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Suns' Devin Booker lashes out at refs after Game 2 loss to Thunder

The Phoenix Suns already have a tall task in trying to knock off the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the opening round of this year's playoffs.

Star guard Devin Booker says the referees are making it even more difficult.

The normally reserved Booker was hit with a technical foul in the third quarter of the Suns' 120-107 loss in Game 2 of their series on Wednesday, April 22, for complaining about the officiating.

"It's definitely something that has to be looked at," Booker told reporters after the game. "I heard (the Thunder's Alex) Caruso tell them to call the tech and he ended up doing it. In my 11 years, I haven't called a ref out by name, but James (Williams) was terrible tonight."

Booker was particularly upset with a sequence in the second quarter in which he was called for an offensive foul on a drive to the basket, then on the next possession, Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drew a foul on a Suns defender on an eerily similar play.

"Whatever I get fined for, everybody can pull the clips and see where the frustration comes from," Booker said.

Booker is far from the first to raise the issue of officials' calls favoring the Thunder, and reigning league MVP Gilgeous-Alexander in particular.

"He a little frail, and that's what the refs are going to call," said Suns forward Dillon Brooks, who fouled out of Game 2 with 25 seconds remaining.

"Like, I used to watch this back when Michael Jordan was playing or whoever else, when LeBron was younger. This is physical basketball. I don't get why all the dropping and the falling and the flopping and the flailing and all this stuff is allowed when we get to the playoffs."

Last month, New York Knicks coach Mike Brown issued a similar complaint.

"SGA, he’s a tough cover," Brown told reporters after the Knicks' loss to the Thunder on March 4. "And he does a great job of convincing the referees – probably better than anybody in the league – that he’s getting hit."

Gilgeous-Alexander brushed off the criticism as the top-seeded Thunder took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

"I can't control what Dillon or anybody else on the other side is going to complain about," the Thunder star said after scoring a game-high 37 points and making all nine of his free throw attempts. "All I can do is try to go out there and win basketball games for my team."

Game 3 is set for Saturday, April 25, in Phoenix.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Devin Booker rips referee by name for calls in Suns-Thunder Game 2

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Dodgers notes: Shohei Ohtani, Dave Roberts, Edwin Díaz

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 03: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with manager Dave Roberts #30 after hitting a three-run home run in the third inning during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Friday, April 3, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

After taking a brief respite from batting while pitching last week at home, two days after getting hit by a pitch in his right shoulder, Shohei Ohtani was back to double duty on Wednesday night against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park.

He pitched six more scoreless innings to lead the National League with a 0.38 ERA in 24 innings, but was hitless in four at-bat to snap his on-base streak at 53 games, tied with Shawn Green for the longest in Los Angeles Dodgers history. Ohtani’s hitting stats through the first four weeks this season are down relative to his first two full seasons at the plate in Los Angeles, hitting .258/.382/.472 with a 131 wRC+, still well above average.

So far this season Ohtani has batted 111 times and faced 92 hitters while pitching. His 203 total plate appearances are his heaviest workload during a baseball month since 208 PA in July 2023 while with the Angels. His most total PA in a month was 268, in September 2022 (126 batting, 142 pitching).

Ohtani being a full-go as a pitcher from the start of this season, in addition to his batting, which has improved since joining the Dodgers relative to his Angels days, has Mike Petriello at MLB.com wondering what heights Ohtani might now achieve.

“There’s still one more thing we haven’t seen Ohtani do, and that’s to put it all together for a full season, to marry Peak Batting Ohtani and Peak Pitching Ohtani together, at the same time, for six months,” Petriello wrote.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell, whose contract with Chicago raised the bar for managers ahead of Dave Roberts signing his own extension with Los Angeles, criticized MLB’s two-way player rule on Monday. From ESPN:

“It’s a rule to help offense, I think, more than anything, if you ask me,” Counsell said. “And then there’s one team that’s allowed to carry basically one of both, and that he gets special consideration. Which is probably the most bizarre rule. … For one team.”

Two-way players — those with at least 20 major league innings and at least 20 starts as a position player or designated hitter (with at least three plate appearances in each game) in the current or either of the previous two seasons — do not count against the active roster limit of 13 pitchers. The rule was first agreed to by Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association in March 2019, before Ohtani’s second year with the Angels, for implementation beginning in 2020.

Ohtani has been the only player to qualify for two-way status thus far.

Roberts on Monday night in Denver was asked about Counsell’s comments and had, frankly, an appropriate response. From Max Ralph at MLB.com:

“The thing is it certainly benefits us because we have the player,” Roberts said. “But that’s something that, any team that had Ohtani would have that player. We’re more than willing for other teams to go out and find a player who can do both. He’s an exception because he’s an exceptional player. It is what it is.”

Dodgers host the Cubs this weekend at Dodger Stadium, beginning Friday night in Los Angeles.

Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz had arthroscopic surgery on Wednesday to remove loose bodies in his right elbow, and is expected to miss around three months. You might remember his three-year, $69-million contract signed in December, which included a conditional $6.5 million club option for 2029 “if he has a specified injury through the end of the 2028 season and he does not end the season or postseason healthy, or if he has a specified surgery.”

J.P. Hoornstra for Dodgers on SI reported that Wednesday’s surgery was not the kind of procedure that would trigger the option.

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Former Canadiens First-Rounder Has Big Game vs. Oilers

The Anaheim Ducks picked up a big 6-4 win over the Edmonton Oilers in their Game 2 matchup on Wednesday. This was an important victory for the Ducks, as they have now tied the series up at 1-1. 

There were many reasons behind the Ducks' Game 2 win over the Oilers, and former Montreal Canadiens forward Ryan Poehling was one of them.

Poehling had a strong game for the Ducks in this one, as he scored two goals. He scored a short-handed goal at the 15:50 mark of the second period to give the Ducks a 4-2 lead. Then, he helped the Ducks secure their Game 2 win by scoring an empty-net goal late in the third period to give them a 6-4 lead over Edmonton. 

With this, there is no question that Poehling played a role in the Ducks getting this win over the Oilers. Now, they are in a good spot heading back home to Anaheim for Games 3 and 4. 

Poehling also had a strong regular season with the Ducks this season. In 75 games, he scored 11 goals and set new career highs with 25 assists and 36 points. With this, he has been a nice pickup for Anaheim this year. 

Poehling was selected by the Canadiens in the first round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft with the 25th overall pick. In 85 games over three seasons with the Habs, he had 13 goals, nine assists, 22 points, and 79 hits. 

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Phoenix finds tactical clarity through pace despite Game 2 loss

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 22: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round 1 Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Phoenix Suns were looking to bounce back in Game 2 in Oklahoma City, and while a 13-point loss does not scream “bounce back,” it kind of was. The adjustments showed up. The competitiveness showed up. It looked more like a real game.

The first change was obvious. Pace. Phoenix pushed it. That matters against the Oklahoma City Thunder, because living in the half-court against that defense is a tough way to survive. They are too connected, too disruptive, and too quick on closeouts. When the Suns played faster, moving the ball after makes and misses, it created cleaner looks. It worked, especially in the first half.

The third quarter hurt. Oklahoma City came out of the locker room and took control, outscoring Phoenix 35-20. The aggression ramped up, the game tilted, and the lead pushed to 22. It felt like it could get away from them.

Then the fourth happened. For the first time in a while, the Suns dictated something late. Pace. Physicality. Energy. They fought back and cut it to nine. Dillon Brooks set the tone with his aggression, and Devin Booker followed. Jalen Green tried to find it, but could not, going 1-of-6 in the quarter. Khaman Maluach played the entire fourth, and that is something worth circling moving forward.

More than anything, the Suns showed fight again. The kind that defined them early in the season. The kind that had faded in the final two months of the season. It showed up when it mattered most, and it reminded you of what this group can look like when they lean into their identity. Outscoring OKC 30-20 in the fourth was something.

They head back to Phoenix for Game 3 feeling better about where they are. Whether that turns into a win is another question. But for a night, it felt like the Suns again.

Bright Side Baller Season Standings

Wow. How bad was Game 1? Rasheer Fleming played 7:34 minutes of garbage time. He went 3-of-3 from the field, scoring 9 points in his postseason debut. And that was enough, with over 200 votes, to easily win the Bright Side Baller of the Game. I think that alone tells you where this fan base is.

Bright Side Baller Nominees

Game 86 (Game 2) against the Thunder. Here are your nominees:

Dillon Brooks
30 points (12-of-23, 5-of-9 3PT), 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, -11 +/-

Devin Booker
22 points (7-of-14, 0-of-3 3PT), 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 8-of-10 FT, 5 turnovers, -12 +/-

Jalen Green
21 points (8-of-23, 1-of-8 3PT), 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 7 turnovers, -12 +/-

Royce O’Neale
16 points (4-of-5, 4-of-5 3PT), 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, -4 +/-

Collin Gillespie
7 points (3-of-9, 1-of-5 3PT), 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, -14 +/-

Oso Ighodaro
7 points (3-of-8), 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 block, -23 +/-

Cast your vote.

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Cleveland News and Notes – Guardians Drop Series Against Astros

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 22: Tanner Bibee #28 of the Cleveland Guardians pitches during the game between the Houston Astros and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Grace Hoppel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

With yesterday’s loss the Guardians dropped another series. Like the previously lost series, there were certainly some disappointing moments against the Astros. The team has been interesting in this first month, to say the least. There are some flaws with every part of this team, yet they still sit atop the AL Central half a game ahead of the Minnesota Twins and two games above .500. The team has an off day today before heading up north to face the Toronto Blue Jays.

