For the second time in the past four years, and at the second different program, Dusty May is in the Final Four of the NCAA tournament.
This time around, the end of the path to college basketball’s preeminent event came with a little extra personal meaning.
With May’s Michigan team leading Tennessee 92-62 late in their Elite Eight matchup on Sunday, March 29 in Chicago, his son, Charlie, swished a 3-pointer from the corner with 1:02 to cap off a 95-62 victory.
A 6-foot-5 senior, the younger May is in his second season with the Wolverines after transferring over from UCF in 2024 after his father was hired at Michigan. Prior to Sunday’s win, he had scored just four career points and made one career field goal. This season, he has appeared in 18 minutes across seven games.
May’s trey sent the Michigan bench into hysteria, with the team’s biggest stars like Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara celebrating passionately.
“Mayday in Chicago!” CBS play-by-play broadcaster Andrew Catalon said after May splashed the shot.
The win against the Volunteers continued a dominant postseason run for the Wolverines, who have won their four NCAA tournament games by a combined 90 points. Only one of those victories came by fewer than 21 points.
It's the second career Final Four trip for May, who led Florida Atlantic on an improbable run to the national semifinals in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, where the Owls lost on a buzzer-beater to eventual national runner-up San Diego State.
PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 28: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns dunks the ball during the game against the Utah Jazz on March 28, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The book on Jalen Green when he arrived in Phoenix as part of the Kevin Durant deal was simple. Electric scorer, can get anywhere he wants on the floor, can create his own shot at will. The question has always been consistency. Some nights it flows, some nights it disappears, and in his short time with the Phoenix Suns, we have already seen both sides of that coin.
But when he finds it, when he locks into that rhythm, it is something different. It is smooth, it is effortless, it is the kind of scoring that makes you lean forward in your seat a little bit. Against the Utah Jazz on Saturday night, he hit that gear.
31 points in 22 minutes, and it never felt forced. Threes falling, drives collapsing the defense, mid-range shots dropping in stride. It came from everywhere. That is the version of Jalen Green that reminds you why the ceiling is so high, why the flashes keep you believing, why you keep waiting to see if it can become something more consistent over time.
It is fun to watch. It really is. Because it feels a little different from what we have had in Phoenix for a while. A guard who can create his own shot, get downhill whenever he wants, and do it with real burst and athleticism. You probably have to go back to Gerald Green or Jason Richardson to find that kind of pop out of the two slot, and that is more than a decade ago. Having that on the roster adds something. It bends defenses. It pulls help. It creates space for everyone else because when Jalen Green turns the corner, the defense has to react.
But there is another side to it, and we have already seen it.
That same ability can bring a level of confidence that drifts into tough decisions. Shot selection gets a little loose. The moment can turn into a search for the spectacular instead of the simple. You see it on drives where he has a clean path. Instead of finishing quickly, the ball gets cocked back, the play stretches, and suddenly defenders have time to recover.
And it sounds funny to say, but sometimes you want the layup. Two points is two points. Is this the anti-Ayton argument, isn’t it? I can LO to the L about the thought, but it’s true. With Ayton, we pined for aggression at the basket, begging for a dunk. With Green? Just get the ball through the cylinder. This is not about asking him to be something he is not. It is about channeling what he already does into something more efficient. Finish the play, keep the pressure on, make the defense pay. Because when he does that, when he balances the flash with control, that is when it all starts to come together.
So yeah, there are holes in Jalen Green’s game, but that does not erase the potential he brings. The season is closing fast, and when you look ahead, it feels unlikely that the Phoenix Suns are going to rush into any decisions on a player set to make $36 million next season. This is something you let breathe. You gather more data, you see how the market shapes up, and you give yourself more time to evaluate what you truly have.
The path forward is still there. If he tightens the shot selection, if he finds a little more efficiency, it can unlock something real. The tools are obvious. The flashes are not subtle. It is about refining how and when he uses them.
And in the meantime, there is nothing wrong with enjoying it. Nights like Saturday, when he catches fire and everything opens up, that is part of the experience. That is the version of him that can swing a game, that can tilt momentum, that can carry a team for stretches. You take that for what it is. You appreciate it, you recognize what still needs to come along, and you understand that both can exist at the same time.
That is the story with Jalen Green right now. The peaks are real, the questions remain, and somewhere in between is the player he is still becoming.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 27: Alexandre Sarr #20 of the Washington Wizards shoots the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 27, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards play the Portland Trail Blazers today. Tip off is at 6 p.m. ET. Go Wizards.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 29: Owen Caissie #17 of the Miami Marlins gets a gatorade bath after hitting a walk-off home run against the Colorado Rockies during the ninth inning at loanDepot park on March 29, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Colorado Rockies were unable to avoid the sweep in their Opening Weekend series against the Miami Marlins. The Fish walked off the Rockies on a two-run home run, cementing an 0-3 record to kick off the 2026 campaign with three straight one-run losses.
