The official announcement isn't coming until Saturday, but word is starting to leak out about the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
Amar'e Stoudemire, Doc Rivers, Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne will be part of the class, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.
Those four are part of a much larger class of Hall of Fame finalists, a group that includes Blake Griffin, Gonzaga coach Mark Few, Chamique Holdsclaw and Marques Johnson, among others.
Parker and Delle Donne would not be a surprise — they were locks to make the Hall of Fame. Stoudemire was considered likely to make the cut.
Parker was a two-time NCAA national champion at Tennessee who was drafted No. 1 in 2008 and became the only player in WNBA history to be named Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season. She went on to be a three-time WNBA champion and two-time league MVP (2008, '13). Parker also is a two-time Olympic gold medalist (2008, '12).
Delle Donne is a WNBA champion (Washington Mystics in 2019) and two-time MVP (2015 and 2019). She was the first player in NBA history to average 50/40/90 shooting percentages for a season. Delle Donne also won a Gold Medal as part of the USA team at the 2016 Olympics in Beijing.
Stoudemire was an integral part of the seven-seconds-or-less Suns with Steve Nash and coach Mike D'Antoni, who changed the way the game is played in the NBA. An incredibly athletic 6'10" forward who was a force in transition, and could play away from the basket and attack off the dribble (and was ahead of his time with that), he is a five-time All-NBA player, six-time All-Star and the 2003 Rookie of the Year who averaged 18.9 points and 7.8 rebounds a game during his 14-year NBA Career.
Rivers is the name raising eyebrows among some fans.
Rivers has won more games than all but five coaches in the NBA, and he is ahead of Hall of Famers like Phil Jackson, George Karl and Larry Brown. He has a championship ring as a coach. Rivers is in his 27th consecutive season as an NBA head coach, having started in Orlando then moved on to Boston (where he won a championship in 2008), the LA Clippers, Philadelphia and now Milwaukee. He has a career regular season record of 1,191-861 (58%) and has coached in 226 playoff games. Rivers played more than 10 seasons in the NBA before that and was an All-Star in 1988.
He's also had some spectacular playoff flameouts — his teams have blown 3-1 series leads three times — and had some rough exits from a couple of his stops. The voters for the Hall of Fame (an anonymous vote) looked past that and saw him as a Hall of Famer.
The formal announcement of the Class of 2026 for the Naismith Hall of Fame is set for Saturday.
DALLAS, TEXAS - MARCH 23: Moses Moody #4 of the Golden State Warriors lays on the court after being inured during overtime of the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on March 23, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Okay Dub Nation, I see you. Sitting on the stool in the corner of the ring, spitting out blood as the trainers press an ice pack over your swollen eye sockets from watching a rough and tumble month of Golden State Warriors basketball.
The Dubs went 5-10 in March, Steph Curry’s birthday month. Curry and Jimmy Butler didn’t play a single second. The team’s net rating was -5.9, the kind of number that belongs to rebuilds.
And yet. Maybe there’s a chance in here buried under the losses and life lessons. Golden State spent the month caught between two truths: too good to tank and too hurt to compete. If there’s one thing March taught us, it’s that there’s something about this team that is exciting and tragic at the same time.
The Win That Made You Believe
Warriors celebrate maybe their most impressive win this season. They beat the Rockets in Houston despite missing Butler, Curry, Porzingis. Three two-way guys in the rotation. Podziemski 26 points. Draymond/Horford great defensively vs Durant/Sengun. pic.twitter.com/nFw7F9LBEF
March 5th in Houston. The Warriors were missing seven players, including every name that appears on a marquee. What showed up instead was a ragtag collection of role players, former G-Leaguers, and aging veterans who apparently missed the memo that the game was supposed to be meaningless.
De’Anthony Melton scored 10 points in the first seven minutes. Al Horford, age 39, won the overtime tip and scored a post-up hook shot. LJ Cryer hit threes. Gui Santos played 41 minutes, finished plus-20, and put Kevin Durant on the floor with a spin move.
Brandin Podziemski went 3-for-3 in overtime and reached a season-high 26 points. And KD, one of the greatest players alive and a forever legend in Golden State, bricked two consecutive free throws to give Golden State the game.
Final score: 115-113. The Warriors owned the Rockets franchise one more time without a single star. That was the argument for this team. For one night, every player on that floor had something to prove, and together they proved it.
The Win That That Didn’t Feel Like One
Steve Kerr postgame on Moses Moody:
"I just saw his leg buckle and I saw him go down in a heap in pain. We don't know what it is, but it sure looked bad and just hoping for the best. Whatever the best case scenario is, that's what we're all hoping for, but it looked bad . . . Mo… pic.twitter.com/bWYeXs4eLN
Eighteen days later, same state, different city, different kind of Texas night entirely.
