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Bucks vs. Suns Player Grades: Rollins and Dieng come up clutch

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 21: Ousmane Dieng #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket against Collin Gillespie #12 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 21, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Milwaukee Bucks made up for their stinker in Utah, beating the Phoenix Suns 108-105, mainly due to a bunch of huge plays down the stretch. The Bucks moved the ball more and turned it over less than they did against the Jazz, resulting in a much more polished performance. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.

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Player Grades

Ryan Rollins

33 minutes, 26 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, 3 turnovers, 10/19 FG, 3/7 3P, +6

Obviously, Ryan made the biggest shot of the night, but I thought this was one of his best all-around games of the year. Had significant usage with KPJ out, and made good decisions with the ball, creating for himself and others. Showed great ability to play with the drop-man in pick-and-roll, pulling up from three and the mid-range, whether it was off a snake or a straight pull-up. Made an impact defensively as well.

Grade: A+

Myles Turner

20 minutes, 7 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 2/3 FG, 1/2 3P, -7

Made a massive three late, but was caught a tad too deep in the drop on a few occasions, allowing Oso Ighodaro too much space in the pocket to get that floater off.

Grade: C+

Kyle Kuzma

23 minutes, 20 points, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 7/12 FG, 3/8 3P, +7

I thought Kuz was solid in this one, especially in the first half. Not much impact outside of scoring, but he made all his two-point shots (along with some timely threes), which is a good sign for him.

Grade: C+

AJ Green

17 minutes, 8 points, 5 rebounds, 3/6 FG, 2/5 3P, -8

Scored six of his eight points in the second quarter, but all came in a crucial stretch where the game could have gotten away from the Bucks. Also made an impact by rebounding and setting some of the grittiest screens I’ve seen from a dude his size.

Grade: C+

Ousmane Dieng

32 minutes, 11 points, 5/11 FG, 1/3 3P, -2

If you just looked at the box score, you might think Ous played just OK. No, he was really good. Dieng was given the primary assignment on Devin Booker, and held him to 4/17 shooting. Ous had him in hell, especially throughout the fourth quarter; his size seemed to bother Booker, and crucially, his foul discipline was excellent. Yes, it wasn’t Dieng’s night from a scoring standpoint, but his defence might have won them the game.

Grade: B+

Pete Nance

27 minutes, 5 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2/3 FG, 1/1 3P, +1

Sneakily, Doc rolled with Nance over Kuzma to close this one, and it paid off in a huge way. It was him who located Myles Turner in semi-transition as the Bucks had a numbers advantage with just over a minute to go; ran down the middle of the lane and, without any wasted motion, caught it knowing he’d be swarmed, hitting Turner in the corner.

Grade: B

Jericho Sims

24 minutes, 5 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 1/1 FG, +5

Back to his elite rebounding ways, eight of Sims’ 11 boards were of the offensive variety. Guess how many O-boards the team had? eight! Also had some great passes and, per usual, was great switching onto their guards and containing.

Grade: B+

Cam Thomas

15 minutes, 7 points, 3 turnovers, 2/5 FG, 0/1 3P, -6

Had some important buckets to start the fourth with Rollins resting, but still wasn’t great on the whole.

Grade: C-

Taurean Prince

21 minutes, 8 points, 3/8 FG, 2/6 3P, +6

Even ventured inside the three-point line for a dunk. Defence was solid.

Grade: C-

Gary Trent Jr.

23 minutes, 11 points, 4/10 FG, 3/6 3P, +13

Made two huge threes in the fourth—one self-created (which is rare for GT) and one out of an ATO. He’s been building lately.

Grade: B-

Doc Rivers

Thought Doc coached a solid game. Opting to use Ous on Booker was great thinking. He got the likes of AJ Green and Gary Trent Jr. shots out of ATOs when the team was desperately looking for a basket. Closing with Pete Nance for some extra size helped on defence down the stretch (along with his connective passing). Finally, I liked the strategy to blitz ball screens involving Suns rookie Khaman Maluach, who, at this stage in his career, needs a lot of work as a decision-maker on the short roll.

Grade: B+

DNP-CD : Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Cormac Ryan, Andre Jackson Jr.

Inactive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Porter Jr., Alex Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis, Gary Harris

Bonus Bucks Bits

  • Dieng on being given the assignment to guard Booker:

“I just love the challenge of guarding those players. Wasn’t my best night offensively, so just trying to make winning plays on the defensive end. He’s great at getting those fouls and getting to the free throw line, so just trying to show my hands, guarding him with my chest, and that’s it.”

  • Doc called this game “a team win,” highlighting how so many dudes contributed.
  • The Bucks had no turnovers in the entire second quarter.
  • The Suns had four fouls with 9:41 left in the fourth, which has to be some type of record.
  • Wisconsin Badgers legend Frank Kaminsky joined Lisa and Marques on the broadcast to reminisce on his college days, among other topics.
  • The game had nine lead changes.

Up Next

The West Coast trip rolls on tomorrow, when the Bucks face the LA Clippers. Catch the game at 9:30 p.m. CDT on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.

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Maple Leafs goalie hit in throat by puck, released from hospital

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz didn't make his scheduled start in net against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night after taking a puck to the throat during warmups.

Stolarz was taken to a hospital for precautionary imaging and released as the Leafs, with Joseph Woll in goal, fell to the Senators 5-2 on March 21.

Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube said after the game that Stolarz planned to meet the team for the flight home to Toronto. He did not have an update on the goalie's condition.

"Obviously it's, you know, really tough to see that happen," said forward William Nylander, whose warmup shot struck Stolarz.

"I always come in and shoot the puck in the glove, and this one just came off a little bit to the left, and I hit him in the neck. So, I mean, I was obviously worried for him, but, I mean, I've been texting with him, so he seems to be OK."

In his second season with the Leafs, Stolarz is 8-9-3 with a 3.34 goals-against average and .894 save percentage in 22 games. The 32-year-old, who won a Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers in 2024 as Sergei Bobrovsky's backup, missed 33 games earlier this season with an upper-body injury.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Anthony Stolarz injury: Maple Leafs goalie hit in throat by puck

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Wizards vs Knicks Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

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The Washington Wizards attempt to end a 15-game losing skid when they visit Madison Square Garden and the New York Knicks.

Washington’s defense has been difficult to watch and easy to score on, and my Wizards vs. Knicks predictions and NBA picks expect a fast-paced, high-scoring affair at MSG. 

