Mar 27, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Edwin Diaz (3) delivers to the plate as he earns a save in the ninth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Carlos Santana was taken off the field due to an adductor strain, but his glove is still being put to good use.
That’s because versatile infielders Ildemaro Vargas and Jose Fernandez have shared the leather while splitting reps at first base in Santana’s absence, keeping the purple Rawlings with a gold patch to honor Santana’s 2024 Gold Glove win.
Manager Torey Lovullo described it as “leave the glove at first base and run in,” like kids playing on a sandlot.
Arizona’s top overall prospect was hitting a mere .238/.396/.381 through his first 11 games at the Triple-A level. The walk ability and on-base percentage was still there, as it has been for the outfielder at every minor league level.
In the 10 games that have followed since then, Waldschmidt has raised his slash to an eye-popping .338/.448/.563. He’s hitting .375 and slugging .594 for the month of April thus far; that includes four doubles, two triples and two home runs.
“We work very hard at bunting,” Lovullo said. “You can see a lot of clubs are doing it now. It’s coming back into this game. I think for a long time it was, we will accept swing and miss, let’s launch the ball into the seats, let’s create some walks and build innings.
“But over the past three or four years, I think it started somewhere in the 2023 season, we thought and figured out this part of the equation that when we can put somebody in scoring position in combination with baserunning, put the ball on the ground, it was going to create a little bit of chaos.”
The Blue Jays’ journey from Phoenix to Anaheim on Sunday didn’t involve a chartered jet or a first-class cabin. Instead, it involved three buses, a five-hour stretch of Interstate 10, and felt a lot more like a scene from the Northwest League than the Major Leagues.
The trouble started around 4 p.m., when a mechanical failure was discovered in the plane’s joystick — the primary control for takeoffs and landings. The Blue Jays were faced with a choice: wait for a replacement aircraft to fly in from Vancouver, which wouldn’t have landed until 10 p.m., or load the 60-person traveling party onto buses for the long trek across I-10.
As often happens in sports, manager John Schneider took the decision to a team vote. The decision to bus passed by roughly 30 votes, as the majority of players preferred to get moving immediately. However, not everyone was thrilled with the outcome; Schneider joked that he was already reprimanded by veteran Max Scherzer, who issued a full-letterhead kangaroo court summons over the travel decision.
Los Angeles Dodgers closer Edwin Diaz is scheduled to undergo surgery Wednesday to remove loose bodies in his right elbow, the team announced. The expectation is that the reliever could sit out around three months, a source told ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez on Monday.
Los Angeles put Diaz, 32, on the 15-day injured list before the team’s series finale with the Colorado Rockies on Monday, adding in a statement that he’d be back “during the second half of the season.” In a corresponding move, the Dodgers recalled left-hander Jake Eder, 27, from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
FanGraphs Power Rankings: April 13-19 by Jake Mailhot [FanGraphs] {Ed. Note: The Diamondbacks are sandwiched between the Padres and Yankees at #4, but in the write up of Tier 2, they are completely ignored.}
Mason Miller picked up his league-leading eighth save on Sunday, though he only struck out two, pushing his FIP up a few points to -1.11. It was a return to form for Miller after he allowed just his second hit and second walk of the season in his appearance on Saturday — there was a man in scoring position against him before he shut the door! With so much elite pitching in the league these days, the idea of a reliever winning the Cy Young is farfetched, but Miller is quickly off to one of the strongest starts for a relief pitcher in history. His dominance is a big reason why the Padres are just a half-game behind the Dodgers in the NL West.
Aaron Judge isn’t leading the Yankees offense right now. That honor is currently held by Ben Rice, with his .338/.476/.800 (a 245 wRC+) slash line. He’s hit a home run in four straight games. Not to be out done, Judge cracked five homers last week, including four in a four-game series against the Angels — Mike Trout hit five of his own in that series — in a fantastic display of slugging. After a rough sweep in Tampa Bay to close out the previous week, the Yankees look like they’ve righted the ship with five wins in their last seven games.
Apr 20, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum (3) takes a shot against New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet (44) at the end of the third quarter of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Hawks overcame a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter to even their best-of-seven series against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Monday night, taking a 107-106 victory. CJ McCollum led all scorers with 32 points while Jonathan Kuminga added 19 points off the bench. For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson scored 29 points with Karl-Anthony Towns adding 18 points.
The Hawks began this game with a change in approach, using Dyson Daniels to guard Karl-Anthony Towns, who similarly began the game guarding Daniels. In a physical affair in the first quarter, it was the Knicks who just exploited the Hawks’ lack of size and attacked on the offensive glass, scoring seven second chance points in the first quarter alone. The hosts established a double-digit lead in the first quarter but a strong start to the second quarter — with Towns and Brunson on the bench —saw the Hawks take a brief lead. Three-point shooting and capitalizing on New York turnovers contributed to this quick turnaround, but it did not last.
The Knicks re-took the lead and took a five-point lead into the second half, where a quick burst led by Josh Hart and Towns saw the Knicks re-establish their double-digit lead, running as high as 14 points. While the lead, at times, hovered in and around double-digits for much of the second half. Even as the fourth quarter arrived, the Knicks still held a double-digit lead having successfully kept the Hawks at arm’s length for the third quarter. Then, the tide began to shift.
The Hawks began to find success getting to the rim, in fact, converting all 11 of their attempts around the rim in the fourth quarter:
The Knicks had success earlier in the game lobbing to Mitchell Robinson, but when they try to run it again in the fourth it’s broken up by Kuminga and falls to Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who gets the ball to Corey Kispert, who finishes at the rim:
Working at the three-point line waiting for a hand-off, Onyeka Okongwu receives a great contribution from Gabe Vincent, who not only manages to push Mikal Bridges out of the way and sets the screen on Robinson which allows Okongwu to go from waiting for a hand-off option to being able to spot the opportunity and drive the ball himself to the rim for the dunk, leading to a quick New York timeout:
Vincent is involved again, this time in the pick-and-roll with Kuminga, who receives the ball and darts down the lane, rising effortlessly for the slam dunk:
The help defender for the Knicks here is OG Anunoby, who is quick to rotate but Kuminga quicker getting in the lane and with his athleticism, Anunoby quickly makes the executive decision to not contest this dunk.
The Knicks suffer another lapse at the rim, this time it’s Robinson who allows Okongwu to wander behind him, and Kuminga finds Okongwu for the easy lob:
Kuminga’s first half wasn’t brilliant, but he was excellent in the second half, and his strong played continued as he attacks Jordan Clarkson, getting into the lane, drawing the contact and hitting the hook shot, plus the foul:
Again faced with a mismatch in Jalen Brunson, Kuminga attacks him off of the dribble and gets to rim for the basket:
A good job of recognizing and attacking the mismatch, but a bad mistake for the Knicks to make to allow it to happen and lack of organization sorting their matchups out heading down the floor. It also marks one of many possessions where Brunson gets torched defensively.
For now, another basket on a mismatch, this time courtesy of Jalen Johnson, who takes it to the chest of Hart, and finishes off glass to reduce the Knicks lead further:
Now with the Hawks down by one point, the CJ McCollum show begins.
