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Magic vs. Wizards Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 3

It’s Thursday, April 3, and the Orlando Magic (37-40) and Washington Wizards (17-59) are all set to square off from Capital One Arena in Washington.

The Magic are currently 17-21 on the road with a point differential of -1, while the Wizards have a 3-7 record in their last ten games at home. Orlando has won all three meetings by at least 15 points versus Washington this season.

Washington is coming off a win against Sacramento last night to snap a three-game losing streak. Orlando is 5-2 over the last seven games and 2-2 in the previous four.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Magic vs. Wizards live today

  • Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025
  • Time: 7:00PM EST
  • Site: Capital One Arena
  • City: Washington, DC
  • Network/Streaming:

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Magic vs. Wizards

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Odds: Magic (-971), Wizards (+633)
  • Spread:  Magic -13.5
  • Over/Under: 217 points

That gives the Magic an implied team point total of 114.62, and the Wizards 107.58.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Thursday’s Magic vs. Wizards game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Magic to cover:

"Since Washington is coming off an upset win over the Kings last night, this is a fade spot to me. It's Orlando or pass, as the Magic needed a comeback versus the Spurs in their last game, but should not need that here."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Magic & Wizards game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Orlando Magic on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Washington Wizards at +13.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 217.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Magic vs. Wizards on Thursday

  • The Wizards are 1-4 in their last 5 home games
  • 16 of the Magic's last 19 road trips to the Wizards have gone over the Total
  • The Wizards have failed to cover the Spread in 4 of their last 5 matchups against divisional opponents
  • The Magic have won 7 of their last 9 on the road, while the Wizards have lost 5 straight home games

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Timberwolves sale from Glen Taylor to Marc Lore, Alex Rodriguez agreed to, moving forward

It was a multi-year process that the current controlling Timberwolves owner, Glen Taylor, tried to stop — and could have dragged out with an appeal of an arbitrator's ruling — but Taylor has decided against the appeal, and the sale of the Minnesota franchise is finally going through.

Taylor has agreed to sell 100% of the Minnesota Timberwolves to Mark Lore and Alex Rodriguez for the $1.5 billion franchise valuation agreed to in 2021, a story broken by Shams Charania and Brian Windhorst of ESPN and confirmed by multiple other reporters since. The NBA has formally started transferring ownership, including a vote from the Board of Governors (the other owners).

The dragged-out, convoluted process of Lore and Rodriguez buying the team started four years ago. This unique sale process involved Lore/Rodriguez essentially buying the team in installments at a $1.5 billion price tag, with all sides agreeing to this process in 2021.

The dispute arose around the final payment of that sale, which Taylor voided, saying it came after the prescribed deadline. However, Lore and Rodriguez argued that they did turn in the paperwork on time, and the sale agreement allowed for an extension of 90 days to finalize the deal if their financing was in place before the deadline — and it was despite changing financing partners. Rodriguez and Lore argued that Taylor simply had seller's remorse (maybe in part because the value of the franchise skyrocketed in the years after the sale).

The disagreement went to arbitration, and the panel agreed with Lore and Rodriguez. Taylor could have appealed but chose not to. The sides have now agreed to finalize the deal.

Taylor, 83, still turns a healthy profit: He bought the Timberwolves in 1994 for $88 million (keeping the team from a potential relocation to New Orleans).

Among the things the Lore/Rodriguez ownership is expected to do is extend team head of basketball operations Tim Connelly, as well as try to repair the franchise's relationship with its best player ever, Kevin Garnett (who had a feud with Taylor).

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Timberwolves vs. Nets Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 3

It’s Thursday, April 3, and the Minnesota Timberwolves (44-32) and Brooklyn Nets (25-51) are all set to square off from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The Timberwolves are currently 21-16 on the road with a point differential of 5, while the Nets have a 2-8 record in their last ten games at home. This is the first of two remaining matchups between the Nets and Timberwolves.

