Australia stayed with defending World Baseball Classic champion Japan step for step for more than six innings during their Sunday pool play clash.
Masataka Yoshida changed that with one swing.
Yoshida, the Red Sox outfielder/designated hitter, hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to wipe out a one-run deficit and ultimately help Japan to a narrow 4-3 win.
Japan scored two more runs in the eighth to provide some breathing room, which proved important when Australia designated hitter Alex Hall AND first baseman Rixon Wingrove blasted solo homers in the ninth.
Australia matched zeroes with Japan for five innings before breaking through with the game's first run in the sixth.
Center fielder Aaron Whitefield, who had three of Australia's six hits, was almost single-handedly responsible for that run. Whitefield hit one-out double in the sixth off Japan reliever Chihiro Sumida, then he stole third and scored after a bad throw by Japan catcher Kenya Wakatsuki. It gave Australia a 1-0 lead, which it held going into the bottom of the seventh.
The starting pitchers were stellar with Tomoyuki Sugano leading Japan by working four scoreless innings with two hits and two strikeouts. Australia starter Connor MacDonald blanked Japan on one hit over three innings with one strikeout.
Australia could still advance to the next round by beating Korea on Monday (6 a.m. ET. on FS1).
Shohei Ohtani stats today
For the first time in this WBC, Shohei Ohtani did not leave the yard. He didn't even have a hit.
Ohtani wound up 0-for-3 with two walks, the last of which was intentional in the eighth inning.
Ohtani led off the bottom of the first inning with a groundout to second base, and he ended the second inning with a hard lineout to center field. Ohtani came up to the plate in the bottom of the fourth with the bases loaded and two outs, and he had a 2-2 count when his teammate Shugo Maki was picked off second base by Australia catcher Robbie Perkins to end the inning. Ohtani wound up lining out to right to start the fifth.
Ohtani won his fourth MVP award in 2025 with a career-high 55 home runs and returned to the mound after only hitting in 2024, leading the Dodgers to a second consecutive World Series title.
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - MARCH 07: Darell Hernaiz #23 of Team Puerto Rico celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off solo home run against Team Panama during the tenth inning at Hiram Bithorn Stadium on March 07, 2026 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We have our first walk off of the 2026 WBC! Athletics infielder Darell Hernaiz smacked a two-out home run for Puerto Rico to walk off Panama in ten innings, the first walk-off home run in tournament history. USA and Venezuela maintained their perfect starts to the tournament with resounding wins over Great Britain and Israel, respectively. Let’s see how it all shook out.
Pool A: Puerto Rico (2-0) 4, Panama (0-2) 3
The starting pitchers opened this rain-delayed game in San Juan with quite a duel, Ariel Jurado of Panama getting the upper hand with his five scoreless innings allowing three hits and no walks with five strikeouts over Puerto Rico’s Eduardo Rivera, who also struck out five in his 4.1 innings of one-run ball. Panama broke the seal in the fifth, Jonathan Araúz reaching with one out on a hit-by-pitch and scoring on a Christian Bethancourt double, himself scoring as Luis Castillo followed with a double of his own.
Puerto Rico cut that deficit in half in the sixth on a sac fly by Nolan Aranado with the bases loaded after Bryan Torres and Willi Castro singled and Heliot Ramos was hit by a pitch. Then in the bottom of the ninth, Eddie Rosario walked, Martín Maldonado singled, and Matthew Lugo walked to again to load the bases, allowing Castro to draw the game-tying free pass to send the game to extra innings.
Panama immediately put the pressure on in extras, a sac bunt advancing the automatic runner to third, allowing him to score the go-ahead run on a José Caballero single. However, after stealing second, the Yankees’ speedster and back-to-back AL stolen base leader was thrown out at the plate by Carlos Cortes on a Leonardo Bernal single.
Buoyed by that play to end the top-half, Puerto Rico put the game to bed in the bottom of the tenth. Luis Vázquez singled to lead off and advance the automatic runner to second and again it was Cortes’ turn to come through, his ground ball double play plating the tying run. Up stepped A’s infielder Darell Hernaiz with two outs to yank the first walk-off home run in WBC history just fair inside the left field foul pole.
It was a hit parade for Venezuela in Miami, with 14 base knocks against the hapless Israel pitching staff. They set the tone scoring four in the first and never took their foot off the gas pedal from there. Luis Arraez opened the scoring with a double after Ronald Acuña drew a leadoff walk, the former coming around to score on a Salvador Perez single. Eugenio Suárez then crushed a two-run bomb, and already you could sense that this could be a blowout.
From that point forward, this became the Luis Arraez game. Known almost to a fault as a slap singles hitter, the newly-minted Giant brought his slug to the ballpark today. To go along with his first inning RBI double, Arraez lined a solo home run to right in the fifth before smacking a three-run bomb to almost exactly the same spot as part of Venezuela’s five-run sixth, Maikel Garcia also chipping in with a two-run single with the bases loaded earlier in the frame.
Venezuela’s dominant offensive display was matched by that of their starting pitcher, Enmanuel De Jesus setting the tournament high water mark with eight strikeouts in his five innings of one-run ball. RJ Schreck and Harrison Bader hit solo home runs for Israel, but the game was already well in hand for Venezuela at that point.
Pool B: United States (2-0) 9, Great Britain (0-2) 1
It was a slow start for Team USA despite having the best pitcher on the planet on the mound, but the bats broke out once they dug into Great Britain’s bullpen. Tarik Skubal declared prior to the tournament that he would only make one start, and it followed an eerily similar trajectory to that of Logan Webb the night prior. The two-tim defending AL Cy Young winner surrendered a leadoff home run to Nate Easton on the very first pitch of the game, but was nigh-on untouchable from that point forward. He finished his outing having given up two hits and no walks with five strikeouts, setting the tone for the rest of the game as he, Clay Holmes, David Bednar, Griffin Jax, and Brad Keller combined to strike out 17 British hitters.
The United States offense was silent for the first four innings before exploding for five in the fifth, following the pattern from their tournament opener of scoring in bunches. Ernie Clement reached on a one-out throwing error and scored the tying run on a wild pitch after a Pete Crow-Armstrong double advanced him to third. Following up on his two-hit day on Friday, Kyle Schwarber put the USA on top with a booming two-run blast to right, Gunnar Henderson then tacking on a further pair of runs with a two-out single with the bases loaded after Alex Bregman doubled, Bryce Harper was plunked, and Will Smith walked — part of a 4-for-5 performance from the Orioles shortstop in the lineup in place of Bobby Witt Jr.
