Memphis Grizzlies (25-54, 13th in the Western Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (51-28, third in the Western Conference)
Denver; Wednesday, 9 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Denver will try to keep its nine-game home win streak alive when the Nuggets face Memphis.
The Nuggets are 33-16 against conference opponents. Denver leads the Western Conference with 121.8 points and is shooting 49.5%.
The Grizzlies are 19-30 against Western Conference opponents. Memphis is eighth in the Western Conference scoring 115.0 points per game and is shooting 45.8%.
The Nuggets are shooting 49.5% from the field this season, 1.2 percentage points higher than the 48.3% the Grizzlies allow to opponents. The Grizzlies average 13.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.3 more makes per game than the Nuggets allow.
The teams play for the fourth time this season. The Grizzlies won the last matchup 125-118 on March 19, with Ty Jerome scoring 21 points in the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jamal Murray is shooting 48.3% and averaging 25.4 points for the Nuggets. Nikola Jokic is averaging 26.7 points over the last 10 games.
GG Jackson is shooting 49.6% and averaging 12.5 points for the Grizzlies. Walter Clayton Jr. is averaging 1.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Nuggets: 9-1, averaging 128.8 points, 45.3 rebounds, 33.4 assists, 6.0 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 51.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 121.5 points per game.
Grizzlies: 1-9, averaging 110.1 points, 33.7 rebounds, 24.9 assists, 9.6 steals and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 129.8 points.
INJURIES: Nuggets: Zeke Nnaji: day to day (hip), Peyton Watson: out (hamstring), Spencer Jones: day to day (hamstring).
Grizzlies: Santi Aldama: out for season (knee), Jahmai Mashack: day to day (neck), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: out for season (finger), Taylor Hendricks: day to day (thumb), Ja Morant: out for season (elbow), Scotty Pippen Jr.: out for season (toe), Zach Edey: out for season (ankle), Ty Jerome: day to day (ankle), Jaylen Wells: out for season (toe), Taj Gibson: day to day (foot), Brandon Clarke: out for season (calf), Javon Small: day to day (thigh).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Portland Trail Blazers (40-39, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. San Antonio Spurs (60-19, second in the Western Conference)
San Antonio; Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: San Antonio hosts Portland looking to extend its five-game home winning streak.
The Spurs have gone 34-15 against Western Conference opponents. San Antonio is second in the Western Conference in rebounding with 47.1 rebounds. Victor Wembanyama paces the Spurs with 11.5 boards.
The Trail Blazers are 27-22 in Western Conference play. Portland is 21-17 in games decided by at least 10 points.
The Spurs average 13.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.0 more made shot on average than the 12.6 per game the Trail Blazers allow. The Trail Blazers are shooting 45.3% from the field, 0.3% higher than the 45.0% the Spurs' opponents have shot this season.
The teams play for the third time this season. The Trail Blazers won the last meeting 115-110 on Jan. 4, with Deni Avdija scoring 29 points in the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: De'Aaron Fox is averaging 18.4 points and 6.1 assists for the Spurs. Wembanyama is averaging 25.5 points over the last 10 games.
Avdija is averaging 24 points, seven rebounds and 6.7 assists for the Trail Blazers. Toumani Camara is averaging 4.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Spurs: 9-1, averaging 124.4 points, 50.1 rebounds, 31.5 assists, 7.4 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 49.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.7 points per game.
Trail Blazers: 7-3, averaging 119.1 points, 47.6 rebounds, 26.4 assists, 8.2 steals and 6.5 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.4 points.
INJURIES: Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle), Victor Wembanyama: day to day (rib).
Trail Blazers: Jerami Grant: day to day (calf), Shaedon Sharpe: out (calf), Vit Krejci: day to day (calf), Damian Lillard: out for season (achilles).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Adrian Kempe scored the only goal of the shootout in the second round, and the Los Angeles Kings tightened the Western Conference playoff race with a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators on Monday night.
Los Angeles has played extra time in seven of its last 10 games — and 32 this season.
Joel Armia opened the scoring for the Kings and Scott Laughton made it a 2-1 lead in the second period. Jared Wright has an assist in a career-best three straight games.
Steven Stamkos tied it at 1-all for the Predators and Roman Josi knotted it at 2 early in the third.
Anton Forsberg made 29 saves in the win for the Kings. Saros made 26 saves for the Predators.
The Kings won 58.3% of the faceoffs in the game.
All three series matchups this season went to a shootout, including a 5-4 victory for the Predators in Los Angeles last Thursday.
Last week, I mentioned it was a relatively quiet first week on the injury front. Unfortunately, that's not the case this time around. A long list of weekend casualties is highlighted by Juan Soto, Hunter Brown, and Mookie Betts, among many others. On the bright side, Cubs slugger Seiya Suzuki is set to return by week’s end. Let’s break it all down in the last MLB Injury Report.
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Juan Soto (calf)
Soto drew immediate concerns when he was removed early in Friday’s game against the Giants after running from first to third in the first inning. He was held out of the lineup for the rest of the weekend and underwent imaging that revealed a mild right calf strain. The 27-year-old star outfielder was initially considered “day-to-day”, but is now set to miss at least 2-3 weeks on the injured list. It’s the smart move as calf injuries could be tricky. His absence seems to clear up some playing time in the short term for both Brett Baty and the hot-hitting Mark Vientos, with Baty likely taking over in left field and Vientos slotting in at first base.
