Detroit Tigers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Time/Place: 1:05 p.m., BayCare Ballpark – Clearwater, FL
SB Nation Site:The Good Phight
Media: MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
GameThread: Tigers vs. Phillies, 1:05 p.m.
The Suns might be stuck until their stars figure out how to finish
The Phoenix Suns come limping home after a long, arduous road trip. When their plane lifted off from Sky Harbor, they were 37–27, sitting 1.5 games back of the seventh seed in the Western Conference. By the time they touched back down, they were 39–31, now 3 games back of that same spot, a subtle shift in the standings that carries a heavier weight when you feel everything that happened in between. There are plenty of reasons why, and the context matters.
This is a team that spent the entire trip without Dillon Brooks and Mark Williams, two starters who anchor both ends of the floor in different ways, and their absence was felt in the margins, in the rotations, and in the moments where you need stability and instead are searching for answers. Sprinkle in games where Grayson Allen could not go, add in the fact that Royce O’Neale, who had been a constant presence all season, missed time as well, and you start to see the shape of it. The continuity was not there. The availability was not there. The rhythm never had a chance to fully settle in.
Health has been an issue. It is not the only issue, but it is the one that keeps showing up, the one that keeps nudging everything else slightly off balance, the one that forces adjustments that are necessary but rarely ideal. And when you are navigating that over the course of a six-game road trip, it compounds. It stretches you thin. It asks players to take on roles they are still growing into, and it tests how sustainable your identity really is.
The result? A 2–4 trip that feels like it could have been more, but also one that tells a deeper story about where this team is right now, and what it is still trying to figure out as it heads home.
One of the primary reasons the Suns did not fare better on this road trip is simple: if this team wants to be better, Devin Booker has to be better late in games.
When you look at the last four games Phoenix has played, Booker has struggled in the fourth quarter, and the reason is not hard to find. Opposing defenses know exactly where the pressure point is. With so many rotation players unavailable, it becomes much easier to load up on him, to send extra bodies, to crowd his space, and to force somebody else to beat you. That is the tax of being the engine. That is the burden of being the one every defense circles before the game even tips.
You could see it clearly against San Antonio. Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson made the plan obvious: blitz everything until the ball ends up in Rasheer Fleming’s hands. That strategy worked. Fleming missed the free throws, Wemby hit the game-winner, and Phoenix walked away with another late-game lesson and another loss that felt avoidable.
Boston had a similar rhythm, only Phoenix played into it.
The Suns were so committed to getting Booker the ball late that they kept initiating actions in ways that made life easier for the Celtics’ defense. Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard were draped all over him possession after possession, and still Phoenix kept trying to force the offense through that same point of attack. The result was an offense that stalled out completely, allowing Boston to close the game on a 12-1 run and turn a competitive finish into another frustrating collapse.
Three nights prior, Toronto followed a familiar script. Booker is the driver of the offense, so naturally the Suns kept trying to put the ball in his hands and let him organize the late-game attack. Some poor officiating played its part, sure, but the larger issue remained the same. Phoenix became too predictable, too dependent on one initiation point, and when the resistance tightened, the offense did not have enough counters to survive it. The game slipped. Then it was gone.
That is three of the four losses on this trip. Because of late-game execution, because of predictable offense, and because of an inability to adapt quickly enough when teams made Booker the entire focus of their defensive plan. The only loss that does not really fit that description is Minnesota, which felt less like a choke and more like a team running out of answers.
And that is where the frustration should live. Not in the idea that Booker is incapable, because he is not. Not in pretending he is the only problem, because he is not. But if Phoenix wants to climb out of this lane it keeps drifting into, its best player has to find a way to be sharper, calmer, and more effective when defenses inevitably come hunting for him late. That is what stars are asked to solve. That is what this version of the Suns keeps running into.
So yes, there is some real cause and effect here. When there is no proper release valve around Devin Booker, it becomes harder to expect him to operate cleanly. Defenses know where the play is headed. They know who matters most. They know where to send the extra attention. That context is real, and it matters. At the same time, two things can be true. He is your max player. He is the one who is supposed to rise above moments like this and execute.
One way to create cleaner offense for Booker, especially against teams with high defensive IQ, is to place him in secondary and tertiary actions within the same possession, allowing the defense to shift first, allowing the floor to bend a little, and then giving him a better chance to either get to a clean look or create a positive possession. We saw some of that on the trip, and it worked at times. It is a smart adjustment. It is a necessary adjustment.
It also should not be necessary every single time.
