Luke Kennard, LeBron James lead Lakers to Game 1 win over Kevin Durant-less Rockets

So much of the dialogue leading into Saturday was about how the Lakers would withstand being without Luka Doncic (left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (left oblique strain) during their playoff series against the Rockets. 

But within 24 hours, the dynamic shifted, with Rockets star Kevin Durant popping up on the injury report because of a right knee contusion he suffered during practice earlier in the week. 

And the Lakers were the ones who took advantage of their opponent missing their leading scorer, beating the Rockets 107-98 in Game 1 of their best-of-seven first-round series on Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena. 

“We were really poised as a team,” coach JJ Redick said. “We had a great next-play mentality. Wasn’t a perfect game. None of these games are gonna be perfect. Got contributions from a lot of people in a lot of different ways, and made enough winning plays, despite the turnovers and the offensive rebounds.”

So much of the dialogue leading into Saturday was about how the Lakers would withstand being without Luka Doncic (left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (left oblique strain) during their playoff series against the Rockets.  NBAE via Getty Images
And the Lakers were the ones who took advantage of their opponent missing their leading scorer, beating the Rockets 107-98 in Game 1 of their best-of-seven first-round series on Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena.  NBAE via Getty Images
They turned the ball over 20 times, helping the Rockets stay in the game with 24 points off those giveaways.  NBAE via Getty Images

Offense didn’t come easily for the Lakers, either.

They turned the ball over 20 times, helping the Rockets stay in the game with 24 points off those giveaways. 

But the Lakers’ intentionality with their offense led to 60.6% shooting from the field (40 of 66) and 52.6% shooting from beyond the 3-point arc (10 of 19). 

“We did a good job,” Redick said. “The guys that were handling versus pressure, overall, did a nice job of getting us organized, and we ran a lot of the stuff we wanted to run, and we got a lot of good stuff. When we did shoot the ball, we were efficient. We missed some free throws. But again, it’s just this is going to be, can we take care of the ball. Over the course of seven games, can we take care of the ball and can we limit their offensive rebounds?”

Luke Kennard led the way with 27 points on 9-of-13 shooting, making all five of his 3s. LeBron James finished with 19 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds.

All five Lakers starters scored at least 10 points. 

“It has to be that way,” James said. “It has to be a collective group. When you’re missing so much firepower, like we are right now with AR and Luka being out, we all have to pitch in. We all have to do our job. And even do a little bit more. Protect one another offensively and defensively and I think we did that.”

LeBron James finished with 19 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds. NBAE via Getty Images

Deandre Ayton had a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double, while Marcus Smart had 15 points and eight assists and Rui Hahcimura scored 14 points

The Lakers won despite the Rockets grabbing 21 offensive rebounds for 23 second-chance points, outscoring them in the paint (44-40) and scoring 17 more points off turnovers.

Alperen Sengun had 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Amen Thompson finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. 

What it means 

The Lakers are up 1-0 in a playoff series for the first time since playing the Warriors in the 2023 Western Conference semifinals (second round). 

They haven’t been up 2-0 in a series since winning the 2020 NBA Finals against the Heat.  

Deandre Ayton had a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double, while Marcus Smart had 15 points and eight assists and Rui Hahcimura scored 14 points NBAE via Getty Images

Turning point

When Jake LaRavia drew an off-ball foul on Tari Eason at the five-minute mark of the third quarter. 

The foul was the Rockets’ fifth for the quarter, putting the Lakers in the bonus for the remainder of the third. 

The Lakers shot 10 of 12 from the line from that point.

This included Kennard splitting a pair of free throws after technical fouls on Rockets wing Jae’Sean Tate and coach Ime Udoka. 

The Lakers shot 11 of 15 on free throws in the third, helping them win the quarter 25-18. 

This included Kennard splitting a pair of free throws after technical fouls on Rockets wing Jae’Sean Tate and coach Ime Udoka.  NBAE via Getty Images

MVP: Luke Kennard

James set the tone early with his playmaking, dishing out eight first-quarter assists and 10 assists in the first half, which tied a playoff career high for his most assists in a half.

But it was Kennard who provided the steady dose of scoring in a game that didn’t feature a lot of it for either team.

Kennard’s scoring total set a playoff career high, surpassing the previous career high of 21 points he scored on April 14, 2019, while with the Pistons. 

“I just liked that he was aggressive shooting 3s,” Redick said. “He played a fantastic basketball gam. He just played really aggressive and did a nice job. I don’t know what our overall numbers were, but we came in at halftime and we had one of our highest paint touch rates in the entire season. And his ability to just kind of get to the next thing and turn the corner on off ball stuff and touch the paint for us, and it just, there’s a snowball effect to that. He played a really good game.” 

That was the Rockets’ shooting percentage, highlighting how stifling the Lakers’ defense was. NBAE via Getty Images

Stat of the game: 37.6%

That was the Rockets’ shooting percentage, highlighting how stifling the Lakers’ defense was.

It was the lowest shooting percentage the Lakers allowed in a playoff game since April 28, 2023, against the Grizzlies, according to Stathead.

“I know they took free throws, but we did a good job of contesting those six- to eight- foot shots without fouling, using our length,” Redick said. “Getting a contest is super important.” 

Up next

Game 2 of the Lakers-Rockets playoff series will tip off at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Crypto.com Arena.

Durant’s status for Game 2 wasn’t known as of Saturday evening.

Rockies 4, Dodgers 3: A lot went right in a well-rounded win

DENVER, CO - APRIL 18: Troy Johnston #20 of the Colorado Rockies hits a single in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field on April 18, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Whether it was a snowy Friday giving way to a sunny Saturday or the playoff vibes from the Denver Nuggets and the Colorado Avalanche spilling over, the Mile High Magic was palpable across the city today.

For the cherry on top of a wonderful sports day in Denver, the Colorado Rockies got the best of the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 4-3 rollercoaster of a win.

Runs early and often

It was a good night if you bet YRFI.

Starting pitchers Ryan Feltner and Emmet Sheehan brought a pair of high ERAs into their matchup today (7.30 and 6.60, respectively). That showed as the scoreboard was lit up immediately in the first inning.

That’s sadly not out of character for the Rockies, who have given up 161 runs in the first inning since the start of last season — the most in MLB.

To start off the evening, Shohei Ohtani reached first base after a throwing error by Troy Johnston on the first pitch. Kyle Tucker followed immediately with a home run on the second pitch of the game, giving the Dodgers an early 2-0 lead.

The Rockies responded in the bottom of the inning. Mickey Moniak doubled to center and was brought home with a line-drive single from TJ Rumfield to bring the game to 2-1.

The Dodgers and Rockies would notch one more run each in the second inning. L.A.’s came on a Dalton Rushing homer knocked right above the out-of-town scoreboard in right on a 78 MPH curveball from Feltner. The Rockies’ run came after Johnston put himself in scoring position with a line-drive single, a stolen base, and a move to third on a Brenton Doyle ground out. Johnston ultimately came home on a Kyle Karros sacrifice fly to make it 3-2 Trolley Dodgers.

Pitchers dueling

That “early and often” hot start dried up pretty quickly. Despite some scattered chances, the offensive action calmed down and yielded scoreless third, fourth, and fifth innings as both pitchers found their rhythm.

After walking Freddie Freeman in the top of the third, Feltner sat down eight straight batters. Among those eight, Feltner struck out Teoscar Hernández, Alex Freeland, and Andy Pages. Feltner looked in command of his four-seam fastball in particular across those punch outs. He also got a fly out to left from Ohtani, dropping Ohtani to 1-10 against Feltner across their last encounters.

Sheehan walked a couple of baserunners and gave up a double in the fourth inning, but otherwise looked sharp. He gathered strikeouts against Hunter Goodman, Brenton Doyle, and Edouard Julien across those three innings.