Unable to capitalize
The Rockies struck first, when Jordan Beck hit a bases-loaded and bases-clearing double in the first inning to put the Rockies up by three.
Those would be the only runs the Rockies would score for the rest of the game. Striking out a whopping 11 times—with four hitters being punched out at least twice — the Rockies finished the series with 30 total strikeouts.
The Rockies had multiple opportunities to score more runs throughout the game. They drew two walks and had six hits in total. In the top of the seventh, the Rockies had both Jake McCarthy and Kyle Karros on base with no outs, only to come up empty. They then went down in order with two strikeouts in both the eighth and ninth innings.
Overall, the Rockies were just 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
A solid debut for José Quintana
Like Kyle Freeland and Michael Lorenzen before him, Rockies starting pitcher José Quintana went for 4 1/3 innings in his season debut. Quintana, signed this off-season on a one-year, $6 million contract, held the Marlins to two earned runs during his start despite not having his best stuff. He nibbled the strike zone and struggled somewhat with command, walking four batters and giving up four hits. He threw 78 total pitches, 42 for strikes. It took more than 50 pitches for Quintana to make it through the first two innings of the game. However, he made much quicker work of the third and fourth frames.
One mistake from the bullpen is the Rockies’ undoing
With a runner on and one out in the fifth inning, Quintana gave way to Jimmy Herget for his second appearance of the young season. “The Human Glitch” quickly dialed up back-to-back strikeouts on eight pitches to end the inning.
Following Herget, starter-turned-long reliever Antonio Senzatela took the mound for his first appearance of the year. Senzatela was incredibly sharp during his first two innings. He set down all six batters in order with three strikeouts. His fastball was clocking near 99 MPH and his pitches were showing good shape and movement compared to previous seasons. Senzatela recorded the first two outs in the eighth inning but did allow a walk and a single before being pulled for Victor Vodnik.
Vodnik—looking for the four-out save—was charged with hitting the first batter he saw even though the ball hit the knob of the bat and not the batter himself. He quickly struck out the next hitter on three well-placed pitches, including a 94.4 MPH changeup and a 99.7 MPH four-seam fastball.
In the bottom of the ninth inning Vodnik gave up a ground ball single to Xavier Edwards only for Liam Hicks to line into an unassisted double play via the glove of Rockies first baseman Troy Johnston. With two outs, the save—and the Rockies’ first win of the season—was in sight. However, Vodnik gave up a double to Javier Sonoja and then left a changeup hanging middle-middle to Owen Cassie, who sent the ball over the outfield wall for a walk-off home run.
Coming Up Next
The Rockies will continue their season opening road trip tomorrow evening with a trip to visit the defending American League Champion Toronto Blue Jays. Right-handed veteran Tomoyuki Sugano will make his season debut for Colorado while the right-handed Cody Ponce will toe the rubber for the Blue Jays. First pitch is at 5:07 PM MDT.
The Mets fell to the Pittsburgh Pirates by a final score of 4-3 in 10 innings on Sunday afternoon.
Here are the takeaways...
-- With the game still tied in the ninth, Luke Weaver worked around a pair of walks to keep things knotted at 2-2. After the Mets couldn't score in the bottom half, Richard Lovelady came on for the 10th, and Ryan O'Hearn greeted him with an RBI single to score the free runner. Lovelady, pitching on back-to-back days, allowed another RBI hit to Henry Davis, giving the Pirates a 4-2 lead.
In the bottom of the 10th, after a Lindor walk, Juan Soto crushed a double to left-center, and while free-runner Francisco Alvarez scored easily, Francisco Lindor was out by quite a bit at the plate for the first out of the inning, following a questionable send from third base coach Tim Leiper. Later, with two outs and a runner on third, Jorge Polanco hit one to the wall in right, but it was just off the end of the bat enough to be caught for the final out of the game.
-- It was clear from the jump that Nolan McLean had a hard time getting comfortable on the mound. After walking the first two hitters of the afternoon, McLean allowed an RBI single toO'Hearn, and then gave up a solo shot to Brandon Lowe (his third homer of the series) in the top of the third inning, the first homer he's ever allowed to a left-handed hitter in the big leagues.
McLean settled in during the middle innings, striking out four combined hitters in the fourth and fifth frames, and his afternoon ended there. McLean went 5.0 innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits with eight strikeouts and a walk. He threw 84 pitches, 52 of which were strikes.
-- Pirates starter Carmen Mlodzinski had the Mets baffled early. The young right-hander struck out the side in both the first and third innings, fanning Lindor, Soto, and Bo Bichette two times each. That being said, the middle and bottom parts of the order were able to push a run across in the second, as Luis Robert Jr. singled and came around to score on a Marcus Semien sac fly. Mlodzinski set a new career-high with seven strikeouts through just three innings.