Minnesota has won three straight games and four of the past five contests, while Brooklyn has won the past two games by seven combined points versus Washington and Dallas.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Timberwolves vs. Nets live today

  • Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025
  • Time: 7:30PM EST
  • Site: Barclays Center
  • City: Brooklyn, NY
  • Network/Streaming:

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Timberwolves vs. Nets

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Odds: Timberwolves (-935), Nets (+618)
  • Spread:  Timberwolves -13
  • Over/Under: 216 points

That gives the Timberwolves an implied team point total of 113.87, and the Nets 107.09.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Thursday’s Timberwolves vs. Nets game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Nets to cover:

"Minnesota is coming off that emotional and wild win in 2OT versus the Nuggets, but they travel across the country from Denver to Brooklyn for this contest. This is a large double-digit spread to cover if you are Minnesota as they just want the win and to continue the road trip. I lean the points with the Nets as a backdoor cover is very likely."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Timberwolves & Nets game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Minnesota Timberwolves on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Brooklyn Nets at +13.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 216.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Timberwolves vs. Nets on Thursday

  • The Timberwolves have won 4 of their last 5 away games against teams with losing records
  • 7 of the Timberwolves' last 9 games (78%) have gone over the Total
  • This season the Nets have covered the spread in 28 games against teams with better records
  • The Timberwolves have won 6 of their last 7 away games against teams with losing records

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Bet the Edge is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Walker silences boobirds with 6 shutout innings to complete sweep over Rockies

Walker silences boobirds with 6 shutout innings to complete sweep over Rockies originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

There were boos every time he took the mound at BayCare Ballpark during spring training.

There were boos on Opening Day when his name was announced for the first time this season at Citizens Bank Park.

And again, there were boos when he was announced as the starting pitcher for Thursday’s series finale against the Rockies.

“It would affect anyone, really,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said about the boos in his office before the game. “But I think he handles it really well.”

At the end of the sixth inning, as the Phillies were inching their way towards their first sweep of the season, Taijuan Walker celebrated while walking off the mound after striking out Hunter Goodman. He made his way to the dugout and for the first time in a long time, wasn’t met with boobirds. In fact, he was met with 34,097 Phillies fans rising to their feet to applaud his outing.

Six scoreless innings. Three hits. Four punch outs. 74 pitches.

3-1, Phillies.

It’s Walker’s first win since May 11 last season. 327 days. He made 16 starts in the interim.

Even with minimal help offensively, this was Walker’s day. If you’re the 32-year-old, you couldn’t ask for a better start to the season.

After a series of infield mishaps for the Rockies in the second inning, the Phillies found themselves with the bases loaded for the second time in under 24 hours. And just like the former … they weren’t able to bring any runs across the plate.

Well, at least Max Kepler tried. Brandon Marsh grounded out to Rockies Pitcher Antonio Senzatela and with a fielder’s choice to catcher Jacob Stallings, Kepler was initially called safe. After review, the ruling was overturned.

The afternoon of offensive oddities continued in the fourth with J.T. Realmuto. After Realmuto collected his second single of the day, Bryson Stott had what could’ve been a knock into right field, except it hit the Phillies’ catcher on the base path.

Third time is always the charm, right?

Kyle Schwarber led off the fifth inning and should’ve been out on a routine pop up to left fielder and former Phillie, Mickey Moniak. Moniak dropped the ball, putting Schwarber aboard. He scored on a Bryce Harper double two batters later.

Schwarber added a little breathing room with a 444-foot bomb to the second deck in right center field. He’s currently on the longest hitting streak of his career to open the season and is leading the club with four home runs.

These are the games the Phillies need to be winning. Back-to-back series wins, including a sweep, is the expectation when you’re going against subpar teams like the Nationals and Rockies. Now 5-1 on the season, they’re going to face their first big test this weekend with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers coming to town for a three-game series. The Dodgers are currently sitting a pretty 8-0 at the top of the NL West and are coming off of a walk-off win against the Braves. They’ll be hungry for more.

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Is a Hart for Hellebuyck That Far-Fetched?

Photo by Charles LeClaire/USA Today 

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck would tell you himself, a Hart Trophy is cool, but the Stanley Cup is his only aspiration.

As as been his mantra since earning his first Vezina Trophy following the 2019-20 NHL season, the now 31-year-old backstop is keen on being the last team standing.

So far this season, he has been the last man standing on the Jets' last line of defence, and has performed exceptionally.

Most have Hellebuyck slotted in for his third Vezina Trophy, and second in a row. 

Again, he wants to prove his doubters wrong with a strong postseason performance for the team that has essentially led the league in a wire-to-wire fashion this year. 

Winnipeg is 51-20-4 on the year, good for 106 points in 75 total games played. The Jets are the only team to have hit the 50-win mark, and sit No. 1 league-wide in terms of points, point percentage and regulation/overtime wins. 

