The 7 Metre yacht 'Ithnan' (K2) sailing with spinnaker, 1912. The 7 Metre class was used as an Olympic Class during the 1908 and 1920 Olympics. About 200 boats were built. Artist Kirk & Sons of Cowes. (Photo by Kirk and Sons of Cowes/Heritage Images/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hickory and Frisco had their first games on Thursday. Hub City kicks off Friday.
Evan Siary, the Rangers’ 8th round pick last year out of Mississippi State, got the start for Hickory, striking out 8 and walking no one in four innings, allowing one run.
Paulino Santana doubled, walked and stole a base. Yolfran Castillo had a single and a double. Marcos Torres had a hit and a walk. Josh Springer had a pair of hits.
Frisco starter Leandro Lopez struck out six and walked four in 4.2 shutout innings. Ryan Lobus threw two shutout innings, striking out two and walking one. Wilian Bormie struck out one in a shutout inning.
Dylan Dreiling had a hit and a walk. Keith Jones II had a pair of hits.
Cody Bradford made his return to the mound for Round Rock. In two innings he threw 27 pitches, 17 for strikes, didn’t strike out or walk anyone, and allowed three hits, including two solo homers. He averaged 90.0 mph on his fastball, topping out at 91.5 mph, which is right about where his velocity was in 2024.
Luis Curvelo allowed two runs in an inning, walking one and striking out one. Josh Sborz struck out one in a scoreless inning. Ryan Brasier struck out two in a scoreless inning.
Cam Cauley homered and drew a pair of walks. Alejandro Osuna homered. Justin Foscue had a hit and a walk.
OAKLAND, CA - APRIL 12: Team Announcer Ken Korach of the Oakland Athletics during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at McAfee Coliseum on April 12, 2005 in Oakland, California. The Blue Jays defeated the A's 5-2. (Photo by Michael Zagaris /MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Tonight marks the first of thirteen contests this season with the division rival A’s. Ken Korach, who’s a staple in the A’s booth serving as lead announcer since 2006, joins The Crawfish Boxes for an in-depth series preview:
Q: What’s the ceiling for Nick Kurtz? How dominant can he be?
A: I think his ceiling is as high as it could be. There are several reasons.
His 36 home runs came in 117 games and his first was in his 17th game. So even if he doesn’t keep up that pace, at least 40 this year seems likely. Now, if you look at the numbers, his walk rate increased significantly after his 4-homer game. He’s going to get that kind of treatment, but there is plenty of protection in the lineup. This is as deep a lineup as the A’s have had since their post-season days.
A couple of other things. Often young power hitters get jumpy with their stride and swing and become too pull conscious. Half of his homers last year were to left center and left. He has a very mature approach.
Even though the ballpark in Sacramento is certainly a hitter’s park, his numbers—barrel rate, exit velocity, bat speed—were elite. He can hit anywhere. And, he’s a hitter, not just a power hitter.
Q: Give our readers an idea, who are the leaders in the clubhouse for the A’s and how and what can we expect this weekend with attendance and overall fan support in the stands?
A; Brent Rooker is the unquestioned leader in the clubhouse. He has a backstory that enables him to relate to everyone. Yes, he’s a two-time all-star who’s hit 99 homers in 3 years with the A’s, but after being a high draft choice, he drifted through 3 organizations before joining the A’s and started to wonder if he’d ever make it. He’s a student of the game and not afraid to speak up.
Regarding fan support, that’s not an easy question to answer since the situation is unique. Leaving Oakland, now entering the 2nd of 3 years in Sacramento, and much of the focus is on Vegas in 2028. I think momentum is building in Vegas, especially with the announcements of two more contract extensions (Wilson and Soderstrom) in the off-season, and the stadium being on schedule. They are starting the process of selling tickets and the response has been good.
They drew about 9,500 per game in Sacramento last season. I thought the attendance was fine. There are around 10,500 permanent seats in the ballpark and another 2,000-2,500 on the lawn areas beyond the outfield fence. It’s a minor league ballpark. That’s the reality for two more years.
Q: From the outside looking in, it feels like the pitching has lots of talent and arms that are in between AAA and the Majors. Perkins & Morales come to mind. What can you tell us about them and maybe some other young players?
