images
Diamondbacks News
First, a PSA that the start times for tonight’s and Wednesday’s games have been moved up to 1pm Arizona time due to expected cold weather.
“Going 5-2 with an offense that’s kind of struggling a little bit. … We got pitching heavy in those wins and that carried us. So, we handed off to one another. When it starts to fire on all cylinders, that’s when we’re gonna really take off,” manager Torey Lovullo said.
Ten games in, and the Diamondbacks are in second place in the National League West with a tough road trip ahead at the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles. Here are 10 early takeaways from 10 games played.
Former Arizona Diamondbacks right-hand reliever Joe Ross has elected free agency, according to the transaction logs on his MLB player page.
Ross had previously been designated for assignment, but he ultimately cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Reno. He will now test his market.
That was some first week and a half of D-backs baseball, wasn’t it? Manager Torey Lovullo’s club has played five one-run games already, tied for the most in the Majors. Arizona also has had a pair of games decided by two runs, giving its 5-5 record a mixed bag type of feel.
D-backs fans are keenly aware of how imperative every game on the schedule can be when it comes to the chance to participate in October, and that it often takes players beyond the current 26-man group. As the team flies East to embark on a nine-game road trip in New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore that opens Tuesday, it’s time to take stock of where things stand after five wins and five losses.
Opposing Hitters Are Watching Michael Soroka, And So Can You! by Michael Baumann [FanGraphs] {Ed. Note: Great article on Soroka worth reading the whole thing, but I want to provide the conclusion of the article here as it provides what may be a factor in the race for the final rotation slot. When looking at batted ball metrics, Soroka has been VERY lucky and Pfaadt has been equally unlucky. Do you think this will impact the race for fifth starter spot?}
Of the 24 batted balls Soroka has allowed through two starts, 11 have come off the bat at 95 mph or higher, and 12 (mostly, but not entirely the same ones) have had an xBA of .400 or higher. But Soroka is either scattering those dangerous batted balls, or his extremely fast outfield is turning them into outs. He has allowed six batted balls with a four-digit xSLG; three of those landed in the glove of either Alek Thomas or Corbin Carroll. There is no substitute for an army of little fast guys.
So we arrive at the disappointing, and yet highly predictable, conclusion to any analysis of a surprising pitcher two starts into the season: We’ll see. Soroka has looked good (and, more rarely and importantly, healthy) so far this year, though the quality of contact allowed and continued lack of swing-and-miss stuff mean we’re probably in for a regression. It’s April; what else did you expect?
“We’ve been through this – it’s, what, nine years for me? – it seems like every year,” said Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff. “He’s trying to play a game and he’s trying to get his side fired up. Once I knew what was going on, I wasn’t going to let it affect me on the mound. I knew I had a job to do.”
If the Brewers weren’t backing down, neither was Contreras.
He’s tired of getting buzzed by Brewers pitchers.
“They always say, ‘I’m not trying to hit you.’ That gets old,” Contreras said. “So next time they hit me again, I’m going to take one of them out. That’s the message.”
Star power: 10 | Young talent: 2 | Baseball stuff: 7
Bonus (2.5): +1 for Geraldo Perdomo supplanting Ketel Marte as the most underrated player in baseball, +1 for Corbin Carroll legging out a triple, +0.5 for the “Serpientes” City Connect jerseys
The big three of Carroll, Marte and Perdomo make the Diamondbacks an entertaining watch. They should be a better defensive team this year with Nolan Arenado and Carlos Santana, but the two vets have struggled mightily out of the gate at the plate (one extra-base hit and one RBI through the first 10 games), and that’s not so fun. Zac Gallen has always been one of my favorite pitchers to watch, but his best days might be behind him, as well. Jordan Lawlar is Arizona’s one key young player, but he just fractured his right wrist.
Small Improvements With Big Playoff Implications by Ben Clemens [FanGraphs]. {Ed. Note: Spoiler alert -Diamondbacks stand to add the second-most to their playoff odds in the entire leagueby upgrading their weakest position (1B, of course) to league average.}
Last week, Dan Szymborski looked at how much a team’s fortunes can change in the first month of the season. That old truism – you can’t win the World Series in April, but you can lose it – turns out to, in fact, be true. Dan’s research found that even teams we think are good – those projected to win 90 or more games – had meaningfully worse results after a bad April, even if their actual talent remained the same.
In other words, those early losses really do count. But I like to look at things from a glass-half-full perspective, so my takeaway was that there’s still plenty of time to fix a bad start, because it’s still early in the season. But how to fix it? That’s a trickier question. Luckily, “that’s a tricky question” is just FanGraphs for “that’s a fun thing to write an article about,” so I’ve got answers for you.
The Mets announced that outfielder Juan Soto has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a right calf strain. The move is retroactive to April 4th but the club also announced the typical return timeline as two to three weeks. Infielder Ronny Mauricio has been recalled from Triple-A Syracuse as the corresponding move.
In my very short time covering the Arizona Diamondbacks as credentialed media, manager Torey Lovullo constantly talked about winning the margins in games. Obviously, when you think of margin, a one-run game will be the first thing that comes to mind since runs are the deciding margins for who wins and loses.
But that’s not what Lovullo has ever implied when saying as such. It’s less about the score and finding a way to execute in big situations. A common term he uses is “push moments,” situations that will decide the flow of the game.
Mar 29, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Nolan McLean (26) reacts after the top of the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
After balancing a three-game losing streak with a three-game winning streak during their seven-game road trip, the Mets (6-4) return home to face the Diamondbacks (5-5). New York and Arizona split the six games they played in 2025, with the road team taking two out of three in each series.
