Thursday night, Bam Adebayo and the Heat got to feel what it's like being on the other side against a red-hot player.
The Lakers' Luka Doncic — already the league's leading scorer — was getting M-V-P chants while on the road in Miami as he dropped 60 points on the Heat in one of the best outings of his career. "I think every player wants to hear it," Doncic said of the chants, via the Associated Press. "I got a lot of goosebumps, so it was pretty special."
Maybe the wildest thing about this is he did it on the second night of a back-to-back after the Lakers won in Houston on Wednesday. Doncic was 9-of-17 from 3-point range, 15-of-19 from the free throw line for the night.
The Lakers won 134-126, their eighth straight win, as they have jumped up to a solid third in the West.
This game was LeBron James' 1,611th regular-season game in his career, tying Hall of Famer and Celtics legend Robert Parish's all-time NBA record.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Rookie VJ Edgecombe scored a career high 38 points with 11 assists, Justin Edwards was 7 of 11 from 3-point range and finished with 32 points, and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Sacramento Kings 139-118 on Thursday night.
Quentin Grimes scored 27 points as the 76ers ended a five-game road losing streak and won for the fourth time in their last six games playing without their two biggest stars — Joel Embiid (strained right oblique) and Tyrese Maxey (finger).
Embiid has missed 11 straight games but coach Nick Nurse said he has been making progress.
Edwards shot 11 of 18 from the field overall and went 3 for 3 from the line.
Maxime Raynaud led the Kings with 30 points and Daeqwon Plowden had 20. Dylan Cardwell had 14 rebounds. For the Kings, it was their third loss in their last five games.
Philadelphia shot 50% from the field overall and 47% from 3-point range, compared to 38% from deep for Sacramento.
The 76ers took the lead for good with 3:08 remaining in the second quarter. The score was 71-62 at halftime, with Grimes scoring 20 points. The 76ers extended their lead to 114-91 during the fourth quarter, fueled by a 16-2 scoring run.
The Kings Malik Monk left the game with an injured right shoulder and did not return.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 19: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs talks to the media after the game against the Phoenix Suns on March 19, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For most of the night, it felt like the San Antonio Spurs were stuck in place — running hard, but going nowhere. The ball clanged off the rim more often than it swished through. Possessions grew tense, deliberate. Across the floor, the Phoenix Suns moved with the confidence of a team in control, building a lead that hovered, then stretched, then threatened to break the game open entirely.
By the middle of the fourth quarter, the Spurs were down double digits. The crowd inside the Frost Bank Center grew restless, a low murmur replacing the earlier buzz. It had the feel of a long night nearing its inevitable end.
But basketball games, especially strange, stubborn ones like this, don’t always follow the script.
It started with defense. A stop that forced Phoenix deeper into the shot clock. Then another. Suddenly, the Suns’ rhythm, which was so steady all night, began to wobble. The Spurs pushed the tempo, not recklessly, but urgently. De’Aaron Fox sliced into the lane with purpose, absorbing contact and finishing through it. Each drive felt like a spark, something to ignite a team that had been searching for life. Earlier, Collin Gillespie had kept San Antonio at bay, knocking down three after three, each one a small act of resistance to the Spurs’ attempt at getting back into the game.
But then, those efforts began to go around the rim and out. San Antonio continued to get stops and make shots. The deficit shrank. Ten became seven. Seven became four. The noise inside the arena swelled again — cautious at first, then rising with each possession. You could feel belief creeping back in, possession by possession.
Still, the Suns had their chances. Rasheer Fleming stepped to the line, the kind of moment a rookie lives for. But on this night, nothing came easy when the man at the line shoots 57 percent. He missed free throws left the door open, just enough for San Antonio to slip through.
One final possession. One final chance. Mitch Johnson called timeout to advance the ball and there was little doubt who would have the ball in his hands with the game on the line. The ball found Victor Wembanyama — as if it had been destined to all along when he was drafted just three years ago. It was only fitting that Wemby had the chance to return the Spurs to playoff glory.
“I’m happy for the city, the community, and organization,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said of clinching the team’s first playoff berth since 2019. “To be a part of that process is rewarding.”
There was a stillness in the moment. No rush, no panic. Just Wembanyama, rising above the defense, his long frame creating space where there seemed to be none. The shot — a soft, controlled pull-up — left his hands as the clock neared zero.
