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Panthers' Mike Benning Shines Against Oilers; Adds Appreciated Offense From Blueline

The Florida Panthers dismantled the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday, securing a 4-0 victory on the road. 

Sergei Bobrovsky led the way with a 21-save shutout, while Evan Rodrigues and Sam Bennett recorded multi-point games. But the player who stole some headlines is 24-year-old defenseman Mike Benning.

In just his fourth career NHL game, Benning notched his first multi-point performance, recording two assists and giving him three total points this season.

For Benning, it was already a special night. His father, Brian Benning, a former NHL defenseman who was also born in Edmonton, Alta., was in the stands to watch his son. Benning was an original Panther, playing 97 games with Florida. 

Mike recorded two assists in the first period, picking up primary helpers on the Panthers’ first two goals of the game. Benning would finish the night with one hit and a plus-2 rating in 15:43 of ice time.

The analytical side favored Benning as well, as the Panthers held a CorsiFor percentage of 62.07 percent with Benning on the ice at 5-on-5, according to naturalstattrick.com. Additionally, the Panthers had more scoring chances and high-danger chances with Benning. 

Panthers Pick Up Another Victory In Edmonton, Taking Down Oilers 4-0Panthers Pick Up Another Victory In Edmonton, Taking Down Oilers 4-0Reinhardt, Greer, Lundell, and Verhaeghe sparked Florida's offense while Bobrovsky was a rock in goal, notching a big shutout win in Edmonton.

Prior to his call-up, Benning was in the midst of another solid AHL campaign, scoring eight goals and 31 points in 56 games. Despite being listed at just 5-foot-9, 185 pounds, Benning has found a way to be impactful, using his skating and puckhandling to help the Panthers break out of their own end and create offense in their opponents’ zone. 

With Uvis Balinskis’ timeline remaining undetermined, Benning will have an extended stretch to prove his worth at the NHL level. So far, he’s done everything asked of him. 

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NBA tank watch: Teams eye high draft picks, early vacations

NBA scouts and executives are keeping an eagle eye on the start of the Men's NCAA Tournament this week, hoping that one of the stars eligible for the NBA draft falls in their lap and changes their fortunes overnight.

One thing is for sure: Those same scouts and executives are happy because they don't have to look at their own teams for the next two weeks and can really concentrate on finding the next superstar, so they won't routinely find their teams on lists like this.

There are more than enough intriguing college players to consider with the No. 1 pick, including Darryn Peterson of Kansas, BYU's AJ Dybantsa (the nation's leading scorer), Duke's Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson of North Carolina.

Without further ado, this week's edition of Tank Watch, featuring the best of the worst the NBA has to offer.

NBA teams already booked for Cancun

All records and winning percentages are through games on Thursday, March 19.

Indiana Pacers (15-55; .214)

The Pacers have long since given up and haven't won since the All-Star break, a skid of 15 consecutive games. It's the second time this season they have set a franchise record for regular-season futility.

Washington Wizards (16-53; .232)

Any team that gives up 83 points to Bam Adebayo, as the Wizards did last week, not only needs a vacation, but the league needs to think about retraction as well. Washington has lost 10 games or more in a row three different times this season.

Brooklyn Nets (17-52; .246)

If you want to find the equivalent of a junior varsity team taking the court against real professionals, look no further than Brooklyn's 121-92 humiliating loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, March 18.

Sacramento Kings (18-53; .254)

The Kings' M.A.S.H. unit is filled with All-Star-caliber players, and the situation is so bad that people have coined the term "ethical tanking" to excuse the putrid product put out nightly.

Utah Jazz (21-49; .300)

The NBA's version of the Washington Generals, otherwise known as the league's worst defensive team, couldn't be bothered with keeping a dribbling offensive player in front of them. NBA fans couldn't be bothered watching them either.

NBA teams waiting to spend hours in TSA line to board flight

It's just a matter of time before the teams listed below are mathematically eliminated from playoff contention and can start making trips to Cancun (or Galveston, according to Charles Barkley) for an early vacation – or to Turkey to explore hair transplants, whichever one applies to them.

