PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 02: Starter Reynaldo López #40 of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fourth inning at Chase Field on April 02, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A three-game losing streak to carry isn’t the momentum the Atlanta Braves were hoping for as they continue their West Coast road trip against the Los Angeles Angels. Let’s hope today marks the turnaround point.
Reynaldo López is coming into this series with a 1.64 ERA and a 5.04 xFIP score. Only starting in two games since his return so far, he’s been displaying solid performances, allowing only one run in both of his past outings with three total strikeouts and less than five hits.
With the way the Angels performed yesterday, he’s going to need to focus on command as much as he can to start the momentum with pitch one to hold down the defense.
His go-to pitch this season has been his four-seamer, which has been clocked at an average of 94.1 mph. The slider, curveball and changeup have also been noted as reliable, but what it will all come down to is execution. And if the offense can follow suit, then we might have a ballgame worth staying up for.
On the opposing side, Yusei Kikuchi is taking the mound for the Angels. His ERA capped at 6.52 across his two-game starts is a drastic drop from how he ended his 2025 season (3.99 ERA). In his five-pitch arsenal, he splits his usage between the four-seamer, slider, and changeup, which seemingly finds no problem with landing in the zone…yet also is predictable on the batter’s side.
This game will determine the winner of this three-game series before the Braves head back home to take on Cleveland, but this matchup means more than just clinching a series win…they need to break this losing streak and get some runs on the board, without relying on Drake Baldwin to carry them.
Maybe yesterday was the wake-up call they needed to get back in the game and leave on a good note. Of course, before we get to that point, today’s game outcome must be determined.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 05: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors and Seth Curry #31 of the Golden State Warriors look on against the Houston Rockets in the second quarter at Chase Center on April 05, 2026 in San Francisco, 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. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Bucks have “come to terms with the inevitability” of a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade coming this offseason, according to ESPN.
Ever since the Golden State Warriors signed Stephen Curry’s younger brother, Seth Curry, on Dec. 1, many awaited the moment the two would finally share the floor as NBA teammates. Just as it seemed within reach, injuries to both delayed that opportunity for most of the season.
However, that changed Sunday night.
After missing 27 games, Steph Curry returned to the lineup, finally giving the brothers their long-awaited opportunity to take the floor together. At the 6:19 mark of the second quarter, the two stood side by side in the same backcourt, delivering a special moment for one of the NBA’s most iconic basketball families.
Steph & Seth share the court 🥹
For the first time in their careers, Stephen Curry and Seth Curry are sharing the floor as teammates in the same regular season game! pic.twitter.com/VtNRumsEPe
The Curry brothers shared the floor for just one minute before Seth was subbed out, but it was enough to make the moment real. Between them, they combined for 35 points off the bench, knocking down six three-pointers on 13 attempts. Steph led the way with 29 points in just 26 minutes, while Seth added six points in 13 minutes of action.
After years of competing against each other on separate teams, the opportunity to finally play as teammates became a reality — something both described as a “dream come true” for their family.
"Oh man. That was special. We've both had a very difficult year… I was joking calling us the rehab brothers."
Steph Curry got emotional when asked about playing with his brother Seth for the first time in the NBA 💛🥲
And while their time on the floor together was brief this time around, there should be more opportunities with four games remaining in the regular season. For the Warriors, it was a bright spot during a challenging stretch. For the Currys, it meant something more — a moment years in the making, and one they won’t forget.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Tuesday, April 7th:
They’re most happy that their mother Sonya was able to be there, fully in her element.
“To have that moment coming out of a timeout talking about our matchups, I was having flashbacks to Charlotte Christian High School my senior year, his sophomore year,” Steph said. “That was the last time in an actual game, even though he was on our training camp roster in 2013, but that was the last time we actually played a game together. My mom was in the stands, she probably didn’t have any more memory on her phone with all the pictures and videos.”
“Rich and I discussed it a couple months ago briefly,” Draymond said. “We haven’t talked much about it because we don’t deal with those things until the offseason. But I think in an ideal world, and again, this is me talking without me talking to my representation so Rich will probably kill me. But in an ideal world, I think the best path would be to decline and extend. If I had it my way, that would be the best path forward.”
If it happens, that would be one important piece of the puzzle plopped into place for Joe Lacob and Mike Dunleavy, added to trying to get Kristaps Porzingis signed, possibly also at a medium salary for a few years, and several other important items.
The Bucks will be open to trade talks regarding Antetokounmpo, and the highest levels of the organization have come to terms with the inevitability of a likely deal coming to fruition this offseason, sources told ESPN.
