New York Sports+ | Joel Sherman ($): Gerrit Cole finally threw a pitch in anger. 54 weeks after undergoing Tommy John surgery, the former Cy Young winner returned to the mound with a spring start against the Red Sox yesterday. He threw just 10 pitches in a clean inning, but his fastball velo looked hot. There’s a way to go in the rehab process yet, but we got a good first step out of the way on Wednesday.
New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: We have two stories filed by Gary today, the first talking with Oswaldo Cabrera about the importance of Venezuela’s World Baseball Classic victory. Cabrera wasn’t on the roster for his country of course, but the meaning of such an upset win reverberates nonetheless. Hosting a watch party in Tampa, Oswaldo was openly shedding tears of joy over the accomplishment of his countrymen, and hopefully seeing that kind of international performance serves as inspiration for a player at the bubble of the Yankee 26-man roster.
Sports Info Solutions | Mark Simon: Part of SIS’ spring preview series, let’s delve into whether the Yankees are a good defensive team. The left side of the infield should be solid, with Ryan McMahon, José Caballero, and eventually Anthony Volpe all more than competent, but the steps backward that presumptive center fielder Trent Grisham took in 2025 could be a defensive vulnerability.
New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: Carlos Lagrange has been one of the revelations out of camp, and while the massive right-hander may still need some time with Triple-A Scranton to start the year, it shouldn’t surprise any of us if he finds his way to the Bronx this year. The Yankees are already publicly admitting that he’s major-league ready, so it seems its just a matter of time before a roster slot opens and we see that 101 mph heater in pinstripes.
It seems that on a nightly basis, the no-quit attitude of the Pittsburgh Penguins is on full display, even when they're pretty much down and out of a hockey game.
Well, that was certainly the case on Wednesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Penguins - with captain Sidney Crosby in their lineup for the first time since before the Olympic break - had absolutely nothing in the first two periods of this game. They were turning pucks over left and right, getting completely caved in by Carolina's forecheck, and leaving goaltender Stuart Skinner out to dry.
By all measures, it was nothing short of a miracle that the Penguins were only down by a goal - a 2-1 score - heading into the third period. Skinner was responsible for that, as he was brilliant when he had to be in this game to give his team a chance.
And even if the Penguins ended up on the wrong side of an overtime result yet again, the third period was one for the ages - and just another example of the character present in this group of players.
Pittsburgh lost to Carolina, 6-5, on an overtime goal by defenseman Sean Walker with just 29 seconds remaining in the extra frame. However, this was only after a third period that saw the Penguins finally come to life, as they registered five goals and kept finding ways to bounce back, even when Carolina struck.
To say things started out messy and awful for the Penguins is an understatement. After coming out of the gate pretty strong, Pittsburgh was rewarded with a power play opportunity approaching the midway point of the first, and almost right away, Carolina forward Jordan Martinook took it back the other way and scored a shorthanded goal to give the Canes a 1-0 lead.
The Penguins were awful the rest of the period, and the second was no different. Crosby did score halfway through the second to even the score at 1-1, but Carolina kept coming, and they got it back seven minutes later when Jackson Blake put one home to restore a one-goal lead for the Hurricanes.
Then, at the end of the second, Crosby and Andrei Svechnikov were going at it, and Svechnikov got the extra penalty for holding the stick. Jordan Staal took a tripping penalty less than 30 seconds into the third, and the Penguins found themselves on a five-on-three opportunity for a minute and a half.
And that's when the Penguins' best player since at least the Olympic break really took over. Erik Karlsson scored the equalizer with a slapshot bomb from the point for his second point of the game, but Carolina's Taylor Hall got the lead back for the Canes less than three minutes later to make it 3-2.
That was only the beginning of the crazy, too. Less than four minutes later, Bryan Rust found himself on a breakaway opportunity, and he buried it to knot things up yet again. But, again, Logan Stankoven scored on the power play with seven minutes to go in regulation to put Carolina up, 4-3.
But Karlsson struck again. Less than two minutes after the Stankoven goal, Karlsson made a fantastic keep with his foot at the offensive blue line, and the puck found its way back to his stick off a feed from defense partner Parker Wotherspoon. Karlsson undressed Sebastian Aho before finding his way to the slot, where he buried a scorching wrister to tie the game at 4-4.
Then, just 23 seconds later, Anthony Mantha found rookie Ben Kindel breaking into the offensive zone, and with Shayne Gostisbehere on his heels, he was able to beat Frederik Andersen and give the Penguins their first lead of the game at 5-4 with 4:51 remaining in regulation.