Because when you watch other teams late in close games, their primary offensive players still get the ball and still make things happen. Phoenix is not some broken defensive team either. They sit 10th in defensive rating, and yet the Suns still watched Jaylen Brown score 18 points in the fourth quarter, Julius Randle put up 11, and Wemby deliver 9, including the buzzer beater. Those players were not hidden away in secondary actions all night, hoping the defense might forget about them. They got the ball, they handled the pressure, and they executed.
That is the standard.
Yes, I think it is a good idea to avoid force-feeding Booker late to the point that opposing defenses can load up on him and choke off the entire possession before it starts. That part is basketball survival. That part is smart. But it also should not have to live there permanently. At some point, your best player has to be able to take the ball in those moments, see the coverage, absorb the pressure, and still deliver. That is what this league asks of stars. That is what Phoenix needs from Devin Booker.
When you look at Devin Booker’s fourth quarter production over the last four games, the problem becomes pretty clear. He is averaging 5.0 points, but doing it on 35.3% shooting. He has not hit a three. His assist-to-turnover ratio sits at -0.6, and he is a -17 in plus/minus. That is the part of the story that keeps showing up late, and it is hard to ignore.
What makes it feel so strange is everything else he is doing.
Over those same four games, Booker is second in the NBA in scoring at 31.8 points per game. He has poured in 127 total points, yet only 20 of them have come in the fourth quarter. So the scoring volume is there. The aggression is there. The burden is certainly there. But when games tighten, when the floor shrinks, when defenses stop messing around and start sending real pressure, that is where Phoenix has needed more from its best player.
In short, when the defenses get tougher, Devin Booker has to get tougher. That is the blunt truth. It feels weird saying considering that Booker has been one tough son of a bitch this season, but to be the best, you have to rise above what the opposition is attempting to do to you.
Now, there is context here, and it should not be ignored. He is missing key pieces around him, and that absolutely affects what late-game offense looks like. The spacing changes, the counters change, and the trust points in a possession change. But one of the biggest issues hurting Phoenix right now is that there has been no real release valve in the form of Jalen Green.
Green has scored 81 points over the last four games, which looks good at a glance, until you see where those points are coming from. 55 of them have come in the first half. That is where the split gets interesting and troubling. In the first half, Green is shooting 45.8% from the field and 42.9% from beyond the arc. Once the second half arrives, and especially as the game leans into winning time, his production falls off a cliff. During this losing stretch, he is shooting 26.5% from the field and 20% from deep after halftime.
So Booker is carrying the early burden and fading late. Green is contributing early and disappearing later. And when both of those trends hit in the same game, Phoenix runs into the exact problem that has defined so much of this road trip, an offense that can survive for long stretches, but not always close. That is where the Suns keep getting stuck.
So again, two things can be true at once.
Devin Booker has to be better in the fourth quarter, especially when you are measuring him against the opposing team’s best players, the ones who are stepping into those same moments and delivering. And Jalen Green has to do his part to make life easier on Booker, to be a real threat that defenses have to respect when the game tightens. Because right now, that balance is not there. During this losing stretch, Green is shooting 14.3% from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter, and when that shot is not falling, it allows defenses to stay locked in on Booker without fear of being punished.
Yes, context exists. Yes, injuries have reshaped what this team looks like on a nightly basis. But that is part of the league. That is part of every season. Champions adjust. They find solutions within the reality in front of them. They do not wait for perfect conditions to execute.
Phoenix is not there yet. Not this season.
BOOK:But what you are looking for is the beginning of those habits. The ability to recognize what defenses are doing, to counter it in real time, and to execute with purpose when the game is on the line. This road trip, frustrating as it may feel, offered plenty of those moments. Moments where the Suns were tested. Moments where they came up short. Moments that can either sit with you or sharpen you. The hope is they choose the latter.
Because if they do, these losses stop being empty. They start becoming part of something, small steps that, over time, can turn nights like these into something different when it matters most.
SB Nation Reacts: Matt Shaw should be in right field if Seiya Suzuki can’t go on Opening Day
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cubs fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Earlier this week I asked you in the SB Nation Reacts survey who should be in right field for the Cubs if Seiya Suzuki is not ready for Opening Day.
Also earlier this week, Cubs manager Craig Counsell stated that Matt Shaw would be his choice to be in that position.
And the majority of you agreed with Counsell:
Honestly, I don’t think I agree with this choice. Shaw has looked… well, adequate at best in right field. He’s made a couple of misplays and the eye test says he doesn’t really have the arm for right field. Personally? If it were up to me, I’d put Dylan Carlson out there. He’s at least played the position before and he’s a switch-hitter. Carlson has also had a good spring and is almost certainly going to make the team.
When the update on Suzuki’s injury was made on Tuesday and the Cubs got the good news that it was “minor,” Counsell said he’d wait until Saturday to make a decision about whether Suzuki would open the year on the injured list. So, as always, we await developments.
