MEMPHIS, TN - APRIL 3: RJ Barrett #9 of the Toronto Raptors goes up for the rebound during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 3, 2026 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
There are a lot of different types of must-win games. Playoff games. Rivalries. Tie-breakers. Ring nights. Banner nights. Revenge games. But then there’s a must-win in the sense that your opponent is 25-51 on the season, actively tanking, and comprised of guys who may not even be in the league next year.
Tonight was the final type of those must-win scenarios. The Toronto Raptors faced the Memphis Grizzlies, able to do what they needed to to the tune of 128 to 96.
As the current 7-seed, Toronto would like nothing more than to avoid a play-in scenario. They don’t own the tie-breaker with Philly, which is part of why they’ve fallen, but given the outcome of their regular season games, their desired opponent would likely be Cleveland, meaning Toronto will have to make their way back above both the Sixers and the Hawks again for the 5-seed.
Memphis has been gutted, with the majority of their starting lineup sidelined for the much of the season. They’ve had 33 different players check in at some point this year, tied (with themselves) for the most in an NBA season. To their credit, they still played with confidence and aggression, making sure the Raptors didn’t just walk away with the win.
Cedric Coward, GG Jackson, and Javon Small, were their biggest contributors at both ends of the court. Jackson showed his physicality and athleticism to finish with 30 points and 5 rebounds. Small facilitated, ending with 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. Coward, their rookie, had another solid performance with 15 points.
For Toronto, bench play was one of the biggest highlights, with Jamal Shead playing solid minutes and finishing with 11 points and 6 rebounds. CMB flirted with a career best but ended with 19 points, and Mamu had solid backup minutes with 10 points and 6 rebounds. The bench will be such a big part of their playoff hopes, and getting everyone in and solid minutes out of many of them was encouraging.
Of course RJ was undoubtably the best player on the court tonight. Ending with 25-3-4, he held them together when they were floundering in the first half, cashing in long range shots when needed and defending with effort. BI put up a solid 17-7-5 performance with some fantastic shooting.
Toronto started the game on an 11-0 run, forcing turnovers, getting out and running, and even sinking long range shots. It looked like it would be all Raptors tonight, memories of the recent 31 point run against Orlando seeming like foreshadowing for what could be an even better performance.
But then three things happened.
Memphis decided they weren’t going down easy.
Toronto started to get really sloppy with the ball.
The whistle started to get on Darko’s (and everyone else’s) nerves.
Memphis went on to tie it up and then actually earn their first lead. Falling behind seemed to be the push the Raptors needed to give some effort. RJ, CMB, and Shead led the way on a run that built Toronto a 10-point lead.
Credit where it is due, the Grizzlies were relentless. Trying to get extra possessions, rebounding, and playing aggressive defense. In the fading minutes of the second quarter, Toronto was finally able to draw away and build a comfortable advantage.
The second half went in Toronto’s favour as well, slowly building a bigger and bigger lead. They settled many of the mistakes they made in the first half, drawing away to the tune of a 30-point advantage.
Throughout the contest, the bench got plenty of minutes, helping them build some confidence and rhythm going into the post season.
CMB had one of his stronger games, finding his touch around the rim and taking higher difficulty level shots without hesitation. Hi strength around the rim is one of the most fun things to watch:
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 02: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Mets celebrates with teammates in the dugout after scoring a run against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the first inning at Oracle Park on April 02, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After hitting a single in the top of the first inning and then running from first to third, Juan Soto was removed from the Mets’ game in San Francisco before the team took the field in the bottom of the inning.
SNY showed the replay of Soto running the bases, and the 27-year-old outfielder grimaced between second and third. The team proceeded to announce that Soto left the game with right calf tightness.
The Mets’ lineup has been struggling mightily since Opening Day, and if Soto were to miss any time beyond the rest of this game, it would be a major blow to the team. Soto has been hot to start the season, as he’s hit .355/.412/.516 with a 161 wRC+.
While there weren’t any major injuries in spring training, Jorge Polanco has gone from the Mets’ starting first baseman to serving as a designated hitter because of an Achillies issue to not appearing in the team’s lineup for this game. We’ll see if he returns to the lineup tomorrow, but if he and Soto miss the same games, it’ll be that much harder for the organization to get the offense going.
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 3: OG Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks shoots a free throw during the game against the Chicago Bulls on April 3, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It was a nail-biter, for sure. They needed all 14 available players to do it, but the Knicks (50*-28) managed to escape the Bulls (29-48) tonight. Things got hairy when their 47-point lead was chipped to 36 with four minutes left in the fourth, but the closing crew of Tyler Kolek, Jose Alvarado, Pacome Dadiet, Mohamed Diawara, and Ariel Hukporti managed to slam the lid on this one, 1,360-96.
Indeed, the entire available Knicks roster played tonight, and every man scored at least two points. That seems like a rare feat, no? There’s a no-prize waiting for the statistician who figures out how many times the Knicks have done that.
Karl-Anthony Towns rested a sore elbow tonight, so Mitchell Robinson (17 PTS, 11 RBS, 23 MIN) started at center. The big fella scored four early points as the Knicks zipped off on a 9-1 run, during which the Bulls missed four shots and committed two turnovers. The mismatch was obviously unfair from the jump. The tallest starting Bull was Matas Buzelis (11 PTS) at 6’8”, just tall enough to read Mitch’s chest tattoos.
From there, the Knicks built a huge early lead behind Robinson and Jalen Brunson (17 PTS, 10 AST), back after missing a game with ankle maintenance. Robinson owned the paint with putbacks, dunks, and rebounds, while Brunson kept the ball moving and the offense humming. OG Anunoby (31 PTS, 8 RBS) chipped in on both ends, showing the touch from deep, and the Knicks’ defense fueled the run with steals and easy transition points. Quoth SagaciousNLoquacious, “OGUA WENT NOVA.” Indeed. Anunoby had a monster night and has finally regained his shooting stroke, making 7-of-10 from deep overall and tying his career-best.