--But the top of the order came through the third time through the order, as Lindor tripled in the fifth (his first since the 2024 season), followed by a Soto RBI single, which tied the game at 2-2 and chased Mlodzinski from the game after 4.1 innings. He allowed two earned runs on six hits, striking out a career-high eight while walking none.
-- Sean Manaea made his season debut out of the bullpen, coming into the game with two outs and nobody on in a 2-2 game in the top of the seventh. With a fastball around 88-90 MPH, Manaea allowed an Oneil Cruz single and committed an error on a pickoff attempt to allow Cruz to get into scoring position, but got out of the inning with a grounder to second. He pitched into the eighth, when he allowed a pair of two-out walks, but he again got out of the jam.
--It was another big day at the plate for Robert and Baty, with both recording a pair of hits. Meanwhile, Bichette and Soto each struck out three times, but Soto did also drive in a pair of runs.
Game MVP
O'Hearn, who had three hits and a pair of RBI on the afternoon.
Mar 29, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story (10) reacts after striking out in the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images | Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
It’s not even March, but today’s game is an example of why I couldn’t fully buy in on this Red Sox roster. Starting pitching is great, but when the offense can’t support it, you’re always in danger of one swing changing the game. Connelly Early pitched well, although it wasn’t a dominant performance, but his offense only gave him two runs of support. A single and a walk later, and the go-ahead run was at the plate for Cincinnati. Greg Weissert left a pitch over the plate, and the Reds had a lead in the sixth inning.
The Red Sox threatened in the eighth inning, but Jarren Duran was picked off to give away an out. Andruw Monasterio doubled in the ninth inning, but Ceddanne Rafaela and Trevor Story couldn’t get him home. Timely hitting comes and goes throughout a 162-game season, but it’s fair to wonder if the offense isn’t good enough after a slow start. For the record, I think they’ll be better, but hitting with runners in scoring position has been a problem to this (incredibly early) point.
Back to Early. 5.1 innings of one-run baseball is great. At the same time, he wasn’t as sharp as he was at the end of last season. His four-seam fastball caught a lot of the strike zone and generated just two whiffs on 37 pitches. He did a good job of jumping ahead of hitters, but had a hard time putting them away. Reds hitters fouled off nine two-strike pitches, forcing Early to work hard for outs. His curveball, in particular, was fouled off several times and didn’t return a swing and miss. It’s a good start to build off of for Early, but better two-strike execution and fastball command will help him get deeper into games.
The Reds held on to win the game and the series by a run and a game. We’ll travel to Houston for a three-game set with the Astros on Monday.
Three Studs
Wilyer Abreu (3-4, HR, 2B)
Abreu continues to swing a hot bat. He went yard again in the fourth inning after fouling off nine pitches. He also doubled to the opposite field off a lefty later in the game, and singled to continue a rally in the eighth inning. He’s seeing the ball really well right now.
Jovani Moran (2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 ER)
Moran handled the seventh and eighth innings, keeping the deficit at one. His command wasn’t sharp, but his fastball shape is going to miss bats, and the changeup has always been a good pitch for him. Nice start to the season for the lefty.
Connor Wong (2-3, 2B)
How about Connor Wong? He singled early in the game, and then stuck his bat out at a ball off the plate that somehow flew to the warning track for a double. It’s nice to see him get a couple of early hits and start his numbers off without being anchored by a frigid streak. Decent day for Wong.
Three Duds
Greg Weissert (0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 ER)
Weissert came in in relief of Connelly Early with a runner on and one out. He walked Sal Stewart on five pitches, and then got ahead of Eugenio Suarez 0-2. He tried to elevate a four-seam to punch Suarez out, but channeled his inner Italian, throwing a meatball directly in the turbo zone. Suarez hit the ball almost to Italy to put the Reds in front in the sixth inning.
Side note: I saw a lot of “what was Weissert thinking?” in response to him throwing that pitch. I’m sure he was thinking, “I’m going to throw this above the zone”, not “I’m going to throw this in the perfect spot for him to hit it 500 feet.”
Jarren Duran(0-2, 2 BB)
Tony Santillan pitched on Saturday and walked two of the five hitters he faced. He walked Jarren Duran, and then went down 3-0 to Willson Contreras. Given those two facts, you absolutely cannot be picked off of first base representing the tying run in the eighth inning. Credit to Santillan, it was a good move, but Duran can’t let it happen.
Caleb Durbin (0-4, 2 K)
Durbin is now 0-12 with three strikeouts to begin the season. He was acquired in part because he doesn’t strike out frequently, but struck out in a huge spot late in Sunday’s game. Let’s hope he picks it up offensively soon.
Mar 29, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Kyle Schwarber (12) reacts after striking out against the Texas Rangers during the fourth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Baseball seems to have the longest offseason around. If you have a team that you follow that isn’t in the playoffs (or gets bounced from the playoffs quickly), it feels like forever until Opening Day. That wait brings hope, promise and hype that this will be the season a championship parade is the endgame. Opening Day brings pomp and circumstance, games are finally played and….