There were three questions asked of all SB Nation Reacts survey members this week, all having to do with the World Baseball Classic and international baseball in general.
All of the first three answers were good things about the WBC. Certainly, high-intensity baseball, the choice of the plurality, was a good thing. But I liked the player energy and celebrations and that was my choice. That’s the sort of thing we don’t often see in MLB, and I really liked seeing players from countries like Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and others really seem to be having fun. Even the Italian-Americans representing Italy made the WBC a happy place with their espresso machine celebration. Speaking of which…
Can’t disagree with that one.
I voted for “it should happen more often.” I really enjoy these events, as well as MLB teams playing overseas. Having gone to both the London Series and Tokyo Series games in which the Cubs were involved, I can tell you that even in the UK, not a baseball hotbed, people seemed into the event. And Japanese folks were just overjoyed to have the Tokyo Series.
I am not sure when the next WBC will be held — I have read both 2029 and 2030. The date will likely be part of the next CBA negotiation. Again, as always, we await developments.
This edition of SB Nation Reacts is sponsored by FanDuel.
Spring Training Game Discussion for the St. Louis Cardinals vs the New York Mets
Less than a week away from the start of the 2026 regular season, the St. Louis Cardinals will send Matthew Liberatore to the mound for a Spring Training matchup against the New York Mets at Clover Park with a start time of 12:10pm. MLB.com shows that the Mets will start Tobias Myers.
2026 Atlanta Braves opponents: AL East
As usual, this figures to be the strongest division in baseball — one where you could make an argument for four teams and if you squinted really hard, a fifth one as well. Still, this division has sent the American League representative to the World Series for the past two seasons in a row and there’s every opportunity for this collection of clubs to make it three in a row.
Baltimore Orioles
2025 season: 75-87
When do they play the Braves: Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25 at 7:05 p.m. ET. Sunday, July 26 at 1:35 p.m. ET. All games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards
I feel like the Braves and Orioles are kindred spirits. Both teams had big expectations for 2025. Both teams fell flat on their faces for various reasons. Both teams went into the offseason needing at least one more starting pitcher in order to really seem set for the upcoming season. The Orioles were the ones who went into the free agent market in order to pick up a starter, as they’ll now be heading into the season with Chris Bassitt joining their pitching staff.
Bassitt will be joining the likes of Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Shane Baz, Dean Kremer and Zach Eflin. While none of these guys are particularly dominant in their own right, that’s a rotation that could certainly give any lineup fits on any given day and honestly, you can do a lot better than having five decent arms instead of one great arm and four arms who have plenty of flaws. That’s not to say that this crew doesn’t have their flaws — their ceiling is low and their floor is pretty low as well, so while the O’s could have a perfectly fine rotation, it’s also possible that this crew ends up being a liability like they were last season.
It also doesn’t help that the bullpen doesn’t have a lot to write home about. Ryan Helsley is here now but he’ll have a lot to prove after he somehow finished with a 4.50 ERA and 4.14 FIP in 2025. Even with all of the concerns that Helsley has going into this season, he still appears to be the best hurler in this bullpen — which may or may not be concerning. Andrew Kittredge won’t be here for Opening Day, either, so this relief corps will already be a bit shorthanded heading into the upcoming season.
Speaking of shorthanded, that’s how this lineup will be as well. Jordan Westburg’s elbow injury is going to keep him out through at least April and then they’ll also be missing Jackson Holliday to start the season. They do have Pete Alonso at first base now and Baltimore is hoping that his power-hitting will become contagious with a lineup that has spent a long time scuffling now. If everybody lives up to what’s on the back of their baseball cards then they may be able to slug their way out of any holes that the pitching staff may leave them in if they aren’t clicking as well. If not then this could be a long Summer in Baltimore. Sounds familiar, right?
Boston Red Sox
2025 season: 89-73
When do they play the Braves: Three-game series May 15-17 at Truist Park, Three-game series May 26-28 at Fenway Park
Atlanta’s traditional interleague rivals appear primed to make another push for the Postseason. If that happens then Roman Anthony is going to have a lot to say about it. As his presence on Team USA during the WBC would seem to indicate, he appears to be on a star trajectory and he’ll also have to be the straw that stirs the drink for this lineup. He’ll also have to pride most of the power, since this team’s Achilles heel may be their lack of power-hitting. Maybe we’ll see Willson Contreras smack baseballs all around Fenway but outside of that, this team is definitely lacking a bit when it comes to real slugging and it could come back to bite them when it comes to making noise in October.
