Apr 7, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sánchez (61) walks off the mound after being removed from the game during the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images | Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images
The struggle against left-handed starters continued for the Philadelphia Phillies (6-5) as they dropped the middle game of their series against the San Francisco Giants (4-8) on Tuesday night by a score of 6-0.
Christopher Sanchez had a rough night, allowing 11 of the Giants’ 12 hits, the second highest total against him in his career. A rough night for the Phillies’ ace is still a decent night for some, as only two of the four runs credited to him during his 5.0+ IP were earned due to several miscues by his backing group.
Giants’ lefty starter, Robbie Ray, dominated all night, scattering six baserunners on three hits and three walks across 109 pitches with seven punch outs.
Ultimately, the additional damage inflicted by the poor defense didn’t matter as the Phillies’ offense offered little resistance to Ray and the rest of the Giants’ staff. With a left-hander on the mound, Alec Bohm out of the lineup nursing a sore groin, and JT Realmuto leaving the game after the first inning following a foul ball ricocheting off his right foot, the lineup featured the whole bench in Edmundo Sosa, Otto Kemp, Dylan Moore and Rafael Marchan.
Sanchez’s only clean inning came in a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth, but he allowed multiple runners to reach base in each of the four others. He didn’t have his usual putaway stuff as eight of his eleven hits allowed came in two-strike counts.
The defensive gaffes were punctuated by a fielding error by Trea Turner, a throwing error by Marchan and a weak throw-in by Justin Crawford that allowed Wilson Ramos to tag-up from first and take second on a fly ball to center. But there was also the around the horn double play started by Sosa to relieve the jam in the second inning, a dart throw by Adolis Garcia to cut down Adames at home plate in the third, and a pick off throw behind the runner at first by Marchan in the fifth.
The Giants opened the scoring in the bottom of the first on an RBI ground out by Luis Arraez that scored Willy Adames who led off with a double.
They would tack on two more in the fifth after a leadoff single by Daniel Susac, an RBI double by Chapman and an RBI single by Arraez.
Sanchez gave way to Zach Pop in the sixth after surrendering a single to Rafael Devers and a ground rule double to Casey Schmitt with no outs. Pop allowed one runner to score on a sacrifice fly by Jung Hoo Lee but kept his own line clean, as did Tanner Banks in the seventh.
Orion Kerkering made his 2026 debut and likely saw ghosts as his first hitter faced, Ramos, knocked a dying dribbler in between Kerkering and Marchan that, after an instant’s hesitation by both battery members, was fielded by Marchan and errantly thrown to first for an error. That error may have been a mercy in disguise for Kerkering who conceded a walk to Schmitt and a triple by Susac that piled on two more runs for the Giants, neither counting against his ERA.
The offense was 0-6 with runners in scoring position. Their lone extra-base hit was a double by Sosa in the second inning and a runner didn’t reach second base again until Sosa and then Moore walked in the seventh.
Bryce Harper worked two walks and reached on a single. Turner and Kyle Schwarber each had one of the team’s four hits.
It’ll be Aaron Nola versus Tyler Mahle in the series decider tomorrow afternoon.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Manager Craig Stammen #14 of the San Diego Padres looks on before the game against the Detroit Tigers at Petco Park on March 27, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Craig Stammen was a reliever for the San Diego Padres long before he was their manager. By all accounts he was a beloved teammate who could relate to anyone on the roster no matter their age, background or nationality. He was the perfect teammate. Perhaps this is the reason it was so surprising that Stammen, who was assisting the Padres front office with managerial interviews before general manager A.J. Preller asked him to consider interviewing for the position, landed the job. Stammen went from being a teammate to the man in charge.
Padres fans were right to wonder if Stammen could assume the leadership role and get the most out of players he played with like Manny Machado and Joe Musgrove. That question has yet to be answered on the field with just 11 games played this season, but it is a storyline that will no doubt be watched and documented as the season progresses.
What we have seen so far under Stammen is the San Diego offense continues to struggle with run production and at times, the defense has been spotty. Of course, at this point in the season there is nothing to say that what we have seen from the Padres under Stammen is what they will be going forward, but like anyone in a new position, there are multiple areas where fans can and should expect improvement as the first-year manager settles into the new reality of being the one making decisions in the dugout rather than running in from the bullpen.
San Diego has played three series under Stammen and will complete the fourth against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday at 9:35 a.m. PST. The Padres dropped the first two series at home winning one game in each before taking two of three from the Boston Red Sox on the road. The series in Pittsburgh is tied 1-1 and San Diego has Michael King on the mound in the rubber match.
For this week’s Padres Reacts Survey Gaslamp Ball asks you to grade Stammen’s performance to this point in the season. There is a lot of time between now and 162, but everyone has an opinion on how things are going, so here is your chance to tell us yours. Results will be posted later in the week.
