SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 30: Tre Jones #30 of the Chicago Bulls smiles after the game against the San Antonio Spurs on March 30, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, 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 (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On Monday night, the Spurs hosted the Chicago Bulls. Prior to the game, Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson shared some great memories and kind words regarding former Spurs guard Tre Jones.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson on Tre Jones, who returns to San Antonio tonight as a member of the Chicago Bulls: “He was at the forefront of doing that in terms of bringing the right approach and energy every single day. … He’s a competitive little sucker.” pic.twitter.com/GInen6vIhC
“He was at the forefront of doing that in terms of bringing the right approach and energy every single day. … He’s a competitive little sucker.”
Before the game, I caught Tre in shoot around. He stepped away the moment his family came to the court. He was all smiles, which is how Spurs fans most remember him.
A common practice when a former player returns, the Spurs honor him with a video tribute during the opponent introductions. Monday night was no exception. As the in-arena PA announcer introduced the Bulls, he paused before calling Tre Jones and the lights dimmed as a video displayed on the Jumbotron.
Spurs honored Tre Jones with a tribute video prior to tonight’s game. Tre is one of the kindest people to ever play with the Spurs. He has a big hand in this year’s success by showing this young group how to work, prepare, fight and never give up. pic.twitter.com/h7SsxcpikC
Jones was drafted by the Spurs in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft, 41st overall. He played with the Spurs for his first four-and-a-half seasons. He was a key component of the three-team trade that brought De’Aaron Fox to San Antonio.
Jones exemplified Spurs culture, played the role asked of him, maintained a positive attitude, and made significant contributions during the team’s greatest transition.
Once the game started, Jones had an impressive night, starting the game with a steal and a layup to kick off all scorers for the night. He ended with 23 points on 9 of 13 shooting, two rebounds and three assists as they came up short against the Silver & Black.
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The Twins (1-4) and the Royals (3-2) close out their three-game series Thursday afternoon in Kansas City. Taj Bradley takes the ball for Minnesota and Cole Ragans gets the start for the Royals.
The Royals have taken the first two games. The opener was a pitchers’ duel. Last night was anything but as the teams combined for 22 runs on 24 hits with the Royals prevailing 13-9. Every starter in the lineup collected at least one hit for Kansas City. Jonathan India drove in 5 with a couple hits including his first home run of the season. The Bullpen for the Royals was rancid but starter Noah Cameron was quite the oppositelimiting the Twins to one run over five innings to earn his first win of the season. Josh Bell smacked his first bomb of 2026 in the loss for Minnesota. Starter Joe Ryan was less than good for the Twins allowing five runs on nine hits in just four innings.
Lets dive into this afternoon’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
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 first pitch, 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.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Twins vs. Royals
Date: Thursday, April 2, 2026
Time: 2:10PM EST
Site: Kauffman Stadium
City: Kansas City, MO
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, Royals.TV, Twins.TV
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 MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Latest Odds: Twins vs. Royals
The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of FanDuel:
Moneyline: Minnesota Twins (+135), Kansas City Royals (-163)
Spread: Twins +1.5 (-156) / Royals -1.5 (+129)
Total: 9.5 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers: Twins vs. Royals
Pitching matchup for April 2:
Twins: Taj Bradley Season Totals: 4.1 IP, 0-0, 2.08 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 9K, 3 BB
Bobby Witt Jr. does not have an extra base hit this season
Rookie Carter Jensen is just 2-16 (.125) through 5 games
The Royals are 3-2 despite being outscored 23-22 on the season
Royce Lewis has 3 hits on the season and all 3 are extra-base hits (2 HRs, 1 Double)
The Twins collectively are hitting .210 this season
The Royals as a team are hitting .244 this season
The Royals team batting average rose .052 yesterday
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Twins vs. Royals
The Twins are 2-3 on the Run Line this season
Kansas City is 3-2 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 2 times in Minnesota’s 5 games this season (2-3)
The OVER cashed yesterday for the first time this season for the Royals (1-4)
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 MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions: Twins vs. Royals
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection 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 Wednesday’s game between the Twins and the Royals:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Royals on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Royals on the Run Line.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 9.5.
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The Mets (3-3) and the Giants (2-4) open a four-game series Thursday night at Oracle Park. New York arrives in town after losing two of three in St. Louis to the Cardinals. The Mets lost yesterday 2-1 in eleven innings thanks to an infield single from Masyn Winn that scored JJ Wetherholt. The Mets had opportunities to win but Marcus Semien flied out to right to end the ninth and eleventh innings stranding four baserunners in the process.
