Los Angeles Lakers (45-25, third in the Western Conference) vs. Orlando Magic (38-31, seventh in the Eastern Conference)
Orlando, Florida; Saturday, 7 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles visits the Orlando Magic after Luka Doncic scored 60 points in the Lakers' 134-126 victory against the Miami Heat.
The Magic have gone 22-13 in home games. Orlando is 17-21 against opponents over .500.
The Lakers have gone 22-13 away from home. Los Angeles is 7-2 in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Magic average 115.4 points per game, 0.3 more points than the 115.1 the Lakers give up. The Lakers average 116.6 points per game, 2.2 more than the 114.4 the Magic give up.
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Magic won the last matchup 110-109 on Feb. 25, with Paolo Banchero scoring 36 points in the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Banchero is averaging 22.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and five assists for the Magic. Desmond Bane is averaging 22.3 points over the last 10 games.
LeBron James is averaging 21.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 6.9 assists for the Lakers. Doncic is averaging 38.1 points and 9.2 rebounds while shooting 49.4% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 7-3, averaging 120.6 points, 44.7 rebounds, 27.3 assists, 8.4 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.3 points per game.
Lakers: 9-1, averaging 120.8 points, 41.2 rebounds, 26.7 assists, 8.8 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 50.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.0 points.
INJURIES: Magic: Franz Wagner: out (ankle), Wendell Carter Jr.: day to day (rib), Anthony Black: out (abdomen), Jonathan Isaac: out (knee).
Lakers: Maxi Kleber: day to day (back).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Los Angeles Clippers (34-36, eighth in the Western Conference) vs. Dallas Mavericks (23-47, 13th in the Western Conference)
Dallas; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Dallas takes on Los Angeles looking to end its 10-game home slide.
The Mavericks have gone 12-30 against Western Conference opponents. Dallas has an 8-25 record in games decided by at least 10 points.
The Clippers have gone 21-23 against Western Conference opponents. Los Angeles has a 17-25 record against opponents above .500.
The Mavericks average 10.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.7 fewer makes per game than the Clippers allow (13.4). The Clippers are shooting 48.3% from the field, 0.9% higher than the 47.4% the Mavericks' opponents have shot this season.
The teams square off for the third time this season. The Mavericks won the last meeting 114-110 on Nov. 30, with Cooper Flagg scoring 35 points in the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Naji Marshall is shooting 52.1% and averaging 15.1 points for the Mavericks. Flagg is averaging 16.8 points over the last 10 games.
Kawhi Leonard is scoring 28.2 points per game and averaging 6.4 rebounds for the Clippers. Darius Garland is averaging 2.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Mavericks: 2-8, averaging 109.4 points, 45.9 rebounds, 26.0 assists, 6.9 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 123.2 points per game.
Clippers: 5-5, averaging 119.5 points, 39.0 rebounds, 24.2 assists, 11.1 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 50.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.3 points.
INJURIES: Mavericks: Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Caleb Martin: day to day (foot), Kyrie Irving: out for season (knee), Brandon Williams: day to day (head).
Clippers: Darius Garland: day to day (toe), Yanic Konan Niederhauser: out for season (foot), Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), Kawhi Leonard: day to day (ankle), Bennedict Mathurin: out (toe).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Philadelphia 76ers (38-32, ninth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Utah Jazz (21-49, 14th in the Western Conference)
Salt Lake City; Saturday, 9:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia 76ers take on the Utah Jazz in non-conference play.
The Jazz are 13-22 in home games. Utah ranks third in the Western Conference with 16.3 fast break points per game led by Lauri Markkanen averaging 3.3.
The 76ers are 18-16 on the road. Philadelphia is ninth in the Eastern Conference allowing only 116.1 points while holding opponents to 47.0% shooting.
The Jazz's 13.0 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.4 fewer made shots on average than the 13.4 per game the 76ers give up. The Jazz average 115.6 points per game, 9.2 fewer points than the 124.8 the Jazz allow.
The two teams match up for the second time this season. The 76ers defeated the Jazz 106-102 in their last meeting on March 5. Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 25 points, and Keyonte George led the Jazz with 30 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Kyle Filipowski is averaging 10.6 points and 6.9 rebounds for the Jazz. Ace Bailey is averaging 3.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Dominick Barlow is shooting 53.9% and averaging 8.3 points for the 76ers. Justin Edwards is averaging 1.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Jazz: 3-7, averaging 114.8 points, 43.0 rebounds, 26.9 assists, 10.0 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.2 points per game.
76ers: 5-5, averaging 111.0 points, 42.5 rebounds, 23.9 assists, 9.3 steals and 6.4 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.5 points.