(All records and winning percentages are through games on Thursday, March 19.)

Memphis Grizzlies (24-44; .353)

Memphis better be glad the league is expanding to 32 teams, or their franchise would be the first one to exit stage left out of town.

Dallas Mavericks (23-47; .329)

Dallas got rid of incompetent general manager Nico Harrison earlier this season. Next on the hit list, the American Airlines Center.

New Orleans Pelicans (25-46; .352)

At least the gumbo and jambalaya are good year-round.

Chicago Bulls (28-42; .400)

The only good news this week for Chicago: Former star Dennis Rodman is being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA tank watch: Teams with best chance to land No. 1 draft pick

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Time to see how serious UNC is about basketball. Go get Todd Golden

There’s only one way out of this thing, and in the shocker of all shockers, it involves throwing money at the problem. 

Not just $5 million in go-away money for North Carolina coach Hubert Davis, but huge, nasty cash to fix it once and for all. 

Because if you’re North Carolina and you’ve committed tens of millions of dollars to Bill Belichick and his plan to rescue your football program, what’s the price to resuscitate your suddenly stale yet still iconic basketball program?

Armour: One day in and March Madness already its usual marvelous self

More: Where VCU's epic March Madness comeback vs. UNC ranks in history

Let me give you a hint: a hundred million or more commitment. 

This is big business, people. We’re talking about one of the three biggest college basketball brands struggling to not only reach the NCAA Tournament, but avoid disaster in the first round.

The program of Michael Jordan and Dean Smith and Roy Williams and all of those All-Americans and national championship moments, just blew a 19-point lead to VCU in the NCAA Tournament. 

This isn’t about the loss of injured star freshman Caleb Wilson and how it affected the last two weeks of the season. It’s about the totality of Davis’ tenure, and if North Carolina is ready for a Belichick-ian response.

That can only mean one thing: Start printing cash for Florida coach Todd Golden.

Chasing history: Inside Todd Golden's remarkable rise to top of college basketball

Back for more: Will Wade and LSU again? Desperation overshadows all hesitation

If you’ve given Davis everything he could possibly want and need — the roster was valued at $15 million this season — and you’re still getting beat by VCU in the NCAAs, there’s no half-measure response to this unfolding nightmare.

North Carolina can’t keep throwing bad money after good and expect different results. The football program is on the verge of that very scenario with Belichick, who produced all of four wins with his bag of cash — and it doesn’t look much better after he signed the 50th-ranked transfer portal class according to the 247Sports composite.

This is no time for the timid. Be bold and brave ― and eliminate any possibility of Kentucky swooping in and signing Golden first.

Take the rare step and pay Golden like a football coach — or better yet, more than a football coach. More than Kirby and Cigs and Sark. 

Offer $13-14 million a year over 10 years, and commit to $20 million annually in NIL funds (including private deals). Once the Belichick experiment fades — and it will — North Carolina will again realize what’s important, what fuels the Carolina brand. 

Who knows if Golden would leave Florida, but you’re not starting over with one of the top three programs in the history of the sport with a mid-major coach, or another learn-on-the-go Carolina Man. 

You’re not going to make a regional hire like UNC Wilmington’s Takayo Siddle, or High Point’s Flynn Clayman coming off an NCAA run.

You’re not hiring a former NBA coach, and you’re (probably) not getting John Calipari to leave Arkansas. OK, maybe Cal would go — but how much longer is he coaching?

It’s time to see just how serious North Carolina is about basketball.

Golden can be in Carolina Blue for three decades if he wins and wants to hang around. He can win big and recreate the pecking order of legendary UNC coaches. 

Dean, Roy and Todd. Or Dean, Todd and Roy.  

The only option is Golden, whose choice will be building a legacy at Florida or embracing the rebuild at arguably the most iconic brand in the sport.

He’s young, knows how to reach players in the NIL-driven world and has proven he can build and develop rosters and win a national title. He has made Florida a basketball school again.

Billy Donovan eventually walked away from what he built at Florida, and headed to the NBA. Golden could do the same — unless UNC pays him like an NBA coach.