But on flip side of things, Winnipeg started very hot, setting a league record for the best 15-game start to a season, before cooling off just a touch as the year has progressed. Injuries and personnel choices have caught up with the Jets, who sit just one point above Washington for first-place, and just four points over Dallas for first in the Central Division. 

With three of the league's top-five teams coming from the same division Winnipeg calls home, the Jets' final seven contests will carry significant weight.

Having begun their recent three-game west coast road trip with a difficult 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings - to which the Jets went 0-3 against on the season - a rebound vs. Vegas on Thursday night will be critical to the team's final standings placement. But the 45-21-8 Golden Knights are no pushover either. 

Through his 58 games this season, Hellebuyck sits atop the leaderboards in all four major goaltending statistic categories. His 43 wins are seven better than the second-place Andrei Vasilevskiy. While his 2.02 goals against average, .924 save percentage and seven shutouts narrowly top the charts in the other areas. 

Only two goaltenders have ever finished first in all four categories in NHL history, and they both went on to win the Stanley Cup in their respective record-setting years (Jacques Plante - 1958-59, Bernie Parent - 1973-74 Flyers). 

"We know what we have," said Jets coach Scott Arniel. "He's a special goalie, and he can win hockey games for you. He's such a prepared guy, just how he goes about his business, whether it's practices and games. He doesn't like to get scored on. And he really wants to be the best."

Hellebuyck has also become just the third goaltender since the 2000-01 season to put up multiple 43+ win seasons (Martin Brodeur, Evgeni Nabokov). 

Should he continue playing through the remainder of Winnipeg's seven games, Hellebuyck will have the opportunity to break his own personal wins record (44) and even challenge for a place among the all-time leaders (NHL-record 48 wins).

Sure, Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl is having himself a strong season (51 goals and 105 points, great goal scorers come along every year. A season like this one from a goaltender happens once in a blue moon.

The last time it occurred? Carey Price in 2014-15.

His stats?

44-16-6 with a 1.96 goals against average, a .933 save percentage and nine shutouts to his name.

No, Hellebuyck will not catch those numbers, but as is the case with inflation these days, goals are easier to come by in era-adjusted scoring. So Hellebuyck's numbers actually would reflect very similar to those of Price's. 

"We think he should be in the Hart Trophy conversation," said Jets captain Adam Lowry. "It's very rare you see a goalie there, not since Carey Price and I think he should be."

Again, his eyes are not on a Vezina Trophy, a Hart Trophy, a Jennings Trophy, or even a first-place finish. 

Connor Hellebuyck wants the Stanley Cup. And that fire will not be tamed. 

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Trail Blazers vs. Raptors Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and Best bets for April 3

It’s Thursday, April 3, and the Portland Trail Blazers (33-43) and Toronto Raptors (28-48) are all set to square off from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

The Trail Blazers are currently 13-25 on the road with a point differential of -3, while the Raptors have a 5-5 record in their last ten games at home. The Blazers won 105-102 on March 16 in Portland versus Toronto. This is the final meeting of the season.

Toronto was on a four-game winning streak before their 19-point loss to Chicago whereas Portland was on a four-game losing streak before their four-point win over Atlanta.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Trail Blazers vs. Raptors live today

  • Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025
  • Time: 7:30PM EST
  • Site: Scotiabank Arena
  • City: Toronto, ON
  • Network/Streaming:

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Trail Blazers vs. Raptors

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Odds: Trail Blazers (-123), Raptors (+103)
  • Spread:  Trail Blazers -1.5
  • Over/Under: 225 points

That gives the Trail Blazers an implied team point total of 112.91, and the Raptors 112.13.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Thursday’s Trail Blazers vs. Raptors game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Blazers to cover and win:

"Portland and Toronto are both on the outside looking in of the play-in tournament, but I think the Blazers at least have a real chance. The Raptors would need to win out with some help to make the play-in whereas Portland is 2.0 games back of the final spot. This is a winnable game for the Blazers and a good spot to grab two straight wins. It's Portland or pass."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Trail Blazers & Raptors game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Toronto Raptors at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 225.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Trail Blazers vs. Raptors on Thursday

  • The Trail Blazers have won 9 of their last 10 games as favorite
  • The Over is 12-8 in the Raptors' last 10 home games and the Trail Blazers' last 10 on the road combined
  • The Raptors have covered in 4 of their last 5 games
  • The Raptors have covered in 8 of their 9 matchups against Western Conference Northwest Division teams this season

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Jamion Christian returns from overseas to replace Phil Martelli Jr. as Bryant’s basketball coach

Bryant has hired Jamion Christian to replace Phil Martelli Jr. as its men's basketball coach, the school announced Thursday. Christian will move to the Rhode Island school after spending the last two seasons as coach of Pallacanestro Trieste of the Italian Professional Basketball League. Christian also has had prior head coaching jobs at George Washington, Siena and Mount St. Mary’s.