“This is as toxic of a team situation as any in the league,” one source close to the team said. “They waited until the very end on Giannis, and now everyone knows.”
Since hiring Karnisovas to head basketball operations in 2020, the Bulls went 224-254, made one playoff appearance, and are now missing the postseason for the fourth straight season. Bulls CEO and president Michael Reinsdorf decided Monday to make a change to the team’s… https://t.co/sedLR42nIN
What can we conclude? Referees don’t respect Steph Curry, but they respect the sanctity of “three in the key” even less. This author will consider the Warriors a true 37-win team going forward.
Follow@unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 6: Nick Castellanos #21 of the San Diego Padres hits an RBI double in the fourth inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 6, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The last few days have made it feel good to be a San Diego Padres fan again.
The Friar Faithful have been rewarded after a floundering first week with a three-game win streak. After winning their first series of the year against the Boston Red Sox, they won their first game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, 5-0.
And although the offense has been producing much more consistently, by far, the greatest part of yesterday’s game was starter Germán Márquez pitching five shutout innings against a Pittsburgh lineup that has been hot.
After a difficult debut at Petco Park last week, Márquez gave the Friars exactly what they needed: some breathing room for the bullpen.
With Walker Buehler only going 2 2/3 innings in Sunday’s game, the relievers were leaned on heavily. There was a worry going into yesterday’s game that Márquez wouldn’t last long enough to give the relievers adequate rest.
Thankfully, that wasn’t the case, and San Diego was able to ride the pitching staff’s shutout to a Padres’ victory.
Taking the mound
Paul Skenes (PIT) v. Nick Pivetta (SD)
Skenes had a rough go of it on Opening Day, surrendering five runs in only 2/3 innings pitched. In large part, that was due to Oneil Cruz’s terrible defense in center field. It was no surprise when he bounced back with five innings of one-run ball against the Cincinnati Reds in his last start.
San Diego will have a tough time solving him, especially since they’ve yet to face him since his 2024 debut.
He’s one of the most dominant pitchers in the game, but the Padres have had success against right-handers so they could get to him just enough to get into the ‘pen.
Pivetta had a similar start to the year with a difficult Opening Day followed by a bounceback start.
In his last start against the San Francisco Giants, he pitched five innings with eight strikeouts, only allowing one hit.
If he can stymie this Pirates lineup the same way Márquez did last night, the Padres won’t need to do too much against Skenes.
Batter up!
With Bubba Chandler being a remarkably similar pitcher to Skenes (they even look somewhat like each other), a similar lineup as yesterday’s will probably remain the game plan:
Ramón Laureano, LF
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Jackson Merrill, CF
Manny Machado, 3B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Gavin Sheets, 1B
Nick Castellanos, DH
Jake Cronenworth, 2B
Luis Campusano, C
It’s possible Miguel Andujar gets the tab at DH over Castellanos. But Castellanos went 2-for-4 with an RBI last night. Maybe this time manager Craig Stammen finally keeps the hot bats in the lineup.
Campusano will likely get the start, as him and Freddy Fermin seem to be mostly swapping back and forth in the backstop role.
San Diego has had more success against right-handers, so there’s hope they produce against Skenes today. If they do, it would go a long way to continuing to calm the worries about this offense from the beginning of the season.
Relief corps
With Márquez covering five scoreless innings yesterday, the Padres only needed to turn to two pitchers (Ron Marinaccio and David Morgan), neither of whom were used in Sunday’s 8-6 win over Boston.
Because of that, the bullpen will be well-rested for the pitcher’s duel between Skenes and Pivetta today. Should Pivetta stumble, the Padres will have plenty of high-leverage options to turn to.
Of those choices, the one who has struggled the most as of late is Wandy Peralta. Called upon to get one out in Friday’s loss, he failed to do so and gave up two runs (one earned). It was a lead that Boston wouldn’t relinquish. In Sunday’s win Peralta allowed the Sox to bring the tying run home before the Friars made up for it with one run apiece in the eighth and ninth innings.
If the Padres manage to produce against Skenes, and have a lead in the ninth, Mason Miller will come in to close. He would have yesterday if not for having pitched the last two games in Boston. With a five-run lead, San Diego made the choice to give him rest.
Behind those two remains Kyle Hart (though he pitched 2 1/3 innings on Sunday), Jeremiah Estrada, Bradgley Rodriguez and Adrian Morejon. Some combination of those four will likely be utilized against Pittsburgh today.