Hunter Brown (shoulder)
This one came as a surprise Sunday morning when Brown was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder sprain. The move was retroactive to April 2. Brown apparently came out of his Friday bullpen session with some soreness. Astros GM Dana Brown stated the team was optimistic about Brown’s outlook, but didn’t provide a timeline. Hopefully, it’s a minimum stay for the 27-year-old right-hander. Brown was widely thought to be one of the more durable fantasy aces, good for plenty of volume, which makes this injury sting that much more. Cody Bolton stepped in to make the start on Monday against the Rockies. Meanwhile, Spencer Arrighetti has made two starts with Triple-A Sugar Land, tossing 8 1/3 scoreless with a 13/5 K/BB ratio. Arrighetti could be worth a stash in deeper leagues, given his strikeout upside. Astros manager Joe Espada had no updates on Brown on Monday, but did indicate that the team will use a six-man rotation starting later this week, with a 13-game stretch of no off days beginning Thursday.
Cade Horton (forearm)
This one is another incredibly unfortunate injury, and one with probably a less optimistic view. Horton left Friday’s start against the Guardians in the second inning with forearm discomfort following a significantly lower-than-average 93.8 mph fastball. He described the discomfort as starting in his wrist before it moved to his forearm. The team placed the promising 24-year-old right-hander on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to April 4. We probably won’t know much more until Horton is thoroughly evaluated, but the dreaded forearm strain doesn’t usually have a positive short-term outlook.
Matthew Boyd (biceps)
The Cubs’ rotation took another hit on Monday when Boyd was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left bicep strain. This was coming off an impressive start in which he struck out ten batters with one earned run allowed over 5 2/3 innings against the Angels last Wednesday. Apparently, he just didn’t recover well from that outing. The 35-year-old left-hander will now have the next two weeks to rest up and stated he believes he’ll make a speedy recovery. With both Boyd and Horton on the shelf, Javier Assad and Colin Rea figure to slot into the Cubs’ rotation, starting Tuesday and Wednesday against the Rays, respectively. Rea is the more interesting of the two for fantasy purposes. He saw an increase in his strikeout rate over the second half of 2025 and has struck out four batters over three innings of work in each of his two appearances this season.
Mookie Betts (oblique)
Betts was pulled from Saturday’s game against the Nationals after running the bases in the first inning with lower right back pain. An MRI revealed a right oblique strain that landed Betts on the 10-day injured list. It’s an injury that’ll typically sideline players for 4-6 weeks, though manager Dave Roberts is hopeful Betts will return sooner. Hyeseong Kim was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to replace Betts on the active roster. Kim will likely be on the strong side of a platoon at shortstop with Miguel Rojas. Kim offers some stolen base upside in a great lineup, but little to no power. He could be considered in deep roto leagues as a middle infield streaming option.
A look at the top MLB prospects who can help fantasy teams in 2026 and beyond.
Christopher Crawford
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Mike Trout (hand)
Trout left Sunday’s game against the Mariners after he was hit by a pitch on the left hand. Fortunately, X-rays came back negative, and the team opted not to run any other tests. Instead, Trout got the day off Monday to recover and is considered day-to-day.
Alejandro Kirk (thumb)
Kirk was removed in the tenth inning of Friday’s game against the White Sox after he was hit on the left thumb by a foul ball while behind the plate. The fact that he walked off in pain without trying to stay in was an obvious cause for concern. Imaging revealed a dislocation and fracture of Kirk’s left thumb. He’s set to undergo surgery this week, after which we should get a general timeline for his return. Tyler Heineman steps in as the Blue Jays’ primary catcher, though he offers very little fantasy upside.
Jordan Lawlar (wrist)
Lawlar was hit by a pitch last Thursday against the Braves. While initial X-rays were negative, a CT scan found a fracture in his right wrist that will sideline the 23-year-old outfielder for 6-8 weeks. It’s an unfortunate development for Lawlar as he seemed to be coming into his own as a big league player. He had hit safely in all but one game in the early going and had launched his first career home run earlier in Thursday’s contest. Tim Tawa and Jorge Barrosa stand to split time in the outfield to replace Lawlar, at least until Lourdes Gurriel Jr., recovering from a torn ACL, is ready to return. Playing time could once again be in question for Lawlar once he returns.
Zach Eflin (elbow)
Eflin was looking outstanding in his season debut last Tuesday, holding the Rangers to one run with seven strikeouts until he was pulled with two outs in the fourth inning with right elbow discomfort. The team placed Eflin on the 15-day injured list and is reportedly getting a second opinion on his initial evaluation by Dr. Keith Meister, which typically isn’t a good thing. It’s fair to speculate that Eflin could be looking at a lengthy absence. Brandon Young was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to help fill the rotation spot. He struck out two over five scoreless innings in a win against the White Sox on Monday, but his lack of strikeout upside makes him a speculative play only in the deepest of leagues.