Wizards vs Knicks prediction

Wizards vs Knicks best bet: Over 228 (-110)

This Washington Wizards defense is awful. Over the last 10 games, the Wizards rank 29th in defensive NET and 129 points allowed per game.

Washington plays at the third-fastest pace in the league, and the combination of a fast tempo and leaky defense is why Washington is 7-3 to the Over in their last 10.

Meanwhile, the New York Knicks' offense has been mediocre recently, but they’ll get clean looks all night long, and the faster pace should provide enough possessions to push this game Over the total. 

Wizards vs Knicks same-game parlay

Mikal Bridges is in the middle of an eight-game scoring slump, thanks to a cold stretch from deep where he’s hit just 31% over his last 11 games.

That’s well below his season norm of 37%, but he’s been more productive at home, averaging nearly 14 points per game at MSG.

This sets up as a get-right spot, and I expect the 3-ball to fuel a strong scoring night for the former Villanova star. 

Wizards vs Knicks SGP

  • Over 228
  • Mikal Bridges Over 12.5 points
  • Mikal Bridges Over 1.5 threes

Our "from downtown" SGP: Bombs away!

If NY has a defensive weakness, it's the perimeter. Across the past 10 games, opponents have connected on nearly 14 triples per night.

To that end, we’ll add Bilal Coulibaly and Tre Johnson's 3-point props as Coulibaly has cleared his total in four straight, and Johnson averages two made threes in his previous 10 contests. 

Karl-Anthony Towns has hit 2+ triples in three of his previous five games and has the same good fortune as Bridges against this leaky Washington defense.  

Wizards vs Knicks SGP

  • Tre Johnson Over 1.5 threes
  • Bilal Coulibaly Over 1.5 threes
  • Mikal Bridges Over 1.5 threes
  • Karl-Anthony Towns 1.5 threes

Wizards vs Knicks odds

  • Spread: Wizards +20 | Knicks -20
  • Moneyline: Wizards +1250 | Knicks -2500
  • Over/Under: Over 228 | Under 228

Wizards vs Knicks betting trend to know

The Wizards have gone Over the total in 17 of their last 24 games for +9.3 units and a 35% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Wizards vs. Knicks.

How to watch Wizards vs Knicks

LocationMadison Square Garden, New York, NY
DateSunday, March 22, 2026
Tip-off7:30 p.m. ET
TVMonumental SN, MSGSN

Wizards vs Knicks latest injuries

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Pirates top prospect Konnor Griffin optioned to Triple-A

Mar 21, 2026; Bradenton, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Konnor Griffin (75) at bat during the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at LECOM Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced that baseball’s top prospect, Konnor Griffin, has been reassigned to minor league camp and will start his season in Triple-A Indianapolis.

This news comes after Griffin had a fairly strong outing in Bradenton in Spring Training and was trending towards being the Pirates’ big league shortstop come Opening Day. While he flashed great power at times in camp he did only hit .171 in Grapefruit League play. It appears that the Pirates’ organization are being cautious with his development and are giving him every opportunity to earn what could likely be a massive contract extension before he even turns 21-years-old.

Pirates manager Don Kelly announced the move on Saturday at LECOM Park and what led to the decision.

 “You see a young kid who was maybe pressing just a little bit and trying really hard. Konnor Griffin the person is elite. Allowing him to go and get back to basics and being Konnor Griffin out there,” Kelly said. “We know there’s an elite talent level that comes with him. Just looking forward to him being in Pittsburgh whenever that time comes.”

Griffin of course impressed in his first year as a professional baseball player after being drafted ninth overall in 2024. Despite him starting in Low-A Bradenton he would finish 2025 in Double-A Altoona and received numerous end of season awards, to include a minor league All-Star nod and an invitation to participate in the Futures Game. Griffin slashed 333/.415/.527 in 122 minor league games last season.

Pittsburgh was similarly patient with Paul Skenes’ development, despite him seeming to be major league ready after less than a season spent in the majors. The club was certainly look out for their best interests in the respect that they have more control over a player’s future with the amount of service time they have spent in their minor league ranks. The club also has more control over what a long term extension could look like, and there have been reports that the Pirates and Griffin have already discussed what that contract could look like.

Griffin looks to be every bit of the promising prospect that the Pirates are hoping he will be, but it still might be in both parties best interest that he start his season in the minors. Some fans will be understandably disappointed with this move, especially considering that Griffin might already be the best option at shortstop for the Buccos. With that being said giving Griffin the opportunity to go out and be another prospect in Indianapolis will alleviate some of the pressure that he has undoubtedly been feeling. At just 19-years-old Griffin already has a huge magnifying glass on him as the best prospect in baseball and as possible savior for the Pirates. Having the opportunity to go to Indy will let Griffin slow things down and decompress and get back to playing more within himself with less outside pressure.

Make no mistake, Griffin should see big league action this season. With the way the team is currently constructed there really isn’t a solidified every day option at shortstop. Nick Gonzales has performed great in Spring Training, but of course has limited experience playing short at the major league level. Jared Triolo fits best there defensively but he figures to be the team’s third baseman. Nick Yorke is also in the mix but is much like the other candidates as he is largely unproven. If the Pirates can perform well as a team and Griffin can continue to excel he should find his way to Pittsburgh before season’s end.

Kelly described the decision to send Griffin down as difficult but maintained that he was impressed with his play and his character while he was in Bradenton.

“When you’re talking about a kid who came into big league camp playing shortstop for the first time … the talent that you see, I think he handled himself really well, professionally,” Kelly said. “We’ve talked about the maturity level as a 19-year-old in big league camp. Really excited about him being a Pirate and what that means for the future of Konnor Griffin and the Pirates.”

Griffin finishes his spring in Bradenton with a slash line of .171/.261/.749 with seven hits and four homers in 41 at bats.

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Amen Thompson tips Rockets to 124-123 victory over Heat

HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 21: Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets celebrates after the game against the Miami Heat on March 21, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, 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 Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Houston Rockets were locked into a close game with the Miami Heat in which they had given up a big Heat run, including a goaltend on Jabari Smith Jr. to give the Heat the late lead, but Amen Thompson tipped in the game winner at the buzzer off of a Kevin Durant miss to give the Rockets the 124-123 win.

The Rockets were led by Kevin Durant’s 27 points, as he passed Michael Jordan for fifth on the all-time scoring list. KD also added 3 rebounds and 3 assists. He was 9-for-17 from the field and 5-for-9 from three. Thompson had 24 points and 18 boards on 10-for-17 shooting, as well as the game-winner. He was even 1-for-1 from three.

