Shane Smith looks to bring down his abysmal ERA in today’s matchup. | (Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)
After a recent reschedule to dodge the cold, the White Sox will get another look at the Orioles this afternoon. Unfortunately, the weather hasn’t improved, and it’s actually colder than last night, so don’t expect many home runs or much offensive fireworks from either side.
The team announced a few moves today after Austin Hays left last night with a right hamstring strain. Dustin Harris has packed his bag and will head to Chicago to replace Hays. Mike Vasil, who recently underwent Tommy John surgery, has been moved to the 60-day injured list.
Per Brooke Fletcher, Brooks Baldwin elected to undergo a season-ending UCL internal brace procedure on his right elbow on April 1. Baldwin, who was placed on the 10-day injured list on March 26, is expected to be ready by Spring Training 2027.
Chase Meidroth is back in the leadoff spot today, and Shane Smith will be on the mound. With two losses under his belt already, and only 4 2/3 innings pitched, Smith will try to bring down his elevated 19.29 ERA. Miguel Vargas will get the afternoon off, with Tanner Murray playing third base instead.
Trevor Rogers will take the hill for the Orioles. Rogers has won both games he’s pitched in, with a 1.38 ERA over 13 innings. Adley Rutschman also has the day off behind the plate, being replaced by Samuel Basallo. The Orioles also already sent their pitcher from last night back to Norfolk. Nick Raquet was acquired this morning in a trade with the Cardinals.
The game will be on CHSN or available to listen to on ESPN Chicago 1000 at 2:10 p.m. CT.
The basketball gods seem angry with the Los Angeles Lakers. Losing two of their three best players for at least a few weeks just as the playoffs near certainly changes every thought Los Angeles has.
Few opponents will pester a new point guard as aggressively as the Oklahoma City Thunder will tonight, but my Thunder vs. Lakers predictions and these NBA picks still see value in new-look L.A. point guard Luke Kennard on Tuesday, April 7.
Thunder vs Lakers prediction
Thunder vs Lakers best bet: Luke Kennard Over 5.5 assists (+105)
Point guard Luke Kennard. That is a reality for the Los Angeles Lakers as the playoffs loom. This was certainly not their plan.
With both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves sidelined for the next few weeks, Kennard and LeBron James shared the offensive initiation duties in Sunday’s loss at Dallas, with James playing nearly 39 minutes and dishing out 15 assists while Kennard played more than 41 minutes and handed out 11 assists.
Expect Kennard to also cough up a bounty of turnovers against the Oklahoma City Thunder’s perimeter defenders. That should be obvious.
But the sheer amount of ball-handling now required of Kennard creates unquestionable value in this prop. As long as Los Angeles has hopes of the No. 3 seed in the West — currently effectively tied with the Nuggets, though the Lakers hold the tiebreaker — expect them to lean into this new-fangled look.
This was not the design, but it is now the reality.
Thunder vs Lakers same-game parlay
The value is in Kennard’s assists prop, not as much as in LeBron James’s. Kennard’s ball-handling role is the surprise induced by Los Angeles’s injuries; LeBron already initiated plenty.
The reaction to Sunday’s stats should be amazement at how much Kennard was asked to do. LeBron’s 15 assists were impressive, but also less of an outlier than Kennard’s 11.
Thunder vs Lakers SGP
Luke Kennard Over 5.5 assists
LeBron James Under 9.5 assists
Thunder moneyline
Our "from downtown" SGP: Rest LeBron?
JJ Redick faces a difficult choice this week. As the No. 3 seed slips from Los Angeles’s grasp, how long will he ride LeBron James? Any deficit against the Thunder tonight should quickly feel insurmountable, and getting some rest for the 41-year-old James before the playoffs is certainly a concern on Redick’s mind.