The Giants were smacked yesterday by the Padres, 7-1. Nick Pivetta threw five shutout innings, and Ramon Laureano cracked his second home run of the young season to highlight the afternoon for the Padres. Luis Arraez collected three hits for San Francisco in the loss.
Neither New York nor San Francisco are clicking offensively to this point. The Giants have scored but 14 runs and are hitting a combined .201 through six games. The Mets are not much better. As a team, New York is hitting .211. They have scored 23 runs in six games and hit just four home runs.
Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
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 first pitch, 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.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game Details and How to Watch: Mets vs. Giants
Date: Thursday, April 2, 2026
Time: 9:45PM EST
Site: Oracle Park
City: San Francisco, CA
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, MLB Network, NBC Sports Bay Area, SNY
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 MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Latest Odds: Mets vs. Giants
The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of FanDuel:
Moneyline: New York Mets (-126), San Francisco Giants (+104)
Spread: Mets -1.5 (+135) / Giants +1.5 (-163)
Total: 7 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers: Mets vs. Giants
Pitching matchup for April 2:
Mets: David Peterson Season Totals: 5.1 IP, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 3K, 2 BB
Giants: Robbie Ray Season Totals: 5.1 IP, 0-1, 3.38 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 4K, 0 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Mets vs. Giants
Juan Soto has at least 1 hit in each of the Mets’ first 6 games this season and is hitting .346 (9-26)
Devin Williams has appeared in 3 games pitching a total of 3 innings allowing one hit and zero runs while striking out 4
Bo Bichette is 3-27 with 0 extra base hits
Willy Adames’ modest 3-game hitting streak was snapped yesterday
Heliot Ramos has struck out 10 times in 22 ABs this season
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Mets vs. Giants
The Mets are 3-3 on the Run Line this season
The Giants are 2-4 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 4 times in New York’s 6 games this season (1-5)
The OVER has cashed once for San Francisco this season (1-4-1)
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 MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions: Mets vs. Giants
Rotoworld 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.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection 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 Wednesday’s game between the Mets and the Giants:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Mets on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on either side on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 7.0.
Sharper Angles: Mets vs. Giants
Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Giants First Five Innings UNDER 1.5 Runs
Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on Juan Soto 2+ Total Bases
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The Thunder have won the first two games of the four-game season series. The fourth game will be played on April 7.
The Thunder have won three straight games and will enter the game as the Western Conference’s top team with a 60-16 record. The Lakers have won 13 of their last 14 games and compiled a 50-26 overall record. The Lakers’ recent success has helped the team push its way up the conference standings; they currently sit in third place.
Thursday night's game will serve as one of the toughest games remaining on the Lakers' regular-season schedule and provide a sense of where the team stands against one of the league's best teams ahead of the postseason.
The Lakers have not made it past the first round since 2023, when the team reached the conference finals as a seventh seed but was then swept by the Denver Nuggets.
Doncic has led the way for Los Angeles this year with an MVP-like season, but the supporting cast around him has stepped up when needed, too. LeBron James produced a triple-double on March 30 in a 120-101 victory over the Washington Wizards while Doncic was suspended. Austin Reaves also showed the ability to produce early in the season, scoring 51 points against the Sacramento Kings and 41 against the Portland Trail Blazers on back-to-back nights.
Doncic has nearly averaged a triple-double with 33.8 points, 8.3 assists and 7.8 rebounds per game this season in 63 games played. He leads the league in scoring.
Here’s how to watch the big Western Conference showdown:
How to watch Lakers vs. Thunder
When: Thursday, April 2
Time: 6:30 p.m. PT (9:30 p.m. ET)
Where: Paycom Center (Oklahoma City)
TV: Spectrum SportsNet
Streaming: Amazon Prime
Lakers-Thunder seasons series results
Nov. 12: Thunder 121, Lakers 92
Feb 9: Thunder 119, Lakers 110
April 2: Lakers at Thunder, 6:30 p.m. PT (9:30 p.m. ET)
April 7: Thunder at Lakers, 7:30 p.m. PT (10:30 p.m. ET)
This is the time of the NBA season, with two weeks to go before the start of the playoffs, when teams want to be playing their best basketball.
Squads that are playing well late in regular seasons often outperform their perceived record and can go on deep playoff runs. Sometimes it’s the case of a team finally finding its identity, sometimes it’s the return of an injured star reinvigorating a lineup and sometimes, frankly, it’s a case of veteran teams coasting through much of the season, saving their best for when games matter most.