A: Yes, Perkins and Morales. Morales has opened the season in the rotation. He had a really nice couple of months last year. Perkins will be in the PCL. He’s probably going to be either a starting or bullpen option this year. He did both in the spring.
A couple of guys to keep an eye on: Gage Jump and Kade Morris. Wouldn’t surprise me if both were with the A’s this year. Morris might be considered more of a sleeper, but he’s gaining a lot of traction in the organization. Has the ceiling to be a legitimate MLB starter. Everybody knows Jump from his time at LSU, His velocity has increased and he has a chance to make an impact this year.
Q: Finally, thoughts on facing the Astros this weekend?
A: I think the Astros will probably be better this year. The A’s certainly know them well. Look at the end of last season’s schedule as an indication that the A’s think they can go toe-to-toe with them. The A’s swept 4 games in Houston in July and took 2 out of 3 in late September in Sac. One thing to keep an eye on. The schedule is challenging to say the least. We started in Toronto, went to Atlanta and after these three games with the Astros, we then turn back around and go to New York for the Yankees and Mets. Crazy. 12 of 15 on the road to start the season in the east, and all 15 contests against contenders.
First, Munetaka Murakami had to educate the White Sox on the value of bidets. Now, he has to remind them that games last nine innings. | (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Fun fact: Originally, baseball games did not have a set length. The early Knickerbockers matches were “first-to-21,” like pickup basketball. The decision to switch to a set length was made at the 1857 national base ball (two words) convention. The convention initially decided on seven innings, but thanks to the efforts of Gothams/Knickerbockers slugger and convention delegate Lew Wadsworth, seven innings were rejected in favor of nine.
Before this season, I had assumed every Major League Baseball team knew how many innings were in a standard baseball game. However, it’s become clear to me that the White Sox think baseball games are only three innings, and the entire organization is operating under this falsehood. To the best of my knowledge, the standard length for baseball games has never been three innings.
Tuesday’s 9-2 loss to the Marlins proved my point. The Sox went up, 2-0, in the top of the third, thanks to a string of hits from Edgar Quero through Munetaka Murakami. The Marlins were held scoreless in the bottom half of the frame. That’s when the confusion appeared to set in.
Somebody must have informed the White Sox that there were six more innings to play. Despite this clearly being a regular occurrence, CHSN has never aired this as it happens. I can only guess who it always falls on to relay this information. Is it the umpiring crew? A bat boy? Maybe Murakami has already had to bring it up this year, sheepishly, as his new teammates grab their bats and gloves and turn to walk toward the showers (my research has shown that Japanese baseball is also nine innings.)
Our poor White Sox, for whatever reason, are always taken aback by this. Maybe it’s coaching; as best I can tell, Will Venable has not confirmed on the record that he knows a baseball game lasts nine innings. Or perhaps everybody on the Sox has that “Momento” disease.
No matter the cause, the effects are obvious: The news of a fourth inning clearly disoriented both Luisangel Acuña and Tristian Peters, as they collectively forgot how to call for a fly ball. Erick Fedde, having just learned minutes earlier that he did not throw a complete game, was unable to get back into a competitive mindset. White Sox strikers were held hitless for the last six innings while being outscored, 9-0.
This has been a consistent problem already in 2026. Here are their hitting splits so far:
Innings 1-3: 4.80 ERA Innings 4-6: 9.00 ERA Innings 7-9: 12.27 ERA
It’s the bullpen that confuses me the most. Before the fourth inning, why do relievers think they’re there? Do they ever ask one another why the team needs 13 arms when the team is liable to play, at most, 21 innings per week? It must be terrifying to warm up for an innings you previously didn’t know existed, by a bullpen coach who is just as surprised and frightened.
Worse yet, this is an issue that dates back at least a year. Conventional wisdom holds that the more often you see a pitcher, the better you’ll perform. Here is the league average last season for each time a starting pitcher goes through the batting order:
First time: .241/.307/.400 Second time: .249/.311/.416 Third time: .258/.324/.432
And here are the ’25 White Sox:
First time: .246/.305/.419 Second time: .231/.299/.371 Third time: .238/.295/.369
The evidence is clear: The White Sox offense only prepares for one at-bat per game. So, if you or someone you know could please relay the standard length of a baseball game to the White Sox clubhouse before their next game, things just might turn around yet!