Reed Sheppard came to play, as he once again was the Rockets starting point guard. He finished with 23 points on 8-for-12 shooting and 5-for-8 from deep. He also added a game-leading 14 assists as well as 4 steals and turned the ball over zero times. Keep the kid out there, coach! The Rockets are now 10-2 when Reed starts.

Alperen Sengun had 19 points and 12 boards and Jabari Smith Jr. Had 13 points to send all five Rockets starters into double-figures.

The Heat were led by Bam Adebayo, who had a monster 32-points, 21-rebound night, but the Rockets were able to overcome that with a second straight night of quality team baskteball. They shot 52 percent and had 33 team assists to just 13 turnovers. What we’ve been learning is that the Rockets look way better with a point guard who can shoot in the lineup. It’s just a shame that it took Ime Udoke three-quarters of a season to figure that out as well.

The Rockets now move to 43-27 on the season and hold a half game lead over the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves. They’ll be back in action on Monday, as they head over to Chicago to take on the Bulls.

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How many perfect brackets remain? March Madness leaves less than handful

Chances are, you no longer have a perfect bracket.

Well, scratch that: It's almost guaranteed you don't have a perfect bracket through three days of the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament with half the field set for the Sweet 16 through Saturday, March 21.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness games today: Breaking down Sunday's men's NCAA Tournament matchups

Fans already faced impossibly long odds of creating a perfect bracket. So having upsets on Day 1 took out a massive chunk of brackets. However, the chalkiness of the ensuing games — with just one double-digit seed headed to the Sweet 16 — likely also eliminated a bunch of brackets.

Blame Texas. Blame Gonzaga.

Here's a look at how many perfect brackets remain in March Madness, with plenty more opportunities for upsets on the horizon:

How many people still have perfect bracket in March Madness?

Last updated 8 a.m. ET on March 22

  • ESPN: 2 perfect brackets remain (beginning with 26,029,409)
  • NCAA: 2 perfect brackets remain

As of 8 a.m. ET on March 22, four perfect brackets remain in either the ESPN or NCAA bracket challenges. The NCAA did not provide the full number of brackets entered, but ESPN did. Only two of the 26,029,409 remain.

The biggest culprit on Saturday was No. 11 Texas' upset win over No. 3 Gonzaga. Before the game, 120 perfect brackets remained. Following the Longhorns' win, we were down to 27.

The four remaining perfect brackets

Here they are. The four smartest (or luckiest) bracketologists (of more than 26 million) of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, according to the NCAA:

  • "Cody underdog" on MBCG — Purdue, Kentucky, Kansas, Virginia, Florida, Arizona, UCLA, Texas Tech
  • "megs4525875" on MBCG — Purdue, Iowa State, Kansas, Virginia, Florida, Arizona, UConn, Alabama
  • "christienter" on ESPN — Purdue, Iowa State, St. John's, Virginia, Florida, Arizona, UConn, Texas Tech
  • "Mini-mi-2448's Picks 24" on ESPN — Purdue, Iowa State, Kansas, Tennessee, Florida, Arizona, UCLA, Texas Tech

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How many brackets are still perfect in March Madness? Tracking brackets

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Will the Red Sox and Yankees battle for the AL East crown?

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 01: Ceddanne Rafaela #3 of the Boston Red Sox walks to the dugout after hitting a fly ball for the third out to lose to the New York Yankees 4-3 in game two of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on October 01, 2025 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images

What’s This Team’s Deal?

This team has won one World Series since the year 2000. I haven’t looked into what happened in the hundred years before that. 

In 2025, after winning a three-game Wild Card series against the Red Sox, New York went down to the Toronto Blue Jays 3-games-to-1, allowing 37 runs in those four games. They have chosen to shake nothing up and bring back the same manager, the same GM, and almost the exact same team in 2026.

How Good Are They?

When their entire team is healthy, they could be “Best in the American League” good, but will that happen? Nearly all of their best players have some risk attached to them. 

Starting with the staff, Gerrit Cole is working his way back from Tommy John Surgery before last season, hoping to return by June 1. Carlos Rodon had surgery on his elbow at the end of last season to remove bone spurs. Rodon hopes to return in April, but will not pitch in a Spring Training game. Ryan Weathers has excellent stuff, but has had trouble staying on the field, yet to eclipse 95 innings in a season over his five-year career. If those three are healthy, alongside ace Max Fried and playoff nemesis Cam Schlittler, look out. But that’s a big “if”. 

At the back end, both Devin Williams and Luke Weaver bolted across town to the Mets, leaving a ‘pen that could use a couple more arms. David Bednar is a strong closer, but is backed up by Camilo Doval and the 36-year-old Fernando Cruz as high-leverage arms. Doval had a 4.82 ERA and a 12.6% walk rate after being traded to the Yankees last July. And while Cruz’s strikeout numbers are elite (13.8 K/9 in his career), he had a 4.52 career ERA before 2025. Tim Hill, Jake Bird, Paul Blackburn, Ryan Yarbrough, and Cade Winquest are not likely to scare anybody. 
On the hitting side, DH Giancarlo Stanton self-reported that he “can’t open a bag of chips” last month due to continued pain in both of his elbows. Second baseman Jazz Chisholm went 30-30 a year ago and should have plenty of motivation in a contract year, but has had issues staying on the field throughout his career.

Shortstop Anthony Volpe had shoulder surgery last October and could miss multiple months of the season, although some might argue that this could help the Yankees, considering Volpe made 13 throwing errors and hit .212 a year ago.

With 3-time MVP Aaron Judge, a returning Cody Bellinger, and Ben Rice hitting two through four in the Yankee lineup, there is plenty of firepower returning. The Yankees hit 274 home runs a year ago, 30 more than any other team in baseball. 

Of course, we all know who Aaron Judge is when it truly matters, which was on display once again during an abysmal World Baseball Classic performance. Judge’s .236 career batting average in the playoffs, with a 31.1 K%, makes it fair to ask whether he or Clayton Kershaw is the least clutch great player of this generation.

Most Likable Player: 

None. 

Least Likable Player: 

Gerrit Cole. After a year away, I wouldn’t want anyone to forget how unlikable Cole is. 

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Schedule Against The Red Sox

The Yankees will come to Fenway for a three-game mid-week set April 21-23, as well as a four-game weekend series from June 25-28. Boston will head to the Bronx for a couple of weekend three-game series, June 5-7 and August 28-30. 

