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Purdue vs Texas live updates: Prediction, time, how to watch Sweet 16 game

Can Texas go from the First Four to the Final Four?

While Texas is the highest seed left in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, the No. 11 Longhornsaren't a Cinderella.

“I don't think we ever really want to sign up to be the Cinderella story,” said Texas coach Sean Miller after beating Gonzaga in Round 2. “Because we are the University of Texas.”

March Madness: The Sweet 16 games ranked

March Madness upset predictions: Ranking 5 most likely Sweet 16 surprises

Purdue, the country's preseason No. 1, is hitting its stride after a late season stumble. The Boilermakers won the Big Ten tournament and are in the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in five seasons.

The winner advances to Saturday's Elite Eight to face the winner of Arizona/Arkansas.

Here's what you need to know about tonight's game, including predictions and injury updates:

HIT REFRESH FOR UPDATES.

Purdue vs Texas basketball live score

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What time is Purdue vs Texas Sweet 16 game today?

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET from San Jose, California.

What channel is Purdue vs Texas game on? How to watch, streaming info

Purdue vs. Texas will air on CBS and streamed on Paramount+.

Purdue vs Texas prediction, odds

Odds provided by BetMGM as of 10 p.m., Wednesday, March 25.

∎ Nathan Baird, IndyStar: Purdue 83, Texas 76

The Boilers need a big game from their bigs against an opponent which thrives on interior scoring and offensive rebounding. This may also be decided by which defense with a marginal track record all season maintains a recent trajectory of improvement — and does so without fouling. Purdue's seniors are playing, and leading, better than ever, and this matchup sets up well for another Elite Eight trip.

∎ Sam King, Journal & Courier: Purdue 84, Texas 73

Texas has had a luxury of facing injury-hampered teams to get to the Sweet 16. If C.J. Cox is good to go, Purdue is fine. If Cox can’t, Purdue will still dance on.

  • Blake Toppmeyer: Purdue
  • Paul Myerberg: Purdue
  • Jordan Mendoza: Purdue
  • John Brice: Purdue
  • Matt Glenesk: Purdue
  • Craig Meyer: Purdue
  • John Leuzzi: Purdue
  • Austin Curtright: Purdue
  • Ehsan Kassim: Texas
  • Moneyline: Purdue (-350); Texas (+275)
  • Spread: Purdue (-7.5)
  • Over/under total: 148.5

CJ Cox injury update: Will Purdue guard play vs Texas?

C.J. Cox suffered a knee he said was hyperextended during Sunday's second round win over Miami. He's done drills and plenty of rehab work with trainers, he said Wednesday during media availability with reporters in San Jose. He's hopeful to play, but the Boilermakers have depth behind him if he can't go, namely Gicarri Harris.

"I was obviously scared if I had torn something, because then I'm out for a long time, but thankfully I didn't," Cox said. "It still sucks, but just continuing one step at a time."

Cox said an MRI on the knee, injured Sunday against Miami, came back "pretty good." Purdue only watch film and shot free throws Monday. Cox partially participated in Tuesday's short practice, staying out of contact drills.

Jordan Pope injury update: Will Texas guard play vs Purdue?

Pope suffered a lower-leg injury in Saturday's win over Gonzaga. He said he was "hopeful" to play against the Boilermakers on Thursday.

"Jordan, he's dealing with a lower leg situation," Sean Miller said Wednesday. "We're hopeful that he can — we've given him a lot of rest since our last game, and I think he's really responding to it.

"We still had a pretty quick turnaround, all things considered, because of the distance between San Jose and Austin and traveling from Dayton to Portland and Portland back to Austin."

Why did Camden Heide transfer from Purdue to Texas? 'I'll be a Boilermaker for life'

Heide spent the previous two seasons at Purdue before entering the transfer portal and landing in Austin. So why did he leave Purdue?

“I was looking for a bigger role on a winning team,” he told IndyStar's Gregg Doyel with a smile. “Those were tough conversations, obviously, with coaches and teammates I’d known for years. Everyone didn’t see it eye-to-eye, but I just wanted people to understand I was doing what was best for me. And at the end of it, they were all supportive of me. It just goes to show the kind of people Purdue recruits. Great guys.

“I’m happy I was a Boilermaker. I’ll be a Boilermaker for life.”

Heide, who hit a key late 3-pointer in Texas' second round upset over Gonzaga, has helped provide the Longhorns with a scouting report on his former team.

"He's been big time. He knows what they do," Texas guard Tramon Mark said. "He knows a lot of what they do, so he's been helping us, coaching us up on the things that they do and just being a big-time guy for us in our scouting and everything we do in our scouting, practice. He's been big.

Braden Smith breaks Bobby Hurley NCAA assists record

Smith broke Hurley's record in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Queens on Friday, March 20. The senior from Indiana got the record on a dish to Trey Kaufman-Renn in the first half.

Smith finished the game with 1,083 career assists in his four-year career with the Boilermakers. Purdue fans at the game gave Smith a standing ovation for the achievement.

Smith told USA TODAY Sports ahead of the tournament he was "ready to just get it over with" so he could put all of the attention toward winning Purdue's first national championship. Now with that in hand, the decorated guard can go for the two goals he had for his senior season.

"That's one of the reasons I came back, was to win and to get the record," he said. "Obviously, wanted to do it at a place that I've been for the three years prior. For me, just to be around a great bunch of guys and obviously great coaching staff, and do it with them, I think it makes it more special."

Matt Painter March Madness record: How many Sweet 16 appearances does Matt Painter have?

Matt Painter has a 26-17 career record in the NCAA Tournament. This is his 18th trip to March Madness, 17th with Purdue (he led Southern Illinois to the NCAA Tournament before becoming Purdue's coach-in-waiting).

He's led the Boilermakers to nine Sweet 16s.

Sean Miller March Madness record: How many Sweet 16 appearances does?

Texas is the third team Miller has guided to March Madness (Xavier and Arizona are the others). He has a 25-13 record combined in 14 NCAA Tournament appearances.

This is his ninth trip to the Sweet 16.

What’s furthest a First Four team has advanced in NCAA Tournament?

Texas was one of the last at-large teams to get a berth to March Madness. That meant a trip to Dayton and the First Four.