Yet, that isn’t necessarily the case for everyone. Some teams have hit recent struggles and are sputtering headed into the end of the 2025-26 season.
Here’s a look at who’s hot in the NBA and who is decidedly not:
Who's hot?
Atlanta Hawks
Since the All-Star break, the Hawks have been the hottest team in the East, going 18-3 in that span. The coaching job Quin Snyder has done this season is nothing short of remarkable. This season alone, the Hawks have been through several iterations of this team — from an opening night starting lineup that played just 24 minutes together to eventual trades of Trae Young and Kristaps Porziņģis — but have now settled on a team-first, ball-sharing identity that’s backed by defense.
Atlanta is averaging 30.3 assists per game, which is currently tied for eighth-most in NBA history. And, with Nickeil Alexander-Walker settling into a larger role and being paired alongside Dyson Daniels, the Hawks have a ferocious clamp on opposing wing scorers. Recent victories over the Celtics and Pistons — the top two teams in the East — show how dangerous this team can be.
San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder
These two get a quick mention and are paired because they have been the best teams in the West for much of the season. San Antonio has gone an NBA-best 20-2 since the All-Star break and the Thunder are 18-2 over that span. They’re led by their Most Valuable Player candidates in Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and they look every bit like title contenders.
Los Angeles Lakers
This one is mostly thanks to Luka Dončić. He’s on an absolute heater lately, averaging 39.7 points per game over his last 10 and 37.5 in the entire month of March. Los Angeles has won 13 of its last 14, and some of those have come against big opponents: the Knicks, Nuggets, Rockets (twice) and the Cavaliers.
LeBron James has embraced play-making and is putting Dončić and the rest of his teammates in position to make shots; over the last seven games, James is averaging 8.4 assists per contest, tied for ninth most over that span. The defense has been better, and this looks like a team — after crashing out in the first round of the playoffs last year — that knew it needed to conserve some energy for this stretch run.
Charlotte Hornets
They’re the No. 8 seed in the East, but Charlotte could be a problem either way in the play-in. Since the All-Star break, the Hornets have posted the NBA’s second-best offensive rating (122.1), which is just 0.1 behind the league’s top team, the San Antonio Spurs. A lot of that offense has come from LaMelo Ball, sure, but Rookie of the Year favorite Kon Knueppel has been a revelation, and Charlotte suddenly has shooting all over the floor.
It hasn’t been one-sided, however. Since the break, the Hornets have posted the NBA’s sixth-best defensive rating (109.8).
Who's not?
Miami Heat
On March 12, the Heat toppled the Bucks to improve to 38-29, remaining in the sixth seed. It was their seventh consecutive victory and 10th in 12 tries. Since then, it has been an unmitigated disaster.
Miami has lost eight of its last 10 and its defensive identity has crumbled. This is the side of the ball on which the Heat pride themselves, yet Miami has allowed opposing teams to score 126.4 points per 100 possessions, the worst mark in the NBA over that span. All-Star guard Norman Powell has missed a lot of this run with a back injury and an upper respiratory illness, but the team is hopeless in stopping opposing offenses any time Bam Adebayo sits for even a few minutes. Worst yet, they’ve been struggling as he has been on the floor.
Orlando Magic
In a lot of ways, Orlando’s recent stretch is much like Miami’s: the Magic went on a seven-game winning streak prior to losing six consecutive and eight of 10. The issue for Orlando has been its offense. The one thing that Orlando has on Miami, however, is that the Magic went a perfect 5-0 against the Heat.
The other good thing is that they just got Franz Wagner back Wednesday, April 1 from a left ankle sprain that had sidelined him for more than a month. Still, he was on a minutes restriction, and the Magic lost by 29 against Atlanta.
Phoenix Suns
It turns out Devin Booker couldn’t quite carry Phoenix during a rash of injuries that saw Dillon Brooks and Mark Williams miss extended time, while role players Grayson Allen and Haywood Highsmith have also had to sit in spots.
The biggest blow was the left hand injury to Brooks, who is averaging a career-high 20.6 points per game. He made his return Tuesday, March 31 in an eventual loss against the Magic, and Phoenix has lost seven of its last 10. That’s the bad news.
The good? Phoenix has remained locked into the No. 7 seed, where it has been since Jan. 23, and the Clippers — who are 3 games back — probably have too much ground to make up.
Either way, there had been a slight chance that the Suns could contend for that No. 6 seed and automatic playoff berth in the crowded West. After this recent losing stretch, however, and with the Suns 4½ games back of Minnesota, that’s a near impossibility.