In their game against Brazil, the US relied on their patience to get the job done, drawing an astonishing 17 walks. With the Great Britain pitcher much less afraid to challenge their daunting lineup in the strike zone, the US had to shift gears to more of a batted ball approach to get the job done. They collected three more insurance runs in the sixth, initially loading the bases with no outs on a Clement leadoff single and walks by Schwarber and PCA. Bregman hit a sac fly and Aaron Judge and Bryce Harper lined RBI singles to put the game to bed, Bregman wrapping up the scoring with his second sac fly an inning later. Brad Keller struck out Jazz Chisholm Jr. to end the contest, the Yankees second baseman going 0-for-4 with four strikeouts to earn the dreaded golden sombrero.
Pool C: Chinese Taipei (2-2) 5, South Korea (1-2) 4
Chinese Taipei have bounced back valiantly from getting manhandled in their first two games of the tournament, scrapping out an extra-innings victory to finish at an admirable 2-2 in pool play. The long ball was the difference maker of this contest, seven of the nine combined runs coming via the home run.
2023 was the last time that Hyun Jin Ryu last pitched in MLB, the 38 year old now plying his trade for the Hanwha Eagles of KBO, but he showed he’s still got it with three innings of one-run ball for South Korea. The only damage against him was the opening run of the contest, a leadoff home run from Yu Chang in the second. South Korea responded in the fifth, a run-scoring double play ground ball from Shay Whitcomb plating the tying run after Hyun Min Ahn drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a Bo Gyeong Moon single.
Tsung-Che Cheng reclaimed the lead for Chinese Taipei with a home run to leadoff the second, but it was immediately erased in the bottom half, Do Yeong Kim slugging a two-run blast to grab the lead for South Korea after Dong Won Park drew a leadoff walk. That set Stuart Fairchild up for his second clutch home run in as many nights, following up his grand slam on Friday with the go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth. However, Do Yeong Kim replied with an RBI double in the bottom half to send the game to extras.
Home runs pay have powered most of the scoring, but this game was won in the most small ball way possible, Chinese Taipei plating the automatic runner in the top of the tenth with consecutive sacrifice bunts. It looked like South Korea would follow suit in the bottom half, but Ju Won Kim was thrown out at home on a soft grounder to preserve Chinese Taipei’s 5-4 victory.
After back-to-back days with eight games, today and tomorrow will only feature seven as we wrap up pool play. As expected, the US and Japan are the early frontrunners with two wins through two, although Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and Australia are more than holding their own with perfect records as well. Here’s the slate for today:
Australia vs. Japan (Pool C) Pitching matchup: RHP Connor MacDonald vs. RHP Tomoyuki Sugano Time: 6:00 a.m. ET TV: FS1 Venue: Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan
Colombia vs. Cuba (Pool A) Pitching matchup: RHP Luis Patiño vs. RHP Denny Larrondo Time: 12:00 p.m. ET TV: FS2 Venue: Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, PR
Dominican Republic vs. Netherlands (Pool D) Pitching matchup: RHP Luis Severino vs. RHP Arij Fransen Time: 12:00 p.m. ET TV: Fox Venue: loanDepot park, Miami, FL
Great Britain vs. Italy (Pool B) Pitching matchup: TBD vs. RHP Dylan DeLucia Time: 1:00 p.m. ET TV: Tubi Venue: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
Israel vs. Nicaragua (Pool D) Pitching matchup: RHP Dan Kremer vs. RHP Carlos Rodriguez Time: 7:00 p.m. ET TV: Tubi Venue: loanDepot park, Miami, FL
Panama vs. Canada (Pool A) Pitching matchup: TBD vs. RHP Jameson Taillon Time: 7:00 p.m. ET TV: FS2 Venue: Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, PR
Brazil vs. Mexico (Pool B) Pitching matchup: RHP Eric Pardinho vs. RHP Taijuan Walker Time: 8:00 p.m. ET TV: FS1 Venue: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
Feb 16, 2026; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals hall of fame Ozzie Smith (middle) talks with infielders Masyn Winn (0) and JJ Wetherholt (77) during spring training workouts at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images | Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
This could be a long article made short with the simple word: yes. I truly believe we are seeing the middle infield that will be standing at Busch Stadium for the foreseeable future. But Doc probably would not be happy if my write up just ended there. So here we go.
The St. Louis Cardinals have their middle infield of the future
For those who have been checking in on my work, first off, thank you. Secondly, you know that I am enamored with the future potential of shortstop Masyn Winn. He will turn 24 later this month and is just scratching the surface for what I hope to see flying around short for the next 8+ years.
Yes, I know the offense needs to show some progress, but even if he is unable to reach my lofty annual 20 homer/20 stolen base floor prediction, his defense is just so darn good that I will settle for a plain old 100 wRC+ with Platinum Glove level performance one of the hardest positions on the field. Call me a hypocrite because when I talked about Ivan Herrera, I basically said the opposite as I am saying for Winn. Herrera can play mediocre defense behind the plate and put up a 130 wRC+ and I will forgive a 20% caught stealing rate with a few passed balls in a growth season. For Winn, though, his athleticism and overall talent at short will allow him to be an above-average major league contributor for a long time, even if the bat does not fully progress, even though I have confidence it will.
In exactly 1200 at-bats, Winn has a .252 average and .680 OPS, which measures him as a 91 wRC+ for his career. On FanGraphs, he has accumulated a 6.3 fWAR in his 2+ years in the bigs, but much of that is due to his incredible abilities at shortstop. I sorted FanGraphs’ leaderboard for shortstop value to just include each of Winn’s last two seasons and his 7.2 fWAR (subtracting his negative debut cup of coffee) puts him as the 11th-best shortstop in baseball. His defense ranks second in MLB behind Bobby Witt, Jr., but his offensive production sits at 31st. Even with a mediocre couple of years with the bat, Winn is making a case to be a top 10 player at the position, a distinction I have already given him.
Masyn Winn’s 2024 season was an exciting glimpse into the future as he put up a 104 wRC+ with 15 homers and 11 stolen bases with top 10 defensive value. He did that while primarily hitting leadoff, a spot in the order that may not be the best fit for Winn’s skillset. Because of that great year, the expectations were high for Winn as he entered his second full season and had built a consistent track record of success in the minors. Unfortunately, his production took a step back in some ways while staying similar in other aspects.