The Mets visited the Bay Area and escaped with a series win against the Giants, as they dropped the opener but bounced back with three consecutive wins before their flight home. The series opener was not pretty, as David Peterson was roughed up in a 7-2 loss. The offense was listless for a third straight game, going 5-for-30 on the evening while going hitless in three at-bats with RISP. Sean Manaea was able to spare the bullpen, piggy backing off Peterson 4 1/3 innings with 3 2/3 innings of his own. His velocity remained down, but he only allowed one run.
The offense finally showed up and propelled New York to three straight victories, 10-3 on Friday, 9-0 on Saturday, and 5-2 on Sunday. The biggest negative from the weekend was the team losing Juan Soto to a calf strain, which landed him on the injured list—he is expected to miss two to three weeks. His teammates picked up the slack in his absence, as the lineup had 10+ hits in all three games. As a whole, the team went 40-for-117 (.342) while going 17-f0r-40 (.425) with RISP. The highlights from the weekend include Francisco Alvarez’s multi-homer game and Marcus Semien’s first home run as a Met (both on Friday), Tyrone Taylor’s three-run shot on Saturday, and the team’s four-run eighth inning on Sunday to storm back for the victory.
A lot of the team’s success this year will depend on the development of the youngsters, and the Mets got split results on that front during the road trip. First, the good: the Mets saw the return of 2024 Mark Vientos, which is a really welcome development . Entering this season off a rough spring and a tenuous grasp on a roster spot, he has looked terrific at the plate and has even played an acceptable first base. During the team’s road trip, he slashed .450/.500/.700 with one homer, five runs, four runs batted in, and a team-leading 243 wRC+ and 0.4 fWAR. Francisco Alvarez also had a solid road trip, hitting two homers and slashing .278/.316/.667 with a 176 wRC+ and a 0.3 fWAR.
Now the bad: Brett Baty, after a strong opening weekend, posted a 41 wRC+ while hitting .200/.200/.300 in 20 plate appearances. His versatility has still proven to be a huge boost for the team, especially with Soto out of the lineup, but the team will need more production from him going forward to fill the void. Then there’s Carson Benge, who finished the trip with a -8 wRC+ and a -0.2 fWAR as he hit .100/.182/.100 during the road trip. He has really struggled. He had just two hits in his 20 at-bats and really looked overmatched at the plate, and has for much of his time in the majors. With Soto out, however, it’s unlikely that he goes anywhere.
The Diamondbacks have had a weird season so far. They were swept by the Dodgers, turned around and swept the Tigers, then lost their first two to the Braves before winning the next two, making them the quintessential .500 team. Even funnier yet, they were outscored 19-2 in the first two games but then prevailed in two one-run affairs to secure the split.
The Diamondbacks are paced by Corbin Carroll, who has gotten off to a torrid start in 2026. The 2023 NL Rookie of the Year is hitting .313/.410/.656 on the young season, with two homers, nine runs batted in, and seven runs scored. The two-time All-Star also leads Arizona with a 190 wRC+ and a 0.6 fWAR. Ildemaro Vargas, in his third stint with Arizona, has gotten off to a red hot start, hitting .545/.583/1.091 with a 360 wRC+ and a 0.4 fWAR in his four games.
Tuesday, April 7: Freddy Peralta vs. Zac Gallen, 4:10 PM EDT on SNY
Peralta fared better in his second Mets’ start than he did in his first one. On the road against the Cardinals, the right-hander limited St. Louis to one earned run over 5 1/3 innings as he settled for a no decision—he left with a lead, but Huascar Brazobán coughed it up by allowing an inherited runner to score. He allowed three hits, walked two, and struck out seven while throwing 92 pitches, 54 of which were strikes.
Gallen followed up a subpar first outing of 2026 (four innings, four earned runs, five hits against the Dodgers) with a tremendous second start (six shutout innings, four hits against the Tigers. He did not walk a batter, but he only struck out two batters, the same number he punched out in his first start as well. Gallen will look to build upon that start against the Mets, a team against which he’s posted a 3.07 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 44 innings against nine career starts.
Wednesday, April 8: David Peterson vs. TBD, 4:10 PM EDT on SNY
After 5 1/3 shutout innings in his season debut, Peterson took a huge step back in his second outing against the Giants. He served up six runs (five earned) on nine hits while lasting just 4 1/3 innings. He struck out five, walked three, and put the team behind early by allowing three in the first innings. Peterson is still an enigma after faltering in the second half of last season following an All-Star first half, and with free agency approaching at year’s end, he’ll need more starts like his debut to show his value both to the Mets and teams around the league.
TBD
The Diamondbacks have not announced a starting pitcher for Wednesday’s game.
Thursday, April 9: Nolan McLean vs. Eduardo Rodriguez, 7:10 PM EDT on SNY
McLean was terrific in his last outing, storming out of the gate with five perfect innings before tiring out in the sixth and getting chased from the game. He allowed just one hit over 5 1/3 innings and was charged with two runs (one earned). After striking out eight in his debut, he only recorded four strikeouts in this one, and he walked two, matching his number from his first outing of the year.
Rodriguez has stormed out of the gate this year, not allowing an earned run in either one of his outings. In his debut against the Dodgers, he held L.A. to one unearned run on four hits over five innings. He followed that up with a tremendous effort, shutting out the Braves over seven innings of four-hit ball, though his offense did him no favors as they failed to score a run. He has struggled against the Mets in his career, pitching to a 6.21 ERA in 21 2/3 innings against New York.
The Houston Rockets’ six-game win streak will be put to the test when they head to the Mortgage Matchup Center to face the Phoenix Suns tonight.