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Some diehard baseball fans in sports-crazed Sacramento welcome Athletics and hope they stay awhile

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Van Thompson walked through the busy concourse shortly before first pitch and sang along to the national anthem, a white Athletics ball cap in hand covering his heart.

Susan Falcon took her dog out on the other side of town near a bustling coffee shop and raved about the positive vibe the A’s have brought to California’s sports-crazed capital city in such a short time.

On the fly, former minor league pitcher Jarod Pavese packed up two of his three daughters and the boyfriend of one and headed north from Southern California’s Riverside County for a last-minute spring break trip to cheer their Chicago Cubs in the series finale.

“It was very spontaneous. We try to be as spontaneous as we can but not really,” 17-year-old high school senior Gianna Pavese said, sitting with her boyfriend Gavinn Schulze, dad and 12-year-old sister Kat in row 10 of section 104 on a sunny spring day. “It’s really exciting. It was just spur of the moment.”

Despite some kinks still to be worked out, the A’s relocation is providing fans who might not regularly go to games a big new opportunity to see the big leagues live.

After its 57-year Oakland run ended last September in a painful split for fans — many of them lifelong A’s supporters — the club has insisted this stay in West Sacramento will be temporary until a new stadium in Las Vegas is supposed to be ready in 2028. The A’s even declined to adopt the Sacramento in its official name while here for the next three years — they are simply the Athletics, with no city attached.

That hasn’t squashed curiosity or enthusiasm so far.

Bryan Haywood of Bozeman, Montana, attended his first-ever major league game at age 46. He and friend and fellow Montanan Chris Anderson of Livingston made the trip to Sacramento.

“It was amazing,” Haywood said.

Thompson lives in Sacramento and is a big fan of the NBA’s Kings. He wanted to show his support for the new team in town.

“I came with an A’s fan,” he said. “I’m a Kings fan, I just came to support the cause.”

Falcon has spoken to plenty of people who plan to cheer the A’s, or already have for years and finally get to do so from right nearby.

“Sacramento loves the A’s, they’re elated, they’re so excited, they’re going to wear the colors, they’re going to show up, they’re going to do everything,” she said. “They will be there.”

Business partners Dan Niccum and Ken McGuire are crossing their fingers the A’s never leave their new Northern California home. They plan to hold onto their four second-row seats however long the club stays. Niccum doesn’t expect the A’s to relocate to Las Vegas anytime soon — because “it’s a pipe dream what they’re doing in Vegas right now” — even though the A’s say that will be for the 2028 season.

“They’re here for at least four or five years, and so we’re here for the duration,” Niccum said. “We are excited to be here.”

How visiting teams feel about playing in a minor league park and how it tests the patience of A’s players over time remains to be seen. There were 12 home runs hit, eight by Chicago.

Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson, for one, hardly wants to be one to speak out negatively about the A’s new Northern California home. Swanson prefers to be supportive of the situation, to see the glass half-full and just be grateful to play at this level. Even if there are many kinks to be worked out after the initial homestand at Sutter Health Park, where the visiting team’s clubhouse is through an opening in the center-field wall.

Swanson’s dear friend since their college days at Vanderbilt is A’s pitcher Tyler Ferguson, so the Cubs infielder has heard plenty about the progress at Sutter Health Park.

Attendance for the initial three-game set at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento was 31,556 after the opener Monday had a sellout of 12,119.

“Obviously they’ve done as much as they can in order to make it as best as it can be. Obviously give everyone props for being able to make it happen,” Swanson said. “We all think it might be easier than it is but it’s not and everyone’s doing the best they can.”

He took time out of his pregame routine to sign some autographs. And Swanson figures opposing players might as well stay positive and supportive because there’s nothing that can be changed at this stage regarding the A’s playing in a minor league ballpark. The club will share the venue with the San Francisco Giants’ Triple-A affiliate, the Sacramento River Cats.

Yet many A’s fans are far from ready to let go of nearly six decades of memories in the East Bay. And for the home opener, some sported T-shirts reading “I’d Rather Be At the Oakland Coliseum.”