The Longhorns beat NC State on a Tramon Mark last-second shot, then beat BYU despite 35 points from AJ Dybantsa in the first round. Texas followed that up with an upset of No. 3 seed Gonzaga in Round 2 to reach the Sweet 16.

Texas needs two more wins if it wants to match the furthest a First Four team has gone in an NCAA Tournament.

VCU (2011) and UCLA (2021) reached the Final Four after starting its tournament run in the First Four.

Will Arizona fans boo Sean Miller at Sweet 16 in San Jose?

Texas-Purdue is the first game of Thursday's Sweet 16 at San Jose, with the Arizona-Arkansas game to follow. Miller coached 12 seasons at Arizona and was fired in 2021 after an NCAA probe found Miller has offered to illegally pay players and the school was forced to vacate wins from the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons.

There will be plenty of Wildcats fans in the stands in the SAP Center. So what kind of reception does Miller expect to receive Thursday?

"I would hope they would cheer for us. We're the 11 seed. If I were them, I'd want us to win," Miller said.

"But my relationship with Arizona is nothing but great. I have three sons, they all attended the University of Arizona, and each of them had an amazing experience. Two of the three, their girlfriend, potentially maybe who they end up with as their wife, also went to Arizona. I was there for 13 years, have friendships that will last a lifetime. I was treated, our family was treated incredibly well.

"... I mean, if we were to beat Purdue — I'm at Texas. That would be amazing. We're playing in the Elite Eight. But the other part of it doesn't really exist for me. I think with that emotion, you can either burn the house down or make it warmer. I look at that place and that experience as nothing but just making my house warmer. I have nothing but positive thoughts, feelings and perspectives towards that experience."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Purdue vs Texas news, live updates, prediction, how to watch Sweet 16

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When should the Penguins make the Sergei Murashov call?

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 14: Sergei Murashov #1 of the Pittsburgh Penguins makes a save in the third period during the game against the Utah Mammoth at PPG PAINTS Arena on December 14, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The goals against numbers are starting to pile up, and there are not many cards left for the Pittsburgh Penguins to play in an effort to fix it.

The trade deadline has come and gone, so there is no move to be made to add outside defensive help.

There is also no immediate help available in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton that can offer much of a fix.

Aside from simply playing better, cutting down on the turnovers, and getting back to controlling games the way they were a couple of weeks ago, there is not much else the Penguins can do from a personnel standpoint to fix the defense. Switching defensive pairs and defensive partners might just be a case of rearranging deck chairs.

There is, however, one player in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton that could potentially fix some things, and it is prized goalie prospect Sergei Murashov.

Not only does Murashov have the talent and upside to be a franchise goalie for the next decade, just by the nature of being a goalie he is the one player that could significantly improve things in the short-term. Goalies change everything.

From a big picture standpoint, I am not entirely ready to say Stuart Skinner and Arturs Silovs have been the biggest problem over the past 10-11 games. Going into Tuesday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche, the duo had basically allowed the number of goals that had been expected of them given the chances they were facing and what the Penguins were allowing in front of them.

They were not stealing much, but they were not the biggest cause of the goals against issues.

That changed a little bit on Tuesday with Silovs against the Avalanche.

You might disagree, but not only was that game not as lopsided as the 6-2 final score would suggest, I thought the Penguins played better in that game than they did in their win on Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets. I thought it was one of their best recent games in terms of generating chances, they had a pretty significant scoring chance and expected goals advantage, and they really carried play for long stretches of time. It is not always as simple as this, and sometimes we might lean on this a little too much and oversimplify the game, but this was definitely a game where goaltending was the difference.

Scott Wedgewood made every big save the Avalanche needed him to make. And he made a lot of them. Silovs did not make a single one for the Penguins.

It is one thing when your goalies are not stealing games and just doing what is expected. You can still compete with that and win with that if the team around the goalies is playing well enough.

It is something else entirely different when goalies start losing games for you.

You also sometimes need a goalie to steal a game or two for you. That is the thing that is not happening at the moment.

That is also where Murashov could come into play, because with his upside and talent he is the type of goalie that could, in theory, steal a game for you and steal some big saves. He has the upside to potentially do more than just make the saves you are supposed to make.

Given the Penguins ongoing goalie rotation, Stuart Skinner is going to start Thursday’s game against the Ottawa Senators. If he plays well in that game, I would give him Saturday’s start against the Dallas Stars. If he plays well in that game, you go from there and maybe start shifting away from the goalie rotation and let somebody try to run with the job.

If he does not play well on Thursday, and the Penguins lose another big game in the standings by allowing four or more goals, I think that is when you start seriously having the Murashov discussion. Because what else can you do at this point other than simply play better in front of the goalies? And while that does need to happen (and while I think it can happen), you still need something more from the goalies.

As we saw on Tuesday, a bad goaltending performance can still swing a better overall performance against you.

The argument against calling up Murashov is that he is only 21 years old, has only a handful of NHL games, and that inserting a young goalie like that into a playoff race could be an extremely risky move. Especially when the team itself is struggling to defend. There is definitely a risk to it. It could go very badly in the short-term.

But there is also an upside to it, and there is SOME precedent for a goalie in this situation getting a chance late in the season for a playoff team.

Not a ton of precedent. But some.

I went back over the past 25 years and searched for goalies that fit the following parameters:

  • Age 24 or younger
  • Between 5 and 15 games played in the NHL that season and or their career as a whole
  • Getting their first real, meaningful playing time late in the season for a playoff team

I only found a handful of players that fit into it. But they are interesting.

  • In a small way, this is kind of what is happening in Montreal right now with Jacob Fowler. With the Canadiens clinging to their playoff spot and having major goaltending questions all season, the 21-year-old Fowler has started three of the team’s past seven games. He has not received the bulk of the playing time, but he is still there and might have more upside than Sam Montembeault and Jakub Dobes are currently giving them.
  • Late in the 2023-24 season a young Silovs received three starts in April with the Vancouver Canucks due to an injury situation, and then received the bulk of the playing time in the playoffs. He played well enough to get the Canucks into the second round.
  • During the 2015-16 season we have Matt Murray with the Penguins. After appearing in just 13 regular season games in his debut season, with the majority of them coming after March, he took advantage of his opportunity at the start of the playoffs and never gave it up in helping lead the Penguins to a Stanley Cup. Just as was the case with Silovs in 2023-24, injuries played a big role in this, but he made the most of his opportunity. The difference here is that 2015-16 Penguins team was an absolute monster that was steamrolling every team it played. That is not to say that Murray did not play well (because he played very well), but there was a very strong supporting cast around him. Then he helped them win another Stanley Cup the next season. This team, while exceeding expectations and perhaps still legitimately very good, is not anywhere close to that level.
  • In 2011-12, the Washington Capitals turned to 22-year-old Braden Holtby, with almost no NHL experience, late in the season and let him take the starting job into the playoffs. He posted a .935 save percentage (after posting a .922 mark at the end of the regular season) and had the Capitals in Game 7 of the second round, a 2-1 loss away from reaching the Eastern Conference Finals.

