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NHL fan gives birth at Edmonton Oilers game

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows A woman gave birth on the seventh floor of Rogers Place as the Emonton Oilers hosted the Las Vegas Knights in Alberta, Canada on Saturday, April 4, 2026, Sportsnet reported. , Image 2 shows Trent Frederic #10 of the Edmonton Oilers battles for the puck against Jack Eichel #9 of the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period of the game at Rogers Place on April 4, 2026, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
A woman gave birth on the seventh floor of Rogers Place as the Edmonton Oilers hosted the Las Vegas Knights in Alberta, Canada on Saturday.

A woman gave birth on the seventh floor of Rogers Place as the Edmonton Oilers hosted the Las Vegas Knights in Alberta, Canada on Saturday.

Oilers play-by-play announcer Jack Michaels announced the baby’s birth on the Sportsnet broadcast before the start of the third period.

“Breaking news: We have word that someone has gone into labor here tonight,” Michaels said. “There’s a baby being born on the seventh floor at Rogers Place as we speak.

“So someone’s going to have a great story to tell.

“It would be nice to have the mother join us on ‘After Hours’ to describe what’s happened but that could be asking a bit much,” Michaels joked.

A woman gave birth on the seventh floor of Rogers Place as the Emonton Oilers hosted the Las Vegas Knights in Alberta, Canada on Saturday, April 4, 2026, Sportsnet reported. X/Sportsnet

No further details, including the mother’s identity, were shared publicly.

This isn’t the first instance of a baby being born in the middle of a professional sports game.

A woman gave birth to a baby boy during the third inning of a Padres-Giants game at Petco Park in 2015.

Trent Frederic #10 of the Edmonton Oilers battles for the puck against Jack Eichel #9 of the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period of the game at Rogers Place on April 4, 2026, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. NHLI via Getty Images

The Oilers lost to the Knights, 5-1, ending Edmonton’s five-game win streak.

The Oilers are fighting for the top spot in the Pacific Division, tied with the Anaheim Ducks with 87 points. The Knights are in third.

All three of the teams have five games remaining in the NHL’s regular season, which concludes on April 16.

The 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs start on April 18.

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Sale believe Courtney Lawes can regain England place after veteran signs one-year deal

  • Former captain spent past two seasons at Brive

  • Alex Sanderson: ‘He’s still got the ability’

Courtney Lawes has been backed to regain his England place following confirmation he will be joining Sale Sharks this summer on a one-year deal. The former national captain has spent the last two seasons with Brive in France’s ProD2 but has indicated he would love to play international rugby again should the chance arise.

While Lawes will be 38 next February and retired from the Test arena after the 2023 World Cup in France, he still feels he can make an impact at the top level of the game. That view is shared by Sale’s director of rugby, Alex Sanderson, who is much looking forward to welcoming the former Northampton stalwart to Manchester.

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NBA power rankings 2025-26: Oklahoma City moves back into top spot, Denver shows it's a contender

There are five teams in the contender tier, the big question heading into the playoffs is could one of the "in the hunt" teams knock a contender off?

Title Contenders

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

(62-16, last week No. 3)
If the ESPN straw poll is to be believed (and it is), Shai Gilgeous Alexander has a massive lead in the MVP race. The Thunder, however, do not have a massive lead in the race for the No. 1 overall seed and need to pick up a few more wins this week to keep the Spurs at bay (San Antonio has the tiebreaker, if it comes to that). If the Spurs win out, the Thunder need to go at least 2-2, not easy with the Clippers, Nuggets and Thunder on the schedule (the game against the Lakers Tuesday is less threatening now). Getting the No. 1 seed in the West matters less for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs (though that helps) and more about avoiding Denver in the second round.

2. Denver Nuggets

(51-28, last week No. 5)
It feels like all season long we've been saying, "If Denver just gets healthy, watch out." Well, they're healthy, have won nine in a row, and if you have any questions just ask the Spurs just how good Nikola Jokic and company are. That Jokic fadeaway over Victor Wembanyama might have been the single best shot of the season. Jokic is on pace to be the first player in league history to lead the league in rebounds and assists (and yet he likely finishes third in MVP voting).

3. San Antonio Spurs

(60-19, last week No. 1)
Victor Wembanyama leaving the Spurs game at half Monday night against Philadelphia with a rib contusion is concerning. That said, this is not an injury that usually keeps players out for long, and Wembanyama needs to play 20+ minutes in just one of the Spurs' games this week to remain eligible for postseason awards. The Spurs have a few questions to answer this postseason, but the loss to Denver brought one into focus: How well will Wembanyama hold up when he has to play 35+ minutes a game in every game?

4. Boston Celtics

(53-25, last week No. 2)
Jaylen Brown is very likely to finish in the top five in MVP voting and get a First Team All-NBA nod for his work this season. He has stepped up his playmaking this season and remained largely healthy — a genuine question coming in — and deserves all the accolades coming his way. Boston is 12-2 with Jayson Tatum in the lineup and will enter the playoffs as the favorites to come out of the East.

5. Detroit Pistons

(57-22, last week No. 4)
Cade Cunningham has been upgraded to doubtful, a sign that he might return for a game or two this week, getting his legs under him before the start of the playoffs. The same is true for Isaiah Stewart. Don't read anything into Detroit's loss in Orlando on Monday night, the Pistons had already sewn up the No. 1 seed in the East and had nothing to play for. Don't be shocked if there's another ugly loss for Detroit this week, as they take their foot off the gas a little.