The guests couldn’t hit shots early, turned the ball over, and could barely see daylight in the lane. Collin Sexton (19 PTS) hit a couple threes, but his team was a disaster: sloppy possessions, poor shot selection (and poor options, thanks to active defense), and no answer for the Block Ness Monster.
The Knicks outshot the Bulls 56% to 29%, crushed them in the paint (18-2), and forced seven turnovers in the quarter. The lead reached 23 points before the quarter broke on a 38-16 score.
Our heroes shoveled more misery on their guests in the second period as Mikal Bridges (12 PTS) got into the action, and Robinson continued his stomp-Tokyo routine. A mid-quarter stretch made the affair an embarrassment, featuring turnovers by Josh Giddey (6 PTS, 5 AST, 4 TO) and Buzelis that turned into Knicks runouts. Miles McBride (6 PTS, 13 MIN) created steals that became easy points, Anunoby nailed a couple more from deep, and Brunson piled up assists.
For Chicago, Sexton and Tre Jones (13 PTS, 8 AST) provided scattered scoring, but the Bulls couldn’t stop shooting themselves in the sneakers. Guerschon Yabusele, who started the season with the Knicks, has expanded in Chicago, both in role and size. Either that or his uniform was a size too small. If your fly-by-night GLP1 company needs a spokesman, look no further. We mention him here because he made a three-pointer. Yabu finished the night with five points and four rebounds on 2-0f-9 shooting.
The lead reached 41 points, and the Knicks entered halftime with the biggest lead in franchise history, up 78-41. They shot better from the field (59% to 35%) and from deep (43% to 32%), destroyed in the paint (40 to 14), and totally controlled the glass (31-18). They’d committed just two turnovers versus 11 for Chicago, and the Knicks have turned those into a 20-0 edge in points off turnovers. Recording his first half-time double-double, Robinson had 15 points and 10 boards at the break. Anunoby led all scorers with 19, and, for the visitors, Sexton scored 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting from deep.
The Bulls showed a little life coming out of halftime. Jones and Isaac Okoro (7 PTS) got downhill and scored early, almost trimming the margin to 30. Buzelis added a couple of finishes, and there was a brief stretch where Chicago forced misses and turned them into points.
Both teams would score 31 in the third quarter. The Knicks were playing with their food. Robinson kept controlling the interior with tip-ins and rebounds, while Brunson scored a bit. For Chicago, Jones and Sexton provided most of the offense, with Buzelis contributing scattered buckets. The Bulls were better than in the first half, but not nearly clean or consistent enough to change the shape of the game. When Anunoby hit a 23’ pullup—just a toenail shy of what could have been a personal-best eighth triple—the home team sat on a 108-72 lead.
Now that three quarters had passed and the differential stood at 36, Coach Mike Brown thought it safe to send in Tyler Kolek with a blend of Jose Alvarado, Jeremy Sochan, Jordan Clarkson, and Mohamed Diawara. About time he did! Under their watch, the lead would reach 47! Sure, they were outscored by 11, but, c’mon, the lead was still 36. After that, Alvarado made sure to score, completing a full house and inspiring the Garden crowd to give our heroes a well-deserved standing ovation. 50 wins for the third straight season! That deserves a clap.
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Sandra Abstreiter made 39 saves her first PWHL shutout, Kaitlin Willoughby scored twice and the Montreal Victoire beat the Ottawa Charge 3-0 on Friday night to take the league lead.
Abby Roque also scored for the Victoire (14-4-2-5) in front of a crowd of 17,114 fans at Canadian Tire Centre.
Gwyneth Philips stopped 23 shots for the Charge (6-7-1-11). Ottawa returned home after playing a record six straight road games.
The Victoire have already clinched a playoff spot, while the Charge are fighting to get into the final playoff position.
Apr 3, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown (7) takes a shot against Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma (18) in the second quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Boston visited the Fiserv Forum on Good Friday to take on the Milwaukee Bucks. This one, was not a close game from the opening tip, as the Boston Celtics had a balanced scoring output from multiple C’s players. Brown, Queta, Tatum, Hauser, White and Pritchard all scored in double figures as the C’s rolled to a big 133-101 win, their 52nd win of the season.
Milwaukee came into the game with a string of injuries across the roster, with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis, Kevin Porter Jr., Gary Trent, and Ryan Rollins all ruled out prior to the tip. Boston is basically at full strength heading toward the playoffs with Nikola Vucevic the only Celtics player sidelined with a finger injury.
The Celtics started Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, Jayson Tatum, and Neemias Queta. For the Bucks, they started AJ Green, Kyle Kuzma, Ousmane Dieng, Pete Nance, and Myles Turner.
Boston rattled off 7 quick points to start the game; Queta had 5 early points, and Hauser converted his first three-pointer of the game. An AJ Johnson triple opened the scoring for the home team, Boston up 8-3 after three minutes of action. Tatum hit his first shot of the game with a triple, Derrick White with the assist. Recent HOF nominee Doc Rivers wanted an early timeout called and was ignored; in classic Doc Rivers fashion, he let the crew officials know about it.
Sam Hauser nailed a wide-open corner triple off the JB assist; Boston was also playing stellar D to start the game, with four early blocked shots. Hauser rattled in his 3rd triple of the game off another JB dime; he had 9 points with 7 and a half minutes to go in the first quarter.
