With 28 seconds left and the Rockets up six and with the ball, Houston had the game in hand. They just had to take care of the ball and not make any foolish mistakes.
They failed.
"Horrendous mistakes," Rockets coach Ime Udoka said, via the Associated Press. "I don't know if you want to say youth or scared of the moment, or whatever the case. You have a six point lead with 20, or 30 seconds to go, get a rebound, you just have to hold the ball and get fouled."
It all went wrong for Houston when Marcus Smart stole the ball from Jabari Smith Jr., then Jae'Sean Tate fouled Smart on a 3-point attempt. Suddenly, it was a 3-point game. Then, LeBron James knocked the ball away from Reed Sheppard and turned it into a 3-pointer on the other end. Tie game. The Lakers went on to win in overtime.
"On the final play, we didn't run what was drawn up," Udoka said of the Rockets' last chance in regulation.
A frustrated Udoka couldn't hide it.
"It's obviously a weakness of ours to close out and finish," Udoka said. "The amount of mistakes or the type of mistakes are egregious and you can't have those...
"Grow up," he said he told his players. "You're not that young anymore."
His players agreed.
"It was a stupid turnover," Sheppard said of his late-game error. “(Alperen Sengun’s) man came up. I should have hit Alpie right over halfcourt and just made the simple play. I tried to split the two defenders."
All those mistakes have left the Rockets down 0-3 to the Lakers and on the brink of an ugly, early playoff elimination. Houston was without Kevin Durant in this game due to a sprained ankle, the second game the future Hall of Famer has missed in this series. His status for Sunday's Game 4 remains unknown.
The Milwaukee Brewers hope to bounce back on Saturday in the second game of their series against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates.
They were nearly the victim of a Paul Skenes perfect game last night, but our MLB odds have them favored to continue Pittsburgh’s 15-game streak of alternating victories with defeats.
Here are my Pirates vs. Brewers predictions and MLB picks for the side and total for Saturday, April 25.
Who will win Pirates vs Brewers today: Brewers (-134)
He ranks in the 98th percentile in fastball velocity, whiff rate, and strikeout rate.
Add in an extension that sits in the 99th percentile, and it’s problematic for a Pittsburgh Pirates lineup that has the seventh-highest whiff rate in the majors. The Pirates also chase a fair amount, but have the fifth-lowest chase contact rate.
Mitch Keller is outperforming his xERA and xFIP by nearly a full run. He’s facing a serious platoon disadvantage, and his command issues will be exploited by a Milwaukee Brewers lineup ranked second in walk rate.
COVERS INTEL:Jacob Misiorowski has generated a 43.6% whiff rate on his four-seam fastball, up from 32.5% a season ago.
Pirates vs Brewers Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-133)
While I expect the Brewers to get to Keller, I am not expecting a high-run output. Milwaukee ranks fourth-worst in both ISO and xwOBA, and third-worst in xwOBAcon.
The Brewers have made up for that by drawing walks and ranking fifth in generating runs on the basepaths. Even so, I can’t see them posting a big number.
Misiorowski’s biggest issue has been home runs, but the Pirates rank just 20th in ISO.
Both bullpens rank in the top half of the league in xFIP and are rested after yesterday’s game. They’ll limit damage in the late innings to push this total Under.
Jason Ence's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 1-3, -2.23 units
Over/Under bets: 4-0, +4.08 units
Pirates vs Brewers odds
Moneyline: Pirates +122 | Brewers -127
Run line: Pirates +1.5 (-178) | Brewers +1.5 (+170)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+113) | Under 8.5 (-117)
Pirates vs Brewers trend
The Pittsburgh Pirates have hit the Game Total Under in 20 of their last 30 away games (+10.25 Units / 31% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Pirates vs. Brewers.
How to watch Pirates vs Brewers and game info
Location
American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Saturday, April-25, 2026
First pitch
7:10 p.m. ET
TV
MLB.TV
Pirates starting pitcher
Mitch Keller (2-1, 2.79 ERA)
Brewers starting pitcher
Jacob Misiorowski (1-3, 3.04 ERA)
Pirates vs Brewers latest injuries
Pirates vs Brewers 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.
Apr 20, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola (27) delivers during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Take life a mile at a time. I’m sure I’ve heard or read that somewhere. An ad for a car? The Fast and Furious movies? On those t-shirts they sell at gas stations? It’s something car-related. I haven’t been on a road trip in years, and when I did go on them, I really measured them by rest stops, which isn’t as conducive to pleasant-sounding aphorisms (“take life one visit to an Ohio rest stop at a time” just doesn’t have a good ring to it, even though Ohio has really nice rest stops). Anyway, most baseball players don’t get to take their lives one mile at a time. Their travels occur in big chunks, hopping from one city to the next. The impact of a single mile is hard to see when you’re making multiple journeys by air every month. Alec Bohm and Aaron Nola, though, might be an exception. But not every journey brings you to a happy destination.
Aaron Nola has had it rough for a while now. His 2025 was injury-plagued, injury-shortened, snakebit, whatever terms you prefer. It was to be hoped that an offseason to rest and recover would restore Nola to his previous form —which, yes, could be up and down, but he was highly effective when he was at his best. So far, that hope has been thwarted. Like many of the Phillies’ moundsmen, he’s been a victim of bad luck to some degree, with his xERA (4.67) a little lower than his observed (5.06), and the same for his FIP (4.03 vs. 3.44). A BABIP of .347 explains some of it. But his unspectacular start to the season cannot be blamed entirely on bad luck. In part, it can be blamed on his fastballs.
