England routed Sri Lanka for 95 to give captain Harry Brook a perfect birthday present as they opened the T20 World Cup Super Eights phase with a resounding 51-run win in Kandy on Sunday.
No. 10 Ohio State rallies past USC 88-83 behind Jaloni Cambridge’s 33 points
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Jaloni Cambridge scored 33 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter, and No. 10 Ohio State used a 15-0 run to rally for a 88-83 victory over Southern California on Sunday.
It was Cambridge's fifth 30-point game this season. The sophomore was 12 of 21 from the field and 8 of 9 from the line as the Buckeyes (23-5, 11-4) snapped a two-game losing streak.
Cambridge also had three steals and forced USC to commit a season-high 25 turnovers as the Trojans (17-10, 9-7 Big Ten) had their six-game winning streak come to a close.
USC's Jazzy Davidson scored a season-high 32 points, including six 3-pointers, before fouling out with 1.1 second left. The freshman also had six rebounds and four assists.
Ohio State's Chance Gray had 16 points and Kennedy Cambridge scored 14 points and four steals before fouling out with 4:06 remaining.
Kennedy Smith had 18 points and Dayana Mendes 13 for the Trojans.
There were 13 lead changes and six ties before Ohio State took control.
The Buckeyes trailed 65-61 early in the fourth quarter before going on their decisive run. Jaloni Cambridge had seven points as Ohio State was 5 of 7 from the field while USC committed four turnovers.
The Trojans missed their first seven shots in the fourth quarter and had an 8:17 drought from the field. They made a late surge to get within 86-83 on a 3-pointer by Mendes with 2 seconds remaining, but Cambridge made a pair of free throws after being fouled by Davidson to make it a two-possession game.
Ohio State was 23 of 28 from the foul line. The attempts were a season-high while the makes were one off from tying it.
Up next
USC: At Penn State on Wednesday.
Ohio State: Hosts No. 6 Michigan on Wednesday.
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Wizards vs. Hornets discussion
The Washington Wizards play the Charlotte Hornets at 6 p.m. tonight at Capital One Arena. Watch the game on Monumental Sports Network.
Kohn's 3-pointer with 3.1 seconds helps Clemson upset No. 9 Duke 53-51
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Hannah Kohn hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 3.1 seconds left for her only points of the game as Clemson upset No. 9 Duke 53-51 on Sunday to snap the Blue Devils’ 17-game win streak.
Demeara Hinds finished with 13 points and Taylor Johnson-Matthews and Mia Moore each added 11 for the Tigers (19-9, 10-6 ACC), who added a huge resume-building victory before the NCAA Tournament.
Toby Fournier had 18 points and seven rebounds for Duke (20-7, 15-1 ACC) which lost its first conference game of the season. Fournier, an ACC player of the year candidate, was held in check for most of the second half after scoring 14 before the break.
The Blue Devils, who last lost on Dec. 4 to then-No. 7 LSU, appeared in control entering the fourth quarter, but Clemson stepped up its defense.
The Tigers took the lead at 44-43 with 3:24 left when Moore drove the lane and drew a foul for a 3-point play. Johnson-Matthews then drilled a 3 to give the Tigers their biggest lead of the game at 4.
Duke would battle back though and Riley Nelson hit a corner 3 to give the Blue Devils the lead with 9.3 seconds left.
But Kohn, who had missed her previous four shots of the game, got free and hit the 3 as Clemson made four of its final five shots from the field.
The Blue Devils were unable to get a final shot off after an inbounds pass was knocked away.
Duke got 10 points and two blocks from Fournier in the first quarter and used a 17-2 run to to build a 20-8 lead before the Tigers began to battle back.
Up next
Duke: Hosts Florida State on Thursday night.
Clemson: Visits California on Thursday night.
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Player Grades: Cavs at Thunder – Sam Merrill’s best efforts aren’t enough
The Cleveland Cavaliers lost a gut-check game to the shorthanded Oklahoma City Thunder.
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Donovan Mitchell
20 points, 5 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 turnovers
This has historically been a tough matchup for Mitchell. He was able to break free for a relatively efficient game (compared to his previous efforts vs OKC), but there’s no doubt the Thunder remain the best defensive team in the league at hounding Mitchell. He had to fight for everything today and went 0-6 from downtown.
Grade: C–
James Harden
20 points, 9 assists, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 5 turnovers
Harden can handle OKC’s ball-pressure a bit better than Mitchell because of his size at 6’5”. But this is still a difficult matchup even for Harden. The Cavs struggled to get the ball into the paint, and it’s largely because the Thunder’s strong point-of-attack defense and willingness to drop on pick-and-rolls.
I like the Cavs’ chances in this matchup better with Harden, but clearly, beating the champs isn’t going to be easy at any point. Five turnovers knock him down half a grade.