Tatum dribbled into the key and fed Queta for the mini hook shot, putting Neemias in double figures with 11 points to start the game. Boston in cruise control with a 26-10 lead. Jaylen Brown drew contact from Sims on a physical drive to the rim; he had a contact lens issue as a result of the contact. The All-NBA first-team candidate is hitting just 1-2 from the line. Brown had a step-back triple for his first field goal of the game.
Joe Mazzulla won a successful challenge on a foul call, as Jericho Sims pushed Queta from behind into the Milwaukee offensive player. Tatum hit a three-pointer on a pull-up off another Derrick White assist, with the Celtics in complete control throughout the first quarter. Tatum returned the favor, assisting on his 5th successful pass of the game, D. White converting the triple. Boston had a 17-point lead after a quarter of play, up 43-26.
Apr 3, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) takes a shot against Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner (3) in the first quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Tatum started the second quarter alongside Luka Garza, Payton Pritchard, Baylor Scheierman, and Derrick White. Pritchard hit back-to-back buckets for five quick points to start the second quarter. Payton bounced a lovely dime to Garza for a hook in the lane. Pritchard followed that up with another triple and a lovely step through off the backboard, the feisty guard going for 10 points in just the first 4 minutes of play in the second half.
Milwaukee was shooting the ball pretty well; they were 6-13 from three, keeping the C’s scoring barrage from ballooning out to 20 points. Jaylen Brown drove past a pair of Milwaukee defenders, hitting the team’s 59th point of the game on a reverse layup, Boston up 59-41 with 5 minutes and change to go in the half. Brown hit a mid-range fadeaway over AJ Green; he then hit a three-pointer. He had 13 points and counting.
Tatum had 14 points, 5 boards, and 8 assists in the first half; Boston was a +21 with JT on the court after a half of play. The Celtics held a comfortable 20-point lead at the halftime break, 75-55, highlighted by 28 points in the paint.
It was one-way traffic as Boston raced out to a 10-1 start to the third quarter. Tatum was spearheading the C’s dominance; he had 20 points in just 23 minutes of action. Boston held a 31-point lead at the halfway mark of the third quarter, with Boston up 92-61.
Joe Mazzulla kept his foot on the gas, playing Tatum and Brown extended 3rd quarter minutes likely to rest them going into the fourth quarter. Tatum was on triple-double watch to end the third quarter; he was hunting a final assist to end the third as Pritchard missed a buzzer beater. Boston up 105-76 after three quarters.
Brown and Tatum sat to start the fourth quarter, the pair likely done for the night. Boston had Walsh, Scheierman, Queta, White, and Pritchard on to start the final stanza. Pritchard and Walsh kept the scoreboard ticking for Boston, Bassey replacing Queta to finish things out in Milwaukee. He finished a strong alley-oop pass from a Pritchard lob, his first score of the game.
Ron Harper Jr. replaced Payton Pritchard with 5 minutes to go in the game, Boston still up by 30 points, 125-95. Hugo Gonzalez joined in the action to wrap things up, Milwaukee playing the other two Antetokounmpo brothers as the game winded down.
Boston now travels home to face the Raptors on Easter Sunday in the matinee time slot of 3:30pm.
There’s nothing like facing a couple of also-rans to get a team back on track.
After a concerning three-game losing streak, the Knicks got the perfect tonic the past two games. They beat up on the Bulls with a 136-96 rout Friday night at Madison Square Garden.
The win clinched the Knicks’ third straight 50-win season — the first time they’ve done that since they had four straight from 1991-95 and the third time they’ve done that in franchise history.
Amid so much discourse over slow starts, the Knicks dominated from the opening tip. They stormed out to a 20-1 lead and led by 22 after the first quarter. They shot a stellar 58.3 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from 3-point range in that first quarter as the Bulls bricked on the other end.
Guard Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks drives down court as forward Isaac Okoro of the Chicago Bulls defends during the first half at Madison Square Garden on Friday, April 3, 2026. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
By 7:41 left in the second quarter, the lead was up to 28. By halftime, it was up to 37 — their largest halftime lead in franchise history. It looked like the drills in practices where players go up against assistant coaches. Even that might be generous.
The disinterested Bulls were content to jack up low-quality shots, offer minimal resistance on defense and get out of town with another loss as they play out the string of their failed season.
“Being able to lock in and be ready to go from the jump is key,” Jalen Brunson said. “It starts with our preparation. I think there’s still things we can do better defensively. Obviously, getting out to a lead helped us play comfortably for the rest of the game.”
Mitchell Robinson, starting in place of the injured Karl-Anthony Towns (right elbow impingement), helped spark the Knicks’ overpowering start with 10 points, five rebounds and two steals in the first quarter.
He finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds and two steals.
A balanced scoring attack, which had too often been missing in recent weeks, was led by OG Anunoby with 31 points — his second straight big-scoring night. He drilled seven threes, which tied a career-high.
Center Mitchell Robinson of the New York Knicks puts up a shot during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
There was much better ball movement and cohesion, rather than different stars taking turns being aggressive in looking for their shot — something that had been a growing problem recently. Brunson was more of a distributor, recording 17 points and 10 assists. Mikal Bridges added 12 points, but missed all five 3-pointers he took.
Jeremy Sochan surprisingly saw pretty extensive action off the bench — over Mohamed Diawara — in what was likely a tryout to stake a claim for the playoff rotation. He played 17 minutes, his most with the Knicks, and finished with seven points and eight rebounds.
Coach Mike Brown was able to pull his starters and empty the bench for the entirety of the fourth quarter. That’s when Jose Alvarado notably saw his first action — he did not play the first three quarters.
Neither the Bulls nor the Grizzlies, whom the Knicks beat handedly on Wednesday, are true bottom-feeders, but both are well under .500 and already eliminated from the playoff and play-in picture.