Nola’s signature has always been the knuckle curve, but he’s made his fastballs—a four seamer, a sinker, and a cutter— do good work for him in the past. But he hasn’t been able to get that same success this season. Even as his curve has returned to form, his fastballs have lagged behind: by fastball run value, he ranks in the 2nd percentile. And yes, it’s still early, and percentiles aren’t so meaningful at this point in the season. But it can be said that very few pitchers are getting less from their fastballs than Nola is right now.
In 2024, Nola’s four-seamer produced a .167 batting average and .316 slugging percentage for hitters. In 2026, it’s .333 and .667. The expected numbers look better (.265, .506), but the regression is still real. He’s allowing a 58.8% hard hit percentage against it too, which would be the highest of his career if it holds. His sinker tells a similar story. His cutter is actually producing results a tad better than in the last two seasons, but on the whole his fastballs have become a problem, fast.
Sometimes the detective work is complicated, requiring judicious, diligent application of the little grey cells. Sometimes the culprit leaves a big, bloody handprint for you. When we look at Nola’s velocity, we see it’s down by about a mile for each of his fastballs, compared to 2024 (and not to 2025, due to the impact of his injury): 91.7 vs. 92.5 for the four-seamer, 86.1 vs. 87.5 for the cutter, 90.8 vs. 91.5 for the sinker. His fastballs were never terribly fast to begin with, and losing an extra mile on them can’t be helping. The movement on his four-seamer and sinker look to be about where they were pre-injury, though the cutter is a different story- at a total of 0.1 inches of horizontal movement , it isn’t really cutting very much, even in the context that his cutters have always had less side to side movement than the average. Given that the performance struggles are centered on the four-seamer and sinker, though the issue here probably isn’t about movement.
It might be about location, though. By the Location+ model, Nola’s location on each of his three fastball types has gone from above average to below average, year over year. If we compare to 2024 instead, since 2025 represented a short, injury-influenced campaign, Nola’s location work has still declined for each of his three fastballs. If we look at Pitching+, a model that takes a more holistic look at a pitch’s characteristics, four-seamer, sinker and cutter have all gone from well above average to just about average, and that’s true whether we compare 2026 to 2025 or 2024. The safest thing to say about Nola’s fastballs is that they’re being hurt by decreased command, and decreased velocity.
And Nola isn’t the only one being hurt by a lost mile. Alec Bohm has struggled mightily to begin the 2026 campaign, slashing a grim .157/.238/.213. His plate discipline is about what it was last season, with his K% and BB% remarkably unchanged. There are some changes under the hood— he’s a lot less likely to swing on the first pitch, and to swing in the zone in general, but those aren’t showing up in the strikeout and walk rates. The more likely explanation for his rough start is what happens when he makes contact. His hard hit rate has dropped by nearly 7.5%. His average exit velocity is down by by nearly 2 MPH. He has barreled the ball just once on 72 batted balls. Why? Again, not a lot of detective work is needed here; let Columbo go take his tousled self elsewhere, let Poirot wax his mustache. Bohm’s average swing speed is down by nearly a mile, from 71.7 MPH to 70.8. Last season, his fast swing rate— the percentage of his swings over 75 MPH— was 18.2%. This season, it’s 12%. Of the Phillies regulars, only Bryson Stott and Justin Crawford are swinging slower, and the two of them take a very different approach at the plate than Bohm does. The lack of power from Bohm’s bat has been an issue in the past, but he was sometimes able to make up for it with good contact. The loss of a mile on his bat speed, however, seems to have put him in a spot where the contact skills can’t quite make up the difference.
It’s still very early, and it would not be surprising in the slightest if Nola and Bohm both improved over the course of the season. Still, the loss of velocity, in pitch or swing, is a worrying sign. The Phillies have promises to keep, and miles to go before they sleep.
It’s actually a pretty unusual season when you don’t have a holy $#@! type of win. 10 game winning streaks? Quite a bit less common. Without doing any research, I’m betting the intersection of those two occurrences? A big comeback during a long streak? Less common. On the road? Against the two-time defending World Champs? We just keep going further into subsets. And with each layer of that, you know that this game was probably a unicorn among unicorns.
If you stayed up and saw the comeback, a hat tip to you. I’m more than a little disappointed that out here on the East Coast, I went to bed after the top of the sixth. I didn’t like the matchup of the Cubs bullpen against the Dodgers relievers with them at home and spotted a four-run lead. My loss. Though I quite enjoyed watching the highlights first thing this morning.
As I’ve said throughout this streak being extended, these longish streaks don’t necessarily make a season a playoff season. The last longish streak like this resulted in an 83-win team. Now that they’ve reached double digits? Now the Cubs are chasing the 2016 team. This team will be done no favors trying to compare to the single most beloved season in basically every living Cub fan’s lives.
I do believe, though, that both of these things can provide a boost to a team. You know there are going to be struggles. There are going to be times when some team that’s going to struggle to win 70 games is going to win a series. When some pitcher who should probably be riding buses in the minors shuts you down. I do believe that it can be a big tool to say hey, we know we can be excellent. We know we won 10 straight games, all against teams that a majority of baseball experts thought were playoff teams. When you are down three or four or five runs in a game. Maybe it’s getting late. But you say hey. We came off the mat and beat the Dodgers in their own park. We’ve been here and we’ve done this.
