ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — John Tavares redirected a shot from Morgan Rielly into the net with five seconds left in overtime to lift the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over the Anaheim Ducks in a fight-marred game Monday night.
The Leafs overcame a 3-1 deficit with three goals in the third period, including Rielly’s snap shot from the high slot that beat Anaheim goalie Ville Husso stick-side to give Toronto a 4-3 lead with three minutes left in regulation.
But Leo Carlsson, who hobbled to the locker room after taking a hard hit and falling to the ice in the first minute of the third, gathered a loose puck near the left circle and flicked a shot past Toronto goalie Anthony Stolarz to make it 4-4 with 1:39 left.
Tavares added a first-period goal, and Stolarz stopped 28 of 32 shots for Toronto, which took the ice about 1 ½ hours after general manager Brad Treliving was fired near the end of his third season, with the Maple Leafs on the verge of being eliminated from the playoffs for the first time in a decade.
Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier scored in the first 10 minutes, and John Carlson scored his first goal for the Ducks. Gauthier, who leads the Pacific Division-leading Ducks with 38 goals and 65 points, suffered an upper-body injury on a cross-check late in the first and did not return. Husso had 22 saves.
Ducks captain Radko Gudas, slowed by a lower-body injury, insisted on playing in the rematch of a March 12 game in which his knee-on-knee hit on Auston Matthews led to a season-ending injury for the Toronto captain and a five-game suspension for Gudas.
It took three seconds for the Leafs to exact some revenge, Toronto forward Max Domi and Gudas dropping the gloves and exchanging punches as soon as the puck dropped.
That set the tone for a hard-hitting game that featured a combined 85 penalty minutes, numerous scuffles and game misconducts incurred by Toronto’s Michael Pezzetta and Domi in the second.
The San Jose Sharks were back in action on Monday night as they faced the St. Louis Blues for the second time in less than a week.
The Sharks started their fourth line, who immediately brought some energy, and Adam Gaudette got an early scoring chance, hitting the post. The returning Yaroslav Askarov was forced to make a save at the other end of the ice moments later, denying Pavel Buchnevich and Jake Neighbours on back-to-back shots on goal.
It was a very high-energy game early on, with quite a few chances coming in transition for both teams. Blues defenseman Theo Lindstein would break the deadlock with his first career goal just 5:29 into the first period, giving St. Louis a very early 1-0 lead.
Robert Thomas took the first penalty of the night at 7:11 in the first period when he cleared the puck over the glass. Alex Wennberg scored on the man advantage, marking his 15th goal of the season, tying things up at a goal a piece.
Dalibor Dvorsky gave the Sharks their second power play of the night when he was called for interference at 12:39. Macklin Celebrini would quickly get a goal for his second point of the night, and 100th of the season.
Pavel Buchnevich tied things up with his 17th goal of the season late in the first period, making it a brand new hockey game. It was short-lived, though, as Macklin Celebrini scored his second of the night and tied Erik Karlsson for the second-most points in a season in Sharks history with less than a minute remaining in the period, restoring the Sharks’ lead.
Shakir Mukhamadullin was the first Shark sent to the penalty box when he was called for delay of game early in the second period. The Blues’ power play was short-lived, though, as Pius Suter was penalized for high-sticking 32 seconds later. Nothing came of either abbreviated power play, but the Sharks got another opportunity when Barclay Goodrow drew a hooking penalty nearly halfway through the period. The Sharks once again took full advantage of the power play, as Alex Wennberg scored his second of the night to make it a 4-2 game.
Shakir Mukhamadullin was called for hooking with less than a minute remaining in the middle frame, and the Blues didn’t take long to get back on the scoreboard. Philip Broberg scored the Blues’ third goal of the night, cutting the Sharks’ lead to a single goal.
The Sharks were applying quite a bit of pressure early in the third period as they looked to restore their two-goal lead. Joel Hofer was making some big plays, and even made a very dangerous, but effective play behind the net to cut off the Sharks’ attack. Around the midway point of the period, the Blues started generating some chances of their own forcing Askarov into action a couple of times.
Askarov tripped up Dylan Holloway behind the Sharks’ net with just under nine minutes remaining in regulation, giving the Blues an important power play late in the game. The penalty was served by Will Smith.
Cam Fowler tied things up with 7:07 remaining in the period, putting the Sharks in a difficult situation. The Blues had won both prior games in the season series in overtime; as a result, the Sharks needed to score as quickly as possible if they wanted to leave with two points.
With 21 seconds remaining, Adam Gaudette fired a shot from the faceoff dot, which trickled past Hofer and into the net, giving the Sharks a late lead and forcing the Blues to call a timeout.
The Sharks found a way to win after a hard-fought battle from both sides, earning the two points and preventing the Blues from getting even one.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Adam Gaudette scored with 21 seconds left, Alexander Wennberg and Macklin Celebrini each had two goals and an assist, and the San Jose Sharks beat St. Louis 5-4 on Monday night to snap the Blues' three-game winning streak.
On the rush, Gaudette flicked a wrist shot from near the left faceoff spot that trickled between the legs of goalie Joel Hofer.
Yaroslav Askarov made 22 saves for the Sharks (34-31-7), who have 75 points — tied with Seattle and two behind Nashville for the final Western Conference wild card. Los Angeles has 76 points, while St. Louis (31-31-11) has 73.
