At multiple points during both losses to the Penguins and Sabres, you thought the Islanders might at least get a point or more. In each case, things shifted suddenly and maddeningly.
They wake up still in a playoff spot, but also still with their biggest competitors for that spot having a game or two in hand. Pittsburgh is now three points ahead with a game in hand, giving them the lead on home ice for a 2 vs. 3 matchup should the Islanders hang on.
The gap between the Isles and the Canadiens and Bruins has likely widened too far, so they pretty much need to claim the Metro third spot or final wild card spot or else, with several other teams also in the running. Their six remaining games include two against the automatic-loss Hurricanes, so there’s that, too.
But things change quickly in the bubble of teams that only kinda deserve to be in the playoffs; there are surely more turns, surprises and frustrations in store over the next two weeks.
Islanders News
Yet again, the Islanders were in position to get some much-needed points only to fritter it all away. [LHH | Newsday]
The AHL has approved relocating the Isles’ affiliate from Brideport to #makeitseven Hamilton. [Newsday]
The Skinny: Thursday will be a big night on the schedule as some of these games-in-hand are (momentarily) used. [Isles]
Elsewhere
At least scores last night largely broke in the Islanders’ favor…the Senators, Red Wings, Blue Jackets and even the Flyers all lost in regulation. Pittsburgh won, but that was the price of a Red Wings regulation loss. Tonight’s schedule is just three games, all of the Westerly variety.
Goalie fight! Pretty good one, too, in Rangers vs. Devils. [Post]
The Leafs have fired GM Brad Treliving and the Kyle Dubas Choir is enjoying their victory lap. [Athletic-Mirtle | Athletic-Segal]
Elliotte Friedman says there were even discussions of extending Treliving or maybe keeping him in a different role… [Sportsnet]
After picking up a crucial two points in a 4-3 overtime victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday, the Winnipeg Jets are within striking distance of what once seemed like an impossible playoff push. Winnipeg now sits just one point out of a wild card spot, turning a late-season surge into a legitimate postseason bid.
Since returning from the Olympic break, the Jets have been one of the hottest teams in the league, earning points in 14 of their last 18 games and posting a 10-4-4 record over that stretch. Their ability to keep games close has been a defining factor, allowing them to steadily climb the standings while other contenders have stumbled.
Among the teams battling for the final wild card positions, Winnipeg holds a subtle but important edge as they have the best goal differential at minus-15, significantly better than the current holders of those spots, the Nashville Predators at minus-26 and the next closest contender with the Jets in the Los Angeles Kings at minus-27.
Despite the momentum, the path to the playoffs remains complicated as Los Angeles controls its own destiny with what is considered the easiest remaining schedule in the league. The Kings also have two pivotal head-to-head matchups against Nashville, games that could dramatically reshape the standings.
The Predators, meanwhile, face a demanding stretch run in addition to their games against the Kings as they must take on the San Jose Sharks and the Utah Mammoth, both of whom are still part of the playoff picture. Nashville’s schedule becomes even more daunting with upcoming matchups against the Minnesota Wild and two games against the Pacific Division leading Anaheim Ducks.
Winnipeg’s road is no easier as they will need to maintain their strong play against direct competitors like San Jose and Utah while also navigating a series of tough games against top-tier opponents. Their remaining schedule includes clashes with the Dallas Stars, Columbus Blue Jackets, Vegas Golden Knights, and the surging Philadelphia Flyers.
According to MoneyPuck, Winnipeg’s playoff odds currently sit at 15.6 percent. While those numbers remain modest, they reflect a team that has given itself a real chance down the stretch. If the Jets can sustain the level of play they have shown over the past 18 games, their late-season push may yet become one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent memory.
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AUSTIN, TX - DECEMBER 6: Head Coach T.C. Swirsky of the Memphis Hustle speaks to his players during an NBA G-League game against the Austin Spurs on December 6, 2024 at H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Jacob Gonzalez/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Capital City Go-Go have regularly been a playoff team in the NBA G League. Currently they have a 19-17 record and will begin their playoff journey by facing off against the Cleveland Charge later today.
However, some of the coaches on Go-Go head coach Cody Toppert’s staff will not return. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, assistant coach TC Swirsky willl leave the team to join the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury as an assistant coach on Nate Tibbetts’ staff.
Washington Wizards G League assistant coach TC Swirsky is joining the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury as an assistant coach on the staff of Nate Tibbetts, league sources told @hoopshype. Swirsky was previously head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies’ G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle. pic.twitter.com/61x5DWMBME
Before coming to the Go-Go and the Wizards’ organization, Swirsky was with the Memphis Grizzlies organization primarily with their G-League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle. He was also the Hustle’s head coach.