This has nothing to do with the “football school” and “basketball school” nonsense. Florida has won it all with two different coaches at their first major job, and has the structure and financial wherewithal to win it all again with another.

This is a North Carolina question, not a Florida question. 

How badly does North Carolina want to win big again, and at what cost?

Big, nasty cash to fix it once and for all.

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: North Carolina basketball must replace Hubert Davis, hire Todd Golden

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The Hockey Show: Panthers Still Own Edmonton, Major Injuries To NHL Stars, Dave Jackson Breaks Down Goalie Interference

An important question was tackled this week on The Hockey Show.

Like many hockey fans, THS co-hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork would like an explanation from an expert on what exactly goaltending interference is in the NHL.

To break down goalie interference, and also to discuss some of the controversial penalties that have occurred lately in the league, Roy and David welcomed former NHL referee and current ESPN Rules Analyst Dave Jackson to The Hockey Show.

Also on the latest episode was a chat about the Florida Panthers having an efficient tank, and how even amid all their struggles, the Panthers still found a way to go into Edmonton and crush an Oilers squad trying to rack up every point they can get in a very tightly contested Western Conference playoff race.

This week’s wins and fails included a very unlucky Montreal Canadiens fan attending a Maple Leafs-Islanders game in Toronto, a nice job of rage-baiting by Philadelphia’s Matvei Michkov, an amazing 30 seconds during an ECHL game that gave us a pretty goal, fun celly and line brawl, and a hockey-related fashion faux pas by Team USA at the World Baseball Classic.

You can check out the full episode and interview in the videos below:

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Panthers Pick Up Another Victory In Edmonton, Taking Down Oilers 4-0

Panthers Make Trio Of Lineup Changes Ahead Of Matchup Against Oilers

Panthers Road Trip Continues In Familiar Building As Florida Returns To Edmonton

Bill Zito Appointed To Fort Lauderdale's Museum Of Discovery And Science Board Of Trustees

Brad Marchand's Season Could Be Over As Panthers Place Him On LTIR

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Spring Breakout Game Thread: Kansas City Royals at Texas Rangers

Jul 24, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers first round draft pick Malcolm Moore throws out the first pitch before the game against the Chicago White Sox at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

A group of Texas Rangers prospects take on a group of Kansas City Royals prospects in this year’s Spring Breakout contest where the Rangers farmhands will be the home team at Surprise Stadium.

Here’s a look at which prospects Texas has available today, including their MLB Pipeline rankings:

PITCHERS (8)
Ismael Agreda, RHP, No. 28
Wilian Bormie, RHP, NR
Gavin Collyer, RHP, No. 30
Aidan Curry, RHP, NR
Joey Danielson, RHP, NR
Eric Loomis, RHP, NR
Dalton Pence, LHP, No. 12
Josh Trentadue, LHP, No. 23

TWO-WAY PLAYERS (2)
Seong-Jun Kim, SS/RHP, No. 15
Josh Owens, SS/RHP, No. 6

CATCHERS (3)
Julian Brock, C, NR
Malcolm Moore, C, No. 18
Josh Springer, C, NR

INFIELDERS (7)
Yolfran Castillo, SS/3B, No. 8
Antonis Macias, UTIL, NR
Gleider Figuereo, 3B, NR
Pablo Guerrero, 1B, NR
Curley Martha, INF, NR
Elorky Rodriguez, 2B/OF, No. 16
Jack Wheeler, 3B, No. 19

OUTFIELDERS (7)
Dylan Dreiling, OF, No. 10
Anthony Gutierrez, OF, No. 29
Paxton Kling, OF, No. 21
Maxton Martin, OF, No. 24
Braylin Morel, OF, NR
Paulino Santana, OF, No. 22
Marcos Torres, OF, NR

You can the game on the Rangers Sports Network or follow along on Gameday. First pitch from Surprise Stadium is scheduled for 3:05 pm CT.

Go young Rangers!