In The Hunt

6. New York Knicks

(51-28, last week No. 7)
This may be the biggest concern for the Knicks heading into the playoffs: Mike Brown's preferred starting five — Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns — has a pedestrian +1.1 net rating. That lineup's offense is more than three points per 100 possessions worse than the team average, and the defense is a little bit worse than average, too. New York too often finds itself trying to dig out of a first quarter hole created by the starters, as they did against Houston last week. That loss to the Rockets was their third straight, but the Knicks have bounced back with three straight wins, including a key comeback against the Hawks Monday. Tough week ahead with games against Boston and Charlotte, but New York needs wins to hold off Cleveland and keep the No. 3 seed (unless the Knicks want to fall to fourth and get out of the Celtics side of the bracket).

7. Houston Rockets

(49-29, last week No. 10)
Houston has won six in a row — including an overtime win over the Warriors, spoiling Stephen Curry's return — and now is just one game back of the shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers for the No. 4 seed in the West and hosting their first-round playoff series (likely against that same Lakers team). That said, Los Angeles has the tiebreaker so Houston needs to make up two games, not just one. That will have to come against a fairly tough schedule that includes Phoenix, Philadelphia and Minnesota.

8. Cleveland Cavaliers

(50-29, last week No. 8)
Cleveland has won 50 games, is 8-2 in its last 10, sits fourth in the East with a chance to move up to third if New York stumbles, yet it's not striking fear in anyone's hearts. Maybe it's that they had to overcome fourth quarter deficits to the Pacers, Jazz and Curry-less Warriors. Maybe it's that they have James Harden, who has his share of playoff duds. It seems likely that Cleveland and Atlanta will play each other in the 4/5 series in the East — and they play each other twice this week.

Playoff Teams

9. Minnesota Timberwolves

(46-32, last week No. 9)
The Timberwolves are essentially locked in as the No. 6 seed in the West — exactly where they were a season ago when they made a run to the conference finals. What Minnesota needs to reach those heights again starts with getting healthy, which includes Anthony Edwards (who is now ineligible for postseason awards because of time missed), but also Jaden McDaniels.

10. Atlanta Hawks

(45-34, last week No. 11)
Atlanta's hot streak — going 7-3 in its last 10 and winning 18-of-21 — has it as the No. 5 seed in the East, 1.5 games up on Toronto and two games ahead of No. 7 Philadelphia and the play-in. Meaning the Hawks need wins in the season's final week. Atlanta also has two games against No. 4 seed Cleveland, very possibly a first-round preview. That leaves coach Quin Snyder with some interesting choices: If he has a matchup he really wants to exploit, or sees something he thinks can be a huge advantage for Atlanta, does he tip his hand and go at it in these two games to get the regular season win, or does he keep it in his back pocket for the playoffs?

11. Charlotte Hornets

(43-36, last week No. 13)
Kon Knueppel's march to be Rookie of the Year now includes another milestone: Most 3-pointers in a season in Hornets history. And Knueppel will be the ROY winner — don't get sucked in by recency bias (with all due respect to Flagg). Charlotte needs to focus not on getting Knueppel buckets this season, it needs wins to hold on to the No. 8 seed and keep Orlando at bay. It looks like a brutal schedule on paper, but the games later in the week against Detroit and New York will be against teams with nothing to play for.

12. Los Angeles Lakers

(50-28, last week No. 6)
What a brutal week for the Lakers. Luka Doncic is out and is now in Spain getting specialized treatment for his strained hamstring (does Spain have some magical trick for better healing muscle injuries?). Austin Reaves is out with a strained oblique. Both are out for the rest of the regular season — meaning the Lakers sliding to fifth in the West is very possible — and may be out for part or all of the first round of the playoffs. Right now, the role of primary offensive creator falls on 41-year-old LeBron James. The challenge for the Lakers is that their theory of winning is that their offense is spectacular and the defense is good enough, but as seen in the loss to Dallas, the offense isn't quite the same (and the defense has holes). It was a brutal week for the Lakers and the next couple may be the same way.

13. Phoenix Suns

(43-35, last week No. 15)
Things nobody saw coming before the season: Collin Gillespie setting the Suns' franchise record for 3-pointers in a season. This is a franchise with Steve Nash, Devin Booker, and even Dan Majerle back in the day, and Gillespie is the best of them. Phoenix has stumbled down the stretch, going 4-8 in its last dozen, but it needs a couple of wins this week to hold off the Clippers and keep the No. 7 seed. That includes a big game Tuesday night against Houston, part of Coast 2 Coast Tuesday on NBC and Peacock.

14. Toronto Raptors

(43-35, last week No. 14)
The Raptors need wins this week to hold off the 76ers and keep the No. 6 seed in the East, avoiding the play-in (which is why last week's loss to Sacramento was so brutal, Toronto cannot drop more games like that). Toronto hosts Miami for two games and needs both of them, then the Raptors travel to face the Knicks (who may not have anything to play for at that point). The Raptors need Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes to step up this week.

Play-In Teams

15. Portland Trail Blazers

(40-39, last week No. 17)
Portland had pushed up to the top eight in the West — and an easier path out of the play-in to the playoffs proper — by racking up wins against a soft part of the schedule, but they also beat the Clippers last week in a critical win, then took Denver to overtime on Monday. Portland is going to the play-in, but if they are the No. 8 or 9 seed may well come down to Friday night's rematch with the LA Clippers, one of the biggest games of the week.

16. Los Angeles Clippers

(40-38, last week No. 12)
That the Clippers are headed to the play-in after an ugly 6-21 start to the season — and trading away James Harden and Ivica Zubac at the deadline — is a testament to how well Kawhi Leonard is playing and Tyronn Lue's coaching. That said, to hold on to the No. 8 seed, the Clippers need to head to Portland this week and beat the Trail Blazers, who sit ninth (and beat LA last week). That is one of the biggest games of the week. Lose and the Clippers have a much tougher path out of the play-in.