It was definitely setting up to be a feel-good win for the Penguins, who came back resoundingly after starting the game with one of their worst efforts of the season. Skinner made another unbelievable save Superman-style shortly after to preserve the one-goal lead for the Penguins.
Unfortunately, the craziness continued, but this time, not to the Penguins’ benefit. With under three minutes to go in regulation, K’Andre Miller found the back of the net in the form of a deflection to tie it up at 5-5 and force overtime, where both teams controlled at various points but the Canes got the last laugh with the Walker goal.
Of course, getting two points at this time of year is paramount, especially with the Columbus Blue Jackets just three points behind and out of the playoffs and the New York Islanders just one point back. However, it’s tough to be disappointed in the result, especially in a game where the Penguins probably had no business earning any points.
Win, lose, it doesn’t matter - these Penguins fight to the death, and they aren’t going away.
Here are just a few quick thoughts and takeaways from this entertaining slugfest of a game:
_ I don’t know what else to say about Karlsson right now.
This guy is fourth in the NHL in points (17 points in 11 games) since the Olympic break behind only Nikita Kucherov, Martin Necas, and Connor McDavid. Yes, you read that right.
And if you’re watching Karlsson, the points don’t even begin to scratch the surface of what he’s meant to the Penguins this season and down the stretch run. He’s making defensive plays. He’s been outstanding on the penalty kill. He’s unchained and allowing himself to play to his ability to create offense and use his skating and vision to his advantage.
Karlsson has been magnificent, and I do not think the Penguins are a playoff-bound team without him this season. He’s been the best version of himself since 2017 with the Ottawa Senators, and he has been this team’s MVP this season.
Put your hand up if you're grateful for Erik Karlsson 🖐️
Most Points Since Olympic Break: Nikita Kucherov - 20 Martin Necas - 19 Connor McDavid - 19 Erik Karlsson - 17
_ As for the MVP of this game? Karlsson has a case. But I’ve got to give this to Skinner.
It’s not often that you say a goaltender was outstanding when they surrender six goals. But he was. In fact, the Hurricanes would have put up double digits had he not been spectacular.
Carolina scored six times because the Penguins’ defense was that atrocious in front of Skinner. Not because of Skinner. He was great in this game, and he continues to be serviceable for the Penguins.
_ Crosby didn’t look the least bit rusty in this game. There were a few instances of misplays defensively - which, to be honest, has been an issue for his entire line this season - but he, by and large, looked 100 percent in this one.
The Penguins were actually playing well without Crosby, but having him back in the lineup sure was noticeable. It allowed 26-goal Mantha to slide back down to the third line, and he, Kindel, and Justin Brazeau clicked again immediately.
The depth of this lineup is much more evident with its best player back, and it certainly makes the Penguins a four-line matchup nightmare for most teams.
_ Kris Letang’s play as of late has been concerning. He simply cannot do very much right at the moment, and it is hurting the Penguins.
He was only credited with one giveaway against the Hurricanes, but it went beyond that. He was losing puck battles all night. His passes were errant. His decision-making was slow, and a processing delay was evident. It’s been like this for most of the season, aside from a stretch with left-side blueliner Brett Kulak, who was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers but sent to the Colorado Avalanche for defenseman Sam Girard and a second-round pick later on.
Honestly, yes, the trade made sense. Girard is younger, has more offensive upside, and the Penguins recouped that second-rounder out of it, too. But Kulak was getting the best out of Letang we’ve seen this season, and they’re a pairing that just clicked.
I think that trade is the only thing that may come close to a bit of a blip on Kyle Dubas’s radar this season.
Mar 18, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes left wing Jordan Martinook (48) skates with the puck past Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (58) during the first period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
_ Well, the Penguins ended their hardest road trip of the entire 2025-26 season with six out of 10 points.
Not bad at all.
But things don’t get any easier for the rest of the month. The Penguins will take on the climbing Winnipeg Jets, then the Hurricanes again, and then the Avalanche again before playing the Ottawa Senators, Dallas Stars, Islanders, and Detroit Red Wings to close out March.
The Islanders are just one point back of the Penguins, and the Jackets are three points behind. They both play Thursday, and the Penguins don’t. This race is tight. Very tight. But, for Penguins’ fans, I’m sure it’s nice to care about the outcomes of each of these games at this time of year again.
This team has something special about it, and I do believe they can make a run if they can get to the dance. But, alas, they still have to get there first, and - even if they have the tiebreakers and are in the advantageous position right now - it’s still going to be an adrenaline-rushed race to the finish line.
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Dontae Horne scored 25 points and Cory Wells had 19 as Prairie View A&M earned its first NCAA Tournament victory, 67-55 over Lehigh on Wednesday night in the First Four.