Merill Kelly (back)
Kelly was up to 72 pitches in his last rehab outing with Triple-A Reno, tossing five scoreless innings. Manager Torey Lovullo said Sunday that the 37-year-old right-hander is slated for one more rehab start this week before rejoining the Diamondbacks rotation, likely during next week’s series in Baltimore. His return would seem to push Brandon Pfaadt out of the rotation, either to long relief or to Triple-A to remain stretched out.
Seiya Suzuki (knee)
Suzuki is on track to be activated from the injured list later this week, likely Friday when the Cubs open their weekend series at home against the Pirates. Matt Shaw and Michael Conforto have worked a platoon in right field, while Moisés Ballesteros and Miguel Amaya have gotten starts at designated hitter. It remains to be seen how the Cubs plan to utilize Suzuki coming off the injured list.
Nick Lodolo (blister)
Lodolo was due to come off the injured list this week until he suffered a setback in his rehab outing with Class-A Daytona last Thursday. He was expected to throw 60-65 pitches, but made it just 40 before he was pulled with a recurrence of the blister issue. The 28-year-old left-hander played catch on Monday, but there’s no word on when he could appear in another rehab game. He’ll likely need a couple of starts to build his pitch count back up once he’s passed the blister problem. All fantasy managers can do is be patient and hold.
Austin Hays (hamstring)
Hays pulled up limping while trying to field a ball in the outfield on Monday against the Orioles. He was removed from the game with a right hamstring strain that is expected to require a trip to the injured list. Derek Hill took over in left field on Monday and could get more looks in Hays' absence. Andrew Benintendi could also shift to more outfield starts, opening designated hitter for someone like Lenyn Sosa. From the team’s minor league depth, Sam Antonacci is a name to watch. The 23-year-old infielder is off to a great start with Triple-A Charlotte, hitting .346/.538/.615 with two homers and four steals through his first seven games.
The Nashville Predators have gotten the best of the Los Angeles Kings in the shootout twice this season, but couldn't get it done in their final meeting of the regular season.
Adrian Kempe scored the lone goal of the shootout in the second round, giving the Los Angeles Kings a critical 3-2 win over the Predators.
With the two points, the Kings move into the final Wild Card spot with 73 points and five games remaining. Nashville trails Los Angeles by a point with 72.
Turnovers haunted Nashville, which allowed two goals in regulation. A turnover by Tyson Jost in the neutral zone led to a Kings rush the other way and a goal by Joel Armia to put LA up 1-0 in the first period.
The Predators responded in the second off a 5-on-3 power play goal from Steven Stamkos, a one-time shot to tie the game. It's his 39th goal of the season and 12th power play goal on the year.
Scott Laughton gave the Kings the lead back in the second period, off a Ryan Ufko neutral zone turnover that ended with Jared Wright feeding Laughton into the slot for the quick wrist shot.
Roman Josi tied the game in the early third period as a Filip Forsberg missed shot caromed off the end boards and Josi slammed home the rebound.
Nashville and LA tied in shots, two apiece in overtime. In the shootout, Ryan O'Reilly, Filip Forsberg and Luke Evangelista all failed to convert.
Juuse Saros made 26 saves on 28 shots. The Predators had a clean sheet, taking no penalties.
The Predators have two more games left in this road trip, taking on Anaheim on Tuesday and Utah on Thursday. They'll then return to Nashville on Saturday for a three-game homestand to end the regular season.
In what was the biggest game of the season for the Los Angeles Kings (32-26-19), they came up big with a gritty victory over the Nashville Predators (36-31-10) in a 3-2 shootout.
LA turned to its goaltending to get the win, led by Anton Forsberg, who stopped three clutch shots from the Predators in the shootout. The Kings were also great in the faceoff, winning 58.3% and forcing 18 giveaways from the Predators.
The game began with the Kings finally starting off strong to open the first period. It was the first time in over a week that Los Angeles scored a goal in the opening period and avoided the slow start.
It all started less than six minutes into the period, with Joel Armia forcing the turnover on defense, following up on offense by skating behind the net, and scoring an unassisted goal, giving LA the early 1-0 lead.
LAK Goal - Now THAT is how you start a game.
Forechecking has been aggressive early and the third line opens the scoring. Armia with a great shift to stay hot against Nashville, 1-0 Kings.
Los Angeles showed up this time around in the opening period with its excellent forechecking and outshot the Predators 12-4 after an amazing 20 minutes of hockey.
Five minutes into the second period, Los Angeles got called for a penalty after a Scott Laughton's hooking was called, and Mikey Anderson for a high-sticking right after the faceoff, giving Nashville the 5-on-3 advantage.
The Predators would capitalize on that 5-on-3 advantage, scoring on the power play after forward Steven Stamkos converted on the one-timer, left circle, to tie the scoreboard 1-1.
A pretty even period, other than those penalties; the Kings were hanging around and making this game interesting. The Kings only attempted four shots on goal in the next nine minutes before they regained the lead again.
With another turnover by the Predators, Jared Wright led the way with his impressive speed, blazing down the ice past Nashville's defenders and passing the puck to Laughton, finishing in front to give the Kings back their lead.