For a split second, everything held its breath. Then the net snapped as the ball went through.
“It’s very fun. We hadn’t had this type of situation in awhile. It was a test and we passed it,” Wembanyama said. “It was a meaningful game and close to the playoffs, this was a good test right now.”
With just over a second remaining, the Spurs had flipped the entire night on its head, stealing a 101-100 victory from a game that had seemed lost. Teammates swarmed Wembanyama. The arena erupted, the earlier tension replaced by a roar that shook the building.
He finished with 34 points and 12 rebounds, but numbers felt almost secondary. This was about presence. About timing. About the growing sense that when the game tightens and the lights get brighter, the Spurs have someone who can bend the moment to his will.
For this young Spurs team, this win felt like more than just another mark in the standings. It felt like a turning point for the present and their future, the kind you remember later, when close games stop slipping away and start becoming something else entirely.
“It feels good, it feels like a long time coming,” Keldon Johnson said of clinching the playoffs. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else or do it anywhere else but here…this is a special group that we have. And I am blessed to be a part of it.”
Game Notes
Phoenix is one team that’s been a thorn in the Spurs’ side all season, officially splitting the season series 2-2. But in all four games, the Suns have been a solid team against San Antonio. If this is the first round matchup, it’ll be juicy.
Stephon Castle’s perimeter defense was missed against Devin Booker, who scored 22 points on the night. However, even without Castle defending him, he only shot 8-for-21 for the game.
If this is the Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox we’re getting in the postseason, the Spurs will continue to surprise people. And they will go further than many are expecting.
The San Jose Sharks were back in action on Thursday night as they hosted the red-hot Buffalo Sabres in the two teams’ final meeting of the regular season. The Sabres had a dominant victory during their last meeting with the Sharks, winning 6-3. As a result, the Sharks were looking to avenge their previous performance.
The Sharks were buzzing early on, maintaining quite a bit of offensive pressure and limiting dangerous chances on the rush. Kiefer Sherwood nearly gave the Sharks an early lead five minutes into the game when his shot from the slot forced Buffalo’s goaltender, Alex Lyon, to stretch across the crease to make the save. The game started off very fast paced, going all the way to the first TV timeout before there was a stoppage of play.
Roughly nine minutes into the game, Alex Nedeljkovic got his first major test of the night when Jack Quinn and Jason Zucker each had a chance. Nedeljkovic denied Quinn’s shot, before Macklin Celebrini blocked Zucker’s follow-up chance.
Alex Wennberg took the Sharks’ first penalty of the night 11 minutes into the first period, when he high-sticked Tage Thompson. The Sharks killed off the penalty.
Macklin Celebrini got a breakaway chance with roughly six minutes remaining in the first, but was hauled down by the Buffalo defense. To the dismay of the SAP Center crowd, no penalty was called on the play.
A couple of minutes later though, the Sharks would get their first power play of the net when Zucker was called for high-sticking. Celebrini danced through the weakened defense to generate the Sharks’ best scoring opportunity of the power play, but Lyon was able to stonewall him, keeping the puck out of the net.
After 20 minutes, the game remained deadlocked at 0-0. When the second period started, the Sharks were without a key player, as Tyler Toffoli was ruled doubtful to return.
The Sharks got their second man advantage of the night when Owen Power took down Pavol Regenda in the corner, almost a quarter of the way through the middle frame. Nothing came of the man advantage, as the Sabres killed it off fairly easily.
Will Smith nearly gave the Sharks the lead around the halfway point of the game, as with 12 minutes remaining in the second period, he hit the crossbar. Sherwood had a solid scoring chance moments later, but was denied by Lyon.
Noah Ostlund gave the Sabres the lead with 10:55 remaining in the second, scoring off a rebound. The initial shot was taken by Josh Doan, the puck then hit the boards behind Nedeljkovic and bounced right to Ostlund. Sam Carrick added a second Sabres goal just 36 seconds later.
The Sabres’ captain, Dahlin, joined the goal-scoring party to make it 3-0 just over a minute later.
As the second period neared its end, the Sharks caused a major net-front scramble. While it seemed like the Sharks couldn’t be denied, Lyon and the Buffalo defense found a way to shut the door.
The Sabres’ three goals in the second period came on just three shots, showing that the Sharks were suppressing shots fairly well, but the ones that they did give up were quality chances. Buffalo carried their three-goal lead into the second intermission.
