CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 06: Pat Spencer #61 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket around Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter at Rocket Arena on December 06, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 99-94. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers will have a chance to end their brief three-game Western Conference road trip with a win as they take on a hobbled Golden State Warriors team that will be on the second leg of a back-to-back.
As we know from their first meeting, just because the Warriors are down several key players — including Steph Curry — that doesn’t mean that this is a guaranteed win. The Cavs found that out the hard way in December when they lost to a Pat Spencer-led team. We’ll see if they learned their lesson from that loss.
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TV: FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, FanDuel Sports App, NBA League Pass
Point spread: Not yet set
Cavs injury report: Jaylon Tyson – OUT (toe), Dean Wade – OUT (ankle), Riley Minix – OUT (G League), Olivier Sarr – OUT (G League), Tristan Enaruna – OUT (G League)
Warriors injury report for Wednesday’s game vs. Spurs: Steph Curry – OUT (knee), Jimmy Butler III – OUT (ACL), Al Horford – OUT (calf), De’Anthony Melton – OUT (thumb), Moses Moody – OUT (knee), Gary Payton II – OUT (knee), Kristaps Porzingis – OUT (illness management), Quinten Post – OUT (foot), Gui Santos – OUT (pelvic contusion)
Cavs expectedstarting lineup: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA has fined the Portland Trail Blazers $100,000 for scouting Chinese center Yang Hansen in 2023, breaking a league rule regarding players ineligible for the draft.
The league also announced Wednesday that Trail Blazers assistant general managers Sergi Oliva and Mike Schmitz are suspended for two weeks without pay for violating the rule.
“When this was brought to our attention the Portland Trail Blazers self reported to the NBA," the team said. "The team cooperated fully with the investigation and accept the league’s determination.”
Portland drafted the 7-foot-1 Hansen with the No. 16 overall pick last year and he has averaged 2.3 points and 1.6 rebounds in 41 games this season.
The NBA Board of Governors approved the sale of the controlling interest in the Trail Blazers from Paul Allen’s estate to a group led by investor Tom Dundon on Monday.
The Dodgers didn’t take on-field batting practice as a team on Wednesday afternoon.
But, in an exceedingly rare occurrence, superstar slugger Shohei Ohtani did.
In an exceedingly rare occurrence, superstar slugger Shohei Ohtani took part in batting practice. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
A rare sighting today: Shohei Ohtani is taking pregame batting practice out on the field
He mentioned last night that he wasn’t getting the results he wanted on hittable pitches, and that the feel of his swing was “a little off” pic.twitter.com/QxFjBkkvL0
Since joining the Dodgers, Ohtani has rarely hit on the field before games. The few times it has happened, it’s usually a sign he is looking for something in his swing.
That appeared to be the case Wednesday, with Ohtani saying the night before his swing felt “a little off” following a 3-for-15 start to his season.
“When I swing at hittable pitches,” he said in Japanese, “I’m not getting the results I want most.”
Case in point: He has yet to hit a home run, or even record an extra-base hit –– with opposing pitchers instead approaching him carefully in an opening week that has seen him draw six walks (tied for most in the National League entering the day).
Since joining the Dodgers, Ohtani has rarely hit on the field before games. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect“I do like the way he’s being selective and taking walks when they’re given,” manager Dave Roberts said. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
“I do like the way he’s being selective and taking walks when they’re given,” manager Dave Roberts said.
“There hasn’t been a whole lot of hard contact because I do think they’re just not making a whole lot of mistakes with him. That will come. I think, for me, I would just preach just patience and trust that the guys behind him will figure some things out.”
However, Ohtani seemed to be tinkering nonetheless.
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In his first round in the cage, he appeared to be swinging at less than full intensity, yet was hitting bombs halfway up the right-field pavilion anyway.
After that, he launched a string of high-arcing fly balls to center and right field. As he walked back to the dugout afterward, he continued practicing his hitting motion with his bat in his left hand.