Laughton has now scored five goals for the Kings since the trade, and Wright continues to show he belongs on this team, adding a point in three consecutive games.
LAK Goal - There's that line again!
Wright with blazing speed down the wing, Laughton finishes in front. 53 continues to impress. 2-1 Kings.
Give credit to both teams for adjusting in the second period, especially the Predators, who had a measly four shots in the first period, finished with 19 in the second, outshooting the Kings 19-11.
Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg was also great in the second period, getting the start tonight over Darcy Kuemper, who didn't disappoint. The 33-year-old got two massive saves to bail out the Kings' turnovers, holding Nashville to one goal after 40 minutes.
The defense from both teams started to pick up in the final period. Everything was so tough, and neither team could get a good shot up in the early parts of the final frame.
We were nine minutes into the period, and both teams combined for just three shots: LA with two and the Predators with just two shots. Both teams were waiting for an opening to gain momentum, but nothing could go their way.
The rest of the final frame would end with both teams struggling to get a score up, and we would head to overtime, the fourth consecutive game that Los Angeles would play in extra periods.
Alex Laferriere had a great chance to win the game with under 35 seconds left after a nice defensive stop, but a clutch save by goaltender Juuse Saros would force the second overtime in the three meetings that LA and Nashville have faced off against one another.
In overtime, the Kings had several chances to win this game, including Adrian Kempe and Quinton Byfield getting a few close shots up, but Saros remained strong under the crease to force the shootout.
The shootout saw Adrian Kempe score the goal in round two, while Forsberg stood strong and stopped all three shots by the Predators to win the game in a shootout.
Key Stats
Anton Forsberg, the hero of the game with his clutch saves on defense, finished with 29 saves on 31 shots, continuing to make a huge case to be the permanent starter for the Kings moving forward.
Scott Laughton continues to show why he was a big pickup for the Kings, finishing with 1 goal and 1 point and bringing energy night in and night out for Los Angeles.
Jared Wright and Joel Armia were also very great tonight, sparking energy with their speed and defense. Armia notched one goal and one point, while Wright recorded an assist and a point in the Kings' victory.
Huge win for Los Angeles, arguably the biggest game of the season, and they win, but still don't have the tibreaker over the Predators, so things could get interesting. The Kings now hold the final wild card spot in the playoffs and have a one-point lead over Nashville and a two-point lead over San Jose in the playoff race.
The Kings' next matchup will be against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday at 7:30 PM PT.
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DALLAS, TEXAS - MARCH 21: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots the ball as Brook Lopez #11 of the Los Angeles Clippers defends during the first half at American Airlines Center on March 21, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What feat of strength will Cooper Flagg perform next?
Find out when the Dallas Mavericks (25-53) wrap up their two-night residency in Los Angeles on Tuesday with a game against the Clippers at the Intuit Dome. Tipoff is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. CDT.
On Friday, Flagg gave the Orlando Magic 51 on 19-of-30 shooting. On Sunday, he backed it up with 45 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in a 134-128 win at the Lakers. If that trend continues, perhaps Flagg is due for a 40-point triple-double at the Clippers? Don’t discount the possibility.
Both he and the Mavericks coaching staff have shown us that getting Flagg the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award is a goal of the utmost importance as the season winds down. His 96 points in a two-game span is a mark only bested in NBA history by Wilt Chamberlain during his rookie year.
And the rest of the Mavs? It looks like they’re just trying to get to the finish line, as we all are. Here are three things we’ll be watching out for in the Mavericks’ Tuesday matchup with the Clippers.
Rookie of the Year race
Kon Knueppel and his Charlotte Hornets face the Boston Celtics just a couple of hours before the Mavs tip off against the Clippers. On Sunday, Knueppel laid a stinker on a 4-of-14 shooting night as the Hornets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves, 122-108.
Would Flagg continuing his scorching hot tear in the season’s final six games be enough to sway the Rookie of the Year voters over to his side? A third straight monster performance couldn’t hurt, especially since Knueppel has gone over the 20-point mark just once in his last nine games.
There was a time, as Flagg worked his way back from a foot injury in February, that Knueppel was simply out-playing Flagg on a nightly basis. That is no longer the case. It only makes sense that the last few games of the season would hold equal weight as voters consider whose name to put on their ballots.
Box score watching will likely be at least as compelling as the product the Mavericks put on the floor against the Clippers, who have won two of their last three after losing five straight at the end of March.
Guard play
Brandon Williams in particular has become an interesting case study at guard in recent games. On some nights he looks like the perfect tank commander, as his jumpshot leaves a little to be desired and his size makes him something of a liability on the defensive end. But at other times, he’s able to get to the basket at will, zooming past the defense in big moments that make one wonder whether he’s actually a useful piece for the future.
Combine his knack for scoring with the fact that the Mavericks’ latest win over the Lakers may have hurt their draft lottery odds as much as it helped Flagg’s Rookie of the Year chances, and you start to wonder what guards in the stellar 2026 NBA Draft class may even be available at all when the Mavs’ first pick comes around.
Is Williams a good option off the bench going forward? Or is he as replaceable as basically everyone else on this roster not named Flagg? He’s auditioning, and he’s playing like it lately, averaging 17 points per game in his last four outings.