Connecticut, Illinois, Arizona and Michigan made the national semifinals with their major playmakers having the primary roles. But what has allowed this quartet to reach the biggest stage in men's college basketball is that they also get significant contributions from people outside the spotlight. It's going to take more than the top guys to cut down the nets − just look at UConn's Braylon Mullins in the Elite Eight.
So, which under-the-radar players have the chance to step up and be the catalyst for a national championship? Here is one player to watch for each team.
Connecticut: Malachi Smith
The health of Silas Demary Jr. has been a talking point for UConn as the lead guard, but Smith has stepped up well and become a reliable guard during the tournament.
It was big for Smith, who started in 77 games at Dayton before transferring to Storrs this season, to accept a bench role for the Huskies, but he's wound up becoming a vital part of the second unit, and his value has only risen as the season ended. After averaging 2.7 assists per game before the tournament began, he's averaging 5.5 in the four tournament games. Smith made the most his starting role in the first two rounds, when he played more than 30 minutes against Furman and UCLA.
Even with Demary back, Smith has earned increased minutes and it's paying off for Dan Hurley.
Illinois: Kylan Boswell
It makes sense to see a senior playing a big role for Illinois, but it's easy to forget Boswell is won't turn 21 until later this month, and he'll have to play up to his experience in order for the Fighting Illini to break through.
A look at the stat sheet may make you wonder how Boswell makes such a difference − averaging just 8.3 points and 2 assists during the tournament − but he is the heart and soul of the team, a guy that brings energy and intensity. That will be needed defensively since Connecticut is one of the best teams sharing, so he will have to bring pressure to limit passing lanes. Illinois' offense has done well, but it could really use Boswell as he has struggled to score, as he went a combined 0-for-7 from the field in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight. If he can find a shooting touch, that makes the back court mightily stronger.
The Final Four means a lot to many, but Boswell is playing a big part on his hometown team. The Champaign native will have the chance to bring its first national title home.
Arizona: Ivan Kharchenkov
You want someone that is willing to lay it all on the line every single play? Kharchenkov is your guy.
There may no be no one with more hustle than than the freshman from Germany who is diving for the ball and playing an aggressive style of ball that really makes opponents uncomfortable. If you look at moments where Arizona swung momentum to its side, most of the time its because of Kharchenkov. Not only that, but he's raised his level in the postseason. He entered the NCAA Tournament averaging 10.1 points and 4.1 rebounds, but he's improved that to 14 point and 6.5 rebounds per contest.
Teams cannot relax when Kharchenkov is on the court, as he is will do the little things that could be the key moments in an Arizona win.
Michigan: Elliot Cadeau
Michigan is the highest-scoring offense left in the tournament, averaging 87.7 points per game. None of it happens without the guard play of Cadeau.
The North Carolina transfer has had a renaissance in Ann Arbor, averaging 5.8 assists per game. While he's been dishing it out at a great rate, he's really honed in on taking care of the ball, with fewer than four turnovers in each of the last six games. That's on top averaging a career-best 10.2 points per game and becoming a reliable 3-point shooter. What makes it even more incredible? He is partially deaf in his right ear, has asthma and had surgery his freshman year to treat a progressive eye disorder.
Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara get most of the attention, but the offense doesn't move as exceptional as it does without Cadeau. Michigan needs its guard to spearhead the attack to keep the offense as lethal as its been all season.
Riding high after back-to-back victories over the New York Islanders and Detroit Red Wings, the Pittsburgh Penguins will be looking to keep the momentum going and get one step closer to locking down a playoff spot when they head to the Sunshine State this evening to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning. With their playoff odds currently sitting at 95% according to MoneyPuck.com, the Penguins can push that number even higher by defeating the Lightning, who are in a battle of their own against the Buffalo Sabres for Atlantic division supremacy.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM and will be broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh.