INGLEWOOD, CA - APRIL 7: Darius Garland #10 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on April 7, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks got run off the floor Tuesday night, falling 116-103 to the Los Angeles Clippers in a game that followed a familiar script from this stretch of the season. Dallas struggled offensively all night, shooting just 35.0% from the field and 6-of-33 from three (18.2%), making it nearly impossible to keep up despite getting to the line frequently. Marvin Bagley III was a clear bright spot, finishing with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting and 9 rebounds, while Cooper Flagg added 21 points and 9 boards, though it came on a heavy 25-shot workload. Klay Thompson struggled again, going 4-for-17 from the field and 1-for-10 from three, as the Mavericks never found consistent perimeter shooting. On the other side, the Clippers were more efficient and balanced, shooting 44.6% from the field and 37.8% from three, with multiple contributors keeping the offense steady throughout. Dallas hung around for stretches but never truly threatened down the stretch, as another tough shooting night and lack of consistent offense ultimately defined a loss that felt in line with where this team currently is.
Dallas got hit right away in the first quarter, and it completely dictated the flow of the period. The Clippers opened on a 17-0 run, fueled by Darius Garland’s making, Kawhi Leonard’s getting control, and easy interior looks, while the Mavericks couldn’t get anything clean offensively. Early possessions were rough, with missed threes, a blocked Flagg layup, and multiple stalled trips that never put pressure on the defense. Cooper Flagg was eventually the one who broke the drought, scoring on a floater and then adding a step-back three, free throws, and an alley-oop dunk to give Dallas some life. Marvin Bagley chipped in with a couple of finishes inside, but every time Dallas showed signs of momentum, the Clippers immediately answered with another efficient possession. They closed the quarter down 39-26, a stretch defined by a brutal start and an offense that took far too long to find any rhythm.
The second quarter had a few brief moments where it felt like Dallas might settle in, but it never fully came together. The Mavericks opened with some life as Naji Marshall finished inside and Cooper Flagg hit a pull-up. Still, the Clippers quickly responded through Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland, continuing to generate cleaner looks. Midway through the quarter, the offense stalled out, with Flagg having multiple attempts blocked and missing floaters, which killed any rhythm. Dallas got a small push from Marvin Bagley with a three, a dunk, and free throws, but second-chance points and trips to the line from LA immediately erased all momentum. Missed threes and empty possessions kept resetting any progress, and by halftime the Clippers held a 65-55 lead, a quarter where Dallas hung around but never took control.
The third quarter was Dallas’ stretch, as they finally found some rhythm and made a real push to get back into the game. It started with Cooper Flagg getting downhill and to the line, while also setting up Marvin Bagley for easy finishes, helping chip away at the deficit. Bagley provided consistent scoring inside, and Ryan Nembhard and Klay Thompson added timely buckets, allowing Dallas to pull even briefly. But every time the Mavericks got close, Kawhi Leonard answered, knocking down multiple threes and tough midrange shots to keep the Clippers in control. Dallas had chances to take the lead, but missed shots and second-chance opportunities for LA stalled momentum. By the end of the quarter, despite the push, Dallas still trailed 89-84, a much closer game but one that remained just out of reach.
The fourth quarter never really gave Dallas a real opening, and it slowly slipped away possession by possession. The Clippers opened with a Darius Garland layup, and even when Cooper Flagg answered with a dunk, and Ryan Nembhard added a layup, Dallas couldn’t actually close the gap. After cutting it to 90-95, the game turned, as the Clippers responded with Garland scoring, second-chance points from John Collins, and free throws from Bennedict Mathurin, quickly pushing the lead back out. From there, the MavericMavericks stalled again with missed threes, a shot clock violation, and multiple blocked attempts, while LA kept adding efficient looks to stretch it into double digits. By the final minutes, it shifted into end-of-rotation basketball, with Klay Thompson adding some late buckets and free throws, but nothing that threatened the result. Dallas never seriously pushed back, and the Clippers closed it out comfortably, 116-103.
Tough Watch for Klay
There was something genuinely sad about watching Klay Thompson out there late in this one, especially surrounded by a lineup that clearly reflects where this team is right now. He finished just 4-for-17 from the field and 1-for-10 from three, and a lot of those looks felt forced or rushed, not because he was playing poorly in a vacuum, but because the situation around him isn’t conducive to his success anymore. When you’re a player like Klay, tasked with creating or stabilizing offense on a tanking roster, it just highlights how out of place it all feels.
And to his credit, he’s been sothing but a pro through all of it. He shows up, takes the shots, plays his role, and doesn’t care about anything other than helping the team. But at a certain point, it’s on its Mavericks to recognize what this is. His value isn’t going to go up by playing in games like this, and the longer this goes on, the more it risks fading altogether.
There’s an argument that Dallas should do right by him. Find him a situation where he can contribute to meaningful basketball again, where his skillset actually fits the context. He’s eaHe’s that. And honestly, it would benefit both sides. Because watching him grind through nights like this, at this stage, doesn’t feel like how it should end.