Mar 14, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) runs up the court in the first half against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Kon Knueppel has had a remarkable rookie season, but he was initially viewed as something of a consolation prize. His Duke teammate (and roommate) Cooper Flagg was the great prize of last year’s draft. Called a generational talent, he was taken by Dallas with the first pick, and Knueppel fell to the #4 pick, where he was taken by the Charlotte Hornets.
Now, both former Blue Devils, locked in a taut battle for Rookie of the Year, look like generational talents.
Knueppel has emerged as one of the great pure shooters in the league. After smashing the rookie three-point record recently, on Thursday night, he broke the Charlotte season record for three-pointers as well.
Kemba Walker hit 260 three-pointers in the 2018-19 season. He was 28 when he broke the record.
Knueppel is 20. He won’t even be of legal drinking age until August.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 30: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on against the Miami Heat during the second quarter at Kaseya Center on March 30, 2026 in Miami, Florida. 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 Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With just six games left in the season for the Sixers, the middle of the Eastern Conference is as tightly packed as ever. There are still only four games between the rolling five-seed Hawks (44-33) and 10-seed Heat (40-37) and the Sixers’ position in sixth is up for plenty of change over the next 10 days.
Now, after Wednesday’s comfortable 153-131 win against the tanking Wizards, things won’t be quite so easy for the Sixers in their next matchup against Minnesota.
An immediate advantage the Sixers have heading into Friday’s game is that the Timberwolves are on the second night of a back-to-back, after they lost in Detroit on Thursday, 113-108. Having extra rest at this late stage of the year should bode well for the healthier Sixers.
The big factor to monitor for this game is the status of Anthony Edwards. The Timberwolves’ star has been working his way back from a knee injury and was out on Thursday due to his knee and an illness. Jaden McDaniels is also a big missing piece for Minnesota, who remains out with left knee patella tendinopathy and a bone bruise. We’ll need to wait until nearer game time for the Timberwolves’ new report, and see whether Edwards remains out or needed the night off against Detroit so he could play this back-to-back’s second leg.
The Timberwolves are one of the tougher opponents the Sixers have remaining as they close out the season. And that’s the case even with them somewhat slowing down recently. Minnesota has only gone 6-7 over their last 13 games, including a three-game losing streak. However, despite their offensive rating ranking a measly 26th in this stretch, they at least managed to go 4-2 in the six games in this spell that Edwards was sidelined for and their defense has held strong, ranking seventh in this time and fifth for the season overall.
To potentially make matters tougher for Philly, Embiid still isn’t guaranteed to return either. He’s currently listed as doubtful due to illness, and joins Johni Broome as the only other player on the injury report.
If he returns, Edwards vs. Tyrese Maxey is the show in this one. Edwards is having a monster season, displaying his best scoring yet with career-highs in points (29.3 per game) and overall efficiency (62.1 true shooting percentage). If he doesn’t play, the Sixers will obviously need to shift their focus to the other guards who will pick up most of the ball-handling load. Donte DiVincenzo, Mike Conley and Ayo Dosonmu all see more usage in Edwards’ absence, and the Sixers will be able to load up the paint more against Julius Randle’s drives.
Outside of Edwards, Dosonmu will be the main guard to watch right now. He was a great addition for Minnesota before the trade deadline and he’s averaged 17.1 points on 56.7/50.0/84.6 shooting splits over his last eight games. He’ll be a key assignment for Philly’s guards to keep in check with his blend of shifty driving and finishing, and three-point stroke.
It’ll be fun to see how VJ Edgecombe (make that Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month, VJ Edgecombe) fairs if he gets to match up against Ant, too. The rookie is at a size disadvantage and Edwards is a difficult physical matchup with the power and speed he has, but Edgecombe will be relentless with his own energy and quickness to shift around on the ball and fight past screens.
This isn’t an easy matchup for the Sixers’ frontcourt either. Embiid has always historically got the best of Rudy Gobert, so if Jo’s available and can win that matchup again today that’ll be important. Even if Gobert’s rim protection inevitably makes life a bit more difficult for ball-handlers getting to the rim. However, the Timberwolves have plenty more size at their disposal with Randle and Naz Reid, who’s been one of the NBA’s best backup bigs for years.