Grade: B–
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Jarrett Allen
11 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers
Allen went scoreless in the first quarter as the Thunder’s frontcourt dictated the terms of engagement. Allen eventually found his groove and played an otherwise strong game.
He’s predictably being maligned for the Cavs rebounding issues (though they tied OKC on the glass today). So, I think it’s worth pointing out that Allen had a game-high 6 offensive rebounds.
But… I do have to remove half a grade for airballing that free throw.
Grade: B
Evan Mobley
15 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal (25 minutes)
Let’s get some context out of the way before I trash Mobley’s game.
This was only his second game since January 24th. And, he was on a minutes restriction playing against the best defensive frontcourt in the NBA.
With that said, only 2 rebounds are tough to swallow. Mobley also struggled with OKC’s physicality on offense, being moved off his spots and resorting to three-point attempts in the fourth quarter. The Cavs need him to be more aggressive, getting to the paint or forcing his way to the free-throw line.
Grade: D
Jaylon Tyson
7 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal
Tyson’s going through an adjustment period, and it’s affected his recent performances. His role is smaller than before, and his impact has felt more scattered.
Grade: D+
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Keon Ellis
9 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 2 steals
I’m loving the Ellis experience. He’s a difference maker on the defensive end. Just follow him on any given possession and watch how he disrupts actions for the opponent. It’s a joy to watch, and he’s a competent enough offensive player to hang in any matchup.
Grade: A–
Dennis Schroder
11 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block
Schroder’s scrappiness is something that will always be valuable. His ability to run the pick-and-roll only adds to his value.
Grade: A+
Sam Merrill
20 points, 3 rebounds
The Cavs fell into a hole early in this game, and Merrill brought them back to life. His momentum-swining three-pointers made this competitive. And, as the day went on, Merrill began attacking closeouts and making great plays inside the perimeter.
Grade: A
Dean Wade
0 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block (18 minutes)
There isn’t much room on the court for a player as hesitant as Wade in this matchup. The Thunder pounce on any form of hesitation. Wade is a quality defender and rebounder, but he’s a bad fit offensively against this OKC defense.
Grade: F
AC Milan loses at home and Loftus-Cheek hospitalized after collision with Parma goalkeeper
MILAN (AP) — AC Milan lost more ground to city rival Inter Milan after a 1-0 loss to Parma at home on Sunday in a match which saw Milan midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek hospitalized after a collision with the Parma goalkeeper.
Loftus-Cheek was struck on the head after colliding with Edoardo Corvi after a cross into the area about 10 minutes into the match at San Siro.
The 30-year-old Loftus-Cheek had a bloodied face while being treated on the field. He was stretchered off with a neck and head brace, and later taken to hospital.
Italian media reports said the England international and former Chelsea player sustained broken teeth and was being examined for head trauma.
“Our thoughts are with him,” Parma coach Carlos Cuesta said.
Mariano Troilo scored with a header off a corner in the 80th minute to give Parma the win. The goal was initially disallowed for a foul but the call was reversed after video review.
Milan had entered the match looking to cut its gap to Inter to seven points. Inter moved 10 points clear with a 2-0 victory at Lecce for its seventh straight league win on Saturday.
Milan had already lost points at home in a 1-1 draw against Como on Wednesday.
It was the third win in a row for Parma, which is in 12th place.
Other results
Fourth-place Roma opened a four-point gap to fifth-place Juventus. Roma scored three second-half goals in a 3-0 home win against 16th-place Cremonese, which has lost 12 consecutive matches.
Roma is tied on points with third-place Napoli.
Seventh-place Atalanta scored two second-half goals to rally to a 2-1 win over third-place Napoli at home. It was Atalanta's third straight league win. Napoli hasn't won in three consecutive matches in all competitions.
Genoa beat Torino 3-0 at home to end a three-game winless streak. Torino, which played the entire second half with 10 men, hasn't won in four straight matches in all tournaments.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Assembly required: Pirates 4, Phillies 3
The Philadelphia Phillies dropped their home opener in Clearwater to the Pittsburgh Pirates by a score of 4-3 on Sunday afternoon.
Trevor Richards, a thirty-two year old journeyman non-roster invitee, got the start and sandwiched a nice throw on a well-fielded infield dribbler with a pair of strikeouts for a scoreless appearance. As with yesterday’s opener, Bryse Wilson, Richards boasts big league experience and flexibility starting and in the bullpen.
Kyle Schwarber scored the Phillies’ first run of the spring all by his lonesome with a monstrous blast to right field. Schwarber finished 1-2 with a hit-by-pitch.
Trea Turner got the first crack at the leadoff spot hitting in front of Schwarber and went 0-2 with a walk and a run scored on an Alec Bohm sacrifice fly in the third inning.