We will never know and Winn will likely never admit to how much injuries played a factor in his 2025 season, as he only played 129 games after missing time with back and knee issues before eventually going under the knife to repair his meniscus once the season was deemed over. All told, Winn ended up with a 91 wRC+ with just nine homers and nine stolen bases, but took home his first Gold Glove award. Assuming Winn is back to full strength like he claims, get me back on the 20/20 watch. He surpassed the 20 stolen base mark in each of his first two pro seasons, including swiping 43 bags in 2022, and hit 18 homers with a .288 average and 17 swipes before he was called up for the end of the 2023 season. It is because of that consistent showing, yes I know it was the minor leagues, that my hopes for Winn’s bat are still high. With a team full of youngsters all looking to make an impact on the roster, I could see Winn finding another level in his game and finally be recognized nationally as one of the best all-around shortstops in the game. ZiPs and the other projection sites predict a similar season for Winn in 2026, but with improved health and another year of offensive maturity, I will say I think the 12 homer prediction we see from ZiPS is going to be low.
Over across the bag to Winn’s expected double play partner. Maybe you’ve heard of him: JJ Wetherholt. Before I gush over Wetherholt’s expected season and career, let us first look back at what second base provided the Cardinals last year. Sorry to bring it up as we are finally starting to move past it, but Brendan Donovan was the primary second baseman last year and put up his typical Donnie season, finishing as the 5th-best second baseman in baseball with a 3.0 fWAR while playing the keystone. His shift to second from his usual utility role provided some stability at the position that saw him, Nolan Gorman, Jose Fermin, Thomas Saggese, and of course Pedro Pages see time there. But now, that position belongs to JJ Wetherholt and that’s all there is to it. Everyone in Cardinal Nation is excited for his arrival, even Kareem Haq. Kareem joined us on Redbird Rundown this past week to partake in a Prospect Draft, and even though he scooped up Rainiel Rodriguez with the first overall pick, he is still as pumped to see JJ in St. Louis as the rest of us.
So why the excitement? For one, he will probably take the leadoff spot away from Winn and allow the shortstop to find a place in the lineup that fits his aggressive, yet contact-oriented approach. We have seen how Wetherholt approaches his at-bats this spring (yes, it is still spring) and his .579 OBP shows he knows the strike zone, but his homer and four RBIs also means he knows when to attack. While he has shown that patience, I want to be wary of being grouped into Lars Nootbaar territory, where Noot was so patient he rarely swung at pitches he should hit over the mountains. Wetherholt’s Savant page shows he does have that level of selectivity, but the infielder’s K-rate is better than the outfielder’s.
We know all of Wetherholt’s accolades and expectations, so I won’t spend my time (but since you’re also here, our time) rehashing all of that. Basically, JJ is major league ready and the Arenado and Donovan trades cemented his spot on the Opening Day roster. The projection systems predict that Wetherholt will hit a little bit of a snag during his first big league season, with ZiPS being the most optimistic with a .254 batting average, 11 homers, 13 stolen bases which equates to a 103 wRC+ and 2.8 fWAR. By that last measure, Wetherholt would be a near-even replacement for Donnie at second. I’m sure it is just my Cardinals-colored glasses talking, but if Wetherholt sticks in the majors for 130+ games this season, I would hope his actual numbers are a tick better across the board than the prediction.
To round this week’s position group up, I wanted to do a quick view of who could fill in if either of these two missed extended time or if Wetherholt struggled to the point a demotion was necessary. One of the actual competitions we are seeing this spring is for a spot on the major league bench. With Ivan Herrera continuing to get catcher reps, the Cardinals may very well roll with three catchers on the big league roster with Pedro Pages and Yohel Pozo offering support. Even if Herrera were to move out from behind the plate, that moves him to a DH role so that trio would remain the same, just in a different capacity. Assuming Lars Nootbaar is going to start on the IL, the Cardinals still need to find a left fielder (preview to next week) who can start multiple times a week. Because of this, backup infield options Thomas Saggese and Jose Fermin have been working in the outfield to gain the upperhand and earn a spot.
Each of those guys can play around the infield and have shown the athleticism to handle those spots with at least average defensive abilities. Depending on what Oli Marmol wants out of his bench could determine who takes the opening. Of the two, Saggese is projected to be the more complete hitter with the former Texas League MVP popping double-digit homers in every professional season so far with Fermin maxing out with eight home runs. Fermin is the quicker athlete, though, with the Dominican notching 20 stolen bases in three different seasons. Personally, I would like Saggese to push for the Opening Day roster and maybe even give Nathan Church (glimpse to next week again) a run for the left field job. Saggese is the younger of the two and the higher profile prospect, so in a season of opportunity, I would like Saggese to get the call to see if he can tap into some of that power he flashed in the minors.
If (when) both Masyn Winn and JJ Wetherholt make their presence known at the national level, it creates a much more interesting roster construction for the future at other positions. With Nolan Gorman at third and Alec Burleson at first, the spots for Saggese and Fermin run thin for the long-term future with the organization. Of course, that means that the incumbents stay healthy, consistent, and even improve to work their way into an extension. Either way, the 2026 season is going to be an exciting one to watch, even if the wins don’t show up early and often in the standings.
SELF PROMO OF THE WEEK
Random Cardinal of the Week returns to its roots with one of the most underrated and/or unknown player on the 2005 and 2006 teams. Check out my Twitter to see how I actually have some experience and Six Degrees of Separation with this week’s featured player.
Redbird Rundown had Kareem last week and kept the prospect conversation going this week with the infamous Redbird Farmhands. We talked about the Oli Marmol extension before discussing some offensive camp battles.
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Kristaps Porzingis was healthy enough to accompany the Warriors on their current road trip, and he took another step in the right direction, returning to the court Saturday night against the Thunder.
Before Saturday, the center had only played 17 of a possible 533 minutes since the Warriors acquired him at the NBA trade deadline. Despite his recent progress, his outlook remains a mystery.
That is the unfortunate reality of living with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS, doctors who specialize in the autonomic disease told The California Post.
Kristaps Porzingis, who was acquired by the Warriors in a trade deadline deal with the Hawks, had only played 17 of a possible 533 minutes for Golden State before Saturday’s game against the Thunder. Getty Images
“It is a difficult, difficult thing to deal with,” said Dr. Tom Clennell, a physical therapist who works with POTS patients at UC San Francisco. That said, “I do think he should be able to contribute and be a productive player. … I don’t think it’s unrealistic to think they can get it under control.”
About 3 million Americans have been diagnosed with POTS, Dr. Alba Azola said. Cases in elite-level athletes such as Porzingis are rarer. But the Latvian said last fall that he got an answer to his unexplained absences toward the end of his time with the Celtics: He told The Athletic that doctors diagnosed him with POTS, which deregulates the nervous system.