The Bulls in particular have been miserable for months after a surprisingly promising start to the season — since the start of February, they are 5-23.
And the Knicks used the two opponents to improve the vibes around the team, at least for a few days.
“It doesn’t matter who we’re playing, at the end of the day it’s about us,” Brown said. “I thought the guys were really good with that. … I thought we played the right way, playing with a sense of urgency and then on top of that, sharing the basketball offensively and spacing the floor the right way.
Forward OG Anunoby of the New York Knicks drives to the basket during the first half. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
“It was a lot of fun to watch.”
It comes after three straight losses to playoff teams in the Hornets, Thunder and Rockets. Josh Hart had sounded the alarm, challenging his teammates to play with more of a “sense of desperation” and acknowledging that they were “not going in the right direction.”
But if there’s one thing the Knicks have done recently, it’s handle low-quality opposition. Since the start of March, the Knicks are now 9-0 against teams below .500. That’s compared to just 3-6 against teams above .500 during that stretch.
And the Knicks will return to quality opposition when they face the surging Hawks along with the Celtics and Raptors their next three games. Atlanta and Toronto are both potential first-round opponents.
“You always want your team to be playing at the highest of high cylinders,” Brown said. “Do I think we’re there right now? No. Do I have belief in this team? Yes I do. I’ve seen us play really good basketball throughout the course of the year.”
Friday was much closer to that standard. Now back to the real tests.
MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 3: Jericho Sims #00 and AJ Green #20 of the Milwaukee Bucks boxes out during the game against the Boston Celtics on April 3, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks got rattled by the Boston Celtics 133-101 tonight, the exact result one would expect from a contender facing a tanking squad. The C’s were led by their two stars, Jayson Tatum (23 points) and Jaylen Brown (26 points), while the Bucks were paced by Taurean Prince, who had 18.
Boston burst out of the gate with a 7-0 run in the first 90 seconds. Their second bucket came on a highlight fastbreak started by a Jayson Tatum behind-the-back outlet pass, making it clear they felt good about this matchup. From there, the visitors built their first double-digit lead by the 8:45 mark. The Bucks looked outmatched and out of it on both ends. Neemias Queta was dominating early, but Ousmane Dieng did make the big fella look mortal for a second, drilling a stepback three over him from the corner. Some botched zone defense from the Bucks helped the Celtics build a 43-26 advantage at the end of the opening dozen.
The Bucks started to find a rhythm in the second, with Kyle Kuzma and Taurean Prince providing a spark. However, whenever Milwaukee dealt a blow, Boston hit right back. Jaylen Brown caught fire, pouring in nine points in the quarter. The shaky footing the home team had found fell out beneath them to the tune of turnovers and many defensive lapses. Boston’s gap increased to 75-55 by intermission.
The Celtics kicked off the second half with a 10-1 jaunt before Myles Turner gave Milwaukee a quick breath of air with a three-ball from the top of the key. The breath was indeed quick, though, as the 2024 champs kept pouring it on. Tatum, Brown, and Payton Pritchard were all in a groove, a difficult combination to stop for any team in the association, let alone the undermanned 30-46 Bucks. To make things worse, with five minutes left in the third, Ousmane Dieng went down clutching his ankle and limped his way back to the locker room. He did not return. The score was 105-76 Boston heading into the final frame.
The fourth quarter saw Cormac Ryan check back in after getting some stitches on his lip, and he banged a triple shortly after his return. AJ Green added a few long balls as well. Other than that, this was your typical end to a blowout, with the end-of-bench guys getting some burn for both sides, including Thanasis and Alex Antetokounmpo for the Bucks.
Stat That Stood Out
The Celtics pummeled the Bucks on the interior, winning the paint point differential 56-22.
NEW YORK (AP) — Matvei Michkov had a goal and two assists and the Philadelphia Flyers beat the New York Islanders 3-1 on Friday night to move within one point of the Islanders for third place in the Metropolitan Division.
Travis Sanheim and Alex Bump had a goal and an assist each and Owen Tippett also scored for Philadelphia. Dan Vladar finished with 20 saves. The Columbus Blue Jackets are also tied with the Flyers with 88 points.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored for New York and Ilya Sorokin made 17 saves in his 10th straight appearance, but the Islanders lost their third straight in a tightly contested Eastern Conference playoff race.
Michkov fired a shot from behind the goal line off Sorokin’s pad early in the second period to give the Flyers a 3-0 lead.
Tippett opened the scoring, completing a forehand-backhand move off a pass from Sanheim with less than seven minutes remaining in the first period.
Bump extended the Flyers’ lead to two goals when he caught Sorokin out of position and sent a wrist shot just inside the post.
Pageau scored off a feed from Mathew Barzal with less than five minutes remaining in the second period to pull New York within 3-1.
Sanheim scored midway through the third period to restore Philadelphia’s three-goal lead and put the game out of reach.
Simon Holmstrom returned to the Islanders’ lineup after missing the previous game against the Buffalo Sabres with an upper-body injury. Anthony Duclair was a healthy scratch.
Up next
Flyers: Host the Boston Bruins on Sunday.
Islanders: Visit the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.
A first period that couldn’t be overcome, a goaltending situation that suddenly feels precarious and a potential collapse that suddenly seems all too possible.
The Islanders have been flirting with disaster for about two weeks. It arrived fully formed Friday night with a 4-1 defeat to the Flyers at UBS Arena.
A win would have all but eliminated Philadelphia. The loss means that the Islanders no longer control their own destiny with five games left in the season, and the postgame dressing room projected the opposite of confidence.