Kevin Durant, Jalen Green, and Dillon Brooks will all face their former teams, and my Rockets vs. Suns predictions expect big games from the trio of offensive weapons.
Here are my best free NBA picks for this Western Conference clash on Tuesday, April 7.
Rockets vs Suns prediction
Rockets vs Suns best bet: Jalen Green Over 18.5 points (-125)
Between the opening of the season and January 19, Jalen Green appeared in only two games, and he’s played only 30 on the season. The former Houston Rockets guard needed time to ramp up, as he averaged just 12.9 points across his first 12 games. In that span, Green went for 20+ points twice.
However, Green has been excellent over his last 18 games, averaging 22.1 points and clearing this scoring line 14 times. In that span, Green has averaged 22.4 points at home, going for 20+ in six straight home games, averaging a healthy 24.2 points in those contests.
In his last six home games, Green has shot 50.5% from the floor and 42.6% from beyond the arc, while knocking down 3.3 triples and attempting 17.2 field goals and five free throws. He’s been aggressive as a scorer from all three levels.
Green leads the Phoenix Suns in usage this season at a healthy 31.2, and he’s second in shot attempts. His excellence on offense should shine through tonight, as Green will face the Rockets for the first time since getting traded with Dillon Brooks for Kevin Durant.
I’ll happily take the Over on this modest scoring line in Green’s first-ever “revenge game.”
Rockets vs Suns same-game parlay
The Suns are 23-16 against the spread at home. A mostly healthy Suns team with a motivated Green and Brooks has enough firepower to stifle the Rockets and snap their six-game win streak.
Strong scoring from Green and Brooks, paired with solid play from Devin Booker and the support of the home crowd, should lead to plenty of scoring from Phoenix. Houston’s offense can be lethal when Durant is hot, and that’s just what he’s been lately. This point total is set far too low based on the quality of the offenses.
Rockets vs Suns SGP
Jalen Green Over 18.5 points
Suns -1
Over 220.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: REVENGE!
Green isn’t just an effective scorer. Over his last 12 games, he’s averaged 8.3 assists+rebounds and cleared the Over on this combo line eight times.
Durant has scored 25+ points in eight of his last 10 games, and he’s reached that mark in each of his two games against his former team. He’s a more prolific scorer on the road, and I expect another strong offensive performance as Durant returns to Phoenix.
Brooks’ minutes and scoring have ticked up in two straight games since returning from more than a month on the shelf, and he scored 15 in his last game. Brooks has reached 16+ points in 40 of 53 games on the season, and he’s cleared that number in two of three matchups with Houston.
Rockets vs Suns SGP
Jalen Green Over 18.5 points
Jalen Green Over 7.5 assists + rebounds
Kevin Durant Over 24.5 points
Dillon Brooks Over 15.5 points
Rockets vs Suns odds
Spread: Rockets +1 (-110) | Suns -1 (-110)
Moneyline: Rockets -105 | Suns -115
Over/Under: Over 220.5 (-110) | Under 220.5 (-110)
Rockets vs Suns betting trend to know
The Houston Rockets have hit the Team Total Over in 16 of their last 23 games (+7.80 Units / 29% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Rockets vs. Suns.
How to watch Rockets vs Suns
Location
Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, AZ
Date
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Tip-off
11:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBC/Peacock
Rockets vs Suns latest injuries
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‘Twas the night(s) before the playoffs, when all through the Frost Bank Center; Not a creature was stirring, not even The Coyote; The banners were hung by the rafters with care; In hopes that Victor Wembanyama’s ribs healing soon would be there;
“The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of Manu Ginóbili’s fractured elbow on the eve of the 2011 playoffs danced in their heads.” (I know. You’re here for highlights, not nightmares, but we can’t help it after an anxiety-inducing game like that.)
While overwrought fans like me toiled and trembled at not only Wembanyama’s early exit from the game due to injury, we chewed nervously on our nails when Stephon Castle briefly exited from the game due to injury as well. Alas, the good guys persevered (even with a brief cameo from Wemby before he exited for good out of caution, PRESUMABLY).
The game on Monday was truly a team effort as six different Spurs scored in double digits, but no one cracked the 20-point barrier. Stephon Castle led the team with a triple-double, pouring in 19 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and dishing out 13 assists. Victor Wembanyama and Dylan Harper each chipped in 17 points apiece as Wembanyama only played 15 minutes due to that scary rib injury we previously soliloquized.
If you look up “maximum effort” in the dictionary, you’ll see a picture of Keldon Johnson singing Vanessa Carlton songs at karaoke. Between his making his grown men teammates listen to VC before tip-off and my recent discovery of KJ’s love for Hootie and the Blowfish, I feel like both Johnson and I would also be huge fans of Counting Crows and Michelle Branch. He’s a lot younger than me, so his music taste comes off as eclectic at worst while my personal fandom of VC, CC, MB, and bands/musicians like Crazy Town, Blues Traveler, and O-Town just date me to a long time ago in a prequel galaxy far, far away.
(Writer’s note: This is where our fearless leader and editor-in-chief, J.R. Wilco, might step in and ask me not to mail it in just like the Indiana (redacteds), the (redacted) Wizards, the Utah (redacteds), and the (Brooklyn) (Nets) are mailing it in just because it’s nearing the end of a long regular season. We had to redact some names to protect the identity of certain NBA teams doing the same thing other teams before them have done to get the chance to draft generational players like Victor (redacted)—unless of course you’re the Dallas (redacteds), who incredulously still got the number one overall pick even with 1.8% odds of winning the number one overall pick.