Having already had a strong game up to this point (particularly in the first quarter), McCollum got his run started as he puts Brunson on skates with the dribble move, and drives to the rim for the basket, lifting his layup high off of the glass to avoid Towns’ block attempt to give the Hawks their first lead since the second quarter:
In isolation this time beyond the three-point line, McCollum drives by Brunson with ease — who makes a poor attempt to stay in front of McCollum and then reach from behind — and rises into his runner to extend the Atlanta lead:
A three from Brunson ties the game at 103 apiece, and McCollum takes charge again. This time, he’s guarded by Anunoby, who does a much better job defending McCollum, following him towards the baseline after the screen from Okongwu. Despite Anunoby’s efforts, McCollum connects on the fadeaway jumper to return the lead to the Hawks:
While all of these baskets were important, arguably the most important one comes here, as Brunson is stripped by Alexander-Walker as he rises into the shot, and the turnover is created. Alexander-Walker finds Johnson, who streaks ahead and dunks at the rim, giving the Hawks a four point lead with 10 seconds remaining:
From trailing all of the way in the second half, the Hawks have rallied to take a two-possession lead with 10 seconds remaining and on course to steal Game 2. However, a quick three out of the timeout by Brunson and two missed free throws from McCollum put the game in doubt.
The Knicks elect not to take a timeout and push up the floor. They get the ball to Bridges, who rises near the corner amidst the contest of Johnson, and the ball hits the front of the rim. The game is over, and the Atlanta Hawks steal Game 2 on the road to even the series:
The Hawks shot 72% in the final quarter to outscore the Knicks 28-15, while the Knicks shot just 22% — 5-of-22 and 3-of-11 from three. An utter collapse on both ends of the floor for the Knicks, who couldn’t stop the Hawks at the rim, nor could find success through Brunson.
Postgame, the word ‘resilience’ was put forward to Hawks head coach Quin Snyder when describing the comeback, a sentiment he felt summarized their efforts in this game.
“I think that’s a great word to describe the night for us,” said Snyder postgame. “New York was dialed in and knocked us back at the beginning of the game. We were competing, we just needed to continue to raise our level and the guys did that. I just thought the way they fought and competed throughout the whole game, and then obviously, we’re able to make some plays late.”
Despite the Knicks clearly establishing themselves as the superior team for three quarters with the counting stats pointing in their favor (shooting 52% from the field, holding the Hawks to under 30% from three, scoring 22 second chance points through three quarters), the Hawks were, mostly, getting the shots they wanted up to that point.
“…I missed four wide-open threes, I missed a corner three, I missed a left wing three, I missed a left slot three, I missed a one-legged three at the end of the quarter, which is whatever,” McCollum listed. “Mo missed a left corner three, ‘JK’ missed a left-corner three, Nickeil missed a trail three, and he made a right corner three. We had possessions where guys that we wanted to shoot were shooting. We had a swing-swing to JJ, he pumped faked and shot a three at the end of the shot clock. Those are great possessions where we did what we said we wanted to do going into the game, and we just missed, and it’s a make-or-miss league.”
Despite the deficit, McCollum rallied the Hawks and encouraged them that they were never far away in this game.
“It’s a long game,” said McCollum. “I think with the experience and just watching so much basketball and playing in so many big moments, you know don’t get caught up in the possessions, don’t get caught up in misses, turnovers, fouls, good or bad. It’s a long game; you’ve got to play it to zero. The way the game is played now is so fast, there’s so many threes, there’s so many possessions. You always have a chance. So, I just told them we’ve just got to stay within one, two possessions, stay a punch away, and then we’ll throw the last punch.”
The Hawks produced multiple defensive stops in the fourth quarter which allowed them to build their run, founded upon their success at the rim.
“I think we just kept competing,” said Snyder of the fourth quarter defense. “Over the course of a game, if you don’t let up and you don’t give in to that, you have an opportunity to have more success late if you just hang in there. We know they’re such a good team and they’re so hard to guard offensively that I think our guys understand that when they do score, you just can’t get discouraged. You just need to keep trying to raise your level. We had a hard time on the defensive glass. Those plays can really be deflating but I thought we responded to those as well. We never quite figured it out, but we dug in in other aspects of the game.”
Let’s talk CJ McCollum now.
Hands up: I wrote before the series that I was concerned with the potential reliance on McCollum in the stretch versus Brunson and said there was a gap between the two players. I said it, and I still think it’s not an outrageous assessment, or concern, to hold, especially in a game where the Hawks’ top two options in Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker struggled to make their usual impact.
However, I was wrong to be concerned about McCollum’s clutch play, because it’s just won the Hawks a playoff game that they probably fall short in otherwise. McCollum was brilliant down the stretch (free throws aside, which, had the Bridges shot gone in, we’d be having a very different conversation — it didn’t, so we aren’t) and took offensive responsibility when the Hawks needed it, with Alexander-Walker scoring nine points, and Johnson scoring 17 points after finding a better rhythm in the second half.
“I make the hard shots and miss the easy ones,” said McCollum of missing his free throws late. “I’m going to have to get in the gym and work on my wide-open free throws. Credit to JJ for getting back on defense and us doing enough to win but got to make those (free throws).”
McCollum scored 32 points on 12-of-22 shooting from the field, but it was his leadership which impressed Quin Snyder even more so.
“The things I really liked, I really liked CJ’s leadership as much as the shot making,” said Snyder. “I thought Nickeil and JJ, their recognition of how we were playing the game offensively and their selflessness in those situations. When they needed to make plays, they made plays too. But as I said, CJ’s leadership was really good with the ball in his hands and hopefully we can shoot better. But to win a game when you don’t shoot well sometimes is more gratifying than the other.”
The media narrative after the game focused on a new guard for the Knicks to center their ire on in the absence now of Trae Young; these were the first questions that were asked of McCollum after the game. I can’t say I’m a fan that this is the narrative chosen when there are other angles to take instead which also praise McCollum’s impact and clutch performance in the face of those who picked the Knicks to comfortably win this series (again, I’m guilty of this, for the sake of transparency), but it is something that has to be highlighted. This was McCollum’s response when asked in the opening question how he felt about being a villain and another guard who has drawn the ire of the Knicks crowd.
“I am no villain, I’m a nice guy with two kids and a wife,” McCollum replied postgame. “I think it’s admiration. Great, passionate fans in a really hostile environment. It’s fun, it’s basketball, it’s the playoffs. If anything, I think it’s a sign of respect.”
McCollum was asked further about playing to the animosity of the Knicks crowd, but didn’t play into it the narrative too much, outlining the respect he has for the Knicks and their fans, as well as playing in the Garden in the postseason.
“I love it, I love it,” added McCollum when asked about feeding off the animosity of the crowd. “It’s why we play the game. It’s fun being in opposing arenas and when the buzzer sounds, and it’s quiet and you walk off the court. I think there’s a level of mutual respect. It was a tough game against a good team on their home floor and they’re supposed to be passionate, and I think they do a great job of showing up consistently throughout the year. I’ve been to games in the Garden as a fan and watched, I’ve seen playoff games here. It’s a pleasure to be able to play here and it’s a pleasure to be able to walk off the court with a win.”
“CJ, that got him going, I think he enjoyed it,” added Jonathan Kuminga. “The crowd shouldn’t really do that or say that. I think that really got him going, I think it got all of us going, just the energy.”
McCollum’s efforts in the fourth quarter down the stretch will rightly be praised, but his shot-making in the first half I thought was equally important as it kept the Hawks in the game at a time where the Knicks could have begun to stretch away. In future games, the Hawks hope that Alexander-Walker and Johnson will have more offensive impact scoring the ball, but how comforting it must be for the Hawks to know that they can still win a playoff game on the road with neither Johnson or Alexander-Walker having great games, the Hawks shooting 30% from three, and the Knicks scoring 24 second chance points. The belief will have grown massively off of the back of this win, and McCollum has a very large role in that as the series now shifts to Atlanta.