“After this one, we gotta stick together,” Anders Lee said. For a captain who is usually nothing but upbeat, the shift in tone felt highly notable. “We’ve lost three in a row [at an] important time of year, but we can’t lose sight of what’s gotten us here, who we are as a team and our ability to fight through adversity. It’s tough, there’s no doubt about it.
New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) makes a save against the Philadelphia Flyers during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, April 3, 2026 in Elmont, N.Y. Noah K. Murray for NY Post
“We talked about what we needed to do tonight. We didn’t execute on a few things. The mistakes ended up in the back of our net. We gotta have each other’s backs here. It’s been a tough week.”
For now, the Islanders are still in a playoff spot with 89 points. But the Blue Jackets and Flyers, both with 88, have each played one fewer game. So, too, have the Senators, who have 88 points in the second wild-card spot.
So beyond needing a win in what will be a tough second end of this back-to-back in Raleigh, N.C., on Saturday, the Islanders will be glued to their televisions during the ensuing four days off, over which everyone else will catch up on games played.
Coach Patrick Roy, whose job seemed secure all year but might be on the line if he cannot get this team over the playoff finish line, took the blame for a putrid start in which the Islanders got outshot 12-2 in the first, failed to record a shot through 13:15 and burned burnt their timeout 15:01 into the match, only to commit a penalty off the very next faceoff.
“I’ll take part of the blame for the first period,” Roy said. “I have a job to do to make sure our team is ready and play a strong game.”
Roy declined to say whether Ilya Sorokin will start a second straight game Saturday, but the decision is all the more crucial now. Sorokin stopped just 17 of 21 shots and looked decidedly mortal Friday, his 10th straight game with an appearance, and has not looked quite like himself in any of the last three games.
Matthew Schaefer (48) controls the puck against Philadelphia Flyers center Christian Dvorak (22) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, April 3, 2026 in Elmont, N.Y. Noah K. Murray for NY Post
“We didn’t do a good enough job in front of him to protect him,” Roy said. “… Certainly not to be blamed. Absolutely not. We’re together in this. We all have to play better hockey.”
It’s true, and all too obvious, that Sorokin was far from the only culprit. Still, other than Owen Tippett’s opener, the next three goals he allowed were ones he would’ve liked back.
Alex Bump’s shot from the left-hand dot beat Sorokin short side, Matvei Michkov took advantage of a heinous Brayden Schenn turnover and banked one off the goaltender 2:52 into the second and then Travis Sanheim’s shot beat him clean and short side 9:16 into the third.
Sanheim’s goal put an official end to a comeback attempt that appeared promising with JG Pageau’s tally that put an exclamation mark on a second period in which the Islanders mostly looked like themselves.
The momentum fizzled quickly to start the third, and Roy’s move to change the lines — putting Barzal with Pageau and Simon Holmstrom while Ondrej Palat moved to the second line with Cal Ritchie and Brayden Schenn — seemed to hurt the team more than help it.
“We gotta find a way to get some energy, to look after one another and fix our mistakes,” Lee said. “Our mistakes are killing us right now. It’s putting us behind in games and it’s costing us points. We gotta regroup and look after one another.”
Three losses in a row equals the Islanders’ worst losing streak of the season, and they are an abysmal 3-6-0 in their last nine, a span over which a better record might have meant an “X” next to their name in the standings by now.
Konnor Griffin entered the 2026 season with one of the most anticipated pending debuts in Major League Baseball.
And on Friday, the young Pirate did not disappoint.
The highly touted prospect, who will be 19 for another three weeks, ripped an RBI double in his first MLB at-bat as part of a 5-4 win over the Orioles, elevating the Pirates’ record to 4-3.
“It was awesome,” Griffin said, per MLB.com. “Getting a win, as well, was the cherry on top. That was hands down one of the best days of my life.”
He became the first teenage position player in the majors since Juan Soto did so with the Nationals in 2018.
Pittsburgh Pirates 19-year-old Konnor Griffin hit an RBI double in his Major League Baseball debut. The Pirates beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-4. Getty Images
The RBI double was part of what became a game-deciding four-run second inning.
Griffin, who was drafted in the first round at No. 9 overall in 2024, finished the day with 1-for-3 with a walk at the plate while hitting seventh in the order.
“He just went right down and hit his stride and was able to reset in a couple of days,” manager Don Kelly told reporters after the win. “Which again, for anybody, is really impressive, especially for a 19-year-old kid whose hopes and dreams were to make the big leagues.”
Konnor Griffin (6) points to his family while being interviewed after the game against the Baltimore Orioles on April 03, 2026, at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Griffin slashed an incredible .438/.571/.625 line in just five games this season with the Pirates’ Triple-A affiliate in Indianapolis.
Additionally, across 122 games last year in the minors, Griffin hit .333, blasting 21 home runs with 94 RBIs and 65 stolen bases.
As a result of his production, he was later honored with Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year.
A native of Jackson, Mississippi, Griffin had originally committed to baseball powerhouse LSU, but ended up forgoing a career in the SEC to head straight to the pro ranks.
Griffin also earned a signing bonus of $6.53 million upon joining the Pirates organization following the 2024 Draft. He’s in the midst of finalizing a reported $140 million extension.
The Knicks started Friday's game against the Chicago Bulls on a 20-1 run and never looked back in a 136-96 win.
Takeaways
No Karl-Anthony Towns (right elbow impingement), no problem. Mitchell Robinson was fresh off missing Wednesday's 130-119 win at the Memphis Grizzlies and delivered with a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double in 22 minutes. Robinson made all seven field goals and four free throws, flirting with his season-high 21 points from New York's Dec. 19 game against the Philadelphia 76ers as he took advantage of an opportunity to start at center.