On the Sabres’ first shot of the third period, Tage Thompson would score a five-hole goal to make it 4-0. As a result, the Sabres had scored a goal on four straight shots.
As time ticked away, the game started getting a bit more chippy. Around the halfway point of the period, Vincent Desharnais and Sam Carrick started going at each other, with Carrick eventually knocking off the giant Sharks defenseman's helmet.
Barclay Goodrow was called for slashing with 6:20 remaining in the game, giving the Sabres an opportunity to extend their lead even further. The Sharks penalty kill remained perfect though, killing off the penalty with little cause for concern.
Sam Carrick would score one final goal for the Sabres, making it 5-0 late in the third.
The Sabres would ultimately walk away victorious with a 5-0 victory over the Sharks. The Sharks will be back in action on Saturday, as they’ll host the Philadelphia Flyers in a matinee game with a 1 P.M. puck drop.
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 19: VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 19, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Don’t look now, but they’ve won three of their last four!
The Sixers blew out the Sacramento Kings 139-118 Thursday night.
They are 38-32, a big win given big losses by the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat earlier in the night.
Reaching 30 points for the first time since his NBA debut, VJ Edgecombe cruised past that to put up a career-high 38 points and 11 assists, shooting 16-of-27 from the floor. It’s the most a Sixer has put up as a rookie since Tyrese Maxey. Justin Edwards went for a career-high as well, finishing with 32 points going 11-of-18 from the floor and 7-of-11 from three.
Quentin Grimes dished out seven assists as well while putting up 27 points on 10-of-20 shooting. Maxime Raynauld led the Kings with 30.
Joel Embiid was originally listed as doubtful for this one and was eventually ruled out for his 11th straight game with an oblique strain. Tyrese Maxey (finger sprain), Paul George (suspension), Kelly Oubre Jr. (elbow strain) and Johni Broome (meniscus tear) remained out.
Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.
First Quarter
Neither team put the clamps on early, but no one took better advantage than Edwards, who made five of his first six shots of the night. He came out gunning from behind the arc, and was about the only player to meet the resistance at the rim on a drive but hit a nice spin move to get around it.
Of course Sacramento started just as well offensively. They made nine of their first 11 field goals just like the Sixers. Rather than just getting right to the basket their drives resulted in wide open dump-offs for both of their bigs.
Edgecombe and Grimes each helped the Sixers spread the ball around as the team went for 10 assists in the quarter. The flashiest assist though went to Edgecombe on a big alley oop in transition. He nailed a pull-up jumper to tie the team’s highest scoring quarter this year at 45 and give the Sixers a 12-point lead.
The mostly bench unit had a very rough go of it to kick off the second, giving up that lead entirely early in the quarter. The offense went ice cold while the zone they sat in as a result of a Cam Payne-Kyle Lowry backcourt got beat by three after three.
The offensive struggles became team wide, as their start from the field in the second got as bad as 1-of-15. They were frankly lucky the Kings weren’t able to punish them more in this stretch. Nearly every player on the court took place in a sequence like this.
An insanely fast-paced and collision-filled 20 seconds of action with nothing either team can show for it pic.twitter.com/wtOlbDyyn4
Edgecombe hitting a couple fadeaway jumpers by the block gave the Sixers some sense of stability. Grimes got under control with his drives, hitting a couple slick finishes before nailing a much-needed three off the catch. Adem Bona was able to complete one of those solo fast breaks for a dunk and a putback a few possessions later, helping the Sixers get back up nine at the break.
Third Quarter
Grimes and Edwards remaining consistent only buoyed the Sixers to start the half. Raynaud was an imposing force all night. Bona tried his best pushing him around but he needed every bit of strength to match the height disadvantage.
Even after throwing a very errant lob pass, it was shaking out as a very solid night for Edgecombe as the primary ball handler again. His go-to shots, especially the little fadeaway, routinely got the Sixers out of ruts.
Edgecombe had seven assists to this point as well, and perhaps his best read of the night hadn’t fallen on a skip pass to MarJon Beauchamp for a corner three attempt. A simple bounce pass from him was enough to hit Andre Drummond for his third three of the night as the Sixers lead jumped up to their largest of the night at 18.