The farm made some moves yesterday:

Kolby Allard (AAA), Matt Jachec (AA) and Cannon Peebles (Low A) all were moved to the 7-day for their teams.

Around the League

The New York Mets finally got a win, beating the Minnesota Twins 3-2, to snap their 12-game skid.

Josh Naylor walked it off for the Mariners against the A’s.

The San Diego Padres signed Lucas Giolito to a one-year deal.

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SF Giants News: Dodgers catcher mocks Giants injury during Tuesday’s broadcast

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 21: Jung Hoo Lee #51 of the San Francisco Giants hits a single that scored a run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning at Oracle Park on April 21, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Good morning, baseball fans!

The San Francisco Giants are in the midst of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers this week, with the final game being played later today.

These posts are pre-written, so I don’t get to be as timely as I might like. But I wanted to touch on a moment from Tuesday night’s game that I missed at the time, but read more about afterwards in Alex Simon’s reporting for SF Gate.

During Tuesday’s game, Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee was thrown out at the plate, but appeared to get injured in an attempt to beat the throw with a slide.

The broadcast caught Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing appearing to say “F*** him” (Lee) as he left the field while Lee was dealing with his injury.

I get that it’s a rivalry game and things can get heated. And maybe there is context I’m missing that would cause such a reaction from Rushing. But that’s a cruddy thing to say in dismissal of someone who just got hurt. And it’s an even cruddier demonstration of sportsmanship, especially at the professional level.

One would think that a player for the reigning World Series Champions, who will likely be competitors for the throne once again this year, might represent themselves and their organization a little better than that. But one would clearly be wrong.

What time do the Giants play today?

The Giants wrap up this series against the Dodgers this afternoon at 12:45 p.m. PT.

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Tony Parkes dies aged 76 as tributes are paid to ‘Mr Blackburn Rovers’

  • Stalwart served Lancashire club from 1970 until 2004

  • As caretaker, helped saved Rovers from relegation in 1997

Tributes have been paid to “Mr Blackburn Rovers” Tony Parkes after his death at the age of 76. The former player and coach was one of the longest-serving employees in the club’s history, with his association beginning with his £5,000 move from Buxton in 1970 and concluding in 2004.

“Blackburn Rovers are devastated to learn of the passing of Tony Parkes. A true club legend, often referred to as ‘Mr Blackburn Rovers’,” said a club statement. “Everyone at Blackburn Rovers sends their deepest heartfelt condolences to Tony’s daughter Natalie and all his family and friends at this incredibly sad time.”

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Former Sabres Defenseman Is On Fire To Kick Off Playoffs

Former Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen is currently playing in the postseason for the first time in his 13-year career. While it took the 31-year-old blueliner a long time to get into his playoff action, there is no question that he is off to a fantastic start to this year's postseason. 

Ristolainen has been on fire for the Philadelphia Flyers, who have won each of their first three games against the Pittsburgh Penguins. In three games for the Flyers this postseason, the former Flyers defenseman has one goal, three points, and a plus-2 rating. 

Ristolainen's goal in Game 3 against the Penguins was a key one, too, as it gave the Flyers a 2-1 lead at the 9:06 mark of the second period. With this, he helped play a role in the Flyers gaining momentum during the contest and winning by a 5-2 final score. 

Ristolainen will now be looking to stay hot as the postseason carries on. The Flyers are in a great spot right now with their 3-0 series lead, and Ristolainen's strong play is one of the several reasons behind it. 

Ristolainen spent the first eight seasons of his NHL career with the Sabres. In 542 games with Buffalo over that span, the 2013 eighth-overall pick had 46 goals, 199 assists, 245 points, 848 blocks, and 1,355 hits.

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Benching Jakob Poeltl makes sense for Raptors, but hasn’t helped close gap with Cavs

CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 18: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks over Jakob Poeltl #19 of the Toronto Raptors during the second quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena on April 18, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

INDEPENDENCE — The Toronto Raptors made their first major lineup adjustment of the series against the Cleveland Cavaliers when they decided to bench their typical starting center, Jakob Poeltl, for the entire second half in Game 2. Instead, they opted to go small with the 6’7” Collin Murray-Boyles and the 6’9” Sandro Mamukelashvili nominally playing the five.

After Game 2, Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković said that the idea behind going smaller was to provide a different look defensively. “We wanted to be able to switch more in the pick-and-roll.”

That idea made sense, but didn’t work out well for Toronto.

Instead of feasting on Poeltl in the pick-and-roll, the Cavs were able to attack and hunt out mismatches by forcing switches on screens. This was seen most clearly in how James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, and Evan Mobley all attacked Brandon Ingram whenever matched up against him. And without a center, there wasn’t additional help defense waiting to bail Ingram out.

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The numbers highlight this problem. Toronto has had an abysmal 128.1 defensive rating (0th percentile) in the 128 possessions they’ve played without Poeltl. The defense hasn’t been stellar with Poeltl, it’s been considerably better (117.7 defensive rating, 22nd percentile).