…you get this performance from the Phillies.
Outside of a masterful six innings by Cristopher Sanchez, the Phillies looked rather lackluster against the Rangers. Sure, their comeback Saturday in the ninth inning was somewhat memorable, but what the offensive decided to do (better yet, not do) left a sour taste in the mouths of many.
Sunday’s game got out of hand rather quickly. The game was scoreless to begin, Jesus Luzardo on the mound for the Phillies, Mackenzie Gore opposing him for the Rangers. Both traded scoreless innings to start, but in the third, Texas got going. A one out single by Sam Haggerty was brought around on a home run by Brandon Nimmo to give the Rangers the lead.
They got three more in the fourth when Corey Seager and Jake Burger, who reached on walk and a single respectively, scored thanks to a missile from Andrew McCutchen.
CUTCH!
Andrew McCutchen sends a frozen rope into the seats for his first home run of the season 💪 pic.twitter.com/UpMFfvFIuM
They would add another run in the top of the sixth on a Kyle Higashioka RBI single. So as the Rangers are scoring runs and then adding more to that total, the Phillies staggered to and back from the plate like an 11U baseball team. Their approaches were bad, their swings were worse and that meant they were no-hit again through multiple opening innings. They got on the board when in the bottom of the sixth, they loaded the bases thanks to an excuse me single by Justin Crawford, a walk to Trea Turner and a broken bat single by Kyle Schwarber, all with no outs.
Bryce Harper then looked feeble once again, striking out to get the first out. Alec Bohm was hit by a pitch to get a run, then another followed on an sacrifice fly by Adolis Garcia. Bryson Stott pinch hit next, only to ground out, but at least there was a pulse.
Enter Zach Pop. Walk, double, hit by pitch and one run was given back. Another sacrifice fly given up two batters later made the sure that the runs the Phillies got were neutralized quickly.
In the eighth, Stott got an RBI single to make the score 8-3, but that was about it.
There was much consternation about the team running it back, even though there are a lot of new faces. Part of that consternation was the team not fixing the issues that got them bounced from the last two playoff appearances, where the offense simply didn’t show up when it mattered. These two games this weekend did not help quiet those voices.
Even if it is just three games (and friends, they will ultimately be fine), this was not the performance one was hoping after weeks of missing baseball.
After using an explosive second half to blow out Alabama in the Sweet 16, the No. 1-seeded Wolverines carried over the momentum just two days later in a dominant 95-62 win over No. 6 Tennessee on Sunday, March 29, at the United Center.
Michigan dominated the first half, using a 21-0 run to take control of a game that Tennessee had led 16-14 with 11:22 left in the first half. In just 4:42 of game time, that score changed to a 35-16 lead for the Wolverines.
The win for Michigan advances it to the Final Four next weekend in Indianapolis. But the Wolverines also dominated the game in a nearly historic way. With 1:46 in the game, Michigan held an 92-58 lead. The Wolverines also led by 31 with just under 12 minutes left.
Yaxel Lendeborg subbed out of the game for the final time with the Wolverines ahead by 32 points. The rest of the starters were out of the game with 3:14 remaining.
How dominant was Michigan in the Elite Eight victory? Here’s what you need to know about the largest margin of victories in the Regional Final round of the NCAA Tournament:
Largest margin of victories in Elite 8
On March 14, 1964, Duke dominated Connecticut 101-54 at the Reynolds Coliseum, Raleigh, North Carolina. The Blue Devils jumped out to a 62-27 first-half lead and never looked back.
Jeff Mullins led Duke with 30 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the win, while four total players finished in double figures.
In 1971, Villanova defeated Penn 90-47 in the Regional Final and in 1965 Princeton took down Providence by 40 points (109-69).
Here’s a look at the biggest blowouts in the NCAA Elite Eight round, according to BetMGM.
CHICAGO – With Tennessee already down by 19, one basket wasn’t going to make a difference. The game was effectively over, and whether Michigan won by 10 or 20, the outcome was still going to be the same.
Michigan coach Dusty May challenged the goaltending call, anyway. The Wolverines weren’t just here to win, they were here to send a message:
They’re the best team in the country, and they’ll steamroll anyone who is in their way.
"It's just people stepping up to the moment," Roddy Gayle Jr. said. "I feel like March brings out the best in people."
Top-seeded Michigan routed sixth-seeded Tennessee 95-62 on Sunday, March 29, to reach the Final Four for the third time since 2013. With apologies to Moritz Wagner and Glenn Robinson III, these Wolverines have the best chance yet to win the school’s first national title since 1989.
In a span of two days, Michigan humbled the country’s top offensive team and the SEC’s best defensive team, and the Wolverines barely broke a sweat in doing so. They’ve scored 90 or more points and shot 50% or better in each of their NCAA Tournament games, and the 33-point win over Tennessee was the biggest blowout of the weekend.
And if Yaxel Lendeborg isn’t the player of the year, he’s for sure the player of March.
