Breaking News: Kings Sign Henry Brzustewicz To Entry-Level Contract, Will Report To Ontario Reign
The Los Angeles Kings have signed another prospect, the team announced Saturday. Los Angeles officially signs Henry Brzustewicz to a three-year entry-level contract deal worth $1 million, according to PuckPedia, and will report to the AHL's Ontario Reign on a PTO deal for the rest of the 2025-26 season.
Brzustewicz was drafted by the Kings in the first round and 31st overall in the 2025 NHL draft.
Following his breakout season with the London Knights, Los Angeles decides to sign him to a three-year entry deal after his season with the Knights comes to an end, following elimination from the playoffs.
We have signed D Henry Brzustewicz to a three-year entry level contract through the 2028-29 season.
â LA Kings (@LAKings) April 4, 2026
Brzustewicz will report to the @OntarioReign on a PTO for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
đ˛ https://t.co/ztIqzcz2VG@Enterprise | #GoKingsGopic.twitter.com/Npo2I670yL
The defenseman had a great season for the London Knights, recording 19 goals, 35 assists, and 54 points in 59 games. In his fifth season with the London Knights, this is not only the best set of numbers he has ever put up in the OHL, but he's also tied for third in the OHL in goals this season.
Most importantly for the Kings and Reign, Brzustewicz is a winner, most recently winning back-to-back J. Ross Roberston Cups with the London Knights (2024, 2025) and the 2025 Memorial Cup.
Kings Ink Brothers And NCAA Champions To Entry-Level Contracts, Will Join Ontario ReignAfter having solid campaigns in the NCAA for Western Michigan University, brothers Hampton and Grant Slukynsky have been signed to entry-level contracts with the Los Angeles Kings and will join the AHL's Ontario Reign for the rest of this season.The Ontario Reign currently leads the Pacific Division with a record of 42-19-3 and 89 points. The 19-year-old will play a big role in the Reign's quest for a Calder Cup. With the playoffs coming up, Brzustewicz's skills will surely live up to what has been an excellent season up to this point.
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Whatâs next for the Lakers after Austin Reaves, Luka DonÄiÄ injuries?
Well, now what?
The first version of this article lasted all of about 55 minutes before Austin Reaves was ruled out for the regular season and likely the playoffs with a Grade 2 oblique strain. He will join Luka DonÄiÄ, who is out for the rest of the regular season and likely the first round of the playoffs with a Grade 2 hamstring strain
Lukaâs injury alone was going to cause widespread ripple effects for the Lakers. Add Austin to the mix and everything is disrupted.
Austin is set to miss 4-6 weeks, which covers the whole first round and part of a second round series, if somehow that happens. The typical recovery time for a Grade 2 hamstring strain would rule Luka out for the first round and, similarly, jeopardize his availability for a second round series.
Those timelines feel like a formality now, though. Austin and Luka are out for the first round of the playoffs and, barring a miracle, the Lakers will be, too.
Where does that leave the purple and gold, then, moving forward, both in the short and long term?
Playoff seeding
The Lakers have five games remaining in the regular season and are not locked into a playoff seed yet. While it went under the radar last week, LA did clinch a playoff spot, meaning the play-in is out of the question.
The standings are still tight, however, with LA one game up on Denver and two games up on Houston in the fourth and fifth spots, respectively. Minnesota has taken a nosedive and is four games back of the Lakers in the sixth seed, so there is a floor for LA to fall.
Having the tiebreakers over both Denver and Houston will be huge.
The Lakers also donât have a particularly daunting schedule, sans another meeting with Oklahoma City on Tuesday. They will play at Dallas on Sunday, the Thunder on Tuesday, at Golden State on Thursday, at home against Phoenix on Friday and at home against Utah to wrap up the season.
Having said all that, making matters worse on Saturday was Denver beating the Spurs at home, pulling them closer to the Lakers. They will still play San Antonio and Oklahoma City one more time each in its final four games.
As for Houston, they play at Golden State and Phoenix before hosting the Sixers, Wolves and Grizzlies to end the season. While theyâve won five games in a row, the only win against a non-tanking team in that span was the Knicks.
It feels likely that the floor for the Lakers will be the fifth seed, though there is a worst-case scenario of LA going winless and Minnesota going undefeated, dropping them all the way to sixth.