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Arizona Diamondbacks Spring: Three up, three down

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 12: Jordan Lawlar #10 of the Arizona Diamondbacks signs autographs before a Spring Training game against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 12, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) | Getty Images

We’re now less than a week from Opening Day, and things are certainly coming into focus. While spring training statistics are basically useless in terms of predictive value, when has that ever stopped anyone from looking at them and drawing conclusions? So, based on the Cactus League results so far, here are three players – a hitter, a starting pitcher and a reliever – whose stock seems to have risen as a result of their performance, and three others about whom there might be reason for concern.

Three up

Jordan Lawlar

There are a few candidates here: Alek Thomas, Jorge Barrosa and Jose Fernandez all have an OPS over 1.000. Lawlar is right there with them, his triple-slash being .293/.420/.610 for a 1.030 OPS. But he was also having to learn a whole new position, playing the outfield for almost the first time in his professional career. He has done well: he committed his first error the other day, but a couple of hitters later, made a highlight reel play. Lawlar has played so well, it leaves Torey Lovullo with a tricky decision: should he or Thomas play CF? “They’re running balls down out there. They’re going out there and playing solid defense. Who gets to start in center or left, I haven’t figured that out.”

Brandon Pfaadt

It feels like we should add “Pfaadt breakout prediction” to our spring training bingo card. Before 2024, we had Brandon Pfaadt could be MLB’s biggest breakout player next season. Then, early in the 2025 season, it was Brandon Pfaadt is Forging a Breakout Season Despite the Odds. This year, he’s making lists like Top 10 NL Breakout Players to Watch in 2026. Spring has done nothing to dampen this enthusiasm: over ten innings, he has allowed just three hits and one earned run, with eleven strikeouts. Hence: Brandon Pfaadt’s Adjustments are Already Paying Off, discussing the hopes tweaks to his mechanics could lead to his sweeper becoming a weapon. We’ll see, but fingers crossed.

Juan Morillo

Of the two dozen D-backs’ pitchers to have thrown at least five innings this spring, there is only one who has yet to allow an earned run: Morillo. Across 7.1 innings, he has eight strikeouts, compared to only two walks, and so far has held opposing hitters to a .167 average. It’s numbers which compare very well, in a similar sample size, to more established relievers like Ryan Thompson or Jonathan Loaisiga. It’s easy to forget Morillo appeared 42 times for Arizona last year, a number surpassed only by Thompson and Jalen Beeks, with an ERA+ of 104. He may end up squeezed out of the Opening Day roster for “veteran presence.” However, I predict it won’t be long before he’s on the bus up from Reno.

Three down

Corbin Carroll

Spring had barely started, when Carroll had to go on the back burner, after fracturing the hamate bone in his hand while swinging. This was initially expected to rule him out for Opening Day, but he set a near-record pace for recovery, returning to the line-up less than four weeks after surgery. The concern is whether the surgery might have a lingering impact, particularly on his power. Although the data doesn’t support that, he has got off to a slow start since his return. Carroll is 2-for-12 with no walks and four strikeouts. While he did hit his first home-run on Wednesday against the Cubs, his OPS to date is only .583. Hopefully, it’s just a case of lingering winter rust being knocked off.

Merrill Kelly

As with Carroll, the issue here is probably as much a health concern as anything. He is no longer feeling any problems with his back, the area which forced him into a late spring start and out of Opening Day. However, Merrill still thinks he will need to start the year on the Injured List. He has made two starts so far, and the results haven’t been good: 11 hits across 4.1 innings with just one strikeout. Though it is true Kelly will be behind opposing hitters in terms of workload, so that may be responsible. The bottom line is, a healthy and effective Merrill is almost essential for the Diamondbacks to have a chance this year. We haven’t enjoyed that so far this pre-season.

Kade Strowd

There are several candidates here. Kevin Ginkel and Brandyn Garcia also have spring ERAs in double digits, rocking chances for an Opening Day spot. But neither were traded this winter for a fan favorite. Strowd came from the Orioles for Blaze Alexander, and expectations were he would be able to contribute immediately to the beleaguered D-backs bullpen. Stroud has been missing some bats, with nine strikeouts over 7.2 innings. But he has also been missing the strikezone, issuing five walks. Add in eleven hits, including two home-runs, and you’re looking at an ugly 10.57 ERA. He has begun to fall off roster projections. Blaze, meanwhile, is expected to start for Baltimore on Opening Day.