Season Prediction

88-74, 3rd in AL East. Too many arm injuries, along with a subpar bullpen, hold the Yankees back in 2026. New York will finish behind the division-leading Blue Jays, as well as the Red Sox. If that lines things up for a Wild Card rematch in 2026, the games would be at Fenway this time. 

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Emmet Sheehan, Justin Wrobleski battle for final rotation spot

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 4: Emmet Sheehan #80 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch during a World Baseball Classic exhibition game against Team Mexico at Camelback Ranch on March 4, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images

On paper, the Dodgers’ starting rotation consists of a four-headed behemoth comprising of All-Stars and a pandora’s box of options to fill in the final spot. With Blake Snell and Gavin Stone set to begin the season on the injured list, it opened up a wild horse race to see which young pitchers could support the back-end of the rotation.

Both River Ryan and Kyle Hurt enjoyed fruitful springs after having their entire 2025 season wiped away due to injury, but they were both demoted back to Triple-A Oklahoma City before Saturday’s Cactus League finale. Roki Sasaki, despite his ongoing struggles, will be a fixture in the rotation— for now. The final spot comes down to either Emmet Sheehan and Justin Wrobleski, but the Dodgers are still uncertain as to whether they’ll implement a five or six-man rotation, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was less definitive Friday, not naming a fifth starter when asked. President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said the situation between Sheehan and Justin Wrobleski was more “nuanced” than one being the fifth and the other the sixth starter with “piggyback” outings a possibility early in the season.

Sheehan struggled over 10 2/3 innings on the mound this spring, posting a 5.91 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP, while Wrobleski posted a slightly better 5.40 ERA and 1.08 WHIP across 8 1/3 innings.

Links

Yoshinobu Yamamoto was stellar in his final tune-up of spring on Friday, where he silenced the San Diego Padres over five shutout innings, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out seven on 68 pitches.

Yamamoto spoke with Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA post-game about his most recent start as he prepares to spearhead the Dodgers regular season on Thursday.

“There were a few things I wanted to try, and today I was able to get into the game very nicely, so I think that was good. With runners on base, I was able to calmly throw my pitch. There were a few pitches, especially like a first pitch strike, and that was something that I was focused on going to.”

The Dodgers now have a better idea as to how to approach the new ABS system, as Sonja Chen of MLB.com notes that challenges will be used conservatively and predominantly on the offensive side of the at-bat.

“I feel like as hitters, we kind of laid off a little bit and didn’t use it the way that we were supposed to use it early on, because we were saving it for the catcher and to have a conversation,” [Miguel] Rojas said. “But now that we have a little bit more clarity of how we’re going to use it, I think the team is going to start getting better.”

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This Week in Purple: Rockies infielder Ryan Ritter diversifies his on-field portfolio

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 23: Ryan Ritter #8 of the Colorado Rockies in the outfield during the spring training game against the Chicago White Sox at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 23, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It’s been a busy spring training for Colorado Rockies infielder Ryan Ritter, who made his MLB debut in 2025.

In addition to playing second, third, and short, he’s also spend some time in the outfield. But, as he told Purple Row, he’s ready for the challenge.

Lessons learned in 2025

While there were any number of lessons to be learned in the Rockies historically bad 2025, for Ritter, it was about learning to pace himself.

“It’s a long, very long season,” Ritter said, “so just making sure that I’m really taking care of my my sleep, my meals right after the game and just staying strong all year.”

Although he, like many MLB players, found himself losing too much weight during a grueling season, Ritter is on track to do better in 2026.

“I just know that this year, that’s not gonna happen.”

In addition to spending the offseason in the weight room, Ritter also began working on setting a sustainable routine — even if it’s a little dull.

“This year, I have a good routine,” he said. “I make sure I do the boring things every day, just keeping it simple.”

Coaching and spring training changes

So far, Ritter likes the changes put in place by the Rockies front office.

“It’s been great,” he said, pointing to all the new coaches and players. “We’ve been all getting along really well here, and it’s been very competitive, but it’s how you want it.”

For Ritter, he appreciates the “small things” happening in camp.

“I want to learn and improve on every part of my game. So I definitely like hearing from them more often this year.”

Exploring the outfield grass

Ritter has spent most of his MLB career playing the infield. But with the Rockies emphasis on versatility, they’ve given Ritter a shot at showing what he can do in the outfield.

But Warren Schaeffer and his staff didn’t give him much notice.

“The day I found I was playing left field, it was like, ‘Hey, you play left before?’ I said, ‘No.’” And then bench coach Jeff Pickler told Ritter it was his time. Ritter took a few outfield reps, and the rest is history.

“I’ve just been making it part of my game.”

The coaching staff has helped with the transition and he become a more diverse utility player.

“The coaches get me prepared from pregame work, and I just use my athletic ability to make it work,” Ritter said.

Clearly, the Rockies are seeing what Ritter can do.

“I don’t think I’ve played a game this year where it’s been back-to-back the same position,” Ritter said. “So they’re definitely putting me in positions to play all these different positions, and it’s been great.”

He added, “I’m getting more comfortable.”

Still, when asked his favorite position, Ritter had a quick answer: “I played infield my whole life, so I’m a shortstop at heart.”

At this point, it seems likely Ritter will break camp with the Rockies given his flexibility. For a player in only his second MLB season, it’s a positive sign.

To Read (Rockpiles)

To Read (State of the Position)

Full Stream

To Read (Other)

Weekend Discussion Topics

Who will be the fifth starter? Who will be the backup catcher? Who will be the starting first basemen? Who will make the bullpen? Let us know in the comments!

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

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Chicago Cubs news and notes — Palencia, PCA, WBC

Ryan Brasier needs a job.

This is said to be a blister issue:

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There was some weirdness with the MLB.TV signal. Ended up watching the Mariners telecast.

Game results:Cubs 7, Mariners 1.

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Cubs 7, Padres 5.

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Miscellaneous:

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Food For Thought:

Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.

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Yankees Birthday of the Day: Rich Monteleone

TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 25: Coach Rich Monteleone of the New York Yankees poses for a portrait during Yankees Photo Day at Legends Field on February 25, 2005 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The early 1990s were a bit of a wasteland for the Yankees as a franchise. By winning percentage, the 1990 and ‘91 teams are two of the worst in franchise history, and they mostly continued the story of the 1980s, where the Yankees made the playoffs just once. By 1993, they began to show signs of returning to form, and then of course by the end of the decade, they were a dynasty again.