INJURIES: Jazz: Lauri Markkanen: out (ankle), Brice Sensabaugh: day to day (illness), Isaiah Collier: day to day (hamstring), Keyonte George: out (leg), John Konchar: day to day (quad), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder), Jusuf Nurkic: out for season (nose), Jaren Jackson Jr.: out for season (knee).
76ers: Tyrese Maxey: out (finger), Johni Broome: out (knee), Joel Embiid: out (oblique), Kelly Oubre Jr.: out (elbow).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Indiana Pacers (15-55, 15th in the Eastern Conference) vs. San Antonio Spurs (52-18, second in the Western Conference)
San Antonio; Saturday, 8 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: San Antonio will look to keep its four-game win streak alive when the Spurs take on Indiana.
The Spurs are 27-7 in home games. San Antonio ranks fourth in the Western Conference with 16.1 fast break points per game led by Devin Vassell averaging 2.7.
The Pacers are 5-30 in road games. Indiana is 7-35 against opponents over .500.
The Spurs are shooting 48.0% from the field this season, 1.0 percentage point lower than the 49.0% the Pacers allow to opponents. The Pacers average 13.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.1 more makes per game than the Spurs allow.
The teams square off for the second time this season. In the last meeting on Jan. 3 the Spurs won 123-113 led by 24 points from De'Aaron Fox, while Pascal Siakam scored 23 points for the Pacers.
TOP PERFORMERS: Victor Wembanyama is scoring 24.3 points per game with 11.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists for the Spurs. Fox is averaging 20.4 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 53.0% over the last 10 games.
Siakam is averaging 24 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists for the Pacers. Jay Huff is averaging 1.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Spurs: 9-1, averaging 123.6 points, 47.7 rebounds, 30.6 assists, 5.9 steals and 6.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.2 points per game.
Pacers: 0-10, averaging 110.2 points, 39.2 rebounds, 28.6 assists, 6.7 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 124.9 points.
INJURIES: Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle), Stephon Castle: day to day (hip).
Pacers: Pascal Siakam: day to day (knee), Micah Potter: day to day (triceps), Johnny Furphy: out for season (knee), Ivica Zubac: day to day (head), Andrew Nembhard: day to day (calf), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles), Obi Toppin: day to day (foot).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Milwaukee Bucks (28-41, 11th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Phoenix Suns (39-31, seventh in the Western Conference)
Phoenix; Saturday, 10 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Phoenix aims to end its four-game losing streak when the Suns play Milwaukee.
The Suns have gone 22-13 at home. Phoenix is the worst team in the Western Conference scoring 42.6 points per game in the paint.
The Bucks are 12-22 on the road. Milwaukee has a 16-26 record in games decided by 10 or more points.
The Suns are shooting 45.3% from the field this season, 1.6 percentage points lower than the 46.9% the Bucks allow to opponents. The Bucks are shooting 47.9% from the field, 0.9% higher than the 47.0% the Suns' opponents have shot this season.
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Suns won the last meeting 129-114 on March 11, with Devin Booker scoring 27 points in the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Booker is averaging 25.8 points and 5.9 assists for the Suns. Jalen Green is averaging 22.3 points and 3.2 assists over the past 10 games.
Ryan Rollins is scoring 16.8 points per game with 4.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists for the Bucks. Bobby Portis is averaging 14.7 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 48.7% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Suns: 5-5, averaging 112.9 points, 41.7 rebounds, 25.8 assists, 8.4 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 45.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.4 points per game.
Bucks: 2-8, averaging 106.2 points, 39.2 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 7.5 steals and 3.0 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.5 points.
INJURIES: Suns: Grayson Allen: day to day (knee), Dillon Brooks: out (hand), Mark Williams: out (foot), Haywood Highsmith: day to day (knee), Royce O'Neale: day to day (knee), Amir Coffey: day to day (ankle).
Bucks: Kevin Porter Jr.: day to day (knee), Giannis Antetokounmpo: out (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 13: Tomoyuki Sugano #11 of the Colorado Rockies delivers a pitch during a spring training bullpen at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 13, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Kyle Cooper/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images)
Tonight, the Colorado Rockies welcomed the San Francisco Giants to Salt River Fields. In a high-scoring game, the Rockies lost, 14-11. For more game information, click here.
Let’s start with postgame comments from manager Warren Schaeffer:
Starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano also spoke with the media following the game:
And here are some game highlights for your viewing pleasure, especially since there were neither television nor radio feeds to follow.