Speaking of the precarious third sacker, after a down season attributed partially to nagging injuries, Bohm is healthy and showing it, doubling with a deep fly ball off the right field wall in his first at bat. Bohm’s 44 doubles in 2024 were second in the National League. A return to that form will be a welcome development as he will be counted on this year to drive in runs in the middle of the order.
Zach Pop pitched a scoreless second inning with a walk allowed and one strikeout. The 29 year old is one of a slew of candidates for the last right-handed spot in the bullpen, along with Richards, Wilson, Jonathan Bowlan, and Zach McCambley.
JT Realmuto singled in his first at bat to lead off the bottom of the second inning. Bryson Stott was the recipient of an infield single after hitting a heat-seeking missile to short that exploded the nose of Pirates’ third baseman, Jack Brannigan.
The Phillies would love for offseason bullpen acquisition, Kyle Backhus, to have a great spring and he made a solid first step in that direction with a 1-2-3 inning in his debut. The left-hander would slot in at the back of the bullpen as a lefty specialist behind Tanner Banks and setup man, Jose Alvarado.
Other contenders for that possible last lefty spot in the bullpen, Tim Mayza and Genesis Cabrera, each pitched a scoreless frame in the fourth and fifth innings.
The Pirates got on the board with a grand slam in the sixth inning as Jonathan Hernandez loaded the bases and Jack Dallas allowed the home run to Esmerlyn Valdez. Both are candidates for the bullpen in Lehigh Valley.
Rob Thomson pulled his starters in the middle of the sixth and third base prospect, Carson DeMartini, led off the frame with a full count solo shot to bring the score within one. Dante Nori got his first hit of the spring with a hard hit single on the next pitch.
Bryce Harper and Brandon Marsh rounded out the starters who got their first reps in, going hitless in five combined trips to the plate.
Johan Rojas played a typically solid centerfield and went 0-1 with a walk. It will be interesting to see how the organization views Rojas and how much of that could be influenced by his play this spring, but presumably he will begin the year as the starting center fielder in Lehigh Valley as an insurance policy for Justin Crawford.
Lehigh Valley starter, Charles King, got the seventh inning mound duty and went 1-2-3 with a pair of punchouts. He also sported a 70’s mustache and a flowing mane, which was an organizational need following the Matt Strahm trade.
Kehden Hettiger took over at DH for Schwarber and laced a well-hit double down the right field line in the bottom of the seventh. FanGraphs has Hettiger as the Phillies #23-rated prospect and the 21 year old switch hitter is expected to continue splitting time between first base and catcher in Reading to begin the season.
22 year old right-hander, Giussepe Velasquez, pitched the eighth, allowing one single and collecting all three outs via the punchout. FanGraphs has him starting the season in the rotation in Clearwater.
Bench candidate, Bryan De La Cruz, started in right field and was the only repeat starter from yesterday’s spring opener. He went 0-2 at the dish with one strikeout after notching one of the Phillies’ four hits yesterday in three at bats.
Low-A ball starter, Aaron Combs, pitched a scoreless ninth with a hit-by-pitch.
Top second base prospect, Aroon Escobar, got his first hit of the spring with an infield single to lead off the bottom of the ninth but that’s all the reserves could muster as the Phils fall to 0-2.
The Phillies will travel across the peninsula to Palm Beach for a rare spring training night game against the Washington Nationals tomorrow at 6:05pm.
Quick Recap: Jays Lose To Red Sox
Blue Jays 10 Red Sox 11
Of course, batters are ahead of pitchers early in spring training. Lots of scoring.
Pitching:
- Fernando Perez started for the Jays and had a rough time. It started with a Riley Tirotta error (playing first base). Then a hard line out to center. A double. A ground out, scoring the first run. A walk and a single, scoring another. And a double scoring two more. All unearned, but 4 runs scored, with Perez getting just two outs.
- Hunter Gregory got the last out of the inning, a strikeout.
- Chase Lee had a perfect second inning, getting a strikeout.
- Lazaro Estrada threw two scoreless innings, with 2 hits, 1 walks and 1 strikeout.
- Spencer Miles had a scoreless 5th, with a strikeout, single and walk.
- Yariel Rodríguez came in for the 6th, and he didn’t make a case for getting back on the roster. 5 hits and a walk, and 6 earned runs, while getting just two outs.
- Devereauz Harrison (road spring games is a place to see guy you have never heard of), hit a batter and gave up a 2-run double.
- Connor Seabold started the 7th. He gave up a hit, two walks and had two strikeouts, with 1 earned run getting just the 2 outs.
- Brendan Cellucci got the 3rd out of the seventh.
- Michael Plassmeyer gave up a couple of singles, and got a strikeout in the eighth.
On offense, the starters:
- Myles Straw was 1 for 3, with a strikeout.
- Jesús Sánchez, getting his first action as a Blue Jay, had a walk in 3 PA.
