PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Alex Bump and Sean Couturier scored in the first three minutes of the game and the Philadelphia Flyers used the fast start to cruise to a 5-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night.
Bump, Noah Cates and Christian Dvorak had a goal and an assist each for the Flyers, who have won six of their last eight games to stay in the chase for a wild-card playoff spot. Denver Barkey also had a goal for Philadelphia and Samuel Ersson made 25 saves.
Connor Bedard scored his 30th goal of the season for Chicago to become the third Blackhawks player with a 30-goal season at age 20 or younger, joining Jonathan Toews (34 in 2008-09) and Eric Daze (30 in 1995-96).
Spencer Knight had 37 saves for Chicago.
Bump scored just 48 seconds into the game and Couturier made it 2-0 at 2:33 of the first.
Barkey made it 3-0 at 5:14 of the second before Bedard got one back.
Cates scored his fourth goal in his last five games with 7:19 to play in the second to make it 4-1. Dvorak scored with 25 seconds left in the second period. With an assist on Dvorak's goal, Cates has 40 points this season, a career single-season high.
Chicago's Sacha Boisvert played in his first NHL game. The 18th overall pick in the 2024 draft signed his entry-level contract with the Blackhawks on March 16.
The Flyers outshot the Blackhawks 42-26 and won 61.8% of the faceoffs. The Blackhawks, who are well out of the playoff picture, went scoreless on three power-play chances while the Flyers were 0 for 4 on the power play.
Up next
Blackhawks: Play at the New York Rangers on Friday night.
Former Dodgers player Steve Garvey (second from right) gestures next to former announcer Jaime Jarrín after unveiling a sign celebrating the team’s 2025 World Series championship Thursday. AP
“It’s like the same thing that happened with the parade,” veteran infielder Miguel Rojas said earlier in the afternoon. “The first time, you don’t know what to expect, and it goes by fast. But this year, you know what to expect. You know how you’re gonna be feeling. You’re gonna have a better understanding of, ‘OK, I want to be present. I don’t want to miss much of it.’”
Rojas didn’t.
Instead, in a 30-minute on-field presentation that included every outside-the-box idea the club could seemingly think of –– from pyrotechnic player introductions, to fighter jet flyovers, to a ceremonial first pitch delivered from Magic Johnson to Shohei Ohtani, and of course the unveiling of the franchise’s ninth championship banner and outfield plaque –– it was Rojas and fellow World Series hero Freddie Freeman who were the leading stars of the show.
First, the pair were featured in a video skit with actor Will Ferrell that was played on the Dodger Stadium scoreboards –– in which Ferrell sneaks around the Dodgers’ clubhouse with the team’s two most recent World Series trophies before being discovered by the players.
Then, from out of the center field fence, Rojas and Freeman appeared on the back of a Dodger blue Cadillac driven by Ferrell, holding up the two Commissioner’s Trophies as the car paced around the warning track.
It was overwrought, completely cheesy, yet devoured all the same by an adoring and raucous sell-out crowd.
In recent years, the Dodgers have become known for their ambitious in-game presentation almost as much as their on-field dominance. And on Thursday, they took their chance to combine both.
Eventually, attention turned to the actual game action, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto kicking off the team’s bid for a World Series three-peat with a 5:30 p.m. first pitch.
Still, celebratory remembrances of the team’s 2025 title aren’t over yet.
On Friday, there will be another pregame ceremony in which the members of last year’s roster will receive their World Series rings.
And from there, three-peat pressure will follow the Dodgers throughout the season, as they try to become only the third team in MLB’s expansion era (since 1961) to win a title in three straight seasons.
“Yeah, it’s out there, but you’ve got to kind of block it out and focus on playing,” manager Dave Roberts said. “But understandably so, we put ourselves in a good spot that people want to talk about it. That’s a good thing.”
For the Dodgers, so, too, was the elongated pregame ceremony celebrating it all.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 30 points, nine rebounds and seven assists as the Orlando Magic stopped a six-game losing streak with a 111-107 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday.
Banchero logged his third straight game of 30-plus points for the Magic (39-34), who fell below the play-in cut in the Eastern Conference during their skid that came immediately after a seven-game winning streak had propelled them into fifth place.
This was the 25th time in Banchero's four-year career that he logged at least 30 points, five rebounds and five assists. Only Tracy McGrady (66) has more such games.
Desmond Bane added 23 points and Jalen Suggs returned from a two-game absence to an illness with eight points and four assists in 34 minutes for Orlando, which forged a three-way tie with Charlotte and Miami for eighth. Atlanta (41-32), Toronto (40-32) and Philadelphia (40-33) are just ahead, with the top six teams in each conference guaranteed a spot in the playoffs without having to go through the play-in games.
DeMar DeRozan had 33 points and 11 assists for the Kings, who sliced a nine-point deficit with a little more than two minutes left down to 116-115 on Daeqwon Plowden's 3-pointer with 50.4 seconds to go. Suggs answered with a 3-pointer with 27.4 seconds remaining to give the Magic a bigger cushion.
Plowden added 23 points on 6-for-10 shooting from 3-point range and Precious Achiuwa had 14 points and nine rebounds for Sacramento (19-55), which is in last place in the Western Conference.
Up next
Sacramento plays at Atlanta on Saturday. Orlando plays at Toronto on Sunday.
OTTAWA, CANADA - MARCH 26: Rickard Rakell #67 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates his first-period goal against the Ottawa Senators with teammates Parker Wotherspoon #28, Ryan Graves #27 on March 26, 2026 at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by André Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Pregame
The Penguins had called up forwards Avery Hayes and Joona Koppanen during the day, but Anthony Mantha is able to play so the lineup of skaters remains the same with Stuart Skinner in net.