Lance Williams added 10 points for the Panthers (19-17), who are making their third tournament appearance. They advance as the No. 16 seed in the South Region to face top seed and defending national champion Florida on Friday in Tampa, Florida.
Lehigh leading scorer Nasir Whitlock went scoreless for more than 26 minutes and finished with five points. He was 2-of-15 shooting.
The last time Whitlock did not reach double figures was Nov. 9, when he had two points in a 69-47 loss at West Virginia.
Hank Alvey led Lehigh (18-17) with 23 points.
MIAMI (OHIO) 89, SMU 79
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Eian Elmer scored 22 points and Miami (Ohio) beat SMU for its first NCAA Tournament victory in 27 years.
Elmer went 6 of 9 from 3-point range as the 11th-seeded RedHawks (32-1), unbeaten during the regular season, advanced in the Midwest Region to play No. 6 seed Tennessee.
Brant Byers added 19 points, including four 3s, and Luke Skaljac had 17 for Miami, making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2007. The RedHawks finished 16 of 41 from 3-point range.
Jaden Toombs led SMU (20-14) with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Jaron Pierre Jr. scored 18 points and Boopie Miller had 15 for the Mustangs.
Jonathan Kuminga was trying to throw a first court pass to teammate Jock Landale at the end of the third quarter in the Atlanta Hawks vs. Dallas Mavericks game on Wednesday night when something amazing happened: he accidentally hit one of the longest shots in NBA history.
Kuminga couldn’t believe it, and immediately put his hands on his head in shock. Landale instinctively held his arms close to his chest so that no one could accuse him of interfering with the ball. The Hawks are living right at the moment — their 135-120 win over Dallas was their 11th straight victory — and this shot proves it.
You need to see every angle of Kuminga’s shot. Fortunately, this video that the Hawks — or excuse me, the HaWWWWWWWWWWWs — tweeted during the win has them all. This is the eighth longest shot in NBA history, and Kuminga didn’t even mean to hit it. Unbelievable.
The Hawks got Kuminga at the trade deadline. I liked the move better for the Golden State Warriors at the time with the addition of Kristaps Porzingis, but it’s clear Kuminga really just needed a change of scenery. Kuminga had 16 points and five rebounds off the bench in the win. His numbers are a little better so far in Atlanta in similar minutes, and it will be fascinating to see if he’s part of their long-term plans this summer.
Either way, Kuminga already has a legendary moment as a Hawk. Atlanta may never lose again if they’re making shots like this.
We really needed more proof, huh? Well, now we have it.
Miami (Ohio) belongs.
Not just in the First Four, but in the 64-team bracket most of us consider to be the real tournament.
The selection committee put Miami on the doorstep. Good enough. The RedHawks moved SMU out of the way and busted down the door en route to the first round.
In winning a First Four game, 89-79, with blistering shooting, Miami served more proof – seriously, why did anyone think we needed more proof? – that the best midmajor teams belong in the NCAA Tournament, even if they don’t win their conference tournament.
Miami poured in the points and buried one 3-pointer after another, one night after Texas and N.C. State piled up bricks. As Miami’s fans reveled in the stands after the latest deep bomb, it occurred to me that this was the most entertaining the First Four has ever been in 15 years of its existence in Dayton, Ohio.
Bruce Pearl pretends he 'expected' this performance from Miami (Ohio)
And all Bruce Pearl could do was chuckle like a cartoon character at halftime, with a silly grin on his face, after Miami drilled 10 first-half 3-pointers.
“This is kind of what we expected to see,” Pearl said.
Sure you did, Bruce.
Some of us might have expected this, but you didn’t. At least, Pearl acted as if he didn’t think much of Miami as he shilled for Auburn, which employs Pearl and his son.
Using his TNT-provided stage as a pulpit for propaganda, Pearl repeatedly trashed Miami leading up to the Tournament, shamelessly feigning that an Auburn team (coached by Pearl’s son, I’m sure that’s a coincidence) that barely finished above .500 would make a worthy tournament pick, while pretending Miami might finish last in the Big East.
That was a bigger load of bull even than anything Pearl’s ever told the NCAA.
Pearl couldn’t possibly have believed half the hogwash he served. He’s a lot of things, but he’s no idiot.
Still, Pearl’s relentless scrutiny of Miami kicked a hornet’s nest. More loons came out of the woodwork to question whether a 31-1 team deserved a bid, or whether it should go to a 12th-place team from a Power conference amid a woefully weak bubble.
Well, now Miami’s 32-1, after lighting up a Power Four opponent that couldn’t duck them.