Despite Cleveland’s success, Jarrett Allen wasn’t able to take advantage of Toronto’s smaller front line. He registered just four points in the second half and wasn’t included in the team’s closing lineup despite being guarded by a much smaller RJ Barrett.

Despite not making an impact as a scorer, head coach Kenny Atkinson liked what he saw from Allen.

“These are the little sacrifices you have to make,” Atkinson said after practice on Wednesday. “Obviously, we got to reward him if they’re going to go small and get him down on the mismatches, but he sacrificed himself with screening.”

Allen did do a good job as a screener. He had a game-high six screen assists, leading to 16 points.

Atkinson said that he wants to keep Allen in the dunker’s spot against some of these smaller lineups. This would allow him to clean up missed shots and potentially finish lobs if the help defense steps up.

“I give him a 10-out-of-10 in terms of understanding that and then sacrificing for the squad,” Atkinson said. “After I watched the film, [I realized] this guy is way more impactful than even I think. His impact is monumental for the team.”

It’ll be interesting to see if the Cavs can get Allen more involved against these smaller lineups.

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Despite not helping Toronto’s defense, going smaller did jump-start the offense.

“[It] probably increases their transition offensive rate,” Atkinson said. “They’re going to double down on their speed.”

The smaller lineups have, in fact, done so.

Toronto is getting out in transition on 14.8% of their offensive possessions (93rd percentile) this series without Poeltl on the floor. That’s up from the 11.1% of possessions in transition (24th percentile) when he’s playing. This has all resulted in the offense being better in these smaller lineups.

“It makes them space the floor a little more and makes them play faster,” Max Strus said. “It’s a new thing that we’re gonna have to figure out, and I think we did some things to prepare for it today.”

The Cavs came into this series talking about needing to keep the Raptors from running in the open court. They’ve succeeded at that front in the first two games of the series, and will need to do so again if they want to steal a game in Toronto or potentially end the series there.

Going smaller hasn’t produced considerably better results for Toronto. They’re just 0.5 points per 100 possessions better with Poeltl off the court, and have registered a -12.5 net rating. That isn’t going to get it done.

Even though benching Poeltl may be the best move for the Raptors, it isn’t going to close the talent gap that we’ve seen through the first two games, at least not on its own. They need better performances from their best players — mainly Brandon Ingram — and hope that the Cavs’ stars cool off.

Despite how stress-free the first two games have been, the Cavs aren’t taking anything for granted as the series shifts north of the border.

“The series hasn’t even started yet until you go on the road,” Strus said. “So we got to come in with an aggressive mindset, just like we treated games one and two, and play our best basketball.”

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Viral LeBron retirement tweet torments Warriors fan after 11 long years: ‘F–kery’

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows LeBron James, wearing a yellow Lakers jersey with number 23, gestures with his right hand pointing forward during a basketball game, Image 2 shows Man sitting in a tall armchair at a bar

Eleven years ago, Eric Martin cringed as he watched LeBron James dismantle the Atlanta Hawks in Game 3 of the 2015 Eastern Conference Finals with a 37-point triple-double in overtime.

The 42-year-old retired sales executive, who’s a Golden State Warriors fan, fired off a tweet from his couch in his home in Phoenix. 

“Lebron is 30, this f–kery won’t go on for much longer, thank god,” he wrote from his X account, @urkle91. 

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James gestures after scoring during the second half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Houston Rockets, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) AP

That tweet has become a viral sensation, having more than a decade-long shelf life.

Superstars have retweeted it.

It has been repurposed to include players in other sports, such as Shohei Ohtani and Patrick Mahomes. It has been viewed millions of times.

It even reached James himself. 

“I saw that Tweet throughout all of my 30s,” James said on the “New Heights” podcast. “Want to know what’s funny? When I turned 40, the same f–king guy said, ‘LeBron turned 40, this f–kery won’t go on much longer.’

“He’s going to be real upset when I turn 50.”

The man responsible for one of the most infamous tweets in NBA history has understandably had twinges of regret. 

“There are many times I considered deleting the tweet,” Martin said with a laugh. “He was 30. And then 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 — and there was just no regression in sight.”

Eric Martin

Now, things have only gotten worse for Martin. 

The 41-year-old James, who’s the only NBA player to reach season 23, is trying to lead a Lakers team without Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) past Kevin Durant and the Rockets in their first-round playoff series.

How’s it going? 

The Lakers have a 2-0 lead and James has been the star of the series.

 In Game 1, James had 19 points, a game-high 13 assists, eight rebounds, two steals and one blocked shot. In Game 2, he had a game-high 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. 

“It’s kinda like pie in my face,” Martin said.

