The last two times San Francisco started 5-1 led to a pair of parades. The Giants would love lightning to strike a third time.
Nevertheless, the enthusiasm surrounding the franchise is well warranted. San Francisco completed a three-game sweep of the Astros on Wednesday, and outscored Houston and the Cincinnati Reds 30-16 over the opening six games.
The starter in Wednesday’s 6-3 win, righty Landen Roupp, summarized the good vibes in the Giants’ clubhouse after he tossed four innings – and collected eight strikeouts to three earned runs – in Houston.
Landen Roupp on the trip: “If you don’t know by now, we’re pretty good and we’re going to be good.” It will be a Happy Flight home.
Oddly enough, yet not surprisingly, San Francisco still has a long way to go in the overly competitive NL West, simply because of Southern California. Both the reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the routinely sturdy San Diego Padres started 7-0 over their first week of play.
And because of that, the Giants are third in the division, whereas they might be off to the races elsewhere – like the AL Central, where the Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals, Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox all started with 2-4 records.
The good news: The Giants are off to their best start since 2014
San Francisco obviously must keep the ball rolling over the next 156 games to have a serious shot at MLB playoff success, an arena the Giants haven’t reached since the 2021 season. But they surely achieved a good omen through six games.
Starting with a 5-1 record is nothing to snooze at, as history shows. The Giants seem to be for real in 2025.
Castleton is a center listed at 6-foot-10, 250 pounds who’s played 36 NBA games over the past two years with the Lakers, Grizzlies and Raptors. The 24-year-old played regularly for Toronto during a 10-game stretch in March, averaging 6.9 points and 7.4 rebounds in 25.9 minutes per contest.
Given the state of the 23-53 Sixers’ frontcourt, Castleton may very well step right into some minutes.
Rookie Adem Bona started the last three games at center. Guerschon Yabusele has missed the past two games with a right knee injury and Andre Drummond is out with a left big toe sprain.
After going 2–2–2 on their six-game road trip, the Vancouver Canucks are now preparing for a three-game homestand in which they’ll take on a crop of division rivals. Tonight, Vancouver will host the Seattle Kraken at 7:30 pm PT. Their next games are a set of back-to-backs on the weekend, when they’ll take on the Anaheim Ducks at 1:00 pm PT on Saturday, and the Vegas Golden Knights at 7:00 pm PT on Sunday. It’s very likely that the Canucks’ chance at competing in the playoffs will be dictated during this week, so let’s take a look at how these three games may shape the end of Vancouver’s regular season.
Vancouver’s first game of the homestand is against the Kraken, who have already been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention with a record of 31–38–6 and 68 points. They come into this game having lost 3–1 to the Dallas Stars on Monday. Seattle holds a relatively steady position towards the middle of the league in terms of most stats — their power play is 24th in the NHL with a success rate of 18.9%, while their penalty kill is 21st with an effectiveness of 76.9%. In the season series, Vancouver has won one of three games against the Kraken, dropping their first game 5–4 after letting in four straight Seattle goals. Their only win came in a 4–3 shootout victory to start 2025. As it stands, if Vancouver wins in regulation against the Kraken tonight, their playoff odds rise to 9.59% threshold. A regulation loss will drop their chances to 2.19%, as per MoneyPuck.com.
The next match Vancouver has at home is against the Ducks on Saturday in the first of the team’s final back-to-back this season. Currently, both Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen are expected to be available to start. Given the fact that Demko started on Sunday against the Winnipeg Jets and will be starting tonight against Seattle as well, it would make the most sense for Lankinen to take the game against the Ducks to give him some rest. With their 33–33–8 record and 74 points, mathematically speaking, Anaheim has already been eliminated from playoff contention. Right now, their power play is operating at a near league-worst 12.6%, while their penalty kill is 28th with a success rate of 73.6%. Anaheim’s last trip to Vancouver was exactly a month ago, on March 5, in a game that the Canucks narrowly won 3–2.