Not the best of starts, Erik Karlsson is quick to the penalty box for tripping. With Karlsson unavailable to kill penalties, Parker Wotherspoon and Sam Girard are on the ice and they do a lot of watching as the Senators work the puck low and Brady Tkachuk fires a cross-ice pass to the undefended Drake Batherson. Batherson quickly wires it to the back of the net. 1-0 Ottawa.
Pittsburgh stabilizes after that and stacks a few good shifts. They tie the game when Erik Karlsson steps up and knocks down a stretch pass attempt and sends a pass to the middle for Rickard Rakell. Rakell whips a shot from distance that hits its mark. 1-1 with 6:14 to play in the period.
Shots end up 10-10 after 20 minutes, one goal aside.
Second period
Sidney Crosby starts the period but then leaves to the lockerroom. It didn’t take long into the second period before the team’s PR wing announced Crosby would be out for the remainder of the night.
Cousins gets redemption for his lost chance in the first with some good luck in the second period for a goal. Cousins tried to pass the puck on a 2-on-1 that gets created after Kris Letang is out of position to stop a long stretch pass. Cousins’ pass hit Girard’s skate and bounced right back to Cousins to guide into the open net. 2-1 Ottawa.
Egor Chinakhov hits a post right after the goal. The Pens are playing well.
Pittsburgh gets their first power play late in the period when Dylan Cozens bowls over Wotherpoon. Noel Acciari is out there to take the power play faceoff in Crosby’s absence and almost scores from in tight. Then Anthony Mantha follows that shot up with Ullmark sprawled out and the shot hits the goalie’s helmet and stays out seconds before the buzzer.
Shots are 15-6 PIT in the second period, they play a strong period but aren’t able to cash in on the scoreboard. 2-2 game heading into the final frame.
Third period
The Pens get a golden opportunity when Artem Zub clears the puck into the stands, granting 1:27 of a 5v3 power play. Karlsson gets a few shots, Mantha gets one, then Karlsson sets up Rakell to hammer a shot that glances off of Ullmark and into the net. 3-2 Pittsburgh gets their first lead of the night with 18:17 to go.
Ottawa answers soon after. Drake Batherson sneaks behind the defense, finds a rebound and slams it home. The Pens’ staff takes a look and makes a dreaded goalie interference call. Claude Giroux did back into Skinner and made some contact with Skinner’s stick. They take a look and deem it a good goal, because of course they do. Pens to the PK.
Luckily Pittsburgh kills off the penalty but the tenor of the game has tilted back to Ottawa being the dominant team.
Bryan Rust is the latest Penguin to leave for the lockerroom with about two minutes left, but only briefly.
Tim Stutzle gets extremely lucky his lifted puck hits the very top of the glass to narrowly avoid a delay of game penalty with a minute to go, this game heads for extra time.
Overtime
Kindel-Novak-Karlsson start OT for the Pens, Ottawa gains puck possession immediately. Later Karlsson and Brady Tkachuk race up the ice, Tkachuk wins and the Sens get it back the other way for a Stutzle breakaway. Skinner stops the backhand deke attempt.
Rust gets a chance spoiled by Ullmark aggressively diving to poke it away. Back at the other end Skinner makes another stop on Cozens and then Tkachuk.
The goaltending exhibition continues, Skinner makes more stops, Karlsson springs Novak on a breakaway that Ullmark stretches a leg out to stop.
Tkachuk gets one more chance as the clock nears 0:00, Skinner fights off the shot with his arm.
Shootout
Batherson opens up the shootout, Skinner gets a big piece of the backhand shot but the puck rolls over the goalie’s pad and into the net.
Rakell starts for the Pens, runs out of room and Ullmark stops him from in tight.
—
Stutzle takes the next turn, Skinner stays with him and shuts it down.
Chinakhov is the second shooter of the second round, his five-hole shot beats Ullmark. 1-1 in the SO.
—
Shane Pinto leads off Round 3, Skinner stones him.
Kindel is up with the chance to win the game. His low shot takes care of business, shootout win!
Some thoughts
Crosby’s status will obviously be a huge development moving forward. He left for the locker-room late in the first period after getting tangled up with a Senator and then flexing his left leg (Crosby injured the right knee during the Olympics).. He came out and played the first 38 seconds of the second period then left again, this time for good. Never know what’s what in the heat of the moment but it sure didn’t look good for the team to announce basically right away that he was done for the night, the big question now is how long that might be. Didn’t look to be that violent or bad of contact but it’s troubling to see the captain leave a game like that.
It was quite the surprise when Parker Wotherspoon came out of no where to be a legitimately good first pair defender and hold that level for a long time. Now the surprise is that Wotherspoon’s level of play is slumping back towards the journeyman/replacement-type of player he was for a while. Very troubling development there, it can kind of be taken for granted how great Wotherspoon has been and as an individual his exceeding of expectations is right up there with anyone as a reason for why the Penguins are in a playoff chase and not among the dregs of the league like all the preseason prognostications had them.
It was also not a banner night for Letang, as has been his norm lately. His play on the second goal was another poor decision, after getting crunched by Cousins in the second period Letang would misplay the puck a couple times and narrowly avoided being the culprit for another goal thanks to Skinner. You could give him the benefit of the doubt for playing in pain if it wasn’t about the norm anyways.
Ottawa should trade those red third jerseys to Vegas, very gaudy.