Theo Lindstein, Pavel Buchnevich, Philip Broberg and Cam Fowler scored for the Blues, and Jake Neighbours had two assists. Hofer finished with 24 saves.
Fowler scored a power-play goal to make it 4-all with 7:07 left when he took a wrist shot from the right side that beat Askarov to the glove side and slipped inside the left post.
The 19-year-old Celebrini, the No. 1 selection in the 2024 draft, has 38 goals and 63 assists — making him the sixth different teenager in NHL history with at least 100 points in a season.
At the start of Monday night, the biggest concern around the Dodgers was focused squarely on Roki Sasaki.
By the end of it, the questions had shifted to their suddenly sluggish offense.
In a 4-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians at Dodger Stadium, Sasaki pitched surprisingly well, allowing just one run and walking only two batters in four-plus innings of solid work –– a stark reversal from the 15.58 ERA he posted in a poor spring training marred by a total lack of consistent command.
Instead, it was the Dodgers’ lineup that had the biggest problems, stumbling to a third-straight disappointing performance following its eight-run outburst on Opening Day.
Early on, they had no answers for young Guardians left-hander Parker Messick, who went six scoreless innings in what was only his eighth career start. With a funky left-handed delivery and unpredictable six-pitch arsenal, he not only struck out five batters, but also allowed just two hard-hit balls. And even one of those resulted in an inning-ending double-play.
By the time Messick was done, the Guardians (3-2) had built a four-run lead, and turned things over to their traditionally stout bullpen. The Dodgers didn’t score until the ninth, by which point their two-run rally was too little, too late.
“I thought they pitched us well tonight,” manager Dave Roberts said. “(There were) a couple at-’em balls that turned into double plays I felt could have changed the inning or the game.”
Fastball command was significantly improved for Sasaki, helping him throw strikes on 45 of 78 pitches. Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesThe Dodgers’ lineup had problems, stumbling to a third-straight disappointing performance. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Alas, over their last three games, the Dodgers (3-1) have now totaled only 10 runs and 19 hits. They’ve struck out 17 times in that span, and drawn only six walks (including none on Monday).
It’s a small sample, of course –– especially for a club that was presented a team-wide Silver Slugger Award pregame for leading the National League in scoring in 2025.
But it has raised a few opening-week worries, nonetheless –– raising some uncomfortable similarities to the second-half and postseason slumps the team battled down the stretch last year.
Over their last three games, the Dodgers have now totaled only 10 runs and 19 hits. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post
What it means
The Dodgers might have the most talented roster in the majors. But that doesn’t mean they can get away with unsound fundamentals.
Monday was a reminder of that, with the team making a series of uncharacteristic mistakes.
They had two on and no outs in the third inning with Shohei Ohtani at the plate, yet came up empty after Miguel Rojas was picked off at second, Ohtani lined out chasing what would’ve been ball four and Kyle Tucker went down swinging to retire the side.
They struggled to control the running game with backup catcher Dalton Rushing behind the plate, allowing the Guardians to successfully steal a base on all three of their attempts.
And in a three-run seventh inning that allowed the Guardians to put the game away, reliever Justin Wrobleski committed several costly miscues: Failing to cleanly field a bunt to load the bases, losing Rhys Hoskins in an 0-2 count to walk in a run with two outs in the inning, then giving up a two-run double to Daniel Schneemann that put the score out of reach.
His fastball command was significantly improved, helping him throw strikes on 45 of 78 pitches even with a few wild misses mixed in. His newly added cutter gave him another weapon, accounting for two of his four strikeouts. And while he didn’t execute his trademark splitter as crisply as usual, it remained a largely unhittable pitch, generating a whiff on three of five swings.
Granted, the Guardians –– the American League’s lowest-scoring offense last year –– let him off the hook a few times, both by chasing outside the zone repeatedly and failing to punish a few mistake pitches in it.
However, the Dodgers will happily take what Sasaki gave them Monday; an outing good enough to keep them in the game early, and save the bullpen from being overworked too severely in the season’s opening week.
The defending champs had no answers for young Guardians left-hander Parker Messick. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Who’s not
Right now, just about the entire top half of the Dodgers’ lineup (outside of Will Smith, who didn’t start Monday).
Ohtani snapped a hitless streak that extended back to his first at-bat of the season by leading the game off with a bloop single to left. After that, however, he didn’t reach base again, dropping his early batting average to .167.
Tucker and Mookie Betts also went 1-for-4, leaving them hitting just .200 through the first four games of the season.
Teoscar Hernández snapped a 10 at-bat hitless streak with a single in the seventh inning –– staying alive after originally having a called third strike overturned on an ABS challenge, one of his two successful appeals in the game –– but was also quiet otherwise, finishing the night with a .143 average.
And Freddie Freeman had a 0-for-4 performance that sunk his average to .188.
To this point, those five now have the worst opening-week hitting numbers of all the Dodgers’ regular starters.
Roberts acknowledged some surprise about the slow starts his superstar core has gotten off to, especially after the strong springs all of them produced. But, he spun it as a positive in the big picture.
“For me, the takeaway is we’re 3-1 and the guys that we expect to swing the bats aren’t swinging the bats right now,” he said. “So that’s a good thing. They’ll hit.”