These are the best recent examples I can find that would fit this scenario. The previous ones have mostly worked.

If you are good enough to do it, you will.

If it does not work that well and getting beat in a couple of games ruins the player’s psyche that much that it ruins their long-term development, that is probably a concerning development for a very different reason.

I understand the argument against it.

I am also not going to argue that goaltending has been the only problem.

But it IS the one move that could be made that could make a big impact. There should come a time here very shortly where the Penguins make that call. Or at least give it serious consideration. There are not many other options.

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Hawks outlast Pistons in overtime thriller

ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 23: CJ McCollum #3 of the Atlanta Hawks drives to the basket during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 23, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

DETROIT — In a game that had all the intensity of a playoff battle, the Atlanta Hawks outlasted the Detroit Pistons 130-129 in overtime Wednesday night at Little Caesars Arena.

Atlanta appeared in control early, jumping out to a double-digit lead behind efficient offense and ball movement. The Hawks poured in 73 first-half points, with Jalen Johnson orchestrating the attack and CJ McCollum knocking down perimeter shots. But Detroit stormed back in the third quarter, erupting for 40 points to erase the deficit and set up a dramatic finish.

The fourth quarter featured 13 lead changes and multiple clutch moments from both sides. Detroit’s Jalen Duren dominated inside, while Tobias Harris and Duncan Robinson provided timely scoring. Still, Atlanta responded each time, with Johnson continuing his all-around brilliance and McCollum delivering key buckets late.

In overtime, the Hawks made just enough plays to escape. A late defensive stand and a narrow scoring edge in the extra period sealed the win in a game that was tied eight times and never lacked drama.

Johnson led the Hawks with 27 points and 12 assists, showcasing his versatility and poise in big moments. McCollum matched him with 27 points of his own, including five 3-pointers. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 21 points, while Dyson Daniels contributed a strong double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds.

Detroit was paced by Duren’s dominant 26-point, 14-rebound performance. Harris added 22 points, while Daniss Jenkins chipped in 19 points and 10 assists. Ausar Thompson’s efficient 18-point outing and Robinson’s five 3-pointers kept the Pistons within striking distance all night.

Ultimately, Atlanta’s depth and late-game execution proved decisive. The Hawks shot efficiently from the field and got contributions up and down the roster, including 11 points from Onyeka Okongwu off the bench.

The loss is a tough one for Detroit, which showed resilience in battling back from an early deficit but couldn’t quite finish in overtime.

For Atlanta, it’s a statement road win — one defined by resilience, offensive balance, and just enough composure when it mattered most.

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The Celtics are ready for the challenge

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 25: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics celebrates during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 25, 2026 at TD Garden 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

It’s just one game. However, against a fully healthy version of the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, the Celtics proved that they are ready for any challenge.

Everyone played their roles in the Celtics 119-109 win on Wednesday night. Jaylen Brown was the engine of the offense, Jayson Tatum was great playing out of the high pick-and-roll and the role players did what was needed. It was a complete team win.

Baylor Scheierman was awesome, hitting 3 three pointers, playing excellent defense on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and having a huge put back dunk.

Payton Pritchard hit four threes, Neemias Queta made shots around the rim and defended the rim, and Derrick White was doing Derrick White things on the defensive end. Everyone chipped in and everyone had a hand in helping the Celtics win the game.

This was a big test for the Celtics against the best team in the league. The Thunder have dealt with a lot of injuries this year, but on Wednesday night, they had their whole team available.

Boston has risen to the occasion all season and it was time for another test and they passed it with flying colors. Offensively, it was one of the best games, if not the very best, the C’s have played all season. They scored 70 points in the 2nd half and were doing it in all sorts of different ways.

Sure, the three ball was great; Boston shot 18/41 (44%) from three-point range. Yet it wasn’t the only way they scored. They got to the line a ton shooting 29 free throws, Brown specifically shot 14 free throws (he made 12 of them). They found a slew of different ways to score against the best defense in the NBA.

They themselves were great defensively. As Joe Mazzulla said after the game, they committed to rebounding, only giving up 4 offensive rebounds in the game.

Those are the margins that Mazzulla has stressed all year. They had 13 turnovers in the game but not giving up 2nd chance opportunities is something that has been stressed all season. When you win in those margins, it is so much easier to win a basketball game.

Jayson Tatum was also fantastic in this game. Maybe people were overreacting to a shooting slump (tell me if you have heard that one before). He had 19 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals and 1 awesome block in the game and was everywhere impacting it.

Yes, it was one game and we should not overreact, but this team is ready for any challenge that is presented to them, they have shown that all season. All season they have adapted and found ways to win games. As Mazzulla likes to say, ‘whatever it takes, however long it takes.’

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Bronny James helped Lakers get over hump to close out trip

INDIANAPOLIS — The narrative surrounding Bronny James, the oldest son of Lakers star LeBron James, even before the franchise drafted him in the second round of the 2024 draft was that he needed the Lakers to make his NBA dreams come to fruition.

But on Wednesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, with the road-weary Lakers closing out a six-game, 11-day trip against an energetic and physical Pacers team, it was the team that needed the younger James to get over the hump in its 137-130 victory.

They needed his energy and fresh legs. His athleticism and burst during a night that was challenging for most of his teammates to sustain it — evident by the Pacers cutting the Lakers’ 29-point lead in the third to six with less than a minute in the game.

Lakers guard Bronny James gets a dunk against the Indiana Pacers during the game in Indianapolis, March 25. Getty Images
The confidence James played with against the Pacers was much higher to the last time he was in the rotation. AP

So when the coaching staff told Bronny before Wednesday’s game that he’d get rotation minutes against the Pacers in light of the team’s absences (Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura and Adou Thiero were sidelined), he relaxed before his opportunity came.