That’s not to say there were no good players around in the dark periods though. For instance, they got two solid years in there from reliever Rich Monteleone.

Richard “Rich” Monteleone
Born: March 22, 1963 (Tampa, FL)
Yankees Tenure: 1990-93

Monteleone was born and raised in Tampa, Florida attending Tampa Catholic High School. It was out of high school that the Tigers selected him with their first round draft pick in 1982, which was the 20th overall pick. Relatedly, another Tampa high school pitcher was selected fifth that year, with a certain Dwight Gooden going to the Mets.

While Monteleone did sign with the Tigers, he would never actually appear for them in the majors. Initially a starter in the minor leagues, he was a bit of a slow developer, as he never posted an ERA under four in any of his first six MiLB seasons. After his first couple, he ended up as part of a trade in December 1985, sending him to the Mariners organization. His first season there still saw him struggle to put up good numbers, and Seattle eventually moved him to the bullpen in 1987. He was briefly called up to the big leagues that April, getting his first taste of the majors before getting sent back down.

In 1988, Monteleone was still struggling to find his footing and the M’s eventually just released him that May. A couple days later, he signed with the Angels, where he finally began to figure things out. He made a cameo at the major league level in 1988, but then got an extended run the following season. In 1989, Monteleone posted a 3.18 ERA (121 ERA+) in 39.2 innings.

Despite that, Monteleone started 1990 back in the minors. However, just after the new season started, he and Claudell Washington — a former Yankee returning to the Bronx — were sent to the Yankees in exchange for Luis Polonia. The trade for the Yankees was more about reacquiring Washington, as they were still trying to get something going and contend again, but they also got a pitcher who had shown some positive signs. The Yankees also sent Monteleone to the minors, before recalling him for a sub-par cup of coffee that September.

Monteleone returned to the big league roster in 1991 and found some success, at least stats-wise. Often used in a multi-inning role, he posted a 3.64 ERA (115 ERA+) in 47 innings. The following year, he was even better. Pitching in over 90 innings, he put up a 3.30 ERA. He recorded seven wins, which was third on the team in total, starter or reliever.

The next season wasn’t as good, though, as Monteleone’s ERA was just under five in over 80 innings pitched. The Yankees let him walk in free agency after that year, and he signed with the Giants. He bounced back in the strike-shortened 1994 season, with a 126 ERA+. He also served as San Francisco’s player representative in the MLBPA throughout that turbulent time.

With the 1995 season still in flux to start, Monteleone went to Japan and joined the Chunichi Dragons. However, he didn’t have the best of years there and returned to his old Angels team later in the year. A free agent again to start 1996, Monteleone re-signed with the Yankees. However, he never actually appeared again with the team, starting in the minors before being sent back to the Angels for Mike Aldrete, who would be a bench option for the ‘96 World Series-winning Yankees. Monteleone pitched a handful of innings for the Angels in ‘96 before retiring following that season.

After giving up playing, Monteleone got into coaching, where he would end up back with the Yankees. He was the pitching coach in the organization at various minor league levels, and was the big league team’s bullpen coach from 2002-04. After that, he stayed with the organization through 2008 as a special instructor.

Monteleone’s numbers were hardly ever dominant, but at least for a couple years in the early 1990s, they were decent enough for a Yankees team that often wasn’t getting even that.

See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

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Preview: Colorado Looks to Capitalize Once More Against Washington

Jan 19, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren (79) watches a shot from Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) as center Connor McMichael (24) defends in the third period at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

The Colorado Avalanche are bound for the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season!

Today, their final road swing through the Eastern Conference sees them in a brunchtime visit to Washington, D.C. to face the Washington Capitals in a bid to sustain their Central Division lead.

Colorado Avalanche (45-13-10)

The Opponent: Washington Capitals (35-27-8)

Time: 10:30 A.M. MDT/12:30 P.M. EDT

Watch: ALT, ALT+ (Avalanche Local Broadcast Area), MNMT (Washington Capitals Broadcast Area Only), NHL Network, NHL Center Ice (Outside Regional Broadcast Areas – US), SN1, SN+, TVAS, TVAS+, NHL Centre Ice (Canadian Broadcast Areas)

Listen: Altitude Sports Radio KKSE-FM 92.5 FM

Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche got their four game road trip off to a good start on Friday evening, as they defeated the Chicago Blackhawks by a score of 4-1 at United Center. All of Colorado’s big guns factored into the victory, as Martin Nečas, Brock Nelson, Nazem Kadri, and Valeri Nichushkin all tallied goals in the contest. Nathan MacKinnon’s three assist night helped power Colorado’s big guns in the victory as he continues his chase for the Art Ross scoring title; coming into today’s contest, MacKinnon’s 114 points sees him two points behind Edmonton’s Connor McDavid (116) and four points behind Tampa’s Nikita Kucherov (118). The win snapped Colorado’s three game losing streak, and helped them maintain their position as the undisputed leader across the Central Division, Western Conference, and entire League standings.

With the win over Chicago, the Avalanche clinched their ninth consecutive postseason berth, and became the first team in the NHL this season to reach the 100 point mark in the standings. Although they’ve enjoyed being ahead of the rest of the League by a healthy margin throughout the season, that lead has diminished as the regular season marches towards its conclusion. The annoyingly persistent Dallas Stars have narrowed the lead the Avalanche have over their Central Division rivals in recent weeks, but Colorado did get some help from the Minnesota Wild on Saturday afternoon as they defeated Dallas by a 2-1 overtime decision at Grand Casino Arena. The Avalanche currently hold a three point lead over Dallas, but today’s contest in Washington serves as Colorado’s game in hand in the standings. A win today will increase their lead to five points, with both teams having thirteen games remaining on their regular season schedules.

Head Coach Jared Bednar acknowledged the accomplishment after the win in Chicago on Friday. “We like what we’re doing right now. Obviously, there’s ebbs and flows to the season, but I think, to this point in the season, if you look at it as a whole, that we’ve put ourselves in a good spot here. We feel good about the way we’re playing. Making the playoffs is the first step to getting to where you want to go, so we’re pretty happy about that.”

Bednar may opt to return to Mackenzie Blackwood, who stopped 19 of 20 shots on Friday against Chicago, for today’s contest. Scott Wedgewood, who continues leading the League for the lowest goals against average (2.19), and now leads the League in save percentage (.916), could get the start on Tuesday in Pittsburgh should Bednar decide on starting Blackwood today.