Boston’s rotation certainly appears ready to pick up the slack. Garrett Crochet is a superstar, Ranger Suárez is a great addition to this rotation and his presence should help take some pressure off of fellow addition Sonny Gray. Gray should settle into the middle of this rotation alongside Brayan Bello and Johan Oviedo has the potential to return to what he was before he went down due to Tommy John surgery a while back. Meanwhile with the relievers, Aroldis Chapman continues to be Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock is also an impactful arm coming out of the pen. Those two will help shorten games at the end of this bullpen but the Red Sox are likely going to be hoping that their starters can get straight to these two without any issues because there isn’t a lot of quality behind them.
Overall, the Red Sox seem like a Postseason contender — it’s just a matter of how they’ll fare in the always-tough AL East. If all goes well for them (mainly if they can start hitting the ball hard and if the rotation can carry them to glory) then a divisional title is certainly possible. If the power outage continues then they’ll be on the outside looking in or having to scratch and claw for another Wild Card spot.
New York Yankees
2025 season: 94-68
When do they play the Braves: August 7 at 7:05 p.m. ET, August 8 at 3:05 p.m. ET and August 9 at 1:35 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees have essentially decided to run it back, as they certainly didn’t have a flashy offseason by any means. That’s not necessarily a bad thing for a team that basically sauntered into the Postseason last year — even though they came up short in the divisional race. Perhaps that’s why the grumbling amongst Yankees fans that they’re choosing to simply go again with what they’ve got could be understandable.
As such, any preview that you’ve seen about the Yankees from 2025 could largely be applied to 2026. We know what Aaron Judge is going to provide. We know what Max Fried is going to provide. Will Trent Grisham slot into center field as a perfect fit for this team? Will Ryan Weathers serve as a reliable rotation arm for this group of starters? Will the rotation be able to stay afloat before both Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón make their return from injury?
Outside of those questions, there’s a lot to like here(as much as you can like about the New York Yankees) with this squad. There’s a reason why they won 94 games last season and could’ve been primed for a rematch with the Dodgers in the World Series. However, they’ll have to be just as good this season if they want to reclaim their spot on the top of the American League mountain.
Tampa Bay Rays
2025 season: 77-85
When do they play the Braves: September 8 and 9 at 7:15 p.m. ET. September 10 at 12:15 p.m. at Truist Park.
Well, the good news is that the Rays will be back in their home of Tropicana Field as it appears to be ready for big league baseball once again following the disastrous effects of Hurricane Milton. They’re going to need a lot to go their way in order to contend in this division, as they appear to be the fifth-best team in a five-horse race of thoroughbreds.
That’s not to say that all hope is lost here, as the Rays have managed to defy expectations in the past in order to upset the apple cart in this division. The issue is that the Rays are clearly short on talent compared to the rest of the division. Sure, Junior Caminero is looking like a star and he’s got guys like Jonathan Aranda and Yandy Díaz around him but outside of that, you have to look really hard to find some talent that’s ready to make impact production right now. This is a young team that’s going through a retooling and unelss there are some more surprise breakouts, this team seems destined to be fighting just to avoid the AL East cellar.
The pitching staff should be very good, though, which is why you shouldn’t write them off as being an also-ran. If Shane McClanahan can return to form now that he’s finally healthy then he should perfectly compliment a rotation that also has the likes of Drew Rasmussen and Ryan Pepiot as well. The bottom portion of this rotation overperforming would be crucial to seeing this team pull off a magical run. Steven Matz and Nick Martinez would have to be rock solid — or they could just wait for their hot prospects (like Joe Boyle and Ian Seymour) to emerge and maybe they could hit the ground running. The bullpen would also have to be way more effective outside of Griffin Jax and Edwin Uceta (once he’s healthy) in order for Tampa Bay to make it happen.
On paper, this is a last place team in the AL East. In reality? The Rays have shocked us all before and it’ll have to be a major shock again if they can become a contender in 2026.
Toronto Blue Jays
2025 season: 94-68
When do they play the Braves: June 2-4, all at 7:15 p.m. ET at Truist Park
The fact that the Dodgers had to completely empty the tank in order to beat this team should tell you the quality that this team had last season. The good news is that they’re bringing back most of the players from that run. The bad news is that they’ve lost Bo Bichette and also outfield slugger Anthony Santander is going to be out long-term. Toronto did manage to add Jesús Sánchez in order to help cover for that huge loss of production and they also added Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce to their rotation as well. The Kazuma Okamoto signing seems like a perfect fit for them as well.
The big question for the Jays is whether or not they’ll have the same level of production from both their stars and some unexpected sources as well. George Springer producing a 5.2 fWAR season at Age-35 out of nowhere was massive for them and it’s tough to envision them reaching those same heights without him at least coming close to that level of production. Still, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is here, Alejandro Kirk is here and the rest of the lineup is rock solid as well. Toronto’s rotation is also filled to. the brim with talent and they’ve got a perfectly reliable closer in Jeff Hoffman as well. Everything came together for the Blue Jays last season and yet they came up painfully short. Will they have the fortitude to make sure it all comes together again so they can return? We’ll see what happens.