We are Ready for a New Season
At this point, it’s a little relief to feel that the season is winding down. Nights like this are the perfect example of why. You’re going to have a depleted roster go up against another pretty mediocre team in a half-empty arena, and the game itself turns into a grind filled with stoppages, including 45 combined free throws through three quarters. It’s no, it’s losing, it’s what these games feel. Slow, disjointed, and honestly exhausting to sit through.
There’s a sweet element to it, though. On the one hand, it’s been a long season, and a break from this version of the Mavericks feels necessary. On the other hand, you know what’s next is actually exciting. The draft, the offseason, the potential reshaping of the roster. That’s the real intrigue now. Because while there are still flashes and individual performances worth watching, nights like this are a reminder that this team, as currently constructed, isn’t a product right now. And after stretches like this, it’s a hit to be ready to move on to what’s next.
Bagley continues to make his case.
Marvin Bagley III continues to quietly make a real case for himself, even in a season where the bigger picture is about losing and positioning. He finished with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting (72.7%), adding 9 rebounds and a perfect 4-of-4 from the line, and it never felt forced. He just competed. Every possession, every touch, every opportunity to impact the game, he was there. And that’s consistent since he got to Dallas, even while dealing with injuries along the way.
What stands out most is how natural his fit has been alongside Cooper Flagg. He runs the floor, finishes at the rim, and gives Flagg a reliable interior presence to play off of, whether it’s lob dump-offs or second-chance opportunities. For a team that has struggled to find consistency in the frontcourt all season, that kind of stability matters more than it might seem on the surface.
The Mavericks will have to reevaluate their frontcourt this offseason seriously. That’s that. Bagley might not be a guaranteed piece moving forward, but he’s absolutely earned the right to be in that conversation. When you’re researching who competes, who produces, and who fits next to your cornerstone player, his name should come up just as much as anyone else.
Kate Hudson and Brenda Song sat courtside on Tuesday night to support the shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena.
Seated alongside their “Running Point” castmates Scott MacArthur and Drew Tarver, the group cheered on a Lakers team stripped down to its bones without LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Marcus Smart.
Kate Hudson and Brenda Song sat courtside to support the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. Getty Images
Hudson, radiant as ever, stopped to greet the Laker Girls and offered congratulations to the UCLA Bruins women’s basketball team, honored during a timeout in the first half for winning the 2026 NCAA National Championship on Sunday.
The cast’s appearance wasn’t a coincidence. Season 2 of their Netflix series “Running Point” is set to premiere April 23. The show is inspired by the life and leadership of former Lakers owner, and current governor Jeanie Buss.
Hudson is the star of “Running Point.” Getty Images
Elsewhere along the baseline, familiar faces filled out the frame: Former Lakers Danny Green and Pau Gasol. Reality personality Corey Gamble, and musician Giveon. A reminder that even in a shorthanded game, Los Angeles never lacks star power.
Former Lakers Danny Green and Pau Gasol also in attendance tonight for Thunder and Lakers. pic.twitter.com/UqUto5Bcrr
Apr 7, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; A fight breaks out between Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López (40) and Los Angeles Angels right fielder Jorge Soler (12) during the fifth inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images | William Navarro-Imagn Images
In what was an otherwise routine and mostly quiet game on Tuesday night between the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels, a big time brawl broke out between Braves starter Reynaldo Lopez and former World Series hero Jorge Soler.
Let’s set the stage. Earlier in the game, Lopez hit Soler in the hand with a fastball. In the fifth inning, another high fastball sailed over the head of catcher Jonah Heim. Soler took offense to it, and after the two stared each other down, the former World Series hero charged the mound. Punches were thrown, Walt Weiss made a perfectly formed tackle to take Soler down — seriously, watch the video — and both players were ejected.
MASSIVE brawl breaks out in Anaheim as Jorge Soler and Reynaldo López throw punches at each other after Soler took exception to a high-and-in pitch. pic.twitter.com/SOHkZjVqNn
We will see what the league decides to do, but a suspension for both players seems highly likely.
As for the rest of the game, the Angels took an early 2-0 lead on a Soler homer that was aided earlier in the inning on an errant throw from Austin Riley. The Braves would chip away by way of an Eli White RBI double in the second to cut the lead in half. In the fourth, Austin Riley delivered a much-needed RBI single to tie it, followed by a White sacrifice fly and Jonah Heim bloop single to give Atlanta a 4-2 lead. Ozzie Albies delivered a much-needed insurance run with a solo homer to right in the top of the eighth.
In the bottom half of the eighth, Aaron Bummer allowed two runners to reach scoring position with just one out. Weiss aggressively brought Raisel Iglesias in, who promptly struck out back-to-back hitters to escape the jam without a run scoring.
In the ninth, the Braves added some valuable insurance runs by way of a Drake Baldwin RBI single and Matt Olson 5-3 double play with the bases loaded to score another run.
The series and long west coast road trip will wrap up on Wednesday afternoon with Grant Holmes set to take on lefty Reid Detmers. First pitch is 4:07 p.m. ET.