Another Knick who returned from inactivity, Jalen Brunson, was aggressive and efficient early while taking a step back from the scoring and facilitating more with 10 assists in 29 minutes. Brunson's 17-point double-double included 6-of-13 shooting, looking strong in his return from right ankle soreness and doing what he should have for New York (50-28) against lowly Chicago (29-47).
OG Anunoby continues to trend up. After scoring 25 points on 8-of-17 shooting Wednesday in Memphis, Anunoby dropped a game-high 31 against the Bulls. He did so on 9-of-15 shooting, including a 7-for-10 clip from deep, and made all six of his free throws in 28 minutes. Anunoby's seven made treys are a season-high figure for the wing, who drilled four triples on eight attempts two days ago and is coming alive for the Knicks -- albeit against subpar competition -- down the stretch.
Mike Brown dug deep into New York's bench as he played nine Knicks beyond his starting five, including first-quarter minutes for Jeremy Sochan, among others. Landry Shamet and Tyler Kolek led the Knicks off the bench with eight points apiece. Meanwhile, Miles McBride scored six points on a 2-of-4 mark behind the arc with two steals in 12 minutes off the bench as he works his way back from mid-February surgery and this past week's injury scare. McBride missed Wednesday's game but seemed to bounce back nicely Friday.
Who's the MVP?
Robinson, whose opening layup and 10 first-quarter points set the tone with a physical start for the Knicks in the absence of Towns.
The Knicks, who have now won 50 games in three consecutive regular seasons, get the weekend off before they embark on their final road game of the regular season with Monday's 7 p.m. tipoff at the Atlanta Hawks.
The Los Angeles Angels have used that name since 2016, but California state legislation could result in that changing.
California Assembly member Avelino Valencia has brought the legislation forward, asking to revert the name of the MLB franchise to the Anaheim Angels as a requirement of any sale or new lease of the stadium property, according to the LA Times.
The bill is named the “Home Run for Anaheim Act.”
Anaheim was dropped from the name after the team was previously called the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim from 2005 to 2015. The team was previously known as the Anaheim Angels from 1997 to 2004, including during its championship season in 2002.
Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken has reportedly asked the city attorney to also explore the possibility that the MLB franchise may have violated its current lease by dropping the name from legal documents.
The team's current stadium lease extends through 2032, according to Sports Business Journal. The Angels have the option to consider extending the lease through 2038.
Arte Moreno bought the Angels from the Walt Disney Company for $183.5 million in 2003. Moreno considered selling the team in 2022 but decided the team was no longer for sale after having a change of heart in January 2023.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 03: Nolan Traore #88 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket as Onyeka Okongwu #17 of the Atlanta Hawks defends in the first half at Barclays Center on April 03, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Hawks have had three seasons in one. They started with Trae Young, Kristaps Porziņģis, and as a team so unanimously picked as a “dark horse” in the East, the label eventually stopped fitting. Then, they were lost, going through a 5-13 stretch and reckoned with trading the face of the franchise. A few weeks later, they did it, went 26-12, and got right to where we expected them to be, just for entirely different reasons.
The Nets? They’ve had one stagnant, numbing, gray campaign. It’s almost at an end, and that’s undoubtedly for the better.
Brooklyn started tonight with Nolan Traoré, Drake Powell, Terance Mann, Noah Clowney, and Nic Claxton. The latter two almost didn’t suit up, tagged with wrist and ankle soreness earlier in the week, but came off the injury report a few hours before the game. Their presence on the floor, however, didn’t offer much of a lift.
Less than a minute into the game, Jordi Fernández was already hoping for a restart. He called a timeout 58 seconds deep after Claxton and Traoré got confused on who needed to cover CJ McCollum in the corner after a simple pick-and-roll set. That only briefly stalled what became a trampling 25-8 run for Atlanta to start the game. Brooklyn also turned it over five times on their first 14 possessions.
“Poor executing on our end,” Fernández said. “Played this team four times. We just were not good enough, starting with the guys that bring the ball up the floor, tried to get us into something organized, it was very poor.”
Once more, the Nets looked to their understudies for a spark, and got it via Malachi Smith. In five minutes spanning the end of the first and start of the second period, the Long Island product went 4-4 from the field and 3-3 from deep to pull Brooklyn to within four early in the second. He could have had even more, had the first period been another half second longer…
Didn't count, but what a play. Josh Minott goes Odell. Malachi Smith puts it in. pic.twitter.com/hLlNpAdK72
“Our coaches say to find windows, because they are so aggressive, trying to steal the ball, play passing lanes,” Smith said. “Sometimes they can’t see who they’re guarding. So just, you know, kind of as a shooter, finding spots where, like they’re not. You know, little windows that are open for me.”
Of the Long Island call-ups, Smith’s been one of the most productive, and that continued tonight.
“I think just the mentality is leave to it all on the floor,” he said. “I’m someone that has been praying for this opportunity and working for this opportunity for years. So, I’m not going to take any minute for granted. I always tell myself I don’t care if I get one in or 10 minutes, I’m going to be able to go to sleep at night knowing I played as hard as I can, and then whatever happens after that, I can know I can live with the results.”
That jolt helped the Nets hang around, down 10, for much of the second. But even as Traoré got back the occasional steal and Terance Mann hit the occasional a jumper, Brooklyn couldn’t get any closer. The turnovers continued to stack and naturally progressed into fast break offense for Atlanta. The Hawks ran for 20 transition points in the first half and had 23 off turnovers. They led 71-55 at the break, posting .558/.526 splits.
Clowney and Claxton started the second half far better on both sides of the floor. Brooklyn wasn’t as over-zealous throwing two at the ball as we’ve seen before, but seemed allergic to stopping entry passes and the shots that followed in the opening two frames. But in the third, they were on time and on task getting vertical, collectively forcing three straight misses inside to begin the period. They also scored Brooklyn’s first eight points in it.