Vancouver takes on Vegas in the second half of this weekend’s back-to-back. The Golden Knights (45–21–8) will also be playing in the second half of a back-to-back, as they take on the Calgary Flames the night before. As the current Pacific Division leader in points with 98, and a difference of five points between themselves and the next team (the L.A. Kings), Vegas has already clinched their playoff spot and is expected to play against the team in the Western Conference’s first wild card spot. With a power play percentage of 30.6%, Vegas has the highest-ranked power play in the NHL. One area where Vancouver may be able to take advantage of them, however, is on the penalty kill. Right now, Vegas’ PK is running at a 75.5% effectiveness rating, placing them at 25th behind the Buffalo Sabres, Kraken, and Boston Bruins. Vancouver’s last matchup against the Golden Knights was directly after the 4 Nations Faceoff, in a game that they lost 3–1. Sunday will not be the only time the Canucks face Vegas to round out their season, as the Golden Knights will also be visiting Vancouver on April 16 for game 82.
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, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.
The next step for five-star guards Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas is to step foot on campus, as the two Arkansas signees competed in the McDonald's All-American Game on Tuesday night. Acuff and Thomas were pitted against each other, as Acuff played for the West Team while Thomas played for the East Team. The West Team won 105-92, which ended a four-game skid against the East Team.
Raducanu will miss matches in Netherlands next week
British No 2 will focus on training after Miami Open run
Emma Raducanu has pulled out of Great Britain’s squad for next week’s Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers against Germany and the Netherlands.
The British No 2 reached the quarter-finals of the Miami Open last week, her deepest run at a WTA 1000 event and best tournament performance since her stunning US Open triumph in 2021.
It’s Wednesday, April 2, and the Sacramento Kings (36-39) and Washington Wizards (16-59) are all set to square off from Capital One Arena in Washington.
The Kings are currently 17-20 on the road with a point differential of 0, while the Wizards have a 2-8 record in their last ten games at home. Sacramento won the only meeting with Washington by 23 points this season.
Sacramento is 1-6 over the last seven games, including a two-point loss to Indiana on Monday. Washington has dropped the past three games and eight of the previous nine.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game details & how to watch Kings vs. Wizards live today
Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Time: 7:00PM EST
Site: Capital One Arena
City: Washington, DC
Network/Streaming:
Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.
Game odds for Kings vs. Wizards
The latest odds as of Wednesday:
Odds: Kings (-714), Wizards (+508)
Spread: Kings -12.5
Over/Under: 231 points
That gives the Kings an implied team point total of 120.98, and the Wizards 114.47.
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!
Expert picks & predictions for Wednesday’s Kings vs. Wizards game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Kings to cover:
"The Kings are coming off a tough two-point loss to the Pacers in a game that Sacramento should have won. This is an ideal matchup for the Kings to roll the Wizards and get back in the winning column. It's Kings or pass for me."
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Kings & Wizards game:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Sacramento Kings on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Washington Wizards at +12.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 231.
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Kings vs. Wizards on Wednesday
The Wizards have lost 18 of their last 20 home games
The Under is 7-3 in the Kings' last 10 road games
The Kings have failed to cover in 43 of their 75 games this season
The Kings have failed to cover in 43 of their 75 games this season
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
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New Orleans Pelicans vs. Los Angeles Clippers Preview
The New Orleans Pelicans (21-54) and Los Angeles Clippers (43-32) are all set to square off from Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
Zion Williamson and CJ McCullom have both been shut down for the season.
The Clippers are in great shape and playing very good basketball. They have won eight of their last 10 games.
The Pelicans are currently 7-30 on the road with a point differential of -9, while the Clippers have a 8-2 record in their last ten games at home.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game details & how to watch Pelicans vs. Clippers live today
Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Time: 10:30PM EST
Site: Intuit Dome
City: Inglewood, CA
Network/Streaming:
Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game. Game odds for Pelicans vs. Clippers The latest odds as of Wednesday:
Odds: Pelicans (+1020), Clippers (-2000)
Spread: Clippers -18
Over/Under: 218 points
That gives the Pelicans an implied team point total of 108.2, and the Clippers 117.57.