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Postseason match-up
Remember the 2013 playoffs? I wouldnât blame you if you memory-holed that series against the Spurs in which the Lakers lost player after player after player.
In the fourth and final game of that matchup, LA started Darius Morris and Andrew Goudelock in the backcourt with Earl Clark at small forward. Chris Duhon played 43 minutes off the bench.
The playoffs this year are going to resemble that a little too closely.
LA still has talented players available, but this team is going to be so drastically different from the one in the regular season that itâs going to be hard to win a game. LeBron is going to have to go from third fiddle to carrying the offense again, something he may not even be able to do at 41.
A whole lot of role players who had spent months learning how to play alongside Luka now are going to have drastically different roles. Players who probably shouldnât be relied upon for offense are going to need to score to even be competitive.
In that sense, it feels irrelevant who they play in the first round now because of how outmatched theyâre going to be. Success for this team is going to look more like being competitive and maybe stealing a win, which is a damn shame considering where this team was even at the start of the week.
Offseason plans
The summer is going to be full of decisions for the Lakers and theyâre now going to have to make them without seeing the best version of this team in the playoffs.
In fact, with the injuries they dealt with during the season, the sample size of the recent, idealized version of the Lakers is about a dozen games. It was a really good dozen games, but it was also a dozen games that ended in a dismantling by the Thunder.
The playoffs were supposed to serve as the big stress test for the team to learn if this really worked, particularly against the top teams, and where they needed changes. Weâre not even going to get a glimpse of that now with so many players likely being slotted into unfamiliar roles in the postseason.
Instead, the front office will have to make decisions this summer with an incomplete data set.
Is it worth bringing LeBron back this summer or is it time to rip off the band-aid? Do they need another center this summer? Two new centers? How do some of the Lakersâ role players set for free agency hold up in the playoffs alongside Luka like Rui Hachimura or Luke Kennard?
These are all questions this front office wonât have fully satisfactory answers on, which is what makes this injury such a gut punch.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
San Antonio at Denver, Final Score: Spurs let last road game of the season slip away, 136-134
The San Antonio Spurs came up short in one of their final tests of the regular season, ending their win streak at 11. The Nuggets are battle-tested, deploying the top offense in the NBA, and they were the better team in the crucible.
Nikola JokiÄ feasted in the lane, but the Spurs couldnât be stopped from getting there, either. It also helped that they kept their groove going in most of the non-Victor Wembanyama minutes, and the Nuggets werenât as strong with JokiÄ resting. Still, it was a close game that required overtime, and the difference was the Spurs losing control and going cold after JokiÄ checked in for the last time.
Observations
- This is as good as it gets to a playoff appetizer. Thirteen 3-pointers came in the first quarter as both teams showed high-level horsepower and the level of physicality increased as the game went on. The stakes were high for both teams as the Spurs had a chance of catching the first seed, and the Nuggets are trying to maintain home-court advantage in round one of the playoffs.
- The Nuggets had the Spurs on the ropes in the third quarter, and they survived thanks to Julian Champagnie, Wembanyama and Stephon Castle putting the offense on their shoulders. The three of them combined for seven baskets in that span, yet the Nuggets went on a big run late in the period with them on the bench, cutting the Spursâ lead to four going into the fourth quarter. The Spurs took advantage of the non-JokiÄ minutes, but the script flipped, and they were put in too many scrambles.
- Nikola JokiÄ is the best player in the world, and making him work on defense is a necessity because he doesnât want to guard anybody. The Nuggets tried to hide him on the smaller players, but the Spurs did a good job of going at him.
- Wembanyama and Castle each had two fouls in the first quarter, but they didnât let that affect their aggression and they continued charging into the paint. Wembanyamaâs activity generated 11 of his 17 free throw attempts in the first half. On top of that, his presence was a big reason why the Nuggets struggled to score in the lane. Still, JokiÄ outplayed him in crunch time.
- Christian Braun was the guy the Spurs left open to clog the lane, and he made five 3-pointers. Despite the production, he was the right player for the Spurs to try that against because heâs been awful on open and wide-open attempts this year.
- JokiÄ took an accidental smack to the face by Wembanyama in the first quarter, and then took a shot to the upper chest by Keldon Johnson late in the second. He usually comes out like a madman after getting battered and bruised, and he finished with 40 points on 52 percent shooting.
- The Spurs have been almost unbeatable when they score at least 70 points in the first half. After this loss, their record drops to 15-3.