Guardians players watching Shohei Ohtani taking batting practice on the field: pic.twitter.com/gOjiZAnYkv
Despite his lack of power, Ohtani has reached safely in every game this season. Going back to last year, that has given him a 36-game on-base streak; the longest current run in the majors, and one that has tied his MLB career high.
Wednesday’s game will be important for Ohtani for another, too.
Last year, he hit just .147 on the days after he pitched. Wednesday will his first such game this year, giving him another chance to show his return to full-time pitching won’t impact his hitting.
DENVER — Marcus Pettersson broke a late tie with 5:39 remaining, Brock Boeser recorded a hat trick, and the last-place Vancouver Canucks defeated the Colorado Avalanche 8–6 on Wednesday night after surrendering a four-goal lead.
Vancouver, which entered the contest trailing Colorado by 58 points in the standings, generated offense in every situation—at even strength, on the power play, short-handed, and into an empty net—while snapping a six-game losing streak.
Boeser added an empty-net goal to complete his hat trick. Teddy Blueger chipped in two goals, while Max Sasson and Jake DeBrusk also scored. Goaltender Kevin Lankinen made 24 saves to help secure the win.
On the other side, Nathan MacKinnon reached the 50-goal mark for the second time in his career, becoming the first player in the league this season to hit that milestone. Sam Malinski scored twice, and Gabriel Landeskog, Parker Kelly, and Brent Burns also tallied.
Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood was pulled with 4:39 left in the second period after allowing six goals on 19 shots. Scott Wedgewood entered in relief and stopped four of five shots faced.
The Avalanche entered the matchup riding momentum from a 9–2 win over Calgary earlier in the week but were forced to adjust defensively with Cale Makar sidelined by an upper-body injury, a gap Vancouver consistently exploited.
Burns contributed a goal and an assist while appearing in his 999th consecutive NHL game, continuing one of the league’s longest active ironman streaks. The all-time record remains 1,064 straight games, held by Phil Kessel.
First Period
Vancouver struck just 29 seconds into the game when Sasson slipped a shot through the five-hole to make it 1–0. After a rink-wide pass deflected off a defender’s stick, he jumped on the loose puck, beat the defense with speed, and finished the play.
Colorado answered quickly, as MacKinnon snapped a shot past Lankinen to tie the game with his 50th goal of the season.
The Avalanche went on the power play soon after, but a turnover by MacKinnon led to a short-handed rush the other way, where Blueger finished to restore Vancouver’s lead. It marked the second goal the Canucks generated off a turnover in the period.
Midway through the frame, Vancouver continued to dictate play. They extended the lead to 3–1 on the power play when DeBrusk finished a backdoor feed from Elias Pettersson. Of DeBrusk’s goals this season, the majority have come with the man advantage.
Colorado trimmed the deficit to 3–2 late in the period when Landeskog tipped a point shot from Burns.
In the final minute, a hooking penalty gave Vancouver another power-play opportunity, and they carried a 3–2 lead into the second while holding a 12–7 edge in shots on goal.
Second Period
The Canucks pushed their lead to 4–2 at 5:02 when Sasson set up Blueger alone in front, where he deked and finished.
Momentum continued to swing Vancouver’s way as Boeser buried a one-timer from the left circle to make it 5–2. He added another shortly after, extending the lead to 6–3 and prompting the Avalanche to replace their goaltender.
Colorado responded quickly on the next shift, with Malinski snapping home a shot to cut into the deficit.
Late in the period, a collision involving Sasson sent Martin Necas to the ice in visible discomfort, forcing him briefly to the locker room.
After two periods, Vancouver led 6–3 and held a 20–13 advantage in shots.
Third Period
Necas returned to start the third, but Colorado wasted little time pulling closer. Just 14 seconds in, Kelly scored off a pass from Jack Drury to make it 6–4.
Midway through the period, Nazem Kadri exited briefly after taking a shot off the hand area and remained on the bench in discomfort.