It just hasn’t happened yet.
Shohei Ohtani will make his season pitching debut on Tuesday. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post
Up next
Ohtani will make his season pitching debut on Tuesday, when the Dodgers and Guardians continue their three-game series. Despite a delayed spring pitching progression while hitting for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic, Ohtani should be built up to go six innings. The Guardians will counter with right-hander Tanner Bibee, who was 12-11 with a 4.24 ERA last year and gave up three runs in five innings in his first start of this season last week.
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Parker Messick #77 of the Cleveland Guardians looks on against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium on March 30, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
And he didn’t even need Jose Ramirez to hit to do it!
Parker Messick beat the Dodgers 4-2 and pitched six shutout innings, with no walks, five strikeouts and allowing only five hits. This dude is a GAMER, folks:
Jose Ramirez was chasing badly all game. He got a first inning single and a stolen base… then couldn’t come through. However he did make a great play, turning a double-play on a nice pick.
The offense came on an Austin Hedges (!) double and a Steven Kwan double in the 3rd. Angel Martinez sac bunted in between those two, but it was against a RHP so I’ll reluctantly allow it.
Then, in the seventh, the Guardians finally broke through… after singles from Austin Hedges (again!), Angel Martinez and Steven Kwan. Then, Chase DeLauter and Jose Ramirez again failed to get the job done, but Rhys Hoskins (having subbed in for Kyle Manzardo) managed to take a walk off of Justin Wrobleski to force in a run.
Finally, up stepped the Guardians’ centerfielder for the night: Daniel Schneemann, the Mormon Missile. And, he rightly took four pitches, then rocketed the fifth pitch he saw into the gap in left-center for a two-run double:
Shawn Armstrong entered for the 7th, but was picked up by Erik Sabrowski who went one and a third dominant innings.
Cade Smith does not appear to be himself yet… he gave up two runs while not having control of his secondary stuff, but eventually managed to nail down the save.
This was a HUGE win. With Ohtani and Yamomoto on deck, the Guardians needed to get this one, and they did. Now, it’s time to surprise some folks and win this series.
The Guardians ruined the Dodgers’ chance for an undefeated season, be proud. And be excited because Jose and Cade Smith will be back to their usual before you know it.
The Vancouver Canucks lost for the sixth-straight time as they fell 4-2 to the Vegas Golden Knights. Evander Kane scored in his 1,000th career game while Brock Boeser found the back of the net on the power play. As for Kevin Lankinen, he stopped 29 of the 32 shots he faced in the defeat.
Despite a decent start, the Canucks could not find a way to snap the losing streak. The second period was once again the difference, as Vancouver was outscored 3-1 in the middle frame. While the Canucks did add yet another loss to their total, a positive was that the team kept pushing to the end and had a chance to tie it up until the Golden Knights scored into the empty net with just over a minute to go.
A special moment from this game was Kane scoring in his 1,000th career game. He joins Markus Näslund as the only two players in franchise history to score while playing in their 1,000th regular-season game. Overall, Kane had one of his strongest games of the season as he led the team with five shots while logging 14:42 of ice time.
Vancouver's fighting streak also continued in this game as Teddy Blueger dropped the gloves in the second period. The Canucks have registered a fight in three straight games, which is the longest streak of the season. Vancouver's players have become a bit feistier as of late and are now up to 11 fights on the campaign.
As for Vegas, Monday marked John Tortorella's first game behind the bench. Tortorella was hired on Sunday after the Golden Knights elected to part ways with Bruce Cassidy. The win was a much-needed one for Vegas as the Golden Knights have been slipping in the standings since returning from the Olympic break.
Lastly, Lankinen had a strong bounce-back game for the Canucks. The goals he allowed were the result of blown coverage and not necessarily his fault. It was unfortunate that Vancouver's offence could not score more than twice, as he is now 1-12-1 in his last 17 games.
While there were some mistakes, the Canucks played a decent game on Monday night. They still, however, struggled in the second period, which feels like a lost cause at this point of the season. In the end, it was another successful tank game as Vancouver can now clinch 32nd overall as early as Tuesday.
Stats and Facts:
- Canucks allow at least three goals in the second period for the 13th time this season
- Brock Boeser ties Todd Bertuzzi for the fifth-most power play goals in franchise history with 79
- Filip Hronek ties Dale Tallon for 25th all-time in franchise history for power play assists among defencemen with 27
- Elias Pettersson becomes the first forward this season to record 100 blocked shots
Scoring Summary:
1st Period:
12:19- VAN: Evander Kane (13) from Jake DeBrusk
2nd Period:
7:48- VGK: Rasmus Andersson (15) from Tomas Hertl and Noah Hanifin 12:17- VAN: Brock Boeser (18) from Filip Hronek and Elias Pettersson 17:17- VGK: Shea Theodore (9) from Ivan Barbashev and Mark Stone 18:34- VGK: Reilly Smith (13) from Brayden McNabb
3rd Period:
18:50- VGK: Cole Smith (7) from Jeremy Lauzon and Nic Dowd (ENG)
Up Next:
The Canucks will start a back-to-back on Wednesday when they take on the Colorado Avalanche. These teams have played twice already this season, with the Avalanche picking up two victories. Game time is scheduled for 5:30 pm PT.