Since turning 30, James has won two championships, made 11 All-Star teams, 11 All-NBA Teams and he became the league’s all-time leading scorer. He has had 80 of his 155 playoff games in which he had a 25/5/5 line since turning 30, more such performances than Michael Jordan had his entire postseason career (73). Last season, the 40-year-old was sixth in MVP voting. 

Martin is reminded of James’ stunning longevity everyday. 

“Anytime he has a good game, people retweet the comment,” he said. “Every single game. I look at my mentions, I look at my notifications, and it’s just people clowning the tweet. Every. Single. Game. 

“It’s a shrine for people now.”

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the first half of a game against the Phoenix Suns at Crypto.com Arena on April 10, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) Getty Images

Martin’s tweet actually went unnoticed for years. 

Then, during the 2017 NBA Finals, Martin was trash-talking James on X when he pissed off the wrong Cleveland Cavaliers fan, who went digging through his past tweets and unearthed that gem with a retweet.

The tweet was then reposted by the X account “Freezing Cold Takes” which has over 600,000 followers. 

A viral sensation was born. 

Over the years, the flame just kept being fanned. 

By 2018, the tweet was all over the internet. Martin realized the extent of its reach when his son’s and daughter’s friends started seeing it on Instagram and saying, “Isn’t that your dad’s page?”

Things only got worse from there. 

After James had a 47-point, 10-rebound and nine-assist performance on his 38th birthday on Dec. 30, 2022, the Instagram page House of Highlights (which has 51 million followers) posted the tweet alongside a photo of James pointing and laughing. 

James then reposted it on his Instagram (which has 156 million followers), adding a bunch of emojis of a face crying with laughter. 

“It just took off,” Martin said. “It just went to another level. Every six months, I’d see another publication just retweet, retweet, retweet.”

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball during the game against the Houston Rockets during Round One Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California.(Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images

For Martin, things reached a screeching point when James led the Lakers past his Warriors in the second round of the 2023 playoffs. 

“I’ve never seen so many notifications before on my phone,” Martin said. “It damn-near malfunctioned.”

Martin, however, decided to get in on the joke 10 years later, posting on X, “Lebron is 40, this f–kery won’t go on for much longer, thank god,” That tweet has 3.3 million views. 

Martin can laugh at everything now, even though his social media has been accosted by James’ fans. 

He just has one wish going forward. 

He doesn’t want the Lakers to beat the Rockets. 

“If they do beat them, it’s just going to make the noise around LeBron even louder, which I dread,” he said with a laugh. 

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Flyers Continuing To Benefit From This Great Trade

The Philadelphia Flyers picked up an impressive 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 3. With this, the Flyers now have a commanding 3-0 series lead over Pittsburgh and need just one more win to advance to the second round.

There were many reasons behind the Flyers' big Game 3 over the Penguins, and Trevor Zegras was certainly one of them. The skilled forward scored at the 5:18 mark of the second period to tie the game up at 1-1. He then recorded the primary assist on Noah Cates' third-period goal that gave the Flyers a 4-2 lead. With this, Zegras certainly stepped up for the Flyers in Game 3. 

This was just the latest strong game from Zegras in what has been a great year for him. The 25-year-old forward now has three points in three playoff games for Philadelphia. He also had an excellent regular season for the Flyers, setting new career highs with 26 goals and 67 points in 81 games. 

With how great Zegras has played for the Flyers since his arrival, it is clear that the Metropolitan Division club made a fantastic move acquiring him this offseason from the Anaheim Ducks. The change of scenery has benefited the 2019 ninth-overall pick in a major way, and he is performing like a star again. 

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Canadiens’ Suzuki, Caufield And Slafkovsky Have To Be The Difference Makers On Friday

It’s been a rough start to the playoffs for the Montreal Canadiens’ top line formed by Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Juraj Slafkovsky. They went from scoring 110 goals in the regular season to being totally muzzled at even strength in the first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

That’s not overly surprising, since the Canadiens failed to win home-ice advantage to start the series, Jon Cooper had the last change in the first two games. He was able to keep Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel glued to Suzuki’s line. Both are very efficient player defensively, and they’ve done their job admirably.

Canadiens Drop The Game In Overtime, Go Back To Montreal Tied 1-1
Time For A Big Change In The Canadiens’ Line Up
Canadiens' Nick Suzuki Predicted To Win Top Award

Speaking to the media after Tuesday night’s game, the Captain didn’t shy away from the facts:

Personally, and my line, we can definitely do a better job, help the guys out five-on-five a little more. We’ll be looking to do that in Game 3.
- Suzuki on his line's performance

That’s where Martin St-Louis comes in. At home, he will have the last change, and he’ll be able to keep Suzuki’s line away from Cirelli. If he manages to do that well, his top line should have more space to play in and end up with easier matchups. Once that’s done, though, it will be down to the players to do their part and deliver the goods.