Dealing with no Malkin and then no Crosby, the Pens needed players to step up. Karlsson did, as he has so often this season. Nice to see Rakell keep things going with a pair of goals and an assist too. Chinakhov was dangerously close multiple times to scoring.
Muse falls to 0-for-9 at challenging goalie interference. He doesn’t know what it is because no one really knows what it is. I guess this one was borderline worth it, there was a decent case but not exactly a conclusive one. Maybe for now Muse should leave challenges only for blatant stuff. Of course he has to challenge when he thinks it’s there but for one reason or another his (and his staff’s) definition of GI doesn’t match the officials and that probably has to be addressed internally for “could they actually reverse it?” instead of the default of “was there something there”.
Out of town, the Islanders beat the Stars (boo) and the Canadiens beat the Blue Jackets (yay). That meant for a few minutes at the end of the game the Penguins could have had the range of outcomes to leave the night in second place in the division with a win or OTL or below the playoff line completely had they suffered a regulation loss. Fortunately for them, it ended up being the former, though both CBJ and NYI are a single point back.
You almost never see an OT with 10 shots on goal the quality of what happened tonight and no goals. Great action and some thrilling 3-on-3. All OT isn’t fun but this one was super entertaining and somehow couldn’t find a conclusion due to the caliber of goaltending at both ends of the ice.
On that note, Skinner was outstanding, particularly in overtime but he also answered the bell and made several high quality saves. All Ottawa got were basically ones he had no chance in via defensive miscues and a tough bounce. The Sergei Murashov chatter around the internet will never go away because the prospect goalie is always the most popular guy on the internet, if nothing else
Two shootout wins for the Penguins in the last five days! To take a line from Dodgeball: do you believe in unlikelihoods?
The Penguins played well in this game, as good as they’ve looked in quite a while. It wasn’t perfect by any means but a well-earned victory on the road against a very hot opponent is a solid accomplishment. The cloud that remains hanging will be hearing the status of Crosby after this one.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MARCH 26: Ian Seymour #61 of the Tampa Bay Rays delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals in the sixth inning on Opening Day at Busch Stadium on March 26, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It looked like Rays fans were set for a joyous Opening Day, with the reshaped lineup scoring seven runs on a whopping 17 hits. Jonathan Aranda homered, multiple players had three-hit days, Junior Caminero reached base four times while every Cardinals pitcher tried to pitch around him.
This game could have been a statement of intent from a group hungry to get back to the postseason in a highly-competitive AL East.
But the story of Thursday’s opener is how the Rays lost in spite of their offensive output.
Fans spent most of Thursday trying to find out who was broadcasting the game, only to flip to the correct channel as the Cardinals were batting around.
Rasmussen went five strong innings to start, allowing just one run on a solo homer from JJ Wetherholt. After the Rays big inning in the top of the sixth to give them a 7-1 lead, Kevin Cash rightfully felt comfortable going to his bullpen to pitch the final four innings.
He turned to Ian Seymour, who was effective in his rookie season a year ago in a mixed role. Seymour’s 2026 campaign couldn’t have started any worse. He gave up five consecutive hits, including doubles to Masyn Winn and Jordan Walker. All five of the runners that reached base came around to score, as did three more.
After Seymour quickly let the Cardinals back in the game, Cash then turned to two of his high-leverage arms, Garrett Cleavinger and Griffin Jax. Cleavinger let the hit parade continue, allowing singles to Pedro Pages and Victor Scott II. A sac fly from Wetherholt made it 7-6, and then it was time for Jax. While there are no announced roles for any Rays reliever, it was fair to assume that Jax would be the top reliever to start the season with Edwin Uceta sidelined.
The first batter he faced was DH Ivan Herrera, who was able to tie the game with another sac fly to right field. In stepped Alec Burleson, the Cardinals’ most-dangerous hitter against right-handed pitching. Jax got him into a two-strike count, making good use of his sweeper, but when he grooved a fastball Burleson was sitting on it, and launched it into the right field stands to give St. Louis a two-run lead and cap off an eight-run inning.
It’s game one. I’m not here to tell you the season is over, but after last year when Rays fans were frustrated that the bullpen could never hold a one- or two-run lead, it was even more soul-crushing to watch them completely capitulate against a rebuilding squad in the Cardinals.
Now, we must sit in our misery on Friday’s off-day, before the series resumes on Saturday. And instead of ace Drew Rasmussen in the mound, we’ll have to prepare to watch Joe Boyle’s electric stuff and erratic command. Boyle is not known for working deep into games, so we’re likely to see another four or more innings from this group.
Let’s get positive for a minute. On the position player side, Kevin Cash seems to have a bench he trusts, and a roster that he can tinker with to get the most out of role players like Ben Williamson, Nick Fortes, and Richie Palacios. He can rely on his three regulars, and mix-and-match the rest. And on Thursday, the Rays’ offensive approach was clear: see ball, hit ball. They swung early and often, and made lots of contact.
Even if the bullpen does not take giant strides in 2026, I’d wager that the Rays will win most of their games moving forward if they get anywhere near 17 hits.
Feb 21, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) reacts against the Orlando Magic in the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Athletic’s Fred Katz wrote about 10 players who have made giant strides in at least one element of their games. It should come as no surprise that Suns guard Collin Gillespie made the cut for his list of 10 players.
His First Team featured Jalen Duren, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jaylon Tyson, Ajay Mitchell, and Neemius Queta. The Second Team included Collin Gillespie, Ryan Rollins, Keyonte George, Anthony Black, and Peyton Watson. It is quite a list of emerging young talent around the association, and Gillespie deserves to be in the mix with his breakout season.