Paul George is fresh off his red-hot 39-point outing, and he (plus Dominick Barlow) will need to be ready to bring strong defense against Randle’s drive game and physical interior play. Randle is going to be one of the main players upping their usage if Edwards is out, too. Getting more solid performances from Andre Drummond and Adem Bona would be a big help to secure the boards against Minnesota’s size (they rank 10th in rebound percentage), keep Gobert in check as a lob threat, and handle Reid’s blend of strength, skill and mobility.
If the Sixers are at full force, this is a challenging yet winnable game. Even if Embiid is out, Philly could have the firepower to pull ahead of a Timberwolves’ offense that’s been struggling lately. Maxey and Edgecombe are entering the game in fine form and George is coming off his highest scoring game as a Sixer yet (albeit against a tanking Wizards squad).
There’s a lot riding on the availability of Embiid and Edwards in determining the outcome of this one, though. It’s time to keep an eye on injury reports…
Game Details
When: Friday, April 3, 7:00 PM ET Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 5: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Orlando Magic on March 5, 2026 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The struggle bus will be parked outside American Airlines Center on Friday as the Dallas Mavericks (24-52) host the Orlando Magic (40-36) and both teams limp toward the end of the 2025-26 NBA season. We get through this one, and there are only five more of these things to go. You can do this, Mavs fans.
Hopefully you’ve found something better to do with your Friday night than watch this team play something like basketball, but if you’re still interested, we’ll be there for you with all manner of half-assed game insights and postgame commentary, because we’re completionists if nothing else.
Here are three nuggets to chew on as we prepare for the fresh hell that surely awaits on Friday.
Last time out
Friday’s game is the second and final meeting between the Mavs and the Magic this year. Dallas dropped a baffling 115-114 loss to Orlando on March 5 on a last-second dunk by Wendell Carter Jr. Jalen Suggs hit four 3-pointers for the Magic in that game, including one on the possession before Carter’s decisive jam, in response to Cooper Flagg’s three-point play on the other end that gave the Mavs a 114-110 lead with 38 seconds left.
That game was Flagg’s first after missing nine games with a sprained foot. Flagg scored 18 points and dished six assists on a bad 7-for-22 shooting night, which has become the norm for the rookie lately. Flagg has hit a challenging stretch where he’s had good production, but with a tendency toward inefficiency, caused to some extent by a combination of his rookie-year whistle and the dearth of talent around him on the offensive end.
No one on the Magic roster did much of anything to will the team to the win over the Mavericks. Dallas just crumbled in the third and fourth quarters, as they have many times this year. Tiago da Silva was Orlando’s leading scorer in that game, with all of 19 points.
Freefallin’
The Mavericks’ situation is well documented. Ethical tankers. In the hunt for a pick near the top of the 2026 NBA Draft. Not all that worried about winning, to put it mildly.
The last time these two teams met, on March 5, the Magic were in the middle of a 13-4 stretch, which would run their win-loss record all the way up to 38-28 by March 14. Since then, Orlando has lost eight of 10 games. It’s no coincidence that the Magic started losing soon after guard Anthony Black went down with an abdominal strain. He’s missed the team’s last 14 games, and the duo of Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane has had a tough time keeping the thing together without him. Orlando sits in ninth place in the Eastern Conference as of the start of Friday’s game, still clinging to their play-in positioning. Black has been ruled out of Friday’s game as of Thursday afternoon.
So, don’t count your losses before they hatch, Mavericks fans. Sprinkled in with some losses to good teams throughout the Magic’s last 10 games was a loss to the putrid Indiana Pacers on March 23.
Winnable games remaining
With six games left in the 2025-26 season, Friday’s matchup with the Magic appears to be one of just two winnable games left on the Mavericks’ slate. If your eyes are already on the hefty haul of guards in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft, you’d love for the Mavericks to find a way to gracefully bow out at some point against Orlando.
The Magic have the firepower to do away with the Mavs, sure. But you never know what version of Orlando you’re going to see on any given night. The Magic, much like the Mavs, have a proven ability to lose any kind of game: high-scoring up-and-down affairs as well as the dreaded and plodding race to 100 points.