Thunder vs Lakers SGP
Thunder -17
LeBron James Under 9.5 assists
LeBron James Under 23.5 points
LeBron James Under 6.5 rebounds
Thunder vs Lakers odds
Spread: Thunder -17 | Lakers +17
Moneyline: Thunder -2000 | Lakers +1000
Over/Under: Over 222.5 | Under 222.5
Thunder vs Lakers betting trend to know
The looming threat of the Spurs in the standings has kept the Thunder engaged enough to go 3-1 against the spread in their last four games, all as favorites of at least eight points. Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Lakers.
How to watch Thunder vs Lakers
Location
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Tip-off
10:30 p.m. ET
TV
Spectrum SportsNet, FDSN-Oklahoma
Thunder vs Lakers latest injuries
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - APRIL 1: Trevor Rogers #28 of the Baltimore Orioles throws a pitch in the third inning during a game against the Texas Rangers at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 1, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
No one who is directly involved was interested in there being a baseball game in the cold Chicago night this evening, so here we are for a 3:10 Eastern start time instead of what would have been 7:40. Everyone else must bear the mild inconvenience of a baseball game starting four and a half hours early on about 24 hours notice of this change.
It is Trevor Rogers day for the Orioles. This became something to celebrate last year and hopefully will be still as this season goes along. He’s certainly done well for himself over the first couple of games he’s pitched this year, and for today will be facing what seems like it should be a pretty easy White Sox lineup to get through. The expectation does not always match the reality, of course, but I think it’s fair to expect he should wreck these guys.
The Orioles batters, meanwhile, face a pitcher in Shane Smith who has a 19.29 ERA after two games started. That’s not a typo. He’s had a nightmare to begin his season, with literally half of the 30 batters he’s faced reaching base safely. Even if he is bad – which he wasn’t last year, when he had a 3.89 ERA – he’s not likely to stay in double-digit ERA territory over the long haul. Still, it would be nice to see the Orioles keeping his woes going for another day before things start to even out for Smith.
There is a new face on the Orioles for today’s game. The team acquired reliever Nick Raquet from the Cardinals last night. The 30-year-old lefty Raquet had been in DFA limbo, but the Orioles chose to trade an actual player, last year’s 13th round pick Brayden Smith, to get him. It’s weird. I don’t know how long he’ll hang around. I hope he does OK when he pitches. Brandon Young was rewarded for his spot start effort last night by being immediately sent down. It’s an unsentimental business. One other aspect of this roster move is that Zach Eflin’s long-term absence was confirmed. He was placed on the 60-day injured list to make room on the 40-man roster.
Orioles lineup
Taylor Ward – LF
Gunnar Henderson – DH
Pete Alonso – 1B
Samuel Basallo – C
Dylan Beavers – RF
Jeremiah Jackson – 2B
Colton Cowser – CF
Coby Mayo – 3B
Blaze Alexander – SS
In terms of performance so far this season, this is a brutal lineup once you get below Alonso. This is bound to change eventually, though that is not guaranteed to happen at all and certainly not guaranteed today. I think that it is Bad that the Orioles have one player (Henderson) with more than one home run to date.
White Sox lineup
Chase Meidroth – 2B
Lenyn Sosa – 1B
Miguel Vargas – DH
Colton Montgomery – SS
Edgar Quero – C
Tanner Murray – 3B
Andrew Benintendi – LF
Luisangel Acuña – CF
Derek Hill – RF
**
It will feel much better if the Orioles win this game and give themselves a chance to sweep tomorrow than it will if they lose this game and need to win tomorrow to avoid another demoralizing series loss.
Some extremely rare Steph Curry-worn sneakers will be available for purchase in a matter of days.
Sotheby’s announced on Tuesday that more than 70 pairs of shoes that Curry donned this season following his shocking split with Under Armour will be hitting its auction block on April 13.
Steph Curry and Sotheby’s announced on Tuesday several of his valuable sneakers will be up for sale later this month. NBAE via Getty Images
The kicks were worn by Curry during tunnel walks, pre-game warm ups and during games, and some were autographed by the Warriors superstar.
Curry said in a statement that he was pumped for the sale, as he noted that every dollar the footwear brings in will go toward his and his wife Ayesha’s Eat.Learn.Play. Foundation, which helps kids in need.