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!
Expert picks & predictions for Wednesday's Pelicans vs. Clippers game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Pelicans & Clippers game:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the New Orleans Pelicans at +18.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 218.
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Pelicans vs. Clippers on Wednesday
The Pelicans have won 5 straight games at the Clippers
The Over is 28-20 in the Pelicans' matchups against Western Conference teams this season
The Pelicans have covered the Spread in 16 of their last 19 games against the Clippers
The Pelicans are on a 5-game win streak at the Clippers
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Bet the Edge is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff: - Jay Croucher (@croucherJD) - Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) - Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) - Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
It’s Wednesday, April 2, and the Charlotte Hornets (19-56) and Indiana Pacers (44-31) are all set to square off from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The Hornets are currently 7-30 on the road with a point differential of -8, while the Pacers have a 9-1 record in their last ten games at home. Charlotte is 2-0 against Indiana this season with wins of 20 and four points.
Charlotte snapped a five-game losing streak on Monday with a four-point win over Utah. Indiana is 7-2 over the last nine games and coming off a two-point comeback win over Sacramento on Monday.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.
Game details & how to watch Hornets vs. Pacers live today
Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Time: 7:00PM EST
Site: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
City: Indianapolis, IN
Network/Streaming:
Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.
Game odds for Hornets vs. Pacers
The latest odds as of Wednesday:
Odds: Hornets (+677), Pacers (-1064)
Spread: Pacers -14.5
Over/Under: 225 points
That gives the Hornets an implied team point total of 111.57, and the Pacers 119.13.
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!
Expert picks & predictions for Wednesday’s Hornets vs. Pacers game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Pacers to cover:
"Indiana lost both meetings with Charlotte by four and 20 points, and I would not be shocked if the Pacers win this game by 24 points. This is the get-back matchup and Charlotte is resting or decreasing most of their starters' minutes in the third and fourth quarters, so they are clearly tanking. This is an Indiana or pass spot as they are 2.0 games over the Pistons, who take on the Thunder tonight. This is a must-win for the Pacers."
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Hornets & Pacers game:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Charlotte Hornets at +14.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under on the Game Total of 225.
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Hornets vs. Pacers on Wednesday
The Hornets have lost 5 straight road games
Each of the last 4 matchups between the Hornets and the Pacers have stayed under the Total
The Hornets have failed to cover in 8 of their last 10 games (80%) as an underdog
Each of the last 4 matchups between the Hornets and the Pacers have stayed under the Total
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
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The San Antonio Spurs (31-44) and Denver Nuggets (47-29) are all set to square off from Ball Arena in Denver.
Last night, the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves had a game for the ages. They played two double overtimes, and Nikola Jokic had a 60-point double-double. Unfortunately for the Nuggets, they fouled a three-point shooter as time expired and lost the game.
They will likely be extremely shorthanded in this game.
The Spurs also are on a back-to-back, after losing to the Orlando Magic last night.
The Spurs are currently 11-24 on the road with a point differential of -3, while the Nuggets have a 5-5 record in their last ten games at home.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.
Game details & how to watch Spurs vs. Nuggets live today
Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Time: 9:00PM EST
Site: Ball Arena
City: Denver, CO
Network/Streaming:
Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.
Game odds for Spurs vs. Nuggets
The latest odds as of Wednesday:
Odds: Spurs (+310), Nuggets (-398)
Spread: Nuggets -9.5
Over/Under: 231 points
That gives the Spurs an implied team point total of 114.34, and the Nuggets 119.3.
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!