Not only is he getting national attention, but he is on the verge of breaking the franchise’s single-season three-point record. He is now just six threes away from tying Quentin Richardson, and seven away from holding the record to himself with nine games left on the schedule.
"It would be special. Definitely something I never thought about, but it would be cool to do."
Collin Gillespie on what breaking the franchise three-point record would mean to him, while remaining focused on playing, "the right way." pic.twitter.com/LU7U6pvErr
His snippet on Collin Gillespie, who he had on the Second Team, can be found below.
Collin Gillespie, guard, Phoenix Suns
“The Suns live in a perpetual state of too many point guards or not enough point guards. Either they have Goran Dragić, Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas, or they are wedging Bradley Beal into running the offense.
Coming into this season, they were closer to the latter.
Jalen Green, who’s not a distributor but will dance with the basketball, was out. Beyond Devin Booker, there wasn’t much creation. So, the burden fell on three guys: Grayson Allen, who has handled the rock more than ever; Dillon Brooks, who was a contender to make one of these two teams; and Gillespie, the most surprising player on one of the league’s most surprising squads.
Coming into 2025-26, Gillespie had played as many minutes in the G League as he had in the NBA. Now, he’s fourth in the league in 3-point makes.
His spot-up shooting is an intuitive fit alongside Booker. Confidence has been built in the process. If Gillespie notices a sliver of daylight, he’ll hoist a long ball. He’s gone from riding benches to running first units. And the Suns are better off for it.“
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 12: Collin Gillespie #12 of the Phoenix Suns rebounds the ball against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 12, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s always interesting to get a national perspective on our players. And more specifically, an overarching, big-picture blurb on the Suns’ guard rotation. As noted above, his role entering the season was not certain, given the core trio of Booker, Green, and Allen. He has quickly inserted himself as not only a key piece but a staple. Dillon Brooks tabbed him as “Villain Jr.” during preseason, seeing the edge and grit he played with during practice and camp. It has certainly translated to the NBA regular season as well.
One of my bold takes entering the season was that Collin would emerge as a legitimate 6th MOY candidate. It sounded homerish and ridiculous at the time to some, but now, he’s played himself OUT of it entirely by starting too many games to even qualify. His emergence has been fun to track, and it’s a reminder of why it’s important to take a shot on developing young(ish) talent.
Gillespie will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and his return must be a priority for this front office.
PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 25: Jerami Grant #9 of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrates after a three-point basket during the first half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Moda Center on March 25, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (23-50) will play the Portland Trailblazers (37-37) 9pm Friday at Moda Center. Both clubs last played Wednesday, with Portland extending its win streak to two against the Bucks 130-99, behind guard Scoot Henderson’s 23 points; and the Mavericks losing 142-135 against the Nuggets in Denver, their fifth straight setback. They were led by Cooper Flagg’s 26 points and Naji Marshall’s 22.
The Blazers, who clinched a spot in the Play-in Tournament with a win Monday, are 23-17 since the calendar turned to 2026 after stumbling out of the gate to a 14-20 start, a record built largely by beating the teams they’re supposed to beat. They’ve followed form thus far in this four-game homestand, dispatching Brooklyn and Milwaukee before facing the Mavericks and Wizards this weekend. They’ve also notched some impressive upset victories like the one last week against a feisty Minnesota team playing without Anthony Edwards, scratching out a tough 108-104 road win after blowing a lead that ballooned to 18 in the first half. The team has continued handling business since a left fibula stress reaction sidelined its second-leading scorer, wing Shaedon Sharpe, Feb. 6.
Friday’s game will be the third and final time these clubs meet in 2025-26 and the first time since Dec. 27, when Portland won at home 125-122. Dallas prevailed in overtime 138-133 at home Nov. 16, as four Mavericks- Flagg, Daniel Gafford, P.J.Washington, and Klay Thompson- scored 19 or more.
Strange brew
The Blazers are a pretty good, pretty weird team that ranks top-five league-wide in offensive rebounds, total rebounds, possessions, field goal attempts, three-point attempts, free throw attempts, second-chance points, and turnovers. Five rotation players take more than 6.2 three-pointers per game. They’ve got size that’s hard to match up with in center Donovan Clingan and wing Deni Avdija, and a third tone-setter in power forward Jerami Grant, whose toughness is hard to match. When the Timberwolves’ defense clamped down in the game’s final minutes March 20, Grant scored his team’s final eight points- a three to retake the lead, a three to keep the lead, and a pair of foul shots to ice it.
Grant returned Wednesday to hit four of 10 three-pointers against the Bucks, but when he sat against Brooklyn Monday with a calf injury, third-year forward Toumani Camara stepped up with 35 points, connecting on nine of 11 three-pointers. Camara’s lone qualifying two-point attempt in the game was a bold drive in which the lefty deftly switched hands for the finish when met at the rim by two Nets. His outburst Monday, a career high, followed up a four-of-six performance from deep in the loss against Denver.