“It hit me, and it hit me like a truck,” Porzingis said. “The breathing wasn’t good. I did everything I could potentially to feel as good as I could, but my engine wasn’t running the way I wanted. …
“You know how people say, ‘Oh, I’m so fatigued.’ I’ve never used those words. I don’t even like to speak in those terms, but I really was like that. At that time, I could just lay on the couch and be a house cat.”
The prone position — the natural state for many a house cat — is often the only comfortable one for a patient suffering from, as Clennell put it, “a POTS crisis.”
Without the nervous system regulating things we take for granted — heart rate, blood pressure, etc. — “the heart is not able to adjust to the demands of the body,” explained Azola, who treats patients dealing with POTS and chronic fatigue at Johns Hopkins.
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Typically the body would send a signal upon standing to tighten the blood vessels in the legs and allow the heart to redistribute that blood to other areas, Azola said. The misfiring nervous system in POTS patients prevents that from happening, causing blood to pool in the legs and feet. Lacking blood flow, the brain sends a “fight or flight” signal,” Azola said.
“That, in turn, triggers this response of tachycardia (heart palpitations), sweating, nausea, lightheadedness — all of those symptoms come from that.”
The simple act of standing rapidly increases the heart rate by more than 30 beats per minute, according to Azola. “And it doesn’t normalize. It stays up, just from standing.”
All considered, it might sound like a feat for Porzingis to be playing at all. He has been effective when on the court, too, looking like the Warriors’ missing puzzle piece in his first game with Golden State and averaging 18.7 points over 60 games the past two seasons.
Unlike a broken bone or a torn ligament, POTS “is not an injury you can truly see,” said Clennell, the physical therapist. “He can come out and he can play and look really good, but the issue is … small changes to what’s going on physiologically … can create a kind of crisis.”
Hydration and electrolyte levels have to be closely monitored. Getting sick is a common precursor — 31% of POTS patients suffer from long COVID, Azola said — but environmental changes routine for most NBA players, such as the dry air on flights, can cause complications.
Porzingis’ conditioning as one of the league’s scariest stretch 5s should help him manage the disease, but his 7-foot-3 frame could also predispose him to more frequent disruptions.
“I think it can be hard for fans to grasp,” said Dr. Nirav Pandya, an orthopedic surgeon at UC San Francisco who has treated several patients with POTS. “Because it’s like, ‘Well, you should be able to push through something. You’re sick; you should be able to push through it.’
“But it becomes so debilitating for people that even doing basic day-to-day things can become really hard.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr had to walk back a claim that POTS wasn’t actually a problem with Kristaps Porzingis. AP
Warriors coach Steve Kerr described Porzingis’ condition as “mysterious,” and he’s not entirely wrong. The doctors all said POTS was not part of their curriculum in medical school.
Kerr had to walk back a claim that POTS wasn’t actually the problem with Porzingis. He told a local radio station that he consulted Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh, a former Golden State front office employee, and “got confirmation it was not POTS but it was something else that was really difficult to figure out.”
It’s possible Kerr wasn’t misled, according to Pandya. There isn’t a definitive blood test.
“We kind of diagnose it based on your symptoms,” he said. “That’s where I can understand how there can be some confusion around what the actual diagnosis is. …
“At the end of the day, you have a player that can’t play and you have something that’s not related to a torn meniscus or quad,” for example, Pandya said.
When general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. acquired Porzingis at the trade deadline from the Hawks for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield, he said he wouldn’t have done so if the team wasn’t confident that it could keep him on the court — a goal that has, for one reason or another, evaded the medical staffs at all of his five previous stops.
The doctors and trainers in the Warriors’ building are widely considered to be among the best in the NBA, but Porzingis presents a novel challenge.
Azola treated one high-level athlete at the Johns Hopkins clinic in Baltimore — an Olympic swimmer — whose career she said was “absolutely” impacted by POTS. “It’s something that requires medical management to continue to compete at that level.”
Porzingis is running out of time to prove the Warriors’ return for Kuminga is more than a $31 million expiring contract. When healthy, he gives them the ideal package of size and spacing.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 07: Ryan Rollins #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball against John Konchar #55 of the Utah Jazz during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum on March 07, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It wasn’t pretty, but the Bucks snapped out of their four-game skid last night at Fiserv with a victory over the Jazz. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
I get that Sims is playing well lately, but I don’t think Turner has been bad enough to necessitate being benched so often in clutch time. Not by a mile. I did like how they tried to get him involved inside—more of that, please.
Though Rollins had pretty loose handles and couldn’t find his shot, another sneaky near-triple double is nothing to sneeze at. Some pretty nice finishes through traffic and larger defenders.
This was the best I’ve seen Dieng as a playmaker for both himself and others—an even sneakier near-triple double. Nine assists ties a career high. Had another high-release catch-and-shoot three near the top of the arc. Stayed with his man pretty much every time.
Starting again as the Bucks opted for more size. The shooting line is nice, but it hides a rough first half. He biffed two early layups and struggled guarding Keyonte George. Came up big late with an and-one that extended the lead to six. One of his two late threes might have been a dagger, though the second was when the game was well in hand.
Grade: B
AJ Green
21 minutes, 7 points, 4 fouls, 2/8 3P, +0
The first sub after being removed from the starting lineup, Green is shooting just 30% from deep since the All-Star break. Three for his last 17 including this one. Didn’t make his first shot until 2:30 in the third but did get another shortly thereafter. Abused on defense routinely, but finally stopped fouling when bigger guys switched onto him.
Grade: D+
Bobby Portis
18 minutes, 12 points, 5/8 FG, -6
Doc remarked postgame how Portis was too uninvolved towards the end of the first quarter, when the offense first dried up. That was corrected to begin the fourth quarter, when he scored half his points. Also had a flashy spin move on Elijah Harkless during that stint.
Grade: B+
Jericho Sims
30 minutes, 6 points, 5 rebounds, 3/4 FG, -2
Probably would have had a nicer scoring line had a few lobs been better placed. Generally good defensively and on the glass. Doc says he closes because he defends and he’s switchable—also hailing his passing—but I wouldn’t say Turner doesn’t defend and isn’t switchable…
One of several Bucks whose jumper was MIA, though I was impressed by Nance on the other end. He moves his feet so well, and for all people talk about his “lack” of athleticism, you’d never notice it defensively. Doc called him a connector postgame, noting that the ball moved much better in the second unit when Nance was on the floor.