“To be honest, I was trying to calm myself down more than having adrenaline,” Bronny said. “Just trying to relax myself. I know what I can do as a player.”

The confidence James played with against the Pacers, a game he finished with four points on 2-of-4 shooting and a pair of steals, was much higher compared to Nov. 15, which was the last time he was in the rotation during a game the Lakers had a significant number of their normal rotation available. 

Luka Dončić is all smiles after a basket against the Pacers. Getty Images

Bronny was more poised Wednesday. Calmer. More self-assured in his game and confident in his shot, even though he missed his lone 3-point attempt.

It helped him knock down a 17-foot pull-up jumper with 3:50 left in the game as the shot clock wound down to give the Lakers a 128-113 lead over the Pacers — a shot coach JJ Redick said was “big to kind of settle us” after the Pacers cut the Lakers’ lead from 29 in the third to 13 late in the fourth.

“That pull-up 2, it was a big bucket,” star guard Luka Dončić added. “It was one of the most important shots of the game. They were coming back, he hit that one. He did really great in those minutes.”

Bronny credited the 18 games he’s played with the Lakers’ South Bay G League affiliate this season, where so far he’s averaged 13.3 points on 48.7% shooting in 28 minutes, for his development.

He acknowledged the importance of hitting that shot for his confidence. 

“Does everything to see one go through the net, especially in that point of the game,” Bronny said. “It’s pretty big for me. I’ve hit a lot of those shots in the G, so just seeing that translate.”

What also translated was Bronny’s defensive intensity, which was showcased when he stole the game and forced Pascal Siakam to turn the ball over on a post-up during the Pacers’ first possession of the second quarter.

“He’s gotten significantly better,” Redick said. “I know our staff has a lot of confidence in him. He had two really, really good defensive possessions [of] individual defense in the first half. The biggest thing with him is he’s got a lot of confidence right now. He’s having a fantastic season with South Bay. He’s been arguably the best player for like the last three or four weeks in our stay-ready games every single time.”

Redick added: “He’s got a bounce to his step right now. That just comes from developing that confidence. We saw it last year, and we’re seeing it again this year; just his growth as a player.”

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Stats Rundown: 3 numbers to know from the Mavericks’ 142-135 loss to the Denver Nuggets

DENVER, COLORADO - MARCH 25: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks drives past Bruce Brown #11 of the Denver Nuggets in the second quarter at Ball Arena on March 25, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. 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 Justin Tafoya/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Dallas Mavericks (23-50) dropped their fifth game in a row, losing to the Denver Nuggets (44-28) on Wednesday, 142-135.

It was a game that threatened to be close on a handful of occasions, mostly for those moments to be quickly erased by a red-hot Jamal Murray, who had 29 points at half and finished with 53. Nikola Jokic finished one assist shy of the ultra-rare triple-20, with 23 points, 21 rebounds and 19 dimes.

For Dallas, Naji Marshall continued with his dependable output, contributing 22 points on seven-of-16 shooting. Cooper Flagg put up 23 points to go along with seven assists and seven rebounds on another solid night for the rookie.

0: Dallas turnovers in the first half

Dallas kept this thing close nearly all night, and they stayed that way by keeping an extraordinarily clean turnover sheet for the game.

They finished with only 4 combined turnovers, a season low, and had zero during the first half; the first team in the league to play a first half without a turnover since these Nuggets pulled it off two months ago on January 25th.

It was Nemhard starting at the point, so for him and fellow rookie Cooper Flagg to handle much of the offensive initiation in a close game with a contending-caliber team like Denver (who, admittedly, is on the second night of a back-to-back), instills confidence. Nembhard entered Wednesday’s game with an absurd 48-7 assist-to-turnover ratio in the seven games prior to Wednesday night’s.

2: Guys being dudes

A big reason to tune into games at this point in the season is to try and catch a glimpse of someone interesting. A two-way guy or 10-day player who pops for a night, or looks like he maybe, just maybe, could stick in the league. So you can say, “You know, I was watching JJ Barea during his rookie season.”

Dallas has two guys like that now — the 21-year-old native Texan, Tyler Smith, and John Poulakidas, the 23-year-old Yale man. Pouliakidas has shown promise before — he got pulled after playing too good over 11 minutes against Golden State and making three of his five 3-point attempts.

Against the Nuggets, Smith took five beautiful shots in just eight minutes, went 2-of-4 from deep, and grabbed a rebound. Poulakidas came to play, too, if only for nine minutes. Still, he took four threes and made one.

This team needs shooters, especially shooters under the age of 25. Smith and Poulakidas keep showing just enough to keep fans interested and fantasizing about what could be.

15: season-high rebounds for PJ Washington

PJ Washington turned in a strong double-double performance, scoring 19 points and grabbing a season-high 15 rebounds.

His previous high was a 14-rebound mark back in December against Utah. He did most of his work tonight on the defensive glass, hauling in 11 of his 15 rebounds on the defensive end.

He did much of that work in the second half. 11 of his boards came after halftime and were a big part of Dallas clawing their way back into the game, getting within just one point after being down by 13 at one point, and notching yet another clutch game.

It was a great performance that was only slightly overshadowed by Nikola Jokic putting up his absurd 23/19/21 stat line.

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3 More Blackhawks Make THN's Top Prospects List

The Hockey News revealed players 61-80 for their last top 100 NHL-affiliated prospects rankings. After Blackhawks prospect Vaclav Nestrasil landed the No. 83 spot, three more Chicago prospects have made the cut this time around: Sacha Boisvert, Marek Vanacker, and Kevin Korchinski.

Boisvert was given the No. 61 spot on THN's rankings. The 2024 first-round pick appeared in 26 games this season with Boston University, where he had three goals and 17 points. This is after he had 18 goals and 32 points in 37 games last season with the University of North Dakota. He signed his entry-level deal with the Blackhawks earlier this month, so the promising forward will soon be getting his professional career started. 

Vanacker was given the No. 68 spot on THN's list, and like Boisvert, he certainly has good potential. The 2024 first-round pick has had a big season with the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL, as he has 47 goals and 82 points in 60 games. With numbers like these, there is no question that the 6-foot-1 forward has good skill. 