Another reason the Hawks were able to pull off this victory was due to the play of Jonathan Kuminga off the bench. Kuminga scored 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field, including seven in the fourth quarter as we looked at — a quarter where he played the entire 12 minutes.
Snyder acknowledged the contributions Kuminga made on offense, but praised his defensive contributions, too.
“He made some plays offensively that were great,” said Snyder of Kuminga. “I think you could just feel the way he competed on the defensive end. It was a huge lift for us, just his physicality, the way he defended the ball, the way he got to the glass, guarded Towns at times. On the offensive end he got us a few big buckets, too.”
Kuminga sensed that the Hawks’ energy was perhaps lower in the first half, and his objective was to play physically in order to change the tempo in the game.
“I think just setting the tone, mostly on defense,” said Kuminga of bringing the energy off the bench. “Being physical as much as I can, because I feel like our energy was a little bit lower because we wasn’t hitting shots that we usually make. There was something else that needed to be done, and I think it’s just the mindset coming out there, trying to engage all the guys and trying to be as physical as much as I can.”
Kuminga had some high energy defensive plays and leapt for loose balls that were heading out of bounds. His effort did not go unnoticed out on the floor. Offensively, he provided a big spark in the fourth taking it to the rim and exploiting the mismatches in front of him. Heading into the series, the Hawks needed strong performances like this from Kuminga to have a chance in swinging the bench battle and to have any chance winning this series they need these types of games from Kuminga. His efforts helped the Hawks win the bench battle 28-20.
Snyder was pleased not just with Kuminga’s contribution, but there were mentions for the other members of the bench.
“…We got some big plays from other guys,” added Quin Snyder. “I think everybody from Tony Bradley, when Mo went down, I thought Corey and Gabe, both off the bench, sparked runs. Two guys that are just really competitive and good basketball players. It was a team win.”
Quick-Hitters
This section is more dedicated to the other talking points of this game/series that we’ll discuss quickly.
Jalen Johnson had a difficult start to this game, scoring four points in the first half on 0-of-4 shooting before finishing with 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting. The ball went through Johnson more in the second half, and he was able to get to the rim and finish more in the second half. Overall, however, this was a pretty quiet Johnson game. This is his first postseason appearance as a leading star of the team, and first experience with all the nuances the postseason provides, and Quin Snyder described this particular process and how Johnson proceeds in this scenario where he has to give the ball up in certain situations as a matchup develops.
“I think him just keeping an even keel,” said Snyder of Johnson of the next step in the series. “As the game progressed, he found more of a rhythm. That’s hard to do than maybe coming out and having everything go your way. His ability to kind of grind through those situations, and when that happens and then the ball goes to CJ, or Nickeil’s in an action, that’s a big thing for Jalen to understand how important he is and how much we need his offense. But then for him to also be able to recognize there are certain times in the game where he’s playing more of a secondary role. That doesn’t happen as much, obviously, but that’s the playoffs.”
Speaking of the Hawks’ other leading scorer, Nickeil Alexander-Walker is having a much more difficult time of things offensively in the postseason compared to the regular season matchup with the Knicks. As we saw with McCollum in the fourth, this is what happens when you’re guarded by Brunson and not Mikal Bridges. McCollum was easily able to get by Brunson, and Alexander-Walker has had a much difficult time offensively with Bridges guarding him instead of Brunson — averaging 15 points per game on 30% shooting from the field, shooting 3-of-12 in Game 2. Bridges spent over seven minutes of game time guarding Alexander-Walker, holding him to 1-of-4 shooting in their Game 2 matchup.
Interestingly, OG Anunoby spent the majority of his defensive time on Okongwu, while Josh Hart took the Jalen Johnson assignment (guarding him for over nine minutes with Johnson shooting 5-of-8 when guarded by Hart), leaving Towns on Daniels. It was an interesting adjustment for the Knicks, and I imagine there may be another adjustment to take Brunson off of McCollum, who shot 83% when guarded by Brunson, all per NBA.com’s matchup stats. The next step, I have to imagine, involves Brunson guarding Daniels, and while this would require a reshuffling — potentially placing Anunoby back on Johnson, and Hart onto McCollum — I think it’s a logical place for New York to look next.
Elsewhere, the Hawks have a Dyson Daniels problem in this series. His playing time was limited last night due to foul trouble — and some questionable fouls at that — but offensively he hasn’t been able to get to his drive and spin moves where he can either score himself or create for others in the manner he’s used to — only two assists in Game 2. Daniels is already left alone to shoot threes, and at the beginning of the game Towns was guarding him and just can stands off him until Daniels gets to the paint, leaving Towns free to roam defensively and help elsewhere.
If Daniels isn’t even able to get inside himself or get to his spin/floater/kick-out, all he’s doing at the moment offensively is setting screens for others. While there’s definitely value in that — and it was seen to have success in the regular season matchup with the Knicks — it’s not enough offensively and creates a problem for the Hawks. These ball screens haven’t been able to free up Alexander-Walker as they did in the regular season to get downhill. Fortunately, Alexander-Walker was able to pick up the defensive responsibilities on Brunson (and did a fantastic job at the end of the game, and held Brunson to 4-of-9 from the field per NBA.com’s matchup tracking), and Kuminga was able to get to the rim and score, and make a couple of plays such as the Okongwu lob.
Game 3 is a big one going forward for Daniels in this series, and I suspect his playing time may decrease slightly going forward from an offensive perspective. Defensively, he’s still very important for what the Hawks want to do and for guarding Brunson, but offensively I wonder if the Hawks can find another way for Daniels to be involved. Right now, it’s a lob of probing and then hand-off/screen, and that’s mostly it. Speaking of defense very quickly, I thought this was a much better showing from Johnson, highlighted by his effort at the end of the game on the Bridges contest to seal the game.
The second chance scoring is still a massive problem for the Hawks, with Snyder even admitting afterwards the Hawks still have no answer for this and didn’t figure it out in Game 2. On a different night, this is the defining feature of a New York Knicks victory — 22 second chance points through three quarters is monumental in a playoff game, and the Hawks are very fortunate it didn’t cost them victory.
All in all though, a great road victory for the Hawks, and a collapse from the Knicks at home, who really ought to have wrapped this game up after their strong three quarters. There were some shots you look back in that, had they gone in, change the course of this game — two consecutive three-point attempts from Bridges in the fourth that looked like they were in spring to mind.
But I think for the Knicks, those really difficult shots that Jalen Brunson hit in the regular season with such consistency finally fell out, and he shot just 10-of-26 from the field. McCollum and Kuminga were excellent, and they led the way for the Hawks to take a famous playoff victory in New York and swing home court advantage in their favor.
Game 3 takes place on Thursday night at State Farm Arena, and it’s set to be an enthralling affair.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 20: Ceddanne Rafaela #3 of the Boston Red Sox reaches out to hit a two-run single against the Detroit Tigers during the seventh inning at Fenway Park on April 20, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Editor’s note: Welcome to the slightly revamped Rivalry Roundup! The American League is a bit of a muddled mess right now, even by April standards, so we’re taking a slightly different approach until the picture gets at least a little more clear. We polled the Rivarly Roundup writers to determine two teams who would get our closest focus and landed (for now) on Boston and Toronto. We will additionally have more abridged coverage—again, for now—of the Tigers, Guardians, Orioles, Rays, Mariners, Astros, and Rangers in “Other Teams.” There is sure to be some overlap in matchups; we just want to make sure we’re covering our bases. Thanks!