Mar 30, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights center Colton Sissons (10) fights Vancouver Canucks center Teddy Blueger (53) during the second period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
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Monday was another strong showing for the Mets’ pitching staff.
Clay Holmes had to battle through traffic and long counts in the early going, but he was able to limit the damage to just one run against before settling in during his first start of the season.
The righty retired the final seven batters he faced, but allowed a solo shot to Nolan Gorman with two outs in the bottom of the sixth to bring his night to a close.
He allowed just the two runs on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts over 5.2 IP.
“First three innings a lot of pitches, but then he attacked,” Carlos Mendoza said. “Fourth, fifth, and then the sixth inning he was pretty efficient -- overall I thought he mixed his pitch well and got a lot better as the game progressed.”
Tobias Myers then came on and provided the Mets with exactly what they were looking for, striking out two of the four batters he faced in 1.2 perfect innings.
Myers is shaping up to be a legit weapon for New York’s bullpen this season.
“He’s huge,” Mendoza said. “He’s a guy with that versatility and has the ability to get both lefties and righties out, he can give you multiple innings or just one inning if we need -- he’s a pretty important role for us, and did it again today.”
Brooks Raley followed that by working around a single in the the eighth, before turning things over to Devin Williams, who had his signature Airbender working as he retired the side in order to close out his first save as a Met.
Williams struck out one and threw all but two of his 12 pitches for strikes.
“He didn’t mess around,” Mendoza said. “He was really good.”
This continues what’s been a strong start to the season for the Mets’ bullpen, a group that's allowed just seven runs across 18 innings of work over the first four games.
“They’ve done a really good job,” the skipper said. “They’ve had to cover a lot of innings with two extra inning games out of the gate, and they’ve kept us in games so far -- we’ve asked a lot out of some of them out of necessity, but we'll just continue to keep in the mind the big picture and continue to protect guys when we need to.”
SEATTLE — The Yankees now know what the Giants must have felt like throughout the first series of the season.
After their pitching staff shut down the Giants for three straight games to start the year — and largely did the same with the Mariners on Monday — the Yankees got a taste of their own medicine.
On a chilly night at T-Mobile Park, their bats were held in check and their bullpen finally cracked in the bottom of the ninth, when Cal Raleigh delivered a walk-off single against Paul Blackburn to lift the Mariners to a 2-1 win and hand the Yankees their first loss.
After Ryan Weathers gave up one run across 4 ¹/₃ innings in his Yankees debut, the bullpen turned in 3 ²/₃ scoreless innings — making it 14 ²/₃ to start the season — before the Mariners got to Blackburn in his second inning of work. Aaron Boone had already used Fernando Cruz, Jake Bird, Brent Headrick and Camilo Doval, and had David Bednar for an inning if the Yankees had gotten the lead, so Blackburn went back out for the ninth in the 1-1 game.
Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates his walk-off single during the ninth inning against the New York Yankees at T-Mobile Park on March 30, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. Getty Images
Leo Rivas led off with a single past the dive of Ben Rice and one out later, Brendan Donovan singled on a bouncing ball up the middle to put runners on the corners.
Raleigh, who began the night on the bench after starting the year 2-for-15 with 10 strikeouts, then came through in the clutch, hooking a single down the right-field line to end it.
“If we’re going to win that game, it just felt like our best way to go was with Black[burn],” Boone said. “I thought he managed contact for the most part there, even in that final inning. … They found a couple holes and beat us.”
The Yankees had another aggressive night with the automated ball-strike system, going 5-for-5 on challenges, matching the amount of hits they tallied against a dominant Luis Castillo and the Mariners bullpen.
Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees reacts during the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on March 30, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. Getty Images
The only two hits Castillo gave up across six innings came on a bloop and a dribbler, with the Yankees racking up 17 swings-and-misses against him.
“We were having a hard time with his fastball, it was playing up tonight,” Boone said. “That low slot, he’s able to generate some swings and misses at the top. With his fastball, he was getting us to swing through some pitches.”
Weathers, who struck out seven, was solid in his Yankees debut, retiring seven straight into the fifth inning, when the first two batters reached on singles and then moved to second and third on a groundout.
Fernando Cruz then replaced Weathers and bailed him out, getting pinch-hitter Dominic Canzone and Julio Rodriguez to whiff badly at splitters, keeping it a 1-0 game.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone (17) signals for a pitching change during the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“I definitely want to be more efficient, want to be in the zone a little bit more,” said Weathers, who said he was battling some nerves in the first inning before settling in. “I don’t want to hang my hat on 4 ¹/₃ innings. I want to get deeper in the ballgame, and a lot of that comes from managing pitch count myself and not falling behind in counts.”
The Yankees took advantage of Castillo leaving the game and quickly tied it up in the top of the seventh. Ben Rice led off the frame by roping a single against lefty José A. Ferrer before Giancarlo Stanton reached on an error.
One out later, with runners on the corners, Amed Rosario pinch-hit for Ryan McMahon — to which the Mariners responded by bringing in righty Eduard Bazardo. But Rosario got the job done anyway, lifting a sacrifice fly to center to tie the game 1-1.