They should lose the next four, at the Los Angeles teams, at Phoenix and at San Antonio, before having a puncher’s chance again in the season finale against the Chicago Bulls.
The die is cast. The stage is set. The drama will be wanting, but the right results coming home could bear sweet fruit in the future.
The Yankees (5-1) take the field for their home opener today against the surprising Miami Marlins (5-1). Will Warren takes the mound for New York. Eury Perez gets the nod for Miami.
The Yankees opened the season with historically dominant pitching shutting out the Giants in their first two games. In total, they allowed only 3 earned runs in their first 5 games, tying the 1943 St. Louis Cardinals for the fewest in MLB history since 1900. All this without Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon who remain sidelined with injuries.
While pitching has been the key to New York’s early season success, the bats have been the difference-makers for the Marlins. Miami boasts a +15-run differential. Their lineup has scored nine or more runs in three consecutive games.
Lets dive into this afternoon’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Yankees vs. Marlins
Date: Friday, April 3, 2026
Time: 1:35PM EST
Site: Yankee Stadium
City: New York, NY
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, WFOR-TV CBS4, YES
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Giancarlo Stanton has 2 hits in each of the 5 games he has played this season
Cody Bellinger is 6-21 (.286) this season
Liam Hicks has 3 HRs and 12 RBIs in 5 games this season
Owen Caissie is 7-20 (.350) with 8 RBIs
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Top Betting Trends & Insights: Yankees vs. Marlins
The Yankees are 5-1 on the Run Line this season
Miami is 2-4 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 3 times in Miami’s 6 games this season (3-3)
The OVER has cashed 1 time in the Yankees first 6 games (1-4-1)
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Braylon Mullins hadn't hit a 3-pointer in the first 39 minutes and 59 seconds of Connecticut’s Elite Eight game against Duke before Alex Karaban passed the ball to him for the eventual 40-foot game-winning shot with under a second left.
It’s a shot that represented more than a punched ticket to the Final Four in Indianapolis.
"It's like a dream come true, dream scenario, made-for-TV movie or — I guess it goes right to streaming now," UConn coach Dan Hurley said.
Indiana’s Mr. Basketball from last season sent his team back to his home state to compete for a third national championship ring in the past four years.
"You play for those moments," Mullins said after the game. "You dream about that. … That's a one-of-a-kind experience."
It was also a moment that depicted one of the roles the Greenfield, Indiana native has grown into for Hurley’s program this year: reliable and exuberantly confident shooter in key moments.
"This is kind of what I’ve dreamed of, and this is the position that I wanted to put myself in coming out of high school," Mullins told USA TODAY Sports in Philadelphia ahead of the Men’s NCAA Tournament.
On a team of veterans like Karaban, Solo Ball and Tarris Reed Jr., Mullins plays with an edge when he’s making shots, something that was missing from UConn’s roster last year. It’s what has led to gaining the trust and respect from his teammates to not back down from challenging shot attempts.
"It’s just kind of what the game gives you," Mullins said. "I know that I’m going to be put in spots that coach Hurley wants me to be put in and I’m going to shoot what is given to me. I know all my teammates want me to shoot those shots."
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 23, 2026
He backs up this edge and swagger with his stats: 11.9 points and 3.4 rebounds per game while shooting 43.9% from the field. He became the first Big East freshman since Marquette’s Markus Howard to knock down 50 made 3-pointers in the regular season.
"Once he’s hitting (shots), it just opens up everything else for us," Karaban told USA TODAY Sports. "He’s been doing it since the summer, so (I’m) never really going to tell him to turn down a shot."
The Huskies freshman is an impactful piece of the puzzle for much more than his shooting.
He’s able to impact the game defensively with steals and blocks, and then offensively with mid-range shots and playmaking. Pair that with his 3-point shooting, and its recipe for winning basketball. A recent example is UConn’s first round win vs. Furman when he overcame a bad shooting night with six assists, three steals and two rebounds.
Mullins' ability to impact the game in multiple ways has gained Hurley’s respect.
"You don't get far in this tournament unless your freshmen can do that," Hurley said of Mullins' growth in the tournament ahead of the Elite Eight. "He's a three-way player. He's out on the glass. He's a critical threat on offense, but he's also like an underrated defensive player with a maturity about him where, if he goes through stretches of the game where he's not getting shots, not making shots, he keeps playing winning basketball."