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Yankees Mailbag: Wrapping up the WBC

MIAMI, FL - MARCH 17: Aaron Judge #99 of Team USA looks on during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Championship game presented by Capital One between Team Venezuela and Team USA at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Good afternoon everyone, it’s time to dive back into the mailbag and answer some of your questions. Remember to send in your questions for our weekly call by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.

LocalBlueWhaleRuinsEverything asks:Judge is getting pretty well-flamed online for his poor performance in the WBC. How seriously should we take those stats compared to, say, his post-season performances?

Even less serious than the postseason narrative, which is to say not that much. Judge’s overall performance in the WBC was more than adequate, posting an .845 OPS with two homers and five RBI in seven games played — and those are the numbers after he went 0-for in the finale. That’s the equivalent of a single drawn out round of postseason play in the Championship Series or World Series, and that performance wouldn’t be enough to draw the blame for anyone except for a player of Judge’s status (and for that matter, it’s a better line than Judge posted in the ALCS or World Series in 2024).

Judge’s overall postseason track record is certainly less than his regular season excellence, but even there it’s not as bad as it’s made out to be: a career .822 OPS with 17 homers and 41 RBI in 65 games. There have been highs — his most recent performance in 2025 was dominant, his first taste of October was more than fine in 2017, and the Yankees’ short stay in the 2018 playoffs could in no way be blamed on Judge and his 1.447 OPS in the ALDS. But there have certainly been lows, most notably that 2024 run up until the infamous Game 5 against the Dodgers and a rather dreadful 2022 performance that saw them get bounced by their nemesis in Houston.

All of this to say, that Judge’s overall numbers are far from the narrative that he’s a playoff choker. Did he have a good game in the championship against Venezuela? No, far from it — but the US superteam at large was getting shut down by Eduardo Rodriguez for 4.1 innings, and that man’s run an ERA north of five for the last two seasons. The US lineup in general never got going in this tournament outside of their initial blowouts against Brazil and Great Britain, and Judge was one of the few bats alive enough to beat Mexico and force that three-way tie atop their group. There hasn’t been an extended run where Judge has stayed on a heater like he has for some of these individual series or matches, and if he gets one then I think the narrative would be broken, but until then any singular big game flop will be enough to bring out the hecklers.

The idiot that said, “Harper is coming” asks:Who makes money off the WBC? I have to assume players and MLB make some money, I’m curious how it’s distributed.

The tournament drew a massive pot of cash this year, reportedly offering a $37 million prize pool to the participants when all was said and done thanks in large part to a $100 million broadcasting rights deal that Netflix struck to cover the games in Japan. That pool is then divided up to each competing team with a starting payout of $750,000 and scaling up for each round that teams advanced through. Once a team’s placement has been finalized, their payout is then evenly split between their team federation (which pays for the coaches and staff) and the players on the team, with Venezuela getting the biggest cut for winning it all at a $6.75 million payout.

As for the overall profit generated from the tournament, The Athletic reports that there’s a one-third split going to MLB, one third to the player’s union, and a third split to a trio of other organizations: the World Baseball Softball Organization, the KBO, and the NPB.

OLDY MOLDY asks:Will there be inning limits on Schlittler?

I doubt it, for a couple of reasons. First, Schlittler ended up throwing a combined 149.2 regular season innings last season split between the minors and the majors, a 29-inning increase in workload from his 2024 setting himself up nicely to push towards the 170-180 inning range for 2026. That’s probably about how much the Yankees would love for Schlittler to handle this year, so no real need to manage his innings on a day-to-day basis. On top of that, Schlitter’s slow start to spring while handling his sore back puts him in the position to potentially get skipped over a couple times while the team only needs four starters in the opening weeks of the season, further reducing the need to worry about his season-long workload.

