ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 04: Rhett Lowder #25 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches in the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on April 04, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was far from Brady Singer’s finest evening on Wednesday in Miami. The veteran righty was smashed for 10 hits and 6 runs (5 earned) in just 2.2 IP, his own arm contributing a pair of errors that further dented his cause on the night. The end result was a 7-4 loss for the Cincinnati Reds to the Marlins, and that now leaves the club searching for the series victory on Thursday.
The honors of steering that ship will fall to Rhett Lowder, who’ll get the starting nod in the series finale of this four-game set with the opportunity to give the Reds yet another series victory to begin the 2026 season. Cincinnati’s rookie righty was simply brilliant in his most recent outing, firing 6.0 IP of scoreless, 3-hit ball against the Texas Rangers back on April 4th while leaning on his patented repertoire of hitting spots and mixing breaking balls to keep his opponents off-tilt.
Ke’Bryan Hayes is on the bench to begin this one, as Eugenio Suarez gets the start at 3B. Nate Lowe is in the lineup at DH with RHP Max Meyer on the bump for the fish, though Dane Myers will get a rare start against the RHP as TJ Friedl slides over to LF (and Spencer Steer starts in RF over Will Benson).
First pitch in the series finale is set for 12:10 PM ET. Here’s how the Reds will line up:
Northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus. Bob-white or quail, male 1, female 2, young 3. Chromolithograph after an ornithological illustration by John James Audubon from Benjamin Harry Warren’s Report on the Birds of Pennsylvania, E.K. Mayers, Harrisburg, 1890.. (Photo by: Florilegius/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Aidan “Leeroy” Deakins started for Hickory, throwing four shutout innings, walking one and striking out five.
The Crawdads had just two hits on the day — a double by Paulino Santana and a single by Luis Marquez. Also, a person named Daniel Flames made his full season debut as the Crawdads DH. I don’t know anything about him, but I am rooting for him because I want the Rangers to have a player named “Flames” on their roster.
Hub City starter Enrique Segura went three shutout, no hit innings, striking out three and walking one. Brock Porter allowed a run on one hit, two walks and a HBP in 2.2 IP, striking out four. Thomas Ireland struck out four in 2.1 IP. Joey Danielson struck out one in a scoreless inning.
Gleider Figuereo hit his first homer of the year. Malcolm Moore doubled. Paxton Kling had a walk and a stolen base. Maxton Martin had a hit and a stolen base.
For Round Rock, Robbie Ahlstrom struck out two in 1.1 scoreless innings. Michel Otanez struck out three and walked one in 1.1 IP. Josh Sborz threw a shutout inning, striking out one and walking one. Ryan Brasier allowed a run in an inning of work.
Alejandro Osuna had a pair of hits. Justin Foscue had a walk and a stolen base. Cam Cauley had a pair of hits, a walk and a stolen base.
Jake Sanderson is averaging the highest per-game output of his career when it comes to generating assists.
My Panthers vs. Senators predictions and NHL picks expect his playmaking to be on full display against a Florida team struggling to keep the puck out of the net.
Panthers vs Senators prediction
Panthers vs Senators best bet: Jake Sanderson Over 0.5 assists (-105)
Jake Sanderson has missed a chunk of games due to injury, yet sits second on the Ottawa Senators in assists, trailing only Tim Stutzle.
He facilitates a ton of offense from the back end and should be heavily involved against the Florida Panthers.
When rested, Sanderson has feasted on Bottom-16 defenses this season. He's picked up an assist in 12 of 18 games following one day of rest, including five of the last six.
The Panthers rank 31st in save percentage. They haven’t had the goaltending to clean up defensive breakdowns, and Sanderson should benefit from that.
Panthers vs Senators same-game parlay
Brady Tkachuk has generated 3+ shots on goal in 10 consecutive games against the Panthers, recording 4+ on eight different occasions. A lot of his volume comes from prime scoring areas, and the Panthers are struggling to get saves, making him a likely candidate to find the net.
The Senators are one win back of the league lead over the last 25 games and have posted very strong underlying numbers. They should make relatively quick work of a Panthers team that has shut down a batch of key players and punted on the season.
The Panthers have cashed the moneyline in just two of their last 15 road games for -12.55 units and a -73% ROI. Find more NHL betting trends for Panthers vs. Senators.
How to watch Panthers vs Senators
Location
Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, ON
Date
Thursday, April 9, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
SCRIPPS, TSN5
Panthers vs Senators latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Two shaky starters on the mound, but Jack Flaherty's xFIP sits at 6.64 against Mick Abel's 6.75, and on a chilly April afternoon, that tiny edge could be the difference.