I’m going to run out of superlatives for what this team is doing. It’s a good problem to have. That the Cubs came back from down four on the road to win against the champs in a game in which their centerfielder had not one but two outfield assists on plays at the plate? That’s insane.
Dansby Swanson and the offense will rightly get all kinds of credit for their six-run outburst (that could so easily have been eight). The defense included one of the more spectacular plays I think I’ve seen by Nico Hoerner. But it can’t be lost that this starts with a guy who I have to admit never entered my Chicago Cubs tunnel vision. Ryan Rolison, who I was completely unfamiliar with previously, threw three scoreless innings allowing just two hits. Part of it is the structure of the game, but I’m going to bet that not too many relievers throw three scoreless innings against the Dodgers this year.
Last note. If you are someone who has ridden Craig Counsell, I’d at least suggest you take a few minutes and reconsider your impression of his abilities. That guy is managing his butt off and he’s killing it. It’s early, but I’ll be surprised when the various outlets that run odds for various things start listing him as one of the favorites for Manager of the Year. Eight Cub pitchers have hit the injured list this month alone. There is no win last night without four scoreless innings from the bullpen. Down four, you were always going to be using the “B” relievers. But after the three-run seventh, you might consider an “A” reliever. After the run in the eighth, you almost certainly go to the main group. And after the two in the ninth, you absolutely run out your best guy to close it. But none of those guys are healthy right now.
Unbelievable. Go Cubs.
Three Positives:
This is Dansby’s game. Two hits, a triple and a homer. Four runs driven in. Two runs scored. He had a hand in all but one of the runs that scored. How many teams have their ninth hitter say hop on, I got this?
Ryan Rolison. Only a heroic effort by Dansby kept this one from being my top spot. Unbelievable performance. The second longest outing of his major league career. His previous high for scoreless outing was 2.1 innings. Only his second major league win. While that stat may be flawed, there was no fluke about that win. Good stuff.
Among a lot of excellent choices, I’m going with Pete Crow-Armstrong, who drew a two-out walk in the seventh to extend the inning for Dansby’s two-run triple that turned into three runs. He was also on board ahead of the game-winner.
Hat tips to Nico Hoerner, Alex Bregman and Corbin Martin earning his third career save.
Game 26, April 24: Cubs 6, Dodgers 4 (17-9)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
Hero: Ryan Rolison (.159). 3 IP, 10 BG, 2 H, K (W 1-0)
Sidekick: Alex Bregman (.154). 2-5, HR, RBI, R
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Jameson Taillon (-.188). 5 IP, 21 BF, 4 H, 3 BB, 4 R, 4 K
Goat: Seiya Suzuki (-.114). 0-4
Kid: Carson Kelly (-.113). 0-3, BB
WPA Play of the Game: Dansby Swanson homers with a runner on first and no outs in the ninth to break a 4-4 tie. (.345)
*Dodgers Play of the Game: Will Smith batted with runners on first and second with two outs in the third and hit a three-run homer. (.276)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 25 Winner: A particularly rare occurrence, Michael Busch and Seiya Suzuki tied at 92 votes apiece. I have no data for it, but I think unanimous votes happen more than ties.
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 3/Bottom 3)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Nico Hoerner +7.5
Michael Conforto/Shōta Imanaga +7
Seiya Suzuki -8
Jacob Webb -9
Pete Crow-Armstrong -13
Current Win Pace: 105.9
Up Next: What do you do for an encore after that? This one is played at a much more reasonable hour. Game two in Los Angeles. The Cubs send Colin Rea (3-0, 3.00, 24 IP) for his third start (in addition to one bulk outing). He’s got a 20:5 strikeout to talk ratio, a 1.04 WHIP and a save for good measure. It would be hard to overstate how much he’s meant to this Cub pitching staff in his year plus here.
Roki Sasaki (0-2, 6.11, 17.2 IP) is the rare modern era Dodger signing that hasn’t worked out (yet). This is his fifth start of the year. His best outing was actually his first one of the year against Cleveland when he allowed a run on four hits and two walks over four innings. He does average nearly a strikeout per inning, but also more than a hit per inning and almost a walk per inning. His numbers simply don’t suggest a high probability of success and if the Cubs are patient, I think they’ll put some runs on the board.
Win one for? Uniform No. 11 has been worn by quite a number of people through the years. There are some great names on that list. Ron Cey was my first No. 11 that I remember. A lot of really fun Cub middle infielders have worn the number. Drew Smyly would have been wearing that number the day of his really enjoyable almost no-hitter. But given the oddity in modern baseball of the manager’s jersey being visible, I certainly did not know that Craig Counsell is currently Cub No. 11. As I think he’s as responsible as anyone for this streak, let’s go win another one for Craig.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 06: Ethan Pecko #33 of the Sugar Land Space Cowboys pitches against the Sacramento River Cats during the first inning at Sutter Health Park on August 06, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (14-10) won 5-2 (BOX SCORE)
Sugar Land got on the board scoring a run in the 2nd inning on a Strahm RBI single and a run in the 3rd on an Alexander solo HR. Pecko got the start and was great tossing 3 scoreless innings with 6 strikeouts but left after 3 due to possible cramps. In the 5th, Nelson added a solo home run to extend the lead. The offense got some more insurance with 2 runs in the 8th on an error. The pen allowed a couple of runs but held on for the 5-2 win.