With the Yankees off Monday before heading to Boston, it was a great day to hate cheer against our enemies. The day got off to a shoddy start, with Boston defeating Detroit in the annual Boston Marathon morning game. Monday night, unfortunately, the Jays and Orioles followed suit with wins of their own.
The Rays at least had the decency to lose. As did the Mariners, who are off to a brutal start. Houston unfortunately won. I’m sure I’m not the only Yankees fan wondering how far that ship can sink.
Boston Red Sox (9-13) 8, Detroit Tigers (12-11) 6
It’s been rough times in Boston to start the season… you just hate to see it. After the BoSox jumped out to a 2-0 lead early, the Tigers chipped away, taking the lead in the top of the sixth and giving hope, for a brief moment, that they could hang another early season loss on the Red Sox.
Alas, Roman Anthony knotted the game back up at three in the home sixth and then Boston took over in the seventh. With the bases loaded and one out, Ceddaanne Rafaela came to the dish. His single down the right field line scored two, though former Yankee farmhand Caleb Durbin was out at the dish. Rafaela later came around to score the Sox’s sixth run. In the bottom of the eighth, former Yankee Isiah Kiner-Falefa added a two-run single of his own to make it 8-3 and put Boston on the verge of a laugher.
Needing three outs and up five, the Sox left Ryan Watson in to try and close the game out. They chose… poorly. With runners on second and third and one out, former Yankee Gleyber Torres singled in a fourth run, prompting Boston to bring closer and former Yankee (bit of a theme in this one) Aroldis Chapman in. Riley Greene doubled in two more runs to bring Detroit to within two and bring the tying run to the plate but Chapman got Dillon Dingler to ground out to end it. I’m sure Boston would have prefered to not bring Chapman in but on a day where they went through seven relievers while the Yankees relaxed before heading to Fenway, it seems par for the course.
Toronto Blue Jays (9-13) 5, Los Angeles Angels (11-13) 2
The Jays have been off to a miserable start, much like Boston. You also hate to see it. Monday night, however, they played the Angels pretty tough. Unlike the Yankees, they managed to keep Mike bleeping Trout in the yard. Lo and behold, that helped keep the Angels from racking up runs.
On the mound, offseason addition Dylan Cease was in his bag. The righty tossed five innings of two-run ball, whiffing 12 Angels hitters. Tough to score when you’re striking out constantly. The downside though, is Cease could only go five, with a pitch count at 110.
At the dish, franchise player Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. supplied the heroics. With Toronto down one early, Vladito clubbed a two-run bomb, one of three hits on the day. The Angels tied the game but the Jays managed single runs in the sixth and seventh to extend their lead to 4-2. They added a fifth run in the top of the ninth and held on for the 5-2 win.
The Astros have been a hot mess early this season but thanks to a bevy of long balls, they took down Cleveland Monday night. Christian Walker, who was abysmal in the first half of 2025 for the Astros but markedly improved down the stretch, has come out of the gates strongly in 2026 and tonight was no exception. Walker punctuated his three-hit night with a two-run home run. The Astros’ hero of the day, however, was Isaac Paredes. The former Ray mashed two round-trippers of his own as Houston ran away with this one.
Tampa Bay Rays (12-10) 1, Cincinnati Reds (15-8) 6
This one was never all that close. The Rays managed a first inning run. But they were already down two when they did. From there, Cincinnati kept adding on. The big blow for the Reds was Sal Stewart’s eighth homerun of the year, a two-run blast in the first that gave them a lead they never surrendered. In the top of the sixth, Rece Hinds hit a two-run double that put the Reds up 5-1 and put this one out of reach, as the Rays never came close after that.
Baltimore Orioles (11-12) 7, Kansas City Royals (7-16) 5 (12)
Man, the Royals are just awful. The Yankees swept them away at the Stadium this weekend and, even having returned home, they’re still down bad. God bless their hearts, they got out to an early lead, thanks to a Jac Caglianone solo home run in the first. And they even held onto it… until the ninth. Baltimore tied it in then, and the two teams traded runs in the 11th. In the 12th, Leody Taveras put the game away for the O’s with a grand slam, continuing Kansas City’s immiseration.
Seattle’s offense is going through it. The Big Dumper hit his third home run of the season… he finished the night with a .538 OPS. Josh Naylor had a three-hit night… .520 OPS. Julio, with his two hits, finished the night at .609. You can’t predict baseball, Suzyn.
To be fair, Seattle did jump out to a 3-0 lead, which must have felt really good, given their struggles at the dish. Alas, they gave it all back. A trio of long balls from the Athletics knotted the game at three. Then, in the eighth, a sacrifice fly and a two-run single put the A’s up 6-3 and they held on, handing the Mariners another April loss. You hate to see it.
BRONX, NY - APRIL 08: Athletics Left Fielder Tyler Soderstrom (21) and Center Fielder Denzel Clarke (1) and Right Fielder Lawrence Butler (4) celebrate the victory after the ninth inning of a Major League Baseball game between the Athletics and New York Yankees on April 8, 2026, at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
I’ve noticed that the A’s have worn strictly grey on the road this season. Last year, it was a mix between the grey, gold, and the kelly green tops but with the 2010s style gold jerseys being retired in the offseason in favor of their new “Sacramento Saturdays” jersey, we’ve seem to have lost the gold top as an option on the road. Which is strange when you think about it, given that it’s the only jersey in their collection that pays respect to the city they’re sort’ve resting in for the time being. I guess this is because they don’t want to give opposing fans the wrong impression. They are The Athletics. Not the Sacramento Athletics. Even on Sacramento Saturdays, they’re still The Athletics. Sporting “Sacramento” across their chests is simply just an act of fan service. A reason for locals to flock to the team shop in between innings.
Now why they’ve stopped wearing the kelly greens on the road, I don’t know. My working theory is that the players have grown tired of them. It’s been adopted as their spring training look in recent years and maybe because of that, it’s lost a little bit of its big league charm. In fact overall, it might be the least worn jersey this season. I can only recall it being worn once. If that continues to be the case, it would actually be so for the second consecutive year. Tim Kelly from MLB.com did a power ranking going into the season, where he broke down where every MLB club’s uniform combos stood in comparison to one another, as well as how many times they were worn throughout 2025.
The A’s came in second (easy first imo) behind the St. Louis Cardinals and this was their overall slashline:
Grey — 67; White — 59; Yellow — 23; Kelly Green — 13
At the pace we’re moving, grey will remain the dominant jersey. 67 times out of 81 opportunities is already pretty insane when you think about it. Take one more option out of the mix and grey has a real shot at cracking 75 this season.
Now if they go the whole year without ever veering from ole reliable on the road, we the fans should get some sort of pizza party…or at least a verbal commitment to bringing back the black tops from the late 2000s.
PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 20: Elmer Soderblom #25 of the Pittsburgh Penguins battles for position between Noah Juulsen #47 and Dan Vladar #80 of the Philadelphia Flyers in Game Two of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena on April 20, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
After generating just 18 shots on goal (and only one goal before resorting from pulling their goalie in desperation time to find a second goal) in Game 1, the Pittsburgh Penguins were unable to get much of anything going as a counter to that slow start in Game 2. In fact, the opposite happened for the Pens, they only registered two shots on goal in the first period. It was a telling sign that they didn’t not figure out how to break through the Flyers’ defense in the short time between Games 1 and 2 and went on to get shutout in a game where they were looking for a big response.
As a result, the Penguins leave Pittsburgh having lost the first two games of the series. They’re in a big hole now.
How was the game lost? Surely the Pens are wondering the same thing, desperately searching for an answer before it becomes too late. Philadelphia made Rick Tocchet one of the league’s highest paid coaches and he’s proving to be worth every penny by instilling a physical mindset and restrictive defensive strategy that has confounded the star power of the Penguins, making them look old and ineffective.