Burns later brought Colorado within one with a point shot for his 11th goal of the season, and Malinski tied the game at 6–6 with his second goal.
Vancouver quickly regained control. Pettersson scored with 5:39 remaining to restore the lead at 7–6.
Boeser then sealed the outcome with an empty-net goal with 1:29 left, securing the 8–6 victory for Vancouver over the league-leading Avalanche.
Mar 26, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) looks on while walking to the dugout after the sixth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Dodgers play the final game of the first homestand of the 2026 season with their ace on the mound, Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Fans enter Nationals Park for the start of opening day between the Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves on March 31, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers’ first road game of the 2026 season comes in the nation’s capital, battling the Washington Nationals on Friday afternoon at Nationals Park. It’s the home opener for the Nats, with a daytime start to open the weekend series.
Emmet Sheehan starts the series opener on Friday, looking to rebound from his first start of the season, during which he allowed four runs in 3 1/3 innings last Friday against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
No one believes the Lakers are going to win the championship.
And no one believes Luka Doncic is the MVP.
The Lakers’ nine-game winning streak? All that proved is the Lakers will likely get past the first round of the playoffs.
Doncic’s unreal March in which he scored the second-most points in NBA history behind Michael Jordan? As he recently pointed out with disgust, he actually fell in the MVP race during that stretch.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 8, 2025 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NBAE via Getty Images
But both the Lakers and Doncic have a chance to change people’s minds. It’s coming over the next seven days in the form of two games against the Thunder.
The Lakers are coming off a commanding win over the Cavaliers on Tuesday in which they led by as much as 27 points. They’ve won 16 of their last 18 games, including beating multiple contenders in the Rockets (twice), Nuggets, Knicks and Timberwolves.
But they haven’t convinced anyone they’re the real deal.
Yeah, they’re good. But not good enough to get past the Thunder and Spurs.
It’s a fair assumption considering the last time they played the Thunder and their swarming defense in January, they looked like they had barely survived a war.
Seriously, Austin Reaves was slumped in his chair, too exhausted to sit upright. And LeBron James’ voice was hoarse. (Doncic missed that game, to be fair, but it was still brutal.)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball in front of Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Paycom Center on April 8, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Getty Images
But the thing is the Lakers are a completely different team now.
Doncic, Reaves and James went from being a liability on the court into one of the best trios in the league. The role players are starring in their duties. Things turned around for the Lakers beginning in late February.
What changed?
“I think it was a confluence of things starting with health,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said, pointing to the fact that the Big 3 had only played 11 games together before the All-Star break. “I think it’s much easier when you have a consistent stretch of health to — not even buy in — but settle into roles and minutes and rotations. We never found that throughout the season. Another big part of that was…guys really just embracing things.”
After James missed a three-game stretch at the top of March against the Pacers, Knicks and Timberwolves in which the Lakers were thriving behind Doncic and Reaves, he agreed to be the team’s third option. Reaves has learned to be aggressive while sharing the court with James and Doncic. And Doncic has been playing out of his mind.
But still, no one really believes in the Lakers.
Not yet.
Same with Doncic.
Both Doncic and his fans have been outraged that the bar for the MVP Award seems to change whenever his name is involved. So what he’s an offensive savant who’s leading the league in scoring (33.8 points) is third in assists (8.3) and sixth in steals (1.7)? He’s mediocre on the defensive end.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers makes a slam dunk against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on March 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images
Sure, that didn’t seem to matter when guys like James Harden or Steph Curry won the award. But in this MVP race, with two-way stars Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama, the goalpost has shifted.
That’s being held against Doncic, who scored 40-plus points for the third straight game on Tuesday and has had a month in which he had 60-point and 51-point performances while helping his team climb to third in the Western Conference standings.