Miami (Ohio) continues legacy of midmajor upsets in March Madness
And, we shouldn’t be surprised. We’ve seen this repeatedly, and not just from Miami. The best midmajors belong – of course they do. They don’t always prevail, but they win often enough in these games that nobody could have possibly believed Pearl’s nonsense that a Division I team with 30-plus victories would finish last in a Big East that’s not very good.
Miami answered all the naysayers, so emphatically that there’s really only one question left: How far can it go?
Consider No. 6 Tennessee on upset alert.
Who can forget VCU, in 2011, going from First Four to Final Four?
Wally Szczerbiak, anyone? The RedHawks of Wally World reached the Sweet 16 in 1999 as a 10-seed.
Or, how about Manhattan? The Jaspers were the last-team-in to what was then a 64-team bracket in 1995. Fran Fraschilla’s team, seeded No. 13, toppled Oklahoma.
“The tournament selection committee (is) not as dumb as people think,” Fraschillatold reporters afterward, adding that “it is nice to show people we deserve to be here and can play with anyone.”
The best midmajors keep proving that, too, even as their credentials are questioned.
Power Four teams hesitate to play teams like Miami in the regular season, and the little guy’s strength of schedule suffers, even as wins pile up. But, there’s no ducking the Miamis of the world in March, at least so long as the selection committee keeps recognizing that winning nearly all of your games warrants a bid, no matter what the bobbleheads say.
The late Billy Packer just about lost it on Selection Sunday in 2006 when George Mason slipped in as an at-large 11-seed. After George Mason rattled off four straight wins to reach the Final Four, in one of the greatest Cinderella stories ever, Patriots fans chanted Packer’s name.
And in the second half of this game, a pro-Miami crowd going bananas in the stands chanted, “Let’s go RedHawks! Let’s go RedHawks!”
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Kaemyn Bekemeier had 22 points and 13 rebounds on Wednesday night, Lainie Douglas added 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Missouri State beat Stephen F. Austin 85-75 at the women's First Four.
No. 16 seed Missouri State (23-12), which has won at least one game in each of its last four NCAA Tournament appearances, plays top-seeded Texas in the Round of 64 on Friday.
Missouri State shot 48% (33 of 69) and outrebounded SFA 50-30 to overcome 19 turnovers, which the Ladyjacks converted into 22 points.
Stephen F. Austin (25-10) has lost eight consecutive NCAA Tournament games since a 73-72 first-round win over Xavier in 2000.
Missouri State used a 9-0 run to take the lead for good late in the first half. Angel Scott capped the spurt with a 3-pointer that made it 45-37 with 1:55 to go in the second quarter.
Ashlyn Traylor-Walker scored 23 points and Aziyah Farrier had 13 points and nine rebounds, three blocks and two steals for SFA. Harmanie Dominguez hit three 3-pointers and finished with nine points. Dominguez extended her program record for single-season 3s made to 100 — third most in Division I this season.
Maiesha Washington scored 18 points, Kendal Brueggen had 13 points and nine rebounds and Faith Lee added 10 points for the Lady Bears.
Scott, who finished with three points, played two seasons for the Ladyjacks, helping them advance to the 2022 NCAA Tournament and the 2023 WNIT.
The Lady Bears are in the Big Dance for the 18th time and first since 2022, when they beat Florida State 61-50 in the First Four before losing 63-56 to Ohio State in the Round of 64.
Up next
Missouri State will try Friday to snap third-ranked Texas' seven-game win streak.
The Fenway Sports Group, which is a business partner of LeBron James, is not expected to pursue the potential NBA Las Vegas expansion team, according to a report by The Athletic.
Las Vegas and Seattle are expected to be serious contenders for new NBA expansion teams.
ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the league will hold a vote at the board of governors meeting next week regarding the addition of new expansion teams in those respective cities. If approved, the league would target the start of the 2028-29 season as the first year of play for the new teams.
James had stated publicly for the past decade that he would be interested in joining the likes of Michael Jordan as a former player who became an NBA owner. In more recent years, he has especially expressed interest in owning a team in Las Vegas.
But with Fenway Sports Group "no longer pursuing NBA ownership, it is less likely that LeBron will pursue a team," The Athletic reported, citing a source.
The 22-time All-Star is currently playing his 23rd season and has not publicly decided on his future. He signed a multi-year contract with the Lakers in 2024 and is in the final year of that deal.
James began his partnership with FSG in 2021, making him a part-owner of several organizations, including the Boston Red Sox and the Liverpool Football Club.
DALLAS (AP) — CJ McCollum scored 24 points, Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 22, and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Dallas Mavericks 135-120 on Wednesday night for their 11th straight win.