Ethan Pecko, RHP: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
Roddery Munoz, RHP: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Tom Cosgrove, LHP: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Hudson Leach, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (10-8) SUSPENDED
A+: Asheville Tourists (5-14) lost 9-6 (BOX SCORE)
Asheville got on the board in the 3rd inning on a Daudet solo HR. They got 4 more runs in the 4th on a Call walk, Batista RBI single and Nunez 2 run single. Smith started for Asheville and went 5 innings allowing 6 runs, 5 earned. In the 7th, Holy tied the game with a solo HR. The pen allowed 3 runs over the 8th and 9th innings and the offense was quiet the rest of the way as Asheville fell 9-6.
Parker Smith, RHP: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 K
Eurys Martich, RHP: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 0 K
Alain Pena, RHP: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (7-12) won 5-2 (BOX SCORE)
The Woodpeckers got on the board in the 2nd inning on a Ramirez RBI single and a run scoring on a balk. Pentecost got the start and pitched well tossing 5.1 scoreless innings but he left with the trainer mid at-bat. Hopefully nothing too serious. In the 6th, Monistere added an RBI single to extend the lead. After the Pelicans scored one in the 7th, the Woodpeckers responded with 2 runs in the 8th on a Neyens solo home run and Wakefield sac fly. Rosario allowed a run in the 9th inning but held on as the Woodpeckers won 5-2.
The Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles clash at Camden Yards today, with the struggling Garrett Crochet on the hill for the visitors.
That matchup headlines my favorite MLB picks for today in the "no run first inning" and "yes run first inning" markets.
Here are my best free NRFI and YRFI bets for Saturday, April 25.
Best NRFI/YRFI bets today
Pick
Odds
/ - YRFI
+118
/ - NRFI
-136
/ - NRFI
-160
Red Sox at Orioles: YRFI (+118)
The Baltimore Orioles exploded for 10 runs in the series opener on Friday, putting up a four-spot in the bottom of the first inning. They’ve now scored a run in the first in back-to-back contests, and Garrett Crochet has been poor lately.
He’s given up 15 earned runs across his last two outings, and the lefty has allowed at least one run in the first inning in both of those starts. The O’s offense is hot right now, and Crochet is having serious trouble missing bats. Trevor Rogers hasn’t given up a single run in the first this season, so the offensive damage here will come from Baltimore against Crochet.
They will jump on him early.
Time: 12:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MASN
Mariners at Cardinals: NRFI (-136)
Bryan Woo takes the mound for the Seattle Mariners today, and he’s compiled a 2.25 ERA. The righty is lights out, and he hasn’t surrendered a single run in the first inning this season. On the other side, Matthew Liberatore is coming off a start where he gave up only one earned run, and none in the first.
The St. Louis Cardinals have NRFI scored in two straight, and for Seattle, they’ve failed to score in the first inning in two of their last three. Both of these offenses are also very average so far, and we have two solid arms on the bump.
As for Ray, he’s only allowed a run in the first inning once this season in five starts, and that was earlier in the campaign. Although it’s a small sample size, Miami is hitting just .117 against Ray. The Giants’ struggling offense is a clear weakness so far as well, and they’ve failed to score a run in the first in three straight contests.
Don’t expect a lot of offense in this one – especially not early on.
Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBC Sports Bay Area
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
NRFI/YRFI picks: 1-3, -2.93 units
What is a NRFI bet?
NRFI (No Run First Inning) and YRFI (Yes Run First Inning) bets add a thrilling twist to the start of an MLB game. A NRFI bet is a wager that no runs will be scored in the first inning. You're betting that the starting pitchers for both teams will get through the first inning without allowing any runs, whether by striking out batters, inducing ground balls, or through solid defensive play.
A YRFI bet is the exact opposite. You're betting that at least one run will be scored in the first inning. In this case, you’re hoping for an early offensive burst such as a leadoff walk, a timely hit, or even a home run.
NRFI and YRFI bets add excitement to the early part of a game and offer immediate gratification for bettors looking for a quick resolution.
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.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - APRIL 24: A detail shot of the MLB World Tour Mexico City Series 2026 path on the jersey of Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the clubhouse during the 2026 Mexico City Series preview photos at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu on Friday, April 24, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Diamondbacks News
Diamondbacks-Padres Mexico City Preview The altitude is poised to play an important role in this division-rival clash. Mexico City’s Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú sits 7,349 feet above sea level. That substantially higher than even Coors Field, which has an elevation of “only” 5289 feet.
White Sox Have Murakami Decision to Make Despite being tied for the league lead with 11 home runs, it still seems quite premature to be discussing an extension to keep Murakami around on an affordable salary.
Phillies Jettison Taijuan Walker Old friend alert. Taijuan Walker has been released by the spiraling Phillies after posting a 9.13 ERA through five abysmal starts.
HOUSTON — The most telling moment of Friday’s Game 3 between the Lakers and Rockets didn’t come in overtime. It came before the ball even went up.