The Carolina Hurricanes were announced as one of the two teams that will be going abroad next season for the NHL Global Series in Helsinki, Finland.
While it was certainly an exciting announcement for Canes fans, especially international ones, you can count Hurricanes alternate captain Sebastian Aho as one of those most excited about the news.
The Finnish centerman has played the last 10 seasons in the NHL, and while he goes back home every offseason, he hasn't played in an actual game back in Finland since 2016.
Now though, he'll have the chance to once again play in front of a crowd of Finns.
"Obviously it's gonna be somewhat weird because not every person is either a Kraken or Canes fan, right?," Aho said. "They're watching good hockey and hopefully rooting for the Finns. But I'm sure it will be a good atmosphere."
Aho said that he and his wife have been taking time on some of the off days since returning from the Olympics to go through all the potential people they'll be wanting to invite for the games.
"There's a lot," Aho said. "Been trying to figure out how many tickets and all that I'm gonna get for the game, so we've been asking the close friends and family if they're available for those dates and most of them will be coming, which is awesome. There's a lot of important people who will see me play who have not necessarily always been able to come here at all. It's awesome. It's probably gonna be a little expensive, but we'll see what we'll be able to work out."
It isn't everyday that you get an opportunity like this, so I'm sure Aho won't be too worried about losing out on a game check or two.
The Hurricanes star said he was actually informed about the event right before the Olympic break by team general manager Eric Tulsky.
"Eric came to the locker room and broke the news for me and within the next five minutes, every guy in the locker room knew pretty much," Aho said. "We kept it pretty tight though. They told us not to spoil it yet, but it was very exciting."
Aho did however discuss the upcoming event with some of his fellow Finnish Olympians, most notably Seattle Kraken forward Kaapo Kakko, who will be facing off against Aho and the Hurricanes in Finland.
The Canes alternate captain said that Kakko joked with him that he was "gonna make reservations at every single restaurant that weekend," so that the Hurricanes wouldn't have anywhere to go.
"We'll have to be quick to get some reservations at the best spots there because I'm sure they want to do the fun stuff too," Aho said. "But I'm sure I'll be able to find something good for the boys."
Aho didn't want to get into what he's planning for the team, saying that he doesn't want to "spoil too much," but he did say that there will for sure be a sauna experience as well as a bit of salmon soup and reindeer.
"I'm sure the boys will enjoy it," Aho said. "Those are probably the things that are a must, but there's plenty of good restaurants in the city and also overall just hanging out as a group. I think it's a great way to bond. Obviously it's a different, long road trip, but hopefully we're gonna have a good time."
Carolina head coach Rod Brind'Amour made the trip with the Hurricanes over 15 years prior, back then as the director of player development, and it's that sort of team bonding that he remembers so well.
"We went over there how many years ago now, I mean it's been a while, but it's a great memory and that's what it is. An opportunity to make memories" Brind'Amour said. "Obviously the games are going to be important, but there's a bigger takeaway too: Going somewhere where you wouldn't normally go and all that stuff. That's the exciting part."
Funny enough, that game 15 years ago was also one of Sebastian Aho's first tastes of the NHL, as the then 13-year-old was actually in attendance to see the Hurricanes take on the Minnesota Wild.
Those game featured a few big name Finns such as Jussi Jokinen, Tuomo Ruutu, Joni Pitkanen, Mikko Koivu, Niklas Baskstrom and Antti Miettinen. Oh and future teammate Brent Burns as well.
"Back then, I had no clue I was gonna play in the NHL or for the Canes, so it's a pretty funny coincidence there," Aho said. "I enjoyed the game. Thought it was cool, something definitely unique. 15-20 years ago, I wasn't paying that much attention to the NHL then. But from there, with all the technology and everything, they started having prime time games, easy access with YouTube and all that, so it was kind of easier to follow the NHL from that point. It was cool. A big show obviously when the NHL comes to Finland. I enjoyed it and hopefully I'll have a good time as a player too."
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Shane Smith looks to bring down his abysmal ERA in today’s matchup. | (Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)
After a recent reschedule to dodge the cold, the White Sox will get another look at the Orioles this afternoon. Unfortunately, the weather hasn’t improved, and it’s actually colder than last night, so don’t expect many home runs or much offensive fireworks from either side.
The team announced a few moves today after Austin Hays left last night with a right hamstring strain. Dustin Harris has packed his bag and will head to Chicago to replace Hays. Mike Vasil, who recently underwent Tommy John surgery, has been moved to the 60-day injured list.
