The Netflix logo appears on a smartphone screen in Ontario, Canada, on March 16, 2026. (Photo by Thomas Fuller/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Athletic | Andrew Marchand: As MLB, and sports leagues around the country, tries to keep juicing television revenues, it becomes harder and harder for fans to keep track of where their favorite team’s games will be shown. The Yankees’ opener on Netflix last night was symbolic of the fractured nature of the TV landscape, with fans needing a paid subscription to access the opening night game, the only Yankees game Netflix will broadcast this year. Regular season Yankee games will be broadcast on eight different platforms this year, plus two more if they make the playoffs, though it should be noted that fans that have access to a cable subscription and Amazon will at least be able to watch the vast majority of Yankees games. It forces one to ask, were we better off before we started cutting the cords?
New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: Luis Gil didn’t make the Yankees’ Opening Day roster, a move that makes plenty of sense given the team’s early-season setup. Not only do the Yankees not need a fifth starter until April 11th, but Gil now has a chance to continue to work on some adjustments to his arsenal and mechanics. “We feel good about the adjustment he made going into the last outing,” pitching coach Matt Blake said. “Got the quality of the fastball back, the velo up.” Rather than a setback, this trip to the minors could prove to be a stepping stone for Gil, who will look to recapture his 2024 Rookie of the Year form in 2026.
The Ringer | Ben Lindbergh: José Caballero made history last night, becoming the first player in history to challenge a ball/strike call (he lost). Lindbergh writes that the ABS challenge system, which rolls out in full this season, might soon be history too. The system was tested to very positive reviews in the minors, but that’s just the thing; once fans and players see how easy it is to overturn missed calls, how long will it be before calls for fully automated strike zones take over?
MLB Trade Rumors | Steve Adams: The Dodgers signed former Yankees reliever Jake Cousins to a major-league contract for a guaranteed $950K. Cousins had a bit of a breakout with the 2024 Yankees, posting a 2.37 ERA over 38 innings, but underwent Tommy John surgery last June. He projects to return some time this summer.
And, before the season officially started last night, the Yankees got through some roster housekeeping:
Following Tuesday’s game, the Yankees made the following roster moves: • Placed LHP Carlos Rodón on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to 3/22) with left elbow surgery recovery. • Placed INF Anthony Volpe on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to 3/22) with left shoulder…
No surprises here. Carlos Rodón, Anthony Volpe, and Gerrit Cole all start the year on the injured list, all with target return dates over the next couple of months.
The Boston Bruins are in the midst of a very competitive playoff race in the NHL’s Eastern Conference, and even though they are in a strong position to qualify for the postseason, the job is far from finished.
A brutal 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on home ice Tuesday night was a setback, but the Bruins earned a much-needed two points Wednesday night with an overtime victory versus the Atlantic Division-leading Buffalo Sabres.
Only 10 games remain on the Bruins’ schedule, and plenty of challenges await on the road to the postseason.
Let’s look at the state of the East playoff race and where the Bruins stand entering Wednesday.
Standings
Atlantic Division
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Wild Card
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If the Bruins make the playoffs, it will most likely be in a wild card spot, but they could also still finish top three in the Atlantic Division. The Canadiens and Bruins both have 88 points in third place, but Montreal has two games in hand.
The wild card battle is currently a four-team race, with the Islanders in the worst position of the group. The Bruins are in a good spot with a three-point edge over the Senators and Islanders, along with more regulation wins than the Islanders and Red Wings. Regulation wins is the first tiebreaker, followed by regulation and overtime wins (ROW).
The Bruins will take two points any way they can get them, but accumulating them in regulation is the most impactful way to help their cause.
Remaining schedule
David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Jeremy Swayman has been one of the NHL’s best goalies this season.
The No. 1 argument for why the Bruins could miss the playoffs is their schedule. It’s brutally tough the rest of the way. In fact, it’s the hardest remaining slate in the league, per Tankathon.
Seven of the Bruins’ final 10 games are against teams currently in a playoff spot. Six of the 10 are on the road. They play the teams with the second-best, third-best, fifth-best, sixth-best and ninth-best records.
Two matchups remain against the Tampa Bay Lightning, who might be the best team in the East right now. Two games against the Columbus Blue Jackets remain, too, and those matchups will be pivotal (CBJ has 87 points as the second-place team in the Metropolitan Division). Both of those matchups are in Columbus.
Boston’s “easiest” games are against the Panthers and Devils. The Panthers are a tough team to beat and have given the B’s trouble for years, while the Devils beat the Bruins just 10 days ago.
With a bunch of good opponents remaining, plus three more back-to-backs, the Bruins will need to play their best hockey of the season to secure enough points to earn a playoff spot.
What the analytics say
MoneyPuck’s model gives the Bruins a 75.1 percent chance of making the playoffs. HockeyStats’ model gives the Bruins a 71 percent chance. Meanwhile, The Athletic’s model gives the B’s a 57 percent of reaching the postseason.
What must happen for the Bruins to make the playoffs?