Manager Mark Kotsay hopes some of them eventually will eventually make the 85-mile trek north. Even after a forgettable first series in which the A’s were outscored 35-9.

“I definitely feel the energy. It’s tough for them to love us after we performed the way we did,” Kotsay said. “But I do think that this city is excited. There’s a lot of excitement to bring baseball to this part of California that Major League Baseball hasn’t been. ... We also want those that are still in Oakland to make that drive two hours north and come watch us as well.”

A’s outfielder Lawrence Butler sat on the podium in a makeshift press conference room with the A’s logo behind him on a banner that also said Las Vegas. Butler is in it for the long haul and looks to be a face of the franchise for at least the immediate future, having signed a seven-year, $65.5 million contract.

So far, he appreciates how the city has embraced the A’s. From popular restaurants, welcoming hotel staff, to supporters on the Sacramento State college campus and folks on the street, there’s plenty of chatter about the team.

The iconic yellow Tower Bridge visible beyond right field lit up in green for the first night game in spirit of the new team in town and to give a festive green-and-gold A’s vibe.

“Pretty quiet, low-key city, but I’ve figured out that there’s a lot of stuff to do, a lot of good places to eat at. I haven’t fully explored all of those places yet,” Butler said. “I’m hoping to, but it feels like it’s a nice, cool, low-key city. What I’ve gotten from it is that they really love their sports teams. We’re another sports team coming here so I’m pretty sure they’ll show out tonight and show us a lot of love.”

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Moody, Podziemski pride themselves on not being Warriors' weak links

Moody, Podziemski pride themselves on not being Warriors' weak links originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

LOS ANGELES – On the far end of the UCLA men’s basketball practice court at the Mo Ostin Basketball Center, Steph Curry still is working following Warriors shootaround, more than seven hours prior to their game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena.

Draymond Green is getting shots up on the same hoop. So is Jimmy Butler, with the rest of the team shooting on the opposite end or at a side hoop. Curry, Green and Butler are the center of the Warriors’ solar system. They aren’t surrounded by fellow stars in the starting lineup, but key components who can keep everything in sync or throw the Warriors out of whack. 

Since Butler’s arrival from the Miami Heat, the former has been the story of a resurgent Golden State squad. Curry has been rejuvenated. Green has stated his Defensive Player of the Year case, with an equally competitive comrade to lean on. 

The rest of the Warriors’ usual starting five when at full strength is made up of Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody, two 22-year-olds shining in their own regard. 

“We make sure when teams look at us, they don’t look at us as the weak links out there,” Podziemski said. 

They haven’t been. The Warriors are 18-5 since Butler made his team debut on Feb. 8 in Chicago, and one of those losses came in a game he missed as an injury precaution. None of the five losses have been with Curry, Podziemski, Butler, Moody and Green all in the starting lineup. 

After beating the Grizzlies in Memphis on Tuesday night, the Warriors jumped to the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference and improved to 12-0 using that starting five, giving them perhaps the best group in the NBA. Their 12-game win streak together is the longest by any team in the league this season, passing the Oklahoma City Thunder’s five-man unit of Cason Wallace, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Lu Dort and Isaiah Hartenstein that had an 11-game win streak together from Dec. 3, 2024 through Jan. 5, 2025. 

“It’s been pretty simple since Jimmy’s gotten here,” Podziemski said. “We got really high-IQ guys in the starting lineup and guys kind of just know how the floor is supposed to look, what shots you’re going to get it and it all meshes good.”

Adding Butler next to Curry has simplified everything for the Warriors, particularly for Moody and Podziemski. 

“It’s a good flow out there on the floor,” Moody said. “Playing through Jimmy, playing through Steph opens a lot of things up.”

Podziemski has played 19 games in the Butler era, missing five to a lower back problem. In that span, Podziemski has averaged 13.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. Moody hasn’t missed any action, averaging 11.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game with Butler on the Warriors. Both have seen their defensive responsibilities increase, too. 

With Andrew Wiggins gone as part of the Butler trade, Moody has individually taken on the challenge of defending the opposition’s top scorer. Though he’s only shooting 33.9 percent on 3-pointers in the past eight weeks with Butler in the fold, Moody’s defensive intensity has shined, as has Podziemski’s on plenty of occasions. 

Each player has averaged at least a steal per game for the new-look Warriors. 