Per Brooke Fletcher, Brooks Baldwin elected to undergo a season-ending UCL internal brace procedure on his right elbow on April 1. Baldwin, who was placed on the 10-day injured list on March 26, is expected to be ready by Spring Training 2027.
Chase Meidroth is back in the leadoff spot today, and Shane Smith will be on the mound. With two losses under his belt already, and only 4 2/3 innings pitched, Smith will try to bring down his elevated 19.29 ERA. Miguel Vargas will get the afternoon off, with Tanner Murray playing third base instead.
Trevor Rogers will take the hill for the Orioles. Rogers has won both games he’s pitched in, with a 1.38 ERA over 13 innings. Adley Rutschman also has the day off behind the plate, being replaced by Samuel Basallo. The Orioles also already sent their pitcher from last night back to Norfolk. Nick Raquet was acquired this morning in a trade with the Cardinals.
The game will be on CHSN or available to listen to on ESPN Chicago 1000 at 2:10 p.m. CT.
The basketball gods seem angry with the Los Angeles Lakers. Losing two of their three best players for at least a few weeks just as the playoffs near certainly changes every thought Los Angeles has.
Few opponents will pester a new point guard as aggressively as the Oklahoma City Thunder will tonight, but my Thunder vs. Lakers predictions and these NBA picks still see value in new-look L.A. point guard Luke Kennard on Tuesday, April 7.
Thunder vs Lakers prediction
Thunder vs Lakers best bet: Luke Kennard Over 5.5 assists (+105)
Point guard Luke Kennard. That is a reality for the Los Angeles Lakers as the playoffs loom. This was certainly not their plan.
With both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves sidelined for the next few weeks, Kennard and LeBron James shared the offensive initiation duties in Sunday’s loss at Dallas, with James playing nearly 39 minutes and dishing out 15 assists while Kennard played more than 41 minutes and handed out 11 assists.
Expect Kennard to also cough up a bounty of turnovers against the Oklahoma City Thunder’s perimeter defenders. That should be obvious.
But the sheer amount of ball-handling now required of Kennard creates unquestionable value in this prop. As long as Los Angeles has hopes of the No. 3 seed in the West — currently effectively tied with the Nuggets, though the Lakers hold the tiebreaker — expect them to lean into this new-fangled look.
This was not the design, but it is now the reality.
Thunder vs Lakers same-game parlay
The value is in Kennard’s assists prop, not as much as in LeBron James’s. Kennard’s ball-handling role is the surprise induced by Los Angeles’s injuries; LeBron already initiated plenty.
The reaction to Sunday’s stats should be amazement at how much Kennard was asked to do. LeBron’s 15 assists were impressive, but also less of an outlier than Kennard’s 11.
Thunder vs Lakers SGP
Luke Kennard Over 5.5 assists
LeBron James Under 9.5 assists
Thunder moneyline
Our "from downtown" SGP: Rest LeBron?
JJ Redick faces a difficult choice this week. As the No. 3 seed slips from Los Angeles’s grasp, how long will he ride LeBron James? Any deficit against the Thunder tonight should quickly feel insurmountable, and getting some rest for the 41-year-old James before the playoffs is certainly a concern on Redick’s mind.
Thunder vs Lakers SGP
Thunder -17
LeBron James Under 9.5 assists
LeBron James Under 23.5 points
LeBron James Under 6.5 rebounds
Thunder vs Lakers odds
Spread: Thunder -17 | Lakers +17
Moneyline: Thunder -2000 | Lakers +1000
Over/Under: Over 222.5 | Under 222.5
Thunder vs Lakers betting trend to know
The looming threat of the Spurs in the standings has kept the Thunder engaged enough to go 3-1 against the spread in their last four games, all as favorites of at least eight points. Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Lakers.
How to watch Thunder vs Lakers
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Tip-off
10:30 p.m. ET
TV
Spectrum SportsNet, FDSN-Oklahoma
Thunder vs Lakers latest injuries
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - APRIL 1: Trevor Rogers #28 of the Baltimore Orioles throws a pitch in the third inning during a game against the Texas Rangers at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 1, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
No one who is directly involved was interested in there being a baseball game in the cold Chicago night this evening, so here we are for a 3:10 Eastern start time instead of what would have been 7:40. Everyone else must bear the mild inconvenience of a baseball game starting four and a half hours early on about 24 hours notice of this change.
It is Trevor Rogers day for the Orioles. This became something to celebrate last year and hopefully will be still as this season goes along. He’s certainly done well for himself over the first couple of games he’s pitched this year, and for today will be facing what seems like it should be a pretty easy White Sox lineup to get through. The expectation does not always match the reality, of course, but I think it’s fair to expect he should wreck these guys.