Moses Moody stole the ball from Cooper Flagg with 1:13 left in overtime. He got out in space with the dunk coming into view. And we know Moody can elevate. This time, unfortunately he planted his foot, and the floor gave out beneath a season that had finally started to mean something. Torn patellar tendon. Season over.
Original Splash Bro Klay Thompson was on the other side in a Mavericks uniform. He watched that basketball inheritance collapse in real time. Nobody felt like celebrating the overtime win. The Warriors needed a big victory, but at what cost? I wonder if they’d rather have the loss if it meant preserving Moody’s future.
This is what March 2026 was. A month where the Warriors were simultaneously too good to tank and too hurt to compete. Steph has now missed over two dozen consecutive games. Butler has been gone since January. Horford went down with a calf strain. Moody, who was the living proof that the Two-Timeline strategy could actually work, is watching the rest of this season from a treatment table. A month where the best version of this roster kept flashing, and the injury report kept taking it away.
April Starts Against San Antonio
The Warriors open April against the Spurs. The one with Victor Wembanyama, the version of the future this season was supposed to hold off. They are going into that game without Steph, without Jimmy, without Moses, and with a net rating that politely suggests the process is still very much in progress. Another Texas team, another test, and another day of wondering if the glass is half full or half empty on this season.
March presented two true things simultaneously. The Warriors can still be beautiful when the ball moves and the right people show up hungry. And it also whispered that this season is not going to end in triumph. Both are hella real and define Warriors basketball in 2026.
Top Philadelphia Flyers prospect Porter Martone will make his NHL debut on Tuesday night against the division rival Washington Capitals, and with the excitement comes a few nuggets worth keeping track of.
For starters, it's already been established that head coach Rick Tocchet and the Flyers are looking to put Martone, 19, in a position for success and comfort in his first NHL game.
To kick things off, at least, the 2025 No. 6 pick will play right wing on a line with veterans Travis Konecny and Christian Dvorak.
"I think him and TK, veteran guys. Those guys are good at staying close together. That's something we were talking about, I think it's a good fit for him. We'll see how it goes," Tocchet told traveling media of Martone's line.
Notably, fellow rookie Alex Bump had been playing on that line, but Bump is instead coming out of the lineup... for now.
"We have a lot of young guys, so maybe there's a rotation. I don't know," Tocchet said.
"I'm not going to get into why. I just think [Carl Grundstrom] had a really good game last game. He's played some playoff games, veteran guy. That doesn't mean Bumper's not going to play next game. It's just that we're going to have to do this rotation, maybe, or who's hot. We'll go from there. We'll talk about it... it's more game-to-game."
Grundstrom, 28, will reprise his role as the left wing on a line with Noah Cates and Matvei Michkov, though it's worth noting that the Swede has scored just one goal since Dec. 31--a cold streak that has spanned 31 games.
Overall, the 6-foot grinder has eight goals, four assists, and 12 points in 43 games this season, and Tocchet is clearly relying on him to be responsible now that more youth has been added to the lineup with Martone.
As for Martone's opportunities, Tocchet spoke mostly in generalities, but appears to clearly have a plan for the top prospect's usage.
"I think it's important I get him out there quickly. Guy makes a mistake early, he's not going to sit on the bench. He's gotta get out there," Tocchet assessed.
"It's like anything. As a coach, you try to see how the game's going. But, definitely trying to make him feel comfortable out there. That's something I gotta do for him."
For reference, Alex Bump played 16:07 in his Flyers debut and scored a goal against Pittsburgh back on March 7, and Denver Barkey played 15:18 and recorded two assists against the New York Rangers on Dec. 20.
Both debuted in divisional games, like Martone will against the Capitals on Tuesday night.
The 19-year-old enters his first NHL game having scored points in each of his last six games for Michigan State.
Mar 10, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of the scoreboard showing an ABS ball and strike challenge call being confirmed during the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Arizona Diamondbacks during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
As I was recapping Saturday’s extra-inning loss to the Reds, my thoughts and emotions ran the gamut when it came to ABS, umpiring, and the intersection of the two. I touched on a few of those in the recap itself, but the broad outlines were this:
The ABS system (officially, the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System) brought a level of fairness back to the game, in that some clear mistakes were overturned
The home-plate umpiring on Saturday was awful and a challenge system overall goes some way toward ameliorating that, when it happens
There was heightened drama in the game, and it didn’t all stem from Wilyer Abreu’s two-out, ninth-inning heroics, or the intensity of extra innings
I had some other thoughts about ABS that I didn’t include in the game recap because it felt just a little out of scope for that format. Keeping in mind that this Red Sox season is still getting off the ground, so the sample size is currently miniscule, here’s me poking around this topic a little bit more.