Feltner’s streak came to an end on a Freeman triple in the top of the sixth. Lucky for him, Karros would save a run with an incredible diving grab to stop a ball driven down the third base line, throwing out Hernández at first.

Following that, Brennan Bernardino came in to relieve Feltner with two outs and Freeman on third. Feltner finished his day with five strikeouts, five hits, and three runs surrendered via two home runs.

The Rockies got rolling

Despite a 1-2-3 fifth inning from Sheehan, the Dodgers pulled him at 77 pitches, swapping in Will Klein. That did not go well.

The Rockies immediately pounced with a Goodman double to deep center. Up next, Ezequiel Tovar singled with a ball banked off of Klein over to Freeman, with Tovi winning the foot race to first. Johnston brought those two in with a double to center for his team-leading 10th RBI, giving the Rockies their first glorious lead over the Dodgers in what felt like an eternity.

Klein would get the next three batters out to keep Johnston at second and to limit the damage at 4-3 Rockies.

Catching a crazy eighth

The top of the eighth inning got a little dicey for the Rockies, with much of the commotion centered around Goodman behind the dish.

Jaden Hill replaced Bernardino to kick off the inning with the Dodgers back at the top of the order. Hill worked to an 0-2 count against Ohtani. In an at-bat that looked like it might end in another Ohtani out, Goodman was called for catcher interference as hit glove bumped Ohtani’s swing, putting the batter on first.

Tucker singled next, putting two men on with no outs. Just when things felt like they were about to get worse, Goodman redeemed himself with a wonderful ABS challenge, overturning a ball and sitting Pages down on strikes.

Freeman flied out to center next, moving Ohtani and Tucker up a base. In a tense at-bat for Hernández, the Rockies would challenge a pitch again, but this time unsuccessfully. Hernández walked to load the bases.

Hill responded extremely well to cap off a nice relief pitching performance, throwing two strikes to Max Muncy before getting him to ground out on a changeup to end the (very stressful) inning.

No insurance needed

The Rockies wouldn’t get any insurance runs in the bottom of the eight, but luckily they wouldn’t need them (although that would have reduced some ninth inning stress).

Victor Vodnik came in to close out the ninth, trying for his third save of the season. He sat Rushing and Hyeseong Kim out quickly. With two outs, Will Smith singled on a nice hit to second that made for a just-difficult-enough throw for Julien.

Santiago Espinal came in to pinch run and Ohtani got his first hit of the night to move the runner to second. With the game on the line, the energy in Coors felt exciting in a way it hasn’t felt too often is recent years. Tucker sent a routine flyball to left field, and Vodnik got his save.

A winning recipe

There was a lot to be proud of for the Rockies today. Namely, the Rockies looked resilient.

Feltner settled down after a shaky start. The bullpen was flawless in relief. Hits and baserunners came when they were needed most. Scoring chances were converted. Key defensive plays swung the game in Colorado’s favor.

It had been a rough week in the wake of a sweep at the hands of the San Diego Padres and a series loss to the Houston Astros. After a 7-1 loss last night, it felt like an uphill battle to steal even one from Los Angeles.

The Dodgers were 10-0 against the National League this season. Emphasis: were. Your Colorado Rockies just served up a tally mark in the L column.

The Rockies are having fun!

Up Next

First and foremost, it’s Dinger Day at the ballpark! Our favorite purple dino and all of his friends will try to bring some good vibes and even better luck to the matchup.

The Rockies and Dodgers square off for Game 3 of the wraparound series at 1:10 p.m. MT. Roki Sasaki (0-2, 6.23 ERA) is scheduled to start for Los Angeles, while Michael Lorenzen (1-2, 8.10) is slated to go for Colorado. The Rockies will try to take the series lead in a Sunday matinee matchup.

Join the conversation!

Sign up for a user account and get:

  • Fewer ads
  • Create community posts
  • Comment on articles, community posts
  • Rec comments, community posts
  • New, improved notifications system!

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

How one defensive wrinkle makes Knicks real NBA championship contender

NEW YORK — In the first quarter, Jalen Brunson dropped 19 points on 8 field goal conversions. The rest of the game, he would make one more shot.

The bench contributed just 20 points the entire contest, well below their regular season average of 31.6 per game.

Yet, despite the imperfect offense, the New York Knicks toppled the Atlanta Hawks Saturday, April 18 in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series, 113-102, in a sign that this team is built to win in different ways; it can explode on offense, or it can grind teams down.

With OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, New York always had arguably the top duo of wing perimeter defenders in the NBA, but Saturday night showed the Knicks may have unlocked another element that can elevate this defense into a championship-caliber outfit. Forward Josh Hart, a high-energy utility player who can slide into numerous roles asked of him, has blossomed into an irritating defender who is now often tasked with guarding the opponent’s best player. In Game 1, that made him the primary defender on the Hawks' Jalen Johnson.

This started the last few weeks of the regular season, and it has freed Anunoby and Bridges to hound other players. It has also elevated the entire defense.

“Josh is very good at getting to the ball and trying to make the ball-handler uncomfortable,” coach Mike Brown said. “Having Josh, having Mikal, having OG, they allow us to be versatile defensively.”

That versatility gives New York something it can use in this series and beyond, particularly against teams whose players share ball-handling duties: it allows the Knicks to switch pick-and-rolls.

And since the primary function of a pick-and-roll is to create offensive mismatches, the ability to switch players — especially when they’re exceptional defenders — negates that.

This is a problem for Atlanta.

The Hawks, the hottest team in the Eastern Conference after the All-Star break, rely on a fluid, offensive system in which four players split ball-handling duties. Atlanta doesn’t rely on play calls as much as it does on general concepts and actions and asks its players to read the defense. The Hawks want their players to attack into open space.

Against the Knicks Saturday night, those four players — Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, CJ McCollum and Dyson Daniels — were pestered and harassed.

The Hawks shot a respectable 43.7% from the floor, but that doesn’t tell the whole story.

To that point, nine of the 12 Hawks turnovers were committed by the four ball-handlers.

The other thing this swarming, versatile defense offers the Knicks is instant offense; New York emphasized throwing the ball ahead, pushing it into the open floor and getting high-percentage points in transition.

New York generated a +9 advantage in fastbreak points Saturday night.

“I think we just have a great group of guys that are locked in,” Knicks guard Miles McBride told reporters after the game. “I don’t think it’s anybody individually, it’s just our whole team being locked in on trying to make everything tough on them.

“Every single night. It’s non-negotiable. We have to bring it every single night.”

So, how exactly do the Hawks combat this? Game 2 will tip Monday, April 20 here in Madison Square Garden, and the primary objective will be to source easier offense.

For one, they’ll need to find a way to break through that defensive pressure, perhaps abandoning pick-and-rolls in favor of an offense that’s more fluid. Because when the Knicks went on runs in the second half, it was when the ball stagnated for Atlanta.

“Walking away from the game, turnovers, I had 5 turnovers, there’s things that we can do better from a spacing standpoint,” McCollum said. “Moving the ball a little more, being intentional with ball and player movement — I think all those things can factor in to more success for us. …

“I think it’s all about responding. And I look forward to responding on Monday.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New York Knicks are real NBA championship contenders. Here's why.

Murray scores 30 as Nuggets beat Timberwolves 116-105 in Game 1

DENVER (AP) — Jamal Murray scored 30 points, going 16 of 16 from the free-throw line, and Nikola Jokic had a triple-double as the Denver Nuggets shook off a sluggish start to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-105 on Saturday in the opener of their first-round playoff series.

Jokic had 25 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists and a bloody nose in a physical game between the Northwest Division foes. There were 42 fouls called, along with an unsportsmanlike technical on Jaden McDaniels for pushing Jokic in the back and a technical on Nuggets coach David Adelman.