Amari Allen NBA mock draft projection: Where Alabama star is expected to land
March Madness is underway and today's college stars have a chance to cement themselves in this summer's NBA draft class. The 2026 draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft, Alabama's Amari Allen is expected to go in the first round.
Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the forward's draft night will play out.
Amari Allen 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 26 overall, Atlanta Hawks
All picks based on Tankathon lottery projection
Kalbrosky's Analysis:
Alabama's Amari Allen is a 6-foot-7 freshman who averaged 12.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists with 1.7 "stocks" (combined steals and blocks) per game for the Crimson Tide during SEC conference play. The SEC All-Freshman wing also shot 39.5 percent on 3-pointers while attempting 4.8 shots per game beyond the arc. Allen is a good connective piece who plays hard and knows how to make the right play.
See USA TODAY's full mock draft here
Amari Allen player profile
(all stats as of March 15)
- Position: Forward
- Current Team: Alabama
- 11.7 points per game
- 7.1 rebounds per game
- 3.1 assists per game
- 45.5% field goal percentage
- 36.5% three-point field goal percentage
Atlanta Hawks 2026 projected draft picks
- No. 7 (via NOP), No. 22 (via CLE) and No. 57 (via BOS)
All picks based on Tankathon lottery projection
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Amari Allen NBA mock draft projection: Where Alabama star is expected to land
Nets vs. Knicks preview: different views from different boroughs
Yesterday was a dream if you know anything about college basketball … or the upcoming NBA Draft.
A.J. Dybansta dropped 35 and 10 (despite the loss), Cameron Boozer had 22 and 13 (despite the tight win), Darius Acuff Jr. did Darius Acuff Jr. like things. It was great and with the Nets have a lottery pick, likely a high one and two seconds at 33 and 44, there’s a big positive. Watching the NCAA tournament gave me some hope, because I know that one, two or three of these players will be playing in Barclays one day soon.
As Ziaire Williams said two days ago at a Special Olympics event at the Brooklyn Basketball Training Center, “We have something very special brewing here in Brooklyn. A year or two from now we’ll be in the mix for the playoffs and winning a lot more games.” Yup, hope springs eternal.
March Madness also helped me to forget about current circumstances at Barclays, particulary the beating Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jared McCain, and the OKC Thunder gave the Nets a few days ago. Was it expected? Maybe, but man did it feel like EVERYTHING went in for the Thunder.
Tonight, the Nets will hope to bring some intensity back in their building as they will be taking on their crosstown rivals in the New York Knicks. The Knicks, who are third in the Eastern Conference with a 45-25 record, are looking to prove that they can get over the hump in this year’s playoffs. With the season winding down, games like this will have separate meanings for both squads. For the Nets, tank, tank, tank. For the Knicks, use this game as preparation to get ready to win a championship.
Where To Watch
Catch today’s action at 7:30 p.m. ET on the YES Network and NBA League Pass, as well as streaming on the Gotham Sports App. You.’ll also be able to watch on MSG
Injury Report
Michael Porter Jr. (left hamstring strain), Noah Clowney (right wrist sprain), Day’Ron Sharpe (left thumb surgery), and Egor (left plantar fascia injury management) will be out. Ziaire Williams is questionable with left hand soreness. The three two-ways will be available as will 10-day Malachi Smith. Expect them to get a good run.
For the Knicks, Josh Hart (knee) and Deuce McBride (pelvis) will be out of play.
The Game
If I were to be a Knicks fan, I would be concerned about my chances in this year’s playoffs. Despite winning their last four games, the Knicks have lost key games against opponents with similar championship hopes. On February 19, 126-111 loss to the Pistons. February 24, 15 point loss to the Cavs. March 4th, three point loss to OKC, and so on and so forth. If the Knicks want to bring a championship to the Mecca, wins against the top teams matter, especially with everyone at the point where they are getting ready for April.
The Knicks chances at success start with Jalen Brunson, who will most likely have his way tonight. Averaging 26.3 points on 46% shooting, Brunson is a master of creating his own shot with his level of pace. Karl-Anthony Towns has a chance to go off as well, as he grew up right across the bridge and down the turnpike to Piscataway. With averages of 20 and 11.8 rebounds, Towns could get Claxton in foul trouble early with his level of physicality. And there is no back-up. None.
For the Nets, the main objective is just to have fun. I gotta say it is really cool to see all the Long Island guys get their shot and show what they can do. The world is noticing it as well.