Please enjoy this rambunctious dunk by Wembanyama lobbed up by Fox while I formally apologize for monologuing about the Maverick’s lottery draft fortunes even with the full knowledge that the Spurs have had the most luck when it comes to draft lottery fortunes. But the Spurs would also never let (redacted) (redonciced) walk out of the building if the Spurs drafted someone like (redacted) (redonciced). Detractors (not me) and devil’s advocates (also not me) might also point out that the Spurs once upon a time (allegedly and unequivocally without convincing evidence of premeditated motives) did let a generational talent walk out of the building all the way to Canada and soon later to Los Angeles. But I say we can’t live in the past, man.
Anyway, what’s your favorite Savage Garden song? Mine is “Truly, Madly, Deeply.” I bet Keldon Johnson’s is “I Knew I Loved You.” He seems like a IKILY sort of dude.
I mention Harrison Barnes’s longevity in the league a lot in previous articles because it’s worth mentioning the professional longevity of one Harrison Barnes. He’s been hooping in the pros since Linsanity was a thing (oh my goodness, I did not need to remind myself how long ago Linsanity was). He’s also roughly about the same age as my wife who was born in (redacted).
If you missed the game because you were too busy vehemently denying to your significant other that you posted their age on a San Antonio Spurs website, here are the full-game highlights:
Next up, the Spurs take on the Portland Trailblazers on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
ELMONT, NY - MARCH 30: New York Islanders Left Wing Anders Lee (27) scores a goal on Pittsburgh Penguins Goalie Arturs Silovs (37) during the second period of the National Hockey League game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Islanders on March 30, 2026, at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Stuart Skinner was sitting on the bench, serving as the back for Saturday’s game against the Panthers when a puck left the playing area and struck him in the face. It caused damage near his left eye to the point where he couldn’t play as scheduled on Sunday after swelling set in, as seen in the team’s post-game video from the lockerroom after Sunday’s win.
Skinner’s unexpected malady meant trouble for the Penguins in the short term – they physically couldn’t get their top AHL goalie Sergei Murashov to Pittsburgh to join the team in time for the Sunday afternoon game, following Wilkes-Barre playing at Lehigh Valley on Saturday night themselves. For a short-term patch the Pens played Arturs Silovs a second-straight day and had ECHL goalie Taylor Gauthier serve as the backup, since it was easier to make the quick 60-mile jaunt from Wheeling to Pittsburgh.
The longer-term ramifications of that random, errant puck on Saturday could have bigger impacts. The Pens are off until Thursday, giving Skinner time to heal up. Silovs can always take the net on Thursday and if Skinner is good to go for the following game on Saturday against Washington, the incident could fade away as a minor footnote.
There’s another path available as well, as seen from this morning’s transaction to officially call up Murashov from the AHL. The Penguins were off yesterday after playing a ridiculous 20 games in 36 days, they’ll return to practice today, presumably with a new goalie out there.
Goaltender Sergei Murashov has been recalled from the @WBSPenguins (AHL).
The timing of Skinner’s fluke injury a few games before the playoffs looms large to potentially open the door for Murashov. At a bottom line level, the Penguins could use a goalie upgrade. Whether or not the 22-year old Murashov represents a boost in level of play is another topic, though it’s captivating to see it play out now.
The Penguins’ goalies recently:
Silovs posted a -10.26 GSAA over just eight games from March 5th to April 4th. He managed a 5-3-0 record, mainly because the explosive Pittsburgh offense was able to outscore the problems in net. Silovs had a 3.92 GAA and .842 save% in that eight game where Silovs surrendered up 4+ goals six out of the eight times. To his credit, Silovs was better when the Penguins needed him to play a back-to-back, managing 29 stops on 31 shots in Sunday’s game.
Skinner hasn’t been much better, posting a 4-4-5 record since January 31st with a .870 save% and 3.54 GAA. It’s been tough minutes and games, as reflected by a -0.16 GSAA in this stretch, but he’s not stopping a lot more than the average expected and the team has only won four out of his last 13 starts.
The Pittsburgh offense has done a lot to paper over deficiencies in net, the Pens’ 3.96 goals/game since January 21st ranks first in the league. Their 3.58 goals/against is down at 26th. A team can’t count on winning 5-4 type of hockey games in the playoffs and in addition to defensive details that need to be cleaned up, it’s not a stretch (or exactly a new idea) that a change between the pipes could lead to an improvement for the club. Neither Silovs nor Skinner has risen to the occasion lately and Murashov is clearly a talented netminder who has proven his mettle at the AHL level to the tune of a 23-8-3 record, 2.13 GAA and .922 save% this season that ranks second in the entire league.
The Pens have had their share of surprise late-season goaltenders emerge for the playoffs, and it’s fitting this is the 10th year anniversary of Matt Murray working his way up from AHL goalie to NHL playoff stalwart, as well as the 25th anniversary of minor league journeyman Johan Hedberg coming out of no where to lead the Pens on a deep playoff run. Are the stars aligning to see Murashov get a chance to add a chapter to that story?
We may find out as soon as Thursday, dependent on Skinner’s eye situation and whether or not the Pens even play Murashov against the Devils or decide to let Silovs keep on playing in hopes of an upturn in performance. Suddenly, and in a most unexpected way, the Pens might have an opportunity to make a change in net that could drastically change their look for the playoffs if they want to give Murashov a shot in net.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 02: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Paycom Center on April 2, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sports can be rather ruthless when it comes to poorly timed injuries. Luka Doncic, the Los Angeles Lakers’ only hope and a legitimate MVP candidate, strained his hamstring and is out indefinitely — very possibly missing the first round of the NBA Playoffs or more. Austin Reaves, their second primary offensive creator, went down to an oblique strain and could miss even more time. He’s trying to rush back, but that’s a scary idea in itself, too. If this was not pro basketball, everyone could just rest up and hit the ground running when healed. The Lakers do not have time for that, and they must soldier on with whatever forces they can muster.