Abel is in historically rough shape with a robust hard-contact rate in the 83rd percentile plus an 11.05 ERA, and this Detroit Tigers lineup boasts enough Statcast pop to exploit him early.
Once both starters exit, the Minnesota Twins bullpen is walking hitters at a nearly 15% rate. Detroit's relief corps is meaningfully better across every underlying metric. Trust Flaherty and the Tigers' bullpen edge.
COVERS INTEL: The Tigers' bullpen boasts a 77.6% LOB rate, the ninth-best in MLB. The Twins have stranded only 70.3%.
Tigers vs Twins Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (+108)
Neither starter figures to pitch deep or stymie anyone, meaning two shaky bullpens should see heavy action, and the Twins' relief corps boasts a 26th-best 4.92 xFIP across 41.1 frames.
Detroit ranks 12th in wRC+ at 104 with the seventh-most Barrels per plate appearance, while Minnesota averages nearly 4.5 runs per game.
This matchup has gone Over in six of the last 10 head-to-heads. Detroit's lineup has genuine pop, and Minnesota has averaged more than six runs per game in its last three home bouts against these Tigers.
Phil Naessens' 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 1-2, 0.9 units
Over/Under bets: 2-0, +1.94 units
Tigers vs Twins odds
Moneyline: Tigers -122 | Twins +117
Run line: Tigers -1.5 (+127) | Twins +1.5 (-133)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+108) | Under 8.5 (-113)
Tigers vs Twins trend
The Over is 6-3-1 in their last 10 meetings. Find more MLB betting trends for Tigers vs. Twins.
How to watch Tigers vs Twins and game info
Location
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
Date
Thursday, April 9, 2026
First pitch
1:40 p.m. ET
TV
DSN, MNNT
Tigers starting pitcher
Jack Flaherty (0-1, 7.56 ERA)
Twins starting pitcher
Mick Abel (0-2, 11.05 ERA)
Tigers vs Twins latest injuries
Tigers vs Twins weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This week’s quarter-finals provided some classic action as this season’s competition hurtles towards its conclusion
Bayern Munich had not won at the Santiago Bernabéu since May 2001, when they beat Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final on their way to becoming European champions. Tuesday night’s match changed all that. The 29th Champions League meeting between the teams lived up to its heavyweight billing, though Bayern, superior on the night, may rue their failure to extend their 2-1 lead. Real Madrid meanwhile could point to Manuel Neuer making nine saves – not bad for a 40-year-old. “We won’t win the competition without more of these kinds of performances,” said Bayern manager Vincent Kompany of his keeper. Big trophies are rarely won without great goalkeepers and Neuer continues to play like an all-time great. Bayern’s second goal was a trademark finish from Harry Kane, who made the difficult look easy. The goal will also have calmed England fans’ fears that their captain will arrive at the World Cup suffering from his usual summer malaise. A word too for Luis Díaz and Michael Olise, Bayern’s brilliant wingers whose performances brought back memories of the club’s modern greats Franck Ribéry and Arjen Robben. Kompany’s team were commanding in Madrid, but may fear the backlash from the 15-times champions, the kings of comebacks.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander (35) walks off the mound during their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on March 30, 2026. | Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Happy Thursday, everyone! While the Tigers continue to struggle in Minnesota (blame it on the weather!), there’s plenty of news to get us through until the afternoon game today. We’ll take a look at Justin Verlander’s injury, how Colt Keith is making a big difference already this season, and how the Pirates have already locked down one of the hottest prospects in baseball. With all these early extensions, is it likely that the Tigers will consider making an offer for Kevin McGonigle? Probably not, but it’s nice to dream.
“It was kind of like a wait-and-see game, if it can get good enough. To be quite frank, I think it probably is good enough if we wanted to push it. But A.J. [Hinch] and the front office — and I agree with them — it’s probably not the time of year to do that, unfortunately.”
Though he’s yet to hit a home run on the year, Keith has more than made up for it with a .407 average and 1.004 OPS on the back of 11 hits, including four doubles to start his season. Of particular note, Keith has raised his bat speed by 3 mph, going from 70.7 mph (27th percentile) in 2025 to 73.7 mph (74th percentile) in 2026. In turn, his Average Exit Velocity, Squared-Up, Barrel and Hard-Hit Rates have all increased year over year. He’s also chasing and whiffing less than he ever has before. Last year, Detroit sent six Tigers to the All-Star Game. Keith is making an early case to be part of this year’s contingent. — Flores
Last week’s attendance at the Tigers’ home opener was the best it has been in almost a decade.
Today's paid attendance of 45,008 is the largest crowd for a home opener at Comerica Park since April 4, 2017, which had a paid attendance of 45,013. pic.twitter.com/4muRDLPht0
Los Angeles Angels DH Jorge Soler and Atlanta pitcher Reynaldo López have been suspended seven games for the big brawl in Anaheim last night in which Soler charged the mound and López punched him while holding a baseball in his hand.. Both are appealing.