Get it over with
Two of the Mavericks’ previous three games against the Clippers this year have gone into overtime. The Mavs lost to Los Angeles at home in overtime, 138-131, on Mar. 23 and dropped a double-overtime loss to the Clippers, 133-127, on Nov. 14.
The Mavs are now 17-26 this season in 43 clutch games after Sunday’s win at the Lakers. No matter how bad they look at times, they seem to always work their way back into games. Whether that’s more sheer force of will or simply Silly Season shenanigans at play, sometimes it’s hard to tell.
With a late start on our hands on Tuesday, all we’re really hoping for is a clear result at the end of regulation this time around. We’re so done with this season. All that’s left seems to be Flagg’s march to a postseason award.
How to watch
The Mavericks and the Clippers are slated for a 9:30 p.m. CDT tip on Wednesday from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. The game will be televised locally on KFAA Channel 29 and on sister stations throughout the Mavericks’ regional viewership area. You can catch the stream on MavsTV and on NBA League Pass where available.
ATLANTA — Mike Brown acknowledged discussing a starting lineup change — “there’s always going to be chatter about it” — but isn’t close to acting and, at least for now, anticipates the status quo for the playoffs.
“I don’t believe in never ever. But right now we’re going to start that five and that’s how I foresee it,” the coach said. “If I feel I need to make a change at any time, I’ll make a change. But I don’t feel that way right now.”
League sources said moving Landry Shamet into the lineup was discussed. Earlier this season, Brown altered his starting lineup, replacing Mitchell Robinson with Josh Hart.
Brown said Monday his staff convinced him to abandon the original double-big lineup (with Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns), a move made in December.
Onyeka Okongwu #17 of the Atlanta Hawks drives against Josh Hart #3 and Og Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks during the first quarter at State Farm Arena on April 06, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. Getty Images
“There’s debate literally all the time. Obviously there was a debate at the start of the season when we started two bigs [Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns]. And there was debate almost every day because I was the only one with that [opinion] — and I was getting hammered at this angle, that angle, every angle. So we talked about it a lot.
“That’s just chatter that you have throughout the course of the year, trying to find ways to improve your team. So I think there’s always going to be chatter about [changing the lineup now]. … But there’s nothing I’ve felt close to acting on yet.”
The current Knicks starting lineup — Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Hart, OG Anunoby, Towns — had habitually produced poor first quarters before Monday’s 108-105 victory over the Hawks. It had the third-most minutes together in the NBA but carried a net rating of just plus-0.7 — including a first-quarter net rating of minus-8.1 in the first quarter.
But they built a three-point lead before the first sub Monday, and they closed out the win together with a clutch run down the stretch.
Brown used his likely nine-man playoff rotation with Miles McBride, Robinson, Shamet and Jordan Clarkson coming off the bench.
Knicks head coach Mike Brown reacts during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Monday, April 6, 2026. AP
It meant Jose Alvarado picked up his first healthy DNP.
“I’m good. I’m chilling,” Alvarado, acquired at the trade deadline by Leon Rose, said. “I’m ready for my moment. I’m ready for my name to get called whenever it is. … So just whenever it’s Jose’s time, whenever that time is, I’m ready.”
Towns said his right elbow impingement — which kept him out of Saturday’s win over the Bulls — has been an issue “for a while.”
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 6: Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 6, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For a moment, everything stopped.
Inside the Frost Bank Center, the buzz of a marquee matchup, Victor Wembanyama versus Joel Embiid, gave way to silence as Wembanyama walked slowly toward the locker room, his night cut short before halftime. It should have been the turning point, but it became something else entirely.
The San Antonio Spurs didn’t flinch.
They steadied themselves, leaned on each other, and by the final buzzer, they were walking off the floor with a 115-102 win over the Philadelphia 76ers—a performance defined less by who they lost, and more by who they became. And it also became their 60th win of the season.
Before the injury, the game had all the makings of a heavyweight duel. Wembanyama was electric early, scoring 17 points in just over 15 minutes, matching Embiid possession for possession. Every touch felt significant, every bucket answered. It was the kind of rhythm that pulls a crowd to its feet.
Then, in an instant, it was gone. A hit in transition. A slow walk off the floor. No return. And just like that, the spotlight shifted.
That’s when Stephon Castle stepped forward. He had a steady command that never wavered as he controlled the pace, found teammates in rhythm, and filled every gap the Spurs suddenly had to navigate. By the end of the night, his stat line told the story: 19 points, 13 assists, and double-digit rebounds—but it was the composure that stood out most.
Possession by possession, Castle kept San Antonio grounded. And he wasn’t alone.
One by one, the Spurs followed. Shots came from different hands. Stops came from collective effort. What could have unraveled instead turned into something balanced, something connected. By halftime, they had the lead and by the fourth quarter, San Antonio was in firm control.
Joel Embiid kept pushing to help his team, scoring 34 points, fought through contact, and tried to drag Philadelphia back into the game. For stretches, it felt like he might. But the Spurs never let the moment slip.