If LeBron James can somehow drag his shorthanded team out of the first round, it will be an iconic, hitherto unheard-of effort that the poets will sing about for decades. But the far more pressing fallout of these injuries is this: the Lakers’ peril creates a power vacuum in the Western Conference that other teams are ready to pounce on.
What was a fairly even field in the West just got tilted hard in favor of whoever can figure out how to play the Lakers in the first round. Currently, the Lakers, Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets are separated by less than two games with only four games left. It’s anyone’s guess who will be 3, 4 and 5. The Nuggets and Rockets have both been on absolute tears, winning nine and six straight games, respectively. The Minnesota Timberwolves, the six seed, thought they had won the lottery and that the Lakers had locked up the three seed to be their first-round opponent — not so. This is all terribly confusing, so I’m going to break it down like an NBA seeding-logistic DJ making a really boring mixtape:
The NBA Playoffs do not re-seed opponents each round. I repeat: The NBA Playoffs do not re-seed opponents. That means the winner of the 2-7 match always plays the winner of the 3-6 match AND the winner of the 1-8 match always plays the winner of the 4-5 match. I forget this every year, but we have to remember it this time because it’s important. Write it on your hand. Tattoo it on your back like John Wick. Schedule send an email to yourself every two hours with the subject line “The NBA Playoffs do not re-seed.” Whatever you have to do.
That is critical this year, because, with the Lakers absolutely gutted but right in the thick of a Western Conference seeding battle, tiny shifts in standing can have explosive results on the bracket. I’m not sure any of this is really controllable, but here’s my read on how it could shake down.
If Denver bops the Lakers down to four, the Rockets may luck out, and Oklahoma City may seriously luck out by having to play … whoever the eight seed is and then the winner of Los Angeles/Houston; a very easy duo to beat if the Lakers do not have Luka. Meanwhile, Denver is now faced with a super winnable 6-3 against the Timberwolves and a second round against the scary-but-inexperienced San Antonio Spurs.
The Rockets could mess all of that up if they somehow stumble their way to the three seed, in which case the Spurs are your big winners, staring down only the winner of Houston/Minnesota while the Thunder are like “bro what do you mean I have to play the Nuggets in the second round?”
Denver, meanwhile, might have four free wins left on their schedule, playing two tanking teams and then the Spurs and Thunder in their last two; seems hard, until you realize both those teams are basically locked into their seeds and will probably rest their starters. Houston has a bunch of teams that might actually be trying, and the Lakers are going to have to dig deep, no matter who they play.
This is a fascinating ordeal. With everyone trying so hard to avoid that guy but seek out that other guy and making sure that this dude isn’t waiting around the corner has created so much confusion that we should probably just all agree to just… win basketball games and circle back later. But if we had to distill all of this into some deliverables, here’s what I got:
1. The Timberwolves could be trouble for everyone if this breaks right — if the Wolves get the Lakers in the first round and the Spurs in the second round, they could plausibly make the Western Conference Finals. They are 2-1 against the Spurs this year and their loss was by three points. They have size and match up pretty well. Meanwhile, the Thunder may have to deal with Stephen Curry in round one and Nikola Jokic in round two. That’s less fun.
2. If LeBron James can drag his team out of the first round without Luka and Reaves, he might be the GOAT — I’m not going to sit here and tell you that LeBron, Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton have a great shot at beating anyone, but if they do… I mean, come on now. That would be legendary stuff.
3. Every single team in the West’s Top 6 can win the West — this has been a hilarious, weird, unpredictable NBA season. You can talk yourself into every single team in the field to make the Finals; if the Lakers are forfeit, even the Rockets can make this happen. If the Lakers somehow make it to Luka’s return, they could pull a rabbit out of a hat.
Basically, had the Lakers, Nuggets, Timberwolves and Rockets all stayed in their assigned seats, this would be reasonably simple and predictable. Now, we’re in a full-blown crisis trying to figure this out. Nothing about this will be logical, nothing about this will be boring. And as a fan of a team in the Eastern Conference, I cannot wait.
It’s an 11-game slate tonight across the National Hockey League, with lots of stars in action. My NHL player props will focus on Cole Caufield, Nikita Kucherov, and Taylor Hall.
img alt="Get a first bet encore up to $800 with the BET99 promo code COVERSNHL" width="100%" loading="lazy" src="https://img.covers.com/promo-articles/bet99nhlcreative2526.jpeg"Get a first bet encore up to $800 with BET99 bonus code COVERSNHL. (not available in Ontario)
Our best NHL player props for Tuesday, April 7
Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.
Prop #1: Cole Caufield anytime goal
+115 at BET99
Cole Caufield is sitting just one goal shy of 50 on the season, and he’s already set a career-high. The Montreal Canadiens star has found the back of the net in four of his last six contests, and he scored twice last Thursday against the Rangers.
The Habs take on the Panthers tonight, who are already out of playoff contention and have decided to sit a lot of their main guys for the remainder of the campaign.
Caufield has already scored once against them across two meetings this season, and he’s netted four times in his last four home outings.
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SCRIPPS, RDS
Prop #2: Nikita Kucherov anytime goal
+115 at BET99
Nikita Kucherov ranks third in the NHL in goals, scoring 43 times in 2025-26. He’s an electric player for the Lightning, one of the top Stanley Cup contenders.