The Dodgers mourn the loss of Davey Lopes, who passed away today at age 80. Lopes was a member of the team’s record-setting infield of the 1970s and 1980s and one of the finest basestealers in MLB history. Our condolences go out to his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/dJkOk0CWbP
Apr 7, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson (49) walks off the mound during the fifth inning of the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images | Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images
It’s no secret that the Phillies offense hasn’t gotten off to the greatest of starts. Up and down the lineup you can see hitters struggling to get going to various degrees. Many, if not all, of them will figure something out eventually, but it’s the waiting for that to happen and the creeping doubt that it ever will that makes it almost unbearable. Couple that with the looming specter of the past few postseason exits, and you would be well within reason to be annoyed with how the offense has looked out of the gate.
It’s still way too early to make any sweeping generalizations or major changes, but maybe it’s not too early for a little tinkering. Lineup shuffles are not always the key, but sometimes they can be a way to jumpstart some hitters. Looking at the Phillies current lineup, one change they could consider is flipping Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh.
Stott’s strong spring has yet to carry over into the regular season, and he’s currently working through adjustments in his approach, namely trying to swing more often earlier in the count. But those adjustments have yet to bear fruit, as Stott was hitting .188 with a paltry .454 OPS at the start of play yesterday. Marsh meanwhile has arguably been the team’s best hitter through the first two weeks of the season, as he entered play yesterday slashing .297/.325/.459. Marsh’s strong hitting goes back to when he returned from injury after a brutal start last season, as he’s hitting .302 with an .831 OPS since May 1st of 2025.
Another option is flipping Alec Bohm with Adolis Garcia. Bohm has struggled mightily since his opening day homer, entering play yesterday hitting .190 with a .563 OPS. Garcia meanwhile came into Wednesday hitting .244 with a .728 OPS. He has drastically cut down on his contact with pitches outside of the zone while still keeping his ability to impact pitches inside the zone, at least in the early going. The Phillies need one of these righties to perform in the cleanup spot behind Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper. So far Bohm has not done that.
Again, maybe it’s too early to make a change and maybe it’s unfair to single out one player to drop in a lineup of underperformers. But it is on option on the table to try and get the sluggish Phillies offense going. So, should the Phillies consider a lineup shuffle? Should they flip Stott and Marsh? Flip Bohm and Garcia? Or is there something else you would like to see considered?
TORONTO, ON - April 8 Toronto Blue Jays left fielder Davis Schneider (36) was the winning run and gets doused by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) and Myles Straw (3) at the end of the game.The Toronto Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 at the Rogers Centre in MLB baseball actionApril 8 2026 Richard Lautens/Toronto Star (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
The Yankees took a loss to the A’s on a cold evening in the Bronx on Wednesday. Despite the game being tied into the ninth inning, David Bednar allowed a pair of hits and a run in the top half, which allowed the A’s to cruise to victory. Beyond the action in a chilly Yankee Stadium, there was plenty going on elsewhere around the league, which included a redemption win, and the continuation of a turnaround in the East. Here’s a look at what went down!
Boston Red Sox (4-8) 5, Milwaukee Brewers (8-4) 0
Following a 1-8 skid, the Red Sox won for a second night in a row, finally righting the ship a bit and cooling down the Brewers’ red-hot start. Sonny Gray was making his third start of the season for Boston, and it was his best outing of the year. Although the offense did their job, Gray’s 6.1 shutout innings, in which he allowed just three hits led the charge in their victory.
The Boston lineup did all the damage they needed in two innings. Some small ball with the bases loaded netted them three runs in the third inning against Milwaukee starter Shane Drohan. In the seventh, they added some insurance thanks to an RBI knock from Trevor Story and a productive groundout from Caleb Durbin.
After an abysmal start to the season, back-to-back wins against a very good Brewers team might be the jolt the Red Sox needed, and puts them back into early relevance at 4-8.
In a similar game, the Mariners were shut down once again in a quiet loss to the Rangers on Wednesday. The newest big-ticket Ranger, Brandon Nimmo played a big role in the Texas win as he racked up a pair of hits and hit a fielder’s choice that plated a run, and caused a throwing error that brought home another in the bottom of the fifth. They did all their scoring in that inning, as a sac fly from Corey Seager put them up 3-0. The story of the night, however, was Mackenzie Gore’s masterful five innings of shutout work, during which he struck out nine and allowed just one hit. Bryan Woo was good for Seattle, giving up an earned run in five innings, but the defensive miscues and the measly two hits on offense for Seattle held them back.