Steph Curry’s Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Mambacita,” which honored Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, are a part of the collection. Sotheby's
“I’m excited to share this unique catalog in a way that lets fans be part of the journey,” Curry said. “Partnering with Sotheby’s to bring this auction to life gives these sneakers a platform beyond the game, where they can live on and mean something to someone else.”
For one of his games, he sported the Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Mambacita,” which honored Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna. The shoes will be part of the collection, and experts expect them to fetch between $3,000-$5,000.
Another notable pair in the collection is the Nike Sabrina 3 set that Steph Curry wore and then signed. Sotheby’s estimates they’ll go for between $30,000-$50,000 at the auction. Sotheby's
Another notable pair in the collection is the Nike Sabrina 3 set that Curry wore and then signed. Sotheby’s estimates they’ll go for between $30,000-$50,000 at the auction.
“From the legendary NBA stars that I grew up admiring, to the current players that I’ve enjoyed competing against, along with some of the biggest names in the WNBA that are helping to drive the momentum across the women’s game, I had so much fun breaking out pairs all season long that each meant so much to me,” Curry said.
“When you look back at both sneaker culture and basketball history, each pair represents an iconic moment, groundbreaking athlete or key chapter over the years in the NBA and WNBA.”
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MARCH 29: Carson Williams #7 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates after hitting a double against the St. Louis Cardinals in the second inning at Busch Stadium on March 29, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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Oklahoma State guard Jaylen Curry plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, On3’s Joe Tipton has learned. Curry is on the move for the second consecutive offseason, only spending one year in Stillwater. UMass is where his college basketball career got underway. But now, Curry is looking for school No. 3 for what should be his final year of eligibility.
The Cowboys used Curry as a nice rotational piece throughout his 33 games played. Only seven of them were starts, playing around 24 minutes every time out there. Curry averaged 10.1 points while shooting 41.8% from the field. Not too bad for somebody playing in a power conference for the first time in his career.
Curry did a little more than just score, though. He finished as Oklahoma State’s second-leading assist man, putting up 3.5 per game. Some activity on the glass did some — mainly on the defensive end — with 3.2 rebounds a night.
There is one performance from this past season that stands out more than any. Oklahoma State hosted Nicholls back in November for a nonconference showdown. Curry had his lone double-double of the year, doing so in style. Thirty points were put up by Curry, going 8-11 from the field and making all 12 of his free throws. And then 10 assists also show up on the statsheet to help Oklahoma State get a 14-point win.
More on Jaylen Curry, early portion of college basketball career
Curry played high school basketball at Charlotte (NC) Calvary Christian, where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 193 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
UMass earned Curry’s original commitment and let him get action as a true freshman. One season later, Curry was a starter for the Minutemen and putting up good numbers. During the 2024-25 season, he averaged 13.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists. Unfortunately, not too much team success came, and Curry decided to enter the transfer portal.
Now, another school will have an opportunity to sign Curry. If the fit turns out to be the right one, some potential still appears to be in there.
A first-round playoff series between the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets would be a dream scenario for NBA neutrals, and we get another sneak preview as the teams square off tonight.
Charlotte has picked up four straight victories and won at TD Garden last month, but my Hornets vs. Celtics predictions see Boston getting the upper hand, as Jayson Tatum continues to impress.
Check out my NBA picks for this clash between in-form Eastern Conference squads on Tuesday, April 7.
Hornets vs Celtics prediction
Hornets vs Celtics best bet: Celtics -4.5 (-110)
A healthy Boston Celtics rotation is a scary prospect for the rest of the league, and they’ve looked in sync while winning eight of their last 10 games.
Boston is also 8-2 straight up in its past 10 matchups against the Charlotte Hornets, and I’m laying the points here with Joe Mazzulla’s men, who are 6-1 against the spread in their last seven. The Celtics turned it on late to brush off the Raptors on Sunday and make it four straight wins by a margin of 14+ points.
Though the Hornets embarrassed Boston in early March, the Celtics got revenge a few weeks later with a 114-99 victory, despite missing Jaylen Brown. Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard combined for 60 points that day to outplay Charlotte’s talented guards.