- DeâAaron Fox had five baskets in the fourth quarter, but he made a huge mistake, causing a four-point play by lunging at a shooter, which cut the teamâs lead to two points late in the game. He also missed some critical shots in overtime.
The Tale Of Two Opposite Storylines: Gabe Perreault And Jonathan Quick
Saturday afternoon was the tale of two opposite storylines: the beginning of what could be a promising career, and the potential end of a legendary career.
Gabe Perreault and Jonathan Quick are at two opposite ends of their respective careers.
In the New York Rangersâ 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday afternoon, Perreault recorded his first NHL hat trick, while Quick may have played in his last NHL game.
From where Perreault was at when he entered rookie camp in September to this point in April marks a true transformation.
The 20-year-old forward didnât make the Rangersâ opening night roster out of training camp and even when he was called up from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League in November, he only played in three NHL games before he was sent back down to the AHL.
Mike Sullivan emphasized that the game moved too fast for Perreault, who was initially struggling to make the jump from the AHL to the NHL.
âAs a young player, it's just physical maturity,â Sullivan said of Perreault in November. âThe speed of the game and the size and the strength of the players at this level is second to none. For most young players, that's one of the challenges in making the jump to being an impact player at this level.â
In December, Perreault was recalled by the Blueshirts, and he never looked back.
The 2023 first-round pick showed offensive poise and readiness to play in the NHL that he was unable to display in his previous call-up.
Since rejoining the Rangers in December, Perreault has steadily gained Sullivanâs trust, earning himself a consistent top-six role and time on the power play.
In his rookie campaign for the Rangers, Perreaultâs natural offensive instincts have risen to the forefront, as the game continues to slow down for him.
âWhen you look at Gabe's growth here over the course of the season, I think he's picked up a couple of steps just in his quickness, not only that, but how quickly he thinks the game,â Sullivan said. âIt's one of the biggest hurdles. I think young players, all young players, regardless of what their strengths are as players, is just the speed of the game, the physical speed, the foot speed itself, but also how fast you have to think the game.
âThe windows of opportunity open and close way quicker in this league than any in the world. That's what separates the NHL from the rest. I think the game is slowing down in his mind. And obviously his hockey IQ is probably his greatest attribute⌠With his vision, and his brain, and his stick skills, he's finding ways to have success in those areas in that environment. That's the experiential learning that's so critical. It's essential to the young players' growth. I just think with each game that he plays, he's getting better and better in all those areas.â
Perreault is also learning how to be in the right places at the right times. On Saturday afternoon, Perreaultâs first goal game when Mika Zibanejad found him the puck at the low bumper, and his second goal came when Jonny Brodzinski fed him the puck while streaking to the net on a two-on-one chance.
Sullivan gave Perreault an opportunity to complete the hat trick with an empty net in the late stages of the contest, and J.T. Miller made a conscious effort to pass Perreault the puck in order to achieve this great feat.
âThrilled,â Sullivan said of how happy he is for Perreault. âYou can see the reaction on the bench. Everybody was rooting for him. He's an easy guy to root for. He's a great kid. He works hard. The fact that J.T. was working hard for him to try to get the hat trick was awesome. I just think it speaks volumes for the type of people that we have.â
Perreault underplayed his hat trick after the game, but acknowledged that the accomplishment holds significance for him.
âIt means a lot.â Perreault said of his hat trick. âMy teammates made a couple of nice plays, so I had a couple of easy ones (goals) today. It definitely feels good to get the hat trick, but most importantly, get the win.â
On the other side of the coin, Quick is at a different stage of his career.
The 40-year-oldâs future with the Rangers and more importantly, his future in the NHL appears to be murky.
Itâs unclear if Quick will retire following the completion of the 2025-26 campaign, but his one-year, $1.55 million contract is set to expire on July 1, which raises questions regarding his plans past this season.
Despite not giving any indication of his future, it was hard not to have the thought that he could be making the last start of his NHL career.
Coming off of a seven-game absence from an upper-body injury, Quick came back strong on Saturday afternoon, making 31 saves on 32 shots and helping propel the Rangers to a victory over a Red Wings team still fighting for a playoff spot.
The veteran goalie didnât delve into much detail about his future plans when speaking with the media postgame, and he was noncommittal on the topic of retirement.