"The courage. The young man -- he's a rare human being. A toughness about him... He was due."@UConnMBB's Dan Hurley spoke with @TracyWolfson after Braylon Mullins' dramatic game-winner pic.twitter.com/oS6Pf9wCcV
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 29, 2026
The season hasn’t come without its ups and down for the freshman, though. But his maturity and composure help him provide the missing puzzle piece, too.
"(He’s) special. Super special," Karaban said of Mullins. "His maturity as a freshman, his composure, the way he carries himself, you don’t really typically see it as a freshman. Especially someone who was a McDonald’s All American.
"He’s not asking people for shots. He’s not asking for the ball. He just wants to do whatever the team wants, whatever the team needs to win."
So if it is a key shot (or multiple) down the stretch or impacting the game defensively, Mullins will now look to finish putting the puzzle of a third national title celebration in the past four years together with his teammates in front of the hometown crowd over the next few days.
The first step to that comes Saturday against No. 3 Illinois in the Final Four.
"It's unbelievable to be in the position I am," Mullins said.
It was a disaster for a team that had spent the last month clawing their way up the Western Conference standings with a 16-2 run. They had inserted themselves into the championship contender conversation. Doncic had risen to the forefront of the MVP race.
The Thunder took a pin to those narratives, popping them as though they were nothing but overinflated balloons filled with hot air.
Luka Doncic left the Lakers loss to the Thunder with an injury. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Lakers knew what was on the line against the top-seeded Thunder and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
This was their test to show they were the real deal. But long before Doncic got injured, they arrived for their final exam hungover and without a pencil.
It might seem hyperbolic to claim one game carries so much weight.
But then again, did you watch Thursday’s contest?
In the first quarter, the Lakers were outshot from the field, 63% to 33%, and they had more turnovers (eight) than field goals (five).
In the second quarter, they trailed by as much as 35 points.
Their deficit grew as large as 46 points, their biggest hole of the season.
“They beat the s—t out of us tonight,” said Reaves, who had a team-high 15 points along with four turnovers.
The Thunder emphatically stomped out the Lakers’ roaring flame, reducing all of the hope and excitement of the last month to embers struggling for oxygen.
The Lakers aren’t contenders. And Doncic is not the MVP.
But it gets way, way worse than that.
The Thunder destroyed LeBron James and the Lakers. AP
If Doncic’s injury is serious, LA may not even get past the first round of the playoffs.
And if Doncic misses the team’s final five games, he’ll be disqualified from all NBA awards because of the league’s 65-game threshold. [Doncic has played in 64 games this season.]
That’s right, the guy who’s leading the league in points (33.5), is third in assists (8.3) and sixth in steals (1.6) could’ve gone from trying to surpass Gilgeous-Alexander for the league’s most prestigious individual honor to being wiped off the board entirely in one dreadful evening.
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“At this point, at this juncture of the season, it’s the last thing you want to see,” said LeBron James, who had 13 points, six rebounds and two assists in the second-worst loss of his career. “Especially, anybody on our team. But when you have an MVP candidate on your team, the last thing you want to see is somebody go down with a hamstring injury.”
Thursday was one of those nights that will haunt the Lakers, especially coach JJ Redick.
Doncic was grabbing at his left hamstring in the second quarter. Why the heck did Redick allow him to re-enter a game in which the Lakers were down by 31 points at halftime? Doncic wasn’t going to rescue the team on a night in which he had more turnovers (six) than field goals (three).
JJ Redick during the Lakers loss to the Thunder AP
“We checked him out,” Redick said. “He got work done. He was cleared. I mean, again, we’re not going to put a player at risk. Those things happen.”
Doncic should’ve never played in the third quarter. That was a massive mistake that could have major consequences for a team that was soaring.
It was just one of those nights.
LA had beaten multiple contenders over the last month, including the Rockets (twice), Timberwolves, Knicks and Nuggets.
If they had beaten the Thunder, they would’ve been considered real threats for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. And Doncic’s MVP case would’ve become far more bulletproof.
Instead, they walked away from Thursday’s game mortified and hobbled, like a boxer who fought way above his weight class.
This wasn’t just a bump in the road. It was an unraveling.