As for Korchinski, he was given the No. 80 spot. The left-shot defenseman is still looking to cement himself as a full-time NHL defenseman. While the 2022 seventh-overall pick has had some growing pains, he certainly has the potential to become a good blueliner in the NHL. 

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What we learned from the Spurs win over the Grizzlies

MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 25: Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks the ball during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 25, 2026 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Out of all of the San Antonio Spurs’ blowout victories over the last month, Wednesday’s 123-98 win over the Memphis Grizzlies felt different. It wasn’t too long ago when the Spurs were on the other end of games like this – playing multiple players on 10-day contracts and two-ways. Those were brutal, demoralizing losses that left a large chunk of the fan base clamoring for trades and free agent signings. Going through that experience just a few years ago somehow makes the victory more satisfying.

San Antonio outmatched the undermanned Grizzlies in just about every meaningful aspect of the game. Early in the game, the Spurs had the ball on a string, whipping it around to find not a good shot, but a great one. It was reminiscent of the Big Three-era San Antonio teams. Granted, it was against an incredibly relaxed defense from the Grizzlies, but that is the kind of offense that crushes a team in a meaningless March matchup. San Antonio looked like a team on a mission. One that was having fun and not just going through the motions.

The Spurs are clicking right now. They haven’t lost focus since the All-Star break. They are pushing full steam ahead for the playoffs in April. Games like this are a reminder of how far they have come in a few years. But it’s clear that the team isn’t satisfied with just blowing teams out in March. They are playing for something much bigger.

Takeaways:

  • Allow me to stand on a bit of a soapbox here. Today, the NBA voted to authorize the league to formally explore potential team expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle. That’s great. Seattle deserves a team. But does the NBA really have a surplus of talent so large it can afford two more teams? Did Memphis look like it was dealing with a surplus of talent? How about the Sacramento Kings? Or the Brooklyn Nets? There are so many teams resting players to tank for a better draft pick (I know the Spurs were here just a few years ago). Can we really afford two more? These blowouts are fun to an extent, but it’s much more enjoyable to watch two teams trying to win, rather than just one.
  • You get a poster! You get a poster! You get a poster! Stephon Castle annihilated Taylor Hendricks at the rim. GG Jackson put Victor Wembanyama on a poster, and then Wemby got him back the very next possession. Then Julian Champagnie caught a body on a dunk. The third quarter had better highlights than the Dunk Contest!
  • Wembanyama’s defensive game was MVP tape material. If someone ever doubted how much Wemby’s defense actually changes a game, show them the Grizzlies game. They couldn’t get anywhere near the rim with him in the game. Memphis had just 34 points in the paint on Wednesday. Wemby had 7 blocks. It was one of the best rim protection games of the entire season.
  • Oh, and to make it even more impressive, Wemby was 2 assists and 2 steals away from a 5×5 game.
  • Devin Vassell is such a luxury. When the ball swings to him on the perimeter, it feels like it is always going to go in. Plus, he can drive off the bounce and finish at the rim. Having him as the fourth option in the starting lineup makes the Spurs’ offense so deadly.
  • Dylan Harper continues to impress with his shooting touch. He hit 2 of his 5 three-pointers against the Grizzlies. It feels like we are just scratching the surface of what he can become.

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Blackhawks Vs Flyers: Projected Lineup, How To Watch, & More Ahead Of Game 72

The Chicago Blackhawks, who defeated the New York Islanders 4-3 on Tuesday, are back in action on Thursday night. They come in 4-3-3 in their last 10 as they continue to develop young players who will impact them in the future. 

This will be a match against the Philadelphia Flyers, who come in 6-3-1 in their last 10. For Philly, they sit five points below the playoff line in the Eastern Conference. The Blackhawks have a chance to spoil any chance of a miracle run for them. 

Scouting Philadelphia  

The Philadelphia Flyers are having a better year than anyone would have expected before it began, but they have a lot of work to do. There are good young players on their roster, but more steps must be taken for the organization to get over the hump. 

Barkey-Zegras-Tippett

Bump-Dvorak-Konecny

Grundström-Cates-Michkov

Glendening-Couturier-Hathaway

Sanheim-Ristolainen

York-Drysdale

Seeler-Juulsen

Ersson

Vladar

Trevor Zegras has had a healthy bounce-back season, his first with the Flyers after a big trade with the Anaheim Ducks. Playing in their top six has given him a boost. 

Travis Konecny didn’t make Team Canada at the Olympics after being on the 4-Nations Face-Off team, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t deserving. He is a great player that Chicago’s defense must have an eye on when his line is out there. 

Matvei Michkov is on the third line, and his season isn’t going the way he had hoped after a strong rookie year, but the skills are there for him to change a game at a moment’s notice. 

Philadelphia’s defense is a big reason that they are even in the race at all. Travis Sanheim was a Team Canada guy in Milano Cortina, and he plays a key role on this team in the NHL. 

Rasmus Ristolainen, Cam York, and Jamie Drysdale lead the depth on the blue line, as they all bring different strengths that Blackhawks forecheckers/back-checkers must pay attention to. 

In goal, the Flyers have found success with either Samuel Ersson or Dan Vladar in the net. Vladar started on Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, so expect Ersson against the Blackhawks. 

Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago

The Blackhawks are going to have Sacha Boisvert making his NHL debut. This comes one game after Anton Frondell made his debut. The Blackhawks are continuing to get younger by inserting more prospects that are ready to compete and make the team better. 

Greene-Bedard-Frondell

Bertuzzi-Nazar-Lardis

Burakovsky-Donato-Mik

Teravainen-Boisvert-Slaggert

Vlasic-Levshyunov

Kaiser-Rinzel

Del Mastro-Crevier

Knight

Anton Frondell is on the first line, as he should be. His play in his first post-draft season earned him that opportunity before he ever even stepped onto an NHL sheet. He impressed in his NHL debut, a 4-3 win over the New York Islanders. 

Sacha Boisvert isn’t at the same level as Frondell, but multiple tough two-way players like him are needed on every team. Playing on the fourth line to dip his toes into the NHL waters is perfect 

It looked a little strange for Teuvo Teravainen to be on the fourth line in the last game with Landon Slaggert and Sam Lafferty, but it makes a lot more sense with Boisvert down the middle instead. This line has some skill and a little bit of toughness that should make waves in all three zones. 