Fourth Quarter
Edwards’ performance had understandably become overshadowed, but a couple of three-point plays got him quickly back on track. Not only did burying a three set his new career-high, but it set Edgecombe’s career-high in assists. For the starters at least, it was just one of those nights offensively.
This team was really in no position to nitpick — they needed an easy win no matter who the opponent. This was their first win by 11 points or more in nearly a month, back on Feb. 22 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Alana King’s impressive return to the national T20 side has created a selection dilemma ahead of Australia’s T20 World Cup campaign in the United Kingdom.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 10: General view as relief pitcher Kenley Jansen #74 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fourth inning of the MLB spring training game at Camelback Ranch on March 10, 2021 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Record: 12-13-1. Change on 2025: -1. 5-inning Record: 9-15-2.
The Diamondbacks’ five-game unbeaten streak came to an end tonight at Camelback Ranch. But it wasn’t without merit. In particular, an excellent outing by starting pitcher Michael Soroka, who was almost untouchable in his first start back from the World Baseball Classic. He went five scoreless innings, allowing just one single and a walk, while striking out eight. However, he didn’t get the win, being undone by a three-run sixth off Brandyn Garcia and Ryan Thompson. To be fair, all three runs were unearned, due to a error by 2B Jacob Amaya. But Garcia still retired only two of six batters faced. Jonathan Loasiga was charged with the sole earned run in the eighth.
Arizona got all their productive offense out of the way early, scoring both runs in the top of the first. Pavin Smith opened the scoring with an RBI single. He stole second and was walked in later in the frame. Jorge Barrosa and Amaya each had two of the Diamondbacks’ six hits, as well as a walk. Gabriel Moreno drew three walks, and also stole a base himself. Remember that tomorrow will see another evening game – this one was changed from the original day game due to the expected high temperatures. It therefore gets under way at Salt River Fields at 6:10 pm, with Zac Gallen the scheduled starter for the D-backs.
Ziaire Williams is a generally optimistic guy. Always a smile and positive vibes. Earlier this week, speaking to NetsDaily at a Special Olympics event at the Brooklyn Basketball Training Center, the 24-year-old was asked about the Nets future.
“We have something very special brewing here in Brooklyn. A year or two from now we’ll be in the mix for the playoffs and winning a lot more games,” he said when asked about the Nets situation. “I’m trusting the front office and our GM Sean Marks. Shoutout to Joe Tsai as well for believing in me and trusting in me as well. We have a bright future ahead.”
Of course, things are nowhere near that level of success at the moment and the 6’9” Stanford product admits it’s uncertain whether he’ll still in Brooklyn when that happens.
“If I can end my career here, I would be more than happy and grateful,” Williams said. “But it is out of my control so I just try to stay present in the moment and try to make as much of an impact that I can.”
Williams has a $6.3 million team option next season, a reasonable deal and he’s played well this season. On the other than, Brooklyn’s roster is going to be fluid over the next year and a half.
In his two years with Brooklyn, “Z” has played well enough as a bench 3-and-D to warrant the team option. In 112 games, 52 starts, he’s averaged 9.8 points in 22 minutes per game on shooting splits of 43/33/84. In his two years in Brooklyn thus far, Williams has had his best scoring seasons while playing the most minutes since being drafted at No. 10 by the
His biggest issue is consistency but he’s had his moments and he loves his head coach and staff.
“We definitely have built a great relationship over the two years I have been here. Jordi is a great coach, his office doors are always open, and he is always looking for feedback,” he told ND about Jordi Fernandez. “As a part of the leadership group of our team, it is my responsibility to bring all of our problems to Jordi. That has resulted in a great bond.”
He also talked about his community service. This week it was a practice session of the New York Wildcats who are currently preparing to play in the 2026 Special Olympics USA games this summer in Minnesota. The event was sponsored by UnitedHealthcare, Special Olympics New York and the office of Brooklyn Borough President.
“I love everything about this man, I feel like both basketball and helping out others are my purpose in life,” Williams said. “I’m always really appreciative to be a part of events like this.
“Sharing the court with these athletes is an incredible honor. Their commitment, teamwork, and love for the game inspire me, and I’m excited to support them as they get ready for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games,” he added.
Williams, who came with some members of his family, was very hands-on, helping out with the drills and showed support to each of the young athletes as well as each camp staffers as they tried to get better with their skills.