It was a nightmare.
But the Lakers don’t get to wake up from this and pretend it never happened.
The Hockey News' main site has revealed the top 10 players from their top 100 NHL-affiliated prospects list. Without any surprise, Philadelphia Flyers top prospect Porter Martone made the cut, as he was given the No. 4 spot.
It is entirely understandable that Martone has been ranked as one of the best NHL-affiliated prospects by THN. The potential for Martone to emerge as a star power forward at the NHL level is there, and it is exactly why Philadelphia selected him with the sixth-overall pick of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
Martone just had an excellent freshman season with Michigan State University, as he recorded 25 goals, 25 assists, 50 points, and 78 penalty minutes in 35 games. After a big season at the collegiate level, Martone signed his entry-level deal with the Flyers and is currently getting his NHL career started.
Martone has had a solid start to his NHL career, as he recorded his first career assist in the Flyers' most recent contest against the Detroit Red Wings on April 2. While he has yet to score his first NHL goal, he already has 14 shots in two games. This included him having nine shots against Detroit, which was the most out of any player on the ice.
As Martone continues to adjust to the NHL level, he should only get better. There is a lot to like about the 6-foot-3 forward's game, and it will be fascinating to see how he grows his game from here.
The New York Islanders continue to be saved by the out-of-town scoreboard as they continue their push toward the playoffs.
After dropping both games of their back-to-backs, the Islanders had to put their faith in the hockey gods on Thursday night before they got the chance to redeem themselves on Friday night against the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Islanders began Thursday's slate holding down the third seed in the Metropolitan Division, with a slim one-point lead over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
They woke up on Friday morning still sitting in third in the Metropolitan Division.
The Blue Jackets got steamrolled 5-1 by the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Flyers, who have to play the Islanders on the second leg of their back-to-back, fell 4-2 to the Detroit Red Wings.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, who sat just three points ahead of the Islanders, fell 6-3 to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Boston Bruins, holding down the top wild-card spot, lost 2-1 to the Florida Panthers.
And finally, the Washington Capitals, who had snuck their way back into the playoff conversation, fell 7-3 to the New Jersey Devils.
Now, we must mention that the Senators, the Red Wings, and the Flyers have all played fewer games than the Islanders. But, we must also mention that games in hand mean nothing unless that team wins them.
If the Islanders are able to beat the Flyers on Friday night -- no other Eastern Conference team is in action-- that will give Long Island 91 points with five games to go, increasing their lead for third place by three over Columbus.
Sam Ersson started for the Flyers, so we'll see if Dan Vladar gets the nod against Ilya Sorokin.
Focusing on the wild-card is still something that has to happen. However, it has always seemed like an "easier" route for the Islanders to finish in the top three of their division than to finish in one of the two wild-card spots.
It's imperative that the Islanders start to help themselves, regardless of how things have gone from their playoff-hopeful competitors.
After playing the Flyers on Friday, the Islanders have to play the Hurricanes in Raleigh on Saturday night. Then they have four off days before four games in six nights to conclude their season.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 28: Andy Pages #44 of the Los Angeles Dodgers waits for a pitch in the seventh inning during a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium on March 28, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/IOS/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Entering the 2026 season, the Dodgers offense on paper consisted of an overwhelming juggernaut of former (and current) MVPs and All Stars, announcing themselves as one of the best lineups in baseball. Six games into the regular season, it has been anything but that.
The Dodgers were nearly shut out twice at home against the Cleveland Guardians after sweeping Arizona to begin the year. They are tied for 20th among all teams in runs scored and at 14th in team OPS. The treacherous trio at the top of the lineup all have batting averages under .200, which features the reigning two-time NL MVP, the Dodgers brand new $60 million right fielder and a four-time World Series champion.
While the focus has been on the struggling offense as a whole, Andy Pages, on the other hand, is having quite a remarkable start to the year. He currently leads the Dodgers in batting average at .429 and leads the team in OPS among all players with at least 10 plate appearances. Although the Dodgers slumped against Cleveland, Pages had multi-hit games in all three contests, including a 3-3 performance in Wednesday’s loss.