The Toyota Center in downtown Houston sat half-full at tipoff, a quiet indictment of a Rockets team already down 0-2 in the series and playing without superstar Kevin Durant.
LeBron James and the Lakers won over the Rockets’ crowd in Game 3 on Friday night. NBAE via Getty Images
Lakers players wondered out loud in the visiting locker room how the arena could be so empty for a playoff game. Maybe some fans chose to watch baseball down the street, where the Yankees were in town. Others simply chose not to believe in their team.
But by the end of the night, belief wasn’t the problem. Loyalty was.
Purple and gold colors bled through the lower bowl from the opening quarter. LeBron James and Luka Doncic jerseys were scattered like confetti across the crowd. And when Bronny James finished off the first father-to-son alley-oop in NBA playoff history, even the Rockets fans stood and cheered. That’s how undeniable greatness works.
“You could definitely hear all the Lakers fans in here tonight,” Lakers center Jaxson Hayes said afterward. “You could see all the purple and gold jerseys … they drowned out the Houston fans.”
James talks to the media after the game against the host Rockets. NBAE via Getty Images
It only got louder.
Hayes detonated a one-handed lob from Luke Kennard. The crowd erupted — not for the home team but for the show. By the fourth quarter, the lines had blurred. By the final minute, they were gone.
Up six with 25 seconds left, Houston had the ball and control of the outcome. Hold the ball and the game would take care of itself. Instead, the Rockets threw an ill-advised pass that turned into three free throws from Marcus Smart. Panic. And then the defining sequence of the game: LeBron stalking rookie Reed Sheppard in the backcourt. He knocked the ball loose, eventually reclaimed possession, and buried the game-tying 3 that sucked the oxygen out of Rockets fans and sent Lakers fans into a frenzy.
In that moment, the Rockets didn’t just lose the game. They lost the room.
By the time overtime came, the outcome felt inevitable. The Lakers closed out Game 3 with authority, but the damage had already been done. Houston’s crowd had flipped and they all stood in awe of the 41-year-old James, still bending the game to his will in his 23rd season.
The Lakers didn’t just steal a game on the road. It was a full-on heist.
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The Pittsburgh Penguins play Game 4 against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night. This is a must-win game for the Penguins, as a loss to the Flyers would officially end their season.
If the Penguins hope to avoid being swept, they will need these three players to bounce back in a massive Game 4 for the Metropolitan Division club.
Sidney Crosby
Sidney Crosby has had a slow start to the playoffs, posting zero goals, one assist, and a minus-3 rating in three games. Overall, the 38-year-old center has to break the ice offensively for the Penguins this postseason. However, with Crosby still being one of the NHL's best players and a clutch playoff performer, it would not be shocking in the slightest if he has a big Game 4.
Anthony Mantha
After a great regular season that saw him set new career highs with 33 goals, 31 assists, and 64 points in 81 games, Anthony Mantha has gone cold during the playoffs. He has zero points and a minus-4 rating in three playoff games so far. With Mantha being one of Pittsburgh's top wingers, they need him to regain his scoring touch in Game 4.
Egor Chinakhov
Egor Chinakhov is another key Penguins forward will be looking to break the ice against the Flyers. He has zero points and a minus-3 rating in three games, but Game 4 offers him the opportunity to bounce back. When noting that he had 18 goals and 36 points in 43 games with the Penguins after being acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets, he certainly can be a difference-maker when on his game.
HOUSTON, TX – APRIL 24: LeBron James #23; Luke Kennard #10 and Rui Hachimura #28 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Houston Rockets during...
HOUSTON — Through the first three games of the NBA playoff series between the Rockets and the Lakers, someone new in purple and gold has had to walk into the fire of the postseason and refuse to blink.
Without their top scorers in Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, the Lakers have needed a secondary scoring option behind LeBron James.
the Lakers’ LeBron James (23), Luke Kennard and Rui Hachimura look on during the game against the Rockets. NBAE via Getty Images
On Friday night in Houston, that someone was Rui Hachimura.
He didn’t just score 22 points, drain four 3-pointers and play 44 minutes, although that workload tells you everything you need to know about how much Lakers coach JJ Redick trusts him. With the Lakers in hostile territory in Houston, they knew they needed a fast start to silence the crowd.
Hachimura imposed himself early, torching the Rockets for 16 points in the first quarter on 6-for-6 shooting, the best scoring quarter of his career.
This Lakers sequence…
Jaxson Hayes hustle. Luke Kennard assist. Rui Hachimura triple.
“It was the matchup. Reed Sheppard was guarding me,” Hachimura said. “It was exactly what we worked on and practiced.”
Hachimura’s preparation coincided with the opportunity perfectly.
Houston adjusted, as it had to. The easy looks disappeared, and James (29 points) once again shouldered the scoring load for the Lakers.
Hachimura #28 of the Los Angeles Lakers passes the ball. NBAE via Getty Images
But Hachimura didn’t disappear. He waited.
In overtime, he delivered the sequence that helped define the night and seal the victory.
With the Lakers clinging to a 105-103 lead, James shot and missed a step-back 3 from the left wing. Hachimura caught the rebound in midair along the baseline, and as he fell out of bounds, he flung the ball back into play like a man refusing to let the possession die. Kennard came down with it, and moments later, the ball found its way back to Hachimura — who pump-faked a 3 and then drove and attacked the basket for a layup. The Lakers went up by four and never looked back.