Toronto Blue Jays (5-7) 4, Los Angeles Dodgers (9-3) 3
After getting beat up in their first two chances at redemption in the Fall Classic rematch, the Jays finally answered the bell on Wednesday. Between a gritty start from Dylan Cease and some timely hitting on offense, Toronto gets out of the daunting series with at least a win.
Both squads matched each other with a run in the first four innings, thanks to RBI hits from Jesús Sánchez and Freddie Freeman. Scoring was hard to come by in the early going as Cease and Shohei Ohtani allowed one combined earned run in five and six innings, respectively.
The Dodgers scored a pair in the sixth and seventh thanks to a sac fly from Teoscar Hernández and an RBI single from Will Smith, which put the Jays on the ropes. They would claw back in the seventh though, when huge hits from George Springer and Daulton Varsho tied the game up.
The decisive blow came in the eighth, when Andrés Giménez stole second, which drew an errant throw from Smith behind the plate, and allowed Davis Schneider to cross the plate with the go-ahead run. After a couple of tough losses to the reigning champs, Wednesday’s victory surely was a satisfying one for Toronto.
For a third straight night, the Astros took a tough loss at the hands of the Rockies. Houston was very much in this game when Brice Matthews singled to even up the game in the second, but the Rockies lineup took off just an inning later. After AJ Blubaugh came in for the ‘Stros in the second, he was charged with five earned runs on four hits and three walks, which made the difference in this game. The Rockies continued to add to their tally throughout their game, which included a homer from Hunter Goodman in the fourth. The Astros fall below .500 with a series sweep to the often-beatable Rockies, who climb to 6-6.
In a AL Central upset, the supposedly-rebuilding Twins captured another resounding victory against Detroit. The fun started right away for Minnesota, as they ran up a six-spot in the first inning, thanks to four hits against the Tigers’ Framber Valdez, who had a night to forget.
The Twins would pin two more on the Detroit lefty in the fourth and the sixth innings. With eight runs to work with, Minnesota had some breathing room, but they certainly tested their limits. Hits from Kerry Carpenter and Dillon Dingler plated two in the sixth, before Gleyber Torres’ two-run double led the charge in an four-run seventh inning. Although the Tigers shrunk the gap to two, the Twins bullpen held on, as Kody Funderbunk locked down the nail-biting save and secured the win for the now .500 Twins.
DETROIT, MI - APRIL 8: Jericho Sims #00 of the Milwaukee Bucks grabs the rebound during the game against the Detroit Pistons on April 8, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks lost bigly, 137-111, to the Detroit Pistons as this depressing season draws to a close. But you know what’s not depressing? Jericho Sims! The big man recorded the first trip-dub of his career. But yeah, it was a rough one as the Pistons ran all over the Bucks, winning the season series 3-1. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
An OK game from Rollins. Not his best, but not his worst either. He had two bad live-ball turnovers, throwing it cross-court, as well as a de facto turnover shooting a three on a no-pass offence barely any seconds into the shot clock. Having said all of this, Ausar Thomspon doesn’t exactly make it easy for you.
Like AJ, the only shots TP made were threes, and most of them were incredibly tough looks in which he had a split second to get the shot off, and made them, which was impressive to see. He did have a few poor closeouts, though.
Dieng was better last night than he was against the Nets from a shooting POV (including some nice step-backs), but man, the finishing at the rim can be rough; he has to get stronger in the offseason. Also had a horror sequence where he helped on the strong-side corner for no good reason, leaving his man open for an easy three, and then dribbled down and threw a cross-court pass that ended up as a Pistons pick-six. I will say that Ous 1) turned it over less, and 2) competed more on the offensive boards than I recall him doing; he had a nice tip to Sims in this one.
It’s been great to see AJ get more threes up full stop, but super great that he’s been making them at a way better clip. Over the last six games, he’s shooting 46.2% on a whopping 8.7 attempts per game. Hit a number of tough ones in this game. Whew!
Sims’ game just continues to blossom, and you can see the confidence washing over him. Doc continues to use him as a hub, and he’s getting increasingly comfortable making plays and trusting himself in that role. A fair few of Jericho’s assists came off scramble situations where he found a shooter before the defence had set, but he also had some advanced backdoor passes to Rollins and Ryan. Furthermore, he’s trusting himself to take dudes one-on-one a few times every game now, something he wouldn’t have dared to try at the start of the season.
Grade: A+
Cormac Ryan
24 minutes, 16 points, 6/9 FG, 3/6 3P, -11
Another solid game from Cormac. He nailed some threes, but the most intriguing part of his game has been his ability to finish in the paint, whether that be with moves around the rim or just short little jumpers.
Grade: B+
Gary Trent Jr.