As we all know, the Nets’ season has not gone as smoothly as the Wildcats’ practice. Brooklyn currently holds a 17-52 record in the Eastern Conference. With many of the losses being bad ones, including their last matchup with the OKC Thunder, it can be detrimental for a young player to want to continue to be a part of that franchise. But Williams’ attitude is uplifting.
Filip Forsberg recorded his 30th goal of the season as the Nashville Predators picked up a critical playoff race win over the Seattle Kraken, 3-1, on Thursday at Bridgestone Arena.
It's the first time Nashville has won back-to-back games since Feb. 2, tying them with Seattle for the final Wild Card spot. The Kraken have the tiebreaker with more regulation wins.
Ryan Ufko opened the scoring, netting his second goal of the season off a one-timer feed from Brady Skjei to make it 1-0 Nashville in the first period. It was Ufko's fourth point in five games.
Seattle responded in the final two minutes of the opening period as Frederick Gaudreau tipped in a cross-ice feed from Chandler Stephenson to tie the game.
In the second period, Jamie Oleksiak was called for interference on Steven Stamkos, putting the Predators on the power play. Ryan O'Reilly scored the game-winning goal, putting away a Forsberg rebound to make it 2-1 Nashville.
Forsberg iced the game on an empty net goal with a little over a minute left in the game to record his sixth 30-plus goal season and the third straight season he's put up that tally.
Justus Annunen picked up the win, making 25 saves on 26 shots. His start was unexpected as Juuse Saros was ruled out due to a day-to-day, upper-body injury, which was sustained in the morning skate.
Milwaukee Admirals goalie Matt Murray was called up at the last minute and arrived in the middle of the game to back up Annunen.
If the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks both lose in regulation tonight, the Predators will be in a three-way tie for the final Wild Card spot. A win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday would push them over the threshold.
DENVER, CO - APRIL 04: MLB baseballs for the Colorado Rockies batting practice before the opening day game against the Athletics in the inning on opening day at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado on Friday, April 04, 2025. (Photo by Andy Cross/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) | Denver Post via Getty Images
Every year, the Purple Row staff makes predictions for the upcoming Colorado Rockies season. We predict the 162-game record; division and league winners; and MVP, CY Young and Rookie of the Year winners.
For a third year in a row, we’d like you to join us in the fun! You can view your predictions from last year here.
We will still post our own staff predictions, and in a separate post, we will share predictions from you — our valued community members!
Please fill out this survey by Monday, March 23 at 11:59pm MT.
As an update for this year, we have made some questions optional (namely about the AL awards), but please answer to the best of your ability! If you don’t have an answer, feel free to put “N/A” or “I don’t know.”
Now, as James Dalton says in that cinematic masterpiece Roadhouse, “Be polite!” We’ll share the most interesting answers on Opening Day!
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 28: Carlos Lagrange #84 of the New York Yankees smiles during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 28, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: As we wrote yesterday afternoon, the Yankees made the “difficult decision” to option top pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange. The 22-year-old fireballer has been the standout pitcher across all of spring training, posting a 0.66 ERA in 13.2 innings with 13 strikeouts thanks to a fastball that averages triple digits and has topped out at 103 mph. Lagrange — the Yankees’ No. 2 prospect according to MLB Pipeline — might justifiably feel disappointed with the decision despite just 16 appearance above A-ball, but he’s certainly opened the major league coaching staff’s eyes with his performances this spring, Aaron Boone not ruling out an opportunity for Lagrange to impact the big league club this season, whether that be in the rotation or out of the bullpen:
“He’s definitely got everyone’s attention. I love where he’s at. I would not be surprised if he is impacting us early, middle, later part of the season … I can just tell you, we’re all very excited about his continued development and what we think he could mean to our team at some point.”
ESPN: The World Baseball classic was a resounding success, setting broadcast and attendance records as Venezuela beat Team USA to secure their first ever WBC crown. However, with MLB teams restricting the availability of several big name players in the final, calls have been made to adapt it into a midseason tournament. Six nations are already slated to participate in Olympics baseball in Los Angeles in 2028, those games taking place during an extended All-Star break, and the WBC could follow that model in the future. Commissioner Rob Manfred is said to be pondering whether to continue to stage the WBC every three years or make it ever four years, his decision impacted by the possibility of a short turnaround from the Olympics in July 2028 to the WBC in spring training 2029.