Tonight will feature a battle between the NHL’s worst and the best, as the 32nd-place Vancouver Canucks (21–44–8) will take on the first-place Colorado Avalanche (49–14–10). Vancouver is coming off their sixth-consecutive loss, having dropped their Monday-night matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights by a score of 4–2. Colorado, on the other hand, is coming off a massive 9–2 win against the Calgary Flames.
The biggest news about Vancouver’s opponent heading into tonight’s game is the fact that Cale Makar departed from Colorado’s last game due to an upper-body injury. While the Avalanche have already clinched a playoff spot, Makar’s absence is still something that will impact Colorado moving forward. For the Canucks, a Makar-less Avalanche team will be massive in suppressing Colorado’s offence, as the defenceman has registered three goals and 15 assists in 14 career games against Vancouver.
One interesting stat that Vancouver ranks higher than Colorado in is their power play success rate, of which the Canucks are tied for 20th in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs (19.7%) and the Avalanche sits at 24th with 18.1%. With that being said, Colorado has scored on the man-advantage in six of their past seven games, including a four-game power play goal streak. The Canucks, on the other hand, have scored a power play goal in five of their last seven.
Players To Watch:
Brock Boeser
Through his past 10 games, Boeser has scored three goals and seven assists, going without a point in only three of these games. Boeser is also sandwiched between two franchise records, having just slid into ninth all-time in points as a Canuck while also being one power play goal away from entering the franchise’s top-five. The career-Canuck is also six points away from passing Pavel Bure for eighth all-time in the stat.
Sam Malinski
With Makar expected to miss some time, Colorado’s blueline could look a little different when the Canucks face the Avalanche later tonight. One player who has found some offensive success on the Avalanche’s blueline this season is Malinski, who has scored five goals and 29 assists in 73 games played so far this season. Given Makar’s potential absence, Malinski could see a potential promotion from his spot on Colorado’s second pairing.
Dec 2, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Vancouver Canucks center Max Sasson (63) takes a shot on goal in the third period against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Vancouver Canucks (21–44–8):
Points:
Elias Pettersson: 15–31–46
Filip Hronek: 8–34–42
Brock Boeser: 18–21–39
Jake DeBrusk: 16–19–35
Evander Kane: 13–18–31
Goaltenders:
Thatcher Demko: 8–10–1
Kevin Lankinen: 8–26–5
Nikita Tolopilo: 5–7–2
Jiří Patera: 0–1–0
Colorado Avalanche (49–14–10):
Points:
Nathan MacKinnon: 49–71–120
Martin Nečas: 35–57–92
Cale Makar: 20–55–75
Brock Nelson: 33–28–61
Nazem Kadri: 16–34–50
Goaltenders:
Scott Wedgewood: 27–5–6
MacKenzie Blackwood: 21–9–1
Trent Miner: 1–0–3
Game Information:
Start time: 5:30 pm PT
Venue: Ball Arena
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650
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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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 31: Kyle Kuzma #18 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots against Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks during the second quarter at Fiserv Forum on March 31, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks got back in the win column, 123-99, against the Dallas Mavericks last night as several familiar faces (including Khris Middleton), were back in town. The Bucks were piping hot, and the Mavs were ice cold—that’s really the main story of the contest. Sometimes, the game really is just about a bucket. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
Far from the first time this season, but Ryan Rollins looked like a poised veteran star in this one. He directed the offense very well and was part of every big Bucks run. The kid’s a stud. Not much else needs to be said.
Kuzma delivered a classic Kuzma performance while still impacting the game as much as anyone. He was inefficient, missed some threes badly, and turned it over a couple times—all hallmark Kuzisms—but don’t get it twisted, he was awesome. His aggression and interior scoring were crucial in the win.
Anyone who still thinks Myles Turner should be more involved in the offense just needs to accept learned helplessness at this point. He’s not much more than a catch-and-shoot big in this Bucks system. But he played that role effectively, draining three high-arching triples. His four blocks stand out too, of course.
Alongside Kuz, Sims was the spark that got the ball rolling for the Bucks in the first quarter. He faded somewhat into the background offensively after that (which is weirdly exactly how things played out on Sunday), but he continued to crash the glass and compete on D.
He’s had an up-and-down season, but lately, Green is starting to look like a matured, more well-rounded version of himself while still bombing threes. He’s getting to the free throw line with more regularity and guarding his yard defensively. How ‘bout six boards for him as well?
Trent didn’t have another 36-point explosion, but that’s not what Milwaukee needed him to do. He was a three-point specialist last night—the good kind, not the bad kind.
Ous’ statline overstates how well he played. His decision-making, shot selection, and shot-making have all been rocky lately. He needs to be more assertive in getting all the way to the rim versus settling for floaters. The youngster can also be too jumpy on fakes defensively.