Cole Young #2 of the Seattle Mariners tags out Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees during the fourth inning at T-Mobile Park on March 30, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. Getty Images
The Mariners threatened to take the lead in the bottom of the seventh, putting runners on the corners with one out, but Headrick struck out Raleigh before Doval got Rodriguez to ground out — though that was it for Doval after two pitches because Boone did not want to use him for a second up this early in the season.
“I thought our whole team threw the ball well all night,” Weathers said. “Seattle threw the ball well. It was definitely a pitchers’ duel.”
DALLAS, TX - MARCH 30: Ayo Dosunmu #13 of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on March 30, 2026 at American Airlines Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Cooper Neill/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – FEBRUARY 20: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Minnesota Timberwolves handles the ball against Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Dallas Mavericks in the third quarter at Target Center on February 20, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Mavericks 122-111. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I want to give a very quick shout-out to Jack Borman, who dealt with so many titles like this one and was a great sport through all of them. Everyone tag him with screenshots of this. @jrborman13 on Twitter
It feels like blowout wins have been few and far between this year. I can’t actually speak to the truth of that statement, as much as I can speak to the “Vibes ™” but it just feels like it’s been an exhaustingly difficult year to be a Minnesota Timberwolves fan or reporter or whatever else you all out there might be.
The energy of this team was truly in the gutter at different points this year. Firing Chris Finch felt like the starting point for a mob of angry Twitterites, a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade apparently nearly happened (or it was an insider trading scandal, que sera…), and the Wolves started their deadline by trading a first-round pick swap to get out of the luxury tax.
But tonight is the type of night where we remember that moments do not define a season as much as the sheer inevitability of time does.
Chris Finch has found his way back to who he was — even if it still includes too much of Mike Conley. Giannis and the NBPA are engaging the Milwaukee Bucks, not the Minnesota Timberwolves. Most importantly, however, the Wolves’ deadline did not end with a salary dump.
Ayo Dosunmu becomes the third player in @Timberwolves history with a 15+ point/15+ rebound/10+ assist triple-double and the first since Kevin Love did so on 4/2/14 vs. MEM. Kevin Garnett did so five times. pic.twitter.com/HS0qPATTIy
It’s hard to overstate just how much Ayo Dosumnu has changed the makeup of the Timberwolves rotation and roster outlook.
On a night without Jaden McDaniels, Dosumnu contributed a triple-double. During a stretch without Anthony Edwards, it was Ayo who was frequently holding the scoring load.
Julius Randle is Julius Randle. Anthony Edwards is Anthony Edwards. Rudy Gobert is Rudy Gobert. Ayo is none of them, but he provides something that the Wolves roster had suddenly become fully devoid of: malleability.
Really feels like everything Ayo Dosunmu is doing for the Wolves — and the list is growing — is going to translate to the playoffs. I think he's become one of the Wolves' most bankable pieces.
Part of the reason the start of this season was so miserable was that all of the quote-unquote “X-Factors” had failed to be, well, anything. TJ Shannon has been dreadful outside of an OK stretch recently that included that highlight steal. Jaylen Clark has the offensive consistency of a Katamari ball trying to pick up objects slightly too large for it. Rob Dillingham isn’t even on the team anymore!!
God, it gets worse. Bones Hyland is the only good surprise from this year’s starting roster, and it took months for Finch to even explore using him.
Hope is such a wonderful thing in basketball, and the Wolves had so little to hope for that it didn’t feel like the same thing all over again.
That’s what Ayo is. He is the Superman S. He is Driving Ms. Daisy. He is smiling in the sunlight.
Is that dramatic? Maybe, but why not be dramatic? For someone who was brought in as a replacement for the vibes and skillset that left when Nickeil Alexander-Walker travelled over to Atlanta, Ayo has been lovable as his own player.
What a player he is. A shooting guard who can play just enough point guard, a rebounder who flies down the court, and a tenacious defender despite his size. What a player, man, what a player.
He was not, however, the only player on the court tonight. Rudy Gobert had an excellent game. In a Wemby-less world (and for some of you, even in this world), he would be the front-runner for Defensive Player of the Year once again. Instead, he’ll have to settle for being arguably the best center in Wolves history behind… Nikola Peković?
Most double-doubles on 75%+ FG ever:
203 — Rudy Gobert 151 — DeAndre Jordan 139 — Dwight Howard 123 — Wilt Chamberlain pic.twitter.com/yfrZvEQPqX
Despite the joking, tonight was the opposite of the Peković era Wolves or even of the Wolves of 2025’s winter start. They were balanced. While plus/minus is one of the most disingenuous stats out there, that column is greener than the true jerseys tonight.
So much has changed. The only thing buoying the early-season Wolves was their comparatively incredible injury luck. Now, even with all the outages and injuries to handle, the team feels like they’re in a much, much better place. They are now hitting their stride at the perfect time and are slated to face the Denver Nuggets for another matchup while they struggle to find any rhythm.
This has been who Minnesota has been for the past two years now. Maybe I’ll learn the lesson, not to worry so much in December when April is a mile away. Maybe I won’t, sports are a reactionary thing after all. But what is abundantly clear is that the Wolves always hit their stride in the months just before the games become even more serious. That is a sign of good coaching. It’s a sign of good roster management. Maybe it’s even a sign of a team that will, eventually, find its way over the hump.