San Francisco Chronicle | Susan Slusser: Opening Day at Oracle Park is just five days away, with Netflix carrying the exclusive broadcast of the Yankees against the Giants. It’s the streaming service’s first foray into live baseball, and they’ve just announced that they’ve landed Barry Bonds as an analyst for the pregame and postgame shows alongside anchor Elle Duncan and fellow former big leaguers Albert Pujols and Anthony Rizzo. The all-time home run king has been reticent to speak publicly since his retirement, so several around the industry are viewing this as a major coup.
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: Max Fried will be the Yankees’ Opening Day starter and feels encouraged with where he’s at. He gave up three runs on five hits in five innings against the Orioles in his final spring tune-up, and maintains that he’s actually glad to have struggled in the outing than have it be a walk in the park. He received valuable feedback about which of his pitches and locations were working vs. those that need to be tweaked. This will be the fourth time Fried has been named Opening Day starter, the previous three occasions coming with the Braves.
MLB Trade Rumors | Darragh McDonald: Paul DeJong has an upward mobility clause that would allow him to opt out of his minor league contract with the Yankees, but the veteran shortstop declared that he will not exercise that option and is happy to try to win a roster spot. DeJong has an opportunity to force himself into the shortstop conversation with Anthony Volpe recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and major league incumbent deputies José Caballero and Oswaldo Cabrera better suited for utility roles. DeJong is a one-time All-Star and has a 30-home-run season to his name, but was replacement level last season with the Nationals and is batting .194 with a 94 wRC+ in 12 Grapefruit League appearances.
Jan 29, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) drives on Atlanta Hawks forward Corey Kispert (24) in the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The good news for the Houston Rockets is that they can now move on to another opponent after getting swept twice at home by the Los Angeles Lakers.
The bad news is that their next opponent, the Atlanta Hawks, have won 11 games in a row and look quite mighty these days. And if you’d like more bad news, this is the first game of a back-to-back where Houston next opponent, the Miami Heat, will be rested and ready.
This homestand was clearly going to be supremely important to Houston, but they were dealt kind of a bad hand. The Pelicans came in playing really well, the Lakers were on a five-game winning streak and had finally found themselves, the Hawks are obviously red-hot, and the Heat have won seven of their last ten games too. In reality, the Rockets needed to get out at 3-2 or 4-1, and they certainly couldn’t drop two to the Lakers. Now, they’ll have to try to salvage what’s left.
Houston did finally seem to have some answers against the double teams that were sent at Kevin Durant. Those strategies will be tested once again versus a Hawks squad with much better perimeter and on-ball defenders than the Lakers employ.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 08: Aaron Civale #45 of the Athletics pitches against the Los Angeles Angels during of a spring training game at Las Vegas Ballpark on March 08, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Athletics defeated the Angels 7-4. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The A’s dropped the night contest against the Seattle Mariners on Thursday, blowing a late lead in front of an A’s Spring Training record-breaking 10,876 crowd to secure the loss with one week exactly to go until Opening Day. Good thing these games still don’t count quite yet, but dropping a game where we went with our starting lineup and our starting pitcher struck out 11 isn’t a great sign.
A’s, Mariners trade early zeros
Right-hander Aaron Civale was on the mound for the A’s in what was his final tune-up start before the start of the regular season. The Mariners meanwhile countered with minor league acquisition Randy Dobnak, who is likely ticketed for Triple-A thanks to a stacked Seattle starting rotation.
Both righties traded zeros for the game’s first three innings. The A’s didn’t manage anything against Dobnak during that time while Civale escaped a small jam in the second before striking out the side in the bottom of the third.
A’s attack first
Now going through the second time through the lineup the advantage shifted to the Athletics. Back-to-back doubles from Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers put the A’s on the board to kick off the scoring and the A’s weren’t done there. An RBI knock off the bat of Brent Rooker brought in the second run of the frame for the Athletics and they scored their third thanks to a passed ball by the Seattle catcher. That would be all the damage the A’s would do for the inning but that would be enough… for now.
The A’s did have a slight scare in the fifth when left fielder Tyler Soderstrom was hit in the knee by a changeup during his at-bat, but it seems the A’s dodged a major bullet just a week before camp breaks as he stayed in the game to run the bases (but was later pulled out on defense for Carlos Cortes).