Hachimura’s performance was the kind that forces a front office to revisit every assumption it made last summer.
The 6-foot-8 forward from Japan is playing on an expiring three-year, $51 million deal that was supposed to be movable. Hachimura was expected to be replaced at the February trade deadline, like the Lakers did with Gabe Vincent.
Instead, they kept him.
And now? That decision is aging like something far more expensive than $17 million a year.
Because Hachimura and the rest of the Lakers’ role players aren’t playing like role players.
Rui Hachimura on the Lakers victory in Game 3, his hot start offensively, and the Lakers playing like the more desperate team pic.twitter.com/FH3aMG7pKO
In Game 3, Smart became the first player since Michael Jordan in 1991 to finish with 21 points, 10 assists, five steals and two blocks in a postseason game. Talk about elite company.
Now the Lakers have a suffocating 3-0 lead and are one win from slamming the door.
Rui Hachimura shoots a 3-point basket against the host Rockets. NBAE via Getty Images
Across from them is a Rockets team unraveling in real time. The heavy favorites to win the series now look like a team searching for answers that are never coming. For evidence, look no further than the mistakes they made with a six-point lead, the ball in their hands and 25 seconds left in the game.
“Horrendous mistakes,” Houston coach Ime Udoka said. “I don’t know if you want to say it’s youth or scared of the moment.”
The only question left now is which Lakers role player will step up in Game 4 on Sunday?
Maybe it’s Deandre Ayton or Jaxson Hayes. Or maybe Reaves returns to fill the void.
The Lakers have many options when they look to close the series and continue to prove that this team doesn’t need injured stars to save the season.
They create new ones every game.
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UPDATE: Added a goal scorer pick + who will win section.
Rasmus Dahlin is an elite playmaker for the Buffalo Sabres, leading the team in assists with 55.
My Sabres vs. Bruins predictions expect to see the defenseman set up another goal in Game 4 against Boston.
Let’s dive into my NHL picks for Sunday, April 26.
Sabres vs Bruins Game 4 prediction
Who will win Sabres vs Bruins Game 4?
Buffalo: The Buffalo Sabres lead 2-1 despite Jeremy Swayman posting save percentages of .919, .943, and .931. He has given the Boston Bruins elite netminding, and they still trail. If his numbers dip at all, the Sabres will almost certainly head home up 3-1.
Sabres vs Bruins best bet: Rasmus Dahlin Over 0.5 assists (-115)
The Buffalo Sabres have generated 106 shot attempts, 57 scoring chances, and 6.45 expected goals with Rasmus Dahlin on the ice in this series. That has translated to only three goals.
Dahlin’s on-ice shooting percentage sits at 5.56% – lowest among 13 Sabres with 40+ minutes played – compared to 13.01% in the regular season.
While it’s not abnormal for Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman to shave goals off the expected total, this kind of gap is not sustainable.
Given how many opportunities the Sabres are generating, and how involved Dahlin is in facilitating them, I like his chances of assisting in Game 4.
Sabres vs Bruins Game 4 same-game parlay
Jack Quinn is playing a key role for the Sabres, logging more than 37 minutes of ice over the last two games and getting run on PP1.
Fun fact: Quinn has averaged – yes, averaged – 4.1 shots on 7.3 attempts spanning the past 10 games in which he logged 16+ minutes and at least two on the power play. He piled up eight shots on 19 attempts over the last two games.
And who can forget Josh Doan? He recorded multiple shots on goal in all three games this series and six of seven against Boston this season.
Sabres vs Bruins SGP
Ramsus Dahlin Over 0.5 assists
Jack Quinn Over 2.5 shots
Josh Doan Over 1.5 shots
Sabres vs Bruins Game 4 goal scorer pick
Jack Quinn (+215)
Quinn found the back of the net in 32% of his games this season when generating at least six shot attempts, a number he has cleared in back-to-back games. He has an excellent shot and possesses the finishing ability needed to beat someone like Swayman.
Rasmus Dahlin has six assists over his last six away games. Find more NHL betting trends for Sabres vs. Bruins.
How to watch Sabres vs Bruins Game 4
Location
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Date
Sunday, April 26, 2026
Puck drop
2:00 p.m. ET
TV
TNT, truTV
Sabres vs Bruins 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.
Apr 24, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) is defended by Boston Celtics guard Jordan Walsh (27) during the first half at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Tyrese Maxey has been living quite comfortably in this series.
Not in the sense that every shot is falling or every possession ends in points, but in the way that’s slightly concerning with every passing game. Through three games, he’s largely been getting to his spots and dictating pace. When the Sixers need something to settle a possession or tilt momentum, the ball finds him and the floor opens up just enough for something good to happen.
Boston hasn’t fully solved him yet. You can’t expect to with a guy like him. Game 3 didn’t change that, but it did show how thin the margin is.
Maxey hit back-to-back threes midway through the fourth. Xfinity Mobile Arena was popping (even though the name “Xfinity Mobile Arena” feels utterly popless). For a moment, it felt like Game 2 all over again.
But after those two threes, Maxey didn’t score again.
That’s the balance Boston is trying to find. Obviously, you’re not going to prevent Maxey from doing his thing. He’s simply too good to completely neutralize. But hitting him with at least a somewhat potent tranquilizer that wobbles him long enough to win the stretches that matter? The Celtics can do that.