Wembanyama recently stated his case for why he should win the award. Gilgeous-Alexander declined to do so, saying, “I let my game do the talking,”
When Doncic was asked Tuesday if he wanted to advocate for himself, he seemed resigned to the fact that it would be an act of futility. He literally scoffed when the reporter mentioned he was “getting a lot of MVP momentum.”
“I mean, I never did that,” Doncic said. “I’m not the one voting, so, you know, but I think I’ve been playing pretty good. We’ve been winning. So that’s it. That’s all I gotta say.”
Well, Doncic, here’s your chance to change voters’ minds.
He’s going head to head with the favorite for the award twice over the next week. If he outplays him, that would speak louder than any argument he could’ve made.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shoot as Detroit Pistons forward Ronald Holland II defends during the second half at Paycom Center. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Lakers have arrived. Doncic has arrived.
And even though they’re in one of the top-two most visible markets in the league and are constantly on national TV screens, no one seems to see them.
But that could change.
And it all comes down to how they perform against the Thunder.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Rhys Hoskins #8 of the Cleveland Guardians looks on against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on March 30, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 8: Grant Holman #67 of the Athletics pitching in the top of the eighth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Sutter Health Park on June 8, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — Wednesday was a busy day for the Dodgers adding pitching depth to the 40-man roster. First came trading for left-hander Jake Eder, then in the afternoon the team claimed right-hander Grant Holman off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Holman pitched parts of the last two seasons in the majors with the Athletics, totaling a 4.66 ERA and 4.42 xERA in 40 games, with 33 strikeouts and 18 walks in 38 2/3 innings. He missed the final three and a half months of last season with rotator cuff tendinitis in his right shoulder.
The former sixth-round pick from 2021 in February was claimed off waivers from the A’s by the Diamondbacks in February. Arizona designated Holman for assignment last Wednesday in finalizing their opening day roster.
Holman, who turns 26 on May 31, has one year, 31 days of major league service time. He has two minor league option years remaining, having used an option year in 2025.
“I would say he’s pre-spring training, or right at the beginning,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Stone on Monday, meaning Stone still has to go through the usual spring progression and eventual building up of innings en route back to the majors, after missing all of 2025 after shoulder surgery.
Adding Stone to the 60-day injured list means he cannot return to the Dodgers before May 21.
Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke is in legal trouble after he was arrested on drug charges in Arkansas on Wednesday.
Clarke, 29, was booked by the Cross County Sheriff’s Office and is facing charges of trafficking a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, fleeing in a vehicle exceeding the speed limit and improper passing, according to online records.
It is unclear what led him to be detained.
Memphis forward Brandon Clarke shoots a free throw during the Grizzlies’ 122-110 loss to the Nuggets in an NBA Cup against the Nuggets on Nov. 19, 2024. AP
Clarke’s booking profile lists him as being held on a “CID hold.”
A CID hold can carry different meanings depending on the law enforcement agency and the Cross County Sheriff’s Office does have a Criminal Investigation Division that uses the acronym “C.I.D.”
The Grizzlies are scheduled to face the Knicks on Wednesday evening.
Brandon Clarke’s mugshot. Cross County Sheriff’s Office
“I’m aware of the report but don’t have any comments,” Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Lisalo told reporters ahead of the game, according to the Commercial Appeal.
The forward is tied with Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant as the longest-tenured member of the team’s current roster, having spent seven seasons in Memphis.
Clarke’s season has been marred by injuries, first with a knee injury that dated back to the 2024-25 season and then dealing with a calf strain in December that ended his season early after appearing in just two games.
The Grizzlies selected Clarke with the No. 21 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and he’s appeared in 309 games, averaging 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2020.
Clarke played his college ball at San Jose State and Gonzaga.
Mental lapses during a game can happen in the early season, but it's rare when it happens to a veteran whose known for his sound play.
That's what happened to Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor on Wednesday. In an afternoon bereft of offense and timely hitting, Lindor's mental lapses stood out.