Pete, man. What a gem this guy is. What a find. This wasn’t a spectacular game in any regard, just a pretty good one, but what did shine through is how unselfish he is. Nance always plays within himself and the team’s structure. He makes the extra pass, sets screens, rolls, works hard on defense… he does it all.
Grade: B
Doc Rivers
This was a replay of the Clippers game in the sense that the Bucks really did “play the right way,” as Doc loves to say. The ball was hopping. The chemistry was tangible. Milwaukee had the fortune of facing another tanking team in the Mavericks, so the win is only worth so much credit, but a win is a win!
Grade: B
Limited Minutes: Andre Jackson Jr., Alex Antetokounmpo
Inactive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Porter Jr., Bobby Portis, Gary Harris, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Cormac Ryan
Bonus Bucks Bits
Doc Rivers on what it would mean to him to make the Hall of Fame:
“It would mean the world to me. I’ve done a lot. The numbers are the numbers. But it’s not, I swear, you know this, it’s not why I got into this, honestly, man. It’s the relationships, it’s the people. Even from the day I’ve been nominated, the calls… it’s in the hundreds of player calls. And some of the calls have been amazing cause I thought they didn’t like me anymore. Seriously, just because you get respect, sometimes, you have falling outs with players, and you don’t even worry about it, it’s just part of it, as a coach. It’s been amazing how many people that have reached out, and it’s made me, again, feel really good about just doing what I do.”
Doc on if a player or their former team has an advantage in a revenge game:
“It’s always the player. First of all, coach can’t do anything. I can’t go out and guard Khris, nor probably I could have as a player, so it wouldn’t matter. All I know is, when I was traded the first time, I was trying to give the Hawks 50 if I could, with the ability that I could probably only score 12. I don’t care how much you love the place, when you come back to a place, you wanna go at them.”
Jason Kidd on what it’s like being reunited with the new, older, NBA champion version of Khris Middleton:
“A lot easier. Nah, it’s great. We talked about this version of Khris, we joked about the shoe’s on the other foot. I talked to him about ZaZa (Pachulia) OJ (Mayo), that group that were the vets who were trying to help the younger players, and he had a great response. He goes, ‘you know, younger players don’t want to listen to the coaches or the vets, they know it all.’ I think Khris, again, being part of his journey early, incredible talent, and at this point in his career, still has a lot to give, not just physically, but mentally, being able to share his wisdom of his journey.”
Myles Turner moved up to 40th all-time in total blocks when he rejected Moussa Cisse in the third quarter.
Alex Antetokounmpo made his NBA debut and scored his first career points! Doc said Giannis was very nervous for his brother on the bench.
Up Next
The Bucks have a quick turnaround with a matchup in Houston against the Rockets tonight. Catch that one at 7:00 p.m. CDT on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin, but expect a blowout loss.
Nov 9, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) and Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) celebrate a 122-113 win over the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
There go the Houston Rockets, doing that thing where they make us hope once again that they’ve figured things out.
If you think the Rockets have had a nightmare season, look at the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks dealt with Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors in the offseason, then again during the season, then again again during the season. It’s become a further nightmare because Giannis clearly does not want to “demand” a trade and ruin his reputation in Milwaukee. However, he’s basically done just that and holding the franchise hostage hasn’t benefitted anyone. Meanwhile, Bucks fans (understandably) love him to pieces and don’t want him traded even if the return was outstanding (it will not be). Because they expected Giannis back from injury, the Bucks went full-go while he was out, but they just weren’t good enough. That means that they’re probably not drafting in the top 6 this year even though that’s where the talent seems to be.
Giannis hasn’t played since March 15 despite his best efforts. The Bucks would love nothing more than to lose every game and move into ninth in the lottery odds. Unfortunately for them, they just played fellow tankers the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs didn’t have a starter shoot better than 33%. Yes, for real. Rockets murderer Max Christie shot 1-12. I really hate when guys always go off against the Rockets but turn into pumpkins for the other 78-80 games of the year.
Speaking of tanking and the lottery, I will be doing my annual “If the lottery is rigged, who wins” post for Friday’s preview. It should be a good time.
For tonight, suffice to say that both teams are on a back-to-back, and Milwaukee had to fly in after their game. Houston needs to get out to a good start because the Bucks want to lose this one. It could be a sloppy game overall, especially since Ime Udoka left his starters (and Reed Sheppard) at or past their normal minutes level against New York to prevent another collapse against the Knickerbockers. And it worked. So it’s clear that the Rockets viewed last night’s game as worth going all-in for and tonight’s game would be more up for grabs.