They need Jeremy Swayman to keep playing at a Vezina Trophy level. He ranks third among all goalies with 28.3 goals saved above expected, per MoneyPuck, and his 4.72 WAR (wins above replacement) also ranks third-highest in the league.
Strong goaltending has been the primary factor in the Bruins exceeding expectations so far this season. That trend has to continue for the Bruins to punch their ticket to the playoffs, especially when you consider seven of their last 10 games are against opponents who rank top 13 in goals scored per game.
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 25: Jayson Tatum #0 and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics react during the game after the game on March 25, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In the Celtics 119-109 statement win over the Thunder, Joe Mazzulla went with a tight nine-man rotation. In what felt like a Finals preview, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown performed at a championship level against the defending champs after laying an egg on Sunday against the visiting Timberwolves.
The game was speckled with some questionable calls. Boston and Oklahoma City combined for 55 trips to the line and just twenty turnovers. In the end, the Celtics identity shined through to win the possession battle with the team hitting 18-of-41 from behind the arc and dominating the offensive glass to the tune of 19 second chance points to the Thunder’s 2.
Currently, our friends at FanDuel have the Thunder at a +130 to represent the Western Conference and the Celtics sharing odds with the Spurs at +600.
Jayson Tatum
35 minutes, 19 points (3-6 from 3, 6-6 from the free throw line, 5-12 from the field), 12 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, 5 turnovers, 1 block, +2
As quickly as Tatum has recovered from his Achilles tear, it seems as though his assimilation back into the rotation has proportionately been just as fast. In his ninth game back, JT nearly registered a triple-double in a very laboring matchup with the defending champs with 19 points (3-of-6 from 3), 12 rebounds, and 7 assists (and 5 turnovers). It wasn’t a perfect performance, but considering the opponent and their physicality, it was another step in the right direction with ten games to go before the playoffs.
Grade: A
Jaylen Brown
39 minutes, 31 points (1-3 from 3, 12-14 from the free throw line, 9-17 from the field), 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, 5 turnovers, +7
Since Tatum’s return, Brown has ceded some of the scoring responsibilities to his counterpart. His shot attempts are down, but he’s averaging more assists and made a concerted effort to drive the ball and get to the line.
Against the Thunder, JB was intent on testing the league’s best defense at the rim. With a handful of spectacular finishes and fourteen trips to the line, he carried the team with 14 points in the 3rd and 10 more in the 4th. It was MVP-level work.
After a close loss in Oklahoma City, Brown was critical with the officiating that night and in general, particularly SGA’s whistle and stars like him “foul baiting” and manipulating the game with flopping. The NBA’s iconoclast made it a point to show the league the difference between toughness and the grift.
Grade: A+
Derrick White
33 minutes, 12 points (2-7 from 3, 4-4 from the free throw line, 3-11 from the field), 2 rebounds, 6 assists, one turnover, +6
DWhite didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, but his two back-to-back threes in the second quarter got the Celtics back into the game after trailing by double digits. Along with the Jays in the final frame, White was part of the trio that limited SGA to just one shot in the fourth quarter.
Thunder are double teaming Tatum now. Derrick White has hit back to back threes pic.twitter.com/9mgYHZZRo5
After spending much of the season as the de facto starting point guard, White should benefit with more catch-and-shoot threes as teams start to double team Brown and Tatum and dare the rest of the team to beat them.
Grade: B
Payton Pritchard
33 minutes, 14 points (4-6 from 3, 5-11 from the field), 2 rebounds, one assist, one turnover, 1 block, +11
OKC is super switchy with strong perimeter defenders up and down the roster. Much of Pritchard’s isolation game is predicated on taking advantage of mismatches
Like White, Pritchard is going to get more open looks playing next to the Jays. He was 4-of-6 from 3
Grade:
Sam Hauser
29 minutes, 19 points (3-8 from 3, 3-19 from the field), 5 rebounds, +4
In the first quarter, it felt like the Thunder were leaving Hauser wide open behind the arc in favor of clogging up the paint. It’s too bad that Hauser couldn’t covert, going just 1-for-5 from 3. In the second half,
Grade: B
Neemias Queta
30 minutes, 13 points (3-4 from the free throw line, 5-7 from the field), 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, +3
Neemi’s greatest area of improvement this season is his understanding of time and space. No, this is not a Robert Williams III reference, but like The Timelord, he’s figured out in Year 3 with the Celtics where to be at the right place and more importantly, at the right time.
He outscored both Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein working off the pick-and-roll with Tatum and being careful not to flash too soon into a passing lane and disrupting the team’s spacing. This dunk on Holmgren is the perfect representation of holding the screen long enough for Tatum to draw two, waiting at the free throw line to catch the pass, and using that runway to rise over Holmgren:
9 minutes, 3 points (1-2 from 3, 1-2 from the field), 2 rebounds, -3
The rookie played nine minutes in the first half and matched up predominantly against SGA. Frankly, he got cooked a bunch, but that was more about the MVP doing MVP things rather than Gonzalez not sticking to him. Tip of the hat to better offense beating good defense.