The hosts are at full strength now, after Nikola Vucevic’s return over the weekend, and their defense is the stingiest in the NBA, allowing just 107 points per game. Look for that attention to detail to stifle a Hornets team that leads the league in made 3-pointers.
After a recent home-heavy slate, Charlotte will be entering a rocking TD Garden, where the Celtics are 27-11 SU this year. So, even this late in the regular season, Boston should view this as a statement game, and this spread is small enough for me to back Tatum & Co.
Hornets vs Celtics same-game parlay
The Celtics are humming along since Tatum’s comeback, and he’s been especially consistent on the glass, with 9+ rebounds in eight of his last nine, headlined by 18 boards against the Heat last week. I’m wagering on another big haul tonight.
Meanwhile, Pritchard’s heat-check scoring is a spark for the Boston bench. He’s nailed this Over in five of his last six games, and finished with 28 points in the last meeting between these teams.
Hornets vs Celtics SGP
Celtics moneyline
Jayson Tatum Over 8.5 rebounds
Payton Pritchard Over 14.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Put up your Dukes
This SGP pairs two Duke alums, with Tatum going past this points prop in five straight and Kon Knueppel putting the final touches on his Rookie of the Year case.
Tatum has been a steady double-digit rebounder in the past few weeks, while Knueppel dropped 20 points on the Celtics last month and has O/U lines that feel low for a player averaging 18.7 PPG and 3.4 APG this season.
Hornets vs Celtics SGP
Jayson Tatum Over 22.5 points
Jayson Tatum Over 8.5 rebounds
Kon Knueppel Over 16.5 points
Kon Knueppel Over 2.5 assists
Hornets vs Celtics odds
Spread: Hornets +4.5 (-110) | Celtics -4.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Hornets +175 | Celtics -210
Over/Under: Over 221 (-110) | Under 221 (-110)
Hornets vs Celtics betting trend to know
The Under is 48-31 for the Hornets this season, but the Over has hit in their past three contests. Find more NBA betting trends for Hornets vs. Celtics.
How to watch Hornets vs Celtics
Location
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Date
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBC/Peacock
Hornets vs Celtics latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
In their second-last home game of the 2025-26 season, the Vancouver Canucks will take on the Vegas Golden Knights at 7:00 pm PT. The Canucks last played the Golden Knights on March 30 in Vegas, dropping that game by a score of 4-2. Tonight, they'll hope for a different outcome. Here are the lineup notes for April 7, 2026.
During yesterday's practice, Canucks Head Coach Adam Foote confirmed that forward Evander Kane and goaltender Kevin Lankinen are currently day-to-day. Kane played in Vancouver's afternoon matchup on Saturday, during which the team celebrated his 1000th-career NHL game. Lankinen also missed this game as he was not well enough to back-up. As a result, Nils Höglander and Curtis Douglas will play tonight, while Jiří Patera will back up Nikita Tolopilo. Ty Mueller will not be in tonight's lineup.
Tonight’s matchup is also projected to see the reunion of the Liam Öhgren — Marco Rossi — Brock Boeser line after a few games apart. The last time these three played together in-game was on March 26, during which Vancouver lost to the Los Angeles Kings by a score of 4-0.
Mar 2, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Nils Hoglander (21) shoots against the Dallas Stars in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Projected Lineup:
O’Connor-Pettersson-DeBrusk
Öhgren-Rossi-Boeser
Sasson-Blueger-Karlsson
Höglander-Räty-Douglas
Buium-Hronek
M. Pettersson-Willander
E. Pettersson-Mancini
Tolopilo
Patera
Game Information:
Start time: 7:00 pm PT
Venue: Rogers Arena
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 06: Brady House #12 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with teammate CJ Abrams #5 after hitting a two-run home run in the eighth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park on April 06, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For years under hitting coach Darnell Coles, it always felt like Nationals hitters were lacking a defined approach at the plate. Young hitters like James Wood, CJ Abrams, and Brady House demonstrated the raw power to be successful big league hitters, but would often flail at pitches outside the zone and miss the pitches they should’ve been doing damage on. They finished the 2025 season with a 22.6% strikeout rate and a 7.4% walk rate, placing them 28th out of 30 ball clubs in BB/K ratio at 0.33
A major point of emphasis for the Nats new hitting coach, Matt Borgschulte, was to instill a plan at the plate in his hitters. Players couldn’t just go up to the plate looking for a strike that they can hit hard somewhere, but instead needed to be key holing for their pitch when ahead in the count, looking to do extra-base-hit damage.