Pros
CB Bucknor, the home plate umpire for Saturday’s game, was not on point in any way, shape, or form. He simply didn’t have it. It is objectively true that his ball-strike calls were off the mark, proven by six challenges (out of eight total) that overturned his initial call. (He was also far from on-point, but within his rights, in his missed check swing call on Trevor Story. Let’s come back to that.)
Eugenio Suárez struck out twice in the sixth inning with two outs and the bases loaded, on called strikes and on successive pitches. (What a weird sentence to write, but it is factually correct. We live in strange times, my friends.) Suárez challenged the call each time and prevailed. This was way more exciting, and important, than Roman Anthony using up the remaining Red Sox challenges in the first at-bat of the third inning, when the stakes were low. Ultimately, the Suárez reversals didn’t matter because the Sox retired him anyway, but it restored to the Reds their rightful opportunity to proceed with the inning and hopefully capitalize.
This is important and is certainly the point of the whole ABS system.
Something I wasn’t expecting was the additional excitement the challenges added. You could see and hear the crowd’s reaction when the result of each Suárez challenge was revealed. They went wild. The cheer that went up was as loud as if he had hit a home run. It was a high-stakes moment, as discussed, and Suárez is a batter who can turn on the power, so anything seemed possible. And for it to happen twice! Unprecedented.
In-game excitement, yes, count me in. Is it also possible that some of the fun comes from rebelling against authority in some small, albeit sanctioned, way? For me, I think that might be true; I felt it also when Roman Anthony won his initial challenge. In a world where computer programs monitor my keystrokes to let coworkers know that I’m not actively tapping away at the keyboard…where cameras track my nearly every movement, through my neighborhood, my city, my workplace…where Rob Manfred, Sam Kennedy, John Henry and more are trying to get more money from me while investing increasingly fewer resources of their own, generally speaking…little wins can take on a bigger profile. Maybe this is one of those micro-wins, one minuscule way to enjoy the feeling of beating the system, even for just a moment? I don’t know, but my therapist may have additional thoughts on the subject.
Cons
This isn’t really a con of the ABS system but it can’t be left out of the discussion of Saturday’s game: the call that arguably could have mattered was Story’s controversial strikeout on a checked swing in the eighth inning. It hurt because the Red Sox had some momentum going, with batters on first and second with two outs, in a one-run game. But this was a situation not governed by ABS, nor was it subject to challenge at all.
Lou Merloni mentioned several times that Bucknor did not consult with the first base umpire on his decision. Quick rules review: because Story was deemed to have swung and a strike subsequently called, there was no possibility of appeal. If Bucknor had called a ball (having decided Story had not swung), an appeal would have been possible, most likely from the Reds’ catcher, or the manager. In this case, it could have been appealed and then Bucknor would have been required to ask for a ruling from a corner base umpire (first base, in this case, since Story is right-handed) who has a better angle. With a strike call in this situation, there is no possibility for appeal (see Rule 8.02 (c) of the Official Baseball Rules (and please don’t ask me why I can order the bound and printed 2026 version, but MLB itself posts the 2025 rules on their website. It is what it is. See what I mean about micro-wins?). Could Bucknor have asked for assistance before making that strike call? Yes, if he thought he didn’t see it. Based on his quick ejection of Alex Cora, he seemed more than willing to double down, so I wouldn’t necessarily expect him to say he didn’t see, wasn’t sure, or needed help. This is veering into pop psychology territory but is all a way of saying that ABS righted several umpiring wrongs on Saturday even though it didn’t come through for the Red Sox where it felt like it might have counted. Of course, this is all a what-if game because even if the opportunity was restored to the Red Sox to proceed with the at-bat, who says Story would have executed?
Aside from Story’s at-bat, introducing checked swings into a discussion on ABS isn’t totally out of nowhere. Check swing challenge testing has been underway. Could this make a difference in the future? Perhaps, but first MLB may need to actually define a checked swing; there is currently no definition at all.
Here’s a true con, but one which was within the Red Sox control: Roman Anthony wasted a challenge. So did Carlos Narváez, for that matter, and they each did it in extremely low-stakes situations. In the first inning of the second game of the season, to me, Narváez’s challenge felt like a new toy. He lost his challenge, but Anthony’s first challenge generated a fuck yeah! adrenaline boost in me for proving the umpire wrong. Maybe Anthony felt the same. But by the very next pitch, when he challenged again, the novelty had already worn off. It was the third challenge of the day by the Sox, and it was only the first batter of the third inning. It was a 3-1 pitch, for godsakes. Anthony was wrong, the Red Sox were out of challenges far too early in the game, and that will serve as a strategy lesson.