Grade: C
Luka Garza
12 minutes, 7 points (1-2 from 3, 0-1 from the free throw line, 3-4 from the field), 2 rebounds, one turnover, +9
Production-wise, you never know what you’re going to get from Garza; what you can rely on is that he’s going to root around the restricted area and do everything he can to earn a couple of Tommy points off the offensive glass. Oh, and the 43.1% three-point shooter will hit a 3 or two if teams are silly enough to leave him open at the top of the arc.
Grade: B+
Baylor Scheierman
20 minutes, 11 points (3-7 from 3, 4-8 from the field), 5 rebounds, one assist, +11
Scheierman absolutely owned the second half. With two threes and a forced turnover against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the third and another triple and putback dunk in the fourth, he had TD Garden rocking as the Celtics gained the lead and never relinquished it.
Like Luka, Baylor has become the unlikely difference maker in so many of these wins by finding ways to make winning plays. He always in the hunt for offensive rebounds and become a nifty finisher off the dribble because of his consistent shooting. If that wasn’t enough, what’s keeping him on the floor is his versatile defense against the league’s best.
Grade: A+++
DNP-CD: Jordan Walsh, Ron Harper Jr., Amari Williams, Max Shulga, Charles Bassey
SAN FRANCISCO — Max Fried signed with the Yankees before last season with the idea of pitching at the top of the rotation, alongside Gerrit Cole.
But when Cole was lost for all of last season with Tommy John surgery, Fried took charge as the ace of the rotation.
With Cole approaching a return at some point in late May or early June, he and Fried should be able to provide that anticipated one-two punch soon enough.
Fried left after 86 pitches and was dominant after the first despite insisting he didn’t have his best stuff — a sentiment Aaron Boone agreed with.
“It was one of those outings you’ve got to try to figure out how to get it done when you aren’t the most locked in out of the gate,” Fried said. “You grind through it.”
Max Fried throws a pitch during the Yankees’ 7-0 Opening Day win over the Giants on March 25, 2026 in San Francisco. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Boone said of Fried: “He can beat you in different ways … his arsenal is so vast that he makes you have to account for a lot of things.”
It includes a four-seam fastball, cutter, sinker and curveball, with some sweepers, changeups and sliders mixed in.
Boone noted that since Fried’s cutter wasn’t as effective as it usually is, his four-seamer was even more important.
It all added up to Fried easily outpitching San Francisco ace Logan Webb.
Max Fried delivers a pitch during the Yankees’ Opening Day win over the Giants in San Francisco. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“That’s what an ace looks like when he’s grinding,’’ Boone said.
Certainly, something must have changed after that rough top of the first, when Fried found himself in trouble almost immediately with Willy Adames and Jung Hoo Lee coming to the plate.
“He was a little more in the zone early and got ahead [in counts],” Austin Wells said.
And Fried credited the early five-run advantage for giving him some breathing room for most of the outing.
“It gives you a little more room for error and you can be aggressive and make adjustments,” Fried said.
It also helps to have filthy stuff, as Ryan McMahon noted.
The third baseman scoffed at the notion that Fried was anything but excellent in his first start.
“He really knows how to pitch,” McMahon said. “He probably told you he didn’t have his best stuff, which is crazy with what he did. He knows how to compete, and we feed off that.”
With a new Major League Baseball season here, a major change will play a unique role in how the year progresses.
Coming to the majors this season is the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System, or ABS for short. After many years of players and coaches resorting to ineffective arguing with umpires on controversial pitch calls, the technological advancement will aim to reduce human errors while adding new layers of strategy.
The system has been tested in the minor leagues since 2022, working its way up to MLB Spring Training games last year. It works similarly to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in soccer, but with slightly different regulations and team control.
Here’s everything to know about how the ABS Challenge System will work in MLB as it debuts in 2026:
What is ABS in MLB?
ABS stands for the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System that is being used in baseball and coming to MLB starting in 2026. It helps to ensure important calls are being made correctly and offers balance between human umpires and previously incorporated “robot umps.”
How will ABS work in MLB?
The system monitors the exact location of each pitch, relative to the batter’s zone. Players can request a challenge on a ball or strike call that they disagree with, which can either be confirmed or overturned after a brief review. A graphic displaying the result will also be available for fans to view on the videoboard inside the respective stadium as the review unfolds.
Challenges will be available at every MLB ballpark, but not at the Mexico City Series, Field of Dreams game or Little League Classic, as those venues will not be able to support the technology.
Ballparks are also required to display the number of challenges remaining for each team using the code “ABS.”
How many ABS challenges will MLB teams have? What about extra innings?
Each team will start the game with two challenges apiece.
If a game goes to extra innings, teams can get an extra challenge in the 10th if they are out. If they use it in the 10th, they can get another in the 11th and so on until the game concludes.
But if a team still has challenges left entering extra innings, they will not get another for that inning until it is used, if necessary. Then they’ll receive another for possible subsequent innings and so on.
Are successful ABS challenges retained?
Yes. But a challenge will be lost if the challenge is not overturned, so they must be used wisely.
Who can issue ABS challenges?