“We know Jimmy and Steph do so much for us offensively,” Podziemski said. “Me and Moses have taken on the challenge of guarding the best guys every night and making it easier on the other guys.” 

The quintet technically has played 14 games together, producing a 120.3 offensive rating and 102.4 defensive rating in 133 minutes, giving the group a 17.9 net rating. There have been 20 five-man lineups in the NBA that have played at least 100 minutes together since Butler’s first game in a Warriors jersey. The Curry-Podziemski-Butler-Moody-Green lineup has the sixth-best offensive rating during that duration, plus the third-best defensive rating and third-best net rating. 

“We’re just trying to win games,” Moody said. “When it comes down to the stretch, whatever it takes. Young guys, old guys, everybody’s really just all-in, putting everything they got on the floor and trying to come out with wins.” 

Golden State’s Big Three – Curry, Green and Butler – combined to score 92 of the Warriors’ 134 points against the Grizzlies. Moody (10 points) and Podziemski (eight points) accounted for 18 points. Yet they came through in the clutch for the Warriors when it mattered most. 

Podziemski flew in for a wild tip-in, using his off-hand to save a missed three from Curry, putting the Warriors ahead by five points with a little over a minute left. Moody sealed the game, hitting a wide-open three of his own from the left corner, increasing the Warriors’ lead to eight points at the 40-second mark of the fourth quarter. 

“We understood what was at stake going into that game,” Podziemski said. “We both didn’t play particularly well offensively throughout the course of the game, but when it mattered most, we stepped up and made plays. His corner three, my tip-in at the end. It’s a good feeling as a young guy to have Steve trust you out there when it matters most.” 

No weak links. 

More weight is placed upon the shoulders of Curry, Green and Butler than anybody else. The play of Podziemski and Moody has provided a sense of relief, as well as added trust for what should be a brawling sprint to the regular-season’s finish line, before the pressure really turns on.

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Bucks vs. 76ers Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 3

It’s Thursday, April 3, and the Milwaukee Bucks (41-34) and Philadelphia 76ers (23-53) are all set to square off from Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

The Bucks are currently 16-20 on the road with a point differential of 2, while the 76ers have a 2-8 record in their last ten games at home. Milwaukee won all three meetings versus Philly this season by at least eight points.

Philadelphia has lost nine consecutive games, while Milwaukee snapped a four-game losing streak with a 10-point win over Phoenix.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Bucks vs. 76ers live today

  • Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025
  • Time: 7:00PM EST
  • Site: Wells Fargo Center
  • City: Philadelphia, PA
  • Network/Streaming:

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Bucks vs. 76ers

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Odds: Bucks (-606), 76ers (+445)
  • Spread:  Bucks -11.5
  • Over/Under: 225 points

That gives the Bucks an implied team point total of 117.44, and the 76ers 111.44.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Thursday’s Bucks vs. 76ers game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Bucks to cover:

"The Bucks got a much-needed 10-point win over the Suns to break a four-game losing streak. Of the remaining schedule, this is the most winnable game outside of a road game at New Orleans. The 76ers have dropped nine straight games and I don't see that changing here after three straight double-digit losses. It's Bucks or pass."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Bucks & 76ers game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Philadelphia 76ers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Philadelphia 76ers at +11.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 225.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Bucks vs. 76ers on Thursday

  • The Bucks have lost 20 of their 36 road games this season
  • The Under is 7-3 in the Bucks' last 10 road games
  • The Bucks have covered in 7 of their last 8 road games
  • The Bucks are 1-4 in their last 5 games

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Vegas Golden Knights Sign Trevor Connelly To Entry-Level Deal

Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

The Vegas Golden Knights have signed forward Trevor Connelly to a three-year entry-level deal, it was announced Tuesday.

Connelly, who was selected 19th overall in 2024, just completed his freshman season at Providence. In 23 games with the Friars, Connelly tallied 13 points (four goals, nine assists).

Connelly is expected to join the Henderson Silver Knights — the Golden Knights AHL affiliate — for the remainder of the season on an amateur tryout.

Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' NCAA Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.

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Mets vs. Blue Jays: 5 things to watch and series predictions | April 4-6

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Blue Jays play a three-game series at Citi Field beginning on Friday at 3:10 p.m. on SNY.

Preview

Will Francisco Lindor (and the rest of the lineup) break out?

Through their first six games, the Mets' offense has been largely absent for five of them. And during Wednesday's comeback win over the Marlins, it was Pete Alonsowho rescued them with a three-run homer in the eighth inning.