19 minutes, 7 points, 3/12 FG, 0/8 3P, -16
GT returned from a decent layoff, but didn’t have it. He looked like the same player we’d seen for most of this season. Had a pretty pathetic effort fighting on the inside against Beef Stew. Did make two layups, though, so you know I have to give an ode to my guy Morgan: “Gary at the rim, Gary at the rim. It’s scary, it’s scary. It’s Gary at the rim!“
Grade: D
Doc Rivers
I think Jericho’s career game last night had a lot to do with Doc empowering him more and more as the season has progressed, so Doc deserves some credit for that. The Bucks were never going to beat that team, but again, they played together and didn’t allow it to get too ugly—that’s all you can really ask for.
Grade: C+
Garbage Time: Alex Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Andre Jackson Jr., Gary Harris
Inactive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Myles Turner, Bobby Portis, Kyle Kuzma, Kevin Porter Jr.
Bonus Bucks Bits
Doc said Jericho getting a triple-double was “awesome.” Noted that they kept him in and worked to check the boxes as a team as the game wound down.
Rivers credited Ous for turning it over less, and also defended his high turnover numbers of late because of the lack of other ballhandlers on the team. “There are times when he’s your primary ballhandler, and that’s something, obviously, that we wouldn’t be doing, [but] we have no choice with the bodies.”
Eric Nehm tweeted that Cleaning the Glass has Ous shooting 65% at the rim since joining the Bucks.
Credit Finn for notifying me of this, but Cormac Ryan (12) now has more made shots from 0-5 feet than AJ Green (11) for the entire season in nine games played, compared to Green’s 76.
Up Next
The Bucks play their final home game of the season tomorrow night against the Nets. Catch the game at 7:00. p.m. CDT on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.
Mar 10, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) reacts after a basket with guard Max Christie (00) and forward P.J. Washington (25) and forward Cooper Flagg (32) against the Atlanta Hawks in the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Cooper Flagg recently sat down with Tommy Alter of The Young Man and the Three podcast in his first podcast appearance ever, which he made sure to let everyone know before they started taping. In the episode aptly named THE MAVS EPISODE, Flagg was joined by teammates Ryan Nembhard and Max Christie, and they hit a whole host of topics.
Some highlights include Christie’s trade to Dallas, everybody’s draft experience and what Max Christie has learned from Klay Thompson. We’ll get back to that last one.
It’s not a secret that Cooper Flagg has struggled with losing as much as the Dallas Mavericks have this year. He has simply not been used to it. But there is an argument to be made about how learning to lose will help you win later in your career and help you deal with adversity better.
Flagg talked about that at length, and touched on how he’s improved at managing the mental side as the season wore on.
“You have to learn how to lose, I think. And learn how to take positives away and know that you might have another one [game] tomorrow or the next day.”
The Dallas Mavericks are in a rebuild phase around Cooper Flagg, and have more than twice as many losses than wins currently at 55-25.
Coming off a successful season at Duke and drafted with the number one pick, Cooper Flagg is not accustomed to losing at all.
“We lost four games last year in college and each time we had four or five days in between to go through all the film. You start working on drills from the game, different things that you have to work on,” Flagg said.
It didn’t make it easier that the pressure was high from back home, especially to start the season:
“The family is freaking out. Like my mom especially. She hadn’t seen me lose that much before so she’s worried about me. And you’re trying to just move on each night.”
“It was tough. There were times early in the season where it was taking a toll on me mentally,” Cooper Flagg said, also emphasizing how much this season has taught him:
“That was a big learning curve for me. Learning how to lose and how to bounce back a little bit quicker and get over it quicker than previously.”
But Flagg is not the only one who learned a lot this season in Dallas. Max Christie, the young shooting guard brought to Dallas with Anthony Davis in the Luka Trade last February, had a lot to say about what a young shooter can learn from one of the best shooters the league has ever seen.
When asked what he has learned from Klay Thompson, he went straight to talking about Thompson’s personality and how he carries himself:
“Outside of basketball and shooting, it’s been a joy to watch him and his personality. The confidence that he has. He doesn’t care what anybody else thinks about him,” Max Christie said about Klay Thompson. It’s that very useful and extreme shooter’s confidence, which is necessary if you want to be the best. Something once-Maverick Tim Hardaway Jr. was good at, as well. A shooter without confidence is at best mediocre.
And Max Christie seems inspired by that approach. “It’s honestly something I think that I can use more of. Continuing to have that ultimate confidence,” he said.
When it comes to basketball and shooting, it’s all about speed.
“What I try to take is his speed and his quickness of his release, and how compact his shot is – but how quick he gets into it. And that’s an adjustment for me. This is the best shooting year I’ve had in my career so far and I’m adjusting to how guys are closing out hard. I have a bad habit of sometimes passing up shots because my shot isn’t as quick as I want it to be right now,” he said.