âWe got six games left, five games left, something like that. I just want to enjoy the ride the rest of the way these last five, six games and figure that out when itâs time,â Quick said about if heâs thought about the big picture whether this could be his last season.â
It takes a lot for someone to transition from being one of the premier goaltenders in the NHL to being a backup. Thatâs exactly what Quick has been able to do, creating a new chapter in an illustrious career.
Winning two Stanley Cups with the Los Angeles Kings as the starting goaltender, Quick adapted to a backup role in 2023 with the Vegas Golden Knights en route to winning his third Stanley Cup.
Since then, Quick has formed the perfect tandem in New York with Igor Shesterkin, stepping in for Shesterkin when needed while providing a critical veteran presence in the locker room.
âI believe he's a first ballot Hall of Famer. When you look at his body of work in the league, he's a multiple time Stanley Cup champion,â Sullivan said of Quick. âI think what he means internally to our organization, I think maybe flies under the radar. I think his teammates have so much respect for him, certainly his coaching staff and the management team.
âThe example, what he represents, and how he goes about his business every day, I think is inspiring for all of us. His work ethic is second to none. He has such a passion for the game. He just loves hockey. He loves being on the ice, loves competing, and those are the types of players that we believe you win with ,and so I think he's a great inspiration for all of us.â
In Quickâs absence, Dylan Garand played two games, posting a 1-0-1 record, 1.44 goals against average, and .954 save percentage.
The 23-year-old goaltender is someone who is bound to compete for the Rangersâ backup position next season, and his recent emergence has brought more uncertainty surrounding Quickâs future with the Rangers.
Even with Quick back in the fold, the Rangers are still keeping Garand around for now. However, Sullivan doesn't view having three goalies around as competition.
âI think Quickie and Shesty have been great mentors for Dylan Garand right now,â Sullivan emphasized. âI can see that relationship developing. The example that those two guys set for a guy like Dylan, it's great for Dylan to be around these guys... I think a guy like Dylan right now being around these guys, I think there's huge value in that, and a huge benefit in that.â
How old is Yaxel Lendeborg? Age, stats, mock drafts for Michigan basketball star
Michigan basketball has been an indomitable force in the 2026 NCAA menâs basketball tournament, marching its way to the Final Four with four victories that were decided by an average of 22.5 points per game.
While their triumphs have been the product of hard, diligent work from players and coaches, one figure has loomed particularly large in the Wolverinesâ path to a 35-3 record.
Yaxel Lendeborg has been an overwhelming driver for Michigan in his first season with the program. After averaging a double-double in each of the previous two years at UAB, the 6-foot-9 forward was the prize of last yearâs transfer portal haul, choosing Dusty May and the Wolverines over a number of other extremely interested suitors.
Lendeborg has more than lived up to the hopes that greeted him in Ann Arbor, earning first-team All-American and Big Ten player of the year honors for a Michigan team thatâs two wins away from its first national title since 1989.
Lendeborgâs do-everything success on the floor has made him a figure of intense interest not only for college basketball fans, but NBA front offices who will be vying for his services during the 2026 NBA Draft.
As his team prepares to play fellow No. 1 seed Arizona in the Final Four on Saturday, April 4, hereâs a closer look at Lendeborg:
Yaxel Lendeborg age
Lendeborg is one of the older players in this yearâs Final Four. The Michigan standout is 23 years old and will turn 24 in September, ahead of what will be his rookie season in the NBA.
Yaxel Lendeborg draft
Lendeborg is widely regarded as a lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Hereâs a look at where various mock drafts have the Wolverines star going:
- USA TODAY Sports: No. 7 overall to the Memphis Grizzlies
- ESPN: No. 17 overall to the Memphis Grizzlies
- Bleacher Report: No. 13 overall to the Charlotte Hornets
- CBS Sports: No. 16 overall to the Memphis Grizzlies
- SB Nation: No. 6 overall to the Los Angeles Clippers
- Yahoo Sports: No. 16 overall to the Charlotte Hornets
Yaxel Lendeborg stats
This season, Lendeborg is averaging 15.2 points, seven rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Since the first round of the NCAA tournament, heâs been even better, averaging 25 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while shooting 61.4% overall, including 52.6% from 3-point range in Michiganâs past three games.