In the first, Lindor handled a groundball that was perfect to turn an inning-ending double play. However, Lindor calmly jogged to second base for the out and turned to the dugout. Lindor forgot how many outs there were, pushing starter Freddy Peralta to throw five more pitches.
"The groundball is the one that’s no excuses," manager Carlos Mendoza said of the mistake. "He’ll be the first one that tells you that."
And Lindor did, telling the media after the 2-1 extra-innings loss that he simply forgot how many outs there were.
"I made a mistake that probably cost Peralta to go an extra inning because he had to throw more pitches after that," Lindor said. "Inexcusable. He probably could have gone six, maybe seven. I just forgot the outs."
The mistake didn't cost the Mets any runs. Peralta finished the inning, striking out the next batter en route to throwing 92 pitches across 5.1 innings. The ace of the Mets staff allowed just one run, but it wasn't enough as the Mets offense pushed across just one run, but it potentially could have been more.
In the sixth, and the game scoreless, Lindor reached on an error with one out. With Juan Soto at the plate, Lindor was picked off without even a slide from the Mets shortstop.
Soto would homer three pitches later to give the Mets the lead. Unfortunately, it would not hold up as the Cardinals tied it in the bottom half of the inning and eventually won in the 11th.
"The pickoff, they got us there. [Lindor] was going to go, we thought we had a tip there and they got us with a quick, step-off move there," Mendoza said. "I wouldn’t consider that one as a mental mistake. He was trying to get some momentum there and be aggressive."
"I should have been better," Lindor said of the play. "That’s all I got."
If the Mets win on Wednesday, the mistakes are glossed over, but the loss puts a magnifying glass over a team that has struggled offensively. After scoring 11 runs in their Opening Day win against the Pirates, the Mets have pushed across just 12 runs over their next five games. On Wednesday, the Mets were 0-for-11 with RISP and left 11 runners on base.
Lindor is not too concerned with the offense's early-season struggles. The Mets (3-3) still have 156 games to go in the season.
"Our pitchers have done a tremendous job. We gotta score runs for them," Lindor said. "It’s one of those that you hope to put it together as many times as you can during the year. We have put it together, just not every day. Gotta go out there, continue to believe in each other, pass the baton. I trust the guy behind me more than I trust myself. It’s that type of mentality. We’re going to be on top more times than not."
The Mets will hope to turn their struggles around when they open a four-game series against the Giants in San Francisco starting Thursday.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 01: Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros reacts after hitting a three run home run during the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Daikin Park on April 01, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
HOUSTON, TX – Once upon a time, he was the de facto leader of Crush City. Today, Captain Crush was back.
Carlos Correa, who has been open about his excitement of being back in Houston for a whole season and the high expectations he has for this team, hit a 3-run homer in the fifth to put the Astros ahead for good as Houston completed a 3-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox today at Daikin Park.
Correa demolished a 1-2 slider from Red Sox All-Star starter Garrett Crochet (L, 1-1) 402 feet and into the Crawfish Boxes to give the Astros a 5-2 lead.
Correa’s shot left like a laser at 106.7 MPH. Correa is hitting .296 through 7 games with an .811 OPS. The HR gave the Astros a lead they would never relinquish on the way to a 6-4 victory.
Correa spoke with SCHN’s Julia Morales postgame:
Carlos Correa a 3-RUN HR as the #Astros beat the Red Sox 6-4
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) April 1, 2026
Correa’s bomb made a winner of starter Mike Burrows, whose second start was notably better than his first. Burrows threw 5 innings of 2 run ball, allowing 5 hits and 3 walks while striking out 6. Burrows improved to 1-1 on the season.
The Astros also got run producing contributions from Isaac Paredes and Christian Walker, as well as a solo HR from catcher Christian Vazquez:
Relievers A.J. Blubaugh and Bryan King each pitched clean innings for the Astros in the 6th and 7th innings. Blubaugh registered a strikeout and King had a pair of Ks.