I also wonder if ABS lengthened the time of the game. It will take more games and data to see if that’s true, but it feels true about Saturday’s game. Sometime during that game, I wrote “3 hours???” in my notes, well before it went to extra innings. The 2025 nine-inning average game time was 2:38; the final game time for Saturday was 3:32. This game didn’t spend an hour in extra innings, so it was empirically a long game through nine. Was it a coincidence that there were also multiple ABS challenges? It’s completely anecdotal at this early stage of the season. But I have to ask: is ABS at odds with one of baseball’s central goals of increasing engagement and interest in our beautiful sport by keeping game times manageable?
I find myself, for now, in support of ABS, in that it can restore opportunities that were wrongly taken away, but it also tried my patience on Saturday. Red Sox hitters will need to develop ABS discipline to match their plate discipline, or turn off their egos, or whatever in order for the team to use this tool to their advantage. These are quick thoughts on a big subject that will continue to play out in the 2026 season.
Opening Day at Petco Park (Photo by Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
Every Major League Baseball team begins Spring Training with one goal in mind: to win a World Series title. The San Diego Padres are chasing the same goal, as their desire to win has never wavered.
Disappointing opening series does not define season
The opening series loss to the Detroit Tigers was disappointing and felt like a setback. A sputtering offense can turn a festive environment into an eerily quiet ballpark. It reminded everyone of the Wild Card Series against the Chicago Cubs last October. The lineup could not plate runs and that shattered everyone’s dreams of this being a long playoff run.
However, a 162-game regular season is a marathon, and stumbles of this nature rarely define a team’s final record. The Padres can still set a tone for 2026.
The Friar Faithful will have to take their anxiety level down a notch, but they’re tired of the excuses for empty Octobers. The absence of another run-producing bat, starting rotation injuries, and having a frugal payroll are no longer acceptable excuses for postseason failures.
It is time to change the narrative because the Padres’ roster is too talented and postseason-ready to fizzle out in the first week of October baseball.
Padres team leaders can change the narrative
Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. are the undisputed team leaders, who have become hardened by crushing playoff losses to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies. Both are tired of receiving pats on the back for their outstanding play and are determined to change the results.
Some within the organization would like to base the Friars’ success on their pitching staff and move past last season’s offensive struggles to score runs. Randy Vasquez showed over the weekend why he is a prized pitching talent. He could conceivably be the Padres’ ace by season’s end.
Possessing the game’s best bullpen, the Friars can shorten the contest to a five- or six-inning affair. Shutting down the opposing team’s bats does mask the club’s offensive flaws.
Thankfully, the bats showed up to salvage the final game against the Tigers. The lineup has several question marks, but the group did have moderate success on Saturday night. The hope is that more productive at-bats will return everyone to form and lead to more baserunners crossing home plate.
2026 can become a promising season
Setting the tone never guarantees a team will make the playoffs. Professional athletes rarely need tangible reminders about their goals for the coming season. They aim to hit their stride just in time for October baseball.
A couple of bad days should never reflect how a baseball team would fare in the regular season. It further confirms how unpredictable the sport actually has become. The 2026 Padres have high expectations, and losing the first home series is just a blip on their radar.
The roster has enough talent to secure another postseason berth. If the Friars get into the dance, all bets are off on how far they can go.
CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 14: Rapper, J. Cole talks to Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors prior to a game against the Charlotte Hornets on November 14, 2021 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 2021 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Rapper J. Cole has long been an NBA sicko. In 2018, he hopped on 21 Savage’s track ‘a lot’ and immediately shouted out Markelle Fultz and Dennis Smith Jr. However, there is no NBA player he loves like Steph Curry — who also hails from his native North Carolina.
On Carmelo Anthony’s 7 PM in Brooklyn podcast, Cole spoke extensively about his love for Steph.
“I love basketball — it’s an even playing field,” Cole said. “Of course, you’re going to get athletically gifted people, but that’s why I love Steph so much. Compared to the average NBA player — 6’6″, 6’7″, freak of nature — he doesn’t fit that bill. He’s more of a regular size in the league.”
Cole sees Curry as an emblem of working with what you’ve got and using your own unique skillset to grow and become the best version of yourself.
“I stand next to Steph and I’m like, ‘Damn, this dude my height,'” Cole said. “He’s not little, but he maxed out his ability. If I work harder than everybody else, I can max my abilities out, and then I got a fair shot.”
Cole, 41, has pretty famously always wanted to be an NBA player, trying out for the Draft in 2020 and going pro briefly between 2021 and 2022 in the Basketball Africa League and the Canadian Elite Basketball League.
“That’s what I love about basketball,” Cole said. “I can measure my growth. I can see it. I can watch how bad I was or how regular I was, and how much better I’ve gotten in this one area. And I feel like I need that in my life. My music is the same way. My writing is the same way. My rap is the same passion — I want to push myself. Basketball gives me something measurable.”
Australian Cooper Connolly made a memorable Indian Premier League debut, holding his nerve as wickets tumbled around him to haul Punjab Kings to a tense three-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans on Tuesday.