Then, there’s the tank which with the loss of Michael Porter Jr. is now in high gear.
And of course, we have to note that if the Nets go down tonight, it will be their 14th straight loss in the Battle of the Boroughs, extending what is already a record in the Nets vs. Knicks rivalry. Do not expect to hear many Nets fans either. This one has the potential to be quite ugly.
Player to Watch
Mikal Bridges is not having a good time. The former Net has become the whipping boy for Knicks fans who for whatever reason are disappointed in their team’s season. Add to that what the Nets got for Bridges — five first rounders, all but one unprotected; a first round swap, also unprotected; a second rounder later traded for two future seconds, etc. etc. — and what the Knicks agreed to pay him — four years and $150 million — and you have a recipe for fan angst. “Worst trade ever” is a growing mantra, even if inaccurate.
Indeed things reached a bit of low point the other night when Mike Brown played him for only 21 minutes.
“We all have to play better. It’s no secret Mikal hasn’t shot the ball well, but he’s given us life at times and given us life the right way at times,” Brown said. “I thought he was fantastic at Indiana, on both ends of the floor. It’s not just Mikal, it’s us collectively as a group.”
Not a great endorsement. You might call it damning by faint praise.
And indeed, he has been in a slump. As Javesh Pagar of SI wrote this week:
Brown is not wrong to point at the bigger picture, but the numbers make it hard to look away from Bridges specifically. Over his last six games, he is averaging just 6.5 points on 32 percent from the floor and under 21 percent from three. He went scoreless against the Lakers, got benched in crunch time against the Clippers, and has not reached 15 points in six straight outings.
Of course, should the Knicks win it all, still a good if not great possibility — and Bridges is a key part of their first NBA championship in 53 years, New York will have won the trade, period. The O’Brien Trophy trumps all.
And if he has a good game tonight, Knick fans will turn again on the 29-year-old and anoint him savior of the day. It’s the nature of the beast at MSG.
The Vault
I had to.
FYI, Jay-Z’s company, Roc Nation, has announced the music titan will perform two hometown shows at Yankee Stadium over the summer.
More reading: Posting and Toasting. SB Nation NBA, New York Post, New York Daily News, Clutch Points, Nets Wire, Steve’s Newsletter
- Brooklyn Nets Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
- New York Knicks Game Notes – New York Knicks
- Knicks take on the Nets, seek 5th straight win – AP
- Knicks’ Josh Hart to sit out vs. Nets due to right knee issue – Jared Schwartz – New York Post
Darryn Peterson NBA mock draft projection: Where Kansas star is expected to land
March Madness is underway and today's college stars have a chance to cement themselves in this summer's NBA draft class. The 2026 draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft, Kansas's Darryn Peterson is expected to go in the first round.
Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the guard's draft night will play out.
Darryn Peterson 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 2 overall, Washington Wizards
All picks based on Tankathon lottery projection
Kalbrosky's Analysis:
While he is no longer perceived as the near-certain No. 1 overall pick that he once was due to relative inconsistency and injury issues, many scouts and evaluators feel that Darryn Peterson is the most talented player in this class. The Wizards would put the All-Big 12 guard in a strong position to begin his career alongside Trae Young and Anthony Davis. It is incredibly rare to find a prospect who is able to score as efficiently as Peterson while holding a usage rate as high as his has been this season.
See USA TODAY's full mock draft here
Darryn Peterson player profile
(all stats as of March 15)
- Position: Guard
- Current Team: Kansas
- 19.8 points per game
- 4.4 rebounds per game
- 1.7 assists per game
- 44.2% field goal percentage
- 38.4% three-point field goal percentage
Washington Wizards 2026 projected draft picks
- No. 3, No. 53 (via MIN) and No. 60 (via OKC)
All picks based on Tankathon lottery projection
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Darryn Peterson NBA mock draft projection: Where Kansas star is expected to land
Why Knicks fans shouldn't worry about Mikal Bridges
It’s no secret that a loud contingent of the Knicks faithful is ready to hit the panic button onMikal Bridges following his latest offensive stupor. Given the massive expectations and the absolute haul of picks the front office surrendered to get him, watching him whiff open layups can cause understandable frustration.
But before you call up local sports radio to demand head coach Mike Brown bench the $150 million man, understand this is more of a short-term nuisance than a critical threat. You need only look back to last season, or Bridges’ whole career, to see there’s nothing to worry about.
Let’s break down just how rough this downturn has been, first.
Since the calendar flipped to March, the 29-year-old wing has been in an absolute offensive freezer.
Bridges has failed to eclipse 15 points in any of the last nine games, averaging 8.3 points a night on abysmal efficiency. He’s shooting 42.9 percent from two and 24.3 percent from three, far below his usual averages and his season as a whole.