17. Orlando Magic

(43-36, last week No. 19)
Franz Wagner returned to the court last week after missing 22 games, and while that didn’t help much in his first game back — a loss to Atlanta — Orlando has won three straight after that (including over Detroit, although it had clinched the No. 1 seed and had nothing to play for) and now is tied with Charlotte for the No. 8 seed (and a much easier path out of the play-in). Orlando will need another win in a tough game against Minnesota on Wednesday, and they close the season at Boston but the Celtics likely will have nothing to play for in that one.

18. Miami Heat

(41-37, last week No. 18)
What happened to the Heat defense? Before the All-Star break it was fourth in the NBA, after the break it is 5.8 points per 100 possessions worse and 17th in the league. Miami has given up 130+ points in 6 of its last 9 games [BEFORE THURSDAY]. It is going to be tough to even win a game in the play-in if the Heat can’t get stops. Miami sits 10th in the East and if it doesn’t want to have to win a couple of games on the road to make the playoffs it needs wins this week, including two against Toronto. Which is a big ask.

19. Philadelphia 76ers

(43-36, last week No. 16)
Philadelphia has its three stars healthy for the stretch run and the playoffs, but it needs a little more from them to climb out of the play-in and into the top six in the East. The 76ers have a +4 net rating when Joel Embiid, Paul George (looking like an All-Star), and Tyrese Maxey are all on the court together, a good number but not as dominant as one might hope. The 76ers lost to the Spurs and have a tough game against Houston next, but then get tanking Indiana and whatever Milwaukee is in the final two games — and Philly needs wins in maybe all of them to avoid the play-in.

20. Golden State Warriors

(36-42, last week No. 20)
Stephen Curry was back and showed very little rust in his return. Golden State will be the No. 10 seed in the West — losing Jimmy Butler to an ACL tear and Curry missing 25 games in February and March will do that — but with Curry back they are a threat to win two games on the road and reach the playoffs as the No. 8 seed. If nothing else, it will be entertaining to watch.

Tanking Teams

21. New Orleans Pelicans

(25-54, last week No. 21)
The Pelicans have gone 10-13 with a -1.3 net rating since the All-Star break, a radical improvement from the 15-41 with a -5.6 net rating before the break. Mostly, the Pelicans were just healthy, but can it be a building block for next season? Maybe, but a lot of changes are coming to the Big Easy this offseason.

22. Dallas Mavericks

(25-53, last week No. 23)
Cooper Flagg becoming the first teenager in NBA history to put up 50+ points has been framed by many as his late-season push for Rookie of the Year. I see it more as a reminder that he is going to be the best player out of this class long term, regardless of what happens with the postseason awards this year. Dallas has a cornerstone to build around.

23. Chicago Bulls

(29-49, last week No. 22)
Front office decision makers Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley are out, and the list of potential replacements includes former Bull (now Hawks assistant general manager) Kyle Korver and former Bulls front office person (now with Minnesota) Matt Lloyd. The new GM will have about $65 million in cap space this summer and a lottery pick, but will that be enough to get them out of the middle, where the Bulls have been stuck for too long?

24. Milwaukee Bucks

(31-47, last week No. 25)
What a mess in Milwaukee as Giannis Antetokounmpo is pushing to get back on the court to play with his brothers, but the team is saying he refused to take part in a 3-on-3 scrimmage and is not taking the steps needed to play again. For all the times we heard rumors about Antetokounmpo trades in the past that turned out to be nothing, this just feels different. Also, there is little chance Doc Rivers is back with the Bucks next year.

25. Sacramento Kings

(21-58, last week No. 30)
This year things were going to be different. They have not been — for the 19th time in the last 20 years, the Sacramento Kings will miss the playoffs. Take some solace in the fact that the Kings have gone 9-14 since the All-Star break if you want, but they still have a -9.5 net rating in that time. Changes are coming to Sacramento this summer, to the coaching staff, the roster, all of it. Which means next year is going to be different, right?

26. Indiana Pacers

(18-60, last week No. 26)
It feels like we can already start writing those "biggest statistical one-season turnaround in NBA history" stories we will see in a year for the Pacers. This team is poised for a massive leap, and the only question is where they fall after the NBA Draft Lottery and how a win-now team's approach to picking high in the lottery compares to a rebuilding team.

27. Memphis Grizzlies

(25-54, last week No. 24)
LeBron James caught a lot of flak for saying he doesn't like playing in Memphis and the team should move to Nashville, but what he said publicly has been a quietly discussed topic around the NBA for a long time. It may or may not happen, but the idea of an in-state move to a larger city did not come out of nowhere.

28. Brooklyn Nets

(19-59, last week No. 29)
It's a tankapalooza for the Nets, who beat the Wizards over the weekend and their three remaining games are against the Bucks (twice) and Pacers. Their draft lottery odds are not set.

29. Washington Wizards

(17-61, last week No. 27)
The Wizards are on pace to have fewer than 20 wins in a season for the third straight year. That will change next season with Trae Young and Anthony Davis on the roster, but it doesn't make the final week of this season any prettier.

30. Utah Jazz

(21-58, last week No. 28)
Much like Washington and Indiana, there is going to be a rapid turnaround in Utah next season when Jaren Jackson Jr. joins Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George in the starting lineup. This team may well be deep enough next year that Ace Bailey, despite a late-season surge this season showing promise, will be coming off the bench. There is real reason for optimism in Utah.

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A’s vs. Yankees prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for April 7

Cam Schlittler has to be licking his chops as he and the Yankees (7-2) prepare to take the field tonight against Aaron Civale and the Athletics (3-6) in the opener of a three-game series in the Bronx.

Trying to hit a Schlittler fastball with a wood bat already was going to be a daunting task (15Ks in 11.2 IP) but mix in real feel temperatures in the mid-30s and pain enters the equation. Oh, and the Athletics have also struck out 99 times in just 303 ABs as a team in 9 games this season. Before going further with this preview, know that DraftKings has posted Cam Schlittler’s strikeout prop at 6.5. Do the math and proceed accordingly.