Our NBA player prop projections are set for tonight’s showdown between the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets, with the model pinpointing several standout opportunities.
By analyzing the data and comparing it to current market lines, we’ve uncovered the bets with the highest value.
For those building their cards, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Tuesday, March 31.
Knicks vs Rockets computer picks for March 31
Knicks
Rockets
Brunson u24.5 points -112
Durant u25.5 points -120
Bridges o1.5 threes -125
Sengun u8.5 rebounds +105
Hart o6.5 rebounds -130
Thompson o4.5 assists -120
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Knicks computer picks
Jalen Brunson Under 24.5 points (-112)
Projection: 24.6 points
Over their last 10 road games, opposing starting point guards have averaged just 12.8 points per game against the Houston Rockets — the second-lowest mark in the NBA — making this a difficult offensive matchup, particularly for Jalen Brunson.
Additionally, the New York Knicks have played at the slowest pace in the league over their last five games. They're likely to see even fewer possessions against a Houston team that ranks as the second-slowest offense in terms of pace this season.
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Mikal Bridges Over 1.5 threes (-125)
Projection: 1.7 3-pointers
Mikal Bridges has eclipsed 1.5 made threes in five of his last 10 games, and this matchup sets up well for him to build on that trend against the Rockets.
While Houston plays at a slower pace, their defensive scheme often prioritizes protecting the paint and limiting high-percentage looks inside. That naturally shifts opportunities to the perimeter, where Bridges thrives as a catch-and-shoot weapon.
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Josh Hart Over 6.5 rebounds (-130)
Projection: 7.4 rebounds
Josh Hart has gone Over 6.5 rebounds in six of his last 10 games, and the Knicks’ strong presence on the glass should continue to boost his rebounding outlook.
New York ranks fifth in the NBA with 13.0 offensive rebounds per game this season, creating extra opportunities for Hart to capitalize on the boards.
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Rockets computer picks
Kevin Durant Under 25.5 points (-120)
Projection: 24.2 points
From a scoring standpoint, the Rockets have struggled at home, averaging just 109.9 points per game over their last 25 contests — the second-lowest mark in the NBA.
They also operate at the second-slowest pace in the league this season, a combination that could limit possessions and make it tougher for Kevin Durant to clear his points prop tonight.
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Alperen Şengün Under 8.5 rebounds (+105)
Projection: 8.4 rebounds
The Knicks have operated at the slowest pace in the league over their last five games.
This should limit possessions for the Rockets and cut into rebounding chances for Alperen Şengün, especially after he’s gone Under in five of his last 10 games at an 8.5 rebound line.
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Amen Thompson Over 4.5 assists (-120)
Projection: 5.2 assists
Amen Thompson has gone Over 4.5 assists in four of his last 10 games, and tonight’s matchup against the Knicks sets up favorably for him to continue that trend.
Thompson thrives when he can push the pace, and with the Knicks playing at the slowest tempo in the league over their last five contests, defensive rotations will be critical — opening passing lanes for a quick, athletic playmaker like Thompson.
His ability to penetrate and draw attention often forces collapses that create open opportunities for teammates, giving Thompson plenty of chances to rack up assists.
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How to watch Knicks vs Rockets tonight
Location
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Date
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 25: Logan Webb #62 of the San Francisco Giants pitches his 1000th career strikeout during the game at Oracle Park on March 25, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Suzanna Mitchell/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Francisco Giants continue their series against the San Diego Padres tonight from Oracle Park.
Taking the mound for the Giants will be right-hander Logan Webb, who finished the 2025 season with a 3.22 ERA, 2.60 FIP, with 224 strikeouts to 46 walks in 207 innings pitched. His last start was on Opening Day, in which he allowed seven runs (six earned) on nine hits with seven strikeouts and a walk in five innings.
He’ll be facing off against Padres right-hander Germán Márquez, who finished the 2025 season with a 6.70 ERA, 5.47 FIP, with 83 strikeouts to 48 walks in 126.1 innings pitched. This will be his first start of the 2026 season.
There’s a “2-for-1” deal inside Intuit Dome when the Los Angeles Clippers host the Portland Trail Blazers tonight. These Western Conference rivals are Nos. 8 and 9, respectively, in the Western Conference standings, which means a victory is twice as nice.
Los Angeles is on a five-game run, but kicking the tires on that tear sees L.A. taking advantage of some NBA bottom-feeders.
My Trail Blazers vs. Clippers predictions and NBA picks believe L.A. reserve Bennedict Mathurin has gotten fat off that cupcake competition, and aren’t convinced he’ll keep the points coming.