Pens Points…
On top of the Penguins defeating the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night, every game involving a team around them in the playoff race broke their way, giving the Penguins an added boost in their chase for a playoff spot with their odds of securing a berth now sitting around 90 percent. [Pensburgh]
Down in the AHL, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have already locked up a playoff spot and are now trying to lock down a first round bye with a top two finish in their division. Two wins last weekend have the Baby Pens right on the cusp of locking down that bye, possibly by this weekend. [Pensburgh]
Stuart Skinner will have a big career decision to make this summer, but he’s waiting until then to worry about it. Skinner is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, so where he is playing next year remains up in the air, but for now, the focus is on winning with the Penguins. [Trib Live]
What a month March was for Erik Karlsson and he was properly honored for his efforts by being named the Second Star of the Month by the NHL on Wednesday. In March, Karlsson tallied 24 points in 17 games to keep the Penguins afloat with the absences of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. [Penguins]
NHL News and Notes…
There’s no hard timetable being set, but the Colorado Avalanche know they will be without Norris winning defenseman Cale Makar for at least some undetermined time after Makar suffered an injury on Tuesday night against the Calgary Flames. [NHL]
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on March 27, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s hard to demand a better start to the Yankees’ 2026 campaign than this 5-1 season-opening West Coast road trip. It’s tempting to be greedy and wish that they hadn’t been walked off in Seattle on Monday, but they lost a tough game in an opposing ballpark to a team that fell a win shy of the World Series in 2025 on a walk-off hit by the AL MVP runner-up. It happens. No one’s undefeated, anyway, and only the Brewers and Marlins have matched the Yanks’ 5-1 start; note that both of them got to play the White Sox.
The Yankees will face those Fish on Friday in the Bronx for the Yankee Stadium home opener. Until then, we wait. In the meantime, what do you think was the best moment from this strong start? There’s no shortage of contenders, as it’s been a well-rounded attack. Is it Max Fried’s Opening Night gem by the Bay? David Bednar’s great escape last night in Seattle to secure the series win? Cam Schlittler’s dazzling work? Aaron Judge sparking the offense with homers in the last two San Francisco games? Ben Rice blistering doubles?
Because I am nothing if not a Giancarlo Stanton enthusiast, I will lean toward him going 414 feet at Oracle Park on Friday shortly after Judge’s tank. Stanton’s been scorching hot with multi-hit games in each of his first five contests (before resting yesterday) and his approach hasn’t exclusively been long-ball reliant … but boy those dingers are still fun. Great developments from 36-year-old Big G.
Today on the site, Peter breaks down his Sequence of the Week, Madison runs through the Rivalry Roundup, and Nick celebrates the birthday of a great one-year Yankee in righty Jon Lieber. Later, Michael previews Double-A Somerset’s season, Andrés examines a few small tweaks that have helped Jake Bird get off to a much better (early) start in pinstripes than he did after coming over from the Rockies in 2025, and Sam chips in some thoughts of his own
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 31: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks dribbles the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks during the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum on March 31, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Cooper Flagg, along with his Duke roommate Kon Knueppel, is generally seen as the leading candidates for NBA Rookie of the Year. It’s been a tremendous year for both former Blue Devils.
In this interview with Pat McAfee, Flagg discusses his rookie season to date. He touches on something that Kevin Garnett discovered in his rookie season that was a bit of a surprise for him and for a lot of underage rookies: the NBA is a lonely place.
Garnett talked about sitting alone in his hotel room; Flagg talks about his teammates being grown men with wives and children.
What he doesn’t mention is the hard-living nature of many NBA players: bars, strip clubs, predatory women who zoom in on more naive players.
It’s not an easy life for a mature player, so it can’t be easy for a 19-year-old either.
In the description, one of the interviewers on McAfee’s show asks Flagg what his Welcome-To-The-NBA moment was. Flagg says it came in practice when he tried to dunk on teammate PJ Washington, who, at 27, is a good bit older and more physically mature. That, Flagg says, “…just did not go very well.”
One wonders what it will be like in a few years when Flagg is bigger and stronger.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona has a massive 6-2 lead to protect against Real Madrid when it hosts the second leg of their Women’s Champions League quarterfinal on Thursday.
The Catalan club is in a commanding position to make a record-extending eighth straight semifinal while Madrid would need an unprecedented quarterfinal turnaround to reach the last four for the first time.
Three-time champion Barcelona seeks to reclaim the title it lost to Arsenal last season. Barcelona topped the league phase with an unbeaten campaign that included 20 goals scored and three against.
Madrid, in its second consecutive quarterfinal, was eliminated by Arsenal last season. It finished seventh in the league phase.
Thursday’s game will mark Barcelona’s return to Camp Nou for the first time since the stadium partially reopened in November amid ongoing renovations.
“I’m incredibly excited, very motivated, and eager to prepare for the match and train at the Camp Nou beforehand,” Barcelona coach Pere Romeu said. “It will be a wonderful day to be able to manage a match in that beautiful stadium.”
Barcelona has beaten Madrid five times in all competitions this season.
The winner will play Bayern Munich.
In the night's other quarterfinal, Wolfsburg takes a 1-0 lead against OL Lyonnes to Lyon. The German side hopes to become the third club to eliminate the French record eight-time champion in 17 quarterfinals.
Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
And maybe, just maybe, after a five-game losing streak around the Olympics and a recent six-game skid that really shook the faith…maybe the Sharks are a team of destiny?
With 28 seconds remaining in Wednesday’s game at SAP Center, the Sharks edged the Anaheim Ducks 4-3, for their third-straight GWG with less than 90 seconds left.
That’s an NHL record:
Per @Sportradar, the #SJSharks are the first team in @NHL history to win three consecutive games on GWGs within the last 90 seconds of regulation.#TheFutureIsTeal
— San Jose Sharks PR (@SanJoseSharksPR) April 2, 2026
Speaking of destiny, the Sharks once again are in control of theirs: They’re one point back of the Los Angeles Kings for the last wild-card spot in the West, and tied with the Nashville Predators with 77 points, but they also have a game in hand on both teams.
The Western Conference wild-card chase isn’t a pillow fight, it’s a roller derby, with six squads, Los Angeles, San Jose, Nashville, Winnipeg Jets, Seattle Kraken, and St. Louis Blues careening into each other for a single playoff berth.
It all comes down to this. What wild things will go down in the Final Four?
There have been some incredible moments that have made the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament unforgettable, truly encapsulating what makes March Madness such a spectacle. It only makes sense those instant classics continue on the sport's biggest stage, with Arizona, Michigan, Connecticut and Illinois headed to Indianapolis, two wins away from becoming national champions.
With just three games left in the season, it's time for one more batch of bold predictions, just in time for the 2026 Final Four.
One thing that will carry over from last season's Final Four is all of the participants are pretty evenly matched. You could make a plausible case for every one of them to end up on top, which is why we will have some extremely close games in Lucas Oil Stadium.
All of the 2025 Final Four games were decided by six points or less, and that will happen once again. Whether its the semifinals or the championship, it goes all the way down to the final seconds, with someone becoming the hero for their team.
UConn extends Final Four streak
The Final Four round is getting close to being called the Connecticut Invitational, and the Huskies will prove why on Saturday, April 4.
In its seven Final Four appearances, UConn has advanced and won the national championship game six times, currently riding a four-game winning streak in the semifinals. Dan Hurley has yet to lose after the round of 32, with a 10-0 record in the Sweet 16 or later. It's truly some mind boggling success UConn has on the biggest stage.
In the Final Four, UConn continues that run. The Huskies are going to have their hands full dealing with the scoring threat of Illinois, but the Huskies are one of the most experienced teams in the quartet. Alex Karaban comes up big down the stretch for some key buckets to get UConn its fifth straight Final Four round win, and back to the title game for the third time in four years.
Big Ten title drought continues
This tournament has been all about the Big Tens success. However, it won't be able to punctuate it with a national championship.
Getting two teams in the Final Four gives the Big Ten a 50% chance of claiming the title-winner, and there's a chance of it being an all-Big Ten championship game, which a conference hasn't done since the Big Eight had Kansas and Oklahoma in 1988. However, the Big Ten teams have some major task ahead of them. UConn's experience will come up clutch against Illinois, and Michigan faces a relentless Arizona team. Even though the Wolverines offense is on a level of its own, the Wildcats defense is able to limit it, and the deep rotation is able to land a few big blows to Michigan. Arizona makes the right plays at the end to win a classic.
With Illinois and Michigan losing, it means the streak without a Big Ten champion extends to 26 years, a tough ending after being the best conference in all of March.
The West wins with Arizona taking it all
In 2026, the West Coast becomes the Best Coast.
Arizona was the last West Coast team to win a national championship, back in 1997, and it will end up being the next one to win it all again. The Wildcats shed off the March woes that have plagued the program for most of the 21st century, thanks to a loaded team that can beat you in a multitude of ways. With too many weapons for teams to neutralize, Arizona powers through the field to claim its second national championship, winning it in the same city it won its first one in.
The West Coast has tried to claim the top prize this century, with Final Four trips from Arizona, UCLA, Gonzaga, Utah, Oregon and San Diego State all falling just short, but it will be the 2025-26 Wildcats that bring glory back to the region.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 14, 2026: Carlos Rodon #55 of the New York Yankees throws a pitch during a live batting practice session on Field 2 prior to a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 14, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. The Phillies beat the Yankees, 6-4. (Photo by Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
NJ.com | Randy Miller: Yesterday, it was reported that Yankees starter Carlos Rodón, who began the year on the injured list due to offseason surgery, was dealing with right hamstring tightness. Although the left-hander did throw a bullpen session yesterday, it appears that, although the Yankees believe the injury is a “minor thing,” the start of Rodón’s rehab assignment has been pushed back slightly.