Rock bottom came against the Lakers on March 8, when he played 27 minutes and posted a zero in the scoring column, going 0-6 from the floor. He’s only been to the line eight times during this stretch, exacerbating the dry spell by not getting easy looks.
Yet, despite the ragged scoring, Bridges isn't pouting. He isn’t demanding shots, forcing bad looks, or throwing up his hands in frustration.
Instead, he’s still digging in defensively, still running the floor hard, and making other plays. He has averaged 1.7 stocks in his shrinking minutes.
So, why shouldn't this mid-March meagerness matter in the grand scheme of things?
First, Bridges, like every other player who has ever touched a basketball, goes through slumps. And as soon as you look beyond these last two weeks, you realize how strong a season he’s had.
He’s otherwise averaging 16-4-4, shooting 59 percent from two, 39 percent from three, and doing more cardio than anybody else on the team despite never missing a game. He's been exactly the efficient, two-way third-ish option the Knicks needed alongside Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns for the vast majority of the 2025-26 campaign.
Then there’s the Iron Man tax. Bridges plays every single game, his long-vaunted active consecutive games played streak continually growing, now over 625 games.
While other guys tweak a hamstring, sit out a back-to-back, or take a rest day to get their minds and bodies right, Bridges stays on the floor. When fatigue hits, he just has to work through his slumps and heavy legs in real-time, and we’re likely seeing it now.
In fact, we saw it plenty of times last season. The reason you don’t remember is because much more important, memorable things happened soon after.
All that matters is the playoffs. Look no further than Bridges’ massive games to help New York win their series against Detroit and Boston.
In the meantime, it is mid-March, or the dog days of the season. The Knicks are close to locked into the second or third seed in the East, and there isn’t much to talk about when you’re largely rolling.
Despite Bridges’ recent offensive woes, the Knicks are 20-7 in their last 27 games, sitting pretty at 45-25. The next most hot-button issue on the team is the battle for rotation spot 10.
Ultimately, Bridges is a proven playoff performer who knows how to shoot his way out of a rut. The Knicks are built for the postseason, so let him work out the kinks now. When the games truly matter, history shows he’ll be ready.
Bennett Stirtz NBA mock draft projection: Where Iowa star is expected to land
March Madness is underway and today's college stars have a chance to cement themselves in this summer's NBA draft class. The 2026 draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft, Iowa's Bennett Stirtz is expected to go in the first round.
Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the guard's draft night will play out.
Bennett Stirtz 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 16 overall, Toronto Raptors
All picks based on Tankathon lottery projection
Kalbrosky's Analysis:
The Raptors could use another guard and should have Bennett Stirtz on their priority list. After transferring from Division II to a mid-major and then to a high-major program, he is at the top of the class in creating his own shot off the dribble in isolation or the pick and roll. The All-Big Ten guard can also finish plays from dribble handoffs. Stirtz, however, occasionally struggled against highly ranked teams like Iowa State, Illinois, Michigan State and Nebraska. But the Raptors play at a slow pace, which would translate well for Stirtz, who is doing the same at Iowa.
See USA TODAY's full mock draft here
Bennett Stirtz player profile
(all stats as of March 15)
- Position: Guard
- Current Team: Iowa
- 20 points per game
- 2.5 rebounds per game
- 4.5 assists per game
- 49.2% field goal percentage
- 37.6% three-point field goal percentage
Toronto Raptors 2026 projected draft picks
- No. 17 and No. 47
All picks based on Tankathon lottery projection
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bennett Stirtz NBA mock draft projection: Where Iowa star is expected to land
Braylon Mullins NBA mock draft projection: Where UConn star is expected to land
March Madness is underway and today's college stars have a chance to cement themselves in this summer's NBA draft class. The 2026 draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft, UConn's Braylon Mullins is expected to go in the first round.
Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the guard's draft night will play out.
Braylon Mullins 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 20 overall, Charlotte Hornets
All picks based on Tankathon lottery projection
Kalbrosky's Analysis:
Braylon Mullins, a five-star recruit and former McDonald's All-American, missed the start of the season due to an ankle injury. But he has returned to action for the Huskies and has shown what makes him such an appealing player. He is a useful off-ball threat, which gives him an immediately practical role at the next level. The Big East All-Freshman wing is shooting 37.1 percent on 3-pointers since moving into the starting lineup.