Cling peach
Donovan Clingan, the league leader in offensive rebounding at 4.6 per contest, has taken a big step in his second year. The big man entered the league as a center in the traditional mold, and with 33 double-doubles and 1.7 blocks per game he’s done well in that role this season, but is also developing into a real three-point threat as the Blazers heat up down the stretch. In scoring a career high 28 last week against the Pacers he made three of five from deep, though the trend was already on display in two games early this season against Dallas, as Clingan made 14 of 21 field goals, including four of 10 three-pointers. It’s a fun development for a player who averaged 0.1 three-point attempts per game in his college career at UConn, and a huge challenge for the Mavericks, who missed Gafford Wednesday as he sat with a shoulder injury. In the first three minutes of the third quarter against the Bucks Clingan tip dunked a Camara miss from the wing, outfought Jericho Sims for a board on the other end, made a top of the key three that he was ready for when Avdija passed up after penetrating, cut for a reachback jam on a feed from Jrue Holiday, and set several hard screens. As with many of the Blazers’ strong suits, the offensive rebounding led by Clingan is not limited on the roster to his contributions. Reserve center Robert Williams III hauls in 2.4 in 17 minutes per game, a comparable clip.
Downhill Deni
Portland’s team identity centers around three core tenets: second chance-opportunities, high-volume three point shooting, and aggressive drives to the rim. Deni Avdija handles that third leg of the stool, softening up defenses by relentlessly taking it to the rack, where the first-time All-Star is a punishing finisher through contact, and by getting to the line, where he makes just over 80% of his league second-most 9.2 free throws. Though Avdija attempts a lot more threes, he’s got an offensive game that will look familiar to observers of Flagg attacking and finishing with little regard for his own safety.
The Blazers, who are separated from the Clippers by half a game as the two teams jockey for eighth place, will be highly motivated to maintain the momentum they’ve built so far at home. With a victory they would nudge their record above .500 for the first time since they were 6-5 on Nov. 12. The Mavericks, themselves a pretty weird team, figure to provide a more significant roadblock than the Nets or Bucks, however. In its last three games Dallas has taken two to overtime, ultimately dropping both contests to the Clippers and Warriors, and held firm against Denver, clawing within a point with three minutes remaining in the third. Nuggets guard Jamal Murray cooked the Mavericks from beyond the three-point line Wednesday, making nine of his 14 tries, but for as many three pointers as the Blazers attempt each game, they only make them at a rate of .339, good for 29th in the league.
How to watch/listen
You can watch the game on NBA TV, KFAA Channel 29, or MAVS TV (streaming), or listen at 97.1FM KEGL (English), and 99.1FM KFZO (español).
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 20: Jordan Beck #27 of the Colorado Rockies greets manager Warren Schaeffer #4 as teams are announced on the opening day of Spring Training games at Salt River Fields on Friday, February 20, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Kyle Cooper)
Tomorrow is Opening Day for the Rockies, which means we can officially close the door on spring training 2026. However, it’s still worth reflecting on in hopes of predicting what they might do in the regular season.
On Tuesday, we asked you to grade the Rockies’ spring training. More than half of you gave them a solid B, but 95% of you had them passing the test (C or better). Zero people gave them a failing grade, which I think is a good indicator of fans’ views of the team compared to a year ago.
However, the games start counting today and we will finally get to see how much the Rockies are able to improve after their new and improved spring training regimen and front office refresh.
Are you surprised by the results? Do you still agree with how you voted? Let us know in the comments!
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NEW YORK (AP) — Ilya Sorokin gave the New York Islanders the type of elite goaltending they needed, facing one of the NHL’s top teams while in the thick of a playoff chase, making 26 saves to beat the Dallas Stars 2-1 on Thursday night.
Sorokin was locked in from the drop of the puck, denying Colin Blackwell on a shorthanded breakaway 10 minutes in and making a handful of other 10-bell saves on quality scoring chances in the first period alone. He was perfect on a pair of penalty kills, one each in the second and third periods, and allowed only one goal on a 6-on-5 with three minutes left to Matt Duchene.
Bo Horvat scored his 30th goal of the season five minutes in and Calum Ritchie later picked up the 11th of his rookie year to provide enough offensive support. Matthew Schaefer, the face of the franchise at 18 years old, assisted on each to reach 54 points and tie Hall of Famer Denis Potvin for the second most by a rookie defenseman in Islanders history.
Despite allowing Horvat’s goal off the rush and Ritchie’s when it went in off his left skate, Jake Oettinger was excellent in his own right. Oettinger stopped 23 of the 25 shots he faced as Dallas lost a third game in a row and for the fourth time in five games.
This was a better defensive effort for the Stars than their sloppy defeat Tuesday night at home against New Jersey. They have already clinched a playoff berth, are likely to face Minnesota in the first round and are spending the remainder of the regular season trying to get their team's game in order.
The Islanders are clawing to get in as part of a fierce Eastern Conference race of seven teams vying for five spots.
Up next
Stars: Make the second stop on their four-game trip Saturday at Pittsburgh, when Mikko Rantanen could return from the injury that has sidelined him since the Olympics.
Islanders: Host two-time defending champion Florida on Saturday.
MONTREAL (AP) — Zachary Bolduc scored the winner with his first goal since Dec. 23, and the Montreal Canadiens edged the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1 on Thursday night.
Jayden Struble — with his first of the season — also scored, and Jakub Dobes made 25 saves as Montreal won its third consecutive game.
Damon Severson scored for Columbus, and Jet Greaves stopped 18 shots.
The Blue Jackets fell to 19-4-4 since Rick Bowness replaced Dean Evason as head coach Jan. 12. They climbed from 28th overall to second in the Metropolitan Division ahead of Thursday’s games.
The Canadiens, meanwhile, sit third in the Atlantic Division with 11 games remaining.
Bolduc ripped a shot into the top-left corner 4:36 into the third period to snap a 31-game goalless skid and give the Canadiens a 2-1 lead.