Also, Dorian Finney-Smith didn’t play last night. He’s missed the last two games as DNP-CD, and the previous two games he played a combined 13 minutes and 56 seconds. Methinks if this isn’t the game for DFS, then he might get DFA’d.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 30: Tyrese Maxey #0 and Vj Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers speak during the third quarter against the Miami Heat 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
Well, Monday didn’t go as hoped for the Sixers. With cool shooting nights from their stars, while Tyler Herro led the way with 30 points for Miami who went on a 14-0 run in the last few minutes to take control, the Sixers lost to the Heat, 119-109.
It was an underwhelming performance and frustrating result. It cost the Sixers their tie breaker with the Heat, losing the season series 2-1, and helps keep the Sixers in seventh place in a tightly packed Eastern Conference.
Now, though, going on the road to face the Wizards on Wednedsay should give the Sixers an easy chance to pick up a key win as the East standings rapidly fall into place over the final games of the season.
The recovering Johni Broome remains the only player on the injury report for Philly. Meanwhile, as the Wizards deal with some injuries and do all they can to keep tanking, all the notable players who could have been worth keeping an eye on in this matchup are sidelined.
Along with Anthony Davis who’s been out for months, Washington’s key creators are absent. Trae Young remains out with low back pain and a right quad contusion, and rising talent Kyshawn George is out with a left elbow sprain. D’Angelo Russell (not with team), rookie backup center who started on Sunday Julian Reese (G League assignment) and Cam Whitmore (right shoulder deep vein thrombosis) are also out. On top of that, Tre Johnson (right foot sprain), Bilal Coulibaly (right retrocalcaneal bursitis) and Alex Sarr (left big toe capsulitis) are questionable.
Washington have been tanking hard for a while now, down at 14th in the East with their 17-58 record. They’ve kept it going since their big trade deadline deal too, swapping CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert for Trae Young. Their new star point guard has only appeared in five games due to injury, and they have a mere one win in their last 20 games.
In this stretch since Feb. 22., they’ve been in truly sensational tanking form with a net rating of -14.1 and rankings of 28th in both offensive and defensive rating.
As a depleted, bottom-three team at both ends of the floor, they really have no business competing with a Sixers team that finally has its Big 3 back in action and a healthy rotation.
If Joel Embiid can dominate against a smaller, weak frontcourt to improve on the 10-of-25 shooting night he had against Bam Adebayo and the Heat, and Paul George and Tyrese Maxey both warm up after going a combined 14-of-38 from the floor on Monday, that alone should make Wednesday’s game fairly light work.
Even when talented center Sarr has been active this season and showing his improving rim protection, the Wizards’ defense has still been poor. Opportunities for Maxey and VJ Edgecombe to fly downhill to the rim against a weak crop of perimeter defenders, and for Embiid to bully his way inside against backup bigs, should be plentiful.
More plays like Edgecombe’s awesome high-rise alley-oop against a scrambling Washington defense sure would be welcome to make things entertaining.
There’s clearly little left for these Wizards, but if he’s available, Sarr is at least one player to pay more attention to. He’s had a solid sophomore season, improving his efficiency and paint scoring while becoming a sharper defender and rim protector. Sarr’s numbers have climbed across the board to 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.0 blocks per game. However, he should remain no match for Embiid defensively and can’t do enough by himself as more of a play finisher to cover for all the lacking offensive creation.
There’s only seven games left for the Sixers and the packed Eastern Conference seems to be shifting daily. Let’s see if they can take care of business in one of their easiest games left (they also finish the season against the tanking Pacers then Bucks) against a Wizards squad that’s eager to lose.
And in the meantime, you can check out our Harrison Grimm’s look at the East playoff picture and who else you should be rooting for down the stretch to help secure the best possible seed for the Sixers. Right now, there’s just three wins between the fifth-seed Hawks (43-33) and 10-seed Hornets (40-36).
In the little of the regular season we have left, there’s a lot for most teams to play for.
Game Details
When: Wednesday, April 1, 7:00 PM ET Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
At this time in 2025, the Bruins were on their way to finishing with the NHL’s fifth-worst record and missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in nine years. Fast forward to April 1, 2026, and the B’s have a 98.2 percent chance of reaching the postseason, per MoneyPuck.
And not only are the Bruins almost guaranteed a playoff spot at this point, they look like a team that could actually do real damage in the postseason.
The latest example came Tuesday night against the Dallas Stars.
The score was tied 2-2 entering the third period, then the B’s dominated with an aggressive attacking mentality and outscored the Stars 4-1 in the frame to earn a 6-3 victory and extend their win streak to four games. Viktor Arvidsson tallied a hat trick, David Pastrnak had three assists, and Elias Lindholm had another multi-point performance (one goal, one assist).