The Russian has scored in three straight games against the Sabres, Bruins, and Penguins, and none of those teams are a pushover.
Kucherov has done a lot of his damage on the road, scoring 28 times in just 36 contests. The Bolts visit the Senators this evening, and he’s already netted twice against them this season in one matchup. The Sens are also 19th in goals allowed, giving up 3.08 per contest.
Tampa’s best player will keep it rolling here.
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: The Spot, RDS2
Prop #3: Taylor Hall Over 0.5 assists
+105 at BET99
Taylor Hall has carved out a nice role for himself as an experienced veteran on the Hurricanes. He’s scored 16 goals and tallied 28 assists this season for a total of 44 points in 77 contests.
Hall has cashed the Over in points in three straight, most recently scoring on Sunday against Ottawa.
The 34-year-old is up against one of his former teams in the Bruins tonight, and he’s already collected two points in two meetings with them.
Hall is much more productive at home, notching 29 points in 40 games. That’s compared to only 15 points in 37 contests on the road.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Nov 29, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma (18) drives for the basket against Brooklyn Nets forward Noah Clowney (21) in the second quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Bucks face a Brooklyn Nets team coming off an unfortunate win over the Wizards, which means they will try their darndest to lose. OK, expected. But having seen the Bucks’ injury report… they just might be playing the same game! Have we got ourselves an old-fashioned tankoff? Shoot, this is the most excitement I’ve felt in months! The season series currently sits at one game apiece, with the fourth game (another riveting tank-off?) coming on the 10th.
Where We’re At
Well, the Bucks actually have a .500 winning percentage over their last four games. Woohoo! (*mumbles under breath* to the tanktastic Mavs and Grizzlies). Nah, but in all seriousness, the losses have been secondary to the storylines we are following as far as player development goes, and zeroing in on Cormac Ryan’s game has been a welcome reprieve from the larger Bucks mess. More on that later.
As for the Nets, well, they were never going to make the “mistake” they made last year by winning too much. They don’t own their pick next year, and so this year was always going to be a tankfest. That said, hilariously, they are also .500 over their last four, losing two tank-offs to the Kings and Wizards. If an average NBA fan knows much about the players Brooklyn (or Milwaukee, for that matter) rolls out today, hats off to them.
Injury Report
OK, so the following players are out for the Bucks: Giannis (knee), Kyle Kuzma (Achilles), Kevin Porter Jr. (knee), Bobby Portis (wrist), Ryan Rollins (hip), Gary Trent Jr. (hip), and Myles Turner (ankle).
The Nets have responded in turn, ruling out the following blokes: Nic Claxton, Noah Clowney, Egor Demin, Terance Mann, Michael Porter Jr., Day’Ron Sharpe, Ziaire Williams, and Danny Wolf. Ben Saraf is probable.
Player to Watch
Cormac Ryan (or should I say Cor-max Ryan… sorry, ignore me) has had great games in two of his last three, scoring 25 against the Rockets and 21 against the Grizzlies. Over those two games, he’s shot 16/22 from the field and 7/11 from deep. I’m watching (Wazowski, always watching) for if he can tack on another great game tonight. The level of the opponent should give him every chance.
How To Watch
6:30 p.m. CDT on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - May 22: Stephen A. Smith Michael Malone and Chris Paul #3 of the San Antonio Spurs speak before the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals on May 22, 2025 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s really easy in this day and age to have an immediate thought about UNC’s decision to reportedly hire Michael Malone. The immediate reaction by the fan base was one of shock and an immediate comparison to Bill Belichick.
In short—ON MY GOD WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU DO THIS AGAIN?
But just like I preached on Sunday that patience was key in waiting for the decision to be made, time was needed to let the decision wash over fans, other reaction to pour in, and a true analysis of the decision was made. Once all of that started rolling in, there seemed to be some stepping back from the ledge.
Like many, I wasn’t that happy with the initial decision. With all of the names that had been published as being the subject of the search, it felt a lot like just settling for who was there. Then I sat down and started to think about it a little, and I started to realize that there is some logic to the move.
The big one to me was that if your were hinging your hopes on Billy Donovan, why not take a coach that’s a decade younger and has a track record of success at the highest level as opposed to one who’s been OK, but didn’t have a ring and was in the NBA because college wore him out? I thought about the easy reaction of “he’s just like Bill Belichick who used Tom Brady to get his wins by using Nikola Jokić to get his in Denver.” The problem with this line of thinking is that basketball requires more of a buy-in from a player to a coach. Add in the fact that Brady came to the NFL with a fire to prove he wasn’t a Power Five bust, meanwhile by all accounts Jokić doesn’t view basketball as his life and he still was able to develop him to the point where Denver won a title. There’s a development aspect there you don’t normally see with superstars. Plus, Michael Jordan needed Phil Jackson to get him rings, so he had to at least be able to coach.
Once I hit that point, I saw the two interviews that have made the rounds that showed how he was already becoming connected to Carolina, and I started to understand that unlike Belichick who had the tenuous first words of “Beat Duke,” Malone has had real, adult connection to UNC that means he’s at least a little more familiar with Chapel Hill and the environment here than another coach would have been.
If for any reason you would like to learn more about Mike Malone, he was in the @carolina_pod studio this fall and talked about his coaching career, basketball background, connection with UNC and more.https://t.co/w702ksZqcx
Finally, word from former players started to leak out. Tyler Hansbrough, Seth Trimble, and Danny Green all not only supporting the move but doing so enthusiastically. Is there some of this that’s trying to save a move as the portal opens today? Maybe, but we also know how loudly players would be if they weren’t happy with the move and the tone of their enthusiasm at least gives me some pause about this.