The Vancouver Canucks picked up their 39th loss of the season as they fell 6-2 to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Vancouver received goals from two of their Swedish forwards as Liam Öhgren and Linus Karlsson found the back of the net. As for Kevin Lankinen, he stopped 24 of the 30 shots he faced in the loss.
Thursday night was a good example of how far away the Canucks currently are from some of the league's best. The Lightning controlled the game all night and demonstrated why they are a favourite in the Eastern Conference. While it was only a one-goal game after the first, it was no surprise that Tampa Bay skated away with a victory.
"A team that we inspire to be, said Jake DeBrusk post-game when asked about the Lightning. "They play together always. I remember playing against them, even playing playoffs against them, but obviously got some different guys now. But yeah, they play as a group. And, you know, they have the results for a reason. And you know, like I said, that's something that we need to get to."
One of Vancouver's main issues in this game was protecting the front of the net. Tampa generated plenty of traffic in front of Lankinen, resulting in three goals scored from just outside the crease. Post-game, Head Coach Adam Foote spoke about the defensive issues that plagued his team on Thursday.
"Yeah. I mean, if he gets there, you can't be double-screen," said Foote. "We talked about that every day. And sometimes you lose your positioning, or where you are. I mean, you know, the one screen, the guy gets there, it could be from out of the corner. We talked about extending coverage. We didn't extend. They move the puck, you get beat to the net. So it's a fly-by screen, so things like that. It's just they take advantage of that. That's what NHL players do. They take advantage of little things like that. And, you know, we've got to learn from that quickly and hold our ground. And you know, these mistakes have to stop. You know, I call it extended coverage. One, two, three, you're not getting easy ice. We called the timeout because it looked like we kind of got a little bit rattled. I think the one where Kucherov called the reverse, and we got hemmed in our end instead of moving it forward. You don't want to bring it back against a savvy team like that, a veteran team. But also with Kucherov on the ice, you want to make sure you're playing North."
Mar 19, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen (32) reacts as Tampa Bay Lightning forward Anthony Cirelli (71) celebrates his goal in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
In the end, Thursday's loss goes into the learn and move category. The only real takeaway was that the Canucks have a long way to go before they are competitive again. Thursday was also a reminder of how good Nikita Kucherov is, as his three-point night puts him at 114 points on the season.
Stats and Facts:
- Brock Boeser ties Tony Tanti for ninth all-time in franchise history for points
- Jake DeBrusk led the team with five shots on goal
- Filip Hronek led all players in ice time at 23:55
- Aatu Räty led all players in hits with six
Scoring Summary:
1st Period:
17:37- TBL: Jake Guentzel (30) from Charle-Edouard D'Astous and Ryan McDonagh
2nd Period:
00:49- TBL: Darren Raddysh (18) from Nikita Kucherov and Anthony Cirelli 4:16- TBL: Yanni Gourde (9) from Darren Raddysh and Pontus Holmberg 5:31- TBL: Nikita Kucherov (38) from Erik Cernak and Anthony Cirelli 12:06- VAN: Liam Öhgren (7) from Brock Boeser and Marco Rossi
3rd Period:
7:04- VAN: Linus Karlsson (13) from Marco Rossi 7:35- TBL: Anthony Cirelli (17) from Brandon Hagel and Erik Cernak
Up Next:
The Canucks continue their homestand on Saturday when the St. Louis Blues visit Rogers Arena. These two teams have already played twice this year, with each picking up a road win. Game time is scheduled for 4:00 pm PT.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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After ending their five-game road trip 3-1-1, the Los Angeles Kings (28-24-16) returned home tonight to host the Philadelphia Flyers (33-23-12), but their loss today once again showed why they can't be trusted at Crypto.com Arena.
The Kings are now 10-15-8 at home this season with their loss today to the Flyers, and even though they had a good road trip, losing against a shorthanded team that was playing a back-to-back tonight is not a good sign.
Los Angeles had a great first period, once again showing good defense early on, holding Philly to three shots, and scoring the first goal to lead 1-0 after 20 minutes. The Flyers looked like a team playing on a back-to-back early, barely generating anything while the Kings dominated possession, but they picked up steam as the game progressed.
But the second period, which has been a struggle for Los Angeles all season, continued tonight, giving up three goals in the period, only the fourth time in 12 games that the Flyers have scored more than two goals in regulation time since coming out of the Olympic break.
The sloppy play, which allowed too many rush chances and led to errors, cost the Kings tonight against a shorthanded team.
A very winnable game for the Kings after a bad second period, they came back and forced overtime, but couldn't win the shootout, resulting in a heartbreaking loss in their return home.