Struble ended a drought of his own when he opened the scoring at 9:54 in the first period. He snuck a wrist shot past Greaves short side for his first goal since Nov. 26, 2024.
Two minutes later, Severson got Columbus on the board by beating Dobes blocker-side on a 2-on-1 after Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson was caught up ice.
With an assist on Struble’s goal, Hutson became the fourth defenseman in Canadiens history to register 70 points in a season — and the first since Chris Chelios in 1988-89. Larry Robinson and Guy Lapointe also reached the mark.
Up next
Blue Jackets: Host the San Jose Sharks on Saturday.
Canadiens: Visit the Nashville Predators on Saturday.
Kon Knueppel (L.) drives to the rim during the Hornets-Knicks game on March 26, 2026.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Knicks faced their toughest test, by far, in two weeks.
And they ran out of the gym.
Their defense, ranked No. 1 in the NBA since Jan. 21, turned into a porous mess for much of an ugly 114-103 defeat to the Hornets. The Knicks allowed a younger and faster opponent to run rampant, and their seven straight wins entering Thursday felt like a paper streak when it ended Thursday with a thud.
Kon Knueppel, a real threat to snatch Rookie of the Year from Cooper Flagg, scored 25 points in 37 minutes for the Hornets, knocking down 6 of 10 3-pointers. Four of his teammates had at least 17 points as the Hornets shot 53 percent overall and 39 percent on treys.
But the Knicks’ biggest problems were threefold:
They were killed by Charlotte’s pace, which started from the opening tip and never relented.
They were killed by Charlotte’s pick-and-rolls.
They were killed on rebounds.
“They just kicked our behinds on the glass,” coach Mike Brown said. “We need more production on the glass than what we got from a handful of guys. If you’re going to go on the road and let a team outrebound you 43-24, it’s not even close because we didn’t put bodies on bodies. We didn’t hit first.”
The Knicks, meanwhile, got little offensively outside of Jalen Brunson, who had a spectacular first quarter but otherwise fizzled while finishing with 26 points and 13 assists. Karl-Anthony Towns logged just 22 minutes with eight shot attempts, scoring 13 points. The All-Star center wasn’t part of the closing lineup for a second consecutive game.
The Knicks trailed for the final three quarters and by as many as 21. It was worse than the final score.
Kon Knueppel drives on Mikal Bridges during the Knicks’ 114-103 loss to the Hornets on March 26, 2026 in Charlotte, N.C. AP
“They played very well. They were physical,” Josh Hart said. “I just felt like we were a step slow. When another team is playing at that pace and with that physicality, it’s not going to be good day.”
Hart added the Hornets played as if “shot out of a cannon.”
It’s totally different than what the Knicks witnessed in their previous matchup against the Hornets, way back in December.
“Yeah, 100 percent,” Brunson said. “From the outside looking in, it looks like they all bought in to playing a certain style and bought in to playing together. And they looked great.”
Jalen Brunson shoots a fadeaway jumper during the Knicks’ loss to the Hornets. NBAE via Getty Images
By the time the Knicks turned up the intensity late in the fourth quarter, it was too late. LaMelo Ball iced the game with two free throws to put the Hornets up by 12 with two minutes left, and Miles Bridges’ tomahawk jam in the final seconds was the final insult.
It was a discouraging start to a four-game road slate for the Knicks, with tougher games coming at Oklahoma City and Houston.
Before this, the Knicks feasted on lesser opponents — including a slew of tankers — having toppled seven straight teams currently with losing records.
The Hornets are trending in the opposite direction of tanking. They’re sharpshooting and surging, riding Knueppel and a revived Ball to a legitimate hope for the playoffs.
In fact, Thursday was the first time since 2001 that the Knicks and Hornets faced off this late in a season with both teams sporting above-.500 records. It’s also a potential first-round playoff matchup, depending on how the jumbled conference standings shake out over the final two-plus weeks.
The Knicks (48-26), who could’ve clinched a playoff spot with a win, now sit third in the East. The Hornets (39-34), winners of five straight, are tied with the Heat for eighth.
Charlotte certainly looked like the better team Thursday.
“Our pick-and-roll defense wasn’t good,” Brown said. “And part of the reason why it wasn’t good is because they set great physical screens. And we didn’t do a good job protecting one another in the pick-and-roll.”
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 26: Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks grabs the ball while guarded by Moussa Diabate #14 of the Charlotte Hornets in the first half during their game at Spectrum Center on March 26, 2026 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. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Before tonight, the Knicks (48*-26) had won seven consecutive games. Admittedly, some of those foes were lightweight competition. The Hornets (39-34) had won four straight and compiled a 22-6 record since late January. Charlotte had the fourth-best offensive rating, New York had the third. We were salivating for a shootout at the Spectrum Center. Truth be told, these teams shot with almost equal efficiency—CHO hit 53% and 39%, NYK made 51% and 38%. Although the visitors actually took four more field goal attempts, they were clobbered on the boards 43-24, attempted only 29 longballs, and their bench was outscored 26-17. Final score, 114-103.
Believe it or not, the same Hornets that laid sneaker prints all over the Knicks in the first quarter are ranked 25th in the league for pace. Over the first six minutes, Charlotte scored 24 points, outrebounded New York 4:1, and made 9-of-14 from the field. The nucleus of their top-tier offense, Lamelo Ball (22 PTS), Brandon Miller (21 PTS), and Kon Knueppel (26 PTS), had combined for four made three-pointers and 24 points.