The good news for the Canadiens is that even if the Lightning was able to neutralize the Canadiens’ top line at even strength, the Habs still won a game in Tampa and regained home-ice advantage. In fact, they came very close to winning both games in Florida, despite many believing they were a one-line team.

Montreal proved that it can still win without its top line being its best line, but now, with the series going back to the Bell Centre, it’s time for Caufield, Suzuki and Slafkovsky to show why they were one of the most dominant even-strength lines throughout the season. They have to step up and take control because the Habs won’t be able to win three more games against the Bolts without their contribution.

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Caleb Malhotra Makes Sense For Blackhawks At 3rd Or 4th Overall

The Chicago Blackhawks have a decent chance to select first or second in the 2026 NHL Draft. The lowest they can pick is 4th, and that can only happen if both lottery winners come from teams that finished in 30th place or better. The lottery will make this determination on May 5th. 

If the Blackhawks select first or stay put at second, Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg are the two best options. With the third or fourth pick, assuming McKenna and Stenberg go first and second, the possibilities are endless. 

If they want to go the route of a defenseman, Chase Reid and Keaton Verhoeff are exceptional prospects. They can each move the puck, skate, and develop their two-way play as they move into pro hockey. 

The Blackhawks already have a lot of young studs on the blue line, but they may want someone who shows more promise as a true number one. If one of Reid or Verhoeff turned out to be better than both Sam Rinzel and Artyom Levshunov, it would make it a great selection. 

With all of that said, if they wanted to go with a forward 3rd or 4th overall, Caleb Malhotra would be an excellent pick. He is a true center and projects to be one at the NHL level. 

With Nick Lardis and Marek Vanacker already in the organization, the Blackhawks have had a great line between them and the OHL's Brantford Bulldogs. Malhotra would be a great person to extend that relationship. 

During the 2025-26 season, Malhotra was second in scoring on the Bulldogs with 84 points (29 goals). Only Jake O'Brien, who was drafted eighth overall by the Seattle Kraken in 2025, had more points (93). Vanacker, sharing the ice with Malhotra, led the OHL with 47 goals. 

Malhotra's father, former NHL player Manny Malhotra, is the head coach of the Abbotsford Canucks, the AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks. His son, Caleb, has a great chance to be the first center off the board in 2026. 

What makes Caleb Malhotra an elite prospect is his two-way ability. When he doesn't have the puck, you can expect him to make wise choices while defending and trying to get the puck back. On offense, he has an incredible hockey IQ, which allows him to make plays for himself and others. 

If the Blackhawks drafted him, it would become almost certain that one (or maybe both) of Frank Nazar or Anton Frondell will become a full-time wing. Having that level of forward depth and versatility would pay off down the road when they are dealing with playoff matchups. 

In his draft +1 year, Malhotra is committed to play for Jay Pandolfo and the Boston University Terriers. That squad is projected to be very good, which would make for a great developmental environment for a young star like Malhotra. 

The results of the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery will determine whether or not this is a possibility for Chicago. If they do end up taking Malhotra, you'll know they did their homework because they are in Brantford scouting quite a bit. 

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Mets Daily Prospect Report, 4/23/26: St. Lucie saves the day

Feb 17, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets infielder Jacob Reimer (98) throws the ball during the New York Mets spring training workouts at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images | Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images

Triple-A: Syracuse Mets (12-10)

Worcester 7, Syracuse 6 (BOX)

Starter Brandon Waddell had a slow start to the game, allowing three first inning runs. He would settle down in his next two frames, handing off a 3-0 deficit to the bullpen. The score stayed 3-0 until the fifth, when Ji Hwan Bae doubled home two to make it 3-2. Jackson Cluff hit a three run home run in the sixth to make it 5-3 Mets. Both clubs traded runs in the bottom of the seventh and the top of the eight, giving Syracuse a 6-4 lead heading into the eighth inning.

The eighth inning saw the bullpen start to fall apart, as they surrendered a run in the eighth. Eventually, they would blow the game completely, getting walked off in the bottom of the ninth.

  • RF Nick Morabito: 0-2, R, 3 BB, K, 2 SB
  • DH Ji Hwan Bae: 2-5, 2B, 3 RBI
  • 3B Ronny Mauricio: 0-4, BB, K
  • LF Ryan Clifford: 0-3, 2 BB, 2 K
  • SS Vidal Bruján: 1-4, R, BB, K, E (4)
  • CF Cristian Pache: 2-4, R, 2B, BB, SB (5)
  • 2B Jackson Cluff: 2-4, 2 R, HR (3), 3 RBI, BB, K, SB (2)
  • 1B Trace Willhoite: 1-3, R, 2B, BB, K
  • C Onix Vega: 1-4
  • LHP Brandon Waddell: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 WP
  • RHP Jonathan Pintaro: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
  • REHAB ALERT: LHP A.J. Minter: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, H (1)
  • RHP Ryan Lambert: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, H (4)
  • RHP Alex Carrillo: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, L (1-1), H (1)
  • RHP Daniel Duarte: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, BS (2)

Double-A: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (6-10)

Erie 8, Binghamton 1 (BOX)

Will Watson, the 2024 seventh round pick who burst onto the scene with a 2.60 ERA across three levels last year, continued his slow start to the 2026 campaign. He surrendered a three run home run in the second, another run in the third, and it was academic from there for Erie.