Only the batter, pitcher and catcher can issue challenges, and it must be in the immediate aftermath of an umpire’s call (roughly within two seconds). Outside assistance is prohibited, even from a team’s manager. Umpires can refuse a challenge if they deem the call was aided by non-eligible teammates or coaches.
To issue a challenge, the player can tap their cap or helmet to alert the umpire, but are also encouraged to verbalize it if necessary.
In the event of technological issues, umpires can inform teams that challenges will not be allowed until the situation is resolved, along with an in-park announcement.
Are there any instances a pitch may not be challenged?
Challenges are not permitted when a position player is pitching or right after replay reviews, though it can be case by case.
How will ABS work on broadcasts?
It will remain up to broadcast networks on how they want to display the strike zone box on screens. The main change is that MLB is requesting broadcasters to no longer differentiate the circle in the box depending on whether the pitch is a ball or a strike.
Will ABS challenges be a statistic for MLB players?
Yes, Baseball Savant will include challenge statistics for players. For example, the catchers that are most successful not just at framing pitches but challenging calls will be available to dig through.
For more on the ABS and how it’ll work in MLB, click here.
With a new Major League Baseball season here, a major change will play a unique role in how the year progresses.
Coming to the majors this season is the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System, or ABS for short. After many years of players and coaches resorting to ineffective arguing with umpires on controversial pitch calls, the technological advancement will aim to reduce human errors while adding new layers of strategy.
The system has been tested in the minor leagues since 2022, working its way up to MLB Spring Training games last year. It works similarly to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in soccer, but with slightly different regulations and team control.
Here’s everything to know about how the ABS Challenge System will work in MLB as it debuts in 2026:
What is ABS in MLB?
ABS stands for the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System that is being used in baseball and coming to MLB starting in 2026. It helps to ensure important calls are being made correctly and offers balance between human umpires and previously incorporated “robot umps.”
How will ABS work in MLB?
The system monitors the exact location of each pitch, relative to the batter’s zone. Players can request a challenge on a ball or strike call that they disagree with, which can either be confirmed or overturned after a brief review. A graphic displaying the result will also be available for fans to view on the videoboard inside the respective stadium as the review unfolds.
Challenges will be available at every MLB ballpark, but not at the Mexico City Series, Field of Dreams game or Little League Classic, as those venues will not be able to support the technology.
Ballparks are also required to display the number of challenges remaining for each team using the code “ABS.”
How many ABS challenges will MLB teams have? What about extra innings?
Each team will start the game with two challenges apiece.
If a game goes to extra innings, teams can get an extra challenge in the 10th if they are out. If they use it in the 10th, they can get another in the 11th and so on until the game concludes.
But if a team still has challenges left entering extra innings, they will not get another for that inning until it is used, if necessary. Then they’ll receive another for possible subsequent innings and so on.
Are successful ABS challenges retained?
Yes. But a challenge will be lost if the challenge is not overturned, so they must be used wisely.
Who can issue ABS challenges?
Only the batter, pitcher and catcher can issue challenges, and it must be in the immediate aftermath of an umpire’s call (roughly within two seconds). Outside assistance is prohibited, even from a team’s manager. Umpires can refuse a challenge if they deem the call was aided by non-eligible teammates or coaches.
To issue a challenge, the player can tap their cap or helmet to alert the umpire, but are also encouraged to verbalize it if necessary.
In the event of technological issues, umpires can inform teams that challenges will not be allowed until the situation is resolved, along with an in-park announcement.
Are there any instances a pitch may not be challenged?
Challenges are not permitted when a position player is pitching or right after replay reviews, though it can be case by case.
How will ABS work on broadcasts?
It will remain up to broadcast networks on how they want to display the strike zone box on screens. The main change is that MLB is requesting broadcasters to no longer differentiate the circle in the box depending on whether the pitch is a ball or a strike.
Will ABS challenges be a statistic for MLB players?
Yes, Baseball Savant will include challenge statistics for players. For example, the catchers that are most successful not just at framing pitches but challenging calls will be available to dig through.
For more on the ABS and how it’ll work in MLB, click here.
Per site tradition, we make our picks and lay them bare for all to see. And this year, 10 of us took on the challenge. Here are our section-by-section picks, which we’ll revisit and tabulate in October to reveal the best and worst. And by all means, feel free to listen on four of our writers discussing their picks in our Sox Populi podcast, found on The Feed here on site:
By all means, praise and chide in the comments — and feel free to chip in with your own prognostications, tough guys and gals.
The Tigers and Mariners are clear division favorites in the AL, with a much tougher fight in the AL East. Over in the NL, it’s the Brewers, Mets and Dodgers looking fine in our eyes.
And yes, trust us, dear readers, site suspensions of at least a full week have been discussed for Hannah Filippo, David James and Joe Kiang-Resis. We’ll let you figure out why.
The race for the AL’s best seems quite a fight, at least opposed to the NL. In the case of league worsts, there is fight between two teams in both leagues — and in the AL, no one picked the White Sox! Novel.
And yes, trust us, dear readers, a site suspension of at least a full year has been discussed for Hannah Filippo. We’ll let you figure out why.