However, right as things were getting started for Clowney, they were over. With 5:37 left in the third, he got wrapped up with Mouhamed Gueye on a loose ball, who kept him pinned on the ground for a handful of seconds after a jump ball had been called. After the “play,” if you can even call it that, Clowney got up and continued jawing at Gueye and the officials. The latter gave him a second technical and ejected him.
So, now swiftly turned away from the prospect of getting production from their veterans, the Nets went back to what originally worked. Smith hit another pair of triples soon after that, making it a 10-point game yet again with just under three remaining in the third.
And again, when the Nets were ready to try and make this one a game, they were turned away. A flurry of threes McCollum, Cory Kispert, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker pumped the lead closer to 20 early in the fourth. All game, Brooklyn waited for Atlanta to cool off, but that moment never came. The Hawks shot 20-40 from three for the night, guiding the Nets to another quiet loss despite a near .50/.40 game.
In place of competitive basketball, we had another tryout from Long Island as our entertainment down the stretch.
Tre Scott, who signed a 10-day earlier this week, came in with 7:42 remaining. It was the first NBA appearance by the 29-year-old since the 2021-22 season. He finished with six points and two rebounds on 2-3 shooting in those minutes.
Tre Scott gets his first two points back up at the NBA level.
Despite sitting in the fourth quarter yet again, Claxton led the Nets with 16 points while shooting 7-10 from the field, grabbing five boards, and dishing two dimes. Smith followed him with 15 points while shooting 5-8 from the field. Traoré grinded his way to a 13/4/2 game. On the bright side, after having three straight games of four or more turnovers, he had just two this evening.
Still, Fernández indicated that the young guard left a little bit out there.
“He has taken advantage of some minutes, but not all of them,” Fernández said. “So, he has to have the mindset of taking advantage of all the minutes in place, especially right now, at this moment, these minutes, they’re very, very viable. Got to continue to coach him…If you remember, up to the All-Star break, he had a pretty impressive stretch of games, and sustaining, it’s not about the points, it was like the energy, how he communicated, everything else that he created. Right now, I haven’t seen it consistently.”
In fairness, the coach has acknowledged before that Traoré is feeling the effects of the “rookie wall.” He hinted at that again tonight. Indeed, perhaps Traoré is just tired. Perhaps we all are.
“Obviously, there’s a lot of games is. The experience, he needs to go through it to be able to come back, work, get stronger, and be able to sustain,” Fernández said. “Mentally, the NBA, it’s very, very, very hard in that regard. You see guys that have done it for many years, so they’re, in that regard, ahead of you, but sometimes with our guys, if I do get frustrated, it’s because I believe they’re very good, and I do believe he’s a high level point guard. We all think, ‘Well, he’s young, he’ll be able to do it.‘ And in my mind, I don’t are about how young he is. I know he can do it right now. So that will always be my fight.”
Five to go.
Final: Atlanta Hawks 141, Brooklyn Nets 107
Milestone Watch
Malachi Smith’s 15 points tonight against Atlanta are his second-most career points (high is 18 vs. SAC, 3/22) and most career 3-pointers made (previous high was three vs. SAC, 3/22)
With Smith’s four 3-pointers tonight, he is tied for the most by an undrafted rookie in a game in Nets history (Chris Childs, 03/18/1995 at NY, Billy Thomas, 02/09/2005 vs LAL, and Tyson Etienne, 04/10/2025 vs ATL).
Egor Speaks on VC and Development
It was Egor Dëmin’s turn to speak with the YES crew during tonight’s game. The rookie, ruled out for the rest of the season as he manages plantar fascia in his left foot, spoke with Sarah Kustok and Noah Eagle during the third quarter. He touched on how he’s worked with Vince Carter, his injury recovery, the development of Brooklyn’s team, and more.
More from Egor on Vince and how he, plus other basketball icons, have given him material to learn from this season. #NETSonYESpic.twitter.com/VNsnJAmmH0
The full interview can be found on gothamsports.com for those with a subscription.
Injury Update
Pregame, Fernández essentially said Michael Porter Jr. and Danny Wolf will not return this season. MPJ hasn’t played since March 10th having suffered a left hamstring strain. Wolf last played on March 22nd, where he rolled his ankle in a loss vs the Kings. The team diagnosed him with a left ankle sprain.
“Based on where we are right now and based on where they’re at with their rehab, and we only have one week left, they’ll be out just from where they are,” Fernández said.
Remarking on their seasons, Fernández praised Wolf’s versatility and shared that he’s looking forward to how he progresses as a sophomore.
“Danny, from shooting the ball to playmaking to rebounding to being that primary ball-handler, playing off the ball, all those things, different lineups, which I’m very happy with him,” Fernández said. “Obviously efficiency is important. We believe he’s a very good shooter. His playmaking efficiency has gotten better from college. And then defensively, I think you guys brought the point that he surprised a lot of people. He didn’t surprise us. We felt like he could do all those things and keep bodies in front, keep guys in front of the ball and guard smaller guys. So he’s been very, very good.”
Fernández also reached back for one final shot at the voters who snubbed Porter Jr. of an all-star bid this year.
“He’s played at an All-Star level. In my opinion, he should have been an All-Star,” Fernández said. “And now I want him to come back here and have a chip on his shoulder, lead the team the way he’s been doing the same way. That was a new thing for him, to lead by example and be the oldest guy. He went from being the youngest guy, or since I was with him, 19 all the way to 27, and now all of a sudden at 27 he’s a vet. So that was an adjustment. He’s done a great job, whether he used his voice or led by example.”