Dyson Daniels had 19 points on 9 for 13 shooting and Jalen Johnson scored 17 points with 11 rebounds for the Hawks, who at 38-31 are in the middle of the race for a play-in playoff spot.
Atlanta hasn’t won at least 11 in a row since winning a franchise-record 19 straight during the 2014-2015 season. Their current streak is tied for the fourth-longest winning streak in club history.
Daniel Gafford came off the bench to lead the Mavericks with 24, P.J. Washington had 23 and Cooper Flagg added 17.
The Mavericks have now lost 11 of their last 13 and appear destined for the draft lottery at 23-47.
Atlanta's Onyeka Okongwo scored the first 10 points of the game and the Hawks never trailed. The score was 67-56 by halftime.
The Mavericks turned the ball over 18 times, seven more times than the Hawks.
Jonathan Kuminga hit a 75-foot basket in the win, the longest basket by a Hawk in the play-by-play era and the sixth-longest among all players in the play-by-play era since 1997-98, according to Elias Sports. The previous longest made basket by a Hawk was a 63-foot bucket by Jason Terry on Jan. 5, 2000.
Up next
Hawks: At Houston on Friday night.
Mavericks: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night.
With the Major League spring camps winding down, the Minor Leagues will take over the training complexes for their respective teams. To begin that transition, MLB is hosting the third annual Spring Breakout Series in the spring facilities of all 30 MLB clubs. There will be eight games in both the Cactus League and Grapefruit League complexes, with 91 of the top 100 prospects on rosters for the games.
The following is the schedule, with times (ET) and TV coverage:
Thursday, March 19
Marlins at Astros, 12:05 p.m. ET (Space City Home Network)
Phillies at Twins, 1:05 p.m. ET (MLBN, MNNT & Amazon)
Reds at Giants, 9:05 p.m. ET (MLBN, NBC Sports Bay Area & Amazon)
Guardians at Angels, 1 p.m. ET (MLB App)
Nationals at Cardinals, 4:30 p.m. ET (MLB App)
Rays at Mets, 7:10 p.m. ET (MLBN, SNY & Amazon)
Friday, March 20
Royals at Rangers, 4 p.m. ET (Rangers Sports Network & Amazon)
Mariners at Brewers, 5:10 p.m. ET (MLBN)
Red Sox at Orioles, 6:05 p.m. ET (MASN)
Tigers at Pirates, 7:35 p.m. ET (MLBN, SNP & Amazon)
Saturday, March 21
Blue Jays at Phillies, 1:05 p.m. ET (MLBN, NBC Sports Philadelphia & Amazon)
White Sox at Dodgers, 6:30 p.m. ET (MLBN, CHSN & Amazon)
Braves at Yankees, 6:35 p.m. ET (YES)
Rockies at Diamondbacks, 8 p.m. ET (MLB App)
Padres at Cubs, 9:05 p.m. ET (Marquee)
Sunday, March 22
Brewers at Athletics, 4:05 p.m. ET (MLBN & Amazon)
The Padres will play the Chicago Cubs on March 21 at 6:05 p.m. PT at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz. Their trimmed roster was announced today and represents many of the top prospects in the system. Top pitching prospect LHP Kruz Schoolcraft will join the 2024 draft LHP Kash Mayfield and RHP Miguel Mendez as three of the top four Padres prospects on the roster. They are joined by catcher Ethan Salas, who rounds out the top five with pitcher Humberto Cruz (No. 5) recovering from elbow surgery this season.
PITCHERS (13) Jaxon Dalena, RHP, No. 30 Clay Edmondson, RHP, NR Harry Gustin, LHP, NR Luis Gutierrez, LHP, No. 20 Garrett Hawkins, RHP, No. 14 Kannon Kemp, RHP, No. 19 Josh Mallitz, RHP, NR Kash Mayfield, LHP, No. 4 Miguel Mendez, RHP, No. 3 Johan Moreno, RHP, NR Kleiber Olmedo, RHP, NR Kruz Schoolcraft, LHP, No. 1/MLB No. 88 Lan-Hong Su, RHP, No. 18
CATCHERS (4) Brendan Durfee, C, NR Ty Harvey, C, No. 8 Truitt Madonna, C, No. 24 Ethan Salas, C, No. 2
INFIELDERS (6) Kale Fountain, 1B/3B, No. 10 Dylan Grego, SS, NR Ryan Jackson, SS, NR Jorge Quintana, SS/3B, No. 7 Romeo Sanabria, 1B, No. 28 Jose Verdugo, SS, NR
Tune in on Padres.TV/MLB.com, MLB app and SDPA for the Padres coverage. Marquee will carry the game for the Cubs.