- Eloy Jiménez, also getting his first moment in a Jays’ jersey, had a home run and a double, 2 RBI, with a strikeout in 3 at-bats.
- RJ Schreck was 1 for 2 with a strikeout.
- Leo Jiménez was 1 for 2 with a RBI.
- Brandon Valenzuela was 0 for 1 with a walk and a RBI.
- Arjun Nimmala was 1 for 2 with a RBI and a strikeout.
- Riley Tirotta 1 for 2, double. He also made an error at first base, which led to the four runs in the first inning.
- Cutter Coffey (best name of the day) was 0 for 2 with a k.
Others:
- Ismael Munguia, I wonder if he says “My name is Ismael’ a lot? He was 0 for 2, with a k.
- Eddie Micheletti Jr. was 1 for 2, with a double.
- Carter Cunningham walked.
- Tucker Toman: Double, RBI in his trip to the plate.
- Yohendrick Pinango went 1 for 3, with a double, RBI and a k. He also made a nice catch in left.
- Rafael Lantigua: 1 for 3 with a k.
- Robert Brooks: 1 for 2, single, RBI.
- Josh Kasevich: 1 for 2 with a home run and 2 RBI.
- Nick Goodwin doubled off the wall, with two out in the ninth, but Brooks didn’t score from first.
- Sean Keys: 0 for 1 with a walk and 2 strikeouts (the second one ended the game).
- Charles McAdoo: 0 for 1 with a walk.
Now we are 1-1 this spring.
Grapefruit Juice: Mets 6, Yankees 4
The ball was flying at George M. Steinbrenner with the Mets blasting four home runs to defeat the Yankees 6-4 in the spring version of the Subway Series. On the other side of the ball the team’s pitching mostly held up well especially considering they faced quite a few Yankee starters for a few at bats in the beginning of the game.
- Justin Hagenman got the start and gave up a solo home run to José Caballero. His final line was 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, and 3 K.
- DH Jared Young got the scoring started in the second with a solo home run off Luis Gil.
- The team got production out of their catchers. Both Luis Torrens and Hayden Senger hit solo home runs
- Carson Benge went 0-for-3 in his spring debut
- JT Schwartz hit a three-run home run in the eighth to provide a cushion.
- The Mets pitching held the Yankees off the board until the bottom of the eighth when Brian Metoyer gave up a three-run home run to Kenedy Corona.
- The Yankees got the tying runs on in the ninth but Carlos Guzman nailed down the save.
Next up the Mets will face the Blue Jays at 1:07 pm ET in sunny Dunedin, Florida.
Mark Vientos embraces spring training at first base as Mets' 2026 depth chart reshuffles
The Mets enter the 2026 MLB season with a new depth chart at first base after Pete Alonso's departure, and Mark Vientos is among the players involved.
Vientos batted second and started at first in Sunday's spring training game at the Yankees' George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., and played five innings.
"Pretty good," he said of his progress at first base. "Felt good to get my feet wet for the first game. Got a play at the end of the game, which was nice. But felt good. Felt good to be out there again."
The defensive play came to end the fifth inning when Amed Rosario grounded out to Vientos, whom the Mets replaced in the batting order in the sixth inning with left fielder Nick Morabito while JT Schwartz took first base.
"I think it's just getting everyday reps over there," Vientos said. "I think, more and more you get reps, I'll for sure feel a lot more comfortable. I played first base before in the past, and it's the same thing (as third base). Only thing is you've got to cover the bag, you've got to be a little bit more aware. But I feel comfortable over there."
Vientos primarily plays third base but has a background at the position in addition to his time designated hitting.
"For sure, footwork -- I think it's just getting familiar with the bag, throws," he said. "The bag is a lot bigger, so I've got more leeway to move around, switch foot, footing and, yeah -- like I said, I'm feeling comfortable out there. ... We're covering all the things we need to get better with."
The 27-year-old is open to playing "wherever" the Mets need him.
"Wherever they want me to play, wherever I get the opportunity -- whether it's third, first, DH -- wherever it is that they want me to do, I'm fine with it," Vientos said.
"I just want to help the team win and do my best job for it."
Vientos slashed .233/.289/.413 with 17 home runs and 61 RBI in 121 games in 2025. The production was a step back from his breakout 2024 when he slashed .266/.322/.516 with 27 home runs and 71 RBI in 111 games.
"I think it's just sticking to the routine, sticking to what works, not getting away from it," said Vientos, who posted an 0-for-3 afternoon at the plate Sunday. "My routine is a very simple one, but I'd say that, last year, I started switching things up. I wasn't trusting it, and I didn't have anything that was consistent.
"If my routine is inconsistent, how are my results on the field going to be consistent? So, that's all I'm focused on when it comes to offensive side is my routine and sticking to it."
Winners and Losers: Cavs at Thunder – Disastrous opening dooms Cleveland’s winning streak
The Cleveland Cavaliers might have lost this game in the first six minutes. Let’s talk about it.