Grade: B-
Doc Rivers
Credit where it’s due for upgauging the starting lineup, benching Green, sliding Dieng to guard, and reinserting Kuz. He mentioned after the Atlanta loss that they just needed more size (Giannis echoed this postgame too) and while I don’t know if this group will be as effective with Orlando or other teams, it’s worth a try. As this was another game the Bucks struggled out of half, I asked him why he thought that was:
“I don’t know why. We’ve talked about it; I have one of my coaches going out now and watching them [while shooting during halftime] to make sure they’re moving. Because this has happened a lot to us. We come out stagnant, slow… I will say this: it wasn’t because we were not playing right. We just didn’t come out and play well… in Chicago—I’ll give you an example—we just didn’t play right. We came out and didn’t play the right way. And so that’s why you could live with it a little bit more tonight. Maybe tht’s why it wasn’t pronounced as much, because once we got out of it, we got some stops. We gotta start the second half thinking defense, though. That’s the culprit, in my opinion. When we get stops, we get out running. It just seems like we ease into the third quarter, and we have to stop doing that.”
Kuzma mentioned that their sense of urgency is gone after they get momentum in the first half. We asked Giannis too, and he didn’t mention defense as much. He took it on himself:
“Today… you could see it. We come down, miss a shot, put our head down. We go the other way, they make a shot, we go to the free throw line, we wait, and we look down… everybody’s in their head… And that’s gotta change, and it starts for me. I gotta be more aggressive with it. I feel like the more aggressive I am, the more I’m [getting] downhill, the more I play with a good pace, it translates to everybody. Everybody follows, right? So sometimes, especially in the third quarter, I’m just warming up. I’m waiting for everybody else to kind of take that step, and maybe that’s a mistake for me. As a leader, I got to be able to come and set the tone, be that engine for our team. And hopefully in the next third quarters moving forward, I can do a better job with that.“
Probably more of a team effort than Giannis is letting on. But whatever that coach is doing at halftime, I guess it’s not working.
Grade: B
Limited Minutes: Cam Thomas, Gary Trent Jr.
DNP-CD: Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Gary Harris, Andre Jackson Jr.
Inactive: Alex Antetokounmpo, Kevin Porter Jr., Taurean Prince, Cormac Ryan
Bonus Bucks Bits
Oscar Tshiebwe got the assignment on Giannis out of the chute. You’ll recall his first career points from the Ballgate game back in 2023.
Milwaukee went without a point guard often: at first, Green came in for Rollins, and Giannis predictably ran the offense, and it predictably looked good. They ran this one-guard soon after with Trent, less successfully.
It took Utah nearly seven minutes to make their first two-point field goal.
The Bucks missed six free throws in the first, and only two were from Giannis. Sims and surprisingly Thomas also missed back-to-back FTs in this game.
Trent saw first-half minutes for the first time since February 6 against Indiana. Every appearance he’s had since has been in garbage time.
Thomas saw six first-half minutes, made a shot, but did not appear in the second half.
Utah shot only 30.6% from the field in the first half. Yuck. In general, this game had a college feel with the poor shooting on both sides, especially in the first half.
Milwaukee got outrebounded again (53-48) on both ends (13-7 offensive) and lost the shot battle by five. Most of that damage came in the second half.
At least the Jazz had only one more free throw. But unlike the Bucks, who missed 12 of them, they only missed four (86.2%).
33 assists is tied for third most this season. Sounded like ball movement and advance passes were a big focus of Friday’s practice.
Rollins eclipsed 1,000 points for the first time in his career.
Marquette took down UConn earlier in the day at Fiserv, and apparently, that meant Huskie alum Andre Jackson Jr. lost some money to Marquette legend Rivers.
Up Next
The Bucks are immediately back in action tonight vs. the Orlando Magic. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. CDT on FanDuel Sports Wisconsin.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JANUARY 31: Head coach Quin Snyder of the Atlanta Hawks talks with Jalen Johnson #1 of the Atlanta Hawks against the Indiana Pacers during the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on January 31, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Bobby Goddin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Your Atlanta Hawks have now won six straight games.
I’d like to open this thread to ask you: what has been the biggest key to this streak?
It could be a player, a coaching decision, the schedule, whatever you’d like. What say you?
Three hours and 13 minutesafter the biggest comeback win of the season for Missouri baseball, Josh McDevitt provided the Tigers with what they had been lacking for the first two games of the series in their 7-0 series-clinching victory over UIC. Quality starting pitching.
In his previous three outings this season, McDevitt has given up six hits combined. He had an ERA of 3.21 coming into Saturday. He’s struck out 19 batters and consistently finished his outings around the pitch mark of the mid 80’s. The one problem? He’s walked 16 batters this season.
McDevitt’s fourth start of the season at Taylor Stadium saw him tie his career-high in strikeouts with seven, dousing the Flames despite walking six batters. He worked his way out of two jams in the third and fifth innings, in which UIC left a combined five runners on base.
“I think they gotta get in and do some things mechanically with him this week, before we get into conference play,” Jackson said. “Really missing to the glove side, and yanking a lot of fastballs, high counts to guys, walks that we’re not accustomed to seeing him doing. Coach Drew, he’s gotta get in there with him and kind of try to figure that out a little bit, because it’s really good stuff — a good three‑pitch mix, very, very competitive — but we’re putting ourselves in situations that we shouldn’t be putting ourselves in.”
The final result ended with two five shutout innings for McDevitt, two hits allowed by the Tigers staff, and the first shutout victory for Missouri since Mar. 7, 2023, a 6-0 victory over Western Illinois. It also marked the 11th straight victory for the black and gold.
Perhaps UIC was still deflated after the Tigers completed their massive comeback win less than an hour before; even so, the Missouri offense came out with a purpose. The first inning saw Macon open the game how he likes to, a lead-off hustle double, his seventh of the season, extending his hit streak to 14 games.
Jase Woita followed with an RBI single to left, and Cameron Benson added another run with a sharp base hit to make it 2–0 before UIC recorded its second out of the first inning.
Benson capped off the Tigers’ 12-run comeback against UIC, and just like the rest of the offense, he kept continuing to pick up right where he left off. Missouri, already up 4-0 in the top half of the fifth, Benson cushioned the driver’s seat, cracking a two-run shot over the right field fence. The first two homers of his season came in one day, both 377 feet apiece.
“Cam is capable of doing whatever he wants to do on a baseball field,” head coach Kerrick Jackson said. “He’s finally coming into his own and realizing that, and it’s fun to watch.”
Missouri wasn’t done. Utility man Jamal George followed with a double down the right‑field line, driving in another run to make it 7–0 in the fifth and effectively put the game out of reach.
Relievers Isaiah Salas, Keyler Gonzalez, and Dane Bjorn combined to finish the final four innings, allowing only three hits and striking out four. Gonzalez, making his Mizzou debut, tossed a clean eighth inning with his first strikeout as a Tiger.
