Oregon Ducks vs. Michigan State Spartans Game Preview
Red Wings Bring Over Anton Johansson
You can never have too many defensemen.
This is what Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman says to himself as he falls asleep every night (probably). A little healthy competition never hurts anyone, and there is competition for ice time on the Red Wings' blueline.
Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features.
Things don’t seem to be budging at the NHL level, but the AHL scene is getting a bit crowded.
Yesterday, the Red Wings announced the signing of prospect Anton Johansson to a three-year entry-level contract. The 6-foot-4 and 196 lb defender has spent this past year in the SHL.
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The contract includes performance bonuses and signing bonuses for each of the three years.
The fourth-round pick in the 2022 entry draft has had a solid two years in Sweden. Johansson played full-time SHL last season and is doing so again this season.
He played 46 games for Leksands IF this year, recording 10 points, 98 shots, and 50 penalty minutes. Johansson averaged 16:38 of ice time per game.
This represents a big step forward for the defender. In 46 games last season, he only recorded eight points, 59 shots, 16 penalty minutes, and 13:32 ice time per game.
The right-handed defender will report to the Red Wings AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, on an amateur tryout. The ice in North America is smaller than in the SHL. This is a bigger deal for defenders than it is for forwards.
Defenders must react quicker and be more aggressive on the smaller ice surface. The AHL is a great place for a young Swede to acclimate to making faster decisions.
It remains to be seen whether or not Johansson has an NHL future ahead of him - but at the very least, he’s one step closer.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments. Was it wise to sign Johansson at this point?
How long will it take Johansson to make it to the NHL? Please answer the question by voting in our poll!
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Report: Sixers signing Oshae Brissett to 10-day deal via hardship exception
Report: Sixers signing Oshae Brissett to 10-day deal via hardship exception originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
To put it mildly, the Sixers are light on healthy players.
They’re reportedly bringing one into the fold. Oshae Brissett is signing a 10-day contract via hardship exception, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey reported.
Brissett is a 6-foot-7 forward who knows Sixers head coach Nick Nurse from his Raptors stint and time with the Canadian men’s national team. The Syracuse product won a championship last season with the Celtics.
Brissett has yet to appear in the NBA this year. Over 11 regular-season games for the Long Island Nets in the G League, he averaged 12.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 steals.
The 26-year-old is an athletic, versatile, high-effort defender. Brissett has generally not been an efficient scorer in the NBA. He’s shot 41.6 percent from the field, 33.7 percent beyond the arc and 69.8 percent at the foul line.
Between his stops in Toronto and Boston, Brissett played 153 games for the Pacers between the 2020-21 and 2022-23 seasons.
Going into their Friday night matchup with Indiana, the 22-43 Sixers listed seven players as out with injuries and five players as questionable. Two-way contract player Jalen Hood-Schifino is with the team and available to debut.
Sixers sign Oshae Brissett to 10-day deal via hardship exception
Sixers sign Oshae Brissett to 10-day deal via hardship exception originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
To put it mildly, the Sixers are light on healthy players.
They’re bringing one into the fold. Oshae Brissett signed a 10-day contract, the team announced Friday. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey first reported.the news and noted the move was made via the hardship exception.
Brissett is a 6-foot-7 forward who knows Sixers head coach Nick Nurse from his Raptors stint and time with the Canadian men’s national team. The Syracuse product won a championship last season with the Celtics.
Brissett has yet to appear in the NBA this year. Over 11 regular-season games for the Long Island Nets in the G League, he averaged 12.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 steals.
The 26-year-old is an athletic, versatile, high-effort defender. Brissett has generally not been an efficient scorer in the NBA. He’s shot 41.6 percent from the field, 33.7 percent beyond the arc and 69.8 percent at the foul line.
Between his stops in Toronto and Boston, Brissett played 153 games for the Pacers from the 2020-21 to 2022-23 seasons.
Going into their Friday night matchup with Indiana, the 22-43 Sixers listed seven players as out with injuries and five players as questionable. Two-way contract player Jalen Hood-Schifino is with the team and available to debut.