Freddie Freeman, though not as drastically as the top three hitters has mired in an early slump, noted that Pages has been hitting well since the beginning of spring training and that the rest of the offense will look forward to picking up the pace during the team’s first road trip, per Doug Padilla of the Orange County Register.
“Andy’s been great since spring training,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said after Wednesday’s 4-1 loss to the Cleveland Guardians. “He’s one of the ones that carried it from spring training into the season. Andy looks good, both sides of the ball. Really happy for him. So hopefully the rest of us can join him on Friday.”
Links
Jim Callis of MLB.com writes about which Dodgers prospects to focus on throughout the 2026 season. Callis named outfielder James Tibbs III as a can’t miss prospect that has the potential to crack the big league roster later in the year.
Tibbs in his first sample size of Triple-A ball has been a force at the plate, as he’s currently tied for second in the Pacific Coast League in batting average while slashing .500/.552/1.192 with four home runs, four doubles, 10 RBI and 11 runs scored over his first six games.
In half of the Dodgers’ first six games, fans have had the privilege of one of the most electric entrances for any pitcher in the game. Flashing strobe lights emerge, the blaring of trumpets engulf the crowd, and new star closer Edwin Díaz becomes the center of attention towards the end of the game.
Both Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernández gave their input on Díaz’s signature entrance, per Katie Woo of The Athletic.
Per Hernández: “Everybody was waiting for that moment,” Hernández said. “I wanted to watch everything: Him coming out of the bullpen and getting all the way to the mound. I’m happy that he’s here now.”
Per Freeman: “When Edwin comes in the game, that means something good’s happening for the Dodgers,” Freddie Freeman said. “So I’m a fan.”
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 28: Chase DeLauter #24 of the Cleveland Guardians reacts with Steven Kwan #38 of the Cleveland Guardians after hitting a home run during the tenth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on March 28, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Guardians had a day off and will open Progressive Field for 2026 against the Cubs at 4:10PM ET today.
You can read about today’s festivities here. Hockey Gold Medalist Milano Cortina will throw out the first pitch.
Brian Hemminger recapped the minor league slate from yesterday which saw all four full-season affiliates play for the first time this season.
Zack Meisel has a great piece out today on Kyle Manzardo’s mom. Justin Lada of Next Year in Cleveland and Locked on Guardians has a great one on his own late dad’s relationship with him and the game. Terry Pluto had a great article sharing fan memories of Opening Day.
Deborah (Nicole) and Quincy did a Disgusting Baseball podcast featuring some hot take predictions for the upcoming season.
Centre wonders if he will play another Test but remains positive as his club side meet Saracens in Champions Cup
There have been some small but significant changes at Bath’s stately home training base at Farleigh House this week. Black flags, to complement their bespoke Champions Cup kit, flutter in the spring breeze and up in reception is the precise number of days and matches left this season should the club keep winning. “Choose Greatness” reads another motivational sign before their last-16 encounter with Saracens on Saturday.
One particular player, though, needs no extra impetus. One moment Max Ojomoh was accepting the man of the match award after a fine display for England against Argentina in late November, the next he was losing his Six Nations squad place. Even if he hadn’t turned up for this interview wearing a tight black bandana on his head, the 25-year-old would still look and sound like a man on a mission.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: A general view of the New York Yankees playing against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on March 27, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
San Francisco Giants baseball is back in the bay this weekend, so it’s time to take a look at what Oracle Park has on deck for fans!
Friday
Friday night will be a special event night for San Jose State University! As always, special events require special event tickets, which fans can purchase here. Special event ticket holders will receive a San Jose State University themed Giants hat and can partake in pre-game festivities.
Saturday
Saturday night will be another Fiesta Gigantes event at Oracle Park, as all Saturday home games will be this season. It will also be Youth Baseball Day at the park, where the first 8,000 fans under the age of 14 will receive a reversible sleeve giveaway.
Sunday
Sunday afternoon will be Golden State Valkyries Day at Oracle Park, where the first 15,000 fans in attendance will receive a Giants jersey in the colors of the Valkyries, the Bay Area’s WNBA team! If you’re heading to that game, I’m extremely jealous because those jerseys look really cool!
If you’re heading out to the park this weekend, have fun! And make sure to share pictures in the comments!
What time do the Giants play today?
The Giants continue their series against the Mets tonight at 7:15 p.m. PT.