We’re only 10 games into the 2026 season, but the improvements are already beginning to show, as the Nationals are working more walks and striking out less than ever. The team walk rate has improved from 7.4% to 9.7%, and the strikeout rate has dipped from 22.6% to 20.9%, resulting in a team BB/K ratio of 0.46, good for 11th best in all of baseball. The improvement isn’t coming from just one or two Nats hitters, but the whole unit, as in 2025, only 2 Nats hitters had a BB/K ratio over 0.50, and in 2026, that number is 6.
The 2 Nationals who have seen their plate discipline improve the most are CJ Abrams and Brady House. Abrams has cut his strikeout rate by about 3% and raised his walk rate by about 6%, resulting in his BB/K jumping from a shaky 0.30 to a strong 0.71. His whiff and chase rate are actually slightly up from 2025, so we’ll see where his numbers stabilize after a larger sample size, but what matters currently is that the process looks much improved from before.
CJ Abrams just walked for the 4th time in four games. He's taking really good at-bats and showing more selectiveness than he's had in the past. pic.twitter.com/rahwt53JZM
As for House, he is still striking out at a high clip, up from 28.5% in 2025 to 30% in 2026, but in turn, he has over tripled his walk rate from 2.9% to 10%. He’s improved both his whiff and chase rates from near the bottom of the league to just somewhat below average, and as a result, his BB/K ratio has gone from 0.10 in 2025, 2nd worst in all of baseball among hitters with at least 250 plate appearances, to 0.33, just under the league average.
Brady House walk rate by season:
2025: 2.9% 2026: 13.7%
He walked 8 times last year in 73 games a year ago. He's already got 4 walks midway through game 7 this year. pic.twitter.com/AxBy8ovEJS
One of the keys to improving the discipline of Nats bats has been the addition of Trajekt pitching machines to their facilities, allowing hitters to simulate the arm angle and pitch shapes of the pitchers they’re set to face. Though the Nats’ bats haven’t been using them for long, the results are already beginning to show, even at the lower levels, as prospects such as Seaver King and Luke Dickerson are walking more than ever through their short stretch of games in the minor leagues. I’m excited to watch how these numbers change over the course of the season, and how hitters in the Nats organization adjust when pitchers change their game plans to attack their new patient approaches.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 5: The sneakers worn by Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Toronto Raptors on April 5, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Ducks are entering the homestretch of the regular season, with each game another opportunity to grab a vital two points and solidify their spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2018. However, the Ducks are currently experiencing one of their worst runs of the season. A five-game losing streak in which they've been outscored 14-24 and gained just one point has also featured two third period collapses against the Toronto Maple Leafs and the San Jose Sharks.
Their opponent, the Nashville Predators are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Monday. The Predators have won seven of their last 11 games and are just one point back of the second Wild Card spot. The Kings reclaimed that spot with their win on Monday.
Due to their poor run of play, the Ducks have dropped to second in the Pacific, with the Edmonton Oilers holding the top spot despite the teams being tied in points, thanks to the tiebreaker rules. The Vegas Golden Knights are one point back of both the Oilers and Ducks and could jump to first with a win and Oilers/Ducks losses on Tuesday.
Apr 3, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks play against the St. Louis Blues at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Dropping out of the playoffs completely remains an unlikely scenario for Anaheim. However, they must win at least two of their remaining five games to prevent that from becoming a reality. Four points currently separate the second Wild Card and second in the Pacific.