Which is why the Jordan Walsh minutes in Game 2 still linger in my mind.
Maxey is still dictating the terms of this series
Maxey hasn’t really run into a matchup that changes how he plays yet. The tracking data makes that pretty clear.
Derrick White has taken most of the assignment, close to 12 minutes and over 50 possessions. That’s Boston’s best option on paper, and White has been solid. But Maxey is still getting into his spots. Three-for-seven shooting doesn’t scream dominance, but it also doesn’t force him out of anything. The offense is still very much flowing through him without much resistance.
Hauser’s minutes tell a slightly different story. The second-most common player to draw the Maxey assignment, he’s spent about eight minutes and 40 possessions guarding Maxey. And give him some credit: Maxey is just one-for-four when guarded by Hauser. That lines up with what we’ve seen from Hauser over the last couple years. He’s not someone you can just pick on and expect easy offense, even if teams keep trying.
After that, it’s been more of a mix. Brown has had stretches where he holds up and others where Maxey gets downhill. Tatum and Pritchard haven’t been on him enough to really matter.
So you’re looking at a bunch of capable defenders, and none of them have really shifted the feel of the matchup. Maxey is still playing on his terms.
That’s what makes the Walsh minutes worth paying attention to.
The Wolf of Walsh Street
That’s where Walsh comes in, because his minutes didn’t feel like the others.
The sample is small. We’re talking under two minutes matched up with Maxey and only a handful of possessions. That’s not enough to declare anything, but within that stretch, Maxey didn’t score and only got one real shot attempt off. For a player who’s been able to get into his offense pretty much whenever he wants, that stands out, even if it’s brief.
Why Walsh is important
Has more room for error as on ball defender. Even when he doesn’t navigate screen perfectly he knows how to use his length and Maxey has been cognizant of that in previous matchups pic.twitter.com/G9A9Kw4QGd
Mazzulla pointed to it after the game. “He was good. We all have a role to play,” he said when asked about the job Walsh did on Maxey, before narrowing in on the specifics. “I thought he was big in our pick-and-roll defense as well, and did a great job making it difficult for him.”
Walsh isn’t navigating screens the way White does. There are still possessions where he gets clipped and ends up trailing the play. Against most guards, that’s the possession. Maxey especially lives off that first step once he gets a shoulder advantage.
But Walsh didn’t get clipped in the same way. More often than not, he was still around, contesting, reaching into the play even after he was technically beaten. It lined up with how he’s talked about defense this season, not trying to erase a player, just pushing him away from what he wants to do and making him find something else.
There’s a clip floating around where Maxey comes off a high screen and has the exact pocket he’s been using all series. Normally that turns into a drive or a pull-up. Walsh stays attached just long enough that it never really opens. Maxey hesitates, pulls it back out, and the possession resets.
It felt different than anything else we had thrown at Maxey up until that point. And I liked it. I liked it a lot.
For your consideration
If Game 3 showed anything, it’s that Maxey is going to have his moments no matter what.
He’s too comfortable getting to his spots for that to disappear. The goal isn’t to take that away completely. You just need to keep it from stacking.
In my opinion, Walsh fits into that more than anything else Boston has tried so far.
Part of that is just how he approaches it. Before the series, he talked about trying to “take away tendencies” and push guys into something they don’t want to do, even if it means living with the result at the end of the possession.
There’s also a level of intent to it that the team has noticed. Payton Pritchard said earlier this season that Walsh “brings an energy, guarding the best [offensive player] every night,” and that it’s what’s going to keep him on the floor. That’s basically the job here. Just stay in the fight long enough to make things uncomfortable.
It helps that he’s not going into this blind either. He mentioned leaning on Jaylen Brown for things “beyond the scouting report,” the small stuff that can get under a player’s skin or throw off their rhythm. You could see hints of that in those possessions.
PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 11: Jordan Walsh #27 of the Boston Celtics guards Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the game on November 11, 2025 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If this series keeps playing out the way it has, Boston is going to need more of those possessions where things don’t quite click for Maxey. Fewer of those clean, one-motion attacks where everything lines up could make all the difference in what’s proving to be a closer series than most people expected.
I’m not saying Walsh needs to be out there for 30 minutes a game going forward. But it’s something you can go to.
And right now, even a couple possessions where he hesitates instead of just playing sounds better than the alternative.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 24: Jayson Tatum #0 and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics look on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round 1 Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 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
Losing home-court advantage before hitting the road against the Philadelphia 76ers prompted a sense of urgency for the Boston Celtics. To them, Game 3 might as well have been a win-or-go-home contest.
There were no thoughts of returning to Boston with another split. No feeling of settling. The locker room had made up its mind well before the Celtics took the floor at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
“This was like a Game 7 for us,” Jaylen Brown told reporters after Boston’s 108-100 Game 3 win on Friday night, per CLNS Media. “Even though it’s a long series, we wanted to come back and respond after dropping one in our home floor. We can’t lose two games in a row in the playoffs. That’s tough. So this was a big win for us.”