Arvid Soderblom was excellent in the win over the Islanders. Now, expect Spencer Knight to get the nod against the Flyers. Each goalie will be heavily relied on as the season comes to a close. 

How To Watch

The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. To view this game, it can be found on CHSN locally. Nationally, it is available to stream on ESPN+. The puck will drop shortly after 6:00 PM CT. 

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Vancouver Canucks Gameday Preview #71: The Final Game Of The Home Stand Against The Los Angeles Kings

The Vancouver Canucks (21–41–8) have finally reached the end of their eight-game March home stand, with their final game taking place against the Los Angeles Kings (28–25–15) tonight. Vancouver has gone 2–5–0 so far through the home stretch, with their most recent match being a 5–3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. The Kings, one of the handful of Pacific Division teams battling for a wild card spot in the playoffs, last played in a 3–2 shootout loss against the Calgary Flames. 

Vancouver will be seeing lots of the Kings as they prepare to round out their 2025–26 season. Tonight’s game marks the first of three that they’ll play in against Los Angeles ahead of the season end, with their other matchups coming on April 9 in California and April 14 in their final game at Rogers Arena this year. The last time these two teams faced off was on November 29 in a 2–1 overtime loss for Vancouver. 

With Los Angeles still looking for a playoff spot, and Vancouver officially eliminated from playoff contention earlier in the week, tonight’s game could be one of a few that the Canucks play spoiler for in the Kings’ post-season wishes. Los Angeles has lost their last four games, though they have picked up two overtime loss points during this stretch, while yet another defeat would put them in an even deeper point deficit than before. If Vancouver stays consistent to some of their efforts through the home stand, they may end up being a big factor into the Kings missing out on the playoffs. 

Players To Watch: 

Elias Pettersson

Fresh off a night that saw him score his 500th NHL point, Elias Pettersson will be a player to watch on the Canucks tonight. He had two power play helpers in his team’s loss to the Ducks, with his line also scoring his team’s third goal of the game. Including this effort, the forward is now up to five points in his past four games. Adding to that, he is two goals away from becoming ninth-all time in franchise goals scored — a milestone that would see him pass former Canucks captain Bo Horvat on the list. 

Artemi Panarin

Prior to his team’s loss to Calgary, Artemi Panarin had scored a goal in six of his past 10 games. Since joining the Kings via trade, he’s scored six goals and 11 assists in 15 games played. His most recent run of play has been even more impressive, with the forward putting up a six-game point streak before the loss to the Flames. As Los Angeles’ leading scorer, he’ll be a player to watch come tonight.  

Nov 29, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Kings left wing Kevin Fiala (22) and Vancouver Canucks right wing Brock Boeser (6) battle for the puck during the overtime period at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Nov 29, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Kings left wing Kevin Fiala (22) and Vancouver Canucks right wing Brock Boeser (6) battle for the puck during the overtime period at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Vancouver Canucks (21–41–8): 

Points: 

Elias Pettersson: 15–28–43

Filip Hronek: 8–33–41

Brock Boeser: 17–20–37

Jake DeBrusk: 15–18–33

Linus Karlsson: 13–17–30 

Goaltenders: 

Thatcher Demko: 8–10–1

Kevin Lankinen: 8–24–5

Nikita Tolopilo: 5–6–2

Jiří Patera: 0–1–0

Los Angeles Kings (28–25–15): 

Points: 

Artemi Panarin: 25–49–74

Adrian Kempe: 26–33–59

Kevin Fiala: 18–22–40

Quinton Byfield: 17–23–40

Brandt Clarke: 8–30–38

Goaltenders: 

Darcy Kuemper: 17–13–13

Anton Forsberg: 11–11–5

Pheonix Copley: 0–1–0

Game Information: 

Start time: 7:00 pm PT 

Venue: Rogers 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.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

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Give us your predictions about the Phillies and the 2026 season

Oct 6, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Fans cheer prior to game two of the NLDS round between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Usually, this question of the day part is where we ask a niche question about the team. Maybe it’s about someone’s approach at the plate, their recent work at that craft, or what you think about a player’s recent play.

Today is simple. It being the Phillies’ home opener (and season opener), we’re looking for your predictions on how the season will go. You can be as specific as you wish, you can be as broad as you wish. But let’s talk about our prognostications together. Come back later today when we here at TGP give you our predictions for the season so you can all look down on us and ridicule us when we’re wrong.

Let the games begin.

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How excited are you for this season compared to others?

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 25: The Opening Week logos are painted on the field at Petco Park on March 25, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images

I’ll save the big kahuna question for the Braves’ Opening Day, which is tomorrow. Today is Opening Day for most other teams, so we’ll go with this no-stakes variant.

Normally, I’m pretty excited for Opening Day. Baseball season has a great rhythm, and I look forward to transitioning into it every year. That said, I indulged in a paragraph of how MLB is getting less interesting to me yesterday, and it follows from there that I’m less excited about this season. Maybe some of that is related to the Braves directly — it’s just less interesting to watch a sprinter try to navigate around banana peels than nearly any other story or framing device (other than a rebuilding entirely non-contender), and the self-inflicted season-ruining change they made offensively last year is like the ultimate excitement-excoriator for me.

So, I dunno. I think I’m less excited for this season than for any for 2018-onward. Yesterday’s snoozefest of an Opening Day contest between the Yankees and Giants didn’t help. Nor the fact that I usually take a day off on Opening Day, but the Braves have a night game so there’s no point in pushing it.

But, none of that has to apply to you. So, tell me, where’s your relative excitement meter at?

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Orioles-Twins series preview: A new beginning

May 16, 2022; Oakland, California, USA; Minnesota Twins shortstop Royce Lewis (23) and Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton (25) celebrate after defeating the Oakland Athletics at RingCentral Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Ah, a fresh season. Unlimited potential. Anything is possible! Or at least, it feels that way until the moment your favorite team fails to score after having a runner on third base with no outs, or if the bullpen blows a five-run lead. That is when you remember that baseball, while beautiful, may be the most frustrating game of all.

Alas, the Orioles will enter yet another brand new campaign anyway. This one does genuinely begin with lofty aspirations. They were one of the busiest clubs over the winter, and on paper they look like a team that could do some great things. At the very least, they should improve upon their 75 wins from a season ago

The Twins, on the other hand, seem like they could be headed in the opposite direction. They went 70-92 in 2025, which cost Rocco Baldelli his job as manager. Derek Shelton will take the reins. He was last the skipper of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2020 through May of last year, when he was canned after a 12-26 start to the year. It’s not the most aspirational of hires, but Shelton is familiar with the organization, having served as bench coach back in 2018 and ‘19.