Most of us have learned our MVP lessons and are meekly prognosticating repeats wins for Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani. It looks like a two-arm race for AL Cy Young, with the NL looking like a runaway for Paul Skenes.
As for the White Sox-specific picks, our wins total ranges from 66 to 80, and for once it is not Brett Ballantini as the most dour pick. It seems an absolute runaway for team MVP and best pitcher, and frankly for Best Rookie as well. And is the usual super-fun contradiction, Hannah Filippo picks Luisangel Acuña as best rookie, while David James has Acuña as the team’s worst player. Most likely, he won’t be either extreme — but that’s why we play the games!
The formatting of our final “tiebreaker” categories (mostly just an excuse to goof off with topical takes of the moment) is a little too difficult to fit onto the page here, but the questions for us all to consider were:
Do the White Sox have a winning record at any point after Tax Day? Do the White Sox select Roch Cholowsky with the No. 1 pick? Will Justin Ishiba become owner by December 31? Will the White Sox trade Andrew Benintendi? Will the Birmingham Barons Win a Third Straight Southern League Title? Will the White Sox extend Munetaka Murakami?
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MARCH 25: Terrence Shannon Jr. #1 and Donte DiVincenzo #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrate 110-108 win against the Houston Rockets at Target Center on March 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Rockets 110-108 in overtime. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There have been a lot of crazy nights at Target Center over the years, and tonight’s game is right up there as one of the craziest games in a long time.
On Wednesday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves took on the Houston Rockets in a game that will play a dramatic role in determining the seeding for the Western Conference Playoffs. The two teams came into the game separated by just half a game in the standings, and with the Rockets leading the season series between the two teams 1-0, a Houston win would clinch it in their favor.
The game started well for the Wolves. They jumped out to a 12-4 lead and carried that lead through most of the first half, including a nasty transition dunk from Naz Reid.
The Timberwolves led the entire first half, but without Edwards, they were unable to sustain consistent offense in the half-court as the Rockets cut the Wolves’ lead to just one heading into halftime.
Houston took a brief lead early in the third quarter, but Minnesota stormed back to build its lead back up heading down the stretch of the game. Jaden McDaniels was the catalyst late in the fourth quarter as he scored five straight Minnesota points, including a stepback 3-pointer and a strip of Kevin Durant for two points on the other end.
Jaden McDaniels nasty PnR stepback 3 + strip steal on Kevin Durant + transition dunk OH MY GOD pic.twitter.com/zBWUrGUXUS
That is when the game went totally off the rails. Following an Alperen Şengün layup and a Timberwolves shot clock violation, Julius Randle ran over Şengün, who was setting a screen, for a foul. With the Rockets in the bonus, this meant two free throws.
Upon review (there were many in this game), the play was curiously upgraded to a flagrant foul as the lead official, Scott Foster, said he “launched” into the opposing player.
The flagrant gave the Rockets two free throws and the ball back, which Houston capitalized on as Şengün slammed the ball home to cut the Minnesota lead down to just five.
The Wolves continued to melt down as they turned the ball over on three straight possessions. The Rockets scored on each of their subsequent possession to give themselves a one-point lead. All in all, it was a 12-0 run over about 3.5 minutes of game time that turned a sure win to the Wolves into a dog fight with less than a minute left.
Randle got into the paint for a layup to give the Wolves a one-point lead back before an away-from-the-play foul on an inbounds play from Rudy Gobert gave Durant a free throw to tie the game. The Wolves forced a turnover and nearly had the game won on the other end, but there was no call on the Randle layup attempts as the game went to overtime.
Things went from bad to worse in overtime for the Wolves in overtime as they quickly went down by five points. The Scott Foster show continued from there. Following an upheld call on a review of a Naz Reid charge, Reid was ejected for seemingly saying, “He’s moving.” After the game, the officials were asked about the ejection via the NBA’s pool report and said, “Reid made a statement that questioned the integrity of the officiating crew.”
With Reid ejected, McDaniels on the bench with an injury he sustained late in the fourth quarter, and Gobert out of the game after fouling out, the snowball kept rolling down the hill, and before the Wolves knew it, they had given up the first 13 points of overtime.
If the game ended right there, it would have been crazy enough, but it didn’t. With fans heading toward the exits, the Wolves didn’t quit on the game. They continued to generate good looks on offense and get stops on defense. Mike Conley knocked one down from deep, Kyle Anderson put in an and-1, and Julius Randle put in a layup to cut the Houston lead down to one possession.
Minnesota didn’t stop there, as Donte DiVincenzo tied the game on the next Wolves possession before Randle put the Wolves back in the lead with another layup. In total, it was a 15-0 Timberwolves run that turned a 15-point deficit into a two-point lead.
According to Sportradar, the 13-point overtime comeback was the largest in NBA history since they started keeping track of play-by-play data during the 1996-97 season. The next highest? The Wolves’ nine-point lead was blown in Denver this past Christmas.
After a pair of missed free throws from Durant (one of which was intentionally missed), the Wolves secured a 110-108 victory in one of the most absurd games at Target Center in a long time.