Next Up
The tank – ing Super Bowl takes place on Sunday afternoon at the Barclays Center. The Nets will host the Washington Wizards at 3:00 p.m. ET. Your guess as to who plays is as good as mine, but household names will surely sit out, as will the guys pictured above. If the Nets lose, they’ll tie the Wiz Kids in first place for lottery standings with four games remaining. Have fun!
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo says he’s healthy and wants to play even as the Milwaukee Bucks continue to say the two-time MVP is too injured to take the floor.
Antetokounmpo missed a 10th straight game on Friday night against the Boston Celtics due to what the team has described as a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise. Antetokounmpo hasn’t played since landing awkwardly during a March 15 victory over the Indiana Pacers.
“I’m healthy,” Antetokounmpo told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and The Athletic before Friday’s game. “I hate it when people force me to do things against my nature. I’m a player. I get paid to play.”
For the last couple of weeks, Antetokounmpo has participated in pregame warmups without showing any apparent signs of injury.
Antetokounmpo also noted that the Bucks should have known this about him since the 31-year-old has spent his entire 13-year career in Milwaukee.
Throughout that time, Antetokounmpo has had a reputation for rapid returns from injury, most notably when he hyperextended his knee during Milwaukee’s 2021 playoff run but missed two games before returning to lead the Bucks to their first title in half a century.
“You know who you’re dealing with,” Antetokounmpo told reporters. “So, for somebody to come and tell me to not play or to not compete, it’s like a slap in my face.”
Bucks coach Doc Rivers addressed Antetokounmpo's comments after the 133-101 loss to Boston.
“The tough part about all this is that I’m in the middle and I have nothing to do with it,” Rivers said. “Coaches don’t decide any of this. The problem with our league is the coaches are the ones sitting out front. And we have to sit here and answer this stuff. I think there are two sides to this, I will tell you that, but I don’t want to get too involved in it.”
The Bucks still had a remote chance of earning a 10th straight playoff berth at the time of that Indiana game, but they were officially eliminated from contention last week. There’s also the possibility of Antetokounmpo getting hurt again if he returns to action — he has missed a career-high 41 games this season and had two extended absences due to calf strains.
“I understand the circumstances — yes, we’re not going to be in the playoffs,” Antetokounmpo said. “For some people’s eyes, it’s not worth it for me to be out there. But for me, it’s something that goes against my nature.”
Rivers said he has a “great relationship” with Antetokounmpo and that he often talks to the superstar about what to work on and what to add to his game. Rivers added that he didn't like the “he-said, she-said” nature of this dispute and added that “this is a grown man's game, and it should be handled that way by everybody.”
“I just don’t like that this is so public," Rivers said. "This is where grown men get in a room and they talk it out. Whether they agree or disagree, that doesn’t matter. But this should not be public, and I don’t like that.”
Antetokounmpo also wanted the opportunity to play alongside his younger brother, Alex, who made his NBA debut Tuesday. There was a possibility of three Antetokounmpo brothers playing alongside each other in the same game, since Giannis’ older brother, Thanasis, also is on the Bucks.
“When my dad passed away, I pretty much raised (Alex),” Antetokounmpo said. “He’s able to be on the team and suit up and chase an opportunity to be great. You really think I don’t want to suit up and play with my brother? Anybody who thinks that is an idiot.”
Thanasis and Alex both played in the closing minutes Friday night, the first time the two brothers had played together in an NBA game.
“The Player Participation Policy was designed by the league to hold teams accountable and ensure that when an All-Star like Giannis Antetokounmpo is healthy and ready to play, he is on the court,” the union said in a statement. “Unfortunately, anti-tanking policies are only as effective as their enforcement; fans, broadcast partners, and the integrity of the game itself will continue to suffer as long as ownership goes unchecked. We look forward to collaborating with the NBA on meaningful new proposals that will directly address and discourage tanking.”
This dispute between Antetokounmpo and the Bucks comes at a time when his future in Milwaukee is uncertain. Antetokounmpo’s name dominated league-wide discussions leading up to the trade deadline, though the Bucks ultimately kept him.
Antetokounmpo becomes eligible to sign a four-year contract extension worth up to $275 million in October. If he doesn’t sign the extension, Antetokounmpo could become a free agent after the 2026-27 season, or the Bucks could decide to trade him beforehand.
Now they find themselves at odds over how to handle the rest of this season.
“I don't think there's a bad person in this group - none of the guys that I'm talking about,” Rivers said. “They're all good people. But we've got to figure out how to put good people on the same page, and it stays inside. I've never been a fan of negotiating in the media. I don't think it's good for anybody.”
Antetokounmpo had his own take on how this could be resolved.
“I don’t know where the relationship goes from there,” Antetokounmpo said. “We’ve got to go to couples therapy.”
NEW YORK (AP) — CJ McCollum had 25 points and seven assists and the surging Atlanta Hawks routed the Brooklyn Nets 141-107 on Friday night for their fourth straight victory and 18th in 20 games.
Fifth in the Eastern Conference at 45-33, the Hawks remained 1 1/2 games ahead of sixth-place Philadelphia and seventh-place Toronto and moved within 3 1/2 games of fourth-place Cleveland. Atlanta and Cleveland will play a home-and-set next week.
McCollum was 8 of 12 from the field, hitting 4 of 7 3-pointers.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 21 points, and Jalen Johnson had 18 points and 11 rebounds. Onyeka Okongwu scored 15 points.
Nic Claxton led Brooklyn with 16 points, and Malachi Smith had 15. The Nets lost their second straight to fall to 18-59.
Atlanta scored the first 10 points and led 35-17 with 1:28 left in the first quarter. It was 71-55 at the half, with McCollum scoring 16 points and Johnson 13. McCollum was 4 of 5 from the field in the half, hitting three 3-pointers without a miss.