LOSER – The First Quarter
The Cavs had 10 turnovers in the first six minutes of the game. Oklahoma City had 17 points off turnovers during that run on their way to a 20+ point lead. That’s a catastrophic opening that will result in a loss 99% of the time.
So what went wrong?
Cleveland entered this game with the wrong approach. They treated this like a regular-season matinee rather than the potential NBA Finals preview that the OKC Thunder were prepared for. The Cavaliers were blitzed from the jump as a result.
Hesitation is a death sentence against this Thunder defense. They pounce on the first sign of indecision. That’s what led to 10 turnovers in the opening quarter as the Cavs frantically searched for their footing. It wasn’t until the offense became more purposeful and decisive that the turnovers finally subsided.
The Cavs eventually fought back into this game and made it a good one. But the opening six minutes are what ultimately cost them.
WINNER – Sam Merrill
A handful of Cavs players stepped up to make this competitive after the first quarter. None was more impactful than Sam Merrill.
Merill jump-started this offense and got them back into gear with his three-point shooting. He nailed consecutive deep balls to cut into the deficit early in the first half. As the game went on, Cleveland continued to rely on Merrill’s outside shooting to bail them out.
It’s not always easy for a player like Merrill to get free against a team such as OKC. They defend off-ball actions better than anyone in the league. That’s why it’s so impressive that Merrill was able to find openings and release the ball before this scrambly Thunder defense could catch up.
Merrill finished with 20 points on 6-10 three-point shooting.
LOSER – Screen Navigation
Turnovers were a problem in the first quarter. That was addressed as Clevleand’s offense settled into the game.
One thing that wasn’t solved, however, was their screen navigation.
I’ll give credit to the Thunder. Isaiah Hartenstein sets some of the widest screens in the association. He was crushing Cleveland’s backcourt all game long. Combine that with an efficient shooting night from the Thunder backcourt, and this was too much to overcome.
Donovan Mitchell and James Harden both got hung up on numerous screens that led to three-point jumpers. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley were also torched for playing below the level of the screen. We understand why those bigs would be in drop coverage, but the opponent shooting 21-41 (51%) from deep should probably warrant an adjustment.
WINNER – Schroder and Ellis
Let’s hand out one more pair of winners to a bench squad that’s made a difference.
Schroder and Ellis are giving this second unit new life. They’re able to enter the game and initiate a new style that, at worst, changes the dynamic of a game, and at best, swings things back into Cleveland’s favor.
Their scrappy style lends itself to generating chaos. The Thunder had a taste of their own medicine when this duo was on the floor. Their defensive activity made life more difficult for OKC. And, they each bring their own value on offense.
The Cavs have leaned on Schroder to operate in the pick-and-roll when Mitchell or Harden aren’t on the floor. He isn’t as elite as the starting gaurds but he’s more than capable of running this two-man action.
As for Ellis, he shot just 1-4 from deep, but cut into the lane for a handful of easy buckets. He’s a better shooter than this on most nights and should mesh well with whatever lineups the Cavs put him in moving forward.
Highlights: Victor Wembanyama’s 28-point double double leads Spurs over Kings
Coming off a blowout victory against the Phoenix Suns, the Spurs took on the Sacramento Kings for the second I-35 Series game at the Moody Center in Austin, TX. The Spurs started hot with an 11-0 run. However, the Kings crawled back to within four points by the end of the first quarter. Despite the Spurs’ hot scoring, the Kings were able to keep pace and trailed 73-65 at halftime and even took the lead in the third. Little by little, the Spurs rebuilt the lead to 11 after three. An early run in the fourth put the game away, and the Spurs won 139-122.
Victor Wembanyama led the way with a double-double: 28 points (11-20 FG) and 15 rebounds to go along with six assists, four blocks, and a steal. After a solid outing against the Suns, Wemby turned it up against the Kings. There seemed to be some extra motivation because his childhood friend/teammate, Maxime Raynaud, matched up against him from the start. Nonetheless, Wemby dominated on both ends with multiple dunks and blocks. The All-Star starter will look to continue his MVP campaign against All-Star Jalen Duren on Monday (assuming he ends up playing 65 games).
NOT IN HIS HOUSE! Wemby swats Russell Westbrook’s shot out of the air, and it kickstarts a fast break that results in a bucket for De’Aaron Fox!
FOX TO THE ALIEN! D-Fox finds a cutting Wemby on the lob, and he finishes over DeMar DeRozan!
Wemby dime! Wemby leads the fastbreak and finds a wide-open Carter Bryant, who knocks down the transition three!
EXCUSE ME? Wemby pulls off a between-the-legs Smitty move on Raynaud, and he finishes with a two-handed slam!