Lendeborg tagged Tennessee for 27 points, his third game with 23 or more, and 10 of those came during a 23-2 run in the first half that effectively sealed the game. He’s making a career’s worth of highlights every game, including his tip-in layup off his own missed 3-pointer with 11:57 left to play against Tennessee.
The Wolverines are not a one-man team, however. Four other players finished in double figures and two others were only a bucket away. Elliot Cadeau had double-digit assists (10) for the fifth time this season.
Whatever those hiccups Michigan had in the Big Ten tournament, where they struggled against Ohio State and Wisconsin before losing to Purdue in the title game, they are long gone. Michigan is rolling, and good luck to anyone who faces them.
Michigan plays fellow No. 1 seed Arizona in the Final Four in Indianapolis on Friday night, April 3.
"When this group got together, we all wanted to make it the national championship and win it," Lendeborg said. "We worked tirelessly on making sure that our mental was right, not just physical. And we all trust each other. We play hard for each other. We make extra plays for each other. We're going to do whatever we want for each other.
"So just being able to make it this far and continuing to want to get more, it means a lot."
Michigan is only two seasons removed from a team that lost 24 games. While quick turnarounds are more doable now with the transfer portal, building chemistry when there's a new coach and new players presents its own challenges.
Add in being thrust into the spotlight as a national title contender a month into the season, and Michigan very easily could have gone sideways.
"The most difficult part is that everyone starts getting so much more attention, advice. Literally everything they get more of," May said. "It's difficult not to make it about you because the people you're talking to are making it about you.
"There's just a lot of distracting information," May added. "And if you're not mature and you're not connected as a group and you're not willing to be held accountable by the staff and each other, then it's not going to work. Once it creeps in it's almost impossible to weed it out. So our guys never let it in.
"They stayed the course and stayed about each other. And that's ultimately why we're here," May said. "We weren't a super team, but these guys became super teammates."
Though Michigan’s Fab Five never won an NCAA title, they changed college basketball with their outsized personalities, baggy shorts and black socks. These Wolverines aren't going to have that kind of influence, but they’ve got a similar brand of fun.
Lendeborg is as goofy as he is good, and Gayle isn’t far behind. They all love to hype each other up — when Lendeborg said Will Tschetter deserved a shout out for his toughness, Nimari Burnett woofed in response — and their tightknit chemistry isn't forced.
They might be stealing people's souls, but they're having a blast doing it.
"That's our main thing. We say before every game to just go out there and have fun," Cadeau said. "We're not worrying about our stats, not worrying about the scoreboard."
Michigan cruised through the regular season, not losing a single Big Ten road game. Its two losses, to Wisconsin in January and Duke in late February, were by a combined eight points. They spent time at No. 1 and were never ranked lower than third after Dec. 1.
But the Wolverines didn't have their usual swagger in the Big Ten tournament. When they lost to Purdue in the title game, it wasn't even that big a surprise.
It also might have been the best thing for them.
"Watching another team cut down the nets, feeling that was something that we didn't want to feel again," Gayle said.
Message received.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
CINCINNATI, OH - MARCH 26: Johnny Bench talks with Eugenio Suárez #28 of the Cincinnati Reds prior to the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Thursday, March 26, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jeffrey Dean/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It had been a bit of a slow start to the season for Eugenio Suárez entering play on Sunday. It’s hard to fault him for it, of course, as he’d been away on the roller coaster that was Team Venezuela’s victory in the World Baseball Classic and had far from the typical spring training warm-up.
He also was returning to the Cincinnati Reds after four seasons elsewhere, and surely was putting some added pressure on himself to perform for a base of fans that adored him so. Spotlighting it was that the players who have been hitting ahead of him in the lineup – namely Sal Stewart and Matt McLain – have been so impossible to retire that each and every time Geno stepped to the plate it seemed as if there were multiple runners in scoring position.
Suárez put in a more vintage showing on Sunday in Great American Ball Park, however. With the Reds trailing the Boston Red Sox 2-0 in the Bottom of the 6th and a pair of runners on, Geno absolutely obliterated a ball into the second deck in LF for a 3-run homer, a 431 foot blast that flipped the scoreboard completely.
Thanks to Rhett Lowder holding Boston to just a pair of runs in an otherwise rock soild start and the bullpen holding firm over the final four frames, that swing was all the offense the Reds would need on the day in a 3-2 victory that earned them a series victory in their first of the year.
Geno, of course, takes home Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game honors for the day, the first time I’ve been able to dote the award on him in some five years.
Hat tips are in order for Sal Stewart, too, who was on base another four times in a masterful outing that’s becoming the norm for the rookie. He doubled, singled, walked twice, and even tagged up on a deep fly ball to CF off the bat by Geno that was nearly another homer.
The vibes on this team right now – they are quite good.