Denver has won 13 straight since losing on March 18.

Murray and the Nuggets trailed by as many as 12 points early, but used a 17-2 run in the third quarter to build a double-digit lead. The Timberwolves, who were held scoreless for more than four minutes at one point in the third, trimmed the deficit to 97-95 with 6:23 left.

Jokic had a five-point stretch to hold off Minnesota. Murray had one of the biggest shots of the game from halfcourt. With the shot clocking winding down, he heaved it at the hoop and it grazed the rim to reset the clock. It eventually led to a dunk from Aaron Gordon that gave Denver a 108-101 lead with 1:50 left. Gordon had 17 points despite early foul trouble.

Game 2 is Monday night.

Anthony Edwards scored 22 points while playing on a sore right knee. Donte DiVincenzo had four 3-pointers.

CAVALIERS 126, RAPTORS 113

CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points, Max Strus had 24 off the bench and Cleveland defeated Toronto in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.

James Harden had 22 points and 10 assists while Evan Mobley had 17 and seven rebounds for fourth-seeded Cleveland, which hosts Game 2 on Monday night.

Mitchell has scored at least 30 points in an NBA-record nine straight series openers.

RJ Barrett scored 24 points and Scottie Barnes had 21 for the Raptors, who were playing in their first playoff game since 2022. Toronto was missing point guard Immanuel Quickley because of a mild right hamstring strain.

Jamal Shead started in place of Quickley and had 17 points, including five 3-pointers.

Barrett’s 3-pointer pulled the Raptors to within 45-41 before Cleveland broke it open with a 27-9 run over the last 1:11 of the second quarter and first seven minutes of the third.

Strus scored 11 points during the spurt and made all three of his 3-pointers as the Cavaliers went 10 of 16 from the floor, including 5 of 8 beyond the arc.

KNICKS 113, HAWKS 102

NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Brunson scored 28 points, Karl-Anthony Towns had 19 of his 25 in the second half and New York beat Atlanta in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference playoff series.

OG Anunoby added 18 points and Josh Hart had 11 points and 14 rebounds for the Knicks in their first postseason game under Mike Brown after making four trips in five years under Tom Thibodeau, capped by their first trip to the Eastern Conference finals since 2000 last year.

The No. 3 seed in the East again this season hosts Game 2 on Monday night.

CJ McCollum had 26 points and Jalen Johnson added 23 for the Hawks, who went 20-6 after the All-Star break to earn the No. 6 seed.

Brunson, who already owns the Knicks’ record with eight 40-point games in the postseason, was almost halfway to another in the first quarter. He made his first six shots and had 19 points as the Knicks led 30-24. McCollum had 12 points in the second as Atlanta cut it to 57-55.

Brunson didn’t do as much in the second half, but Towns took over after he was just 1 for 6 for six points at the break.

The teams got off to sizzling starts, with the Knicks opening 8 for 9 and Atlanta starting 6 for 7, before play eventually slowed to a crawl in the third quarter. McCollum was reviewed for a hostile act and called for a technical foul after kicking his leg up on a jumper into Brunson’s groin area, and the Hawks twice intentionally fouled backup center Mitchell Robinson, and the poor foul shooter went 1 for 4.

By the time the Hawks got going again, it was too late.

LAKERS 107, ROCKETS 98

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luke Kennard scored a career playoff-high 27 points, LeBron James had 19 points and 13 assists, and short-handed Los Angeles capitalized on Kevin Durant’s injury absence for a victory over Houston in the opener of their first-round playoff series.

Deandre Ayton had 19 points and 11 rebounds for the fourth-seeded Lakers, who pulled off an impressive win without their top two scorers.

Both teams played the opener without their most important player. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have been out indefinitely with injuries since April 2, while Durant was a late scratch with a bruised right knee.

Los Angeles thrived by hitting 60.6% of its shots while holding the Rockets to 37.6% shooting with pesky defense.

Alperen Sengun scored 19 points and Jabari Smith Jr. had 16 points and 12 rebounds for the fifth-seeded Rockets, who finished one game behind Los Angeles in the regular season. Amen Thompson added 17 points, but Houston’s young core got off to an inconsistent start after becoming the firm favorite in this series due to the Lakers’ injury woes.

Game 2 is Tuesday night in Los Angeles.

Luke Kennard’s career night sends Lakers to Game 1 win

Los Angeles, CA - April 18: Lakers center Deandre Ayton celebrates with Lakers guard Luke Kennard after a made basket. Lakers hosting the Rockets in game one of the NBA first round playoffs at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)Lakers center Deandre Ayton, #5Lakers guard Kobe Bufkin, #18Lakers guard Luka Doncic, #77Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, #28Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, #11Lakers guard Bronny James, #9Lakers forward LeBron James, #23Lakers guard Luke Kennard, #10Lakers forward Maxi Kleber, #14Lakers forward Dalton Knecht, #4Lakers forward Jake LaRavia, #12Lakers guard Chris Manon, #30Lakers guard Austin Reaves, #15Lakers guard Marcus Smart, #36Lakers guard Nick Smith Jr., #20Lakers forward Adou Thiero, #1Lakers forward Drew Timme, #17Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt, #2Lakers head coach JJ RedickRockets center Steven Adams, #12Rockets center Clint Capela, #30Rockets forward Isaiah Crawford, #27Rockets guard JD Davison, #4Rockets forward Tari Eason, #17Rockets forward Dorian Finney-Smith, #2Rockets forward Jeff Green, #32Rockets guard Aaron Holiday, #0Rockets guard Tristen Newton, #13Rockets guard Josh Okogie, #20Rockets center Alperen Sengun, #28Rockets guard Reed Sheppard, #15Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., #10Rockets forward Jae'Sean Tate, #8Rockets guard Amen Thompson, #1Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, #5Rockets coach Ime Udoka

A career night from Luke Kennard and a double-double from LeBron James powered the Lakers to a Game 1 win over the Rockets, 107-98.

After finding out pregame that Kevin Durant would be out due to a right knee contusion, the Lakers took full advantage of the opportunity. LA grabbed a lead in the first quarter and maintained control throughout.

While Houston outscored LA 23-6 in second-chance points, they shot just 37.6% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the 3-point line. LA, meanwhile, shot 60.6% from the field.

The Lakers started Game 1 off with a turnover that led to Josh Okogie getting fouled on the other end. He converted on both free throws, putting the Rockets in the lead early. That turnover would be the exception in the first quarter, though. 

Deandre Ayton opened the scoring for LA with a midrange jumper. Los Angeles had as great a start as they’d hope, making eight out of its first 10 shot attempts. 

Rui Hachimura led the Lakers with five points, Ayton and LeBron James were close behind with four points each. Okogie led Houston with five points. At the 6:11 mark, LA was up by three after the Rockets made a surge. 

Reed Sheppard added a quick five points for Houston. Luke Kennard suddenly ignited for five points, pushing his point total to nine and making him the leading scorer on the team. 

Kennard ended the quarter in double figures with 11 points. LeBron ended the quarter with eight assists, which was a new playoff-career high for him. At the end of the first, the purple and gold were up by four. 

LeBron and Jarred Vanderbilt opened the second period with five points for LA. The Rockets turned the ball over twice. Amen Thompson scored the first field goal for Houston in the paint. 

At the 6:22 mark, Los Angeles was up by eight. 

Hachimura and Ayton were both shooting 100% from the field, combining for 19 points. The Rockets did pick up their defensive effort, forcing a few missed shots from the Lakers. After having one turnover in the first, Los Angeles now had eight turnovers. 

LA turned the ball over and played frantic basketball down the stretch of the half. Houston started getting foul calls in their favor. Los Angeles shot 46% from the field in that quarter.