WITH THE LEFT! Vic drives into the paint and finishes with the left hand past Precious Achiuwa!
DUNK CONTEST 2027 PARTICIPANT? Vic drives past Raynaud and finishes with a clockwise jam!
Here’s another angle!
Another lob, another Wemby slam! This time, Devin Vassell takes the handoff from Vic, and he fakes his jumpshot into a pass for a wide-open Vic slam!
Stephon Castle dropped 18 points (6-9 FG, 6-8 FT), eight rebounds, three assists, and a block. Since returning from the All-Star break, Steph has shot 70% from the field. His resilience in slashing has also rewarded him with more free throws. Ever since he carried the offensive load for his squad in the Rising Stars Challenge, his shot has slightly improved. The reigning Rookie of the Year will look to continue his hot shooting against a stingy Detroit team and MVP candidate Cade Cunningham.
Here he comes to save the day! After the missed Wemby three, Steph flies in for the putback finish!
De’Aaron Fox dropped 18 points (7-11 FG), five assists, two rebounds, and a steal. After the hot start, D-Fox struggled to take care of the ball as he turned it over four times in the first quarter. Nonetheless, he was still a +8. After the turnover struggles, D-Fox started driving and finding his shot. Anytime he runs a pick-and-roll, the defense most of the time gives him too much space to operate for an open floater or midrange. His P&R with Wemby is deadly, as it gives him even more space to operate. The 2-time All-Star will look to continue to provide the much-needed scoring punch for this young team as the schedule gets tougher.
Another look at the fastbreak kickstarted by Wemby’s huge block: D-Fox plays tough defense on Westbrook and runs the floor for a wide-open layup thanks to Julian Champagnie’s bounce pass from the corner!
PICKPOCKET MASTER! D-Fox picks Keegan Murray’s pocket and finishes on the other end with a wide-open jam!
Keldon Johnson dropped 18 points (6-12 FG, 3-4 3PT, 3-4 FT) and a rebound in 21 minutes off the bench. Even though he was loud and demonstrative, KJ’s 18 was a sneaky 18. While most of the attention was on Wemby, Fox, and Castle, KJ battled early shooting struggles and started splashing home open threes. His willingness to drive into the paint when the team needs him to create offense usually results in a tough bucket. The Sixth Man of the Year candidate will look to continue the silver and black’s spark plug energy off the bench.
Corner Specialist! Keldon knocks down the open three from the corner in front of the Kings’ bench!
Dylan Harper dropped 12 points (5-9 FG), five rebounds, and five assists in 23 minutes off the bench. After showing out in the Rising Stars Challenge with Steph, Dyl continues to showcase his talent as a combo guard. On most teams picking in the lottery, Dyl would be a ROTY candidate and leading the offense. However, his role off the bench has provided much-needed guard play when D-Fox and Steph are on the bench. Instead of leading a lottery/play-in team, he is an important piece to the puzzle for this contending Spurs team.
Cut and slam! After feeding Wemby in the post, Dyl goes to set a slip screen and cuts to the basket to receive a rewarding Wemby pass for the open jam!
Don’t sleep on his hops! Dyl drives in from the corner and finishes with a ferocious slam! The dunk was so astonishing that even Vic couldn’t help but look amazed!
Julian Champagnie dropped eight points, four rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Julian has started games and has come off the bench this season, but for now, it seems that he will start for the rest of the season alongside Devin Vassell at the forward positions. They both have played three positions this season (SG, SF, PF), and both are versatile enough to guard at either position. However, it is worth noting that Julian is taller and a better rebounder. Watch him intercept the pass from Westbrook and sprint to the cup for a poster fastbreak slam over Murray!
Another angle on the slam!
Despite letting the Kings come back in the second, the Spurs kept their hot shooting pace and opened the floodgates in the fourth. For the first time, the Spurs won both of their I-35 games. Also, they have now won 40 games before losing 20, which usually means they are a true contender (91% of the time, championship teams have won 40 games before losing 20). Only the Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit Pistons have met that mark this season, and they are both leading their respective conferences. As mentioned earlier, Detroit awaits the Spurs’ arrival on Monday.
Finally, here are the full game highlights.
The Spurs face a tough test on the road against the Detroit Pistons this Monday at 6:00 P.M. (CST) on Peacock/NBCSN.
Luis Torrens hits one of Mets' four home runs in spring training win over Yankees
The Mets defeated the Yankees by a score of 6-4 in Grapefruit League action on Sunday.
Here are the key takeaways...
-- The Mets have said that top prospect Carson Benge is going to get a legitimate shot to win the starting right field job, and they backed that up by having Benge lead off and play right on Sunday.
In his first at-bat against Luis Gil, Benge was sawed off and hit a jam-shot pop-up to shortstop. In his second AB, Benge hit a grounder to first and nearly ran it out for a hit, but was out by half a step or so.