Tocchet’s finger prints are all over the series, and a big reason Philadelphia took Game 2. The Penguins can run from starting Sidney Crosby against Sean Couturier at the beginnings of periods, but they can’t stop the Flyers from putting Couturier and Travis Sanheim on the ice for defensive zone faceoffs. Couturier won 13 of his 18 overall faceoffs last night, many against Crosby who won just 39% of his 31 faceoffs. That alone isn’t a big reason that Pittsburgh lost, but it starts to explain the story of how the matchups are going all over the ice, in ways big and small.
Couturier besting Crosby knocks areas like the power play out of whack before it can even get on track. Then the Flyers’ defensive posturing, physicality and the Pens’ lack of urgency take over. It did last night when Tommy Novak took an indirect, slow route to a puck up for grabs (not even starting to skate towards the wall for a full beat after Stuart Skinner played the puck), threw a halfhearted bump and then slid all the way out of the picture in what started the sequence for Philadelphia’s second goal, which then really turned into something when Tippett went by Kris Letang like he wasn’t even there. It served as a backbreaker before the end of the second period to extend the lead to 2-0. It might as well have been 20-0 at that point.
The difference in the Pens and Flyers is the difference between Novak and Letang and Owen Tippett on that play, how much effort and energy is on display. One side is busting their ass to make something happen, the other is just kinda there. It should be needless to say but it can’t be like that in the NHL playoffs.
The above play was the only goal scored during a full 8:00 of game play where the Penguins had a power play. That, in a nutshell, is the simplest answer and explanation for how Pittsburgh lost Game 2. They have almost nothing going right so far and their opponent looks more hungry, smarter, faster, better-coached, better in net (not that Stuart Skinner could do too much about winning with zero goal support), you name it and it’s been an uphill climb.
Erik Karlsson summed it up, in what could have been the entirety of this article and been correct. (A 34-word quote isn’t good for the search engines, though). But Karlsson pretty much nails it here.
“We don’t really get in sync, and you would think that we would dictate what we want to do out there,” Karlsson said. “But they’re doing a good job, and we’re not. That’s the bottom line.”
Wrap it up, that’s all there is to say. Despite what elements of coaching or goaltending or any other variable that factors into the overall big picture, playoff hockey often comes down to which side is simply playing better or worse than the competition on the ice. So far the results have been very clear in that regard, with Game 2 serving as a terrible indictment of the Pens’ ability to find any answers on how to solve what their opponent has been throwing at them.
The Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche will hit Ball Arena for Game 2 of their Round 1 series on Tuesday, April 21.
My top Kings vs. Avalanche predictions and NHL picks call for Colorado to pull away with a convincing win to take a 2-0 lead tonight.
UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win tonight.
Kings vs Avalanche Game 2 prediction
Who will win Kings vs Avalanche Game 2?
Avalanche: The Avs went 26-9-6 at home during the regular season while averaging 3.8 goals per game, allowing just 2.54 and ranking second in both Corsi For percentage and expected goals percentage at 5-on-5. With Kings starter Anton Forsberg eyeing a statistical correction to his unsustainable .940 save percentage across his past nine games, look for Colorado to pull away tonight at Ball Arena.
Kings vs Avalanche best bet: Avalanche -1.5 (-105)
The Los Angeles Kings have received unsustainable goaltending from Anton Forsberg over the past month, with the veteran posting a godly .940 save percentage and 9.1 goals saved above expected across his past nine games.
Forsberg’s body of work to this point in his career doesn’t line up with those numbers. He posted a .900 SV% with 13.52 GSAx across his first 28 games of this season.
The Colorado Avalanche went26-9-6 at home while averaging 3.8 goals per game, allowing just 2.54 and ranking second in both Corsi For percentage and expected goals percentage at 5-on-5.
Kings vs Avalanche Game 2 same-game parlay
Colorado's top line of Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, and Artturi Lehkonen was on the ice for a high-end 5.39 goals per 60 minutes during the regular season, and Necas has gone four games without a goal despite recording a solid 2.33 expected goals.
With Forsberg expected to regress, I’m anticipating the MacKinnon-Necas-Lehkonen line to leave their mark tonight.
Kings vs Avalanche SGP
Avalanche -1.5
Martin Necas anytime goal
Artturi Lehkonen Over 0.5 points
Kings vs Avalanche Game 2 goal scorer pick
Martin Necas (+155)
Another big draw for Necas to find the back of the net is Los Angeles' 30th-ranked penalty kill. Colorado went 0-for-4 on the power play in the series opener, and this dam will break in Game 2.
Necas has scored 65 goals over the past two seasons, and playing so much ice time with MacKinnon at both even strength and on the PP increases his chances of finding the back of the net.
The Colorado Avalanche have won six of their last seven games (+4.70 Units / 34% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Kings vs. Avalanche.
How to watch Kings vs Avalanche Game 2
Location
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Puck drop
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Kings vs Avalanche latest injuries
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.
The Philadelphia 76ers will try to even their first-round series against the Boston Celtics. The Celtics routed the 76ers 123-91 in the series’ opener with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum combining for 51 points. The Celtics are favored by 14.5 points in Game 2, with the total set at 216.5.
Moneyline: Boston Celtics -1000 (86.8%) / Philadelphia 76ers +625 (13.2%)
Over/Under: 216.5
Series schedule
Game 1:Celtics 123, 76ers 91 Game 2: Tue., April 21 at Boston (7 p.m., Peacock) Game 3: Fri., April 24 at Philadelphia (7 p.m., Prime) Game 4: Sun., April 26 at Philadelphia (7 p.m., NBC) *Game 5: Tue., April 28 at Boston (TBD) *Game 6: Thu., April 30 at Philadelphia (TBD) *Game 7: Sat., May 2 at Boston (TBD)if necessary
Boston, MA - April 12: Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla. The Celtics and Orlando Magic played at TD Garden on April 12, 2026. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
In a pregame press conference in Atlanta in late March, Joe Mazzulla said he never wanted to be asked about the Coach of the Year award again.
“I don’t need it,” Mazzulla said. “I think it’s a stupid award. They shouldn’t have it. And it’s more about the players. It’s more about the work that the staff puts in. It’s just that simple. I really don’t ever want to be asked or talk about it again. It’s just that dumb. The players play. It’s about them. Staff work their ass off. I’m grateful to have them.”
I remember turning back to the national reporter who asked the question and chuckling. He hadn’t interfaced with Mazzulla as much as we on the Celtics beat had, and he had just experienced a classic Joe Mazzulla press conference moment that he likely knew was coming.
That Monday evening was far from the first time that Mazzulla had minimized the significance of that kind of honor – he’d downplayed several Coach of the Month awards throughout his four-year tenure as Celtics head coach – but it was the first time that it appeared almost certain that Mazzulla would be named Coach of the Year at the season’s end, after leading a “Gap Year” Celtics team to a 56-26 record.
Three weeks later, hours after Mazzulla was, in fact, named a finalist, Derrick White spoke about the award in definitive terms.
“He doesn’t like the attention on him and making it about himself,” White said. “But, obviously, he has done an amazing job this year – and when he wins it, it’ll be well deserved.”
What does it actually mean to win an award in the NBA?
Awards dominate discourse in the NBA, particularly in April. But their significance is often diminished depending on when they’re announced and what happens in the postseason.
I always think back to Dirk Nowitzki winning the MVP in 2007, just days after his top-seeded Dallas Mavericks lost to the 8th-seeded Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs.