“You’re seeing a lot of freshmen come out in big situations and compete their tails off,” Jackson said. “High leverage is high leverage, and they’re getting valuable experience.”
The Tigers have now thrown 15 straight scoreless innings and improved to 13–2 — their best start since the 2017 team opened 20–1.
“We just needed to come out and throw punches,” Jackson said. “If we play our baseball, we’ll be in a great situation.”
BRADENTON, FL - FEBRUARY 27: Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin (75) runs to first base during a game against the Baltimore Orioles on February 27, 2026, at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The same guys have been getting the attention at Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training, like Konnor Griffin, and rightfully so. The No. 1 prospect has been putting on a clinic with his towering home runs and impressive skills. He is also building a compelling case to make the Pirates’ Opening Day roster and become the starting shortstop.
Former MLB GM for the Washington Nationals and Cincinnati Reds Jim Bowden believes Griffin is the best teenage prospect ready for the show since Juan Soto and Bryce Harper.
Bowden also believes the Pirates should already pursue a long term extension for the 19 year old.
“Griffin told the media that he would be open to signing a long-term contract, something the Pirates should jump on as soon as possible because he profiles as one of the best players in the sport over the next 10-15 years,” Bowden wrote.
It feels a little risky to me to already give Griffin a massive contract extension without even seeing how good he is going to be in the major league. Although if he plays well in his rookie season and he is already looking like the star everyone expects him to be, they should extend him early.
Bowden also praised O’Neil Cruz for trying to address the flaws in his game before the start of the season.
“Oneil Cruz of the Pirates struggled last year against left-handed pitching, batting just .102 against them over 125 plate appearances. He hired a left-handed batting practice pitcher this offseason to improve his at-bats against southpaws,” Bowden wrote. “In addition, he hit just .141 against breaking balls and has been working hard on tracking them and making better contact against them.”
Cruz has the potential to be an elite player in the National League. He has serious power to his bat with the potential of having a 30 plus home run season. He just has to put it all together and if he can do that we will be looking at one of the most improved players in the league. You also have to look at defensive play which needs to seriously improve for this upcoming season.
Cruz is emerging as an above-average hitter and that would give Pittsburgh’s lineup a much needed boost.
What Bowden is saying in my opinion is absolutely true. If the young star for the Bucs can make that next step the Pirates can compete for a playoff spot. The pitching will do their thing this year but it’s up to the offense and the young guys to back the pitching up.
Sunday’s NBA doubleheader on Peacock features a pair of premier matchups. The Charlotte Hornets take on the Phoenix Suns in the late window at 10:00 PM ET, and the action gets started with a Southwest Division showdown between the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs at 8:00 PM ET. Live coverage begins at 7:30 PM ET on NBC and Peacock.
See below for additional information on how to watch both and follow all of the NBA action on NBCSN and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.
Since losing to the Milwaukee Bucks on a Giannis Antetokounmpo buzzer-beater on January 2, the Hornets' season has taken a dramatic upward turn. Charlotte was 11-23 after that loss, but the team has won 21 of its last 30 games to bring its record back to .500 and land a spot in the Play-In Tournament.
Charlotte's tremendous turnaround has featured multiple six-game win streaks, the most recent of which was snapped with a 128-120 home loss to the Miami Heat on Friday.
Three starters finished with 20+ points in that one, led by sensational rookie KonKnueppel, who provided 27 points while knocking down six three-pointers. BrandonMiller contributed 22 points, 13 rebounds and five assists, while LaMeloBall added 21 points and five triples. MoussaDiabate led all players with 14 rebounds.
Charlotte is currently the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference, but the team is just three games back of the Philadelphia 76ers for the No. 6 seed. With less than 20 games left in the season, the Hornets will look to climb out of the Play-In or at the very least, hold off the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls, who are 4.5 and 5.5 games back, respectively.
Phoenix Suns Storylines
With a 118-116 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, the Suns improved to 36-27. Like the Hornets, the Suns will need to stack wins down the stretch to avoid the Play-In Tournament and earn a spot in the postseason.
All five of Phoenix's starters scored in double figures in Friday's win, led by DevinBooker, who offered a game-high 32 points with five three-pointers. JalenGreen scored 25 points with three triples, and CollinGillespie nailed four of 11 attempts from beyond the arc to finish with 12 points.
Injuries have plagued Phoenix all season, but the dynamic duo of Booker and Green are trending in the right direction at just the right time. Unfortunately for the Suns, DillonBrooks will be out 4-6 weeks, and MarkWilliams will be sidelined for 2-3 weeks, missing an opportunity to face his former team.
Sunday's showdown will be the first of two head-to-head matchups between the Hornets and Suns this season. The teams split last season's series, as the home team won each of the two games.
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
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NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule
Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.
HONG KONG (AP) — Jon Rahm won the LIV Golf Hong Kong event on Sunday for his first individual title since 2024.
Rahm shot 6 under in the final round and finished 23 under for the tournament, three shots ahead of runner-up Thomas Detry. The Spaniard hadn't won a title since LIV Golf Chicago in 2024.
“I’ve been very ecstatic for wins in the past. This one just feels like a big weight off my shoulders,” he said.
Back-to-back defending LIV Golf champion Rahm was tied with Detry and Harold Varner III on 17 under going into the final round at Hong Kong Golf Club at Fanling. Thomas Pieters finished third on 19 under.
“I played really good all day," Rahm said. "It was incredible. But I just tried to stay very patient and committed to each shot, knowing that I was doing everything right and things were going to happen.”
The Knicks (41*-23) play the Lakers (38-25) today at crypto.com Arena in a nationally televised contest. The Knicks have won seven of their last ten games, while the Lakers are six and four over the same span. This game marks their second and final matchup of the season. When they last met on February 1, The Knicks won, 112-100. OG Anunoby led the good guys with 25 points. Luka Dončić scored 30 for Los Angeles.
The Lakers profile as a slightly above-average offensive team with a shaky defense and middling results. They score 116 points per game (12th) but give up 115.3 (15th), and are ranked 21st in defensive rating. Their offense ranks ninth (117.7), but the imbalance gives them a dead-middle net rating, and one look at their roster explains why their pace is considered a trot.
Luka Dončić is having his usual elite season. He’s averaging a league-leading 32.5 points along with 7.8 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game while shooting 48% from the field and 36% from yard. At shooting guard, milky smooth Austin Reaves has enjoyed a breakout campaign, posting 23.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game on 50/37 shooting splits.