The Orioles batters, meanwhile, face a pitcher in Shane Smith who has a 19.29 ERA after two games started. That’s not a typo. He’s had a nightmare to begin his season, with literally half of the 30 batters he’s faced reaching base safely. Even if he is bad – which he wasn’t last year, when he had a 3.89 ERA – he’s not likely to stay in double-digit ERA territory over the long haul. Still, it would be nice to see the Orioles keeping his woes going for another day before things start to even out for Smith.
There is a new face on the Orioles for today’s game. The team acquired reliever Nick Raquet from the Cardinals last night. The 30-year-old lefty Raquet had been in DFA limbo, but the Orioles chose to trade an actual player, last year’s 13th round pick Brayden Smith, to get him. It’s weird. I don’t know how long he’ll hang around. I hope he does OK when he pitches. Brandon Young was rewarded for his spot start effort last night by being immediately sent down. It’s an unsentimental business. One other aspect of this roster move is that Zach Eflin’s long-term absence was confirmed. He was placed on the 60-day injured list to make room on the 40-man roster.
Orioles lineup
Taylor Ward – LF
Gunnar Henderson – DH
Pete Alonso – 1B
Samuel Basallo – C
Dylan Beavers – RF
Jeremiah Jackson – 2B
Colton Cowser – CF
Coby Mayo – 3B
Blaze Alexander – SS
In terms of performance so far this season, this is a brutal lineup once you get below Alonso. This is bound to change eventually, though that is not guaranteed to happen at all and certainly not guaranteed today. I think that it is Bad that the Orioles have one player (Henderson) with more than one home run to date.
White Sox lineup
Chase Meidroth – 2B
Lenyn Sosa – 1B
Miguel Vargas – DH
Colton Montgomery – SS
Edgar Quero – C
Tanner Murray – 3B
Andrew Benintendi – LF
Luisangel Acuña – CF
Derek Hill – RF
**
It will feel much better if the Orioles win this game and give themselves a chance to sweep tomorrow than it will if they lose this game and need to win tomorrow to avoid another demoralizing series loss.
Some extremely rare Steph Curry-worn sneakers will be available for purchase in a matter of days.
Sotheby’s announced on Tuesday that more than 70 pairs of shoes that Curry donned this season following his shocking split with Under Armour will be hitting its auction block on April 13.
Steph Curry and Sotheby’s announced on Tuesday several of his valuable sneakers will be up for sale later this month. NBAE via Getty Images
The kicks were worn by Curry during tunnel walks, pre-game warm ups and during games, and some were autographed by the Warriors superstar.
Curry said in a statement that he was pumped for the sale, as he noted that every dollar the footwear brings in will go toward his and his wife Ayesha’s Eat.Learn.Play. Foundation, which helps kids in need.
Steph Curry’s Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Mambacita,” which honored Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, are a part of the collection. Sotheby's
“I’m excited to share this unique catalog in a way that lets fans be part of the journey,” Curry said. “Partnering with Sotheby’s to bring this auction to life gives these sneakers a platform beyond the game, where they can live on and mean something to someone else.”
For one of his games, he sported the Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Mambacita,” which honored Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna. The shoes will be part of the collection, and experts expect them to fetch between $3,000-$5,000.
Another notable pair in the collection is the Nike Sabrina 3 set that Steph Curry wore and then signed. Sotheby’s estimates they’ll go for between $30,000-$50,000 at the auction. Sotheby's
Another notable pair in the collection is the Nike Sabrina 3 set that Curry wore and then signed. Sotheby’s estimates they’ll go for between $30,000-$50,000 at the auction.
“From the legendary NBA stars that I grew up admiring, to the current players that I’ve enjoyed competing against, along with some of the biggest names in the WNBA that are helping to drive the momentum across the women’s game, I had so much fun breaking out pairs all season long that each meant so much to me,” Curry said.
“When you look back at both sneaker culture and basketball history, each pair represents an iconic moment, groundbreaking athlete or key chapter over the years in the NBA and WNBA.”
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MARCH 29: Carson Williams #7 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates after hitting a double against the St. Louis Cardinals in the second inning at Busch Stadium on March 29, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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Oklahoma State guard Jaylen Curry plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, On3’s Joe Tipton has learned. Curry is on the move for the second consecutive offseason, only spending one year in Stillwater. UMass is where his college basketball career got underway. But now, Curry is looking for school No. 3 for what should be his final year of eligibility.