At halftime, Los Angeles was up by two. 

Sheppard knocked down a triple to put the Rockets up by one to start the second half. Ayton scored on a tip-in of his own shot attempt to give the Lakers the lead again. Jabari Smith Jr. drained his third 3-pointer of the game. He was leading the Rockets with 13 points.

Hachimura knocked down a 3-pointer for LA, his second of the night. 

The defensive intensity was high for both teams as they blocked shots and fought for rebounds. Kennard drained his second triple of the game. Both he and Ayton had 14 points. 

An 8-0 scoring run gave Los Angeles a decent cushion. Much of the rest of the quarter saw a barrage of free throws being shot. The Lakers were shooting just 63% from the charity stripe, with Marcus Smart being a brutal 2-6 from the line. 

LA managed to close the third well, going up by nine. 

A 3-pointer from Sheppard opened the final frame. Hachimura responded with four points for Los Angeles. Kennard added two triples, and LeBron added one of his own as well, pushing the lead to 16 for the Lakers, forcing the Rockets to call a timeout. 

Out of the break, Alperen Şengün scored five straight. Kennard then drained another 3-pointer. Tari Eason responded with one on the other end for Houston, leading to a timeout from head coach JJ Redick.

Smart knocked down a 3-pointer out of the break. 

Eason was putting in good minutes for the Rockets, scoring another four points to try to keep Houston in it. With two minutes left, the Rockets kept inching closer, making it a nine-point game. 

At the 1:40 mark, it was an 11-point lead for LA. 

It was back to nine after Smith dunked the ball. Ayton was then fouled and converted on the three-point play, sealing the win.

Key Player Stats

LeBron finished with 19 points, 13 assists, eight rebounds and two steals. Kennard’s huge night saw him finish with 27 points, a playoff career high, on 9-13 shooting. Ayton ended with 19 points and 11 rebounds. 

Hachimura notched 14 points. Smart logged 15 points, eight assists and two blocks. Jake LaRavia scored six points off the bench. 

Game 2 will be on Tuesday against the Houston Rockets at 7:30 PM PT.

You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.

Dodgers' bats turn cold during road loss to Colorado Rockies

Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani flies out against the Colorado Rockies during the fifth inning Saturday in Denver.
Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani flies out against the Colorado Rockies during the fifth inning Saturday in Denver. (David Zalubowski / Associated Press)

Happens to the best of 'em.

Runners stranded in scoring position. Hitters chasing, squandering chances, failing to support a pitcher fighting without his best stuff. A reliever off the mark, his few mistakes a few too many.

All adding up to a loss. Rare and deserved.

For just the fifth time in 20 games so far this season, the Dodgers came out on the wrong end of the ledger, losing 4-3 to the Colorado Rockies on Saturday before a blue-and-purple crowd of 47,925 at Coors Field.

Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing follows the flight of his solo home run off Colorado pitcher Ryan Feltner Saturday.
Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing follows the flight of his solo home run off Colorado pitcher Ryan Feltner Saturday in Denver. (David Zalubowski / Associated Press)

"Up to this point with runners in scoring position, we've been able to — whether it be earn a walk or swing at good pitches – get hits,” Dodger manager Dave Roberts said. “Today it just seemed like we chased a lot more than we have.”

Kyle Tucker, the Dodgers’ new $240 million man, had his second three-hit game this season — but he scored only once, in the first inning, on his 435-foot two-run home run into the second deck.

Freddie Freeman went two for three, including a triple, but he was stranded both times he reached.

And Shohei Ohtani made more history — he extended his career-best consecutive on-base record to 50 games with a ninth-inning single to tie Willie Keeler’s 1901 mark for third in franchise history — but he also scored only once, having reached on an error before Tucker’s first-inning homer.

Read more:Tyler Glasnow weathers cold, leads Dodgers to win at Colorado

In all, the Dodgers left eight runners on base — including Ohtani and Will Smith in the ninth — and went 0 for seven with runners in scoring position.

“I mean, it happens at times,” said Tucker, who jumped on pitches early in counts Saturday in an attempt to build a consistent rhythm from at-bat to at-bat, game-to-game.

“We're facing big league pitchers and they got some guys in their bullpen that can pitch really well. But at the same time, we gotta do our part. We had some opportunities with guys on base, especially late. Just gotta find ways to get hits or just get those guys in. Happens at times, but we just gotta do a better job at it.”

These were atypical postgame lamentations for the Dodgers, whose steamroll hit a speedbump as they lost for the first all season to a National League opponent.

Read more:Dodgers don't need Shohei Ohtani's bat, just his arm, in rout of Mets

Starter Emmet Sheehan wasn’t as sharp as in his prior outing, but he left after five innings with a one-run lead, having thrown 77 pitches, giving up four hits and two runs with four strikeouts and two walks.

“I think last time we made a lot of progress on mechanical stuff,” said Sheehan, who gave up two runs in the first two innings but then held the Rockies at bay. His best inning was his finale one, the 1-2-3, nine-pitch fifth.

“Definitely happy with some of the pitches I made later, but I got to be better earlier in the game,” Sheehan said.

Dalton Rushing concurred.

“He fought, he showed how tough he is out there,” said Rushing, the Dodgers’ hot- and hard-hitting backup catcher who got the start. “He didn’t have his best stuff. He knew that. He knew he was going to have to pivot a little bit, figure some things out. I’ll give it to him. He grinded out there. But there’s some things we can work on, both us, about understanding a gameplan. But overall I’m proud of the way he grinded.

“Obviously I’m not proud of the result. We lost a baseball game. But at the same time I think there was some good coming out of the grinding.”

Rushing’s only hit Saturday was a 371-foot solo home run in the second inning that gave the Dodgers a 3-2 lead that lasted until reliever Will Klein gave up three consecutive hits and two runs — and the one-run lead he was staked — in the sixth inning.

“I thought tonight his sweeper, the feel for spin wasn't good,” Roberts said. “He didn't have it and I think a couple of those hits early were just cement mixers that just didn't do anything.”

Right-hander Roki Sasaki (0-2, 6.23) is scheduled to take the mound for the Dodgers in the famously hitter-friendly ballpark for a 1:10 p.m. game Sunday. Right-hander Michael Lorenzen (1-2, 8.10) is scheduled to start for the Rockies.

Treinen is fine

Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen was struck by a batted ball while he was in the bullpen before the game, but he said afterward that he was “fine.”

The Dodgers' right-handed reliever said he didn’t experience any concussion-like symptoms and could have come on to pitch after being tested to ensure he did not, in fact, have a concussion.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Flyers hold off Penguins 3-2 for Game 1 win

PITTSBURH (AP) — Travis Sanheim scored the go-ahead goal midway through the third period and the Philadelphia Flyers announced their return to the playoffs with a 3-2 win over Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night.

Philadelphia pulled off a stunner in the opener when Sanheim split a pair of Penguins at the top of the zone, glided down the slot and then fired the puck by Stuart Skinner. Porter Martone, the Flyers’ 19-year-old rookie forward, provided some needed insurance when he beat Skinner on a wrist shot with 2:37 to play.

Game 2 is in Pittsburgh on Monday.

Jamie Drysdale also scored for the Flyers, who hardly appeared intimidated by an electric PPG Paints Arena crowd buzzing by Pittsburgh’s first playoff appearance since 2022. Dan Vladar stopped 14 shots to pick up the first postseason win of his six-year career.

Evgeni Malkin scored his 68th career playoff goal for Pittsburgh but the Penguins, the NHL’s third-highest scoring team during the regular season, had trouble sustaining pressure against the Flyers. Bryan Rust pounded home a rebound with 1:01 remaining to get Pittsburgh within a goal, but Vladar stoned Anthony Mantha in the final seconds as Philadelphia held on.