ESPN | Associated Press: Yankees No. 5 starter Luis Gil, who was not named to the Opening Day roster because the Yankees only need a four-man rotation until April 11th, reported to Triple-A Scranton yesterday. According to manager Aaron Boone, Gil will have his next bullpen day and make his next start with the RailRiders, before making his season debut with the big league club at Tampa Bay next Saturday.
MLB.com | Jim Callis: MLB has officially informed all of its teams about each respective slot values and combined available bonus pool money for the upcoming 2026 draft. The pick values are up by 2.5 percent from 2025. The Yankees will have a total of $7,342,800 at their disposal for draft bonuses this July, with their top pick (35th overall) worth $2,826,700. As a reminder for those unfamiliar, teams can choose to distribute the combined bonus pool money however they want and are not obligated to go by each pick’s official designation. They can also outspend their total pool by zero to five percent and only be taxed an extra 75-percent on the overage. Outspending beyond that carries future draft pick penalties, which have never been incurred in the 14-year history of this system.
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: It’s only been a week, but early indications suggest that the Yankees will be both one of the most aggressive and one of the most successful teams when it comes to challenging balls and strikes via the new ABS challenge system. Heading into action yesterday afternoon, New York led the league in challenges with 10, including eight successful, and the team’s catching tandem of Austin Wells and J.C. Escarra had been a perfect four-for-four. According to the players, this has been a deliberate strategy, as the team had what Aaron Judge jokingly called “too many meetings” to gameplan for the new wrinkle.
Front Office Sports | Ryan Glasspiegel: Former Yankee reliever Adam Ottavino continues to build his post-playing media career, adding a gig with ESPN as an MLB analyst to a busy schedule that includes work as a studio analyst with the YES Network, Sunday Night Baseball with NBC Sports, and his own YouTube channel. Ottavino joins an analyst team that has undergone extensive turnover this winter.
After a dominant victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night, the San Antonio Spurs will travel south for a matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers. It’s the third and final regular-season matchup between the two squads. However, it may not be the last time they play this year. The Clippers have won 5 of their last 6 games and are looking like a serious contender for the play-in tournament and the seventh seed.
The Clippers and Spurs have played some interesting games this season. In both matchups, one team took a massive lead only for the other to come back and make the game interesting. Despite the funkiness of both games, the Spurs are 2-0 in the matchup this year. A win on the second night of a back-to-back would be a statement victory for San Antonio against a potential first-round playoff opponent.
Clippers Injuries: Bradley Beal – Out (hip), Isaiah Jackson – Out (ankle), Yanic Konan Niederhauser – Out (foot)
What to watch for:
First quarter offense
The Spurs score the second-most first-quarter points in the NBA. On the second night of a back-to-back on a West Coast road trip against a tough Clippers squad, getting out to a hot start will be important. San Antonio lost the first quarter in both games they’ve played against the Clippers this season. Los Angeles can fill it up, especially from three. San Antonio has to come ready to play, even on short rest, if they want to walk away from LA with a win.
Small ball
Luke Kornet missed the Spurs’ last game against the Warriors. Mason Plumlee backed up Victor Wembanyama with mixed results. San Antonio found more success when they went to a small-ball lineup with Carter Bryant playing center. The Clippers will be without both Isaiah Jackson and Yanic Konan Niederhauser, so they’ll likely have to play small themselves. This could turn into a fast-paced, perimeter-oriented game when Wembanyama and Brook Lopez head to the bench.
Guarding the perimeter
The Clippers have shot the ball well from three against the Spurs this season. They are 7th in the NBA in three-point percentage. San Antonio is an average team at defending the three-point line. With Wembanyama roaming the paint, teams are forced to attack them from deep. With players like Darius Garland, Brook Lopez, and Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers have multiple players who can make it rain from outside. San Antonio is going to have to slow down LA from deep to win this one.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 2: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts with Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics in the third quarter against the Miami Heat at TD Garden on April 2, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s always tough sledding against the Heat, but a 53-point first quarter (11-15 from 3) and 80 points in the first half are indicative of just how much these teams have changed. The Heat and Celtics are on both ends of the pace spectrum at 104.4 vs. 95.46 possessions per game respectively. However, Boston was happy to ramp up the speed. Even with more possessions to deal with, they finished with just seven turnovers and allowed only twelve offensive boards.
The Celtics are 2-1 on their road trip against potential first round opponents and continue to be a steady +600 to raise Banner 19 with our friends at FanDuel and the favorite to rep the Eastern Conference in the 2026 NBA Finals.