Bryan Abreu came on for the 9th in a save situation at 6-3. He surrendered a solo home run to the Red Sox’ leadoff man in the 9th, Roman Anthony, but then settled down and struck out the next 3 batters for his first save of the season.
More importantly, Abreu was back throwing his fastball in his more customary 96-97 MPH range.
With the victory, the Astros improved to 5-2 on the season, and lead the AL West by a half-game over the Texas Rangers.
They will have an off day Thursday and then open a 3-game series Friday in Sacramento against the Athletics. Cristian Javier will get the start Friday against Jeffrey Springs.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 11: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks reacts after he thought he was fouled in the second quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at Madison Square Garden on November 11, 2025 in New York City. 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 Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Knicks (48*-28) visit the Memphis Grizzlies (25-50) tonight at FedExForum. New York hopes to end a three-game road slide and protect their third seed in the East. Meanwhile, the Grizz struggle to field a team with all the injuries they have suffered this season. As lopsided battles go, this one couldn’t be more so.
Tip off is 8 p.m. EST on MSG. This is your game thread. This is Beale Street Bears. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Be a shining example of humanity, what dontcha? And go Knicks!
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Something wasn’t working between first and third base Wednesday afternoon at Petco Park, as the typically surehanded Matt Chapman and Casey Schmitt teamed up to cost the Giants the first two runs they allowed in 7-1 drubbing to the Padres.
San Francisco Giants pitcher Adrian Houser delivers during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Schmitt was charged with an error for failing to reel in a wide throw from Chapman in the first inning that ricocheted into the outfield, allowing Jackson Merrill to race home from first and open a 1-0 lead.
Chapman took the blame for a throw that sailed over Schmitt’s mitt and into foul territory on a play that should have ended the fifth inning. Instead, Gavin Sheets scored from second to make it 2-0.
Adrian Houser pitched better than the defense behind him in the season debut for the Giants’ No. 5 starter but ran into trouble when San Diego turned its lineup over for a third time. Just one of the three runs on Houser’s line was earned, but three of the Padres’ seven hits against him came in consecutive at-bats after he recorded the first out of the sixth, bringing manager Tony Vitello out with the hook.
The Padres’ ace, Nick Pivetta, rebounded from his stinker to open the season and put San Francisco’s bats back in hibernation. After more than doubling their season totals with nine runs on 16 hits to clinch a series win Tuesday, the Giants mustered just four hits while striking out a season-high 14 times.
What it means
Despite the getaway day defeat, Vitello’s first games in the road grays have to be considered a success. The first-year manager won’t be celebrating a sweep on the short charter flight back to San Francisco, but his team rebounded nicely from an 0-3 opening series by taking two of three in San Diego.
San Francisco Giants second baseman Luis Arraez hits a single during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
Who’s hot
Willy Adames had been on a tear since moving into the leadoff spot, but the Giants shortstop was held hitless to snap a brief three-game hitting streak. The 0-for-4 effort came in SF’s first loss in four games with Adames batting leadoff, dating back to Game 162 of last season.
Luis Arraez was responsible for three of the Giants’ four hits, including their only one in five innings off Pivetta. Arraez gave them a second with a double off Adrian Morejon to begin the seventh, and Harrison Bader got them on the board with a two-out line drive into left field for their third hit of the afternoon.
The multi-hit effort from Arraez against his former team left him batting .304 after six games, the best mark among the Giants’ starting lineup that has featured the same nine players in all of their first six games.
Who’s not
The description could fit anybody in a starting lineup that doesn’t feature one player with an OPS that starts with a seven or higher. For the fourth time in their first six games, the Giants were held to one run or less and three or fewer hits. Even with their nine-run outburst on Tuesday, the Giants are averaging just 2.3 per game, the fewest in the majors, with a .559 team OPS — better only than the A’s.
Besides the bats, Jose Butto hasn’t looked like the same pitcher who tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings for Venezuela during the World Baseball Classic. Butto is suddenly the biggest question mark in the Giants’ bullpen after retiring only one of the seven batters he faced in his second shaky outing in three games.