HURRICANES 2, SENATORS 0

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Logan Stankoven and Taylor Hall scored and Frederik Andersen came through with a big third-period performance in net to help Carolina beat Ottawa to open their first-round playoff series.

Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour had gone with Andersen’s veteran experience as the starter over Brandon Bussi for this one, and it paid off for the Eastern Conference’s top seed.

Andersen finished with 22 saves, including back-to-back stops on a third-period power play that had Ottawa buzzing with quality chances. One of those was initially ruled a goal, only for a replay review to overturn the call in showing Andersen had gloved a loose puck as it bounced off his skate near the post.

By the end of the game, Andersen was holding up against Ottawa spending most of the last 2 1/2 minutes with a 6-on-4 advantage after pulling Linus Ullmark from the net with the Senators on the power play.

It was a physical game with hard hits and chippiness throughout, starting with captains Brady Tkachuk of Ottawa and Jordan Staal of Carolina locking up in an immediate fight on the opening faceoff and heading to the box just 3 seconds into the game.

Game 2 is Monday night in Raleigh.

The Hurricanes are in the playoffs for the eighth straight year, reaching the Eastern Conference Final in two of the past three years and thrice overall in this current run that began in 2019.

WILD 6, STARS 1

DALLAS (AP) — Matt Boldy had two goals with an assist, Joel Ericksson Ek scored two power-play goals and rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt stopped 27 shots in his postseason debut to help Minnesota beat Dallas in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series.

Kirill Kaprizov added a goal and two assists and Mats Zuccarello had three helpers for the Wild, who have lost nine consecutive playoff series since 2015. This was an impressive start in a long-expected matchup of Central Division rivals who finished behind Presidents’ Trophy winner Colorado.

Even though the Stars have made the West final each of the past three seasons, they are 1-7 in Game 1s at home during that span.

Game 2 is Monday night in Dallas.

Dallas allowed the first goal in 15 of its 18 playoff games last year, and gave up three power-play goals in a 5-4 win over the Wild just nine days earlier. The Stars trailed for good only 5 1/2 minutes into the series when Ericksson Ek scored on a pass from Boldy to make it 1-0. Ericksson Ek added another power-play goal past Jake Oettinger in the third.

Kaprizov and Boldy, the first Wild teammates with 40 goals in the same season, scored during a three-goal surge in the first 6 1/2 minutes of the second period for a 4-0 lead. Ryan Hartman scored in between, after having the primary assist on Kaprizov’s goal.

Shohei Ohtani extends on-base streak to 50, but Dodgers lose to Rockies

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers at bat against the Colorado Rockies, Image 2 shows Colorado Rockies' Troy Johnston gestures to the dugout after reaching second base

DENVER — The Dodgers found themselves in an unfamiliar place Saturday night.

For the first time in almost a week, the other team had the lead.

After entering play with not only four straight wins, but essentially four consecutive wire-to-wire victories (their only recent deficit came briefly in the top of the first inning Tuesday), the Dodgers once again had early control at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies.

But this time, in a 4-3 loss, they failed to stay in front –– in large part, because they couldn’t pull away.

The Dodgers found themselves in an unfamiliar place Saturday night. AP
The Rockies (8-13) turned a one-run deficit into a one-run lead on Troy Johnston’s two-run double. AP

Technically, the game flipped in the bottom of the sixth inning, when the Rockies (8-13) turned a one-run deficit into a one-run lead on Troy Johnston’s two-run double against Dodgers reliever Will Klein; who replaced Emmet Sheehan after his five-inning, two-run start.

The real culprit for the Dodgers (15-5), though, was their inopportunistic offense.

“We had some opportunities and couldn’t create some distance and kept them in the ballgame,” manager Dave Roberts said. “You’re not always going to put up crooked numbers every night. But I thought tonight we could’ve taken better at-bats.”

The Dodgers did have good at-bats early. They scored two runs two pitches into the contest, after Shohei Ohtani reached on an error and Kyle Tucker drove a two-run blast to right field. They tacked on another in the third, when backup catcher Dalton Rushing hit what was already his fifth home run of the season, despite starting for only the sixth time.

From there, however, the lineup started squandering chances. They left two runners on in the third. They came up empty after a Freddie Freeman triple in the sixth. They watched Alex Call get picked off to end the seventh. Then, they missed their biggest opportunities in the final two innings of the night.

Kyle Tucker drove a two-run blast to right field. AP

In the eighth, the bases were left loaded on an inning-ending grounder from Max Muncy, who chased a couple low pitches before rolling one over to second base.

In the ninth, they got back-to-back two-out hits from Will Smith (who was pinch-hitting) and Ohtani (extending his on-base streak to 50 games), only for Tucker to end his three-hit night with a game-ending flyout.

Overall, the Dodgers left eight men on base and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

“I think that up to this point with runners in scoring position, we’ve been able to (produce), whether it be earn a walk or swing at good pitches and get hits,” Roberts said. “Today it just seemed like we chased a lot more than we have. We had opportunities … We could’ve put some more runs on the board.”

What it means

At the very least, that Ohtani’s historic on-base streak will live to see another day.

Before his ninth-inning single, the two-way star had been aboard twice: Reaching on a bad throw from Johnston on a grounder to first base to lead the game off, then when Colorado catcher Hunter Goodman interfered with his swing in the eighth inning to spark the ultimately wasted bases-loaded opportunity.

However, both of those plays went down as errors –– and, importantly, not at-bats in which Ohtani reached “safely” via either a hit, walk or hit-by-pitch.

Thus, he needed his bouncing ninth-inning grounder to sneak through the infield to run his on-base streak up to the 50-game mark.

“It’s remarkable,” Roberts said. “I was hoping he’d get that last at-bat and give hims an opportunity to change the game. He found a way to get on base.”

Ohtani is now just three games shy of the franchise’s Los Angeles record set by Shawn Green in 2000, and eight behind Duke Snider for the most ever by a Dodger.

At the very least, that Ohtani’s historic on-base streak will live to see another day. AP

Who’s hot

For only his second time since joining the Dodgers this year, Tucker delivered a three-hit game, taking the kind of swings that have eluded him during his slow start.

His best came moment came on his two-run homer in the first, when he took a first-pitch hack –– something he has done significantly more often this year –– and clobbered an elevated fastball from Colorado starter Ryan Feltner 435 feet for his third homer of the season.

“Kind of fouled off pitches like that, or swung through some (earlier this season),” he said. “It wasn’t a bad pitch. It was a heater at the top of the zone. But I feel like I should be able to hit those pitches and stay on top and stay through them. Barrel them up more often, but that was just a good swing right there.”


Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn
California Post SportsFacebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X
California Post Opinion
California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!
California Post App: Download here!
Home delivery: Sign up here!Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!


After that, Tucker added a pair of ground-ball singles in the third and eighth innings.

It was a nearly flawless night … until he made the final out with two aboard in the ninth by getting under a center-cut first-pitch changeup.

Alas, Tucker now has a four-game hitting streak and extra-base knocks in each of the last three. He’s still only batting .263 on the season with a .768 OPS. But it’s progress nonetheless for the $240 million outfielder.

For only his second time since joining the Dodgers this year, Tucker delivered a three-hit game. AP

Who’s not

Teoscar Hernández, whose bat has been almost as cold as the weather since arriving in Denver.

After going 0-for-5 with three strikeouts in Friday night’s win, Hernández turned in another –– and more –– costly 0-for-3 on Saturday, despite drawing a walk to load the bases in the eighth.

He rolled into an inning-ending double-play in the first, struck out with two runners aboard for the final out of the third, then rolled into an unproductive grounder with Freeman at third and one out in the sixth.