Prior to leaving for Chicago, Bednar indicated that Ross Colton, Gabe Landeskog, Artturi Lehkonen, and Logan O’Connor would accompany the Avs on the road trip, and that all four were projected to return to the lineup at some point as the trip progresses. None of them were in the lineup on Friday evening in Chicago, and at the time of this writing, there are no updates on whether any of them would make an appearance against Washington today. However, Ivan Ivan, who was in action on Friday in Chicago, was reassigned to Loveland after the contest, which may indicate that at least one player may return to action today.

Both Colorado and Washington previously met on January 19 at Ball Arena. MacKinnon scored twice, Nečas had a goal and an assist, and Scott Wedgewood stopped 22 of 24 shots in that contest as the Avalanche skated to a 5-2 victory. Today’s game wraps up the season series against Washington.

Projected Lineup

Forwards:
Valeri Nichushkin – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas
Nazem Kadri – Brock Nelson – Nicolas Roy
Ross Colton – Jack Drury – Gavin Brindley
Joel Kiviranta – Parker Kelly – Zakhar Bardakov

Defense:
Cale Makar – Sam Girard
Josh Manson – Brent Burns
Brett Kulak – Sam Malinski

Between the Pipes:
Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood

Washington Capitals

Since their previous meeting against Colorado in January, Washington has hovered around the .500 mark, having won five of their final nine games prior to the Olympic break and six of their previous eleven games upon returning to action after the pause. As a result, Washington currently sits in sixth place in the Metropolitan Division, and are six points back of the final wild card spot, currently occupied by the Detroit Red Wings, in the Eastern Conference.

With three teams ahead of them as the season winds down, Washington’s chances of making the playoffs are slim. The trade deadline on March 6 saw the departures of Nic Dowd to the Vegas Golden Knights and cornerstone defenseman John Carlson to the Anaheim Ducks, and the acquisition of forward David Kampf from the Vancouver Canucks and defenseman Timothy Liljegren from the San Jose Sharks. Since the deadline, Washington has gone 4-2-1, but comes into today’s contest against Colorado having won three of their four previous games. Their most recent victory came this past Friday against the New Jersey Devils by a score of 2-1.

The debut of Cole Hutson this past Wednesday saw the rookie defenseman score his first career goal with Washington. While his older brother Lane may have more name recognition across the League due to his play for the Montréal Canadiens, Capitals fans certainly may feel optimistic about what he can bring to the Washington blue line, especially after scoring in his debut. The loss of Carlson may certainly sting, but the future lynchpin on defense may already be right there in Hutson if his development follows a similar trajectory to Lane’s.

As noted in this space during the first preview article featuring Washington and Colorado, if you were asked who was leading Washington in goals, you’d probably say it was Alex Ovechkin. As it was back then, it is still Tom Wilson, but Ovechkin now shares the goal scoring lead with Wilson (25), and the lead in team points (52). Wilson, who was out with injury for the previous outing against Colorado, earned a silver medal with Team Canada along with goaltender Logan Thompson. Defenseman Jakob Chychrun is third among Washington skaters in points (51), second in goal scoring among all skaters (23, tied with Aliaksei Protas), and third in assists (28).

Thompson has won his three of his past five starts, and will likely start today against Colorado. He ranks third in goals against average among goaltenders (2.36), and fourth in save percentage (.915).

Today’s game against Colorado wraps up a four game home stand at Capital One Arena. Washington will begin a three game road trip out west on Tuesday.

Projected Lineup

Forwards:
Alex Ovechkin – Dylan Strome – Anthony Beauvillier
Aliaksei Protas – Pierre-Luc Dubois – Tom Wilson
Connor McMichael – Justin Sourdif – Ryan Leonard
Brandon Duhaime – Hendrix Lapierre – Ethen Frank

Defense:
Martin Fehérváry – Rasmus Sandin
Jakob Chychrun – Trevor van Reimsdyk
Cole Hutson – Matt Roy

Between the Pipes:
Logan Thompson
Charlie Lindgren

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Game Preview #72 – Timberwolves at Celtics

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 02: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball against Rudy Gobert #27 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third quarter at Target Center on January 02, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Celtics defeated the Timberwolves 118-115. 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

Minnesota Timberwolves at Boston Celtics
Date: March 22nd, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM CDT
Location: TD Garden
Television Coverage: NBC, Peacock, Telemundo
Radio Coverage: KFAN FM, Wolves App, iHeart Radio

There’s a certain kind of loss that tells you everything you need to know about a team.

Not the buzzer-beater losses. Not the “we got unlucky” losses. Not even the “their best guy went nuclear” losses. I’m talking about the ones where you can rewind the tape, pause it in the middle of the second quarter, and say, “this is where it slipped away”, even if the final margin comes down to one possession and a corner three.

Friday night against Portland? That was one of those.

The Timberwolves had the opportunity sitting right there in front of them: finish the homestand 3–0, stack another win without Anthony Edwards, and create a little breathing room in the Western Conference standings. Instead, they walked away with a loss that dropped them from the fourth seed to the sixth. Minnesota now finds itself in a three-way tie with Houston and Denver, and, because the Wolves won’t allow themselves to have nice things, they hold none of the tie-breakers.

The worst part? You can’t even chalk it up to bad luck.

Yes, the final defensive sequence is what everyone will remember. Minnesota was clinging to a one-point lead and needed one defensive stop. Just one. And instead, they give up offensive rebound after offensive rebound, can’t secure the ball, can’t finish the possession, and eventually Jerami Grant is standing in the corner with six seconds left on the shot clock like he’s at an open gym, calmly drilling the go-ahead three.

Game over.

But if you think that’s why the Wolves lost, you weren’t paying attention. This game was lost long before Grant’s shot. It was lost on the glass. It was lost in the paint. And most of all, it was lost during a second quarter stretch that felt like watching a car skid off black ice in slow motion.

Portland scored on 10 of 11 possessions. It wasn’t just bad defense. It was a complete breakdown of structure, communication, and effort. The perimeter defense fell apart, which meant driving lanes opened up like automatic doors at a grocery store. The Blazers got uncontested looks at the rim. Minnesota couldn’t string together stops. And on the other end, the Wolves looked like five guys who had just met each other in the parking lot.

Ball movement? Gone. Shot selection? Questionable at best. Rhythm? Nonexistent.