Aside from Alonso (1.090 OPS), Juan Soto(.836 OPS), Brandon Nimmo(.780 OPS), and Luis Torrens (.978), it has been a struggle for everyone else.

Lindor has just two hits in his first 20 at-bats, but he's showed signs the last two games, with an RBI single on Tuesday and a laced single down the right field line on Wednesday.

While Lindor might be perking up, Mark Vientos looks like he's in a fog. Vientos is 2-for-24 and totally out of it at the plate. During Wednesday's game in Miami, he spent the entire day seemingly in-between -- swinging at a fastball at his eyes, watching hittable middle-middle fastballs go by, and waving at secondary stuff down and away.

Meanwhile, Jesse Winker (.466 OPS), Brett Baty (.214 OPS), and Tyrone Taylor (.286 OPS) haven't contributed much.

So the Mets will be looking to bust out at home, where the temperature will be mild on Friday and Sunday, but with rain in the forecast all weekend.

New York's bullpen has been elite

The starting rotation has been solid, but the Mets' relief corps has been fantastic early on.

With the exception of Danny Young (whose roster spot is tenuous and could be lost once Dedniel Núñez is ready), and A.J. Minter (who had a wobbly outing on Wednesday), everyone else has excelled:

  • Edwin Diaz: Zero runs and just one runner allowed in 2.0 innings
  • Max Kranick: 3.2 perfect innings
  • Jose Butto: 3.2 scoreless innings
  • Huascar Brazoban: 5.0 scoreless innings
  • Reed Garrett: 2.1 scoreless innings
  • Ryne Stanek: 1.1 scoreless innings, hit 100 mph on Wednesday

That the above pitchers have been great out of the gate should not be surprising, since they all possess plus stuff.

Moving forward, it's fair to believe that Minter will be very good and that Núñez -- who was one of the Mets' best relievers last season -- will add a serious jolt, potentially making this unit a truly dominant one.

The Blue Jays are streaking

The Jays are on a four-game winning streak and have a 5-2 record, but their run differential suggests they've been a bit lucky so far.

Aug 8, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays first base Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) celebrates his to run home run in the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre.
Aug 8, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays first base Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) celebrates his to run home run in the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre. / Gerry Angus-Imagn Images

Toronto has scored 32 runs (the most in the American League entering play on Thursday) and allowed 31 runs (the fourth-most in the AL and seventh-most in baseball).

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hasn't homered yet in seven games, but the slack has been picked up by George Springer (1.187 OPS) and Andres Gimenez (1.131 OPS), who have helped carry the offense.

Bo Bichette is also having a solid bounce back year so far, hitting .310 with a .754 OPS.

The Mets' defense needs to lock it up

New York has left a lot to be desired in the field, as they've mixed in oodles of physical and mental errors.

Among them: A two-error game from Lindor that decided Tuesday's tilt with the Marlins, a Taylor misplay in center field, Soto kicking the ball around a bit in right field, Baty uncorking a bad throw home where he was rescued by Torrens, and Vientos air-mailing a throw home and thinking a fair ball that he fielded was foul.

Lindor and Taylor are too good to be concerned about, but the same can't be said for Baty -- who is continuing to learn second base on the fly -- and Vientos.

Vientos has worked incredibly hard to become passable at third base, but the fact remains that he was among the worst defenders there last season, worth -7 runs and in the sixth percentile, via Baseball Savant.

The main thing Vientos has to do is make the routine plays, which he hasn't done enough of so far in 2025.

Can the Mets get to Bowden Francis?

The Mets will face Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, and Francis -- who is set to get the ball in the series finale on Sunday.

Francis was strong in his season debut, allowing just two hits (both were home runs) over 6.0 innings while walking three and striking out four against the Nationals.

Last season against the Mets, Francis was nearly unhittable.

Francis carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning before it was broken up by a Lindor home run in what turned out to be an enormous Mets win.

Predictions

Who will the MVP of the series be?

Francisco Lindor

Lindor is ready to break out, and he'll start doing it during the home opener.

Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?

David Peterson

Peterson was impressive against the Marlins during his first start of the season, allowing two runs in 6.0 innings while striking out nine.

Which Blue Jays player will be a thorn in the Mets' side?

Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.

Like Lindor, Guerrero is due to erupt. It's hard to believe he'll still have zero home runs at the conclusion of this series.