LeBron James remains productive despite taking a reduced role as he ages out of the NBA; this season he’s averaging 21.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and seven assists per game, but shooting 31% from downtown. Alongside James in the frontcourt, Rui Hachimura has averaged 11.6 points and 3.3 rebounds, while Deandre Ayton contributes 12.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. More on him in sec.
The 17th pick in 2024, Dalton Knecht had a whirlwind rookie season with the Lakers that included an awkward trade-and-rescind to Charlotte. In the current campaign, his shooting has fallen off and he’s mostly fallen out of the rotation. Despite his setbacks, Coach JJ Redick has faith that the sophomore will turn around his career as a grocery bagger.
At least Knecht hasn’t been called soft, lazy, or unserious—Deandre Ayton has that covered. The former first draft pick has played 54 games this season and grabbed 10 or more rebounds in 22 of them. To call himself DominAyton is a bit of a stretch. (For comparison, the 6’5” Josh Hart collects 7.5 boards per game) The seven-footer is dealing with knee soreness but has been cleared to play today.
In their last game, L.A. started Marcus Smart (9.5 PPTS, 2.8 AST), Luka, Reaves, Jaxson Hayes (7 PTS, 4 RBS), and Hachimura. LeBron missed the game due to an elbow injury that also has him listed as a game-time decision today. For the Knicks, only Miles McBride is on the injury report.
UPDATE:
Knicks are listing Landry Shamet as questionable for today’s game at LAL due to a neck sprain.
ESPN predicts a 63% chance for the Knicks to win. That’s slightly higher than we’d go, but cool beans. Any game against Luka can be a challenge for our Knickerbockers. In 13 games against New York, the Slovenian has averaged 30.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 8.8 assists, and although he’s won just six of them, he’s delivered some wicked highlights.
To win today, the Knicks must protect the paint and limit penetration from Dončić and James, while pushing the tempo against these slowfoots and keying up the defense. Los Angeles ranks 29th in rebounding, so there’s no excuse for the Knicks not to win the glass and generate second looks. It’s an early road game on an unfriendly court in front of a large audience, but we like their chances. Knicks by eight.
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks (41*-23) at Los Angeles Lakers (38-25) Date: Sunday, March 8, 2026 Time: 3:30 PM ET Place: crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA TV: ABC Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
* Should be one more, but NBA Cup wins dissolve in your hand.
The Buffalo Sabres made a notable move ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline when they acquired defensemen Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn from the Winnipeg Jets. The Sabres will be hoping that the pair can help bolster their blueline ahead of the playoffs.
One of the main pieces that the Sabres sent the other way to land Stanley and Schenn was former first-round pick Isak Rosen. Seeing Rosen get dealt was not surprising, as he had been the subject of trade rumors and had trouble cementing himself as a full-time NHL player in Buffalo.
Yet, with this trade to the Jets, Rosen has now been given a fresh start and should get more opportunities at the NHL level. The Jets have already called him up to their NHL roster, and he should get a decent amount of playing time when noting that the Jets' playoff hopes are incredibly low at this stage of the season.
Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff also confirmed that Rosen will stay on the club's NHL roster for the remainder of the season. Thus, he has a big chance to show Winnipeg what he can do.
Sometimes a player benefits from a change of scenery, and that could very well end up being the case for Rosen. It is going to be interesting to see if he can take that next step with the Jets. There is no question that the skilled forward has good upside.
It's an NBA doubleheader on NBC and Peacock on Sunday night! The action tips off at 8:00 PM ET as the San Antonio Spurs host the Houston Rockets. The late game features a cross-conference showdown between the surging Charlotte Hornets and the shorthanded Phoenix Suns at 10:00 PM ET. Live coverage begins at 7:30 PM ET on NBC and Peacock.
See below for additional information on how to watch both and follow all of the NBA action on NBCSN and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.
After a tough, overtime loss to the Golden State Warriors on Thursday, the Houston Rockets bounced back with a 106-99 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday. Houston used a 29-point fourth quarter to rally past the Blazers and earn a third win in five games.
AlperenSengun led the way for Houston with a game-high 28 points, and AmenThompson contributed 26 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. KevinDurant added 26 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while ReedSheppard chipped in 17 points and three triples. Houston's bench offered only 10 points, as the starters did the heavy lifting. This has been the norm all season, as the Rockets' 28.3 bench points per game are the fewest in the Association.
At 39-23, the Rockets are the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference, but the competition is fierce. The Minnesota Timberwolves are just half a game ahead for the No. 3 seed, and only four games separate the Rockets from the No. 7 seed and a trip to the Play-In Tournament. Wins are crucial at this point in the season, and a win over the No. 2 seed Spurs could generate momentum for Houston down the final stretch.
San Antonio Spurs Storylines
The San Antonio Spurs went into halftime of Friday's matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers down 66-46. Mitch Johnson apparently knew what to say to get his team motivated, as the Spurs used a 70-46 second half to sneak past the Clippers with a 116-112 victory.
Victor Wembanyama led the charge for San Antonio with 27 points and 10 rebounds, and JulianChampagnie turned in 20 points and nine boards. De'Aaron Fox provided 19 points and nine assists, and reigning Rookie of the Year StephonCastle offered six points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
The Spurs haven't had a winning record since the 2018-19 season, when they went 48-34, and they haven't won 50+ games since the 2016-17 season when they finished 61-21. At 46-17 with 19 games to go, the Spurs have already secured a winning record, and they've got a realistic chance to crack 60 wins.
San Antonio is just 2.5 games back of the Oklahoma City Thunder for the top seed in the Western Conference, and catching the reigning champs - something that seemed unthinkable two months ago - is certainly within reach.
Sunday's matchup will be the fourth and final meeting of the Rockets and Spurs this season. San Antonio leads the season series 2-1.
How to watch Houston Rockets vs San Antonio Spurs:
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
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Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You’ll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.
NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule
Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.
There’s a playoff atmosphere at Rocket Arena between two Eastern Conference heavyweights when the Boston Celtics visit the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Today’s clash will be played at a snail's pace, and my Celtics vs. Cavaliers predictions and NBA picks expect a low-scoring playoff-type contest.
Celtics vs Cavaliers prediction
Celtics vs Cavaliers best bet: Under 224 (-105)
The Boston Celtics rank near the bottom of the NBA in pace and allow about 109 points per game, but they also boast an elite defense, allowing the fewest points per game in the Association.
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers are also a Bottom-5 team in pace and, when they're healthy, like they are today, boast an above-average defense of their own.'