Considering who wasn’t available for the Lakers on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena, it wasn’t a surprise that they were blown out 123-87 by the Thunder for their second loss to the defending champions in five days.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander goes up for a layup surrounded by defenders. NBAE via Getty Images
Luke Kennard was once again leading the Lakers’ offense has a playmaker.
Rookie forward Adou Thiero’s athleticism was popping.
And somehow, the Lakers found themselves tied with the league-best Thunder at 42 apiece midway through the second quarter.
But that hope quickly evaporated, with the Thunder taking full control of the game.
The Lakers scored just 22 points over the next 24 minutes of playing time en route to the 36-point blowout loss.
Deandre Ayton goes up for a block in the paint. NBAE via Getty Images
Their scoring total was their lowest in a game this season.
Rui Hachimura, one of four Lakers who were getting rotation minutes a week ago who was available on Tuesday, led the short-handed Lakers with 15 points.
Timme had 11 points. Kennard finished with 10 points and 9 assists, while Thiero had a career-high 10 points in the most playing time he’s had in an NBA game (21 minutes).
What it means
The Lakers are in the midst of their first three-game losing streak since Feb. 22-26.
They stayed at No. 4 in the Western Conference standings with a 50-29 record, now a game behind the Nuggets (51-28) with three games left in the regular season.
Rui Hachimura hits a jumper with a hand in his face. NBAE via Getty Images
Turning point
It should’ve been much earlier in the game considering who wasn’t available for the Lakers.
But when Jake LaRavia missed a pair of free throws late in the second quarter, with the Lakers already trailing, 60-46, and Isaiah Joe made a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to put the Thunder up by 17, it was clear if it wasn’t already that Tuesday wasn’t going to be the Lakers’ night.
MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
The reigning league MVP didn’t have any troubles against the depleted Lakers.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a game-high 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting to go with 8 assists in 28 minutes, sitting out of the fourth with the Thunder leading 93-62 going into the final quarter.
Stat of the game: 17
That’s how many free throws the Lakers missed, making an already difficult game even more challenging than it needed to be.
The Lakers’ 45.2% free-throw percentage on Tuesday was by far their worst mark for a game this season.
Their previous worst free-throw percentage accuracy was the 57.1% they shot from the charity stripe in the Jan. 9 home loss to the Bucks.
Up next
The Lakers will travel to San Francisco to play the Warriors on Thursday at Chase Center.
The matchup against the Warriors will be the first night of a back-to-back, with the Lakers hosting the Suns on Friday.
The quote “music is the space between the notes” is usually attributed to the French composer Claude Debussy. Or maybe it was Richard Strauss. Hell, maybe it was Richard Champion. Whoever it was, they were talking about savouring silence, about embracing emptiness, about avoiding anything that insists itself upon you.
You don’t get a lot of Debussy at football games. They probably sampled his most famous piece in an ad for banks or bookies. But you get a lot of music. You get a lot of noise. You get a lot of flashing lights. And you get a lot of fun facilitation.
VANCOVUER, British Columbia (AP) — Cole Smith's goal midway through the third period proved to be the winner as the Vegas Golden Knights held on to beat the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 on Tuesday night.
Max Sasson opened the scoring for the Canucks (22-47-8) with a wrist shot over the glove of Golden Knights goalie Carter Hart at the 12:50 mark of the second period. It was his 13th goal of the season.
Brayden McNabb replied for Vegas (36-26-16) less than three minutes later, sending a shot through traffic to tie the score at 1. Smith scored the go-ahead goal 12:13 into the third.
Vancouver had a prime chance to force extra time when Vegas defenseman Rasmus Andersson was called for interference with less than two minutes left. The Canucks pulled goalie Nikita Tolopilo in favor of an extra attacker, but failed to score.
Hart stopped 10 of the 11 shots he faced for the Golden Knights. Tolopilo made 26 saves for the Canucks.
Vegas extended its winning streak to four games under new head coach John Tortorella, who took over behind the bench March 31.
The Golden Knights swept the three-game season series between the teams after winning 5-2 on Feb. 4 and 4-2 on March 30 in Vegas.
Up next
Golden Knights: Visit Seattle on Thursday.
Canucks: Start a three-game road trip at Los Angeles on Thursday.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 7: Drew Timme #17 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 7, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
A heavily depleted Lakers team was once again blown out on Tuesday by the Oklahoma City Thunder, 123-87.
LA was down Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Marcus Smart and Jaxson Hayes. Despite that, they started the game with a bunch of energy and effort, keeping the game close for the first quarter-and-a-half.
However, water eventually found its level and the Thunder blew the game open late in the second quarter and never looked back.
LA shot an abysmal 14-31 from the free throw line, negating much of the early effort plays to get to the line. LA never led and trailed by as many as 41.
The Thunder jumped to a quick six-point lead on the shoulders of Chet Holmgren. Drew Timme got the offense going for the Lakers with a midrange floater. After Holmgren put up his fifth and sixth points, LA called an early timeout.