The opening period was a quiet one until the final minute, when, off a Flyers turnover, Alex Laferriere found Quinton Byfield, who created space to score for Los Angeles, giving them a 1-0 lead to end the first.
Once again, LA outshot its opponent in the first period 6-3, played with great energy, defense, and forechecking, and looked poised to win after two days of rest.
However, the second period was something else. Both teams traded goals within the first 40 seconds of the period. Philadelphia got things started just 23 seconds into the second, tying the game 1-1 after converting on the slot with traffic in the middle.
The Kings, however, countered the Flyers. 21 seconds later, Anze Kopitar buried the rebound after Brandt Clarke missed the shot. Kopitar converted and gave the Kings back their lead.
The Flyers didn't go away, though, once again putting pressure on the Kings. Philly tied the score after a scramble in the crease. Darcy Kuemper attempted to cover it but failed.
The replays showed that it was a loose puck, and LA decided not to challenge the call and played on.
The Flyers pulled ahead a few minutes later to take their first lead of the night after Travis Sanheim scored from the center point through traffic. Kuemper was without his stick on the play, allowing Sanheim to pull the Flyers ahead with a shot.
Los Angeles had trouble protecting the puck in the second period and made too many errors, giving the Flyers rush chances to convert. Despite it being an even shooting period, with both teams taking 11 shots, Philly was the much better team.
LA made a push in the final period, and it was Breadman, Artemi Panarin, who scored the first power-play goal for the Kings at the 9:32 mark to keep the Kings alive.
It was a quiet third period for the Flyers. Los Angeles did a good job bringing back the energy they were playing with earlier in the game, and outshot the Flyers 6-4, allowing zero goals.
Los Angeles forced overtime, where neither team could get a shot up. Despite LA controlling the puck for much of the possession, they struggled to generate offense, forcing a shootout.
In the shootout, the Kings would lose both rounds, while the Flyers converted both times, defeating LA to split the season series 1-1.
Key Notes
Despite the Kings getting a point tonight, it's a heartbreaking loss because the Edmonton Oilers, Seattle Kraken, and San Jose Sharks all lost tonight, which would've created more separation for the Kings in the standings. But now they have a small lead over the Sharks, Seattle, and Nashville for the final playoff spot.
Overall, this was a very inconsistent game for the Kings. They played a great first period, an ugly second period, and came back in the third, but couldn't close out the game when it mattered most.
Artemi Panarin finished with one goal, one assist, and two points, scoring that clutch goal in the third period to force overtime. Anze Kopitar got a standing ovation from the home crowd after his historic achivement a few nights ago on the road, finishing with one goal tonight.
The Kings will continue their two-game home stand on Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres at 1:00 PM PT.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
SEATTLE, WA - JUNE 12: DJ Peterson, 12th round draft pick of the Seattle Mariners, looks on during batting practice prior to the game against the Houston Astros at Safeco Field on June 12, 2013 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What a silly, precisely Spring Training baseball game. In celebration of the Mariners’ six-run seventh inning, we’re going to play six degrees of Kevin Bacon but with a Mariners twist (duh). I bandied about six degrees of Jerry Dipoto (yawn), six degrees of Jack Zduriencik (grim and boring) and six degrees of Alex Mayer (compelling, but not enough publicly available information). Ultimately, I settled on six degrees of Diego Seguí, because that seemed challenging but also a nice tie-in to the Mariners 50th celebration this season (the only player to have played for both the Mariners and the Pilots). A few additional parameters for my own sanity:
The connections must be through individual players, not just teams or geographic entities.
The connections can be statistical though, not just teammates.
When possible, try not to take the easy road.
Not every Mariner who played in tonight’s game needs to be included.
Randy Dobnak: First MLB strikeout was Roberto Pérez in 2019; Pérez didn’t allow a passed ball in 118 games at catcher – only three catchers played more games without a passed ball: Bill Dickey, Johnny Bench and Al Todd; Johnny Bench helped lead the Cincinnati Reds to the 1975 World Series title thanks, in part, to securing a crucial Game 5 win, wherein Bench scored on a Dave Concepción sacrifice fly given up by Diego Seguí.
Randy Arozarena: Was traded from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Tampa Bay Rays alongside José Martínez; Martínez was the 2016 Serie del Caribe MVP; the Dominican League hosted the tournament that year and dedicated it to Hall of Famer Juan Marichal, who threw out the first pitch; Marichal was teammates on the 1974 Red Sox with Diego Seguí.