Seattle strikes back
Civale, now given a bit of a lead to work with, retired the next six batters he faced, going on cruise control for the rest of his night. He’d end his day after six full shutout frames and reaching 81 pitches. He also racked up an impressive 11 punchouts to go with zero free passes. By the looks of things from tonight, the righty looks ready and a full-go for the regular season. There’s been some pessimism about Civale taking a spot away from someone young and exciting like Gage Jump, but could he surprise fans this coming year?
Time for the bullpen to hold things together for three more innings. Mark Kotsay decided to turn to another right-handed pitcher in JT Ginn. The righty began his camp with two scoreless appearances but had gotten knocked around in his previous two entering tonight. In this matchup against the Mariners it was the latter Ginn that we got.
Seattle was all over him from the start. He didn’t do himself any favors plunking the first batter he faced but he was going to get lit up tonight anyway. Two outs, five hits, and another plunked batter later it was 6-3 Seattle. In the blink of an eye the 3-run lead had flipped and became a 3-run deficit. Ginn would not be able to finish the inning, getting chased by the back-breaking bases-clearing double off the bat of Cal Raleigh. Fellow righty Brooks Kriske mopped things up for Ginn and got the A’s out of the frame.
The A’s were now shell-shocked. And they weren’t able to snap themselves out of it in time. They managed to push across a small-ball run in the bottom of the eighth but not much else. Elvis Alvarado and Jack Perkins did their job not letting the lead expand but it was too much for the lineup to overcome. The A’s brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth but couldn’t get the big hit to keep this game going as they dropped their 15th game of spring.
Well, not a great way to end an evening spring game but still some major positives to dwell on. Civale looked on fire out there and solidified his spot as the #3 in the rotation. Lawrence Butler went 1-for-2 with a walk as he continues his hurried prep for the season. Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers will give pitchers problems at the top of the batting order.
We do it all again tomorrow with another night cap, this time against the Chicago Cubs. They’ll be set to send right-handed vet Jameson Taillon to the bump for them in what’ll be his final tune up before camp breaks. Meanwhile the A’s have yet to announce who they’ll send to start tomorrow’s game. Any guesses?
When their 2025-26 season began, outside expectations for the Pittsburgh Penguins were - as everyone knows at this point - not exactly glowing.
Many assumed that they would likely finish around where they did last season as the league's ninth-worst team. Many also assumed that things would look more bleak than that and that they'd end up a lottery team in contention for the Gavin McKenna sweepstakes. And, there were some believers who thought that this team would be chasing a wildcard spot in the stretch run of the season.
No matter where people found themselves on the spectrum of hope for the Penguins this season, very few predicted what has actually come to pass: this being a very good hockey team that is not only in a playoff spot with some situational advantages but also - potentially - a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.
As of Mar. 20, the Penguins sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 84 points, eight points back of the division-leading Carolina Hurricanes and one point up on both the Columbus Blue Jackets and the New York Islanders - the second of which is out of the playoff picture. Although things are close, the Penguins currently have the tiebreaker on both teams, and they are positioned ahead - meaning a playoff berth is all within their control.
And there are many figures and data points that suggest this team may just be one of the league's best.
For one, they are tied for seventh in the NHL in points and points percentage, which goes to show that they're earning their way to the upper-half of the league's playoff picture. There are also only five NHL teams with more regulation wins than Pittsburgh (29), and the only two teams with fewer regulation losses than Pittsburgh's 18 are the Colorado Avalanche (13) and the Dallas Stars (15).
In addition, they're 5-16 in overtime and shootouts, two non-traditional formats that have cost the Penguins some points. If they had earned two points in even half of their overtime/shootout contests, they'd have 5-6 additional points and would be two points shy of Carolina for the division lead.
But, hypotheticals aside, there are some tangible numbers that suggest this Penguins' team could, in fact, be a real contender this season.
Coming into tonight’s games, Pens are THE ONLY NHL TEAM ranked in the Top 10 in every one of these datapoints:
They are the only NHL team with both special teams units in the top-five
The Penguins know all too well that poor special teams can crush playoff hopes. Two seasons ago, they had the league's 30th-ranked power play and missed the playoffs by one point, so a power play goal here and there probably would have gotten them to the postseason.
Now? Their power play is ranked fourth in the NHL at 25.1 percent - and has pretty much been in the top-five all season long - and their penalty kill is even better at 84.2 percent, which is good enough for second in the league to only the Chicago Blackhawks (84.7 percent).