The two bright spots on the day for the Rumble Ponies are Eli Serrano, who pushed his season OPS to .942 and drove in their only run with a double, and Jacob Reimer, who has struggled mightily this year, but went 4-4 on the day.

  • CF A.J. Ewing: 0-4, K
  • SS Marco Vargas: 0-4, 2 K
  • 3B Jacob Reimer: 4-4, R, 2B
  • C Chris Suero: 1-4, K
  • LF Eli Serrano III: 1-3, 2B, RBI, BB, K
  • RF Jose Ramos: 0-4, K
  • DH Kevin Parada: 1-3, BB
  • 1B Nick Lorusso: 0-4, 3 K
  • 2B Wyatt Young: 0-3, 2 K
  • RHP Will Watson: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, L (0-3)
  • LHP Felipe De La Cruz: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP
  • RHP Zach Peek: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP
  • RHP Saul Garcia: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

High-A: Brooklyn Cyclones (4-12)

Hudson Valley 4, Brooklyn 3 (BOX)

Brooklyn continued to struggle in 2026, dropping their 12 game over their first 16. They actually led this game 2-0 after one, with Corey Collins and Ronald Hernandez driving in the runs with a sacrifice fly and double respectively. Hudson Valley slowly but surely chipped away at the small lead, and eventually led the game themselves by a score of 3-2 after four. A John Bay single would tie it in the sixth, and that score would hold until the ninth inning, when Bryce Jenkins would surrender a walk off home run.

  • 2B Mitch Voit: 0-3, R, BB, 2 SB (3, 4)
  • SS Antonio Jimenez: 0-4, K
  • DH Daiverson Gutierrez: 1-3, 2 R, 2 K
  • 1B Corey Collins: 0-3, RBI, K
  • C Ronald Hernandez: 1-4, 2B, RBI, K, E (3)
  • CF John Bay: 1-4, RBI, K
  • 3B Colin Houck: 1-3, BB, K
  • RF Yohairo Cuevas: 1-3, BB, K
  • LF Kevin Villavicencio: 0-3, K, E (2)
  • RHP Noah Hall: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP
  • RHP Parker Carlson: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
  • RHP Cristofer Gomez: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
  • RHP Bryce Jenkins: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, L (0-1)

Single-A: St. Lucie Mets (9-8)

St. Lucie 5, Palm Beach 2 (BOX)

A win! The only win in the organization besides THE METS WHO SNAPPED THEIR 12 GAME LOSING STREAK(!!!).

St. Lucie actually trailed 2-0 after a two run home run in the second inning, but starter Frank Camarillo settled down from there to deliver five innings of two run ball. The Mets tied the game in the bottom of the fourth with RBI singles by JT Benson and Branny De Oleo. Julio Zayas gave tgem the lead with a double in the seventh, AJ Salgado added a run with a sacrifice fly, and Sam Biller added another insurance run with a double of his own. The St. Lucie pen was nearly perfect surrendering just two hits and a walk.

  • SS Elian Peña: 1-3, R, 2 BB, K
  • 2B Sam Robertson: 0-4, R, 2 K
  • 1B Randy Guzman: 0-3, BB, 2 K
  • DH Julio Zayas: 2-4, 2B, RBI, K
  • RF AJ Salgado: 0-3, R, RBI, 2 K, SB (2)
  • CF JT Benson: 1-4, R, RBI, SB (3)
  • C Chase Meggers: 0-1, R, 3 BB, K
  • LF Sam Biller: 1-2, 2B, RBI, BB, K, SB (5)
  • 3B Branny De Oleo: 1-4, RBI, 2 K, E (2)
  • RHP Frank Camarillo: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
  • LHP Nate Lavender: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
  • RHP Elwis Mijares: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, W (2-0)
  • RHP Tyler McLoughlin: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, WP (1), S (1)

Rookie: FCL Mets (0-0)

NO GAME (SCHEDULE)

STAR OF THE NIGHT

Jacob Reimer

GOAT OF THE NIGHT

Nick Lorusso

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Orioles news: Holliday’s MRI, another comeback win

Apr 22, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Baltimore Orioles left fielder Colton Cowser (17) and center fielder Leody Taveras (30) and right fielder Dylan Beavers (12) celebrate in the outfield after the win over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Hello, friends.