Butto issued four walks, allowed three hits and found the strike zone on only eight of his 28 pitches, forcing Vitello to burn another arm, lefty Ryan Borucki, with seven more games in the next seven days.
The Padres extended their lead from 3-1 to the eventual final margin after Butto entered the game.
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Nick Pivetta delivers during the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Up next
Robbie Ray makes his second start of the season Thursday as the Giants return to Oracle Park to begin a seven-game home stand against the Mets and Phillies. Tyler Mahle gets the ball Friday, followed by Landen Roupp and Logan Webb to finish off a four-game weekend set with New York.
A week ago, the vibes seemed pretty low in San Jose. On March 26, the Sharks lost 2-1 to the St. Louis Blues in overtime for their sixth consecutive defeat, seemingly all but knocking them out of the Western Conference playoff race.
But that slump seems like a distant memory after Wednesday’s victory. For the third game in a row, the Sharks scored a game-winning goal in the final 90 seconds of regulation, becoming the first NHL team to do so, per Sportradar.
Wednesday’s victory was the most dramatic of the trio. Macklin Celebrini equalized with 99 seconds to go before Alexander Wennberg delivered an improbable winner just over a minute later, giving San Jose a 4-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks at SAP Center.
Per @Sportradar, the #SJSharks are the first team in @NHL history to win three consecutive games on GWGs within the last 90 seconds of regulation.#TheFutureIsTeal
— San Jose Sharks PR (@SanJoseSharksPR) April 2, 2026
On Monday night, Celebrini crossed the 100-point threshold with two goals and an assist in a 5-4 win over the Blues. Two nights later, the 19-year-old — who is building a very good case for the Hart Trophy — factored into all four Sharks goals against the Pacific Division-leading Ducks. After having only two points during San Jose’s six-game skid, he now has nine points in three wins since.
Yet, when interviewed shortly after on the NHL on TNT postgame show, the teenage phenom still remained cool as a cucumber, almost oblivious to another absurd performance he had given.
“Yeah, I mean, still living off that emotion, pretty high there,” Celebrini said. “I think we just stayed patient, didn’t give up much in that third, and, I mean, we buried it when it counted.”
Of course, to anyone who has watched the Sharks this season, the concept of Celebrini being very good isn’t exactly new. But the magnitude of his talent is becoming more and more remarkable to anyone and everyone, even a 16-year NHL veteran teammate in Ryan Reaves.
After being dragged him into Celebrini’s postgame interview with TNT, Reaves had a blunt assessment on playing alongside the budding superstar.
“It’s like watching a god on ice,” Reaves remarked. “It’s fun to watch. It’s crazy the stuff he can do at 19. I’ll be honest, though, half of my interviews this year has been about him, so it’s kind of starting to wear me out a little bit.”
However, if Celebrini can carry San Jose to an unlikely spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Reaves likely will be asked plenty more questions about his extraordinary teammate, who just happens to be 20 years his junior.
Reaves also doesn’t appear to be the only Sharks player inspired by Celebrini. Three consecutive wins — each coming from behind — show a growing level of belief and grit that extends beyond their fresh-faced centerpiece.
NHL on TNT analyst Brian Boucher asked Celebrini if Wednesday’s win could be a “galvanizing moment” for Team Teal, which now sits just one point out of a wild-card spot, with at least one game in hand over almost everyone else around them.
“It shows our confidence in our group and the way we believe in each other,” Celebrini explained. “We’re never going to quit. Who knows what’s going to happen, but we’re going to keep playing hard, take it game by game. It’s cliché, but that’s the way we’re going to approach it and hopefully, just to keep taking strides.”
The Sharks had an easy opportunity to quit during their recent losing streak. But, as Celebrini stated, that’s not in this team’s DNA; the way San Jose has won its last three games is perfect proof of that mentality.