Trail Blazers vs Clippers prediction
Trail Blazers vs Clippers best bet: Bennedict Mathurin Under 17.5 points (-125)
The 6-foot-5 guard gives L.A. a shot of energy off the bench, upping his scoring to 20+ points per game since the beginning of February. Mathurin has been especially hot in his last nine outings, averaging almost 23 points since March 7.
Helping heap on the points has been a schedule littered with lousy defenses. Four of those last nine games came against teams ranked Bottom 4 in defensive rating since the All-Star break (Indiana, Milwaukee, Sacramento, Memphis), along with a 26-point showing versus Chicago (21st).
Tuesday’s tilt brings a sneaky-good Portland Trail Blazers team to Los Angeles. Portland has also roughed up some weaker foes in recent games but sits No. 4 in defensive rating since the break and will approach this vital matchup with a playoff-like intensity.
The Blazers blitz opposing ball-handlers with smothering pressure and force them to get rid of the rock. That tactic has Portland giving up the third-fewest points to guards across the Association (47.2 per game).
Mathurin relies on getting to the foul line to pick up points, going to the stripe at least nine times in seven of his last nine outings. He won’t be able to get into attack mode versus that Portland press.
Projections all sit below his scoring prop, with my number just north of 15 points. That should have this Under 17.5 priced around -200 rather than the modest ask of -125.
Trail Blazers vs Clippers same-game parlay
The Clippers have boosted their stock against some bad teams recently. Portland is a stiff defensive challenge for L.A,. and our game models see the Clippers escaping but not covering as home chalk.
The forecasted final also comes up short of the current Over/Under total. The Trail Blazers can’t match the firepower of the Clippers and will try to turn this into a grinder of a game.
Trail Blazers vs Clippers SGP
Trail Blazers +5.5
Under 227.5
Bennedict Mathurin Under 17.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Chairmen of the boards
The Trail Blazers need this win to keep pace in the playoff race, but won’t win a shootout against the Clippers. Defense is the name of the game for Portland, which keeps the score low and Jrue Holiday and Deni Avdija busy on the glass. Both Blazers are projected to top their rebound markets tonight.
Trail Blazers vs Clippers SGP
Trail Blazers moneyline
Under 227.5
Jrue Holiday Over 3.5 rebounds
Deni Avdija Over 6.5 rebounds
Trail Blazers vs Clippers odds
Spread: Trail Blazers +5.5 | Clippers -5.5
Moneyline: Trail Blazers +180 | Clippers -220
Over/Under: Over 227.5 | Under 227.5
Trail Blazers vs Clippers betting trend to know
The Trail Blazers are 7-14 Over/Under (63% Unders) as road underdogs this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Trail Blazers vs. Clippers.
How to watch Trail Blazers vs Clippers
Location
Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
Date
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Tip-off
11:00 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock
Trail Blazers vs Clippers latest injuries
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Allow Charlotte Hornets fans to feel optimism for once. They have earned it. They can even look at an opponent like the Brooklyn Nets and have complete confidence in a win tonight.
My Hornets vs. Nets predictions and these NBA picks even go so far as to expect Charlotte to give some players a lighter workload on Tuesday, March 31.
Hornets vs Nets prediction
Hornets vs Nets best bet: LaMelo Ball Under 19.5 points (-120)
This is what life is like on the other side, Charlotte Hornets fans. You are no longer tanking; you get to take advantage of the teams that are tanking, like the Brooklyn Nets.
Sometimes that joy can be a bit excruciating itself. Your stars may not take the game as seriously, like scoring 20 points on 7-for-16 shooting against the Kings a week ago. Or they may not see as many minutes, like not even playing 22 minutes against the Pacers in late February.
LaMelo Ball cleared this prop in both those instances, but scoring 20 points against tanking teams is hardly an argument that he 'll ruin this prop by the hook tonight.
The Hornets have a back-to-back coming up on Thursday and Friday; they likely need to win both games — vs. Phoenix and then vs. Indiana — to keep their chances of slipping into the preferred Play-In game as the No. 8 seed in mid-April alive.
Limiting Ball’s minutes tonight will only help that cause later in the week, and Charlotte certainly should not need much of a performance from him against Brooklyn. The Nets have one outright win in their last 11 games, against the Kings.
Hornets vs Nets same-game parlay
Limiting Ball’s minutes while increasing Coby White’s will serve Charlotte not only to rest Ball for later in the week but also to further White’s understanding of this Hornets offense. Since joining the rotation in late February, White has taken at least 11 shots in 10 of 15 games, including each of the last eight.
More and more White usage should create Charlotte permutations that frustrate postseason opponents. An early lead will create a clear opportunity for less Ball and more White tonight.
Hornets vs Nets SGP
Hornets first half -10
LaMelo Ball Under 19.5 points
Coby White Over 14.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Nets Hang Around
The Nets may be the complete inverse of the Jazz. While Utah stays competitive into the fourth quarter and then benches its contributing pieces to assure a loss, Brooklyn tends to hang around the whole game, then score garbage-time points to cover the full-game spread. The Nets are 5-1 ATS in their last six.