"Just trying to view these last five games as a round of playoffs," Troy Terry said. "That's truly what it is for us right now."
“Let’s incentivize ourselves,” head coach Joel Quenneville said. “Play this game like it's a playoff game, that’s the meaning and the purpose. We get to find out about guys knowing that with everything at stake, you rise to the occasion. But, you’ve got to earn it in this business in this situation as well. Let’s go get it.”
"This time of year, it's just important to win those games," Jackson LaCombe said. "I think every point matters throughout the year, so I wouldn't say we're looking into (the standings) too much, but you want home ice and everything else that comes with that. I think we're just trying to focus on playing our best hockey."
“I think we just want to play a little more simple,” Mason McTavish said. “I think we are really going to focus on not giving up as much, whether it's keeping our shifts shorter and being more fresh and thinking a little more clearly out there. I think that's something that we can control, and we're going to really look to focus down the stretch with these games meaning so much. It’s a great test for our team, and I know everybody's really excited.”
Apr 4, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish (23) during the second period against the Calgary Flames at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Corinne Votaw-Imagn Images
Anaheim's leading goalscorer Cutter Gauthier has missed the last three games with an upper-body injury. He left the game in the first period on Mar. 30 against the Toronto Maple Leafs and has not played since. He will not play against the Predators, missing a fourth consecutive game.
Captain Radko Gudas will also miss this game with a lower-body injury. He returned to face the Leafs, but has not played since.
Defenseman Pavel Mintyukov has also missed the past three games with a lower-body injury, but will return to the lineup against the Predators. He is playing in his 200th NHL game.
“Play hard and simple,” Mintyukov said on the focus for the team after their recent poor run of play. “No stupid mistakes.”
-Cutter Gauthier (upper-body) had a light skate on Tuesday and is targeting a return on Sunday, Mar. 12 against the Vancouver Canucks, per Quenneville.
-Radko Gudas (lower-body) is “closer than he was before,” but has no projected timeline. “(If) he gets in a practice or two with the guys, could be playing right after that,” Quenneville said.
-Ross Johnston (lower-body) is entering week three of his initial projected three to four-week timeline. Quenneville said Johnston is progressing well and that he’ll start skating soon. “Tough to say, but we’ll keep with that forecast.”
Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville speaks to the media after their morning skate at Honda Center.
Ducks Projected Lines
Mikael Granlund - Leo Carlsson - Beckett Sennecke Chris Kreider - Ryan Poehling - Troy Terry Alex Killorn - Mason McTavish - Jeff Viel Frank Vatrano - Tim Washe - Ian Moore
Jackson LaCombe - Jacob Trouba Pavel Mintyukov - John Carlson Tyson Hinds - Drew Helleson
Lukáš Dostál (confirmed)
Predators Projected Lines
Steven Stamkos - Ryan O'Reilly - Zachary L'Heureux Filip Forsberg - Matthew Wood - Jonathan Marchessault Tyson Jost - Erik Haula - Luka Evangelista Reid Schaefer - Fedor Svechkov - Joakim Kemell
Brady Skjei - Roman Josi Adam Wilsby - Nick Perbix Ryan Ufko - Justin Barron
The battle to stay out of the play-in spots in the East is real, with the team in fifth just 3.5 games up on the team in 10th. Two of those squads collide tonight when the Toronto Raptors host the Miami Heat.
Both teams desperately need a win after a tough stretch of games. My Heat vs. Raptors predictions and NBA picks tell you why Toronto will prevail against the spread on Tuesday, April 7.
Heat vs Raptors prediction
Heat vs Raptors best bet: Raptors -1.5 (-110)
The Miami Heat currently hold the last play-in spot in the East, but they trail the Toronto Raptors, who are just above the play-in spots in sixth place.
The Heat are coming off a win, but it was only their third in the last 11 games.
This will be an interesting stylistic matchup as Toronto’s defense tries to slow down the high-tempo Heat, who rank fifth in offensive rating since the All-Star break.