Other Notes
Suarez did his damage on the day while also getting the start at 3B, as Ke’Bryan Hayes (who later came on to pinch run and play defense) got a break. I do often wonder how a guy who is so accustomed to playing defense in games every day adjusts to life as a DH, and it’ll be interesting to track how different Geno performs offensively on the days when he’s getting run at the other aspect of the game vs. on the days when he’s stuck twiddling his thumbs in the dugout for an hour at a time.
Spencer Steer got his first hit of the season. Hooray, Spence!
TJ Friedl played LF as Dane Myers got the start in CF, and he looked just fine over there. That’s certainly a rock solid defensive alignment when put together that way.
Elly De La Cruz will never not look weird to me hitting right-handed, which he did all four times he came to the plate today. He struck out in three of those appearances.
The Reds will rest up this evening and tomorrow will begin a three-game series at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates, who dropped their first two games of the season (and are in extra-innings against the New York Mets at the time of writing this). Chase Burns will get his first start of the season opposite Bucs starter Braxton Ashcraft, with first pitch slated for 6:40 PM ET. That game will be on FS1, for those parties interested in watching it that way, and also via MLB.tv.
The New York Knicks are being slightly undervalued on the road, even against an elite opponent like the Oklahoma City Thunder.
New York played OKC tight the last time these teams met, and my Knicks vs. Thunder predictions and NBA picks for Sunday, March 29, expect another close game tonight at Paycom Center.
Knicks vs Thunder prediction
Knicks vs Thunder best bet: Knicks +8.5 (-110)
The New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder both come into tonight’s game playing well, with New York having a seven-game winning streak before losing on Thursday, while OKC has won 13 of its last 14 contests. Both still have a lot to play for in the race for top seeds in their respective contests, and both teams are relatively healthy heading into tonight’s matchup.
That’s all to say that we’re going to get the best of both sides tonight. In the case of these teams, that means tough defense that makes every possession into a battle. The Thunder have arguably the best defense in the NBA, allowing 107.7 ppg with a league-best 104.6 defensive efficiency, but the Knicks aren’t far behind, giving up just 110.5 ppg themselves.
That showed in the first meeting between these teams, when OKC fought its way to a 103-100 victory in New York. And with two defenses playing this well, it will be hard for either team to put together big runs or pull away from the other.
As well as the Thunder have been playing, they haven’t been dominating the way their backers need lately. OKC has covered in only three of its last 14 games overall, with two of those covers coming against overmatched opponents in the 76ers and Nets.
Quality opponents like the Knicks have been able to stay in games against the Thunder, and that’s exactly what I’m expecting tonight. I’m taking New York to cover.
Knicks vs Thunder same-game parlay
This game features two of the best defensive teams in the NBA, and we’ve already seen them play once this year, resulting in a game total of 203 points.
I’m taking the Under for my SGP, and I think it’s a good straight bet as well. Let’s round out the SGP by backing Karl-Anthony Towns to pick up Over 17.5 points, a total he’s hit in four of his last five games overall.
Knicks vs Thunder SGP
Knicks +8.5
Under 223.5
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 17.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Double-double trouble
Both sides have serious double-double threats in this game, and I’m targeting one from each lineup for this parlay. First, KAT has been a consistent double-double machine for the Knicks, picking up five in his last six games.
Chet Holmgren isn’t far behind for the Thunder, with 23 double-doubles on the season. I’ll round things out by taking OG Anunoby to hit at least three shots from beyond the arc tonight, as he’s coming off back-to-back games where he made five threes in each.
Knicks vs Thunder SGP
Knicks +8.5
Karl-Anthony Towns to record a double-double
Chet Holmgren to record a double-double
OG Anunoby Over 2.5 threes
Knicks vs Thunder odds
Spread: Knicks +8.5 | Thunder -8.5
Moneyline: Knicks +280 | Thunder -360
Over/Under: Over 223.5 | Under 223.5
Knicks vs Thunder betting trend to know
The Thunder have covered in just three of their last 14 games. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Thunder.
How to watch Knicks vs Thunder
Location
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Date
Sunday, March 29, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
NBC
Knicks vs Thunder latest injuries
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TORONTO (AP) — Izzy Daniel had a goal and an assist and the Vancouver Goldeneyes snapped a two-game skid with a 3-2 win over the Toronto Sceptres on Sunday.
Hannah Miller and Mannon McMahon also scored for Vancouver. Sarah Nurse had two assists.
Emerance Maschmeyer stopped 25 shots.
Blayre Turnbull scored twice for Toronto, while Elaine Chuli made 26 saves.
Turnbull put a rebound from a Renata Fast shot past Maschmeyer just 2:31 into the contest.
Three former Sceptres connected on the Goldeneyes’ response at 7:55. Miller put home a rebound on a shot from the slot by Daniel, who took a pass from Nurse.
Daniel put Vancouver ahead just 35 seconds into the second period. Off an initial miss on a tip on a Nurse shot, Daniel tucked in her own rebound.