Tonight, however, is just a regular-season matchup against a bad team. The Dallas Mavericks are not a real test of strength. That will come soon. If you all remember NAW’s coming out moment, his arrival into our collective hearts, then you should probably start clearing up the weeds for Ayo to take his own spot in the neighborhood.
Goodnight Wolves fans. Happy Monday. What a way to start the week. Nature calls.
Asked Finch why Edwards was not out there to start: “Nature calls, I guess.”
The Timberwolves get a couple of days off before taking on the Detroit Pistons on Thursday for the second time in three games. The Wolves struggled mightily against the Pistons last Saturday, putting up just 87 points without Edwards, McDaniels, or Dosunmu in the lineup.
Thursday’s game is scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM CT, airing on Amazon Prime Video.
TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 13: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns looks on while sitting on the bench due to injury as his team against the Toronto Raptors during the first half in their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on March 13, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
One of the defining traits of this Phoenix Suns team this season has been the personalities that shape it, the voices and energy that give it an identity night to night. And when you talk about the soul of this team, you do not have to search very hard to land on Dillon Brooks. He sets the tone. He brings the edge. He is the emotional current that runs through everything they do.
It has been a career year for Brooks. He is putting up 20.9 points in 30.6 minutes, adding 3.7 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and shooting 44% from the field. The production is there, but it is more than numbers. It is how he plays, how he competes, how he drags the team into the fight with him. And for more than a month now, that presence has been missing after he injured his left hand on February 21, only seven minutes into the game against Orlando.
Now, for the first time since that night, there is a shift. The injury designation no longer carries that same finality. Dillon Brooks is returning tomorrow night against the Magic, the very team he hurt his hand against.
It has not been an easy road. Surgery on his left hand, specifically the knuckle, put him on the sideline while the team tried to navigate a stretch filled with injuries across the roster. In the 50 games Brooks has played, the Suns are 30–20. Without him, things have been far less stable, the identity harder to hold onto, the edge harder to find. The team is 12-13 without him this year.
And now, with the postseason approaching, with a Play-In game looming at home, the timing matters. The corner has been turned. Phoenix is about to have its soul back on the floor, and that arrival could line up with the moment they need it most.
The Lakers took care of business on Monday night by putting the Washington Wizards to bed early. Because of that, they’re better equipped to take on the Cavaliers, who will also be on the second night of a back-to-back after defeating the Utah Jazz on the road.
For the Cavs, they’re still fighting for playoff positioning, given that they’re just a game behind the New York Knicks, who are currently on a losing streak. So there’s no doubt that Cleveland will bring it on Tuesday because they want that third seed in the Eastern Conference while the Lakers look to maintain the third spot in their own conference.
The good news for the purple and gold is that Luka Dončić will suit up in this one after serving his one-game suspension on Monday. Dončić, who will be coming off three days of rest, will have fresh legs, so it’s fair to expect him to carry a big load as usual. Meanwhile, Cleveland will have Jarrett Allen, who sat against the Jazz surely with an eye on Tuesday’s game in LA.
That said, this is the perfect opportunity for the Lakers to see how they do against an above-average team. If anything, it’s a match that could prepare them against the Oklahoma City Thunder, whom they face on the road right after.
The Lakers will go up against a Cavaliers team that is not only led by two dynamic All-Star guards in Donovan Mitchell and James Harden but has the sixth-best offensive rating in the league. Although the Cavs’ defense has been a weakness, their offense is capable enough to combat it, especially on a good day. L.A.’s perimeter defense will obviously be tested in this one and it’s going to be interesting to see how JJ Redick gameplans for it.
Note that the Cavs also average the fourth most paint touches in the league as well (26.2) and that’s not a surprise given that they employ Allen and Evan Mobley. They’re not an ideal matchup for the Lakers, as proven by the Cavs’ three-game winning streak against them dating back to 2024.
But in the lone game between both teams this season, L.A. caught a good shooting night from Jaylon Tyson and De’Andre Hunter. The latter is no longer employed by the Cavs and the former is out injured. The Lakers also weren’t playing their best basketball, contrary to now, and Harden was not a Cavalier yet.
So this is pretty much feels like both teams are seeing each other for the first time this season. It comes in a crucial time of the year, though, where both playoff teams have to look out for their overall record. Suffice it to say that this one should be competitive.
Let’s see if the Lakers can come out of it with the victory.
Notes and Updates
Since both teams are going to play on the second night of a back-to-back, there won’t be an injury report until hours before tipoff.
The Islanders didn’t give Ilya Sorokin much of a chance in their 8-3 loss to the Penguins on Monday at UBS Arena.
Now, will Patrick Roy give his Vezina Trophy candidate an immediate chance at redemption?
“We gotta talk about this one and see where we’re at,” coach Patrick Roy said ahead of Tuesday’s game in Buffalo.
Sorokin, who was repeatedly stranded by his teammates as he allowed a career-worst seven goals, said he was physically ready to play in back-to-back games.
Mentally, he was already there.
“It happens,” Sorokin said. “It’s hockey. It’s just one game.”
Goaltender Ilya Sorokin #30 of the New York Islanders reacts after allowing a goal during the third period at UBS Arena, Monday, March 30, 2026, in Elmont, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Earlier in the day, Roy sounded eager to see his star take on a heavy workload in the regular season’s final two weeks. Sorokin, who made his 12th appearance in 13 games, has made back-to-back starts just once this season, but had one of his best performances of the season in the second game of that set, recording his league-leading seventh shutout in a crucial 1-0 win over Columbus on March 22.