Mitch Garver: Played for the University of New Mexico alongside D.J. Peterson, where the two shared Mountain West Conference Player of the Year honors in 2012; when Peterson was hit in the face by a pitch while playing for the Clinton LumberKings in 2013, Alvin Davis, then a roving minor league instructor for the Mariners, accompanied him to the hospital; Davis, of course, was the 1984 Rookie of the Year, where he played alongside such luminaries as Larry Milbourne; Milbourne, whom the Mariners traded for twice, despite him being objectively quite bad at baseball, played on the 1977 Mariners with Diego Seguí.
Brock Rodden: Helped the 2023 Modesto Nuts, led by manager Zach Vincej, to the California League Championship; Vincej played just one game for the Seattle Mariners in 2018, when he went 2 for 4 at third base while Kyle Seager was on the paternity list for the birth of his third child; Seager made his big league debut for the Mariners in 2011, where he was coached by hitting coach Chris Chambliss; Chambliss, famously a Yankee, was scouted heavily – and drafted unsuccessfully twice over – by Cincinnati Reds scout Al Zarilla; Zarilla was in Tucson, Arizona in 1958 where he scouted and successfully convinced the Athletics to sign Diego Seguí.
Box Office Bonanza
The game was not televised (to my knowledge), but I understand some of you may be interested in the actual baseball game played tonight, not just my newest method of entertaining myself. Here are the key notes best I can discern:
Good job Garver, Arozarena and Rodden on having two hits apiece tonight! You won the baseball game, and also the honor of being featured in this weird recap.
Bad job Cal Raleigh for contributing 4 of the team’s 15 strikeouts (good thing it doesn’t matter, and that he also hit a very far double).
Okay job, pitchers! Dobnak got the start (and the bonus weird recap glory) and allowed four hits over 3.2 innings, with no walks and two Ks. Jason Ruffcorn and Reese Lumpkin (absolutely and for sure a real human person (can you tell I haven’t watched much Spring Training?)) turned in scoreless innings, and Dane Dunning gave up a double, threw a wild pitch and allowed the runner to score on a clunky groundout, but otherwise remained solid over three innings. They get only an “okay” from me, because though a six hit, four run, one walk, seven strikeouts game is objectively solid, it is also quite boring when none of it matters. Sorry.
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 19: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers is interviewed after the game against the Miami Heat on March 19, 2026 at Kaseya Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Not all wins are created equal and Thursday’s was no ordinary victory for the Lakers.
There’s a level of seriousness that came with that performance that separates good teams from great teams. Everything about this performance screamed schedule loss.
The team had an emotional win in Houston just 24 hours earlier. They then flew from Texas to Florida and didn’t arrive at the hotel until after 5 a.m. That LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves all played was surprising enough.
But they did more than just show up. Even if it was against a Miami team that borders unserious in their own right, the Lakers had a lot stacked up against them and responded in a big way.
The Lakers are rolling, Luka is in a groove not seen by a Laker since Kobe Bryant and the wins are stacking up at a rapid rate now.
So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
Playing in this game was impressive enough for a 41-year-old. But then he broke his own record as the oldest player with a triple-double. Bringing this level of energy and efficiency and execution on the second night of a back-to-back in year 23 is the latest list of unparalleled accomplishments.
A lot of performances went under the radar in this one because of, well, Luka. Smart was a useful safety valve on a number of possessions, highlighted by him getting to the line nine times.
Bam Adebayo didn’t score 83 points on him, so it was an impressive defensive display. In reality, it was a fairly pedestrian showing from Ayton after a string of strong ones.
Speaking of pedestrian games, Reaves put up another one on Thursday. He’s been a bit too hot and cold of late. Having said that, it’s been three straight cold games now in the last four days.
Well, what else can you say? It’s the first 60-point game by a Laker since Kobe Bryant’s finale. After helping keep the Lakers afloat in the first half, a supercharged second half helped them race ahead.
He is in some kind of rhythm right now that is incredible to watch and brings back lots of memories of Kobe. Scoring 100 points inside of 24 hours rightfully brings those comparisons.
Grade: A+++
Luke Kennard
13 minutes, 2 rebounds, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3PT, -5
This is five games in a row now with Kennard being a relative non-factor offensively. In that span, he has four field goals.
Grade: D
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A nice LaRavia that also came on an efficient shooting performance tacked on, though it featured nearly fouling out, too.
Grade: B+
JJ Redick
After one quarter, I wondered if this game could use a boost from someone like Jarred Vanderbilt or Adou Thiero to add some energy. The Lakers didn’t end up needing it, but it was a surprise that Redick didn’t really expand his rotation. This road trip isn’t going to get any less exhausting, so introducing some more players feels like it has to happen at some point.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Nikita Kucherov and Anthony Cirelli each had a goal and two assists and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the NHL-worst Vancouver Canucks 6-2 on Thursday night.