Max Christie is shooting a very efficient 40 percent from three on 5.8 attempts per game this season, and averages 12.2 points per game, the most of his four-year NBA career.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 22: Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers look on during the game on January 22, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Philadelphia 76ers are coming off two disappointing losses, with their postseason chances tanking. They’ll now look to stop the bleeding in what’s shaping up to be a true must-win game, traveling to Houston to take on the Rockets.
The Rockets, as many know at this point, have had what’s best described as a hot-and-cold season. They stand at 50 wins, which in itself is a legitimate accomplishment. However, the process behind their season has been questionable at best.
Head coach Ime Udoka has struggled mightily with adjustments and making this roster work without a true, traditional point guard. There’s been a burner account scandal that may or may not be true, involving Kevin Durant allegedly trashing his teammates on Twitter, and the fact that neither the Rockets nor KD himself have outright denied it is eyebrow-raising, to say the least.
Then there’s been sporadic play from young superstar Alperen Sengun. Some nights he looks like baby Jokic. Other nights he looks lost, getting pick-and-rolled to death to the dismay of the coaching staff and teammates alike. Factor in the shaky shooting surrounding those two, and it’s a recipe for the Rockets losing games they simply should not have.
A lot of their 50 wins come down to two things: their talent and Durant. Despite the Twitter allegations, he’s been a marvel in his 18th year. He’s already played in 76 games and averaged 25.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists on 51.7 percent shooting and 41.3 percent from three. His durability has been remarkable given his age, and the production has been rock solid for a guy approaching his forties.
The Rockets have also had contributions across the board, with young guys like Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. all finding their respective ways. The issue isn’t the talent, but more so the questionable roster fit. There aren’t many playmakers or guys who can break down a defender off the dribble, which is what makes the Fred VanVleet injury so devastating.
It essentially becomes: let KD cook, and if he misses, pray for an offensive rebound. The Rockets have done well amassing center depth behind Sengun, but results can be inconsistent depending on the matchup.
So, why is this game so important? The standings race has heated up, with the Toronto Raptors winning a few games and leapfrogging the Sixers, who currently sit in the eighth spot. Other teams jockeying for position, particularly the Orlando Magic, have also won some major games which, factored in with their softer remaining schedule, means the Sixers essentially have to win out if they want to secure a playoff spot and stay out of the play-in tournament.
If the Sixers lose this game, it would skyrocket their chances of being in the play-in, as even if they win the final two games, it’s simply too much ground to make up in a very short remaining schedule. If they win, they’d put themselves in the driver’s seat and, barring an embarrassing defeat or two to a tanking team, make the playoffs.
Not to mention, there are implications with this game outside of the postseason picture. The Sixers own the Rockets pick from the Jared McCain deal, and a Sixers win would help keep that pick towards the lower twenties. The Lakers, Rockets and Cavaliers (via Atlanta) all currently sit at 50 wins, with the Knicks and Nuggets right behind at 51. A Rockets loss would help keep that pick closer to 21st overall, while a Rockets win would potentially nudge it closer to 25th.
Speaking of inconsistency, here come the Sixers. Their prior two losses have been winnable games that they simply haven’t been able to win. Tyrese Maxey in particular has put up two duds, being outplayed by Detroit’s Daniss Jenkins and posting what’s ultimately his worst game of the year against the Spurs. This is a get-right matchup where he has to be aggressive against a plethora of Houston defenders. He cannot have another scoreless half like he did in San Antonio.
Maxey wasn’t the sole reason they lost, however. Quentin Grimes has put up two stinkers, and is tanking his respective payday after his now-former agent negotiated him out of any deal. Grimes has Houston ties, so maybe that’ll incentivize him to get back on track with this game. The Rockets don’t have much true guard depth, and both Maxey and Grimes will simply have to be way better than what they’ve shown recently.
The one silver lining that might translate to this game is Joel Embiid, who was hands down the Sixers’ best player against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. Embiid posted 34 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks, and was the only reason the Sixers hung around as they did. Embiid had success against Sengun and the Rockets a few months ago when they played in Philly, and this shapes up to be a potential revenge game of sorts for Sengun. Either that, or Embiid makes Furkan Korkmaz’s offseason comments look even more goofy.
Heading into this game, Cam Payne and Johni Broome are the only Sixers listed, both out. Houston’s side of the injury report is relatively clean, with Steven Adams and Fred VanVleet remaining out with their respective injuries. More or less, this is shaping up to be a mostly healthy team vs. another mostly healthy team.