Other notable prospects
Taiwanese pitcher Lan-Hong Su has been added to the prospects in Arizona. He will begin his US career on a minor league team or with the Arizona Complex League this summer. At 19, there is still growth that needs to occur before the organization gets a real feel for who he will become but his promise is significant.
When the Padres traded Brandon Lockridge to Milwaukee for Nestor Cortes, shortstop Jorge Quintana and cash. The majority of Padres fans probably didn’t realize the prize of that trade is Quintana. Currently ranked as the No. 7 prospect in the system, Quintana is 18 and has raw skills. If unable to stick at shortstop he could move to third and still be a valuable player in the system.
Catcher Ethan Salas needs to step forward this year in order to maintain any prospect status but the Padres remain high on the 19-year-old. He is joined on this roster by two other catchers drafted in the 2025 draft who could become average to above-average backstops in time, Ty Harvey and Truitt Madonna.
First baseman Romeo Sanabria has distinguished himself in Padres camp with his bat and solid defense. Infielder Kale Fountain is the other bat to watch in the lineup, his power potential is still to develop but was the reason he was drafted by the organization.
This will be the final year for this format as the new approach next year, if there is a spring training next year, will be totally different. This information was covered in the preview post on Gaslamp Ball.
Plantar fasciitis has ended Egor Dëmin’s rookie season.
A successful procedure has the Nets guard already looking toward the offseason.
“Everything went well, and now it’s just the process of rehab and getting back on the court as soon as the season ends, as we planned,” Dëmin, 20, said in his first comments since being shut down. “Hopefully everything’s going to go in the right direction and I’ll be able to get back to work as soon as I can.”
Neither Dëmin nor Brooklyn coach Jordi Fernández would specify exactly what procedure the Russian guard underwent on his left foot, other than to say it was successful.
“Cortisone is typically the first line of injection treatment, but sometimes people utilize alternative types of injections like platelets [PRP] or stem cells or amniotic tissue injections,” Dr. Andrew Brief of the Ridgewood Orthopedic Group told The Post about the plethora of non-surgical options available to Dëmin.
“PRP most likely is in the treatment algorithm if someone hasn’t responded to everything else.”
Dëmin, who was Brooklyn’s first lottery pick in 15 years, has been dealing with the issue since last offseason, and it has cropped up on and off during his rookie campaign.
“[The procedure] was successful. I’m not qualified to explain exactly what it was, but it was to make his plantar fasciitis better and find the best way for him to take the next step and get stronger,” Fernández said before his tanking Nets suffered a 121-92 blowout loss to the defending champion Thunder at Barclays Center. “So it went well, and he’ll be ready to go at some point in the offseason, which is great because then you have all this time to work, get better and go into summer league.
Egor Dëmin, who is out for the season with a left foot injury, poses for a picture during the Nets’ 121-92 blowout loss to the defending champion Thunder on March 18, 2026 at Barclays Center. NBAE via Getty Images
“Yeah, [summer league is the goal]. But right now, what we’re doing is — what’s the next step? Right now he’s not on the court, so I don’t think we’ll have any timeline; but that’s the idea, yeah, at some point.”
Dëmin averaged 10.3 points, 3.3 assists and 3.2 rebounds in a solid rookie campaign, the first Net since 2019 picked for the Rising Stars at All-Star Weekend.
He set an NBA rookie record by hitting a 3-pointer in 34 straight games. But eventually the plantar fasciitis took its toll.
“I just really want to play basketball. And sometimes for athletes, when you know you can run, that’s enough for you to just go and play, right?” Dëmin said. “And I don’t want to say people would let me go and play with injury; that’s not what I’m saying. It’s just about me trying my best to recover as fast as I can.
“And in the season, it’s pretty hard for me, being a rookie, being in the process of that many games for the first time. I did feel it at some point. Going to the All-Star, I’m like, ‘OK, it’s a privilege to be in All-Star Weekend.’ But I’m like, ‘OK, that’s another two days of some sort of work.’ So it’s just been a long season even though I didn’t finish it. So that’s a factor, not just for my foot, but for anybody in anything.
Brooklyn Nets guard Egor Demin (8) is fouled by San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) during the second quarter. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“Yeah, I’m taking this … I don’t want to say time off, but this time being off the court with a positive approach where I’ve really tried to take advantage of it, where I can have more time in the lifting room without worrying about being sore and not being able to play the same as I could. So I’m just trying to kill as much as I can right now [since] it’s not going to affect my game because I’m not playing. So there’s a lot of advantage from not playing, even though I really like basketball and I’d prefer to be [playing]. But everything is happening for a reason and I believe in it, and I’m trying to be intentional with whatever I have in front of me.”