Hornets vs Nets SGP
Nets +17.5
Hornets first half -10
LaMelo Ball Under 19.5 points
Hornets vs Nets odds
Spread: Hornets -17.5 | Nets +17.5
Moneyline: Hornets -1700 | Nets +950
Over/Under: Over 219.5 | Under 219.5
Hornets vs Nets betting trend to know
The last five Hornets games have all cashed their Unders, and by an average of 5.7 points. Find more NBA betting trends for Hornets vs. Nets.
How to watch Hornets vs Nets
Location
Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
Date
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN SE-CHA, WLNY
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SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 04, 2026: Lazaro Montes #99 of the Seattle Mariners bats during the fifth inning of a spring training game against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on March 04, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Lazaro Montes, perhaps the single most powerful bat the Mariners have had in their minor leagues this decade, is a polarizing player within the scouting community. While many see his thunderous bat that launched 32 homers last season across two different levels and liken him to some of the great sluggers of our time, others are concerned about his contact rates and lack of positional versatility, positing he won’t ever hit enough to make his power play in game action. Regardless of where you align yourself on the spectrum of outcomes Laz ultimately arrives at, Montes is undoubtedly one of the best prospects in this entire system and deserves his flowers after an excellent 2025 season.
It won't make highlight reels, but Lazaro Montes quietly had a very good Spring Breakout game, going 3-for-3 with three singles, driving in two of the Mariners' three runs, and stealing a base. Nice controlled swing on a curveball here to gap a single. pic.twitter.com/qdoOYZNm8C
The calling card here is the power. With some mammoth home runs under his belt, his lefty swing is catered for lofting balls over the outfield fence, and thanks to his hulking frame (he’s listed at 6’5 210lb, but as someone who has stood next to him, I can assure you he’s bigger than that), he accomplishes that goal with regularity. The exit velocities are loud, and because he’s able to elevate the ball so frequently, they lead to tangible results on the field.
An interesting tidbit for Montes that gets underrated by most public outlets, Montes seems to have a better innate handle for the bat than many give him credit for. He’s shown stretches of time where he is very obviously avoiding the “sell out for power” mentality, poking singles the other way and making more contact with the ball. There’s a happy medium in there somewhere, and if he’s able to achieve a sustainable balance of contact and dynamic power, Montes quashes a lot of the concerns evaluators have around his offensive game.
Outside of the bat, Montes profiles as a corner outfielder at the next level, with a massive arm suited for right field. His speed, though perhaps a hair underrated, is still below average and won’t be a major part of his game, but what he lacks in footspeed he makes up for with incessant hustle. He is constantly giving max effort everywhere on the field, and it’s incredibly fun to watch as a fan. There’s never a doubt Montes deeply cares about doing his best for the team in any way he can, and it’s a refreshing style of play that fans naturally gravitate to.
Montes draws more extreme comps than just about any prospect in this system, and while a player with his skills is typically clumped into one bucket of corner outfielders or another, it’s doing Montes a disservice to remove all nuance from him as a player. Yes, the strikeouts are very high, and yes, he does not make a lot of contact, but how much of a concern is it if a then 20 year old is producing in Double-A? At what point does production reign supreme? To say Montes is a perfect prospect would be a lie, but to discount Montes’ accomplishments and cite only his worst trait as a universal dealbreaker is equally flawed. The risk associated around him is why he’s at sixth in our overall rankings, but with a supremely talented top of the farm, Montes was neck-and-neck with the next prospects on our list and still sits within our upper echelon of premium prospect talent.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 28: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball against Ousmane Dieng #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum on March 28, 2026 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. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA Rookie of the Year award can be a good indicator of future success, but it doesn’t always mean the player who won it will go on to have the best career of his class, nor does it mean the ones who didn’t win it can’t be just as successful. This year, the NBA’s top candidates are Kon Knueppel and Cooper Flagg, and both of them are special players with high ceilings. Still, the San Antonio Spurs made the made the right pick by selecting Dylan Harper at 2nd overall (sorry, Kevin O’Connor), and here’s why.
There are 19 NBA rookies playing at least 20 minutes per game in the 2025-26 season, and only three are logging at least 30 mpg (minimum 55 games played): Flagg, Knueppel, and VJ Edgecomb. All three have been mostly starers for their teams, while Harper is 12th among rookies in minutes at 22.3 per game with just two starts, meaning he doesn’t have as strong of a case for ROY as his fellow top four picks. Still, any rookie who has made himself a rotation player has done a good job, especially when they earn that spot on a quality team like the Spurs.