After the game, Randle made his displeasure with the officiating known, yelling out, “That shit didn’t work, Scott Foster,” as he walked back to the locker room. When asked about the flagrant call earlier in the game, Randle responded, “Don’t get me fined, man.”
“I’ve never seen it before,” Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said about the flagrant call on Randle. “They’re telling me they had a clear opportunity to avoid the screen. They said he sought him out to run him over. I’ve never seen a flagrant like that. He goes through a screen, they call a foul, fine. That’s clearly a foul. Play on. But a flagrant? I don’t know.”
Throughout a long NBA season, there are bound to be games where the officiating doesn’t go the way a team would hope. While those types of games seem to happen more often with Foster on the floor, how a team responds during those types of games is almost as important as the actual result of the game.
“I’m so proud that we didn’t quit,” Gobert said after the game. “We had a lot of opportunities to get very frustrated tonight. For the most part we were able to overcome that. That’s the blueprint for us. We want to win a championship, so we know there’s going to be adversity.”
DiVincenzo gave insigth into what allowed the Wovles to come back in overtime explaining, “That last timeout we just basically regrouped and looked up and we had a lot of time. I think it was like 3:25. That’s a lot of time in the NBA, but we just got stop after stop and executed on offense. We did a great job of getting the ball into Julius’ hands and trusted his decision making and it worked out for us.”
The hope is that a win like this is a springboard to the Wolves finally becoming the team many fans and media think they can be. Through most of the season, something has just felt off about the Wolves. The consistency of performance has not been there, and each solid stretch of play is followed by abhorrent basketball.
On the flip side, the Wolves have shown this season, and really the past few seasons, that when it seems like they are at their lowest, they can dig out of it with one of their best performances of the season. This game, especially the overtime, was a perfect example.
With just eight games left on the schedule, the question is what Timberwolves team will we see down the stretch of the regular season? The team that gave up a 26-2 run late in the fourth quarter and into overtime, or the one that came storming back just when all seemed lost.
Up Next
The Timberwolves get another couple of days off before taking on the Detroit Pistons on Saturday at 4:30 PM CT. The Pistons will be without Cade Cunningham, who suffered a collapsed lung last week. Fans can watch yet another nationally televised game airing on ABC.
Los Angeles Clippers (36-36, eighth in the Western Conference) vs. Indiana Pacers (16-57, 15th in the Eastern Conference)
Indianapolis; Friday, 7 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Indiana aims to stop its 10-game home losing streak with a victory against Los Angeles.
The Pacers are 10-26 on their home court. Indiana gives up 120.7 points to opponents and has been outscored by 8.8 points per game.
The Clippers are 16-21 in road games. Los Angeles is 6-8 in one-possession games.
The Pacers score 111.9 points per game, 0.6 fewer points than the 112.5 the Clippers allow. The Clippers average 12.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.5 more makes per game than the Pacers give up.
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Clippers won the last matchup 130-107 on March 5. Kawhi Leonard scored 29 points to help lead the Clippers to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jarace Walker is scoring 11.6 points per game and averaging 5.2 rebounds for the Pacers. Aaron Nesmith is averaging 14.9 points and 2.0 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Kris Dunn is averaging 7.7 points, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals for the Clippers. Leonard is averaging 22.0 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 55.1% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pacers: 1-9, averaging 114.9 points, 37.8 rebounds, 30.3 assists, 6.7 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 126.3 points per game.
Clippers: 5-4, averaging 121.6 points, 38.1 rebounds, 26.4 assists, 10.9 steals and 6.5 blocks per game while shooting 51.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.1 points.
INJURIES: Pacers: Johnny Furphy: out for season (knee), Ivica Zubac: out for season (rib), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles).
Clippers: Jordan Miller: day to day (back), Yanic Konan Niederhauser: out for season (foot), Bradley Beal: out for season (hip).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Brooklyn Nets (17-56, 14th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (47-26, third in the Western Conference)
Los Angeles; Friday, 10:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles plays the Brooklyn Nets after Luka Doncic scored 43 points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 137-130 win over the Indiana Pacers.
The Lakers are 23-12 on their home court. Los Angeles is eighth in the Western Conference with 14.7 fast break points per game led by LeBron James averaging 5.8.
The Nets are 8-30 on the road. Brooklyn averages 15.3 turnovers per game and is 4-18 when winning the turnover battle.
The Lakers are shooting 50.0% from the field this season, 0.6 percentage points higher than the 49.4% the Nets allow to opponents. The Nets' 44.3% shooting percentage from the field this season is 4.1 percentage points lower than the Lakers have given up to their opponents (48.4%).
The teams play for the second time this season. The Lakers won the last meeting 125-109 on Feb. 4. James scored 25 points to help lead the Lakers to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Austin Reaves is scoring 23.6 points per game and averaging 4.7 rebounds for the Lakers. Doncic is averaging 39.1 points and 8.0 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Terance Mann is averaging 7.2 points and 3.1 assists for the Nets. Ben Saraf is averaging 10.2 points and 2.2 rebounds while shooting 44.0% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Lakers: 9-1, averaging 120.9 points, 41.0 rebounds, 25.9 assists, 9.6 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 50.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.9 points per game.