Hereâs a look at his stats from this season:
- 2023-24 (UAB): 13.8 points per game, 10.6 rebounds per game, 2.1 assists per game, 2.1 blocks per game, 0.7 steals per game, 51.3% on field goals, 33.3% on 3s
- 2024-25 (UAB): 17.7 points per game, 11.4 rebounds per game, 4.2 assists per game, 1.8 blocks per game, 1.7 steals per game, 52.2% on field goals, 35.7% on 3s
- 2025-26 (Michigan): 15.2 points per game, 7 rebounds per game, 3.3 assists per game, 1.3 blocks per game, 1.2 steals per game, 52% on field goals, 37% on 3s
Yaxel Lendeborg height
Lendeborg is listed on Michiganâs official roster at 6-foot-9.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How old is Yaxel Lendeborg? Age, stats, mock drafts for Michigan basketball star
Lakers' Austin Reaves suffers Grade 2 oblique strain, out for remainder of season, at least
At halftime of the Lakers' loss to the Thunder on Thursday, both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were checked out by the Lakers' medical staff. Doncic appeared to tweak his hamstring in the first half, Reaves had been grabbing his back and left side, clearly bothered by something. Both were cleared to play and return.
Less than six minutes into the second half, Doncic suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain and is out not only for the start of the regular season but also very likely for the start of the playoffs. Now comes this:
Austin Reaves has suffered a Grade 2 oblique strain and is out for the remainder of the regular season, the Lakers announced Saturday. Like Doncic, Reaves will likely be out for the start of the playoffs â Reaves is expected to be out 4-6 weeks, reports Shams Charania of ESPN, which would have him out not only for the first round of the playoffs but potentially the second round as well.
Oblique strains are more common in the MLB where the avg time lost is ~46 days.
â Jeff Stotts (@InStreetClothes) April 4, 2026
In the NBA, the avg time lost for nondescript oblique strains is ~16.7 days. High grade oblique tears have an avg time lost ~9 weeks. Look for Reaves' possible return to fall somewhere in-between.
Reaves is the Lakers' second-leading scorer and a key shot creator for the team, averaging 23.3 points and 5.5 assists per game.
Reaves is an unrestricted free agent after this season but is widely expected to re-sign with the Lakers. The only question is how much, but it's likely going to be close to a $35 million-per-season average.
Without Doncic or Reaves, 41-year-old LeBron James becomes the primary scorer and shot creator for Los Angeles, something the future Hall of Famer can handle, but not with the consistency he once did. With Doncic and Reaves thriving during the recent Lakers run â they had gone 13-1 in the games prior to facing OKC â LeBron had settled comfortably into a role as the third option. Now, all that changes.
The Lakers sit as the No. 3 seed in the West, just half a game in front of the Nuggets and two games up on fifth-seed Houston. If the Lakers struggle through the final week of the season they could slide down the standings and into a tougher matchup (maybe even starting the playoffs on the road).
Nathaniel Lowe starts for Reds vs. Rangers in return to Texas
Nathaniel Lowe posted a 122 OPS+ in nearly 2600 PA for the Texas Rangers across four full seasons after coming over from the Tampa Bay Rays. In that time he was valued at 11.5 bWAR, won a Gold Glove, a World Series, and a Silver Slugger Award â the latter coming during a remarkable 2022 season in which he hit 26 homers and .302/.358/.492 (139 OPS+) in 645 PA.
Heâs still just 30 years old. While his stint with the Washington Nationals to begin a 2025 season after being dealt away from the Rangers was unlike him (88 OPS+), he rebounded to hit a much more Lowe-esque .280/.370/.420 in 119 PA with the Boston Red Sox to finish the year.
Heâs a pretty damn good hitter still, I believe. And the Cincinnati Reds got him for a song in free agency over the winter, as he landed on a minor league deal with an invite to spring camp and a guarantee of just over $2 million bucks if he made the big league roster â which he did.
Heâs going to have a place on this roster at some point thatâs more obvious and a better fit than right now, I can guarantee it. Heâs a proven left-handed bat with a long, long track record of hitting well against RHP, and thatâs something the Reds simply do not have on the roster in spades. Elly De La Cruz is, we know, but beyond that weâre looking at a pretty clearly post-peak TJ Friedl andâŚWill Benson?
So while heâs been mostly relegated to bench-bat status to begin 2026 (thanks to Sal Stewart rightfully getting run at 1B and Eugenio Suarez deserving at bats somewhere, too), Loweâs going to fit in somehow, some way before this 162-game grind comes to a close.