Keep in mind that only three Spurs rookies have averaged 30 minutes since 1988-89: Tim Duncan, David Robinson and Willie Anderson. A lot of that has to do with how stacked many Spurs teams have been over the years, but it’s also not their motto to put too much on rookies’ plates, especially the younger ones. While the three Spurs above all entered the league aged 21 or older and started from day 1, Harper plays mostly with the second unit. Yet notably, the five-man unit with Harper, Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama is one of their best.
That rotation is their 12th most-used this season, but part of the reason for its success is having added versatility with multiple ball handlers. The other is the sharp perimeter defense that buys Wemby the extra second to get where he wants.
Harper is a smart shot creator, averaging a 2.76 assist-to-turnover ratio: the best among rookies. Most of his passes and assists have gone to Johnson, who also passes him the ball the most. To boot, Harper is one of three rookies to score in double figures with a minimum 54.0 effective field goal percentage, and on the Spurs, he generates the third most 3-pointers (5.4) for his teammates after Castle and De’Aaron Fox.
Harper was never going to make as much noise as many 2nd overall picks do because of his role, but take out that bit of context, and what he’s done matters a lot to a team that has turned into a championship contender at least a year earlier than expected. Despite being a rookie, he’s someone coach Mitch Johnson can count on in big games and is a big part of why the team has a top-eight scoring bench. His rookie campaign may not be as glamourous as Flagg or Knueppel’s, but it’s still rare for a rookie to garner that much trust so early in their careers.
It’s always difficult to get a read on how award voters will lean, but while it’s probably safe to assume Harper won’t win Rookie of the Year, he at least deserves to be on one of the All-Rookie teams. He’s quick, strong and shifty with the ball, and while he has only started twice this year against two low-level opponents, the Spurs offense didn’t miss a beat in his minutes. He is in the top five among rookies in points in the paint and fastbreak points, but most importantly, he’s doing all this for a team that’s on the hunt for the league’s best record. Other rookies can put up similar numbers with no pressure since their team is going nowhere or their role is not in jeopardy, but Harper is under pressure to produce, because if he doesn’t, the Spurs can simply turn to Fox or Castle for more minutes.
If Harper has one weakness, it’s his 3-point shooting. Almost all of his attempts are open to wide-open, making league average efficiency with 4-6 feet of space, but only 31.2 percent with six feet or more space. Spurs fans should not worry about this being a long term problem because he works hard, and Chip Engelland’s secret sauce has been closely replicated by the team. For now, he can focus on becoming a screener after a handoff if opponents scheme him out by daring him to shoot, which will help him rack up assists and is a good counter by attacking the space.
There’s only seven games left in the regular season, so it is doubtful anyone will learn anything new from the crop of youngsters at this point. But we so know who Rookie Harper, and he’s earned himself an A- on my scale. The scary thing for the rest of the league is he has much more room to grow.
The team will play at the newly renovated TD Coliseum, which just underwent a $300 million renovation and seats 18,000 fans. The hope is to attract more talent to the Islanders organization, as the team will play in a more promising hockey environment, which Bridgeport could not compete with.
Hamilton offers a much better venue and a stronger hockey market.
Feb 4, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill is celebrate as the Stars honor their 2026 Winter Olympics hockey players before the game against the St. Louis Blues at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Jerome Miron/Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Stars have extended the contract of general manager Jim Nill for two years, keeping in place the architect of the team headed to the playoffs again after advancing to the Western Conference final each of the past three seasons.
Nill has been the Stars GM since 2013, and his contract was only through this season until the announcement. His extension through the 2027-28 season was finalized less than 24 hours after a prominent job opened when the Toronto Maple Leafs fired GM Brad Treliving.
“Jim has established himself as one of the most respected general managers in the NHL,” Stars owner Tom Gaglardi said. “Through his roster management and talent evaluation, he has positioned our franchise to be amongst the best teams in our league in both the present and future. I’m thrilled that he will continue to guide the Stars.”
Going into a game Tuesday night at Boston, the Stars’ 100 points rank second in the NHL behind Central Division foe Colorado. Dallas already has qualified for its fifth consecutive playoff appearance.
The 67-year-old Nill was selected as the NHL’s top GM each of the past three seasons by a panel that includes all of the league’s general managers. The only current GMs that have been with their teams longer are Kevin Cheveldayoff in Winnipeg and Doug Armstrong in St. Louis.
Since Nill began with the Stars before the 2013-14 season, their 63 postseason wins are the second most in the NHL. They’ve qualified for the playoffs nine times in that span, and made the Stanley Cup Final in 2020. He previously was in the front office of the Detroit Red Wings.
“I’m fortunate to work with incredibly talented and passionate individuals that have helped our franchise become one of the best in the NHL,” Nill said. “I’m extremely grateful to have the opportunity to continue as general manager of the Stars.”
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