Kucherov moved into sole possession of second place in the NHL scoring race with 114 points, one behind Edmonton’s Connor McDavid. Tampa Bay is second in the Atlantic Division, four points behind Buffalo.
Jake Guentzel, Darren Raddysh, Yanni Gourde and Brandon Hagel also scored for the Lightning, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 19 saves for his NHL-leading 32nd victory.
Liam Ohgren and Linus Karlsson scored for Vancouver, and Kevin Lankinen stopped 24 shots.
Guentzel opened the scoring late in the first period to become the third Lightning player to reach 30 goals this season, after Kucherov and Hagel.
After establishing position at the net front, Guentzel tipped a shot from the top of the zone by Charle-Edouard D’Astous over the glove of the screened Lankinen.
Less than a minute into the second, Raddysh made it 2-0 with a big one-timer. Gourde followed with a tip of Raddysh's shot at 4:16, and Kucherov deflected the puck off the leg off a Canucks defenseman and into the net for his 38th of the season at 5:31.
Ohgren scored for Vancouver with 7:54 remaining in the second, putting in a low shot,
In the third, Karlsson batted the puck over Valisevskiy. Twenty-two seconds later, Cirelli restored the Lightning’s three-goal edge, then Hagel capped the scoring with his 32nd.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 19: Ace Bailey #19 and Blake Hinson #2 of the Utah Jazz talk during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 19, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With most of their rotation players out, the Utah Jazz likely expected to drop one to a Bucks team that played the roster meant to convince Giannis Antetokounmpo to stay in Milwaukee. Utah ended up beating the Bucks 128-96. Probably not the best thing for the Bucks to prove to Giannis that he can win there.
The best player on the floor was Ace Bailey, who scored a career high 33 points with 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Bailey is turning into a real weapon for the Jazz, who are doing everything they can to add one more top-8 pick in the upcoming draft. Bailey continues to get better and better every night showing more and more to his game. Not only is Bailey’s shooting getting more and more efficient, but he’s also showing great defensive chops with 3 steals and 1 block in this game. Not only that, his 4 assists are a sign of a burgeoning ability to playmake for others. Utah has a chance to win the lottery again after this season, but they appear to have a young star already from last year.
Ace Bailey wasn’t the only player to shine, Cody Williams is also improving night after night. He’s improving in all aspects of his game, especially with his scoring. Williams had 23 points in the first half and looked completely comfortable all night, scoring on the hapless Bucks. Williams was a fantastic 10/15 from the field and 1/2 from three, but also dished out 5 assists. Night after night, it’s getting clearer and clearer that Williams is becoming a core part of the future and a player that Utah was right to draft at #10.
Kyle Filipowski continues to show he can be a positive contributor, although he’s got to find a way to improve on defense. It may not be something he can ever do, but it’s the one thing that is going to keep him from being a consistent rotation player.
Finally, there has to be a huge shoutout to the Utah Jazz front office for finding some nice players from the G-League. Blake Hinson, who is on a two-way contract, has been a lights-out shooter for the Jazz, and tonight was no different. Hinson shot a blistering 4/7 from three, and it looks like something he should be able to replicate in the years to come. Andersson Garcia has had a nice defensive presence for the Jazz since joining. Tonight, he played all 48 minutes and played with high energy all game. I’m not sure that Garcia will be on the Jazz next season, but he’s proven he’s a player worth looking at and bringing into their development system. He could be a potential fit down the road.
It’s not a good night for the Jazz in terms of tanking for the lottery, it likely puts the 4-spot out of reach, but it was a night where you got to see the future of the Jazz in Ace Bailey and Cody Williams, and that future is looking bright.
Mar 19, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Vj Edgecombe (77) celebrates with center Andre Drummond (1) during the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images | Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
2025-26 Sixers Bell Ringer season standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 22 Joel Embiid – 9 VJ Edgecombe – 9 Paul George – 6 Justin Edwards – 4 Kelly Oubre Jr. – 4 Quentin Grimes – 3 Jared McCain :’( – 3 Dominick Barlow – 2 Andre Drummond – 2 MarJon Beauchamp – 2 Adem Bona – 1 Cam Payne – 1 Jabari Walker – 1 Trendon Watford – 1 15th roster spot – 1
The Sixers took care of business in Sacramento, defeating the Kings 139-118 and bouncing back from Wednesday’s blowout in Denver.