During this win streak, the Bruins have beaten the team with the second-best record overall (Stars), the team with the best record in the Eastern Conference (Buffalo Sabres), a top contender in the Western Conference (Minnesota Wild) and the team in the East’s second wild card spot (Columbus Blue Jackets).
”Everyone was talking about the schedule. ‘The Bruins have the toughest schedule,'” Bruins head coach Marco Sturm told reporters after Tuesday’s win. “Yeah, I believe that, too. But what I liked about it is it always seems like we play better when we’re playing against better teams.”
The Bruins came out of the Olympic break on Feb. 23 barely holding on to a playoff spot. Since then, only one team (Sabres) has collected more points in the standings than the Bruins’ 25 (11-4-3).
Based on their recent play, could the Bruins win a round (or more) if they qualify for the postseason?
Yes, and there are several reasons why.
They have a deep lineup of players who can provide offense. Last year, if David Pastrnak or Morgan Geekie didn’t score, the B’s were in trouble. This year’s roster has much more scoring depth.
Pastrnak is on pace for a fifth consecutive 100-point season, and his 66 assists are a career high. Morgan Geekie has a career-high 34 goals. Pavel Zacha has a career-high 28 goals and needs one more point to hit 60 for the first time. Arvidsson has 50 points in 63 games after tallying 27 points in 67 games for the Oilers last season.
Marat Khusnutdinov’s 15 goals are a career high. Fraser Minten’s 33 points are a career high as well. Casey Mittlestadt and Mark Kastelic have provided valuable scoring production, too. And if that wasn’t enough, top defenseman Charlie McAvoy’s 58 points are also a career-high.
The Bruins are not reliant on one or two lines. They are a four-line team on a lot of nights, with the blue line also creating scoring chances, and that’s why they’ve improved from 28th in goals scored last season to eighth in 2025-26. The Bruins also have the second-best 5-on-5 goal differential since Jan. 1, along with a much-improved power play that ranks eighth in success rate.
The mental makeup of the Bruins is strong, too. They don’t fold in pressure situations. This team doesn’t quit and keeps fighting. We saw that in the comeback wins over the Sabres and Blue Jackets during this win streak. Overall, the Bruins have scored the third-most goals in the third period this season. When the pressure increases late in games, these guys typically respond in a positive manner.
Goaltending is another strength of this team and a reason why it could win a round or two.
Jeremy Swayman ranks third among all goalies in wins above replacement and goals saved above expected. He has been a top-five goalie this season and the No. 1 reason why the Bruins are in the playoff mix. Swayman was excellent in the 2024 playoffs, and based on his play this season, we could see a repeat of that in 2026.
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The Bruins are also battle-tested. They have played one of the toughest schedules since the Olympic break and have taken points from 14 of 18 games in that span. The playoff race in the East has been super competitive all season, so the B’s have been in playoff mode for a while now.
They won’t need to make any adjustments in that regard once the playoffs actually begin.
“For us, the playoffs already started a long time ago,” Sturm said postgame Tuesday. “I think that’s a good thing about our team right now. We want to get challenged right now against really good hockey teams.”
The Bruins’ first-round matchup will be tough whoever they play. The Sabres, Lightning and Hurricanes — their three most likely opponents — are all really talented teams. But the Bruins are becoming the one team nobody in the East wants to see early in the playoffs.
This Bruins squad is peaking at the perfect time. And as a result, expectations have risen. Not only should the Bruins qualify for the playoffs, they should also be a pretty tough out for whoever stands in their way.
Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is toeing the rubber against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field today, and the back-to-back AL Cy Young winner will look to make it back-to-back wins to open the season.
My top Tigers vs. Diamondbacks predictions and MLB picks are calling for just that, with Arizona countering with veteran Zac Gallen this afternoon.
Who will win Tigers vs Diamondbacks today: Tigers -1.5 (48 cents)
With Arizona Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen’sERA and xFIP climbing in each of the past three seasons before allowing four runs on five hits and a pair of walks through four frames in his first 2026 start, I’m anticipating a long season ahead for the veteran righty.
It’s just the opposite for Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, with the star southpaw ranking second among qualified starters in ERA and xFIP since the beginning of the 2024 campaign.
Additionally, the Arizona offense is off to a ho-hum start with a 23rd-ranked xwOBA.
COVERS INTEL: Arizona righty Zac Gallen surrendered the 10th-highest barrel percentage among qualified starters in 2025, and he allowed three through just four innings in his 2026 debut.
Tigers vs Diamondbacks Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (58 cents)
I’m anticipating Skubal doing the heavy lifting to keep this total Under the number, as he’s allowed three earned runs or fewer in 26 of 32 starts since the beginning of last year.