Every time the 76ers threatened, San Antonio answered. The lead stretched. The clock ticked. And whatever window Philadelphia hoped to find quietly closed. When the final buzzer sounded, the Spurs had earned the 115-102 victory, but the final score only told part of the story.
San Antonio responded to losing its star player as well as a winnable game against Denver on Saturday. A team losing its star and refusing to lose its identity. A young group discovering, in real time, what it looks like to carry the weight together.
And as the Spurs walked off the floor, the image that lingered wasn’t the final score.
It was everything that came after Wembanyama left—and how, somehow, they never let the game leave with him.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Will Smith earned his 100th NHL point with a third-period goal, and the San Jose Sharks beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 on Tuesday night.
Smith scored the winning goal on a wrist shot 3:28 into the third, assisted by Collin Graf and Macklin Celebrini, putting the Sharks on top 3-1.
William Eklund had a goal and assist and Kiefer Sherwood also scored for the Sharks.
Ryan Donato and Frank Nazar each scored for the Blackhawks.
Connor Bedard earned his 200th career point with an assist on Donato’s first-period goal. Bedard has four assists in his last three games.
Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 27 shots in the win for the Sharks. Spencer Knight had 20 saves for the Blackhawks.
The Sharks won 69.2% of the faceoffs in the game.
Up next
Blackhawks: Host the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday.
ATLANTA — Two years ago, the Knicks were lovable underdogs.
A year ago, they were a little less lovable — a product of exhausting all their draft assets in trades and losing their rough-and-tumble identity — but they were underdogs, nonetheless.
“ ‘If they make it a six-game series, I’ll be proud of the Knicks,’ ” recalled Karl-Anthony Towns of the punditry surrounding last year’s second round against the Celtics.
Now? They better win. That’s the mandate not only from the outside but also the team owner, James Dolan, who replaced the coach in June and sent a public Finals-or-bust message in January. So it doesn’t matter that the Knicks still aren’t betting favorites to win the East, or that they’ll probably enter as the No. 3 seed.
They either advance past three rounds or they’re a disappointment and Giannis Antetokounmpo becomes the only way out.
“The perception and standards have obviously changed for us ever since we made that stride last year in the playoffs,” Towns said Monday. “Getting through the first round, we weren’t supposed to make it out of there. Then the second round, we definitely weren’t supposed to be making it out of there. We showed the world that we can beat these teams, especially in the playoffs.
Karl-Anthony Towns goes up for a shot as New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson defends during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York, USA, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
“But in doing that, we put the antennas up for the rest of the league as well. They know what we can do and on top of that, coming in with the expectations we had this year, finding a way to win the NBA Cup. Even through all the ups and downs, finding ourselves the third seed. The world is not unaware of how good we are. But it’s up to us to execute in a seven-game series and be disciplined and find a way to win.”
Towns was wrong about one thing. The Knicks were supposed to beat the Pistons in the first round last year and they succeeded in six games. But then they were projected for a beatdown administered by the Celtics and instead compelled mass celebrations outside of MSG.
It’s theoretically easier to play freer when unburdened by expectations. But Towns is taking the “pressure is a privilege” approach.
“Me, personally, I’ve been dealing with expectations since before I stepped into the league,” said Towns, the former No. 1 overall draft pick. “Honestly, it’s really the same thing. It’s been the story of my career. Dealing with expectations that are lofty. On top of that, the expectations I have for myself are even higher than what people give me. So I have a lot of work to do. But I’ve been used to it. So it’s a blessing to have pressure.”
Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks in plain clothes on the bench jokes around with guard Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks during the second half against the Bulls. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
Beyond the team success and the overflow of glory that would come with an NBA Finals appearance, there’s money at stake for individual players. Towns is eligible for a contract extension after the season. Same with Miles McBride. Meanwhile, Mitchell Robinson, Jose Alvarado, Jordan Clarkson and Mohamed Diawara could all be free agents. Players get paid off their postseasons. Just ask Mikal Bridges, who got $150 million after his breakthrough opening two rounds of 2025.
This year’s version of the Knicks — and Bridges, especially — doesn’t look as good as the version that beat the Celtics. But momentum is a helluva equalizer.
And if the Knicks can close the season strong against four straight playoff-bound opponents — including Monday against the Hawks — they can carry it into the first round.
“We can get to that level. We’re really good,” Alvarado said. “We just need to lock in on the details and stay like that. What really is in our way is ourselves. We just got to stay consistent and confident in who we are.”
Better late than never, says Towns.
“The playoffs should’ve started 10 games ago [for us],” the center said. “We should be building on our standards all year. That’s what the goal was. We have four good games where we can get some good tape, get our coverages right. See how we can execute different coverages, different things. And we could just find different ways to show what we can do, and have adjustments ready to go in the playoffs.”
The Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks faced off for the second of three meetings this season on Monday. The Blackhawks won the first back on February 2nd at the United Center, and the San Jose Sharks returned the favor with a 3-2 victory on Monday night at SAP Center.
With the win, the San Jose Sharks keep pace in the Western Conference postseason picture. Earning the second Wild Card spot is still very much in play for them, but they must keep collecting points.
The Blackhawks had a 1-0 lead in this game thanks to a goal scored by Ryan Donato. He buried a Frank Nazar rebound after Connor Bedard did some dancing to set up the shot.