This past offseason was highlighted more by what the Twins did not do rather than what they did. Neither Joe Ryan nor Byron Buxton was traded. That would have made sense if the organization then went and made any sort of impact additions to their roster, but they largely sat on their hands. Josh Bell, Victor Caratini, and Taylor Rogers were the “marquee” free agents brought on. While each of them are fine major leaguers, they won’t elevate this team at all.

Instead, their hopes will be pinned on Buxton and Royce Lewis being the best versions of themselves. That is asking a lot of Buxton, entering his age-32 season, who always seems to miss some amount of time. The 126 games he played in 2025 was his most in a season since 2017. Lewis gets hurt a lot too. He played in 106 games last year, the most he has ever played as a big leaguer.

The rotation will be without Pablo López. He had Tommy John surgery in February and will miss the entire 2026 season. He only tossed 75.2 big league innings last year due to a right shoulder strain that became a forearm strain during rehab. But they were stellar innings as he had a 2.74 ERA and 1.11 WHIP prior to being shut down.

Who knows what will happen in the AL Central. Once again it looks like one of the league’s weaker divisions. So maybe the Twins could get some luck and sneak up on a few clubs. But the more likely outcome is that they deal with major injuries again and slump to be one of the worst team’s in the AL. That was the case in 2025, and they still managed to go 6-0 against the Orioles. That can’t happen again for an O’s team with postseason aspirations.

Game 1: Thursday, March 26th, 3:05 p.m., MASN

LHP Trevor Rogers (9-3, 1.81 ERA in 2025) vs. RHP Joe Ryan (13-10, 3.42 ERA in 2025)

Rogers threw just 109.2 innings last year, but he was so dominant that he earned some consideration for the AL Cy Young award anyway. OK, it was just one down-ballot vote, but it’s hard to argue the logic. The southpaw was spectacular, generating 5.4 bWAR, only 1.1 bWAR less than the award winner, Tarik Skubal, who threw nearly twice as many innings. He deserves the start here even if he is a strong candidate for some negative regression.

Ryan is likely to be one of the most sought after players at this year’s trade deadline if the season goes poorly for the Twins. The 29-year-old had a 3.42 ERA and struck out 194 over 171 innings last year, and he won’t hit free agency until after the 2027 season.

Game 2: Saturday, March 28th, 4:05 p.m., MASN

RHP Kyle Bradish (1-1, 2.53 ERA in 2025) vs. RHP Taj Bradley (6-8, 5.05 ERA in 2025)

The great X-factor of the 2026 Orioles could be Bradish. We know how good he can be. Over the last three seasons he has a 2.78 ERA and is striking out 10.1 batters per nine innings. Of course, he only has 240 total innings across those three seasons due to Tommy John surgery in mid-2025. So the big question will be how healthy he can remain. The O’s are likely to be conservative with him early, shortening starts, and skipping his turn occasionally. But when he does pitch it should be dynamite.

It’s not usually a good sign when the Rays trade away a pitcher. That’s an organization that tries to hoard pitching talent as much as possible, but they were OK with swapping Bradley for Griffin Jax last year. Bradley was even worse (6.61 ERA in 31.1 innings) for Twins than he was for the Rays (4.61 ERA in 111.1 innings). Minnesota is hard-pressed to find starting options, so Bradley will get plenty of chances to prove himself.

Game 3: Sunday, March 29th, 1:35 p.m., MASN

RHP Shane Baz (10-12, 4.87 ERA in 2025) vs. RHP Bailey Ober (6-9, 5.10 ERA in 2025)

The Orioles have talked about Baz as the rotation’s ceiling-raiser all offseason. In essence, they swap him into Grayson Rodriguez’s place in the rotation. Right now, that looks like a wise decision. Rodriguez is opening the season on the IL for the Angels while Baz looked quite good in his final spring tuneup against the Nationals. There is no denying the stuff. It’s great. Now he just needs to harness it.

Ober was a disappointment in 2025. After back-to-back seasons worth 3.0 bWAR and an ERA under 4 in 2023 and ’24, he flopped badly last year. His numbers this spring were rather ugly too. Across 13 spring innings he had a 1.769 WHIP and struck out just 4.2 batters per nine innings. You gotta take those stats with a grain of salt, but his trajectory is not what you want if you’re a Twins fan.

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MLB News Outside The Confines: Opening Day

Good morning. Unless you’re manager Tony Vitello or on the Giants, in which case I just say I hope tomorrow is a better morning for you. Because the Yankees’ spanked the Giants 7-0 in the first game of the year.

  • I never thought I say that the Marlins did something right that the Red Sox messed up. But this looks delicious.

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National League East Preview: Mets face challenges from familiar foes

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 13: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves and Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies speak during the first inning at Citizens Bank Park on September 13, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Last year’s National League East race ended with the Phillies (96-66) winning their second consecutive division crown, while the Mets (83-79) and Braves (76-86) both underperformed expectations and missed the playoffs entirely. The Marlins (79-83), meanwhile, came close to .500 as they showed promise and play a key role in ending the Mets’ postseason dreams on the final day of the regular season, and the Nationals (66-96) showcased their potential with their young, up-and-coming talent, despite finishing in the cellar.

Heading into Opening Day, the NL East race promises to be one of the most exciting ones to watch around the league. The Mets are projected to bounce back and contend for their first division title since 2015, while the Braves are expected to rebound and the Phillies once again have a roster built for a run at the postseason. So let’s review where things stand at the start of the 2026 season, and what Mets fans might expect from the team’s division rivals.

Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies are coming off back-to-back NL East crowds and four consecutive playoff appearances, though they have failed to make it beyond the Division series in either of the previous two seasons after going to the World Series in 2022 and reaching the NLCS in 2023.