The Sixers treated fans who stayed up to watch with an extremely strong offensive performance, including a couple of career nights against the lottery-chasing Kings.
One of the toughest choices for Bell Ringer this season, so have at it.
Edwards opened the game on fire, making three from deep, a post fadeaway and a tough layup to bring him to 13 points with just four minutes elapsed in the first quarter. Then he started diming up teammates, specifically VJ Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes. He tallied four assists in the first half.
His fifth three, occurring in the fourth quarter, gave him his career high in points with 26. He added his sixth three later in the frame to give him a career high in makes from deep, and knocked his seventh down after lulling the defender to sleep. The Philly native notches his first career 30-point night.
Edgecombe was the driving force for the Sixers’ offense once Edwards cooled off, scoring from everywhere on the floor. He started with a couple threes in the first following a nice floater to begin scoring. He got his teammates involved and got repaid with a nasty alley-oop finish in transition in the second quarter. He also showed off his improvement in the midrange with a pair of mirrored pull-up midrange shots over a good contest.
He finished a fastbreak dunk after a Dominick Barlow block to help fight off the ghosts of third-quarters past. He snake finished through the defense for an easy two in close midway through the third. He made a beautiful spin fade after drawing help. He spent the rest of the quarter penetrating the defense at will.
He added another layup at the onset of the fourth, then hit two threes and a layup to give him a new career high with 38 points. His 11 assists provided him his fifth double-double of his career.
He is now the fourth Sixers rookie to notch 30 points and 10 assists, joining Allen Iverson, Ben Simmons and Jared McCain
Grimes was the Sixers leading scorer at halftime thanks to strong drives and savvy finishes at the rim. It was not like the Kings deployed the stingiest rim protection, but Grimes did not settle for poor shots when better ones were available. Only two of his eight makes came from outside the paint in the first half and he did not hit his first three until just before halftime.
He added a three early in the third quarter, and another one a few possessions later to keep trading buckets with the Kings amidst inconsistent defense to begin the second half.
Bona was pivotal in stopping the Kings from taking a larger lead after the Lowry-equipped bench lineup swiftly gave the Sixers lead up. He successfully thwarted multiple dunk attempts at the rim, and was a force on the boards, notching 10 rebounds by halftime.
LaMonte Wade Jr. got the party started early, launching a two-run shot to right in the first. | (John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
Game 1
The White Sox split their doubleheader on Thursday, and in Game 1, the Good Guys did just enough to walk away with a 4-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Despite a bit of an early wobble and a whole lot of frustration against a familiar face, they held on for the W.
Davis Martin’s outing started rough. The righthander got tagged in the first inning, giving up two runs on two hits and two walks before things threatened to spiral. Enter Jairo Iriarte, who came on with two outs to bail out Martin, though not without a little extra drama, issuing a walk before punching out Kristian Robinson to close the door on the inning.
Because Spring Training rules allow, Martin trotted back out for the second and looked much more like himself. He worked around a one-out walk and then cruised through the third and fourth innings with minimal fuss, allowing just one additional free pass. His final line: 4 2/3 innings, two hits, two runs, four walks, and three strikeouts. The outing lands squarely in the “not great, not terrible” bucket. Even if the command wasn’t exactly crisp, it was a good sign that he was able to regroup.
From there, the bullpen did its job and then some. Ryan Borucki kept things quiet in the sixth, Brandon Eisert danced around a couple of singles in the seventh, and Lucas Sims worked through traffic in the eighth without incident. Chase Plymell brought a little flair to the finish, striking out the side.
For the Friars, former South Side righty Michael Soroka looked like he had a personal vendetta. He absolutely carved through the Sox lineup, allowing just one hit and one walk over five dominant innings while racking up eight strikeouts. Whether it was revenge, motivation, or just one of those days, Chicago’s bats had no answers early. (I’m not saying Soroka read the game thread, but I’m also not not saying it.)
Eventually, though, the tide turned as the Good Guys finally broke through in the sixth against Brandyn Garcia. Andrew Benintendi got things started with a one-out double, and Colson Montgomery followed with a grounder that should’ve ended the threat, except that old friend Jacob Amaya had other ideas, misplaying it just enough to let Montgomery reach and Benintendi score.
Then came the avalanche-by-walk. Munetaka Murakami and Edgar Quero drew back-to-back free passes to load the bases and chase Garcia. With Ryan Thompson now on the mound and the count sitting at 2-2, Chase Meidroth delivered the big swing of the evening, ripping a line drive single to left that brought home Monty and Mune. Just like that, Chicago flipped a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead.