By the time the dust settled, Minnesota was down 17 points, and the game had already tilted in a way that made everything else harder than it needed to be.

Now, to their credit, the Wolves did what they’ve done a handful of times this season. They fought back. They erased the deficit. They actually took the lead by the end of the third quarter and gave themselves a chance to win.

But that’s kind of the problem with this team, isn’t it? They’re constantly asking themselves to be perfect late because they weren’t disciplined early.

If they don’t dig that 17-point hole, they don’t need that final stop. If they don’t get outworked on the boards all night, maybe Portland doesn’t even have a chance to take that shot. If they defend with purpose for 48 minutes instead of 40, maybe we’re talking about a professional, workmanlike win instead of another postmortem.

At this point in the season, there are no moral victories. Not with the standings this tight. Not with the playoffs looming. Not when every game swings three spots in the bracket depending on how things break. Here’s the reality now: the Wolves have gone from flirting with the three seed to sitting in the six, tied with Houston and Denver, holding zero tiebreakers, and staring at a schedule that does them absolutely no favors. And oh yeah… Anthony Edwards is still out.

So now the conversation shifts from “can they climb?” to “can they survive?” Because coming up next is Boston, then Houston, and then Detroit. That’s not a stretch you ease into while trying to rediscover your identity. That’s a stretch that exposes you if you don’t have one.

Let’s start with Boston, because that’s the immediate problem. The Celtics are getting healthier. Jayson Tatum is back. Jaylen Brown is still Jaylen Brown. They’re one of the most complete teams in the league when they’re right, and unlike Minnesota, they’ve shown an ability to weather adversity without completely losing their footing.

And if we’re being honest, it’s not entirely clear how the Wolves match up with them right now without Edwards. Which doesn’t mean they can’t win. It just means the margin for error is basically nonexistent. So if they’re going to pull this off, it’s going to require a level of discipline and execution we haven’t consistently seen.

Here are the keys to the game…

#1 – Value every single possession.

The Wolves have had a bad habit lately of being careless with the ball and sloppy with their decisions, which often turn into easy transition opportunities. You cannot give Boston free points. Every possession has to mean something. Every pass has to have purpose. If Minnesota starts gifting the Celtics extra chances, this thing could get out of hand quickly.

#2 – Win the rebounding battle.

On Friday night, Portland outworked them, plain and simple. Boston doesn’t have a Donovan Clingan-type rim presence, but they absolutely will scrap, rotate, and crash when the opportunity is there. Rudy Gobert needs to be a vacuum. Julius Randle, who, let’s be honest, had a rough night against Portland, needs to be better. Nothing deflates a team faster than playing 20 seconds of good defense and then giving up an offensive rebound and a reset.

#3 – Hunt high-efficiency offense.

The second quarter against Portland was a masterclass in what not to do. Forced shots. Stagnant possessions. Hero ball without the hero. Against Boston, that’s a death sentence. This needs to be a connected offense. That means feeding Gobert around the rim, getting McDaniels and Randle downhill, and creating clean looks for guys like DiVincenzo, Bones, and Ayo. You’re not going to out-talent Boston without Edwards. You have to out-execute them.

#4 – Do not allow the avalanche. We’ve seen it too many times this season. A bad three-minute stretch turns into a bad five-minute stretch, which turns into a double-digit deficit that suddenly feels insurmountable. Boston is one of the best “run” teams in the league. They smell blood, and they go on those 12–2 bursts that flip games. Minnesota has to recognize those moments early. That’s on the players to stay mentally locked in, and it’s on Chris Finch to hit the timeout button before things spiral.

#5 – This has to be a Julius Randle game.

There’s just no way around it. Without Edwards, there isn’t a version of this game where the Wolves win and Randle is just “fine.” He has to be great. Not just as a scorer, but as a leader, a rebounder, a defender, a facilitator. Friday night was probably his worst performance of the week, and it showed. The engagement wasn’t there. The physicality wasn’t there, and it cost Minnesota the game.

The good news? We’ve seen the version of Julius that can carry this team. The one who attacks, who bodies people, who makes quick decisions, who bends the defense and opens everything up for everyone else. That version exists. Minnesota needs him to find it again… immediately.

This week isn’t about aesthetics. It’s not about style points. It’s not about proving anything to the national media or climbing some imaginary power rankings.

It’s about survival.

The Wolves had a chance to make things easier on themselves Friday night, and they let it slip. Now the margin is thinner, the schedule is tougher, and the stakes are higher.

They don’t have to be perfect, but they do have to be better.

And they have to figure it out quickly, because the standings aren’t going to wait for them to get comfortable.

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Suns’ poor decision making is becoming hard to ignore

PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 21: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 21, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Saturday night marked the fifth straight loss for the Phoenix Suns, and you can feel the frustration starting to seep in. On the surface, the reasons are clear. The team is banged up. The injury report before games reads like a CVS receipt. It is long, it is exhausting, and it impacts everything. But even with that, they are right there late. But their poor decisions are costing them the opportunity to win.

They are in the game, within reach, close enough to grab it, and then it slips. They run out of gas. They run out of options. They run out of answers. Execution fades, possessions tighten, and the game gets taken from them. That is where this frustration lives. Because it is not about being blown out, it is about being close and not finishing.

After the loss to San Antonio, I was not mad. I was disappointed. There is a difference.

This one hits different. Losing to Milwaukee without Giannis brings out something else. This is not a powerhouse version of the Bucks. This is a team that is navigating the end of its season with a different agenda, one that includes positioning for the future. You can see it, and you can feel it. And still, the Suns could not take advantage.

That is where the frustration comes from. Because the opportunity was there. Another winnable game, another moment to stop the slide. And once again, it slipped away.

And it keeps coming back to the same place late in games. Devin Booker.

He is the highest-paid player on the floor. He is the one who is supposed to take control when things tighten, when possessions matter most. That is the expectation and that is the responsibility. Right now, it is not showing up consistently. You watch Ryan Rollins (who?) attack the rim without hesitation, getting downhill, putting pressure on the defense. Then you watch Booker settle. Midrange looks that are not falling. Turnovers at the worst times. Situational decisions that leave you scratching your head, like taking a two when you are down three with under 20 seconds left.

Those are the moments. Those are the possessions that define games, and right now, they are not going Phoenix’s way. Booker is the one who has to change that.