Turnbull netted her second of the game on the power play when she took a pass from Daryl Watts by the goal line, spun and her backhand went in off the skate of Claire Thompson at 8:09 of the middle frame.
McMahon restored Vancouver’s lead with a tip-in off a Sophie Jaques shot on the power play at 8:54.
Turnbull’s power-play goal was Toronto’s first since a 6-4 loss to Seattle on Jan. 20. The Sceptres had gone 0 for 15 since, including 0 for 12 in seven games after the Olympic break.
Up next
Sceptres: Visit Calgary to take on the Ottawa Charge as part of the Takeover Tour on Wednesday.
Goldeneyes: Visit the Montreal Victoire on Wednesday.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - FEBRUARY 20: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Minnesota Timberwolves handles the ball against Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Dallas Mavericks in the third quarter at Target Center on February 20, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Mavericks 122-111. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Minnesota Timberwolves at Dallas Mavericks Date: March 30th, 2026 Time: 7:30 PM CDT Location: American Airlines Center Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network – North Radio Coverage: KFAN FM, Wolves App, iHeart Radio
There are games in the NBA where you squint at the injury report, notice the early tip, and quietly tell yourself that it might just not be your day. Saturday’s contest against Detroit had all the makings of one of those games, and for the Minnesota Timberwolves, it pretty much played out exactly that way.
For the Wolves, it was no Anthony Edwards, no Ayo Dosunmu, and to round things out, no Jaden McDaniels after the injury he picked up late in that chaos-fueled Houston game. Three core pieces. Gone.
On the other side, the Detroit Pistons, the Eastern Conference’s top team, were missing their own engine in Cade Cunningham. So in theory, this game could’ve been a competitive “who has more left in the tank?” grind-it-out afternoon game. Instead, it turned into something much simpler.
Minnesota just didn’t have enough.
The Moment the Game Slipped—and Never Came Back
The Wolves actually started this one the right way. The defensive energy was there early. Rotations were sharp enough. They hung around, traded punches, and for a brief stretch, it looked like they might be able to piece together one of those undermanned, “everyone chips in” performances that they’d been stringing together over the past week.
And then Rudy Gobert subbed out.
That was it. That was the hinge point.
Because the second he hit the bench, the defensive resistance, everything that had been holding this thing together, just evaporated. Driving lanes opened up. The rim stopped feeling protected. Detroit got comfortable, and once they got comfortable, they started building a lead that never really felt in danger again.
The Offense: When the Shots Don’t Fall, There’s No Plan B
Let’s be honest about what this game really came down to: the Wolves couldn’t hit anything.
They finished shooting 32% from the field, went 9-for-43 from three (21%), and scored 87 total points.
In the third quarter, they managed just four made field goals. Four. That’s not an offensive slump. That’s an offensive blackout.
It wasn’t like they weren’t getting looks. This wasn’t Detroit suffocating them into submission on every possession. Minnesota had decent opportunities. Open threes. Clean catch-and-shoot chances. Looks that, on most nights, at least some of these guys knock down.
Instead?
Naz Reid: 0-for-7
Bones Highland: 2-for-9
Mike Conley Jr.: 1-for-5
Julius Randle: 0-for-3 from deep
That’s the game right there.
This is a team that, for better or worse, lives and dies by the three. When it’s falling, the offense opens up, the pace quickens, everything feels connected. When it’s not? You get what we saw on Saturday with stagnation, frustration, and a slow bleed that turns into a double-digit deficit before you even realize it.
At 21%, they weren’t just cold. They were DOA.
And Then the Little Things Started Adding Up
If the shooting was the headline, everything else was the supporting evidence.
They missed nine free throws, continuing a trend that’s quietly becoming a real problem. They got outrebounded 52–38, including getting pushed around on second chances. They turned it over enough to matter, but, here’s the twist, Detroit turned it over 19 times… and Minnesota still couldn’t capitalize.
That’s the part that sticks with you.
The Pistons gave them chances. Real ones. Sloppy passes, careless possessions, the kind of miscues that usually open the door for a comeback. And every time the door cracked open, Minnesota just… didn’t walk through it.
That’s what happens when your offense is that out of rhythm. You can’t string together stops and scores. You can’t build momentum. You just kind of tread water… until you realize you’re drowning.
Perspective Check: This One Wasn’t the End of the World
If you zoom out for a second, this loss isn’t the disaster it feels like in the moment. If you told anyone before this stretch that included Boston, Houston, Detroit, all without Edwards, that Minnesota would go 2–1, people would’ve signed up for that immediately. Especially given how things looked after that California road trip when the defense disappeared and the identity went with it.
They beat Boston. They survived Houston in one of the wildest games of the season. Those wins matter.
Saturday? That was the tax you pay for being short-handed, for playing your third high-intensity game in a row, for asking too much from a roster that’s already stretched thin.
It was still frustrating, still ugly, but not season-defining.