The Sox tacked on an insurance run in the eighth when Austin Hays hit a two-bagger, and then Meidroth doubled him home, and suddenly the margin felt a bit more comfortable at 4-2.
It certainly wasn’t the most aesthetically pleasing game early on, but the boys showed some resilience by surviving the early mess, breaking through late, and letting the bullpen lock it down.
Game 2
This one was fun, until it wasn’t. The White Sox jumped out early but couldn’t hold anything resembling momentum, eventually getting steamrolled 13-6 in a game that went from promising to unraveling to full-on tire fire.
Things actually started pretty great. Everson Pereira led the first off with a single, and after two quick outs, LaMonte Wade Jr. absolutely demolished a homer to right.
Derek Hill followed with a base hit, swiped second, and came around to score when Sam Antonacci lined a single. Just like that, Sox up 3-0 before the Padres even picked up a bat. You take that 10 times out of 10.
Then came the first “wait, what?” moment of the night.
Jonathan Cannon was originally slated to start, but instead, Adisyn Coffey took the ball with zero explanation on the broadcast. Coffey promptly gave the lead right back, getting tagged for three runs in the first, highlighted by a two-run shot from old friend Gavin Sheets. Sheets finished the night 3-for-5, because of course he did. Revenge game? Revenge game.
The Sox nudged back ahead in the second thanks to a little chaos. Ramón Laureano completely whiffed on what should’ve been a routine fly ball, gifting Pereira a double. Tristan Peters had walked to start the inning and moved to third, then Miguel Vargas brought him home with a sac fly. Sox back on top, 4-3.
For a brief moment, things stabilized. Tyler Schweitzer worked around a leadoff walk to Fernando Tatis Jr. in the third, striking out Jackson Merrill before Manny Machado bounced into a double play.
And then the fourth inning happened.
Ben Peoples came on and got absolutely ambushed: five singles, a walk, and an error from Derek Hill all piled up into a mess that turned a Sox lead into a 6-4 deficit in a hurry. Peoples recorded just one out before being pulled, and while Frankeli Arias managed to finish the frame, the damage was already done.
To their credit, the Sox didn’t fold immediately. In the fifth, Curtis Mead and Wade went back-to-back with two outs, each launching a solo shot to knot things up at 6-6. Tie game, new life, maybe something brewing.
Also happening in that same inning was the Padres broadcast somehow asking Manny Machado if playing in the World Baseball Classic gets “funner and funner,” which… sure. Spring Training for everyone, I guess.
The game drifted into a lull after that, with both teams trading quiet innings. The Sox had a golden opportunity in the eighth, loading the bases, but, in keeping with the theme, couldn’t cash in. Runners in scoring position remained an unsolved puzzle for the South Siders as they went 1-for-6 on the night.
Next up: the meltdown.
Eric Adler took the mound in the bottom of the eighth and immediately lost the plot. He walked the bases loaded, and then Jake Cronenworth cleared them with a double to blow the game open at 9-6. Adler exited without recording an out, and things somehow got worse. Luke Bell entered and gave up a ground-rule double, then Ty France put the exclamation point on the disaster with a two-run homer. Seven runs, just like that, and any hope of a comeback was long gone.
Then, the Sox went quietly in the ninth, and that was that.
A tale of two games in one day: one where the Sox bent but didn’t break, and one where they absolutely shattered. Spring training, baby.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Karel Vejmelka stopped all 28 shots he faced for Utah, while Vegas counterpart Adin Hill was chased after allowing three goals without making a save in the Mammoth's 4-0 victory over the Golden Knights on Thursday night.
Vejmelka had his second shutout of the season and eighth in five NHL seasons to help Utah move six points ahead of Los Angeles for the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The Mammoth built on a 6-3 home victory over Dallas on Monday night that snapped a four-game losing streak.
Third in the Pacific Division, the Golden Knights lost their second straight to finish a homestand 2-2. It fell apart quicky for Hill.
Clayton Keller scored from close range on Utah’s first two shots on goal and Jack McBain followed on the third. Barrett Hayton scored into an empty net with 48 seconds to go to cap the scoring.
Keller pushed his season goals total to 22. The U.S. Olympian took a feed from John Marino and knocked one in off Hill from the left side at 2:52, then got the puck on a rebound off the boards and put it in from the right side at 6:05.
McBain connected at 8:12 to end Hill’s night, taking Barrett Hayton’s pass on a break and scoring on a wrist shot from the high slot.
Akira Schmid took over in goal for Vegas, stopping all 14 shots he faced.
Lawson Crouse assisted on Keller’s second goal and fought Vegas’ Jeremy Lauzon in the second period.