“It just feels so empty right now,” Nowitzki said a few days before collecting his hardware. In a league defined by championships, the highest regular season of all suddenly felt futile.
Coach of the Year is a particularly interesting award because, in recent years, it’s almost been cursed.
Take a look at just the last few years.
In 2023, Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown won the award. In 2022, it was Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams. In 2021, it was New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau. In 2020, it was Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse. In 2019, it was Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer. In 2018, it was Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey.
Every single one of those coaches was fired within four years. The most extreme example, Casey, was actually fired before he even collected the hardware.
And Mazzulla is fully aware of that reality, of the fleeing nature of success, about how the next day, or next season, isn’t promised. He talks about it all the time.
“This could all change 24 hours from now, to where we’re having different conversations,” Mazzulla said Monday, with the Celtics holding a 1-0 series lead over the Philadelphia 76ers. “So it’s part of just the perspective of being rooted in something, regardless of the environment around you on a 24-hour cycle.”
Much of Mazzulla’s desire to deflect praise and recognition is rooted in his faith. He lights up at the podium as he discusses it.
“There are a bunch of better leaders that have gone through a lot before me – David, Solomon, those guys were much better than I was,” he said. “But they went through a lot of good and bad. I like studying those two the most. I flocked to David and Solomon. Good dudes struggled, had success. Guess we’re still talking about them though. But that won’t be me 2,000 years from now.”
Mazzulla has also acknowledged he hasn’t always been this way, calling back to his tenure at West Virginia University as a star basketball player.
“Being a Division I basketball player, you grow up with this sense of entitlement, as if the whole world revolves around you,” he said. “I had to, inherently, if I wanted to be a better husband, a better father, a better coach, I had to get rid of that type of entitlement.”
That end result is what we see today.
Still, whether he likes it or not in this very moment, Mazzulla is on top of the world
“Praise is just as dangerous as criticism,” he said. “You just have to remind yourself that neither one lasts too long. And really, at the end of the day, they’re gonna forget about you eventually. This is all just a short-term thing that’s gonna last a few years, and then 10-15 years from now, no one is gonna talk about it.”
I asked Mazzulla if he tries to impose that belief on his players – especially the young ones who are experiencing widespread praise for the very first time. Several, like Baylor Scheierman, Neemias Queta, and Jordan Walsh, have been inundated with praise as their public profile has risen this season.
It’s something Walsh spoke to last week as he reflected on the highs and lows of his own individual season.
“It’s so hard; one day, you have your name going crazy and everywhere, everybody’s talking about it and how good you’re doing, and the next day, it’d be silent and [you] have nothing, and you’re just kind of on the bench,” he said.
So, is the praise something Mazzulla hopes his players fight?
“Everybody’s different,” he said. “You just try to treat people the way that they need to be treated. Everyone has a different anchor, has a different approach, handles things differently. I don’t try to make guys believe or do things that they don’t want to do. It’s not who they are.”
What he will preach is the idea that it’s all about the team, all about a storied franchise that has won 18 banners, about the greats that came before this particular group.
“The whole idea of this thing is that everything’s bigger than us,” Mazzulla said. “We’re part of this organization. We have a responsibility and ownership to move it forward for however long we’re here. And we can’t – I can’t be good if I don’t have people around me that are good. And, we need each other. So it’s really just having an understanding of that. We need to have great people around you. It’s as simple as that. And, we’re very fortunate enough to have that. We’ll see where it takes us.”
It’s not often that Mazzulla goes this long on a topic, but this topic is one of the things he’s been most consistent about this season: it’s not about him, it’s not about any individuals, really. It’s about the organization.
“I can’t be good if I don’t have people around me that are good.”
You’ll hear lots of people around the Celtics organization saying that in various forms. The assistant coaches don’t want to take the credit. The front office doesn’t want to take the credit. I asked Mazzulla if the award would resonate a little bit more if it were more about the collective.
He nodded.
“I would like for it to be changed to Staff or Organization of the year,” Mazzulla said. “If it were Staff of the Year, it’s different, if it were Organization of the Year – but at the end of the day, I haven’t made one basket all year. Our staff hasn’t made a basket. We haven’t gotten a block. We haven’t ran back on defense. We didn’t play in a back-to-back. We didn’t have to play hurt. We haven’t really done shit. So, if you don’t have the guys to be able to put you in position, it doesn’t really matter. I’m just grateful – the greatest gift I have is I get to coach a bunch of guys that care about winning and being a part of the culture that we have.”
Joe Mazzulla went long on awards & recognition today.
Asked him about whether he thinks the Coach of the Year award should instead be Organization of the Year:
“If it were Staff of the Year, it's different, if it were Organization of the Year – but at the end of the day, I… pic.twitter.com/KvXAG5neAo
On his way out of the press conference, one reporter jokingly reminded him that they did, in fact, get buckets – referencing the infamous preseason Coaches vs Media game, in which the Celtics coaches defeated us media members 57-4 in a 12-minute beatdown.
That drew some laughs.
But, more seriously, Mazzulla has a valid point. The Celtics coaching staff consists of more than a dozen people. There’s also an athletic training staff, a nutrition team, and countless other people who are responsible for players’ success and development.
He’s the one who talks to the press before and after every game, but he represents a collective that keeps the wheels turning.
Payton Pritchard still believes the tone is set at the top.
“Joe just does an excellent job of holding everybody to a high standard and work ethic and showing up every day and just putting that time in,” Pritchard said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s training staff, weight room. Everybody knows their job, and they come in on a high level, and they produce every day. Even the player development staff, they’re on-court probably more than us, working their butt off. It definitely starts with Joe and the expectations he has and the standard that he holds people to.”
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 19: VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers goes in for a dunk against the Boston Celtics during the second half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on April 19, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here we go again!
The Philadelphia 76ers will take the floor at TD Garden once again on Tuesday in hopes of turning things around in this first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics — or at least make it a little more competitive. The hosting Celtics come into Game 2 with a 1-0 series lead after absolutely demolishing the Sixers on Sunday afternoon without really having to break a sweat.
It was truly a disaster on Sunday afternoon, a perfect display of two teams and organizations that are simply on two different levels in basically every possible way — Boston came in with strategy and depth, while Philadelphia looked completely desperate and without a plan.
Pretty much everything that could go wrong or poorly for Philadelphia on Sunday did. The team shot just 38.9% from the floor and 4-for-23 from long range in the loss. Paul George had a truly rough-to-watch game in terms of effort and efficiency. Kelly Oubre Jr. was 0-for-5 from long range. The Sixers still don’t have a truly suitable backup center for Joel Embiid, with both Andre Drummond and Adem Bona floundering in an attempt to keep up with the Celtics.
But Tuesday is another day. Whether it changes the result remains to be seen, but one can only hope the Sixers are able to put up a little more of a fight. Even just a spoonful of fight. It can’t get worse than Sunday, can it? (That question is rhetorical, Sixers… please do not take it as a challenge.)
The Sixers are still without Embiid as he continues to recover from an urgent appendectomy surgery performed just under two weeks ago. On Monday, the team announced that the center had begun a strength and conditioning program as his healing continues. What this means in the short term is still relatively unknown. Embiid probably wouldn’t return to training so quickly post-surgery unless there was a chance he could return these playoffs, but the likelihood of him even having a chance to play again this season might be cut down if the Sixers were to go down 2-0 on Tuesday night. It now becomes a bit of a “will he, won’t he” matter for Embiid. Familiar territory, indeed.