Boston faced a far-too-familiar postseason scenario — this time against a Joel Embiid-less Sixers team, with the seven-time All-Star recovering from emergency appendectomy surgery. During their championship run in 2024, the Celtics dropped Game 2 in both the first and second rounds against the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers, forcing mid-series responses.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – APRIL 24: The Boston Celtics bench reacts against the Philadelphia 76ers during game three of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 24, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 108-100. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Going from sarcastic “We want Boston” chants echoing across TD Garden in Game 1 to early exits and silence in Game 2, the Celtics found themselves in a spot they had seen before. So before heading out to face Philadelphia’s notoriously hostile environment, the team had a conversation.
Understanding that not everyone on the roster had lived through a Game 3 road test of this magnitude, Brown felt it was important to communicate with everyone.
“It’s something you definitely talk about, but something you gotta experience for sure,” Brown said. “And I think our team is still a young team, so this experience was great. It’s great to get these experiences and win. But when you get hit, you just gotta respond.”
Brown added: “Most importantly, just stay together through the adversity. But when you get hit, you gotta hit back.”
In the third quarter, with less than six minutes, Tyrese Maxey buried a step-back 3-pointer over the reach of Jayson Tatum to give Philadelphia a 67-64 lead. Less than two minutes later, Brown backed down Justin Edwards to sink an 11-foot fadeaway jumper and give Boston back its lead at 69-67.
It was all about staying the course.
Yet, to Brown’s point, even though several members of the roster — like Neemias Queta and Jordan Walsh — were part of the 2024 run, it’s a different challenge when you’re playing meaningful minutes. Watching from the bench offers valuable experience, but nothing compares to being thrust into the moment and truly learning what it takes to secure a 2-1 series lead.
The last time the Celtics were in that position, Queta and Walsh were spectating. Kristaps Porziņģis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet were ahead of Queta on the depth chart at center, and Walsh was a 19-year-old rookie with just nine NBA games to his name. Now, Queta is Boston’s starting center, while Walsh — though not in the lineup — has been leaned on throughout the season to take on challenging defensive assignments against some of the league’s elite offensive stars.
There’s a clear discrepancy between what it takes for the 2025-26 Celtics to win and what it took for the 2023-24 Celtics to win, and the locker room has embraced that reality.
Brown and Tatum, both scoring 25 points apiece, combined for 50 in Game 3. But it took more than Boston’s dynamic duo to outlast the Sixers. Derrick White added three blocks, Payton Pritchard scored 15 off the bench, and Baylor Scheierman chipped in with two momentum-swinging steals that helped shift control back toward the Celtics.
The in-sync engagement from Boston’s bench said it all.
When Tatum pulled up and hit a clutch 3-pointer over Adem Bona to push Boston’s lead to 106-100 with 25.3 seconds left in regulation, the entire Celtics bench matched his energy. Everyone rose to their feet — fired up, re-energized, and looking as if they were ready to play Game 4 on the spot.
“This is what you sign up for,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters, per CLNS Media. “They’re all pushing us. We have to push them. Usually, competition brings out the best of people, and you’re also in two great environments. TD Garden’s a great environment, here is a great environment, and you’re just throwing haymakers at each other. I think you relish that in the moment.”
Figuring out the puzzle of winning is nothing new to a Mazzulla-led group, especially this season.
“It’s what we’ve done, it’s what we do when we’re at our best,” Mazzulla said. “So the goal is to just try to be at our best as much as we can. So we do that in training camp, preseason, regular season, playoffs, we do it. It’s just the trust that we’ll — more times than not — try to be the best version of ourselves. So like I said, there were big-time plays tonight by multiple people in both halves, and we just have to be able to do that.”
More impressive than the win itself were the paths the Celtics took to get there. Maxey and Paul George combined for 49 points, and while the Sixers didn’t replicate their 3-point explosion in Game 2, their intensity never dipped. Philadelphia pushed Boston to the wire on Friday night, forcing the Celtics to earn every basket and every stop before crossing the finish line.
That included Brown’s off-balance, one-legged floater with 6:10 remaining, Pritchard’s buzzer-beating step-back three with 1:17 left, and White’s two offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter — the second of which led to Tatum’s dagger.
For the Celtics — and especially Tatum — it was the same old challenge, just on a different night.
“As you probably could imagine, we’ve been in this scenario time and time again,” Tatum told reporters, per CLNS Media. “Times we’ve fallen short, and times we’ve succeeded. It’s all about learning from past experiences. Whether it’s the first play of the game or crunch time, it’s about making the right read and making the right play.”
Treating Game 3 like Game 7 wasn’t just the right call; it was the perfect reprogramming of the team’s mindset in what many view as a low-pressure contest. The stakes obviously aren’t perceived as drastic, considering a 2-1 lead means the job is only halfway done, but that’s a simplistic approach. Mazzulla’s locker room isn’t built like that. So, with Embiid progressing and inching closer to a return, the Celtics needed to put Tuesday night’s Game 2 defeat way back in the rearview mirror.
That was priority number one for everyone in a Celtics uniform.
“It’s just about responding,” Tatum said. “Responding from Game 2 and how we played in that one, and wanted to play better. We still had 17 turnovers and a lot of ugly possessions. Obviously, there were some possessions where we figured it out and made plays to win the game. But just on both sides of the ball, there’s a lot of things that we can learn from.”
It wasn’t perfect, but it was enough. And in the playoffs, that’s all that matters.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 24: Nathan Eovaldi #17 of the Texas Rangers delivers a pitch against the Athletics in the first inning at Globe Life Field on April 24, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
COVERS INTEL:
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