The Yankees enter this series opener leading the AL East thanks in large part to consistently dominant starting pitching headlined by Schlittler. The right-hander has yet to give up a run in 11.2 innings. Mix in an offense led by Aaron Judge (3 HRs), Ben Rice (.370 w/ 11 RBIs) and Giancarlo Stanton (.394 average) and you have yourself at least one of the best teams in baseball.

Oakland arrives in the Big Apple cellar-dwelling in the AL West. They have spent the bulk of the first few weeks of the season on the road where they have secured just a single win. As mentioned, the A’s have had trouble putting the ball in play striking out one out of every three trips to the plate. Shea Langeliers has struck out 12 times (ranks amazingly only T3 on the team) but is tied for the team lead with 11 hits, five of which have been home runs.

Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and the opener of this three-game series and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game Details and How to Watch: A’s vs. Yankees

  • Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2026
  • Time: 7:05PM EST
  • Site: Yankee Stadium
  • City: New York, NY
  • Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, NBC Sports California, YES

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

The Latest Odds: A’s vs. Yankees

The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Athletics (+194), Yankees (-240)
  • Spread: Yankees -1.5 (-105) / A’s +1.5 (-115)
  • Total: 8.5 runs

Probable Starting Pitchers: A’s vs. Yankees

Pitching matchup for April 7:

  • Athletics: Aaron Civale
    Season Totals: 5.0 IP, 1-0, 3.60 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 3K, 1 BB
  • Yankees: Cam Schlittler
    Season Totals: 11.2 IP, 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.26 WHIP, 15K, 0 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! A’s vs. Yankees

  • Jazz Chisholm Jr. is 3-17 (.176) with 5 strikeouts in April.
  • Ben Rice is 5-13 (.385) with 3 RBIs in April
  • Trent Grisham is 1-12 with 4 strikeouts in April
  • Max Muncy is riding a modest 3-game hitting streak during which time he is 7-13
  • Nick Kurtz is 3 for his last 6 with 1 strikeout after going 1 for his previous 21 with 13 strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top Betting Trends & Insights: A’s vs. Yankees

  • The A’s are 5-4 on the Run Line this season
  • New York is 7-2 on the Run Line this season
  • The OVER has cashed 4 times in the Athletics’ 9 games this season (4-5)
  • The OVER has cashed 4 times in the Yankees’ first 9 games (4-4-1)

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions: A’s vs. Yankees

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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday’s game between the A’s and the Yankees:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Yankees on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Yankees on the Run Line.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 8.5.

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Flames vs Stars Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NHL Game

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The Calgary Flames visit the Dallas Stars this evening at the American Airlines Center, with puck drop scheduled for 8 p.m. EDT. 

Morgan Frost is a huge offensive catalyst right now for Calgary, and my Flames vs. Stars predictions and NHL picks are eyeing him to keep it up. 

Flames vs Stars prediction

Flames vs Stars best bet: Morgan Frost Over 0.5 points (+120)

Morgan Frost is having a respectable campaign for the Calgary Flames, scoring 21 goals and tallying 20 assists. The 26-year-old has cashed the Over in three of his last four games, notching six points during that span. He also scored twice against the Ducks on Saturday.  

He also found the back of the net last Thursday against the Golden Knights, logging a point in back-to-back road games.  

Frost has 20 points in 38 outings, and he's scored one goal in two games against the Stars this season. He also leads the Flames in power-play points with 15. 

Flames vs Stars same-game parlay

Matt Coronato is averaging 2.45 shots on goal per game this season. While he’s only hit the Over twice in his last seven, I’m focusing on Coronato’s track record against Dallas. 

Across two matchups, he has seven shots on target. He’s also averaging 2.44 SOG on the road, and has nine points in his last 10 games.

Matvei Gridin hasn’t played a ton of NHL minutes this season, but he’s put up some decent numbers. Gridin is creating lots of chances lately, cashing the Over in SOG in two games in a row. He had three on target in Saturday’s win, scoring once and tallying an assist. 

Gridin also put four pucks on net in Thursday’s loss to Vegas. He had two SOG in one meeting with Dallas this season.

Flames vs Stars SGP

  • Morgan Frost Over 0.5 points
  • Matt Coronato Over 2.5 shots
  • Matvei Gridin Over 1.5 shots

Flames vs Stars odds

  • Moneyline: Flames +210 | Stars -260
  • Puck Line: Flames +1.5 (-130) | Stars -1.5 (+110)
  • Over/Under: Over 5.5 | Under 5.5

Flames vs Stars trend

The Flames have covered the puck line in nine of their last 12 games for +6.55 units and a 34% ROI. Find more NHL betting trends for Flames vs. Stars.

How to watch Flames vs Stars

LocationAmerican Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
DateTuesday, April 7, 2026
Puck drop8:00 p.m. ET
TVSNW, Victory+

Flames vs Stars latest injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Former Celtic will play at TD Garden for first time

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 13: Sam Hauser #30 of the Boston Celtics hugs Grant Williams #2 of the Charlotte Hornets after a game at the TD Garden on April 13, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images

BOSTON — Grant Williams has yet to play at TD Garden since he signed with the Dallas Mavericks in 2023. But the former Celtics forward will return to the Garden when the Celtics face the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night, with the Hornets fielding a clear injury report.

For the first time all year, the Celtics also have a completely clear injury report. With Nikola Vucevic back in the lineup, they will be at full strength when they face the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night.

Vucevic, who was out for a month due to a ring finger fracture, made his return on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors, tallying 4 points and 4 rebounds in 13 minutes.

“He just wants to win,” Joe Mazzulla said of the 35-year-old. “He’s been in the league a long time. If anything, making sure he’s aggressive enough to where we have the best version of him, so we could add another layer to what we want to accomplish, is the most important thing.”