The Cowboys used Curry as a nice rotational piece throughout his 33 games played. Only seven of them were starts, playing around 24 minutes every time out there. Curry averaged 10.1 points while shooting 41.8% from the field. Not too bad for somebody playing in a power conference for the first time in his career.
Curry did a little more than just score, though. He finished as Oklahoma State’s second-leading assist man, putting up 3.5 per game. Some activity on the glass did some — mainly on the defensive end — with 3.2 rebounds a night.
There is one performance from this past season that stands out more than any. Oklahoma State hosted Nicholls back in November for a nonconference showdown. Curry had his lone double-double of the year, doing so in style. Thirty points were put up by Curry, going 8-11 from the field and making all 12 of his free throws. And then 10 assists also show up on the statsheet to help Oklahoma State get a 14-point win.
More on Jaylen Curry, early portion of college basketball career
Curry played high school basketball at Charlotte (NC) Calvary Christian, where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 193 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
UMass earned Curry’s original commitment and let him get action as a true freshman. One season later, Curry was a starter for the Minutemen and putting up good numbers. During the 2024-25 season, he averaged 13.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists. Unfortunately, not too much team success came, and Curry decided to enter the transfer portal.
Now, another school will have an opportunity to sign Curry. If the fit turns out to be the right one, some potential still appears to be in there.
A first-round playoff series between the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets would be a dream scenario for NBA neutrals, and we get another sneak preview as the teams square off tonight.
Charlotte has picked up four straight victories and won at TD Garden last month, but my Hornets vs. Celtics predictions see Boston getting the upper hand, as Jayson Tatum continues to impress.
Check out my NBA picks for this clash between in-form Eastern Conference squads on Tuesday, April 7.
Hornets vs Celtics prediction
Hornets vs Celtics best bet: Celtics -4.5 (-110)
A healthy Boston Celtics rotation is a scary prospect for the rest of the league, and they’ve looked in sync while winning eight of their last 10 games.
Boston is also 8-2 straight up in its past 10 matchups against the Charlotte Hornets, and I’m laying the points here with Joe Mazzulla’s men, who are 6-1 against the spread in their last seven. The Celtics turned it on late to brush off the Raptors on Sunday and make it four straight wins by a margin of 14+ points.
Though the Hornets embarrassed Boston in early March, the Celtics got revenge a few weeks later with a 114-99 victory, despite missing Jaylen Brown. Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard combined for 60 points that day to outplay Charlotte’s talented guards.
The hosts are at full strength now, after Nikola Vucevic’s return over the weekend, and their defense is the stingiest in the NBA, allowing just 107 points per game. Look for that attention to detail to stifle a Hornets team that leads the league in made 3-pointers.
After a recent home-heavy slate, Charlotte will be entering a rocking TD Garden, where the Celtics are 27-11 SU this year. So, even this late in the regular season, Boston should view this as a statement game, and this spread is small enough for me to back Tatum & Co.
Hornets vs Celtics same-game parlay
The Celtics are humming along since Tatum’s comeback, and he’s been especially consistent on the glass, with 9+ rebounds in eight of his last nine, headlined by 18 boards against the Heat last week. I’m wagering on another big haul tonight.
Meanwhile, Pritchard’s heat-check scoring is a spark for the Boston bench. He’s nailed this Over in five of his last six games, and finished with 28 points in the last meeting between these teams.
Hornets vs Celtics SGP
Celtics moneyline
Jayson Tatum Over 8.5 rebounds
Payton Pritchard Over 14.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Put up your Dukes
This SGP pairs two Duke alums, with Tatum going past this points prop in five straight and Kon Knueppel putting the final touches on his Rookie of the Year case.
Tatum has been a steady double-digit rebounder in the past few weeks, while Knueppel dropped 20 points on the Celtics last month and has O/U lines that feel low for a player averaging 18.7 PPG and 3.4 APG this season.
Hornets vs Celtics SGP
Jayson Tatum Over 22.5 points
Jayson Tatum Over 8.5 rebounds
Kon Knueppel Over 16.5 points
Kon Knueppel Over 2.5 assists
Hornets vs Celtics odds
Spread: Hornets +4.5 (-110) | Celtics -4.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Hornets +175 | Celtics -210
Over/Under: Over 221 (-110) | Under 221 (-110)
Hornets vs Celtics betting trend to know
The Under is 48-31 for the Hornets this season, but the Over has hit in their past three contests. Find more NBA betting trends for Hornets vs. Celtics.