Expert picks & predictions for Wednesday's Spurs vs. Nuggets game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas) is leaning towards Spurs +9.5…
Thomas: “This game is gross. I don’t have a strong lean, but it should be a fade to consider when a team is on a back-to-back and played double overtime in the game before. Especially with the limited availability of players.”
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Spurs & Nuggets game:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Denver Nuggets on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the San Antonio Spurs at +9.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under on the Game Total of 231.
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Spurs vs. Nuggets on Wednesday
The Nuggets have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against Western Conference Southwest Division teams
6 of the Spurs' last 8 road matchups against the Nuggets have stayed under the Total
The Spurs have covered in 10 of their 16 matchups against Western Conference Northwest Division teams this season
The Nuggets are 3-7 against the spread in their last 10 games
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Bet the Edge is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff: - Jay Croucher (@croucherJD) - Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) - Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) - Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
It’s Wednesday, April 2, and the Miami Heat (34-41) and Boston Celtics (56-19) are all set to square off from TD Garden in Boston.
The Heat are currently 15-22 on the road with a point differential of 0, while the Celtics have an 8-2 record in their last ten games at home. Boston has won all three meetings versus Miami this season by double-digits.
The Celtics have won nine straight games entering this matchup, while the Heat are on a five-game winning streak.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.
Game details & how to watch Heat vs. Celtics live today
Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Time: 7:30PM EST
Site: TD Garden
City: Boston, MA
Network/Streaming:
Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.
Game odds for Heat vs. Celtics
The latest odds as of Wednesday:
Odds: Heat (+425), Celtics (-578)
Spread: Celtics -11
Over/Under: 214 points
That gives the Heat an implied team point total of 105.95, and the Celtics 111.69.
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!
Expert picks & predictions for Wednesday’s Heat vs. Celtics game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Celtics to cover:
"Both teams are on winning streaks and while Miami earning five consecutive wins might be surprising, it isn't really when you look at who they beat. Miami has beaten Charlotte, Golden State, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Washington in that stretch. Boston is superior to those squads and I think the double-digit spread implies that. It's Boston or pass for me."
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Heat & Celtics game:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Boston Celtics on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Miami Heat at +11.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 214.
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Heat vs. Celtics on Wednesday
The Celtics have won 13 of their last 20 home games
The Heat's last 3 versus the Celtics have stayed under the Total
The Heat have covered in their last 5 games
The Heat have covered as an underdog 3 times in a row
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
Shohei Ohtani, from left, Dave Roberts and Mookie Betts celebrate after Tommy Edman's two-run double in the first inning of Game 6 in the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets on Oct. 24 at Dodger Stadium. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
The Dodgers gladly — perhaps even gleefully — defer to the New York Mets.
In large part because of heavily deferred contracts to Shohei Ohtani and other top players, the Dodgers have a payroll slightly lower than that of their National League rival who signed outfielder Juan Soto to a record 15-year, $765-million contract this offseason.
The opening day payrolls of every Major League Baseball team and a trove of other information pertaining to cold, hard cash was calculated by the Associated Press and USA Today. Some surprises are evident, but the overriding theme as usual is up, UP, UP!
The AP calculates the Mets at $322.6 million and the Dodgers at $319.5 million, while USA Today drilled down to the last dollar, with the Mets at $323,099,999 and the Dodgers at $321,287,291. Both calculations put the payrolls of the NL powerhouses within 1% of one another.
The average MLB salary rose 3.6% from a year ago to $5,160,245 — the first time the $5-million barrier was broken. Soto crashed through the ceiling with his salary of $61.875 million, breaking the previous high of $43.3 million shared by former Mets pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander.
Contributing mightily to the rise in average salaries are the Dodgers, who increased payroll an MLB-high $69 million, primarily by doling out contracts to free agents Blake Snell, Tanner Scott, Michael Conforto and Kirby Yates. Close behind were the Baltimore Orioles ($66-million increase), Arizona Diamondbacks ($55 million) and San Diego Padres ($47 million) — whose number spiked Wednesday when they announced second-year center fielder Jackson Merrill agreed to a nine-year, $135-million contract.