• Dan Vladar was excellent with 34 saves on 36 shots.
The 28-year-old surrendered two or fewer goals for the 27th time in 41 starts this season.
With 1:54 minutes left in regulation, the Ducks tied it at 2-2 when they emptied their net for the extra attacker. Leo Carlsson scored off a rebound after Vladar made a pair of saves.
Cutter Gauthier trimmed the Flyers’ lead to 2-1 with 38 seconds remaining in the second period. The former Flyers prospect made a great move in close just as some 4-on-4 action turned into an Anaheim power play.
But Vladar finished with his season high in saves. The Flyers needed all of them, especially when the Ducks — a very good team at coming from behind — made their push.
Anaheim netminder Lukas Dostal stopped 24 of the Flyers’ 27 shots.
Luke Glendening opened the scoring in the first period. It was 36-year-old’s first goal with the Flyers.
Owen Tippett then cushioned the Flyers’ lead in the second period with his fourth goal over the last six games.
• Gauthier is having a big-time season. With 35 goals, he’s on pace to score over 40.
But he hasn’t beaten the Flyers since he turned them down and forced a trade in January 2024. The Flyers have gone 4-0-0 against Gauthier and the Ducks, while outscoring them 17-5.
• The Flyers have continued to hang around in the playoff race.
They moved to within six points of both the Eastern Conference’s first and second wild-card spots.
“When you look at the season, I think if you can take out that kind of middle stretch where you lose a bunch of games, those are hard to get out of,” Travis Sanheim said last Saturday. “Besides that, I’ve liked a lot of our play, we’ve played well against some good teams, have shown that we have a good hockey team and can play against anyone and win, really, any game.”
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Ayo Dosunmu scored 23 points and had nine rebounds in his second straight start in place of the injured Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves took charge in the second quarter to cruise past the Utah Jazz 147-111 on Wednesday night.
Rudy Gobert had 21 points and 12 rebounds, and Julius Randle also scored 21 points and had eight assists for the Timberwolves, who have won two in a row without their All-Star guard.
Minnesota announced Tuesday that Edwards will miss one to two weeks with right knee inflammation before being re-evaluated. The Timberwolves beat the Phoenix Suns 116-104 behind 32 points from Randle.
Brice Sensabaugh scored 41 points, two off his career high, to lead the Jazz, who have lost four in a row and 12 of their last 14.
Ace Bailey added 17 points for Utah, which went 0-3 on its road trip. Walker Kessler (shoulder), Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee) and Jusuf Nurkic (face) remained sidelined.
The game was tight early, with eight lead changes and three ties before the Timberwolves took control. With Utah leading 28-27, Bones Hyland made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:22 left in the opening quarter — the start of an 8-0 run by Minnesota.
The Timberwolves led 72-58 at halftime and ran away in the second half while building a lead as much as 38 points in the fourth quarter.
Minnesota won three of its four matchups this season with Utah.
DALLAS, TEXAS - MARCH 18: CJ McCollum #3 of the Atlanta Hawks shoots as Ryan Nembhard #9 of the Dallas Mavericks defends during the first quarter at American Airlines Center on March 18, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Hawks looked to keep rolling in the Lone Star State, with a pair of games at the Mavericks and the Rockets on Friday. No change to the usual starting lineup for tonight.
Onyeka Okongwu came out of the gates and scored the game’s first 10 points all by himself. Here was a montage of those buckets:
But the Hawks’ early edge was short-lived, as the Mavericks crushed the Hawks on the offensive boards early on. That propelled them to pulling roughly even with Atlanta by midway through the quarter.
With the bench unit it, Jonathan Kuminga shook off a rough two games to give the Hawks some offensive punch. This corner three came from good ball movement via Jock Landale:
Atlanta’s bench put together an immediate 7-0 run in the following quarter to open up a 14-point lead, with plays like this from Zaccharie Risacher to CJ McCollum acting as catalysts:
Atlanta tightened the screws defensively and on the rebounding front in the second quarter to protect their lead. The bench handed things off back off to the starting unit to take them home in the first half.
After some scrappy play to close the half, the Hawks led 67-56. Dyson Daniels and Onyeka Okongwu were tied for the scoring lead by the halfway point at 10.
CJ McCollum turned on the scoring faucet in the next period, getting his early and often. Jalen Johnson chipped in to create his opportunity:
Jonathan Kuminga and Jalen Johnson paired up once again to provide a two-headed offensive punch in the third quarter. Kuminga got to his spots over and over, and Dallas had no one to contend with his downhill pressure.