Vucevic has averaged 9.9 points and 6.1 rebounds in 21 minutes per game through 13 games with the Celtics.

Jayson Tatum — who has only missed two games since returning from his Achilles injury — is not on the injury report. Jaylen Brown, who missed two games with Achilles tendinopathy, is also available.

How the Celtics, Hornets stack up

The Celtics and Hornets have faced off twice this season — both in March. The Hornets beat the Celtics 118-89 on March 4th, and the Celtics bounced back with a 114-99 win in Charlotte on March 29th.

Now, the two teams will face off in a third and final match-up in what could be a first-round preview; the Hornets currently have the 8th-best record in the East.

Provided that the Celtics hold onto the No.2 seed, the Celtics will face the winner of the No. 7 vs No. 8 game (the Toronto Raptors currently have the 7th-best record in the East at 43-35).

The Hornets have been exceptional as of late; they’re 22-8 since January 31st, the 5th-best record in the NBA. The Celtics have the third-best record in that span — they’re 23-7, the third-best record in the league.

Celtics-Hornets tips off at 7:30pm ET on Tuesday night.

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Kings vs Warriors Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors will look to snap a three-game skid when they host the Sacramento Kings tonight at Chase Center.

Curry's return injects life into Golden State’s otherwise listless offense, and my Kings vs. Warriors predictions expect a high-scoring matchup and a high-scoring performance from Golden State’s superstar.

Here are my best free NBA picks for this Pacific Division showdown on Tuesday, April 7.

Kings vs Warriors prediction

Kings vs Warriors best bet: Over 234 (-110)

The Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors have each hit the Over in seven of their last 10 games, and it has hit in six straight head-to-head matchups between these teams. 

The Kings have gone Over in three of their last five on the road, and the Warriors have reached that mark in four of their last five at home.

Stephen Curry immediately boosts Golden State’s offensive abilities, and his on-court/off-court splits this season are eye-opening. The Warriors sport a 119.4 offensive rating with Curry and a 110.6 rating without him. The team has scored 120.2 points per game with Curry, which would be good for the third-best. Without Curry, the team has averaged just 109.2 points, good for 29th.

Golden State’s offense sports a 100.1 pace with Curry compared to a 97.4 pace without him.

The Warriors have shot 47.6% from the floor and 37.4% from beyond the arc with their star point guard and 44.6% from the field and 33.5% from beyond the arc without him. With Curry, the team ranks in the Top 12 in both shooting categories. Without him, they rank in the Bottom 2 in both.

Basically, Golden State is a completely different beast when the most prolific 3-point shooter in NBA history is in the lineup. Go figure.

The Kings may be down several key players, but they have hit the Over consistently across their last 10 games, either playing in shootouts or getting blown out so badly that their opponent’s high score pushes the game total Over.

Kings vs Warriors same-game parlay

Curry looked no worse for wear when he returned to face the Rockets on Sunday. He posted 29 points after two months on the shelf, picking up right where he left off. He's scored 27+ in 23 of 40 games this season, including 12 of 22 at home.

Draymond Green is averaging just 5.8 dimes per game at home this season, but he’s picked up the pace as a playmaker as of late. Green has averaged eight assists per game across his last five outings, clearing the Over on this line four times.

Kings vs Warriors SGP

  • Over 234
  • Stephen Curry Over 26.5 points
  • Draymond Green Over 6.5 assists

Our "from downtown" SGP: Bombs away!

Chef Curry has canned five or more treys in 17 of 40 games this season while averaging 4.5 per contest. He knocked down five on Sunday against the Rockets, and he nailed six in his first matchup with the Kings.

Brandin Podziemski has knocked down multiple triples in seven straight, including 3+ in two of his last five. De’Anthony Melton is averaging 1.7 made 3-pointers at home compared to 1.2 on the road. He’s hit 3+ threes in 12 of 24 at home, and he finished with three against Sacramento earlier in the season.

Kings vs Warriors SGP

  • Draymond Green Over 6.5 assists
  • Stephen Curry Over 4.5 made threes
  • Brandin Podziemski Over 2.5 made threes
  • De'Anthony Melton Over 1.5 made threes

Kings vs Warriors odds

  • Spread: Kings +14.5 (-110) | Warriors -14.5 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Kings +700 | Warriors -1100
  • Over/Under: Over 234.5 (-110) | Under 234.5 (-110)

Kings vs Warriors betting trend to know

The Golden State Warriors have hit the Team Total Over in 22 of their last 30 games at home (+12.75 Units / 37% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Kings vs. Warriors.

How to watch Kings vs Warriors

LocationChase Center, San Francisco, CA
DateTuesday, April 7, 2026
Tip-off10:00 p.m. ET
TVNBCS-Bay Area, NBCS-California

Kings vs Warriors latest injuries

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Notes from the press box for the Washington Nationals first home stand

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 03: A general view of a giant United States flag on the field before the game between the Washington Nationals and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Nationals Park on April 3, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images

This past weekend, I was fortunate enough to be credentialed for the Nats series against the Dodgers. That gave me a level of access I have not had before. Being in the press box, down on the field for batting practice and in the locker room gives me a new perspective to share with Nats fans.

It was a very cool experience, and was a dream come true. However, I was there to do a job. When you get there, the first real activity is to go into the locker room. Honestly, you spend a lot of the 50 minutes you get just lingering and observing. 

I chatted with some players there, which was awesome. When I went up to talk to Gus Varland, he was almost amused, asking how much he had to pay me for an interview. The conversation I had with him made up the meat of the story we put up a couple days ago. 