Ohtani is deferring $68 million of his $70-million annual salary every year of the 10-year, $700-million contract he signed before the 2024 season. The massive deferral lowers the team's luxury tax commitment and penalties in addition to simply decreasing payroll.
The Dodgers have been accused of gaming the system, although MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and players union boss Tony Clark said during spring training that the contract deferrals don't break any rules.
The collective bargaining agreement will expire after the 2026 season, however, and the creative use of deferrals certainly will be a point of discussion. Manfred said as much during a February news conference.
“It’s clear we have fans in some markets that are concerned about the ability of the team in their market to compete with the financial resources of the Dodgers,” he said. “I think that disparity, as it should be, is certainly at the top of my list of concerns about what’s going on in the sport.
"When I say I can’t be critical of the Dodgers, they are doing what the system wants. If I’m going to be critical of something, it’s not going to be the Dodgers. It’s going to be the system.”
The Dodgers and Mets aren't the only big spenders. Seven other teams had opening day payrolls exceeding $200 million, according to USA Today: the Yankees at $293,488,972; Philadelphia Phillies at $284,210,820; Toronto Blue Jays at $239,642,532; Texas Rangers at $220,541,332; Houston Astros at $220,217,813; Atlanta Braves at $214,836,398; and Padres at $208,909,333.
The Angels rank No. 13 at $190,508,096, which includes $38 million owed to injured third baseman Anthony Rendon.
The payrolls of five teams are under $100 million: the Pittsburgh Pirates at $87,645,246; Chicago White Sox at $82,279,825; Tampa Bay Rays at $79,216,312; Athletics at $73,118,981; and Miami Marlins at $67,412,619.
The top 50 out of 953 players on opening day rosters will make 29% of the salaries, a percentage that has held steady for three years, according to the AP. The top 100 earn 48%.
Fifteen players will make $30 million or more and another 51 will make $20 million to $30 million. A total of 526 players will make $1 million or more and 35 players will make the $760,000 minimum.
The Winnipeg Jets had cut the lead in half and were building off of the momentum before a costly turnover by Logan Stanley allowed the Los Angeles Kings to regain their two-goal advantage, proving to be enough to sink their hopes of a comeback.
While the turnover by Stanley isn't the sole reason they lost, the timeliness of his costly error is a reoccurring theme that many fans have grown tired of witnessing.
Second time Jets have lost a puck in the neutral zone and get burned by it.
Logan Stanley trying to channel his inner Cale Makar but doesn’t quite get it to go.
Listed at 6'7 and 231 lbs, Stanley has the frame to be a physical force but shies away from imposing himself far too frequently. In 56 games, Stanley has thrown just 78 hits, ranking sixth on the team. For reference, Luke Schenn has thrown 49 hits in nine games with the Jets.
If Stanley isn't a physical force, isn't providing offence from the blue line, is prone to costly turnovers and struggles to impact the game defensively, what argument is there for HC Scott Arniel to continuously write down Stanley's name in the lineup? Now 26 years old, there's little to no evidence that shows Stanley will break out and become what the Jets envisioned.
Making matters worse, Stanley has remained in the lineup over Ville Heinola, who's yet to be given a proper shot at consistent NHL hockey. He's skated in 52 games in his NHL career, spanning over five seasons. His career-high of 17 games has come this year, a season in which Heinola has played in one game since Jan. 17.
Heinola has been a point producer on every team he's played for prior to joining the Jets. In 154 AHL games with the Manitoba Moose, the 24-year-old has scored 23 goals and 103 points.
Heinola is built similarly to Josh Morrissey, both are a bit undersized with great mobility and puck skills. Morrissey and Dylan DeMelo have formed a great pairing due to their games complementing each other. DeMelo's best trait is his defensive game allows Morrissey to flourish offensively, something Heinola and Schenn could do if given the opportunity.