After trailing by 10, the Knicks realized the game was underway. They held the home team to two points over the next four minutes, thanks to inspired play by Mitchell Robinson (4 PTS, 6 RBS, +10) and Jalen Brunson (26 PTS, 13 AST, 0-of-6 3PT), and mounted a 15-5 rally. In the final two minutes, with the Knicks behind by one, Knueppel and Miller hit triples, but Mohamed Diawara (5 PTS) scored on a layup and three, and Brunson drilled free throws. By the buzzer, the Knicks trailed by two. Of their 36 points, Brunson had 17. The Hornets were shooting 70% from the field, while the Knicks had hit 64%.
Which team would cool off first? Both, actually, but not by much. Through the half, Charlotte shot 58% and 40%, and New York went 54% and 46%. After a sloppy start to Q2 that allowed the Hornets to take another eight-point lead, OG Anunoby (17 PTS), Brunson, and Robinson restored order. Jalen set up a pair of alley-oops for Mitch and dished kickouts for OG, who knocked down three triples. Nevertheless, Charlotte stayed in the driver’s seat, led by Coby White (17 PTS) off the bench, and they were ahead by 10 again at halftime, 65-55.
Brunson was scoreless in the second quarter, but Anunoby picked up the slack. He had 14 points on 4-of-6 three-point shooting. The other starters didn’t show up, combining for nine points, and the visitors had been outrebounded 20-12. Across the court, four of Charlotte’s starters were in double-digits, combining for 49 points. Plus, White had 12 off the bench. The Knicks’ offense would have to be more multi-dimensional to mount a comeback in the second half.
Kemba Walker holds Charlotte’s record for three-pointers made in a season with 260. Knueppel, who took the NBA record for most triples by a rookie, added six more to his total (253) tonight. He is sure to overtake Kemba sometime before the Hornets come to Madison Square Garden for the final game of the regular season. For a few minutes, it looked like he might break the record tonight. In the third quarter, the rookie phenom and Ball went on a shooting spree and took advantage of New York’s accommodating defense to stretch their lead to 15.
NBA: Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel just became the first player age 22 or younger to make 250 three-pointers in an NBA season.pic.twitter.com/7uTcU75JbB
Karl-Anthony Towns (13 PTS, 3 RBS) posted seven points (he scored just two before halftime) and Brunson added a few more, but they couldn’t stop Knueppel and the pace-pushing hosts. Nor could they get rebounds, being out-boarded 11-4 in the third period. Our heroes started the quarter poorly and ended it the same way, allowing that goober Grant Williams of all people to hit a three-pointer with seven seconds left. At the break, the score was 94-76.
Of note, coach Mike Brown sent Diawara back into the game in the third quarter, and he subbed Tyler Kolek instead of Jose Alvarado, who was a dud in five first-half minutes. Mike was looking for a spark from somewhere. He didn’t find it. In the fourth quarter, Anunoby drilled another longball, and KAT had a nice bucket off the glass, but the guests still fell behind by 21.
In the quarter, the Hornets committed six turnovers (of their total 17), which allowed the heavy-footed Knickerbockers to think about a comeback. But their shooting turned frigid at the worst possible time. All those golden opportunities were squandered by one-and-done misses. Almost by accident, they were within 12 with three minutes remaining. Robinson grabbed an O-Board (finally!) and kicked the rock to Hart, who had hit a long two to cap a 15-4 run at 2:20.
Down 12 with 1:17 left, Josh Hart hit a three-pointer. Ball missed at the other end, but New York watched as Sion James chased down the loose ball, which became a Miles Bridges dunk that broke their backs.
Up Next
Chef Miranda is presently applying the frosting to your recap. Meanwhile, the road trip continues as our City Slickers take on the Okies this Sunday. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.
The New York Knicks saw their seven-game winning streak snapped in Charlotte, falling to the Hornets, 114-103.
They were in range for most of the evening, but their upstart Eastern Conference rivals were too deadly from deep, going 16-for-41 from three.
Jalen Brunson fought valiantly to try and carry his team, scoring 26 points and dishing out 13 assists on 10-for-23 shooting. OG Anunoby added 17 on 5-for-9 shooting from three-point range.
Charlotte rookie Kon Knueppel put up 26 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists on 9-for-14 shooting from the field. Brandon Miller added 21 points and LaMelo Ball had 22, each contributing with four threes.
Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart had 14 and 16 points, respectively, while Miles Bridges and Coby White chipped in 17 apiece for their squad.
Here are the takeaways...
-- The buzzing Hornets got off to an incendiary start, going 4-for-8 from deep in the first six minutes to jump ahead by double digits early. Ball led the charge early with a couple of difficult floaters and a deep, contested three.
Brunson wouldn’t allow the Knicks to stay in a hole, hitting tough shots and drawing fouls en route to a 17-point, 4-assist opening period. A 15-5 New York run knotted the game back up, but Charlotte held a 38-36 lead going into the second.
-- The Hornets built on their lead behind solid reserve play, going back up by as much as eight.
-- It was Brunson who led the turnaround again once he returned midway through the second quarter. He found Mitchell Robinson for a couple of lobs, then Anunoby stepped up for some timely jumpers to tighten the game up, finishing the half with 14 points.
The Hornets would end the half on a flurry, getting energy off the bench from White (12 points in nine minutes), and more shooting from Knueppel, who went 3-4 from deep in the first half. Charlotte led 65-55 at the break, ending the second on a 15-6 run.
-- The second half opened much like the first, with the Hornets raining threes. Ball dribbled into two, and Knueppel added another in rapid succession to put his team up 15 quickly.