Perhaps thatâs in a role like where heâll start against his old club Texas on Saturday at DH. Suarez is displacing KeâBryan Hayes at 3B for another game, as Hayes still searches for some semblance of offense. Despite Cincinnati oddly betting big on Hayesâ defense being able to make up for the fact that heâs been the most punchless bat in baseball for years (and the long-term contract that is on their books for it), thereâs a good argument to be made that getting Suarez time at 3B and Lowe in the lineup at DH makes the Reds a better overall team than Hayes at 3B, Geno at DH, and Lowe sitting on the bench.
At least, thatâs what I pretty much think, and weâll get another look at it against RHP Kumar Rocker and the Rangers Saturday evening.
The Hayes thing is something the Reds will obviously continue to work on seeing as heâs under contract for years beyond 2026. For now, though, itâs worth finding out if the former Rangers 1B who fell in their lap for dirt cheap can make them significantly better in the short term, and thatâs what weâll get a look at today.
Hereâs how Cincinnati will line up for Rhett Lowderâs second start of 2026:
Game 8 Game Day Thread â Cincinnati Reds @ Texas Rangers
Cincinnati Reds @ Texas Rangers
Saturday, April 4, 2026, 6:05 PM CDT (105.3 The Fan / RSN, Victory+)
The Shed
RHP Rhett Lowder vs. RHP Kumar Rocker
Go Rangers!
Wizards at Heat finals score: Washington offers extended garbage time and no defense in 152-136 loss
Once again, the Wizards offered little resistance on defense.
A couple nights ago the Philadelphia 76ers scored 153 in regulation over the little defense the Wizards offered. As the game today evolved the only interesting question seemed to be whether the Heat will break that threshold or not. At halftime, the Miami Heat were right on pace: scoring 77 points. If they could match that in the second half, they would arrive at 154!
Alas, the Wizards did not come out of the locker room after half-time with any more determination, as they ceded 45 points in the 3rd quarter alone. But maybe one of those patented âcomebacks from behindâ in the 4th quarter?
Nah, with 6 minutes left in the 4th, the scoreboard showed 118-140 for the hosts, as they were on pace to break the 153 threshold!
But, at last, the Wizards were able to keep the Heat to only 30 points in that final frame, and as the game ended the scoreboard proclaimed 136-152 in favor the Heat.
Some bright spots for the Wizards were:
Will Riley was the best starter in terms of plus/minus, with only -3. Actually, he played well. Made 12 of his 17 field goals, and scored 31 points in 37 minutes! Itâs probably much thanks to him that the loss was only by 16 points.
Also, Sharife Cooper and Jamir Watkins were great in garbage time, with 20 (3-for-5 from deep) and 14 (2-for-4 from deep) points each.
For the Heat, Jaquez Jr. had 32 points in 32 minutes, off the bench! Did we already say candidate for 6th man of the year?
The Wizards now head to Brooklyn for another matinee game, tomorrow.
Mookie Betts injury update: Dodgers star leaves game with back issue
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts was removed in the first inning of Saturday's game in Washington due to lower back pain, the team announced.
Betts walked in the top of the first and came around to score on Freddie Freeman's double, but was replaced by Miguel Rojas at short when the Dodgers took the field in the bottom of the inning. An update on Betts' status was expected after the game.
Betts was hitting .179 (6-for-28) with two home runs and seven RBIs entering Saturday's contest. A four-time World Series winner, Betts is coming off the worst season of his career, posting a .732 OPS in 150 games while making the full-time transition to shortstop.
The 33-year-old joined the Dodgers prior to the 2020 season and has helped lead the team to three championships, including back-to-back titles in 2024 and 2025.
If Betts were to miss time, Rojas â the World Series Game 7 hero â would likely take over as the team's primary shortstop in the interim.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mookie Betts injury update, news: Dodgers star pulled with back issue
SB Reacts: Mavericks fans and the Final Four
This weekâs Dallas Mavericks centeric poll centered around the NCAA Menâs Final Four. Yes thereâs still plenty of NBA basketball on (and perhaps you could and should go make a wager on NBA Rookie of the Year, now that Cooper Flagg has potentially recaptured momentum), but I think most of our fans are thinking ahead to the NBA Draft lottery and the draft itself.