Sherratt: ‘It’s about getting that balance between heart and brain’
Matt Sherratt will be back at Cardiff Rugby on Monday but admits he might have to delay his return to the Arms Park if he can get his Wales side to beat England in their Guinness Six Nations finale at Principality Stadium this weekend. After games against Ireland and Scotland, Sherratt leads Wales for the […]
The post Sherratt: ‘It’s about getting that balance between heart and brain’ appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Wales U18 set for season opener against Scotland
The Wales U20 team will complete their Six Nations campaign against England at the Arms Park tonight, but the age-grade international action continues apace with Wales U18 meeting their Scottish counterparts at Kingston Park, Newcastle on Sunday. (3pm kick-off). It is the first step on the international ladder for the youngsters, who have only three […]
The post Wales U18 set for season opener against Scotland appeared first on Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions.
Hernández: Tokyo Series atmosphere shows Shohei Ohtani is more than 'a representative of Japan'
They screamed.
They screamed and made that noise that crowds make when thousands of people scream at the same time, that sound that is heard when the home team takes a lead late in a playoff game.
Shohei Ohtani had taken the field — for a workout.
“That,” Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy said, “was a pretty cool moment for all of us to witness.”
Read more:Dodgers' Tokyo Series trip confirms the team's 'overwhelming' hold on Japan
Imagine if Ohtani had actually taken batting practice Friday like most of the other Dodgers hitters. Imagine the reaction of the 10,507 fans who packed the lower-bowl seats behind home plate and the two foul lines at the Tokyo Dome.
The Dodgers are World Series champions. They have two high-profile Japanese players other than Ohtani in opening-day starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto and rookie fireballer Roki Sasaki. They have other signature players in the likes of Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts.
The crowd’s response to Ohtani, however, reestablished a longstanding truth about the Dodgers: In Japan’s view, there is Ohtani and then there is everyone else.
The Dodgers are the Rolling Stones and Ohtani is Mick Jagger.
“If not for Ohtani, I don’t think all of Japan would be in a frenzy like this,” said Taka Hattori, a 51-year-old fan who wore a custom-made No. 17 jersey with “SHOTIME” embroidered across the back.
Fans cramped into a nearby 30,000-square-foot hall that was transformed into a temporary souvenir store. Hundreds showed up the previous day at Haneda Airport to catch a glimpse of the Dodgers, who arrived for the Tokyo Series, their season-opening, two-game set against the Chicago Cubs that starts on Tuesday.
More than 1,000 media credentials were issued for the games, which are sold out. The asking price on the secondary market for the least-expensive tickets are in the neighborhood of $1,500.
Hattori paid 18,000 yen, or about $120, to join the Dodgers’ fan club, which entered him into a lottery for Japan Series tickets.
He didn’t win.
Read more:Is it smart in a fantasy baseball draft to load up on Dodgers? Buyer beware
Hattori settled for the workout on Friday, as he was able to purchase tickets from a friend at their face value of 2,000 yen, or about $13.
“I personally really like Ichiro [Suzuki],” Hattori said. “I was able to watch Ichiro play here on opening day. But it wasn’t like this.”
Hattori described Ohtani as being “from another universe.”
“Of course, Ohtani is a representative of Japan,” Hattori said. “But it doesn’t matter any more whether he’s Japanese, American or Korean. I feel he’s reached the level at which he is not a representative of any particular country but is rather a representative of baseball.”
Runa Misaki traveled from her hometown of Osaka to watch the workout with her friend Yuko Hanashima.
They said they were drawn to Ohtani as much by his personality as his performances.
“I think he really likes baseball,” Hanashima said. “I think he likes baseball more than anyone. I think that’s why children like him so much.”
Misaki said she would return to Tokyo on Sunday for an exhibition game against the Hanshin Tigers. Tickets for that game, as well as for a game on Saturday against the Yomiuri Giants, are being sold on the secondary market for more than $600.
“I would like them to open here every season,” Misaki said.
Ohtani’s popularity here is such that other Dodgers have also become famous by association.
Fans waved en masse at manager Dave Roberts, who waved back. They shouted the names of Teoscar Hernández and Miguel Rojas. They shrieked with delight when Freeman acknowledged them with an affectionate wave of the glove.
They also watched batting practice with the same focus with which they would watch a game. Binoculars and mobile phone cameras were pointed at the batter’s box. Some fans observed the action while clutching sleeping babies. The conclusion of every round of batting practice was followed by applause.
Mind you, this was for a workout. The first official game was still four days away.
Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
College basketball bubble watch, bracketology: Which teams need to win Friday?
Texas might have done enough on Thursday and North Carolina has a prime opportunity vs. Duke on Friday.
ICYMI in Mets Land: Brandon Nimmo returns; key injury updates
Here's what happened in Mets Land on Thursday, in case you missed it...
- After missing over a week due to a knee issue, Brandon Nimmo returned to the lineup and ripped a single in his first at-bat
- Jeff McNeil has a mild oblique injury that will keep him out for Opening Day and beyond
- McNeil's absence could open the door for Brett Baty to step in as the regular second baseman
- Sean Manaea was cleared following a clean MRI on his oblique and has started throwing again as he works toward a return
- Edwin Diaz bounced back and Baty reached base twice in the Mets' game against the Red Sox
- After the game, Carlos Mendoza discussed Diaz's outing
- The Mets' wave of rapidly approaching pitching prospects is tantalizing -- and a potential 2025 X-factor
- Here's the Mets' regular season broadcast schedule on SNY
- WATCH: What is David Peterson's ceiling?
England must be ruthless against Wales – and that is the blueprint for the future | Ugo Monye
Context dictates that England have to be on the front foot in Cardiff – let’s have that as their modus operandi
Play the match, not the occasion. Lap up the theatre, the dramatics, the pyrotechnics, the hostility, if that is what gets you going, but when you cross the white line, play what is in front of you. If there is one message that should have been hammered home to England’s players this week, it is exactly that.
Sport rarely plays out the way we fully expect it to, otherwise the Principality Stadium would not be sold out on Saturday, there would not be a growing sense of belief among Wales supporters that this is the day their desperate run of defeats ends, there would not be a nervousness, a tension among England fans heading to Cardiff. It’s why we love our sport but if England can play the match and not the occasion, they have the potential and the players to put Wales away comfortably.
Continue reading...SEC Tournament – Texas vs. Tennessee Predictions: Odds, Expert Picks, Betting Trends, and Recent Stats
Texas Longhorns vs. Tennessee Volunteers Game Preview
Clippers vs. Hawks Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends, and best bets for March 14
It’s Friday, March 14, and the Los Angeles Clippers (36-30) and Atlanta Hawks (32-34) are all set to square off from State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
The Clippers are currently 14-20 on the road with a point differential of 2, while the Hawks have a 6-4 record in their last ten games at home. Los Angeles won the only meeting of the season, 131-105, in L.A. This is the final meeting of the season.
Both teams are on a roll right now. Atlanta has won four straight games and five of the past six contests, while Los Angeles has won four of the past five games.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, 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.
Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.
Game details & how to watch Clippers vs. Hawks live today
- Date: Friday, March 14, 2025
- Time: 7:30PM EST
- Site: State Farm Arena
- City: Atlanta, GA
- Network/Streaming:
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 NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.
Game odds for Clippers vs. Hawks
The latest odds as of Friday:
- Odds: Clippers (-154), Hawks (+129)
- Spread: Clippers -3
- Over/Under: 232 points
That gives the Clippers an implied team point total of 116.91, and the Hawks 115.34.
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!
Expert picks & predictions for Friday’s Clippers vs. Hawks game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes the Hawks +3 and ML versus the Clippers:
"Both of these teams are hot right now with 4-1 records over the past five games, and the addition of Kawhi Leonard back into the Clippers lineup has certainly given Los Angeles a much-needed boost. The Clippers destroyed the Hawks in the first meeting of the season, but this is in Atlanta, and with both teams playing well and fighting for playoff seeding. We can expect a duel between Trae Young and James Harden, while Dyson Daniels is one of the better players in the league to defend Leonard. I like the Hawks +3."
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections 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 today’s Clippers & Hawks game:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Los Angeles Clippers on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Atlanta Hawks at +3.
- Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 232.
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Clippers vs. Hawks on Friday
- The Clippers have won 7 of their last 10 away games against teams with losing records
- The Over is 7-3 in the Hawks' and the Clippers' last 5 games combined
- The Clippers have covered the Spread on their last 3 road trips to the Hawks
- The Clippers have won 14 of their 22 matchups against Eastern Conference teams this season
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 NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
‘It’s a money game now’ — How LSU is using NIL to keep up in ever-evolving college football world
After falling short of expectations for three seasons, LSU drummed up as much as it could in fundraising to get the Tigers back in the national picture. Here's a deep dive into how that all works in this new era of college football.