The Raptors do this frustrating thing where they show their potential for three quarters, before a typically poor fourth costs them the game, just like their most recent loss to the Celtics.
However, they tend to perform better when they’re supposed to win, and they’re slight home favorites here. Additionally, their strength remains at the defensive end of the floor, where they rank 10th in defensive rating for the second half of the season.
They also do a solid job on the perimeter, ranking eighth in opponent 3-point shooting percentage. This is important against a team that leads the NBA in pace and shots per game.
Meanwhile, the Heat rank 21st in defensive rating since the break. That should be enough to help Toronto cover this short spread at home and beat the Heat for the third time this season.
Heat vs Raptors same-game parlay
The Heat’s high pace of play and huge shooting output results in a lot of rebounds. Scottie Barnes has seen his rebounding numbers dip a bit lately, but he still averages 7.5 rebounds per game this season, and this is a great spot for him to get back to having a presence on the boards.
We also get a fun Norman Powell reunion tonight. The former Raptor returns to where he helped win an NBA championship in 2019, and the Toronto fans love him. Don’t be surprised if the guard, averaging 22.1 points per game this season, gets in a groove tonight.
Heat vs Raptors SGP
Raptors -1.5
Scottie Barnes Over 7.5 rebounds
Norman Powell Over 17.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Heating the glass
The Raptors have also struggled on the glass of late, ranking 23rd in rebounding rate since the All-Star break. So, rebounds for all!
Heat vs Raptors SGP
Scottie Barnes Over 7.5 rebounds
Brandon Ingram Over 5.5 rebounds
Andrew Wiggins Over 4.5 rebounds
Norman Powell Over 3.5 rebounds
Heat vs Raptors odds
Spread: Heat +1.5 | Raptors -1.5
Moneyline: Heat +100 | Raptors -120
Over/Under: Over 240 | Under 240
Heat vs Raptors betting trend to know
The Raptors have covered the 1Q Spread in 12 of their last 16 games for +7.45 Units and a 41% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Heat vs. Raptors.
How to watch Heat vs Raptors
Location
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
Date
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
TSN, FDSN-Sun
Heat vs Raptors latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Kentucky Basketball is receiving a wide range of projections in way-too-early 2026-27 Top 25 rankings, reflecting uncertainty after a season of key departures and transfers.
Projected starting five (before Jelavić’s transfer, though he could still return): G Trent Noah, G Collin Chandler, F Kam Williams, F Andrija Jelavić, C Malachi Moreno Projected key bench: Brayden Hawthorne, Mason Williams
Roster Status
Graduating: Otega Oweh, Walker Horn, Zach Tow
Transferring: Denzel Aberdeen (graduating), Jasper Johnson, Brandon Garrison, Jaland Lowe, Mo Dioubate, and Andrija Jelavić
Undecided: Trent Noah, Jayden Quaintance, Kam Williams, Collin Chandler, Brayden Hawthorne, Reece Potter
College/Testing NBA Draft Waters: Malachi Moreno
Mark Pope’s top priority will be retention, especially keeping 7-foot center Malachi Moreno, who averaged 7.8 points per game and has high breakout potential. Veteran shooting guard Collin Chandler, averaging 9.7 points, will also hopefully anchor the backcourt, though he has not 100% confirmed his return yet.
As the Wildcats navigate departures, transfers, and player development, fans are left watching closely how the roster takes shape and how early projections will adjust leading into the new season.
It’s still fairly early in 2026, but what a year it’s been for Carlos Beltran.
After finding out in January that he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the good news kept coming, including the most recent announcement that the former center fielder would be inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame and have his No. 15 retired in September.
“2026 has been an incredible year for me, and also for my family. My daughter has been accepted to Columbia University here in New York, so I’m so excited for that, and the Hall of Fame, the Hall of Fame for the Mets and now the number retired, I’m thinking about maybe a tattoo with 26,” Beltran said with a laugh on Tuesday afternoon. “My first tattoo, I don’t have any tattoos.