Which means youâre considering prospects. And if the lottery goes chalk, there are a lot of guys playing this weekend that Dallas might consider. The first question asked about guards and who you were going to follow on Saturday and/or Monday.
This is within line of what I expected Keaton Wagler is a late riser and some thatâs easy to get excited about when you watch his game. Brayden Burries is probably a safer pick given his skillset, but hes very exciting. I assume we have some UConn fans taking the poll as Braylon Mullens doesnât do it for me.
The next question was about Final Four Big men. There were others I couldâve chosen, but these three seeemed to be the most well known.
I have to hope Mavs fans are watching Yaxel Lendeborg because heâs on a good team. I would be very upset if Dallas drafted a guy thatâs four years and two months older than Cooper Flagg. Koa Peat is an interesting player, Iâm not sure what heâs good at. Krivas is a wishlist guy for me, with that second first-round pick or a trade-up.
Then we get to these questions from the national poll, which you can also sign up for.
The first poll centered around the Eastâs Play-In teams. It seems that fans do not believe in any of them. A reasonable take.
This second question was asked before Luka Doncic got hurt. I think itâs too low. The awards are going to end up with weird ballots that donât tell the story of the year. Itâs silly.
This oneâs also weird. Not sure why 6 in 10 fans think the NBA can incentivze differently than whatâs already been done. Teams that want to lose will find a way to do so.
Gamethread: Panthers @ Penguins
Talk about the game with Pens fans here!
Austin Reaves injury update: Lakers lose second star for regular season ahead of playoffs
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves is reportedly out for the remainder of the season.
Reaves has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique muscle injury and he will miss the Lakers' five remaining regular-season games, according to ESPN. The combo guard is expected to be out for four to six weeks, ESPN's Shams Charania reported.
Reaves has had his best season with the Lakers after joining the team as an undrafted rookie signing in 2021. In his fifth season in Los Angeles, Reaves averaged a career-high 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.1 steals. His shooting splits are 49% on field goals, 36% from three and 87% on free throws.
Reaves appeared in their most recent game, a 139-96 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 2. Reaves scored 15 points on 5-of-9 shots and 3-for-3 on free throws in 27 minutes in the loss. Los Angeles also lost their star guard, Luka Doncic, when he left the game and was later ruled out with a strained hamstring.
The Lakers' five remaining games of the 2025-26 regular season are against the Dallas Mavericks, Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz.
Los Angeles has a 50-27 record and is currently at the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference standings to determine the playoff matchups. They are a game ahead of the Denver Nuggets. The NBA postseason begins April 14 with the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament.
Reaves is expected to become an unrestricted free agent in July 2026.
Austin Reaves injury timeline
Reaves was having a career season before his injury. It wasn't the first time he was kept out of the action due to bodily limitations.
Reaves missed 19 consecutive games earlier in the season with a Grade 2 left calf strain that he injured on Christmas Day against the Houston Rockets. Prior to his calf injury, Reaves was averaging 26.1 points, 6.0 assists and 5.2 rebounds.
That was his second calf injury. Reaves had just returned, having missed three straight games for the Lakers, from Dec. 14-20, due to a calf strain.
Lakers remining schedule
Here is who the Lakers face in their remaining five games in the 2025-26 regular season.
- Sunday, April 5: Dallas Mavericks
- Tuesday, April 7: Oklahoma City Thunder
- Thursday, April 9: Golden State Warriors
- Friday, April 10: Phoenix Suns
- Sunday, April 12: Utah Jazz
Lakers playoff matchups
If the NBA playoffs began today, the Lakers would be the No. 3-seed going against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who would be the No. 6-seed.
Last year, the Lakers faced Anthony Edwards and the T'Wolves in the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Minnesota bounced them winning the series in five games, 4-1. This year would seem to have a similar outcome, especially if Los Angeles is without its stars, Doncic and Reaves.
The Lakers only have a game lead over the Nuggets and a two-game lead over the No. 5-seed Rockets. Los Angeles doesn't have the No. 3-seed locked in just yet. They can still slide down within the next five games.