See USA TODAY's full mock draft here
Braylon Mullins player profile
(all stats as of March 15)
- Position: Guard
- Current Team: UConn
- 12 points per game
- 3.5 rebounds per game
- 1.4 assists per game
- 43.5% field goal percentage
- 34.5% three-point field goal percentage
Charlotte Hornets 2026 projected draft picks
- No. 13, No. 20 (via PHX) and No. 42 (via GS)
All picks based on Tankathon lottery projection
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Braylon Mullins NBA mock draft projection: Where UConn star is expected to land
GDT: Here comes the money
First pitch against the Boston Red Sox is at 1:05 at Charlotte Sports Park and the Rays will be providing tv and radio coverage.
Dennis Rodman will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in April
Dennis Rodman is set to be a two-time Hall of Famer. Yes, a two-time Hall of Famer.
Rodman will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on April 17 as part of WrestleMania Weekend, ESPN reported Friday.
The five-time NBA champion with the Bulls and Pistons had a run with World Championship Wrestling beginning in 1997.
He will join the WWE Hall of Fame’s celebrity wing, which includes pro athletes like Pete Rose, William Perry, Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali.
The unique distinction will make him the only player in the Basketball and WWE Hall of Fames.
Rodman wrestled alongside the legendary Hulk Hogan in a pair of tag team matches.
Controversially, he also missed a Bulls practice before the 1998 NBA Finals for a “Monday Night Nitro” prior to a pay-per-view match, in which the duo faced Diamond Dallas Page and Karl Malone at Bash at the Beach in 1998.
His last match with WCW came in 1999 at the Road Wild event.
Rodman will be inducted alongside Stephanie McMahon, A.J. Styles and the tag team Demolition in Las Vegas.
But Rodman will be the only one of the five to have experienced such glory before. He was one of 10 members of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2011 after a 14-year career.
Rodman led the NBA in total rebounds seven times, averaging 13.1 for his career. He was also named Defensive Player of the Year twice and was an eight-time All-Defensive Team member.
He won back-to-back titles with Detroit in 1989 and 1990 and three consecutive from 1996-98 with Chicago.
Rodman wrapped up his career with one-year stints with the Lakers and Mavericks before retiring in 2000.
Recently, Rodman has come under fire from his daughter, Trinity — who plays for the NWSL’s Washington Spirit — for his partying lifestyle as she was growing up.
“We had an expedition and we kind of lived in that for a little bit,” Trinity said on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast in 2024. “We tried to live with him but he’s having parties 24/7, he is bringing random b—hes in. He loves the spotlight. He loves the cameras.”
Still, Rodman will have another turn in the spotlight with his WWE recognition.
Brayden Burries NBA mock draft projection: Where Arizona star is expected to land
March Madness is underway and today's college stars have a chance to cement themselves in this summer's NBA draft class. The 2026 draft is expected to take place in late June. In USA TODAY's latest mock draft, Arizona's Brayden Burries is expected to go in the first round.
Here's how USA TODAY currently projects the guard's draft night will play out.
Brayden Burries 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 10 overall, Milwaukee Bucks
All picks based on Tankathon lottery projection
Kalbrosky's Analysis:
Arizona freshman Brayden Burries had two breakout games in January, which helped solidify his draft stock. But the All-Big 12 guard has continued to display his tantalizing talent, scoring 31 points with seven rebounds and five steals against Colorado on March 7 and 20 points with 12 rebounds and five assists during a victory against No. 14 Kansas on Feb. 28. Burries has proven productivity and that he is able to defend, relocate, move the ball and make 3-pointers off the dribble.
See USA TODAY's full mock draft here
Brayden Burries player profile
(all stats as of March 15)
- Position: Guard
- Current Team: Arizona
- 15.9 points per game
- 4.7 rebounds per game
- 2.6 assists per game
- 49.2% field goal percentage
- 36.7% three-point field goal percentage
Milwaukee Bucks 2026 projected draft picks
- No. 10
All picks based on Tankathon lottery projection
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brayden Burries NBA mock draft projection: Where Arizona star is expected to land
Spring GameThread: Jays @ Twins
Spring Training is winding down.
The Jays sent some regulars to Fort Myers to play the Twins and Max Scherzer gets the start. Straw, Lukes, and Sanchez are playing in the outfield. Schneider is there to DH. And Tyler Heineman and Leo Jimenez are playing too.
I’ve enjoyed watching Arjun Nimmala and Josh Kasevich too and they are playing. You get the feeling that, at some point, both will be part of the team.
We’ve hit the time of the spring that I’m looking for better at bats from the players, more like how they want to look in the regular season.
Simeon Woods Richardson starts for the Twins, so we can get a sense of what could have been.
The Twins have a little news, Liam Hendriks has been ‘given his release’. He had an opt out one week before opening day if the team didn’t add him to the 40-man and the Twin choose not to. He threw 6 spring innings, allowing 7 hits, 2 earned, 3 walks and 4 strikeouts.