New York kept a solid pace offensively, but Charlotte was too voluminous from three. Brunson tried to keep the Knicks in it with more tough bucket-getting.
-- Tyler Kolek supplanted Jose Alvarado as the backup point guard in the second half rotation. The shakeup did little to contain the Hornets' onslaught, as they went up 94-76 after three.
-- New York got off to a strong start in the fourth, but Charlotte matched them score for score. Ball leaked open for a wing three, panicking the Knicks defense, which opened up a Grant Williams touch feed to Moussa Diabaté for a dagger slam.
The Hornets continued their beatdown, getting another three from White and a tomahawk slam from Miller in the open court, building their lead beyond 20. The Knick starters returned to try and make a push, getting the lead down to 10 behind an 18-6 run late, but to no avail.
The No. 2 seed Boilermakers avoided the upset from 11th-seeded Texas with a last-second put-back shot by Trey Kaufman-Renn in the Sweet 16 to continue their March Madness run into the Elite Eight with a 79-77 win.
It was a back-and-forth game the entire way, and in the winding moments, the Longhorns were down by three points. Texas' Dailyn Swain got a bucket and foul with 11 seconds left to tie the score at 77.
The Boilermakers had the final possession and guard Braden Smith drove into the lane for the game-winner, but missed. Luckily for Purdue, Renn was right there to clean it up, getting the putback to take the lead with 0.7 seconds left. Texas was unable to get the full-court heave to pull off the shocker.
Renn's winning bucket capped off a big night for him, finishing with a team-high 20 points in the victory. Purdue now awaits the winner of No. 1 Arizona and No. 4 Arkansas in the Elite Eight, with a trip to the Final Four on the line on Saturday, March 28.
USA TODAY Sports will have much more coverage of this game.
The Islanders seemed to run the gamut Thursday, playing one of those games that showed all the reasons they could be a dangerous playoff team and all the reasons they might not make the tournament — all at once.
At the end of it, they had a 2-1 win over the Stars that did indeed inch them above the playoff cutline at the close of business, and yet another point of evidence in Ilya Sorokin’s Vezina Trophy campaign.
There have been games, plenty of them, in which Sorokin was leaned upon more heavily than he was Thursday and in which Sorokin’s teammates did far less for him than they did Thursday.
Islanders players celebrate after a goal by center Cal Ritchie during the third period of their 2-1 win over the Stars at UBS Arena on March 26, 2026. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post
After the Islanders prevented anything from going on goal after Matt Duchene got Dallas within 2-1 with 2:59 to go, blocking four shots in the final 53 seconds, Sorokin joked that he owed his teammates dinner.
Really, though, this night, like so many others, came down to the goaltender, whose 26 saves and total command of his crease were decisive in a game his team needed.
“At this point, we’re not really surprised,” Simon Holmstrom said. “He’s proven night in and night out that he’s by far the best goalie in the league.”
This was a low-event match in which the Islanders were pushed repeatedly and stood up to the test. They were far from perfect — the power play still frustrating, the breakouts still a challenge for stretches — but the way they held a lead for 55 minutes while rarely allowing Dallas to build momentum shift over shift counted as something to build on. So too did their work in killing off two penalties against the league’s second-ranked power play.
“Sometimes it might not be pretty the whole time,” Ryan Pulock said after skating 20:53 in his return from a lower-body injury. “You just gotta work through it. I thought tonight we did a lot of that. Important blocks, important times of getting the puck out, getting the puck in. I thought the forecheck at times was really good, created a lot for us.”
Ilya Sorokin makes a save in front of traffic during the second period. Heather Khalifa for New York Post
Bo Horvat’s 30th goal of the season, his second time in three seasons hitting that mark with the Islanders, was the difference heading into the third, with Sorokin’s heroics having kept the Stars from tying it on the power play midway through the second.
The Islanders, though, were not going to win this game by sitting on a 1-0 lead for 55 minutes, and of course it was the kids who have defined this season who made sure they would not.
Matthew Schaefer made a brilliant heads up play 2:19 into the third, throwing the puck into traffic in front of the net, where it banked off Cal Ritchie’s skate and past Jake Oettinger to make it 2-0.
Bo Horvat (right) scores a first-period goal during the Islanders’ home win over the Stars. Heather Khalifa for New York Post
It was a second straight match in which Ritchie has scored using his body in front of the net, and a second straight match in which Schaefer has missed out on tying the rookie record for goals by a defenseman due to an assist on a puck redirected in front. The 18-year-old, needless to say, will happily take it.
Sorokin was 2:59 away from a franchise record-setting eighth shutout this season when Duchene beat him at six-on-five to pull the Stars within one for the lone blemish on his night. Otherwise, there was no beating him.
There was the backdoor stop on Duchene, the Miro Heiskanen shot he got high in his crease to defend, the two Dallas power plays where he was the Islanders’ best penalty killer.
“Everyone understood it’s a big moment in the season,” Sorokin said. “Everybody knows what we should do. Every game is like the last game. But in the end, we should enjoy the game. If we enjoy the game, we show our best game.”
The Islanders enter a crucial — is it redundant to use that word when it applies to every game? — stretch of three games in four days, beginning Saturday against Florida, that includes a massive Monday night home match against the Penguins. Their superpower this season is the way they have avoided any kind of spiral, with their longest losing streak being three games and back-to-back losses a rarity.
It was on display Thursday, two days after a dispiriting loss to the Blackhawks.
“It was hard to sleep, I will admit,” coach Patrick Roy said. “It was pretty quiet in my car going home that night. But after that, you put it behind [you].”