Additionally, even with Gallen in a clear decline, the Tigers enter with a 25th-ranked wOBA alongside a middling 15th-ranked xwOBA through five 2026 games.
2026 Transparency record
ML/RL bets: 1-0, +1.46 units
Over/Under bets: 0-1, -1.05 units
Tigers vs Diamondbacks odds
Moneyline: Detroit 61c | Arizona 40c
Run line: Detroit -1.5 (48c) | Arizona +1.5 (53c)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (45c) | Under 8.5 (61c)
Tigers vs Diamondbacks trend
The Tigers have cashed the Under in 28 of their last 43 road games for +10.15 units and a 20% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Tigers vs. Diamondbacks.
How to watch Tigers vs Diamondbacks and game info
Location
Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Date
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
First pitch
3:40 p.m. ET
TV
DSN, ARID
Tigers starting pitcher
Tarik Skubal (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
Diamondbacks starting pitcher
Zac Gallen (0-1, 9.00 ERA)
Tigers vs Diamondbacks latest injuries
Tigers vs Diamondbacks weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
WASHINGTON — While the Sixers’ health picture has improved considerably over the last week, it’s not quite spotless.
The Sixers ruled Joel Embiid out with an illness late Wednesday morning ahead of their matchup with the Wizards. Rookie Johni Broome (right knee surgery recovery) also remains sidelined.
Embiid had played in three straight games since returning from a 13-game absence with a right oblique strain. After posting 26 points on 10-for-25 shooting and seven rebounds Monday in the Sixers’ loss to the Heat, he told reporters in Miami he was sick, per Sixers Wire’s Ky Carlin.
Embiid’s averaged 30.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.3 blocks over the last three games. He’s been aggressive offensively and shot especially well from three-point range, hitting 8 of 15 long-distance attempts.
WASHINGTON — While the Sixers’ health picture has improved considerably over the last week, it’s not quite spotless.
The Sixers ruled Joel Embiid out with an illness late Wednesday morning ahead of their matchup with the Wizards. Rookie Johni Broome (right knee surgery recovery) also remains sidelined.
Embiid had played in three straight games since returning from a 13-game absence with a right oblique strain. After posting 26 points on 10-for-25 shooting and seven rebounds Monday in the Sixers’ loss to the Heat, he told reporters in Miami he was sick, per Sixers Wire’s Ky Carlin.
Embiid’s averaged 30.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.3 blocks over the last three games. He’s been aggressive offensively and shot especially well from three-point range, hitting 8 of 15 long-distance attempts.
The New York Yankees (4-1) close out their three-game series in Seatle Wednesday afternoon against the Mariners (3-3). Cam Schlittler is scheduled to take the mound against George Kirby.
The series is tied at one game apiece following last night’s 5-0 win for New York. Max Fried was brilliant again throwing seven shutout innings. The veteran has now tossed 13.1 scoreless innings to open the campaign. Giancarlo Stanton continued his torrid start at the plate. Every game this season, Stanton has picked up a couple hits. He is now 10-20 (.500) for the season. The Yankees stayed tied with the Jays atop the AL East with the win while the loss dropped the Mariners to 1.5 games behind the Rangers in the American League West.
Lets dive into this afternoon’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Yankees at Mariners
Date: Wednesday, March 31, 2026
Time: 4:10PM EST
Site: T-Mobile Park
City: Seattle, WA
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, YES, Mariners.TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Latest Odds: Yankees vs. Mariners
The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of FanDuel:
Moneyline: New York Yankees (-102), Seattle Mariners (-118)
Mariners: George Kirby Season Totals: 6 IP, 1-0, 1.50 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, 6K, 2 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Yankees at Mariners
Aaron Judge has struck out 10 times in 20 ABs
Jazz Chisholm Jr. has just 3 hits in 19 ABs this season (.158)
Giancarlo Stanton is 10-20 (.500) on the season with 2 hits in each of the Yankees 5 games
Brendan Donovan has hits in 4 straight and 5 of Mariners’ 6 games this season (.429)
Julio Rodriguez is 2-22 on the season (.091)
Cal Raleigh has struck out 13 times in 21 ABs this season
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Yankees vs. Mariners
The Yankees are 4-1 on the Run Line this season
Seattle is 3-3 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 3 times in Seattle’s 6 games this season (3-3)
The OVER has yet to cash this season for the Yankees through 5 games (0-4-1)
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions: Yankees at Mariners
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday’s game between the Yankees and the Mariners:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Yankees on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on either side on the Run Line.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Game Total UNDER 7.0.
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MARCH 31: Catcher Danny Jansen #9 of the Texas Rangers hits a three RBI home run against the Baltimore Orioles during the seventh inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on March 31, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Bill Streicher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rangers 8, Orioles 5
And the Rangers have now won two road series to start the season.