Meanwhile, the Celtics are a healthy, full-strength squad looking to just continue what they were able to do on Sunday. The Sixers didn’t exactly give them any reason to change strategy. Boston never trailed for a single moment of Game 1. Jaylen Brown (26 points) and Jayson Tatum (25) led the squad per usual, but this was a widespread effort for the C’s with everyone able to get involved. They had six players score in double-digits, with 10 of the 13 players they utilized throughout the game scoring five or more points.
It’s very tough to write about, honestly. It’s truly not meant to be overly negative or “doomer.” It is simply that the Celtics are an organization playing a completely different, much more successful game than the Sixers. The evidence was clear as day on Sunday. That being said, fans can always hope that Philadelphia are able to steal a game away. It would very likely require much better shooting from the Sixers on top of a plethora of other factors: more contributions from Paul George and even Quentin Grimes, better performances from the backup fives, providing more help/screens to get Tyrese Maxey space with the ball, actual ball movement instead of forcing ISO ball repeatedly… I could go on, but I think we all get the picture.
At the time of writing, the Sixers are roughly a 14-point underdog. Do with that what you will. It’s going to take a lot to overcome. But, if all the right stars align, it’s always possible.
The Sixers and Celtics tip off for Game 2 at 7 p.m. ET.
Game Details
When: Monday, April 21, 7 p.m. ET Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA Watch: Peacock Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 19: De'Aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers during Round One Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After the San Antonio Spurs handled the Portland Trail Blazers in the first playoff game of the Victor Wembanyama era, the two teams return for Game 2 tonight at 8 p.m ET.
If you didn’t watch Game 1 or are just trying to refresh your mind ahead of some Game 2 wagering, you are in the perfect place!
Game 1 Recap
As many of us expected, the Trail Blazers did not merely rollover and die. Deni Avdija did a great job in his playoff debut – scoring 30 points on 63.5% true shooting while also tallying ten rebounds and five assists. But he and everyone else on the floor was on a completely different level than Wembanyama.
The prodigious big man set a franchise record with 35 points in his postseason debut. That is a big deal considering this is the same organization that fostered the likes of Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker.
More than scoring, Wembanyama’s presence in the paint made it nearly impossible for Portland to operate. In his minutes, Portland was held to a 102.9 offensive rating, which is over ten points lower (113.1) than their regular season offensive rating – that was already viewed as unimpressive (21st in NBA).
Game 2 Outlook
The current spread for this game is set at 11.5, meaning that you can bet on whether you think the Spurs will win by more than 11 points or less than 12 points and vice versa with the Blazers.
As we said, the Spurs looked like the clearly superior team in Game 1. But the Blazers kept it close throughout, and San Antonio shot nearly 20% better from three than the Blazers on similar volume in Game 1. In the season, the two teams are separated by just 1.6% in that category. If that evens out a little (which you expect given the unusually large gap in this department), the game will be a lot more closely contested.
The over/under for this contest is set at 220.5. Game 1’s total finished at 209, so oddsmakers think there will be more scoring tonight.
According to the moneyline probabilities, FanDuel sees San Antonio as a heavy-favorite in Game 2. Their moneyline is listed at -700, giving them an 87.5% implied probability of victory.
How to watch Spurs vs. Trail Blazers Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 20: RJ Barrett #9 of the Toronto Raptors guards James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter of Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena on April 20, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Raptors 115-105. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In Monday’s Brotherhood Playoff Action, Jalen Johnson and the Atlanta Hawks evened the series with the New York Knicks, 107-106; Tyrese Proctor and his Cleveland Cavaliers took down RJ Barrett and Brandon Ingram, 115-105; while Minnesota came back from 19 down to beat Tyus Jones and the Denver Nuggets, 119-114.
Johnson scored 17 points and had 8 rebounds for Quin Snyder’s Hawks, who tied the series 1-1 with the win.
RJ Barrett had 22 points, shooting 10-13/0-1, while Ingram scored 17 on a poor 3-15/1-3 night from the floor. He’s hearing about it, especially since he complained after Game 1 that he didn’t get enough shots.
On the NBC broadcast, Noah Eagle mentioned the timeout and how it would shape the final 5.6 seconds of the Knicks-Hawks Game 2 battle Tuesday night.
Inside the NBC studios, Carmelo Anthony touched a monitor wondering why the Knicks had not used a supposed final timeout to set up a potential game-winning shot.
And the millions watching at home surely had similar thoughts after seeing Mikal Bridges clank a last-second jumper in the Hawks’ 107-106 upset road win rather than seeing a designed play out of a timeout.
The Knicks had a timeout, according to the NBC broadcast. @NBA_NewYork/X
Yet, all the focus on the timeout and Knicks fans’ consternation about Mike Brown seemingly pocketing it proved to be the unfortunate outcome from what would be called a “data issue” with NBC incorrectly adding a timeout the Knicks did not actually have before the rushed final play.
“We just want to say that the scoreboard showed a timeout that the Knicks did not have on the final play, but due to a data issue, the wrong timeout information was communicated, so that’s why you see a timeout on the score bug,” NBC’s Maria Taylor said during halftime of the Timberwolves’ 119-114 Game 2 road win over the Nuggets while the studio show recapped hectic final 5.6 seconds of the Knicks’ loss.
Whether the Knicks had a timeout for the final play Tuesday had a great effect on how they handled that last shot and NBC’s untimely error altered how viewers analyzed the chaos in real time.
Before CJ McCollum took the first of his two free throw shots with 5.6 seconds remaining and the Hawks leading, 107-106, the score bug showed the Knicks with no timeouts.
That meant the Knicks would have to attempt to score from either underneath their own basket or in transition off a miss.
The Knicks did not have a timeout right after McCollum missed his first free throw. @WorldWideWob/X
After McCollum missed the first free throw attempt, the Knicks suddenly had a timeout added to their tally.
Having a timeout would allow them to advance the ball and set up designed final shot out of an inbounds pass rather than a rushed play.
Eagle then noted how the presence of said timeout would affect the Knicks’ strategy.
“New York will take its timeout almost guaranteed here,” Eagle said.
McCollum missed the second and Josh Hart grabbed the rebound, yet, to the surprise of those following the score bug, he pushed ahead and passed to Bridges, who settled for a long jumper.
A contested long two-pointer is not an ideal shot, especially if one is under the impression that the Knicks had a timeout to burn.
Anthony, the Knicks legend, said that his initial frustration with the outcome in part stemmed from believing Brown had let them go.
“Well, I was touching and screaming because I was under the impression that there was a timeout, so thank you for correcting that,” Anthony said to Taylor.
Brown did not provide a concrete answer when asked if he would used a timeout had the Knicks possessed one.
“I usually like to go, so they can’t put in their best defenders and all that other stuff,” Brown said. “Five to seven seconds is close. It would have been by gut feel. There is a chance I could have taken a timeout … and then there’s a chance I wouldn’t have. I thought it was a good shot.”
NBC’s data error doesn’t completely absolve Brown, though.
He did not use the timeout the team needed to burn before the three-minute mark before losing it due to the NBA’s two-timeout maximum rule in the final 180 seconds, and then oddly used a timeout with 2:43 remaining when it seemed Jalen Brunson had a chance to score with the Knicks leading, 100-99.
Brown used his final timeout with 10.2 seconds remaining and the Knicks trailing, 107-103.
“A couple of possessions weren’t fluid,” Brown said of the timeout with 2:43 remaining. “So I wanted to make sure that we had something we wanted to get to, or to set something up offensively, because we had whiffed on the last couple possessions. It just didn’t look right, it didn’t feel right.”