After Tuesday, the Islanders have two days off. Then, they start another back-to-back set, hosting Philadelphia on Friday, then traveling to face Carolina on Saturday. Another back-to-back begins on April 11, when the Islanders host Ottawa before facing Montreal in the penultimate game of the regular season. The finale — against the Hurricanes — will be their third game in four days.
“He hasn’t played a lot of volume games until now,” Roy said. “I think we’ve been managing this very well. Right now the urgency is to play game-by-game. Don’t worry about tomorrow. Worry about today.
Ilya Sorokin #30 of the New York Islanders defends the net during the second period at UBS Arena, Monday, March 30, 2026, in Elmont, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“The mind is a lot weaker than the body. The body can take a lot more than you think. It’s the mind you need to convince. I think that’s all it is. He’s been a force for us. He’s been playing so well. Every mistake that we make, he’s there to cover for them. Would I like to not give up turnovers and not give up breakaways, yes, I would love to, but that’s why we have one of the best in the game.”
Mathew Barzal broke a nine-game drought without a goal, scoring his 19th of the season. … Cal Ritchie recorded a pair of assists, extending his point streak to five games … The Islanders went 1-for-2 on the power play — after converting one of their previous 12 attempts — but also surrendered a power-play goal for the first time in five games.
Defenseman Tony DeAngelo (lower-body injury) missed his third straight game and has not yet begun skating … Defenseman Alexander Romanov (shoulder) participated in Monday’s morning skate in a noncontact jersey.
A day after pitching 1 ¹/₃ innings in relief, the displaced Mets starter was asked Monday how he will remain stretched out for the first time he’s needed in the rotation this season.
The ideal scenario for the left-hander is one in which he’s used in a piggyback role, allowing him to pitch three or four innings to remain built up.
Manaea will likely be utilized as a sixth starter on the next homestand.
“If it’s going to be like [Sunday], I don’t really know how you do it in that situation, stay stretched out,” said Manaea, who allowed two walks and one hit over his scoreless stint, which consisted of 29 pitches.
Manager Carlos Mendoza indicated there are decisions that will have to be reached regarding Manaea’s usage.
Mets pitcher Sean Manaea (59) reacts as he walks back to the dugout after ending the seventh inning at Citi Field, Sunday, March 29, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“I’m not worried about this time around,” Mendoza said. “The tricky part is if this becomes something that we are planning on doing, where we are just going to do 30 pitches in games, it will affect him. But with him being built up to 85 pitches the last time he pitched, the 29 he threw [Sunday] we’re not concerned moving forward.
“But then the decision will be, ‘Is it 50 pitches here? Is it 40? Is it another short outing?’ These are some of the things we have to keep in mind.”
Jorge Polanco has dealt with Achilles soreness the past two days, according to Mendoza, relegating him to DH duty for both games. Jared Young, who went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI, started at first base on this night to become the third Mets player to start at the position this season (Polanco and Brett Baty are the others).
“We’re not concerned [about Polanco] to the point that he is playing,” Mendoza said. “But we want to limit his exposure on the field. We have just got to treat it here and just be careful with him, especially this early.”
Luis Robert Jr. was on the bench, as the Mets look to preserve the outfielder’s legs during this stretch in which the team is scheduled to play nine straight days. Baty received his first major league start in right field — a position at which he worked in spring training.
“That third deck in the outfield is new for him,” Mendoza said. “The sound of the ball off the bat is different compared to a spring training game. You have got more people here. It’s a bigger outfield. There’s a lot of new for him there, but he’s comfortable and if anybody can do it, Brett Baty is the guy.”
SAN ANTONIO, TX -MARCH 30: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots and scores over Guerschon Yabusele #28 of the Chicago Bulls in the second half at Frost Bank Center on March 30, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The first few minutes felt uneasy, like a storm quietly building. The San Antonio Spurs weren’t sharp out of the gate. The Chicago Bulls came in swinging, pushing the tempo and landing early blows that made the Frost Bank Center crowd shift in their seats.
But then, as he so often does, Victor Wembanyama changed everything.
It didn’t happen all at once. It never really does. First came a rebound — high above everyone else. Then a quick putback. A step-back jumper. A block that sent the ball, and the crowd, into the air. Within minutes, the uneasiness was gone, replaced by a growing realization: This was about to be his night.
By the end of the first quarter, the rhythm had shifted. By the second, it belonged entirely to San Antonio.
“A sense of urgency and sharpness,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said of what he was looking for in his early timeout a minute into the game. “I thought we got it at times and we responded out of halftime. We didn’t sustain it as long as I’d wish or that I know we’re capable of.”
“There’s definitely areas we need to shore up and get consistent in,” Johnson added. “I’m always looking for teaching moments. We’re winning games and that feedback can be misleading… the standard and level of play we know we’re capable of must be acknowledged.”
Wembanyama was everywhere: gliding through defenders, stretching the floor, controlling the glass. The Bulls had no answer, only reactions. And each reaction came a step too late. As the Spurs surged ahead, the game began to tilt, then lean, then finally tip all the way over.
Still, this wasn’t a one-man show, it just felt like one at times.