Heinola is signed for an additional season at a very low cap hit, but the Jets need to decide on his future before his value hits rock bottom. Wasting his development sitting in the press box while a defenseman older than him continues to make ill-advised errors could result in a waste of valuable assets.
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Victor Söderström has been named the top
defenseman in the Swedish Hockey League for the 2024-25 season. As a
result, he has been awarded the Börje Salming
Trophy.
In
2019, he was picked 11th overall in the NHL Entry Draft by the
Arizona Coyotes but, just five years later, he signed a two-year deal
to play with his hometown team, Brynäs Gävle, which has just been
promoted back to the SHL. He went on to have a spectacular season,
recording 37 points in 49 regular-season games as Brynäs
surprisingly finished first.
“I definitely
don’t regret a thing,” Söderström is quoted on the club’s
website. “It’s a slightly different path to take because I’m
still young and my goal is still very much to make it in the NHL.”
But first
things first, as Brynäs has a semifinal series
coming up against Skellefteå AIK starting on Friday. Skellefteå’s lineup includes Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Jonathan Pudas, the two previous winners of the award.
“I love coming to
the rink every day,” Söderström continued. “The fact that the
pairing with Charles-Édouard D’Astous has
worked so well has of course also meant a lot.”
According to the
Brynäs website the jury for the award described Soderstrom as:
An elegant player on
the ice who has been one of the biggest contributors to newcomer
Bynäs' record-breaking season in the SHL. Extremely skilled, and
also a top-notch point-scorer as a defenseman. Has formed the
league's best defenseman pair during the season with Charles-Édouard
D’Astous.
-
The
award for best defenseman in Sweden’s top
league was named after Börje Salming in 2008, the same year the
legendary defenseman was named to the IIHF’s All-Century Team.
Salming died in 2022 from complications related to ALS.
Börje’s
older brother Stig Salming was present when Söderström received the
Salming Trophy. Both Salming brothers were also Brynäs defensemen.
“Börje
would have liked this,” Stig Salming was quoted.
Previous
winners
of the Salming
Trophy
2024-25 Victor
Söderström, Brynäs
2023-24 Axel
Sandin-Pellikka, Skellefteå 2022-23 Jonathan
Pudas, Skellefteå
2021-22 Maja
Nylén-Persson, Brynäs
2020-21 Nils
Lundkvist, Luleå
2019-20 No
winner due to the COVID-19
pandemic
2018-19 Erik
Gustafsson, Luleå
2017-18 Lawrence
Pilut, HV71
2016-17 Henrik
Tömmernes, Frölunda
2015-16 Niclas
Burström, Skellefteå
2014-15 Tim
Heed, Skellefteå
2013-14
Patrik Hersley, Leksand
2012-13
Magnus Nygren, Färjestad
2011-12
Mattias Ekholm, Brynäs
2010-11
David Rundblad, Skellefteå
2009-10
Magnus Johansson, Linköping
2008-09
Markus Ragnarsson, Djurgården
2007-08
Mikko Luoma, HV71
It’s Wednesday, April 2, and the New York Knicks (48-27) and Cleveland Cavaliers (60-15) are all set to square off from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland.
The Knicks are currently 22-15 on the road with a point differential of 4, while the Cavaliers have an 8-2 record in their last ten games at home. Cleveland has won both meetings versus New York by six and 37 points.
New York is on a three-game winning streak and is 5-1 over the last six games, including a 14-point win over the 76ers last night. Cleveland is 4-1 over the past five games and coming off a five-point win over the Clippers on Sunday.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game details & how to watch Knicks vs. Cavaliers live today
Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Time: 7:00PM EST
Site: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
City: Cleveland, OH
Network/Streaming: ESPN
Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.
Game odds for Knicks vs. Cavaliers
The latest odds as of Wednesday:
Odds: Knicks (+404), Cavaliers (-549)
Spread: Cavaliers -10.5
Over/Under: 230 points
That gives the Knicks an implied team point total of 113.96, and the Cavaliers 119.44.
Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!
Expert picks & predictions for Wednesday’s Knicks vs. Cavaliers game
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Cavs on the spread and Mobley Over his stocks prop:
"The Knicks playing last night as -14 point favorites then turning around and being 10-point underdogs is not ideal. The Knicks are not full strength and it'll be a tough task to hang with the Cavs. Evan Mobley is coming off a three-block game and had four combined blocks and steals in the previous meeting versus New York, plus three blocks in the first meeting. If you get +100 or better on his Over 2.5 blocks and steals prop, that's another lean of mine as he continues to build his Defensive Player of the Year campaign."
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Knicks & Cavaliers game:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Cleveland Cavaliers on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the New York Knicks at +10.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under on the Game Total of 230.
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Knicks vs. Cavaliers on Wednesday
The Cavaliers have won 12 of their last 14 games when having a two-day rest advantage
The Over is 20-17 in the Knicks' road games this season
The Cavaliers have covered in 11 of their 17 matches against Eastern Conference Atlantic Division teams this season
The Cavaliers have won 12 of their last 15 home games but could be pushed by a New York Knicks outfit who head to the Rocket Arena following five wins in their last six.
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
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LAS VEGAS -- The Golden Knights returned home from a successful road trip only to have their six-game win streak brought to an abrupt halt with a 3-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
Despite the loss, though, Vegas is in the playoffs for the seventh time in its eight seasons in the NHL, as it qualified when the Utah Hockey Club defeated the Calgary Flames 3-1 to clinch for the Knights before the Oilers game was decided.
"Three years in a row, that’s the objective here, I think," said Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy, whose led the Knights to the postseason in all three years he's been in Vegas. "This team is, to me, a playoff team that should be in the playoffs. We’re going to be happy we’re in, but that’s not our ultimate goal, nor should it be. Especially a night like tonight, we’d rather have done it with a win."
Pavel Dorofeyev had a goal and an assist, while center Nicolas Roy also scored for the Knights, who suffered their first loss since March 16. Goaltender Adin Hill made 17 saves.
Here are three takeaways from the game:
700 FOR STONE: Captain Mark Stone appeared in his 700th game Tuesday night, in what was also his 334th regular-season game as a member of the Golden Knights. Stone, who was acquired from the Ottawa Senators in February 2019, has played in 409 games overall and ranks second on the team with 246 assists in both the regular season and the playoffs since arriving. His 140 goals and 386 points rank No. 1 overall among current members of the team.
SECOND PERIOD BLUES: The Golden Knights have dominated their competition in the first and third periods, outscoring teams by a combined score of 175-118. Their 73 goals in the first period rank fifth in the NHL, while they've allowed only 57 in the opening stanza. The margin is even greater in the third, with a 102-61 edge. Their 102 goals rank first in the league. After being outscored by the Oilers in the second period, 3-0, the Knights have just a 74-72 edge in the middle set. They rank 14th with their 74 goals. If the playoffs started Wednesday, the Knights would face a tough challenge in the St. Louis Blues, who are outscoring teams 75-57 in the second period.
NOW WHAT: Though the Golden Knights have clinched a playoff berth, they're not out of the wild-card woods just yet. Vegas (98) is five points ahead of the Los Angeles Kings (93) and seven in front of the Edmonton Oilers (91). Sitting in first and second of the Western Conference Wild Card standings are the Blues and Minnesota Wild, both from the Central Division. The Knights aren't in jeopardy of slipping out of the Pacific Division's top three, but could fall into second- or third-place with a late-season collapse. By doing so, they would face either the Kings or Oilers in the first round, rather than the Blues or Wild. The Knights have eight games remaining, including five on the road. They'll need to shake off Tuesday's loss and get back to winning if they want to wrap up their fifth Pacific Division title.