In many ways, the Phillies are “running it back”, as they enter 2026 with a very similar roster to the one they showcased last year. Their key offseason moves were re-signing Kyle Schwarber to a 5-year, $150 deal—Mets fans will recall that the club was also reportedly in on the Schwarber sweepstakes—and catcher J.T. Realmuto to a three-year deal. The Phillies also, very recently, extended two cornerstones of their rotation in left-handers Cristopher Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo, which should offer them rotation stability for years to come. In terms of new faces, the club added slugging outfielder Adolis Garcia and reliever Mitch Keller. On the departure side, Philadelphia parted ways with Nick Castellanos, Harrison Bader, and Matt Strahm. The team will start the year without ace Zack Wheeler as he recovers from thoracic outlet surgery, but after a “successful spring,” he is set to begin a rehab assignment and could be back in April.

Both ZiPS and PECOTA have the Phillies taking a step back in 2026 and relinquishing their NL East crown, and that’s to be expected for a team that’s a year older and not necessarily better. Fangraphs projects the Phillies to win 87 games, which is actually down from their projection of 91 wins and an NL East crown from late January. This update lands them squarely in third place in the NL East but would secure them the second Wild Card in the National League. Baseball Prospectus is a little more bullish, projecting them to finish at 84.9 wins in their up-to-date model on March 25. The Phillies will once again go as far as Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, and Kyle Schwarber can carry them, as their veteran core remains strong but, again, one year older. Their rotation remains a strength, even as they wait for Wheeler’s return, and they have the benefit of a full season with closer Jhoan Duran, whom they acquired ahead of last year’s trade deadline.

Atlanta Braves

The Mets’ collapse stole the headlines around the league and took a lot of heat off the Braves, who unexpectedly fell flat on their faces and finished in fourth place after seven straight postseason appearances. The Braves, who won six straight division crowns from 2018-2023, fell below the .500 mark for the first time since 2017.

Atlanta enters the year with a new skipper at the helm, as Walt Weiss is set to succeed Brian Snitker, who held the position for ten years but chose to step down into an advisory role. Weiss previously served as Snitker’s bench coach. On the field, the team added reliever José Suarez and outfielder Mike Yastrzemski. They also claimed Osvaldo Bido from the Yankees, inked Rowdy Tellez on a minor league deal, and brought in old friend Dom Smith, who is in position to potentially make the roster out of spring. Atlanta will be managing some injuries heading into this year, specifically to Spencer Strider, who begins the year on the injured list with a left oblique strain. Joey Wentz (torn ACL) and Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow inflammation) both begin the year on the 60-day IL.

Their roster is still loaded with talent, and the project models seem to agree that they will get back on the horse in 2026. Both ZiPS and PECOTA have them narrowly missing a division crown, falling just behind the Mets but handily securing the top Wild Card spot in the NL. Fangraphs sees them winning 88 games (matching the Mets) but falling short in the end. Baseball Prospectus, meanwhile, has them at 88.7 wins, just shy of the Mets’ simulated projection of 89.4.

Ronald Acuña Jr. remains their key player, and a healthy and elite season from their star outfielder could make all the difference (emphasis on ‘healthy’). There’s also Matt Olson, who played 162 games for the fourth straight season and finished with a 136 wRC+ and a 4.7 fWAR. Atlanta also desperately need a bounce back year from Austin Riley, who struggled last season and has not come close to his All-Star self from 2022 and 2023. The biggest bright spot for Atlanta last year was catcher Drake Baldwin, who earned Rookie of the Year honors after a stellar debut season, and he will now be thrust into a more prominent role going forward.

Miami Marlins

The Marlins surprised some folks last year when they came close to .500 and hung around the NL Wild Card picture until the late stages of the season—some of this is certainly due to the subpar competition, no doubt. They also flirted with trading ace Sandy Alcántara, who missed all of 2024 and struggled to regain his form in 2025 until well after the All-Star break. You can be sure that the team will again explore a trade this year, if they are not realistically in a playoff spot—Alcántara’s contract expires at the end of the 2026 season.

The Marlins did what they do best, which is trade their talented players for prospect capital. They made two headline moves in this vein: trading right-hander Edward Cabrera to the Cubs in a package centered around outfielder Owen Caissie, and trading left-hander Ryan Weathers to the Yankees for four prospects. It’s worth noting that Cabrera is under team control through 2028, and Weathers through 2029, which brought in a bigger return. To fortify their roster, the club signed utility player Christopher Morel and acquired Esteury Ruiz from the Dodgers. They also acquired right-hander Bradley Blalock from the Rockies and left-hander Kade Bragg from the Twins.

Unsurprisingly, their season last year has done little to sway perception of their team or inspire much from the projection models. They are, pretty much across the board, viewed as the fourth team in this division, as ZiPS sees them finishing 75-87 and PECOTA has them basically right around that with a sim W total of 74.7. In both scenarios, they fall well short of the third Wild Card spot, failing to earn a postseason spot for the third straight yea after their Wild Card appearance in 2023. They still have some bright young players to watch, including Xavier Edwards and 2025 All-Star Kyle Stowers. At the very least, Mets fans should take comfort in the fact that New York does not play Miami during the final week of the season—their final games against the pesky Marlins are September 7-9 at loanDepot Park.

Washington Nationals

Despite some promising young talent, the Nationals still came close to 100 losses and seem to be nowhere close to contention in the division. They confirmed those thoughts by trading one of their best veterans, pitcher MacKenzie Gore, to the Rangers for a package of five minor leaguers. On the major league side, they made some minor moves, adding Zack Littell, Foster Griffin, and Miles Mikolas, all on relatively affordable one-year deals. The rest of their roster was filled in by waiver claims.

The Nationals are projected to finish right near the bottom of the league yet again. ZiPS sees them finishing the year 69-93, a three-game improvement from their 2025 results. This would give them more wins than just the Colorado Rockies, and would tie them with the projected win total of the Chicago White Sox. PECOTA, meanwhile, is a bit more pessimistic, simulating a total of 67.1 wins for Washington, ahead of just the Rockies (59.4) and Angels (65.5) in their model. This year will be all about the growth of rising stars James Wood and CJ Abrams, and their continued growth will be the main point of concern for Washington in what is ultimately another rebuilding year.

Projections and Predictions

The Mets have been a popular pick to win the 2026 NL East title, and not just from ZiPS and PECOTA (see standings below) but also from several seasoned baseball journalists at MLB, ESPN, SNY, Newsday, the NY Post and more. However, as we have learned far too many times, projections and predictions are a far way off from reality. With that said, the Mets find themselves in a good position and should be able to size up well against the Phillies and Braves as they look to capture their first division crown in over a decade.