Having good special teams is a key advantage down the stretch and into the playoffs, especially because penalties generally aren't called with the same frequency or regularity in the playoffs as they are in the regular season. So, the ability to capitalize on the man advantage and kill off opposing power plays in the playoffs is a big one.
Their special teams can help them get to the postseason, and they would certainly help within it, too.
Their goals-for per game and goals-against per game are both top-10
Pittsburgh is both scoring goals at an elite rate and preventing them.
Their goals-for per game rate of 3.44 ranks sixth in the NHL, while their goals-against per game (2.94) ranks 10th. The influx of finishing ability is a massive development for this team, which has struggled to score in the past several seasons, and the goaltending and the defense have improved this season to the point that the Penguins have become a top-15 team in the league defensively at five-on-five.
At the end of the day, the puck in the back of the opposing net is a good thing, and the puck in your own net is a bad thing. The Penguins are coming out on the right side of both things.
Their shots for and shots against numbers are solid
Producing shots on goal and preventing them is also, typically, a measure of a good team.
The Penguins are eighth in the league in shots-for per game (29.1), and they are 12th in shots-against per game (27.4). And in terms of their offensive attack, not only are the Penguins generating a lot - according to Moneypuck, they are seventh in expected goals for per 60 (2.67) - they are also making it very difficult for opposing goaltenders and defenses.
They are the NHL’s fifth-best team in high-danger shots for (152), meaning they are getting a ton of good looks. They are also finishing on a fair amount of those looks, as Pittsburgh is ninth in the NHL in shooting percentage at 10.19 percent.
However, on the other end of the spectrum, the Penguins have surrendered the sixth-most high-danger shots against (147) in the league, behind only one current playoff team in the Boston Bruins. Of course, they will have to surrender less of those dangerous scoring chances if they want to both make the playoffs and make a run, but their goaltending has been good and timely enough to stymie a good chunk of those.
Sidney Crosby (right) and Anthony Mantha are the top-two team leaders in shooting percentage and are also top-two in goals on the team. Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
They have the seventh-highest goal differential in the league
The Penguins' goal differential has been pretty high all season long, at times squeaking into the top-five. Right now, it is seventh-best at plus-25, and - well - the only teams ahead of them are the six teams ahead of them in the league standings.
That's a pretty good indicator that - like the six teams ahead of them - they are simply a good hockey team. After the Penguins at 7, the goal differential order gets a little jumbled, as the 17th-ranked (points-wise) Utah Mammoth are behind the Penguins at eight (plus-23), and the 13th-ranked Ottawa Senators are behind them at nine (plus-18).
The Penguins' goal differential numbers track with the teams above them, as the top-seven teams in the league are clearly the most consistent teams across the board.
Their PDO indicates that what they’re doing is sustainable
Many folks point to PDO - personal discouragement outcomes - as an indicator of how lucky a team is getting as well as whether or not what they’re accomplishing is sustainable. PDO combines team shooting percentage and team save percentage to determine this, so a high PDO (above 100) typically correlates with a team relying on good goaltending and high shooting percentage, while a low PDO (below 100) shows they can’t rely on either and are getting very unlucky.
Well, the good thing for the Penguins is that they find themselves in the middle of the pack. Their PDO (100.67) is 12th in the NHL, and they’re right in the vicinity of other teams who are chasing them, including the Blue Jackets (13th) and the Islanders (16th).
Four of the five teams at the top of the list in PDO are four of the top-five teams in the NHL points-wise, which includes the Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Colorado Avalanche and Buffalo Sabres. So, pure shooting talent as well as goaltending talent does play a role here, as these teams have benefited tremendously from high save percentage and shooting percentage.
The Penguins seem to be in that perfect sweet spot where they’re good enough in both departments to the extent where getting a timely save or finishing aren’t problems - like they have been in the past - but where they aren’t necessarily reliant on either for their success.
While the Men's 2026 NCAA Tournament continues Friday, March 20, we already have 16 teams on to the second round.
Eight games will kick off the second round of March Madness on Saturday, March 21. Two top seeds in Duke and Michigan will be in action, as well as double-digit seeds that pulled off upsets in Texas, VCU and High Point.
Game times and TV assignments for Saturday's second round were announced late Thursday night ET. Here is the schedule for the first day of the second round, as well as what network it will air on.