So I’ve landed here: I’m not doing backflips over the hire because I would have rather have gotten Dusty May or Tommy Lloyd, but it became clear that UNC was being used as a leveraging play for coach after coach—and it appears it would have continued with Donovan. It’s a risk, but at this point a lot of the other names were a risk. I’m intrigued, and I’m willing to see how the next month goes in terms of building a staff and the portal.
What about you? Are you where you were when this was announced or are you in a different place now? Let us know in the comments below.
Every day this week, the NBC Sports NBA writing crew is breaking down the league's individual postseason awards and giving you their thoughts and predictions. After looking at MVP on Monday, it's Coach of the Year today, a tight race between Boston's Joe Mazzulla and Detroit's J.B. Bickerstaff on most ballots. Here's who we've got.
Coach of the Year
Kurt Helin, NBC Sports Lead NBA Writer: Joe Mazzulla
Remember when we all thought this was going to be a "gap year" in Boston? I had the Celtics pegged as a play-in team (I also didn't expect a Jayson Tatum return, or Jaylen Brown to step up the way he did). This was a team that didn't just lose its star for most of the season, but had traded away a lot of veteran depth like Jrue Holiday, Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis.
This is where Mazzulla's coaching, the culture he built and the expectations he built into the organization stood out. Neemias Queta thrived in Mazzulla's system and was a quality starting center. Payton Pritchard stepped up in a larger role. Derrick White looked like an All-NBA player. Across the board, Mazzulla inspired role players to be more, put them in positions to succeed, and they did. While J.B. Bickerstaff did something similar in Detroit, the edge for this season — it is Coach of the Year after all — goes to Mazzulla.
Jay Coucher, NBC Sports Lead Betting Analyst: Joe Mazzulla
Flip a coin between Mazzulla and J.B. Bickerstaff, with Mitch Johnson a solid third, and Jordan Ott and Charles Lee deserving of consideration. Mazzulla gets the slight edge over Bickerstaff for somehow turning Boston into a top-four offense and defense in what was supposed to be a gap year.
Raphielle Johnson, NBC Sports Fantasy basketball lead analyst: J.B. Bickerstaff
There are many worthy candidates for this award. Mitch Johnson has done phenomenal work with the Spurs, and Mark Daigneault's ability to keep the Thunder atop the league despite their injuries is commendable. Joe Mazzulla has done great work with the Celtics, ending any talk of a "gap year," and Charles Lee's Hornets have been much-improved.
But I'll take Bickerstaff here. While many expected the Pistons to use last season's experience as a building block, few expected them to run away with the top spot in the East as they have.
Eric Samulski, MLB/NBA Writer, NBC Sports: Joe Mazzulla
This is almost as much of a lock for me as Victor Wembanyama for Defensive Player of the Year. Nobody expected the Celtics to be this good without Jayson Tatum. Let alone after also losing Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Luke Kornet, and AL Horford. Yes, the Celtics have other good players remaining, but Joe Mazzulla's system is so well-entrenched, and the team is so well-coached that it didn't quite matter who was in the lineup; this team just produced.
Apr 6, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) reaches for a loose ball ahead of Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) during the second half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
I did not like this game! I suppose there are two silver linings: First (I say this knocking on wood), it would appear that Victor Wembanyama’s injury (a bone bruise in his ribs) is unlikely to be a serious problem in the sense that he should be fine for the playoffs. Second, it gave me the opportunity to find out that the League’s absurdly complex 65-game rule is actually a 63+2 rule in which players are allowed to receive credit for up to two games in which they play 15-19 minutes (all other games require 20+ minutes to count towards the total). As such, Wemby gets credit for this game, and is now just one game away from satisfying the requirement. I normally don’t care too much about regular season awards, but in this particular case I actually think that it would cause the NBA serious reputational harm if the individual universally regarded as the best defensive player did not win DPoY because he fell one game short of an arbitrary threshold.
As impossible as it is to set the injury issue aside when discussing how I feel about this game, I can be more calm and objective when it comes to discussing the box score. Fortunately, the Sliver and Black put together a really solid performance overall, and it shows up in some of the box score highlights:
Fun fact: Philly and San Antonio had the exact same number of field goal attempts (89) and three-point attempts (32) in this game. In the 16,845 regular season games since the start of 2012-2013, this is just the 34th time that two teams have tied in both these areas.
Fortunately, the Spurs were far more effective in shooting from the field overall, logging a FG% margin of +11.24 percentage points enroute to making 10 more baskets. San Antonio’s edge in 3P% (+3.13 percentage points) was literally as small as it could be while still being positive, but still translated to a +1 advantage in made threes. As a result of all this, the Spurs outscored Philadelphia by 21 points from the field.
Despite this huge disparity, the 76ers kept the game interesting for much of the time. One way they managed this was by earning a +8 advantage on the offensive glass, which helped give them an upper hand in overall offensive opportunity. Because the Spurs fouled more (+2) and at worse times, this mostly showed up as an edge in free throw attempts (+7).
In addition to greater volume from the charity stripe, Philly also had a notably better FT% (+10.03 percentage points). As a result, the 76ers made eight more free throws.
It’s slightly atypical for the losing team to earn such a big margin at the free throw line while making far fewer shots from the field, though not as much as you might think. In fact, this contest marked the 812th occasion in the last 13 regular seasons where the winning team had a FGM of +10 or better and a FTM margin of -8 or worse (that’s about 4.82% of all games). The worst FTM differential achieved by a regular season winner with a FGM of at least +10 since the start of 2012-2013 was -26. That actually happened twice, and both games were home wins by the Phoenix Suns (Dallas @ Phoenix on 2/10/26 and Lakers @ Phoenix on 11/22/22).