Did he look hurt? Yeah, there were moments where you could see it. A slight hobble, a lack of burst, something that did not look quite right. And maybe that is part of the explanation for a 4-of-17 night and only 14 points. But if that is the case, then adjust. Dictate the offense, do not become it. Lean into the guys around you. Let Collin Gillespie organize. Let Jalen Green attack. Let Jordan Goodwin bring that energy and pressure. Use your gravity to create opportunities rather than forcing yourself into every possession.

Because when you try to carry it while not at full strength, it can swing the wrong way. And in this one, it did. Yes, the team is injured. That is real. But it cannot be an excuse for poor decision-making. That is what is fueling this losing streak.

You look at a moment like tonight, up 91–84, with control of the game starting to tilt your way. Jalen Green was rolling, feeling it, and instead of settling into a quality possession, he pulled up for a 27-foot three. A heat check. And it missed. Momentum gone. That is the difference. Those are the possessions that matter. Not the highlight plays, not the runs, the decisions in between. The ones that either steady you or derail you. Right now, they are derailing the Suns.

The injuries make everything harder. They shorten the margin and they force different lineups and roles. But the decisions are what swing games, and too often, Phoenix is making the wrong one at the wrong time.

We know help is coming. The troops are on the sideline, and at some point, the opportunity to turn this around should be there. The problem is that the clock is not slowing down. The season is entering its final stretch, and the runway is getting shorter.

We gave Jalen Green about 20 games to find his legs and get comfortable again. What does that timeline look like for Dillon Brooks or Mark Williams? That is where this gets tricky.

It is a strange place to be. This is a team that has overachieved relative to preseason expectations, and now it feels like it is drifting back toward them. Injuries are the primary driver, everyone understands that. Still, you need more from your max player. That is part of the deal. Because even with everything working against them, the Suns have been in these games. They are right there. They simply cannot finish, and that is where the frustration turns into anger.

Bright Side Baller Season Standings

It is funny how this works. I sit here writing about different players and how the Suns could best utilize them, and then they hear it. I say Collin Gillespie should probably move to the bench now, start getting comfortable in the role he will have once Dillon Brooks returns.

His response? 24 points. 6-of-11 from beyond the arc.

So maybe there is a lesson in there somewhere. Maybe I should keep writing those pieces, keep pushing buttons, keep saying what players cannot do. Because every time it happens, it feels like they go out and prove the opposite. And Gillespie did exactly that against San Antonio.

That performance gave him his 11th Bright Side Baller of the season, second only to Devin Booker. That says a lot about this season, about who he is, and about what he is becoming.

Bright Side Baller Nominees

Game 71 against the Bucks. Here are your nominees:

Jalen Green
24 points (9-of-17, 3-of-6 3PT), 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, -14 +/-

Collin Gillespie
18 points (6-of-13, 4-of-11 3PT), 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 turnover, -1 +/-

Devin Booker
14 points (4-of-17, 2-of-5 3PT), 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, +3 +/-

Ryan Dunn
12 points (5-of-9, 2-of-5 3PT), 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 1 block, +1 +/-

Oso Ighodaro
12 points (6-of-8), 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, -11 +/-

Jordan Goodwin
11 points (4-of-9, 2-of-6 3PT), 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, -3 +/-

How’s about a ‘lil Sunday morning voting?

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Finding meaning in this Dallas Mavericks season

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARCH 16: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks dunks during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on March 16, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

What’s the point of all this?

Not just the last 12 games of this Dallas Mavericks season. They’re probably going to lose a lot of those games, so you’re not watching for the thrill of victory. A lot of the players on the team right now will likely be gone after this summer, so you’re not seeing the beginning of some blossoming young team.

I’m going to watch at least half those games, if not more. Why?

It’s the same when the team is good, too, even when they’re great. Take a moment and think about all the great teams who didn’t win a championship, and then broke apart within five years. If you’re a Golden State Warriors or San Antonio Spurs fan, you’ve seen four championships in the last 25 years. That means 21 years of disappointment for fans of the most successful teams. For fans of less successful teams…well, it’s a lot of disappointment.

But we keep coming back. We watch championship teams, mediocre teams, lottery teams. Mostly it ends badly, sometimes even heartbreak. So why do we do this?

One easy answer is to see Cooper Flagg’s development. It looks like he’s going to be a superstar, and it’s always fun to be there for the beginning of something like that.

There’s also the other young guys, Max Christie and Ryan Nembhard. They’ll likely be role players at best, but it’s fun to get to know players like that and see if they become more.

There’s the chance that Jason Kidd will awake from his slumber and show a human emotion once or twice during a game. Maybe he’ll even raise his voice and get ejected, just for fun or sheer boredom.

If Dwight Powell gets enough minutes, he might break the career record for getting hit in the face with a basketball. Or he might break a real Mavericks franchise record simply by being around for a while (he’s less than thirty rebounds away from passing Erick Dampier for eighth all time).

Maybe you’re in full tank mode and are rooting for them to lose every game for the rest of the season so they get a better pick. That’s one way to stay entertained! Make sure you’re staying up to date on all the mock drafts.

You might just like seeing Klay Thompson shoot 3-pointers. He likely won’t pass any more historical marks this season, but he’s got a great shot, and it’s fun to see him when he’s shooting the lights out. Maybe Thompson has a game where he goes on an absolute heater and hits double digit 3-pointers.

Maybe around mid-March the players will just be sick of this season and get in a fight with another team. It’s not what you’re watching for, obviously, but it would break up the monotony of one of the weirdest and blandest seasons in years.

Maybe the best reason to be here, watching these games, caring about what’s going on, is the relationships you build through this dumb team. It creates bonds with your parents, your kids, your brothers and sisters, your friends, that will likely never go away. It’s why we get so happy when this team succeeds, and why we get so despondent when a historically incompetent GM trades away a top five player for almost no return.

So we keep showing up to see them lose by twenty to a championship contender, or lose by two to a fellow lottery-bound team. We watch the good games and the bad, even if we turn it off and go to bed early sometimes (especially those West Coast games with late start times).

Maybe there’s no real legitimate reason to watch a soon-to-be deconstructed team finish out a miserable season, and we’re all some sort of addicts. Addicted to basketball, whether it’s in it’s best or worst forms. If you stop and think about it too long, it really doesn’t make sense. We’re going to watch this team finish out 2-10, together, for fun?

But here we are, getting excited about Flagg making a play way too advanced for someone his age, or getting mad about Daniel Gafford’s lack of rebounding, or just getting bored. But we’re in it together, in this basketball purgatory together, thinking about better days on the horizon.