Jacob deGrom made his belated season debut, and for the first four innings and change, things went smoothly. Seven Ks, no walks, three hits, the one run being a solo homer by Pete Alonso to lead off the fourth.
I keep having to remind myself, oh yeah, Pete Alonso plays for Baltimore now.
A blame deGrom’s undoing with two outs in the fifth on Mike Bascik. Bascik said that deGrom’s pitch count and success was such that he should be able to go six innings in this, his maiden start of the season. DeGrom then gave up a single to Blaze Alexander, an infield single to Taylor Ward, and then a hard hit double to the gap by Gunnar Henderson, which tied the game at three and chased deGrom from the game.
So a bit of a letdown at the end, but still. 79 pitches, 14 whiffs, including 10 on the slider.
I will note that deGrom, who had a below average hard hit rate in 2025, continued that trend in his 2026 debut. When the O’s made contact, they hit it hard — the lowest exit velocity deGrom allowed was on the Ward infield single in the fifth, at 90.4 mph, and his average exit velocity allowed was 97.8 mph.
Cole Winn finished off the fifth with a strikeout, and ended up earning his first major league victory, going 1.1 shutout innings. Jakob Junis and Robert Garcia each threw a scoreless inning after Winn, before Chris Martin made the ninth inning a little scarier than it needed to be, allowing a pair of runs before retiring Henderson.
Fortunately, the bats were clicking. Orioles starter Zach Eflin left the game with two outs in the fourth due to elbow issues, and he had allowed just a single run, on an Ezequiel Duran home run — Duran’s first since September of 2024 — but the bats had still generated a couple of rallies against Eflin aside from the Duran prior to Eflin’s departure, even if they came to naught.
Once Eflin left the game, however, the bats went to town on the O’s relievers. Former Ranger farmhand Grant Wolfram, who inherited a two on, two out situation in the fifth but got out of it, got teed off on to start the fifth, with the Rangers putting up a pair on a Brandon Nimmo single, a Wyatt Langford triple, and a Corey Seager single.
Langford had not gotten off to a great start, coming into the game with 2 singles and 0 walks in 19 plate appearances. So its good to see him with a two hit game on Tuesday.
Langford also now is tied for the league lead in triples, with one.
Nimmo gave the Rangers the lead in the sixth with a two out single, and Danny Jansen broke it open with a two out, two run homer in the top of the seventh, a tremendously momentum shifting play, of course.
Corey Seager finished off the scoring with a homer off of Anthony Nunez to start the ninth, giving the Rangers a bit more of a cushion, and making Chris Martin’s sweaty ninth a little less stress-inducing than it might otherwise have been.
Everybody got a hit except for Joc Pederson, though Joc did draw a walk, though he is 0 for 8 to start the season. Who gets a hit first, Joc or Josh Jung (who got the day off and is currently rocking an 0 for 17 streak), will be an exciting subplot to follow.
The Rangers, as a team, have a .259/.319/.438 slash line on the year, good for a 121 OPS+ and 121 wRC+. The pitching staff has a 3.00 ERA, good for a 153 ERA+.
This may be a controversial take, but I like it when the hitting is good and the pitching is also good.
Jacob deGrom topped out at 99.2 mph with his fastball, averaging 97.6 mph. Cole Winn hit 94.0 mph with his fastball. Jakob Junis reached 93.6 mph with his fastball. Robert Garcia’s fastball topped out at 96.6 mph. Chris Martin’s fastball maxed out at 95.5 mph.
Wyatt Langford had a 107.5 mph fielder’s choice, a 106.8 mph single, and a 106.5 mph triple. Corey Seager had a 107.5 mph single and a 101.7 mph home run. Danny Jansen had a 107.3 mph single and a 104.1 mph home run. Josh Smith had a 105.3 mph single and a 102.8 mph fly out. Ezequiel Duran had a 104.7 mph home run, a 101.0 mph fielder’s choice, and a 100.0 mph ground out. Evan Carter had a 104.5 mph double. Brandon Nimmo had a 103.6 mph fly out.
The 2026 NBA Playoffs are less than two weeks away, with the SoFi Play-In Tournament tipping off on April 14 and the first round officially underway on April 18. The playoff picture is rapidly taking shape, with 20 teams already locked in and the remaining seeds still up for grabs as the regular season winds down.
With just nine games remaining, every contest carries playoff implications as teams battle for position in the standings. The Atlanta Hawks face a pivotal matchup Wednesday, April 1, against the Orlando Magic, a must-win if they want to hold onto a top-six spot in the Eastern Conference and avoid the Play-In Tournament altogether.