Out of all the games this season, this might be the biggest one where they have to come away with a victory. A win keeps their guaranteed postseason dreams alive and healthy, a loss essentially banishes them to the dreaded play-in tournament. We’ll have a better idea of where this team is headed soon enough.
Game Details
When: Thursday, April 9, 8:00 PM ET Where: Toyota Center, Houston, TX Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia, Prime Video Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
Apr 8, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) drives to the basket past San Antonio Spurs guard guard Dylan Harper (2) during the second half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
I must admit that I didn’t have high hopes entering yesterday’s game. After all, both Castle and Wemby were sidelined, and the Spurs weren’t really playing for anything (the chance of them getting the first seed is now officially zero). In contrast, a Portland win tonight would have matched their record with the Clippers, giving them an excellent chance to finish the regular season with an improved position in the play-in. Even so, the shorthanded Spurs came out firing and won each of the first three quarters, showcasing impressive depth and versatility. While I hate to see injuries, especially this late in the season, it is heartening to know that this iteration of the Silver and Black can beat a motivated opponent without two of its best players.
Another piece of good news is that — while the box score for this game was pretty vanilla in some respects — it did produce some highly unusual combinations related to free throws, as you will see below. I’m testing out a slightly modified format for the highlights today; first, I’ll outline the key box score factors that determined the game. Second, I’ll identify any notable rarities contained within the box score. These posts are still new and evolving, so please let me know what you think!
Factors that Decided the Game
This game was quite balanced in many key areas, and where imbalances existed they were often offsetting.
Regarding balanced stats, San Antonio had a minor edge in total rebounds (+2), a minor deficit in turnovers (+1), and no advantage or disadvantage in total offensive rebounds. San Antonio did have an edge in ORB% (not pictured here), but again it was mild.
The Spurs were notably more efficient from the field, including FG% and 3P% margins of +3.7 and +5.5 percentage points, respectively. However, these advantages were offset by Portland’s edge in volume, including FGA and 3PA margins of +5 and +8, respectively. The net result of these competing forces was that San Antonio made one more field goal and one less three, thus outscoring the Blazers by a single point from the field.
With everything else being a wash, this game was effectively decided at the free throw line. Fortunately, the Spurs had big advantages in both volume (+9 FTA) and especially FT% ( +28.95 percentage points), resulting in a FTM differential of +10 (i.e., about 91% of San Antonio’s final margin of victory).
Rare Box Score Stats
The Spurs’ victory at the charity stripe was weird, because it was quite large despite the combined free throw volume and efficiency of the two teams being unimpressive.
For example, this contest marked just the 40th time in the last 13 regular seasons that a winning team achieved a FTM differential of +10 or better on no more than 19 FTA. Put another way, this combination happens about 3 times per regular season on average, or about once in every 422 games.
In the set of 40 games mentioned above, the winning team almost always achieved their large FTM margin with excellent efficiency. However, the Spurs’ FT% in this game was basically average. In fact, regular season winners have earned a FTM margin of +10 or more on 19 of fewer FTA and a FT% no better than 78.95% just five times since 2012-2013, or about once in every 3,372 regular season games.
Due to Portland’s dreadful FT% (50%), San Antonio achieved a FT% margin of +28.95 percentage points despite having a FT% of just 78.95%. In the last 13 regular seasons, about one in every 375 winners have met or bettered that FT% differential with a FT% that bad or worse (that’s about 3.3 instances per regular season).
What are Team Graded Box Scores?
Very briefly, these box scores grade winner-loser differentials for basic box score statistics, with the grade being based on the winning team’s differential relative to other NBA winners during a defined reference period. Think of it like a report card for understanding how a given winner performed relative to other winners. The reference period used runs from the start of the 2012-2013 season to the latest date of play, including only games in the same season category (i.e., regular season and playoff games are not compared to each other).
Data Source: The underlying data used to create these box scores was collected from Basketball Reference. In all cases, the data are collected the morning after the game is played. Although rare, postgame statistical revisions after data collection do occur and may affect the results after the fact.
The Vancouver Canucks (22-47-8) start their final California road trip on Thursday as they take on the Los Angeles Kings (32-26-9). While the Kings are fighting for a playoff spot, the Canucks are looking to snap a three-game losing streak. As for the last 10 games, Los Angeles is 4-2-4 while Vancouver is 1-9-0.
One of the biggest questions heading into this game is whether the Canucks and Kings will head to overtime. Los Angeles has needed an extra period 32 times this season, which leads the NHL. These two teams have already gone to overtime once this season, and very well could be headed there again on Thursday night.
Something to monitor when it comes to Vancouver is the number of shots the Canucks can generate. Vancouver finished Tuesday's loss with just 11, which is the second-lowest total for a home game in franchise history. The Canucks will be looking for a stronger effort on Thursday, which should mean a significantly higher shot total against the Kings.