After that, there is a pre-game press conference with Blake Butera. One of the questions I asked him during those was why he wanted James Wood in the leadoff spot. Butera responded to that by saying, “James is one of the best hitters on our team and one of the best hitters in the league. When you talk about your best hitters, over the course of the season, you want to get them up to bat as much as possible”. Over the past couple games, Butera’s faith in Wood at the top of the lineup has been rewarded.

I enjoy Butera press conferences. He gives thoughtful answers and really tries to answer the questions. After that loss in the home opener, Butera was clearly pretty disappointed. The first thing he did was thank the fans and almost apologize to them as well. That was in the press conference after the game.

One of the coolest parts of the day is going down on the field for batting practice. You are right there and can even sit in the dugout. Being in the dugout was a bit of a pinch me moment. On the first day, Paul Toboni was available for questions. He held court for a bit over 15 minutes, and answered a variety of questions. There is even a photo from that scrum where you can see me.

I asked Toboni a couple questions. The first one was about Joey Wiemer, and how he would characterize him as a player and person. Toboni called Wiemer a “high energy guy” and a “great teammate”.  

The other question I asked was about Harry Ford. Despite the Nats having a need behind the plate, Ford, who the Nats traded for this offseason, did not do enough to win a job out of camp. Toboni gave an honest answer, which I appreciated.

He stressed that Ford needed to work on his defense. The Nats new President of Baseball Operations said he wanted Ford to show he can be an average or above average receiver over a decent sample of games. Defense was a question mark for Ford in Seattle, and clearly the Nats new regime still has some questions about it as well.

Toboni also emphasized Ford’s youth as a factor in the decision. Despite the fact he has been on top 100 lists for years at this point, Ford is still just 23 years old. I got the sense that Toboni believes in Ford, but did not quite think he was there yet.

Another exciting thing about this experience is you get to see some of the tools the Nats are using. Before one of the games, the Nats had a pitching machine out at shortstop and it was feeding balls on a hop to the first baseman. It was enlightening to see them actually putting the work in.

This season, I will be going to a good chunk of the home games to cover them. I feel like it is important to have this access to help give you guys the best information I can. Seeing what happens on the inside will help me give you guys a better idea of what is going on.

It is also a lot of fun to be in there and experience what it is like to be inside a locker room. However, as I mentioned, I am there to do a job. This will give me new information and perspective, but I will not allow myself to be soft either. Getting this intel is all about giving you guys a better idea about what is going on with the Washington Nationals.

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In appreciation of the Celtics leadership (Topic Tuesday)

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 18: Head coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics aplauds his team along with owner Bill Chisholm during the second half of their win over the Golden State Warriors at TD Garden on March 18, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

I just wanted to pause and point out that we are pretty lucky here when it comes to the Celtics leadership structure. You see coaches and GMs getting fired around this time of year (see Chicago). You see ownership making questionable decisions (see Dallas, Sacramento) or in upheaval for one reason or another. It all makes me feel even more appreciation for what we have in Boston.

Granted, Bill Chisholm still needs the opportunity to prove that he means what he says, but at the very least he’s saying the right things and seems to have the right attitude. (We’ll cover this in a post later this morning)

Brad Stevens has the success and influence that speaks for itself. All Joe Mazzulla does is win and you can see why. He has all the right qualities you would want for a Celtics coach. The rest of the front office staff and coaching staff seem exceptional as well. These are good times.

Side note: If feels like the last time I wrote one of these “we’re so lucky with leadership” posts was right before Danny left and Udoka was suspended, so I hope I’m not jinxing anything here. That’s a good reminder that nothing lasts forever. However, that also highlights how quickly the team was able to pivot and keep moving forward.

I’m fully aware that this is less of an actual “topic for discussion” and more of an open invitation to show your appreciation and respect for what this team has built. However, I’m sure there are some that are taking a wait-and-see approach with ownership (which is fair).

So please jump into the comments and give your own perspective. Even if all you have to say is “amaze, amaze, amaze!”

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Panthers Road Trip Continues With Matchup Against Playoff-Bound Montreal

The last road trip of the season for the Florida Panthers has shifted north of the border.

Florida’s final three road games will come in Canada, starting on Tuesday night when they battle the Montreal Canadiens.

While Montreal is fighting for the top spot in the Atlantic Division, Florida is hovering toward the bottom of the league standings.

Entering play Tuesday, the Panthers were the sixth-to-last in the NHL, only two points ahead of the Seattle Kraken and New York Rangers.

Finishing in the bottom 10 will be good for the Panthers, because if they end up with a top-10 pick at this summer’s NHL Draft, they get to keep it.

Florida initially sent their 2026 first round pick to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Trade Deadline deal that brought Seth Jones to the Panthers, but it turns out that the pick was top-10 protected.

At the time, it seemed silly to think that something would happen to the Stanley Cup contending Panthers to the point where they would somehow earn such a high draft pick, but a dozen or so injuries later, here we are.

Should Florida end up retaining their pick, it will be interesting to see what Panthers General Manager Bill Zito decides to do with the selection.

One option would be to flip the pick ahead of the draft and pick up a player or players who can help the team immediately, while another would be to select a player high enough that he could bolster Florida’s prospect pipeline and potentially be a star for the team in a few years, when the Cats could be looking to retool.

Meanwhile, Montreal is just two points back of both the Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning, who each have 102 points and sit atop the Atlantic Division.

The Canadiens and the Lightning each have five games remaining on their respective schedules while Buffalo has four.

Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Tuesday’s tussle in Montreal:

Carter Verhaeghe – Sam Bennett – Matthew Tkachuk

Mackie Samoskevich – Eetu Luostarinen – A.J. Greer

Noah Gregor – Tomas Nosek – Jesper Boqvist

Cole Reinhardt – Luke Kunin – Vinnie Hinostroza

Gus Forsling – Dmitry Kulikov

Tobias Bjornfot – Seth Jones

Donovan Sebrango – Mike Benning

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Photo caption: Jan 8, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens goalie Samuel Montembeault (35) makes a save against Florida Panthers left wing A.J. Greer (10) during the second period at Bell Centre. (David Kirouac-Imagn Images)

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Red Wings Given Fourth-Best Prospect Pipeline in Latest Rankings

Over at The Athletic, hockey writer Scott Wheeler has been rolling out his detailed evaluations of each NHL team’s prospect pipeline, ranking all 32 organizations over the past month. The series began on March 9 with the Florida Panthers at 32nd, followed by the Dallas Stars on March 10.

Nearly a month later, Wheeler turned his attention to the Detroit Red Wings, slotting them fourth overall in his rankings. Detroit’s system is deep and loaded with high-end talent, including first-round selections and emerging prospects who project as future NHL impact players. Wheeler also broke down the Red Wings’ pipeline into tiers, offering insight into each player’s development and potential.

The first tier features the organization’s most recognizable and highly anticipated prospects. Leading the way is goaltender Sebastian Cossa, followed by Trey Augustine and defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka. Carter Bear, Nate Danielson, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, and Emmitt Finnie round out the top group. These are the names many Detroit fans are already watching closely, with expectations that several could become key contributors at the NHL level.

The second tier includes players who are steadily building excitement within the fan base. Max Plante headlines the group as one of Detroit’s recent draft steals while Eddie Genborg has already made the jump to North America, skating with the Grand Rapids Griffins at just 18 years old. He is joined by teammate Amadeus Lombardi, who at 22 continues to show offensive upside through his early professional seasons.

Wheeler’s Top Ten Red Wings Prospects:

  1. Sebastian Cossa
  2. Trey Augustine
  3. Axel Sandin-Pellikka
  4. Carter Bear
  5. Nate Danielson
  6. Michael Brandsegg-Nygård
  7. Emmitt Finnie
  8. Max Plante
  9. Eddie Genborg
  10. Amadeus Lombardi

The third and final tier highlights a mix of under-the-radar risers and longer-term projects. Anton Johansson recently arrived in North America and is finishing the season with the Griffins. Defenseman Shai Buium has shown flashes of offensive ability, while goaltender Michal Pradel turned heads at the World Juniors with Slovakia after beginning the tournament as a backup.

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Rudy Guimond has posted dominant numbers in the QMJHL with the Moncton Wildcats, though Wheeler notes the strength of the team in front of him as a factor. Jesse Kiiskinen, still developing in Finland, rounds out the tier as a player with intriguing upside.

Among the honorable mentions are Larry Keenan, Brent Solomon, Dylan James, Ondrej Becher, Michal Svrcek, and Noah Dower-Nilsson, who recently signed his entry-level contract with Detroit and could emerge as a contributor in the coming years.

Detroit Red Wings are No. 4 in Scott Wheeler’s 2026 NHL prospect pool rankingsDetroit Red Wings are No. 4 in Scott Wheeler’s 2026 NHL prospect pool rankingsThe Red Wings have several projectable top-nine forwards, a top young D prospect and two of the best goalie prospects.

Wheeler’s analysis is one of the most comprehensive looks at the Red Wings’ prospect system currently available and reinforces the belief that Detroit’s rebuild continues to trend in the right direction.

With the top two prospect pipelines yet to be revealed, some debate has emerged around the Calgary Flames, who were ranked just ahead of Detroit. While Calgary boasts high-end talent such as Zayne Parekh and Cole Reschny, some observers believe the overall depth still favors the Red Wings.

The final two rankings are set to be released Wednesday, bringing Wheeler’s extensive series to a close.

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Dan Hurley didn’t blame the refs after UConn’s championship loss. He praised them

Though it doesn’t quite eclipse his two national championships and three Final Four appearances, Dan Hurley is known throughout the college basketball world for his spirited interactions with officials.

After one of the most difficult losses of his career, though, the UConn coach had something else to give out to the crew who worked the game: praise.

REQUIRED READING: Big Ten doing college sports better than anyone. They just win more | Opinion

In his postgame news conference following the Huskies’ 69-63 loss to Michigan in the 2026 NCAA Tournament championship game, Hurley referred to the trio of referees working the game — James Breeding, Jeff Anderson and Kipp Kissinger — as “an all-star group.” He added they did what they could to officiate a game between two physical teams.

“It's hard to ref that game,” Hurley said. “We both played so hard. That's not an easy game to officiate. If I could have those three guys ref every game the rest of my career, I would sleep well at night.”

Officiating was a persistent talking point during the Wolverines’ win. UConn was called for 22 fouls, nearly double the 13 Michigan was whistled for, and attempted 16 free throws to the Wolverines' 28 (of which they sank 25).

In the first half, when the Huskies started to set the tone for a slower, more plodding game that gave them a better chance to beat the more up-tempo Wolverines, UConn was whistled for 11 fouls to Michigan’s five. In the process, two of the Huskies’ starters were in early foul trouble, with Silas Demary Jr. picking up his second foul with 13:30 remaining in the first half and Solo Ball doing the same with 12:07 before halftime.

They’re the kinds of data points that had Hurley, for all of his kind words about the referees, wondering what could have been.

“It's not the reason why we lost the game,” he said. “Obviously plus-13 at the free-throw line, plus-12 in attempts. I just thought that the first half foul trouble really — I thought we were positioned if we didn't have that foul trouble to potentially go into halftime with a lead. You go in with a lead and they make a run, you're down five instead of 11. But we also, too, a problem for our team has been undisciplined fouling at times.”