How to watch Hornets vs Celtics
Location
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Date
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBC/Peacock
Hornets vs Celtics latest injuries
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In their second-last home game of the 2025-26 season, the Vancouver Canucks will take on the Vegas Golden Knights at 7:00 pm PT. The Canucks last played the Golden Knights on March 30 in Vegas, dropping that game by a score of 4-2. Tonight, they'll hope for a different outcome. Here are the lineup notes for April 7, 2026.
During yesterday's practice, Canucks Head Coach Adam Foote confirmed that forward Evander Kane and goaltender Kevin Lankinen are currently day-to-day. Kane played in Vancouver's afternoon matchup on Saturday, during which the team celebrated his 1000th-career NHL game. Lankinen also missed this game as he was not well enough to back-up. As a result, Nils Höglander and Curtis Douglas will play tonight, while Jiří Patera will back up Nikita Tolopilo. Ty Mueller will not be in tonight's lineup.
Tonight’s matchup is also projected to see the reunion of the Liam Öhgren — Marco Rossi — Brock Boeser line after a few games apart. The last time these three played together in-game was on March 26, during which Vancouver lost to the Los Angeles Kings by a score of 4-0.
Mar 2, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Nils Hoglander (21) shoots against the Dallas Stars in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Projected Lineup:
O’Connor-Pettersson-DeBrusk
Öhgren-Rossi-Boeser
Sasson-Blueger-Karlsson
Höglander-Räty-Douglas
Buium-Hronek
M. Pettersson-Willander
E. Pettersson-Mancini
Tolopilo
Patera
Game Information:
Start time: 7:00 pm PT
Venue: Rogers Arena
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650
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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 06: Brady House #12 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with teammate CJ Abrams #5 after hitting a two-run home run in the eighth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park on April 06, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For years under hitting coach Darnell Coles, it always felt like Nationals hitters were lacking a defined approach at the plate. Young hitters like James Wood, CJ Abrams, and Brady House demonstrated the raw power to be successful big league hitters, but would often flail at pitches outside the zone and miss the pitches they should’ve been doing damage on. They finished the 2025 season with a 22.6% strikeout rate and a 7.4% walk rate, placing them 28th out of 30 ball clubs in BB/K ratio at 0.33
A major point of emphasis for the Nats new hitting coach, Matt Borgschulte, was to instill a plan at the plate in his hitters. Players couldn’t just go up to the plate looking for a strike that they can hit hard somewhere, but instead needed to be key holing for their pitch when ahead in the count, looking to do extra-base-hit damage.
We’re only 10 games into the 2026 season, but the improvements are already beginning to show, as the Nationals are working more walks and striking out less than ever. The team walk rate has improved from 7.4% to 9.7%, and the strikeout rate has dipped from 22.6% to 20.9%, resulting in a team BB/K ratio of 0.46, good for 11th best in all of baseball. The improvement isn’t coming from just one or two Nats hitters, but the whole unit, as in 2025, only 2 Nats hitters had a BB/K ratio over 0.50, and in 2026, that number is 6.
The 2 Nationals who have seen their plate discipline improve the most are CJ Abrams and Brady House. Abrams has cut his strikeout rate by about 3% and raised his walk rate by about 6%, resulting in his BB/K jumping from a shaky 0.30 to a strong 0.71. His whiff and chase rate are actually slightly up from 2025, so we’ll see where his numbers stabilize after a larger sample size, but what matters currently is that the process looks much improved from before.
CJ Abrams just walked for the 4th time in four games. He's taking really good at-bats and showing more selectiveness than he's had in the past. pic.twitter.com/rahwt53JZM
As for House, he is still striking out at a high clip, up from 28.5% in 2025 to 30% in 2026, but in turn, he has over tripled his walk rate from 2.9% to 10%. He’s improved both his whiff and chase rates from near the bottom of the league to just somewhat below average, and as a result, his BB/K ratio has gone from 0.10 in 2025, 2nd worst in all of baseball among hitters with at least 250 plate appearances, to 0.33, just under the league average.