Nets: 1-9, averaging 102.6 points, 36.4 rebounds, 23.7 assists, 9.0 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 43.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.2 points.
INJURIES: Lakers: Deandre Ayton: day to day (back), Marcus Smart: day to day (ankle), Adou Thiero: day to day (knee), Rui Hachimura: day to day (calf).
Nets: Noah Clowney: out (wrist), Nolan Traore: out (rest), Danny Wolf: out (ankle), Egor Demin: out for season (foot), Day'Ron Sharpe: out for season (thumb), Michael Porter Jr.: out (hamstring).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Chicago Bulls (29-43, 12th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (57-16, first in the Western Conference)
Oklahoma City; Friday, 8 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Chicago travels to Oklahoma City looking to stop its three-game road losing streak.
The Thunder are 29-7 in home games. Oklahoma City ranks second in the Western Conference with 34.5 defensive rebounds per game led by Chet Holmgren averaging 7.0.
The Bulls are 11-23 on the road. Chicago is seventh in the Eastern Conference scoring 116.3 points per game and is shooting 46.9%.
The Thunder are shooting 48.2% from the field this season, 0.6 percentage points higher than the 47.6% the Bulls allow to opponents. The Bulls are shooting 46.9% from the field, 3.4% higher than the 43.5% the Thunder's opponents have shot this season.
The teams play for the second time this season. The Thunder won the last matchup 116-108 on March 4. Jared McCain scored 20 points to help lead the Thunder to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Cason Wallace is scoring 8.5 points per game and averaging 3.1 rebounds for the Thunder. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 29.8 points and 4.4 rebounds over the last 10 games.
Josh Giddey is scoring 17.6 points per game with 8.3 rebounds and 9.2 assists for the Bulls. Matas Buzelis is averaging 20.3 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting 44.9% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Thunder: 9-1, averaging 115.4 points, 43.6 rebounds, 24.8 assists, 8.4 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 48.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.1 points per game.
Bulls: 4-6, averaging 120.3 points, 47.1 rebounds, 28.2 assists, 7.2 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 47.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 125.6 points.
INJURIES: Thunder: Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee).
Bulls: Anfernee Simons: day to day (wrist), Jalen Smith: day to day (calf), Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder), Jaden Ivey: day to day (knee), Nick Richards: day to day (elbow), Zach Collins: out for season (toe).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 25: Baylor Scheierman #55 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after scoring against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at TD Garden on March 25, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Thunder 119-109. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Not when he fell out of the rotation early on this season, not when he had a tough shooting stretch last Summer League in Las Vegas.
The 25-year-old Celtics forward always saw this kind of success coming.
“I’m super confident in my abilities,” Scheierman said after the Celtics’ win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night.
That much has been evident from the first time he donned Celtics green.
In his two years in Boston, Scheierman has blown kisses and concocted a myriad of new celebrations. Last year, he invented Jayson Tatum’s wrist celebration. This year, he’s rocked his own ‘thumbs up’ celebration in an ode to the fact he’s playing with a broken thumb.
Scheierman has probably talked more trash to opposing teams’ benches than any player on the team, and carried himself with a swagger more reminiscent of a perennial All-Star than a role player trying to break through.
That seemingly unwavering confidence has translated to plenty of on-court success. And, Wednesday’s win over the Thunder was the latest example of just how successful a season it’s been.
In a 119-109 Celtics win, Scheierman tallied 11 points in 20 minutes, hitting 3 of his 7 three-point attempts. He grabbed 5 rebounds and forced Shai Gilgeous-Alexander into a turnover. The Celtics outscored the Thunder by 11 points in his minutes, tied with Payton Pritchard for the best plus-minus on the team.
Still, as per usual, Wednesday’s box score doesn’t begin to capture Scheierman’s impact on the ball game.
“I thought Baylor was great — his shot making,” said Joe Mazzulla. “He was great defensively on his match-ups. He’s a guy that just makes plays.“
Those winning plays can be difficult to quantify and even harder to explain. But, you watch Scheierman play for just a few minutes, and it becomes evident: when he’s on the court, he makes the Celtics better.
His teammates have taken notice, too.
“He can do a little of everything,” Sam Hauser said last month. “At times, it’s really hard to take him off the floor.”
Scheierman’s ability to create chaos on the offensive glass has been a major strength — nearly every time a shot goes up, Scheierman is in the action, whether he’s trying to tip the ball out to a teammate, deflect it off an opposing player, or simply wreak havoc.
There’s no perfect science to crashing the offensive glass, and Scheierman just follows his instincts.
“Shoot, it really just comes down to a feel thing,” he said. “You’re not perfect all the time, but that’s one area they give you a lot of freedom to be able to just crash or stay — so it’s really just a feel thing.”
Mazzulla doesn’t know exactly how to explain Scheierman’s penchant for winning plays, either.
“It’s just who he is,” said Joe Mazzulla. “He just has a knack for making plays. He doesn’t want to be defined by one thing. He doesn’t care if he shoots, he doesn’t care if he has to play defense, crash, take care of the ball. He just has a knack for making basketball plays. It’s a huge strength of his.”