We’re looking at a game with about 198 possessions between two Eastern Conference teams with championship aspirations. Expect a playoff atmosphere and a low-scoring affair at Rocket Arena.
Celtics vs Cavaliers same-game parlay
Jaylen Brown has failed to score at least 26 points in three of his last five, while James Harden will likely become more of a playmaker with Donovan Mitchell expected to return to the Cavs lineup.
The Cavaliers have won seven straight games at Rocket Arena, and Mitchell’s return should give the Cavs the scoring boost they need to sneak past Boston for the first time in three tries.
Celtics vs Cavaliers SGP
Under 224
Jaylen Brown Under 25.5 points
James Harden Under 19.5 points
Cavaliers moneyline
Celtics vs Cavaliers odds
Spread: Celtics +1 | Cavaliers -1
Moneyline: Celtics -105 | Cavaliers -115
Over/Under: Over 224 | Under 224
Celtics vs Cavaliers betting trend to know
The Cavaliers have won 17 of their last 22 games for +11.05 units and a 18% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Cavaliers.
How to watch Celtics vs Cavaliers
Location
Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Date
Sunday, March 8, 2026
Tip-off
1:00 p.m. ET
TV
ABC
Celtics vs Cavaliers latest injuries
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MARCH 05: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates his three-point basket against the Toronto Raptors in the third quarter at Target Center on March 05, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Raptors 115-107. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A few weeks ago the Minnesota Timberwolves were sitting in the six seed, hovering in that uncomfortable place where you’re good enough to believe something bigger might happen, but close enough to the Play-In line that every loss feels like slipping on black ice.
After a strong stretch to finish February and begin March, the Wolves find themselves tied for the three spot. That’s a pretty impressive climb considering how crowded the West has been all season. But before anyone starts planning hypothetical second-round matchups or debating which playoff opponent would be “most favorable,” it’s worth remembering one simple truth about this Western Conference:
Nothing is safe.
Despite their recent strong play, the Wolves didn’t exactly sprint their way into the three spot. February set the table for them beautifully. The schedule was relatively forgiving. There weren’t many heavyweight matchups. It was the kind of stretch where a focused team could have ripped off a monster run and put some real daylight between themselves and teams like the Rockets or Nuggets.
Instead, the Wolves did what the Wolves tend to do. They dropped games they shouldn’t have. They coasted through moments that demanded urgency. They didn’t quite stack the avalanche of wins that the schedule offered them. But to their credit, they largely turned things around, allowing them to gain ground and, for a brief moment, hold sole possession of that coved three seed.
The real question now isn’t how they got there.
It’s whether they can stay there.
Wolves Fans Are Optimistic
We recently asked the Canis Hoopus faithful where they think the Wolves will ultimately finish in the standings, and let’s just say Minnesota fans are feeling pretty good about things.
The overwhelming majority of respondents believe the Wolves will ultimately hold the three seed. A smaller chunk expects them to slip slightly to fourth. A very tiny percentage sees them landing in fifth.
And the sixth seed? The Play-In?
Not a single vote.
Now that’s confidence.
Whether it’s justified or not remains to be seen, but it does reflect something real about this team. The Wolves have earned a certain level of trust over the past two seasons. They’ve built a reputation for getting stronger late in the year, building momentum heading into the postseason, and then delivering when the lights get bright. Two straight Western Conference Finals appearances have a funny way of doing that.
Still, optimism is one thing. The math of the Western Conference standings is another.
What It Will Actually Take
Obtaining the three seed is going to require navigating a closing schedule that looks a lot less friendly than February’s.
The Wolves will face a handful of heavyweight Eastern Conference games against the Detroit Pistons and the Boston Celtics. Those games don’t directly impact the Western Conference race in terms of knocking rivals down a peg, but they still matter. Lose those games and suddenly you’re handing free ground back to the teams chasing you.
But the real swing games lie closer to home.
The Wolves still have a final showdown with the Los Angeles Lakers, the same team they bounced from the first round of the playoffs last season. That game carries some symbolic weight, but more importantly it’s another opportunity to create separation from a Western Conference opponent that would love nothing more than to pull Minnesota back into the standings traffic jam.
The most crucial dates remaining on the calendar are the two games against Houston, which might ultimately determine the entire race for the three seed. If the Wolves drop one of those matchups, they hand the Rockets the tiebreaker, potentially giving Houston a clear path to leapfrog them in the standings. But if Minnesota wins both? Suddenly the Rockets start looking a lot smaller in the rearview mirror.
Those games are essentially four-point swings in the standings. Win them and the Wolves gain ground while Houston loses it. Lose them and the opposite happens.
And hovering in the background, as always, is Denver. The Wolves have already played all four games against the Nuggets this season, and unfortunately for Minnesota the results didn’t go their way. Denver took three of the four meetings, which means they hold the tiebreaker. That matters. In a Western Conference where the standings are packed tighter than rush-hour traffic, those tiebreakers can become incredibly valuable.
The Wolves can’t change the head-to-head results now. That ship has sailed. The only way to keep Denver at bay is the old-fashioned way: Stack wins.
It’s not glamorous. It’s not complicated. But it’s the reality of the situation.
The Road Trip That Could Decide Everything
If there’s one stretch of games that could determine whether Minnesota climbs the next run to the three seed or slides back into the standings chaos, it’s the upcoming road trip.
It’s a brutal one.
First comes that matchup with the Lakers, a team Minnesota has yet to beat. Then the Wolves face two teams that have given them problems at times this season, the Clippers and the Warriors. Both have proven capable of knocking Minnesota off on nights where the Wolves drift or lose focus.
And then, just to keep things interesting, the road trip concludes with the fourth and final matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder. No explanation needed there.
If the Wolves stumble through that four-game gauntlet, they could very easily find themselves sliding back toward the fifth or sixth seed. But if they hold serve and walk away with three wins out of four? Suddenly the standings start looking much more stable.
That’s the difference between surviving March and truly owning it.
Can the Wolves Grab the Three Seed?
The potential is there. The roster is deep. Anthony Edwards is playing at a superstar level. The defense still has Gobert anchoring the paint. The supporting cast has proven capable of stepping up when needed.
But potential only matters if it translates into wins.
The Western Conference isn’t going to hand Minnesota anything. The Rockets are staring them down. The Nuggets are lurking. The Lakers are a team with the potential to go on a random heater at any moment.
.And if that playoff race alone isn’t enough excitement for you, well… there’s always another way to add a little adrenaline to the ride. You can always head over to FanDuel Sportsbook, where fans can wager on Wolves games.
Because if this Western Conference race has taught us anything, it’s this: The next few weeks are going to be must-watch basketball.