Stephon Castle moved through the chaos with calm precision, threading passes, attacking gaps, and doing a little bit of everything. Each assist, each rebound, each bucket added another layer to a Spurs offense that was suddenly humming with its usual routine.
By halftime, the tension was gone. In its place: control. The second half opened the way the first one ended, with Wembanyama asserting himself. A quick burst pushed the lead beyond 20, and just like that, any lingering hope from Chicago began to fade. They fought back in spurts — a run here, a couple of tough shots there — but every push was met with an answer.
And more often than not, that answer wore No. 1. By the fourth quarter, the outcome was no longer in doubt. The Spurs weren’t just winning, they were dictating. The pace, the space, the moment.
“We’re preparing for something that only a few of us have been a part of,” Spurs forward Keldon Johnson said. “How we started today is unacceptable. We need to continue to impose our will on teams and push our best effort forward.”
When the final buzzer sounded on a 129-114 victory, it felt less like the end of a game and more like the continuation of something building and that something is going to be very dangerous. When the Spurs find their rhythm and their young star turns dominance into routine, it’s easy to see the bigger picture forming in real time.
And it’s even harder to imagine anyone stopping it.
Game Notes
With OKC’s narrow win against an undermanned Detroit Pistons team, the race for the No. 1 spot in the Western Conference might come down to the final week of the season. Spurs remain 2.5 games behind OKC and have the “lighter” schedule to close out the regular season.
Mitch Johnson was not satisfied with his team’s effort against Chicago to start, so expect him to use these last few weeks to iron out any lingering issues with the playoffs around the corner.
Wembanyama and Castle combined for 62 of the Spurs’ 129 points in the win.
Mar 30, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) heads down court after a basket during the first half against the Washington Wizards at Crypto.com...
If there was any night for Luka Doncic to not be available for as he served a one-game suspension for an accumulation of technical fouls, and any games the Lakers didn’t need him, Monday was the night.
Because even with Doncic being an MVP candidate and playing his best basketball of the season over the last month, the Lakers didn’t need him to take care of business against the tanking and lowly Wizards.
It was evident in the Lakers’ 120-101 victory on Monday at Crypto.com Arena during a game in which contributions from throughout the roster led the team to its 15th win in the last 17 games despite Doncic not playing.
LeBron James led the Lakers with a 21 point-12 assist-10 rebound triple-double, surpsssing his own record as the oldest player in league history to record a triple-double.
Tasked with more ball-handling duties, Austin Reaves struggled with his shot (4 of 11, 0 of 4 on 3-pointers) but made up for it with his inside the arc scoring and playmaking, finishing with 19 points and nine assists in 27 minutes.
Luke Kennard (19 points), Jaxson Hayes (19 points, seven rebounds and 2 blocked shots), Rui Hachimura (14 points, 6 rebounds) and Deandre Ayton (12 points on 5-of-5 shooting to go with 7 rebounds and 3 blocked shots) also scored in double figures.
LeBron James led the Lakers with a 21 point-12 assist-10 rebound triple-double. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectDeandre Ayton dunks. NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers shot 55.7% (44 of 79) against the Wizards, who are tied with the Pacers for the league’s worst record.
What it means
The Lakers improved to 49-26 on the season with Monday’s victory.
But with the Suns also beating Grizzlies, the Lakers have yet to officially clinch a spot in the playoffs and win the Pacific Division.
Jake LaRavia fights for to a rebound during the first half. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Turning point
There were two.
The first came when Jaxson Hayes dunked in transition at the 9:25 mark of the second quarter, cutting the Lakers’ deficit to 31-29 after a slower start. The play energized the Lakers on a night they lacked energy early, starting an 11-0 run.
The second was when James passed to Bronny James, his son who’s been getting rotation minutes the last few games, with the shot clock winding down late in the third quarter.
The younger James drove into the paint off the pass from his father, kicking out to Luke Kennard for a corner 3 to put the Lakers up 84-71 after the Wizards cut the Lakers’ 24-point lead earlier in the quarter to 10 multiple times.
Backup center Jaxson Hayes shot a perfect 8 of 8 from the field. Getty Images
MVP: Jaxson Hayes
It’s rare for a backup center to receive this honor.
And Hayes’ counting stats weren’t the best among the Lakers. But he injected the Lakers with an energy that they lacked early.
He shot a perfect 8 of 8 from the field.
The cherry on top: Hayes made his third 3-pointer of the season midway through the fourth.
Stat of the game: 1,228
That’s how many combined regular-season and playoff wins James has after Monday’s victory, which is tied for the most in league history with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Already the league’s all-time leader in games played, Monday was James’ 1,044th regular-season win, 30 away from Abdul-Jabbar’s record.
But James’ league-record 184 playoff victories helped him tie Abdul-Jabbar’s combined regular season and postseason record.
James would’ve already surpassed Abdul-Jabbar in combined victories if the league counted his three play-in tournament wins and 202 NBA Cup final victory.
Austin Reaves was finished with 19 points and nine assists in 27 minutes. NBAE via Getty Images
Up next
The Lakers will close out their back-to-back set when they Cavaliers on Tuesday.
The Cavaliers are also playing on the second night of a back-to-back after beating the Jazz in Salt Lake City for their sixth win in their last seven games.
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