Apr 20, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Mets owner Steve Cohen sits court side during the first quarter of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs between the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Meet the Mets
The Mets return to action tonight and will turn to young Nolan McLean to halt their slide.
Juan Soto should be back in uniform for the Mets soon, but Max Ralph pondered the question that’s on everybody’s mind: When exactly will Soto be back on the field?
Jared Greenspan explored the history of teams that have endured long losing streaks like the Mets, and what it means for their playoff hopes.
The team is backing Carlos Mendoza amid the losing streak, which isn’t sitting right with everybody. Still, it is clear that there’s enough blame to go around here.
On This Week In Mets, Tim Britton discussed the Mets having 10 days to save their season.
Did you have the NL Central as baseball’s best division? Be honest. Of course you didn’t, but it is.
Ken Rosenthal analyzed the deep problems the Mets, Phillies, and Astros face beyond their managers, who are not safe despite this not being entirely their faults.
The Yankees’ rotation might be this generation’s Murderers’ Row, explains Mike Lupica.
Cam Schlittler, who grew up a Red Sox fan in Massachucetts, says he and his family have received threats ahead of his start against the Red Sox in Fenway, but is nevertheless excited to pitch in the series.
The Royals released former first round pick Asa Lacy after six injury-riddled seasons.
Old friend Edwin Díaz will miss three month as he is set to undergo surgery to remove loose bodies in his right elbow.
The Twins placed right-hander Mick Abel on the injured list with right elbow inflammation. Abel was slated to face the Mets tonight.
Sonny Gray exited his start on Patriots’ Day with right hamstring tightness.
The Red Sox used some late-game small ball to secure an 8-6 victory over the Tigers on Patriots’ Day.
Colin Rea and a plethora of defensive gems helped Chicago top Philadelphia yesterday for their sixth straight win.
The first-place Reds won again, defeating the Rays 6-1 for their fourth straight victory. After some friendly pre-game trash talk, Elly De La Cruz robbed Junior Caminero with an incredible catch.
The Blue Jays had to take three buses from Phoenix to Anaheim, but they shook off the rust and prevailed 5-2 over the Angels for a series-opening win.
The Astros beat up the Guardians 9-2.
The Orioles edged the lowly Royals 7-5 in 12 innings.
The Mariners fell 6-4 to the Athletics, but Julio Rodríguez made a catch that people are talking about in the loss.
The Dodgers trounced the Rockies 12-3. In the win, Dave Roberts went with his gut and flipped Max Muncy and Miguel Rojas in the lineup, resulting in three homers between the two. Shohei Ohtani also extended his on-base streak to 52.
Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue
I wrote about the decision the Mets face with Carlos Mendoza
Detroit Tigers shortstop Bryce Rainer talks to reporters March 20, 2026, before the Spring Breakout game at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida. | Evan Petzold / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
After a really unfortunate shoulder injury that short-circuited a hot start to his pro career, the Detroit Tigers third ranked prospect, shortstop Bryce Rainer, has had a sluggish return to action in 2026. However, it’s only been 11 games, and he’s returning after 10 months away from game action, so it’s no surprise that he needed some time to get his bearings. The Tigers are unconcerned, and the 20-year-old Rainer was promoted to the High-A West Michigan Whitecaps on Monday. In his place, the Tigers have activated their 2025 first round pick in the draft, prep shortstop Jordan Yost, assigning him to Single-A Lakeland Flying Tigers for his full season debut.
Rainer was the 11th round pick out of Harvard-Westlake HS in the 2024 MLB draft. He hit the ground running in 2025 in Lakeland, showing off 70 grade raw power and a big arm that had made him more of a pitching prospect in high school until he broke out with the bat during his senior season. He immediately turned heads by hammering fastballs and going the opposite way with authority, showing good zone judgement, and displaying good defensive chops and speed on the basepaths. The left-hander hitter showed some early weakness against breaking balls, but was well on his way to a great pro debut and a rapid promotion to West Michigan when he tore his right rotator cuff diving back to first base on a pickoff attempt. So he’s really picking up about where he left off last May.
Some struggles as he faces some more advanced pitching should be expected, as with only 46 games worth of experience against pro pitching out of high school, there is bound to be some catching up to do. There’s no rush, and as long as he’s handling the level well by year’s end that’s very good progress, setting him up to tackle Double-A in his age 21 season in 2027.
Rainer missed the rest of the 25 season after the injury, and the Tigers eased him back into action throughout minor league camp in March. Since the Florida State League got underway, the Tigers have played him at shortstop in 8 of his 11 games and worked out of the DH slot in the rest. Rainer hasn’t hit the ground running offensively, but he’s continued to post some eye-popping exit velocity numbers that surpass anything a current Detroit Tigers hitter has managed, Riley Greene included.
A 477 foot blast last week that left the bat at over 116 mph made a statement that Rainer was stronger and swinging the bat even faster than last year. On the other hand, he’s been taking an awful lot of called strikes so far, and seems a little tight in the batters box. This early on it’s hard to say if the passivity is an issue here or just Rainer reacclimating himself. I would bet the latter.
As for Yost, he’s so far followed a familiar pattern since draft day. Lauded for his elite bat to ball skills and strike zone judgement, as well as the potential for Gold Glove defense at the shortstop position, the shortcoming scouts pointed to around draft day was his slender frame and low level of present power. There was some thought that Yost might never even develop good gap power. The Tigers obviously begged to differ, and they’re developing a track record of being correct on these matters. The slender, six-foot tall left-handed hitter built 13 pounds of good muscle between draft day and spring training, and immediately debuted in major league camp with a grand slam this spring in his first place appearance outside of the back fields. It wasn’t a cheap home run either.
So, some concerns about Yost’s future power potential were immediately alleviated. The 19-year-old will probably never be a big time power threat, but he’s got all the tools to develop into a really good hitting shortstop who plays high end defense, steals bases, and gives the Tigers 15 home runs a year with plenty of extra base hits. At the same time, he’s just getting started, and there’s a very long way to go.
So far, the Harris/Greenberg strategy of favoring athletic prep players with high end contact ability and worrying about power potential later is paying off already in the form of Kevin McGonigle thanks to the work of scouting chiefs Rob Metzler and Mark Conner. The long-term future of the Tigers’ infield could be really exciting. The heavy emphasis on locking up good prep pitchers in the draft, on the other hand, is not working out well at all, but there’s time for that to turn around.
It’s a positive, if not surprising, sign that Ryan Garko and Shane Ferrell decided Yost didn’t need extended spring training or work in the Complex League, which opens on May 2, to help prepare him for Florida State League action. Rainer moving up made this the move, but the timing makes sense as well, as the Flying Tigers will start a homestand against the New York Yankees affiliate, the Tampa Bay Tarpons on Tuesday evening. Fellow 2025 first rounder Michael Oliveto will probably need a little more time to refine his work at the catcher position comign out of high school, but his bat is also advanced enough that the two should unite with the Flying Tigers before too long.
As for Rainer, the Tigers wanted to give him some time to get his feet under him before what is still a pretty rapid promotion. At the same time, he’ll be 21 in July and is ready to be pushed even if he struggles along the way. The psuedo rehab assignment in Lakeland allowed him to play in decent weather as he got up to speed. With a homestand starting on Tuesday night versus the Lake County Captains and the weather turning back to spring, it’s a good week to get out to LMCU Park and catch the Whitecaps if you’re in the area. Rainer will probably need some time to adapt to more consistent breaking stuff in the Midwest League, but his defense and the crazy raw power on display are comfortably worth the price of admission alone. He’s a riskier prospect than McGonigle or Max Clark, but the upside here is tremendous.