Timme was up to 10 points already for the Lakers, leading the team. At the five-minute mark, OKC was only up by one. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was leading the Thunder with seven points. LA was putting up a respectable fight, keeping the game close.
At the end of the first, the purple and gold were down by seven.
With 10 points from Drew Timme and 4 assists from Luke Kennard filling in tonight for injured starters, the Lakers hung in with OKC in the 1st Q, and head into the 2nd Q down 34-27.
Adou Thiero added 5 points and 2 boards off the bench.
There was a quick Lakers timeout called to start the second period. Out of the break, Bronny James missed his shot attempt, but stole the ball on the other end, leading to a layup by Rui Hachimura, sparking a 9-2 run that tied the game.
OKC jumped back ahead until four straight points from Los Angeles tied it again. Luke Kennard was up to six points.
Alex Caruso drained a 3-pointer to put his team back in the lead. The Thunder turned that triple into a 7-0 scoring run.
Los Angeles’s offense became stagnant, allowing OKC to continue to build on its now big lead. At halftime, Oklahoma was up by 18.
OKC finished the second quarter strong and now lead 65-47 entering halftime. Drew Timme is the only Laker in double figures. He has 11 points.
Kennard threw up a lob to Hachimura for a dunk to start the second half, his ninth assist of the game. He also converted on a midrange jumper, giving the team some much-needed life.
Holmgren knocked down a triple to stop LA’s sudden small burst of momentum.
LA, unfortunately, went on a four-minute scoring drought with the Thunder taking full advantage of it to fully blow the game open. The only other exciting things that happened for LA in this quarter were dunks by Thiero and Bronny James.
Thunder 93, Lakers 62 after three quarters of play. Fans are leaving as if the game is officially over.
The final frame began with the Lakers missing a few shot attempts and Aaron Wiggins draining a triple for the Thunder. The rest of the quarter happened.
Key Player Stats
Timme finished with 11 points, three rebounds and two assists. Hachimura notched 15 points with five rebounds. Kennard ended with 10 points and nine assists. Adou Thiero and Kobe Bufkin combined for 19 points off the bench.
Nick Smith poured in 11 points in garbage time.
The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday at 7:00 PM PT.
"This is as toxic of a team situation as any in the league. They waited until the very end on Giannis, and now everyone knows."
When your best player is one foot in, one foot out, you're not going to win."
"The crux of the issue is feeling Giannis doesn't want to be here on any given day."
If it didn't already feel like a parting of the ways between the two-time MVP and the only NBA team he has ever known was inevitable already, the feud over Antetokounmpo returning to play at the tail end of this season — when the Bucks were already eliminated from the playoffs — seems to have thrown gasoline on the fire.
Antetokounmpo wanted trade
From Antetokounmpo's perspective, he tried to quietly push for a trade, something that was amicable to both sides. According to the report, Antetokounmpo and his agent had a handshake agreement going back years with Bucks owners Jimmy Haslam and Wes Edens that if he told them it was time to part ways, they would work together to get it done. By January, Antetokounmpo felt it was time.
This arrangement allowed Antetokounmpo to save face and not be the guy who demanded a trade out of town, a perception he didn't want.
Milwaukee head of basketball operations Jon Horst fielded calls and looked at offers. As the process dragged on and the deadline approached, some people in front offices got the impression that Horst was gauging the market but wasn't necessarily serious about making a deal. However, a Miami offer of Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware and multiple draft picks drew real interest.
It was Bucks ownership that ultimately looked at the deals on the table and decided to wait until the offseason to make a deal, with the expectation there would be better offers then, according to the ESPN report. That frustrated Antetokounmpo, who wanted the deal done.
The challenge for Milwaukee with that plan is Antetokounmpo is now heading into the potential final year of his contract (he has a 2027-28 player option), and that gives him leverage in deciding where to go this summer because he can tell teams he will not re-sign with them.
From Antetokounmpo's perspective, this could have been an amicable split, now it's gotten nasty — and him not getting to play at the end of the season only made it worse.
While Milwaukee can offer Antetokounmpo a four-year, $275 million extension this summer (he couldn't sign it until Oct. 1), the expectation now is he will not sign it. Everyone involved knows the trade is coming.
Doc Rivers on way out door
Another aspect of the report was that Doc Rivers — brought in to replace Adrian Griffin — never connected with the Bucks players and, in many ways, rubbed veteran players the wrong way.
Rivers struggled to command the locker room, and reportedly said this at one film session, according to Charania and ESPN.
"I took teams to the playoffs and to the championship that weren't supposed to. I thought this was one of them. Either you're with us or against us. If you're not playing hard, we're not playing you anymore. I know everything that goes on in this building."
It is widely expected Rivers will be gone at the end of the season, something that has been previously reported by NBC Sports. If you had any doubt about that, check out Rivers' quote pregame on Tuesday when asked how much longer he wants to coach.