“But so happy, and honestly speaking I’m so grateful for the relationships in baseball and the ability to be around the team, the opportunity to be around the organization.”
Beltran, now a special assistant to David Stearns, played in parts of seven seasons for the Mets from 2005 to 2011, posting a slash line of .280/.369/.500 with 149 home runs, 559 RBI and 551 runs scored, ended up making five All-Star appearances as a Met, though he admitted his transition from playing in cities like Kansas City an Houston wasn’t the easiest, at least at first.
“There’s no doubt that New York is a different place to play baseball. The attention that you receive here as a baseball player, understanding the amount of people and media that you have to be available to after the games is different than in any city. I played for six different organizations in baseball and I never experienced in New York what I experienced in other organizations.
“I didn’t really understand the magnitude of playing in New York City. I knew that I wanted to be here, because I felt that at the point this organization was heading into, they were adding players that I thought were going to help this organization moving forward.”
Beltran admitted that he tried to play through injuries in 2005, his first year in New York, and he didn’t really find his rhythm until the 2006 season, when he helped lead the Mets to an appearance in the NLCS against St. Louis.
And while he said he felt “misunderstood” at times as a player, he now sees himself as a Met, and he’ll don the team’s cap when he gets enshrined in Cooperstown this summer.
“It really means a lot [to have my number retired], even though at times I feel like I was misunderstood,” Beltran said of his Mets tenure. “It’s sweet, it’s bitter at times, because I felt like there were moments where I was doing everything possible to try to connect with the fan base, but for some reason at times it was hard, because the message that was delivered sometimes out there about me didn’t allow me to connect with the fans.
“But believe it or not, this was the team where feel like I grew the most, as a character, as an individual, as a player. …. But the fact that I see myself as a Met; my identity as a baseball player is here. And working with this organization the past three years has also been incredible.”
Beltran will enter the Mets Hall of Fame and have his No. 15 retired during a pregame ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 19 prior to the 4:10 p.m. game against the Philadelphia Phillies.
It's fairly clear that Minnesota will be the No. 6 seed and Phoenix the No. 7 in the West, but that could become more official depending on what happens Tuesday. Here is what you need to know.
Playoff Scenarios
• Minnesota can clinch a playoff spot (and officially avoid the play-in) with a win over tanking Indiana and a Phoenix loss to Houston. • Conversely, the Suns can be locked into the play-in if they lose to the Rockets while the Timberwolves pick up the expected win over the Pacers. • Miami becomes locked into the East play-in with a loss on the road to Toronto.
Games to Watch
Miami Heat at Toronto Raptors, 7:30 p.m. ET, League Pass
Miami's slim chances of getting out of the No. 10 seed in the East — and having to win two games on the road to make the playoffs — hinge on it racking up wins and getting help with one of Orlando/Charlotte/Philadelphia falling apart in the last week. Toronto is technically the No. 6 seed in the East but is just half a game ahead of the trio the Heat are chasing and needs wins to avoid the play-in. Toronto should be desperate, and if Miami loses this game it is locked into the play-in.
Charlotte Hornets at Boston Celtics, 8 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock
Orlando, Charlotte and Philadelphia are all 43-36 and tied for the 7/8/9 seeds in the East (and they are all just half a game back of No. 6 seed Toronto) — the Hornets need to win this game to help secure at least a top-eight seed and maybe climb out of the play-in altogether. Boston is likely to finish as the No. 2 seed in the East, but the Celtics are just 2.5 games ahead of the Knicks, so an ill-timed losing streak could see them fall a slot in the seedings. This is a potential first-round playoff preview, and Charlotte may be the team that the top three in the East would most like to avoid in the first round the way it has played of late.
Houston Rockets at Phoenix Suns, 11 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock
Phoenix can, in theory, make up the three-game difference between these two teams and climb out of the play-in out West, but both of those things are unlikely. Houston should be the desperate team here, it is just one game back of the banged-up Lakers for the No. 4 seed in the West and getting to host a first-round playoff series (likely against those same Lakers). Both teams could use the win in this nightcap of the NBA Tuesday.