Brady House walk rate by season:
2025: 2.9% 2026: 13.7%
He walked 8 times last year in 73 games a year ago. He's already got 4 walks midway through game 7 this year. pic.twitter.com/AxBy8ovEJS
One of the keys to improving the discipline of Nats bats has been the addition of Trajekt pitching machines to their facilities, allowing hitters to simulate the arm angle and pitch shapes of the pitchers they’re set to face. Though the Nats’ bats haven’t been using them for long, the results are already beginning to show, even at the lower levels, as prospects such as Seaver King and Luke Dickerson are walking more than ever through their short stretch of games in the minor leagues. I’m excited to watch how these numbers change over the course of the season, and how hitters in the Nats organization adjust when pitchers change their game plans to attack their new patient approaches.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 5: The sneakers worn by Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Toronto Raptors on April 5, 2026 at TD Garden 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Ducks are entering the homestretch of the regular season, with each game another opportunity to grab a vital two points and solidify their spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2018. However, the Ducks are currently experiencing one of their worst runs of the season. A five-game losing streak in which they've been outscored 14-24 and gained just one point has also featured two third period collapses against the Toronto Maple Leafs and the San Jose Sharks.
Their opponent, the Nashville Predators are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Monday. The Predators have won seven of their last 11 games and are just one point back of the second Wild Card spot. The Kings reclaimed that spot with their win on Monday.
Due to their poor run of play, the Ducks have dropped to second in the Pacific, with the Edmonton Oilers holding the top spot despite the teams being tied in points, thanks to the tiebreaker rules. The Vegas Golden Knights are one point back of both the Oilers and Ducks and could jump to first with a win and Oilers/Ducks losses on Tuesday.
Apr 3, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks play against the St. Louis Blues at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Dropping out of the playoffs completely remains an unlikely scenario for Anaheim. However, they must win at least two of their remaining five games to prevent that from becoming a reality. Four points currently separate the second Wild Card and second in the Pacific.
"Just trying to view these last five games as a round of playoffs," Troy Terry said. "That's truly what it is for us right now."
“Let’s incentivize ourselves,” head coach Joel Quenneville said. “Play this game like it's a playoff game, that’s the meaning and the purpose. We get to find out about guys knowing that with everything at stake, you rise to the occasion. But, you’ve got to earn it in this business in this situation as well. Let’s go get it.”
"This time of year, it's just important to win those games," Jackson LaCombe said. "I think every point matters throughout the year, so I wouldn't say we're looking into (the standings) too much, but you want home ice and everything else that comes with that. I think we're just trying to focus on playing our best hockey."
“I think we just want to play a little more simple,” Mason McTavish said. “I think we are really going to focus on not giving up as much, whether it's keeping our shifts shorter and being more fresh and thinking a little more clearly out there. I think that's something that we can control, and we're going to really look to focus down the stretch with these games meaning so much. It’s a great test for our team, and I know everybody's really excited.”
Apr 4, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish (23) during the second period against the Calgary Flames at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Corinne Votaw-Imagn Images
Anaheim's leading goalscorer Cutter Gauthier has missed the last three games with an upper-body injury. He left the game in the first period on Mar. 30 against the Toronto Maple Leafs and has not played since. He will not play against the Predators, missing a fourth consecutive game.
Captain Radko Gudas will also miss this game with a lower-body injury. He returned to face the Leafs, but has not played since.
Defenseman Pavel Mintyukov has also missed the past three games with a lower-body injury, but will return to the lineup against the Predators. He is playing in his 200th NHL game.
“Play hard and simple,” Mintyukov said on the focus for the team after their recent poor run of play. “No stupid mistakes.”
-Cutter Gauthier (upper-body) had a light skate on Tuesday and is targeting a return on Sunday, Mar. 12 against the Vancouver Canucks, per Quenneville.
-Radko Gudas (lower-body) is “closer than he was before,” but has no projected timeline. “(If) he gets in a practice or two with the guys, could be playing right after that,” Quenneville said.
-Ross Johnston (lower-body) is entering week three of his initial projected three to four-week timeline. Quenneville said Johnston is progressing well and that he’ll start skating soon. “Tough to say, but we’ll keep with that forecast.”
Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville speaks to the media after their morning skate at Honda Center.
Ducks Projected Lines
Mikael Granlund - Leo Carlsson - Beckett Sennecke Chris Kreider - Ryan Poehling - Troy Terry Alex Killorn - Mason McTavish - Jeff Viel Frank Vatrano - Tim Washe - Ian Moore
Jackson LaCombe - Jacob Trouba Pavel Mintyukov - John Carlson Tyson Hinds - Drew Helleson
Lukáš Dostál (confirmed)
Predators Projected Lines
Steven Stamkos - Ryan O'Reilly - Zachary L'Heureux Filip Forsberg - Matthew Wood - Jonathan Marchessault Tyson Jost - Erik Haula - Luka Evangelista Reid Schaefer - Fedor Svechkov - Joakim Kemell
Brady Skjei - Roman Josi Adam Wilsby - Nick Perbix Ryan Ufko - Justin Barron