With an assist on Donato's goal, Bedard collected his 200th career NHL point in his 215th career NHL game. The ironic stat is that Patrick Kane reached his 200th career point in the same number of games.
San Jose scored three unanswered goals from there to take a 3-1 lead late into the game. The Chicago power play netted one in the third period, thanks to Frank Nazar, but they fell just short of tying it with Spencer Knight on the bench.
It wasn't for a lack of chances, as multiple Blackhawks players had looks at San Jose's goal with the final seconds running off the clock.
This was one of those games that the Blackhawks lost, but it came with some positives to look at from their game. For one, their power play unit was exceptional.
They technically went 1/3, but Donato's goal was right as the penalty to San Jose was expiring. For all intents and purposes, it was a power play goal. The goal by Nazar, of course, was a goal that counted as a man-advantage tally.
Whether it was Connor Bedard using his legs, Frank Nazar using his crafty abilities, or Anton Frondell unleashing his incredible one-time shot, they looked great moving the puck. This five-forward top unit has been dangerous in recent games.
This performance against the Sharks was the best the Blackhawks have had in a long time. If they move the puck and shoot the way they did on this night all next season, they will have a top-ten power play.
Whether it's the Connor Bedard vs Macklin Celebrini story, Anton Frondell vs Michael Misa, or simply two up-and-coming teams battling hard, this is a developing rivalry that should provide incredible NHL entertainment for the next decade or more.
With this loss away from home, the Blackhawks will finish their road schedule with a 15-20-6 record.
The Chicago Blackhawks will be back in action on Thursday night when they return to home ice for the final four games of the season. The first of these four will come against the Carolina Hurricanes, who are trying to lock up the top spot in the Eastern Conference postseason picture.
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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 06: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies drives in Justin Crawford with a double in the top of the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on April 06, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It wasn’t Andrew Painter’s best start. It just wasn’t. In the four-inning, 90-pitch outing for the rookie right-hander, there was bad command, which led to hitters’ counts and good swings from the Giants offense.
That San Francisco offense might not have capitalized in the first. After back-to-back singles from Luis Arraez and Matt Chapman, he did not look ready for his mix quite yet. Rafael Devers popped up a slider in on his hands for the second out of the inning and Heliot Ramos couldn’t handle the power of the cut-fastball.
Painter wasn’t the only pitcher that needed to work around base runners. The veteran sinker-baller Adrian Houser struggled against the bottom of the Phillies order in the third, allowing an infield single from JT Realmuto and walking Justin Crawford on four pitches.
Houser then pounded Turner with sinkers after a first pitch breaking ball then slowed him down with an inside changeup off the same tunnel. Kyle Schwarber half swung at an inside slider for a strikeout, then Bryce Harper hit a soft grounder to end the inning.
The second time through the Giants order turned Painter’s command problems into results. Willy Adames took a 2-1 sinker down the left field line for a leadoff double. Arraez then smacked a hanging slider, then a poor throwing decision by Crawford allowed him to take an extra base.
For the entire night, Painter struggled to locate early count fastballs. Of his 30 four-seam fastballs, Painter threw just 9 of them for either a called strike or a whiff. Matt Chapman came up and sat a breaking ball because falling behind on a fastball again was a bad idea. He put a great swing on a curveball to triple’s alley that just kept carrying past the sliding Crawford in center.
With one out, Ramos was able to pull his hands in just enough to bloop a single to no-mans-land in center field to make it 3-0.
The fourth, and Painter’s last inning of the night was another slog. After a Jerar Encarnacion groundout, three straight base runners got on to load the bases. He fell behind again to Arraez but Oracle kept a deep flyball in the yard to make it 4-0.
The bottom of the Phillies order once again tried to start a rally. Realmuto started it off with a single to center field with no outs. After seeing fastballs and sliders in for roughly a week, Crawford was able to get his hands extended on a down and away Houser sinker to put runners on second and third.
Trea Turner then did his job to move the runners, hitting a ground ball to second base for to put the Phillies on the board. After a Schwarber walk, Harper smoked a 112.5 mph double to right that scored Crawford and put runners on second and third.
That was all for the fourth but the bottom of the order started another rally two innings later. Crawford took a hanging 0-2 changeup to right for a single, Trea Turner hit a spinner in front of Jung Hoo Lee for a knock that forced a Tony Vitello pitching change.
Former Pittsburgh Pirate left-hander Ryan Borucki came in to left Schwarber and Harper in a high-leverage situation. He has allowed a .522 OPS over his career against left-handed hitters so it made sense for Vitello to make the call.
However, the former college manager is learning quickly that plans don’t always work at the big league level. Schwarber watched four pitches and then walked to first base after tapping his helmet. Harper then picked up his third hit of the night with a single to tie the game.
Then Alec Bohm squibbled a backup slider right down the first base line to give the Phillies the lead for good. A Brandon Marsh sacrifice fly would add some insurance.
The bullpen stood tall and lived up to the preseason hype. Rob Thomson used five different relievers, each for exactly one inning, to finish this one out. Tim Mayza struck out Adames in a scoreless fifth, Jonathan Bowlan threw some pitches that will go on PitchingNinja in the sixth, then the veterans in Jose Alvarado and Brad Keller put up scoreless innings to set things up for Jhoan Duran.