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Joshua Jefferson injury update: Iowa State star injured in March Madness first round

Iowa State started its March Madness run already with a scary incident.

Star forward Joshua Jefferson was injured early in the first-round matchup against Tennessee State on Friday, March 20.

The Cyclones player landed landed awkwardly after going up for a layup attempt less than three minutes into the contest, appearing to twist his ankle as he landed. He had to be helped off the floor by support staff as he was unable to put any weight on his left foot. Jefferson went straight to the locker room after the incident.

Joshua Jefferson injury update

Jefferson has not return to the game against the Tigers, and it doesn't look like he will.

Around the 11-minute mark in the first half, the broadcast showed Jefferson on crutches going into a room in the arena.

It's unknown the severity of the injury but it can be a brutal one for an Iowa State team trying to reach its first Final Four since 1944. Jefferson is a dynamic player for the Cyclones, averaging 16.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. He has two triple doubles this season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joshua Jefferson injury update: Iowa State star hurt in March Madness

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Carson Benge shines, Tobias Myers solid in Mets' loss to Cardinals

The Mets lost to the Cardinals, 4-3, on Friday as their spring training slate continued.

Here are the takeaways...

-Carson Benge drew a walk his first time up and poked a single to the left side in the sixth inning. He is hitting .412 with a .987 OPS in Grapefruit League play.

The Mets haven't yet announced the plan for Benge when camp breaks, but it will be shocking if he isn't the starting right fielder on Opening Day. 

-Bo Bichette got the start at shortstop in order to stay sharp at the position in the event the Mets don't carry a backup at the position. At the plate, Bichette went 0-for-2.

- Tobias Myers was solid, allowing one run (on an opposite-field home run) while walking one and striking out two in 2.0 innings. He is expected to open the season in the bullpen. 

- Luke Weaver worked around a hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning.

- Brooks Raley danced around two hits to escape his inning unscathed. 

- Bryan Hudson, perhaps the favorite for the final spot in the bullpen, struggled. He allowed three runs on one hit while walking two in 1.0 inning. His ERA this spring is 16.20

- Mark Vientos' cold spring at the plate continued, as he went 0-for-3 with a strikeout.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets have split-squad games on Saturday.

They travel to face the Nationals at 1:05 p.m.

They host the Astros at 1:10 p.m. on PIX11.

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Oklahoma City will not be visiting White House to celebrate championship

The Oklahoma City Thunder are in our nation's capital this weekend for a game against the Washington Wizards, but the Thunder players will not be visiting the White House to celebrate their title last June, reports Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic.

"We have been in touch with the White House and we are appreciative and grateful for the communication we have had, but the timing just didn't work out," the Thunder said in a statement shared with The Athletic.

President Donald Trump is in Washington for part of Friday, but according to his official schedule, he is flying to Mar-a-Lago in Florida later in the day and will not be around for the weekend.

There was a long tradition of the champions of the United States' major professional sports teams visiting the White House to celebrate their accomplishment, regardless of which party was in power at the time. However, in our deeply divided nation right now, that tradition has gone out the window (like many others). For example, after the recent Milan Cortina Olympics, the USA Gold Medal winning men's hockey team did visit President Trump to celebrate their dramatic win, but the USA Gold Medal winning women declined that request.

With the NBA, during President Trump's first term, the 2017 Golden State Warriors refused an invitation to visit (or, as the White House would have it, had their invitation revoked). Other teams in other sports have followed suit. The Boston Celtics visited President Biden after their 2024 win, but the Thunder will not be going this year.

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McTominay goal gives Napoli win over Cagliari and second place in Serie A

CAGLIARI, Italy (AP) — Napoli won at Cagliari 1-0 and moved into second place in Serie A on Friday.

A Scott McTominay goal after just 90 seconds proved to be decisive in a game the visitor dominated.

The Scotland international tapped in a loose ball after a cross from the right fell at his feet, and the lead was never challenged by a side that did not have a shot on target in the entire match.

It was the fourth win in a row for Antonio Conte’s men.