Benge's toughest at-bat came in the top of the fifth, facing veteran lefty Tim Hill. After falling behind 0-2, Benge laid off a ball and fouled another pitch off before grounding into a 6-3 double play. He was replaced defensively in the bottom of the fifth inning.
-- The first Mets home run of 2026 spring training came off the bat of Jared Young in the second inning, when he clobbered a high fastball for a solo homer.
Young played in 23 games for the Mets last season and hit four home runs. He’ll likely start the season in Triple-A, but could be a left-handed hitting option off the bench.
-- The Mets flashed some more pop in the top of the fourth, when Luis Torrens lifted a solo home run to right-center. Barring anything unexpected, Torrens will be the Mets' backup catcher behind Francisco Alvarez come Opening Day.
Not to be outdone, fellow catcher Hayden Senger joined the power party in the top of the sixth, hitting a solo shot to right-center. Senger has major league experience and could be in the mix for the backup catching job.
-- And for good measure, and for further proof that the wind was blowing out to right, JT Schwartz lifted one up into the jet stream in the top of the eighth, and it carried well out of the ballpark for a three-run shot.
-- Righty Justin Hagenman started for the Mets, going 2.1 innings while allowing one earned run on two hits. He walked three and struck out three, and figures to be in the mix if the Mets need a spot start during the season.
YANKEES
-- Gil went 2.2 innings for the Yankees, throwing 48 pitches. He allowed a pair of hits, including the solo homer, but he struck out four and didn't walk a batter. His fastball sat around 96 MPH, and 33 of his 48 pitches were strikes.
-- Shortstop is an area of focus for the Yankees, considering Anthony Volpe will miss the beginning of the season and is no sure bet to start once he returns, and Jose Caballero made an impact on Sunday, smacking a solo home run on a hanging Hagenman breaking ball in the third inning. Caballero will likely be the Opening Day starter at short for the Yanks.
-- Coming off a two-homer game in his spring debut, Aaron Judge went 0-1 with a groundout to third, but he did reach base twice via walks. Cody Bellinger had a pair of base hits, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. reached base twice with a single and a walk.
-- Outfielder Kenedy Corona drew the Yankees closer with a three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning. Corona spent the entire 2025 season in Triple-A in the Houston Astros system before the Yankees signed him to a minor league deal.
Highlights
Jared Young hits the Mets' first home run of the spring 💣 pic.twitter.com/jcWwuMZx2r
— SNY (@SNYtv) February 22, 2026
Torrens leaves the yard! 💪 pic.twitter.com/p5DvEWf5Hb
— New York Mets (@Mets) February 22, 2026
Torrens leaves the yard! 💪 pic.twitter.com/p5DvEWf5Hb
— New York Mets (@Mets) February 22, 2026
J.T. Schwartz breaks it open with a three-run homer! 💥
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) February 22, 2026
It's the fourth home runs the Mets have hit today pic.twitter.com/pfu1l0Zcn7
A solo shot for José Caballero! 💪 pic.twitter.com/WpVFa6mwC3
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) February 22, 2026
Kenedy Corona hits a three-run homer to bring the Yankees closer! pic.twitter.com/XfUywfaGV9
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) February 22, 2026
What's next
The Mets visit the Toronto Blue Jays for a 1:07 p.m. start time on Monday afternoon, while the Yankees visit the Pittsburgh Pirates for a 1:05 p.m. start time.
Mavericks vs Pacers Preview and Injury Update: Sunday afternoon basketball
The Dallas Mavericks (19-36) visit the Indiana Pacers (15-42) for a very strangely timed Sunday afternoon game. Dallas is in the midst of a double-digit losing streak, having not won a game in over a month. The Pacers just out tanked the Washington Wizards twice in a row. This is going to be a monumentally bad game!
- WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Indiana Pacers
- WHAT: Road trippin’, still
- WHERE: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
- WHEN: 4:00 pm CST
- HOW: KFAA Channel 29, MavsTV streaming, NBA League Pass
There are TWENTY TWO players on the injury report for this game between both teams. Cooper Flagg headlines the guys out for the Mavericks. Moussa Cisse and Ryan Nembhard are doubtful, largely due to how many games they have left of their eligibility. Daniel Gafford and Max Christie are still questionable. Miles Kelly and Caleb Martin are expected to play. Most of the Pacers roster is questionable with Zubac, Nesmith, Johnny Furphy, and Haliburton definatively out.
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With both Cooper Flagg out again, this becomes a nearly impossible watch. But both of these teams at least play at a fast pace, so watching them might be fun if youre a true sicko. I’d expect the Mavericks to come out on top of this one. They have too many useful players compared to the Pacers. But Dallas is on a massive losing streak, so it’s POSSIBLE they lose. We’ll see. I don’t have high expectations and won’t be watching this one that closely.
Be sure to chime in with your predictions in the comments!