The Giants made things a little interesting with two outs in the ninth. Adames worked a 2-0 count, then smoked a get-me-over splinker off the right field wall for a casual double. It was up to Luis Arraez to keep the inning going but the Giants threat only lasted two pitches, hitting a ground ball to Turner at shortstop to end the night.
Willson Contreras didn’t mince his words after he was nicked by Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff during the Red Sox’s loss to Milwaukee on Monday night.
Contreras has had a history with the Brewers and getting hit by a pitch in Monday’s game marked the 24th time it had happened against Milwaukee, and the sixth time Woodruff had done so.
“They always say ‘I’m not trying to hit you,’” he told reporters, per MassLive. “That gets old. So next time they hit me again, I’m going to take one of them out. That’s the message. That’s the message.
“I took exception to it. I knew my brother was behind me [as he went to first base]. I was like, ‘OK, you hit me…see what happens next.’”
Willson Contreras #40 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after getting hit by a pitch during the third inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Fenway Park on April 06, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. Getty Images
The latest incident occured during the third inning when Woodruff caught the Red Sox’s first baseman on the fingers with a pitch that sparked some animosity.
Contreras ended up jawing at the Brewers pitcher while going to first base and Woodruff fired back at him as the two ballplayers moved towards one another.
The umpires and Brewers’ catcher – and the brother of Wilson Contreras – William Contreras stepped in to separate the two.
Willson Contreras continues to yell at Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff after getting hit by pitch. X @SleeperMLB
Willson Contreras on getting HBP for a 6th time by Brandon Woodruff:
"They always say, ‘I’m not trying to hit you.’ That gets old. So next time they hit me again, I’m going to take one of them out. That’s a message." pic.twitter.com/oFYwERdjNm
Things didn’t cool down between Contreras and the Brewers, though.
After Wilyer Abreu grounded out to second base, Contreras made a hard slide into second that caught Brewers shortstop David Hamilton and he needed to be tended to by a Brewers trainer.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy came out to talk with the umpires after the play and Contreras could still be seen barking from the dugout.
Boston Red Sox’s Willson Contreras (40) is forced out by Milwaukee Brewers shortstop David Hamilton (6) during the third inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, Monday, April 6, 2026, in Boston. AP
“Nobody likes getting hit at any point,” Contreras said. “But like I said, I took exception to it. It’s the 24th time. They’re going there with a purpose. That’s fine, that’s pitching. But the next time you hit me, the message is clear: I’m going to take one of them out.
“I don’t think any other team has hit me as much as them. I don’t care what they call it, I don’t care what they say. All I care about is my health. If they don’t care about my health and they hit me again, I’m going to try to take one of them out.”
Kevin Durant R of Houston Rockets breaks through against Draymond Green C of Golden State Warriors during the 2025-2026 NBA regular season basketball game between Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, the United States, April 5, 2026. (Photo by Arthur Dong/Xinhua via Getty Images)
The Golden State Warriors had a bittersweet Easter Sunday. On the bright side, they welcomed Steph Curry back into the fold after the two-time MVP had missed 27 consecutive games with runner’s knee. On the less happy side, the Dubs lost a heartbreaker to the Houston Rockets, as their comeback fell just short in a 117-116 defeat.
Because it was a close game, the NBA released a Last 2 Minute Report for the contest. In L2Ms, the NBA combs through the final two minutes of close games from multiple camera angles, and assesses whether plays were correctly called (or non-called). Thankfully (or sometimes not thankfully), the L2Ms are released to the public, so we can see how the officials did in the most crucial moments.
In Houston’s victory, the league determined that there were three mistakes made by the officiating crew. All three were incorrect non-calls, which is to say whistles that weren’t blown, but should have been. And two of those three were whistles that would have been blown against the Rockets, benefitting the Warriors.
The first occurred with 1:28.6 remaining, when Curry made a layup that pulled the Warriors to within a point. According to the league, a shooting foul should have been called on Amen Thompson, giving Curry a free throw. Here’s the league’s ruling: “Thompson (HOU) jumps from A to B and initiates body contact with Curry (GSW) as he defends the shot.”
The second occurred shortly after, with 1:10.7 on the clock, when Alperen Şengün should have been whistled for a three-second violation, with the league stating, “Sengun (HOU) fails to fully clear the lane and is in the paint for longer than three seconds.” Just two seconds later, Şengün drained a short jumper, was fouled, and completed the three-point play. Instead of a turnover, the Rockets pushed their lead to four points.
The third and final officiating mistake came with 46 seconds remaining, when the refs failed to call a defensive three-second violation on Draymond Green. Here’s the ruling: “Green (GSW) fails to fully clear the lane and is in the paint for longer than three seconds without imminently actively guarding an opponent.” Had the play been properly whistled, the Rockets would have gotten a free throw and then retained possession. Instead, they had an empty trip down the court.
Ultimately, missed calls are a part of the game, and there’s no use crying over them. Sometimes they help the Warriors, and sometimes they hurt them.