How does Scheierman explain that knack?
“Playing hard, I guess,” he said with a smile. “Just having a little bit of a feel for the game, and a nose for the ball, I guess. And then just competing super hard on both ends of the floor.”
Amazingly, Baylor Scheierman’s impact hasn’t diminished since Jayson Tatum’s return
On the outside, it wasn’t clear what kind of season Baylor Scheierman was going to have.
Last year, he spent most of the season with the Maine Celtics. This year, he began the year on the outskirts of the rotation but became increasingly important as the season progressed.
Scheierman averaged 7.4 minutes per game in October, 14.3 minutes in November, 16 minutes in January, and 24.3 minutes in February, his on-court opportunities steadily climbing as the season progressed.
With Jayson Tatum back in the lineup, one would assume Scheierman’s minutes would be significantly reduced.
But, he’s actually played more in March than any month this season; he’s averaging 7.5 points and 5.8 rebounds in 27.5 minutes of action. His shooting numbers have actually increased since breaking his thumb late last month; Scheierman is shooting 39.2% from three this month, up from 32.7% in February.
Scheierman is no longer starting — Jayson Tatum reclaimed his spot in the starting lineup when he made his season debut on March 6th — but he’s continued to play a pivotal part in the Celtics’ success.
That might be a surprise to some, who saw him struggle in Las Vegas in July and begin the season toward the bottom of the depth chart.
But Scheierman smiled when asked if he was surprised at the success he’s had this season. The answer was an obvious ‘no.’
“The work I put in coming into my rookie year, coming into this year, has prepared me for this,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s just taking it one day at a time, one game at a time. I’m super blessed and grateful for the opportunity, and I just try to take advantage of that. But to answer your question, no, I’m not surprised. I’m super confident in my abilities.”
Miami Heat (39-34, eighth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (45-28, fourth in the Eastern Conference)
Cleveland; Friday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Bam Adebayo and the Miami Heat visit Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.
The Cavaliers are 29-18 against Eastern Conference opponents. Cleveland ranks seventh in the Eastern Conference in rebounding with 44.3 rebounds. Evan Mobley leads the Cavaliers with 8.9 boards.
The Heat are 23-20 against Eastern Conference opponents. Miami is 19-27 against opponents with a winning record.
The Cavaliers are shooting 47.8% from the field this season, 1.8 percentage points higher than the 46.0% the Heat allow to opponents. The Heat average 13.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.4 fewer makes per game than the Cavaliers give up.
The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Heat won 120-103 in the last meeting on March 25. Norman Powell led the Heat with 19 points, and Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 28 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Mitchell is averaging 28.3 points, 5.8 assists and 1.5 steals for the Cavaliers. James Harden is averaging 22.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 7.6 assists over the last 10 games.
Adebayo is averaging 20.3 points and 9.8 rebounds for the Heat. Tyler Herro is averaging 2.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Cavaliers: 6-4, averaging 118.1 points, 43.6 rebounds, 26.8 assists, 5.9 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 49.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.6 points per game.
Heat: 5-5, averaging 121.3 points, 42.9 rebounds, 29.2 assists, 8.5 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 121.7 points.
INJURIES: Cavaliers: Max Strus: day to day (injury management), Craig Porter Jr.: day to day (groin), Dean Wade: day to day (ankle), Jaylon Tyson: day to day (toe), Jarrett Allen: day to day (knee).
Heat: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: New Orleans visits Detroit looking to break its three-game road skid.
The Pistons are 28-9 on their home court. Detroit is fourth in the Eastern Conference with 17.9 fast break points per game led by Cade Cunningham averaging 3.5.
The Pelicans are 9-26 on the road. New Orleans averages 13.4 turnovers per game and is 14-22 when winning the turnover battle.
The Pistons are shooting 48.0% from the field this season, 0.5 percentage points higher than the 47.5% the Pelicans allow to opponents. The Pelicans score 5.7 more points per game (115.5) than the Pistons allow their opponents to score (109.8).
The teams play for the second time this season. The Pistons won the last matchup 112-104 on Jan. 22. Jalen Duren scored 20 points to help lead the Pistons to the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Duren is averaging 19.3 points and 10.6 rebounds for the Pistons. Daniss Jenkins is averaging 12.3 points and 5.6 assists over the past 10 games.
Trey Murphy III is scoring 21.7 points per game with 5.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Pelicans. Zion Williamson is averaging 20.5 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 69.7% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pistons: 7-3, averaging 121.7 points, 43.1 rebounds, 31.4 assists, 9.8 steals and 5.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.2 points per game.
Pelicans: 6-4, averaging 119.4 points, 44.6 rebounds, 26.3 assists, 8.8 steals and 6.1 blocks per game while shooting 48.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.8 points.
INJURIES: Pistons: Cade Cunningham: out (lung), Isaiah Stewart: out (calf), Marcus Sasser: day to day (hip).
Pelicans: Trey Murphy III: day to day (ankle), Dejounte Murray: day to day (achilles), Bryce McGowens: out (toe).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
David Kirouac-Imagn Images