What are Team Graded Box Scores?
Very briefly, these box scores grade winner-loser differentials for basic box score statistics, with the grade being based on the winning team’s differential relative to other NBA winners during a defined reference period. Think of it like a report card for understanding how a given winner performed relative to other winners. The reference period used runs from the start of the 2012-2013 season to the latest date of play, including only games in the same season category (i.e., regular season and playoff games are not compared to each other).
Data Source: The underlying data used to create these box scores was collected from Basketball Reference. In all cases, the data are collected the morning after the game is played. Although rare, postgame statistical revisions after data collection do occur and may affect the results after the fact.
DENVER, CO - MARCH 14: Head Coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets yells from the sidelines during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Ball Arena on March 14, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. 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 Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Word got out Monday afternoon that UNC has hired Mike Malone, most recently head coach of the Denver Nuggets and winner of the 2023 NBA championship, as its next coach.
Reactions are mixed.
Many UNC fans were baffled, but that’s not surprising. Like most fans, they aren’t steeped in the business side of basketball. That’s fine—unless they start offering uninformed opinions.
Among more informed people, the verdict is still split. Start with the positive: Malone is a basketball lifer. His father, Brendan, was an NBA coach, and the game is clearly in his blood.
Former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski called it a good hire. So did Dan Dakich, who noted that former NBA players such as Juwan Howard (whom he called an idiot), Chris Mullin, and Chris Ewing all struggled in college.
Malone, however, was never an NBA player; he has been a coach since he graduated from college.
Former Tar Heel Kenny Smith, who was involved in the search, was impressed. Several informed observers said the same about people who worked with Malone in the NBA.
Bomani Jones was skeptical, questioning whether Malone could adapt to the college game. “What’s the big deal about waiting a week for Billy Donovan?” he asked.
One clear upside: no buyout. After committing to paying off Hubert Davis’s full contract and Bill Belichick’s big contract, that alone was appealing.
The transfer portal may have played a role, too. One report said incoming athletic director Steve Newmark grew concerned about the timing there.
The bigger question is whether Malone can adjust to college basketball. He is widely described as hard-working and detail-oriented—strong coaching traits. Still, he is moving from grown men with families and mortgages to 18- to 22-year-olds who cannot legally drink. The sport is the same, but the psychology is not.
Malone is also known for his intensity, which can be an asset. One source called it an upgrade over Hubert Davis. Others are less sure.College coaching demands far more teaching than the NBA, and the best teachers push players without belittling them. A long list of intense college coaches—Virginia’s Dave Leitao, Bob Knight, and Lou Campanelli among them—have run into trouble when intensity crossed into toxicity.
Then there is Malone’s NBA record. He won a championship, but the numbers are telling. As Cody Nagel noted on X:
With Nikola Jokić: 449–293 (.605)
Without Nikola Jokić: 61–101 (.377)
That’s both fair and unfair. NBA coaches have limited roster control, and Malone inherited a dysfunctional Sacramento team before Denver. Still, a talent like Jokić should produce wins.
What ultimately went wrong in Denver? Two main issues. First, a clash with the GM, who wanted a younger roster while Malone preferred veterans—a common front-office tension. Second, and more serious: reports say Malone lost the locker room. Players allegedly felt he favored Jokić and other stars, and his intense style and outbursts reportedly grew tiresome.
That is a genuine concern at the college level. Just this week, toxic cultures surfaced in women’s programs at Virginia (where Coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton was forced out) and Tennessee (where the entire team entered the portal amid complaints about Kim Caldwell).
In the NBA, a player like Aaron Gordon is locked in through 2028–29. In Chapel Hill, players can enter the portal any Tuesday.
Yesterday we suggested that if UNC couldn’t land a proven coach quickly, it should hire former assistant Marcus Paige and surround him with experienced staff to help him grow. Malone, with his vast pro experience, doesn’t face the same learning curve—but he would still be smart to hire someone who knows college basketball intimately. A coach like Jerome Tang, recently let go by Kansas State, could help him navigate recruiting, NIL, boosters, and the nuances of the college game.
Victor Wembanyama left the court in the first half, returned and got over the 15-minute threshold, then did not play in the second half with what the Spurs called a rib contusion suffered against the Philadelphia 76ers.
After the game, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said he had no information or update on Wembanyama's status going forward. The injury occurred with 10:47 left in the second quarter when Paul George went to steal a pass meant for Wembanyama as he ran in transition. Wembanyama sat on the court for a minute, then checked himself out of the game and went to the locker room. He returned to play a few more minutes in the first half but did not come out for the second half, with the team announcing he would not return.
Because Wemby played more than 15 minutes, this game counts as his second "near miss" game, so it counts toward his 65-game total needed to qualify for postseason awards (Wembanyama is considered a heavy favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year and is pushing the Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for MVP). Wembanyama needs to play 20+ minutes in one of the Spurs' remaining three games to reach the league-mandated 65-game threshold. While Wemby is officially listed as having played in just 63 games, he played in the NBA Cup championship game, and that counts toward the total even though it does not show up in his official stats.
Wembanyama's early exit ended a fun head-to-head matchup with Philadelphia's Joel Embiid. Wemby finished with 17 points in his limited minutes, while Embiid went on to have 34 points and 12 rebounds. The Spurs still got the win behind a triple-double from Stephon Castle.
Caufield anytime goal
Kucherov anytime goal
Hall Over 0.5 assists