Those missed chances added up to hurt the Dodgers, and dropped Hernández to 6-for-32 over his last nine games.

Up next

After another brisk night Saturday, temperatures should finally be back in the 70s on Sunday, when the Dodgers and Rockies play an afternoon matinee. Roki Sasaki (0-2, 6.23 ERA) will start for the Dodgers. Michael Lorenzen (1-2, 8.10 ERA) goes for Colorado. 

Celebrities pack Lakers vs. Rockets playoff game from Travis Scott to Timothy Olyphant and more

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Travis Scott in a white graphic t-shirt and sunglasses with the reflection of the basketball court in them, Image 2 shows Dan Reynolds attending an NBA game between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers, Image 3 shows Timothy Olyphant sitting court-side at a basketball game

The stars once again came out to watch playoff basketball on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena, and we’re not just talking about on the court. 

The courtside seating, expanded for the postseason, was once again a who’s who of musicians, actors, and athletes for Game 1 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers. 

Travis Scott was locked into the rhythm of the game like it was one of his own beats.

Travis Scott attends a game between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday. NBAE via Getty Images
Dan Reynolds attends a game between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday. NBAE via Getty Images

Singer Rotimi was there as well to soak in the action. On the other side of the court from Scott, sat the lead singer of Imagine Dragons, Dan Reynolds. 

Timothy Olypant sat at halfcourt alongside his wife Alexis Knief. Ray Nicholson, the son of Jack Nicholson, sat in his famous father’s seats that have stayed in the family for decades. 

The athletes were well represented as well. L.A. Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack watched the action from the baseline.

Actor Timothy Olyphant watches the Rockets and Lakers courtside. (Photo by Michael J. Duarte)
Khalil Mack attends a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets during Round One Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 18, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California.Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images

Former NBA player Richard Jefferson was there. Two former Lakers champions also mingled with the players and celebrities as Robert Horry and Lamar Odom took in the playoff action. 

And finally, the passing of the proverbial torch was there too. Current Arkansas Razorbacks guard Darius Acuff Jr., expected to be a top-5 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft also watched the action courtside as if he was picturing himself playing against the game’s greats on that very court. 


Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn
California Post SportsFacebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X
California Post Opinion
California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!
California Post App: Download here!
Home delivery: Sign up here!Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!


Darius Acuff Jr. attends a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets during Round One Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 18, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images

Music. Film. Sports. Fame. Legacy.

It all came together for playoff basketball in Los Angeles.

Could the Sixers’ centers thrive the most in a series the team isn’t supposed to win?

After nearly a decade of disappointing their fans in the spring time, the Sixers are in a no-lose situation as they open the NBA’s second season on Sunday afternoon in Boston.

Expectations couldn’t be lower for the Sixers as the Celtics are the consensus pick to win the East. It’s probably fair to say that most Sixers fans are just hoping that Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe can perform well enough to give the franchise optimism that building around the two guards comes with a championship ceiling in the future. However, in what everyone knows is a “house money” series for Philadelphia, who might be able to benefit the most from decreased expectations?

The obvious answer are Philly’s two centers who will get the minutes inside while we continue to wait and see if Joel Embiid can go. Andre Drummond and Adem Bona are at completely different phases of their careers. At 32, Drummond is now out to prove each season that he can still play in the NBA as a bench big. Once an All-Star in 2018, Drummond has been living the life of a nomadic veteran that has repeatedly played on short-term contracts and been shopped at deadlines.

But somewhat quietly, Drummond has strung together three straight double-doubles for the Sixers and even looks like a competent three-point shooter. At this stage in his career, it’s likely that even Drummond can be honest with himself when he looks in the mirror and comes to terms with the fact that he’s probably a backup somewhere in the NBA for as long as he wants to keep playing. But perhaps it’s exactly that peace of mind that allows Drummond to continue to punch above his weight with no real pressure on him regarding his NBA future. Although we should note that Neemias Queta dominated Drummond the last time the Sixers and Celtics squared off in the regular season.

It’s certainly not a “no pressure” kind of situation for Adem Bona, who is constantly in a mode of earning more minutes as is usually the case with second-round picks. In two seasons in the NBA, Bona has looked like an NBA rotation player thanks in large part to his defense, but he’s still a ways away from being a polished offensive player and probably will never get there. But it’s the glimpses with Bona that make you say “OK! There’s something there.”

We got a few of those glimpses on Wednesday in the play-in game when Bona had three blocks against Orlando. Most of Philly’s veteran role players are set to become free agents this summer, but Bona still has one more season plus a team option for 2027-28 remaining on his rookie contract. While fans are likely hoping Maxey and Edgecombe can be the leaders of the Sixers’ next true title contending roster, Bona is certainly trying to prove he can have a spot on that roster one day in the future as well. A good series against the Celtics for the young center out of UCLA would certainly go a long way for his future with the organization. Bona, unlike Drummond, truly doesn’t know any better about the stage he’s playing on as these will be his first playoff minutes in his young career. Maybe that makes it easier for him to just go out and play in a series no one is giving the Sixers a chance in.

The backup center minutes behind Embiid have always been an issue in postseason series for Philadelphia in the last decade. Who knows if the low-pressure postseason environments for the Sixers actually allow players like Drummond and Bona to thrive? But let’s just say no one is holding their breath this time around when Embiid isn’t on the court.

Penguins/Flyers Game 1 Recap: Sloppy Pens bottled up, lose 3-2

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 18: Jamie Drysdale #9 of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates with Denver Barkey #52 after scoring a goal past Stuart Skinner #74 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second period of Game One of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena on April 18, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Pregame

The Penguins get both Connor Dewar and Blake Lizotte back from injury, forcing Justin Brazeau out of the lineup. Stuart Skinner gets the call to get the first start.

First period

The Flyers make the first mistake when Rasmus Ristolainen hits Elmer Soderblom way after a whistle stops play. Philadelphia to the penalty box 1:53 in. The first power play comes up empty, despite a few Egor Chinakhov shot attempts.

Kris Letang gets the Penguins into trouble hacking at a Flyer after getting hurried. Late in the power play Christian Dvorak barges into Skinner, kicks the puck and lands on the goalie. The puck goes in but the referees immediately wave off the goal as being no good. No goal.

More penalties come when Sidney Crosby pulls the helmet off Jamie Drysdale. Drysdale doesn’t leave the play immediately so he goes for what’s called interference, Crosby for roughing to bring on 4v4 play.

Intense period, no goals that count. Philadelphia takes a 9-5 edge in shots through 20 minutes.

Second period

Skinner stays sharp making a big stop on Trevor Zegras and then another on Noah Cates in the early going of the second.

Dewar gets hobbled by a hit from Tippett and is hunched over, leaving the game temporarily but didn’t miss a shift.

Tippett gets sprung for another breakaway and gets denied by Skinner. The shift continues as the Flyers isolate on the Sam Girard – Letang pair and the fourth line. Zegras gets the puck low to high for Drysdale who walks up to the circle and uses the traffic in front to sneak a low wrister past Skinner. 1-0 Flyers get the first goal 9:19 into the second period.

Looking for a response, the Pens step up their pressure a little and Crosby draws a penalty driving to the net and forcing Travis Sanheim to take him down. Pittsburgh is as disconnected as ever, the first group failed to get a zone entry without going offsides.

Back at 5v5, the Penguins get their best shift of the game and convert it to a goal. A long shift wears down the Flyers, who get trapped as Pittsburgh changes lines with the benches being near the offensive zone. Rickard Rakell shoots a puck that Dan Vladar kicks out, right to Evgeni Malkin. Malkin charges in and beats Vladar with a low shot. 1-1 game as the Pens get on the board.