Kuminga even hit maybe the shot of the year in the entire NBA with this insane heave (pass?) at the end of the period:
After 36 minutes, the good guys had the advantage, 101-82.
The fourth quarter was fairly routine, with the Mavericks never cutting the lead down to single digits. The Hawks calmly salted away their 11th straight win, 135-120, to move to 38-31.
CJ McCollum was the Hawks’ highest scorer with 24, Jonathan Kuminga put in 16 points from off the bench, and Jalen Johnson finished an assist shy of a triple-double with 17 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds.
The streak is tied for the third longest in the entire NBA this season.
The Hawks now aim for third place on their own with a matchup against the Houston Rockets on Friday.
Mar 18, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) shoots as Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga (0) defends during the first half at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Dallas Mavericks 135-to-120.
This game started on the wrong foot, and the Mavericks never quite found their level. If you blinked (or spent the first couple of minutes looking at your phone), you might’ve missed the Hawks starting the game by opening up a 10-to-0 lead within the game’s first two minutes. The Mavericks woke up a little at that point and worked their way back into it, but that was how things went all night — Atlanta would surge ahead, and Dallas would get just close enough that you didn’t want to turn the game off, but the Mavs were never threatening to win this one.
Daniel Gafford had a big game, scoring a season-high 24 on nine-of-10 shooting and four offensive boards.
For Atlanta, CJ McCollum led the way with an efficient 22 points on eight-of-12 shooting.
Just you wait
There are few things less productive as a sports fan than complaining about refs, and that’s not even necessarily the aim here, but Cooper Flagg’s whistle has nowhere to go but up.
As a rookie, Flagg has been damn-near stoic when it comes to showing visible frustration on the floor, but after a n0-call on a layup in the first quarter left Coop bleeding from the forearm, he did have an extended conversation with the nearest referee, showing off the wound like a courtroom prosecutor bringing the juror’s attention to “Exhibit A.”
He’s a rookie. Sure, the same rules should apply equally to every player all the time, but in the real world, it’s just a matter of fact that guys need to earn their lumps. Cooper is certainly doing that this year. His hesitation to let it fly from deep and instead drive to the cup as often as possible almost seems purposeful. Like he wants to make sure he pays enough dues this season so that next year, his whistle will be undeniable.
Big ups, big guy
Daniel Gafford, a guy who started the year vying for minutes with Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively, has been charged with shouldering the vast majority of the minutes at center. He’s played through some injuries and logged a bunch of minutes, but he’s still able to deliver solid performances in games like tonight.
He ended up with 24 points on a nine-of-10 shooting, plus a nearly perfect six-for-seven from the line and eight total boards.
Ideally, he’s a guy who could come off the bench (which he actually did tonight, as the Mavs started a wacky forward-heavy lineup with Flagg, Naji Marshall, and PJ Washington all starting) and play a hyper-efficient game around the basket with a top-tier facilitator. That’s still in the cards in the near future, but while we’re still in the present, his steadying presence as Dallas’ premiere Big is commendable.
Danny Coulombe #54 of the Texas Rangers throws a pitch during the fifth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on September 28, 2025 in Cleveland.
The Red Sox re-negotiated a deal with lefty Danny Coulombe after an issue with his physical popped up.
Multiple outlets reported that the veteran pitcher and the organization had originally agreed to a one-year deal for $2.25 million that included $750,000 in incentives.
The reworked deal now pays him $1 million, along with an active roster bonus that gets Coulombe to $2.25 million as well as the $750,000 related to incentives, The Athletic reported.
Coulombe, 36, is coming off a 2025 season where he pitched for the Rangers and Twins.
He registered a 2.30 ERA while striking out 43 batters in as many innings.
Neither the club nor the player’s representative has addressed the issue publicly. The initial reports did not indicate what was flagged in the physical to lead to the contract change.
Danny Coulombe of the Texas Rangers throws a pitch during the fifth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on September 28, 2025 in Cleveland. Diamond Images/Getty Images
Coulombe was out for three months in 2024 after he had surgery to remove bone chips in his elbow, and in 2025, he was out a month early in the season due to a forearm extensor strain.
He also missed a part of the end of the year due to shoulder fatigue.
When he arrived at camp this spring, he told reporters that he was healthy.
Texas Rangers relief pitcher Danny Coulombe (54) throws a pitch in the bottom of the fifth inning during the MLB game between the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros on September 16, 2026 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
“As you get older, it just gets a little harder to get warm in the morning,” Coulombe said. “But I feel good now. I feel healthy, and this is a good [Red Sox] bullpen.”
Coulombe has pitched 11 years in the major leagues, spending time with the Dodgers, A’s, Twins, Orioles and Rangers.