Players To Watch:
Max Sasson:
Max Sasson continued his career year by picking up his 13th goal of the season on Tuesday. The 25-year-old has been a bright spot for Vancouver this season as he sits with 19 points in 64 games. If Sasson continues his strong play, he should be able to reach the 15-goal mark before the end of the campaign.
Brandt Clarke:
Brandt Clarke has developed into a solid top-four defenceman in the NHL. The 23-year-old has 39 points in 77 games while averaging 19:48 per game. Clarke is going to be a pain in the Canucks side for years to come as he can impact the game at both ends of the ice.
Vancouver Canucks (22–47–8):
Points:
Elias Pettersson: 15–33–48
Filip Hronek: 8–38–46
Brock Boeser: 21–23–44
Jake DeBrusk: 19–19–38
Linus Karlsson: 15-19-34
Goaltenders:
Kevin Lankinen: 9–26–5
Thatcher Demko: 8–10–1
Nikita Tolopilo: 5–10–2
Jiří Patera: 0–1–0
Los Angeles Kings(32–26–19):
Points:
Adrian Kempe: 32-37-69
Quinton Byfield: 20-24-44
Kevin Fiala: 18-22-40
Brandt Clarke: 8-31-39
Alex Laferriere: 19-19-38
Goaltenders:
Darcy Kuemper: 19-14-14
Anton Forsberg: 13-11-5
Pheonix Copley: 0-1-0
Game Information:
Start time: 7:30 pm PT
Venue: crypto.com Arena
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650
Mar 26, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tom Willander (5) battles with Los Angeles Kings forward Artemi Panarin (10) in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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After 64 games in his rookie season with the AHL's Toronto Marlies, Luke Haymes is set to make his NHL debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday against the New York Islanders.
The 22-year-old will enter the lineup for Bo Groulx, who's being sent back down to the AHL so he doesn't have to go through waivers ahead of the Marlies' playoff run later this month.
Craig Berube says Akhtyamov is coming up for the trip tomorrow. So will Villeneuve and Haymes.
Berube confirms that Haymes will make his NHL debut tomorrow since Groulx has to go down for waiver-count purposes. @Ozoon_CA
Haymes was recalled by the Maple Leafs on Tuesday and practiced with the team before returning to the Marlies on Wednesday for their school-day game against the Utica Comets, which Toronto won in overtime.
The Ottawa, Ontario-born forward has been a center in the Marlies' middle six for most of this season, tallying 17 goals and 32 points in 64 games, and has adjusted well to the pro game after leaving Dartmouth College last spring.
"He's got skill. He seems like an intelligent player to me," said Craig Berube on Tuesday after Haymes' first practice with the club.
"I haven't watched him a ton down there, but he's gotten better and better, I know that. He plays in all situations down there, but he's a guy that, I'm not sure where he'll fit in when he does (play), but like I said, he's got ability, he's got skill, and he's got a pretty good mind for the game."
Haymes will likely slot in as the fourth-line center against the Islanders. Jacob Quillan, with whom Haymes spent the majority of his season with on the Marlies, could move up to Groulx's spot on the third line.
"He's a really good player," said Quillan of Haymes following Toronto's 4-0 loss to the Washington Capitals. "A lot of speed. He's having a lot of success with the Marlies, and he can shoot the puck. Looking forward to seeing what he can do."
"He came in, and you can tell, he tried to feel out how fast the game would be in the AHL level, and he adjusted to it pretty well," Groulx added on Wednesday night. "A really smart player. He's really good on faceoffs, and he started scoring a lot for the Marlies the past two months. It's good to see."
Artur Akhtyamov will start for the Maple Leafs against the Islanders on Wednesday night after Joseph Woll played a majority of Tuesday's matchup following Anthony Stolarz's departure from the game.
It will be Akhtyamov's first start at the NHL level. (He made his NHL debut on Dec. 13 against the Oilers, coming in for the relief of Dennis Hildeby and playing 10:32.)
William Villeneuve will also be recalled for Thursday's game, Berube said, after Brandon Carlo left with a lower-body injury against the Capitals. It's unknown if he'll make his NHL debut alongside Haymes on Long Island.
With four games remaining in the season, the Maple Leafs should do everything to play their prospects, especially someone like Villeneuve, who's been in the organization for four years but has yet to play at the NHL level.
"I always think there's value in getting young guys a game or two," Berube said on Tuesday. "I don't think it hurts; it gets them a taste of the NHL."
COVERS INTEL: The Tigers' bullpen boasts a 77.6% LOB rate, the ninth-best in MLB. The Twins have stranded only 70.3%.