The Flyers are the next to the power play when Anthony Mantha gets busted for cross checking. The period ends while they’re on it.

Shots in the second are 7-5 Philadelphia. The Penguins aren’t playing very well, but they found a way to get an answer and somehow aren’t trailing after 40 minutes despite their poor play.

Third period

Philadelphia doesn’t score on their carryover power play and the Pens’ PK improves to 3/3 on the night.

The Pens look good at the start, Soderblom drove to the net and got a good shot away, momentum derailed when Mantha took his second offensive zone penalty of the game by high-sticking Porter Martone. The Flyers get some zone time but no goal.

The Flyers find that goal with 10:00 left. Sanheim dances around Soderblom then shoots back across his body to catch Skinner deep in the crease. 2-1 PHI.

The Pens are pushing to try and find a tie goal and then the rookie Martone extends the lead. He did well to hold the puck and let Noel Acciari skate away from him, then pick the top corner on Skinner. 3-1 with only 2:37 to go.

Pittsburgh pulled the goalie to try and attack more. Away from the play Crosby and Sanheim start jousting with dueling cross-checks. Both get sent off on matching penalties. The Pens pull Skinner again to make it a 5v4 situation. Bryan Rust scores, finding a bounce off a Malkin shot attempt and then throwing it in past Vladar.

But they run out of time. Mantha gets a chance going through the crease, Vladar keeps it out. The clock runs out.

Some thoughts

  • It wasn’t a pretty start for the Penguins in the first period which set the tone for the game. The Flyers had them hemmed up a lot of times, stopping breakouts and using a lot of speed and pressure to turn the game into a tough battle. Philadelphia was great with their counter-attacks once they gained possession and very physical shown by a 16-8 edge in hits in the first period. It was about as close to a dream scenario they could dream up for a start for a road game, sans not being able to score on Skinner.
  • The coaching chess moves are always an interesting wrinkle to track in a playoff series. Rick Tocchet was starting his checking line with Sean Couturier in the middle for the opening faceoff of the periods. The Penguins didn’t avoid the matchup at the beginning of the game, starting the Crosby line for the first. Then the Pens adjusted and started the second period with their Ben Kindel line (with the third defensive pair), freeing Crosby up for the second shift of the period away from Couturier.
  • The Penguins were shockingly disconnected, their passes were all over the place, they were on their heels and unable to get much of anything going. What should have been a weakness, in goal, was actually the best part of the team. What was supposed to be the strength, like power play and their forwards, played very poorly.
  • The Bob Grove stat of the day points out the Pens were in 2017 territory (which isn’t a compliment in this reference) by only generating 10 shots on goal through 40 minutes. The only two times they had that low of a shot output in franchise history both happened in the 2017 run.
  • Blake Lizotte came back and the penalty kill that was leaky without him tightened right back up immediately with a perfect night tonight. The Flyers’ power play wasn’t very good in the regular season but it was a good night to have a good night while shorthanded since the Pens power play wasn’t performing well.
  • In the end it was too little, too late for the Pens. They didn’t play particularly well, yet still had a last gasp chance to force OT. That’s a positive outlook, on the other side it’s concerning to come out and lay an egg at home for the playoff opener.

Well, the Pens have a lot to think about and adjust before heading into Game 2 on Monday after playing a very poor game to start the playoffs. They’re going to need to regroup and try again.

Dodgers win streak vanishes in thin air of Coors Field

DENVER, CO - APRIL 18: Edouard Julien #6 of the Colorado Rockies dodges the tag by Alex Freeland #76 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Saturday, April 18, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Dodgers scored early but not often, unable to cash in on many chances in a 4-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver. It’s the Dodgers’ first loss in 11 games against National League teams.

Kyle Tucker hit a home run that gave the Dodgers a 2-0 lead just two batters into the game, his third straight game with an extra-base hit. But unlike the series opener, Saturday night wasn’t a runaway by any means.

After scoring in each of the first five innings on Friday, the Dodgers scored three total runs in the first two innings but got nothing else against Rockies starter Ryan Feltner, who kept the Dodgers at bay into the sixth. Freddie Freeman tripled with one out in the sixth of Feltner but was stranded, first by a brilliant diving stab and throw by third baseman Kyle Karros, then by lefty reliever Brennan Bernardino striking out Max Muncy.

Emmet Sheehan had his own trouble early, allowing single runs in the first and second innings, but he settled down to keep Colorado off the board for the next three frames, finishing his night after 77 pitches through five innings, with four strikeouts.

Colorado turned the tied with the first three batters reaching off Will Klein in the sixth inning, the earliest a Dodgers reliever has appeared in a game all week. Klein gave up an infield single off his own foot sandwiched by two doubles, the latter by Troy Johnston to drive in a pair, giving the Rockies their first lead of the series.

The Dodgers got the first two batters on base in the eighth inning and loaded the bases with two outs, then put two more runners on in the ninth, but were unable to push across the tying run.

One streak still going

Shohei Ohtani reached on an error by the first baseman Johnston in the first inning, and scored on Tucker’s home run. He also reached on catcher’s interference in the eighth. But by not getting on via hit, walk, or hit by pitch, he didn’t technically reach base safely in any of his first four plate appearances on Saturday.

A pinch-hit infield single by Will Smith with two outs in the ninth inning gave Ohtani one more chance in the ninth inning, and he obliged with a single.

Ohtani’s 50-game on-base streak is tied with Wee Willie Keeler (1900-01) for the third-longest streak in modern Dodgers history. It’s already the longest MLB streak by a Japanese player, and the longest on-base streak by any MLB player since Shin-Soo Choo reached in 52 straight games for the Texas Rangers in 2018.

Staying hot

Dalton Rushing is off to an incredible start to his second major league season, and his solo shot in the second inning gave him already more home runs this year (five) in his first 19 plate appearances than he had all of last season (four) in 155 plate appearances.

It’s still absurdly early in the season, and while Will Smith has two home runs thus far he’s hit at least 15 home runs in all six of his non-shortened major league campaigns. The last time the Dodgers had two catchers with double-digit home runs was way back in 1979, when Joe Ferguson hit 20 (14 as catcher) and Steve Yeager hit 13.

Of note

Second baseman Alex Freeland was seen flexing his left hand after catching a Will Klein fastball from close range on a pickoff throw in the sixth inning. Freeland was pinch-hit for in the seventh with Alex Call, though it might have been simply a matchup preference against the lefty Bernardino. On the SportsNet LA broadcast, Kirsten Watson noted that team trainers didn’t immediately tend to Freeland once he got to the dugout. Hyeseong Kim took over at second base in the bottom of the seventh.

Saturday particulars

Home runs: Kyle Tucker (3), Dalton Rushing (5)

WP — Brennan Bernardino (2-0): 1 1/3 IP, 2 strikeouts

LP — Will Klein (1-1): 1 IP, 3 hits, 2 runs

Sv — Victor Vodnik (3): 1 IP, 2 hits

Up next

Dodgers and Rockies are back at it on Sunday afternoon (12:10 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA), which remember, is not the series finale. Roki Sasaki is on the mound in the third game of the series, with Michael Lorenzen starting for the Rockies.

Hoffman Meltdown and Quiet Bats, Jays Lose 6-2

Apr 18, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Corbin Carroll (7) steals secondbase under the tag by Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Andrés Giménez (0) in the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

This one will go on Jeff Hoffman, but realistically you also can’t score seven runs in four games and expect anything good to happen. The team is a mess on all fronts right now, from pitching to hitting to defence and base running. One in the loss column is all that’s keeping them above Kansas City and the Mets for the worst record in baseball.