The loss was Hurley’s first in the Sweet 16 or later in his eight seasons at UConn. Entering the night, his teams had been 11-0 in such situations.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dan Hurley praises NCAA championship referees despite foul disparity

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Red Sox News & Links: The Sox face historically long odds to make the playoffs

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 06: Roman Anthony #19 of the Boston Red Sox sits in the dugout after an 8-6 loss against the Milwaukee Brewers at Fenway Park on April 06, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images) | Getty Images

What’s particularly frustrating about the Red Sox horrific start is that you can’t just point to one aspect of the game that the team is struggling with and hope for some positive regression in the near future. The sad fact of the matter is that the Red Sox are finding all sorts of different ways to lose baseball games. (Sean McAdam, MassLive)

Last night, those different ways included a Manny Ramirez-esque defensive play by Roman Anthony out in left field. Anthony’s arm isn’t injured, but clearly something isn’t right. Alex Cora says the issue is mechanics, while Anthony says “It’s just a mix of everything. But at the end of the day, it’s a simple play. It’s got to be at least competitive. And it wasn’t, again. So it’s terrible.” (Christopher Smith, MassLive)

At least the offense has woken up a little bit lately. Caleb Durbin had his best day at the plate as a Red Soxer last night (that’s right, I’m going with Red Soxer), notching two hits and scoring his first run with Boston. And his old manager in the opposite dugout hasn’t given up on him: “You can get down on him if you want.The fans can boo him. You can do whatever you want to do. But Caleb Durbin is a winner in every sense of the word.” (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)

I thought we left those empty “winning ballplayer” platitudes behind back when David Eckstein retired. I guess I was wrong about that, but whether or not you want to insist that Caleb Durbin has some innately magical winning qualities, you can’t deny that he he hasn’t been helping the Red Sox win in 2026. And while we all know how April baseball works, it’s getting harder and harder to say “it’s early” given the historical record: “ [T]he Red Sox are the 187th team to lose at least eight of their first 10 games [since 1903]. Of the first 186, just 12 (6.5 percent) reached the postseason.” (Alex Speier Boston Globe)

With the playoffs threatening to slip out of sight before we even reach Patriots Day, it’s no wonder that the vibes inside the ballpark are ugly. Alex Cora, though, takes no issue with the boos that have rained down on his team this season: “Right now, we deserve whatever they’re thinking. We’re not playing good baseball, and we know it.” (Jen McCaffrey, The Athletic)

And it’s not just boos that are ringing around Fenway. The last two losses have featured audible chants of “sell the team.” And regardless of what you think about that stance, you have to admit that this is hilarious:

Maybe a good old fashioned baseball brawl will wake them up? Willson Contreras certainly seems ready for one: “It’s not just the hit by pitch. That’s the 24th time they’ve hit me in my career — 24th. That’s the sixth time [Woodruff] has hit me. And they always say, ‘I’m not trying to hit you.’ That gets old. So next time they hit me again, I’m going to take one of them out. That’s a message.” (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)

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Game 11 Preview: Tigers look to bounce back vs Twins behind Skubal

The Detroit Tigers opened up their four-game road series at the Minnesota Twins on Monday night with a 7-3 loss. Casey Mize struggled in the frigid temperatures, while the bats also went cold.

Tuesday night offers an opportunity to knot things up with the Twinkies behind the best left-handed pitcher in the world, Tarik Skubal. So far, the southpaw has been nearly lights out, but unfortunately, that has not prevented him from being saddled with a loss already.

Hopefully, the offense can come alive behind the two-time consecutive Cy Young Award winner. But this is expected to be another cold one, with the high today reaching only 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Twinkies will be sending right-hander Taj Bradley, who has looked just as good as Skubes statistically so far in an extremely limited sample size. Here is how those two match up on Tuesday night.

Detroit Tigers (4-6) vs. Minnesota Twins (4-6)

Time (ET): 7:40 p.m. ET
Place: Target Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota
SB Nation Site:Twinkie Town
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network

Game 11: LHP Tarik Skubal (1-1, 0.69 ERA) vs. RHP Taj Bradley (1-0, 0.87 ERA)

PlayerGIPK%BB%GB%FIPfWAR
Skubal213.019.10.047.42.800.3
Bradley210.127.99.337.02.030.4

SKUBAL

BRADLEY

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Rebels in the Pros: Nikhazy and Pedulla in the news

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARCH 18: Sean Pedulla #00 of the Los Angeles Clippers drives to the basket during the second half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on March 18, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

On the previous post, I tracked down as many former Rebels playing professional baseball as I could. I’ll admit, I did not scour every High A roster as the research became so tedious. Some of the former Rebs I have etched into memory where they are. Tim Elko and Jacob Gonzalez are together in the White Sox organization and Doug Nikhazy and Dylan DeLucia are both with the Cleveland Guardians affiliates.

What I noticed during that research was that Nikhazy was not officially on any roster. Come to find out, he had been designated for assignment (DFA’d). This simply means that the Guardians were removing Doug from their 40-man roster to make room for someone else. They then have seven days to trade, release or place him on irrevocable waivers.

Apparently, the Chicago White Sox play at Swayze North because Nikhazy will now be joining Elko, Gonzalez, Calvin Harris and Drew McDaniel in the White Sox organization. Great new for all of them is that the Sox aren’t loaded with talent and the door is open for any of them to make the team soon.

Moving on from baseball, two other former Rebels were recognized for postseason awards in another sport.

Yep. You read that right. Undrafted G-League rookie, Sean Pedulla won Rookie of the Year in the NBA G League. Just look at those numbers. His mentality and ability were both sorely missed by this year’s Rebel squad. He also made his NBA debut in some garbage minutes with the Clippers, making the most of it, knocking down two threes.

Remember Jamarion Sharp? Well people in the G League sure do. The tallest player in the league averaged just under four blocks per contest and his presence alone was enough to alter shots and force players to kick the ball out away from the basket. Sharp is likely destined to be a permanent G Leaguer or overseas guy, but this is an impressive trophy to put on the shelf at home.