Jaylen Brown
37 minutes, 43 points (4-10 from 3, 5-7 from the free throw line, 17-29 from the field), 3 rebounds, 7 assists, one turnover, +9
Andrew Wiggins was a defensive menace against Brown and Tatum in the 2022 NBA Finals, but Brown enacted some revenge, scoring the first 11 points for Boston on 4-4 shooting. He was more relaxed and deliberate with his drives and post-ups and didn’t seem hellbent on just creating contact and trying to draw fouls.
By the end of the night, Brown tallied 43 points on South Beach after ESPN’s Doris Burke called him a dangerous scorer on all three levels. The seven assists with just one turnover was a nice bounce back after six TOs against the Hawks.
Grade: A+
Jayson Tatum
37 minutes, 25 points (4-13 from 3, 3-4 from the free throw line, 9-21 from the field), 18 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 steals, +7
A masterclass in Charlotte helped earn Tatum the Player of the Week honor and after two days off, he continued his recovery to that all-around game that made him an MVP-candidate over the last three seasons before his Achilles tear.
How about a triple-double against a heated rival?
25-18-11 plus some effective defense against Bam Adebayo is another notch on Tatum’s belt.
33 minutes, 16 points (6-8 from the free throw line, 5-7 from the field), 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 3 blocks, +28
Queta does so many unsung things on the court like setting wide screens on the perimeter and rebounding the ball, but sometimes, it’s just nice to see him make a couple of loud blocks on the defensive end.
Neemias Queta rejects the two-handed dunk attempt by Bam Adebayo, who scores the putback shortly after pic.twitter.com/D6mIgLQJz5
In the fourth quarter, with all eyes on the Jays, Queta was the beneficiary at the dunker spot and grabbing offensive rebounds on pursuit alone.
Grade: A-
Sam Hauser
29 minutes, 23 points (5-7 from 3, 0-1 from the free throw line, 9-11 from the field), 3 rebounds, one steal, one block, +23
After coming off the bench during days off for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Hauser was back in the starting lineup and started off hot, hitting his first six shots including five 3s in the first quarter.
After halftime, Hauser went to his mid-range game. After Miami cut it to ten heading into the fourth, Hauser attacked a pair of closeouts for a couple of 12-footers that kept the Heat at bay. It was a nice breakout for Hauser after scuffling through the road trip.
Grade: A
Derrick White
34 minutes, 6 points (0-1 from 3, 3-4 from the field), 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 turnovers, one block, +6
If you’ve read the last couple player grades, we’ve documented White’s shooting slump over the last several games. He only took four shots in the game, but his fingerprints are all over the win. This sequence is akin to that scene in Top Gun: Maverick when they’re playing dogfight football on the beach.
THIS DERRICK WHITE SEQUENCE 👏
Lob to JB. Sprints back. Elite defense to force a miss.
31 minutes, 14 points (4-7 from 3, 5-9 from the field), 3 rebounds, 4 assists, one block, +20
Pritchard was the fifth leading scorer in this offensive exhibition and acted as more of a play finisher rather than a playmaker last night. That will happen with Tatum and Brown going nuclear on the Heat.
Grade: B+
Baylor Scheierman
18 minutes, 8 points (2-2 from 3, 3-4 from the field), 2 rebounds, 4 assists, one turnover, one steal +14
Scheierman’s contributions can often go unseen. His blue collar work shouldn’t go underappreciated. When he shoulders a drive from the free throw line to the baseline and makes the right pass around the horn don’t seem like much, but it’s that consistency that has made him a mainstay in the rotation.
But every once in a while, Baylor Showmanship will pull out the bag of Pistol Pete passes and connect on a fancy behind-the-back:
15 minutes, 12 points (2-4 from 3, 5-10 from the field), 2 rebounds, one block, -10
Former CelticsBlogger Sam LaFrance over at Hardwood Houdini documented Garza’s near-the-rim shot package and they were all on display in Miami: the decel step, the up-and-under, and his three-point shot. Twelve points in under fifteen minutes is making it easy to forget that Nikola Vucevic is still out with a fractured finger.
Grade: A
Jordan Walsh
5 minutes, 0 points (0-1 from the field), one rebound, one assist, one steal, one block, -7
The defensive demon notched two stocks (steals plus blocks) in a game where both teams combined for 276 points. Sometimes, you’re a square peg for a round hole.
Grade: B
DNP-CDs: Hugo Gonzalez, Ron Harper Jr., Max Shulga, Amari Williams, John Tonje, Charles Bassey