Pacers vs. 76ers Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 14
It’s Friday, March 14, and the Indiana Pacers (36-28) and Philadelphia 76ers (22-43) are all set to square off from Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
The Pacers are currently 15-18 on the road with a point differential of 1, while the 76ers have a 3-7 record in their last ten games at home. Indiana has won the past two meetings by 14 and 13 points after Philly won the first meeting of the season in OT.
The 76ers are 2-14 over the last 16 games, while the Pacers are coming off a game-winning four-point play by Tyrese Haliburton to beat the Bucks (115-114). That Pacers' win snapped a three-game losing streak.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, 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.
Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.
Game details & how to watch Pacers vs. 76ers live today
- Date: Friday, March 14, 2025
- Time: 7:00PM EST
- Site: Wells Fargo Center
- City: Philadelphia, PA
- Network/Streaming:
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 NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.
Game odds for Pacers vs. 76ers
The latest odds as of Friday:
- Odds: Pacers (-546), 76ers (+402)
- Spread: Pacers -11
- Over/Under: 232 points
That gives the Pacers an implied team point total of 120.65, and the 76ers 114.9.
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!
Expert picks & predictions for Friday’s Pacers vs. 76ers game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes the Over between the Pacers and 76ers:
"The 76ers are in a position where you cannot back them on a game-to-game basis, just fade them, but Indiana coming off a game-winner against a rival, then taking on Philly next isn't an ideal spot. I would take a look at the Over between these two. Philadelphia has enough backups ready to earn another contract and Indiana will be more than happy to run up and down the court with its top-five tempo. It's Over or pass for me.
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections 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 today’s Pacers & 76ers game:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Indiana Pacers on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Philadelphia 76ers at +11.
- Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under on the Game Total of 232.
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Pacers vs. 76ers on Friday
- The Pacers have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against Eastern Conference Atlantic Division teams
- The Under has cashed in the Pacers' last 3 games
- The Pacers have failed to cover the Spread in their last 5 road games
- The Pacers have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against Eastern Conference Atlantic Division teams
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 NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Celtics vs. Heat Predictions: Odds, expert picks, bets, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 14
It’s Friday, March 14, and the Boston Celtics (47-19) and Miami Heat (29-36) are all set to square off from Kaseya Center in Miami.
The Celtics are currently 24-7 on the road with a point differential of 8, while the Heat have a 3-7 record in their last ten games at home. Boston is 2-0 against Miami this season with wins of 18 and 19 points.
Boston is coming off a loss at home to the Thunder (118-112) that followed a five-game winning streak. Miami lost the past five games and six of the previous seven.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, 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.
Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.
Game details & how to watch Celtics vs. Heat live today
- Date: Friday, March 14, 2025
- Time: 7:00PM EST
- Site: Kaseya Center
- City: Miami, FL
- Network/Streaming:
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 NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.
Game odds for Celtics vs. Heat
The latest odds as of Friday:
- Odds: Celtics (-298), Heat (+239)
- Spread: Celtics -7.5
- Over/Under: 214 points
That gives the Celtics an implied team point total of 109.81, and the Heat 105.89.
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!
Expert picks & predictions for Friday’s Celtics vs. Heat game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Celtics to cover the -8 and likes the first-half team total over against the Heat:
"Boston rolled Miami twice this season with victories of 18 and 19 points and it's hard not to imagine that happening again as Miami rolls in on a five-game losing streak. The Celtics are coming off a loss too, which only makes me like them more as Boston is one of the better bounce-back teams in the NBA, especially in the first-half. I could only back the Celtics here and would consider taking the Over on Celtics first-half team total if it's listed at 60.5 points or lower."
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections 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 today’s Celtics & Heat game:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Boston Celtics on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Miami Heat at +7.
- Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 214.
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Celtics vs. Heat on Friday
- The Celtics have won 13 of their last 16 games at the Heat
- Each of the Celtics' last 4 road games with the Heat have stayed under the Total
- The Celtics have failed to cover in 23 of their 43 matchups against Eastern Conference teams this season
- The Celtics have won 13 of their last 16 games at the Heat
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 NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)