The Orioles have escaped Kansas City with a series win after pulling off a comeback to get an 8-6 victory in yesterday’s game, bringing themselves back within a game of .500. The Royals broke a long losing streak with their win on Tuesday but remain in the basement of the American League. You could maybe say that it would have been better if the O’s really embarrassed the worst team, which they didn’t do. Still, they won two of three, and they showed some resilience in doing it, so that’s something. Check out Paul Folkemer’s recap of the game for more of the lovely totals.

One thing I think that we can hope for coming out of that series is that the signs of life from Samuel Basallo and Coby Mayo at the plate continue. Mayo, in particular, had a pair of three-run homers over the course of the series. Struggling outfielders Dylan Beavers and Colton Cowser had two hits apiece in Wednesday’s game as well. The problems that the team has had so far will seem a lot easier to overcome if these guys are able to start hitting at least decently.

Less positive is the continuing struggle of this year’s edition of the veteran starting pitcher signing, Chris Bassitt. The team spotted him a five-run lead yesterday after scoring six runs in the top of the sixth inning and Bassitt still couldn’t get through the bottom of the inning without making things way more interesting. He gave up a home run to the first batter he saw after the big O’s offensive outburst. In all, Bassitt gave up five runs in 5.1 innings to raise his season ERA to 6.75 after five starts.

It’s not quite Charlie Morton territory. Morton had a 10.89 ERA after the same number of games, after which he got dumped from the rotation. With each of Cade Povich and Brandon Young starting off well for Triple-A Norfolk, I understand the impulse to do the same for Bassitt. I doubt that the Orioles will, at least not unless this drags out for a longer at this level of bad results. Maybe another five starts. At least we don’t have to worry about him for a few more days.

There’s a little Orioles injury news that will probably hang in limbo over the off day today. Jackson Holliday was sent back to Baltimore yesterday for an MRI on his hand after his latest rehab stint was shut down following an uncomfortable swing in Norfolk. There was no news about it after yesterday’s game and there probably won’t be in the off day either. We’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out if there are any updates to be had there – or with any of the other injured O’s who might be back any day now or might just keep on lingering.

The Orioles will next be in action on Friday night at home against the Red Sox starting at 7:05. As of this writing, there is not a scheduled starter for the Orioles. If they don’t use the off day to skip Dean Kremer’s turn, then it will be Kremer who would be on turn to make the start. The Red Sox will send out Brayan Bello, who’s struggled to begin the 2026 season. This does not necessarily mean anything where the enigmatic Orioles offense is concerned.

Orioles stuff you might have missed

Orioles place Helsley on family leave/bereavement list, recall Espada (Baltimore Baseball)
There was a roster move ahead of yesterday’s game, with the closer leaving for a few days for the family medical or bereavement leave list. The team did not announce the specific circumstances. If it is a medical situation, I wish the best for it turning out well. If it’s bereavement, condolences to the family.

Jeremiah Jackson is getting his hacks in (FanGraphs)
The folks at FanGraphs have taken notice of the strong start by an unlikely Oriole. Now that Jackson’s BABIP luck has reached a more stable place, what might he do the rest of the way?

How Tyler Wells’s new mental approach is helping with life in the bullpen (The Baltimore Banner)
Wells had a great outing yesterday, with 1.2 innings scoreless. That’s heading in the right direction.

Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries

Today in 1994, future Hall of Famer Lee Smith picked up his ninth save of the season in the 16th game played by the Orioles. This was a new MLB record for fastest to nine saves. The Orioles beat the Mariners, 4-3, as Smith got his save. He did not allow a run over 12 April appearances that year.

In their 25th game one year ago, the Orioles lost to the Tigers, 4-3, in the first game of a doubleheader, to fall to 10-15 on the season. Jordan Westburg, Ryan O’Hearn, and Ramón Urías all had three hits in the losing effort for the O’s. For the time being, the 2026 edition of the team is doing two games better than those guys.

There are a few former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2022 pitcher Louis Head, 2009 pitcher Sean Henn, and 1957 infielder Buddy Peterson.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: playwright William Shakespeare (1564), 15th president James Buchanan (1791), physicist Max Planck (1858), baseball Hall of Famer Warren Spahn (1921), actress Shirley Temple (1928), musician Roy Orbison (1936), wrestler/actor John Cena (1977), comedian/host John Oliver (1977), baseball Hall of Famer Andruw Jones (1977), and gold medal snowboarder Chloe Kim (2000).

On this day in history…

In 1014, the Irish, led by High King Brian Boru, repelled a Viking invasion in the Battle of Clontarf, though Brian Boru himself was killed in the battle.

In 1635, the Boston Latin School was founded. Still in operation continuously on through today, this school is recognized as the first public school in what is now the United States.

In 1985, Coca-Cola released New Coke, a change to its formula. Within three months, they brought back the previous Coca-Cola formula. New Coke survived as Coke II through 2002.

In 2005, the first YouTube video was posted. One of its co-founders released a video titled “Me at the zoo”.

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And that’s the way it is in Birdland on April 23. Have a safe Thursday.