Dallas and the Games You Can’t Afford to Blow
Now comes the part of the schedule that’s less forgiving. Next up: the Dallas Mavericks, then a quick rematch in Detroit, followed by the second night of a back-to-back in Philly against the 76ers. Suddenly, the margin for error is right back where it always is in the West… basically nonexistent.
Minnesota is sitting just a game and a half behind Denver for the four seed. They don’t own the tiebreaker. They’re still jockeying with Houston. And if they want home court, these are the games you have to bank.
Not the Boston game. Not the Houston game.
The Dallas game.
The “bottom of the standings” game that looks easy on paper and turns into a problem if you don’t take it seriously.
Keys to the Game
1. Maintain the Defensive Identity
The blueprint is already there. They beat Boston and Houston by leaning into defense withconnected rotations, physical perimeter play, and Gobert anchoring everything. That doesn’t change just because Dallas isn’t a top-tier opponent.
If anything, it becomes more important. Because the Wolves’ worst habit this season has been that “flip the switch later” mentality. Against Dallas, there can’t be a later. They need to set the tone early, lock in defensively, and never let the game drift into that danger zone where effort becomes optional.
2. Hit Your Threes
This one feels obvious, but after Detroit, it has to be said.
You cannot shoot 21% from three and expect to beat anyone in this league. The looks were there. They just didn’t fall. That has to normalize.
Getting Edwards, McDaniels, or Dosunmu would go a long way. Those are three of your most reliable shooters. Their presence alone changes spacing, changes confidence, changes everything. But regardless of who plays, this team has to rediscover its shooting rhythm. Because when the threes fall, the entire offense opens up.
3. Win the Glass
Against Detroit, the Wolves got outworked, out-hustled, and paid for it. Against Dallas, that can’t happen again. Gobert, Randle, Reid need to clean the glass, eliminate second chances and turn rebounds into putbacks. If you’re bigger, you have to play like it.
4. Julius Randle Has to Be the Guy
Let’s not dance around it. Eleven points on 2-for-13 shooting isn’t going to cut it.
Randle has to be the offensive engine. That means attacking, getting downhill, living in the paint, and, just as importantly, facilitating. When he draws attention and kicks out, this offense becomes dangerous.
Saturday was a dud.
Monday can’t be.
5. Stay Focused, No Matter Who’s Available
Maybe Edwards plays. Maybe he doesn’t. Same with Dosunmu. Same with McDaniels.
It doesn’t matter.
The Wolves have the talent advantage in this matchup. But we’ve seen this story before. Minnesota has games where they assume that’s enough, where the urgency dips, and where the opponent hangs around just long enough to make things uncomfortable.
This has to be a professional win.
Jump on them early. Stay disciplined. Don’t let it become a fourth-quarter coin flip. Because in the West, those are the games that come back to haunt you.
The Bottom Line: This Is About Banking Wins, Not Making Statements
The Wolves aren’t chasing style points right now. They’re chasing positioning.
Denver’s remainig schedule isn’t easy with two games against San Antonio and a battle with OKC. There’s an opportunity to gain ground, but only if Minnesota does its part.
That means beating Dallas. That means not letting a bad shooting night turn into a bad week. That means stacking the wins you’re supposed to stack.
Because home court in the first round, something this franchise has only had three times in its history, is right there.
Not guaranteed. Not gifted.
But there.
And after everything this team has been through over the past two weeks, the question isn’t whether they’re capable of climbing back up the ladder.
It’s whether they’re disciplined enough to stay on it.
The Winnipeg Jets are making the most of their road trip to the Windy City, blending business with a bit of baseball ahead of their Tuesday night matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Several members of the Jets roster took in Sunday’s MLB game at Chicago Cubs versus the Washington Nationals, enjoying a relaxed afternoon before turning their focus back to hockey. The highlight of the day came before the first pitch, when Blackhawks legend and current Jets center Jonathan Toews was invited to the mound.
Toews, who spent the majority of his storied NHL career in Chicago, received a warm ovation from the crowd as he delivered the ceremonial first pitch to Cubs shortstop Scott Kingery. The moment served as a fitting homecoming of sorts for the 37-year-old veteran, whose legacy with the Blackhawks still resonates strongly with fans in the city.
Joining Toews in attendance were several of his Jets teammates, including Haydn Fleury, Vladislav Namestnikov, Kyle Connor, Connor Hellebuyck, Adam Lowry, Dylan DeMelo, Josh Morrissey, Gustav Nyquist, Colin Miller and Nino Niederreiter, among others.
The outing provided a chance for the team to unwind and build camaraderie during a crucial stretch of the season. Winnipeg enters Tuesday’s contest riding a strong run of form, with three wins in their last four games.
As the playoff race tightens, the Jets find themselves just three points behind the Nashville Predators for the second wild card spot. With momentum on their side and spirits lifted from a fun day at the ballpark, Winnipeg will look to carry that energy onto the ice against Chicago as they continue their push toward the postseason.
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