The San Antonio Spurs travel to Golden State for their fourth meeting of the season, riding the momentum of Victor Wembanyama’s historic performance, a season-high 41 points and 16 rebounds in a win against the Chicago Bulls that marked the third-fastest double-double recorded since 1997-98. San Antonio is firmly in the hunt for the top seed in the Western Conference, and with the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder sitting atop the standings, every win from here on out could prove decisive heading into the postseason.
Here is the current brackets for the playoffs and the Play-In Tournament, and the NBA standings as of April 1:
(9) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (10) Golden State Warriors
Eastern Conference
(7) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (8) Orlando Magic
(9) Miami Heat vs. (10) Charlotte Hornets
NBA standings
All 20 teams – 10 in each conference – that will participate in the postseason have been determined. Here are their records as of Wednesday, April 1, and what each of those teams have clinched so far:
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City Thunder: 60-16
(2) San Antonio Spurs: 57-18
(3) Los Angeles Lakers: 50-26
(4) Denver Nuggets: 48-28
(5) Minnesota Timberwolves: 46-29
(6) Houston Rockets: 46-29
(7) Play-In Winner
(8) Play-In Winner
Eastern Conference
(1) Detroit Pistons: 55-21
(2) Boston Celtics: 50-25
(3) New York Knicks: 48-28
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers: 47-29
(5) Atlanta Hawks: 43-33
(6) Toronto Raptors: 42-33
(7) Play-In Winner
(8) Play-In Winner
When do the NBA playoffs begin?
The NBA Play-In Tournament begins on Tuesday, April 14 and runs through Friday, April 17.
The NBA playoffs start Saturday, April 18 and feature eight teams in each conference after teams are eliminated in the Play-In Tournament.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals scheduled for Wednesday, June 3.
Which NBA teams have been eliminated from the playoffs?
Tuesday night didn’t just belong to the Los Angeles Lakers. It belonged to the star-studded celebrities sitting underneath the bright lights of Crypto.com Arena, where basketball and Hollywood collided like two speeding convertibles driving down Mulholland Drive.
When you attend a Lakers game, you don’t just scan the floor, you scan the crowd for a who’s who of A-list athletes, actors and musicians. It’s a cornucopia of trend-setters and influencers.
Let’s start with the quarterbacks because a lot of them showed up to watch the Lake Show host the Cleveland Cavaliers. LA Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert sat alongside his girlfriend Madison Beer.
Justin Herbert and Madison Beer attend a game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers (Credit: Getty Images) Getty Images
Nearby sat Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, and next to him was former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson who’s expected to be taken in the first round of the NFL Draft this month.
Also expected to go in the first round of the draft is former USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, he soaked in all the action as well.
And when you’re playing the Cavaliers, the city of Cleveland has to be represented as well. Thankfully, former Guardians baseball player Kenny Lofton was also sitting courtside.
Pro athletes from other spots sitting courtside at the Cavs vs. Lakers game tonight:
Kenny Lofton, WR Makai Lemon, and QB's Ty Simpson, Bryce Young, and Justin Herbert.
The world of music was well represented as well. In addition to Beer, the soundtrack of the game could have been performed by Halsey who stunned in a black top.
Halsey attends a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Crypto.com Arena on March 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Credit: Getty Images) Getty Images
Donovan Mitchell’s fiancee Coco Jones was there too.
Coco Jones attends a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Crypto.com Arena on March 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, California ((hoto by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images) Getty Images
Rock bands also wanted to bask in the energy of the game. Red Hot Chili Peppers trio—Anthony Kiedis, Flea, and Chad Smith—buzzed like a live amp. Weezer’s Scott Shriner and Brian Bell added their own alt-rock vibes.
Credit: Getty ImagesGetty ImagesGetty ImagesGetty Images NBAE via Getty ImagesNBAE via Getty Images
And right across the court was record executive Jimmy Iovine.
Jimmy Iovine and Liberty Ross attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Crypto.com Arena on March 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images) Getty Images
Hollywood, naturally, didn’t miss curtain call. Vivica A. Fox and Ciarra Carter sat together.
Ciarra Carter (L) and Vivica A. Fox attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Crypto.com Arena on March 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images
Nicholas Hoult and Damson Idris added the modern star power. Noah Centineo showed off his t-shirt, and Emmy-award winning director Ben Winston might have been looking at all of them thinking which actor he wanted to cast in his next show.
They all watched the Lakers finish off the month of March with a 127-113 win over the Cavaliers. They finished the month 15-2 and Luka Doncic scored a franchise-record 600 points over that span.
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COVERS INTEL: Arizona righty Zac Gallen surrendered the 10th-highest barrel percentage among qualified starters in 2025, and he allowed three through just four innings in his 2026 debut.