If they slide down one spot, they could face the Rockets in the first round with home-court advantage. However, if the Rockets climb up and the Lakers move down, it's Houston that would have home-court advantage. Either way, it would set up possibly one last postseason matchup between LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
The Lakers and Nuggets could face each other in the postseason for the fourth time since 2020. It's unlikely the Lakers drop to a No. 6 seed, so this matchup would be in the event Houston bolts to third, while Los Angeles and Denver jockey for home-court advantage at the No. 4- and 5-seed matchup.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Austin Reaves injury update is horrible news for Lakers playoff hopes
Lakers' Austin Reaves out for rest of regular season with oblique strain
The Lakers will be without their starting backcourt for the rest of the regular season â five more games â after Austin Reaves was diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique strain on Saturday.
Lakers coach JJ Redick said Reaves underwent an MRI exam on his left olbique/rib area.
The team learned earlier this week that Luka Doncic has a Grade 2 left hamstring strain and will be out for the remainder of the regular season â and perhaps beyond. Grade 2 strains often take four to six weeks to heal.
The Lakers are also dealing with an injury to guard Marcus Smart, who has missed the last six games because of a right ankle contusion and will be sidelined for the game Sunday at Dallas.
âIt's it's lingering soreness in the ankle,â Redick said.
Even with all of this, Redick said the Lakersâ âmission hasnât changed.â
Read more:Luka Doncic's hamstring strain will keep him out for remainder of the regular season
âWe want to get the third seed and we want to win a first-round series,â Redick said.
The Lakers are the third in the Western Conference, but Denver, Houston and Minnesota are within striking distance. The Lakers hold the tiebreaker over all three.
They'll try to hold on to the No. 3 seed over the final five games of the regular season without Doncic, who leads the NBA in scoring (33.5 points per game) and is fourth in assists (8.3), and Reaves, who is averaging 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds.
Each player was injured in the first half of a blowout loss on Thursday to Oklahoma City but returned to play in the second half.
âI know Luka's gonna do everything he can to get back on the court,â Redick said. âWe don't know what this recovery timetable looks like."
The Lakers likely will have to lean more on LeBron James, a role the 41-year-old is more than willing to take on. James has been designated the third option behind Doncic and Reaves yet has still averaged 20.6 points per game, 6.9 assists and 6.0 rebounds in his 23rd season.
âIt probably is going to look a little bit differently with Luka being out,â James said after practice. âI'll figure that out and then, obviously, the coaches will figure it out as well.â
The Lakers are making the mental adjustment of playing without Doncic. After the Mavericks, they'll have tough games against Oklahoma City, Golden State and Phoenix before finishing against lowly Utah on April 12.
âI mean, itâs a challenge for us,â James said. âItâs always got to be a next-man-up [mentality]. But thereâs no way you can replace that type of impact. So, it's going to be a collective group. We all have to figure out a way to do a little bit more. But even now, you got to be even more tightened up on the things that we do. When you lose a special player like that, you can't have as many mistakes. So, we got to figure that out.â
For Redick, speaking for the first time since news of Doncicâs injury, he had to check on the temperature of his team to make sure his group was in the right space.
The practice Saturday on the campus of Southern Methodist helped.
âI think making sure that everybody's in the right frame of mind, first of all, and then you know we worked on just offensive stuff, just cleaning up some stuff and being really explicit with what we want to run,â Redick said. âDid some offensive breakdown. It was definitely more of an offensive day.
"We did work on defense to start the practice, but that's again that's the primary sort of focus. How do we score, how do we score efficiently, and our defense again is, it's we're interchangeable. We've been interchangeable now for two-and-a half-months.â
James controversy
James created a bit of controversy when he said on âBob Does Sportsâ YouTube video that Memphis should relocate to Nashville.
âIâm not like the first guy to even talk about it in the NBA. We all like, âYou guys have to move. Just go over to Nashville," James said.
James, when asked if he wanted to clarify his remarks, then mentioned Milwaukee also as one of his least favorite cities.
âI said Milwaukee as well,â James said. âIâm 41 years old (and) there's two cities I do not like playing in right now â and that's Milwaukee and that's Memphis. What is your problem with it? I don't like going home [to Cleveland,] either. ⌠And I'm from there. People are ridiculous. They also get mad at my son [Bronny James] being on the [Lakers] team, too.
"So, what are we talking about? People need to figure out other ways to put their energy to other things that's important. Like, seriously? I'm not talking about the city, like the people in Memphis. I don't like staying at the Hyatt Centric [hotel]. What's wrong with that? Nothing. What are we talking about? What are we talking about? People need to chill the hell out.â
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.