The win lifted Napoli two points above third-placed AC Milan, which plays Torino on Saturday. League leader Inter Milan is at Fiorentina on Sunday.

Cagliari’s winless league run was extended to seven games dating to the end of January. It remained in 15th place, but with only eight rounds remaining it could easily be dragged into the relegation battle. It was six points above the drop zone with the five teams below it all having a game in hand.

In another piece of good news for Conte, Belgium international Kevin De Bruyne played 90 minutes for the first time since injuring a hamstring last October.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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Spring Breakout and Royals at Giants Spring Training game thread

Blake Mitchell follows through on a swing
MESA, AZ - NOVEMBER 09: Blake Mitchell #8 of the Kansas City Royals hits a double in the second inning during the 2025 Arizona Fall League Fall Stars game between the American League Fall Stars and the National League Fall Stars at Sloan Park on Sunday, November 9, 2025 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

At 3 PM Kansas City time, the Royals and Rangers prospects will kick off a Spring Breakout game, meant to highlight what the two farm systems have to offer. The rosters have been set, but here is the starting lineup for that game:

For many Royals fans, this will be the first opportunity to see last year’s first-round draft picks Sean Gamble and Josh Hammond in action, playing the positions they’re projected to play when they reach the bigs. Lefty pitcher Justin Lamkin was a Competitive Balance Round B pick, so he was taken early in that draft as well. Everyone in that lineup is a top-30 prospect for the Royals, with the lone exception of Carson Roccaforte, who has nonetheless excelled in the minors. It’s available to watch for free at Royals TV and it should be a lot of fun.

In the evening, a lot of Kansas City’s regulars will be in lineup for the penultimate Cactus League game against the Giants:

Garcia 3B Witt SS Pasquantino 1B Perez DH India 2B Caglianone RF Collins LF Isbel CF Tresh C

The only guy missing from a lineup that seems like it could be very similar to the one we will spend most of the year watching is Carter Jensen, who caught last night, and so gets tonight off. Luca Tresh, the Royals’ Spring Training home run leader, will start at catcher and bat ninth. Unfortunately, though not unexpectedly, this game won’t be televised and it won’t be on the radio either, but you can listen to it online at royals.com or with your MLB app.

It’s good to see Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez, and Maikel Garcia back in the lineup after their adventures in the WBC. Here’s hoping they play some more palatable spring ball than we were able to get without them.

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Blackhawks Call Up Veteran Forward From AHL

The Chicago Blackhawks have made a roster move, as they have called up forward Dominic Toninato from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. 

Toninato has played in five games this season with the Blackhawks, where he has recorded one assist, four penalty minutes, 10 hits, and a plus-1 rating. His most recent appearance with the Blackhawks was on Dec. 27 against the Dallas Stars. 

Toninato has spent the majority of this season in the AHL with the IceHogs. The 32-year-old forward has been a nice part of the AHL club's roster, as he has recorded 16 goals, 27 assists, 43 points, and 57 penalty minutes in 52 games. 

Toninato was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs with the 126th overall pick of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. In 194 career NHL games over nine seasons split between the Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, Winnipeg Jets, and Blackhawks, he has recorded 13 goals, 23 assists, 36 points, 226 hits, and a plus-13 rating. 

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Raptors vs Nuggets Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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The Toronto Raptors have put together a much-needed three-game winning streak, thanks in part to a red-hot Brandon Ingram.

But the Raps will need him to stay hot if they want to keep up with Nikola Jokic and the high-powered Denver Nuggets offense.

My Raptors vs. Nuggets predictions expect a tight battle, meaning this spread is just a little too big.

That and more NBA picks for this matchup set to tip off at 9:00 pm ET at Ball Arena in Denver, on Friday, March 20.

Raptors vs Nuggets prediction

Raptors vs Nuggets best bet: Raptors +7 (-110)

Brandon Ingram has been a big part of the Toronto Raptors' win streak, putting up 36, 34, and 18 points while shooting nearly 60% from the floor.

He and the Raptors should keep putting in work against a Denver Nuggets defense that ranks 21st in defensive rating.

Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets are tough to stop, but Toronto’s eighth-ranked defense should be able to keep this game competitive. 

The Raptors will likely do what they always do: give fans hope they can win before giving it away late. Even so, that’s likely enough to cover a 7-point spread.

Raptors vs Nuggets same-game parlay

Ingram has topped this number in three of his last four games, and the only reason he didn’t in the Raptors’ last game was that they were beating the Chicago Bulls so badly he didn’t need to play much late.

The other way the Raptors stay competitive in this game is by moving the ball. Toronto has one of the highest assist rates in the NBA, while Denver ranks 21st in opponent assists per possession.

I’m taking Scottie Barnes Over 4.5 assists. He averages 5.1 per game, and dished out 10 times the last time the Raptors played the Nuggets.

Raptors vs Nuggets SGP

  • Raptors +7
  • Brandon Ingram Over 21.5 points
  • Scottie Barnes Over 4.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: Dino Dimes

Passing the ball will be the key to the Raptors keeping this game close, so let's jump on them to dish out the dimes.

Raptors vs Nuggets SGP

  • Scottie Barnes Over 4.5 assists
  • Brandon Ingram Over 3.5 assists
  • Immanuel Quickley Over 6.5 assists
  • Jamal Shead Over 4.5 assists

Raptors vs Nuggets odds

  • Spread: Raptors +7 | Nuggets -7
  • Moneyline: Raptors +220 | Nuggets -270
  • Over/Under: Over 238.5 | Under 238.5

Raptors vs Nuggets betting trend to know

The Nuggets have only covered the 2H spread in nine of their last 30 home games (-15.07 Units / -43% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Raptors vs. Nuggets.

How to watch Raptors vs Nuggets

LocationBall Arena, Denver, CO
DateFriday, March 20, 2026
Tip-off9:00 p.m. ET
TVSN, ALT2

Raptors vs Nuggets latest injuries

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Diesel Day! Astros vs. Marlins Spring Training Game Thread 3/20/2026

JUPITER, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 25: Hunter Brown #58 of the Houston Astros throws a pitch during a spring training game against the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Houston Astros (10-12-3) host the Miami Marlins (8-12-3) in Grapefruit League play.

RHP Hunter Brown (0-0) will make his fourth start in an official Spring game tonight as he takes on Marlins RHP Eury Perez (0-1).

BROTHER BROWN: In his three previous official Spring starts, RHP Hunter Brown has allowed one run and just two hits in 8.2 innings of work for a 1.04 ERA. Earlier in Spring Training, Astros Manager Joe Espada announced that Brown will be the Astros Opening Day starter on March 26 vs. LAA.

Brown was a 2025 All-Star and finished third in the AL in Cy Young voting after turning in the best season of his career with a 12-9 record and a 2.43 ERA (50ER/185.1IP). Among AL starters, he ranked first in opponent SLG (.318) and second in ERA (2.43). He was named the AL Pitcher of the Month for June after going 1-0 with a 1.19 ERA (4ER/30.1IP) in five starts.

TONIGHT’S POTENTIAL RELIEVERS: LHP Bryan King, RHP Bryan Abreu, RHP Christian Roa, RHP Enyel De Los Santos, RHP Logan VanWey, RHP Amicar Chirinos, RHP Alex Santos.

VS. THE FISH: Tonight is the sixth and final matchup between the Astros and Marlins this Spring. HOU is 4-1 thus far vs. MIA.

The Astros prospects also defeated MIA in yesterday’s Breakout Game, 7-6.

In the regular season, MIA will vist the Astros for a three-game series at Daikin Park, July 20-22.

PITCHING IN: The Astros have posted a 3.33 Team ERA (80ER/216.1IP) this Spring, which ranks second in the Majors.

TRIUMPHANT RETURN: Astros bench coach Omar Lopez rejoined the club yesterday afternoon, fresh off of managing Team Venezuela to its first WBC championship.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Friday, March 20, 5:05 p.m. CST

Location: CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach, FL

TV: none

Streaming: HOU video livestream at astros.com

Radio: KBME 790 AM/94.5 FM HD-2