Doc Rivers when asked how much longer he wants to coach in the NBA:
“I have seven grandkids now, and they’re all eight years and under... It’s probably time to go see them more, so I’ll let you figure out the rest." pic.twitter.com/tVn2dZYQUi
This summer in Milwaukee will see an overhaul, from the coaching staff to the roster. The only questions now are what kind of return the Bucks can get for Antetokounmpo and who will coach this reworked roster.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – APRIL 7: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles the ball during the game against the Sacramento Kings on April 7, 2026 at Chase...
SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors will have to beat two teams better than the one inside their building Tuesday night if they want to advance out of next week’s play-in tournament.
It’s a good thing they should have more help than they did against the Kings.
Despite leading by double digits late into the third quarter, it took the Warriors until the final moments to put away the Western Conference bottom dwellers in a 110-105 win.
Stephen Curry brings the ball up court against the Kings. NBAE via Getty Images
In his second game back from a 27-game absence, Stephen Curry lacked the late heroics that nearly willed them back against the Rockets but still sank one late 3-pointer and set up Brandin Podziemski for a dagger at the top of the key that put them up 107-104 with 1:54 left.
Playing his second game on a 10-day contract, Charles Bassey grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds to go with 14 points for a double-double, while Pat Spencer paced them early with 11 of his 14 points in the first half after stepping into the starting lineup for Will Richard.
The rookie guard was scratched before tipoff after initially being listed in the starting lineup. Spencer logged 41 minutes, not only a career-high but the most the former lacrosse player has ever played.
He offered an honest assessment of how he felt afterward. “Pretty wiped.”
Curry hits a three with a hand in his face. NBAE via Getty Images
What it means
The Warriors played their best half of basketball of the season the last time they faced the Kings, outscoring Sacramento by 30 points over the final two quarters of a 137-103 win in the first week of January, their largest margin of the season.
Their trouble putting away the Kings three months later only underscores how much has changed for the Warriors, who have since lost Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody for the season, and were also missing Gui Santos, Will Richard and a trio of big men — Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and Quinten Post.
The outcome of this one didn’t change anything in the standings, but the Clippers’ win over the Mavericks officially locked them into the No. 10 seed.
Turning point
The Kings capitalized on 11 Golden State turnovers in the third quarter to climb all the way back from a 16-point deficit and tie the score at 85 less than a minute into the fourth.
The Warriors converted only six shots from the field in the final period, but five came from 3-point territory, including a pair from Melton. Podziemski and both Curry brothers also contributed triples to seal the win.
This was the Warriors first win since Curry’s return. NBAE via Getty Images
Curry was limited to three points after halftime and coach Steve Kerr said he looked “a little rusty,” calling out his contributions to their turnover troubles in the third quarter.
But Curry looked plenty comfortable, twice squeezing around screens, getting off a shot from distance with defenders in his face and luring them into his landing space for a foul.
On his second four-point play, Curry smiled and shimmied from his seat on the floor.
Stat of the game: 21 points
In one encouraging sign heading into the postseason, Melton put together his best stretch of basketball in a few weeks. The guard returned from knee surgery in December and has recently been limited by a bum thumb but looked like the dynamic backcourt playmaker the Warriors had become accustomed to with 21 points in 29 minutes.
Melton poured in 12 in just the first six minutes of the second quarter, helping the Warriors build a double-digit advantage. In that stretch alone, Melton doubled his best scoring total since he had 14 in a March 25 win over the Nets.
Up next
The Warriors host the Lakers on Thursday in what will be their final home game of the season unless they are able to advance out of the play-in tournament. With their seeding already locked in, expect Curry and a collection of others to rest the following night in Sacramento.
Justus Annunen made 43 saves for his first shutout win in a Nashville Predators uniform in a 5-0 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday at the Honda Center.
It is Annunen's third career shutout, the first since March 4, 2024, in a 5-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks when he was with the Colorado Avalanche.
It was also the Predators' first shutout win of the season and their widest margin of victory.
The win also puts Nashville ahead of the Los Angeles Kings for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference with 84 points. The Predators have four games remaining in the regular season.
Erik Haula opened the scoring in the second period, picking up a slot-feed from Joakim Kemell and beating Lukas Dostal blocker side.
About four minutes later, on the power play, Filip Forsberg fired a shot from the top of the circles to put Nashville up 2-0. It's his eighth point in the last five games and his 38th goal of the season.
In the final minute of the second period, on the penalty kill, Ryan O'Reilly picked off a Ducks player and passed to Nick Perbix, forcing a break the other way. He'd pass it up to Brady Skjei, who scored on the breakaway for his third goal of the year and the Predators' eighth short-handed goal of the season.
In the third period, on an odd-man rush, Zach L'Heuruex capped it off with a goal to give Nashville a wide 4-0 lead. Kemell had the primary assist on the goal for the first multi-point game of his career.
Late in the third, Fedor Svechkov picked up a spinning feed into the slot from Tyson Jost and scored for his first goal in nearly a month.
Nashville's penalty kill was efficient as it killed off 6-of-6 Ducks power plays. Two of those Ducks' power plays were 5-on-3s.