A couple of positive notes, because I’m tired of wallowing:

  • Max Scherzer looked strong in his return to his first major league team. I had actually forgotten that was where he came up, but then the Bush administration was a long time ago. Anyways, I don’t expect his plaque in Cooperstown will have an A on it. As regards that eventual plaque, Scherzer’s one strikeout tonight left him one shy of 3,500 for his career and 10 behind Walter Johnson for a spot in the top 10 all time. Of course, Johnson took 2,940 more innings to put together his total. Seeing him reach those milestones in the next couple of weeks will be something fun in a rough start to the season.
  • Nathan Lukes had three hits. His awful start has apparently been the result of issues with vertigo. I’ve known people struggling with unexplained vertigo, and it’s an awful thing to go through. He’s apparently found medication that’s helping with the issue, and certainly looks better the last couple of games. I really hope the issue is solved for him, for reasons beyond baseball. It does raise the question of how on earth the Jays decided to play him through a debilitating neurological issue, though. I’d really like an explanation, because I can’t see one other than outright managerial malpractice. But, positive thoughts. He’s feeling and looking better, and they could really use the old Nathan Lukes right now.

Both teams scored in the first before going quiet. Nathan Lukes and Vladimir Guerrero jr. hit ground ball singles to put runners on the corners with one out. Jesus Sanchez cracked a liner to centre field that plated Lukes before Zac Gallen was able to retaliate with a pair of Ks to end the inning. In the bottom, Corbin Caroll worked a walk and stole second, before a Geraldo Perdomo single brought him home to tied the score at one. That would be all the scoring for a while. Kazuma Okamoto singled in the Jays’ second, and Ernie Clement singled in the third. Perdomo managed his second hit in the bottom of the fourth before being erased by a double play. The Jays briefly threatened in the top of five when Ernie Clement laced a two out double off the wall in left, but Vlad couldn’t score him.

The D-Backs pulled ahead in the fifth. Jose Fernandez singled and moved to second on a fielder’s choice. Max Scherzer got the next two batters, but Alek Thomas hit a chopper up the first base line that clipped the back corner of the bag and scooted into the corner for the cheapest double you’ll see. That put Arizona on top 2-1. The Jays responded with the help of some good luck of their own. Eloy Jimenez hooked a grounder around the third base bag but appeared to think Nolan Arenado was going to be able to glove it and so pulled up at first instead of digging for a double. That set up what looked like an inning ending double play, but shortstop Perdomo took his foot off the bag before recieving the ball and Jimenez was ruled safe at second on review. Okamoto lined a single to left that allowed Jimenez to come around to score, tying at two. That ended Gallen’s evening, but Ryan Thompson was able to get Myles Straw to fly out to end it there.

In the bottom of six, Perdomo hit a ground ball into right field. It looked like a double, but the ball kicked off the wall and right to Nathan Lukes, who made a great throw to allow Andres Gimenez to tag him at the bag. Combined with a pop out and a fly out, that got Scherzer through the inning. He went 6.0, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk with one strikeout. It only took him 74 pitches to get there, but give that he’s been battling forearm tendinitis John Schneider prudently decided not to push his luck.

In the top of seven, Thompson got two outs while giving up a single up the middle to Lukes. Juan Morillo got the call to face Guerrero. He got him swinging to preserve the tie. Tyler Rogers took over for Scherzer and retired the side in order.

Jimenez beat out an infield single in the eighth, but the rest of the lineup couldn’t touch Morillo. Jeff Hoffman struggled again in the Diamondbacks’ half, giving up two ground blal singles to lead off and then walking the bases loaded. They didn’t stay that way long, as Corbin Caroll hit a grand slam to left field, cracking the game open. Kevin Ginkel breezed through the botto


Jays of the Day: Scherzer (0.10), Okamoto (0.13)

Less So: Hoffman* (-0.38), Gimenez (-0.16), Heineman (-0.10)

*Tonight ran Hoffman’s season WPA to -1.40, making him officially the most damaging pitcher in baseball so far in 2026. Congrats, Jeff.


We’ll wrap the series tomorrow. Kevin Gausman (0-1, 2.42) will look to keep his hot start going and hopefully get some support from his offence to secure his first win. Ryne Nelson (1-1, 3.54) is off to a promising start himself for the Diamondbacks. First pitch is slated for 4:10pm ET.

Mets’ David Peterson scratched from scheduled start but is not injured

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows David Peteson sits in the dugout before the Mets' loss to the Dodgers on April 13, 2026 in Los Angeles, Image 2 shows Mets righty Tobias Myers will start Sunday's game against the Cubs in place of David Peterson

CHICAGO — The Mets desperately need a win, and scuffling David Peterson isn’t viewed as the best starting pitching option to help deliver it.

Peterson was removed from his scheduled Sunday start against the Cubs, with the team announcing Saturday night that Tobias Myers will start instead.

The Mets have lost 10 straight games, the franchise’s longest losing streak since 2004.

David Peteson, who will not be starting tomorrow, sits in the dugout before the Mets’ loss to the Dodgers on April 13, 2026 in Los Angeles. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Peterson, according to a club source, is not injured.

The lefty last pitched on Monday against the Dodgers and allowed four early runs. Peterson owns a 6.41 ERA in four starts.

Mets righty Tobias Myers will start Sunday’s game against the Cubs in place of David Peterson. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Myers stretched out as a starter in spring training and has been used in long relief to begin the season.

Myers, who has pitched to a 3.64 ERA in six relief appearances, was last used on Wednesday when he allowed one earned run over two innings.

11-10 – Regrettably, Rangers won’t go undefeated against Mariners

Apr 18, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (17), right, catcher Kyle Higashioka (11) and pitching coach Jordan Tiegs meet at the mound during the fourth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images | Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images

The Texas Rangers scored three runs but the Seattle Mariners scored seven runs.

Faced with having to score runs off of George Kirby at T-Mobile Park, a near impossibility, manager Skip Schumaker brought in the infield on the first two opportunities that Seattle had with a runner 90 feet from home, and both times the Mariners shot one through the drawn in infield to score the game’s first three runs.

Both runners reached third base and eventually scored due in part to some shoddy infield defense with Seattle scoring their first run in the bottom of the first after J.P. Crawford doubled off Texas starter Nathan Eovaldi to lead off the game on a shot down the line that first baseman Jake Burger couldn’t field despite appearing to be within stabbing distance.

In the fourth, with a runner on first, second baseman Ezequiel Duran fielded a ball and tried to double off the runner but instead threw the ball into left field which gave the M’s two runners in scoring position and both would score on a single up the middle on the drawn in infield.

The Rangers couldn’t really afford unmade plays or miscues since they were facing Kirby who had gone just about a quarter of a full season’s worth of innings having allowed just one earned run total against the Rangers at T-Mobile Park.

Texas did have a few more chances than usual against Kirby but they squander those on the regular against mortal arms, much less the one pitcher designed in a lab especially to beat them. Overall, they went 1-for-8 with RISP and left an astonishing 16 on base with the one success coming with two outs in the ninth.

The Rangers somehow turned 11 hits and eight walks into just three runs with two of those coming in the ninth in what was then a 7-1 game.

The loss means the Rangers will need to win tomorrow to claim the series and avoid finishing with a losing road trip.

Player of the Game: Josh Jung continued his hot hitting with a solo home run off of Kirby. Jung also singled and walked as his OPS on the year has spiked to .861.

The Jung dong was just the second run that Kirby had allowed to the Rangers in over 40 innings at T-Mobile Park and the first home run that Kirby had ever allowed to a Ranger in Seattle.

Up Next: The Rangers close out this lengthy road trip with a final contest against the Mariners. LHP MacKenzie Gore will make the start in the finale against RHP Bryan Woo for Seattle.

The Sunday afternoon first pitch from T-Mobile Park is scheduled for 3:10 pm CDT and the telecast will be back on the Rangers Sports Network.