Consider joining Josh and me on Pod Maverick live after the game on YouTube, we should start LATE. Thanks so much for spending time with us here at Mavs Moneyball. Let’s go Mavs!
Rhys Hoskins is not a Phillie. Why not and what does it mean?
Rhys Hoskins is now a Guardian, agreeing to a deal with Cleveland on Sunday morning. His lengthy stay in free agency and non-guaranteed deal indicate that he wasn’t in high demand. However, there was at least one team that showed some interest in him, according to this report from Devan Kaney:
That certainly got Phillies fans talking. Reactions to this generally fell into one of three categories:
- Heck yeah! We loved that guy and the Phillies haven’t been the same since he left! Bring him back!
- The Phillies need right-handed power to protect Bryce Harper in the lineup! Bring him back!
- Um…where would he play?
I understand the first reaction as nostalgia can be a hell of a drug. Now that we’ve had a few years of separation (and playoff failures), it seems people are remembering Hoskins more fondly than they actually thought of him while he was here. For most fans, the home run binges and the bat spike against the Braves are the lasting memories of his time in Philadelphia.
Less remembered are the deep, prolonged slumps that he endured every season. That bat spike, as well as his performance against the Padres have made people think of him as a good playoff performer, but part of the reason, he was so emotional was because he had been 1-20 in the playoffs up to that point. Later in those same playoffs, he recorded a .394 OPS in the World Series. And for what it’s worth, he was 0-9 in the playoffs with the Brewers in 2024.
As for the belief that Hoskins would have provided Bryce Harper with right-handed protection in the lineup, I have to disagree. Hoskins’ two-year stint with the Brewers didn’t set the world on fire. In 2024, while coming off a missed season due to a knee injury, Hoskins had a .722 OPS with 26 home runs. Those aren’t bad numbers, but they’re also not great ones, especially for a right-handed first baseman who is a negative in the field. He was having a better season in 2025 (.748 OPS) before missing most of the second half with a thumb injury. He returned before the end of the season, but the Brewers didn’t include him on their playoff roster.
Based on recent history, there’s no reason to think Hoskins will be a great player in 2026, and based on the terms of his new contract, that is the consensus opinion throughout MLB. That said, if you want a right-handed hitter who provides 25+ home run power, Hoskins can probably give you that over a full season.
But – and this is probably the main reason why Hoskins is not a Phillie – Hoskins likely wouldn’t have provided that power for the Phillies because there was no place to play him.
Hoskins is limited to first base and designated hitter, and the Phillies already have All-Stars at those positions. Please don’t suggest he play left field. Hoskins was a disaster playing there in 2018, and I suspect that eight years and one major knee injury later, he’s not going to be any better.
I saw suggestions that Hoskins be used in a platoon-type role where he would play first base against left-handed pitching with Bryce Harper going to left field in place of Brandon Marsh. But I’ll believe that Harper is willing to play the outfield when I see it. We’ve heard whispers about it, but I don’t think there have been any official quotes. This plan would also weaken the Phillies defensively at both first base and left field, although Otto Kemp – presumed to be the right-handed half of a platoon with Brandon Marsh in left – is certainly not a plus on defense either.
Hoskins also doesn’t have drastic platoon splits over his career, and he actually had a higher OPS against right-handed pitching in 2025 (.756 vs. .731). While I’m sure he’d do better than Marsh against lefties (a low bar to be sure), if you’re going to use a player in a platoon, you’d want him to crush opposite hand pitching.
There was talk about using him as a bench bat, and I agree that it would be nice to have a legit power threat off the bench. But I doubt that Hoskins was even interested in that.
Besides, if the point was to protect Harper in the lineup, I’m not sure what good a bench bat would have done. So, even if they had signed Rhys Hoskins, we still would have likely had Alec Bohm as the Opening Day cleanup hitter. (Cue the grumbling from the fans.)
I think part of the discontent with that arrangement is that people are still holding on to outdated ideas as to what a “cleanup” hitter actually is. Not so long ago, Alec Bohm would have been batting second or third with Kyle Schwarber – a stereotypical power hitter – batting fourth. But these days, teams tend to put their best hitters as high up in the lineup as they can, and the modern two-hole hitter is generally a bigger power threat than the man in the four-hole. (The venerable Schmenkman can provide more information.)
The most important takeaway from this Hoskins report is that the team’s team president and franchise player are still very much not on the same page. Harper clearly believes the team isn’t good enough as is and seems to be putting some of the blame for his “nonelite” season on his supporting cast. Dombrowski’s attitude seems to be: “We’re paying these players as if they’re stars, so they need to play like stars when it counts.”
They’ve both got a point – although I know that far more Phillies fans share Harper’s opinion – but unless one of them does something to solve the problem, it is likely to continue, and the relationship between Harper and Dombrowski is unlikely to improve.