The Predators will play their final road game of the regular season on Thursday, traveling to Salt Lake City to face the Utah Mammoth at 8 p.m. CST.
San Diego Padres SP Walker Buehler (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In baseball, you’re only as good as your last game. The San Diego Padres lost four of the first six games in the 2026 campaign. The Friar Faithful were concerned about the starting pitching outside of Randy Vasquez. Speculation was growing over how much longer Craig Stammen can stick with the current rotation before making changes.
However, a weekend in Boston has changed everyone’s spirits. It is a small sample, but the Friars’ starting pitchers need to tread water until the bats come alive.
A starting rotation is a team’s life source
The Padres starters are well-equipped to take the lead and take down the opposing lineups this week. Not every pitcher needs to register a stellar performance, but everyone wants to see some consistency in their starts.
You want them to become more comfortable on the mound, but their control does not have to be sparkling. The hope is that the third start of the season ends on an upward trend. They must limit baserunners by throwing strikes and recording outs.
If not, you fall into the trap of pitching into hitters’ counts. Usually, the results are not good, as hard-hit balls occur, and runners cross home plate.
Friars are searching for SP consistency
The Padres’ rotation is in flux, as Joe Musgrove is working his way back onto the active roster. Moving forward, Michael King, Nick Pivetta, Walker Buehler and German Marquez need to become more reliable in their starts.
The Friar Faithful might have raised the white flag after Stammen brought in Kyle Hart after another poor outing from Buehler. But the move made all the sense, as Hart has put himself back into the conversation as a rotation replacement option. Shutting down the Boston Red Sox for two-plus innings has definitely opened some eyes.
But to get on an extended winning streak, the Friars’ offense must hold up its end of the bargain.
Bats must come alive
The Padres have one more game against the Pittsburgh Pirates before coming home to host the Colorado Rockies in a four-game series at Petco Park this weekend. It offers plenty of time for Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. to have more quality at-bats.
As proven run-producing hitters, both are expected to anchor the lineup. But their production has been spotty at best to start the 2026 season. Machado and Tatis Jr. have to make opposing pitchers dread the prospect of pitching against them, especially with runners in scoring position.
Together, they need to put fear back into the mind of opposing pitchers and give the impression they’re ready to breakout from their slow starts.
Yes, there is a discrepancy between expectations and actual production done at the plate.
It seems everything is going in the right direction. But it’s too early to tell.
The Yankees continue to roll to start the 2026 season, with different players putting their stamp on each game and Tuesday night wasn't any different.
Going up against the Athletics, Yankees manager Aaron Boone decided to start Amed Rosario (his second this season) at third base instead of Ryan McMahon. Despite the A's having right-hander Aaron Civale on the mound, the Yankees skipper chose Rosario instead of the left-handed McMahon because of Civale's reverse splits. And that proved to be the right move.
Rosario got the Yankees' scoring started with a solo shot in the second to put them up 1-0. But once the offense stalled, Rosario came to the rescue again in the eighth inning. Going up against former Yankees reliever Mark Leiter Jr., Rosario launched a three-run blast to give the Yankees the lead and the eventual win, 5-3.
The 30-year-old launched the 0-1 splitter 414 feet (107.3 mph off the bat) into the second deck in left field. Rosario knew he got all of it and turned to his dugout to hype his team up.
"A lot of emotions there," Rosario said through an interpreter of the go-ahead homer. "Looking for a pitch that I could do some damage. I got it."
The Yankees traded for Rosario at the trade deadline last year to help bolster their bench. He provided that much-needed right-handed depth, hitting .303 with a home run, three doubles and five RBI in 16 games in 2025. The team re-signed him to give Boone that bench option again, and the skipper knew he could deliver when needed.
"One of the things that struck me about him last year, just how good he was at staying ready and prepared in the role," Boone said. "He’s really good at what he needs to be ready every single day. I liked him against Civale today, not only he hits one there, but a no-doubter to pull the victory out. Just a big night for him."
Another reason the Yankees brought back Rosario was his clubhouse presence. Even when he wasn't playing, he brought an energy to the dugout, constantly encouraging his teammates. He's become a favorite amongst his teammates.
"We brought Rosie back not only because he’s a good player, but a tremendous teammate and sets an amazing example for everyone," Boone said. "He’s become beloved in that room in short order. They all get thrilled by his successes, too."
"He’s great to have on the team. Great to have someone like him on the team," Jose Caballero said of Rosario. "He never has a bad day. He always comes with high energy. It’s good for the clubhouse, good for him, and good for everyone."
"He’s great. High-energy guy," Cam Schlittler added. "Goes out there and does something like that tonight. We don’t win that game without him.
Boone recalled last year when Rosario wound up on the IL after running into a wall in the outfield when he first came over in the trade. When Rosario was ready to come back after a short stint, he didn't need a rehab start; he told the team he was ready to go immediately, and that stuck with Boone.
"Although I’m not playing every day, I try not to let that affect me mentally," Rosario said of staying ready. "Over the years, I’ve created a routine that’s allowed me to do my job."
That's why Boone is comfortable inserting Rosario in the lineup when needed, perhaps even more than last season.
The decision is also made easier by McMahon's tough start to the season offensively -- 2-for-23 with an OPS of . 363. However, Boone isn't committing to a change after Rosario's performance on Tuesday. He likes the options he has in Rosario and McMahon and will create his lineup accordingly.
"There's certain matchups that I like [Rosario] in," Boone explained. "We've got a number of lefties coming up. Competition's always a good thing."
Tuesday was just the third instance where Rosario had a multi-homer game. As a Yankee, Rosario has hit .302/.295/.581 (13-for-43) with three doubles, three home runs and 10 RBI in just 20 games.
If McMahon continues to struggle, Rosario will have more opportunities to build on those numbers.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 31: German Marquez #33 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Petco Park on March 31, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres signed a starter in the offseason that they knew would not be ready for at least a month to two months in Griffin Canning. With Spring Training well underway, they discovered that their rehabbing workhorse, Joe Musgrove, was not recovering well from his buildup and he was put on hold. Matt Waldron, who worked hard during the offseason to lose weight, increase strength and improve his velocity, suffered an infection of a hemorrhoid and needed surgery.
That left two reclamation projects, Walker Buehler and Germán Márquez, as the last two pitchers to fill out the rotation. Both left-handers JP Sears and Marco Gonzales, as well as righty Triston McKenzie, showed early that they didn’t have the needed command to break camp with the team.
At least Buehler and Márquez are experienced veterans who know how to pitch. Even with diminished stuff after elbow surgeries, they both showed the ability in spring games to develop into acceptable fill-ins for a while.
So, after two starts each, what have we learned about Buehler and Márquez?
Walker Buehler
In 6.2 innings pitched over two starts, Buehler has had two good innings to start each game. Then everything falls apart and he can’t get it back. In the first two innings of the two starts, Buehler has allowed two hits, no runs, one walk and has had six strikeouts. Over the next 2.2 innings pitched in the third and fourth innings of the two games, Buehler has allowed six hits, seven runs, three walks and has had one strikeout. He has a seven-pitch mix with a fastball that tops out at 93-94 mph. His command and execution are the issues, and it seems that he had to change his arm angle and mechanics to accommodate his injured elbow. Now that he is healed, going back to a previous arm angle has been a problem.
In his Padres Daily newsletter, San Diego Union-Tribune Padres beat writer Kevin Acee quoted Buehler on his struggles.
“By nature of doing new stuff for three or four days, I can hold it for a (while) and then it goes away. It’s just getting the new stuff into the throw…. I feel good about the first two innings. So net positive, I guess.”
All that is well and good if we were still in spring games. But these games count and a starter that can hold his delivery for only two innings is not a starter. That would be a bullpen pitcher, at best. The bottom line appears to be whether Buehler can bring his new mechanics into the games more consistently and soon enough so as not to cost the Friars too many games. Taxing the bullpen for five or six innings every fifth day is not a winning approach.
There will be an end line for this experiment. Matt Waldron is almost done with his rehab and Griffin Canning has begun his starter progression. Buehler’s 9.45 ERA is representative of how poorly he pitches after reverting back to old habits in his delivery. The Padres can’t afford to let that continue for too long.
Germán Márquez
In eight innings pitched over two starts, Márquez had one horrible performance and one really gutsy one. In his first start, he lasted three innings, allowing four runs on eight hits and a walk. His locations on his pitches were missing and he was hit hard.
Then, in a Padres notebook by Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Ruben Niebla revealed that Márquez was tipping his pitches and the hitters took advantage. They worked on his delivery in his between starts bullpen session. Márquez pitched through five shutout innings while scattering six hits with one walk and four strikeouts Monday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He benefitted from some good defense as well as some Pirates mistakes in the Padres win.
Márquez lives and dies by his knuckle curve. He used it 45% of the time versus the Pirates and his 94 mph four-seamer 47% of the time. He threw five sinkers and one changeup in his 92 pitches. The curve had a 38% whiff rate and the fastball a 25% whiff rate. His curve is the only pitch that rates out as a plus-pitch.
Márquez has to be almost perfect with his curve and fastball to be successful pitching this way. Mixing in other pitches would presumably make him less predictable but if he can locate the knuckle curve and it moves like it did on Monday, maybe a fifth starter job can work for him.
The conclusion for both of these veteran starters is that they have to hold onto their altered delivery and mechanics if they have any hope of sticking as MLB starting pitchers. Both are former ace pitchers who have lost velocity after elbow surgery and must now rely on command in order to be effective. It seems that both have the potential to succeed but time will tell if the adjustments they have made can carry them through to an effective second career as a finesse pitcher.
The Padres, luckily, have other options on the horizon if either or both of these pitchers are unable to adjust to their new realities. For the sake of the team, we can hope that at least one of them is able to succeed.
